So where do the quilters in Madison get their fabric fix and other quilting notions?  There are surprisingly few choices, and some of them are in surrounding communities --- but they are worth the short drive.  Here are five quilt stores in and around the Madison area along with some quilt events that are coming up:

Stitcher's Crossing, 6122 Mineral Point Rd.  (608) 232-1500  Their selection includes Asian fabrics, batiks, and brights for children's quilts. Besides a full complement of quilting supplies, they also carry needlework and knitting supplies. Stitcher's Crossing was selected by American Patchwork & Quilting magazine as one of 20 of North America's favorite quilt shops! They offer classes and space for quilting clubs.

JJ Stitches, 221 E. Main St., Sun Prairie   (608) 837-2266  Long established in Sun Prairie, JJ Stitches specializes in reproduction fabrics for quilters who like a bit of history or enjoy making antique-looking quilts. They also have homespuns and flannels in their huge collection of over 4,000 bolts of fabric.

Mill House Quilts, 100 Baker St., Waunakee  (608) 849-6473 Located in an old mill warehouse built in 1875, this shop 6, 000 square feet of space to house their thousands of fabrics and classrooms.

Patches & Petals, 13 W. Main St. Belleville  (608) 424-1516  A twenty minute drive from Madison, this former general store has a large selection of fabrics and quilting supplies  along with gifts, collectibles, and antiques.

Saving Thyme, 233 W. Main St., Stoughton  (608) 877-0075  Sited in a charming Victorian house on the Yahara River in downtown Stoughton, this shop is a combination quilt and Scandinavian gift shop featuring you'll Asian fabrics and batiks among their selection.

If you are looking for other quilters or information about quilting, try the Mad City Quilters Guild.  They meet twice monthly at Attic Angel Place on Old Sauk Road.

The 2008 Quilt Expo -- a HUGE event for quilters --- will be held Sept. 11-13 at the Alliant Energy Center.

And the Olbrich Gardens Quilts in Bloom show will be Sept. 19 - Oct.12.  Even non-quilters like me are dazzled by this unique quilt and flower display!

Thurs., Aug. 28

Live Reggae at the Edgewater Pier Bar and Café.  5-7pm. On the corner of Langdon St. and Wisconsin Ave.

Friday,  Aug. 29

Dane Dances! on the Monona Terrace Rooftop. Performers include: Nelly Tiger Travis Blues Band and MadiSalsa  FREE entertainment and dancing with ethnic food vendors and cocktails available for purchase.  5:30-9:30pm

Friday, Aug. 29 - Sun. Aug. 31

The Wilhelm Tell Festival in New Glarus offers a 71 year old tradition bringing to life a taste of old Switzerland on a natural outdoor stage. Two English performances and one in German.

Saturday, Aug. 30

UW Football game against Akron. 11am.  Even if you don't have tickets to the game, it's worth it to hang out near Camp Randall Stadium for the party atmosphere. You can grab a brat and a beer at any of the numerous stands, and listen to the UW Marching band at the South Union building just prior to game time. Be sure to where red & white!

Dane County Farmers' Market on the Square, 6am-1pm.  With over 300 vendors, this one claims to be the largest producer-only farmers' market in the country.

Madison Trust's Historic Walking Tour, 1 hour tour begins 10am at 107 State Street (House of Wisconsin Cheese), features historic buildings State Street and the stories of the people who lived and worked there. $5 fee.

Saturday & Sunday, Aug. 30 &31

The Taste of Madison is where you want to go to tantalize your tastebuds.  Located all around the Capitol Square you can browse and munch to your heart's delight. What will you find? Food items priced from $1 - $4.  Over 65 local restaurants will feature specialties at the outdoor stands, along with 20 beverage stands, and four entertainment stages. This even benefits United Cerebral Palsy of Dane County.  

Friday - Monday, Aug. 19-Sept. 1

Baraboo River Rendezvous at Spirit Point behind the Circus World Museum. The event promises a reenactment of the pre-1840 fur trade era with kids games & Kandy Kannon, hawk & knife throws, pie baking contest, flint fire starting, trap toss, fry pan throw (ladies only). There will also be fishing on river and a shooting competition. And of course, food. The event ends Monday at noon.

