Tis’ that season again! The snow is on the ground, the temperature is rapidly declining, and love is in the air. While it can be hard to enjoy the Winter months (yes, even for native Wisconsinites), there is plenty to do around Madison during the snowy season. So, whether you are looking for a new place to impress a crush, stare lovingly into your significant other’s eyes, or is someone who loves exploring and wants to tap into some self-care by going solo to a new dive... here is a comprehensive list of off-campus activities for the winter season.
Monroe Street
Let’s start with Monroe Street. Second, only to Williamson, Monroe is a wonderful place to start your day of adventures! Try a dessert (or 5) from Bloom Bake Shop. My favorite bakery in Madison offers a ton of options for those who are gluten and/or dairy-free. Then, head on right next door to the wonderfully indie and cleverly named book lovers paradise that is the Mystery to Me bookstore. A mom-and-pop shop, the lovely owners and workers are always looking to dish out fresh recommendations to get you out of any reading rut, however perilous. With a new book in tow and the high of supporting two local businesses, our last stop on Monroe is Barriques Cafe. There–and only if you want to have your life changed and drink copious amounts of peanut butter–try the Sprocket Smoothie. The delightfully strange combination of PB, vanilla, peach, and banana sounds weird, but trust me, it just works.
Regent Street
Close to Monroe is Regent street. Known for the sub-par bars and crazy tailgates, during the off-season, there are some hidden gems. Indie Coffee is one that absolutely sparkles. Small, brimming with the sweet scent of chai, and chock-full of humans donning their sweaters, it is the stuff coffee shops from the movies are made of. Perhaps you are feeling the holiday spirit and want to try one of their seasonal specialties, or maybe just a wee bit adventurous. If the latter is for you, look no further and get the goat cheese fig sandwich. On cranberry bread with ham and drizzled with honey, it is the perfect balance of sweet and savory!
For a night on Regent, try the best Phö in Madison at Nam’s Noodles and Karaoke Bar. In addition to obtaining a bowl of soul-healing soup, you can go with friends and belt out carols in the back room, far, far away from the other patrons. After singing and noodles, hit up Leopold’s Book Bar Caffé (do you see a theme?). Great for sitting to crack open a book with a steaming hot chocolate in hand or perusing the shelves and feeling like a main character bookstore love interest, you won’t regret making the stop.
(Close to) Capitol Square
Around the capitol is the perfect destination if you are looking for a more modern, upscale destination to spend your money. If you are looking to get your blood pumping and make some gains during break but have fun doing it, look no further than Boulder’s Climbing Gym, Dragonfly Hot Yoga, and Kanopy Dance Studio. Boulder has a great pay-what-you-can program for students who aren’t height-inclined. With walls only 15 ft tall at the max, bouldering is a super awesome sport focusing on problem-solving and twisting your body to reach new heights. Dragonfly Hot Yoga is awesome if you are looking to sweat the seasonal depression right outta your pores. Kanopy Dance is also a great option if you wanna woo your boo with some brand-new moves. With classes ranging from salsa to ballet, you can learn new techniques and push yourself out of your comfort zone, something that is necessary to break the monotony of the gray days. These places are all great for partaking in joyful movement while learning a new skill and surrounding yourself with some of the most amazing people in the city. If you are less interested in working out and more interested in eating, capitol square has that too! Sol’s on the Square is a wonderful Korean BBQ joint with everything from bibimbap to the most interesting soup flavors that you can think of (I recommend the beef rib, ginseng, and date or the Altang spicy fish egg). And of course, I need to mention at least one ice cream joint, we’re in Wisco after all! Good News Ice Cream is the best around the square with lots of creamy, vegan options, and shakes to satisfy your dairy-filled dreams. Walking around with cones in hand on a snowy night, listening to ooey gooey lovey dovey Spotify playlists… what’s more romantic than that?
Willy Street
Our last stop on this journey through Madtown is the wonderfully quirky, granola street that is Williamson. It is a hippie's paradise and my personal favorite for a day of adventure. Here’s a comprehensive list of where to go to make the most of the best street in Madison:
Food
Feast Dumpling House: FEAST. Nuff said.
Ha Long Bay: It probably has the longest menu you’ve ever seen. That being said, you could close your eyes and point to a meal and it would be one of the best in your life.
Burraka: The only Ethiopian restaurant in the city, it doesn’t disappoint in flavor
Lazy Jane’s Cafe: Straight from your nanna’s home, this cafe serves great brunch and even better scones. The upstairs is decorated with local artists and lots of reupholstered, paisley high-backed chairs
Madison Sourdough: The best loaf of bread in all of Madison. Take my word for it.
Shopping
Willy St. Treasure Shop: stacked with the wackiest trinkets that you never knew you needed in your life
Hatch Art House: Local art to satisfy all of your creative longings
The Madison Greenhouse Store: Plants and more plants…
Still Goods: PROCEED WITH CAUTION. The thrift shop where you will not leave without 3 items… at least.
Ambiance
Gibs: The place to be if you are a hip, young college student who wants to escape campus and hang with the big kids. Attached to Grampa’s pizza, grab a drink and a slice and bask in the aura of coolness :)
Cafe Coda: Live jazz, Latin, and tango socials every month, this place is not to miss if you love music
The Moth at High Noon Saloon: So technically this one is a little off of Willy St, but it has the same vibes so I thought it best to include it here. Every month, there is a StorySlam where people from all over the community convene to share 5-minute stories on a particular theme. They pull names from a hat and each person has little time to prepare but every story will make you laugh, cry, and nod your head in the understanding that you share the common humanity with everyone in the room. It is a truly beautiful experience.
There you have it! I challenge everyone reading this to dive headfirst into the winter season. By trying new things, exploring new places, and celebrating with new and old friends, we can all discover things about ourselves that sometimes seem buried under snow. Winter can make us feel stagnant, but it is also the perfect time to tap into the joy that the small things bring. I hope all of these suggestions bring some warmth to your cold-weather frolicking.
By Claudia Delgado