
City Cast Madison
📚 New bookstore coming to Garver
September 2, 2026 · – Rob Thomas
Good morning, Madison! Today is the first day of school for UW-Madison students! On the City Cast Madison podcast, host Bianca Martin and executive producer Hayley Sperling, both Badger alumni themselves, were inspired by this recent article in Madison Magazine to share some advice about what they wish they knew when they started as freshmen.
Plus, UW-Madison professor of medicine Dr. Amy Kind talks about an important study that examines where you live with your risk of getting Alzheimer’s disease. Plus, will legal weed still be a thing in Wisconsin by the end of the year? Listen and find out 🌱

What's CITY Talking About

📚 A New Chapter for The Book Deal: The Book Deal will open a second location inside Garver Feed Mill this fall. While the original location on Mineral Point Road boasts 30,000 used books, the Garver location will be smaller and curated for the historic building and its neighborhood, with a nonfiction section specializing in outdoor and wellness books. [Madison Magazine, The Book Deal]
💸 Committee Says Yes to Willy Street Biz, No To Monitor: The Madison Finance Committee voted Monday to create a fund to support businesses in the Williamson Street area that were affected by the July 22 fatal police shooting of Corey Ruiz and subsequent protests. But the fund will be $75,000, far short of the $275,000 originally requested.
- But the committee rejected a request for an additional $28,500 for staffing and services in the Office of the Independent Police Monitor. [News 3, City Cast Madison]
✈️ Airport Adds New Nonstops to Warm-Weather Locales: It may be 90 degrees now, but winter will be here before we know it. In anticipation, Dane County Regional Airport announced Tuesday it will be bringing back nonstop flights to Miami, Fort Myers, and Phoenix this fall. The flights will end in the spring. [WMTV]
🏃 Madison To Host Cross Country Championships: Some of the country’s top runners will come to Madison Oct. 30 for the Big Ten Men’s And Women’s Cross Country Championships. The competition will take place at Thomas Zimmer Championship Cross Country Course near University Ridge Golf Course. [Fox47]
🪐 Cosmic Delights Times Three: Cosmic Delights, the Madison store known for incense, crystals, jewelry, and other out-of-this-world wares, is opening a third location in the Northgate Shopping Center. It will join locations on East Washington Avenue and South Gammon Road. [InBusiness]
🐶 Missing Service Dog Trainee Reunited With Owners: Sadie, a 15-month-old Labradoodle, ran away from her owners last Wednesday and was missing for three days. But she was found Saturday by a kayaker who spotted her stuck in brush along a shoreline. Now that she’s home and has a clean bill of health, she will finish her training to become a service dog. [News 3]
🚴 Take the Smart Trips Challenge! RoundTrip Greater Madison challenges Dane County residents to find other ways of traveling this September other than driving alone. Take public transportation, carpool, ride your bike, or some other transportation method at least four times a week during the month, and you’ll be eligible to win prizes! [City of Madison]
Sponsored Content

Affordable solar option for renters in Madison ☀️
MGE's Shared Solar lets renters support local solar energy — no panels, no installation, no hassle! You just sign up online. And if you move anywhere in MGE's service area, your subscription moves with you. Get started in My Account.

Where Is It?

⬆️ Last Week’s Photo
These taps are located at Dotty’s Dumpling Dowry on Frances Street!
🎉 Congratulations to Tricia F., Craig W., and Wait N. for being the first three people to guess correctly!
⬇️ This Week’s Photo

Where is this stained glass, known as “Tree of Light,” located? A few clues:
- It’s on Madison’s east side
- It’s near a bike path and a labyrinth
- Even though it’s stained glass, the street name references another kind of craftsman!
Thanks to City Cast Madison reader Jen V. for sending in this week’s Where Is It! If you’ve got a photo that you think would make a great Where Is It, email it to me at [email protected] 📸

What To Do
Wednesday, Sep. 2
- 🧘All Levels Yoga at Goodman Community Center
- 🧫 Badgers on Tap: Microbiology Night at The Rigby
- 🏳️🌈 Drag Karaoke at Cordial Madison
- 🐉 Dragonfly Walk at University of Wisconsin-Madison Arboretum
- 🪡 Free Mending Service at Goodman Community Center
- 🍳 Madison B2B Marketing Breakfast at Northstreet
- 🤔 Smarter Than You Trivia at The Harmony Bar and Grill
- 🩸 Serial Killer Speakeasy at The Bur Oak (also Sept. 4 and Sept. 5)
Thursday, Sep. 3
- 🧘 All Levels Yoga at Goodman Community Center
- 🌈 Cheers with Queers at Gibs
- 🤪 Comedy at the Cabaret at North Street Cabaret
- ☮️ CommUNITY Dinner at Hosto Hoci in Fitchburg
- 🤔 General Knowledge Trivia Night at Doundrins Distilling
- 🎤 Indie Power Hour at Muso
- 🍎 Still Life Drawing Sessions at Ugly Dumpling Studio
- 😆 Wolves of Glendale at Majestic Theatre
Sponsored Content

A New Home Starts with Smart Savings
Our Great Rate Program helps you secure a below-market mortgage rate on select homes. Our $2,000 Moving Credit helps cover moving expenses, and our Lease Liberation Program can help pay up to $7,000 of your remaining apartment lease. Together, they help make your move a little easier and your savings go a little further.
📰 Extra! Extra! It’s a big deal to send one kid off to college at UW-Madison. But six? Meet the Cavanagh family, which includes two sets of triplets who are all attending UW this fall. They should have their own section at Camp Randall 🎒
Free · Daily