Sunday, Aug. 31

UW Arboretum Walk: "Prairies and Savannas on the Grady Tract"  8:30am-10:30am. Meet in the Grady Tract parking lot located at the southeast corner of the Beltline and Seminole Highway intersection.

Meditation in the Gardens, a combination of Tai Chi and hearth Rhythm Meditation at Olbrich Botannical Gardens, 9am-10:30am

Monday, Sept. 1

Yoga in the Gardens, at Olbrich Botanical Gardens 5:30pm-6:45pm $10/session

Tuesday, Sept. 2

T'ai Chi at Monona Terrace 12-12:45pm - Free!

Every day:

Try a Betty Lou Dinner Cruise.  You can choose to cruise either Lake Mendota or Lake Monona. The Betty Lou fleet includes two yachts on each of the two lakes. And the cruises are a go rain or shine, 7 days a week, from April through October.  For more info call: (608) 246-3138 or check our the Betty Lou website.

Barnes and Noble West Towne  is my favorite. It's huge, great for browsing, studying, and just hanging out in. You can find it across from West Towne Mall at 7433 Mineral Point Rd. (608) 827-0809

Barnes and Noble East is connected to East Towne Mall, #1 East Towne Mall (6 241-4695 I'm sure it's just as nice, I just never get over there.

Borders Bookstore is always busy. The one on the westside is two stories tall and its cafe has outdoor seating: 3750 University Ave., Madison (6 232-2600

Borders East is not far from I90: 2173 Zeier Road, Madison (6 240-0080

Walden Books (a division of Borders) can be found inside West Towne Mall (near Sears) on the corner of Mineral Point & Gammon Rds.  (6 833-1696

The University Book Stores are where you can find everything Bucky.  The campus store, of course, has textbooks, but also a wide selection of general and reference books, and loads of school and office supplies, as well as fine art and graphic supplies. Find it on the campus mall at 711 State St.  (6 257-3784

The University Bookstore at  Hilldale Shopping Center is easy in, easy out, with parking right in the back. Loads of UW gift items. Oh, and books, too! 702 N. Midvale Blvd. (6 238-8445

Booked for Murder is cozy, has tons of titles from floor to ceiling, and often sponsors mystery book author visits. Its genre, of course, is murder and mayhem.  2701 University Avenue (6 238-2701

A Room of One's Own is a feminist bookstore with a long-standing, positive reputation--33 years!  307 W. Johnson St.  (6 257-7888     

The Rainbow Bookstore Cooperative is a cooperatively owned and collectively managed bookstore. Staffed by volunteers but open to all, this shop appeals to scholars, activists, and book lovers in general.  Supports small presses and alternative publishers. Provides the university with progressive textbooks. This store takes pride in offering a politically conscious alternative in bookselling.  426 W. Gilman St. (6 257-6050

Avol's Books is a used-books store with a good-sized inventory, specializing in science fiction, fantasy, horror and mysteries. Also features academic, scholarly, and rare or out-of-print books.  315 West Gorham Street (608) 255-4730

Mimosa Books & Gifts describes itself as a metaphysical shop, "dedicated to embracing the global diversity of wisdom and belief." It's philosophy as supports "holistic, alternative healing paths, and the exploration of psychic and intuitive abilities."  260 West Gilman Street(608) 256-5432

Half-Price Book Stores Even the used book market has chains. If you are a fan of the Half-Price Book Store never fear, Madison has two: One on the west side at 626 S. Whitney Way, Madison(608) 274-1140  and one on the east side at  4250 East Towne Blvd., Madison (608) 244-1189  These stores are great for browsing; maybe not so much if you have a particular title in mind.  Good prices, too.

Frugal Muse is a favorite of lots of my friends and family members. Must be the favorite of everyone else in town--it was voted Best Local Bookstore for 2008.  Again, two locations:  west in the High Point Center, 7475 Mineral Point Road (608) 833-8668  east in the Northgate Shopping Center, 1193 North Sherman Ave. (608) 242-0000

My guess is that just about any bar or pub you wander into in Madison on a Friday night will have it's version of The Fish Fry.  But here are my top Friday fish fry picks in and around Madison:

Near East Side:

• Avenue Bar & Grill -1128 E Washington Ave. Madison   608-257-6877  Pretty consistently gets "Best of Madison" awards; my personal recommendation; and this is the one people always mention when I ask. Consider this Number

A Bit Farther East:

• Kavanaugh's Esquire Club -1020 N. Sherman Ave. Madison   608-249-0193   One of the longest family-owned restaurants in Madison, celebrating 60 years this year; and reputation as long-standing.
• Dexter's Pub - 301 North St., Madison  608-244-3535  A classic neighborhood bar; reasonably priced; ask for the waffle fries.
• Brothers Three Bar & Grill - 614 N. Fair Oaks Ave. Madison  608-244-6818  Fantastic fish, limited seating, get there early.    

