Madison Essentials September/October 2019 by Towns & Associates

VISIT US AT THE SPARK! FREE EVENTS | INSPIRING EXHIBITS | OPEN TO ALL DreamBank is located in the Spark building, just eight blocks down East Washington Avenue from the state capitol. Our beautiful space is designed to support and inspire your dreams. Stop in and check out our exhibit, have a cup of coffee or attend free events that are offered daily. Find a full list of free events and RSVP by visiting:

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CONTENTS

publisher Towns & Associates, Inc. PO Box 174 Baraboo, WI 53913-0174 P (608) 356-8757 • F (608) 356-8875

september/october 2019

vol. 63

essential

madisonessentials.com editor-in-chief Amy S. Johnson ajohnson@madisonessentials.com

arts Jonah Welch.................................44

publication designer

community

Jennifer Denman

Marci Henderson...........................38 Trauma...........................................40 Voting Rights..................................42

senior copy editor Kyle Jacobson

dining

copy editor Krystle Engh Naab

Lucky’s 1313...................................30 Point Burger Bar.............................18

sales & marketing director Amy S. Johnson ajohnson@madisonessentials.com

sales & marketing manager

food & beverage Beer Cocktails: Laugh with the Sinners.................52

home

Kelly Hopkins

A Favorite Season.........................60

design team Crea Stellmacher, Linda Walker, Barbara Wilson

landmark

administration

nonprofit

Cathy Bacon, Debora Knutson

Wisconsin Green Growth: A Call to Action..........................26

Steensland House..........................48

contributing writers Sandy Eichel, Jeanne Engle, Dave Fidlin, Josh Heath, John Imes, Kyle Jacobson, Elissa Koppel, Lauri Lee, Krystle Engh Naab, Katy Plantenberg, Lori Scarlett, DVM, Kali Timm, Liz Wessel

pets

photographer

sports & recreation

Eric Tadsen

Dane County Dog Parks...............34

shopping Luceo Boutique & Styling Co..........6 Shoes..............................................10 UW Badgers Volleyball..................22

additional photographs Bethel Lutheran Church, Beyond Infinity Photography, Dane County Humane Society, Girl Scouts of Wisconsin– Badgerland, Green Concierge Travel, Kyle Jacobson, Madison Shoe Repair, Movin’ Shoes, Katy Plantenberg/Olbrich Botanical Gardens, (shoo), Kai Skadahl/ Olbrich Botanical Gardens, UW Athletic Communications, WEI, Jonah Welch, Barbara Wilson

travel Autumn Madison Style...................56

well-being Bergamot Massage Therapy & Bodywork..................14

including

From the Editor................................4 Contest Information......................62 Contest Winners............................62

(continued) madisonessentials.com

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comments

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from the editor

The best thing to hold on to in life is each other. —author unknown The spirit of this quote seems particularly relevant today as I write just after the El Paso and Dayton shootings. Our publication speaks to community—its strength and importance—made of people from many origins. It’s our differences that make us better because they require us to look outside of ourselves and adjust our thinking as we learn from one another. Differences lead to learning, learning leads to growth, and growth leads to strength. Together we’re stronger, and it’s that strength that helps us conquer those who might try to tear us down. This is our first Madison Style issue, and although the title might lead you to think “fashion,” that’s actually only a piece of the story. Every city, town, and village in our state has its own style and feeling. Why we choose to live here, in Madison and the surrounding communities, and why others elect to visit are both connected to what is uniquely Madison: a major university, the state capitol, the people, incredible local food and shopping, the arts, sports, community festivals and celebrations, farmers’ markets, and so much more. You will find some fashion sense inside (because we have some), but you’ll also get to read a bit about the essence of who we are—just as you do in every issue of Madison Essentials. I hope you enjoy the issue, and I also wish for all of us the time to heal and reflect on who we are as a community—to wield the strength to support and build each other up in times of difficulty and the compassion to carry each other into times of celebration.

amy johnson Photograph by Barbara Wilson

Watch for the next issue November/December 2019. Cover photograph— Ginormous Nachos (Beef) taken at Lucky’s 1313 by Eric Tadsen Photographs on page 3: top—Taken at Point Burger Bar by Eric Tadsen middle—Taken at Luceo Boutique & Styling Co. by Eric Tadsen bottom—Provided by (shoo)

Eric Tadsen

4 | madison essentials

Justine and Nala came into our offices and hearts in January 2017. Sadly, Justine passed earlier this year, and the hole she left is great. Thank you, Justine, for spending your final years with us. We hope you felt our love as much as we felt yours. We wish you endless tasty treats, pets and cuddles, and a nice warm sunny spot for snoozing.

madisonessentials.com

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essential shopping

Women Can Find Clothes to Shine in at

Luceo Boutique & Styling Co. by Lauri Lee The perfect wardrobe is one tailored to your lifestyle that reflects where you are in your life and career. The impact of personal style goes beyond making a good first impression; it’s about feeling comfortable and confident in what you’re wearing. Providing this type of shopping experience for women is what Luceo Boutique & Styling Co. in Middleton is all about. “The store is purposely a little off the beaten path,” says owner Katie McKenzie. “I wanted less customer traffic to have more time to get to know my customers’ wants and needs. The small specialty boutique is really more about relationships and being an alternative to a department store known for scripted customer interaction. I’ve created an inviting space for women to feel free to experiment with clothes and not be self-conscious about trying to find a look all their own, understand 6 | madison essentials

what looks good on them, and add to their existing wardrobe. I understand high-end fashion, but have chosen to sell clothing for a woman’s everyday lifestyle similar to what you might find in your own closet. My desire is that women can simply relax into their next favorite pair of jeans or go-to dress. “Luceo’s customer is looking for clothing they love without being obsessive about what they wear. They want to open the closet, mix and match, then get dressed in just minutes. Typical customers are in their 30s or 40s, but the store’s versatile clothing lines can be worn by a lot of different women and styled in a lot of different ways. Women of all ages shop at Luceo. For example, my top seller is a basic cotton sweater, which could be purchased by my 16-yearold cousin to wear with leggings or by Photograph by Tim Erickson Photography a 90-something grandma who would wear it with trousers. I try to have a mix

of familiar brands with those not seen online so women have a brand-new shopping experience.” To get to know the vibe and style of Luceo Boutique & Styling Co. is to get to know Katie and her journey. “I always knew I had a creative flare and love for clothes. It started with playing dress up as a child. As a teenager, I realized I wanted to own a boutique. So, at age 16, I worked at Macy’s Department Store and other retail jobs so I could learn how to operate a store by working in a variety of retail environments.” Katie graduated from Savannah College of Art and Design with a degree in fashion marketing and fashion design. “While the schooling provided me with the needed background and knowledge of the apparel industry, it was through internships that I got to try on different aspects of the fashion industry. My first internship was at Custard, a small specialty boutique owned by Tara. She was a great mentor who taught me the ins and outs of providing exceptional service, and took me on buying trips to familiarize me with clothing lines that couldn’t be found at just any retailer. My time there stood out above the rest and truly formed my understanding of the importance of a specialty boutique.”

Tara advised Katie to intern in New York City. It was a big leap that catapulted her career and gave her a new confidence. “I interned at Harper’s Bazaar and

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several big-name brands and retailers, such as French Connection and Otte New York. When asked in interviews what department I wanted to be in, I always said I’d work anywhere because I sincerely wanted to learn everything. I gained experience in visual merchandising, sales, e-commerce, web production, styling, buying, how to put on a fashion show and do magazine photo shoots, as well as how to operate a store and be a good boss. While I adored the high-fashion apparel I worked with, I quickly realized I missed the payoff of seeing the customers enjoy the clothes. The moment when a customer tries something on that just works, and they immediately stand taller, is my favorite part of the industry.” With fashion and retail industry training and experience in hand, Katie moved back home to Middleton to pursue her dream of opening her own small boutique. As she readjusted to the Midwest, she took what she thought was going to be a short-term e-commerce job at Duluth Trading Company in Mount Horeb. “The people were so wonderful, it made it hard to leave.” An unexpected long-term impact was that Katie learned the value of work-life balance, a concept that doesn’t exist in New York City’s

8 | madison essentials

high-fashion industry. “I’m grateful I learned the importance of this before opening Luceo. I’m tech savvy, but also love to go offline and not have my phone and technology around me all the time. I live outside Cross Plains with my fiancé on secluded acreage, so I can hit reset by taking walks through the woods with my Saint Bernard dog and picking away on our fixer-upper house.” When selecting a name for the boutique, Katie discovered the Scottish MacKenzie Clan heraldic motto, luceo (pronounced lu chay o) non uro, means “I shine, not burn” in Latin. This can be interpreted

in many ways, but to Katie, the store name speaks to work-life balance and how Luceo allows women to shine in the apparel they purchase. Luceo Boutique & Styling Co. opened in August 2017 to offer great apparel and accessories combined with exceptional customer service. Katie launched e-commerce this summer, so women can go online at luceoboutique.com to be introduced to the clothing and boutique. If they love what they see, they can check out the store. “My satisfaction comes from watching women transform when they find the right garments,” says Katie. “It’s a simple and quick moment of time, but it’s the payoff of the very long process apparel goes through before it reaches the store. Many people are involved to conceptualize, design, cut, sew, showcase, sell, transport, steam, tag, and so much more before a Luceo customer takes it home.”

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Lauri Lee is a freelance writer living in Madison. Madison Essentials2.indd 1

6/13/19 9:45 AM

Photographs by Eric Tadsen.

Lauri Lee

madisonessentials.com

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essential shopping

SHOE S

Photograph provided by Madison Shoe Repair

They come in almost any style, color, and configuration imaginable and serve a variety of purposes. Some lend themselves to formal occasions, while others are better suited for adventures in nature. Shoes comfort our feet, and a well-worn pair reflects the journeys we’ve been on to fill our soles. A variety of shops and services across the Madison

by Dave Fidlin

area specialize in shoes, each with their own philosophy in offering the perfect pair to customers.

