📝 5 local holiday markets this weekend

💰 $6.2 Million for Vision Zero

• Eight Wisconsin communities will receive a total of more than $11 million in federal discretionary funds to improve road safety. Madison is set to get $6.2 million to build sidewalks, ADA-compliant ramps, medians, and protected bike lanes around the city.
• The projects are part of Madison's Vision Zero plan, which aims to eliminate all traffic deaths in the city by 2035. [IB Madison, Madison Minutes]

🧀 Meet The Wedge

• The former One Barrel Brewing Co. on Atwood Avenue will soon be home to The Wedge, serving "fine cheese and cold beer." The bar’s owner Jacob Guyette has deep ties to the Madison culinary scene, having gotten his start in kitchens at Blue Marlin and L'Etoile, then later helped open Graze and the now-closed Estrellón.
• The Wedge will serve beer and cheese exclusively from Wisconsin and patrons will be able to mix and match cheeses and garnishes to build their own snack boards. They’ll also serve sandwiches and plan to host Packers’ game watch parties. The new spot is expected to open in February. [Madison Magazine]

🗳️ 111 Years of Civic Service

• The Madison Civics Club has dissolved after 111 years of service to the community. The group originally formed in the 20th century to lobby for women’s suffrage and other social issues. At its peak, it hosted events that drew hundreds of people. In 1937, the group hosted a speech by Eleanor Roosevelt at UW-Madison that thousands attended.
• In the past decade, membership has declined and fewer volunteers have stepped up to take leadership positions, leading to the decision to disband. The group plans to distribute its remaining funds to local organizations that focus on voter and civic engagement, like the Dane County League of Women Voters and Wisconsin Watch. [Cap Times, LWV, Wisconsin Watch]

🥦 Hello Whole Foods

• The new Whole Foods at Madison Yards is officially open. The grocery store was previously at 3313 University Ave. since 1996. The new 50,000 square-foot store offers organic produce and goods from local farms like Sassy Cow Creamery, Rushing Waters Fisheries, New Glarus Brewing, Untitled Art, and Hook's Cheese Co.,
• The new store will also have a full-service coffee bar, an expanded prepared foods section (think sushi, hot bar, and salad bars), and a full-service seafood counter. [Whole Foods]

Get Cozy at Madison’s Best Coffee Shops

It’s absolutely the season to curl up in a cozy coffee shop with a hot cup of joe. And Madison is rife with options. But which ones go above and beyond when it comes to quality coffee and top notch atmosphere? Bianca Martin speaks with Ashley Rodriguez, writer of the Boss Barista newsletter.