City Cast Madison

Exploring the challenges of balancing preservation and development in Madison, the podcast delves into the significance of saving historical buildings like the State Street and Mifflin Street Arcade structures. They discuss the standards for classifying a site as historic, the power dynamics of the Landmarks Commission, the importance of preserving landmarks for insights into the city's evolution, and the delicate balance between preserving historic buildings and meeting housing needs.

If you’ve driven down East Washington Avenue in the past year, you’ve probably seen the building under construction: a large wall of glass flanks the front of the building, nestled under the swooping curves of arched roofs. This is the new home of the Wisconsin Youth Symphony Orchestras. Since the 1960s, WYSO has trained and inspired thousands of young musicians across Madison, and they did so from borrowed rooms across town. Now, they’ve got a state-of-the-art rehearsal facility to bring all their orchestras under one roof. Bianca Martin speaks with WYSO Director of Development and Communication Susan Gardels about what’s inside their fancy new digs.Wanna talk to us about an episode? Leave us a voicemail at 608-318-3367 or email madison@citycast.fm. We’re also on Instagram! Want more Madison news delivered right to your inbox? Subscribe to the Madison Minutes morning newsletter. Looking to advertise on City Cast Madison? Check out our options for podcast ads.

Madison’s getting a new live music venue. Kevin Willmott II is soon opening the Gamma Ray Bar in the former Barley Pop Live and The Frequency music venue space on West Main Street. You may know long-time local musician and live event host Kevin from his storytelling on the Moth Story Slam, his band Don’t Mess With Cupid or from his time working at the High Noon Saloon. Host Bianca Martin sits down for an exclusive with Kevin to learn about his plans for Gamma Ray and his vision for how it might serve Madison local arts. Wanna talk to us about an episode? Leave us a voicemail at 608-318-3367 or email madison@citycast.fm. We’re also on Instagram! Want more Madison news delivered right to your inbox? Subscribe to the Madison Minutes morning newsletter. Looking to advertise on City Cast Madison? Check out our options for podcast ads.

The City Cast team is here to round up the news of the week. Bianca Martin, Hayley Sperling and Molly Stentz recap Tuesday’s election in Wisconsin, including the nearly 50,000 democratic voters who chose “uninstructed” and the 100,000 republican voters who picked anyone but Trump. And why did some Madisonians have to vote outside in the snow at Rennebohm Park and what is the city doing about it? We have answers! Plus, the UW system will now offer employees six weeks of family leave.Mentioned on the show:✅Wisconsin Presidential Primary Election Results [AP]🙅🏽‍♀️From 'uninstructed' Dems to non-Trump Republicans: Takeaways from Wisconsin's primary [Milwaukee Journal Sentinel]📣Trump rally today in Green Bay: Former president focuses on immigration in campaign speech [Green Bay Press Gazette]❄️Madison had one outdoor voting location Tuesday. And it snowed. [Wisconsin State Journal] 🏢Do you have a polling place to offer? Contact the Madison City Clerk’s office. 🍼Universities of Wisconsin, UW-Madison to offer paid parental leave [Cap Times]🇺🇸Among 41 countries, only U.S. lacks paid parental leave [Pew Research Center]Wanna talk to us about an episode? Leave us a voicemail at 608-318-3367 or email madison@citycast.fm. We’re also on Instagram! Want more Madison news delivered right to your inbox? Subscribe to the Madison Minutes morning newsletter. Looking to advertise on City Cast Madison? Check out our options for podcast ads. 

Hạ Long Bay, the popular Vietnamese restaurant on Willy Street, is known for lines out the door and a takeout business so strong their phone is literally often off the hook. And now, the eastside neighborhood staple is under a new generation of family ownership. Jacqueline and Stephanie Le, nieces of founder Jean Tran, have been busy updating the restaurant, while keeping the family traditions and recipes alive. The sisters, who also own Little Palace on King Street, are temporarily closing Hạ Long Bay on Monday, April 8 for remodeling. Bianca Martin catches up with the new owners to learn what’s next. 🍜Join us every Thursday as we explore Madison's food culture, from the brewers and bakers to the chefs and cheesemakers.Wanna talk to us about an episode? Leave us a voicemail at 608-318-3367 or email madison@citycast.fm. We’re also on Instagram! Want more Madison news delivered right to your inbox? Subscribe to the Madison Minutes morning newsletter. Looking to advertise on City Cast Madison? Check out our options for podcast ads.

