Isthmus: April 14-20, 2016

APRIL 14–20, 2016

■

VOL. 41 NO. 15

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MADISON, WISCONSIN

What would Tommy do?

A Republican governor was once UW’s greatest champion.

Those days are long gone.

J E N N I F E R L E AV E R

June 24-26, 2016 University Ridge Golf Course Madison, WI

Hosted by 12-time PGA TOUR Champion

Steve Stricker

For tickets and more information:

ISTHMUS.COM APRIL 14–20, 2016

AmFamChampionship.com

2

ChampionS

#AmFamChamp

4 SNAPSHOT

■ CONTENTS

THE END IS NIGH

Behind the scenes at WhadYa Know?

■ WHAT TO DO

6-8 NEWS

SAFE HARBOR

The move to stop charging children with prostitution.

9 TECH

HIVE MIND

Beekeeper Data eases the number crunch.

10 OPINION

POWER SHIFT

City council reforms may upset a delicate balance.

13 COVER STORY CANDICE WAGENER 48 EMPHASIS

MARC EISEN 13 COVER STORY AS MARC EISEN reminds us in this week’s cover story, there was once a time when Wisconsin’s political leaders marshaled their clout and resources to support the state’s sprawling university system, including world-renowned UW-Madison. In his meticulously researched piece, Eisen delves into how the relationship between the UW System and state government soured and why.

CANDICE WAGENER, an Isthmus freelancer since 2006, contributes regularly to our Emphasis section and recently also began reviewing restaurants. She says her favorite part about writing Emphasis pieces, which highlight local makers and retailers, is getting the opportunity to meet the talented people who make up our vibrant community.

WWTD?

UW-Capitol relations have changed since Tommy Thompson was guv.

Party with Bucky

19-24 FOOD & DRINK

OODLES OF NOODLES

Ramen more than just a trend.

WE’LL DRINK TO THAT!

The New Cocktail Hour is a tippler’s delight.

26 SPORTS

HAMMER TIME

Madison Radicals start winning streak.

27 RECREATION

ON THE ROPES

Boxing studios will put you in fighting form.

28-31 BOOKS

GLOBETROTTERS

High-schoolers broaden horizons with Great World Texts program.

32 MUSIC

RÖK ÖN!

Celebrating 20 years of Rökker and Maximum Ink.

Fri., April 15, Union South, 7 am-midnight Did you know that since it reopened in 2011, Union South has shown 1,400 films and served more than 284,0000 cups of coffee? Celebrate the fifth birthday of the awesome and environmentally sustainable Union South with members of the UW Marching Band, a scavenger hunt, a cupcake mosaic and 5-cent food and drink promotions. And it wouldn’t be a party without Bucky Badger.

For the birds Sun., April 17, Warner Park Shelter, 1-4 pm

The Madison FUN (Friends of Urban Nature) Bird & Nature Festival kills several birds with one stone (metaphorically speaking), celebrating Madison Bird City, Arbor Day and Earth Day in one fell swoop. With tree planting, hay rides, games and a meet-and-greet with a snowy owl and a peregrine falcon.

33 STAGE

Stories of Syria

EXCELLENT

Mr. Burns, A Post-Electric Play is a po-mo wonder.

Fri., April 15, UW-Madison’s Vilas Hall, Rm. 2195, 2:30-4:30 pm Sat., April 16, Rainbow Bookstore, 426 W. Gilman St., 2-4 pm

34 SCREENS

ROCK HISTORY KYLE NABILCY 21 FOOD NEWS FOOD REVIEWER KYLE Nabilcy has been on a ramen kick of late. “[I’ve been] known to do a happy dance when a soft-cooked egg is particularly tasty,” he says. This week he fills us in on two new ramen restaurants in Madison.

Smart Studios doc puts Madison in the spotlight.

Join Syrian-British journalists Robin YassinKassab and Leila Al-Shami for a discussion of their new book, Burning Country: Syrians in Revolution and War. The authors explore the horrific and complicated reality of life for Syria’s opposition fighters, exiles and human rights activists against an analytical backdrop of the conflict and its various players.

48 EMPHASIS

SPRING CLEANING?

Simply Savvy to the rescue.

IN EVERY ISSUE 8 MADISON MATRIX 8 WEEK IN REVIEW 10 THIS MODERN WORLD 11 FEEDBACK 11 OFF THE SQUARE

36 ISTHMUS PICKS 49 CLASSIFIEDS 50 CROSSWORD 51 P.S. MUELLER 51 SAVAGE LOVE

PUBLISHER Jeff Haupt ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER Craig Bartlett BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR Mark Tauscher EDITOR Judith Davidoff NEWS EDITOR Joe Tarr ASSOCIATE EDITOR Michana Buchman FEATURES EDITOR Linda Falkenstein ARTS & CULTURE EDITOR Catherine Capellaro MUSIC & ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR Jon Kjarsgaard STAFF WRITERS Dylan Brogan, Allison Geyer CALENDAR EDITOR Bob Koch ART DIRECTOR Carolyn Fath STAFF ARTISTS David Michael Miller, Tommy Washbush

ISTHMUS is published weekly by Red Card Media, 100 State Street, Suite 301, Madison, WI 53703 • Edit@isthmus.com • Phone (608) 251-5627 • Fax (608) 251-2165 Periodicals postage paid at Madison, WI (ISSN 1081-4043) • POSTMASTER: Send address changes to 100 State Street, Suite 301, Madison, WI 53703 • © 2016 Red Card Media, LLC. All rights reserved.

Sat., April 16, UW-Madison’s Pyle Center, 11:15 am

Consider the status of women and well-being in Wisconsin and beyond with Donna Shalala, recipient of the Nelson Mandela Award for Human Rights and former U.S. secretary of Health and Human Services. Her talk is the keynote event in UW-Madison’s 2016 Summit on Women, Gender and Well-being.

All aboard!

Fri., April 15, and Sat., April 16, UW Engineering Campus, 9 am-2 pm

What do engineers do? Find out at the UW Engineering Expo, where engineering students, industry leaders and other experts eagerly share their projects and ideas with the rest of us. Slide rules and pocket protectors optional.

FIND MORE ISTHMUS PICKS ON PAGE 36

APRIL 14–20, 2016 ISTHMUS.COM

CONTRIBUTORS John W. Barker, Kenneth Burns, Dave Cieslewicz, Nathan J. Comp, Aaron R. Conklin, Ruth Conniff, Marc Eisen, Erik Gunn, Bob Jacobson, Seth Jovaag, Stu Levitan, Bill Lueders, Liz Merfeld, Andy Moore, Bruce Murphy, Kyle Nabilcy, Kate Newton, Jenny Peek, Michael Popke, Steven Potter, Adam Powell, Katie Reiser, Jay Rath, Gwendolyn Rice, Dean Robbins, Robin Shepard, Sandy Tabachnick, Denise Thornton, Candice Wagener, Rosemary Zurlo-Cuva ADVERTISING PRODUCTION MANAGER Todd Hubler ADVERTISING MANAGER Chad Hopper ADVERTISING ASSISTANT Laura Miller ADVERTISING REPRESENTATIVES Lindsey Bushart, Peggy Elath, Lauren Isely WEB ANALYST Jeri Casper CIRCULATION MANAGER Tom Dehlinger MARKETING DIRECTOR Chris Winterhack EVENT DIRECTORS Kathleen Andreoni, Courtney Lovas EVENT STAFF Sam Eifert ADMINISTRATIVE DIRECTOR Kathy A. Bailey OFFICE MANAGER Julie Butler SYSTEMS MANAGER Thom Jones ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT Carla Dawkins

The Donna speaks

3

n SNAPSHOT

Michael Feldman, center right, holds court for one of the final Whad’Ya Know? episodes.

Off the air

ISTHMUS.COM APRIL 14–20, 2016

STORY AND PHOTO BY DYLAN BROGAN

4

It’s one hour before showtime, and the Monona Terrace Lecture Hall is empty; there’s a tranquil stillness.

“I’ll miss these quiet moments,” says Adam Friedrich, the producer of Michael Feldman’s Whad’Ya Know? “It’s a special time when you can [sense] the camaraderie between the cast and crew.

The calm before the show.”

The audience is assembled in the lobby enjoying complimentary coffee and doughnuts. They won’t be observing the live radio quiz show so much as participating in it. A Saturday morning dose of carbs and caffeine will keep them sharp and energetic.

The set for the nationally syndicated Wisconsin Public Radio show resembles a rec room decked out with wacky mementos and retro furniture. A stuffed toy pink flamingo is perched on a speaker next to a standup bass and a grand piano. Among the wires and microphones, an Uncle Sam lawn ornament holds a small American flag.

Further down the stage are more memories. Below the flashing applause sign, a plastic hen and a plush badger share a seat on a toy wooden wagon.

“FELDMAN” is spelled across the back in red letters.

“I thought it’d last a couple of years and then I’d move on to something else” says jazz pianist John Thulin, the show’s music director. For 31 years, he’s matched Feldman’s quick wit with a mellow, upbeat

attitude that mirrors the “hard-swinging grooves” that have come to define the show. Thulin has only missed one broadcast in that time (the week he got married).

“When you’ve got a job and you’re in it for so long...you don’t appreciate it as much,” Thulin says.

“Then when it’s coming to an end, you’re like shit, maybe this was cooler than I thought.”

Thulin spots bassist Jeff Hamann and joins him onstage to do a quick soundcheck. Then Feldman enters and says hello to the crew before retreating to the light booth to review his material, while the audience files in.

“We never have any real idea what he’s about to say,” Friedlich says as he heads to his producer post in the control room. It isn’t long before Feldman takes to his stage living room to warm up the audience before going live.

Described by The Wall Street Journal as “the king of small-talk radio,” the host immediately disposes of the elephant in the room.

“Look at what they gave me...Wisconsin Public Radio,” says Feldman as he holds up a pen. “No hard feelings.”

WPR is ending production of Whad’Ya Know? this summer, which surprised even Feldman when it was announced in March. A mainstay of public radio’s weekend programming for three decades,

it’s been a smash hit for the state network and at one point reached 1.5 million listeners each week.

“We found a Wisconsin Public Radio pen in his heart,” says Feldman after pantomiming that he’s been stabbed and then taking on a detective persona. “We’re looking for suspects now.”

With five minutes to airtime, Feldman asks who has traveled farthest to see the show. “Marshfield!”

“Mellen!” “La Crosse!” audience members shout.

“Oklahoma,” yelps another. “Go Sooners,” replies Feldman.

“South Carolina,” yells a deep-voiced man from the back. “We’re done with that now, sir,” jokes Feldman to the latecomer.

“Sounds like they’re done with you too,” the South Carolina man shouts back, prompting boos from the audience.

Without missing a beat, Feldman takes back control of the crowd with a stinging retort of his own.

“Very nice. Did you settle that little flag business you had?” Feldman asks, referring to South Carolina’s recent controversy over the Confederate flag.

If it wasn’t obvious already, the veteran broadcaster reminds the crowd that Whad’Ya Know? is an audience participation show.

“So if it’s a bad show, whose fault is it?” Feldman asks. “Ours,” the crowd obediently replies. n

Number of Whad’Ya Know? episodes: 1,173 Remaining shows: 7 Michael Feldman’s favorite guest: KURT VONNEGUT Number of players who’ve lost the quiz: A FEW WHO PISSED OFF THE HOST Feldman’s fallbacks: A TEACHING LICENSE AND A TAXI PERMIT

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n NEWS

Victims, not criminals A push to stop charging children with prostitution

BY LISA SPECKHARD

ISTHMUS.COM APRIL 14–20, 2016

The police apprehend a victim of sexual trafficking, a girl who has been trafficked since she was 13, which is the average age minors enter prostitution. She was sexually assaulted, and then a pimp manipulated her into prostitution. Even now, she may have a strong emotional attachment to her pimp; she may think he’s her boyfriend.

She’s a victim, but according to Wisconsin law, she has committed a crime.

Some legislators and advocacy groups believe that as a minor, she should be viewed solely as a victim and not charged as a criminal. They want to pass what is known as “safe harbor” legislation, which prohibits prosecuting individuals under 18 for prostitution. While this legislation may seem like a no-brainer to many, it’s gotten some resistance from Republican legislators who fear it will hinder law enforcement’s ability to intervene and help trafficking victims.

The proposal was introduced last June by Reps.

Jane Billings (D-La Crosse) and LaTonya Johnson (D-Milwaukee) and Sen. Sheila Harsdorf (R-River Falls). Children are often emotionally and physically dependent on their traffickers and should not be punished with criminal records, Billings said in a press release.

This dependence means that children can be difficult to remove from the situation, and because of this, “you never want to send a message to that victim that they’ve done anything wrong,” says Johnson.

The proposal never progressed past a public hearing in October, but Johnson says she will continue to introduce similar legislation until it passes.

6

An arrest for prostitution does not automatically lead to a conviction. Minors can complete a program or other requirements in exchange for a dismissal of the charge, or they can admit to charges but assert they were being trafficked at the time, says Claudine O’Leary, an advocate for youth in the sex trade, who runs Rethink Resources in Milwaukee.

While prosecution decisions can minimize legal consequences, some proponents of safe harbor worry that the emotional costs of criminalization are too high. The Wisconsin Coalition Against Sexual Assault has said the guilt and shame of being treated as a criminal may retraumatize children already suffering from guilt and shame at the hands of their abusers.

“Criminalization can and does add to the confusion over responsibility, consent and blame, thereby further harming and complicating recovery,” says Stephen Gilbertson, a clinical and consulting psychologist and clinical program manager at Wraparound Milwaukee.

Jo-Ann Gruber-Hagen of SlaveFree Madison, an organization that raises awareness about and combats human trafficking, says that the first priority should be giving victims an opportunity to regain control of their lives.

By criminalizing them or forcing them to testify, “You’re putting them back in a situation where someone else is telling them what they have to do, or else,” Gruber-Hagen says.

TRAM NGUYEN

Proponents believe that by refusing to prosecute minors, law enforcement will be able to establish trust and gain access to information that will allow them to more successfully prosecute traffickers.

Minnesota passed comprehensive human trafficking legislation, including a safe harbor provision, in 2011. During the following three years, conviction rates of sex traffickers increased dramatically, from seven convictions in 2011 to 63 in 2013.

Minnesota Ramsey County Attorney John Choi told the Star Tribune that the new law helped make a difference. “We are now seeing that many of the victims — because we view them as victims and we want to help them instead of running them through the delinquency system — are willing to tell their story and come forward.”

Attorney General Brad Schimel and Rep. Amy Loudenbeck (R-Clinton) are among those who do not think this approach will work.

In public testimony against the safe harbor bill, Schimel explained that while he agrees prosecution should be avoided, he fears the legislation’s “unintended consequences” would limit the overall ability of law enforcement to serve victims. Loudenbeck expressed similar concerns in her testimony.

Schimel said that it is sometimes necessary to use the authority of criminal laws and briefly detain the child in order to remove a child from an unsafe place. Custody may also be necessary to ensure the child does not return to his or her trafficker, Loudenbeck said.

Loudenbeck worries that this legislation would present a “legal loophole” that would encourage traffickers to recruit minors. She compared the situation to drug trafficking.

“If you provide immunity for youth for drug trafficking, then that just makes them more vulnerable, because that’s who the traffickers are going to target,” Loudenbeck said.

Loudenbeck noted that the problem remains small — the number of juvenile

arrests for prostitution statewide in 2013 was 23.

“It’s not like this is a rampant issue,” she said. “A lot of counties are taking the stance of not charging. But in certain cases it is a tool we want to keep out there.”

Minnesota state Rep. Dave Pinto, who is also an assistant county prosecutor, and has handled prostitution cases, does not believe his state’s safe harbor law has hamstrung his office in dealing with these cases.

“It has made our work more effective, rather than less, because it means that everyone in the system is pushing in the same direction,” he says. “There’s no structural or legal ambiguity in our message to these kids.”

Some advocates continue to think the Wisconsin bill does not go far enough to protect kids, but Gruber-Hagen sees the need to find common ground with critics: “We need to land somewhere in the middle where cases are constructed effectively and children are not retraumatized unnecessarily.” n

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n MADISON MATRIX

EDUCATION IS EMPOWERING.

BIG CITY

Madison College’s president proposes leasing its downtown property and shifting many of its programs to the city’s south side, the Wisconsin State Journal reports.

Gov. Scott Walker says Donald Trump’s attacks on his record as governor is like someone going to Lambeau Field and “taking a whack” at Packers greats like Aaron Rodgers or Brett Favre. Big talk from a guy who doesn’t even have his own steakhouse.

PREDICTABLE

The First Folio, a collection of William Shakespeare’s plays printed in 1623 and one of the greatest literary treasures in history, will be on display at the Chazen Museum of Art for six weeks this November.

globeuniversity.edu Accredited by the Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges & Schools (ACICS).

SURPRISING

Dane County Circuit Court Judge C. William Foust sides with unions and strikes down Wisconsin’s so-called right-to-work law as unconstitutional.

SMALL TOWN

n WEEK IN REVIEW n Gov. Scott Walker, known for

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 6

his “thrifty dad” vibe, needs help paying off the $1.2 million in debt from his failed presidential campaign. A $45 donation gets you a leftover T-shirt, which he says is perfect for making “crafty things” like a pillow or a bag.

Or a voodoo doll.

n The Henry Vilas Zoo an-

With non-stop service to Charlotte beginning on April 5th, which of the following destinations are only one stop away?

nounces its latest project, the Wisconsin Heritage Exhibit, which will showcase native species like badgers and sandhill cranes. The stars of the show will be badger siblings Dekker and Kaminsky, named after the UW-Madison basketball standouts.

TUESDAY, APRIL 12 n A federal appeals court sides

SUNDAY, APRIL 10 n UW-Madison awards a

Antigua, Aruba, and Punta Cana al Los Angeles, Las Vegas, and Montreal London, Munich, and Paris

ISTHMUS.COM APRIL 14–20, 2016

All of the above

8

rare posthumous doctorate to Craig Schuff, a graduate student who was paralyzed in a diving accident in 2011 and died last October, the Wisconsin State Journal reports. The university has awarded only one other posthumous graduate degree.

MONDAY, APRIL 11 n Madison’s finance com-

Go to MSNAirport.com/WhoKnew to find out the answer and take the WHO KNEW?! Quiz for a chance to win some great prizes!

mittee unanimously recommends Beitler Real Estate Services of Chicago for the redevelopment of Judge Doyle Square.

Beitler’s $170 million plan has less public cost for

parking, and its lease of city land generates more revenue than its competitor. n More legal trouble for former UW-Madison star football players.

Montee Ball is arrested over the weekend for felony bail jumping, the State Journal reports, and Brent Moss is charged with felony cocaine possession. What’s next?

Kicking puppies?

with the American Civil Liberties Union in the group’s challenge to Wisconsin’s voter ID law, ruling that people who face “daunting obstacles” to obtaining an acceptable photo ID should be able to vote without one.

n TECH

Crunching numbers Beekeeper helps companies 1101 001100 make sense of their data 01101010

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0001 010010 10111101 110110 1010

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100101 100101 0110 head of prod 0110 Joe Barneson, SOLOMO’s

uct development, says Beekeeper’s product has increased the productivity of the company’s eight data scientists by 50% and decreased the length of time it takes to provide analytics to customers from three weeks to three days.

These days, Rathbone is focused on planning product development and sales strategy. Beekeeper’s goal for the year is bold: become the premier embedded analytics company on the market.

“If you’re a software product, embedded analytics means you’re displaying metrics and analytics for your customers inside your product,” Rathbone says. “We want to be the platform that can power that kind of capability. We are already doing that to an extent.”

Most companies are doing some type of reporting, Rathbone says, but doing it in a way that is not easy to replicate each week or month.

When he began working with healthfinch, Rathbone spent time in the office speaking to healthfinch employees to learn what its customers needed in the reports.

As a result, Hitchcock says, healthfinch’s clients now receive richer metrics that can be used for hiring decisions and strategic planning.

“There’s so much data in our world right now,” says Hitchcock. “We don’t have a lack of it. What we have a lack of is organizing it in a meaningful way.” n

Apply today!

madisoncollege.edu/summer

Madison College. Find your Happy Place.

Madison College does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, disability or age in its programs or activities. Inquiries regarding the nondiscrimination policies are handled by the Affirmative Action Officer, 1701 Wright Street, Madison, WI 53704, phone (608) 243-4137.

Mildred Fish-Harnack Lecture 2016 2016 Mildred Fish-Harnack Lecture Wednesday, April 20 Wednesday, April 20

2016

Mildred Fish-Harnack Lecture Wednesday, April 20

The Human Rights Program is pleased to invite you to: The Human Rights Program is pleased to invite you to:

The Annual Mildred Fish-Harnack Lecture The Annual Mildred Fish-Harnack Lecture Wednesday, April 20, 2016, 4 p.m.

Wednesday, April 20, 4 p.m.

