🍝 Italian restaurant coming from Bar Corallini chef

🗳️ Elections Board Pushes Changes After Madison Ballot Snafu

• The Wisconsin Elections Commission has ordered new rules for the Madison clerk’s office in the wake of an investigation into why 193 absentee ballots went uncounted last fall. But the interim clerk, who is also the city attorney, is questioning whether the board has the authority to impose rules that go above and beyond state law.
• The commission determined that a “confluence of errors” and “complete lack of leadership” led to the ballots being overlooked. Former Madison City Clerk Maribeth Witzel-Behl resigned from her post following the investigation. The commission said Madison needs to change how it tracks absentee ballots throughout the process.
• But acting clerk Michael Haas says the clerk’s office has already upgraded policies to make sure such a mistake doesn’t happen again, and the WEC can’t enforce “future implementation of specific procedures in excess of those required in the statutes.” [🔒WSJ, News 3, City of Madison]

🌡️ Hot (and Wet) Enough For Ya?

• It’s been a weird summer for weather in Madison, as I don’t need to tell you. For the first seven months of 2025, it was a pretty dry year. But Madison has gotten so much rain this month, it’s put us way ahead of the average. It’s also been one of the most humid summers on record.
• 🎧 Dig deeper: On the City Cast Madison podcast today, Wisconsin state climatologist Steve Vavrus guides host Bianca Martin on the ups and downs of our summer weather rollercoaster, and why heavy rain events will become more common with climate change. [ 🔒 WSJ, 🎧 City Cast Madison]

🍝 Bar Corallini Chef Opening New Spot & Taj Indian Returns

• Giovanni Novella, the chef and co-owner at Bar Corallini for the past six years, is planning to open an Italian restaurant on the west side in the fall. Osteria Novella, located on University Avenue in the spot recently vacated by Novanta, will have a seafood-oriented menu inspired by Novella’s childhood on the Italian coast. It will also serve pizza, fresh pasta, and Novella’s signature housemade limoncello.
• Meanwhile, just days after The Borough Beer Co. & Kitchen closed on Park Street, the owners of Taj Indian Restaurant announced they would be moving into the space. Taj Indian Restaurant was once Madison’s longest-running Indian restaurant, but was forced to close in 2019 to make way for a new development.
• Taj’s owners plan a modernized concept dubbed Taj Indian Cuisine and Bar, with a target opening date of Sept. 14. [Cap Times, 🔒 WSJ]

In my past “Sister City” features about Ohibiro, Japan and Freiburg, Germany, I relied on online research to discover these foreign cities. (The City Cast Madison expense budget doesn’t have a line item for overseas travel.)

But for today’s Sister City feature on Vilnius, Lithuania, I have some expert help. Madison Minutes reader and former Madison resident Landyn R. now lives in Vilnius, and he and a couple of his Madison expat friends answered my questions on why he loves living there. Here’s what makes Vilnius such a special place.

🇱🇹 Where is Vilnius?

Vilnius is the largest city in Lithuania and, like Madison, its capital city. It’s located in the southeastern corner of the country where the Vilnia and Neris rivers meet. With a population of over 747,000, it is the most populous city in all of the Baltic states.

🏙️ How Old is Vilnius?

Pretty old! Its history dates back to the Stone Age, and in 1323, it became the capital of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. Over the centuries, the city has become a center of science and culture, attracting migrants from east and west, and developing a diverse population of Orthodox, German, and Jewish citizens. Occupied over the years by the Germans, the Russians, and the Teutonic Knights, Lithuania became independent from the Soviet Union in 1991.

😀 How is It Like Madison?

Landyn said that life in Vilnius is centered around getting out and enjoying the city. When he sees people out picnicking in the parks or kayaking on the Neris, he’s reminded of seeing Madisonians at Olbrich Park or boating on the lakes. The people are also very friendly, although they don’t do Midwestern small talk.

🏰 What Should We See?

Landyn’s friend Chessie said they love to get out and explore all of Vilnius’ little communities – the arts communities, the farmers’ markets, the sewing circles. Their friend Willow loves to swim in the lakes in the summer.

Art and architecture buffs will love exploring the churches and buildings of Vilnius – the city’s Old Town has been named a UNESCO World Heritage Site for its medieval layout and mix of Gothic, Renaissance, Baroque, and classical architecture. Trakai Island Castle is a must-visit, as the 14th-century castle was the center of the Grand Duchy and was restored in the 1950s as a symbol of Lithuanian heritage despite pushback from the Soviets.

The museums in Vilnius cover literal centuries of history, from the National Museum of Lithuania to the Museum of Occupations and Freedom Fights, which is housed in the city’s former KGB headquarters.