📝 We’re thankful for you!

🚮 Holiday Trash Pickup

• Heads up, there won’t be any trash or recycling pickup in Madison Thursday or Friday in observance of Thanksgiving. The city’s drop-off sites will also be closed those days.
• If your trash and recycling are normally collected on Wednesdays and Thursdays by the Streets Division, you should have your carts to the curb by 6:30 a.m. Wednesday. If your trash and recycling are normally collected on Fridays and Mondays, your carts should be on the curb by 6:30 a.m. Monday. [City of Madison]

🛍️ How to Shop Local

• Thanksgiving is tomorrow, which means Black Friday is right around the corner. This season, consider using your dollars to support Madison’s economy by shopping locally. On Nov. 25, Monroe Street shops will celebrate its 14th annual Small Business Saturday with sales and a drawing for prizes. Looking for a liquid gift? Check out any of these local brews. And this weekend, Downtown Madison is hosting a holiday open house on State Street and around the Capitol Square with family-friendly activities and sales. [Monroe Street Merchants Association, Isthmus, Downtown Madison]

😷 Free Covid-19 Tests

• With the holiday season comes travel and illness. You can help protect yourself and those around you by staying home if you’re sick and testing for Covid-19. If you’re out of tests, you’re in luck. The U.S. government will distribute another round of four at-home test kits ahead of the typical surge in cases during the winter holiday season.
• If you didn’t order a batch of tests when they were last offered in September, you’re eligible to request up to eight test kits. [DHS]

🔪 Lunchtime Read: Madison chef Dan Fox shows his chops on Food Network's 'Chopped'

• “Glance back at the Heritage Tavern kitchen on a night when chef/owner Dan Fox is expediting — that is, finishing every plate before it goes out — and you’ll see a man in the zone. [...]‘I get almost too focused,’ said Fox. On his first episode of ‘Chopped,’ a popular Food Network competition show, ‘that part of my personality definitely came out.’” [Cap Times]
• Hungry? Heritage Tavern is one of several Madison establishments that can help feed you on Thanksgiving. [Madison Minutes]

Wednesday, Nov. 22

• Brews and Q's Taproom Trivia at Young Blood Beer Company - North Street
• FREE Trivia at Starkweather Brewing Company
• Drinksgiving at Bierock
• The Jimmys at Red Rooster Madison
• Kevin Bozeman & Friends 18th Annual Pre-Thanksgiving Show at Comedy on State
• K.I.L.O aka Skit'Lz & Friends at The Bur Oak

Thursday, Nov. 23

• Thanksgiving Day: Need somewhere to eat? Start here.

Friday, Nov. 24

• 6th Annual Celebration of Tom Petty at Majestic Madison
• Afrovibe Soiree at Cafe CODA
• Downtown Madison Holiday Open House at multiple locations
• Annual Tree Lighting Celebration at The Edgewater
• HE$H at Liquid Madison
• Madison Makers Black Friday Market at multiple locations
• Natty Nation's Annual Black Friday Show at High Noon Saloon
• Rucksack Revolution at The Bur Oak
• Shane Torres at Comedy on State
• Shine On Madison Seasonal Lighting Ceremony at Lisa Link Peace Park
• SwBC Darkweather Friday at Starkweather Brewing Company
• Tate and the 008 Band - Appreciation Show at Red Rooster Madison
• The Thanksgiving Hangover Show at Breese Stevens Field

Saturday, Nov. 25

• Capitol Comedy Hour: A Late-Night Variety Show at Madison's
• Downtown Madison Holiday Open House at multiple locations
• Found Footage Festival: Vol. 10 at The Barrymore Theatre
• Madison Mental Health Market at SOAR Case Management Services
• Goran Ivanovic & Fareed Haque at North Street Cabaret
• The Human Show ep. 24: Bridging the Gap at Cafe CODA
• Jokes & Jazz at The Caspian Grill
• The Last Waltz & Beyond at High Noon Saloon
• Lesbian Pop Up Bar at Vintage Brewing Company - Capitol East
• Paul Filipowicz Band - Appreciation Show at Red Rooster Madison
• Rare Element - Thanksgiving Special at Cafe CODA
• Shane Torres at Comedy on State
• Subaversary 10 Year Celebration Extravaganza! at Crucible

Sunday, Nov. 26

• Dark Holiday Bazaar at Crucible
• Downtown Madison Holiday Open House at multiple locations
• Exhibition Reception: Adriana Barrios "Between Land and Sea" at Garver Feed Mill
• Garden Stroll at UW–Madison Arboretum
• Holiday Craftacular at Garver Feed Mill
• Night of the Improvisor Jam & SpokenWord hosted by Kevin Carnes and Rob DZ at Cafe CODA
• The Trouble Notes "More Violins, Less Violence" Tour at High Noon Saloon

How Paying College Athletes is Changing UW Sports

We’re in a brave new world of college sports. One of the biggest revolutions in college sports came when the NCAA allowed college student athletes to get paid. Where previously some athletes might have received scholarships to play, now they can also get branding deals worth millions. Some UW students have reportedly signed contracts worth hundreds of thousands of dollars.

But how does it all work? What does it mean for the students, the teams and the university? How is it changing UW sports?