MADISON ESSENTIALS m
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CONTENTS may 2015–july 2015
vol. 42
Formerly Madison Originals Magazine
publisher
Towns & Associates, Inc. 126 Water Street Baraboo, WI 53913-2445 P (800) 575-8757 • F (608) 356-8875
essential art
MadisonEssentialsMagazine.com
Susan Richter O’Connell...............18
editor
dining
ajohnson@madisonessentialsmagazine.com
Delaney’s.........................................6
Amy S. Johnson
contributing writers
Manna Café..................................24
Jeanne Carpenter, Yvette Jones, Cara Lombardo, Kay Myers, Liz Wessel, Holly Whittlef, Joan W. Ziegler
environment
publication designer
Best Assets........................................10
Susie Anderson
director of production & design Jennifer Denman
Protecting Madison’s
home The Disappearing Division Between Indoors and Out..............31
director of technology & design
Make a Splash with Annuals.........42
graphic designer
recreation
Sarah Hill
Recreation Around
photographer
Madison’s Lakes............................38
Barbara Wilson
Eric Tadsen
additional photographs
Clean Lakes Alliance, The League of Women Voters of Wisconsin, Jim Lorman, Chris Maddox, Larry Sanders, Sutter Photographers, TravelWisconsin.com, ZDA, Inc.
advertising director
service Protecting Voting Rights Since 1920......................................28
shopping Fontana Sports Specialties ...........14 Ulla Eyewear...................................34
Amy S. Johnson
ajohnson@madisonessentialsmagazine.com
(800) 575-8757x105
advertising coordinator
Mike Connell (608) 772-2028
including
administration
From the Editor................................4
Jennifer Baird Lori Czajka Evelyn Mattison Krystle Naab Shayla Porter
Contest Information......................46 Contest Winners............................46 How to Recognize Wine Flaws......44
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Watch for the next issue August 2015. additional copies? Madison Essentials Magazine is
available free at over 150 locations. If you would like a copy sent to you, please send mailing information and $3.00 (payable to Towns & Associates) for each magazine to Madison Essentials Magazine, c/o Towns & Associates, Inc., 126 Water Street, Baraboo, WI 53913.
subscriptions
To purchase an annual subscription (4 issues), send mailing information and $12 (payable to Towns & Associates) to Madison Essentials Magazine, c/o Towns & Associates, Inc., 126 Water Street, Baraboo, WI 53913. Or sign up for a FREE online subscription at madisonessentialsmagazine.com.
comments?
We welcome your questions and comments. Please submit to Madison Essentials Magazine c/o Towns & Associates, Inc. 126 Water Street, Baraboo, WI 53913
from the editor amy johnson
As you see from our front cover, we have changed our name to Madison Essentials Magazine. After 10 years, this change coincides with our goal to do even more to promote the phenomenal people, places, organizations, and businesses in our community. We chose the name because while we continue to feature those who are “original,” we know the message should be even bigger—they are essential to what makes our community a great place to live and to visit. While we will continue to share stories on many interesting subjects, we are also forging new relationships and partnerships with people, businesses, and organizations in various fields to share their expertise. As an example, in our last issue we initiated an expansion of information for your home by including an article with input from members of the Madison Chapter of NARI (National Association of the Remodeling Industry). We will continue this series as we pursue more for you. We hope you will be as excited about these changes as we are in bringing them to you. And we hope you will stay with us for a long time to come while we see how far we can go!
ajohnson@madisonessentialsmagazine.com.
advertise?
To place an advertisement, please call (800) 575-8757x105 or email ajohnson@madisonessentialsmagazine.com.
all rights reserved. ©2015
No portion of this magazine may be reproduced without prior written permission by the publisher, Towns & Associates, Inc.
Cover photo of Cedar Planked Atlantic Salmon with wild cherry chutney taken by Eric Tadsen at Delaney’s. Photos on page 3: top—Jewelry by Susan Richter O’Connell. Photo taken by Larry Sanders. middle—Seafood up, taken by Eric Tadsen at Delaney’s. (King Crab Legs, Colossal Shrimp, Snow Crab Claws, Shrimp & Scallop Skewers, Steamed Mussels and Calamari Salad) bottom—Taken at Ulla Eyewear by Eric Tadsen. Photograph provided by ZDA, Inc.
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essential dining
Classic Never Goes Out of Style Second generation steakhouse co-owner Dan Delaney knows a thing or two about serving good food, selecting great wine, and offering excellent customer service. Growing up at Delaney’s—he started on the table-bussing staff in 1992 when he was 16 years old and is now general manager—Dan and his seasoned team have carved out a reputation as being one of the best restaurants in Madison.
“We’ve been here 40 years and we’re still going strong,” Dan says. His late father, Jim Delaney, started the restaurant in 1973 after building a career working for Texaco, and operating a Texaco service station at the corner of Park Street and Badger Road. It was the only service station in town where fuel attendants wore white pressed shirts, and where Jim designed a leather cover for his belt
By Jeanne Carpenter
buckle so he wouldn’t scratch client’s cars as he leaned over them washing windshields and pumping gas. That precise attention to detailed customer service carries over into Delaney’s, where bar staff today still wear ties and crisp oxfords, and waitstaff work in teams of two, never missing a beat whether serving a table of two or 10. Delaney’s has a well-deserved reputation for serving the best steaks in town, Dan says, and that’s because their meat is sourced locally from Neesvig’s in Windsor, Wisconsin, and then cut and aged in-house. On any given night, after enjoying a generous cocktail at the newly renovated bar—Bar Manager Tim Akins has worked at Delaney’s for 20 years and also knows a thing or two about customer service—customers enter the classic dining area of Delaney’s, split into six rooms for a more intimate dining experience. All tables are dressed with
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16-oz. Black Angus Ribeye with Truffle Butter and Asparagus white linen and are placed with wine and water glass for a classic steakhouse look. Wood paneling completes the retro feel, while new, updated photographs of Madison by local photographer Cassius J. Callender dot the walls, giving the space a modern vibe. In the kitchen, Manager Scott Forcier, a veteran of Delaney’s since 1987, manages a team of first-rate chefs, who expertly prepare steak, seafood, chops, and chicken entrées. One of the most
popular dishes is Delaney’s Black Angus Beef Prime Rib, available Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday in regular and extra thick cuts. Steak entrées include a choice of potato—a perennial favorite is the hash browns with cheese cooked inside—as well as a side salad or soup, and home-baked sourdough bread. An array of classic steak cuts are also available, including New York Strip, Filet Mignon, Top Sirloin, Ribeye, Bonein Filet, and a mammoth T-Bone that’s
12-oz. New York Strip with Fried Onions MadisonEssentialsMagazine.com
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10-oz. Piedmontese Top Sirloin au Poivre nearly impossible to finish in one sitting. But other entrées share the spotlight as well, including the popular Iowa chop, a French cut loin pork chop served with roasted potatoes, herbed vegetables, and tangy mustard sauce. Lamb chops and Chicken Oscar—served with Alaskan king crab meat—round out the carnivore side of the menu. Then there’s the seafood. With a reputation as a top-notch steakhouse, many customers don’t even realize Delaney’s serves first-rate lobster, shrimp, and walleye. The Cedar Planked Salmon Fillet, served with mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes, julienned vegetables, and Door County cherry chutney is one of Dan’s favorite menu items. Combos round out the entrée menu—think steak and lobster,
chicken, and shrimp—for those who just can’t decide what they like best. And anyone who’s ever eaten at Delaney’s knows about the onion rings. If you think you won’t have room to eat your entrée if you order an appetizer, order the onion rings anyway. With a oneword description on the menu, “famous,” these deep-fried crispy beauties are worth the minor mess they’ll make on your tablecloth (which will be expertly removed by your waitstaff). Dipped in ranch, Delaney’s Onion Rings are worth the trip alone. As if appetizers, complimentary bread, and substantial entrées weren’t enough, Delaney’s is one of the very few restaurants in town to still offer old-school ice cream drinks—the
kind of after-dinner drink that serves as both dessert and cocktail. Order a Grasshopper, Pink Squirrel, or Brandy Alexander, and you’ll be greeted with a tall glass of dairy goodness big enough for two, made with ice cream containing 15 percent butterfat. In addition to renovating the bar area this past year, Delaney’s also updated the look and feel of their private party room with all new audio/visual capabilities for corporate meetings and private family celebrations. The room comfortably seats up to 40 diners, and is perfect for special events, with selections from Delaney’s dining room menu, as well as special appetizers suitable for larger parties. “We’re all about the experience, and making sure people enjoy themselves,” Dan says. “Our most important goal is to put on a show that makes people want to come back. We are honored to serve generations of customers who came here as kids, and who now bring their children to Delaney’s. And we are particularly happy that when new customers find us, they become regulars pretty quickly.” Jeanne Carpenter is a cheese geek and food writer living in Oregon, Wisconsin.