Madison Shoe Repair & Bootery

This hybrid shoe-repair and retail establishment has been a part of the Madison retail scene for a year, setting

up shop along Monroe Street last November. Kaitlyn Kirby, who runs the shop with husband Michael Benters, says customers come into the shop and ask to have a variety of different types of shoes repaired. “The most common types of shoe resoles we do in the shop are Birkenstocks, work boots, men’s dress shoes, women’s leather boots, and men’s dress boots,” Kaitlyn says. “We’ve had customers bring in Red Wing or Irish Setter boots to be resoled that they’ve had for 20 to 30 years.” While seeing a local cobbler might conjure up images of bygone eras, Kaitlyn says investing in a good sturdy pair of shoes is as wise a decision today as it was decades ago—and the practice fortifies the pocketbook and environment alike. “We’re very much in a throwaway society, but when you invest in great footwear, it pays to repair them versus

10 | m a d i s o n e s s e n t i a l s

buying a whole new pair,” Kaitlyn says. “For instance, we sell many Red Wing Heritage boots in our shop, and the costs can range from $200 to $300. Instead of buying a whole new pair at this price point, you can resole them for $99. This way, you’ll get many more years out of them, and for a fraction of the cost.” In addition to the shoe repair business, Kaitlyn and Michael sell a variety of shoes, along with other clothing and apparel, in their shop. Danner, Irish Setter, Lems, Red Wing Heritage, and Vasque are among the brands they offer.

Photograph provided by Madison Shoe Repair

While Kaitlyn and Michael are new to the Madison retail scene, Kaitlyn’s extended family’s expertise runs deep in the shoe business. “We opened [Madison Shoe Repair & Bootery] with my dad, Ernie, who has 25-plus years shoe-industry experience; my stepmom, Kathy; and my two brothers, Bo and Rusko,” Kaitlin says. “They all live in Illinois, where my dad owns five Red Wing shoe stores.”

Movin’ Shoes

The “test them first” mindset is one of several unique concepts at Movin’ Shoes, which first opened its doors in 1973. “We’ve been known to be hipsterish and a little laid back in our style,” says Jered Sweeney-Demezas, general manager. “Customer service has always

been number one for us. We have a very flexible return policy.” The more than two dozen employees at Movin’ Shoes have a variety of backgrounds, including expertise in such fields as kinesiology. Jered says the employees’ skill sets are designed to help customers make the best, mostinformed decision possible. “We have that personal experience. We’re very critical when it comes to shoes. We’re shoe geeks.” While employees are on hand to provide their know-how, Jered says customers

Photograph provided by Movin’ Shoes

The concept of giving a car a test drive before purchasing is well known.

Staffers at Madison’s venerable Movin’ Shoes store carry that mantra over to their line of athletic footwear. Before making a purchase, customers can take their prospective pair of shoes out for a run either on an indoor treadmill or, if Mother Nature cooperates, for a few blocks outside.

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include a full-moon run and a subzero race series.

(shoo)

When it comes to shoes, Pat Blake, who runs (shoo) with his sister, Kate Blake, places three themes front and center in selecting the right pair: comfort, quality, and style. “You can have a comfortable, but fashionable, pair of shoes,” says Pat. Photograph provided by (shoo)

(shoo), which also has a retail operation in Milwaukee, boasts shoes in a variety of unique styles and colors. “We like to push the mold a bit,” Pat says. “Giving our customers a comfortable shopping experience is important to us.”

are in the driver’s seat when it comes to decision-making. “We’ll offer recommendations, but we want the customer being a part of the discussion. We have hundreds of different styles, and it’s all about what the customer likes. It’s really about getting the right

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shoes on the right person. As long as the community needs us, we’ll be here.” In addition to its retail operation, Movin’ Shoes holds a range of events and services, including a running club and group run outings. Special events

Both locations offer a mix of classic pairs and fashion-forward pieces. Pat characterizes the shops’ product lines as “thoughtful selections.” Regardless of whether they’re a nod to the past or present, the goal is to offer up the styles customers desire. For men, (shoo)’s selection includes boots, casual, dress, sandals, and sneakers. Their women’s lines also run the gamut with boots, flats, heels, loafers, and wedges.

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The Blake siblings opened the Milwaukee shop in 2005 and followed suit with the Madison establishment in 2010. Pat says the Madison location has been an ideal fit for the shop. “We really wanted to be on State Street. It embodies our brand.”

Styles come and styles go, but shoes are most definitely here to stay. Regardless of where fashion trends head into the future, local merchants say they are ready and willing to help consumers find the perfect pair and fit for any occasion.

Dave Fidlin is a freelance writer who has a special affinity for Madison. Dave’s career spans nearly 20 years, and he’s grateful for the opportunity to learn something new each day through his professional pursuits.

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essential well-being

Bergamot Massage Therapy & Bodywork Self- Care Supported by Nature by Krystle Engh Naab Finding a tranquil atmosphere in a massage therapy practice is a given; however, Bergamot Massage Therapy & Bodywork have made it their focus to not only serve their clients’ needs, but also serve as a role model for how to integrate business with environmental consciousness. Their mission is to

provide opportunities for stress and pain relief and a sense of well-being while acting as a steward of the environment. “The more people benefit from nature, they develop a love of nature, and they will want to protect it. And it’s good therapy for people of all ages,” says

Deanna Wise, co-owner with Seth Knutson of Bergamot Massage. For example, Hike & Heal Wellness is a program Bergamot Massage promotes, and their goal is to have fun and relax through nature-based programming and wellness practices. Bergamot Massage has been in business for nine years, and Deanna and Seth have honed a practice that centers on natural, safe methods to help people while providing ecofriendly, healthy products. Deanna says, “We try to minimize our carbon footprint, figure out ways to go paperless, and are always looking to be efficient with our energy use. Also, the products we carry are not harmful to the environment.” Deanna and Seth are both massage therapists and graduated together at East-West Healing Arts Institute in December 2009. Deanna says, “I didn’t go to massage school thinking I was going to open a business. It evolved after learning the massage trade, doing some investigation into what other massage

14 | m a d i s o n e s s e n t i a l s

establishments were doing, and we wanted to do something different.” One idea Deanna and Seth implemented is memberships. “We’re not interested in being a massage factory, but have gained some insight on offering memberships like at some franchises. Memberships can be more accessible for people to get massages.” After operating across the street since May 2010, they moved into their current space in November 2018. In the beginning, it was just Deanna and Seth—no other therapists. They were running the desk, business, and treating clients. They outgrew the old space and wanted to give a fuller client experience by adding showers, locker rooms, and a lounge room removed from the distractions of retail and reception areas. “We didn’t want any dead ends,” says Deanna. “Everything is circular. A lot of energies come through this space, and the light carries through as much as possible. We wanted to create spaces that people would want to linger in.” As you enter, you’re greeted by an attentive staff as well as the soothing, beautiful décor. Grey tones and earth elements grace the hallways and seating areas, and each of the massage rooms can be tailored to your specific mood by way of colored lights illuminating from one of the large walls. In the couples massage therapy room, a rock wall carries the natural world inside. The benefits and importance of nature on one’s health is consistently advocated. Clients are encouraged to enter into the spa by removing their outside shoes and either bringing their own inside shoes or using ones supplied. This is a nice touch to allow people to physically disconnect from the outside and start to connect to their relaxation, renewal experience. They offer either quick or long luxurious pampering services. “We’re kind of straddling a line between spa and not spa because a lot of our clients want to get in and out, but some that come here want to put a robe and slippers on and enjoy a longer experience,” says Deanna. “Clients come here needing to destress, relax, and have an hour for themselves.

Then there are people who are making regular appointments because they have rotator cuff or low-back issues—it could be anything. Massage is a good adjunct to other therapies they have going on.” Bergamot Massage values their clients’ experiences, and Deanna notes, “Our clientele is very motivated, and we have a pretty solid fan base. I think it says a lot about how our clients feel about their therapists and experiences.” From being greeted at reception and waiting in one of the lounge areas with beverages and sweets, it all adds up to feeling assured

you will be taken care of throughout the process. Deanna recommends a sauna session to complement a massage treatment. It’s good before for relaxing or afterward for soothing. “[Clients have an] easier time letting go on the massage table after a sauna, and there are numerous benefits to the immune system, as well as other health benefits, which are more than we probably know.” The sauna is a private space filled with soft lighting and wood. It can be experienced either dry or with steam heat depending on

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much as possible, if they can help themselves, and not only coming in during a crisis situation.” Another product is Wei of Chocolate, an organic dark chocolate containing flower elixirs and flower remedies that support meditation and more health benefits. According to Deanna, you don’t just bite into these chocolates— you let them melt in your mouth to be savored through a meditative, flavorful way.

your preference and includes access to a private cold shower to use throughout the session. There are a variety of products for self-care at home. Topical products, pain-relief products containing CBD, aromatherapies, and accessories to help get your desired result. One of Deanna’s recommended products is

Naturopathica out of New York, which features skin and body care. “They provide professional-sized products that we use for our massage services, they are really clean, and they use essential oils.” Clients come for the massages, but can take care of themselves afterward. “That’s the idea—giving people tools they can use outside. We don’t want people shackled to their massage as

How does Deanna relax? “I focus on self-care. … I try to do yoga, mediate, read, take time for myself, try to get outside. I do what I can to focus on my diet, and sleep is hugely important.” Coming up with a ritual at home for relaxation is important and should be a more frequent addition to everyone’s life. “There’s a certain pride in being busy and saying how busy you are, but I don’t know if that really serves us too well,” says Deanna. “To me, it’s evidence of misplaced priorities. … Ask yourself

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what you can cut out, and you probably have more time than you think. And not every moment has to be filled with something. Thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the problem, a lot of people have difficulty sitting alone with their thoughts.â&#x20AC;? Take time for yourself with self-care. The benefits are evident and long lasting. Be kind to yourself, and you will spread that kindness to others. Krystle Engh Naab is a freelance writer and copy editor for Madison Essentials.

Krystle Engh Naab

Photograph by Barbara Wilson

Photographs by Beyond Infinity Photography.

R.I.P. Justine madisonessentials.com

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essential dining

Point Burger Bar by Dave Fidlin Point Bloody Mary

If you add a dash of Las Vegas and bring with it a heaping dose of Wisconsin flair, the end result is Point Burger Bar, a restaurant concept that got its start in the Milwaukee area and has made an entry into the Madison market. The first eatery opened in late 2015 as the brainchild of restaurateur Brian Ward, a classically trained chef who has been operating Ward’s House of Prime, another restaurant concept, in downtown Milwaukee for more than a decade. Heartstopper

Fittingly, the idea behind the concept of Point Burger Bar was hatched during a trip to Las Vegas, which Brian describes as “the center of the food industry.” During the excursion, Brian visited establishments from such well-regarded culinary professionals as Gordon Ramsay and Hubert Keller. Brian’s goal is to have an establishment that caters to everyone—children and adults alike—with a fun, friendly environment that emphasizes highquality service and food. The layout of the restaurant is representative of the all-for-one mantra. There are different sections of the restaurant catering to the type of experience a patron desires. In addition to traditional dining and patio space, Point Burger Bar offers up a game room, featuring nearly 20 consoles. Adorned by bright color schemes and abundant lighting, the game room gives users the opportunity

18 | m a d i s o n e s s e n t i a l s

to enjoy play by purchasing chips in different increments.

