Isthmus: Jan 12-18, 2016 by Isthmus

JANUARY 12–18, 2017

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VOL. 42 NO. 2

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MADISON, WISCONSIN

WISCONSIN HISTORICAL SOCIETY

Fuller Opera House c. 1900

MADISON’S

lost theaters Remembering our city’s entertainment palaces

ISTHMUS.COM JANUARY 12â&#x20AC;&#x201C;18, 2017

■ CONTENTS

■ WHAT TO DO

4 SNAPSHOT

BREAKING THE HUDDLE

The competition is fierce to play for the Madison Blaze, the city’s female football team.

6-9 NEWS

UNOPPOSED

Despite Madison’s politically active electorate, few people are running for city council.

10 TECH

SLINGSHOT MARY LANGENFELD

JAY RATH

ALLISON GEYER

4 SNAPSHOT WHEN STAFF WRITER Allison Geyer was in elementary school, she went through a proto-feminist tomboy phase and became obsessed with playing pickup football at recess. When the boys told her to get lost because “there’s no such thing as the WNFL,” she became outraged and told her dad, who found the whole thing hilarious. She revisits her childhood dream this week with a Snapshot about Madison’s badass women’s football team.

15 COVER STORY DOWNTOWN MADISON was once home to nine theaters that hosted live entertainment. The days of vaudeville, silent film and radio dramas are long gone, as are many of the theaters that were home to such shows. Long fascinated by entertainment history, Jay Rath writes this week about our lost theaters and what they tell us about civic life and the arts in turn-ofthe-century Madison.

UW students rise to the top in Elon Musk’s hyperloop competition.

12 OPINION

IGNORE AT YOUR OWN PERIL Democrats can’t afford to count out urban candidates for governor.

15 COVER STORY

PALACES OF YORE

The history of Madison’s downtown theaters.

21-26 FOOD & DRINK

MAKE A LIST

Take note of these special pours on tap at this year’s Isthmus Beer and Cheese Fest.

LALO LAND

A new Mexican spot on the west side excels at nachos and more.

28 SPORTS

HAIL YES!

The Packers face a fierce opponent in the Cowboys. Can Green Bay prevail?

30 BOOKS

EPIC TALE

We three kings... Friday, Jan. 13, Centro Hispano, 4-6 pm. Miss the Santa photo op this year? Here is another chance. Only Santa will be replaced by the three kings, who will be giving out presents to kids at the annual Día de los Tres Reyes celebration. Centro Hispano expects more than 400 families to attend the community event, which for many families of Latin American heritage is the time Christmas is really celebrated. Expect music, hot chocolate and rosca de reyes, a sweet bread made with candied fruits. (Don’t forget to put your shoes out.)

A debut YA novel revisits David and Goliath.

Don’t drop it!

31 STAGE

Saturday, Jan. 14, Barrymore Theatre, 7 pm

FUNNIER THAN REAL LIFE

The 47th annual MadFest Juggling Extravaganza features international performers such as Jack Kalvan & Company and Andrea Noel, and local superstar Truly Remarkable Loon. For those who would like to participate in juggling activities rather than just watch the pros, get thee to O’Keeffe Middle School for a weekend of events, starting at 6:30 pm on Friday, Jan. 13. For info: madjugglers.com.

What a Joke makes light of the incoming prez.

31 MUSIC

SHINY POP ROBIN SHEPARD

BEER THIS YEAR MORE than 112 brewers and 500 beers (and 25 cheesemakers) are expected at Isthmus Beer and Cheese Fest. Thanks goodness for Robin Shepard, who offers his picks of beers that should not be missed at the Jan. 21 event. A lot of work goes into creating such a list — it’s not all fun and drinks.

Sunspot’s first label release hits the mark.

32-33 SCREENS

MAMA DRAMA

A new documentary highlights a couple’s struggle to expand their family.

40 EMPHASIS

MAKE YOUR SPACE

Brown & Beam is a design-savvy furniture store in a warehouse.

IN EVERY ISSUE 9 MADISON MATRIX 9 WEEK IN REVIEW 12 THIS MODERN WORLD 13 FEEDBACK 13 OFF THE SQUARE

34 ISTHMUS PICKS 41 CLASSIFIEDS 42 P.S. MUELLER 42 CROSSWORD 43 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 STAFF WRITERS Dylan Brogan, Allison Geyer EDITORIAL INTERN Elisa Wiseman CALENDAR EDITOR Bob Koch ART DIRECTOR Carolyn Fath STAFF ARTISTS Todd Hubler, 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 • © 2017 Red Card Media, LLC. All rights reserved.

Monday, Jan. 16, Capitol Rotunda, noon; Overture Center, 5 pm

The state’s 37th annual Martin Luther King Jr. tribute and ceremony at the Capitol features a talk by Milwaukee businesswoman Valerie Daniels-Carter and gospel music by the Brown Sisters of Chicago and Tremper High School wind ensemble. Madison and Dane County’s observance kicks off with a freedom songs sing-in at the Overture Rotunda and moves to the Capitol Theater at 6 pm with guest speaker Mary Frances Berry, former U.S. Commission on Civil Rights chair, and the MLK Community Choir.

We are the world Wednesday, Jan. 18-Saturday, Jan. 21, Overture Center

Madison hosts this year’s International Performing Arts for Youth conference, bringing together artists and venue administrators from around the world. A number of showcase performances are free and open to the public, including L’Aubergine (Canada), Red Bridge Arts (United Kingdom) and Theatre Lovett (Ireland). For schedule and ticket reservations, see overture.org/events/ipay-2017.

FIND MORE ISTHMUS PICKS ON PAGE 34

JANUARY 12–18, 2017 ISTHMUS.COM

CONTRIBUTORS John W. Barker, Kenneth Burns, Dave Cieslewicz, Nathan J. Comp, Aaron R. Conklin, Ruth Conniff, Michael Cummins, Marc Eisen, Erik Gunn, Mike Ivey, Bob Jacobson, Seth Jovaag, Stu Levitan, Bill Lueders, Liz Merfeld, Andy Moore, Bruce Murphy, Kyle Nabilcy, Kate Newton, Joel Patenaude, Jenny Peek, Michael Popke, Steven Potter, Adam Powell, Katie Reiser, Jay Rath, Gwendolyn Rice, Dean Robbins, Robin Shepard, Sandy Tabachnick, Denise Thornton, Candice Wagener, Tom Whitcomb, 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 Tim Henrekin MARKETING DIRECTOR Chris Winterhack EVENT DIRECTORS Kathleen Andreoni, Courtney Lovas CONTROLLER Halle Mulford OFFICE MANAGER Julie Butler SYSTEMS MANAGER Thom Jones ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT Carla Dawkins

The dream lives on

n SNAPSHOT

Madison Blaze veteran Stormy Justice was one of about 30 women who showed up for a Jan. 7 team tryout.

Playing like a girl

ISTHMUS.COM JANUARY 12–18, 2017

BY ALLISON GEYER n PHOTO BY MARY LANGENFELD

There’s a quiet intensity on the football field where about two dozen players are running drills. There’s no clack of pads or helmets, no shrill blasts from a coach’s whistle, just the muted pounding of cleats on artificial turf. When voices are raised, it’s to shout instructions or offer words of encouragement. The players are working hard — so hard that head coach Justin Weaver has to remind them to take a break. This isn’t a prison camp, he says, lightening the mood. But it is a serious tryout for a serious squad — the Madison Blaze is a full-contact, professional football team that travels all over the Midwest. They’ve won the division title three years running. The players train hard and hit even harder. Oh, and they all happen to be women. The Jan. 7 tryout at the American Center, a UW Health sports medicine and performance facility on Madison’s east side, is the first event of the 2017 season for the fiveyear-old team. Veteran players are here to show coaches how they’ve grown from the previous season, and a fresh crop of rookies are eager to make an impression. Nobody

is getting cut, but players are jockeying for their preferred positions. “This is a rebuilding year for us,” says Tiffany Loomis, a player and team co-owner, watching from the sidelines. Last year’s roster was in the low 30s, but she’s hoping to boost the number closer to 40 this season, and she’s pleased with the fresh talent. Players range in age from 18 to 50, and some have traveled from as far as Milwaukee, Wisconsin Dells and Iowa. “This team is a big draw because it offers something different,” Loomis says. “People don’t expect it at all.” That certainly applies to coach Weaver. A former defensive coordinator for the University of Chicago who now works in the UW-Madison athletic department, he didn’t even realize a serious women’s football league existed until about three years ago, when a Blaze player reached out to him about possibly coaching the team. “The only thing I had known about was lingerie league,” he says, referring to a novelty franchise founded in 2009 that features women playing football while wearing skimpy underwear. But his interest was piqued when

Year Madison Blaze was founded: 2013

Lydia Sujewicz, who goes he saw a promotional video by the nickname “Savage,” of a Blaze player making a Previous women’s football remembers her boyfriend heroic tackle. teams in Madison: laughing at her when she “I saw that hit, and I WOLVES, COUGARS (GROAN) told him she wanted to try was like ‘Wow, they really Independent Women’s Football out for the Blaze. Four years are playing football,’” he League Division Championships: later, she’s coming off her recalls. “This is football as I 2014, 2015, 2016 best season ever, and the know it, and they’re playing boyfriend is no longer in the their butts off. I want to try New league for 2017 season: picture. “This team is a fammy hand at this.” Women’s Football Alliance ily,” she says. “People allow Katie Hurtis, a 28-yearWant to play? you to be who you are.” old Epic employee, found NEXT TRYOUT IS JAN. 15, The team also has the her way to the Blaze by way 7:30-9:30 AM, UW HEALTH power to inspire. On the of the Madison Gay Hockey AMERICAN CENTER, 4602 sidelines, 11-year-old Association. A three-sport EASTPARK BLVD. Aveyaunna Hughes is athlete in high school, she ready with a caddy of wawas looking for a way to meet ter bottles; she sprints onto new people and stay active. “Being on a team was an aspect of life that I was the field when her dad, one of the coaches, missing,” she says. And while the women on the signals that his players are ready for a drink. team are connected by their love of football, the She watches the drills closely, imitating the politics of feminism and women’s empowerment footwork patterns. She says she wants to be a quarterback someday. When asked if the boys are also central to the team. “There’s a lot of powerful women out there,” at school give her any trouble, she says it hapHurtis says from the sidelines. “And for us to pened once, but she dealt with it easily. be playing football, traditionally that door isn’t “I took the ball,” she says, “and I threw it farther than him.” n open to us.”