The Human Rights Program is pleased to2016, invite you to

Rooms 325Rights & 326,325 Pyle University of Wisconsin-Madison Rooms &Center, 326, Pyle Center, University Wisconsin-Madison The Human Program is pleased toofinvite you to:

Informal reception to follow to follow Lecture Informal reception The Annual Mildred Fish-Harnack The “From Annual Mildred Fish-Harnack “From Auschwitz to International Law and Auschwitz to International Law Lecture and

“From Auschwitz to International Law International Human International Human Rights” Wednesday, April 20, 2016, 4 p.m. Rights” andRooms International Human Rights” 325 & 326, Pyle Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison

Judge Thomas Buergenthal Judge Thomas Buergenthal “From Auschwitz to International Law and Informal reception to follow Judge Thomas Buergenthal

Lobingier of Professor of Comparative Law & Jurisprudence Lobingier Professor Comparative Law & Jurisprudence George Washington George Washington UniversityUniversity Lobingier Professor of Comparative Law & Jurisprudence, Former Judge, International Court of Justice Former Judge, International CourtRights” of Justice International Human Former President, Inter-American CourtofofJustice; Human Rights George Washington Former Judge, International Court FormerUniversity; President, Inter-American Court of Human Rights Former President, Inter-American Court of Human Rights Judge Thomas Buergenthal About The Mildred Fish Harnack Lecture: About The Mildred Fish Harnack Lecture: About The Mildred Fish HarnackComparative Lecture: Lobingier & Jurisprudence The Mildredafter Fish-Harnack Human Rights and The Mildred Professor Fish-Harnackof Human Rights andLaw Democracy Lecture is named a Milwaukee native who was a The Mildred Fish-Harnack Rights and Democracy Lecture is named after a Milwaukee who a George Washington Democracy Lecture is named afterwas a Milwaukee UW–MadisonHuman student in the 1920s.

WhileUniversity living in Germany, Fish-Harnack assisted innative the escape of German Jews UW–Madisonand student in the 1920s.

While in Germany, Fish-Harnack assisted inwas the escape of German Jews Former Judge, Courtcivilian of Justice political dissidents.

SheInternational is living the only American executed under the personal instruction of Adolf Hitler for native who a UW–Madison student in the Rooms 325 & 326, Pyle Center, and political dissidents.

She is the only American civilian executed under the personal instruction of Adolf Hitler for her resistance to the Nazi regime. This lectureship designed Rights to1920s. promote greater of human rights and Former President, Inter-American Court ofis Human While livingunderstanding in Germany, Fish-Harnack

Wed, April 20, 4pm

her resistancedemocracy, to the Naziand regime. lectureship is designed to promote of human enrichThis international studies at UW-Madison.

Thegreater lectureunderstanding brings to campus a personrights who and contributed University ofinternational Wisconsin-Madison assisted in the escape of German Jews and democracy, and enrich studies at UW-Madison.

The lecture brings to campus a person who contributed to the cause of human rights through academic scholarship and/or active leadership. political dissidents.

She is the only American to the Informal cause of human rights through academic scholarship and/or active leadership. reception to follow About The Mildred Fish Harnack Lecture: civilian executed under the personal instruction of Sponsors: The Mildred Fish-Harnack Human Rights and Democracy Lecture is namedAdolf after a Milwaukee native who was a Sponsors: Human Rights Program, Global Legal Studies Center, and The International Division Hitler for her resistance to the Nazi regime.

UW–Madison student the 1920s.

While living in Legal Germany, Fish-Harnack This assisted in the escape of German Jews Sponsors: HumaninRights Program, Global Studies lectureship is designed to promote greater Human Rights Program, Global Legal Studies Center, and The International Division and political dissidents. She is the only American civilian executed under the personal instruction of Adolf Hitler for Center, and The International Division understanding of human rights and democracy, her resistance to the Nazi regime. This lectureship is designed to promote greater understanding of human rights and and enrich international studies at UW-Madison. democracy, and enrich international studies at UW-Madison. The lecture brings to campus a person who contributed The lecture brings to campus a person who to the cause of human throughplease academic scholarship active leadership.

For more rights information, contact Sumuduand/or Atapattu (sumudu.atapattu@wisc.edu) contributed to the cause of human rights through For more information, please contact Sumudu Atapattu For more information, please contact Sumudu Atapattu (sumudu.atapattu@wisc.edu) academic scholarship and/or active leadership.

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This event is free and open to the public Free and open to and the public This event is free open to the public Human Rights Program, Global Legal Studies Center, and The International Division

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This event is free and open to the public

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APRIL 14–20, 2016 ISTHMUS.COM

The flagship software platform of healthfinch, a Madison-based startup, is represented by a light blue bird named “Charlie.”

Health care systems hire Charlie to process routine prescription renewals and delegate tasks to give physicians and nurses more time for other work. healthfinch helps its customers streamline inefficient workflows. So when Jonathan Broad, healthfinch’s chief technology officer, noticed that one of the company’s own processes was unnecessarily timeconsuming, he knew it needed to change. healthfinch employees were pulling data on Charlie’s productivity, visualizing it in Excel and sending the files to customers, one at a time.

Broad found the solution in another Madison startup, Beekeeper Data. Founded in 2014 by Matthew Rathbone, Beekeeper helps companies email automated, customized reports to customers and other users.

“They’ve been able to take what we were doing manually and automate it, and do it in a much more elegant, streamlined fashion,” says Karen Hitchcock, healthfinch’s chief experience officer. “What we do for our customer for the clinical workflow, they’re doing for us for the analytic workflow.”

Beekeeper has hired three employees and grown revenue by 25% since announcing $550,000 more funding last fall.

In the midst of this growth, Rathbone, the CEO, moved to Dallas earlier this year.

“My wife got a job in Dallas, so I moved out here,” he says. While his wife’s new position as an assistant professor sent the family south, Rathbone says Beekeeper will maintain its Madison headquarters. “Our software engineering center is really Madison, and we plan to keep it that way.”

Just two of the company’s six employees, the lead software developer and a part-time marketing associate, are based in Madison.

A new sales associate started last week — in Dallas. But Rathbone says the company will “definitely in the next 12 months” hire another employee in Madison and hopefully several more in the future.

He’s careful to find people who aren’t fazed by rapid change. “We’ve found that when you talk to people who aren’t into startups, when you start telling them about the risks, their eyes kind of go wide,” he says. “It’s like they’ve never really thought about it before.”

Rathbone appreciates Madison’s startup community. “I still feel a part of it even though I’m now in Dallas,” he says. healthfinch is one of four Beekeeper customers in town. The others are apartment-hunting site Abodo, food-ordering app EatStreet

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“I’m happy because

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n OPINION

Don’t make the council president a co-mayor Proposed reforms concentrate too much power in one aldermanic position

BY ALAN TALAGA Alan Talaga co-writes the Off the Square cartoon with Jon Lyons and blogs at isthmus.com/madland.

ISTHMUS.COM APRIL 14–20, 2016

Now that Wisconsin’s presidential primary is in the rearview mirror and the state legislative session has wrapped up, it’s time to remember that Madison still has a city government.

Alds. Mark Clear and David Ahrens are preparing to introduce a set of reforms that have the stated goal of balancing power between the mayor and the Common Council. Clear and Ahrens say these reforms aren’t tied to the current mayor. But after a series of budgetary showdowns between Mayor Paul Soglin and the council, it’s hard not to think these reforms are at least in part directed at our mustachioed mayor. Soglin opposes the proposals and has announced he will create a task force to examine the impact of city government restructuring.

Some of the alders’ proposed changes make sense. Changing the name of the Board of Estimates to the Finance Committee makes it more descriptive and clearer for the public. The committee reviews the budget and discusses big-money items — that sounds like a Finance Committee to me. Board of Estimates sounds like the group that would guess the weight of a pumpkin.

Having the council select the members of this panel is another good idea. The current system gives too much power to the mayor by letting the mayor write the budget and pick the members of the committee that review said budget. In the current system, the mayor even casts the tie-breaking vote for the committee.

With the mayor in charge of writing and committee review of the budget, the full council ends up making a bunch of changes to the budget. That leads to some marathon meetings.

During budget season, council meetings have regularly gone all night, lasting past sunrise.

That discourages citizen involvement and is an unfair burden for alders with other jobs and families. A less mayor-centric budget review committee could likely streamline the process.

While the changes to the budget review process are sensible, the reforms as written con-

10

DAVID MICHAEL MILLER

centrate too much power in the hands of the city council president. Instead of serving for one year, the president would now serve a two-year term. The council president would be in charge of making all council committee appointments, including all the members of the “finance committee.”

Clear and Ahrens even wrote in language that the council president should give preference to former council presidents when selecting these members.

To me, this expanded list of duties makes the postion of city council president look more like a co-mayor. Instead of electing a mayoral king, the new system would have us elect two princes. With all due respect to the Spin Doctors, I’m not sure how that makes city government more accountable to the average citizen.

Electing a powerful city council president could factionalize the council and overcomplicate the council’s administrative matters.

Right now, I vote for the mayoral candidate who I feel has the best vision for the city. I vote for the alder who I believe will

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do the best job representing my neighborhood’s needs. Sure, political views play a part when selecting an alder — traditional Democrat is about as far right as an elected official can be in Madison — but politics takes a back seat to more mundane concerns. The mayor provides vision; the alder makes sure speed bumps get installed and fields questions about city services.

Under the proposed structure, I’d also have to weigh who the candidates for alder were supporting for council president.

THIS MODERN WORLD

What if my alder backs the losing candidate for council president? Is that alder, and by extension, my neighborhood, shut out of the powerful committees for the next two years?

Mayors have the potential to be vindictive too. But I have the ability to vote against a mayor who doesn’t support my neighborhood.

Given close mayoral elections, like the ones in 2003 and 2011, the risk of alienating an entire neighborhood is too high. There’s no risk like that for a powerful council president.

Intra-council power struggles like this aren’t just theoretical. Milwaukee has a council president with broad powers over committee assignments, and there’s now a power struggle led by two alders to oust the current president.

Struggles like that distract from getting the city business done and create bad blood between colleagues.

I want to be clear about Clear — and Ahrens. I don’t think they are corrupt or trying to set up a corrupt system. They are both good members of the council who work hard to serve the community. I understand the frustrations they have had working with the mayor. But I fear these proposed reforms have the potential for unintended collusion and corruption in the future.

I don’t think it is a bad idea to let the council decide how council members are assigned to committees. But concentrating all that power in the hands of one person, the council president, is no improvement over the current system. n

BY TOM TOMORROW

© 2016 WWW.THISMODERNWORLD.COM

n FEEDBACK

Taking the pledge In your reporting on superdelegates (“No Endorsements Needed,” 4/7/2016) you neglected to mention that Hillary Clinton holds a commanding lead with pledged delegates. These delegates are determined by the primaries and caucuses that the voters vote in. Bernie Sanders has a narrow but not mathematically impossible route to earn more pledged delegates than Clinton but it is unlikely.

In fact, the only actual, not perceived, effect that the superdelegates can possibly have at this point is to overturn the will of the voters and hand the nomination to Sanders.

In this era where hyperbole and innuendo spread like wildfire on the internet, we depend on print publications to provide an accurate picture of what is happening. Isthmus failed to do so in this article.

Yogesh Chawla (via email)

The short list In your 40th anniversary story (“Isthmus by the Numbers,” 4/7/2016), I was surprised to see how short your list of “staffers who went on to write books” was. I’m sure you have missed a lot of folks! Two I remember from the years when my store was across the street from your office are Mike Baron and Mark Fearing. Particularly surprising was the absence of Mike Baron, considering the article in the same issue on Mike’s visit to Madison (“A Badger Homecoming”). Mike

Mike Baron in 1987

BRENT NICASTRO

has probably written more books than anyone; graphic novels are books, you know; they have spines and everything. Mark Fearing did covers for you, I think in the 1990s. He illustrates kids’ books now.

Hank Luttrell (via email) Editor’s note: Luttrell is correct about Mike Baron; he was a music editor in Isthmus’ early days. Mark Fearing, however, was a freelance illustrator, not a staffer.

Run for your lives As a Dane County and Madison resident, I’m glad when people run for office. Mike Basford, chair of the Democratic Party of Dane County, and District 1 County Supervisor Mary Kolar don’t seem to be with me on that (“Familiar Faces,” 4/7/2016).

Share comments with Isthmus via email, edit@isthmus.com, and via Forum.isthmus.com, Facebook and Twitter, or write letters to Isthmus, 100 State St., Suite 301, Madison WI 53703.

All comments are subject to editing. The views expressed here are solely those of the contributors.

These opinions do not necessarily represent those of Isthmus Publishing Company.

OFF THE SQUARE

BY ALAN TALAGA & JON LYONS

Basford said there were only four County Board races this year among 37 seats because “People are happy with how Dane County government is working. The quality of life here is good.” For lots of us, yes, life is good here; for others, not so much.

When Wisconsin is one of the worst states in the U.S. for racial disparities, and Dane is the worst county in Wisconsin, we have work to do. When we have hundreds of people living on our streets in Madison, and well over a thousand homeless students in the Madison school district alone, we have a lot of work to do.

Kolar said her re-election is a message to progressives that it’s time “to work together to help those most in need,” but she hasn’t supported a living wage in Dane County, and voted to drive homeless people away from the front of the City-County Building, though she’d previously voted against funding for a downtown day resource center.

“This race has been nothing but a distraction,” Kolar said. I say thanks to Rob Dz Franklin for giving the voters of District 1 a choice on the ballot.

I encourage all citizens of Dane County to watch their governments at all levels, not just state and federal, and to run for office if they think they can do better.

Norm Littlejohn (via email)

Traffic problem?

I’m concerned about some consequences that the new Festival Foods development will have in my neighborhood (“One-Stop Shopping,” 3/31/2016). Every day drivers endanger bicycle safety on East Mifflin Street’s Bike Boulevard. The additional car traffic associated with the new 55,000-square-foot grocery store will make the roads downtown even more dangerous for cyclists.

Bicycles are supposed to have complete rightof-way on a Bike Boulevard. The law too loosely states that motor vehicles are welcome on these safe havens for bikes. Given that developers expect high levels of car traffic at Festival Foods, the city of Madison should make Bike Boulevards only available to motor vehicles that are “local traffic,” prohibiting use by commuter traffic that abuse the Boulevards. Cyclists deserve the right to have a safe thoroughfare of their own.

Kim Larson (via email)

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n COVER STORY

What would Tommy do?

A Republican governor was once UW’s greatest champion.

Those days are long gone.

By Marc Eisen

APRIL 14–20, 2016 ISTHMUS.COM

Jennifer Leaver

In early January, UW-Madison economists Steven Deller and Tessa Conroy released a study on Wisconsin job creation that sank beneath the waves with barely a ripple, despite its insight into the Badger State’s sluggish economy.

The duo, in a report for the UW-Extension, found that new businesses created the largest share of new jobs in Wisconsin.

Roughly half of those jobs “come from the smallest businesses, namely those with fewer than 20 employees,” Deller and Conroy wrote.

At the Capitol, their nutsand-bolts recommendations didn’t get the time of day from policymakers. Deller, who has been studying Wisconsin’s economy for 23 years, laughed out loud when I asked if lawmakers or the governor’s office had met with him. ➡

13

n COVER STORY

Brett Healey, president of the conser-

Jeff Miller/UW-Madison

ISTHMUS.COM APRIL 14–20, 2016

Gov. Tommy Thompson signs the 1999-2001 state budget while UW Chancellor David Ward (left) and UW System President Katharine Lyall (third from left) look on. During his tenure, the state broke ground on 4,025 campus buildings.

14

Chalk it up to the ruling Republicans pursuit of an entirely different strategy.

In a nutshell: Support Wisconsin’s legacy businesses. Cut their taxes. Reduce regulatory oversight. Drive down the cost of labor.

Stress job training. Problem is, after five years of road-testing this classic conservative strategy, Wisconsin’s economy is stalled.

People are hurting.

Thirty-one states had a better job-creation record than Wisconsin, according to federal data. Compared to the national rate of 11.2%, Wisconsin’s private-sector jobs increased by only 7.6% in the five-year period. The Kauffman Foundation ranked the Badger State dead last in entrepreneurialism. According to a Pew Charitable Trusts analysis, Wisconsin led the nation in the loss of middle-class households between 2000 and 2013. And poverty in Wisconsin has hit a 30-year high, according to a UWMadison study.

Deller and Conroy’s policy recommendations for growing the Wisconsin economy (see related story at Isthmus.com) are hardly radical. But they are decidedly different from the Republican program. What’s striking and perhaps even more worrisome: UW experts like Deller and Conroy aren’t being pulled into the crucial policy deliberations at the Capitol.

Too many decision-makers “have made up their minds and are not open to what the research is telling us,” says Deller.

It’s not as if lawmakers were always receptive to research-based advice. But there has been a serious breakdown in the campus-Capitol relationship. For sure, it’s not a

complete rupture. Good things still happen off on the side. But trust and mutual respect are strained to the breaking point.

“It’s just different than it was before,” says Tim Smeeding, a veteran UW-Madison economist who tries to bridge the ford.

The disharmony stems in part from the tensions of a generally liberal-minded university working with a decidedly conservative state government. Further exacerbating the relationship is the obliqueness of UW System bookkeeping and the Republican belief it hid a huge slush fund. (This became a key factor in the GOP-enforced tuition freeze and UW budget cut.) Add in the troubling geographic complaints that the UW System is Madison-centric and shorts the rest of the state and Milwaukee in particular.

UW advocates, in turn, are reeling from the $250 million UW budget cut, the fouryear tuition freeze, the stripping of tenure protection from state statutes and Gov. Scott Walker’s surprise attempt in an earlier budget to bowdlerize the “Wisconsin Idea” that guides the UW’s mission to the citizenry.

All this makes for an unpleasant stew of missed signals, aggravation, suspicion and wheel spinning. Not to mention a nagging sense that the state as a whole is grievously hurt by the failure of the pols and profs to make nice.

Once upon a time it was different. Governors, Democrat and Republican alike, would tap top UW talent to serve and help run their administrations. Over the past 40-plus years this included Govs. Patrick Lucey, Lee Dreyfus, Tony Earl and Tommy Thompson deploy-

ing such UW luminaries as David Adamany, Walter Dickey, Ralph Andreano, Charles Cicchetti, Steve Born, Kenneth Lindner and Donald Percy in government service.

But under Jim Doyle, a Democrat, and now Scott Walker, a Republican, a new dynamic has emerged — governors ignoring the UW’s best and brightest to rely almost exclusively on their loyalists and apparatchiks to set policy and run the huge army of state employees.

More than one UW person I talked to spoke approvingly (if not longingly) of the Tommy Thompson era. That’s when an activist Republican governor with Hamiltonian ambitions for a greater Wisconsin found common ground with the university to unleash a major expansion of the UW System, including several billion dollars in campus construction.

How did he do it?

“I realized the university had to be my ally,” Thompson, 74, explains matter-of-factly, as if he were addressing a Poli Sci 101 class. “I had to make the university much more responsive to the needs of Wisconsin. And I said to myself I have to do it in a collegial way, because I don’t have the political power to do it alone. I’ve got to make sure the university understands I’m going to be its best friend. And for that friendship — quid pro quo — they’re going to help me build every part of this state.”

You don’t hear talk like that anymore in Wisconsin. An obvious question calls out: What would Tommy do to improve the sad state of campus-Capitol relations?

Yes, indeed: WWTD? Perhaps bracelets could be distributed at the Capitol and Bascom Hall for inspiration.

vative-minded John K. MacIiver Institute for Public Policy, suggests that the Capitol’s regard for the UW System plummeted in 2013 when Republican lawmakers ferreted out that the campuses were carrying a combined $1 billion-plus program balance, including $648 million in funds that the UW had some discretion in spending, i.e., “a slush fund.”

“It shocked the Republicans and called into question the credibility of the UW leadership,” Healey says. “I do think legislators felt betrayed.” For years, UW officials had argued they had no financial choice but to raise tuition, he adds.

He describes UW leaders as “clueless” and “isolated from reality.” But State Rep. Dale Kooyenga (R-Brookfield), one of the GOP bird dogs who dug into the UW books, is more forgiving. He thinks relations between the Capitol and Bascom Hill have improved in the last few years.

He also argues the UW is no worse off for budget cuts and tuition freezes. “If you look at outputs [such as the number of graduates], the UW is just as strong today as it was five years ago,” he says.

Kooyenga, however, faults the UW for political posturing on the Wisconsin Idea.

He points out that it was the Assembly that restored the wording that the governor tried to change. And it was in the spirit of the Wisconsin Idea and the dispersal of knowledge, he adds, that Republicans approached UWMadison about empowering it to authorize

Despite budget cuts, Republican state Rep. Dale Kooyenga says “the UW is just as strong today as it was five years ago.”

charter schools to focus on improving minority academic performance. Chancellor Rebecca Blank declined.

Kooyenga is still irked.

“At the same time that Republicans were getting their ass kicked for being against the Wisconsin Idea — which was the governor’s problem, not ours — here was UW-Madison saying it didn’t want to spread its knowledge through a charter school.”

(The Legislature dealt with the reluctance, Kooyenga notes, by ordering the UW System through a budget measure to create a special office to authorize independent charter schools in Madison and Milwaukee.)

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Michael Sussman, a star UW-Madison biochemist and director of the UW Biotechnology Center, is unnerved by the current situation. His unease is palpable in an interview. He’s been at the Madison campus for 34 years. “I love the university. I love the state. There’s no better place to do science,” he professes. “But things are getting worse.”