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essential environment
Protecting
Photograph by Jim Lorman
Madison’s Best Assets
It’s quite apparent we love our lakes. Visit Madison in the summer and you’ll find paddleboarders exploring Lake Wingra, rowers in Lake Monona, and, of course, crowds of people relaxing with pitchers of beer and a view of Lake Mendota on the Memorial Union
By Cara Lombardo
Terrace. In the winter, Madisonians’ enthusiasm for the lakes is undeterred by the freezing temperatures: ice fishers dot Monona Bay, skaters fill the Vilas Park lagoon, and if it’s cold enough, walkers brave the long trek across a frozen Lake Mendota. When James Tye co-founded the Clean Lakes Alliance in 2010, he aimed to bring together people who share a passion for the lakes. The organization promotes collaboration between individuals, businesses, farmers, and government. Its short-term goal is to reduce phosphorous inflow to the lakes by 50% by year 2025, and in 2012, it unveiled a 14-point action plan to get there. The group also has a long-term goal. “Our long-term goal is that everybody realizes the lakes are our number one asset,” says James, now the executive director. That’s a big statement for a community that is the state capital, has a respected university, a thriving business scene, and destinations like State Street and the Monona Terrace. “But all those things were actually built here because of the lakes,” explains James. The Madison area lakes are part of the Yahara River Watershed. A watershed is the area of land, streams, and rivers that ultimately drains into a body or bodies of water. The Yahara River Watershed includes Lakes Mendota, Monona,
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Waubesa, Kegonsa, and Wingra, as well as the land spanning several counties surrounding these lakes. Anything that hits the ground within these boundaries can end up in the lakes. The Clean Lakes Alliance’s strategic action plan focuses on reducing the amount of phosphorous that reaches the lakes. Phosphorous leads to the growth of blue-green algae, a type of bacteria that reduces oxygen, harms fish, and clouds water. Phosphorous and other harmful substances drain into the lake via runoff from farms and storm sewers. The faster the water moves, the less time there is for impurities to be removed by settling into the ground naturally or through filtering practices. The action plan focuses on what farmers, municipalities, and individuals can do. The Clean Lakes Alliance partners with local farmers to help them adopt farming practices that limit soil disturbance and, therefore, reduce the amount of phosphorous carried into the lakes. These can include planting cover crops during winter, performing field tillage, and digging drainage ditches. An added benefit of these practices is that area farmers retain more of their highquality, fertile soil. “They’re not only trying to protect lakes, they also want to be able to pass on their farms to the next generation, and the generation after that. To do that,
Map provided by Clean Lakes Alliance
they have to change their conservation practices in order to keep the soil on the land,” says James. The plan calls for individuals to focus on keeping yard waste such as leaves and grass clippings, which foster algae growth, away from storm sewers. Homeowners should also consider building rain gardens, which can be an effective and attractive way to slow water’s passage and encourage natural filtration. “Consider these changes not only at your residence, but also at your workplace, your school, or your place of worship,” James suggests. Jim Lorman, a professor at Edgewood College and the director of Edgewood’s Sustainability Leadership Program, has made a career of studying sustainability and facilitating collaboration. Jim helped found Friends of Lake Wingra several years ago when he realized that no one was coordinating management of the lake near his office at a grassroots level. He also serves as a member of the Clean Lakes Alliance’s community board. Jim stresses the importance of individual action. Friends of Lake Wingra and other local Friends groups have discussed the idea of designating “block captains,” neighbors who are informed on best practices for the lakes and who monitor and serve as resources for their areas. Altering urban systems to benefit the lakes is more challenging. Existing infrastructures in developed neighborhoods offer limited space to add lake-friendly features such as filtration plants, and changes such as rerouting storm sewers are costly. Ideally, sustainable features are incorporated during the planning phase of construction or redevelopment projects. The updated parking lot near Metcalfe’s grocery store in Hilldale Mall features pervious asphalt and drainage ditches, both of which pace the flow of water and help prevent trash and sediment from reaching the lakes. Some of Jim’s graduate students are working on a sustainable street
This map of the Yahara River Watershed reinforces that what happens on the land around the lakes impacts the lakes.
reconstruction plan for Monroe Street, which is scheduled to be redone in 2017. The students incorporated features like rain gardens and greenspace into their design in place of drainpipes, which direct water toward the lakes too quickly. They also detailed guidelines for limiting erosion during construction. They hope some of their ideas will come to fruition.
“Although the costs can be higher initially, we won’t have to replace pipes, and we’ll get other benefits: greenspace, walkability, improved business by slowing traffic down a bit,” says Jim. “It’s all part of ecological urban design, which seeks to make urban environments more livable, walkable, less reliant on cars, less energy-intensive, and at the same time provide opportunities for better water
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Photograph by Jim Lorman
The task requires engaging and coordinating several groups, including individual citizens, nonprofits, corporations, government agencies, and field experts such as Jim. The more people are informed and cheering for the lakes, the more progress James believes we will see.
filtration and cleaner lakes.” The project illustrates the comprehensive view of sustainability that Jim encourages his students to adopt. “If you look at things as completely separate, if you look at the lakes as completely separate from transportation or energy, you’re not going to come up with these solutions. That’s, to me, the real challenge,” Jim says. The Clean Lakes Alliance’s strategic action plan set the goal of a 50%
reduction in phosphorous-loading levels by 2025. The Clean Lakes Alliance will publish 2014 results (not available at press time) in spring 2015. During 2013, 11% less phosphorous reached the lakes. Though the 2013 results are promising, maintaining momentum will be key. “This goal is not like raising money for a one-time project,” says James, “It is harder because you have to compound work. You must set things in motion and keep those moving while adding more.”
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On Jim’s mind is equity. Despite the progress, he notices that some groups remain underrepresented in current conversations. Many people depend on fishing in our lakes to survive, and many depend on using the beaches to cool off over the summer. The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources advises people to limit how many fish they eat from the lakes due to mercury and PCB contamination, and the beaches often close due to high bacteria levels. As a community, we could consider expanding our goals beyond phosphorous reduction, says Jim. “We should be able to eat the fish and not worry about health. We should be able to swim in the water all the time without getting sick.” In the coming year, James hopes to certify more farms and get more individuals and companies involved through education, volunteer opportunities, and support. Both James and Jim stress the meaningful impact individuals can have by implementing some of the strategies that we already know are effective: not using fertilizers, reducing salt use, prioritizing leaf removal, and adding a rain garden on the terrace. “This is my take generally on sustainability as a whole—we basically know what we need to do, we’re just not doing it,” says Jim. For more information on the Clean Lakes Alliance, visit cleanlakesalliance.com. For more information on the Friends of Lake Wingra, visit lakewingra.org. Cara Lombardo is a CPA and a writer whose father taught her from a young age to keep grass clippings away from the storm sewer.
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essential shopping
FONTANA Sports Specialties By Holly Whittlef
With a reputation for being an active and adventurous city, it is no surprise that Madison is home to many outdoor gear shops. But perhaps none are as beloved as Fontana Sports Specialties. Fontana has been a favorite shopping stop for downtown pedestrians since its grand opening on the 100 block of State Street
in 1972. Since then, this family-owned business has offered a large selection of high-quality gear and apparel for nearly every type of outdoor enthusiast. “Our main focus is getting people out and enjoying the outdoors—whether that’s as simple as going for a walk or as advanced as climbing Mount Everest,” says Elizabeth Hutchinson, Operations Manager. Fontana sells a range of general outdoor apparel and footwear for men, women, and children, as well as gear and equipment for camping, climbing, fly fishing, paddling, skiing, snorkeling, snowboarding, snowshoeing, traveling, and other outdoor sports. They are evidently passionate about providing a variety of gear options with a variety of price tags that satisfy beginners and experts alike. Fontana has evolved over its more than 60-year history. In 1949, the store opened as Fontana Army Navy in Fontana, Wisconsin by Clarence Hutchinson and sold military surplus. Twenty-three years later, his son John, a University of Wisconsin-Madison graduate, opened
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the State Street location during the last years of the Vietnam War. With just $10,000 saved, John purchased excess inventory from his parents and set up shop in what is now the Tiki Shack on State Street. Fontana Army Navy was an immediate success, and two years later, moved to a larger storefront at 251 State Street. Two more years later, John expanded the store’s offerings with camping, climbing, scuba diving, and fly fishing equipment. Today, Fontana remains a family affair. As president, John owns and operates both stores with his wife Judith, who serves as vice president. His daughter Elizabeth, who grew up in the store (a crib was set up for her and her brother, Johnny, inside the store’s office), manages the day-today affairs. With outdoor recreation on the rise, there is no better time to shop Fontana’s two stores—one on North Henry Street downtown and the other off Junction Road on the west side. According to the Outdoor Foundation, Americans took a record 12.4 billion outdoor excursions in 2012. There is a good chance that
number increases this year as people get outside to enjoy the warm summer sun after an especially harsh winter. “My dad loves fly fishing, and is passionate about it in our stores,” says Elizabeth, noting southwest Wisconsin’s abundant trout fishing streams. Nearby hot spots like Devil’s Lake State Park are great for climbing and hiking, while other popular summer picks include biking, camping, and Nordic walking. No matter what outdoor activity it is, Fontana strives to stay on top of supplying their customers’ gear needs. “While all outdoors stores have their specialties, I think we’re able to respond quicker to the immediate needs of our area,” states Elizabeth. “Being locally owned, I can quickly make a call and reorder something if I need to.”