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n NEWS

Safety concerns Madison clubs and theaters ponder security in an age of terror attacks BY ELISA WISEMAN

As a frequent concert-goer, Chooey Cornelius says safety is all about self-awareness. “As long as you have the right people with you, you know who you’re with, it’s fine,” says Cornelius, who was waiting in line at the Orpheum in November to see Flosstradamus. With terrorist attacks and mass shootings on the rise in recent years, entertainment venues around the world face a potentially greater need for security measures. But Cornelius, a 20-year-old Appleton resident who often attends concerts in Madison and Milwaukee, says she’s never felt unsafe attending a concert in the area. “When everyone is inside, you can see who you’re surrounding yourself with,” she says. “And you have to go in with the right mindset. If you’re going to a rock concert, there’s going to be a lot of people with different attitudes and different energies than if you’re going to an EDM concert.” Regardless, recent attacks targeting people out for a game or the night — including the 2015 terrorist attacks at a Par-

is soccer stadium and theater, the mass shooting at an Orlando nightclub last summer, and the New Year’s Eve mass shooting in an Istanbul club — have raised the stakes for venue owners. Tag Evers, a Madison-based promoter and founder of True Endeavors, says more security may be in his industry’s future, but cautions that a balance needs to be struck between safety and overreaction. “What has to happen is that people need to feel safe when they go out, but it also needs to be balanced,” he says. “We can’t enter into a type of hysteria where we lose our sense of freedom. On the other hand, if these things start to happen on a more regular basis, then it’ll have to change…. The chances of dying of a terrorism attack are extremely remote, but it clearly has everyone on notice. The industry is adjusting.” Some local venues have made major security adjustments in the past year. UW-Madison officials announced in early October that the Kohl Center, home to the university’s basketball and hockey teams,

Shoo-ins With no challengers, most voters won’t have a choice for Common Council

ISTHMUS.COM JANUARY 12–18, 2017

BY DYLAN BROGAN

DAVID MICHAEL MILLER ILLUSTRATIONS

When Madison residents head to the polls on April 4, most won’t have a choice on who represents them on the Common Council. Although all 20 seats are up for election, only five of the districts will have more than one candidate on the ballot. The other 15 council members are running unopposed, the fewest number of contested races since 2001. “It’s very disappointing,” Mayor Paul Soglin tells Isthmus. “I can’t understand why in such an activist city as Madison — where virtually everyone has an opinion on every subject — that we should find an extremely low number of contested races. It is disturbing.” Soglin worries that if council members aren’t challenged at the ballot box, they will become complacent. He calls it “dangerous” for elected officials to run unopposed. “It gives [council members] the false sense that they are right about everything,” says Soglin. “As much as it’s a strain and a challenge to go through a grueling election — and I’ve been fortunate to experience a good number of them over the years — I think it’s not only good for the community, it’s good for the candidate.”

Alds. Rebecca Kemble and Paul Skidmore agree. Neither face opponents this year but they aren’t celebrating. Skidmore says he was hoping for a spirited toe-to-toe with a challenger. “Opponents stimulate a conversation,” says Skidmore. “It’s kind of sad because we have all sorts of issues that need discussing.” “Competitive elections are good for everyone,” adds Kemble. “They help all candidates clarify their thinking and positions, especially when the community organizes public debates and candidate forums.” Ald. Mark Clear sees two contradictory forces driving the lackluster number of opponents: “Jadedness and disgust” felt by voters about politics in general, and satisfaction with how local government is being run. “Despite the mayor’s claim that the council is irresponsible and clueless, I think actually the council has functioned well,” says Clear. “That’s reflected in the fact that there is not an urgency to replace incumbents.” Voters have at times ousted alders — even some well-entrenched ones — seeking reelection. One of the biggest

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Destination! would install metal detectors at every entryway. The Overture Center started doing bag checks after a few employees attended a May 2015 industry conference in New York City, where a session was dedicated to discussing security trends in the industry — namely, checking bags for firearms and other potential threats. Others, though, haven’t made as many changes — mostly because the threat doesn’t seem particularly immediate. “When the media covers stories about those incidents for an extended period of time, there might be fear in people going to large spaces with large groups of people, but we want to encourage people to go about their lives as they always have,” says Matt Gerding, co-owner of the Majestic. “It’s still safe.” Gerding says that it would be natural for patrons to think twice about attending a concert immediately after an incident occurs somewhere in the world. But the initial fears inevitably fade, and people realize that Madison, and the live music venue commu-

nity in general, is under no urgent threat. “The initial response is to hibernate out of fear, but people tend to realize that it was an isolated incident,” he says. Resistance to increasing security might also stem from the fact that it doesn’t come cheap, says Evers. Larger venues have the resources to pay for comprehensive measures. Smaller ones don’t. “Larger venues are responding more quickly or with more immediacy, partly because they have bigger operations and are doing more shows, and, perhaps, there is more liability at stake,” Evers says. “But metal detectors cost around $5,000 each. You couldn’t find a club in town that could take on a cost like that very easily. To have more uniformed security present at every single show and checking [patrons] and patting them down, that starts to add up to several hundred dollars a night. I would say that it’s most likely true that nobody who owns a club in town is excited about taking on that additional cost. But the world is changing.” ■

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upsets came in 2013 when John Strasser unseated longtime council member Tim Bruer, who had represented his southwestside district for 29 years. Strasser served for one term, but then lost his reelection bid to Sheri Carter in 2015. That same year, Samba Baldeh won his east-side seat by defeating incumbent Joe Clausius, a fourterm veteran. Carter now faces her own challenger, college student Jose Rea. Ald. Barbara McKinney will face IT manager David Handowski for her far-west-side district. Near the UW campus, Ald. Zach Wood is running against John Terry Jr., a homeless activist. And Ald. Maurice Cheeks is up against state business analyst Steve Fitzsimmons for his west-side seat. Ald. Tim Gruber is the only council member stepping down. Gruber promised not to run for reelection when council leaders appointed him to serve out the term of former Ald. Chris Schmidt, who resigned last January. Policy analyst Arvina Martin and consultant Bradley Campbell are vying to replace him in the west-side seat bordering Shorewood Hills. There will be no council elections on the spring primary ballot (Feb. 21) because there are only two candidates in each contested race.

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Critics mobilize against snowmobile trail DNR Board to reconsider approval in face of lawsuit BY JOEL PATENAUDE

Strong opposition didn’t stop the Wisconsin Natural Resources Board from approving a snowmobile trail through Blue Mound State Park, but critics are stepping up their efforts in advance of a reconsideration of the policy later this month. The controversial snowmobile trail was approved Jan. 27, 2016, by the board, which sets policy for the Department of Natural Resources based on the recommendations of DNR staff. But the DNR was sued in Dane County Circuit Court in November by Karl Heil, former superintendent of the park, and area resident and

park user Kenneth Wade, for lobbying members of its governing body to approve the trail in violation of the state open meetings law. Seeing this as a last-ditch opportunity to scuttle the motorized trail, Heil is now beating the bushes for lovers of cross-country skiing, snowshoeing and winter mountain biking at the park to send in written comments or agree to speak at the Jan. 25 board meeting. “I’m sure they don’t want to change their votes,” Heil said of the seven members of the Natural Resources Board who voted unanimously for the snowmobile trail nearly a year ago. “If this time the public comments come back 50/50 for and against it, they won’t change

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The land ethic and its legacy The great Wisconsin conservationist Aldo Leopold encouraged readers to cultivate a deep knowledge of nature as the foundation for knowing and protecting it. Explore Leopold’s legacy, and build some knowledge yourself. Writing and arts workshops at the Arboretum The land ethic in today’s world Walking meditations Special events exploring humans’ relationship with nature