He cites budget-caused layoffs in his center and legislative criticism of stem cell research. “I’ve put up with it because in the past I’ve felt the state wanted me here. Many of us [in my situation] are wondering if that’s Michael Sussman, director of the UW Biotechnology Center: “ My experience with Tommy was amazing.”

still true. I don’t know how else to say it: It’s shocking how this administration is treating the university compared to previous governors irrespective of their parties.”

Sussman praises Gov. Jim Doyle, a Democrat who promoted stem cell research, but his voice rises with passion when he mentions Thompson, who served as governor from 1987 to 2001.

“Tommy was a true leader,” Sussman says.

“He certainly valued knowledge and education. And he knew how to get things done.”

He recalls how in the 1990s UW-Madison Provost John Wiley brought him to the Capitol to meet Thompson, and how he spent two full hours explaining to a fascinated governor how DNA works and how

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Thompson, he says with a note of awe, sought further briefings and responded with extra funding for a cluster faculty hiring in human genomics and for a huge biotech building program, BioStar, and related projects, that have transformed the Madison campus.

“My experience with Tommy was amazing,” he says. “I had never worked with a Republican in my life — I come from a family of die-hard liberal-socialist Democrats, like Bernie Sanders.”

Even after Thompson left for Washington to serve in President George W. Bush’s cabinet, the former governor still worked to keep the UW strong. Sussman says out of the blue Thompson even called him at home one night to say he’d heard a rumor that the biochemist was being recruited by the University of California, Davis (at twice his UW salary and with other inducements, notes Sussman).

Thompson urged him to stick with Wisconsin, and Sussman did. “I owe him a lot.

The university owes him a lot,” he says. But today, he says, the climate is very different on campus. Faculty doesn’t feel valued.

Even their research is under attack. Sussman spearheaded an open letter to the Legislature, signed by 700 or so faculty members, defending stem cell research from a proposed state ban promoted by Republican lawmakers.

“It’s greatly worrying to many of us,” he says, adding that sticking with the UW these days may not be the best career decision for a professor.

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To be sure, faculty involvement in frontline political issues can be a doubleedged sword. A year ago, Deller infuriated state Sen. Steve Nass (R-Whitewater) for issuing a UW Extension fact sheet that unfavorably compared the economic performance of “right to work” states to states that recognize collective bargaining rights. Nass, as Isthmus first reported, ripped the Deller report as one-sided “garbage research” — a waste of resources and a product of a professor “hiding behind academic freedom.”

Nass did not respond to a request for an interview about the state of UW-Capitol relations. Neither did Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald (R-Juneau). A staffer for Assembly Speaker Robin Vos (R-Rochester) refused an interview request. Laurel Patrick, Gov. Scott Walker’s press secretary, said via email “our administration has a long history of partnering with the UW System.”

Patrick cited the governor’s support of a three-year degree, the UW’s flexible online degree and certificate program, and the unsuccessful effort to create a UW System Authority. “Therefore, it would be absolutely incorrect to assert that there is a ‘breakdown in communications between the Capitol and the university,’” she wrote, citing my query.

“However, don’t let the facts get in the way of your narrative.”

Jeff Miller/UW-Madison

15

n COVER STORY

UW to honor Thompson Tommy Thompson comes by his love and support of the University of Wisconsin honestly. He says attending college here (BA, 1963: law degree, 1966) changed his life and opened the doors that led him to four terms as Wisconsin governor and to a stint in Washington, D.C., as secretary of Health and Human Services for President George W. Bush.

That point was underlined recently with Education Policy Studies professor Sara Goldrick-Rab blasting UW tenure changes when she announced her departure for a friendlier home at Temple University. Even more revealing was a Milwaukee Journal Sentinel report that the Madison campus paid out nearly $9 million in raises and research support to retain 40 top faculty being courted by rival universities.

Their departure for greener pastures, in the face of Wisconsin’s turmoil, could have cost the UW even more — $18 million in federal research grants were in play, the paper reported.

Terry Shelton, who spent 23 years

Jeff Miller/UW-Madison

ISTHMUS.COM APRIL 14–20, 2016

Electrical and computer engineering professor Franco Cerrina (left) describes his research to Thompson during a tour of the Biotechnology Center.

16

“I don’t care who you are: Going to a university transforms you,” he says with characteristic gusto. “The stimulus, the intellectual capacity that you interact with — it makes you a whole different person. It gives you opportunity and the ability to do just about anything.”

At the spring commencement on May 13, UW-Madison will grant Thompson an honorary degree for meritorious activity “as a dedicated promoter of the Wisconsin Idea and the use of government to enhance the lives of its citizens.” He’ll speak and probably tell a classic story of education’s liberating power.

His own.

The son of a hardworking grocer, Thompson grew up in small-town Elroy in Juneau County. “I was stocking groceries and cleaning eggs. Everybody in the family worked there, “ he recalls. The Madison campus was another world, with an enrollment 12 times larger than tiny Elroy’s population.

“Going to Madison was not just a big deal for him and his family — the whole town took pride in it,” says his former aide Bill McCoshen.

Decades later, Thompson is still thankful for the experience. “The university was a tremendous part of my transformation,” he says.

— Marc Eisen

as the outreach director at the UW’s Robert M. La Follette School of Public Affairs, speaks of the parlous relationship with the candor of a retiree.

“There’s a lot of blame to go around,” he says.

He recalls what now seems like a golden age of faculty engagement.

Heavyweight professors like Andy Reschovsky advising policymakers on the budget, Don Nichols on the Wisconsin economy, Graham Wilson and Dennis Dresang on government structure, Don Kettl on state-local government relations, John Witte on education, in addition to a series of ground-breaking economic summits led by a forceful UW System President Katharine Lyall.

“That kind of engagement is what I don’t see anymore,” says Shelton.

A small but telling example he cites is the Commission on Government Reform, Efficiency and Performance that Gov. Scott Walker appointed in late 2015. It is neither staffed by UW personnel nor has any UW members.

The irony, Shelton says, is that two La Follette Institute professors — Susan Yackee and Donald Moynihan — are consulting nationally on government reform for the Volcker Alliance, which was created by the former Federal Reserve chair Paul Volcker to “address the challenge of effective execution of public policies and to help rebuild public trust in government.”

Shelton says that the breakdown in communications isn’t just a oneway street. Academia has changed too. Young professors aren’t as willing to specialize in Wisconsin issues like those of an earlier era. They’re more likely to pack up, move on and advance their careers than spend 40 years at the UW, he says.

The problem “goes both ways,” he says. “Does this administration want to ask anybody for help? Are these professors willing to go the extra step and think about Wisconsin?”

Smeeding, a poverty and incomedistribution researcher at the La Follette Institute, says UW faculty is quiet-

the 2002 campaign. “As soon as he got ly working with state officials on many in, I didn’t hear from the guy. It was a issues, but not on critical economic or total shutdown.” politically charged matters. “I don’t Rogers had a far better working know if the other end of State Street relationship with the Thompson adalways wants to know what we have to ministration, which he says shared say,” he says.

COWS’s commitment to creating in Smeeding, who worked with condustry apprenticeship programs to servative hero Daniel Patrick Moynimove young people into good-paying han on family issues at Syracuse Unicraft jobs. versity, recently addressed Walker’s “Tommy used to say, ‘Joel, you’re The Future of the Family Commission. so far to the left of me that you go all He says his talk prompted a good, vigaround the table to sit next to me,’” orous discussion. He pointed out how Rogers recalls. the declining incomes of the under Bill McCoshen, Thompson’s educated translated to lower marcommerce secretary, says he worked riage rates and to the dire outcomes with COWS “with Tommy’s encourof young single women giving birth. agement and because I thought “There’s a Catholic cardinal [JeJoel was giving me valuable input. rome Listecki] sitting there, and I’m Tommy inculcated that in all of us: saying, what’s wrong with birth control Just because someone has a ‘D’ bethat works? What’s wrong with longhind their name it doesn’t mean they acting, reversible contraception? It’s don’t have good ideas.” much better than abortion.”

It’s a far different story today.

Another collaborative effort Rogers and COWS are treated as Smeeding points to is the long-runpoison by the ruling Republicans, ning Family Impact Institute seminars subjected to sweeping open records that UW’s Karen Borgenschneider quirequests by lawmakers in search of etly runs for lawmakers and their staffs scandal and targeted in overheated at the Capitol. It is, however, a closedexposés from the partisan door affair with no press conservative press. and no publicity. He says COWS still has projects this is by the choice of lawin Wisconsin communimakers, who feel it allows ties and works in 45 other for freer conversations. states, including economi There are other colcally resurgent Califorlaborations underway as nia, where it consults on well. La Follette has run a transportation policy. In briefing series for the LegDecember, Rogers wrote islature. It also works with an opinion column for the the Wisconsin Legislative Journal Sentinel arguing Council on health policy. that Wisconsin’s falterAnd the UW School of Hu- Political scientist Joel ing middle class won’t be man Ecology, in general, Rogers: “Tommy used revived until the voters is widely praised for its to say, ‘Joel, you’re so dump the state’s do-nothextensive outreach efforts, far to the left of me ing political leaders. One including a program-rich that you go all around assumes this was coolly partnership with the UW- the table to sit next noted at the Capitol.

Cooperative Extension. to me.’”

When our telephone But it’s a different story interview wraps up, and for critical issues like ecoI’ve mentioned that I have a phoner nomic development, environmental scheduled with the former governor, regulation and other politically senRogers closes by saying, “Give Tommy sitive matters. Says Smeeding: If Don my regards.”

Nichols, the state’s longtime economic guru, were still alive, “they wouldn’t When we talk, Thompson is forthwant to hear what he had to say.” right: He won’t badmouth the officeDemocrats share responsibility holders “who have the job I love.” But for the state of affairs. The estrangewhen I bring up their relationship with ment became noticeable during Gov. UW leaders, he tells me, “I wish they Doyle’s administration, from 2003 to got along better. “ 2011. While the Democratic chief ex “You can’t build that university by ecutive stood strong for stem cell refighting it,” he says. “You got to work search, he did not pull UW talent into together. Everybody has got to put his administration. their shoulder to the wheel and get the “Doyle to me was a great disapjob done for the state of Wisconsin.” pointment,” says political scientist Joel His advice to UW System President Rogers. He directs the UW-affiliated Ray Cross? Invite lawmakers to tour COWS think tank and says as part of the state’s 13 four-year campuses. Let his policy advocacy he wrote Doyle’s them see for themselves what fantastic economic development strategy for places they are.

“Every time I go to the campuses and see the kind of research and development they’re doing, it makes me proud to be part of it,” he adds.

“That pride has to got to be instilled into the governor and the Legislature.

They got to realize they’re only paying around 31, 32% of the cost of the university system. If anybody comes up to me and says ‘I’ll be your biggest job creator. You pay 30 cents and I’ll pay 70 cents,’ who wouldn’t take that offer?

When you look at it that way, the UW is a huge moneymaker for the state. It’s a huge economic driver.”

Thompson’s final “State of the State” addresses in 2000 and 2001 are chock full of UW strategies to grow the Wisconsin economy. There’s “the Madison Initiative,” “the Milwaukee Idea,” “the Chippewa Valley Initiative,” plus the touting of expansive campus projects that began in the early 1990s, including WISTAR and BioStar.

All together, he said in 2001, 4,025 campus building projects — at a collective cost of almost $2 billion — broke ground across the state. The year before, Thompson held a test tube of DNA strands in his hand as he told the Legislature: “Ladies and gentlemen, the face of our future lies in this little tube and many others like it in laboratories across Wisconsin.”

The four-term governor championed “the New Wisconsin Idea. “ He described it as a bold new partnership between the UW and the business community that would produce high-skill, high-paying technology jobs for state residents.

“People were just beginning to understand how our reliance on manufacturing was not pushing the state forward,” says George Lightbourn, a top state manager in the Thompson years. “Here we have a governor who early on saw the power of biotechnology.”

Lightbourn argues that the massive investments in life science faculty, classrooms and buildings will prove to be Thompson’s greatest legacy in the long run, surpassing even school choice and welfare reform.

“Decades from now it will still be yielding benefits to the state,” Lightbourn predicts.

Reasonable people can argue wheth-

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er the UW accomplished enough with these new resources.

But what can’t be questioned was Thompson’s unique skill to promote the state and forge partnerships with his political opposites on common goals. His teaming with UW-Madison Chancellor Donna Shalala — an unabashed Clintonstyle liberal who shared his ambitions to build the UW — was one of the great stories of the Thompson years. It was Shalala, with Thompson’s support, who initiated the era of private fundraising for campus buildings.

Thompson also paired with Assembly Speaker Tom Loftus — the brainy and savvy Democratic leader of the day — in his first term as governor. As “a bipartisan committee of two,” they toured every campus in the state to build rapport with the UW students and staff. “We were together so often that in Superior he gave my speech and I gave his speech,” Thompson recalls with a hearty laugh.

Of course, it’s that sort of bipartisan “let’s do it for Wisconsin” attitude that is sorely missing at the Capitol today. Total Republican control of the executive, legislative and judicial wings produces none of the required outreach and compromise that comes with divided government.

When I asked Thompson how he would mend the Capitol’s broken relationship with the university, he offered neither bromides nor magic fairy dust but commonsense steps. Thompson envisions a successful and outward-focused university system at the very heart of the state’s economic strategy for the 21st century.

Build on the strengths of the 13 fouryear campuses, plus the Extension. Use them to bring the pols and professors together to work with regional civic and business leaders. Re-invigorate the campus visitor committees to strengthen those ties. UW-Madison, in particular, needs to better showcase the breadth and depth of its research to the broader community.

Strengthen UW-Milwaukee. Also, says Thompson, smooth out the campus connections to the K-12 schools and the tech centers to better serve students.

Most intriguing of all, Thompson proposes creation of a special economic zone connecting Madison and Milwaukee, the state’s two largest metro communities and the centers of Wisconsin’s business and educational muscle. Echoing the I-94 corridor strategy advanced a few years ago by retired insurance executive Tom Hefty, Thompson sees great synergy if UW-Madison, Marquette, UW-Milwaukee, and all the tech and private schools are harnessed in a common vision for building Wisconsin.

“We want to develop an economic zone like the Research Triangle in North Carolina,” says Thompson, referring to the RaleighDurham region and the collaborative effort of government, university and business leaders beginning in the 1950s to capitalize on the brainpower of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Duke University and North Carolina State University.

“We’ve never had that kind of cooperation. I started on it, but I left too soon,” he says. “We need to build that — a zone of economic development and educational excellence between Milwaukee and Madison.”

Right off the bat, Thompson envisions an economic summit putting together Madison and Milwaukee area leaders with legislators to work out a strategy. “It could be such a dynamo for growth,” he enthuses.

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Siblings sip Sidecars over Skype André and Tenaya Darlington’s The New Cocktail Hour is a beautiful intro to hand-crafted drinks

BY LINDA FALKENSTEIN PHOTOGRAPHY BY JASON VARNEY

CONTINUE D ON PAGE 24

➡

APRIL 14–20, 2016 ISTHMUS.COM

The joie de vivre of the cocktail life comes through loud and clear in a new “essential guide” to hand-crafted drinks, The New Cocktail Hour, by siblings André and Tenaya Darlington (Running Press, $22).

André, a longtime Isthmus contributor and new owner of Field Table restaurant on the Capitol Square (see story page 21), and sister Tenaya, a former Isthmus editor who now lives in Philadelphia, collaborated on the project long-distance.

“It really started with us making drinks together over Skype,” says Tenaya in a phone interview from Philly. “We would make the same drinks in our respective kitchens and talk it over. There are certain cocktails we made four or five times trying to figure out the best version. It was really fun — though we made a lot of drinks where we took one sip and it went down the sink.”

“The floor in my kitchen was sticky for at least two years,” adds André, in a separate interview.

They compiled their research into a “giant best-of list, sort of a cocktail canon, sipping our way or shaking our way through the eras,” Tenaya says. “It gave us an understanding of how cocktails developed.”

Unlike most cocktail books, The New Cocktail Hour is arranged chronologically, telling a history of the cocktail in

19

n FOOD & DRINK

Real ramen Two new noodle joints prove the Japanese dish is more than a trend

BY KYLE NABILCY

ISTHMUS.COM APRIL 14–20, 2016

It’s time to accept a simple truth: Ramen is a thing now. It’s pizza. It’s tacos. It’s cheeseburgers, man. And if all you know about ramen is the 25-cent grocery store brick, it’s time to tear open the flavor pouch of real ramen.

I’m not trying to be the cultural authenticity police. But there is a more traditional style of ramen than the dry stuff, with carefully prepared broth, slow-cooked egg and a combination of vegetables like sprouts, bamboo shoots and seaweed. The terms you’ll see on every ramen menu describe the flavor base of the broths. Tonkotsu (pork bone) and miso (fermented soybean) are the big two, and usually the most intense. Shoyu (soy sauce) and shio (salt) are a little milder, but with their own unique charms.

Locally, Umami, Sujeo and others have familiarized Madison with this style. And now two new ramen joints, Ramen Kid and Ramen Station, prove that the noodle has become more than a trend.

20

Ramen Kid on West Gilman Street has a street art vibe to match the youthfulness of its between-two-Hubs neighborhood.

The staff is young, the crowd is young, the tunes are primarily hip-hop. Business hours run until 10 p.m. six nights a week — not late enough to be a bar-time sop, but not so early that it can’t accommodate diners who are in the middle of a night on the town.

The menu at Ramen Kid has a few starters and a limited number of ramen bases and combinations. Chicken karaage is a welcome presence and is unexpectedly juicy for nuggets of fried white meat. But overall the dish is bland, with no evidence of its hallmark marinade.

Takoyaki are also offered, but if you’re not hardcore craving these creamy fritters with bits of octopus inside, the too-chewy meat will probably disappoint.

I found the broth bases lacking in depth, with only the butter corn variant of the basic miso ramen to be as potent as it should be. It was a wildly flavorful, if too salty, bowl. Sweet, bready, funky notes called to mind a big barleywine ale.

Tonkotsu was less impressive and poorly emulsified (the best tonkotsu broths are opaque, with fats, solids and water all smoothly incorporated), and ordering it spicy didn’t save it. A scoop of the kind of ground pork you might find in Sichuan dandan noodles only made the pork broth base seem oilier.

Shio ramen was probably the most enjoyable bowl, with few obvious weaknesses aside from the lack of ocean saltiness and no seaweed. If you’ve had Sujeo’s shio ramen, you wouldn’t recognize Ramen Kid’s as the same style.

Ramen Station’s spicy, chili-like gyuniku ramen.

ERIC TADSEN

Still, Ramen Kid is fun. You can order a bowl of tonkotsu ramen with gyoza in it, sort of like the Campbell’s wonton soup of my childhood. The soft-cooked egg is superbly done, and almost makes up for the overcooked sliced pork. If nothing else, I’ve come to love hanging out on this stretch of Gilman (in part because of the Wiener Shop). Ramen Kid fits right in.

Ramen Station has turned an old Cousins Subs into a charming little dining room, and it sits on South Park Street, long a focal point of Madison’s multicultural dining scene.

While the atmosphere is a little more formal than at Ramen Kid, there’s still plenty of hip-hop beats and millennial diners. Ramen Station is open until 10:30 p.m. during the week and 11 p.m. on weekends because, seriously, late-night ramen rules.

What Ramen Station offers over any other noodle joint in town are a couple of unusual ramen stylings. Take gyuniku ramen: a spicy beef base oddly reminiscent of chili, which delivers a modest bump of heat without making things uncomfortable.

Good old tonkotsu, meanwhile, is a touch smoother and more emulsified than at Ramen Kid, but could still use deeper flavor development. The slices of braised pork, however, were lovely. Though slightly mushy on one visit, the meat was tender and ringed with luxurious fat.

That pork rescued an otherwise unremarkable bowl of shoyu ramen, proving that one of Ramen Station’s strengths is its ability to season and prepare meats. A side menu of izakaya-style skewers includes smoky chicken thighs, a bundle of chewy enoki mushrooms wrapped in crisped bacon, and hefty shell-on

RAMEN KID 461 W. Gilman St., 608-467-7387 ramenkidmadison.com n 11 am-2:30 pm and 5-10 pm Mon.-Fri., 11 am-10 pm Sat., 11 am-9 pm Sun. n $4-$11. n Accessibility: One step up into the building.

RAMEN STATION 1124 S. Park St., 608-819-8918 ramenstationmadison.com n 11 am-2:30 pm and 4:30-10:30 pm Mon.-Thurs., 11 am-2:30 pm and 4:30-11 pm Fri.-Sat., noon-10 pm Sun. $3-$13

shrimp served with their heads, tails and legs — and a lot of salt, perfect for licking off your fingers.

The chicken karaage (thigh meat this time) had all the flavor that Ramen Kid’s was lacking, but couldn’t quite bring the crunch I was after.

Curry rice with pork katsu (a pounded, breaded chop) was mild, as Japanese curry typically is, but was properly seasoned and cooked — pure comfort food.

