Things to do in Madison, WI: Dec. 6-12

Hi there!
This is the first post that features event selections from the Tone Madison team.
Be on the lookout for this emoji: 🟠. That's your signal that Tone's team recommends checking the event out.
Tone has been a friend to the newsletter since the very beginning, and we’re excited they’re interested in partnering on events coverage. Their team knows Madison’s arts and music landscape better than anybody else.
A couple of other stray notes:
🎄'Tis the season for holiday pop-up bars. Young Blood has decorated their space to be The Office-themed. And with Miracle 2021, Lucille is transforming their restaurant into the "ultimate Christmas Cocktail Bar."
🎅🏽 Hilldale's got a mall Santa. Check out his full schedule here. If you're into the idea of taking photos with a cow dressed up as Santa, you'll want to be at the West Towne Mall Chick-Fil-A on Saturday.
🎁 Can you help this local grandparent find activities for their grandkids this holiday season? She's looking for suggestions that are a good fit for a pandemic-era holiday season. More on that below the event listings.
- Sam
Monday, Dec. 6
- Queer-Jewish-Muslim: Constructing Hyphenated Religious Identities through Tactics of Intersubjectivity with Katrina Daly Thompson, Professor of African Cultural Studies at UW-Madison. 2 p.m. Virtual. Free.
- Curator Conversations: The 80th Anniversary of the Attack at Pearl Harbor with Wisconsin Veterans Museum. 12 p.m. Virtual. Free.
- Politicization and Polarization in 30 Years of Climate Change News with Sedona Chinn, UW Assistant Professor of Life Sciences Communication. Virtual. 3:30 p.m. Free.
- Pundamonium, a pun slam, at High Noon Saloon. Doors at 6 p.m., show at 7 p.m. $7.
- Hour Of Code with BadgerBots. Free coding workshop for kids ages 7-12. 6:30 p.m.
- Korine with Johnny Dynamite and the Bloodsuckers at Crucible. Doors at 7 p.m., show at 8 p.m. $12 in advance, $15 at door.
Tuesday, Dec. 7
- State of the Sectors 2021 with the Greater Madison Area Chamber of Commerce. A panel will discuss recent economic trends and the findings from a soon-to-be-released regional business survey. 8 a.m. Free for Chamber members, $20 for non-members.
- Bicycle Through Winter event with UW's Bicycle Resource Center. Tips on biking through the winter from Chuck Strawser, UW Bicycle & Pedestrian Coordinator. 12 p.m.
- Presentation: “Stopping the Next One: Chronicling the race to prevent the next pandemic” with journalist Jacob Kushner and UW Anthropology Professor Karen Strier at Ingraham Hall. 12 p.m. Free.
- Panel: Confronting Sexual Assault on the UW-Madison Campus at Memorial Union. 6:30 p.m. Free.
- Emily Wolfe w/ Kiss the Tiger at High Noon Saloon. Doors at 7 p.m., show at 8 p.m. Tickets start at $15.
- Arun Luthra Residency Celebration at Arts + Literature Laboratory. Saxophonist, composer and konnakol artist Arun Luthra fuses Black American Music with elements of Indian classical music. Doors at 7 p.m., show at 7:30 p.m. Free. 🟠
- Public Domain Movie Night: Santa Claus Conquers the Martians (1964) at Bierock. From IMDb: “The Martians kidnap Santa Claus because there is nobody on Mars to give their children presents.” The film has a remarkably low rating of 2.7 stars out of 10. 8 p.m.
Wednesday, Dec. 8
- Mad City Story Slam at State Line Distillery. Open mic storytelling event. Theme: blunders. Registration at 5:30 p.m. with our first stories at 6 p.m.
- Vintage holiday music party at Harmony Bar & Grill. Join DJ Shotski and friends for an all-vinyl, vintage holiday music party. Free, but contributions to the Goodman Community Center are welcome. 6-8 p.m.
- Cocktails and book signing with Jaimie Sherling, author of “Queen to QUEENS: How the Madison Drag Community Saved My Life” at Leopold's Books Bar Caffè. 6 p.m.
- Virtual Conversation: Matthew Rothschild, author of “12 Ways To Save Democracy in Wisconsin,” and Rep. Francesca Hong. Hosted by Room of One’s Own. 7 p.m. Free.
- Jason Mraz with Toca Rivera at the Orpheum Theater. Doors at 6:30 p.m., show at 8 p.m. Tickets start at $40.50.
- Wiki X Navy Blue at High Noon Saloon. Doors at 7 p.m., show at 8 p.m. Tickets start at $15.
- Wisconsin Chamber Orchestra presents Handel’s Messiah at First Congregational United Church of Christ. $35 for a single ticket, $17.50 each for 2+ tickets. 7 p.m.
Thursday, Dec. 9
- Storytime with The Nutcracker cast at Madison Children's Museum. "Join our friends from Madison Ballet for a reading of the Nutcracker story, followed by a meet & greet and photos with the Sugar Plum Fairy and the Nutcracker Prince." 10 a.m. Free with admission.
- Wisconsin’s Sea Grant’s “Lake Talks" with Moheb Soliman. Online, 7 p.m. Free. 🟠
- Hour Of Code with BadgerBots. Free coding workshop for kids ages 7-12. 6:30 p.m.
- State of the Museum. Chazen Director Amy Gilman presents her third annual State of the Museum. 6:30 p.m. Virtual option.