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their votes. So it’s up to us, the silent sports users of the park, to step up to bat.” Nearly 200 people expressed in writing their concern for the noise, speed, exhaust and safety risks that could come with a 1.4-mile, $170,000 snowmobile trail linking the Military Ridge State Trail along the park’s southern border to private property north of the park. Only 12 snowmobilers asked for legal passage through the park. The trail will bisect and require rerouting of an existing ski trail. After the Legislature and Gov. Scott Walker eliminated tax support for state parks in 2015, the DNR has looked for ways to make these properties self-supporting. Blue Mound remains one of the most popular parks, especially among silent sports enthusiasts. Participation in the Horribly Hilly Hundreds bike ride and Blue Mound Trail Run generated much of the $714,000 the Friends of Blue Mound put back into the park between 2008 and 2015. There’s fear within the Friends group that snowmobiles in the park will chase away silent sport visitors and their sizeable donations. According to Heil’s lawsuit, DNR officials broke the open meetings law in the way they “lobbied and polled” board members to support the snowmobile trail before last year’s vote. In addition to emailing and calling board members individually, the night before the meeting, DNR staff hosted a dinner for the board, at which the project was discussed. Because the briefing involved official business without public notice, the DNR violated state law, the attorneys for Heil and Wade argue. Consequently, the plaintiffs have asked the court to declare void the board’s approval of the snowmobile trail. In a response to the lawsuit, filed Dec. 23, state Attorney General Brad Schimel denied that the DNR broke the law. Regardless, Schimel said the complaint “is moot” because, at the urging of the DNR’s legal counsel, “the issue of the Blue Mound master plan [will] be

placed before the board anew following a vote to reconsider the January 2016 approval.” Heil, who retired as park superintendent for Blue Mound in 2011, scoffed at this. He compared the DNR to someone caught “doing 80 in a 55 mph zone, appearing in court and pleading not guilty by saying that the next time they drove down that road they obeyed the speed limit.” In November, after the litigation uncovered email in which DNR officials discussed the intent of their pre-vote dinner, a DNR spokesperson said the agency will no longer host such events with board members. The Capital Off Road Pathfinders mountain bike club supported the snowmobile trail last time around, in exchange for a change to the Blue Mound master plan to keep a choice mountain trail open. But in advance of the board’s reconsideration, the club has shared with its members, through its website and Facebook page, Heil’s plea to fight construction of the snowmobile trail. The Madison Nordic Ski Club, which has about 250 members, also opposes the trail. Board member Renee Callaway says the club is updating a letter for submission to the DNR Board; it cites noise, pollution, impact on wildlife and the need to reroute part of an existing ski trail as reasons for the club’s opposition. Heil says local residents can oppose construction of the DNR-backed snowmobile trail without opposing snowmobiling through the park. There’s already a signed trail within the right of way of Mounds Park Road that gets snowmobilers to and from the same points. Other possible routes exist east and west of the park. The deadline to submit written comments to the Natural Resources Board is 11 a.m. on Jan. 13. The deadline to request to testify at the Jan. 25 board meeting is 11 a.m. on Jan. 20. Comments and requests to speak should be sent to board liaison Laurie J. Roth at Laurie.Ross@wisconsin.gov. ■

■ MADISON MATRIX

UW-Madison scientists write an open letter to the state Department of Natural Resources urging the agency to get it together and embrace climate change science. Ignoring the facts “portrays the Wisconsin state government as anti-science,” the letter says. If the dunce cap fits….

D. SCHI EL

DNR

BIG CITY

State K. A. E. D. Attorney General Brad Schimel spent $10,000 of taxpayer money to mint 2,000 commemorative coins bearing his name and his favorite slogan, which stands for “Kicking Ass Every Day,” columnist Dan Bice of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports.

WINNING

LOSING

Exact Sciences Corp. is working with Mayo Clinic on seven new cancerscreening products, including a blood test to detect early lung cancer that’s showing high levels of accuracy in preliminary tests, the Wisconsin State Journal reports.

State Sen. Steve Nass (R-Whitewater) accuses UW-Madison of waging a “war on men” for offering a program that explores masculinity. Because real men don’t self-reflect!

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n WEEK IN REVIEW

2017 Open Qualifier Tournament

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Sunday, February 5th | 8 a.m. - noon | 1 p.m. weigh-in Register online at www.naifc.com

n Gov. Scott Walker announces the state budget will include

$6 million to expand and renovate the Cream Puff Pavilion at the Wisconsin State Fair. The funding will come entirely from private gifts, and the project will be completed in 2019. Priorities!

SUNDAY, JAN. 8 n State Supreme Court Chief Justice Patience Roggensack

tells the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel that she wants roughly $20,000 a year pay raises for herself and other judges, including appeals and circuit court judges. The 16 percent increase would cost $6.4 million per year. Wisconsin ranks 41st in the nation for judicial pay.

TUESDAY, JAN. 10 n Walker blindsides UW

Bob Seitz as his pick for Department of Transportation deputy secretary. Seitz is a former lobbyist for the mining company Gogebic Taconite and a former executive assistant at the Wisconsin Public Service Commission.

cleanlakesalliance.org/frozen-assets

WEDNESDAY, JAN 11 n Five former Depart-

ment of Natural Resources secretaries release a letter urging the Legislature to reject a proposal that would break up DNR programs into five different agencies.

TITLE SPONSORS HOSTED BY PLATINUM SPONSOR

JANUARY 12–18, 2017 ISTHMUS.COM

System officials with a surprise announcement in his State of the State address that he plans to cut tuition for instate students. Facing diminishing state aid, universities had been hoping for an end to the tuition freeze, but Walker says the cut will be paid for in the budget.

n Walker announces

■ TECH

Tunnel vision UW-Madison students wind up Elon Musk’s hyperloop competition BY ESTY DINUR

This month, Elon Musk’s SpaceX is running a competition to test hyperloop pods designed and built by university students and independent engineering teams. A team of UW-Madison students will be there. The company is constructing a test track near its Hawthorne, California, headquarters for the competition. The hyperloop, a tube over- or underground that is similar but larger than the pneumatic tubes used by banks and pharmacies, would allow for super-fast travel between cities that are less than 900 miles apart. In an earlier design phase, a prototype built by the team of undergraduates at UWMadison, dubbed Badgerloop, placed third in a field of 125, behind graduate-student-driven teams from MIT and Delft. The manufactured pod, which is expected to reach 200 mph over a one-mile run, was unveiled on Dec. 6 at the Wisconsin Institute for Discovery, in a ceremony complete with red lighting, music and speeches; students explained their part of the project in a variety of stations around the hall. A full-scale pod is projected to travel 760 mph. More than 150 students from numerous disciplines participated in 18 sub-groups,

working on issues related to electrical systems, braking, structure, control, industry relations, finance and marketing. None of the work was done in the classroom for credit. David Van Veen, who just graduated in electrical engineering, has served as the president of Badgerloop. The students, he says, are participating in creating a brand-new technology, a futuristic mode of transportation that could make travel much faster and more eco-friendly — if testing shows that it’s possible to do it with renewable energy. Currently, the pod is fueled by electricity. “Being a part of a project like this, we learned a lot about engiThe Badgerloop will be tested later this month. neering, building a big team, things you can’t learn in a classroom,” Van Veen says. “Also, working on a project that can Duncan Carlsmith, a UW-Madison physshape things in the world has helped us think ics professor, advised the team throughout the about what we want to do, what problems we project. “It has had a profound impact on the stuwant to solve, what impact we want to have in dents, and is an inspiration for students here and the world. There are a lot of big problems fac- throughout the world,” he says. “They have grown ing the world today, and climate change is one up considerably. Many will soon be leading reof them, so we all were empowered through search divisions at major companies, I am sure.” the project to feel that we can...help in solving Besides providing technical help, Carlsmith this problem.” suggested that the team explore licensing its

technologies with WARF and convinced his department to offer the students space to construct the pod. The Physics Department Board of Visitors supplied some management and technical guidance, which enabled the team to organize, anticipate turnover and transition through the graduation of the project’s originators. The board also assisted in looking for vendors and external supporters and ultimately contributed financially to the pod construction. Kyle Grieger, a computer science and engineering senior, said at the pod’s Dec. 6 unveiling that the experience has been “extremely arduous. You need to have a high threshold of tolerance for not knowing.” He has a job waiting for him at a software company in San Francisco but hopes to find his way back to transportation, having realized that important improvements can be made in the field. “I choose to believe undergraduate students can do most anything, if just allowed to succeed,” says Carlsmith. “This team bears that premise out.” ■

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n OPINION

Anywhere but here? Don’t rule out Madison and Milwaukee candidates for governor DAVID MICHAEL MILLER

BY ALAN TALAGA Alan Talaga co-writes the Off the Square cartoon with Jon Lyons and blogs at Madland.

As Democrats scour the state looking for potential candidates to challenge Gov. Scott Walker in 2018, I’ve heard a refrain repeated over and over: “Find someone who isn’t from Madison or Milwaukee.” There’s good reason why Democrats would be simultaneously hopeful and anxious about the next election. Midterm elections almost always hurt the president’s party. Walker rode national Republican waves to victory in 2010 and 2014. Assuming Walker chooses to run for a third term, he’ll face a very different kind of election in 2018. With unified Republican government at the state and federal level, there’s no one for Walker to use as a scapegoat. But even a national Democratic midterm wave wouldn’t make the gubernatorial race a lock. Walker is a nationally known figure who will have a huge fundraising advantage. While Walker wilted under the national spotlight during his brief presidential campaign, he’s an experienced and talented campaigner in Wisconsin. Democrats are tired of losing, and many believe a rural candidate would have a better chance of winning. It makes sense on some level. The last two Democratic gubernatorial candidates were from Milwaukee and Madison. Spoiler alert, they both lost. But Tom Barrett and Mary Burke had problems that extended far beyond their zip codes. They were decent but unspectacular candidates who ran during national Republican waves. Location became a nonfactor; Barrett and Burke would have gotten creamed even if they had been born and raised at Lambeau Field. While it is indisputable that Democrats need to find candidates and issues that will make them competitive in rural Wisconsin again, they can’t magically generate rural appeal through a candi-

date who just happens to live in a rural part of the state. Rural voters aren’t looking for folksy pandering; they are looking for an affable, inspiring leader who talks about issues they care about. That’s more important than the candidate’s zip code. Bernie Sanders won support across rural parts of the state — ultimately winning more votes than any other Democratic or Republican candidate during Wisconsin’s presidential primary — thanks to a platform that authentically resonated with Wisconsinites, even if sounded like a Willy Street fever dream. Don’t get me wrong; I think a gubernatorial contender from Eau Claire or the Fox Valley is a great idea, but a different geographic location alone doesn’t make for a good candidate. Selecting a nominee through triangulation is exactly how the party ended up with Mary