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Point Burger Bar also puts meticulous attention on its menu offerings, accentuated with a four-step buildyour-own-burger concept, which has been popular. The list of options in step one includes selecting the protein: Angus beef or chicken and some lesser common types that are not always on menus, such as bison, duck, lamb, salmon, and turkey. Non-meat-eaters have their choices as well, including protein-rich burgers adorned with portabella mushrooms or vegetables. Vegan options are also offered: a soy-based veggie burger and Point Burger Bar’s take on an impossible burger that incorporates a plant-based patty closely resembling beef and featuring an ingredient known as heme, an iron-rich compound. The second step entails selecting one of nine artisan breads, supplied from Peter Sciortino’s Bakery in Milwaukee. The bun options include brioche,

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Ward’s Award-Winning Prime Rib

ciabatta, and pretzel. Also in the mix of possibilities is a lettuce roll. Step three includes selecting a range of sides, some available with the meal and others as options with an additional charge. And the fourth and final step includes the option of accenting any sandwich with cheeses; specialty condiments, like bloody Mary ketchup; items from the garden; and additional

farm-raised meats, such as bacon and prime rib. In all, there are about 120 different toppings available. Whenever possible, Brian says Point Burger Bar strives to bring in food that is locally sourced. “We make all of our products fresh daily. Nothing is processed. We use local purveyors whenever we can, and nothing is ever mass produced.”

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The menu is rounded out with wraps, soups, salads, entrées, and other offerings. Also on the menu are appetizers and a range of specialty drinks, including alcoholic custard shakes. While the burger concept was created from scratch, Brian also looked to a veteran establishment to provide most of the sudsy beverages on tap. Stevens Point Brewery, which has roots stretching back to 1857, supplies the majority of the 30 beers, ciders, and sodas. In addition to its deep heritage, Stevens Point Brewery holds a number of other distinctions, including a status as the second longest continuously running brewery in the same location in the United States. “They have the history, and they make all of their own beers,” Brian says. “They fill an important need for us.” The partnership with Stevens Point Brewery is a pivotal part of the business, evidenced by Point Burger Bar’s full name. But Brian also makes a distinction, as he emphasizes the driving force behind the restaurant’s concept. “We’re a restaurant that serves alcohol, rather than a bar that serves food. We’re not a bar.” At present, Point Burger Bar operates five restaurants, including four in its home area of Milwaukee and suburban communities. The flagship eatery is on Milwaukee’s northwest side, and two suburban locations—New Berlin and Pewaukee—set up shop in the following

years. An express location has also been established in downtown Milwaukee near the Fiserv Forum.

which fits well for us. We’ve also got a really great location, and people have been enjoying the quality of the food.”

Their entry into the Madison area was a natural progression for the restaurant, although it was not seamless. Mother Nature threw a few curveballs into the mix and delayed last year’s opening of the Middleton location by twoand-a-half months. Severe flooding in late August damaged portions of the 14,000-square-foot Middleton restaurant—unfortunately, a few weeks shy of the initial opening. Despite the early mishap, Brian says the restaurant’s entry into the Madison market has been abundantly positive. “We had been looking at the Madison area a long time. Middleton seemed like a great location for us. It’s got a very family-oriented feel,

Additional locations are a part of Point Burger Bar’s short- and long-term vision, and there’s a desire to further the restaurant’s presence in the Madison area. While there is uniformity with menu items and much of the ambiance between one location and the next, each location has its own persona as well. This philosophy is reflected in the community-focused special events offered. This past summer, the Middleton location had a Bike Night live music showcase on Wednesday evenings and a summer car cruise on Thursday nights. “Middleton’s been a great experience for us,” Brian says. “The community has been very supportive.”

Ward’s Signature Prime Rib Sandwich

Dave Fidlin

Point Burger Bar 2259 Deming Way Middleton, WI 53562 (608) 824-2011 pointburgerbarmiddleton.com

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e ssential sports & recreation

UW BADGERS SPOTLIGHT In its 45 years of existence, the story of the University of Wisconsin–Madison volleyball program has been long and winding, with a number of highs and lows notched along the way. Today, the Badgers hold a number of distinctions, both locally and nationally. Since its founding on July 1, 1974, UW– Madison volleyball has scored some

impressive milestones for the record books, including championships and strong support on the university campus and elsewhere in Madison. “We have won 5 Big Ten Championships and have appeared in 22 NCAA tournaments, advancing to the national final match twice, in 2000 and 2013,” says Diane Nordstrom, associate

athletic communications director with Wisconsin Athletics. UW–Madison volleyball, which is in the midst of a strong string of seasons, currently boasts the second highest attendance record in the sport compared to other university programs across the United States. While the team’s red-hot winning streak is a likely contributor to robust attendance figures, Diane says she attributes other factors to the phenomenon as well, including going to great lengths to ensure fans of all ages are treated to an entertaining, invigorating experience. “The success of the team has certainly drawn a lot of fans, but it’s also a fun game to watch. It’s very fast paced and requires players who are very athletic.” In addition to competing and playing their best, Diane says the women athletes, coaches, and others involved in the game strive to provide an experience that inspires and appeals to all people. “It’s a very family-friendly environment. Families and children

22 | m a d i s o n e s s e n t i a l s

by Dave Fidlin have opportunities to meet the players,” she says. “The players will pose for photos with the children.” Volleyball is among the 12 original sports offered within UW’s broader Wisconsin Athletics program. The team notched small milestones initially before advancing on to greater successes in the ensuing decades. Examples of some of the early successes include winning the Wisconsin Women’s Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WWIAC) championship in 1978, winning the tournament with a 3-0 mark. Another notable entry in the record book came on October 21, 1987, when the Badgers upset No. 19 Northwestern University in Big Ten play. It was the first time members of the UW-Madison volleyball program won over a ranked team in a Big Ten matchup. Some of the small, but steady, successes were a primer for what was to come in the following decade. A turning point for

Badgers volleyball was in 1990 when the team hit the record books on November 24 with their first Big Ten title, scoring an exhilarating 3-0 win at Michigan State University. The following week, on November 30, the Badgers swept Illinois in their first NCAA tournament match, doing so in front of 10,935 fans. At the time, it was the largest crowd ever to watch a Badger match at UW–Madison’s Field House. UW–Madison volleyball’s strength continued the following year with several highlights, including advancement to the second straight NCAA tournament, defeating Bowling Green State University 3-0 in the first round of play. “There were a lot of milestones for the team back then,” Diane says, reflecting on the pivotal time in UW–Madison volleyball’s history. There have been assorted peaks and valleys in the years since, but UWMadison volleyball’s upward trajectory in more recent times can be traced back to 2013, when Head Coach Kelly madisonessentials.com

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Sheffield took the helm of the team. Since taking the reins, Coach Sheffield has been credited with making UW– Madison volleyball one of the country’s finest collegiate programs in the sport. In his first season, he took the Badgers to a 28-10 season—an 11-win improvement from the year prior. The team’s 2013 successes marked the first time they were eligible for the NCAA tournament in six years.

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In his time at the helm, Coach Sheffield has led the Badgers to five straight NCAA Sweet 16 tournament appearances. During that time, Wisconsin Volleyball has also finished among the top four teams in the Big Ten Conference in four out of five seasons.

the first 17 years of his career stands at 408-147. Other notable statistics include a 75-25 Big Ten record and 19-13 NCAA record.

Overall, Coach Sheffield’s UW–Madison record in his first five years stands at 135-35. His overall coaching record in

Diane says the Badgers’ continued presence in the Big Ten is a testament to Coach Sheffield’s coaching and the

strength of the team roster. “It’s a very tough conference to play in,” she says. In a statement encapsulated in the team’s record book, Coach Sheffield outlines his philosophy behind his role as the leader of the Badgers volleyball team. “The goal is to compete for Big Ten championships as it should be at Wisconsin…if you are competing for Big Ten championships, that puts you in the top echelon of teams in the country, and that’s where we want to be.” The goal of taking part in Big Ten Championships, however, is only part of the overarching mission, according to Coach Sheffield. At a more granular level, he also guides his players with a more basic mantra. “There’s also a clear understanding that you have to immerse yourself in the process of getting better—that’s where the daily focus has to be,” he says. Over time, the number of players in UW–Madison volleyball has grown. The 2019 roster includes nearly 20 players, ranging from freshmen to seniors. While most of the women hail from assorted Wisconsin towns, the team collectively has players from other areas of the country, including Arizona, Georgia, and Virginia.

While high endurance and athleticism are qualifications for the women playing on the team, Diane says other factors, including scholastics, are an important part of the equation. “It’s important they keep up with their academic work,” Diane says, pointing out most of the players maintain a 3.0 grade point average or above. “The strive for excellence carries over into the classroom as well.” Dave Fidlin is a freelance writer who has a special affinity for Madison. Dave’s career spans nearly 20 years, and he’s grateful for the opportunity to learn something new each day through his professional pursuits. Photographs provided by UW Athletic Communications.

Dave Fidlin

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essential nonprofit

Wisconsin Green Growth:

A Call to Action by John Imes Today, it’s even more important for stakeholders across Wisconsin to collaborate and establish a solid new direction for the state—one that integrates a green growth strategy to create more prosperous, secure, and sustainable communities; address climate change; and respect our heritage and tradition of environmental stewardship. Since 1995, the Wisconsin Environmental Initiative (WEI) has worked to bring together state and local government, businesses, and environmental groups to find common values and take cooperative approaches to improve the state’s environment and economy. We call that concept “doing well by doing good.” Business as usual and politics as usual today is no longer an option. We need new partners and a new generation who see quality of life and sustainability as the organizing principle for Wisconsin’s future. Join us as we work to accelerate the innovative strategies and policies we need.

