💰 City wants to keep property taxes low

🏥 UW Health Plans New Medical Center For West Side

• A new $122 million medical center at 750 University Row, scheduled to be finished in 2027, will replace UW Health’s aging clinic at 20 S. Park St.
• The University Row Medical Center will include adult and pediatric care, urgent care, imaging and lab services, and a pharmacy. The four-story building, an expansion of its existing Digestive Health Center, will provide urgent care services instead of the clinic on Mineral Point Road near West Towne Mall. [ 🔒 WSJ]

💰 City Leaders Aim For Lowest Tax Hike in 40 Years

• Forty years ago, Ronald Reagan was president, New Coke was a big flop, and “Back to the Future” was a big hit in theaters. (More on that later.) And 1985 was the last time Madison residents got a property tax hike as low as the one proposed by Mayor Satya-Rhodes Conway and City Council leadership.
• Under the mayor’s 2025-26 proposed budget, the city’s share of the tax bill for the owner of the average Madison home valued at $481,300 would rise about $30 per year. To achieve that, the mayor is proposing moving about $218,000 from the city’s unassigned fund balance to cover additional expenses approved last month, rather than adding them to the tax levy. [City of Madison]

Accusers Say Musician Hasn’t Been Held Accountable

• After vanishing from the Madison music scene four years ago following a raft of allegations about inappropriate relationships with underage music students, musician David Henzie-Skogen has rejoined the band he founded, Youngblood Brass Band, on a European tour.
• Scott Gordon of Tone Madison released a lengthy investigative piece on Henzie-Skogen, and talked to several of his accusers, who believe he hasn’t sufficiently addressed or acknowledged the accusations against him. Gordon went on WORT-FM recently to talk about the article. [Tone Madison, WORT]

Do you know what “cuffing season” is? As the weather gets colder and the holidays approach, some singles tend to be on the lookout for a new relationship – at least to last through Valentine’s Day, anyway.

On the City Cast Madison podcast today, host Bianca Martin and executive producer Hayley Sperling hit the streets with their microphones to find out about the state of the Madison dating scene.

Not sure how to get that first date rolling? We’ve also curated a list of 50 date ideas in and around Madison for you to take advantage of now and when the warm weather rolls back around.

Activity Oriented Adventures

Go for a bike ride in the UW Arboretum.

Take a walk through the Chazen Art Museum, which is free to enjoy.

Read your books at James Madison Park.

Head to the farmers market on Capitol Square on Saturday mornings.

Rent a canoe, paddleboard, kayak, or more with Madison Boats.

Learn how to climb at Boulders Climbing Gym.

Tackle trivia night at one of the many bars in Madison. My go-to is the trivia at The Harmony Bar & Grill. Give our podcast with the mastermind of trivia, Paul Guse, a listen!

Pickleball is all the rage… why not try it on a date?!

The Henry Vilas Zoo is free for entry and you can even grab a bite nearby at ZuZu Cafe.

Have a laugh at Madison’s Comedy Club on State.

Go dancing at the Cardinal Bar.

Set up a hammock at any of the many parks in Madison.

Go for a walk in the Pheasant Branch Conservancy.

Head to Madison Axe Throwing for a quirky date.

Pitcher’s Pub is a great spot to play pool or darts.

Take a stroll through the Olbrich Botanical Gardens.

Go on a sunset cruise on Lake Mendota with Betty Lou Cruises.

Catch a UW sports game whether it is football, hockey, volleyball, or something else!

For something more adventurous, try mountain biking at Blue Mound State Park.

Watch a show or performance at the Overture Center for the Arts.

Walk around to the different shops on State Street.

Stargaze on Observatory Hill, overlooking Lake Mendota.

Learn a skill together like crocheting or pottery at Wheelhouse Studios.

Play cards at the rooftop bar Camp Trippalindee.

⬆️ Last Week’s Photo

The Vic’s Bait Shop fish is on the ceiling at the Village Bar!

🎉 Congratulations to Wait N., Michael F. and Molly W. for being the first three people to guess correctly!

⬇️ This Week’s Photo

Do you know where this big key is located? A few clues:

• It’s downtown
• It’s at a major intersection with two other key signs
• I hope your guess fits the “bill”!