At both restaurants, I sat near diners young and old fiddling with chopsticks, deep in conversations about ramen traditions, international cuisine and stretching culinary horizons. Not once did I hear someone complain about how a bowl of ramen shouldn’t cost more than a buck.

There is better ramen in Madison than at Ramen Kid and Ramen Station, but put your face over a steaming bowl of noodles and broth and inhale its history, feel the work that went into preparing it. Even an okay ramen can still transport you. n

Farm fresh Field Table will serve the Capitol Square from dawn to dusk

BY DYLAN BROGAN

The Capitol Square’s newest restaurant, Field Table, 10 W. Mifflin St., will fill several gaps in the downtown food scene. First on the list: doughnuts.

“The people have spoken,” says coowner André Darlington. “We’ve been hearing we need doughnuts downtown for years.” So these doughnuts will be made fresh, in-house.

Darlington (former Isthmus contributor and author of The New Cocktail Hour, see page 19) describes Field Table as a “miniemporium” that will transform throughout the day. It is slated to open soon and will reap the bounty of the Dane County Farmers’ Market as soon as possible.

The space has undergone extensive remodeling to increase its visibility from the street, says Darlington. Heliotrope Architects of Seattle designed a new facade and a new entry with direct street access.

Twenty-foot-high windows overlook the Capitol Square and can be opened during warm weather. An 18-seat bar divides Field Table into two parts: a restaurant/bar and a market/coffee shop. The dining area will seat 70 and a Chef’s Table room will be available for private functions. Darlington is most excited about a four-seat “cheese bar” that looks into the restaurant’s three cheese caves.

Field Table will start the day as a cafe serving coffee from Ruby Coffee Roasters of Nelsonville, Wis., a recent winner of a 2016 Good Food award for its single-origin Ethiopia Guji Uraga. Lunch will focus on grab-and-go items.

Field Table shifts into full restaurant and bar mode at happy hour. Head chef Shannon Berry — whose last gig was at the Nordic restaurant Aquavit in Manhattan — has been working with Darlington on the menu for over six months. Save for a few regular items like a burger, the restaurant menu

Patricia Davis and André Darlington in the extensively remodeled 10 W. Mifflin space.

A Pig in a Fur Coat

Three to try Lamb carpaccio DYLAN BROGAN

at Field Table will be “chalkboard style,” with items changing daily depending on the season and availability.

The farm-to-table ethos will also extend to cocktails and a natural wine program (focus on biodynamic, organic, sustainable wines). Bar manager Mike McDonald, formerly of Bittercube in Milwaukee, says the cocktail program will be “one of the most competitive in the city.”

“The emphasis will be on using ingredients primarily from the Midwest,” says McDonald of the homemade syrups and liqueurs that will anchor the cocktail program. “That’ll make it challenging, because it hasn’t really been done before. But it should set us apart.”

Co-owner Patricia Davis is handling the business side of Field Table (Darlington and Davis are also partners in life). Davis, who

has an MBA from UW-Madison, grew up on a family cattle farm in South Dakota that raises hormone-free beef. She shares Darlington’s vision of bringing “farm-to-table principles” to a new level in Madison.

“We had both toyed with the idea of opening a restaurant over the years,” says Davis.

“When you love food as much as we do, it’s inevitable.”

True to its name, Field Table will take full advantage of the farmers’ markets and make direct connections with farms. This includes offering single-origin dishes, where the entire meal comes from one farm.

The common thread that unites all the elements of Field Table, says Davis, is “impeccably sourced” ingredients. “If we can’t do it the right way, we won’t be doing it at all,” says Davis. n

A Pig in a Fur Coat, 940 Williamson St.

Lamb carpaccio is a colorful plate; the unusual presentation includes corn shoots, egg yolk and salsa verde.

Beef carpaccio 43 North, 108 King St.

Tenderloin is served with pea shoots, shaved Parmesan and crisped sunchokes, with pepper crackers on the side.

Beef carpaccio Capitol Chophouse, 9 E. Wilson St.

Grassfed wagyu beef with shaved Parmesan and the added exclamation points of white truffle aioli and capers is topped with arugula and served alongside sourdough crostini.

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After news broke last week that Bunky’s Cafe, 2425 Atwood Ave., was closing its restaurant to focus on catering and wholesale sales, Teresa Pullara-Ouabel says the outpouring from the Atwood neighborhood brought her to tears.

“I’ve received the most gracious, sweet letters from people. I didn’t realize we had such an impact,” says Pullara-Ouabel, who owns and operates Bunky’s with her husband, Rachid Ouabel. “But I have to remind people we aren’t really leaving the neighborhood.”

At the end of April, Bunky’s will cease operating as a restaurant but will still be serving its Mediterranean and Italian dishes at private parties, community gatherings and other events. People can book the old Bunky’s space, free of charge: “I keep telling folks, get 20 of their friends together and it’ll be just like old times,” says Pullara-Ouabel.

Bunky’s hummus, falafel, baba ghanouj and other packaged products are already available at many local grocery stores, UW Hospital and even at the Smart Motors service department. “We are seeing a lot of interest because people want healthy options that are also vegan and gluten-free,” says wholesale manager Jackie Lokvam. “We’ll be ramping up our selections to include more favorites from the Bunky’s [restaurant] menu.”

Bunky’s Cafe’s last day serving restaurant patrons will be Sunday, April 24.

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Door County Brewing, known for its Belgian-inspired farmhouse ales, has released Sideshow, a hop-forward beer that’s a great representative of this growing style.

Brewmaster Danny McMahon uses a grist of pilsner malt and a high percentage of wheat (much like a Belgian wit, only without the coriander and orange peel) as the starting point for Sideshow.

The beer is hopped with U.S.-grown El Dorado and German varieties of Hüell Melon and Mandarina Bavaria. That blend creates a bright, fruity, tropical dryness with hints of juicy melon and light candy sweetness. Added to that is a Belgian yeast strain that also offers dryness and hints of spice and pepper. This all makes for a complex flavor profile.

This is a crisp, approachable beer, similar to a white IPA or spicy saison. Serving it at refrigerator temps will bring out the spicy dryness, while drinking it in the low 40s allows the fruity melon flavors to emerge.

Sideshow finishes at an estimated 40 IBUs and 6.2% ABV. It’s sold in six-packs for around $7-$9/each. Sideshow is part of Door County’s year-round lineup.

— ROBIN SHEPARD

APRIL 14–20, 2016 ISTHMUS.COM

23

n FOOD & DRINK

Siblings sip Sidecars continued from 19

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America. “That’s so much more helpful than by base spirit,” says André.

He also thinks it tells the best story.

Cocktails had diminished in popularity after a post-Civil War boom through the 1870s1890s. “Prohibition brought cocktails roaring back, once alcohol was illegal. Everybody likes stuff that’s illegal,” André says.

Prohibition-era cocktails (still the prototype drinks most people associate with the term “cocktail”) also got people hooked on sugar. “In the ’30s, everything was very sweet, influenced by drugstore phosphate drinks. There was lots of grenadine and raspberry,” says André.

Six days of shooting with photographer Jason Varney and Philadelphia bartender Keith Raimondi making the drinks resulted in the book’s beautiful photographs.

The first day was pretty much all business, André notes, “but by the second morning, we were looking at the drinks and saying, ‘We should try this one.’”

Cocktails can be tricky to shoot, he says. “The glass reflects, it changes the color of the liquid in the glass — it’s technical, there’s a lot of detail that goes into the setup.

By the time we were done, we were exhausted.”

The book is both a practical handbook and inspiration for armchair tipplers.

And the descriptions of the drinks are just as enticing — what you might expect from, as the introduction divulges, “drinkers with writing habits.”

André calls the book a “prosumer” approach to home cocktail making, sophisticated but approachable. “We stuck with using alcohol that’s generally available.

We didn’t use anything that’s only available in Brooklyn, New York.” Other helpful elements include suggestions on no-fail ratios and “how to host a party with three basic bottles.”

And the book “takes the cocktail fully into the kitchen,” says Tenaya. “We wanted to figure out what you can whip up as a meal with these drinks.” It’s unique among cocktail books by offering food pairing

suggestions with each recipe, even if it’s a simple matchup with blue cheese or dark chocolate or nuts.

“Sometimes you don’t have the energy to make a meal, but you feel like you’re cooking if you make a cocktail,” says Tenaya. “Then order takeout — Chinese food or tacos or pizza.”

A sidebar (“Fun Pairings for Lazy Dinners”) offers specific suggestions: anything with Angostura bitters with Chinese; a “Three Dots and a Dash” with tacos, a Dark ’n Stormy with pizza.

The two do pay tribute to the huge renaissance in craft cocktails the U.S. is experiencing today. Tenaya cites the Flutterby Lassi, a contemporary recipe that kept popping up in their research. “I can still remember us making this drink together on Skype. It’s a yogurt cocktail, made with yogurt and gin and absinthe and cucumber and dill.” Tenaya had her doubts about the recipe. “I thought, ‘I love dairy, but can this be good? Yogurt and absinthe?’” She let her brother try it first: “I could see the immediate reaction on his face. It was wonderful! Creamy, herbaceous, and there’s a little simple syrup.

It’s just heavenly!” n

Monkey see, monkey drink

Year of the Monkey

Forequarter channels its spirit animal in transitional menu In the Chinese zodiac, 2016 is the year of the monkey — a symbol that represents intelligence, curiosity and confidence.

At Forequarter, bartenders have channeled this astrological event by concocting inventive drinks to match the monkey’s gregarious personality. Year of the Monkey combines lemongrass-ginger bourbon with pineapple, lime and a dash of hopped blood orange bitters. It’s a complex-sounding flavor palate, but the effect is cohesive and downright refreshing. Served in a dainty snifter glass and garnished with a wheel of lime, it’s a bright, cheerful cocktail, almost like tropical gold rush.

Double down on your potable primates with the Monkey Gland, a 1920s classic that combines gin, absinthe, orange juice and grenadine. Fun fact: It’s named for a now-defunct surgical procedure that in-

volves grafting a monkey testicle onto a human to enhance longevity.

These two are among the holdouts from Forequarter’s winter drink menu, but the bar is in the process of transitioning to its springtime offerings. Before it’s gone, try the Drink Macduff, which combines scotch with pear, maple, lapsang soughong (Chinese black tea) and orange bitters.

This cocktail is an excellent choice for people looking for an entry-level scotch experience.

Among the new and noteworthy is the Midas Gold — a light, smoky, mezcalbased drink. A cousin of tequila, the mezcal gives this cocktail a pleasant layer of quirk, while notes of sour grapefruit add a tart, fruity, satisfying finish, hinting at sweet things to come as the seasons change.

— ALLISON GEYER

ERIC TADSEN

ISTHMUS.COM APRIL 14–20, 2016

Eats events

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Dane County Farmers’ Market

Pancake breakfast

Wood-fired pizza lunch

Saturday, April 16

Sunday, April 17

Wednesday, April 20

The largest producer-only farmers’ market in the country is back on the Capitol Square for the season. Over 160 vendors will be selling fresh produce, plants, baked goods, meats and more. Food carts and other vendors, too. Rise and shine! The fun starts at 6 am and rolls on until 2 pm.

The UW-Madison chapter of Habitat for Humanity is flippin’ flapjacks for former President Jimmy Carter’s favorite nonprofit. At First United Methodist Church, 203 Wisconsin Ave., 9-1 pm.

Suggested donation $5/plate.

In a diversion from its regular menu, A Pig in a Fur Coat, 940 Williamson St., offers a pizza lunch every third Wednesday of the month. Chef Dan Bonanno lets the dough ferment for a full 36 hours to produce a pie that he describes as a cross between thin-crust and Neapolitan style.

11 am until the pizza runs out.

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n SPORTS

Disc dominators Madison Radicals win a cool season opener

BY MICHAEL POPKE

If you’ve yet to check out the Madison Radicals — the city’s professional ultimate disc team — this should be the summer you do.

After all, not every home game at Breese Stevens Field will be played in 30-degree temperatures like last Saturday night, April 9, when the Radicals beat the aptly named Minnesota Wind Chill, 25-11, in their season opener.

This team of veterans is ripe for a national title. Last year, the Radicals came within two points of winning the American Ultimate Disc League Championship in San Jose, Calif., and have made it to the AUDL’s final four in three of the team’s first four years of existence.

The 26-team AUDL, now in its fifth year, will host its Championship Weekend in Madison on Aug. 6 and 7.

How cool would it be for this team and its hip fan base to win ultimate’s ultimate title on the Radicals’ home turf?

“We expect to be back in the finals, for sure,” says Radicals co-captain Patrick Shriwise, one of 21 players returning from last year’s squad. “I think our team is now full of guys experienced in high-pressure situations.

We’ve been building a strong foundation for the past few years, and we’re only going to be better this year.”

KIMBERLY WINHEIM

The Radicals are good enough to back up those words. The April 9 victory extended Madison’s home winning streak to 24 games. Their greatest challenge will come against the upstart rival Pittsburgh Thunderbirds, a talented second-year franchise Madison beat in last season’s Midwest divisional finals, and the Radicals want to do it again. From the team’s first practice in January, players say they’ve looked forward to hosting Pittsburgh at Breese Stevens on June 4.

Madison has become a hotbed for ultimate — a hybrid of soccer, football and basketball played with a Frisbee. Attendance topped 1,000 fans at many Radicals games last year, and the team will appear on ESPN3 often this season, according to team owner, general manager and head coach Tim DeByl. The Radicals also are helping Breese Stevens Field become a more popular east-side destination. The team increased beer selections, added more entertainment and expanded seating options this year. Big Top Baseball, a partnership that includes Madison Mallards founder Steve Schmitt and president Vern Stenman, now manages the facility, so expect more cool changes as the season unfolds.

The Radicals have six home games remaining, including one against the Chicago Wildfire on May 13 and a four-game home stand between May 21 and June 11. n

Peter Graffy of the Madison Radicals (left) defends against Carlos Wolle of the Minnesota Wind Chill.

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Put a ring in it

Coach Leo Morel (foreground) leads shadowboxing with weights at Canvas Club Boxing.

New boxing studios widen the range of Madison’s fitness options

BY TAMIRA MADSEN

There are other boxing-related fitness options in town, too. Ford’s Gym was the pioneer in the area, and many martial arts studios also offer kickboxing sessions.

9Round offers individual circuit-training workouts with a kickboxing focus. Paul Ryan opened 9Round west in 2011, and added an east-side location in 2012.

On a recent weekday afternoon, the west studio was bustling with members rotating through a 30-minute routine, created by a professional boxer.

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The nine stations begin with cardio and strength elements, and conclude with an abdominal core drill. Hand wraps and boxing gloves are included in the membership cost, and a trainer is always present to answer questions and offer guidance.

A bell-and-lights sequence alerts members to begin a circuit or switch stations, with 30 seconds of exercise between each station, too â&#x20AC;&#x201D; sit-ups, push-ups or jumping jacks â&#x20AC;&#x201D; to keep a person moving the entire session.

Bells, balls and bags are all part of the routine. The first station involves a threeminute jump rope drill, followed by dumbbells, kettle bells or medicine balls that develop stamina for punch and kick moves.

Stations three through eight are the most challenging, as members use combinations of punches and kicks on 100-lb. long bags and double-end bags. Stations seven and eight highlight an uppercut bag and speed bag, and the last station focuses on core drills aimed at toning the abdomen and glutes. Â 9Round is different from other area facilities, says Ryan, because there are no set class times and many different kinds of equipment. He suggests participating in sessions at least three times per week. â&#x20AC;&#x153;You learn a little bit about kickboxing and self-defense,â&#x20AC;? Ryan says. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s an efficient workout. Most people burn 500 to 700 calories in doing one.â&#x20AC;?

Canvas Boxing Club and 9Round both offer a free class to first-time students. n

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If your fitness aims are to float like a butterfly and sting like a bee, youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll want to check out Canvas Club Boxing.

The latest boxing-centric fitness club in Madison opened March 10 at 1831 Monroe St. Besides the wood floor, few traces are left of former tenant Barriques (which moved up the street). The space now features a boxing ring created by a Chicago-based designer, heavy bags and a poster of sports icon Muhammad Ali. The club is co-owned by Melissa Ernst, whose family has operated Middletonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Harbor Athletic Club for 32 years. Ernst is pleased with the â&#x20AC;&#x153;grittiness and old-school feelâ&#x20AC;? of the studio.

The main â&#x20AC;&#x153;boutâ&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x201D; or class â&#x20AC;&#x201D; that Canvas Club Boxing offers is a 45-minute boot camp session with many dynamic components. The group class begins with a warmup and moves to shadow boxing in front of a mirror, then transitions to critical segments done twice: bag work, ring work and strength and agility elements. The workout concludes with weights, push-ups and one round of abdominal conditioning.

A boxing match consists of three-minute rounds, a tradition Ernst mirrors with her Canvas Club Boxing workouts. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Boxers who come to train will start with shadow boxing, hear the buzzer and will move to do the next thing,â&#x20AC;? she says. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Every class wonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t be the same. We want people in the ring, on the bags and doing some type of speed work, and how cool is it to step into that ring?â&#x20AC;?

In structuring the workout, staff wanted to make it accessible to students of any fitness ability level. Ernst hopes students walk out of the studio feeling empowered.

Students are required to use hand wraps, sold on site. Boxing gloves, also known as pads, are provided free for use during class.

Ernst is also planning activities to appeal to a wide range of clients â&#x20AC;&#x201D; date nights for couples, for instance, and beer and boxing socials.

Canvas Club Boxing also will feature one-onone training, and an â&#x20AC;&#x153;Introduction to the Noble Artâ&#x20AC;? class led by Leo Morel. All instructors have certified fitness or personal training backgrounds, but Morel is the only one with boxing credentials.

The boxing gym was a fixture during Morelâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s childhood in San Juan, Puerto Rico, where his father, Cirilo Morel, trained athletes at the facility. Leo picked up the sport at age 6 and strung together a 19-1 record as an amateur, but quit after suffering his only loss at 17.

Leo Morel, who moved to Madison in 1987, was a full-time maintenance worker at Harbor Athletic Club for seven years prior to joining the Canvas staff.

Many Madisonians likely are familiar with the athletic pursuits of Leoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s younger brother, Eric Morel, who was a member of the 1996 U.S. Olympic team that competed in the Summer Games in Atlanta. Eric held the World Boxing Association Flyweight title from 2000 to 2003.

Leo Morel is eager to share his passion for the sport in a safe environment where a person can get in a workout and gain boxing knowledge under one roof. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Why do you throw a jab-jab [instead of] a punch?â&#x20AC;? Morel asks. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re going to understand when you watch a fight why a person throws a hook, why a person throws a jab.â&#x20AC;?

Morel thinks that the average person avoids going to â&#x20AC;&#x153;a real gymâ&#x20AC;? because itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s intimidating. â&#x20AC;&#x153;But here, everybody is equal.â&#x20AC;?

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Time travelers Great World Texts helps students connect with classic literature

BY BETH TURNER

ISTHMUS.COM APRIL 14–20, 2016

At Madison East High School, students in Amy Isensee’s classroom are considering what they have in common with 17th-century Chinese culture.

Isensee’s Advanced Placement English Literature class is participating in Great World Texts, a groundbreaking program launched in 2005 by UW-Madison’s Center for the Humanities. More than 400 students from East are reading and creating projects related to the same novel: Journey to the West

by Wu Cheng’en — originally published in 1592 and more widely known throughout English-speaking countries as Monkey.

The culmination of their study is a daylong conference on April 20 at Union South, where students from East will join more than 1,200 students from around the state to present their work and have opportunities to interact with UW-Madison faculty, graduate students and the public at large.

The preparation begins in early spring, when Isensee introduces students to the complex themes of Journey to the West, which is based on the true story of a Tang Dynasty monk who travels to India seeking sacred texts. “We do not live in a black-andwhite world,” Isensee tells her students. “We are surrounded by incredibly complex issues and situations constantly.”

When students divide into small groups for a discussion, junior Alyssa McGillivary notes that greed is a theme in the novel, which features Taoist and Buddhist philosophy. Her group debates whether Western culture today parallels what was playing out in Monkey centuries ago.

“Consumerism is more and more prevalent today,” McGillivary says. “We need to work on this, as greed affects humanity.”

28

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Nicolas John Dupaty, a junior and newcomer to Great World Texts, says he did not read much when he was younger. But he says the program has given him an opportunity to read a classic book, examine philosophical questions, and express what he’s learned in creative ways.

Students at the April 20 conference will not just be presenting research papers. “This is an opportunity for the students to present a final project: a paper, interpretive dance, a band, a video,” says Emily Clark, associate director at the Center for the Humanities.

For their project, Dupaty’s group is crafting a large cutout of Monkey, the book’s main character, and attaching a variety of quotes from the book.

“My group wanted to create something interactive for viewers/students to not only understand who Monkey is, but to ask questions and comment on our analysis as well,” he says.

“I like the fact that instead of being forced to write an essay or report, you get

More than 1,200 Wisconsin high school students will present projects at the April 20 conference at Union South.

to read the book and be creative about it,” says McGillivary.

The program expanded this year, allowing more schools to participate, and UW faculty visited schools around the state to help teachers and students prepare for the conference.

For example, about 30 AP literature and sociology students from Prescott High School, about 250 miles north of Madison, will attend the conference this year for the first time.