Downtown:

• The Old Fashioned - 23 N Pinckney St,  Madison  608-310-4545  It's right on the Square and quickly gaining a reputation as a the place to go. 
• Orpheum Theatre Lobby Restaurant - 216 State St., Madison  608-255-6005  Definitely not your "corner bar," but definitely unique; may be pricey,

Near West:

• Lucky's Bar & Grille - 1421 Regent St., Madison  608-250-8989  A college sports bar, so especially busy during football season; pub chips and service both excellent.

Far West:

• RP Adler's Pub & Grill - 8202 Watts Road, Madison  608-828-1250  One of my student's gave me a gift certificate for this one because it was her favorite fish fry; always packed. 
• Stamm House - 6625 Century Ave, Middleton  608-831-5835  Dane County's oldest tavern. It's got it's own unique kind of history and old style ambiance.
• Fitzgerald's  - 3112 Parmenter Street, Middleton  608-831-7107   Lots & lots of fish options, even a buffet, but ask for the Friday Fish Fry and get it steamy hot from the kitchen.

South:

• Quivey's Grove - 6261 Nesbitt Road, Madison, WI  608-273-4900  In the summer months it's outdoors under the tent; the rest of the year in the Stable. 
• Great Dane-Fitchburg  - 2980 Cahill Main Rd., Fitchburg  608-442-9000  Always crowded, always good food; less noisy than the downtown Great Dane?

South & East:

• Toby's Supper Club  - 3717 S Dutch Mill Road, Madison  608-222-6913  Country tavern ambiance, great fish, may have to wait for a table; they have lake perch!                                   

Farther Afield:

• Christy's Landing  - 2952 Waubesa Avenue (On the western shore of Lake Waubesa)  608-222-5391  I love the fact that boaters motor right up to their pier, and the locals do as long as the lake is free of ice.   

Happy Eating!

This is where you can check out Wisconsin's geologic history in all its glory. While some items are behind glass, there's still lots you can touch. How cool is it to sit on a million year old petrified tree stump? Well, okay, maybe not a million years old. Or is it? Anyway, it's really, really old.

The gems and minerals will take your breath away. Who knew the earth could be so creative? You'll see dramatic examples of sedimentary, metamorphic, and igneous rocks in colors and shapes you could never have imagined forming naturally in the earth.

You'll definitely want to check out the Glow-In-The Dark rock room. You'll think these rock have been painted, but they haven't. Their coloring under ultraviolet light is natural and awesome.  All those little atoms dancing and bouncing around under the light is apparently what causes this amazing phenomenon. What I want to know is, who discovered rocks could do this?  They look like just plain ol' rocks when they're under plain ol' light. Flip on the Black Light, and...well, you have to see it to believe it.

The dinosaur and mastodon bones are truly awesome to behold. The mastodon was dug up by a family of kids on a Wisconsin farm over a hundred years ago.  The tyrannosaurus skull makes you feel small, kind of like food for thought, or for a hungry dinosaur. And of course, there's the dino poop. What kind of museum would it be without a blob of coprolite?

And, you can get a peek at how the paleontologists (those are dinosaur scientists, just in case you're not up on your Jurassic terminology) work. There's a window into their workshop where they are usually cleaning something awesome, like the bones of a triceratops or a t-rex.

This geology museum in Madison is definitely worth a visit. Maybe two or three! (I won't tell you how many times I've been there, but it's a lot).  Their website is pretty cool, too.

