Things to do in Madison, WI: Jan. 3-9

Hi there!

It brings me no pleasure to report that Covid-19 cases recently hit an all-time high in Dane County.

Thankfully, we're one of the most vaccinated counties in America.

But the spike is prompting people to rethink existing plans and procedures. In just one example, downtown restaurant Lucille just became one of the first restaurants in the area to require proof of vaccination.

- Sam

Monday, Jan. 3

• Monona City Council Meeting. 7 p.m. Streaming option.
• Open Mic at Come Back In. Hosted by Andy Smith and Bill Roberts Combo. 8 p.m. Free.

Tuesday, Jan. 4

• Rope (1948) screening at Alicia Ashman Library. From IMDb: "Two men attempt to prove they committed the perfect crime by hosting a dinner party after strangling their former classmate to death." 1:30 p.m. 🟠
• Pints and Politics hosted by the Republican Party of Dane County at Pedros Mexican Restauranté. Speakers: Brian Schimming, Scarlett Johnson, Erik Olsen, Ben Voekel, David Varnum, and James Firmani. 5:30 p.m.
• Sun Prairie City Council meeting. 7 p.m.
• Public Domain Movie Night: "His Girl Friday" (1940) at Bierock. From IMDb: "A newspaper editor uses every trick in the book to keep his ace reporter ex-wife from remarrying." 8 p.m. Free.

Wednesday, Jan 5.

• Presentation: ”Genetic Diversity Matters: A Field Exploration of 695 Carrot Varieties” with Jenyne Loarca. 7 p.m. Free.
• The Bachelor/Bachelorette Trivia at Bierock. 7 p.m. Free.

Thursday, Jan 6.

• Sock Class at Fiddlesticks Knits. First of a three-part class series. 3 p.m. $50.
• Read to a Dog at Sequoya Library. “Bring a favorite book (or find one at the library) and read to a furry friend.” 3:30-5:30 p.m. Free.
• Non-alcohol wine sampling at WineStyles Sun Prairie. Try four different kinds of non-alcoholic wines. 6 p.m. $12.
• “Beat the Brewer” at I/O Arcade Bar. Play the Rhinegeist brewing team in a game of your choice. If you win, you get a free beer. 6-9 p.m.
• Trivia Night at State Line Distillery. 7-9 p.m.  $1 per player.
• The Almas w/ Sit Kitty Sit & Zeroed Hero at Crucible. 8 p.m. $10.

Friday, Jan. 7

• Wisconsin Global Fest at the Majestic. Featuring Immigre, De La Buena, and Spare Change Trio. Doors at 6 p.m., show at 7 p.m. $15. 🟠
• The Cuz at the Bur Oak. Doors at 7 p.m., show at 8 p.m. $10.
• Wisconsin Punk Fest at High Noon Saloon. Featuring COASTING, Help Desk, Something To Do, We Should Have Been DJ’s, Kule, and Dear Mr. Watterson. Doors at 7 p.m., show at 8 p.m. $15.
• Scott Wilcox at Brinklounge. 7 p.m.
• Evan Bradbury Artist Reception at Dark Horse ArtBar. 7 p.m.
• The Regulators with Mike Allemana and Matt Ferguson at North Street Cabaret. 8 p.m.
• Vinyl and Bass: Golden Donna, Elfscape, Imaginary Friend, Taimbat, Tolerance at Crucible. Show at 9 p.m. $10.  🟠
• The Earthlings, Modern Joey, Wurk at Harmony Bar and Grill. Part of OCCUPATION concert series. 9 p.m. $12 advance, $15 at door, $40 for all OCCUPATION January shows.
• “LN3: 7 Teachings of the Anishinaabe in Resistance” screening and discussion. A 38-min frontline documentary on the efforts to stop the fossil fuel expansion and encourage real energy security. 6:30 p.m. Virtual. Free.

Saturday, Jan. 8

• Kids in the Rotunda Presents: Tom Pease and Stuart Stotts. 9:30 a.m. Virtual. Free.
• Wisconsin Jam Fest at the Majestic featuring Mr. Blotto, Steez, Feed The Dog. The Grasshoppers. Doors at 6 p.m., show at 7 p.m. $15.
• Joey’s Song Benefit Concert at the Sylvee. Musical acts: The Know-It-All Boyfriends, the Nielsen Trust, Dave Pirner, Chris Collingwood, Jody Stephens, Laura Jane Grace, Cory Chisel, Kay Hanley, Miguel Cervantes, and Sam Gomoll. Also featuring Charlie Berens and Joel Hodgson. Doors at 6 p.m., show at 8 p.m. $47.50 in person, $15 livestream.
• Wisconsin Hip-Hop Fest at High Noon Saloon. Featuring Rusty Pelicans, DJ Pain 1, 608 Trayce, Tas Raww, DJ Scrump Boogz, Marcus Porter & Friends, ODEA, The Catalyst and Hunney LaTure. Doors at 8 p.m., show at 9 p.m. $15. 🟠
• Music & Poetry with Kelly Hepper & Adrienne S. Wallner at Cargo Coffee East. 6:30 p.m. Free.
• Cowboy Amazing, Something Is Waiting, Disgunt, and Solshade at BarleyPop Live. Doors at 7 p.m., show at 7:30 p.m. $7.
• Earthmother at Harmony Bar. 9 p.m. $10.
• ANTI/SOCIAL at Crucible. Doors at 9 p.m. $5.

Sunday, Jan. 9

• Stand Up: Level 1 class with Dina Nina Martinez. 2 p.m. $225 for 4 classes.
• Frandu and Friends at Bos Meadery. “Madison’s comedian/philosopher/life coach Frandu will regale you with his thoughts on life.” 6 p.m. Free. 🟠

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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Some things to look forward to…

• Opening night of Mean Girls at the Overture Center on Jan. 11.
• What’s Canoe With You? A Behind-the-Scenes Look at the Recovery of a 1200-Year-Old Canoe from Lake Mendota on Jan 13.
• Beer and Cheese Fest on Jan 22.
• An Evening with Nikole Hannah-Jones, Pulitzer Prize-winning creator of The 1619 Project, staff writer at The New York Times Magazine, and co-founder of the Ida B. Wells Society for Investigative Reporting, on Jan. 25.