“It is huge for both Prescott High School students and the UW System to know each other exists,” says Mandy Bernick, who teaches literature in Prescott. “It’s super-important for high school kids to have the humanities exposure that Great World Texts brings.”

Rania Huntington, assistant professor of East Asian Languages at UW-Madison, says

she has a “strong personal stake” in the project. “I was once a Wisconsin high school student [from Mazomanie] reading this same book.” Huntington says Journey to the West introduced her to a complex cosmology and awakened a passion for other worlds; after reading it, she studied Chinese, traveled to Taiwan and China and ultimately joined the faculty at UW. “I have an obligation to share this rich world with other Wisconsin students.” n The April 20 Great World Texts conference, including the students’ presentations and visual art displays, is open to the public. At 11:00 a.m., Chinese American playwright David Henry Hwang will present the keynote address. He is the author of the Tony Award-winning M. Butterfly and The Lost Empire, a mini-series based on Journey to the West.

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Jane Hamilton shares a book launch with Madison authors

BY JAY RATH

You might be familiar with some of Jane Hamilton’s work, even if you haven’t read any of her novels or seen the movies based on them.

That’s because the famous author and her husband sell products from their apple orchard at the Dane County Farmers’ Market on the Capitol Square. “Madison really feels like my second home,” she says.

Hamilton will launch her new book, The Excellent Lombards, with friends Dean Robbins, Kevin Henkes and Laura Dronzek at A Room of One’s Own bookstore at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, April 19.

“We all happen to have new books out this spring,” says Robbins, the former editor of Isthmus. Painter/illustrator Dronzek and Henkes, the Caldecott-winning children’s author, have collaborated on When Spring Comes. Robbins’ new work is also a children’s book, Two Friends: Susan B. Anthony and Frederick Douglass.

“We are four fine friends, and it’s going to be a wild, bacchanalian book affair, if that isn’t an oxymoron,” says Hamilton, laughing.

“We’re going to do a little show all together, and then there will be a Q and A, and whatever frivolity happens after that.”

Although Hamilton is a native of Oak Park, Ill., she has strong ties to Wisconsin. She spent childhood summers at a “farm camp” near Delavan, and her grandmother had a farmhouse in Twin Lakes, near Lake Geneva.

She and her husband, Madison native Bob Willard, live on their orchard in Racine County.

“I’ve lived in Wisconsin for my whole adult life, which on the whole seems a stroke of great good fortune,” she says.

Hamilton’s first and second novels, The Book of Ruth and A Map of the World, were both Oprah’s Book Club selections.

Hamilton adapted A Map of the World into a film, released in 2000, starring Sigourney Weaver and Julianne Moore.

The Excellent Lombards is about a girl named Mary Frances Lombard, who Hamilton says is “deranged by love — the love of her family.”

“She wants never to grow up,” says Hamilton. “She wants her primary family to stay intact forever. If in fact she does have to grow up, she wants to run her family orchard with her brother.”

Hamilton says her book is actually about the issue of succession in a business or farm.

“Who gets to stay? Who can’t stay? Who stays but doesn’t want to stay? All of those vexing issues are in the body of our heroine.”

Like many of her novels, it’s set in a familiar landscape. “I don’t always put my books in the Midwest, entirely,” says Hamilton, “but I certainly have found plenty of material in the Midwest to keep me interested and alert and amused and edified. But when people ask me, ‘What is the meaning of the Midwestern landscape?’ it beats the hell out of me!”

Hamilton says the Madison book launch will be a festive affair “There’s going to be cake, and Laura Dronzek — who is a master baker — is going to make cookies. There’s going to be my family’s apple cider. I hope all of our Madison friends will be there. It will really be like a party.” n

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n MUSIC Full Compass Presents

JAZZ JUNCTION Benefit for the Greater Madison Jazz Consortium STARRING

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Celebrate their new books with award winning local authors.

Rockin’ to the max Rökker celebrates 20 years of Maximum Ink

BY MICHAEL POPKE

LAURA DRONZEK

KEVIN HENKES

DEAN ROBBINS

JANE HAMILTON

When Spring Comes

ISTHMUS.COM APRIL 14–20, 2016

Two Friends

32

Excellent Lombards

Tuesday, April 19 at 6pm

BOOKS NEW & USED 315 W. Gorham St. • (608) 257-7888 www.roomofonesown.com Mon.–Sat. 10–8, Sun. 12–5

For the past 20 years, the colorful and provocative covers of Maximum Ink — a free music newspaper distributed monthly in the Madison area — have compelled readers to pick it up for profiles of local bands and national artists on tour in Wisconsin, as well as comprehensive listings of upcoming gigs at venues large and small.

To celebrate two decades in print, select covers will be on display April 14 (5-10 p.m.) at the Gallery at Yahara Bay. Additionally, all 242 issues will be available for public perusal.

“It’s a music-scene history of the past 20 years, and it really brings back a lot of memories,” says mononymous publisher Rökker, who started the paper in March 1996 with Black n’ Tan, his longtime business partner.

Maximum Ink debuted around the same time as the demise of Night Sites & Sounds, a similar publication for which Rökker worked as a graphic artist.

Bands featured on Maximum Ink covers over the years include such local and regional heroes as Die Kreuzen, Robert J., Sexy Ester, Ottoman Empire and PHOX, as well as national acts ranging from Slayer to Rat Dog, Cowboy Mouth to Luther Allison, Puddle of Mudd to Beastie Boys, and Slipknot to Sevendust.

On April 16, “Bomblastica 2016” — a free 20th anniversary bash at the Frequency — will feature live performances by local bands that have been part of the paper’s diverse history, including Cold Black River, Motherhive, subatomic and Droids Attack.

Maximum Ink’s name was derived from the intent to use as much ink as possible for the cover images, according to Rökker, a former art student at the UW. In fact, some of the paper’s earliest covers doubled as class projects.

The paper’s first issue featured a murky image of Ministry on the cover and a masthead that included Paul Gargano (who became executive editor of Metal Edge magazine) and yours truly. Another contributor to the paper, Sarah Grant, now writes for Rolling Stone. Many other Maximum Ink writers have contributed for years, sharing their passion for new music.

“I could name countless people who at the time they came to me had no platform to get things published, and I helped them get to another place,” Rökker says.

While many other publications folded during the recession, Maximum Ink survived with small 16-page issues, a reduced coverage area (it formerly went to many corners of Wisconsin) and dedicated advertisers who recognize the niche the paper fills.

About five years ago, Rökker introduced two new layers to the Maximum Ink brand: Max Ink

The first cover featured Chicago-based industrial metal band Ministry.

Radio, a freeform online station that promotes Wisconsin artists, and Rökker Vodka, a gluten-free spirit handcrafted at Yahara Bay Distillers that has created a new revenue stream.

“The alcohol industry is 20 times more brutal than the newspaper industry,” Rökker laughs. “So I must be a glutton for punishment. I find what’s super-hard for other people but easy for me, and I do that.”

As if all this weren’t challenging enough, Rökker books bands for AtwoodFest, the long-running Madison block party and community festival that takes place every July and is known for its musical lineup, which in the past has featured Last Crack (a band Rökker managed), SIMO, Beatallica, Canned Heat and Deadstring Brothers.

“I’m like the Ted Thompson of AtwoodFest,” says Rökker, referring to the Green Bay Packers general manager who’s known for piecing together winning teams via the NFL draft and the waiver wire. “My job is to find the best talent for the right prices and create a stellar lineup every year.”

In a way, that might be Rökker’s formula for success with Maximum Ink, too. Using limited resources, he continues to create a grassroots publication with broad impact.

“People come up to me and say, ‘Rökker, thank you for doing all this,’” he says. “That’s what I cherish the most.” n

n STAG E

“Messiah” revisited

Post-apocalyptic stunner

Bach Musicians rescue Handel’s classic from Christmas

Mr. Burns imagines a culture based on The Simpsons

BY JOHN W. BARKER

BY LAURA JONES

Madison Bach Musicians have rescued Handel’s Messiah from its spurious hijacking for Christmas and put it back where Handel intended it, in the Easter season.

The audience at the April 8 opening performance at the First Congregational Church seemed to appreciate the choice, reacting with a prolonged standing ovation and rewarding the ensemble and music director Trevor Stephenson for a refreshing performance of proper Baroque character.

With only a few tiny cuts, and a single intermission splitting the second of the work’s three parts, the work is still long, but unusually rewarding. The orchestra was of period size and character (12 string players, with two oboes, bassoon, two trumpets, timpani and organ/harpsichord continuo).

Eight singers divided the solos among them, and joined together as the chorus.

All eight are excellent young singers who delivered their solos with wonderful precision, and with notable clarity of diction and nuance. (At times, some ventured into embellishments or cadenzas, a few of which were overdone.) In the choral movements, the small, almost madrigal-like ensemble allowed the words to be heard with clarity rarely attainable by a chorus. Nevertheless, such small forces provided insufficient contrast to the solo numbers.

Handel regularly used church choirs in his performances of the work, and the composer knew how to make a chorus sound. A vocal octet is not a chorus. (And the addition of the Madison Boychoir for the upper choral lines in the “Hallelujah!” chorus and the final “Amen” provided little bolstering.)

The weight and power of a proper chorus

According to Mr. Burns, A Post-Electric Play, the world as we know it is ending in 2017. So I’m not going to waste any time: With your last remaining days, go see this play. It’s definitely the most unique show you’ll see all year, and what’s more, Forward Theater knocks it out of the post-apocalyptic, acid rain-soaked park.

Mr. Burns — running at Overture Center’s Playhouse through April 24 — opens in the not-too-distant future, after unknown circumstances have thrust society into a dark dystopia.

Society lacks electrical power and is at the mercy of nuclear plant meltdowns à la Fukushima.

In Act One, a group of survivors circle around a crackling fire in the woods. There’s a quiet sense of doom, but amid the hellfire and brimstone, there’s humor, too. And a very human need for entertainment and distraction, which manifests as storytelling in the night.

Not just any storytelling.

Matt (Marcus Truschinski), Jenny (Georgina McKee), Sam (Jake Penner) and Maria (Elyse Edelman) do their best to recall an episode of The Simpsons. Remembering the show does not mean merely recollecting Homer, Marge, Bart and Lisa; it means recalling all the references contained in a single episode — everything from Night of the Hunter to Cape Fear to Do the Right Thing. The Simpsons is a postmodern show for a postmodern apocalypse.

That’s the genius of The Simpsons, but playwright Anne Washburn doesn’t leave it there.

As the decades proceed, theatrical performance develops, and Washburn brilliantly illuminates memory, pop culture and the fragments of seemingly insignificant ephemera that are sometimes harder to leave behind than the people we’ve lost. After all, Matt can get a new girlfriend, but how can he ever duplicate the taste and sensa-

The period-instrument orchestra delivered a glorious accompaniment.

was the sacrifice made in this intriguing but ultimately problematic miniaturization.

However, the orchestra carried out its work with glorious strength, and conductor Marc Vallon, who conducts with irrepressible enthusiasm, threw his body into shaping each number with vitality and with imaginative inflections. Stephenson, as always, gave a witty and informative introductory lecture.

The upshot of all this is another landmark achievement for the Madison Bach Musicians. They regularly reward audiences with stylistic authenticity and insightful performances, allowing for a totally fresh understanding of Baroque literature. Few in the audiences for this Messiah will hear it the same way hereafter. n

tion of drinking an ice-cold Diet Coke?

What begins as a tense meditation evolves into an operatic spectacle by the third act. The play-within-the-play collapses.

Everything culminates in the lonesome, macabre mythology of a shattered past.

The breathtaking ensemble, which also includes Marti Gobel, Jennifer Hedstrom, Michael Herold and Rana Roman, is as relatable as your next-door neighbors. But they transcend the ordinary: They sing, they dance, they play Bart Simpson. They are, of course, aided in their journey by the stellar Forward Theater production staff, which masterfully employs sound, lighting and sets.

Director (and artistic director) Jennifer Uphoff Gray is the visionary behind Mr. Burns, one of three amazing shows by female playwrights in Forward’s seventh season. What a thrill it is to surrender yourself to a Forward show where Gray and company seem to always up the ante, providing more thrilling theater for Madison audiences. I’d follow them anywhere, even after the apocalypse. n

Elyse Edelman plays Maria, a survivor in a dark dystopia.

ZANE WILLIAMS

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Art openings Friday night at the Artisan Gallery, Zazen Gallery and CLUCK the Chicken Store Special wine tasting and live music at the Schoolhouse Shops & Café Live music and a whole weekend of lively fun at the Hop Garden tap room’s first anniversary celebration.

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n SCREENS

Without Killdozer, no Nevermind The Smart Studios Story places Madison at the center of the alt-rock movement

BY CATHERINE CAPELLARO

The story of how Wendy Schneider ended up at Smart Studios is so ’90s.

The 23-year-old Schneider, newly arrived from New York City, simply knocked on the door of the nondescript building at 1254 E. Washington Ave. and asked if they were hiring interns.

“I talked to the studio manager at the time, and within an hour I was hired,” says Schneider, who moved to Madison in 1991.

“They didn’t ask for a résumé.”

Schneider, who had some experience doing post-production sound in New York, was learning to engineer live sound with a ska band in Madison. But even though she had never made a record, she soon settled in among a cadre of recording engineers at Smart Studios and became a part of a scene that incubated the alternative rock and grunge movements and the careers of Garbage’s Butch Vig and Steve Marker.

Vig says people used to mistake the studio for a crack house. But from inside that building on the yet-to-be-redeveloped East Washington corridor, a collaborative ethos developed and a team of engineers and musicians created a sound that defined a generation.

Among the rock icons that recorded at Smart before it closed in 2010 were Killdozer, the Smashing Pumpkins, L7, Tad and Nirvana. Local rockers Die Kreuzen and the Tar Babies cut their teeth there, too.

Decades later, Schneider’s career has taken a new direction, and she’s fresh off a premiere of The Smart Studios Story at this year’s SXSW festival. The film is one of the most talked-about offerings at this year’s Wisconsin Film Festival, and tickets for the two screenings (April 17 at the Barrymore

Rock luminaries (clockwise from upper left): Dave Grohl, Shirley Manson, Butch Vig and Billy Corgan all appear in Wendy Schneider’s new documentary.

and April 19 at Sundance) sold out in a mere five hours.

Schneider, who has spent years as a working musician, composer, engineer and filmmaker, didn’t set out to make the definitive rock doc, but after the studio closed in 2010, she says she began turning the camera to people who lamented the loss.

“I knew people there,” says Schneider. “I had run my own studio, I’d been in a band, so I understood the loss of Smart subjectively. And I just thought it was important enough to ring up people and say ‘Hey, I’m going to interview you about the closing.’”

Schneider did around 40 interviews in the winter of 2010 after the studio closed. Then she

began sharing footage with Vig and Marker.

“We were all really impressed with how good it felt and how meaningful it was to watch, and we wanted more.” With help from Vig and Marker, Schneider arranged a whirlwind trip to California, interviewing rock icons such as Shirley Manson (Garbage), Dave Grohl (Nirvana, Foo Fighters), Billy Corgan (Smashing Pumpkins) and Donita Sparks (L7).

And from there, the narrative turned to how the studio shaped the sound of a generation. “It started to become, wait a second, if there was no Killdozer, there would be no [Nirvana’s] Nevermind,” says Schneider.

“I saw Smart and the Midwest as a link to what I considered a very big shift in the genre of music in the early ’90s, where the grunge era really roots back to Killdozer. And if you think about it like that, it sort of blows your mind a little bit.”

With more than 90 clips of music, The Smart Studios Story is a film for music lovers and for people who appreciate Madison’s contribution to rock history.

“What I love about the film and why it’s so important to me is that it aligns with that DIY independent ethos that drives what’s real in communities,” says Schneider. “People want to ground themselves in a sense of identity, and music is an expression of that.”

Vig and Marker will be in Madison for a screening, and their band the Know-It-All Boyfriends may make an appearance at the High Noon Saloon for a post-screening reunion of bands that recorded at Smart Studios.

Schneider says she never would have made the documentary without the cooperation of the larger music community, which her film honors. “Everyone who’s ever lifted a finger to make a record out of that building deserves the accolades and the appreciation for this history.” n

ISTHMUS.COM APRIL 14–20, 2016

UW alums reunite for screwball comedy Medal of Victory

34

Wisconsin Film Festival audiences will experience the Madison area on the big screen when Medal of Victory premieres April 19 at the Barrymore Theatre.

The madcap satirical comedy follows two soldiers who go AWOL after accidentally shipping nuclear fusion triggers to Malawi. It’s the project of four UW alums who reunited to make the film, shooting in Madison, Darlington, Cottage Grove and Baraboo.

“The tone could be described as the Coen brothers meet the comedies of the ’80s,” says Will Blomker, a Madison native and one of the film’s producers and lead actors. “And there’s a certain element of political satire that was influenced by our love of The Onion.”

Small-town Wisconsin is skewered, too, as the protagonists are mistaken for war heroes and get dragged into the cutthroat

politics of a mayoral race. Blomker says Baraboo’s picturesque square provided the perfect setting for those scenes and that the city’s officials were supportive. “They gave us a squad car and police uniforms, and they shut down streets. We filmed in local businesses and even in the police station.”

Joshua Moise, who wrote, directed and edited Medal of Victory, says the film took about four years “from blank page to finished product.” It is the Atlanta native’s first feature film, but it’s not his first entry into the Wisconsin Film Festival. In 2002, the year Moise graduated from the UW, he had a short documentary, Wisconsin Supermax, in the festival.

After its premiere at the Barrymore, Medal of Victory will be showing at Point Cinema for one week, beginning on April 22.

Although Moise and Blomker currently work and reside in New York, they agree the Wiscon-

Mason Hill (left) and Will Blomker play soldiers mistaken for war heroes.

sin Film Festival is the perfect homecoming for a film that wouldn’t exist without the UW. “We’re super-excited,” says Moise. “We were very

happy to get in and to bring the film home and share it with everybody.”

— CATHERINE CAPELLARO

The film list New releases Barbershop: The Next Cut: The crew at Calvinâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s try to turn around their community.

Creative Control: A man uses a pair of virtualreality glasses to have an affair with a hologram of his buddyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s girlfriend.

Criminal: The memories and skills of a deceased CIA agent are implanted into an unpredictable and dangerous convict.

Everybody Wants Some!!: Richard Linklaterâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s charmingly meandering film follows at the members of a collegiate baseball team as they count down to the start of the 1980 school year. Breezily funny and dead-on accurate about the time frame, this is Linklater at his best, recalling the relatively recent past intimately and with obvious affection, and, of course, with one hell of a killer soundtrack.

Fan: A man develops a dangerous obsession with a movie star who looks just like him.

The Jungle Book: New Disney adaptation of Rudyard Kiplingâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s classic tales, directed by Jon Favreau.

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Recent releases The Boss: Melissa McCarthy, one of the funniest women around, stars as Michelle Darnell, the â&#x20AC;&#x153;47th wealthiest woman in America,â&#x20AC;? sent to prison for insider trading. Unfortunately, the comedy, co-written by McCarthy, her husband, Ben Falcone, and Steve Mallory, is shoddy and lackluster.

Chongqing Hot Pot: A restaurant expansion accidentally digs into a bank vault robbery.

Demolition: With a screenplay straight out of Figurative Writing 101, Jake Gyllenhaal plays a recently widowed investment banker coming to grips with his absence of emotion. An obsession with a malfunctioning hospital candy machine leads to a relationship with a customer service rep (Naomi Watts). Gyllenhaalâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s performance is transformative, and itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s hard not to find joy in the characterâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s rejuvenation.

Hardcore Henry: This barely coherent fantasy shoot-em-up is seen entirely through the eyes of its title character, a voiceless, bionic amnesiac who has no idea what he has woken up in the middle of. Youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll know how he feels.

Midnight Special: Michael Shannon plays a Texan fundamentalist cult member whose lightsensitive son has certain awe-inspiring powers of a Spielbergian nature. Deft storytelling and sincere, plainspoken performances allow director Jeff Nichols to harvest wonderment from his ordinary, extraordinary little sci-fi tale.

Sardaar Gabbar Singh: A feudal landlord starts taking villagersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; land by force.

More film events The Cameraman: Buster Keatonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s first film with MGM tells the story of a man who attempts to gain the interest of an MGM secretary. Capitol Theater, April 20, 2 & 7 pm (Duck Soup Cinema).

The Homestretch: This documentary follows three homeless teens in Chicago. Union South Marquee, April 20, 7 pm.

Charulata: Indian director Satyajit Rayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 1964 film chronicles the awakening of a neglected wife. Union South Marquee, April 21, 7 pm.

Also in theaters Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice

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Showtimes subject to change. Visit website to confirm Closed captioning and descriptive narrative available for select films

Showtimes for April 15 - April 21

My Big Fat Greek Wedding 2 Raiders of the Lost Ark

Deadpool

The Revenant

The Divergent Series: Allegiant

Spotlight

Eye in the Sky

Star Wars: The Force Awakens

Hello, My Name Is Doris

Whiskey Tango Foxtrot

Miracles from Heaven

Zootopia

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â?? ISTHMUS MOVIE TIMES All the movies, all the times

APRIL 14â&#x20AC;&#x201C;20, 2016 ISTHMUS.COM

10 Cloverfield Lane

Wednesday, April 27th 3pm-9pm

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PICK OF THE WEEK

Bob Mould Band Wednesday, April 20, Majestic Theatre, 8 pm Whether fronting Hüsker Dü or Sugar, Bob Mould has a knack for marrying darkness with light, writing catchy songs about some seriously heavy stuff.