• Museum Hours: M-F  8:30-4:30,  Sat. 9:00-1:00
• Self-guided tours are FREE
• 1215 W. Dayton St., Madison
• Located at the corner of Charter and W. Dayton Streets on campus

On the East Side:

• Monty's Blue Plate Diner - 2089 Atwood Ave., Madison  608-244-8505  Breakfast served all day, everyday. Vegetarians welcome. Tex-Mex breakfast recommended.
• Lazy Jane's Café & Bakery - 1358 Williamson St., Madison  608-257-5263 Serves Mimosas during weekend brunches. Scones are all the buzz.  

Downtown/Near the Square:

• Marigold Kitchen - 118 S. Pinckney Street, Madison 608-661-5559  Weekday breakfasts - go for the gourmet omelets.  Saturday Brunch is Mimosa time.
• Café Continental - 108 King Street, Madison  608-251-4880  Brunch Saturday & Sunday only (sorry, no weekday breakfast). But the Eggs Benedict are primo: Crab Cakes, Artichoke, Smoked Salmon.

Downtown, just a couple blocks from the Square:

• Admiralty Room - Edgewater Hotel, 666 Wisconsin Ave., Madison  608-661-6582  Most romantic view in Madison. Single-priced Sunday brunch. Full choice breakfast menu every day.
• Dayton Street Grille - Concourse Hotel, 1 West Dayton Street, Madison  608-257-6000  Choice of full menu or breakfast buffet daily. Chef Charles Lazzareschi named Best Local Chef by Madison Magazine's 2008 Reader Poll.

Far West/Middleton:

• Bavaria Cafe - 7457 Elmwood Ave., Middleton  608-836-6614  Breakfast served daily ‘til 4pm, with separate weekend Brunch menu.  Nine choices of brunch omelets at last count.
• Hubbard Avenue Diner - 7445 Hubbard Ave., Middleton  608-831-6800  Multigrain pancakes for those who care about their health; gluten-free menu for those who require it; pie for everyone else (128 flavors at last count!).
• Prairie Cafe and Bakery - 6720 Frank Lloyd Wright Ave., Middleton 608-826-2437   Homestyle breakfasts including bakery and quiche.

South:

• Pancake Cafe - 6220 Nesbitt Rd., Fitchburg 608-204-7040 Lots of "Best of" awards; thick slice bacon and--you guessed it--pancakes!

The Chains:

• Original Pancake House  - 5518 University Ave., Madison (West Side)   608-231-3666  or  518 River Place Drive, Monona (East Side)  608-222-1137  Yeah, it's a chain, but if it's pancakes you're craving... (Note: they stop seating by 1:00pm)
• Perkins Restaurant & Bakery - 5237 University Ave. (West Side)  608-238-5133  or  4863 Hayes Road (East Side)  608-241-9123  or  1410 Damon Rd (Central - near Beltline off Fish Hatchery Rd.)  608-251-7550  What can I say? You know what you get and you get a lot. Breakfast served all day, everyday.

Bon Appetite!

When it comes to parks for people, Madison has made a commitment to accessibility. That means lots and lots of parks throughout the city, providing lots and lots of recreational and conservation opportunities for the two-legged species. However...I'm sorry to say, your pooch is not allowed (even on-leash) in most parks, children's play areas, beaches, athletic fields and conservation parks. 

But don't pout. There are places where you and your four-legged friend(s) can frolic freely sans leash!

Here are four city parks where dogs can run, jump, roll in the grass, make (and sniff) new doggie friends to their hearts delight:

• Brittingham Park - 401 West Shore Drive at Broom Street
• Quann Park - 1802 Expo Drive
• Sycamore Park - 4517 Sycamore Park
• Warner Park - Sheridan Drive along the lagoon at the boat launch auxiliary parking lot

There's also a county dog park at Yahara Heights, 5428 State Highway 113 (Take Northport Rd. to Cherokee Marsh area)

For a list of city parks (with maps) where you can walk your dog ON-LEASH, go to the Madison Parks/Dogs webpage.  

Please note: there are some rules for humans who wish to accompany their canine owners. You'll need a permit (for the dog, not you), you'll have to scoop the poop, and you are expected to be a responsible dog owner. Details can be found at on the Madison Parks/Dogs-rules webpage. 

