🧁 Lane’s Bakery is back! Sorta.

⛪ Oldest Building On Capitol Square Needs a New Roof

• Grace Episcopal Church, the oldest congregation in Madison and the oldest building on the Capitol Square, is looking for help to fix the roof of its 170-year-old building.
• The slate roof of the building was replaced in 1980 and expected to last until the 2060s to 2080s , but is deteriorating faster than expected, causing the congregation to pay $10,000 per month to replace failing slate tiles.
• Grace Episcopal estimates that a new roof will cost $1.5 million, and a fundraising campaign has only raised about $500,000 so far. [ 🔒 WSJ, Grace Episcopal Church]

🧁 Lane’s Bakery Lives On, and The Herbiery Reopens

• If you’ve been missing the beloved kringle at Lane’s Bakery, the family-owned Park Street bakery that closed in 2023, you’re in luck. The bakery – or at least its signature pastries – are coming back.
• TNT’s Catering purchased Lane’s last year, and will offer its pastries for corporate and wholesale orders, as well as online orders for pickup at a Middleton location that is still under construction. That bakery will have Lane’s name and its distinctive red sign.
• Meanwhile, fans of herb-based beers can rejoice that The Herbiery has reopened its taproom on Winnebago Street. The brewery, which makes beer without hops, closed in February because of declining sales, but is back open with limited hours and an altered tap list. [ 🔒WSJ, TNT’s Catering, Isthmus]

🥊 The Pocan/Van Orden Beef is Real, and It’s Getting Worse

• The feud between two Wisconsin congressmen, Democratic U.S. Rep. Mark Pocan and Republican U.S. Rep. Derrick Van Orden, only seems to be escalating despite some efforts by outsiders to turn the temperature down.
• The duo, who are from adjoining districts, have traded personal insults repeatedly on social media, and the online spat spilled out into public view last month in front of cameras. One of their colleagues in the state delegation, Republican U.S. Rep. Reid Ribble, told Wisconsin Public Radio he worries that the acrimony will hurt Wisconsin’s ability to secure federal funding. [WPR, Spectrum News]

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!

This weekend is Taste of Madison! On the City Cast Madison podcast today, Cap Times food and culture editor Lindsay Christians gives executive producer Hayley Sperling the scoop on how to do Madison’s small bites food festival right.

Check out all of these spots and more of our favorite local treasures on Overlook Maps.

Ellipse Coffee & Crepes (State Street)

This new coffee shop opened at the beginning of August at 430 State St. in the space formerly occupied by Sencha Tea. In addition to java, they serve ooey-gooey breakfasts for those with a sweet tooth.

Moon Bar (Downtown)

Just in time for the kickoff to UW Badgers season on Aug. 28 at Camp Randall, this new bar has opened at 328 Gorham St. in the space where Danny’s Pub used to be. Expect gluten-free beers on tap, a dance floor, and of course, the Badgers on the TV.

Taj Indian Cuisine and Bar (Park Street)

The sons of the owners of the popular Taj Indian restaurant on Park Street, which closed in 2019, plan to revive it at 444 S. Park St. in the space formerly occupied by The Borough. The menu will take Taj Indian’s traditional dishes forward, with a full bar and Indian fusion dishes. Expect a mid-September opening.

Osteria Novella (West Side)

Another quick turnaround for the University Avenue spot that formerly housed Novanta pizza. Giovanni Novella, chef a co-owner at Bar Corallini, wants to create a seafood-forward Italian restaurant inspired by his hometown on the Italian coast. Expect a fall opening.

One of the perks of becoming a City Cast Madison Neighbor is that our members get the chance to shout out something in Madison that means a lot to them, be it a business, a nonprofit, an event or some other cool thing. Here’s what our Neighbors think you ought to know about.

📣 Leah K. says you ought to eat at El Rancho Mexican Grill! “My coworkers and I go to the one on Cottage Grove Road frequently, and staff are so friendly and professional. The food is fantastic, fresh, and very fast. I highly recommend for an easy lunch.”

📣 Amanda G. (our newest City Cast Madison Neighbor!) wants to shout out WisCARES Veterinary Clinic where she works! “I am somewhat biased, but I want to shout out my co-workers for doing amazing things to serve this community. WisCARES focuses on helping low-income and insecurely housed people and their pets receive care through veterinary and social services.

“We are also associated with the schools of UW Veterinary, Social Work, and Pharmacy to bring in students and aid the next generations to learn real-world skills and how to support communities like Madison.”

If you want to shout out the places that make Madison meaningful to you, become a City Cast Madison Neighbor! We’d love to have your support and know more about what makes the city special to you!