Mould says Patch the Sky, his 12th solo release, sees his light/dark thing “tuned to high contrast.” Add that to a backing band that includes indie rock luminaries like Superchunk’s Jon Wurster and Split Single’s Jason Narducy, and you’ve got an unforgettable rock show.

With Fury Things, Negative Example.

picks thu apr 14

T HE AT E R & DANCE

JAY BLAKESBERG

COM EDY

MU S I C

MUS I C

Alchemy Cafe: Paul Matushek, free, 10 pm.

Sean Watkins

All Saints Lutheran Church: New Muse Ensemble, works by American composers, free, 7:30 pm. Also: 7 pm, 4/16, Oakwood Village-University Woods.

Friday, April 15, Crescendo Espresso Bar (1859 Monroe St.), 7:30 pm

Babe’s Restaurant: Robert J, Americana, 6:30 pm.

Brink Lounge: The Rascal Theory, rock, 8 pm.

Buck and Honey’s: David Hecht, free, 6:30 pm.

Cardinal Bar: DJ Chamo, Latin, 10 pm.

Club Tavern, Middleton: Madpolecats, free, 9 pm.

Essen Haus: WheelHouse, free, 9 pm.

The Frequency: Once Around, Bierfoot, Fistful of Pistol, 10 pm.

Great Dane - Downtown: DJ Vilas Park Sniper, free, 9 pm.

Harmony Bar: VO5, Wisconsin Film Festival party, 9 pm.

High Noon Saloon: Poliça, MOTHXR, 8 pm.

Ivory Room: Jim Ripp, Philly Williams, dueling pianos, 9 pm.

Kiki’s House of Righteous Music: Nathan Kalish & the Lastcallers, house concert (RSVP: righteousmusicmgmt@gmail.com), 8 pm.

Kohl Center: UW Varsity Band, 7:30 pm. Also: 7:30 pm, 4/15-16.

Majestic Theatre: Twiddle, Steez, 9 pm.

ISTHMUS.COM APRIL 14–20, 2016

Merchant: Johnny Chimes & Gatur Bait, free, 10 pm.

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fri apr 15

Mickey’s Tavern: Hallowed Bells, New England Patriots, Conjuror, free, 10 pm.

Mr. Robert’s: Giant Zero, free, 10 pm.

Natt Spil: DJ Radish, free, 10 pm.

Overture Center-Overture Hall Lobby: Sexy Ester, free, 6 pm.

UW Humanities Building-Mills Hall: Anthony Di Sanza, percussion, UW School of Music faculty concert, free, 7:30 pm.

UW Memorial Union-Fredric March Play Circle: Vijay Iyer, jazz piano, 8 pm.

Magic Time Thursday, April 14, Mitchell Theatre (Vilas Hall), 7:30 pm

University Theatre’s production of this “dressing room confessional” takes place on the last night of a performance of Hamlet. The actor playing Hamlet is troubled. Ophelia has fallen for him, and Laertes is sulking. Theater jokes abound, and the audience gets a glimpse of the hilarious dysfunction of backstage life.

ALSO: Friday and Saturday (7:30 pm), Sunday (2 pm) and Thursday (7:30 pm), April 15-21. Through May 1.

Mr. Burns, a Post-Electric Play: Forward Theater Company’s dark comedy about post-apocalyptic survivors recreating the world with pop culture remnants, 4/7-24, Overture Center-Playhouse, at 7:30 pm Thursdays-Fridays, 2 & 7:30 pm Saturdays and 2 pm Sundays; pre-show talks Thursdays and Sundays. $45-$37. 258-4141.

Coyote Moon: Frank’s life is a mess, and now he thinks he may be a “were-coyote” in this Mercury Players Theatre production, 4/8-23, Bartell TheatreEvjue Stage, at 7:30 pm Thursdays and 8 pm FridaysSaturdays. $20. 661-9696.

UW Dance Department: “things as they are,” annual student concerts, 8 pm on 4/14-15 and 2:30 pm, 4/16, Lathrop Hall H’Doubler Performance Space. $17. uniontheater.wisc.edu. 265-2787.

Liza Treyger & Matteo Lane Thursday, April 14, Comedy Club on State, 8:30 pm

Liza Treyger (pictured) and Matteo Lane are paired together on MTV2’s Joking Off — a live-action standoff between teams of standup comedians and improv artists — so it makes sense that they’re sharing a stage here. The upand-comers hail from Chicago but call New York home and have performed at Montreal’s Just for Laughs Festival. With David Drake. ALSO: Friday and Saturday (8 & 10:30 pm), April 15-16.

Before diving into a solo career, California-based Sean Watkins was the guitarist for Grammywinning folk trio Nickel Creek. After the group went on hiatus in 2007, Watkins released two albums of warm country-folk that showcased his youthful voice mixed with fresh rock rhythms.

His newest, What to Fear, dropped just last month. Rolling Stone called its title track a “razoredged folk song made up of equal parts melody and message.” With Anthony D’Amato.

Jim Norton: $35, 8 pm, 4/14, Orpheum Theater. 255-0901.

SP OKEN WORD Christian Holt, Will Kelly, Lucy Tan: UW Creative Writing Program readings, 7 pm, 4/14, Helen C. White Hall-Room 6191. 253-3658.

ART EXHIBITS & EV ENTS Alaura Seidl: “Toast,” 4/1-23, Arts & Literature Laboratory (artist at work 10 am-3 pm, 4/14 and 10 am-2:30 pm & 5-8 pm, 4/22). allgallery.org.

Jay Katelansky: MFA student exhibition, 4/15-5/29, Chazen Museum of Art (reception 5-7 pm, 4/14; conversation with the artist 3:30 pm, 4/19). 263-2246.

Wisconsin Landscapes in Infrared: Photographs, 4/148/13, Madison Science Museum (reception 4-7 pm on 4/14 and noon-3 pm, 4/16). 216-5496.

FAIRS & F ESTIVALS Wisconsin Film Festival: 4/14-21, $10/film. For schedule, see wifilmfest.org. 265-2933.

Kiefer Sutherland Band Friday, April 15, Majestic Theatre, 9 pm

Though he’s probably best known for his iconic role as Jack Bauer on 24, Kiefer Sutherland also has his feet firmly planted in the music industry. He founded the record label Ironworks in 2002, and this year the veteran actor will release Down in a Hole, his debut album. The country-tinged project has been described by Sutherland as “the closest thing

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37

ANNOUNCING OVERTURE ’S 2016/17 SEASON

n ISTHMUS PICKS : APR 15 - 16 I’ve ever had to a journal or a diary.” Given his colorful life, which includes a stint as a rodeo cowboy, that diary sounds pretty damn interesting. With Austin Plaine.

Alchemy Cafe: DJ Trichrome, reggae, free, 10 pm.

Bos Meadery: Le Gran Fromage Cajun Band, free, 6 pm.

Bowl-A-Vard: Saturday Morning Cartel, free, 9 pm.

Brink Lounge: Dolly Varden, 7 pm; John Masino, Shelby Kisling, 8:30 pm.

Capital Brewery: No Name String Band, free, 6 pm.

Cardinal Bar: Russ Nolan with Johannes Wallmann, free, 5:30 pm; DJs Plaid Hawaii, Whodie Guthrie, 9 pm.

Club Tavern: The Volcanics, 9 pm.

Essen Haus: David Austin Band, polka, free, 8:30 pm.

The Frequency: Nora Jane Struthers & the Party Line, Blackfoot Gypsies, 7 pm.

COMMUNITY PARTNER:

High Noon Saloon: Rock Star Gomeroke, audience invited to sing with The Gomers, 5 pm; People Brothers Band, Mikel Wright & the Wrongs, 9:30 pm.

Knuckle Down Saloon: Josh Hoyer & Soul Colossal, 8 pm.

Merchant: DJ Bruce Blaq, free, 10:30 pm.

Mickey’s Tavern: The Low Czars, free, 10 pm.

Mr. Robert’s: Ov Moros, Malcomexicans, free, 10 pm.

Natt Spil: DJ Nick Nice, free, 10 pm.

COMMUNITY PARTNER:

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38

Wisconsin’s Entertainment Destination OVERTURECENTER.ORG | 608.258.4141 Group Discounts: 608.258.4159

Red Rock Saloon: Ty Bates, 10 pm.

Rex’s Innkeeper, Waunakee: Blue Zone, 8:30 pm.

Tempest: Don’t Spook the Horse, free, 9:30 pm.

Tip Top Tavern: Compact Deluxe, free, 9:30 pm.

Tricia’s Country Corners: Universal Sound, 8 pm.

Wisconsin Burlesque Festival Friday, April 15, Bartell Theatre, 8 pm

Burlesque has been given new life in the last decade, cross-fertilizing with queer, indie, comedy and nerd culture in ways you can’t imagine until you see it live.

Now the Wisconsin Burlesque Association presents its inaugural festival, with performers from all over the country.

Headliner Sugar St. Clair (pictured) performs with Milwaukee’s Brew City Bombshells. ALSO: Saturday, April 16, 8 pm.

S PEC I A L EV EN TS UW Engineering Expo: Annual tech event, 9 am-2 pm, 4/15-16, UW Engineering Campus, with student exhibits, commercial exhibitors, speakers, demos. Free. engineeringexpo.wisc.edu.

UW Union South 5th Anniversary: Special events & activities, 7 am-midnight, 4/15. union.wisc.edu.

A RT EXH I B I TS & EV EN TS

Up North Pub: Allen Brothers Band, free, 8 pm.

It’s Happening: Works by local artists, 4/8-16, Madison Enterprise Center-Common Wealth Gallery (reception 5-8:30 pm, 4/15). 256-6565.

UW-Extension Lowell Center: Frieda and Caroline, songs from musical dialogue written by Andrea Musher, by Stephanie Rearick, Melanie Cain, Leslie Cao, Angela McJunkin, Sarah Whelan, free, 7:30 pm.

Sally Probasco & Cynthia Quinn: “Celebrating Birds,” 4/15-6/1, Cluck the Chicken Store, Belleville (reception 5-8 pm, 4/15). Sales benefit Dane County Humane Society. 848-1200.

UW Humanities Building-Mills Hall: UW Women’s/ University Chorus, free, 8 pm.

Eric D. Peterson: “Art Show #2,” 2-8 pm Thursdays, 4/21-28, Art Hub (reception 7-10 pm, 4/15). 2848277.

Tuvalu Coffeehouse: Krause Family Band, free, 7 pm.

UW Humanities Building-Morphy Hall: Marc Vallon, UW School of Music faculty recital, free, 8 pm.

UW Union South - The Sett: Gynosaur, Gran, The Dowry, Glamour Hotline, Not For You, free, 7 pm.

Wil-Mar Center: DeWayne Keyes & Doug Barrette, Wild Hog in the Woods concert, 8 pm.

COM EDY Matt Bellassai: From Buzzfeed’s “Whine About It” web series, 8 & 10 pm, 4/15, UW Memorial UnionShannon Hall. $20. union.wisc.edu. 265-2787.

Eric Thomas Wolever: “Grass Stains,” master’s exhibit, 4/15-21, UW Art Lofts (reception 5-7 pm, 4/16). 2621660.

sat apr 16 MUS I C

FAIRS & F ESTIVALS Midwest Horse Fair: 4/15-17, Alliant Energy Center; PRCA rodeo 7:30 pm, 4/15-16 ($25-$7). $17/day ($45 weekend; $15/$30 adv.). midwesthorsefair.com.

SP OKEN WORD Joey Belonger, Araceli Esparza, Megan Milks, Marcelle Richards, Alaura Seidl: Watershed Reading Series, poetry, $3 donation, 8 pm, 4/15, Arts & Literature Laboratory.

THEATER & DANCE

The Tales of Hoffmann Friday, April 15, Overture Hall, 8 pm

The Tales of Hoffmann is a French opera by Jacques Offenbach based on three works — “Der Sandmann,” “Rath Krespel” and “Das verlorene Spiegelbild” — by Prussian author E.T.A. Hoffmann. This performance, which includes muses, dwarves, mechanical dolls and forbidden love, is sung in French with English translation.

Julien Baker Saturday, April 16, The Frequency, 7 pm

Though she’s a few months shy of 20, Julien Baker has lived quite a few artistic lifetimes. She’s played in the mathy Tennessee emo act Forrister, and most recently released an acclaimed solo debut, Sprained Ankle. Lyrically, Baker’s writing songs many artists would struggle to replicate in an entire career — if you don’t believe us, go listen to Sprained Ankle’s title track and tell us it’s not the best song Conor Oberst never managed to write. With Phoebe Bridgers.

➡

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The Red Zone Madison and 301 Productionz presents

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SATURDAY 3/26 hosted by MARQUIS CHILDS 7-10PM

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BOB MOULD with DJ

RUMBA 10PM

JASON NARDUCY • JON WURSTER

FURY THINGS

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MAY 1 • CAPITOL THEATER

APRIL 20 • MAJESTIC THEATRE

Overture Center Box Office Online at Overturecenter.org

MajesticMadison.com • 800-514-ETIX • Majestic Theatre Box Office

THE JAYHAWKS WITH SPECIAL GUEST

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FRIDAY MAY 13

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April 7 – 24, 2016 | OVERTURE

CENTER

for tickets visit Overturecenter.org or call 608.258.4141

www.FORWARDTHEATER.com

APRIL 14–20, 2016 ISTHMUS.COM

TICKETS ON SALE NOW

39

n ISTHMUS PICKS : APR 16 Bos Meadery: Nate Meng, free, 6 pm.

Brink Lounge: Mark Croft, Nate Jones, Beth Kille, 7 pm.

Brocach Irish Pub - Square: DJ Dot Sims, free, 11 pm.

Cardinal Bar: DJ Chamo, Latin, 9 pm.

Club Tavern, Middleton: High Falootin, free, 9 pm.

Come Back In: Alias Jones Band, rock, free, 9 pm.

Crystal Corner Bar: Pupy Costello & the New Hiram Kings, Compact Deluxe, honky tonk, 9:30 pm.

Essen Haus: David Austin Band, polka, free, 8:30 pm.

Larry Campbell & Teresa Williams Saturday, April 16, High Noon Saloon, 7 pm

Called the “first couple of Americana,” Campbell and Williams have been incubating their powerful music since they met back in the mid-1980s while working with legends like Bob Dylan and Levon Helm.

The couple — married two decades before releasing their self-titled debut in 2015 — weave together roots, blues, country and gospel for a sound as intimate and balanced as their bond. While some songs ratchet up the tempo and the honky-tonk, others are meditative and allow Williams’ sturdy voice to shine. With Donnie Fritts.

LUNCH. LOCAL. Join us every weekday for Madison's favorite luncheon.

Our famous salad bar touts a wide variety of local greens, veggies, cheeses and house-made soups.

The menu, which changes seasonally and is crafted with local and organic ingredients, is inspired by the diverse individuals that define our community and is shaped by hardworking local farmers who embody the spirit of Wisconsin.

THURSDAYS H 8PM H FREE

Tate’s BLUES JAM FRI, APR 15 H 8PM H $8

Josh Hoyer

ISTHMUS.COM APRIL 14–20, 2016

40

2513 Seiferth Rd., Madison

222-7800

KnuckleDownSaloon.com

Merchant: DJ Nick Nice, free, 10:30 pm.

Mezze: Charlie Painter & Friends, jazz, free, 9 pm.

Mickey’s Tavern: Archie & the Bunkers, Dirty Fences, free, 10 pm.

Mother Fool’s Coffeehouse: Black Marigold, 8 pm.

Mr. Robert’s: Hired Rivals, Sons of Kong, Faux Fiction, free, 10 pm.

Natt Spil: DJ Ted Offensive, free, 10 pm.

Orpheum Theater: The MadHatters, 7 pm.

isthmus live sessions

Local & National Artists Perform in the Isthmus Office

performances by:

UW Union South - The Sett: Helado Negro, Chants, free, 9 pm.

Wil-Mar Center: Wild Hog in the Woods Hootenanny, 2 pm.

The Wild Feathers Saturday, April 16, Majestic Theatre, 9 pm

Though just two albums into their career, the Wild Feathers have already opened for celebrated American musicians such as Bob Dylan, Willie Nelson and Paul Simon. The Nashville-based band just released Lonely Is a Lifetime, a rock album that showcases its members’ confidence and ability to experiment and harmonize.

With the Shelters, Mascot Theory.

S PEC I A L EV EN TS Record Store Day: Annual celebration of local independents, 4/16, featuring exclusive releases (see recordstoreday.com), in-store events & giveaways, with Madison participants including B-Side Records (open early at 9 am, music next door at Peace Park; 255-1977); Ear Wax (music noon-4:30 pm by The Argonian Princess, In One End, WORT DJs Mike Hinz and Matt Myers; 257-6402); MadCity Music Exchange (open early at 8 am; in-store appearance by Butch Vig & Steve Marker; music in Bandung 1:30-4:30 pm by Jonesies, Control, DJs Punk Kitten, Rev. Velveteen Sly & Bad Sister Heidi; 251-8558); Resale Records (2494364); Strictly Discs (open early at 7 am; DJs Renton 7 am, Joey Tucci 9 am, Julian Lynch 10:30 am, Zukas noon, Nigel O’Shea 1:30 pm, Zack Stafford 3 pm, Emili Earhart 4:30 pm; 259-1991); and Sugar Shack (music 10 am-5:30 pm by WORT DJs Ryan Parks, Paul Novak, Mr. Dance, Sami Burbol, Steph Stringer; 256-7155).

CO MEDY The Whoa Show: Standup by Eric Olander, Allie Lindsay, David Louis, Charlie Kojis, Anthony Siraguse, 8 pm, 4/16, Broom Street Theater. $5. 244-8338.

SAT, APR 16 H 9PM H $8

$2 OFF COVER w/ VALID COLLEGE ID ALL SHOWS 21+

Lakeside Street Coffee: Kristy Larson Trio, 7:30 pm.

Tip Top Tavern: Winning Ugly, Animal Mother, Original Wilson Brothers DJs, free, 7 pm.

soul music, they deliver!”

FRI, Bob & Rob Corbett APR 22 BIRTHDAY BASH

Knuckle Down Saloon: Altered Five, 9 pm.

The Red Zone: Shotgun Jane, Joseph & the Bad News Crew, 8 pm.

1 West Dayton Street Madison, WI 53703 Lunch served daily 11:00am - 2:00pm circmadison.com

“ When it come to real

2015’s International Blues Challenge Winner BEST SELFPRODUCED CD

Harmony Bar: Weathered Heads, Electric Spanking, 9:45 pm.

Parched Eagle Brewpub: Doug Brown, Erin O’Brien, Paula the Bard, free, 7 pm.

& Soul Colossal

Altered 5

The Frequency: Cold Black River, Motherhive, Subatomic, Droids Attack, annual Maximum Ink Bomblastica, free, 10 pm. See page 32.

B O O KS ISTHMUS LIVE SESSIONS ISTHMUS LIVE SESSIONS

Wintersong

Sonntag Saturday, April 16, High Noon Saloon, 9:30 pm

PROF ISTHMUS LIVE SESSIONS ISTHMUS LIVE SESSIONS

at: isthmus.com/ils

Beloved Baraboo band PHOX essentially formed out of current member Zach Johnston’s grandiose folk project Sonntag.

Now nearly four years old, In Paths Too Dark for Seeing, Sonntag’s sole release to date, remains a sweeping, powerful statement and was just pressed to vinyl last fall. With We Are the Willows, Seasaw.

Art In Gallery: The Hussy, The Flavor That Kills, Sky Urchin, Tarpaulin, pre-party for “The Smart Studios Story” premiere, free, 8 pm.

Arts & Literature Laboratory: Marisa Anderson, Patrick Best, guitar, 8 pm.

Sequoya Library Book Sale: 9 am-4 pm, 4/16, Westgate Mall. 266-6385.

Monroe Street Library Book Sale: 9:30 am-4 pm, 4/16, Monroe Street Library. 266-6390.

Andrea Potos: Reading from “Coffee in Greece,” poetry, 11 am, 4/16, Mystery to Me. 283-9332.

Neal Griffin: Discussing “A Voice from the Field,” his new book, 7 pm, 4/16, Mystery to Me. 283-9332.

S PO K EN WO RD Urban Spoken Word: Poetry slam, with music by MTrane Plus, $5, 7 pm, 4/16, Genna’s Lounge. 3324643.

A RTS N OT I C ES Whad’Ya Know?: Live broadcast with Michael Feldman, $10, 9:30 am, 4/16, Monona Terrace. 262-2201.