we love Wisconsin, and we love this community.” In addition, they have partnered with the National Heritage Land Trust, Henry Vilas Zoo, and Dane County Humane Society to hold other special events, which give back to the
organizations while getting people engaged in outdoor activities, like races. While it is a relief to many that warmer weather has finally arrived, Fontana is passionate about hosting events
With a clear love for the outdoors, Fontana not only sells gear and apparel but also works with community partners in support of strengthening environmental protections. Strong advocates of the Ice Age Trail Alliance— which works to protect the 1,000-mile footpath tracing Ice Age formations in Wisconsin—they help host events throughout the year to raise money for the organization. They include the popular Headlamp Hustle, a 5K and 10K race held at night on the Ice Age Trail. “We want to work to protect and conserve the land, woods, and water we play in,” states Elizabeth. “Because MadisonEssentialsMagazine.com
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throughout the year, especially in the winter. “We live in Wisconsin, so we need to enjoy winter! There is so much to do, and if you can find outdoor activities you like, it makes winter more enjoyable. Otherwise, it gets long,” says Elizabeth. To promote cold weather activities, they offer rentals—including cross-country skis and snowshoes— so customers can try out gear before they purchase. Fontana also offers free demos and classes throughout the year to encourage people to try new sports, like Nordic walking, disc golf, snowboarding and fly fishing. A full event calendar can be found on their website. Fontana’s dedication to their customers and community is evident in the products they carry. “We find brands that stand behind their product,” says Elizabeth. “We look at how well it is made, how long it lasts, and where it ships from.” They strive to sell products made in the United States, reducing their environmental impact by shortening supply routes. 16 | m a d i s o n e s s e n t i a l s m a g a z i n e
They also prefer to stock Wisconsin brands, including Wigwam socks, right alongside other Midwest makers like Stormy Kromer, a manufacturer of wool hats made in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. These are in addition to popular brands like Patagonia, Marmot, The North Face, SmartWool, Mountain Hardwear, Merrell, Keen, and Osprey. It is important to note the two stores carry slightly different selections. If you are looking for fly fishing, downhill skiing or snowboarding equipment, it is best to make a visit to the larger west side location. Apparel and footwear are more popular at the downtown Fontana location. Working one year ahead of schedule for their product buying calendar, Fontana’s staff of 35 to 50 employees is constantly working to keep on top of the latest in outdoor gear and apparel. Seasonality is huge in their industry, and they are always looking ahead to provide the best selection of products tailored to their customers’ needs. Affirms Elizabeth, “We hope our customers come into Fontana and see us an investment in their enjoyment of the outdoors and the area of Wisconsin that we are lucky to live in.” Holly Whittlef is a freelance designer and writer who lives in Madison, and blogs about her love of good design and food at Hollis Anne.
FONTANA
Sports Specialties 216 State Street Madison, WI 53703 (608) 257-5043 231 Junction Road Madison, WI 53717 (608) 833-9191 fontanasports.com
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e s s ential art
Susan Richter-O’Connell Transitioning Elements By Kay Myers
Some artists are made in a way that they excel in many mediums. They are not held back to one single thing that drives and propels them onward. Or sometimes, as it happened for Susan Richter-O’Connell, you begin with one medium and find another that draws you in until you ultimately make a choice about which one will sustain you to the end. “I think one of the things that interested me in jewelry making, of
many things, was the physicality of it, much like dancing was for me,” Susan says thoughtfully. “I loved the physical challenges of being a professional dancer and it is not unlike the physical challenges of metalsmithing. Both techniques require strength, flexibility, and endurance. You need those skills in jewelry making in order to move and manipulate metal. And unfortunately for me, the repetition in this very physical art form has resulted in two carpel tunnel injuries.”
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We chat on the phone very recently after double carpel tunnel surgery on both of her wrists. As a dancer, you know that someday your body will betray you in a sense—that you will no longer be able to perform at a level you once could because it is such a physically demanding endeavor. It is easy to forget that other mediums—pottery, sculpture, furniture making, metalsmithing—because of technology and mass production, are also so physically demanding when made by the hands of an artisan or craftsperson. “For better or worse,” Susan says, “the physical challenge of metalsmithing is exciting to me. I kind-of left dance knowing that it was a profession with a limited lifetime and I thought jewelry making was something I could do for the rest of my life. So I was really surprised when I started running into some physical challenges, but yet, I really shouldn’t have been. “I received my BFA in dance from the Boston Conservatory in Boston, MA.
The transition from dance to jewelry was more about leaving large cities where I was dancing. Chicago was the last place we lived in where I was both dancing and teaching dance. We then moved up here to Wisconsin where my husband got a job as an industrial designer. We came to Sheboygan 25 years ago and at that time there weren’t any opportunities for me to dance here. But by then, my husband and I had been together for 10 years and we were interested in starting a family. I found that jewelry making was something that I could do at home and could schedule around children, around naps, and all of that. It wasn’t so much that I was interested in giving up dance, but dance wasn’t going to be easy to fit into our lives here. “However, I was and still am involved at the John Michael Kohler Arts Center (JMKAC) here in Sheboygan. It’s one of the reasons Sheboygan has been a great place for my family. My kids attended preschool there, and it’s afforded me many opportunities to share my passion and my skills with the community through teaching, and that’s been wonderful. I first began teaching dance and then later, metalsmithing as well. But eventually I phased out teaching dance to teaching only jewelry making. I just felt I couldn’t do both well. But also, as importantly, I finally no longer
identified myself as a dancer,” Susan laughs jovially. “That was my identity for most of my life, so it took me awhile to let go of that. But I see myself as a metalsmith now, and not as a dancer. There was a transition time, though, where I was straddling the fence. I felt that I had to pick one or the other. It seemed metalsmithing was the natural thing to move on to.” Dance and jewelry have both existed for much of human history. There is something to be said for both mediums that is ceremonial, ritualistic, and expressive. While jewelry is something worn as adornment on the outside of the body, dance is something that begins on the inside and flows out. Both can be used to heal and to celebrate. The connections between these two mediums is not something I had given much thought to until Susan and I began to speak about her journey from dance to metalsmithing, but it seems the process for both form at and emanate from a similar place within the artist. “I didn’t come to jewelry making because I was particularly interested in wearing jewelry,” Susan tells me, “but rather, it was my solution to do something with all the natural ‘treasures’ I would collect. Although I use a variety of found materials in my pieces, for several reasons, the majority of my pieces have beachstones in them. The first and most obvious reason, I love being near water and beachcombing, and for the majority
of my life have lived in close proximity to Lake Michigan, and not too far from Lake Superior as well. The beachstones are also very easy to work with because of their durability. But probably most importantly, because it’s an element that seems to speak to me, as well as other people, more than any other materials that I’ve used.
