🛶 Ancient canoes found in Lake Mendota

🛶 Canoe Found in Lake Mendota is Over 5,000 Years Old

• The six dugout canoes found submerged in Lake Mendota includes one estimated to be 5,200 years old, making it the oldest such canoe found in any of the five great lakes.
• Archaeologists and historians said this week that the canoes found in June near Shorewood Hills were used by indigenous people who were the ancestors of the Ho-Chunk Nation. They claim that the canoes are providing valuable data about the indigenous tribes.
• The analysis will continue into next year, after which they will be transferred to Texas A&M University to be preserved. [ 🔒 WSJ]

🧑‍🏫 Over 200 Madison Teachers Haven’t Completed Required Training

• Under a 2023 state law that revamped literacy education in Wisconsin, teachers have to undergo new training and reading instruction.
• While 524 Madison teachers have completed that training, 179 local teachers have not finished it, and 25 have not started it. The training required under the new Act 20 law involves what is called the “science of reading,” focusing on phonics a.k.a sounding out words and letters. [Cap Times]

🏫 UW Nursing School Dean Dies at 69

• Linda D. Scott, Dean Emeriti of the UW-Madison School of nursing and the school’s first Black dean, died Monday at 69.
• Scott died just days after she stepped down from her role due to health reasons. She had originally planned to retire at the end of the 2025-26 school year.
• Scott was appointed to lead the school in July 2016, and during her tenure the number of tenure-track faculty doubled, and its undergraduate nursing program was ranked eighth overall and fifth among public universities by U.S. News and World Report. [Daily Cardinal]

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!

One of the big recent openings for diners recently is One Social Food Hall, which opened recently in the One09 luxury apartment building on W. Wilson St. On the City Cast Madison podcast today, executive producer Hayley Sperling talks to Cap Times food and culture editor Lindsay Christians about all that the new food hall has to offer.

One Social Food Hall (Downtown)

For the adventurous or the indecisive, a food hall has a lot to offer. One Social Food Hall currently has five vendors – Senora Machetes (an offshoot of Senor Machetes) offering Mexican food, Palio serving Tuscan-style pizza and pasta, Casey’s Tavern offering burgers and other pub grub, and Real Seafood Co. serving up lobster rolls and tuna poke bowls. Swing by One Social Bar for a cocktail or a Wisconsin beer to go with your meal.

One Prime Steakhouse (Downtown)

Located next door to the food hall is this new upscale steakhouse, taking full advantage of the panoramic views of Lake Monona while serving Waygu Tomahawk steaks, lobster tails, wedge salad and more.

Blue Jack Cocktail Lounge (Downtown)

The final piece of what’s now being called One Social District is this chic cocktail bar offering classic and innovative cocktails, an extensive spirits list, and appetizers.

Osteria Novella (University Ave.)

Nov. 22 is opening day for this new Italian restaurant from Chef Giovanni Novella, the co-owner and former executive chef of Bar Corallini, with a menu inspired by the flavors of his childhood growing up on Italy’s Amalfi Coast.

Qamaria Yemeni Coffee Co. (Far West Side)

This new coffee shop on Odana Road is part of a small Midwest chain started by two Yemeni entrepreneurs. In addition to cappuccinos and caramel macchiatos, they serve Turkish coffee and a Qamaria Latte that mixes espresso and steamed milk with cardamom and cinnamon.

One of the perks of being a City Cast Madison Neighbor is that our members get to send a Neighborhood Shoutout, showcasing a business, a nonprofit, or even a person who makes Madison just a little bit better.

We share these shoutouts in both the Madison Minutes newsletter and on the City Cast Madison podcast. This week, our Neighbors want to shout out two other independent media outlets in Madison that they treasure.

📣 Kim I. wanted to shout out community radio station WORT-FM! “When I first moved to Madison I stumbled across WORT, and was impressed this station was giving voice to events and issues here in Madison in addition to bringing a WIDE variety of music. This summer their volunteers were at nearly every festival I went to, along with their $1 CDs that brought me additional great music.

“WORT is on the ropes due to disappearing federal funding. WORT is integral to this community and part of what makes Madison special. Worth a listen, and definitely worth supporting.”

📣 Nicki D. wants to celebrate the “amazing folks” at Tone Madison! “Time and again, Tone Madison brings us compelling investigative reporting that reaches far beyond traditional media. Their stories are poignant, relevant, entertaining, and often not covered anywhere else.”

We also want to welcome a new City Cast Madison Neighbor, Benjamin R.! We hope to hear a Neighborhood Shoutout from you soon, Benjamin! If you want to shout out something in Madison that’s near and dear to you, join Benjamin and become a City Cast Madison Neighbor!