Artist Marlon Hall would like to invite you to a dinner party. But he has one rule: you absolutely cannot talk about what you do for a living. He invites diverse groups of people to join together over a meal and connect as humans, in the spirit of community. He designs and creates physical doors made of native wood around which the dinner parties gather. He’s hosted dozens of these dinner parties across the country and is now inviting Madisonians to join him for a community-wide dinner party on May 5th. What’s it all about? Bianca Martin talks to Marlon about the Mosaic Dinner Party movement and his time as UW-Madison’s spring artist-in-residence. Wanna talk to us about an episode? Leave us a voicemail at 608-318-3367 or email madison@citycast.fm. We’re also on Instagram! Want more Madison news delivered right to your inbox? Subscribe to the Madison Minutes morning newsletter. Looking to advertise on City Cast Madison? Check out our options for podcast ads.

Richard Davis was widely regarded as one of the world’s best bass players. He recorded with Sarah Vaughan, Bruce Springsteen, Van Morrison, Frank Sinatra, Barbra Streisand, and Miles Davis, just to name a few. And for much of his life, until he passed away last year at age 93, he lived, worked and played in Madison. Richard Davis taught bass at UW-Madison for nearly 40 years and created the Richard Davis Foundation for Young Bassists to inspire more people to learn the instrument. A new film chronicling his life and impact premieres at the Wisconsin Film Festival this week. It’s called String Theory: The Richard Davis Method. Bianca Martin catches up with director Michael Neelsen to learn more.Wanna talk to us about an episode? Leave us a voicemail at 608-318-3367 or email madison@citycast.fm. We’re also on Instagram! Want more Madison news delivered right to your inbox? Subscribe to the Madison Minutes morning newsletter. Looking to advertise on City Cast Madison? Check out our options for podcast ads.

Spring has sprung and Madison is bursting with life! The City Cast Madison team is here to round up a few of our favorite things. Bianca Martin, Hayley Sperling and Molly Stentz share some of our picks for getting out and about in April. 🎸Get your Sh!tty Barn tickets for the summer on April 1st. 🗳️Don’t forget to vote April 2nd!🐽Learn about the barons of our food system with Austin Frerick on April 2nd📚Feed your mind with Ijeoma Oluo on April 2nd🎵See Herbie Hancock here on April 3rd! 🎞️Check out the Wisconsin Film Festival from April 4 - 11th or listen to our sneak preview 🎧🤖Discuss AI and journalism’s future with Julia Angwin on April 5th🏍️See Angels of Dirt on April 7th💅Dance your heart out at the Dyke Dive: Pink Pony Club on April 13th 🖼️Hunt for gems at the Collectibles Flea Market on April 14th  🪗Give polka a try at the Polka Party on April 18th🫧 Treat yourself at Kosa Spa on April 19th 🧥Find treasures at the Midwest Vintage Flea on April 20th🎶Pick up a few new albums at Record Store Day on April 20th or stop by the afterparty 📓Swap ‘zines at the Print and Resist Zine Fest on April 27thWanna talk to us about an episode? Leave us a voicemail at 608-318-3367 or email madison@citycast.fm. We’re also on Instagram! Want more Madison news delivered right to your inbox? Subscribe to the Madison Minutes morning newsletter. Looking to advertise on City Cast Madison? Check out our options for podcast ads.

The City Cast team is here to round up the news of the week. Bianca Martin, Hayley Sperling and Molly Stentz recap the movement to vote “uninstructed” in next Tuesday’s presidential preference election, the Wisconsin Supreme Court case that said Amazon drivers are workers, and the jury decision to acquit the Wisconsin Department of Justice agent who shot at Quadren Wilson.Mentioned on the show:What the 'uninstructed' movement means for Wisconsin voters, Biden's chances [Milwaukee Journal Sentinel]Apply to be an election worker! [Madison City Clerk]Wisconsin Supreme Court lets ruling stand that declared Amazon drivers to be employees [AP]Wisconsin Supreme Court dismisses Amazon challenge to ruling that drivers are employees [WPR]State agent acquitted of recklessly firing gun during arrest of suspect in Madison [Wisconsin State Journal]Wanna talk to us about an episode? Leave us a voicemail at 608-318-3367 or email madison@citycast.fm. We’re also on Instagram! Want more Madison news delivered right to your inbox? Subscribe to the Madison Minutes morning newsletter. Looking to advertise on City Cast Madison? Check out our options for podcast ads. 

Chef Jacob Guyette, known for his work at Graze and L’Etoile, shares his journey of opening The Wedge, a Wisconsin-style tavern with a focus on fine cheeses. The podcast explores local cheese sourcing, community support, and the nostalgic ambiance of the bar. Learn about the unique cheese offerings, the challenges of starting a new venture, and the exciting beer and cheese pairings at this cozy retro bar in Madison.