Burke. She was a moderate business leader and a tremendous philanthropist. Many thought her lack of political experience would help her rise above the muck. She was an ideal candidate on paper — but we don’t elect resumes, we elect people. She occasionally came off as a neophyte against the more experienced Walker. Having faced no serious primary challengers, Burke was ill-prepared for a statewide race. Additionally, a Democratic candidate needs to outperform Barrett and Burke in places beyond rural Wisconsin. Milwaukee County faced a huge dropoff in turnout between the 2012 and 2016 presidential elections. If that one county alone had turned out for Clinton in the numbers they turned out for Obama, Clinton would have carried the state. Find a Democratic candidate who can fire up voters in rural Jackson County and urban Kenosha and you’ve found the next governor of Wisconsin. But that won’t be easy. With a thin bench, Democrats can’t afford to write off candidates from any part of the state. That includes small towns, midsized communities like La Crosse, as well as bigger urban areas like Madison and Milwaukee. Think of

THIS MODERN WORLD

all the experienced leaders in Madison and Milwaukee — the vast majority of Democratic state legislators, city and county officials, successful entrepreneurs and heads of nonprofits. Some of them might be worth enduring some anti-urban political potshots. The best way to find a great Democratic candidate is through a contested gubernatorial primary. I’d love to see three or more candidates crossing the state, meeting with voters from Kenosha to Superior. Let’s see if Dane County Executive Joe Parisi’s message resonates with the rural voters at the Taylor County Fair. Let’s see if Rep. Dana Wachs (D-Eau Claire) can fire up the crowds in Milwaukee. Let’s see if the economic populism of Sen. Kathleen Vinehout (D-Alma) is enough to make pro-choice Madison overlook Vinehout’s previous pro-life stances. Let’s see if anyone other than former Sen. Tim Cullen wants to see Tim Cullen run for governor. Every candidate has a hometown, but, through an open primary, Democrats might just find a candidate who feels at home in any town across Wisconsin. n

BY TOM TOMORROW

ISTHMUS.COM JANUARY 12–18, 2017

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.

n FEEDBACK

Voter suppression

Honorable mention

“The End of Voter Registration Drives” (1/5/2017) describes the most recent voter suppression legislation, which eliminates special registration deputies (SRDs), effective this month. Reid Magney, spokesperson for the Wisconsin Elections Commission, is quoted as saying, “I don’t have figures, but [registration deputies] make up a relatively small percentage of voter registrations.” Well, here are some figures that were provided to me about two years ago by Brian Bell, a former state elections staff member who is now head of the state Ethics Commission. In 2008, there were 140,561 approved voter applications with SRDs listed as the source. In 2012, there were 64,499. Why the 54% drop between 2008 and 2012? Probably because the Legislature eliminated statewide SRDs in 2011. Since then, if you were trained and appointed by a municipal clerk, you could only register voters who lived in that municipality. Even these lowered numbers were apparently too much for the voter suppressors. You can see details on the voter suppression legislation since 2011 at fairelectionswi.com/supression.htm. Paul Malischke (via email)

I enjoyed reading the review of the new Food Fight restaurant, Everly (“Enlightened Eating,” 1/5/2017). Yet, in all the enlightenment and descriptive adjectives about the various food tasted, there was no mention of the executive chef, Scott Harrell, or sous chef Matthew Austin. Certainly the culinary team behind all the flavor, textures and direction of this innovative menu deserve recognition for their skill, hard work and craft. Patti Glasz (via email)

Renaissance man “Making a Scene” (12/8/2016) is an interesting, wonderfully written and highly readable article about Johannes Wallmann. Johannes is certainly a Renaissance man in the truest sense of the word. A German-born, Canadaraised UW-Madison School of Music professor who is a jazz pianist and a hockey team captain is bound to catch anyone’s attention. However, it was author Jane Burns’ writing style that sealed the deal. Ron Johnson (via email)

Correction An article in the Jan. 5 issue, “The End of Voter Registration Drives,” misattributed a quote: “So if you’re trying to do a door-to-door registration drive and you find someone without [the right] ID, you’re going to have to pull a Xerox machine out of your back pocket.” It was said by Paul Malischke. The article also incorrectly stated that an estimated 300,000 people were unable to vote in the November election because of voter ID requirements. That estimate was from 2014.

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

M A D I S O N W I S CO N S I N I N ST I T U T E S F O R T H E H E A L I N G O F R AC I S M , I N C .

COMBATING RACIAL CONDITIONING with love, compassion, fearlessness, intervention, non-vindictiveness, forgiveness and action The mission of this series is to raise consciousness about the history and pathology of racism and help heal racism in individuals, communities, and institutions in Madison. In this series, we work cooperatively to educate ourselves about the disease of racism through facilitated and voluntary sharing.

WINTER 2017 SERIES February 15/16 – April 26/27, 2017 Wednesdays or Thursdays, 6-8pm

PLEASE COME WITH AN OPEN MIND AND OPEN HEART

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#ISTHMUSBEERCHEESE

FOOD & DRINK ■ SPORTS ■ BOOKS ■ STAGE ■ SCREENS

Beer scouting Special brews to look for at the 2017 Isthmus Beer and Cheese Fest BY ROBIN SHEPARD ■ ILLUSTRATION BY TODD HUBLER

Ale Asylum Festival attendees will get an early taste of Ballistic IPA, which begins its annual seasonal run later this month. Ale Asylum is holding details close to the brew house, but it’s also planning to pour the latest in its Spawn Series of pilot brews.

Alt Brew Brewmaster Trevor Easton will unveil a new gluten-free beer, a light-bodied kölsch called Kickback, made with sorghum and rice.

Bent Kettle Brewing Fans of K’Paui, the brewery’s coconut porter, will be treated to a special version aged in rum barrels from the Old Sugar Distillery. K’Paui made my list of Isthmus’ best beers of 2016. The brewery also plans to unveil Occam’s Razor Belgian-style dubbel. It will also be offered in a brandy barrel version. A fest-only treat will be a pale ale, infused with tangelos.

Brenner Brewing Company This Milwaukee Brewery will offer tastes of its newest beer, Lightning Bug Night-Light stout, plus six others.

➡

JANUARY 12–18, 2017 ISTHMUS.COM

The annual Isthmus Beer and Cheese Festival is a showcase for well-known beers, plus many smaller releases that appeal to so-called beer hunters — those who enjoy searching for tastes they’ve never had before. Here are some of the new and/or limited releases that brewers know they’ll be bringing to the 2017 fest. But they’ll keep adding new surprises, likely right up until the last minute.

■ FOOD & DRINK

Special brews continued from 21

Capital Brewery Look for brewmaster Ashley Kinart to have her Colectivo Coffee-infused Munich Dark on tap. Capital has also been working with Merkt’s Cheese to create new cheese spreads. The brewery will be offering samples of one made with Mutiny IPA and another made with Supper Club. Dead Bird Brewing The brewery’s newest beer, Pumpernickel, is a rich, robust porter made with a half-dozen malts and a touch of flaked rye. It’s a strong beer at 9 percent ABV. As a fest-only treat, the brewery will serve it side-by-side with a second batch made with toasted oak. This is an early taste of Pumpernickel, which will appear in 22-ounce bombers later this year.

Fermentorium The Fermentorium, out of Cedarburg, just started self-distributing into Madison over the past month. This will be an opportunity to try several of its beers, including its double IPA called Underwater Panther and the Belgian tripel, Divine Sanctuary. Great Dane Pub and Brewery The big reveal will be a black saison. Expect a dry and peppery farmhouse beer with mellow dark malt character. Brewer Michael Fay is also expected to bring his Rauchbock, a smooth, caramelforward lager with a smoky and spicy background. The Hop Garden Here the big draw will be an American stout called Resilient. It’s the overall winner from last summer’s Verona Hometown Brewdown. Hop Haus Brewing If you haven’t yet ventured down to Verona to pick up a bottle of Hop Haus’ barrel-aged barleywine or its barrel-aged stout, now you don’t have to. Both will be served at this year’s fest.

The eighth annual Isthmus Beer and Cheese Festival will take place Saturday, Jan. 21, at the Alliant Energy Center. The two-hour premium tasting session gets under way at noon; the doors open for general admission from 2-6 p.m. Fest goers can expect to find nearly 100 breweries serving some 400 beers. Tickets available via isthmusbeercheese.com. House of Brews Making a limited appearance will be a bourbon barrel-aged version of Kremlin, a Russian imperial stout. Karben4 Brewing The brewery plans to share a booth with Just Coffee Cooperative, so watch for coffeeinfused beers like a special version of its Threat Level Midnight: American stout. Melms Brewing Company Wisconsin brewing history buffs might recognize this name. C.T. Melms was one of the original Milwaukee breweries from the 1840s. The brewery eventually became part of Pabst. A group of investors is attempting to bring back a taste of that history. This is the first time Melms’ beer has been served at the Isthmus Beer and Cheese Fest. The booth will have Honey Badger IPA and Walker’s Point Wheat. Octopi Brewing The Waunakee brewery is bringing two of its 3rd Sign trial pilot brews, a hoppy pilsner and a mild-mannered table beer. It will also offer its Osiris imperial stout and two new beers aged in whiskey barrels: a lager called Little Dingy and a dark ale called Big Schooner.