100% Clean Energy

Other Midwest states are eating our lunch when it comes to clean-energy investment, jobs, and production. WEI supports the innovative policies, technologies, and infrastructure to meet a 100 percent renewable-energy goal by using solar, wind, biomass, and energy efficiency while creating thousands of clean-energy jobs and bringing billions in clean manufacturing and economic activity back into the state. 26 | m a d i s o n e s s e n t i a l s

Over the years, WEI’s Energy Forum served as a valuable resource for meeting Wisconsin’s energy needs while positively impacting the environment and economy. WEI’s work on Governor Doyle’s Global Warming Task Force, Consortium on Biobased Industry, and as a member of several state delegations to Germany provided valuable opportunities to learn from and share successes in applying sustainable technology to our energy challenges. More recently, WEI serves on the Climate and Energy Leadership Network of the Wisconsin Academy of Sciences, Arts & Letters. This committee produced Climate Forward: A New Road Map for Wisconsin’s Climate and Energy Future. WEI is a proud supporter of the Academy, including their Climate Fast Forward conference, to be held November 8 at Monona Terrace.

“If you believe in climate change and you believe in science, well then it’s reasonable to expect that we can accelerate the solutions that are in front of us and create a green economy for the state. The science is demanding that we be bold. So let’s be bold.” – John Imes

Green Building

WEI supports innovative green building solutions, including efforts to

green retrofit existing buildings and leverage the permit approval process and building codes to accelerate high-performance building, energy and water efficiency, and green infrastructure applications. WEI’s Green Built Home program offers comprehensive checklists and credible third-party verification to certify homes and recognize builders who commit to superior environmental performance. More than 20,000 homes and affordable housing units have been built to the Wisconsin Green Built Home standard, and the program was previously recognized as a National Green Building Program of the Year.

Clean Clear Waters

Madison area lakes are the jewels of our community. A key challenge to protecting and enhancing our waters is better management of stormwater runoff. Runoff causes soil erosion that can contain contaminants, like motor oils and grease, pesticides, fertilizers, and de-icing salt that is harmful to waterways. WEI publishes articles and op-eds on clean-water strategies, including the use of green infrastructure and green urbanism to reduce flooding. WEI also organized shoreland development roundtables that brought together conservationists; developers; lake associations; and local, county, and state government officials to find

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ways to balance development with environmental protection. The ideas, suggestions, and case studies led to an owning waterfront property checklist and, later, a Clean Clear Waters checklist for builders and developers to implement best practices in erosion control, landscape conservation, and stormwater management to protect our waters.

Sustainable Economic Development

WEI supports the greening of business to achieve higher levels of performance to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and supports targeting of incentives, including tax credits, loan guarantees, and preference on purchasing contracts to firms that achieve superior environmental results and institute high-road practices that protect workers. WEI has organized a dozen forums on sustainability topics for Wisconsin businesses over the years and developed nationally recognized certification programs that give businesses the opportunity to learn about sustainable strategies. For example, the Travel Green Wisconsin and Main Street Green certification checklists serve as stewardship tools to give businesses credible market distinction while helping to evaluate operations, set goals, and take specific actions to achieve environmental, social, and economic sustainability. madisonessentials.com

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Wisconsin needs an economy that works for everyone, invests in innovative policies, and takes care of workers. Join us to showcase the state again as an innovator—one that invests in clean energy, clean manufacturing, water stewardship, and regenerative agriculture while we green our buildings and infrastructure and electrify our transportation to address climate change and create a more resilient, vibrant, and thriving Wisconsin. John Imes is a co-founder and executive director of Wisconsin Environmental Initiative. For more information, please visit weigogreener.org.

Regenerative Agriculture

WEI supports the need for regenerative agriculture practices to increase farmers’ profits, rebuild soils, clean our waterways, and expand renewable energy. Whether its organic farming or other responsibly grown methods, Wisconsin farmers and food processors can harness innovation to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and improve crop yields while reducing nutrient runoff into our drinking water. Over the years, WEI has convened statewide events on agriculture and land-use issues focused on agricultural systems that are both economically viable and environmentally sustainable. More recently, our attention turned to supporting urban agriculture and a transformative project to restore the landmark Garver Feed Mill behind Olbrich Gardens on Madison’s East Side

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as an artisan food production facility and high-profile visitor destination. The vibrant mix of uses includes an event venue, restaurants and café, production space for food-related businesses, and studio space for health and wellness practitioners, plus a microlodging showcase of up to 50 tiny (right-sized) homes. Complementing the project will be a full array of public and educational uses, including urban agriculture, outdoor conservation, and sustainable building technologies.

“We can empower more food entrepreneurship, particularly for women, immigrants, and people of color, to help reduce social/economic disparities and provide well-paying, accessible jobs in regional and local food production and urban agriculture.” – John Imes

John Imes

Photograph by Eric Tadsen

Photographs provided by WEI.

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essential community

MARCI Henderson

The Spirit of Self and Heart by Kyle Jacobson Condensing the complexity of life, the ability to experience, appreciate, and comprehend existence, into a linear timeline is a confine that we relish for its simplicity even though it removes much of the nuance that influences connection outside of the mind. Many of us have experienced the edges of temporal removal: when focus dissolves into interconnectedness. For some, it’s an adrenaline rush. For others, it’s getting lost in nature—forgetting the things we deem important just long enough to be uprooted. An awesome rebalancing of the senses. In Marci Henderson, I see someone who seeks to give others the gift of connection as she strives to embrace her own. Today, Marci is the chief executive officer at Girl Scouts of Wisconsin. But when looking at the entirety of her life, it’s easy to see she’s much more than that, and all the parts and pieces that define who she is haven’t changed, but developed, sometimes taking on new shapes. Perhaps it’s the amount of travel she’s undertaken. “I’m always drawn

to the areas with seasons.” From the Pacific Northwest to Madison back to Washington state then to Syracuse, New York, and finally back to Madison, her love of nature and sense of community have nurtured a generous and adventurous spirit. “Out of college, I worked with the Girl Scouts in Germany. We were serving the girls of the U.S. Military.” Marci was the food service director at the camp, and worked with all nationalities across Europe and Africa. When she returned stateside, she got involved with the Red Cross recruiting blood donors. She was working in upstate New York during 9/11, a moment etched into her heart that weighed on her in the brief moment she recalled it. Marci once planned to enter retirement after the Red Cross, but before that day came, she saw an oppor-

tunity to take on the role of CEO at Girl Scouts of Wisconsin. “What resonated with me about this opportunity was the mission statement: Girl Scouting builds girls of courage, confidence, and character who make the world a better place. That we’re never done. That we’re always just growing.” The Girl Scouts very much encapsulates exploration, taking risks, something Marci admires in her “first inspiration. My maternal grandma was a resident of a beautiful, beautiful place in Switzerland, the heart of Switzerland. Like when you think of Switzerland and you think of Heidi and the Alps, that’s where grandma came from. She left there at the age of 29 to come to America. You know the classic story of passage on the boat—she earned her way. She didn’t tell her family she was leaving until a week before. And at that time, I think it was 1922, the chances of her ever seeing them again were pretty remote. ... [She] went through Ellis Island, I’ve seen the manifesto where she signed in, and then took a train to an aunt whom she had never met that had to sponsor her in Portland, Oregon. ... Her independence and her courage and a dedication to animals, she loved the animals, was so much greater than you could really imagine, and that provides a lot of inspiration to me.” Her mother inherited that drive to explore. “My mom was a stay-at-home mom until my brother and I went to college. She was a true go-getter. We would wake up, and she would decree

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that it was adventure day. She would pack a picnic, and we would head off to a park or Mount St. Helens or the Oregon Coast or the Washington Coast—we would just head off someplace for the day. I think sometimes she didn’t even know where we were exactly headed. And that spirit of adventure really ignited our souls.” What amuses me about these stories is that they come with the potential to find moments of serenity. Taking a risk breeds a heavy time of reflection. An almost out-of-body experience that leaves a person questioning if they really had the courage to be somewhere completely unknown to them, to do something profoundly unfamiliar. Marci recalls fly fishing in Yellowstone Park 10 years ago. “I’m standing in the middle of a river with these mountains around me ... with an excuse to be standing in the river. This is just amazing whether I caught anything or not. It really didn’t matter—just the experience was joyful.” It’s a snapshot of the endurance and transformation that is a piece of her grandmother as much as it is of herself. Though Marci can’t imagine displaying her grandmother’s courage, at the core of every risktaker resides the soul of an artist. Marci fosters that by being on the board of Forward Theater, Madison’s professional theatre company. “I grew up in a family committed to music, theatre, and the visual arts.” Though not artistic by her own account, Marci also spends as much time as she can in Montana to be a part of one of the legacies left by her mother, “the Montana Cowboy Poetry Gathering that happens every year in Lewistown, Montana. It’s a three-day

festival with spoken word and music. There’s a strong history of cowboys, who lead a pretty solitary life, and some of them would explore the arts and write poetry and music.” It’s something she’s proud to be on the board of. When her mom passed away a few years ago, Marci found her old Girl Scout sash while cleaning out the home. “It was interesting because a number of the badges I had earned as a young girl were the same ones that I would earn today: outdoors, animals, civic engagement, community service, food, arts.” There’s genuine value for Marci in rediscovering herself. It’s a quality she imparts on everyone she interacts with, whether it be young women in the Girl Scouts, close friends, or the thoughtful onlooker. “Lots of times, we’re unaware that people are watching,” and when we’re making connections with those people, we never really know who we might inspire. Kyle Jacobson is a copy editor for Madison Essentials, and a writer and beer enthusiast (sometimes all at once) living in Sun Prairie, Wisconsin. Photographs provided by Girl Scouts of Wisconsin—Badgerland.

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essential community

for me to develop trust with my therapist, and for some it may mean seeing a few different therapists to find someone that feels comfortable. I started talking about my sadness, my childhood, and my experiences. It was a safe place for me to share things with someone who wouldn’t judge me or tell me I was wrong, and who encouraged me to allow my feelings to be what they are instead of trying to figure out what they should be.

