Vintage Madison Postcard

Another Madison postcard, this one showing Madison's signature lakes, isthmus, of course, the state capitol.
Other details to notice - the lack of John Nolen Drive, and, of course Monona Terrace. Long-time Madison residents - what else has changed?

This card was never used, so there's no fun note to transcribe.

Things I Miss About Madison

The way-cool "Forward" badger banners on select lamp posts around downtown Madison. Simple, clean graphics. A set of these would make for some fantastic garage fodder. Maybe the good people of sconnie.com can put this on a t-shirt.

Vintage Madison Postcard

Another nice nighttime lake scene depicted on a dusty old postcard from my archives. This one depicts "Moonlight on Lake Medota, Foot of Park Street, Madison, Wis."
Looks like the author was all about keeping the message short-and-sweet. Simply (and somewhat artistically) signed and addressed to Miss Minnie Bradseth of Rice Lake, Wis. Mailed on October 10, 1918.
A little Googling found Miss Bradseth on the registry of the Nora Cemetery of Rice Lake. Born 1890 and died in 1965.

And seeing where Madison's north Park Street meets Lake Mendota, it's evident that the cottage depicted is also no longer with us either.
Now home to the UW Madison Memorial Union. One of my favorite places in all of the Midwest. No better place to enjoy some beer (and/or Babcock Hall Ice Cream) than during sunset on a warm summer evening.

Vintage Madison Postcard

On my old Madison-area commute to work, I would ride down Waunona Way past Esther Beach twice a day, virtually every day. However, these days you're not very likely to find ladies in their Sunday best on the shores of Lake Monona nor men wearing straw hats and white jackets while tying up their row boats. You're more likely to find an empty lifeguard stand and piles of weeds. And Canoelover paddling by getting his daily fix of odonates.


But hey, that was then, this is now. Yada, yada, yada. I still dig this postcard (and Madison's fine lakes for that matter). Here's what's on the back...

Postmark: 3-30-1912

addressed to:
Miss Margaret Schulz
De Forest, Wis.
RD #2 Box 57

copy:

Dear Sister! Are in (?? kinda looks like she wrote over "Mad" with "uptown") this P.M. I am going to come to Sun Prairie Thursday. I want to go to the dentist's + take in the doings. I want you folks to come I will come in the 1.30 Say can you go to Suz + phone and tell Cobb I am coming. You drive down Wed eve you are at this (??).

Wisconsin Wear

When the family moved to Monona, we were mildly amused by the Wisconsin Active Sportswear shop located in Monona.

With "Active Sportswear" being two thirds of the name, we expected to find outdoor wear - like stuff from Patagonia, The North Face and such. Instead we found a sea of Badger red and Packer Gold & Green. You can't even buy a Brewers hat there.

While I never ended up purchasing anything from W.A.S. (Rutabaga, being in the same vicinity, was more our style), I did end up buying some Wisconsin-related garb from Sconnie Nation prior to leaving. Browsing their site this evening, I found these new gems...

an Illinois version would be even better

and finally one I think I'm going to have to order...

Good stuff!

Vintage Madison Postcard

A great image of one of my favorite parts of the Yahara Lakes. Looking south from the Yahara channel out onto Lake Monona. At the opposite end of the channel, cutting across Madison's Isthmus, are the Tenney Locks. A fun trip to make by boat. This card was never mailed - no notes on the back.

Things I Miss About Madison pt. VII

Mounds Pet Food Warehouse.


Yep, I miss a pet food store. But Mounds is unique. In an industry dominated by one lame mega-chain (PetSmart) and an even lamer one (San Diego-based Petco), it was refreshing to visit the east Madison store a couple of Saturdays per month to get some noms for the dog(s). Humble and unassuming, the east Mounds would invariably have numerous other dogs checking out the chow and the good selection of durable toys.

Their propane refilling station was key to many grilling sessions. Unlike the scammers at Home Depot and AmeriGas, your 20# tank would actually be filled to capacity. HD and AmeriGas reduced their fills over the summer to 15# - for the same price I'd pay for 20# at Mounds. The 3/4 "fills" are one of the reasons we keep burning through the propane (the other reason being the mild weather).

And I can't forget the best thing about Mounds - you couldn't leave the store without 2-3 bite size Mounds candy bars.

Things I Miss About Madison VI.

The Old Fashioned opened during our Madison tenure and quickly became our favorite restaurant. Inspired by and celebrating Wisconsin's classic supper club atmosphere and cuisine, the Old Fashioned offers great unpretentious food, great Wisconsin beers and their namesake (and Wisconsin's unofficial state cocktail) Old Fashioneds (Korbel brandy, 7up, bitters, sugar, orange slice and a maraschino cherry).

Allie, Celeste and I brought many out of town guests to the Old Fashioned. Situated on the Capitol Square, it's a great way to get immersed in Wisconsin dining.

