🎄 Merry Hippie Christmas!

💰 51 Years of AAA Bond Rating

• Madison received a triple-A bond rating for the 51st year in a row. This is the highest ranking a city can get. Madison has a low exposure to environmental, social, and governance risks that could negatively impact credit ratings.
• The bigger picture: Madison’s bond rating matters because it’s a key component of keeping borrowing costs low and helps the city make investments for the future.
• Related: Want to learn more about Madison’s budget? Give this conversation with Madison’s Finance Director Dave Schmiedicke a listen. [City of Madison, City Cast Madison 🎧]

🥡 New Location for Taigu Chinese Restaurant

• After two years, Taigu Chinese restaurant is opening their new restaurant on Aug. 20. The new spot will be in the former home of Knoche's Old Fashioned Butcher Shop on the far west side. The new space is 5,100 square feet, three times bigger than the original restaurant.
• This restaurant specializes in homemade Shanxi noodles but offers much more than just noodles. The original Middleton location will stay open, but just for dinner takeout. [🔒WSJ]

🎒 Want a Say in What's Next for MMSD?

• On Nov. 5, Madison voters will see two referendum questions from the Madison School District about facilities and operational funding. To help inform voters about the referendums and help answer questions, the district plans to hold 11 in-person meetings throughout August and September.
• Each meeting will be held in schools selected for improvement, four of which will be open to the community.
• These meetings will allow people to see the current conditions of facilities and plans that the school board has for the district. [MMSD, 🔒WSJ]

⬆️ Last Week’s Answer

This sign is at none other than Madison Sourdough, a great spot to grab a sandwich or a coffee 🥖

🥳 Congrats to Michelle F. for being the first to guess the location!

⬇️ This Week’s Clues

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

• It is considered one of Madison’s many “ghost signs.”
• It is close to a coffee shop that was on a recent “Where Is It.”
• It is located on the corner of an intersection in Madison.