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“25 years ago, when I started making jewelry, I went to UW-Oshkosh and took one basic metalsmithing class. It wasn’t like it is today, where you can readily find places like the ‘Bead
& Button Show’ in Milwaukee and learn jewelry and metalsmithing skills through week-long classes. Back then it was hard to find a metals class outside of a college art department. So the class
in Oshkosh got me started with my basic skills but then for several years while my children were still young, I was experimenting on my own and slowly developing my technique. Later on, when my kids were a little older, I took a handful of workshops with people like Andy Cooperman, Harold O’Conner, Christopher Darway, and some other notable teachers who offered workshops. I would learn more advanced techniques from them and then go home and explore these skills even further and find how to integrate them into my own body of work. Most of my metalsmithing background is really my exploration and learning through trial and error.” About 10 years ago, Susan began the metalsmithing program at JMKAC. Her youngest child was starting school and this was when she really transitioned into jewelry making full time. Her work developed at a greater pace, and she began to take on bigger art fairs and shows, and to exhibit in larger galleries and shops. “I’d say it’s been a good 10 to 12 years that I’ve been doing this full time, although I’ve really been making jewelry for 25 years now,” states Susan. “Teaching jewelry at John Michael Kohler Arts Center has been wonderful because I have to keep re-visiting techniques
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as I teach them, which in turn forces me to re-look at my own work. As a metalsmith, there are only so many techniques, and it’s really more about where you are as an artisan and how you choose to use that technique. When I am teaching, because I am in a different place as a metalsmith each time I re-visit a technique, I find my work develops and moves in a new direction. “My students wanted to learn how to torch enamel, which I hadn’t done before. So I learned how to do it and then taught them. And because I then had an array of sample elements that I had made for class, I wanted to figure out how to incorporate these in my own work. Now I’m taking my beachstones and coring them out and putting enamel in the interior. That is something I never would have done had I not needed to learn that technique to teach my students. They also wanted to learn how to set faceted gemstones, and because I predominantly use beachstones and other found materials in my work, prong-setting was not a technique I had used much. So again, I had to work on a new skill set, which has also now come to influence my newer work when I use faceted stone-setting techniques to capture beachstones. “It can be difficult to deviate from the tried and true styles I know people like, but that’s one of the benefits of doing art fairs and trunk shows. I can talk about my work and learn about what appeals to my customer and in turn, they learn something personal about me. When I hear stories of people owning my work it thrills me!” Susan says enthusiastically. “It makes me want to keep going. Sometimes my newer work doesn’t fit my longtime customers’ aesthetic, and never will. Other times they come around, and other times I find completely new customers for those new pieces, like the addition of enamel elements in my cored out beachstones. I just love that people wear my work and really love it.” You will be able to find Susan back on the art fair circuit this summer. You can contact her at rocformations@ gmail.com for her complete schedule.
Her work is also available at many fine galleries across the state, including Madison Museum of Contemporary Art-Madison, WI, Artisan Gallery-Paoli, WI, John Michael Kohler Arts CenterSheboygan, WI, Nest-Sheboygan, WI, 2 Fish Gallery-Elkhart Lake, WI, 3rd Ward Jewelry-Milwaukee, WI, Fine Line Design Gallery-Sister Bay, WI, and Box Lab-Manhattan, KS. If you are interested in being a student of Susan’s, you can join her in one of her many
jewelry making classes throughout the year at JMKAC or at the Peninsula School of Art in Fish Creek, WI this coming summer June 8–11. More information is available at jmkac.org and peninsulaschoolofart.org. Kay Myers is a local artist and freelance writer. Photography by Larry Sanders.
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e ssential dining
Manna Café & Bakery:
Good for the Soul By Jeanne Carpenter
Long before the American Egg Board created its catchy “Incredible Edible Egg” slogan, Manna Café & Bakery owner Barb Pratzel discovered the power of a good egg dish. “One day I was reading Julia Child’s cookbook and discovered her directions for making a scrambled egg. It changed me forever,” Barb says. “Creamy, custardy eggs, with nothing added— just using her cooking technique—will make the best eggs you’ve ever had. And that’s the only way we make them.” Today, at Manna Café & Bakery on North Sherman Avenue, Barb and kitchen manager Carrie Carlson meticulously train line cooks how to make eggs for the eatery’s signature 24 | m a d i s o n e s s e n t i a l s m a g a z i n e
scrambles, omelets, and frittatas. Each time Carrie trains a new cook, Barb first demonstrates by cooking scrambled eggs in a traditional manner, and then a second time, by cooking the eggs using Julia Child’s method. “And every time, their jaw drops because they didn’t know scrambled eggs could taste that good,” Barb says. “To turn out a really good egg on a consistent basis is a very hard thing,” Barb continues. “Only certain people cook eggs here, and they take a lot of pride in preparing eggs that please our customers.” Since 2005, customers have agreed. The eatery is a popular hotspot for weekend brunches, filled with both neighborhood regulars and customers who drive from afar to eat the restaurant’s famous breads, egg dishes, soups, and sandwiches, all made in-house, from scratch. Weekday lunch hours are filled with people ordering Monte Christos, Classic Reubens, and Bubbie’s Egg Salad Sandwiches. And to top it all off, last year, responding to demand from the neighborhood, owners Barb and Mike Pratzel added a dinner menu.
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Buttercup Pasta Carbonara “Our dinners really reflect, I think, who we are,” Barb says. “Our goal is to serve comfort food that is not pretentious and reflects our heritage and the neighborhood. During the day, Manna has always been a busy, community gathering place. Now, we’re turning the dinner hour into a more peaceful experience. Watching the neighborhood embrace that transition has been particularly satisfying for Mike and I to watch.” One of the most well-received entrées on the dinner menu is the Pratzels’ Braised Beef Brisket. Slow-braised in burgundy wine and beef stock, garlic, and onions, the dish is fork tender and “ridiculously rich,” Barb says. Served on house-made spaetzle with a side of chive horseradish sauce and the day’s fresh vegetable, Barb says this signature item will likely never leave the dinner menu.
While Manna Café & Bakery changes up the dinner menu with the seasons, another mainstay is the Jerusalem “Sliders” with Naan Bread. Savory chicken zucchini “burgers” with scallion, cilantro, and spices are served with a cucumber yogurt raita, couscous salad, and balsamic and feta-dressed grape tomato salad.
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All entrées are served with bread from the eatery’s bakery. Oftentimes, customers ask which bakery in town makes the many types of bread available at Manna Café, and are often surprised to learn every menu item is made onsite. That’s because, in addition to delicious eggs, Barb’s second passion is baking bread. She started in 1986 with a partner preparing corporate lunch catering, and learned in order to be a good bread baker, one cannot just follow a recipe, but must do “what feels right.”
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Jerusalem Sliders with Naan
Bread. Savory chicken zucchini “burgers” with scallion, cilantro, and spices, served with cucumber yogurt raita, couscous salad, and balsamic and feta-dressed grape tomato salad.
Early on, she developed a reputation for good bread, and when Manna Café & Bakery opened in 2005, great breads became a core part of the menu. One of the café’s signature breads is the Bialy, a soft chewy roll with a center dimple, spread with a fragrant onion and poppy seed filling. The history of this particular bread traces back to Bialystok, Poland, a small close-knit Jewish community that was nearly erased by the Nazis. Bialys were eaten straight from hot brick ovens, and “evidently, childhood in Bialystok was synonymous with bialy-eating,” Barb writes in a sign posted in the café. The Bialy, Barb says, reminds her and Mike of the strong ties that exist between breads and cultures. “We recreated this little gem as authentically as possible, both to share a lost piece of our own culture, and as a symbol of the importance of great homemade breads in our lives,” Barb writes. While Bialys are made only on the weekends, another bread that’s made
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the café famous (and available all week long) is Corn Tzizel, a rye bread from Mike’s family business in St. Louis. He was born into the third generation of Pratzel’s Bakery, a family-owned-andoperated famous kosher Jewish bakery. That bakery has since retired, but the Pratzel Rye lives on. “Folks in St. Louis have discovered we still make it at Manna, and now we ship to many customers who miss their Pratzel’s fix,” Barb says. “Someone will call in and say, ‘I need eight loaves to take home with me.’ It’s truly a sign that bread is an emblem of many cultures. And this bread is iconic. We’re very proud to have recreated the technique and offer it to our customers.” In the end, the very name of the eatery— Manna—reflects what bread means to the Pratzels. Barb writes, “At the heart of our business is the idea that bread, in its infinite variety, is core to many a culture. With our Jewish roots, and nearly 30 years of making home-baked breads for our businesses, the name Manna reflects what bread means to us, both personally and professionally— nourishment of the body and soul.”
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Amen, sister. Jeanne Carpenter is a cheese geek and food writer living in Oregon, Wisconsin.
Manna Café & Bakery 611 N. Sherman Avenue Madison, WI 53704 (608) 663-5500 mannacafe.com
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es s en tial service
s t h g i R g n i t o V g n i t c e t o 0 Pr 2 9 1 e Sinc e Jones By Yvett
Prior to a major election, the League of Women Voters of Wisconsin office is awash in phone calls. Andrea Kaminski, the state executive director, fields calls from reporters asking about the impact of state voter ID legislation and court cases. Prospective voters contact the office with straightforward questions about how to register and where to vote, and with questions involving unique registration or voting issues. In addition, the office serves as the headquarters and call center for League-trained election observers statewide, and connects callers with local questions to one of Wisconsin’s 17 local League offices. During election seasons, these local Leagues work to inform and motivate voters by holding non-partisan candidate forums and encouraging voter registration and voter participation. 28 | m a d i s o n e s s e n t i a l s m a g a z i n e
Andrea Kaminski calls Wisconsin delegates to the 2010 national LWV convention floor.