TRAUMA If you’ve been keeping up with this series, you know that I once lived a life of should, where my life was designed around others to please them so they would love me. I left that life, thankfully, and hope everyone reading this will also let go of the should in their lives. The next six segments will cover topics that are huge, painful, and significant—big issues that kept me in an inauthentic life for four decades. The topics are so big that I will not only be writing about them— Madison Essentials, Simply Creative Productions, and I will be producing complementary video podcasts. But even with both written articles and video podcasts, we’ll still just scratch the surface of these life issues. In our last segment, we talked about the necessity of acknowledging hurt in order to heal from it. Often this is trauma that has been buried deep inside of us. Traumatic events are those experiences that are perceived to be a threat to one’s safety or stability and can cause physical, emotional, and psychological stress or harm. Unlike physical hurt, which our body works quickly to heal, our brain tends to push emotional wounds deep down within our psyche because we lack the tools to deal with it or because of a fear to show weakness due to societal pressures. Everyone experiences trauma—it’s part of being human—but society discourages us from talking about it. It tells us that 40 | m a d i s o n e s s e n t i a l s

by Sandy Eichel

if we admit to what happened to us, it will make us look vulnerable and weak. People have said to me, “Well, my trauma is not as bad as yours, so...” Trauma, whether big or small, is experienced in our brain in the same way. The brain doesn’t know if it’s small, just that it’s traumatic. Emotional pain can be worse than physical pain because physical pain garners more sympathy from others while emotional pain can be triggered by memories and lower self-esteem, affecting our long-term mental health. When pain is repressed, it grows. When a person realizes that they haven’t dealt with a trauma, it can be a shocking and earth-shattering experience. For me, I wasn’t aware that I had repressed my trauma until I became so depressed that life was intolerable. I didn’t know what was causing me such deep pain. I’d be sobbing but not able to articulate why I was crying. I had two choices: end my life or find a way to deal with it. My reason for writing and sharing these things is to hopefully help others not feel like their life isn’t worth living—it so is! I decided to see a therapist, which was a difficult thing for me to do. I had to admit that something, even though I didn’t know what, was very wrong. Of all of the turning points I have had in my life, this was one of the most important. It was the act of kindness to myself that helped me unravel my life of should so I could start living an authentic life. It took some time

There were many issues that I hadn’t addressed, and by processing a number of things, I finally was able to face my deepest traumas. Many people have had traumas like that—things they’ve buried but still carry around and blame themselves for. For me, this toxicity ate away at my soul, robbed me of joy, and prevented me from being who I really am. My trauma impacted me in ways that I couldn’t even comprehend until I finally revealed and dealt with it. At first, I had a hard time talking about what was wrong. I had rehearsed the story of my life and how perfect it was for so long that I found it difficult to admit that anything was wrong. I believed everything was just fine, and that my bouts of depression were coming out of nowhere. To help me unlock what was trapped inside, my therapist had me write in a journal when I was upset and couldn’t find the words to express why. I could only write about some things at first, but writing eventually gave me the courage to talk, and then hearing my myself speak allowed me to face what had been stuck. When I started talking about and processing my early trauma, I started to see how much of my life had been dictated by holding those experiences in. All of the shame of who I was had been sourced from the trauma. This triggered an outpouring of repressed feelings, as if the floodgates of my true self were open. I was able to articulate my feelings and thoughts in a way I never had before. It was difficult but miraculous. It was the most important thing to free me from my life of should. How do you know that you have trauma that is buried? What are the signs? There are lot of symptoms of repressed trauma, which people experience in a multitude of ways, including depression, anxiety,

mood swings, panic attacks, insomnia, being easily startled, and low self-esteem. Some people dull the pain with drugs, alcohol, or any number of numbing agents. If you think this is ridiculous because everyone has symptoms like these, it points to the fact that many people have experienced trauma and have not dealt with it—that it has become what many people think life is. By the way, if you’re tempted to throw this magazine across the room because all of this is rubbish, pay attention to that. Your reaction may be your defense mechanism against dealing with your pain. If you’re feeling like you have symptoms of experienced trauma, know that it makes you normal. Many of us have gotten used to these types of symptoms as a part of normal life. They aren’t. They’re indicators that something troubling lies beneath the surface. If the idea of dealing with this overwhelms you, take a step back. You may not be ready to do the work yet or you may need to start very slowly. But no matter what, please know that there are solutions, and you don’t have to just live with trauma stealing your joy. Life is too precious and wonderful to live in sadness. You’re worthy and you’re not alone. You can heal from the bad experiences in your life—you just need to take the first step. “Hi, my name is Sandy.” “Hi Sandy.” “I experienced trauma, but I’m going to be okay.” Sandy Eichel is a happy ex-should-er.

Check out the premiere of our video podcast series with Sandy, After Should, this October at madisonessentials.com.

Sandy Eichel

madisonessentials.com

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essential community

for the low turnout and talking about potential solutions, Wisconsin leaders mocked claims that the quietly passed restrictions and lack of public awareness about the changes to these laws had any correlation with the turnout.

VOTING RIGHTS by Kali Timm The right to vote in America originated as a privilege for those in society deemed worthy of having an opinion. Thankfully, as the country progressed, brave men and women took a stand to earn the right to vote for all citizens. Ideally, it would be wonderful to say that their sacrifices were enough and all we have left to do is take advantage of our right to vote. However, the sad reality is that our right is constantly trying to be reformed back into a privilege, and being grateful for those who came before us is simply not enough.

Unlike a physical fight or an explosive public argument, attacks on voting rights have occurred quietly, and their ramifications are not felt until it’s too late to change the circumstances. In Wisconsin, among other states, voting rights are silently being stripped away through the use of strict voter ID laws, short time frames, and lack of public awareness. The November 2016 presidential election was the first major election that Wisconsin decided to implement their new policy that requires voters—both registered and unregistered—to present a current driver’s license, passport, or state or military ID to cast a ballot. In the past, voters with a valid proof of residency could use an expired license one year after the expiration date to vote. Voters who went to vote and were considered ineligible due to this new law were given a ballot and instructed to go to their local Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV), acquire a new ID, and then go to the city clerk’s office to turn in their ballot within the time frame of 72 hours. This reduced time frame eliminated the voice of Americans who do not enjoy the luxury of a flexible schedule or unlimited time off. Voting is one of the few ways Americans can voice their opinions, and yet restrictions that lead to voter suppression enforce the idea that not everyone is worthy to participate in their society. In 2016, Wisconsin, “which ranked second highest in voter participation in 2008 and 2012” lost approximately 41,000 voters. In districts stricken by poverty, voter “turnout dropped 23 percent compared to 2012.”1 Instead of discussing the reasons

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Historically speaking, the lower voter turnout was not just some unanticipated consequence. In 2014, the U.S. Government Accountability Office “concluded that voter ID laws may reduce voter turnout.”3 They thoroughly examined 10 different studies and compared turnout between states that had voter ID laws and those that didn’t. Not only did states with voter ID laws see a reduced voter turnout, but it also negatively impacted certain groups of individuals, specifically African Americans and those aged 18 to 23. While a couple lower percentage points may not seem like a lot, in Wisconsin’s 2016 election, the first one where the voter ID laws were enacted, the presidency was determined “by less than one percentage point” and “Attorney General Brad Schimel credited this to the photo ID requirement,” which he claimed helped “Trump win Wisconsin.”3 Another group marginalized by these strict laws is college students. “Out of the 13 University of Wisconsin fouryear colleges, only 4 provide campusissued IDs that are compliant for voting.” Unfortunately, this is not due to ignorance; rather, it’s by design. “A former GOP staffer testified in 2016 that some Republican senators in a closed session were giddy about the prospect of voter ID suppressing votes by Milwaukee residents and college students, both of whom tend to vote Democratic.”3 Lack of public awareness about changes in voter ID laws also hurt small-town voters in Wisconsin. Those who lacked proper identification were told that they could obtain free state IDs at local DMV offices, but those offices were “only open four days in 2016.”3 Confusion over the law changes coupled with a severe lack of resources to help people comply with the new restrictions led to another group of individuals unable to cast a vote and voice their opinions.

The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Wisconsin has taken numerous actions in regards to these strict voter ID laws. In 2011, the ACLU filed a lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin challenging the voter ID laws in Wisconsin. In 2014, the district struck down Wisconsin’s voter ID laws “in its entirety.”2 However, in early October 2014, the courts of appeals reversed the ruling. While the ACLU of Wisconsin was able to block the laws from taking effects in the November 2014 midterms and the April 2015 primary, it did not block it forever. In July 2016, the federal district court ruled that voters who have trouble obtaining identification under Wisconsin’s strict voter ID law can vote by affidavit, but the state appealed that decision as well. While the ACLU continues to challenge voter suppression in Wisconsin, it’s a difficult battle, and we rely on our staff, volunteers, and members to help us in this fight. While it’s important to cherish the victories that come our way, we recognize that our work in this area is far from over.

It’s absurd that skin color, age, an expired ID, or a crime committed in the past means that a citizen no longer has the right to contribute to how their society is run. It’s important to remember that while our rights are the combination of generations’ struggles and sacrifices, those rights are not protected from public and private attacks. The ACLU will work endlessly to fight for the country we want to live in, but we cannot do it alone. It took many brave individuals to attain everyone’s right to vote, and it will take even more to ensure that they remain protected and accessible to all American citizens.

Kali Timm is the development coordinator at ACLU of Wisconsin.

Kali Timm

ACLU of Wisconsin

Berman, Ari. (2018, October 16). Rigged: how voter suppression threw Wisconsin to Trump. Mother Jones. motherjones.com/politics/2017/10/voter -suppression-wisconsin-election-2016

207 E. Buffalo Street #325

Frank v. Walker: fighting voter suppression in Wisconsin. ACLU. (2016, December 12). aclu.org /cases/frank-v-walker-fighting-voter-suppression -wisconsin

Milwaukee, WI 53202

Smith, Cameron. (2018, September 30). Voter ID tied to lower Wisconsin turnout; student, people of color, elderly most affected. Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. jsonline.com/story/opinion/contributors/2018/09/30 /voter-id-tied-lower-wisconsin-turnout/1480862002

(414) 272-4032 aclu-wi.org

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essential arts

JONAH WELCH by Elissa Koppel “I was about 18, 19. I was coming out as trans at the time. I started having these experiences in society that I could not reconcile with—things like going into a bathroom and being harassed or being misgendered all the time; things that were society-level problems; things that weren’t a quick fix, where there was nothing I could do. They would hit me really hard. I found drawing was pretty much the way I could get myself through that because I could take my experiences and change them with the drawing, or I could even just represent them in all their glory. It was a survival mechanism. I’ve been doing it ever since.” Jonah Welch is a transgender, nonbinary mystic and visual artist. I met them unexpectedly at the opening of their gallery at Black Locust Cafe, an excuse to see old friends. The show featured dreamy linear illustrations of haunting landscapes and towns, obscure bodies intermingled, and animals bent and moving in unanticipated directions. In 44 | m a d i s o n e s s e n t i a l s

their artist talk, Jonah spoke about their life’s work, the exploration and protection of all that is the divine nonbinary. While I still had more to learn about their work discovering the spiritual legacy of nonbinary people through several conversations, the first time we spoke was after their talk about a recurrent symbol in their work: horses. The symbol took years to show up in Jonah’s work. They had been drawing from the time they came out as transgender and, for a handful of years, was not doing well emotionally. “Now that I’ve been on hormones for six years, I see that transitioning is a trauma. There isn’t guidance on how to do it. All of a sudden, you have to let go of all these things and learn all these new things, and there’s barely anybody helping you. So when I first started, I had a lot of qualms with taking up space as a person who looks male-bodied or like a man. I started censoring myself a lot, changing some of my behaviors because

Who Civilized You?