• Explore the Capitol Building and go up onto the outdoor observation deck to get an awesome view of the city.
• Ride the Carousel at Ella's Deli and have an ice cream delight while you're at it. 
• Learn something new at the Madison Children's Museum.
• Spend a day at Henry Vilas Zoo.
• Take a dip in the city's new Goodman Pool. 
• Tour the Wisconsin Historical Museum and check out their awesome multi-media displays. 
• Relax and sunbathe at one of Madison's 13 beaches. 
• Visit the Wisconsin Veteran's Museum, a wonderful tribute to the state's military history.
• Engage your child's creative side with MMoCA's Art Cart in the Park program.
• Check out the wonders of the earth at the UW Geology Museum.
• Stroll through Olbrich Gardens and visit the glass pyramided tropical conservatory.
• Take in a Mallards baseball game and root for the ol' hometown team.
• Rent a boat or canoe on Lake Wingra or Lake Mendota.
• Shoot a round of mini-golf at Vitense Golfland.  
• Pack up your picnic cooler and groove to the beat at one of Madison's many free outdoor concerts and music events.

What Madison doesn't have, however, is consistently swimable water. The problem? Well, all those wonderful bodies of water are surrounded by yards and parks lush with grass, leaves, and other plant life. And all that plant life, when it runs off into the lakes, provides nutrients for algae growth. Also, the ducks, geese and other water fowl that swim and dip in the lakes do what all living things have to do after they eat...which means that certain unmentionable bacteria sometimes show up in the water.

However, that doesn't mean you can never swim.  The city's health department monitors the beaches on a daily basis. You can check conditions and whether a particular beach is open or closed at www.cityofmadison.com/beaches/ .

The four major beaches with lifeguards and hours 11am-7pm are:

BB Clarke Beach,  835 Spaight Street

Olbrich Beach,  3527 Atwood Ave.

Tenney Beach,  1254 Sherman Ave.

Vilas Beach,  1339 Vilas Park Drive

Other beaches with lifeguards and hours 12:30pm-4:30pm include:

Bernies Beach,  901 Gilson Street

Esther Beach,  2801 Winona Way

Spring Harbor Beach,  1918 Norman Way

James Madison Beach,  614 E. Gorham Street

Olin Beach,  1155 Olin-Turville Court

Warner Beach,  1101 Woodward Drive

Three city beaches do not have lifeguards. Swimming is permitted, but swim at your own risk:

Brittingham Beach,  701 West Brittingham Place

Hudson Beach,  2713 Lakeland Ave.

Marshall Beach,  2101 Allen Blvd.

And of course, there's the pier at Memorial Union, 800 Langdon St. (just off Memorial Union Terrace) There is no beach, but there is a lifeguard on duty from 11am-8pm.

The www.cityofmadison.com/beaches/ website includes links to maps for each of the beaches. Other information about Madison's beaches can be found at http://www.cityofmadison.com/parks/beaches.html .

Can you imagine Spiderman flying across the room while you dig into your banana split?  How about downing a corned beef reuben while circus performers dance about your head? Or slurping matso ball soup over a medieval landscape made out of Legos?

Ella's is a sensory experience you can't imagine until you, well...experience it. Not to mention, it has really great food.

Ella's has 3 menus--

The FOOD menu is a 20 page tome that includes every kind of sandwich imaginable, along with soups, salads, burgers & franks, deli platters, full course dinners, breakfast selections, and a full page of vegetarian entrees.

Beware--the DESSERTS menu will put pounds on you just reading it. But, oh, is it worth it. Masterpiece Sundaes, Hot Fudge Fantasies (a whole page worth), Masterpiece Splits, Grilled Poundcake Sundaes, and several pages of "Signature Items" as well as sodas, shakes, and malts that will tantalize your tastebuds.

And the KIDS menu, while much shorter, really knows kids: Grilled cheese, PB&J, burgers and dogs, pasta with spaghetti sauce, French toast, and kid sundaes. And if you're trying to break your young'un of the cholesterol collecting habit (i.e. fries) you can bait & switch with your choice of bananas, yogurt, applesauce, fresh, carrots, celery, or broccoli. And I guarantee you, they'll be so bedazzled with what's going on above and around them, they won't even notice the switch.

And of course...top it all off with a whirl on the iconic carousel. That's how you'll know you've found it. You can't miss the vintage Parker Carousel (circa 1927) sitting out front.

Ella's Deli

2902 E. Washington Ave.

Sunday - Thursday 10am -10pm

Friday & Saturday 10am - 11pm

www.ellas-deli.com/