➡

WELCOMES

POLICA

HIGH NOON SALOON 4.14

WINE DINNER

BOB MOULD

MAJESTIC 4.20

MADISON FLAT TRACK

ROLLER DERBY

APRIL 23 ✪ SEASON 12 SEMIFINALS ✪ TRIPLE-HEADER

MAD ROLLIN’ DOLLS TICKET INFORMATION:

MADROLLINDOLLS.COM

KIDZ BOP

CAPITOL THEATER 5.1 701A E. Washington Ave. 268-1122 www.high-noon.com

thu apr

POLIÇA MOTHXR

14

8pm

HAPPYOKE

$25

OF DELTA SPIRIT

FREQUENCY 4.20

18+

People Brothers Band Mikel Wright & The Wrongs

Gomeroke 5pm $7

LARRY CAMPBELL sat apr & TERESA We Are The Willows 16 WILLIAMS Seasaw

SONNTAG

Donnie Fritts

www.portabellarestaurant.biz

MAJESTIC 5.7

9:30 $8 adv, $10 dos 18+

17

Wisconsin Film Festival Premiere After Party 8pm

$10

FUNKY MONDAYS HAPPY HOUR

4/20

Sale

The Smart Studios Story sun apr

Blue bacon stuffed mushrooms Strawberry and feta salad Balsamic and goat cheese stuffed chicken breast Chocolate dipped cannoli stuffed w/strawberries and ricotta

DEAD HORSES Holy Smokes!

9:30PM $10

7pm $17adv, $20 dos

Tanya Johnson will be presenting 5 Austra-lian wines along with our 4 course dinner.

Cost $45 • Limited Seating Please RSVP by 4/21 425 N. Frances St. • 256-3186 Parking ramp located across the street

DRIFTLESS MUSIC GARDENS 2016 PRE-PARTY

fri apr Rock Star

15

MATTHEW LOGAN VASQUEZ

THURSDAY, APR. 28 6-8:30 PM

ASTRONAUTALIS

Apr.13-30

MAJESTIC 5.6

At THE

FEATURING

mon apr

The Clyde Stubblefield 18 All-Star Band 6pm $7

tue apr

19

25-40% OFF

THE WHITE BUFFALO

all glass pipes

Alice Drinks the Kool Aid

10% OFF

8pm $15 18+

20

DENGUE FEVER Tani Diakite

8pm

thu apr

21

$14 adv, $16 dos

18+

Gold Dust Women as FLEETWOOD MAC German Art Students 7pm

$10

HIPPO CAMPUS MAJESTIC 5.12

SAVAGES

*some restrictions apply

HIGH NOON SALOON 5.20

WIN TICKETS @ ISTHMUS.COM/PROMOTIONS

520 State St. • Madison • 608.257.2400 PipefitterMadison. com

APRIL 14–20, 2016 ISTHMUS.COM

wed apr

woods, vapes and hookahs

41

n ISTHMUS PICKS : APR 17 was described by Pitchfork as “capturing the pursuit of the American dream like a Scorsese screenplay.” With Reggie Bonds, Dogs of War.

sun apr 17

Brink Lounge: Grazyna Auguscik & Jarek Bester, 5 pm.

MU S I C

Brocach Irish Pub - Square: McFadden’s Fancy, free, 4:30 pm.

“The Smart Studios Story” After Party

The Frequency: Ira Wolf, Karen Wheelock, Teddy Davenport, Nick Dittmeier & the Sawdusters, 9 pm.

Sunday, April 17, High Noon Saloon, 8 pm

Following a sold-out screening of The Smart Studios Story (see page 34), it makes sense that people will want to get up and hear some rock ’n’ roll. Jay Moran emcees an epic lineup including Sometimes Y, the Weeds, Negative Example, the Crosses, the Singing Irishman, Fun With Atoms, Honor Among Thieves, Robert J, the O’Bros and a possible appearance by the Know-It-All Boyfriends.

Harmony Bar: Cajun Strangers, 7 pm.

Freddie Gibbs Sunday, April 17, Majestic Theatre, 9 pm

With much of contemporary hip-hop covering the excessive lifestyles of the rich and famous, there aren’t many true gangsta rappers left, making Freddie Gibbs one of rap’s most refreshing and important voices. The Gary, Ind., native has three proper LPs and 10 mixtapes full of portraits of the decline of urban America (and as an ex-drug dealer, Gibbs has an insider’s perspective on that).

His most recent, last year’s Shadow of a Doubt,

Natt Spil: DJ Greenhouse, free, 10 pm.

The Red Zone: Scale the Summit, Versus Me, The Fine Constant, Growing, 6:30 pm.

The Rigby: Madison Jazz Jam, free (all ages), 4 pm.

Tricia’s Country Corners: Frank James & Bobby Briggs, 3 pm.

UW Humanities Building-Mills Hall: UW Concert Choir, UW School of Music concert, free, 8 pm.

THEATER & DANCE Kanopy Dance Company: 2:30 pm, 4/17, Mineral Point Opera House. $15. mineralpointoperahouse.org. 9873501.

B O O KS Neal Griffin: Discussing “A Voice from the Field,” his novel, 2 pm, 4/17, Arcadia Books, Spring Green.

588-7638.

FUN D RA I S ERS YoCats Madison: “Cat yoga” class, 1 pm, 4/17, SPACE of Madison. $15 benefits Dane County Humane Society. RSVP: yocatsmadison.com.

Out of the Darkness: UW Ask.Listen.Save suicide prevention walk, 1:30 pm, 4/17, Sellery Hall backyard (registration at noon). Free/donations. asklistensave. org.

Polka for the Swiss: Fundraiser for Swiss Center of North America, 3-7 pm, 4/17, New Glarus Hotel Restaurant, with live music from Zweifel Brothers, live auction, polka, wine pull, food. $10. swisscenter. org. 527-6565.

K I D S & FA MI LY Moon Mouse: A Space Odyssey: Lightwire Theater, 3 pm, 4/17, Overture Center-Capitol Theater. $30$20. 258-4141.

➡ WISCONSIN UNION THEATER

VIJAY IYER 4.14.16

“The most celebrated pianist in jazz.”

(JazzTimes)

FOUR SEASONS S THEATRE CABARET 4.21.16 with Erica Halverson

HILARY HAHN WITH CORY SMYTHE ON PIANO ISTHMUS.COM APRIL 14–20, 2016

4.24.16

42

PRESENTING SPONSOR THE TALK

PREMIER SPONSOR THE DINNER

UNIONTHEATER.WISC.EDU

608.265.ARTS

AA This concert was supported in part by a grant from the Wisconsin Arts Board with funds from the state of wisconsin and the national endowment for the arts

701 East Washington Ave. 608-661-8599

Open Tue-Sat 4pm - close

2201 Atwood Ave.

(608) 249-4333

THUR. APR. 14 9 PM $5 W I S C O N S I N F I L M F E S T I VA L

LIVE AT RICK’S

AFTER PARTY

FEATURING

Enjoy summer evenings with friends

KICKBALL

Season begins May 24

Debut Weekend

FRI. APR. 15 .

Get your team together for Adult Sports Leagues!

BASEBALL

Season begins June 6

7pm

Chicago’s Favorite Duo ____________________________________

SAT. APR. 16

9:45pm $7

SOFTBALL Begins May 6 limited openings, please call now!

Register at

www.mscrsportsleagues.org or call 608-204-3024

Dolly Varden SAT. APR. 16.

7pm

Triple Hit with

Mark Croft, Nate Jones & Beth Kille SUN. APR. 17.

Find us on Facebook

for more information.

5pm

Mad-POL KA Productions presents

THE withWEATHERED HEADS ____________________________________

SUN. APR. 17

6-9 pm $7 sugg. don. dance instruction 5 pm

THE

CAJUN

STRANGERS

____________________________________

EVERY MONDAY 5:30-6:15 pm $3

The King of Kids Music

Auguscik & Bester

thmus Concert of Eastern-European accordion-based world music See our full event calendar at:

www.thebrinklounge.com

UW VARSITY BAND CONCERT GER BAND THE BADUC TED BY COND

Mike Leckrone

David Landau

____________________________________

WED. APR. 20 8-10:15pm $7 sugg. don.

with The Backroom Harmony Band www.harmonybarandgrill.com

ter source for news,

@Isthmus

theater,

ation,

Madison’s Twitter source for news, music, movies, theater, events, dining, drinking, recreation, sports, and more...

ore...

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it all happens here

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sports and more... uwbookstore.com

APRIL 14–20, 2016 ISTHMUS.COM

Madison’s Twitter source

APRIL 14, 15 & 16 7:30 PM KOHL CENTER

43

GET TICKETS FOR THESE EVENTS!

n ISTHMUS PICKS : APR 18 - 20

mon apr 18

CO MEDY

M USIC Alchemy Cafe: DJ Samroc, free, 10 pm Mondays.

American Legion Post 385, Verona: Paoli Street Pickers, country/bluegrass, free, 12:30 pm Mondays.

MAD ROLLIN’ DOLLS SEASON 12, GAME 4:

MALICE IN WONDERLAND Saturday, April 23 at 3:45pm ALLIANT ENERGY CENTER EXHIBITION HALL

CASK ALE FEST

The Bayou: Open Mic, free, 8 pm Mondays.

Cold Fusion: Bluegrass Jam, free, 6:30 pm Mondays.

Harmony Bar: David Landau, family concert, 5:30 pm.

Malt House: Oak Street Ramblers, free, 7:30 pm.

Duncan Trussell

Mr. Robert’s: Open Jam, free, 9:30 pm Mondays.

Tuesday, April 19, Majestic Theatre, 8 pm

Natt Spil: DJ Jamie Stanek, free, 10 pm.

Up North Pub: Paul Matushek, free, 7 pm.

ART EXHIBITS & EV ENTS Visual Expressions: Works by kids and adults with disabilities, 4/18-5/7, VSA Wisconsin. 241-2131.

tue apr 19 M USIC

Saturday, April 30 at 2pm

Duncan Trussell isn’t your average joke teller. The L.A. comic is a mystically inclined ponderer and optimist who uses comedy and conversation as tools for examining the big what-ifs. Host of the Duncan Trussell Family Hour podcast and former co-host of Syfy’s Joe Rogan Questions Everything, Trussell takes his uniquely personal insights to the stage in this standup performance. With Shane Torres.

B O O KS Betsy Draine & Michael Hinden: Discussing “Death on a Starry Night,” their new book, 4 pm, 4/19, UW French House. uwfrenchhouse.org.

Laura Dronzek, Jane Hamilton, Kevin Henkes, Dean Robbins: Local authors discuss new books, 6 pm, 4/19, A Room of One’s Own. 257-7888. See page 30.

BREESE STEVENS FIELD

Karla Jensen: Discussing “Nobody’s Hero: The Story of a Marine Scout Sniper,” her new book, 7 pm, 4/19, Mystery to Me. 283-9332.

ISTHMUS

FOOD CART FEST Sunday, May 22 at 2pm CENTRAL PARK

REAP FOOD GROUP

BURGERS & BREW

L EC T URES & S EMI N A RS

The White Buffalo Tuesday, April 19, High Noon Saloon, 8 pm

Unlike the elusive Lakota legend this Americana act is named after, singer/ songwriter Jake Smith (aka the White Buffalo) has been popping up everywhere lately. Aside from sharing stages with artists like Jack Johnson and Grace Potter, he was named an “artist to watch” by NPR in 2012 and performed on Jimmy Kimmel Live! in late 2014. With Alice Drinks the Kool Aid.

History Sandwiched In: Brown-bag lunch program, “When is Daddy Coming Home? An American Family During World War II,” by author Richard Carlton Haney, $3 donation, 12:15 pm, 4/19, Wisconsin Historical Museum. 264-6555.

Earth Day: How We Got Here and What Challenges Remain: Madison Audubon lecture by Tia Nelson, 7 pm, 4/19, UW Discovery Building. 255-2473.

wed apr 20 MUS I C

Brink Lounge: David Francey, Joe Crookston, Madison Folk Music Society concert, 7 pm.

Capital Brewery: Sam Lyons Band, free, 6 pm.

Crystal Corner: David Hecht & the Who Dat, 9 pm.

Saturday, June 4 – Sunday, June 5

The Frequency: Wonky Tonk, Leah Brooke, The Deeps, 10 pm.

CAPITOL BREWERY

ISTHMUS.COM APRIL 14–20, 2016

Ivory Room: Josh Dupont, free, 9 pm Tuesdays.

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AMERICAN FAMILY INSURANCE CHAMPIONSHIP

Friday, June 24 - Sunday, June 26 UNIVERSITY RIDGE GOLF COURSE DO YOUR TICKETING WITH ISTHMUS AND LIST YOUR EVENT HERE. INTERESTED? EMAIL CWINTERHACK@ISTHMUS.COM

ISTHMUSTICKETS.COM

Malt House: Onadare, Irish, free, 7:30 pm.

Mason Lounge: Five Points Jazz Collective, free, 9 pm Tuesdays.

McFarland High School: Freedom Winds, U.S. Air Force Band of Mid-America ensemble, free, 7 pm.

Mickey’s Tavern: Em Jay, Adam White, free, 10 pm.

Natt Spil: DJ O2, free, 10 pm.

Neighborhood House: Bluegrass Jam, 7 pm Tuesdays.

Up North Pub: The Lower 5th, rock, free, 8 pm.

UW Humanities Building-Morphy Hall: UW Latin Jazz Ensemble, Jazz Composers Septet, free, 7:30 pm.

Dengue Fever Wednesday, April 20, High Noon Saloon, 8 pm

Combining the disparate genres of psychedelic rock and Cambodian pop, Dengue Fever is a band without comparison. The Los Angeles sextet — founded in 2001 after a memorable trek through Southeast Asia — has released seven albums that don’t just blur genre parameters, they create something altogether new. The Deepest Lake, their most recent LP, was released in 2015 to rave reviews.

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n ISTHMUS PICKS : APR 20 - 21 Club Tavern, Middleton: Pat McCurdy, free, 9 pm.

Essen Haus: Big Wes Turner’s Trio, free, 9 pm.

The Frequency: Freakabout, Lazydeadpoet, Bird’s Eye, 8:30 pm.

Genna’s Lounge: Schlosser-Kammer Project, 8 pm.

Great Dane - Downtown: Beat Chefs, free, 9 pm.

Harmony Bar: Backroom Harmony Band, 8 pm.

High Noon Saloon: Gold Dust Women (Fleetwood Mac tribute), German Art Students, 7 pm.

Matthew Logan Vasquez Wednesday, April 20, The Frequency, 9 pm

Matt Vasquez is a musical vagabond, freely stumbling between Americana, indie rock and soul. The Delta Spirit frontman’s recent move from the bustle of Brooklyn to Austin, Texas, precipitated his first solo EP, Austin. Its title track, in keeping with his relentless search for new musical territory, is like an 18-minute ode to the desert Southwest, with a wonderfully wandering melody. The February release of solo LP Solicitor Returns prompts this tour around the country.

With Reverend Baron, Little Legend.

COMPANHIA

URBANA DE DANÇA WED, APR 27, 7:30 PM | $30+ Direct from the favelas of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, the all-male companhia melds the grit of the street performer with the skill of the trained dancer. The result is a stunning performance filled with stamina-testing solos and jaw-dropping group movement.

Stay post-show for a Meet the Artist Q&A!

MadCity Sessions: Sexy Ester

APR 14 FREE |

ISTHMUS.COM APRIL 14–20, 2016

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Duck Soup Cinema: The Cameraman

APR 17

Moon Mouse: A Space Odyssey

APR 24

David Sedaris

APR 27

Companhia Urbana de Dança

MAY 3

National Geographic Live: The Search for Genghis Khan Disney’s The Lion King

MAY 17

The Hot Sardines

MAY 19

Cabaret: Tony DeSare’s Night Life

JUN 12 JUL 12–17

Majestic Theatre: Boombox, Ben Silver, 9 pm.

Mr. Robert’s: Compact Deluxe, free, 10 pm.

Natt Spil: DJ WangZoom, free, 10 pm.

Tempest Oyster Bar: Paul Rowley, free, 8 pm.

UW Old Music Hall: Freedom Winds, U.S. Air Force ensemble, free, 7:30 pm.

T H EAT ER & DA N C E

Brink Lounge: Aaron Williams & the Hoodoo, free, 8 pm.

Cardinal Bar: DJs Spike Bolen, Brook, Siberia, 9 pm.

Ivory Room: Taras Nahirniak, piano, free, 9 pm.

Malt House: Don’t Spook the Horse, free, 7:30 pm.

Natt Spil: DJ Tony Ro, free, 10 pm.

Opus Lounge: Madison Malone, free, 9 pm.

Tommy Awards Kinky Boots

Thursday, April 21, Fredric March Play Circle, 7 pm

Dawn Lundy Martin: FELIX series poetry reading, 7:30 pm, 4/20, UW Elvehjem Building, room L150. felixreadingseries.wordpress.com.

LECTURES & SEM INARS

CO MEDY

Anna Deavere Smith: Presenting “An Evening of Shakespeare,” Wisconsin Union Directorate’s Distinguished Lecture Series, 7:30 pm, 4/20, UW Memorial Union-Shannon Hall. Free. 262-1143.

Nate Bargatze, Charlie Kojis: 8:30 pm on 4/21 and 8 & 10:30 pm, 4/22-23, Comedy Club on State. $15$10. 256-0099.

Up North Pub: MoonHouse, free, 8 pm.

SP OKEN WORD:

David Henry Hwang: UW Center for the Humanities “Humanities without Boundaries” lecture by the playwright, Room L160, 7:30 pm, 4/20, UW Elvehjem Building. 263-3412.

FARM ERS’ M ARKETS Dane County Farmers’ Market: 8:30 am-2 pm Wednesdays, 4/20-11/2, 200 block Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. dcfm.org.

thu apr 21 M USIC Alchemy Cafe: The Pine Travelers, free, 10 pm.

Bos Meadery: The Getaway Drivers, free, 6 pm.

Brink Lounge: VO5, Community Living Alliance fundraiser, with silent auction, 7 pm.

Cardinal Bar: DJ Jo-Z, Latin, 10 pm.

Chief’s Tavern: Hoot’n Annie, free, 8:30 pm.

OVERTURECENTER.ORG | 608.258.4141

Forty Is the New Awesome As part of its cabaret series, Four Seasons Theatre presents powerhouse vocalist Erica Halverson, the founder of Chicago’s Barrel of Monkeys. She performs locally with Children’s Theater of Madison and Four Seasons Theatre, and also happens to be a UW education prof who studies how the arts affect learning. She chronicles her first 40 years on the planet with a mix of Broadway, popular and original tunes in an intimate cabaret setting.

Overture Center: Frank Montano & Skip Jones, SOUL Men, Madison Music Makers, kick-off concert for Intentionally Welcoming Community Arts Collaboration, free, 6:30 pm.

Ward-Brodt Music, Fitchburg: Lucas Cates, free, 6 pm.

MAY 10 – JUN 5

Ivory Room: Jim Ripp, Michael Massey, 9 pm.

Alchemy Cafe: DJ Troy, house, free, 10 pm.

UW Humanities Building-Mills Hall: UW Western Percussion Ensemble, free, 7:30 pm.

APR 16

Hop Haus Brewing, Verona: Dan Brusky, free, 7 pm.

S PO K EN WO RD Jordan Jacks, Josh Kalscheur, Karyna McGlynn, Mika Taylor, Mark Wagenaar: UW Creative Writing Program fiction & poetry readings, 7 pm, 4/21, Overture Center-Wisconsin Studio. 253-3658.

L EC T URES & S EMI N A RS America the Vetocracy: UW La Follette School of Public Affairs Hilldale Lecture by Francis Fukuyama, 3:30 pm, 4/21, UW Discovery Building. 262-3581.

The Writer’s Life: Talks by local children’s book writers Courtney Dicmas & Gayle Rosengren, Room 240, 7 pm, 4/21, Madison College-Downtown. 258-2489.

FUN D RA I S ERS Shop Hilldale for Hope: Sexual Assault Awareness Month fundraiser for Rape Crisis Center, 9 am-9 pm, 4/21, Hilldale. For participating stores: facebook. com/events/1872994972927557. 251-5126.

S PEC I A L I N T ERESTS “Making a Murderer”: Viewing and discussion led

by Wayne Strong, 6 pm Thursdays, 4/21-6/23, Globe University-East Campus. Free. 216-9400.

SEARCH THE FULL CALENDAR OF EVENTS AT ISTHMUS.COM

“It is nearly always the most improbable things that really come to pass.”

-E.T.A. Hoffmann

As he sits in a tavern, the poet Hoffmann recounts the stories of his three loves: a doll, a singer, and a courtesan.

His adventures take him from Munich to Venice, always accompanied by his most faithful love, his muse.

Don’t miss this extraordinary work that is equal parts fantasy, realism, and genuine passion.

by Jacques Offenbach

Tickets start at just $18!

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Overture Hall

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n EMPHASIS

Consign yourself Simply Savvy is a conduit for profitable cleanout

BY CANDICE WAGENER

ISTHMUS.COM APRIL 14–20, 2016

CANDICE WAGENER PHOTOS

48

At Simply Savvy, finds might include clothes, a handmade one-of-a-kind chair and ottoman, and designer bags from Cole Haan and Coach.

Spring cleaning often leads to bagging unwanted items and schlepping them over to Goodwill or, if you’re hoping to make a little profit, holding a garage sale. However, a frequently overlooked option is selling through consignment.

