🍜 The best new places to eat in Madison

🎓 UW’s Chief Diversity Officer Removed From Position

• LaVar Charleston has been removed from his role as UW-Madison’s chief diversity officer, according to an email by Chancellor Jennifer Mnookin.
• Mnookin said in the email that an ongoing internal review found “areas of concern in the financial operations and fiscal judgment” in the Division of Diversity, Equity and Educational Achievement that Charleston headed.
• Charleston will return to his backup role as a clinical professor, and Provost Charles Isbell will serve as interim director. [Madison365]

❄️ Lack of Snow Could Put Water Lines At Risk

• The recent extreme cold temperatures put underground main water pipelines at risk of bursting. And, perhaps counterintuitively, the lack of snow this winter makes that risk even higher, utility experts say.
• That’s because a layer of snow can act as a layer of insulation that keeps the soil warmer. Without that snow, the frost layer can creep deeper into the soil and cause problems. Madison Water Utility spokesman Marcus Pearson said Madison typically has about 200 main breaks per year, with 90% of those happening between November and March.
• Related: Worried about your home’s pipes? Home maintenance maven and social media superstar Mercury Stardust shared their tips for getting your house or apartment ready for the cold months on the City Cast Madison podcast. [WMTV, City Cast Madison 🎧]

🌳 Year-Round Park Shelter Opening On East Side

• Door Creek Park is about a month away from opening its new year-round park shelter, and reservations are now being taken to host events this spring and summer.
• The shelter at the 160-acre park on Littlemore Drive comes nearly 20 years after area residents asked for a community space they could use for parties and other events. The shelter will be big enough for 100 people, features a prep kitchen, and is partly powered by solar energy. [ 🔒WSJ]

Welcome to our list of the best new restaurants and bars opening in and around Madison! We’ll update this list each month. If we’ve missed a new spot you think we should feature, let us know!

Alimentari (West Side)

Fans of this European-style deli and food shop have been put on hold since Alimentari closed its Brearly Street location last month. But fear not. Alimentari’s new home on Monroe Street in Knickerbocker Place is scheduled to open this month to offer an expanded selection of meats, cheeses and wines.

Caribou Coffee (Far East Side)

The Minnesota-based coffee chain has nearly 500 locations, including over 50 in Wisconsin. But it hasn’t had one in Madison until a Caribou Coffee opened just on American Parkway near the UW Health East Madison hospital.

Apex Grill (State Street)

Apex Grill offers Korean barbecue with an emphasis on to-go orders. The menu features several kinds of bulgogi, as well as entrees such as spicy squid and kimchi fried rice.

Thalaiva’s Restaurant (Middleton)

After a brief stint as a Mexican restaurant called “Fajitas, Tapas and Bar,” the former Roman Candle location on Parmenter Street is now home to this new restaurant offering Indian and Indo-China cuisine.

Nano Sweet Cafe (Far West Side)

This coffee shop on Mineral Point Road prides itself on its Middle Eastern delicacies, including Lebanese Nights and sweet cheese rolls. It also offers Italian tiramisu and French crepes along with smoothies and fruit salads.

Atico Lounge (Capitol East)

The Moxy Hotel on East Washington Ave. will soon be getting a rooftop restaurant specializing in Latin American cuisine and cocktails. Its location near both Breese Stevens Field and The Sylvee should make it a favorite for pre- and post-concert visits.