PJW

Phoenix Jazz Workshop on played at Sacred Grounds Coffee House and Max and I took some photos of the band. I had some fun because I found some old photos of the band online.

"Working from a selection of classics by such titans as Wayne Shorter, Bud Powell, Thelonious Monk, and a host of Latin composers, the band provides a framework that allows for some sizzling improvisation."

Bryon Ruthe, Sax

Ted Sistrunk, Bass

Scott Zimmer, Sax

Rob Moore, Drummer

Rachel Eckroft, Piano

Go Cubbies

Simpsonized

Chicago with Max

To Learn more about Chicago from Max's perspective...click on the link to Max's blog and check it out!

Arbor Inn

We stayed at a historic bed and breakfast called Arbor Inn. The first two days we stayed in the Tap Room, the balance of the time we enjoyed the Studio with Max.

Formerly The Plough Inn, the historic structure served as a tavern and a stagecoach stop dating back to 1853. The Plough building is on the national register for historic homes and is one of Madison’s oldest existing homes. Visitors would hitch their horses outside on the their way in or out of town for a refreshment. They would then dance in what is now the sitting room and if necessary they could sleep in one of the bedrooms upstairs. It was a rowdy loud tavern known for rough characters and some bar room fights. Thus receiving the nickname "Plough Inn and Stagger Out."

The TAP ROOM was once a popular tavern in which carriage travelers stopped for spirits. A king bed, claw-foot bubble bath tub for two, stone shower, stove fireplace and dart board complete this historic gem.

The STUDIO is a bright and expansive environment with a prairie influence. A cathedral ceiling, skylights and a natural linens on a king-size bed comprise the former art studio of UW Professor Stebbins. Separating the suite's two rooms is an original exposed brick wall. Guests can retreat to the bath's skylit whirlpool tub and then unwind in front of the stove fireplace. This room also serves as our family suite.

Dane County (Wisconsin) Farmer's Market

When I lived in Wisconsin, my favorite thing to do was go to the Farmer's Market every Saturday. I loved watching all the new items the farmers would bring in, and sharing the bounty of the spring, summer and fall seasons.

In 1972, Mayor Bill Dyke recognized a need to unite the city dwellers and the county's agricultural benefits.

Inspired by Europe's open markets, Dyke called on the Dane County Extension Office and the Central Madison Committee of the Chamber of Commerce to help him replicate the European tradition. The three agencies joined forces to develop the Dane County Farmers' Market.

On the first Saturday in 1972, eager buyers set out to the square with the hopes of loading their bags, wagons and carfts with nature's gifts, only to find just five farmers and their wares. But by 1973, farmers by the dozens parked overnight to secure the best spot on the Square. In 1974, Barry issued season passes for the stalls in an effort to organize the growing Farmers' Market. The only rule then and still enforced today is that products must be Wisconsin grown.

Each Saturday approximately 18,000 customers converge upon the Square with carts, wagons, baskets, backpacks, grocery sacks, and enchanted relatives and visitors to fill weekly grocery needs.

Customers have established a counter-clockwise odyssey around the Square, and vendors can often set clocks and sales by customers. Early customers arrive by six in the morning to take advantage of the cool air and uncrowded conditions. They are the quantity buyers who want the certain variety of tomato to can or that particular cut of meat for supper. They comparison shop, making several circuits to discuss with vendors the quality and price of each attractive item.

Mid-morning customers still have grocery lists, but they also meet friends to enjoy a cup of coffee while surveying the flowers, processed goods, and unusual vegetables available at the market.

Late customers (noon until the closing of the market at two) often bargain shop and enjoy the shade, lunching around the Square and visiting a book store or two. Whatever the purpose for their visit, these customers are loyal. The market occurs rain or shine, hot or cold, and Wisconsinites ignore less-than-perfect conditions to visit the Square.

Taking Max to the Market, or in this case I should say, having Max take US to the market, was a huge thrill for me - something I had been looking forward to for weeks. We had visited the market nearly every weekend of his first year of life, and spoke with excitement about what he might think of the cheese, maple syrup and fresh fruit when he was older. I had always envisioned having him hold my hand and look in awe and the huge bales of corn, the colorful array of popcorn, and the gorgeous shades of and depths of color that adorned the organically grown crops of flowers, fruits and vegies.

Over the past few years, his visits to Wisconsin have left him a huge lover of maple candies, honey sticks and fresh beef sticks.

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Badgers doin' All Rightie!