O’so Brewing Company Watch for a new one from the Plover brewery — it’s called Prickly Pear, a kettle-soured wheat beer made with pear puree. In the premium session, O’so plans to serve Arbre Qui Donne, a barrel-aged sour made with Georgia peaches, not yet available in bottles. Parched Eagle Brewmaster Jim Goronson will bring his popular black saison Alferd, along with his newest beer, an imperial stout called Geronimo. Three Sheeps Brewing Look for the Belgian quad, Veneration, to be served in the premium tasting session. It’s a rich malty beer with hints of fig and molasses. Hope that some of it makes the general session. Woodman Brewery For the premium tasting session, there will be a brandy barrel-aged barleywine from this tiny southwestern Wisconsin brewpub. Viking Brewpub A very limited Chocolate Peanut Butter Coffee porter and the brewery’s seasonal doppelbock called Winter Wonderland will join the Stoughton pub’s Ironside IPA.

This week at Capitol Centre Market

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Beer does not stand alone at the fest, and neither does the cheese. Alongside beer, you’ll find a growing number of beverages from meaderies and hard cider producers. Crafted Artisan Meadery and Bos Meadery join Seattle Cider Company, Virtue Cider, Cider House of Wisconsin, Mershon’s Cidery, Restoration Cider Co. and Ciderboys. Keep an eye out for Seattle Cider’s Cold Brew Coffee cider and Mershon’s Snowed In Cinammon (both premium tastings). Crafted Artisan Meadery will have a Bananas Foster version of the fermented honey drink. Make sure to try some award-winning cheeses from Marieke Gouda (the Thorp, Wisconsin, cheesemakers won honors at

last year’s World Cheese Championship in Madison). Check out Golden (aged 12-18 months), young gouda and honey clover gouda. Not enough gouda for you? White Jasmine will have its tandoori, cilantro, barbecue and cumin goudas. Martha’s Pimento of Milwaukee returns to the fest. If you have not yet discovered this Wisco version of the South’s favorite spreadable cheese, make tracks. Finally, try a little goat cheese at the Mont Chevre booth. Want more substantial fare? Slide, the Rigby and Banzo will be selling lunch in the food court area. You can’t go wrong with Slide’s cheese-stuffed meatball sliders, Banzo’s hummus and pita or the Rigby’s soft pretzels. — LINDA FALKENSTEIN

The chicken fajitas nachos can function as an appetizer or a meal. LAURA ZASTROW

Simple pleasures Partners and childhood friends Oscar Gonzalez and Eduardo Trejo have brought another spot for Mexican food to Madison with their new venture, Lalo’s. Trejo, a veteran of his family’s restaurant, Park Street’s Taqueria Guadalajara, is clearly cooking food that’s near and dear to his heart at Lalo’s, which opened last fall. Tucked away in an aging retail strip on University Avenue (formerly home to Marrakech, Shish Cafe and a host of other eateries over the years), Lalo’s has been fairly quiet when I’ve visited. That’s too bad. It’s not a huge space, but it can fit a decent crowd. The dining room boasts a beautiful hand-painted mural; there’s a bar area to one side. Sometimes it’s the simple things that matter. At Lalo’s, the chips and salsa drop on your table immediately after you sit down — one of many reasons why this can be a top dining choice for families with young kids. Lalo’s provides two salsas, a salsa verde thick with tomatillos, and a rojo. Both are spicy, so if the kids are dipping, you might want to spring for the queso dip or the guacamole; both are excellent. The queso

offered stuffed with either cheese or chicken, combined with either a verde or de raja (roasted pepper) sauce. They’re not big, so order a few, or a side to go along with them. Smaller appetites can go à la carte with tostadas or tacos. The taco’s crisp corn tortillas stand up to a saucy meat filling (choose from chicken, al pastor, steak or chicharron). The tacos could use a little more meat with a little more seasoning. My favorite tacos in town are still at Los Gemelos; these — at least the al pastor — seemed somewhat bland in comparison. Try to include a Saturday trip, as there are added breakfast dishes like huevos rancheros. It made for a particularly good, filling meal, with two fried eggs in a tomato chile sauce accompanied with rice, beans and tortillas. Slow-cooked specialties like pozole and menudo also are sold only on Saturday. Lalo’s menu is more extensive than what’s usually found at a taqueria, but less wide-ranging than at a Laredo’s, with its many dinners and combo meals. It’s a great addition to the west-side/Middleton area, distinguishing itself from Pasqual’s-Hilldale, Chipotle, Cocina Real and Lupe’s as a real, family-run spot that feels like a taqueria but acts like a restaurant. ■

5510 University Ave. ■ 608-422-5479 ■ 11 am-10 pm Mon.-Sat., may close earlier during winter break ■ $2-$13

Eats events Portugal is known for its port. However, the coastal nation has upped its wine game with other varieties in recent years. Learn by tasting at this class hosted by the Madison Wine School. Tickets ($25) at madisonwineschool.com. At 5930 Seminole Centre Court in Fitchburg, 6:30-8:30 pm.

Ribollito Soup Tuscan Braised Short Ribs

Isthmus Beer & Cheese Fest Sneak Peek Saturday, Jan. 14

Before the big wingding on Jan. 21, taste some of the cheddars that will be featured at Isthmus Beer and Cheese Fest. Each cheese is paired with a beer from One Barrel Brewing. At both Metcalfe’s Markets, Hilldale and West Towne, 11 am-2 pm.

Bier Dinner Wednesday, Jan. 18

Cafe Hollander and Central Waters Brewing team up for a five-course pairing dinner. Expect pork belly on a stick, sweetbreads, duck breast, venison loin with winter root vegetable potato pancake, and flourless chocolate tart with raspberry coulis, along with stouts and ales. Tickets ($50) at tinyurl.com/cwbierdinner. At Cafe Hollander, 701 Hilldale Way, 7-9 pm.

Cost $47 • Limited Seating Please RSVP by 1/15

425 N. Frances St. • 256-3186 Check out the menu at portabellarest.com

Porta Bella Restaurant Week Ital Specials SAT. JAN. 21 – SAT. JAN. 28 3 Course Dinners Duo Canneloni $ 25 Roasted Beef Tenderloin $30 Chicken Parmesan $25 Lobster Ravioli $25 Peppered Shrimp Fettuccine Alfredo $30 Beef Tenderloin and Portabella Mushrooms in Gorgonzola $30 LUNCHEON SPECIALS $15 View menus online: portabellarest.com

425 N. Frances St. • 256-3186 – Reservations Recommended –

Parking ramp located across the street

JANUARY 12–18, 2017 ISTHMUS.COM

Saturday, Jan. 14

We will be presenting 5 Italian wines along with our four course dinner

Raspberry Tiramisu is essentially just melted cheese, but it’s hard to stop dipping the chips in it all the same. The guacamole’s avocado, tomato and sprinkling of cilantro are fresh and make for a slightly healthier indulgence. Nachos, though listed in the appetizer section, are really a meal in themselves. In addition to the traditional style and a “Nachos Vallarta” with shrimp, Lalo’s features a super version of fajitas nachos, with either chicken or steak and grilled vegetables — it’s fajitas, just served on tortilla chips instead of a sizzling skillet. It’s an impressive plate, built on “white,” green and red chips, with a cascade of queso and delicious seasoned steak and bell peppers. These are some of the best nachos I’ve tasted. Dinners include flautas, chiles rellenos, enchiladas, milanesa and tilapia, as well as the Lalo’s Special, a highlight. It’s a large steak accompanied by sweet and spicy grilled chorizo, potatoes, rice, beans and grilled cactus, which was tangy and a bit crunchy. The enchiladas verdes, sort of a bellwether dish for me at Mexican places, highlighted the chicken and weren’t overloaded with verde sauce and cheese, as they sometimes are. Tamales are another treat to order because, let’s be honest — making tacos or quesadillas at home is no big deal, but tamales? Here, they’re LALO’S MEXICAN RESTAURANTE

The Wines of Portugal

THURSDAY, JAN. 19 6-8:30 PM

Hot Antipasto Dip

Lalo’s feels like a taqueria but acts like a restaurant BY CANDICE WAGENER

ITALIAN WINE DINNER

n FOOD & DRINK

Chocolate and toffee

Shopping while intoxicated

Resilient from the Hop Garden

The idea of a happy hour at a bar inside a grocery store requires some attitude adjustment. Why, you may ask yourself, am I drinking in a supermarket? Has my life come to this? Maybe it has! Jan. 20 approacheth! Stopping for a drink at the Mezz, the mezzanine bar/eat-in area of Festival Foods, 810 E. Washington Ave., may make grocery shopping more palatable — though you can’t roam the aisles with your Moscow Mule or chardonnay. Happy hour, 3-6 p.m. Mon.-Fri., means a $4 or $5 drink special (and Sundays, it’s $4 bloodys and mimosas all day). The happy hour might work better if the self-serve checkouts at the deli were operational (they’re being replaced) so you could grab hors d’oeuvre-y stuff from the hot bar and head right upstairs to order a glass or half glass of wine, a pint of craft beer or even a “Mezzarita,” one of a handful of cocktails available. Instead, a detour to the liquor store checkout is needed. Even so, the bright, IKEA-influenced bar is a nice place to ground yourself while searching for healthy recipes on your phone and scribbling a shopping list. You won’t find rarities among the eight taps, but there are solid local picks like Glacial

ROBIN SHEPARD

for $8-$9 and should be on most local store shelves by January 14. This is a very flavorful dark beer, perfect for drinking in cold weather. There’s subtle warmth and spiciness in the finish, though all the malt can be a bit cloying. And it is almost as robust as an imperial stout. Regardless, Resilient is a very drinkable oatmeal stout.