The Dane County League, which is the state’s largest with 235 members, trains moderators for many forums held throughout the county, and interviews candidates for city and county offices to prepare the popular, non-partisan Candidates’ Answers publication which is available in print and online. Although the profile of the League of Women Voters is highest during an election season, League members are active year-round. While the League never supports or opposes a political party or candidate, it does develop policy positions. Through consensus, each local League determines issues of importance to its area and sets a program for the year, working with citizens and government to build support and understanding around the issues. Right now, Northern Wisconsin
League of Women Voters of Wisconsin staff members met with a group of community leaders from Venezuela through the State Department’s International Visitor Leadership Program. Leagues focus on aspects of mining and its impact, Door County is concerned with redistricting and civility, and Dane County League members are at work on governance, social justice, and natural resource issues. Member consensus also determines the positions of the state organization. When the League updated its state energy policy a few years ago, a statewide committee led the research phase, which included interviews with industry leaders, academics, and advocates, then identified and shared published resources with local Leagues for discussions and public forums. Following the study and input phases, members adopted a broad statement of position at the statewide convention. The position paper, which is available online at lwvwi.org/IssuesAdvocacy/ NaturalResourcesEnergy.aspx supports public policies aimed at limiting the demand for electricity and promoting clean energy technologies. The League’s state legislative committee follows the identified issues. When a pertinent bill comes before the state legislature, League members submit statements to lawmakers, testify at hearings, notify members and news media of the League’s support or opposition, and encourage their members to contact their legislators. The League of Women Voters began as a means to educate and support all voters in 1920. When the suffragists’ 75-year struggle earned women the right to vote, 20 million new voters were registered. The League encouraged them to form educated opinions on governmental issues, and to advocate and vote. From the beginning, all voters, not just women, benefited from League voter education. League membership was opened to men in 1973, and today about 10% of Wisconsin membership is male.
Women’s issues remain important to League members, and the League was influential in the legislative fights that led to marital property reforms in Wisconsin during the 1970s. Although some referred to the women advocating for reform as “lobbyists in tennis shoes,” they were able to meet with, and convince, legislators of the need for changes. Andrea laments that this type of advocacy is more difficult now because many legislators refuse to listen to people from outside their own district. She also points out that during the last legislative session a bill was drafted that challenged marital property reform, so there is a continued need for vigilance regarding women’s rights. Of course, a major focus of the League of Women Voters is protecting voters’ rights. Andrea expresses the League’s strong concerns about Wisconsin’s voter ID laws and points out many ways in which laws have already hampered voter registration efforts. The law that took effect in 2014 requires documentary
proof of residency, which makes it difficult for many people to prove they are residents. Voter registration drives now turn away as many people as they register. “Voting should be encouraged,” says Andrea. “The problem is not too many people voting. The problem is that not enough people vote.” To combat the detrimental effects of the new registration requirements, the League hosted forums with speakers from the Government Accountability Board (GAB) to educate prospective voters, and utilized a grant from the Evjue Foundation to help county residents who could not afford fees and travel costs to obtain the required documentation. In 2011, Wisconsin’s voter ID law passed. The League’s response was swift. The League filed a lawsuit in state court in 2011 and won injunctions that protected Wisconsin voters from the law’s effects in five elections held in 2012 and 2013. When the League’s challenge
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Members of the League of Women Voters of Milwaukee County greet new citizens with voter information and registration assistance as they emerge from a naturalization ceremony.
was dismissed by the Wisconsin Supreme Court in July 2014, League members put their support behind two federal lawsuits now being appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court, and will submit an amicus brief encouraging the Court to take the case. The courts have blocked implementation of the law since 2012. Two independent studies found that an estimated 300,000 people currently registered in Wisconsin lack the kind of ID that would be acceptable to vote under Wisconsin’s voter ID law. If the voter
ID law is implemented, one-tenth of the registered voters in Wisconsin could be disenfranchised. “There are voter ID laws that ID people, and voter ID laws that exclude people,” Andrea asserts. One route to involvement with the League of Women Voters is to become an election observer. In the fall of 2014, the League trained about 250 volunteers around the state to be nonpartisan election observers. With 1,852 municipalities and thousands of polling places, these observers are present at a small fraction of polling places, so the League strategically targets polling places with past problems and covers a representative sample of city, small town, and rural sites. Training allows observers to identify and help resolve common problems. For unresolved issues, they call the Election Protection hotline. A partnering organization may send a volunteer lawyer or contact the GAB.
Wisconsin delegates Caryl Terrell, center of middle row, and Elizabeth Wheeler, center of bottom row, at a planning meeting of the League of Women Voters of Lake Michigan Region.
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The League shares a summary of the observers’ written reports with lawmakers, the GAB, local clerks, and the public, and uses the reports when working with lawmakers and election officials to improve the voting experience. The League’s election observers are valued as trained, impartial reporters, and leave with an appreciation for democracy. One observer wrote, “And thank you for this wonderful opportunity to observe and interact with a vast range of citizens, all committed to exercise their right to vote. It was an exhilarating experience.” Another commented, “I enjoyed being a small part of this election. I know I made a difference for at least one vote, and that is very gratifying.” For more information about becoming an election observer, joining, or supporting the League of Women Voters, visit lwvwi.org or call (608) 256-0827. Yvette Jones is a writer who appreciates her right to vote. She is President of designCraft Advertising in Madison. Photographs provided by The League of Women Voters of Wisconsin.
Photograph provided by Ganshert Nursery and Landscapes LLC
essential home
This outdoor area is designed for three-season comfort and provides a welcoming space for entertaining.
Lori Jolin starts a meeting with a new client by asking them to list what is not working with their home. Along with lack of storage space, almost every homeowner’s list includes rooms that are too small or too dark. Sunlight is universally appealing, enhancing a home’s comfort and appeal. Allowing natural light to play across interior spaces is an effect so important to Lori that she has developed several techniques to amplify its effects. At the first meeting with the owners of a 1980s traditional two-story home, Lori, of Lori Jolin Design LLC, listened carefully, and learned they were eager to update the entire home to create a more inviting living space that reflected their interests. The home’s backyard features large, mature trees and beautiful perennial gardens, planted by the homeowner, and they hoped to incorporate the yard’s view and color palette into the home.
Lori has backgrounds in both interior design and general contracting, and her company’s tagline defines her approach: “From floor plans to the cherished interiors, it’s all in the details.” Almost immediately, Lori suggested a major change that would create a wow factor. A large flagstone fireplace rose from floor to ceiling and extended into the room three feet, overshadowing the space. She sketched a plan to replace it with a lower profile fireplace, a beautiful mantel, built-ins, and a large expanse of windows going up to the vaulted ceiling. Along with sliding patio doors and transom windows running across the rear wall, these changes showcased the backyard and let in an abundance of natural light. For windows, Lori encouraged the homeowners to visit the Window Design Center showroom, where they worked with Jody Lindsey. They chose Marvin Windows and Doors’ patio
doors that easily open the room to the patio beyond. Lori is an enthusiastic proponent of the new Marvin awning windows, which hinge on the top, without the visual breaks of double hung or casement windows. Lori used the existing headers for the new awning windows, but extended the openings down to get more height. This is especially noticeable in the kitchen where two corner windows reach down to the countertop, allowing generous backyard views. Lori often suggests tearing down walls in older homes with smaller rooms. Here, after some hesitancy, the clients agreed to removal of the wall between the kitchen and dining room. The installation of two-way glass cabinets between the rooms let light from the new dining room patio door fill both rooms. Details, large and small, are evident throughout the home. Taller and wider
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Sliding doors allow the light outdoors to show off the custom fretwork in the ceiling and throughout the home.
interior trim, and new white crown molding, received sleek, semi-gloss paint, replacing the home’s dark wood finishes and boosting the brightness. The fretwork detail in the kitchen cabinets was repeated in the dining ceiling, the under-cabinet trim, and the corbels. Custom decorative glass designed by Lori and Linda Ewing, owner of Studio Glass Works LLC, was set in the new front door, and in a picture window above the door on the second floor, providing the entry with privacy and natural light. Off the kitchen, large windows and bright wicker furnishings create a cheerful sunroom, ideally positioned to enjoy the surrounding greenery year-round. The trees behind the home inspired the use of large windows upstairs, as well. In the master bedroom, huge awning windows open to the treetops beyond. Lori, known for her signature bathrooms, ensured that light poured into the bathroom by installing a very large Marvin awning window over the bathtub to provide the effect of taking a bath in a tree house. The project earned a 2015 NARI Contractor of the Year Award for Best Entire House $250,000 to $500,000, one of three Contractor of the Year awards Lori won this year.
An open floorplan and pleasing color palette brighten this home, designed and furnished by Lori Jolin of Lori Jolin Design, LLC.
Lavish window expanses rely on great views and pleasing landscaping on the other side. As we move within our homes, windows serve to frame our views of the outdoors, and landscape designers understand that those views can invite us outside in any season. A Nakoma couple completed a remodeling project and wanted to be able to extend their entertaining to the yard outside their new windows. The space held some challenges for Errin Schlapbach, a landscape designer at Ganshert Nursery and Landscapes LLC.