Simply Savvy in Middleton has been helping people unload their unwanted goods since November 2011.

“I’ve always loved repurposing quality things,” says owner Erin Dubas. “I would much rather find a quality piece that somebody else is done with than go out and find it new.” It’s one of the factors that sets consignment sales apart from standard thrift stores.

Simply Savvy has specific consignment guidelines and will accept only high-quality or name-brand items that look like new, or darn close.

Consignment works as a partnership between the store and the consignor. For an initial fee of $10, anyone can bring in as many as 50 items at a time for the store to determine their potential value. Accepted items remain on the sale floor for up to 12 weeks, after which time consigners have four days to pick them up; otherwise the store donates them to Middleton Outreach Ministry.

Consignors receive 40% of the sale price of items that are less than $75 and 50% of the sale price for anything $75 and above. On a website called MyResaleWeb, sellers can check on how items are selling and view the credit on their account.

Though the storefront looks small from University Avenue, there’s almost 5,000 square feet of space that houses furniture, dinnerware, housewares, artwork, women’s clothing and accessories and children’s clothing (sizes 2-12).

Dubas says the store currently has 3,000 active consignors and works with 50 to 80 consignors a week. She receives an average of 1,000 new items a week, sometimes twice that: “That’s the great thing about shopping here; there’s something new all the time.”

Staff offers support to those looking to sell their items, too. A woman whose father had just passed away came by to see what could be done about selling some of the estate. Sensing she was overwhelmed with going through her father’s things, Dubas offered to come by later that afternoon to go through the house, room by room, and assess what could be consigned. It’s refreshing to see that kind of immediate, personal attention. n

SIMPLY SAVVY n 6333 University Ave., Suite 102, Middleton n 608-819-8933 simplysavvyconsign.com n 10 am-6 pm Mon.-Fri., 10 am-5 pm Sat.

n CLASSIFIEDS

Housing

Jobs

2463 WEIER RD, RIDGEWAY. CONVERTED SCHOOLHOUSE. Picture this: Instead of traveling for hours to your ‘Get Away’, you drive only 40 minutes! Artists will find a huge, high ceilinged room with wall of original blackboard in which to work. Kitchen, dining, master, bath on same level. Relatively new addition: fabulous room for writing, solitary pursuits, or Guest bedrm, Master suite. Lovely views of surrounding farms. Large screened porch. Organic gardens! Mature asparagus!

2000 sq ft of Alternative Lifestyle Living!

MLS 1758676 PAT WHYTE 608-513-2200

SENIOR SYSTEMS ANALYST Oversee/lead team of Systems/Programmer Analysts and Software Engineers.

8002 CASEY RD., EDGERTON. SATURATE YOUR SENSES with Pure Pleasure: Serenity and sophistication on 21 bucolic acres; separate charming suite for guests OR office OR inlaw suite! Huge rooms with bookshelves, three fireplaces (one in the inlaw suite as well), sweet sunroom and huge screened porch. I see someone who appreciates beauty and has a desire to live a quiet, intellectual life purchasing this place and feeling he/she has found Paradise on Earth! Wonderfull property! Look up the photos on line: MLS 1765263.

PAT WHYTE 608-513-2200 NEAR EAST 1 Bedroom. Sunny upper flat, den/office. Open floor plan, vaulted ceiling, carpeting, private entry, garage, on bus line.

No laundry, no pets. Residential neighborhood.

Owner occupied. $700.

Call 608-244-4433 leave message.

UW • EDGEWOOD • ST MARY’S Quiet and smoke-free 1 & 2 bedroom apartments starting at $800. Newer kitchens with dishwashers & microwaves. FREE HEAT, WATER, STORAGE. No pets. On-site office with package service. All calls answered 24/7.

Intercom entry. Indoor bicycle parking. Close to bus, grocery, restaurants, and bike trail.

Shenandoah Apartments 1331 South Street 608-256-4747 ShenandoahApartments@gmail.com ALL AREAS ROOMMATES.COM. Lonely?

Bored? Broke? Find the perfect roommate to complement your pe ty and lifestyle at Roommates.com! (AAN CAN) Conover, WI RV Seasonal Campsites Rohr’s Wilderness Tours is your answer. Like National Park, wonderful facilities/amenities.

First year discount. www.RWTCanoe.com or call 715-547-3639.

WHAT’S YOUR TEXT MESSAGE?

All real estate advertised is subject to the Federal Fair Housing Act, which makes it illegal to advertise any preference, limitation, or discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status, national origin, or status as a victim of domestic abuse, sexual assault or stalking; or intention to make any such preference, limitation or discrimination. Isthmus will not knowingly accept any advertising for real estate which is in violation of the law. All persons are hereby informed that all dwellings advertised are on an equal opportunity basis.

Forward resume, references and salary requirements to BIT360, Inc, Human Resources, 21 Prairie Hill Court, Madison, WI 53719. No calls.

ECE Teacher children 2.5-10 years. Must meet state minimum requirements for lead teacher. Aptitude working with children and staff, dependable, self-starter, patient, hard worker. 45 hours/week. M-F. 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. 12 month position. 608-849-8800 w/questions, or resume, etc: Mary Lake Montessori, 5464 Mary Lake Road, Waunakee, WI 53597 or marylakemontessori@gmail.com.

Michael F. Simon Builders one of the area’s leading custom home builders and remodelers is seeking to add a full time, experienced carpenter, to its established team. Visit our website for additional information about our company. www.SimonBuilds.com.

Our carpenters are among the best in the business. Applicant should have experience in new construction framing and finishing as well as remodeling. Our ideal candidate is detail oriented, highly skilled, works collaboratively, communicates effectively and is able to excel in a dynamic multi-tasking team setting.

Pay is commensurate on experience. Excellent benefit package including paid holidays and vacations, medical insurance, and longterm disability insurance, and a 401(K). This is a full time position Monday through Friday with company vehicles and tools provided with opportunities are for advancement. A valid driver’s license is required.

If you are interested in applying and ready to be a part of this exciting team, please email your resume with salary requirements to HR@SimonBuilds.com Are you in BIG trouble with the IRS? Stop wage & bank levies, liens & audits, unfiled tax returns, payroll issues, & resolve tax debt FAST. Call 844-753-1317 (AAN CAN) Private duty RNs/LPNs needed for a non-vent individual on south side of Madison.

Sunday 7am-7pm. Also seeking PRN shift help. Call (608) 692-2617 and ask for Jill.

Caregiver needed. $15/hour 6 am – 8 am (Mon, Wed, Fri) other hours may be available.

Any questions, please call Virginia at (608) 216-0238.

Back-up overnight caregiver needed. Hours are 10 pm-7am. Experience necessary. For pay rate and any questions, please call David at (608) 215-7619.

CHECK OUT THE FOUNDRY FOR MUSIC LESSONS & REHEARSAL STUDIOS & THE BLAST HOUSE STUDIO FOR RECORDING! 608-270-2660 www.madisonmusicfoundry.com

Caring People Needed!

Energetic, dependable and fun people desired to assist the elderly in Madison. Nonmedical companionship and in-home care. Flexible hours. Home Instead Senior Care: (608) 663-2646.

Evergreens and Shade Trees, 3-15’ Balled & Burlaped or Potted. Delivery and Planting available. Call 715-335-4444.

Volunteer with UNITED WAY Volunteer Center Call 246-4380 or visit volunteeryourtime.org to learn about opportunities Madison Area Food Pantry Gardens is looking for a Garden Coordinator. Help grow and harvest vegetables to be donated to local food pantries and meal programs. Responsibilities include working with others to plan gardens, utilizing equipment and supplies and coordinating volunteer work sessions. Training opportunities are available.

On April 20, celebrate Earth Day working to plant wildflowers, mulch trails and pick up trash in the UW Lakeshore Nature Preserve’s Muir Woods. Volunteer opportunity runs from 4-6pm. Tools and gloves provided.

There is no convenient parking. It’s best to come on foot or bike. A great opportunity for UW students.

Literacy Network’s annual celebration of adult students is April 28. We are looking for 2 volunteers to help set up the event room, including arranging silent auction items in an attractive manner. Also looking for 2 hosts to welcome and assist guests in the silent auction and perform closing auction transactions. Retail or formal event hosting experience needed.

Services & Sales PREGNANT? THINKING OF ADOPTION? Talk with caring agency specializing in matching Birthmothers with Families Nationwide.

LIVING EXPENSES PAID. Call 24/7 Abby’s One True Gift Adoptions. 866-413-6293. Void in Illinois/New Mexico/Indiana (AAN CAN)

KILL ROACHES - GUARANTEED! Buy Harris Roach Tablets with Lure. Odorless, Long Lasting. Available: Hardware Stores, The Home Depot, homedepot.com (AAN CAN) KILL BED BUGS & THEIR EGGS! Buy Harris Bed Bug Killers/KIT Complete Treatment System. Available: Hardware Stores, The Home Depot, homedepot.com (AAN CAN) CASH FOR CARS: Any Car/Truck 20002015, Running or Not! Top Dollar For Used/ Damaged. Free Nationwide Towing! Call Now: 1-888-420-3808 (AAN CAN)

Health & Wellness Larry P. Edwards RPh, LBT Nationally & State Certified #4745-046 Massage Therapist and Body Worker / Madison, WI Swedish Massage For Men, providing immediate Stress, Tension and Pain Relief. Seven days a week by appt.—same day appointments available.

Contact Steve, CMT at: ph/ text 608.277.9789 or acupleasur@aol.com.

Gift certificates available for any reason or season @ ABC Massage Studio!

Relaxing Unique Massage Therapy Experienced, Results Hypnotherapy! You Deserve the BEST! Ken-Adi Ring LMT. CHt.CI. 256-0080 www.wellife.org ELIMINATE CELLULITE and Inches in weeks! All natural. Odor free. Works for men or women. Free month supply on select packages. Order now! 844-244-7149 (M-F 9am-8pm central) (AAN CAN) Viagra!! 52 Pills for Only $99.00. Your #1 trusted provider for 10 years. Insured and Guaranteed Delivery. Call today 1-888-403-9028

Participants are needed for a study at UW-Madison looking at whether the cautious use of sleep medication reduces depressive symptoms in people with depression and insomnia.

To be eligible, you must be currently experiencing depression and insomnia, be 18-65 years old, and have access to regular care with a primary care provider.

Participants will receive up to $400 to $450.

Contact Daniel Dickson at (608) 262-0169

APRIL 14–20, 2016 ISTHMUS.COM

Call 608-251-5627 to place an ad. isthmus.com/classifieds

Requirements: BS Degree in Computer Information Systems or Computer Science, and 5 years experience developing, or overseeing development of, embedded device-operations code, integration of electromechanical devices using Microsoft Embedded Visual Tools, biometrics matching algorithms and synchronization frameworks for handheld devices and security applications using C#.

East side woman with a disability seeking a reliable and compassionate Personal Care Worker. Seeking early morning shifts beginning at 5 am and weekend shifts beginning at 7 am. Pay is between $11.66-$12.31.

Call 204-9416

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n P.S. MUELLER

JONESIN’ “Game On”– get that money ready.

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ISTHMUS.COM APRIL 14–20, 2016

FROM

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This land is your land, this land is

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MICHAEL CARBONARO APR 23

BARRYMORE THEATRE

JOE BONAMASSA MAY 13

ORPHEUM THEATER

ISTHMUS.COM/PROMOTIONS

#775 BY MATT JONES ©2016 JONESIN’ CROSSWORDS

ACROSS

1 Dizzy Gillespie’s genre 6 Many August babies, astrologically 10 At a great distance 14 “Captain Blood” star Flynn 15 Prefix for pus 16 Solitary 17 1912 Nobel Peace Prize winner Root 18 What the three circled areas represent 20 ___ Aviv, Israel 21 Submits, as a sweepstakes entry 23 Illuminated 24 Auto mechanic’s service 26 “___ Wiedersehen!”

28 Tiny drink [Miss class] 30 “A Boy Named ___” [Confident] 34 Taverns [Loses one’s lunch]

38 Spigot [Links hazard] 39 Slip-___ [Burden] 40 Baseball card info [Set in motion] 41 Hosp. workers [Howard and Jeremy, for two] 42 History [“Blue Ribbon” name] 44 Deep-___ [Slugfest] 45 “Yes ___!” [Andes native] 47 Casserole bit [“Guilty,” e.g.]

48 Riddle-me-___ [Belgian painter Magritte] 49 Brazilian soccer legend [Key’s comedy partner] 50 Blasting stuff [Campsite shelter] 51 Curvy letter [PC bailout keys] 52 “Mustache Hat” artist Jean 54 Lend a larcenous hand 56 Go back, like the tide

59 Bill killers 63 “As I suspected!”

66 Person who’s ready when an insertion is made 68 Blend completely 70 Not contaminated 71 “CHiPs” star Estrada 72 Hip-hop artist Jermaine 73 Transmitted 74 Bumps on the back, maybe 75 Short-lived Ford DOWN

1 Salad bar veggie 2 Detective novelist ___ Stanley Gardner 3 Vividness 4 Outburst with a wince 5 Eve of “The Brady Bunch” 6 Centers of focus 7 “Green” sci.

8 Soul singer Redding 9 Braga of “Kiss of the Spider Woman” 10 Every bit 11 Ignoramus 12 “Freeze” tag?

13 Time off 19 Cold-shoulders 22 “The Fox and the Crow” author 25 Swedish home of Scandinavia’s oldest university 27 Label for the diet-conscious 28 Remove, as paint 29 31 Ill-suited 32 33 Dusseldorf neighbor 35 Philatelists’ prized possessions, perhaps 36 37 Eye afflictions 43 Mongolian invader 46 Derring-do 53 Actress Rosie 55 Flip of a hit single 56 Mike of “Fifty Shades of Black” 57 In a glum mood 58 Hoedown site 60 “To Venus and Back” singer Amos 61 “I’m ___, boss!”

62 Alarmed squeals 64 Put on the payroll 65 Angle of a branch 67 As of now 69 Water + dirt LAST WEEK’S ANSWERS

n SAVAGE LOVE

Sweat equity

BY DAN SAVAGE

I’m a 49-year-old gay man. I’ve become friends with a 21-year-old straight guy.

He’s really hot. He’s had to drop out of college and return home. I know he needs money, as he hasn’t found a job yet and has resorted to selling off old music equipment. I would love to have some sweaty clothes of his, namely his underwear, but I’d settle for a sweaty tank top. Is it legal to buy someone’s underwear? He’s a sweet guy, and I don’t want to freak him out by asking something so personal. How do I broach the subject?

Lustfully Obsessed Stink Seeker It’s perfectly legal to buy and sell used underwear, LOSS, so there’s no legal risk.

But you risk losing this guy as a friend if you broach the subject. You can approach it indirectly by saying something like “So sorry to hear you’re selling off your music equipment. You’re young and hot — you could probably make more money selling used underwear or sweaty tanks.” Then follow his lead: If he’s disgusted by the suggestion, drop it. If he’s into the idea, offer to be his first customer.

I’m a 52-year-old straight guy from Australia, 29 years married. About eight years ago, I met a lady through work and we became friends, with our friendship continuing after she moved on to a different job. We meet up for coffee occasionally, and we share a love of cycling and kayaking, which we also do together on occasion. Both of us are in long-term, committed monogamous relationships.

Our friendship is strictly platonic, sharing our love of riding and paddling. Neither of our partners shares our interest in these

CRAIG WINZER

outdoor pursuits. My friend does not feel safe doing these activities alone, so often depends on my company for safety as well.

The problem is that my wife gets jealous of the time we spend together and wants me to cut off contact with my friend. My wife does not trust my friend not to “take advantage” of our friendship. My relationship with my wife is the most important one in my life, so I am prepared to say goodbye to my friend. How do I say goodbye in a respectful, caring, and loving way? If she asks why we cannot be friends, I don’t want to tell her, “Because my wife doesn’t trust you not to try to get inside my pants (or cycling shorts),” as that would be hurtful. I don’t want to lie, but telling the truth would be damaging to my friend.

Paddling And Riding Terminates

Your friend is going to waste a lot of time wondering what she did wrong, PART, if you don’t tell her the real reason you can’t hang out with her anymore. And guess what? This not knowing will cause her more hurt than the truth could. So tell your friend the real reason she’s out of your life: You’re terminating your friendship because your wife is an insecure bag of slop who regards her as a threat. Your friend has a right to know she’s as blameless as you are spineless. Forgive me for being harsh, PART, but I think standing up to your wife, not dropping your friend, is the best approach to this situation.

Before I got married, I asked husband repeatedly about fantasies and kinks, so that we had full disclosure going in. It led to some fun stuff in the bedroom, but we’re

both pretty low-grade kinksters.

Now I realize that I do something that I have never told him about: It’s the way that I masturbate. I started when I was 5 or 6, because it felt good. Got chided by parents and teachers for doing it in public and learned to keep it hidden. And so ever since, it’s been my secret thing. I think it has helped me orgasm in that I knew how early on, but it has also made it more difficult to come in positions that don’t mimic the masturbating position. Husband likes the idea of me coming in different positions, and I’ve managed now and again, but he doesn’t know why I’m set in my ways. We’ve been together for 10 years, but I have never shared this.

Should I tell him? Part of me is afraid that he will think I’m weird.

But more than likely, he’ll just want to watch me do it. Still, it’s kind of nice having this one thing that belongs only to me.

Secret Masturbator Obligated Over Spanking Hotness?

You could hold this back, SMOOSH, and keep it all for yourself. But I don’t see why you would want to.

As sexy secrets go, “There’s one particular position I like to masturbate in” is pretty boring. Unless you need to be positioned on top of a cadaver or under your dad or beside a life-size Ted Cruz sex doll to get off when you masturbate, there’s really no reason to keep this secret. n Email Dan at mail@savagelove.net or reach him on Twitter at @fakedansavage on Twitter.

Uncle Gene was thinking of running as Trump’s VP

follow for fun photos :)

afraid he would actually have to work!

2009 FREEPORT RD. • 271-3827 • NEAR VERONA & RAYMOND ROADS

APRIL 14–20, 2016 ISTHMUS.COM

@IsthmusMadison

but with all of the violence going on he’s

51

V05 FOR 5

AFTERGLOW

DATE: Thursday, April 14 TIME: 9 PM – 12 AM LOCATION: Harmony Bar and Grill

Mix and mingle with festival enthusiasts, guests, staff and volunteers at sponsoring hotels. Live music Saturday night!

2201 Atwood Ave Kick off your shoes and dance to local favorite disco cover band, V05.

DATE: Friday, April 15 | 10 PM – 1 AM LOCATION: Graduate Hotel 601 Langdon Street

FRESH & SNAPPY

DATE: Saturday, April 16 | 10 PM – 1 AM LOCATION: HotelRed

DATE: April 15 – 21 LOCATION: Hilldale | 726 Midvale Blvd

1501 Monroe Street

See how UW-Madison art students transform Hilldale during the Festival with this special ‘pop-up’ exhibition.

DATE: Sunday, April 17 | 10 PM – 1 AM LOCATION : Best Western Plus Inntowner | 2424 University Avenue

BIG (MONKEY) BIZ FOR LITTLE FOLKS DATE: Friday, April 15 TIME: 11:30 AM & 1:30 PM LOCATION : MMoCA 11:30 AM – 12:00 PM : Monkey Business Institute will create a live comedic improv piece using the themes and characters of ODDBALL. Family-friendly hilarity is guaranteed.

1:30 – 2:00 PM: Monkey Business

ISTHMUS.COM APRIL 14–20, 2016

Institute will perform a rapid-fire, kidfriendly improv show that will riff on the shorts in Shorter and Sweeter.

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BOUGHT & SOLD: VOICES OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING

DATE: April 4 – 25 LOCATION : Chazen Art Museum Plaza, UW-Madison Wisconsin Film Festival films that speak to the issues addressed during the 4W‘s 2016 Summit on Women, Gender and Well-being are: SONITA, NAHID and ACADEMY OF MUSES. An outdoor photographic display

by Kay Chernush, Founder of ArtWorks for Freedom, includes 23 images. The exhibit asks viewers to consider the issues from the perspective of the men, women and children caught up in slavery’s web and challenges us to take action. It is jointly sponsored by the 4W-STREETS Project (Social Transformations to End Exploitation and Trafficking for Sex) and the Chazen Museum of Art.

2016 FILMMAKER PANEL SERIES* DATE: Saturday, April 16 TIME: 10:30 AM & 12:45 PM LOCATION: Sundance Cinemas Free Event • Public Welcome • Live Streamed!

THE LIFE OF A WISCONSIN FILMMAKER 10:30 – 11:45 AM Live stream link: go.wisc.edu/wfflifepanelstream What does it mean to be an independent filmmaker living in Wisconsin? What is daily life like? In this panel, audience members will get a glimpse into the lives of the people behind the movies they see at the festival.

FINDING THE STORIES 12:30 – 1:45 PM Live stream link: go.wisc.edu/wffstoriespanelstream Where do filmmakers find the stories they want to tell? In this panel, audience members will get a glimpse of the process of finding and constructing the stories in the films at the festival.

* Presented by Film Wisconsin and StoryFirst Media