I didn’t want to make people uncomfortable, and I didn’t know how to exist as someone who looks like a man in the world. I went through this phase where I was very bottled up.” Raised in northern Wisconsin, Jonah had worked with horses in various capacities as a kid, including at their grandmother’s farm. “Part of what was lost was this kind of joy I associate with my childhood self—that really free happiness.” It was a defining, happy feature of Jonah’s youth. “At a certain point, I realized what was happening and tried intentionally to start reconnecting with some of my childhood joy to let it through. That was a very important moment in my embodiment. The horses really started coming out when I made that decision to still pursue joy.” With joy and pain in hand, Jonah has kept an art practice for years throughout adolescence, gender transition, and university study. They earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Wisconsin–Madison in gender and

Over the Horizon

Open the Door to the Real World

Radio for Humans madisonessentials.com

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women’s studies with a specialization in feminist theory and a minor in LGBT studies. After graduation, they moved to Los Angeles and then Austin, where they apprenticed under professional mystic Olivia Pepper for three and a half years. Recently, Jonah made the decision to return to Wisconsin. “I wanted to come back here to reconnect with my community and to save up for a project I’m starting in the fall—an oral history project where I’ll be traveling around the country. Madison is where I saw the start of my art career. It feels really good to come back and share what I’ve made.” These days in Madison, Jonah focuses on healing people through both mystic practice and artwork. A defining component of Jonah’s oeuvre is the series Nonbinary Prayer Cards. The series deviates from Jonah’s typical method of concept creation, which is hours of improvising, following their hand, and ultimately arriving at a new visual concept and full composition. Jonah’s Nonbinary Prayer Cards are born out of their moral dictum: “Trans

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People Are Sacred.” Built around Jonah’s poetry, the cards contain visual references to myths and gods of the past, further solidifying the narrative of trans individuals as a group of people with a long legacy. Nonbinary Prayer Cards are meant to be used in moments of need for self-love and centering. “[They are] a survival tool for me and a part of my spiritual practice.” A combination of Jonah’s healing work, historical research, and artistic method, the series is not only a relevant cultural artifact for today, but a perfect encapsulation of Jonah’s craft. While the motivating core of Jonah’s work is tenderness, they are evolving still. Over the Horizon is Jonah’s most recent series. Inspired by a previous piece entitled Who Civilized You?, an array of livestock scattered on the roofs of abandoned buildings, Over the Horizon is both a marker in technical accomplishment for Jonah and glimpse into the evolution of their character. The pieces in the series contain lush, diverse, natural landscapes paired with horses jumping off mountaintops. Jonah comments on the craft behind these new works. “First of all, it’s a new level of what I’m doing because I’m focusing more on taking the whole page and balancing it with light and dark, creating an almost

Nonbinary Prayer Cards

Madison’s local Over the Horizon

Jonah goes on to speak on the jumping horses. Their headspace has changed drastically over time. From the pain of gender dysphoria to the joy and purpose of mystic practice, Jonah has moved into a brave and adamant eagerness regarding protecting their community. “Taking the horses, which I’ve drawn a lot in various positions, and having them leaping off of this mountaintop and falling—I was going over a plateau emotionally. With what is happening in society and how I’m growing as a person, I’m ready to start the new world. I’m ready to go over the edge. I’m ready to sacrifice everything to pursue freedom.” This fall, Jonah’s art will be featured in Austin, Texas. For updates

on shows and new work, visit jonahwelch.com/2019-art and their Instagram, @jonahwelch. Elissa Koppel is a freelance writer and a local artist. Photographs by Jonah Welch.

Check out Jonah’s News feature.

Elissa Koppel

since 2007 Connecting you to the people, businesses, and events in our community.

Photograph by Olivia Loomis

alchemical balance on the page. Every piece is a project on balance.”

LGBTQ MAGAZINE

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e s s en t ial landmark

by Jeanne Engle

STEENSLAND HOUSE

The work of 19th century humanitarian and philanthropist Halle Steensland continues today in Madison, more than 100 years later, by people who live in the stylishly eclectic home he built in 1896. The Halle Steensland House—known to many as the Bethel Parish Shoppe— was designed by the local architectural firm of Gordon and Paunack. The house, with its diversity of materials and decorative elements, has been cited as one of the best examples of the late Queen Anne style of architecture in Madison. As well as a 1974 Madison Landmark, the Steensland House was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1982. Halle Steensland, prominent banker, businessman, and a leader in the Norwegian American community, was born in 1832. He immigrated from Norway in 1854 with $10 in his pocket. In 1855, he came to Madison, where he first worked as a clerk in a retail store before 48 | m a d i s o n e s s e n t i a l s

becoming a partner in a grocery business that he continued until 1871. Steensland then founded and became active in the Hekla Fire Insurance Company that served fellow Norwegians, eventually rising to president of the company. After selling the insurance company to a St. Paul, Minnesota, concern, Steensland founded the Savings and Loan Trust Company, of which he was president at the time of his death in 1910. Later, the company merged with the Bank of Madison that became M&I Bank and, finally, BMO Harris. In 1892, Steensland was appointed vice-consul of Norway. In that position, he facilitated trade and friendly cooperation with Norway. In return for his service and philanthropy, Steensland was twice knighted by the Norwegian king. According to the Madison Landmark nomination, “One of Steensland’s favorite maxims was ‘Do not try to get

money fast. Too many financiers of our day go into an early oblivious grave on this rock.’” Steensland’s philanthropy included a donation to St. Olaf College in Northfield, Minnesota, to build a library. In commemoration of 50 years in business, he paid for a stone bridge over the Yahara River on East Washington Avenue. He was a director of the Madison Park and Pleasure Drive Association and the State Historical Society of Wisconsin. Steensland was a founder of the original Bethel Lutheran Church and an active and loyal member of the church from when he moved to Madison until his death. His home, a three-story, complex-shaped structure now located at 15 W. Gorham Street, is of a wood frame with dark-red brick veneer and stone trim. The main block of the house is square. A tall entrance tower protrudes slightly in the center of the block. To the left is a gabled

dormer echoed by a smaller one on the right. A wide veranda extends across the front. The first floor of the house has two large arched windows with beveled and leaded glass transoms. The arches are made of stone. With many Queen Anne style buildings, the decorative elements are only on the facade that faces the street. The Steensland House has ornamental features on all sides, including two-story bays, more arched dormer windows, brackets embellishing dormers, and a large chimney trimmed with terra-cotta panels and bands of molded brickwork. Even though the house had two fireplaces, a coal furnace heated it. There was even indoor plumbing. After Steensland’s death, his son, Edward, continued to live in the house. He sold it in 1938. From 1941 to 1943, the house was rented to former Governor Philip La Follette. It became the headquarters of the national Progressive Party and offices of the Progressive magazine. The Dane County Red Cross used the house as its headquarters from 1943 to 1945. From 1959 to 2005, the house functioned as the Bethel Parish Shoppe, Madison’s first consignment shop, and generated nearly $2 million that was given to Bethel Lutheran Church and its various ministries.

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orthoteam.com Today, the Steensland House, owned by Bethel, comprises a service-focused community of individuals with a passion for giving back to organizations serving Madison. Ten people—some students, some professionals—live in the house

in three separate apartments, one on each floor. Bethel worked with a number of local and Wisconsin companies to renovate and remodel the Steensland House into

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perform 16 hours of service per month. Mary Brennan, Bethel’s Steensland House community coordinator, reports, “Residents serve in an amazing number of ways even though none are currently Bethel members. At Bethel, they have played in the handbell choir and composed music. Some work in the food pantry during the week or in the nursery or library on Sunday. Others prepare meals for the homeless. “Outside of the church, they serve at St. Vincent de Paul, prepare meals for Gilda’s Club, ring bells for the Salvation Army, and register voters with the League of Women Voters. Residents are involved with the UW Safe Walk program, various legal aid and environmental groups, Olbrich Botanical Gardens, and animal sanctuaries.” the apartments. Randy Alexander of the Alexander Company was the project manager. Matt Aro of Aro Eberle Architects designed the Steensland House remodel. Mike Murphy of Engineered Construction, Inc., owned by Bethel member Dave Lombardo, coordinated the interior remodeling. In April 2015, the Steensland House was moved from its original location on North Carroll Street. The house was taken off its foundation, jacked up, moved around the corner, and put back down over a period of a month and a half by Heritage Movers LLC from Mount Hope in Grant County. Since the house had never been remodeled for apartments or offices after its life as a single-family residence, many interior features—the entryway,

woodwork, floors, some chandeliers— are still original. Renovation included new insulation, plaster, electrical, plumbing, sprinkler system, heating and air-conditioning, and storm windows over the original windows. “We didn’t gut the inside and tried to keep as many original features as possible to maintain the integrity of the interior,” says Dona Meyer, Bethel’s administrative specialist and event coordinator. All of the apartments are fully furnished. Kitchens feature a full-size refrigerator, range, dishwasher, and microwave. An in-unit washer/dryer is provided. Rent includes all utilities and Wi-Fi. The house had the first occupants at its new location in August 2016. In exchange for rent discounted 20 percent from market rates, residents agree to

One of the residents of Steensland House is selected to serve as the community manager, connecting with residents to develop and promote a positive atmosphere and sense of unity. That person serves as the liaison between the residents and Bethel staff. Mary meets with the community manager on a monthly basis. Soon after residents move in, Mary meets with each one to determine their service interests and outlines how Bethel can support them. She sits down with them again in January and also conducts exit interviews with residents at the end of their leases. Halle Steensland would no doubt be proud of what became of his home and how its residents still serve the community today. Jeanne Engle is a freelance writer.