A small room fitted with large awning windows, high gloss paint on the ceiling, and cheery furnishings became an inviting year-round sunroom.
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A large oak tree, a species particularly sensitive to root disturbance, was a prominent feature of the shady yard. There were two big stones, left behind by an earlier landscape attempt, and the backyard sloped toward the house, which meant water control would be essential.
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By placing windows across the wall above the fireplace, and adding sliding doors across the back wall, Lori Jolin washed this room with natural light and created a whole new space. Errin began by designing an inviting traffic pattern. She placed the grilling area near a mudroom entrance for convenient access, and positioned a larger patio space immediately outside the home’s French doors to create an enticing gathering spot. The open concept of the home allows views from the family room and kitchen into the backyard, and the home’s breakfast nook boasts a large window overlooking the new outdoor space. The homeowners wanted guests to be comfortable on the patio without adding a lot of furniture. Errin designed a seat wall, which runs along the patio’s edge, both in the main area and near the grill. Built-in low voltage lighting runs just under the cap of the wall and shines gently across the patio pavers. To keep water away from the home’s foundation, Errin recontoured the backyard and added several features. Rainwater runs off the large roof area into a rain barrel, which then empties, as necessary, by flowing under the patio and into a rain garden. The rain garden is a five-foot depression, prepared with a special mix of native soil, sand, and compost, then planted with native plants commonly found in wetlands. These plants are better suited for the
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Other plantings in the yard add brightness and texture, especially important since the shade of the oak tree meant fewer flowering plants. Plantings provide pleasing views from within the home in all seasons. To allow for three-season use, Errin tucked the homeowners’ portable fire pit along one edge of the patio to allow for threeseason comfort. In fact, the homeowners keep the area shoveled and find they spend more time outside year-round.
The following NARI subcontractors were involved in one or more of the projects mentioned in this article. Each offers supplies and services specialized for remodeling projects, which often tend to be more intricate than new construction jobs.
The landscaping project won a 2015 NARI Madison Contractor of the Year Award for Landscapes under $60,000, but more important to Errin is the owners’ newfound enthusiasm for spending time in their yard. Errin reminds us, “A well-designed outdoor space can really change people’s lifestyle. If it’s a space you love, it becomes an extension of your house.” Yvette Jones is president of designCraft Advertising in Madison, and serves on the board of NARI Madison. Photographs by Sutter Photographers, except as noted.
Badger GraniteWerks, Inc. Brunsell Lumber & Millwork Hensen Fine Cabinetry Studio GlassWorks LLC Sutter Photographers Window Design Center The National Association of the Remodeling Industry, or NARI, represents people who work in and with the remodeling industry. NARI professionals are expected to be licensed and insured, educated about current industry standards, ethical, and dedicated to excellent customer service.
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e ssential shopping
ULLA EYEWEAR By Holly Whittlef
Ulla Eyewear proves glasses are one of the newest and most stylish fashion accessories. For more than 15 years, the family-owned shop has offered a curated collection of handmade exclusive eyewear with a European flair. Ulla’s frames are bold and colorful, with a wide array of both eyeglasses and sunglasses for women, men, and children. “At Ulla, there’s a pair of glasses for everyone and every personality,” says Brittany Graber, owner and president. “Glasses are no longer just a medical necessity. They’ve transformed into a means for selfexpression.”
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Opened in 1998, Ulla [pronounced ooo-la] welcomes customers into their bright and airy store with a welcoming dose of Midwest congeniality. Their goal? Fun and self-confidence. “We want people to come into our store and try on lots of glasses, even the crazy ones!” Brittany says. Nestled adjacent to Macy’s in Hilldale Shopping Center, Ulla’s modern interior—complete with an eye-catching turquoise wall—is a comfortable yet chic environment to do just that. “We love it when our
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customers can laugh at themselves and have fun with the process. Our staff works to ensure everyone walks away feeling good about themselves. That’s all that we want.” Brittany purchased Ulla in 2010 from her father, Joe, who founded the store. The owner of a lens lab, Joe made the decision to bring his company “full circle” in the late 1990s. With the help of his German-born wife Ulla— the company’s vivacious namesake— he opened Ulla Eyewear to offer fashionforward Madisonians a place to buy unique glasses. Ulla herself remains the inspiration behind it all, epitomizing the vibrant, modern eyewear the shop has become synonymous with. Since taking over the store, Brittany has continued to grow the company while still keeping it all in the family. Her mother, Mardy, works as an optician in the shop. With summer’s imminent arrival, Ulla has upped their stock of sunglasses and sport sunglasses. “Madison is an active city—especially in the summer—and sunglasses are essential for protecting
your skin and eyes from UV rays,� Brittany states. Ulla carries an array of sunnies, including retro and wayfarer styles, as well as stocking glasses from one of their newest lines, Vuarnet. Vuarnet, a French brand made popular
by skiers in the 1990s, is making a comeback with retro, sporty sunglasses and hip clip-on options. Vuarnet is just one of a handful of brands exclusive to Ulla. The shop has
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solidified partnerships with premium eyewear brands that allow them to be the sole carrier in the Madison area. Other exclusives include Bespoke, Etnia Barcelona, Lindberg, SALT, and Tom Davies. Ulla’s distinctive selection of frames means that while prices are higher, the quality of their products meet a higher, handcrafted standard. “These aren’t cookie cutter frames made en masse by machines,” Brittany affirms. Not all glasses have to be colorful or funky to make it onto Ulla’s shelves.
“Minimal frames don’t have to be boring,” Brittany says, noting new advances in eyewear design that offer more classic-looking options. That includes glasses with unique hinge designs and frame shapes, as well as frameless glasses. Many brands also offer custom inscriptions. Perhaps most notably, eyewear companies are experimenting with new raw materials for truly one-of-a-kind glasses. Ulla recently began carrying an Italian line of glasses called Feb31st made from wood that take two months to craft and are completely customizable.
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Seafood
Although look and feel are important, Ulla recognizes glasses are still a medical necessity that demand the right prescription and fit. Having worked in her father’s lens lab growing up, Brittany is well trained in this area. “Our eyes are unique and require lenses that are specially formulated for each individual. We are extremely careful and double check all lens orders that come back from the lens lab,” Brittany says. “You can never be too cautious when it comes to people’s eyes. We have a well-trained staff and special technology to make sure it’s always perfect.” Ulla utilizes the assistance of fit technology machines, which measure optimal fit and can be used for both eye and sunglasses. Brittany is adamant that the shop’s staff of eight employees have a honed attention to detail and customer service to ensure customers walk out the door with the right glasses and right prescription. “I know that’s what I want when I shop somewhere—someone who’s looking out for me.” Whether you are in need of eyeglasses, sunnies, or new specs for the entire family, Ulla gives back to customers
with helpful discounts. They offer 15 percent off with insurance, as well as multiple pair discounts—25 percent off a second pair and 35 percent off a third pair. If you spread the word to family and friends, Ulla’s referral program will also earn you rewards since Brittany states, “Word of mouth is huge for us.” In addition, Ulla gives back to the community at large. As dedicated partners with A Fund for Women as well as Combat Blindness International, they volunteer and host events throughout the year for both causes. With construction at Hilldale expected to be complete by the end of summer, Ulla’s European sensibility fits in perfectly with the shopping center’s fresh makeover. Soon this family-run
shop will sit alongside national retailers like Michael Kors, Kate Spade and Sur la Table. But Brittany asserts these well-known chains will not alter Ulla’s individuality. With a background in design, Brittany enjoys the creativity that running her own business allows her and looks forward to keeping on top of—and starting—new eyewear trends. “We don’t want to be like everyone else, because there are a lot of places you can buy eyeglasses,” Brittany asserts. “People come to us because we have unique eyewear that’s high-quality and expert customer service that ensures you’re getting the right glasses for you.” Holly Whittlef is a freelance designer and writer who lives in Madison, and blogs about her love of good design and food at Hollis Anne.
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Photograph provided by TravelWisconsin.com
es s en tial recreation
Lakes and rivers from glacial times define Dane County. They served as highways and trails and sources of food for the Native Americans, the first to live in the area. European settlers and farmers found a supply of water to sustain their activities from growing crops and orchards to emerging industrial activities.
Today the lakes make our communities fun places to work and play. We have a rich cultural, historic, and recreational legacy from effigy mounds to Frank Lloyd Wright structures, to fishing, hiking, and paddling, and even camping along the shores. You can explore this legacy and even better, you can be a part of it! There is indeed something for everyone.
The lakes and their legacy inspired Dane County to produce a paddle guide in 2007: Yahara Waterways Trail Guide (danewaters.com/yaharawatertrail .aspx). The Guide describes sites of interest from Cherokee Marsh at the north end of the Yahara watershed to Lake Kegonsa at the south. The maps show the intersection of the lakes with sites of cultural and historic interest. In addition to the website, you can get a copy through the Dane County University of Wisconsin Extension Office and other locations (danewaters .com/business/yaharaPurchase.aspx).