- Mystery Science Theater 3000 LIVE: Time Bubble Tour at the Overture. Tickets start at $35.
- Arlo Mckinley with Jeremy Pinnell at High Noon Saloon. Doors at 7 p.m. show at 8 p.m. Tickets start at $15.
- Charlie Painter Trio at Cafe CODA. 7 p.m. $10.
Friday, Dec. 10
- The Earthlings at Bos Meadery. “The Mead Hall is getting ready to say Farewell to this current location by hosting some of our favorite bands.” 7 p.m. $10.
- Comedy+ at Crucible Nightclub. “Stand-up comedy PLUS a little sumpin sumpin.” 👀 7 p.m. $10.
- The Unknown Man Of Shandigor (1967) screening at UW Cinematheque. Read more about the film in Lewis Peterson’s review for Tone Madison. Doors at 6:30 p.m., screening at 7 p.m. Free. 🟠
- The 10th and Final Mad Men Holiday Soiree at the Majestic. $25. "Break out your swankies 60s garb and head down for one last night of vintage magic." Themed cocktails, photo booth, music. Doors at 7 p.m., show at 8 p.m. $25.
- Pillow Talk: Kigurumi Edition at Crucible. All-inclusive fetish event. “Stay warm with us by dressing in your favorite Kigurumi or onesie (of course lingerie/fetish gear and Christmas outfits are also acceptable).” 9 p.m.-2 a.m. $5 if “dressed to impress” and $10 if wearing street clothes.
- VAMPA at The Annex. Tickets start at $20. Doors at 9 p.m .
- Pistols at Dawn, Tuesday Shipment, Mike Whayland at the Wisco. 10 p.m.-3 a.m. Suggested $5 donation for the bands.
Saturday, Dec. 11
- Holiday Hoopla organized by Madison Vintage Pop Up Collective at Monona Terrace. Vendors and shopping. 10 a.m.- 6 p.m.
- Exhibition Celebration/Reception + Artist Talk for “Santiago Cucullu: you still make me tremble” at MMoCA. 6 p.m. Free.
- STARSET with The Word Alive and All The Good Things at The Sylvee. Doors at 6 p.m., show at 7:30 p.m. Tickets start at $29.50.
- Bad Philosopher at Café Coda. Two shows (7 & 9 p.m.). $20. 🟠
- Puff and Paint III at Quality CBD. 7 p.m. $35 a person includes a CBD joint and drink.
- Magnolia (1999) at UW Cinematheque. From IMDb: “An epic mosaic of interrelated characters in search of love, forgiveness, and meaning in the San Fernando Valley.” Doors at 6:30 p.m., screening at 7 p.m. Free. 🟠
- Violinist Gil Shaham at Memorial Union. 7:30 p.m. Full price tickets start at $35, with discounts for UW students and staff. Virtual streaming option.
- Tone Madison Fundraiser Concert with Solid Freex, L.E.X., DJ Hanna, and DJ Tara at Garver Feed Mill. Doors at 7:30 p.m., show at 8 p.m. $12. 🟠
- An Evening with David Sedaris at the Overture Center. "David Sedaris returns to the road following the release of his most deeply personal and darkly hilarious collection, Calypso." 7:30 p.m. Tickets start at $45.50.
Sunday, Dec. 12
- Drag Brunch at Vintage Brewing Company Capitol East featuring Bianca Lynn Breeze, Setareh Ouellet, Denime the Queen and Latina Envy. 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Ticket price is $35 and includes a full brunch buffet.
- Workshop: Volunteer to Grow Native Plants at Lussier Family Heritage Center. Training will provide an overview of native plants and teach you everything you need to know to grow the plants. Most supplies provided. 1-3 p.m. Free.
- Free Kids' Art Adventures ArtKits at MMoCA. Pick up a free DIY Kids’ Art Adventures ArtKit complete with supplies and instructions for at-home crafts inspired by art in the MMoCA galleries. Pick up 1-2 p.m.
- Journeys From Berlin/1971 (1980) screening at The Chazen. From IMDb: “An epic meditation on psychoanalysis, the Baader-Meinhof, feminism, and pre-revolutionary Russia.” 2 p.m. Free.
- Houndmouth with Ona at the Majestic. Doors at 7 p.m., show at 8 p.m. Tickets start at $27.50.
🤔 Question from a neighbor
Our email address is always listed in our events posts in case you have a question.
One local grandparent wrote to us looking for things to do with her grandchildren. Here's what she said:
I thought you might have ideas for me as we give grandchildren an “experience” for Christmas ... With Covid and the range of ages from 2-15 I was wondering if your staff would have any ideas or know who/what to contact about finding an experience or having the experience brought to us.
Before Covid-19, these "experiences" included staying at a water park, mini golf, rock climbing, ice fishing, and sledding. Sometimes the activities were holiday-themed, sometimes they weren't.
As mentioned above, though, safety concerns are dominating this year's planning. "We are all vaccinated, the ones that can be….although we are still being careful," the email went on to say.
My immediate suggestions were the Zoo Lights display and the holiday-themed events at the Madison Children's Museum.
What would you add to the list? Email us at contact@madisonminutes.com with your thoughts, and I'll pass them along.
🟠 = Tone recommends
Wondering what that 🟠 means? That symbol next to an event listing means that Tone Madison’s team of writers and editors recommends checking it out. Tone knows Madison’s arts and music landscape better than anybody else.
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