— ROBIN SHEPARD

LINDA FALKENSTEIN

Resilient was the overall winner in last summer’s Hometown Brewdown in Verona. Homebrewer Larry Leinberger of Milwaukee was the creator; he won the opportunity to work with Hop Garden owner Rich Joseph and House of Brews brewmaster Page Buchanan on a commercial version of his beer. The original recipe was slightly tweaked when it was scaled up to a 10-barrel batch, but it remains substantially the same as the brew that won the competition. This is Hop Garden’s first stout. The beer is a showcase of malt with seven different varieties and a touch of oats (just enough to qualify it as an oatmeal stout). There’s a small amount of Wisconsin-grown Fuggle hops, however, they’re so sparingly involved they hardly offer any balance next to all the chocolate, caramel and toffee tones. It’s fermented with a London ESB yeast and finishes at 7.2 percent ABV. Resilient is available in 22-ounce bombers

Festival Foods’ happy hour

The Mezzarita may start a shopping frenzy.

Trail from Central Waters or Lady Luck from Karben4. And that Mezzarita? The classic margarita, made with Sauza Hornitos Reposado Tequila, might inspire you to grab the ingredients for grilled shrimp tacos or some cheese quesadillas.

— LINDA FALKENSTEIN

Happy New

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ISTHMUS.COM JANUARY 12–18, 2017

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■ FOOD & DRINK

Breakfast of champions Farmers’ market brunch adds new chefs to lineup BY DYLAN BROGAN

It can seem like the summer Dane County Farmers’ Market gets all the accolades and national attention. But locals know that only the indoor “late winter” market has the Taste of the Market Breakfast. Now in its 15th year, the breakfast features a different guest chef each week. Many of Madison’s most prominent cooks have participated in breakfast over the years; now it’s reached the point where the list of guest chefs for the season reads like a who’s who of Madison kitchens, from Dave Heide (Liliana’s) to Francesco Mangano (Osteria Papavero) to Tory Miller (Graze, et al.) With a team of volunteers, chefs prepare a hot meal on-site for over 300 people. “The vast majority of the food comes from our farmers,” says Sarah Elliott, market manager. “The breakfasts highlight the ingredients at the market and give customers extra ideas for how to cook with them. It’s a nice symbiosis for the breakfast to support the farmers.” A number of new chefs are participating in the breakfast series this season, including Ben Lubchansky and Kate Zomboracz from 608 Community Supported Kitchen.

Lubchansky plans on making a savory Indian-style breakfast on Feb. 18. “We’re making dosas stuffed with spinach potato dal and curry cream lentils with chopped egg, fiery pickled carrots and yogurt,” says Lubchansky. “It’s a big production, but we are looking forward to it.” The duo will also serve a breakfast-style khichari (made with rice and red lentils.)

Gil Altschul of Grampa’s Pizzeria and the new Porter will be doing his third breakfast on March 23. This year, he’ll prepare a “giant batch of pozole,” a traditional Mexican soup made with hominy, vegetables and stewed meat (a vegetarian version will also be available). Other participants include Chris Cubberly of the Graduate and Portage Pi, Rob Grisham of Isthmus Dining Company, Kristina Stanley of Brown Rice and Honey, and Stephan May of Banzo. Groups like Slow Food UW also take the helm. The Taste of the Market Breakfast starts at 8:30 a.m. at the Madison Senior Center, 330 W. Mifflin St.; the cost is $8.50 ($5 for a half portion). The season runs through April 8. Breakfast is served until 11 a.m. or until the food is sold out. It’s a good idea to arrive early because there is usually a line. “But it’s a different vibe than if you were waiting for a table at popular brunch spot,” says Elliott. “You can grab a cup of coffee while you wait. Talk to your neighbors and the farmers that are standing there. It’s definitely a community event.” ■ The full list of guest chefs for the Taste of the Market Breakfast is at isthmus.com/events.



Paisan’s

Dane County UW-Extension Master Gardener Program

ISTHMUS.COM JANUARY 12–18, 2017

Horticultural training for adults who volunteer with horticulture-related projects that benefit the local community in support of the Dane County Extension office programming.

Italian Restaurant

Restaurant Week

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one month of unlimited yoga (reg. $159)

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Includes appetizer, dessert and glass of wine or beer

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131 W. Wilson St. 257-3832

5003 University Ave & 777 University Ave 209 • Madison, WI • 608-661-0167 • innerfireyoga.com

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■ SPORTS

A date with Dallas

Can Rodgers do to the Cowboys what he did to the Giants?

The Packers’ perilous playoff matchup BY MICHAEL POPKE

When you win seven games in a row — including a 38-13 NFC Wild Card victory over the New York Giants on Jan. 8 — you deserve to play the conference’s best team. And that’s exactly what the Green Bay Packers will do when they travel to Dallas and take on the Cowboys on Jan. 15 at 3:40 p.m. in a divisional playoff. The Pack has not lost since Nov. 20, after which quarterback Aaron Rodgers famously predicted Green Bay would “run the table” and make the playoffs. All told, this will be the eighth postseason meeting between Green Bay and Dallas, including the 1967 NFC Championship Game, better known as “The Ice Bowl,” which the Packers won, 21-17, as wind chills dipped toward -50 degrees Fahrenheit. Naturally, Packers fans of a certain age also can’t help but recall those three con-

secutive playoff losses to the Cowboys between 1993 and 1995, when names like Favre, White, Levens, Sharpe, Brooks, Freeman, Chmura and Jacke dotted Green Bay’s roster. The last time the Packers faced the Cowboys was Oct. 16, with rookie quarterback Dak Prescott well on his way to replacing Tony Romo as Dallas’ starter. The Cowboys were in the middle of an 11-game winning streak and beat Green Bay, 30-16. Prescott threw for 247 yards and three touchdowns at Lambeau Field, and the hometown fans booed Rodgers. The Packers and Cowboys also faced off in a 2014 divisional playoff game at Lambeau. Green Bay won, 26-21, following a controversial fourth-down play. As ESPN.com so succinctly recapped: Fourth-and-2, Green Bay 32, Romo

MATT BECKER/GREEN BAY PACKERS

completes a 31-yard pass down the sideline to [Dez] Bryant, who is covered by Sam Shields. The Packers challenge the ruling, saying Bryant didn’t maintain possession going to the ground. Referee Gene Steratore overturns the call. The Cowboys never get the ball back.” Green Bay fell to Seattle in overtime the next week in the NFC Championship Game. If the Packers — who might be without wide receiver Jordy Nelson after he left the Giants game

with a rib injury — can beat Dallas, they’ll likely end up playing the Seahawks again with a trip to Super Bowl LI on the line. Of all the teams Green Bay could have faced at this juncture in the postseason, Dallas will be the toughest to beat; the Cowboys probably feel the same way about the Packers. There’s a reason this game headlines the weekend’s slate of playoff matchups. ■

vs Wisconsin | St. Cloud State

JANUARY 13 + 14 FRIDAY | 7:00 pm

ISTHMUS.COM JANUARY 12–18, 2017

LA BAHN ARENA

SATURDAY | 4:00 pm KOHL CENTER

FILL THE BOWL

SATURDAY – $1 TICKETS Fans are encouraged to bring non-perishable food items to benefit the Community Action Coalition!

SPRING

COMMUNITY PROGRAMS AT MONONA TERRACE JANUARY

FEBRUARY

MARCH

APRIL

MAY

8 Sunday

2 Thursday

3 Monday

1 Monday

Victoria Premiere Event 2:30 - 4:30pm Tickets on Eventbrite

19 Thursday

Lunchtime Yoga

12 noon - 12:45pm Mondays & Thursdays through March 9

23 Monday

Lunchtime Yoga 12 noon - 12:45pm

26 Thursday

Lunchtime Yoga 12 noon - 12:45pm

28 SAturday

FamJam

10:00am - 4:00pm Tickets on Eventbrite

28 SAturday

Bounce (21 + up)

7:00 - 10:00pm Tickets on Eventbrite

30 MONDAY

Lunchtime Yoga 12 noon - 12:45pm

6 Monday

Lunchtime Yoga 12 noon - 12:45pm

9 Thursday

Lunchtime Yoga 12 noon - 12:45pm

9 Thursday

Wright Design Series 7:00pm Tickets on Eventbrite

10 Friday

GEN-X Dance Party The Prince Experience 7:30-10:00pm, 21 + up Tickets on Eventbrite

13 Monday

Lunchtime Yoga 12 noon - 12:45pm

16 Thursday

Lunchtime Yoga 12 noon - 12:45pm

16 Thursday

PechaKucha Night Madison “Myth Busting” 7:00pm Tickets on Eventbrite

20 Monday

Lunchtime Yoga 12 noon - 12:45pm

23 Thursday

Lunchtime Yoga 12 noon - 12:45pm

27 Monday

Lunchtime Yoga 12 noon - 12:45pm

3 FRIDAY

Funky Dance Madison DJ ACE/KinFolk/BBI 6:00 - 10:00pm Tickets on Eventbrite

6 MONDAY

Lunchtime Yoga 12 noon - 12:45pm

9 Thursday

Lunchtime Yoga 12 noon - 12:45pm

9 Thursday

Wright Design Series 7:00pm Tickets on Eventbrite

13 Monday

Meditation at Monona Terrace

12 noon - 12:45pm Mondays through May 1

20 Monday

Meditation at Monona Terrace 12 noon - 12:45pm

27 Monday

Meditation at Monona Terrace 12 noon - 12:45pm

7 Friday

Health & Wellness Presentation

“Eating Well for Healthy Energy and Sleep” 12 noon - 1:00pm

10 Monday

Meditation at Monona Terrace 12 noon - 12:45pm

13 Thursday

PechaKucha Night Madison “STEM Mayhem” 7:00pm Tickets on Eventbrite

17 Monday

Meditation at Monona Terrace 12 noon - 12:45pm

24 Monday

Meditation at Monona Terrace 12 noon - 12:45pm

25 Tuesday

Wright Design Series 7:00pm Tickets on Eventbrite

Meditation at Monona Terrace 12 noon - 12:45pm

2 Tuesday

Yoga for Strength & Flexibility

12 noon - 12:45pm Tuesdays through May 30th (except May 23)