The University of Wisconsin–Madison (also known as UW–Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, University of Wisconsin, or UW) is a public "research univeristy" located in Madison, Wisconsin. Founded in 1848, it is the largest university in the state with a total enrollment of over 41,000 students, of whom approximately 29,000 are undergrads.

Music Hall
This Victorian Gothic building, built in 1878, was initially named Assembly Hall and was designed to house an 800-seat auditorium, a library, and a clock tower. Dedicated on March 2, 1880, the building originally held conventions, dances, and commencement ceremonies, along with its primary purpose of a library. After the library moved to different buildings on campus, a portion of the hall was assigned to the School of Music in 1900. Shortly after renovations in the early 1900s, the building was officially named Music Hall in 1910, where it still remains an important music venue and home to the university opera This building also is home to the Department of Urban and Regional Planning, with part of the building being used as office space and classrooms.

Bascom Hall
As one of the most recognizable buildings on campus, Bascom Hall, at the top of Bascom Hill, is one of the icons of the UW campus and is often considered the "heart of the campus." Built in 1857, the structure has been added to several times over the years although a decorative dome atop the structure was destroyed by fire. The building currently houses the office of the university's chancellor and vice chancellors.

Humanities Building

Max is playing a structure outside the humanities building. This building is the most maligned structure on campus. UW-Madison officials can hardly wait to knock it down; the chancellor himself has joked about auctioning off the privilege of pushing the demolition plunger.

It has; however, been called an excellent example of an architectural style known as "Brutalism." It was designed by one of Chicago's revered architects, Harry Weese. Weese has a long list of modern buildings to his credit. They include our Chazen Museum, right next to the Humanities Building; the Washington D.C. Metro System; the cape-shaped Seventeenth Church of Christ Scientist in Chicago; and the Metropolitan Correctional Center in Chicago, with its narrow slit windows.

Since this building currently hosts the Music Faculty, this was of interest to us. As amusing as the structure might be, the Music department is in the 'basement' and appears to be the most vocal about their needs. University officials have decided to demolish this building and there is a $43.8 million Music Performance Building replacing the current Humanities Building!!

The Terrace

The first, Memorial Union, was built in 1928. The Memorial Union, also known as the Union or the Terrace, has gained a reputation as both one of the most beautiful and rowdy student unions or student centers on a university campus. Memorial Union is located on the shore of Lake Mendota, and it is a popular spot for socializing among students, as well as the public, while gazing at the lake and the sailboats that are often present. The union is known for the "Rathskeller," a German pub that directly connects to the lake terrace. The Rathskeller serves "Rathskeller Ale", a beer brewed expressly for the Terrace. Memorial Union is home to many arts outlets, including several art galleries, a movie theater, and the Wisconsin Union Theater, and the Craftshop, one of the first in the nation.

The Red Gym
No building on campus represents the mind, heart, and spirit of the University of Wisconsin-Madison better than the Armory and Gymnasium, commonly known as the "Old Red Gym."

It was a "red letter day" for the University of Wisconsin when the Armory-Gymnasium on Langdon Street opened with a flourish in 1894.

"The friends of the institution, and it surely has no enemies worth
considering, have made the formal occupation of the handsome new armory the
occasion of an athletic festival which serves to demonstrate at once to the
public the various and important uses of the substantial improvement," the
Wisconsin State Journal wrote in an editorial.

"The new armory is a splendid structure, admirably adapted to the many
requirements which will be made upon it, and worthy of the great state which has
furnished it for its greatest educational institution," the newspaper continued,
as it joined the citizens of Madison in celebrating the May 24-25 event. The
opening, the Madison Democrat said, "is an event in which all lovers of that
noble institution greatly rejoice."

The Daily Cardinal predicted the program "will undoubtedly be recorded as most
important in the university's history." Classes were canceled, and railroads
offered reduced rates to those wishing to attend. The festival started on
a Thursday night with a "magnificent rendition" of Handel's oratorio, Messiah,
by the Madison Choral Union with soloists considered to be "the very best
artists in the country."

To ensure its historic preservation well into the next century, the Gym has become the gateway or "front door" of the university. Prospective students and their families, as well as thousands of visitors, will be welcomed here on their first visits to the campus. Just inside the front door in the historic Artillery Drill Room will be the single most important source of information about the university's departments and many programs--the Campus Assistance and Visitors Center. Currently, unlike most major universities in the country, we do not have an established visitors center.