EVENTS

Today

• Alabama’s 50th Anniversary Tour | Fri., Jan. 14 | 7-10 p.m. | Alliant Energy Center | $38+ | A night with the band who has inspired stars like Kenny Chesney and Luke Bryan. 🎶
• The Only & Earth to Clark | Fri., Jan. 14 | 7-10 p.m. | The Bur Oak, 2262 Winnebago St. | $8+ | Music from the Minnesota-based independent rock band.

Saturday

• Late Winter Market | Sat., Jan. 15 | 7:30 a.m.-11:30 a.m. | Garver Feed Mill | Free entry | Dane County Farmers Market’s winter market with fresh fruits, vegetables, meats, cheeses + more. 🧀

• Wisconsin Bluegrass Fest | Sat., Jan. 15 | 6 p.m. | The Sylvee | $15+ | A part of the four-night, nine-genre, three-venue festival celebrating prolific artists from the Badger state. 🪕

• Wisconsin Metal Fest 2022 | Sat., Jan. 15 | 8 p.m. | High Noon Saloon | $15+ | A continuation of the four-night, nine-genre, three-venue festival celebrating prolific artists from the Badger state.

Sunday

• Bingo, Bloodys, Beer, and Brunch | Sun., Jan. 16 | 12-2 p.m. | The Lone Girl Brewing Company, 114 E. Main St., Waunakee | Free entry | 10 rounds of bingo + plenty of drinks for a fun Sunday.
• Urban Candid Project | Sat., Jan. 16 | 1-2:30 p.m. | Picnic Point, 2002 University Dr. | Free | Learn about the Urban Candid Project which is monitoring these critters + also learn how to track animals in winter.

Monday

• Monday Group Run | Mon., Jan. 17 | 5:45-6:45 p.m. | Movin’ Shoes, 528 S. Park St. | Free | A 3-5 mile community run at a 9-12 min/mile pace. 👟

Note: COVID-19 protocols are changing rapidly to curb the spread of the Omicron variant in Madison. Please make sure to check event listing pages + venue websites for the most up-to-date information.

We have a monthly guide filled with events + activities you can plan for in advance. Click the button below to bookmark ideas for upcoming date nights, family outings, and time with friends.

NEWS NOTES

Weather

• 23º | Cloudy | 10% chance of snow ☁️

Health

• MMSD has scaled back the district’s COVID-19 response plan, citing guidance from local + state officials. Changes include decreased tracing alerts for families as well as shortened isolation and quarantine periods for those exposed or infected. Learn more about the mitigation effort. (Channel3000)
• According to officials at Public Health Madison and Dane County, hospitals within the county are currently recording the highest number of patients since the pandemic started. A daily record of 2,127 new COVID-19 cases has been recorded during this period. (IB Madison)

Community

• Madison’s ice rinks + lagoons are currently closed until further notice due to warm weather and rising temperatures. The City of Madison Parks Dept. anticipates reopening skating later this week, weather permitting. Check on the status of the parks here. ⛸️ (Channel3000)

Seasonal

• Join the Madison Police Dept. for “Winterfest” on Sat., Jan. 15. Swing by Elver Park anytime after 10 a.m. for hot cocoa, cookies, crafts, a fire pit, and s’mores + ice skating — weather permitting. ❄️ (Channel3000)

Number

• $350,000,000. That’s the investment Exact Sciences is making into its Madison campuses. Leaders within the organization say the influx of resources will create 1,300 new jobs. More on the expansion here. (WKOW)

Arts

• MMoCA has won a grant from The Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts for an upcoming exhibition — "DARK MATTER" — by artist + UW-Madison professor Faisal Abdu’Allah. Check out Abdu’Allah's work on display at MMoCA all year long. 🎨

Civic

• The Façade Improvement Grant Program has awarded over $1,285,200 in grants to downtown + neighborhood businesses in Madison. The program encourages and supports local businesses to demonstrate pride in place while also helping leverage private investment.

Sports

• The UW-Madison women’s hockey program has called off its series against the University of St. Thomas set for this weekend due to COVID-19 concerns on the Tommies side. As of now, the Badgers are still set to play in the Border Battle next weekend against the University of Minnesota. 🏒 (NBC15)

Correction

• Yesterday we said that the UW men’s basketball team was playing Michigan State on Fri., Jan. 14 + that was incorrect. The men’s team plays the Spartans on Fri., Jan. 21 at 8 p.m. at the Kohl Center.

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REWARDS

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THE WRAP

Editor's Pick: City Editor Ryan here 👋 yesterday I popped into Upshift Swap Shop and was taken aback by the store's model — an anti-waste, swapping ecosystem to help people get new looks without the waste. If you know of any places like this, drop me suggestions + links to other shops around town that embody similar secondhand, used + vintage consumption ethics.

Missed yesterday's newsletter? We covered Madison legend John Olin + a new bodycare shop.

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