Jeanne Engle

50 | m a d i s o n e s s e n t i a l s

Photograph by MOD Media Productions

Photographs provided by Bethel Lutheran Church.

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e ssential food & beverage

Cocktails Laugh with the Sinners by Kyle Jacobson

Belgian Lemonade

a ton,” says The Lone Girl Brewing coowner Kevin Abercrombie on many of their beer cocktails. That seems like a solid starting point before getting too crazy with adding beers to cocktails. Take away what different flavors and complementary styles of beer bring to a cocktail and see what will inherently change by adding a beer. When it comes to brewing beer, the line between gimmicky and experimental may well mirror that between a fool and a genius. The former is doing what they can to get a rise out of cerevisaphiles, maybe even garnering a blink of attention from someone looking for the next big thing. The latter approaches their idea with foundations in brewing knowledge, culture, and history to broaden existing connections in a thoughtful manner meant to enhance the experience of drinking a beer rather than catering to trend jumpers. 52 | m a d i s o n e s s e n t i a l s

With that in mind, I believe the gimmick can become something authentic in the right hands. It’s a matter of educating the drinker as well as the brewer. The phrase beer cocktail might be offensive to some, and maybe that’s because it comes across as cheapening the beer. But it’s not about asking what a cocktail can do to a beer, but rather what the beer gives to a cocktail. “The first thing I think is it gives it some body. The amount that we’re putting in is not going to affect the flavor and taste

Then keep it simple. There’s no need to take a beer that nails a style, say the nowextinct Hausgeist White IPA, and put it in every spirit on hand. Experiment with acidic Beermosas for IPAs and different elements inherent to different beer styles. New Belgium Brewing has some really simple ideas that just add juice to their beers. Take a Belgian Trippel and a quarter cup of pineapple juice, you got a nice Beermosa. Take one part of that Trippel; add in a traditional wheat beer, perhaps a Hefeweizen; and finish it off with a splash of orange

juice—now you’re drinking what they call a SunTrip. All that knowledge then comes together to start crafting some well-thought-out cocktails. If I have a beer that balances coffee, I can start to dissect some coffee cocktails and find where the beer would add more than body to the experience. “We have a few cocktails,” says Kevin, “where the beer takes over a little bit. We have one called The Dude that highlights our Dark Hondo Porter. It’s our take on a White Russian, right, from The Big Lebowski.” There’s an obvious component of understanding what the Dark Hondo Porter has inherent to itself as a beer. It’s robust and roasty with a dry finish—a sound complement to a coffee liqueur. Add some local honey liqueur and hand-whipped cream, and the result is as eye catching as it is delicious. Once the beer cocktail is embraced, there’s an offshoot of drinks that bridge the world of spirit and ale. That world can be a playground for the brewer and mixologist. “We’ve had some fun with

dessert cocktails,” says Kevin. “We have our Quadnado Belgian Quad, and we’ve turned that into a Quad Alexander. It’s our turn on a Brandy Alexander. It’s so good.” They also threw around some ideas with Calliope Ice Cream involving beer floats. Using Calliope’s Lemon Lavender ice cream and Lone Girl’s Belgian Blonde, Towhead, something that “tastes like Fruit Loops” is born. Or take Calliope’s Brandy Old Fashioned ice cream and add an Amber Ale. “That’s a Wisconsin homerun.” Some of these drinks may sound goofy to the purist. It’s a hazy endeavor to find that elusive line thou shalt not cross. Sometimes, the best course of action is to lower the shields and let the taste of the drink speak for itself. If it works, and everything is cohesive, why apply a veil of what is or isn’t acceptable? Kevin’s take: “We’re over here [in the United States] having fun. People are blowing ABVs out of the window. People are barrel aging. People are introducing fruit beers. Why not try to work with cocktails and spirits? It’s just fun.” In his mind, barrel aging with rum, tequila,

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The Dude and whiskey barrels already leaves us with one foot in the door. I tend to agree that it takes less than a push to start down the beer-cocktail road. It’s good to remember that not everyone who enjoys beer is a beer nerd. I imagine we all know people who prefer a Bud or Miller to a craft beer. Some lean toward simple rail cocktails. “If there’s three beer nerds, and they’re playing golf,” says Kevin,” and the fourth is a friend who’s like, ‘I can’t go over to x place because they don’t have anything that I like.’ The three beer nerds are all going

to defer and say, ‘Let’s just go where that person’s comfortable,’ because they don’t want to leave him or her out.” A beer cocktail may be a way to entice the non-beer-drinking friend to go to the brewery. Over time, who knows, maybe they’ll decide they deserve better than... tried-and-true mediocrity. So if you’re sitting out with a vodka lemonade, maybe add one or two shots of a Blonde. If you’re enjoying a Long Island, maybe an ESB or a Wit. Rum and Coke, how about a Gose? If it’s a fun night out, you can’t miss with a Boilermaker. I get it—there are more days than not where I just want to enjoy the beer for what it is. But I’m not ready to put up these walls to limit my experience with beer, and I think there’s ample opportunity to be daring. As Kevin says, “It’s beer. Just drink it, enjoy it, explore it. Try different things.” To mistakes aligned with discovery. We don’t always know why we do the things we do, but we do them just the same. Kyle Jacobson is a copy editor for Madison Essentials, and a writer and beer enthusiast (sometimes all at once) living in Sun Prairie, Wisconsin. Photographs by Kyle Jacobson.

Kyle Jacobson

54 | m a d i s o n e s s e n t i a l s

ESSENTIALLY

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essential travel

AUTUMN

madison style Dane County Farmers’ Market

by Liz Wessel While some days may still be warm enough for shorts and t-shirts, there’s definitely a change in the atmosphere around Madison. First, football season has arrived, and the town is painted red with Badger fans. If it’s Saturday morning and the brass sounds of the University of Wisconsin Marching Band are carrying across Madison and up to Midvale Heights, it’s a telltale sign there’s a home game. You’ll see a steady stream of cars and bicycles with redand-white-clad riders flying UW flags. If you haven’t attended a Badger football game, you should make this season your first—it’s a great experience. And even if your plans don’t include attending the game, everyone in Madison seems to get caught up in the excitement. Grills are being fired up, and special breakfasts and brunches are happening across the neighborhoods. Join in the fun and gather your friends

Dane County Farmers’ Market 56 | m a d i s o n e s s e n t i a l s

for a potluck brunch and a few rounds of cornhole. Cornhole, or bean bag toss, has grown in popularity over the past decade, but its origins remain something of a mystery. It became a favorite backyard and tailgate game around Cincinnati and then spread across the Midwest and the rest of country. A staple at game-day parties, the game is portable and can be played by all ages. Another Saturday ritual continues into the fall, a walk around the Capitol Square for the original Dane County Farmers’ Market. Join the locals and visitors to see the largest producers-only market at its best and most colorful. Beautiful fall mums in a wide range of colors mix with shades of oranges from carrots, pumpkins, and other squashes. Varieties of apples and peppers add to the display. And if you can’t make it downtown,

you can visit a neighborhood market. Madison has over 10 markets to choose from, all supporting farmers that bring healthy food to our community. You can also treat yourself to an apple tasting. There are so many classic and new varieties offered by local farmers. One of my favorite memories with my children is a fall train trip. The school travel assignment was to do an apple tasting. We had so much fun picking out individual varieties and then staging our tasting. I still have the notes from the tasting stuck in one of my cookbooks. Add some local cheese and invite some friends to compare notes. With a resurgence of cider, particularly hard cider, you might want to taste some local offerings and apple-based brandy. The Cider Farm, located in Mineral Point, opened a cidery and tasting room in March this year, co-located with Brennan’s Cellars on Watts Road. The ciders come from orchards that were transformed to include the varietals needed to craft the contemporary rendition of the fermented-apple drink inspired by European and American beverages. To accompany the ciders and brandy, The Cider Farm offers a smallplate menu and Sunday brunch. Much of the menu is vegetarian, and they also include gluten-free options. Want to really immerse yourself in a beautiful autumn day? Ride your bike and join the growing number of avid bicyclists across the city. Madison’s

vibrant bike scene embraces commuters, event-goers, patrons of the farmers’ market and local shops, and easygoing sightseers. Madison was named a Platinum Bicycle Friendly Community by the League of American Bicyclists, and Madison Bikes and similar groups work to make every neighborhood as bicycle friendly as possible. To plan a great day out on the more than 200 miles of trails, go to cityofmadison.com /bikemadison/plantrip/map.cfm. At events across the city, arriving by bike is encouraged with bike parking and bike corrals. Consider joining one of the abundant organized bike rides and groups. Don’t have a bike? You can use Madison BCycle, the onthe-street bike-sharing program with 40-plus stations across the city—it’s an easy rental system. Budget Bicycle, Machinery Row Bicycles, ERIK’S, Motorless Motion (MoMo) Bicycles, The Cider Farm

Crazy Lenny’s E-Bikes, and other local bike shops also offer rentals. Finally, you can participate in fall leaf peeping. Get a group of friends together for a fall bike ride through the UWMadison Arboretum. If you’re inspired, lock the bike at the visitor center to set out on foot to explore Longenecker

Gardens as well as the deciduous forests in Gallistel, Noe, and Wingra Woods for fall colors. You’ll also find the prairie segments brimming with late-blooming flowers, seed pods, and tall grasses. Evergreens contrast with tamarack varieties whose needles turn a golden hue. Take one of the arboretum’s interpretive walks to greater appreciate the colorful foliage on display. City and county parks also offer opportunities to enjoy fall leaf color. Owen Conservation Park, located on the west side of Madison, provides

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a gathering place

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views of the Capitol and has both prairie and woodland areas. Use a bike to get to the UWâ&#x20AC;&#x201C;Madison Lakeshore Nature Preserve and Picnic Point. Pheasant Branch Conservancy, also on the west side, is another place to bike or walk and absorb autumn colors. See a variety of fall plants and color at Olbrich Botanical Gardens. Or visit the southeast side of Madison for the Aldo Leopold Center and Edna Taylor Conservation Park, which features a glacial drumlin, effigy mounds, oak savannah, and wetlands. Trails accommodate both bicyclists and walkers.

