📦 Groovin’ and movin’ on out!

🏢 More Campus-Area Housing?!

• The Plan Commission approved the development of a new apartment complex on a vacant lot of Langdon Street. This plan now goes to the City Council. If approved, Steve Brown Apartments will create a five-story, 79-unit apartment complex.
• Local fraternities and sororities have expressed concern about the additional traffic this complex will add to the Langdon Street area but ultimately, the commission unanimously passed the proposal.
• Some context: This isn’t the first time developers have tried to build housing on this lot. In 2020, and again in 2021, Chicago-based developer Core Spaces (AKA the creators of The Hub) pitched a seven-story luxury housing building aptly named “The Hub 2.” The city shot down the project twice after numerous concerns from residents. [🔒WSJ]

🎶 Bringing the Beats to Park Street

• Aug. 3 will be the seventh annual Next Level Park Street Music Fest. It will take place from 3-8 p.m. on the Labor Temple grounds. Performers will include Orquesta Salsoul Del Mad, V Funk, Makahya Drake, DJ Van Go, and C Dawson Soul, featuring CJ Parker.
• The festival is also emphasizing health and wellness by including a 5k run/walk and preventative health screenings for the community. [Madison365]

🚌 Metro Transit Public Hearing

• At 5 p.m. tonight, there will be a virtual Madison Transportation Commission meeting and around 6 p.m., Metro Transit and the City of Madison Transportation Commission will hold a virtual public hearing to discuss the proposed new service to Monona and the impact of Metro’s 2023 network redesign.
• Want to share your opinion? Log on to the virtual meeting! Here is the full agenda.
• Related: What’s in store for Madison’s new Bus Rapid Transit system? [City of Madison, City Cast Madison 🎧]

As students begin to make their return to campus and summer winds down, there are still a ton of events to celebrate August in Madison. Wondering where to begin? You’ve come to the right place.

🎸 Keep the Festivities Going

The Mustard Museum will host the annual celebration of National Mustard Day in downtown Middleton. With a ton of different vendors and live music, National Mustard Day is turning the town yellow! Listen up for more about the Mustard Museum.

Sugar Maple Music Festival will occur Aug. 2-3 at W.G. Lunney Lake Farm County Park. Three different stages show off various types of music, dances, workshops, and more.

The Taste of Madison will take over the Capitol Square Aug. 31 and Sept. 1. There will be more than 80 different food vendors from all around the Madison area for folks to try out and enjoy. There will also be a bunch of different musical artists.

Also, a quick shoutout to Ride the Drive which will take place Aug. 11. The community takes advantage of blocked off streets, allowing them to bike openly on the roads to different Madison parks.

✏️ Welcome Back Students

Many leases on and around the isthmus start in mid-August, which means Hippie Christmas is here! This unofficial local tradition is a time when residents put out their unwanted household items for other Madisonians to scoop up. This is a hectic time for Madison, so make sure to be prepared!

On Aug. 30, the Badger football team will be back in Camp Randall to kick off the 2024 season. (Literally.) The Badgers will play Western Michigan at 8 p.m. U Rah Rah!

☀️ Soak in the Sun

While Madison is still warm, take advantage and bike the Capital City Trail. This beautiful trail takes you along rolling hillsides and tree-covered canopies. You can get onto this trail from the Southwest Commuter Bike Path.

Rent different waterfront equipment from Outdoor UW to kick off the return to school! Or, just soak in the final days of summer in Madison. Grab a paddle board or a kayak and head out on Lake Mendota.

⬆️ Last Week’s Answer

This beautiful mural can be found at Bandit Tacos & Coffee. The artist of this mural is Stefan Matioc and they have art all around the Madison area.

🥳 Congrats to Megan M. for answering first AND for also being the first to guess the artist!

⬇️ This Week’s Clues

Where do you think this picture was taken? A few hints:

• This cafe is located on Willy Street.
• Its website has the phrase “coffee makes me nice.”
• There is a ton of local art in this coffee shop.

Your Guide to August in Madison

August is moving season in Madison, which means boxes, trucks, and Hippie Christmas! This month will also bring some major community events like Ride the Drive, Sessions at McPike Park, Africa Fest, and Orton Park Festival. So buckle up because City Cast Madison host Bianca Martin, executive producer Hayley Sperling, and I are cruising into August and making the most of it.