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It's Mifflin weekend

Buckle up, it's Mifflin weekend.

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It's Mifflin weekend
Photo via Wikimedia commons

Happy Friday, Madison!

We've made it through the week. Are you ready to party this weekend?

If you're a University of Wisconsin student, the answer is probably yes because this Saturday is the annual Mifflin Street Block Party.

If you have no idea what I'm talking about, here's a quick history lesson.

The annual event dates back to 1969. Although a story has spread that the party started as an anti-Vietnam War protest, its roots are much simpler.

As Madison365 wrote in 2018, the first Mifflin Street Block Party was "just a chance for students to smoke pot and dance out in the street. Nothing more, nothing less."

Until the cops showed up.

Disagreements between police and the partying students escalated into a three-day riot, resulting in more than 80 arrests, various injuries, and endless lore.

Though the event has gotten serious backlash over the decades for varying concerns — last year a porch collapsed and sent two people to the hospital — it still draws thousands of partygoers. Watch out for wandering students and rouge Flabongos.

— Hayley

Image via Flickr user Richard Hurd

🎭 Check out the Overture Center's season lineup.

  • The 2023-24 season at Overture Center features seven Broadway shows and dozens of other national and international performances.
  • The shows include Disney’s Aladdin, My Fair Lady, Beetlejuice, Les Misérables, Mamma Mia!, Tina — The Tina Turner Musical, and Moulin Rouge! The Musical. You can check out the full season here.
  • "Our programming team has worked diligently to bring you the best artistry from around the world," Overture's Chief Artistic Experiences Officer Tim Sauers said in a statement. "You’ll sing and dance, laugh and cry, and experience awe this season as the arts energize your spirit and soul."

🏀 The Bucks are out of the Playoffs.

  • The Bucks' made a shocking first-round playoff exit after losing 128-126 in overtime to the No. 8-seed Miami Heat Wednesday.
  • The loss means the end of the season for the No.1-seeded Bucks, who won the championship title in only six games in 2021.
  • "Some days it's your turn, some days it's not your turn," Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo said following the game. "And that's what sports is about. You don't always win."

🚫 Watch out for traffic on West Johnson Street.

  • Starting today, West Johnson Street will be reduced to two lanes between North Broom and State Streets.
  • The change will remain in place until the completion of the 10-story oLiv apartment building, which is set to open mid-2024.
  • The city says drivers should expect extra traffic delays during the afternoon rush hour. Bummer.
Images via Olbrich Gardens

🌱 Last call for perennial plants.

🏡 Your lunchtime read: Madison ‘YIMBY’ leader doesn’t like calling others NIMBYs.

  • Via Cap Times: "Will Ochowicz is a self-described housing nerd. Born and raised in Wisconsin, he’s lived in Madison for 10 years and closely follows all the city and county discussions on zoning, rent prices and new developments.

    Two years ago he founded Madison is For People, a grassroots organization dedicated to making housing more affordable, reducing greenhouse gas emissions and ending homelessness. Ochowicz and the residents involved in the group have one main message: Say yes to more housing in the city."
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🎙️ Today on City Cast Madison

Photo by Dylan Brogan

Northern Lights, Climate Change Controversy and Much Ado About Parking

What a week it was in Madison. The Northern Lights were visible on Sunday night. The Madison City Council lifts a ban on nunchucks. Politicos debate taxes at the State Capitol while Madisonians get miffed about this year’s property assessments. Senator Ron Johnson looks for the silver lining in the grim news of climate change. And a local political controversy stirs about whether State Assembly members can hold other full-time jobs. Plus, Dylan goes to the mat for parking ramps. Dylan Brogan and Molly Stentz are here to round up the news that… was.

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🐶 Friday Floof

Behold, your weekly floof! This is Jingles and she is the true physical manifestation of a floof. This 15-year-old queen loves to show off her floof by laying on her back (as pictured). She also enjoys the finer things in life, like napping with her catnip stuffed squirrels, hanging out on the balcony, and watching YouTube videos of mice.

😸 Do you have a floof to share with the Madison Minutes community? Fill out this form for the opportunity to be featured.

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