The view over Lake Monona provides the inspiration for Dane Dances (danedances.org). Dance on Friday evenings on the rooftop of the Monona Terrace in Madison. Since 2000, these free community dances, open 38 | m a d i s o n e s s e n t i a l s m a g a z i n e
to all, feature different styles of music, including Salsa, Jazz, R&B, Reggae, and Funk. Dane Dances brings together neighbors, families, and the diverse communities of Dane County for fun and entertainment in a uniquely Madison setting. Join the throng and have happy summer feet!
Lake Kegonsa State Park hugs the northeastern shoreline of Lake Kegonsa. Take a walk in the woods or enjoy the evening sunlight and sunset with your picnic. Lake Kegonsa, named after the multitude of fish found in the lake, still offers good fishing. Visitors can also swim, boat, and camp. The park has 342 acres of oak woods, prairie, and wetland marsh, including 96 campsites. Approximately five miles of trails traverse the park and shoreline. For more information, visit dnr.wi.gov/ topic/parks/name/lakekegonsa. Capital Springs State Park and Recreation Area rests next to Lake Farm County Park on the south shore of Lake Waubesa. The over six miles of hiking trails provide great birdwatching. Arrive by bike using the Capital City State Trail,
Photograph provided by TravelWisconsin.com
The iconic Terrace chairs wait to welcome you to the Memorial Union Terrace in Madison. A place to unwind on a Friday afternoon or any evening in the summer, the Terrace provides the chairs and the ambience for good conversation, lake views, and a pint of beer. Graduate students, professors, alumni and visitors head to the terrace, creating an international ambiance. Watch the sun set and then stay for Terrace “After Dark� events. The Memorial Union Terrace has live music four nights a week and movies on Mondays on a giant outdoor screen.
This is quintessential Madison with the smell of brats in the air. Note, the Memorial Union Terrace will be closed for renovations starting fall 2015 so make sure you go during the summer.
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Photograph provided by TravelWisconsin.com
which links to other local bike trails. Picnic or stay overnight at one of the 54 campsites. For more information, visit dnr.wi.gov/topic/parks/name/capsprings.
In a 1936 history of Lake Mendota, Charles Brown notes that about 1,000 effigy mounds, earthen mounds of linear ridges, conical domes, or mounds in the shape of bears, birds, deer, panthers, or water spirits, surrounded the five Madison lakes. The majority have been destroyed, but you can still view the remnants from this ancient culture.
On Observatory Hill overlooking Lake Mendota, you can find a turtle and a bird mound. In the Arboretum, take a walk in Wingra Woods along the southern shore of Lake Wingra to observe the grouping of mounds, which include a panther and a bird, as well as linear and conical mounds. The mound clusters that remain convey the importance of the lakes to these early residents.
A paddle around one of our local lakes is like a “neighborhood walk” with your neighborhood defined by the shoreline. Explore the edges and springs of Lake Wingra, the wetlands of Cherokee Marsh, and the shorelines of the larger
lakes. Use the paddle guide Yahara Waterways Trail Guide (see Guide above) to locate landmarks along the way. A day out on one of the lakes can be purely recreational or it could be a cultural tour but always fun. Rentals are available from a variety of places, including: • Rutabaga (rutabaga.com), located between Lake Waubesa and Lake Monona, offers guided paddles or you may opt to paddle from the store on your own. • Outdoor UW, at the Memorial Union Terrace (union.wisc.edu/outdooruwoutdoor-rentals.htm). • Wingra Boats (wingraboats.com), located on the north shore off of Monroe Street, provides boats to explore Lake Wingra. Special events include a Full Moon paddle.
Betty Lou Cruises (bettyloucruises .com/index.php) offers cruises on Lakes Mendota and Monona. Cruising season runs from late spring through mid-fall. Join one of their regularly scheduled trips to enjoy the Madison skyline and shoreline. With a range of options to choose from—day or night, lunch or 40 | m a d i s o n e s s e n t i a l s m a g a z i n e
Photograph by Chris Maddox, provided by TravelWisconsin.com
dinner, seven days a week—this could be just the summer activity for you and your family. In addition to public cruises, they offer special events and celebrations. Book early if you want to see the 4th of July fireworks from the deck of a boat. Become a friend of your favorite water As the central recreational feature of our area, the lakes need your help. Many organizations and friends groups exist that rely on volunteers to carry out their work and mission. So whether you enjoy fishing, boating, or you are concerned about garbage and water quality, consider joining one of the organizations protecting the waters of our region: danewaters.com/other/ friends.aspx. Liz Wessel is the owner of Green Concierge Travel, which has information for honeymoons and other ecotravel at greenconciergetravel.com.
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essential home
s Make a Spla l a u sh with Ann By Joan W. Ziegler
Spice up your landscape with splashes of annual flowers. Annuals are defined as herbaceous plants that live for only one year. Bedded out en masse, used in containers or interplanted between perennials, annuals add unmatchable color and vibrancy to the landscape. Like all plants, annual flowers perform best when chosen for light and moisture conditions, as well as color, size, and form. While potted annual plants can be planted anytime to add instant color and refresh the garden throughout the summer and fall, seeds and small starts planted in spring catch up quickly and require less water to establish. With a little thought and planning, the four
months of non-stop blooms and colors that annuals add to the landscape will be well worth the yearly investment required to plant them. The luxury of replanting an entire flower bed each year with new combinations of annual flowers might be reserved for public gardens or an avid gardener’s prized view. For me, this is the view I see from my kitchen window. Here I choose annuals for their exuberant color display and to attract hummingbirds, which I enjoy watching dart from flower to flower as I prepare our daily meals. But my favorite way to use annuals is to fill gaps and increase color volume in perennial gardens.
site planners landscape architects garden designers 831.5098 zdainc.com
OUTDOOR CREATIVE 42 | m a d i s o n e s s e n t i a l s m a g a z i n e
Annuals that share their space without demanding star status work to weave a mixed border together without looking out of place. The best annuals are drought-tolerant, repeat perennial flower shapes and sizes, and produce profusions of flowers without deadheading. For a tidy, colorful border, try edging your gardens with short mounding or spreading annual flowers.
Edgers Edgers Choose annuals that will nestle into or spill around the feet of upright plants to hold the edge against weeds. In addition to classics like sweet allysum and multiflora petunias, Helenium “Dakota Gold,” Nierembergia, Penta, Scaevola, and Verbena “Lanai” are exceptional for hot, dry sunny gardens, especially alongside walks and pavement. In shade, Impatiens, wax begonias, and the newer more heat-tolerant pansies, Violas, and Lobelia are all good choices. My personal favorite for a blue edge in the shade is Torina “Blue Wave.”
Fillers Fillers Taller, upright annuals with slender spires, daisies, or clouds of airy flowers work well repeated through the garden to extend bloom time, fill holes, and add unity to the garden. Upright Fuchsia—
particularly Garten Meister Fuchsia— Sun Coleus, Nicotiana, and Big Leaf Begonias are excellent for adding color and brightening the shade. Favorite specialty annuals sold potted include Salvia “Black and Blue,” Salvia “Lady in Red,” and Angelonia. Other great fillers such as zinnias, sunflowers, cosmos, Verbena bonariensis, and snapdragons are easy to grow from seed.
Annuals Annuals from Seedfrom Seed Starting annuals from seed is an easy way to enjoy an abundance of flowers with minimal investment. Try planting annual seeds in your garden this year and enjoy them for years to come by either helping them to re-seed or allowing them to self-seed in the garden.
to fill gaps and bridge bloom times. Available in an incredible array of colors, sizes, and forms, the choices are endless. Bursting with joy and vitality, nothing compares to annual flowers for adding months of non-stop color to the summer landscape. Joan W. Ziegler is a horticulturist and garden designer for ZDA, Inc. Landscape Architecture, 4797 Capitol View Road, Middleton. Call (608) 831-5098 or visit zdainc.com. Photographs provided by ZDA, Inc.
Reseed with Help. Collect zinnia, marigold, cosmos, sunflower, and nasturtium seed heads in fall and store in a dry, cool place for winter. Then sow directly in the garden the following spring by scratching seeds into bare spots after danger of frost has passed. Self-Seeders. Sweet Alyssum, Datura, Nicotiana sylvestris, Talinum, Helenium “Dakota Gold,” Nigella, Verbena bonariensis, and Violas replant themselves for the following year. In the fall, leave seed heads standing and the flowers will do the work, or cut back flowers and sprinkle their seeds over the ground where you want them to grow next year. Edit seedlings the following spring by weeding out or transplanting the babies that come up in the wrong place. Make a splash in your own garden by planting annual flowers. Planted from seed or added as potted plants, annuals can be bedded out en masse or used
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How to
Recognize
Wine Flaws By Callie Steffen
So what’s your favorite wine? A question wine professionals, bartenders, and servers hear quite a lot both on the job and outside of work. Talk about a simple yet complex question. The answer depends on the season, one’s mood, and budget, and let’s not forget the accompanying cuisine. Many wine drinkers have a “go to” varietal, and when asked why we love this particular type of wine we have a quick-fire answer. Chardonnay because it is rich and creamy. Pinot Grigio because it is light and fruity. Malbec because it is big and bold. As we grow older and have more wine-drinking experience under our belts, our taste in wine
understandably changes. A 25-yearold may love sweeter, fruitier whites at first, then prefer soft, jammy reds before finally appreciating a hearty Côtes du Rhône. Our palates are all uniquely different and prefer distinct tastes and sensations.