The decor is full of dark wood with various vintage dairy and beer signs and lights. The 1940s Wisconsin classroom map takes up a good chunk of wall space in the front while a large antique bar occupies the back of the place. At that bar you'll find just about any Wisconsin beer you can imagine. Cheap stuff like Blatz and Schlitz as well as the best Wisconsin microbrews. I'll take a Furthermore Knot Stock please.

We'd always start out with an order of their excellent thin-sliced french fries and tiger blue sauce (a blue cheese/horseradish dip). I rarely strayed from the #36 - deep fried walleye sandwich with a side salad. A classic Wisconsin desert was ordered when we "had room for it" - apple pie with sharp Wisconsin cheddar. Just like my grandma used to make.

This is how crummy a pic of a shirt looks when you use your phone's camera and snap it while wearing it.

The last time I briefly swung through town, I introduced a couple of coworkers to the place. They dug it, I bought a shirt.

Can't wait to hit it again the next time I'm back in town.

Go Madison bike commuters!

Number one in the US for bike commuting.  Stick it to the smug residents of Portland.

Um, thanks, I think.

Not to look a gift horse in the mouth or anything, but we received this inside a holiday card from our Madison realtor* today.

I guess it will be good to read about the specials that the Zimbrick auto dealer chain is offering. Or learning about some new hipster restaurant on the east side.

Oh well, at least the bi-monthly Carlsbad Magazine gets delivered free with the newspaper.

*I know it's a proper noun as well as a trademark, but I refuse to capitalize "realtor".

Madison Momentos

Those of you who have been to our home prior to us boxing everything up probably recall seeing an abundance of vintage postcards hanging on the walls.

I started collecting them, specifically Green Lake postcards, about fifteen years ago. They're interesting, cheap and are fun to hunt for. Or were fun to hunt for prior to it being so easy with eBay.


I finally got around to hanging up a nice little series of vintage Madison postcards on Sunday. Yeah, they're not hanging all too level - I need some double-face tape to straighten 'em out. Cheapo IKEA frames don't always hang right. But they're only 3 for a dollar.

Esther Beach, Lake Monona

Moonlight on Lake Monona at Yahara River outlet

Our collection has cards from the areas that we've lived in or that are special to us - Chicago, Boulder, Green Lake, Lake Geneva, and Madison. One of these days I plan on starting to post scans of the cards along with any letter printed on the back.

Hmm, maybe I should check eBay for some Carlsbad/San Diego postcards...

Things Allie misses about Madison pt I.

Woodman's Markets.
Ahh, good old Woodman's.

Where the brown tile floors in the enormous produce, meat and cheese sections make the license plate-equipped carts rattle a certain way. The flip-up style carts would be especially clangy until you had added some weight.

Where we knew not to expect good produce on the weekends.

Where we could buy virtually everything in one quick trip. No secondary trips to Target needed for toiletries.

Where the selection of ethnic foods was unparalleled compared to everything but specialty markets.

Where you didn't need a silly "rewards card".

Where we could buy turkey brats.

Where the selection of beer was amazing.

Where the selection of cheese was even more amazinger.

Where you'd shop with people from all walks of life. Woodman's was unpretentious.

And most importantly, where the prices were untouchable.

Below see what $120 (after $35 of "reward savings") bought us at Vons today. I shouldn't be able to carry $120 worth of groceries inside in one trip. And we didn't buy an exceptional amount of stuff.

We could have filled the top and bottom of a cart at Woodman's for $120.

Things I don't miss about Madison pt. I

The wretched condition of Monona Drive, especially after the brutal winter of '07/08.

Madison things I'll miss pt. II

Catching brief glimpses of the lakes. If you're close enough and looking the right way, it's hard not to spot the Yahara lakes here at the end of a street or in between buildings or trees.

Late summer afternoons when the sun starts getting low is ideal.

Last Madison dinner

Celeste and Marina the manatee (yes, it's a Webkinz)

We decided to hit an old standard for our last Madison dinner. One that's been pushed aside since The Old Fashioned became the top pick of Allie and myself.

The Great Dane has always been on the short list of where we'll bring out-of-town guests. A super cozy atmosphere - dark oak, exposed brick, etc., the Great Dane is one of a few microbreweries that has good food to complement their excellent brewed on-site beer.

We started dining here years before relocating to the area. Virtually every visit to Madison included a stop at the Dane. For tonight's meal each of us went with our old favorites - Allie's reuben, Celeste's dinosaur (chicken) nuggets and my fish and chips.

We'll certainly miss this place but will hit it the next time we're back in town.

Madison things I'll miss

I've been thinking a lot over the past few weeks about some of the great not-so-obvious things that the Madison area offers.

First up, UW Madison student radio WSUM 91.7, "the snake on the lake". Always an eclectic bunch of music depending on what time you're tuning in. Sometimes it's standard indie/college rock, others it's death metal, alt country, etc. - but my favorite is Sunday mornings (and other times) when they're playing dub/reggae. Not your standard Bob Marley/Peter Tosh offerings, but hitting the Blood and Fire and Trojan catalogs among others. Just about the only time I'll tune in to the radio.

And well-done/humorous PSAs too. Favorites include farm tractor safety and boating around manatees.