9 Tuesday

Yoga for Strength & Flexibility 12 noon - 12:45pm

13 Saturday

Madison Mini Maker Faire 10:00am - 5:00pm Tickets on Eventbrite

16 Tuesday

Yoga for Strength & Flexibility 12 noon - 12:45pm

17 Wednesday

Wright Design Series 7:00pm Tickets on Eventbrite

30 Tuesday

Yoga for Strength & Flexibility 12 noon - 12:45pm

27 Thursday

Health & Wellness Presentation

“Shifting into Positive Gear” 12 noon - 1:00pm

28 Friday

Moon Over Monona Terrace

MONONA TERRACE® One John Nolen Dr., Madison, WI 53703 • PH: 608.261.4000 • TTY: 771 or 800.947.3529. communityevents.mononaterrace.com

JANUARY 12–18, 2017 ISTHMUS.COM

7:30 - 9:30pm Tickets on Eventbrite

n BOOKS

David vs. Goliath Local pastor updates the biblical tale in Tyrants and Traitors BY MICHAEL POPKE

Araceli Esparza, Judith Claire Mitchell and Timothy Yu will all read at the Jan. 15 event.

Literate resistance Writers speak out against Trump BY TOM WHITCOMB

Donald Trump’s contentious election to the U.S. presidency has mobilized massive numbers of people eager to join the political discourse. Now members of Madison’s literary community will stand up and speak out. On Jan. 15 (Martin Luther King Jr.’s birthday), at least a dozen cities nationwide will host Writers Resist events. Organized by poet and feminist activist Erin Belieu, the events will give poets and writers the mic. “Writers will come together in solidarity to reassert the principles of democracy and civil liberty that we feel are central to the American promise,” says Madison co-organizer Sean Bishop, who helped put together a Writers Resist event at Gates of Heaven, benefiting the American Civil Liberties Union of Wisconsin. Many participants will read original works, and some have chosen from a curated selection of published works on the issues of democracy and free expression. Co-organizer Rita Mae Reese says after she shared a list of possible authors and works with participants, a number of writers wanted to read the powerful 1952 poem by Alberto Rios, “The Border: A Double Sonnet.” The diverse lineup includes Masood Akhtar, Marilyn Annucci, Derrick Austin, Moisés Villavicencio Barras, Jamel Brinkley, Natalie Dawn Eilbert, Araceli Esparza, Fabu, Sarah Fuchs, Marcela Fuentes, Lissa McClaughlin, Rubén Medina, Judith Claire Mitchell, Sean Patrick Mulroy, Bar-

rett Swanson and Timothy Yu. The evening will close with an open mic, for members of the audience. At a time where anti-intellectualism and “post-truth” are the new normal, this type of public solidarity is critical, says Bishop. “Poetry, fiction and creative nonfiction are so essential to our current moment. Poems and stories have the ability to address what rings true intuitively, while also engaging with the factual truth.” By featuring a racially diverse group of participants, Writers Resist provides an outlet for people marginalized or vilified by Trump and his supporters. For local author and educator Araceli Esparza, it’s difficult to know where to start. “To be honest, I have mixed emotions about what I want to read,” says Esparza, whose family emigrated from Mexico, a country that has often faced the brunt of Trump’s anti-immigrant rhetoric. “It’s hard, because my family is separated by a border.” Even so, Esparza remains hopeful. “I’m approaching the next four years as I have the last four, with great determination to thrive,” says Esparza. “I show my children and other youth around me that no matter the age you are, no matter where you came from, you have a voice in our civil democracy. Your voice matters. And your opinion matters.” n Writers Resist takes place at Gates of Heaven, 302 E Gorham St., Jan. 15, 6-9 p.m.

AN AFTERNOON OF SONATAS W I T H A RT I S T FA C U LT Y

PERFORMING:

Sonatas for Violin and Piano by Corigliano & Fauré

ISTHMUS.COM JANUARY 12–18, 2017

4:00 PM Sunday, January 22

Mills Hall, Humanities 455 N. Park Street

The opening sentence of Tyrants and Traitors — the first title of the Lion’s Dynasty trilogy by Madison author Joshua McHenry Miller — sets the stage for a rollicking debut novel inspired by the biblical story of David and Goliath: “This was the first step toward revolution; an adventure bards would retell for generations. It was also, technically, stealing.” With these words, Miller makes clear that this is no pious retelling of the epic conflict between the Israelites and the Philistines from the First Book of Samuel. The author is a Lutheran pastor at The Bridge Madison, but he realizes that most contemporary fiction fans don’t want to read a 275page Bible tale based on an ancient conflict in a land that today is occupied by southern Israel and the Gaza Strip. While the giant-slaying story of David and Goliath serves as the centerpiece of Tyrants and Traitors, published by Blue Ink Press, Miller creates a deep and ancient backstory in which the role of David is carried out by Niklas, a likeable Israeli lad with a large family, a mind for mischief and a cunning ability to think on his feet and crack jokes at just the right time — especially under pressure. Tyrants and Traitors introduces the shepherd boy at age 15 and concludes when he is about 18. “Find the traitor hiding within Israel, or our nation will be enslaved and your hometown slaughtered,” a seer warns Niklas early in this story, sending the boy on the mindblowing journey of a lifetime that doesn’t even peak with his slaying of Goliath, the giant Philistine warrior. Adventures with a voracious lion, Niklas’ tireless training to become a member of the Seraphim army of covert assassins within Israel’s military, and a climactic and cinematic battle for Bethlehem add to the book’s high-energy pace. The boy’s encounters with Israel’s deranged king, his enviable friendship with the king’s son, and an evolving romance with the king’s daughter also create drama and intrigue.

TYRANTS AND TRAITORS: BOOK ONE OF THE LION’S DYNASTY Joshua McHenry Miller n Blue Ink Press

Alternately bloody and violent, sharp and witty, and historical yet supernatural, Tyrants and Traitors rarely ventures toward the preachy. The book’s message is based on a belief in Yahweh, the Israeli name for God. But Niklas’ faith wavers constantly, and the book concludes with an emphasis on the young man’s ongoing yet uneasy relationship with Yahweh. Miller’s influences include Jim Butcher (The Dresden Files, The Aeronaut’s Windlass), and his enthusiasm for this story, his amusing first-person narration as Niklas and his vivid battle scene descriptions make Tyrants and Traitors a thrill to read — even if you’re not necessarily a fan of the Bible or historical fiction. Although geared toward the young adult market, Tyrants and Traitors will appeal to a wide range of readers in much the same way young adult novels by J.K. Rowling and C.S. Lewis extended far beyond their initial target audiences. Miller also works as a community developer in the Leopold neighborhood and regularly writes on race relations for Madison 365. n

Madison Area Jugglers present the 47th Annual

MADFEST

Juggling EXTRAVAGANZA

JACK KALVAN & CO. • ANDREA NOEL

Christopher Taylor “Frighteningly talented” –The New York Times TICKETS:

Soh-Hyun Altino “A quiet and self-effacing kind of virtuosity” – Jake Stockinger

$15 adults; $5 Students and children.

CALL:

MEAD WITTER S C H O O L OF M U S I C (Free parking on Sundays at Grainger Hall!)

608-265-ARTS (2787)

TRULY REMARKABLE LOON • MARK HAYWARD SATURDAY, JAN. 14 - 7PM Tickets $20 advance, $25 d.o.s. at Sugar Shack, Star Liquor, MadCity Music, B-Side, Frugal Muse, Strictly Discs, the Barrymore, online at barrymorelive.com or call & charge at (608) 241-8633. General Admission – All Seated Show madjugglers.com/madfest

T H E AT R E

2090 Atwood Ave. (608) 241-8633 barrymorelive.com

■ STAGE

Inaugural humor What a Joke festival responds to the incoming president

WIN TICKETS T O I S T H M U S ’ U LT I M AT E FROSTIBALL EXPERIENCE

BY TOM WHITCOMB

For many Americans, the events of Nov. 9, 2016, still seem like some sort of cruel cosmic joke. How could the United States of America — one of the bastions of liberal democracy — elect a man whose campaign was built on fear and hate? While that question remains unanswered, a group of comics is seeking to alleviate the pain with some much-needed lightheartedness. On Jan. 20 — Inauguration Day — 28 cities across the country (as well as Oxford, England) will be hosting local incarnations of What a Joke, a comedy festival with proceeds benefitting the American Civil Liberties Union. Madison’s event kicks off at 7 p.m. at the Majestic Theater. And, as local producer Alan Talaga, an Isthmus contributor, puts it, “you can’t throw a nationwide protest and not have Madison involved.” The headliner, Nate Craig, has more than a passing familiarity with Madison’s political legacy. The Los Angeles-based comic is a Madison native, a graduate of both West High and UW-Madison, and someone who believes in comedy as a force for social change. Craig, who has appeared on Last Comic Standing and MTV’s Ridiculousness, says he doesn’t want to force political comedy on an unwilling audience. “I personally prefer my

comedy much more threatening, but when talking about moving people to consider different perspectives, I’m not sure how effective it is,” says Craig. “I can’t say how many Reagan Republicans enjoyed [George] Carlin’s later work.” The challenge, says Craig, would be to get people who don’t agree already to still enjoy the jokes. Reena Calm, a Chicago-based comic who will be joining Craig on the bill, agrees. “The longer I do comedy, the more I want my jokes to matter. I mean, of course the point is to have fun and to be funny, but the moment I realized I could be funny and say something I cared about, there was no turning back.” For Talaga, booking the two comics was a no-brainer. “It was important to book comedians who cared about the cause of the fundraiser. Nate and Reena both passionately care about civil rights and civil liberties, the issues that the ACLU fights for.” “Comedians have helped me process everything I know about the world,” adds Calm. “If it weren’t for political humor, I wouldn’t be able to deal with the actual news. Funny is funny, and the world is super messed up. If you can’t find a way to laugh at it, I feel bad for you.” ■

PAC K AG E I N C L U D E S

• 2 FROSTIBALL TICKETS • ONE NIGHT STAY AT THE CONCOURSE • $150 MEAL AT RARE STEAKHOUSE Find out how to enter at

isthmus.com/ultimatefrostiballexperience

Out of the wilderness Sunspot celebrates label debut EP

Children of the rainforest

BY LAWRENCE GANN

GOONGOO PEAS Caribbean Folk

January 21 Performances @ The band will unveil new tunes Jan. 14.