Appreciate the fall foliage in and around Madison, where efforts to ensure trees remain a predominant feature are ongoing. Madison has been a Tree City for over 25 years and was presented with a Sterling Community designation for leadership in community forestry. Get out and experience the colors, sounds, and tastes of fall in Madison. Liz Wessel is the owner of Green Concierge Travel, which has information for honeymoons and other ecotravel at greenconciergetravel.com. Photographs provided by Green Concierge Travel.

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essential home

A Favorite

Season

Photograph by Katy Plantenberg/ Olbrich Botanical Gardens

In Wisconsin, we’re definitely blessed to have four distinct seasons, and everyone has their favorite for any number of reasons. Like winter? Perhaps you ski, snowboard, ice fish, or just love the white snow blanketing everything. Can’t wait for spring? I understand— flowers start popping up, the birds are singing again, and everything is fresh and renewed. Do you savor the summer? Watersports, festivals, farmers’ markets, and long days that seem to last forever— it’s pretty great! But ask gardeners what their favorite season is and the likely answer will be fall.

Photograph by Kai Skadahl/Olbrich Botanical Gardens

by Katy Plantenberg

Photograph by Kai Skadahl/Olbrich Botanical Gardens

For some, fall may be a season of degeneration. The leaves drop from the trees, flowers start to wane, and there’s a chill in the air that means winter is on the horizon. Fall is my favorite season because no other season comes close to having the beauty—the sights, smells, and sounds—as fall at a botanical

60 | m a d i s o n e s s e n t i a l s

garden. It’s Mother Nature’s last hurrah, and the party is in full swing at Olbrich Botanical Gardens.

entire garden of ornamental grasses and barely notice their presence. But in fall, they come to life.

A short walk through the outdoor gardens is all it takes to join in the experience. See the colorful leaves covering the ground like confetti; listen to the wind rush through tall grasses like the roar of a crowd at a Friday night football game; and notice the details that were elusive all summer, like the crimson berries decorating the crabapple trees, providing a veritable feast for our feathered friends. While there are many plants that contribute to the overall majesty of the fall season, these plants are head turners!

From short-statured Japanese blood grass to native prairie dropseed grass to towering Miscanthus reaching toward the sky, ornamental grasses can be found throughout the gardens. It’s refreshing to stop and spend a moment listening to the soundscape they provide as the stalks blow in the wind, their seed heads swaying back and forth. They remind us that there’s more to appreciate in a garden than just the view if we only stop and use our other senses to enhance the experience.

Ornamental Grasses

Ornamental grasses can be left standing throughout the winter, giving some contrasting shape and color to an otherwise mostly monochromatic landscape. They also provide shelter and food for birds who remain here during the cold months.

For ornamental grasses, fall is when they really show off. Though growing throughout the spring and summer, they aren’t as noticeable then. In fact, it’s easy to walk past a cluster or even an

Goldenrod

If the fall season is a party, goldenrod, with its vibrant yellow flower spikes, is the one that keeps it hopping. “People don’t always appreciate goldenrod when it’s growing along the road, but to me, it’s the quintessential fall plant,” says Jeff Epping, director of horticulture at Olbrich Botanical Gardens. It gets a bad reputation because of the old wives’ tale that goldenrod causes seasonal allergies. Spoiler alert, it doesn’t. Goldenrod actually produces a sticky pollen meant to adhere to insects, not fly through the air like ragweed pollen.

Japanese Maples

Some of the most striking plants in a fall garden are Japanese maples. These trees can be stunning in the spring as their new leaves unfurl to reveal chartreuse, bright green, or deep burgundy foliage, but are absolute showstoppers in the fall. Depending on the weather conditions, Japanese maple leaves can display a prolonged show of color, lasting a few weeks given optimal temperatures. Backlit with sunshine, the leaves seem to glow, their hot yellow, orange, and red colors igniting the garden like fire.

Crabapple Trees

A spring-blooming beauty, crabapple trees throughout the gardens offer a different kind of prolific display in the fall than their effervescent springtime flowers. Thousands of tiny ruby-hued apples (a crabapple is a type of apple tree after all) dot each branch and take center stage from late fall, through winter, and into early spring. While the fruits themselves may not be too captivating at first glance, look closer to see cedar waxwings, cardinals, and other birds feasting on the nutritious berries. Come spring, robins will eat their fair share of them as they wait for the snow to melt enough to search for worms.

OPEN DAILY! 3330 atwood ave. madison, wi 53704 olbrich.org | 608-246-4550

garden and container designs. Pop some dark-purple kale into container gardens for added fall interest, and it’s possible to literally have your kale and eat it too!

Edible Plants

An unexpected sight at Olbrich during spring, summer, and fall is the variety of edible plants dotted throughout the landscape and in many of the 500 container gardens outside. Kale, cabbage, and Swiss chard are all used to add textural and colorful dimensions to

Photograph by Kai Skadahl/Olbrich Botanical Gardens

Anemone

This is not the type of anemone that lives at the bottom of the ocean. These anemone plants add a wispy, delicate touch of color to a fall landscape and offer an alternative to the typical fallblooming asters and chrysanthemums. It’s always a pleasant surprise to come across a patch of these beauties with dappled sunlight shining on them. Find some anemone plants and it’s likely that there will be many busy bees collecting pollen before going into torpor during the winter. In fact, in 2014 a rusty patched bumble bee was first spotted at Olbrich on an anemone flower. Native to Wisconsin and once prolific, the rusty patched bumble bee was the first bee in the continental United States to be added to the endangered species list, in 2017. Each year, increasing numbers of the rusty patched bumble bee are seen in the Gardens and other places around Madison, such as the University of Wisconsin–Madison Arboretum.

This year, we hope you can experience fall’s splendor in your own garden and also at Olbrich Botanical Gardens, where we’ll provide the flowers, leafy decorations, soothing sounds of grasses in the wind, and interesting eats (seriously though, please don’t eat any of our plants). Consider this your invitation. Katy Plantenberg is the public relations & marketing manager at Olbrich Botanical Gardens.

Katy Plantenberg

madisonessentials.com

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advertiser index association Aldo Leopold Nature Center........................ 19 Dane Buy Local............................................... 20 Dane County Humane Society.............. 35, 58 Sauk Prairie Area Chamber of Commerce.................................................. 53 Town of Merrimac........................................... 15

dining, food & beverage Athens Grill....................................................... 54 Bavaria Sausage Kitchen, Inc....................... 57 Chocolate Shoppe Ice Cream....................... 5 City Tins............................................................. 59 Clasen’s European Bakery............................. 57 Common Ground............................................ 58 Dorf Haus Supper Club................................... 11 Drumlin Ridge Winery..................................... 42 Fraboni’s Italian Specialties & Delicatessen............................................... 39 Imperial Garden.............................................. 24 Lombardino’s................................................... 54 The Mixing Bowl Bakery.................................. 24 The Nitty Gritty................................................. 16 The Old Feed Mill Restaurant........................ 32 Old Sugar Distillery.......................................... 37 Otto’s Restaurant & Bar.................................. 50 Paisan’s............................................................. 28 Paoli Schoolhouse Shops & Café................. 39 Quivey’s Grove.................................................. 5 Riley’s Wines of the World.............................. 25 Samba Brazilian Grill....................................... 25 The Side Door Grill and Tap........................... 25 Sugar River Pizza Company........................... 16 Tangent............................................................. 12 Tempest Oyster Bar........................................... 8 Tornado Steak House....................................... 8 Vintage Brewing Co. ...................................... 12 Willy Street Co-op........................................... 13 Wollersheim Winery & Distillery....................... 7

entertainment & media After Should Online Video Podcast............. 41 American Players Theatre............................. 33 Back of the House Online Video Series....... 36 Ho-Chunk Gaming Madison......................... 64 Home Elements & Concepts......................... 55

Journey of Aging............................................. 55 Madison Opera............................................... 43 MOD Media Productions............................... 27 Olbrich Botanical Gardens........................... 61 Our Lives Magazine........................................ 47 Sauk Prairie River Arts Center........................ 32 Schuster’s Farm................................................ 63 Simply Creative Productions......................... 41 Stoughton Opera House................................ 51 WORT-FM........................................................... 45

home & landscaping Dream House Dream Kitchens........................ 9 ZDA, Inc............................................................. 20

services American Family Insurance DreamBank...... 2 Bergamot Massage & Bodywork.................. 15 Four Lakes Veterinary Clinic.......................... 35 Inner Fire Yoga................................................. 21 Monroe Street Framing................................... 53 Stoughton Hospital......................................... 49 Tadsen Photography...................................... 46 WESLI Wisconsin ESL Institute......................... 33

shopping Abel Contemporary Gallery......................... 47 Anthology......................................................... 37 Calabash Gifts................................................. 37 Cloth & Metal Boutique.................................. 29 Community Pharmacy................................... 37 Community Wellness Shop............................ 37 Deconstruction Inc......................................... 31 John/Christine Designs................................... 29 Karen & Co......................................................... 5 Katy’s American Indian Arts.......................... 37 Kessenich’s Ltd................................................. 17 Little Luxuries.................................................... 37 Luceo Boutique & Styling Co.......................... 7 Plum Crazy........................................................ 31 (shoo)................................................................ 37 Tradition Children’s Market............................ 29 Tradition Market............................................... 27 Tradition Women’s Market............................. 29 UW Provision..................................................... 23 Woodland Studios........................................... 46

CONTEST Win a $50

Gift Card! Question: “Which Madison business has Hike & Heal Wellness, which incorporates nature-based programming and wellness practice?” Enter by submitting your answer to the above question online at madisonessentials.com or by mail with your name, mailing address, phone number, and email to: Madison Essentials c/o Towns & Associates, Inc. PO Box 174 Baraboo, WI 53913-0174 All entries with the correct answer will be entered into a drawing for one of two $50 gift cards. Contest deadline is September 23, 2019. Gift cards will be honored at all Food Fight® Restaurant Group restaurants (see foodfightinc.com).

Good Luck!

Winners Thank you to everyone who entered our previous contest. The answer to the question “Which Roxbury restaurant is celebrating 60 years?” is Dorf Haus Supper Club. A $50 Food Fight® Gift Card was sent to each of our winners, Darin Lind of Madison and Dianne Searle of Deerfield.

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