Thankfully most bottles of wine opened will not be “corked.” But, there are other lesser flaws which can be discerned in a bottle. Here are some of these imperfections.
Regardless of wine preferences, recognizing what we like or dislike in a bottle can be hard to put into words.
A closed or tightly knit wine is one that is young and needs time to age in the bottle for all the wonderful, subtle flavor nuances to develop. These wines may improve after years in the cellar, but if the bottle is already open, it will not show much improvement.
Falling strongly into the dislike category is the “corked” bottle. A “corked” wine has off flavors and odors. This wine may taste and smell like mold, sulfur, sherry, vinegar, or cardboard. Chances are that many of you have had the unfortunate experience of opening such a bottle. It happens even in wines that have screw cap closures. While unpleasant, the experience serves as a great learning tool for the novice wine drinker. Not sure if a bottle is corked or not? Trust your instincts and ask your bartender/ server/spouse to weigh in on the wine in question. Whatever you do with the offending bottle, do NOT dump the contents down the drain and toss the bottle out with the recyclables. Instead put a cork securely back in the bottle and return it promptly to the wine store where purchased. As long as the mostly full bottle is returned to the store in a timely fashion, you can exchange it for a replacement bottle and the retailer can get a credit from the distributor for the bottle.
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Closed
Flabby
Closed
Flabby
A wine that is big and expansive on the palate but lacks structure. These wines have an undesirable heaviness about them. Muddy
Muddy
A wine where the flavors are undefined and unclear. Not to be confused with earthiness, which is a flavor profile that is generally an attribute in wine. Sharp
Sharp
A wine that is overly tart and bitter. While a wine with vibrant acidity is a great pair to seafood or heavy pasta dishes, there is a big difference between balanced acidity and the harshness of drinking raw lemon juice.
Thin
Thin
Ever had a wine that fades away so quickly you are left wondering if you are drinking watered down wine? This is an example of a thin wine. The wine has no body or finish, and leaves you craving something with more gusto. The following reds are all quite delicious and certainly cannot be found guilty of the aforementioned sins. Judge for yourself. 2013 Bacaro Nero d/Avola, Italy $9.99
2013 Bacaro Nero d/Avola, Italy $9.99
A wonderful little Sicilian red that’s bursting with aromas of wood violet and black cherry. On the palate, the wine is fat, warm, and inviting with cocoa, black cherry, charred wood, and earth. Finishes soft and round with only the faintest touch of the telltale lip-smacking acidity that makes Italian wines so food-friendly. 2013 2013 Serbal SerbalMalbec, Malbec,Argentina Argentina $10.99 $10.99 What a great value in Malbec! So big, brawny, and tightly knit that it benefits nicely from some time in the glass and I suspect a few years in the cellar. It’s difficult to believe that a wine so complex is aged only in stainless steel. Flavor profile includes olive, rosemary, plum, currant, and smoky grilled meats.
2012Columbia Columbia Winery 2012 WineryCabernet Cabernet Sauvignon, Washington $12.49 Sauvignon, Washington $12.49 Columbia Winery has been producing award-winning wines near Seattle for over half a century. This polished and affordable beauty showcases all that hard work and experience—it clearly outshines your average $15–20 Napa Cab. Flavors of plum, blackberry, mint, baking chocolate, and mulberry are layered nicely around a moderate tannic structure. Bring on the flank steak! 2012 Red, California California 2012Bogle Bogle Essential Essential Red, $12.99
2012 Elouan Pinot Noir, Oregon
2012 Elouan Pinot Noir, Oregon $19.99 $19.99 Many of you may be familiar with Meiomi Pinot Noir since it has been a staple of area wine shops and carte di vinos across Madison for several months. Elouan is produced by the same company, this time utilizing Oregon grapes instead of California ones. The result? An elegant Pinot that is edgier and more herbaceous then the Meiomi. Elouan Pinot Noir has notes of sweet tobacco, briary forest floor, raspberry, and tart cherry along with bright acidity.
$12.99
A solid red blend of Zinfandel, Syrah, Petite Sirah, and Cabernet Sauvignon that is sure to be an instant hit. The jamminess of the Zin is pleasantly restrained, while the darker black fruit notes of the other grapes shine through along with a cedary, savory note. The wine has a strong backbone and should age well over the next two years.
Callie Steffen is a Wine Specialist at Barriques Market.
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advertiser index We encourage you to visit our sponsors! association
Dane Buy Local..................................12 Greater Madison Chamber of Commerce................................37 Green Lake Area Chamber of Commerce............................... 29
automobiles
Lidtke Motors........................................6
banking
Home Savings Bank..........................23
entertainment
American Players Theatre................13 Betty Lou Cruises................................41 Fitchburg Center.................................2 Fort Atkinson Area Chamber of Commerce..................................7 Ho-Chunk Gaming Madison...........21 Madison Opera...................................9 Olbrich Botanical Gardens..............47 Wollersheim Winery.......................... 33
home & landscaping
Chad’s Design Build......................... 43 Ganshert Nursery & Landscapes LLC........................23 Window Design Center.....................25 ZDA, Inc.............................................. 42
restaurants & food
Banzo...................................................10 Bavaria Sausage.............................. 38 Bonfyre American Grille.................. 45 Captain Bill’s.......................................41 Chocolate Shoppe Ice Cream Company...................39 Coachman’s Restaurant................. 40 Dobhan...............................................28 Fraboni’s Italian Specialties.............37 Harvest................................................19 Imperial Garden West..................... 43 jacs Dining & Tap House...................17 Lombardino’s Italian Restaurant & Bar.......................... 20
The Mariner’s Inn................................41 Nau-Ti-Gal..........................................41 The Nitty Gritty...................................15 The Old Fashioned Tavern & Restaurant........................5 The Old Feed Mill Restaurant...........14 Quivey’s Grove.....................................5 Sa-Bai Thong Thai Cuisine............... 35 Smoky’s.............................................. 36 Sprecher’s Restaurant & Pub...........18 Tornado Steak House........................17 Wisconsin Cheese............................ 48 Wonder Bar Steakhouse.................. 44
services
designCraft Advertising.................. 22 Drake & Company........................... 22 Just In Time Refrigeration................ 30 Madison Computer Works.............. 22 Madison Taxi.........................................8 Organic Payroll................................. 22 Tadsen Photography.........................16
shopping
Anthology...........................................13 Fitchburg Center.................................2 Gayfeather Fabrics...........................25 Habitat ReStore..................................23 Hallman Lindsey Paints.................... 22 Hilldale Shopping Center...................9 Jewelers Workshop............................23 Karen & Co./Sassafras........................5 Kessenich’s Ltd...................................26 Little Luxuries......................................13 Playthings...........................................24 Ulla Eyewear...................................... 34 The Vinery...........................................23 Wine and Hop Shop..........................23
massage/spa/yoga
Inner Fire Yoga ..................................23 Renu Massage, Energy & Bodywork....................................23
CONTEST Win a $50 Madison Originals® Gift Certificate! Question: Which Madison retail store started out as an Army Navy store in Fontana, Wisconsin? Enter by submitting your answer to the above question online at MadisonEssentialsMagazine.com, or by mail with your name, mailing address, phone number, and email to: Madison Essentials Magazine, c/o Towns & Associates, Inc. 126 Water Street Baraboo, WI 53913 All entries with the correct answer will be entered into a drawing for one of two $50 gift certificates. Contest deadline is June 15, 2015. Gift certificates will be honored at all current Madison Originals® member restaurants (see madisonoriginals.com— subject to change).
Good Luck!
Winners Thank You to Everyone Who Entered Our Previous Contest. The answer to the question, “Which Madison Originals® restaurant owner worked as a sous chef for James Beard award-winning chef Tony Montuano of Spiaggia in Chicago?” is Daniel Bonanno of A Pig in a Fur Coat. A $50 Madison Originals® Gift Certificate was sent to each of our winners, Sharon Grant of Madison and Sally Pederson of Middleton.
CONGRATULATIONS! 46 | m a d i s o n e s s e n t i a l s m a g a z i n e
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