The EP closes with “Sulfur,” an electropop meditation on judgment, forgiveness and self-righteousness. “Be careful what you burn,” Huberty warns over swollen synth pads and claps, “’cause all you’ll taste is the sulfur of how right you thought you were.” Wilderness of Almost Was and Never Were is bigger and catchier and, to its benefit, deals with more personal subject matter than the anxious anthems of American Monsters. Cherry Pit Studios in Menomonee Falls produced the tracks, which have more space to breathe than previous releases and nicely emphasize Sunspot’s anthemic tendencies and live-band instincts. ■

10:30 a.m./1:30 p.m.

JANUARY 12–18, 2017 ISTHMUS.COM

Madison power trio Sunspot debuts Wilderness of Almost Was and Never Were on Jan. 14 at the Frequency, the group’s first release on Dartboard Records. It’s a followup to 2016’s EP American Monsters and the MAMA-winning LP Weirdest Hits. The EP is a hooky three-song release that treads variations on Sunspot’s driving, electro-rock sound. Wilderness of Almost Was and Never Were kicks off with its eponymous track, a catchy, anthemic consideration of friends who chose to settle down — or just settle — rather than pursue their passions. The tune is powerful, reminiscent of late-era Green Day, and vocalist/bassist Mike Huberty keeps the song pulsing while hooking into harmonized fills on the edges. The heaviest track on the EP, “Shadow,” leads immediately with chugging guitar triplets from Ben Jaeger and drummer Wendy Staats’ hard, barreling beat. The song about a friend struggling with addiction meets its emotional crescendo with a satisfying power-metal solo from Jaeger.

www.olbrich.org

Photo Credit: Leah Ershler

n SCREENS

Film events An Injury to One: International Workers of the World Social Action & Solidarity Committee documentary screening (with “The Wobblies”). Central Library, Jan. 12, 6 pm. The Automatic Hate: Cousins attempt to find out what has kept their families apart. Ashman Library, Jan. 13, 6:30 pm. The Emissary: A spaceman visits Door County, hoping to disarm an extraterrestrial power generator lost during the wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald; Q&A with co-creators Tim and Holly Erskine. Threshold, Jan. 13, 6:30 pm. The Empire of Corpses: Anime Club screening (RSVP: 608-246-4548). Hawthorne Library, Jan. 13, 7 pm.

The Secret Life of Pets: Animated tale of a terrier whose life is disordered by a new housemate. Central Library, Jan. 14, 2 pm. 3 Women: A trio (Shelley Duvall, Sissy Spacek, Janice Rule) gradually transfer identities in this film from writer/director Robert Altman. Bos Meadery, Jan. 18, 7 pm. The Princess Bride: Based on William Goldman’s novel, this fairy-tale adventure centers on a beautiful young woman who has been kidnapped (Robin Wright), her odious fiancé (Chris Sarandon) and her childhood beau (Cary Elwes), who sets out to rescue her, 9:30 pm, UW Union South-Marquee, Jan. 19 (9:30 pm) and Jan. 21 (11 pm).

Femme fatale Elle is a gripping, puzzling thriller BY MARJORIE BAUMGARTEN

One of the best films of the past year, Elle is a gripping psychological thriller, something of a Hitchcockian whodunit but with a feminist protagonist. Riveting yet puzzling, the film is guaranteed to provoke reactions — and not all of them sympathetic. The brutal rape sequence whose sounds open the movie accompanied by total blackness serves as more than a trigger warning; it’s a forceful opening volley, made all the more provocative by its sole witness (and the film’s initial image): a watchful cat (who is, perhaps, our surrogate). Once the masked attacker departs, the victim, Michèle Leblanc (Isabelle Huppert, who just received a Golden Globe for Best Actress in a Drama), picks herself up, matter-of-factly sweeps up the broken glass and takes a bath while curiously observing the red blood that colors the water. Clearly disavowing victimhood, Michèle also evinces a perverse sense of stimulation — if not by the act then by the potential to change the scenario, at least in her imagination. Michèle is a daring, complicated character, one that Huppert brilliantly creates in concert with the director, Paul Verhoeven. After nearly two decades of toiling in Hollywood, achieving contentious and/or dubious successes with such films as RoboCop, Total Recall, Basic Instinct, Showgirls and Starship Troopers, the Dutch director returns to Europe for Elle, along with the continent’s comparatively complex approaches to char-

Isabelle Huppert portrays a complicated, daring survivor.

acters and sex. The salaciousness of Verhoeven’s Hollywood work is absent in this new effort, although perhaps not the prurience. Nevertheless, no matter how advanced you consider the moral framework of Elle, there is no getting past the knowledge that this is made by the same director who set tongues (and other protuberances) wagging with Sharon Stone’s crossed-leg display in Basic Instinct and Elizabeth Berkley and Gina Gershon’s teasing lesbian scenes in Showgirls. There is no doubt that Huppert’s intelligence and acting skills inform Elle’s narrative. Michèle is gradually revealed through her contacts with the other people in her life. She runs a gaming software company with her friend Anna (Anne Consigny), where she is seen arguing for a greater orgasmic penetration of a female character by a tentacled monster with her male programmers, some of whom clearly resent working for a woman. There’s her exhusband, Richard (Charles Berling), who has begun a relationship with a young woman (Vimala

Pons) who’s hardly his intellectual equal, as well as her ineffectual son (Jonas Bloquet), who is being taken advantage of by his pregnant girlfriend (Alice Isaaz). She’s also having a dispassionate affair with Anna’s husband, and her mother has tawdry affairs with gigolos. Then there’s the issue of her father’s heinous crime committed decades earlier, which hangs over the movie like a mysterious shroud or potential explanation for Michèle’s sex-positive but strangely pent-up emotions. The film is not exactly a whodunit, because we learn the identity of the rapist halfway through Elle. It’s what the film grapples with that is its real subject: Michèle’s relationships with the ridiculous and threatening men in her life, the residual fallout from her childhood trauma, the quality of her female friendships and her bemused lobs at social mores. Michèle defies easy explanation; however, you will most definitely leave the theater talking about Elle. n

Unconventional family Documentary project highlights lesbian couple’s struggle to have a baby

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Showtimes for January 13 - January 19

Sometimes, when Lena King looks back at her life, she can’t help but cry. Incarcerated at age 12 for stabbing a cousin, she was in and out of a juvenile detention center for the next seven years. “I cry sometimes because I missed out on so much, I missed out on a whole childhood,” King says. “But they didn’t hold me forever.” King, who goes by the nickname “Star,” was stabbed by a rival five times in the face shortly after her release at age 19. The stitches were still healing when she encountered Chaka Cabell, a former gang member with an equally troubled past. “We met at a bus stop in Chicago; I was arguing and crying on the phone,” King says. “She asked me if I was okay.” It was the beginning of a friendship that would develop into romance and eventually marriage. King has a daughter from a previous relationship, but the young couple, who moved to Madison five years ago, dreamed of having a baby of their own.

The couple’s unorthodox path to creating a family is the subject of an upcoming documentary from Rodney Lucas, a hip-hop musician and entertainment entrepreneur. Lucas, who goes by the stage name F.Stokes, is Cabell’s brother. As a close family member, he was privy to the details of the couple’s journey and recognized the potential for their story to inspire others. The film, titled Ain’t No Babies in the City, will explore King’s and Cabell’s juvenile incarceration, their mutual healing and their quest to expand their family. “Part of the overall message is bringing a sense of awareness to the neglect of young, African American women, and lesbians in particular,” Lucas says. “We want to communicate that we don’t always have to look like the family that lives across the street — we can make a family in our own reflection and with what we value in life.” King and Cabell looked into adoption, but their criminal backgrounds and economic status proved barriers. They tried artificial insemination, but the ovulation-inducing medicine made King sick, and the procedure became too expensive. As a final resort, a supportive male

Star King with her son Mendeecees.

friend volunteered to father the child, and King gave birth to a son, Mendeecees, three months ago. “I never take no for an answer,” King says. “There’s always a backup plan, always another way.” Lucas is raising money on the website Indiegogo to fund the documentary, which he intends to release in March or April. He’s about one-quarter of the way to his $12,000 goal. The campaign ends Jan. 16. n

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