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City Cast Madison

Rob Thomas

Do you know where this slice of pizza is from? (Submitted photo)

Movie lovers who went to the Barrymore Theatre to see films at the Wisconsin Film Festival earlier this month discovered what a lot of longtime Barrymore fans already knew. In addition to being a great place to see live music or comedy, the historic theater on Atwood Avenue is also a great place to see a movie.

In addition to serving popcorn with real butter in the lobby, the Barrymore has become home to touring short film festivals that showcase snowboarding, trail running, hiking and even some, uh, indoor physical activities. Here’s some of the short film showcases that come back to the Barrymore year after year:

What started in 1976 as a one-day local event in the Albertan mountain town has become a nine-day festival and world tour showcasing “peak performance” across the globe. This year’s festival plays two nights at the Barrymore on April 24 and 25, featuring stories of cave climbers, slopestyle mountain bikers, and ultramarathoners.

 sponsors this short film fest on April 30, with most of the documentaries being centered on Black or Indigenous communities. The anthology includes a “deep dive” into the impact of AI and data centers on waterways, a profile of youth climate change activists protesting uranium mining near the Grand Canyon, and a National Geographic photojournalist training children of color to become the next generation of wildlife photographers.

, this festival usually rolls through the Barrymore Theatre in the fall. Last year’s films followed youth cyclists in La Crosse’s three-day Omnium ride, and a migrant worker in rural China recycling styrofoam boxes by bike.

The annual tour, now in its 20th year, screened at the Barrymore last month, showcasing anglers from Colorado rivers to the deep blue sea.

This popular festival also ran through the Barrymore in March, but you can watch some of the films online through October. The films follow routes that include a quirky marathon in Seattle, an Ecuadorean para-athlete making sure trails are welcoming to all runners, and a “race” between a mountain runner and a BASE jumper.

It’s no surprise that a long-running film festival devoted to winter sports would have such a following in a cold-weather climate like Wisconsin. Look for the follow-up to last year’s “SNO-CIETY” at the Barrymore this fall.

It’s a bit of a homecoming when the indie erotic film festival curated by sex advice columnist and 

In addition to being a favorite spot for live music and comedy, the Barrymore Theatre on Madison's east side hosts one-night-only film festivals all year. Here are some of the favorites, from the Hump! Film Festival to the Wild & Scenic Film Fest.

Short Films to See at Madison's Barrymore Theatre

Your Guide to the Barrymore Theatre’s Fit Film Fests 

Find the best of everything that Madison has to offer.

Madison’s Best

Madison's Best

Madison has changed a lot since the first issue of Isthmus hit the streets on April 9, 1976. From the city’s exploding growth to turmoil in the streets to game-changing new developments, Madison’s beloved alt-weekly has covered it all.

To celebrate its 50-year milestone, the newspaper is throwing a 

“Isthmus 50 Fest” show this Saturday at Atwood Music Hall

 featuring Madison favorites like Ben Sidran, Mama Digdown’s Brass Band, and more.

, host Bianca Martin talks to Isthmus publisher Jason Joyce and editor/president Judith Davidoff about a half-century of Isthmus in Madison and how the newspaper is celebrating.

For their April anniversary issue, Isthmus editors dug deep into the newspaper archives to find “

,” headlines that captured key moments in Madison’s history. Here are a few of our favorites that they found.

Isthmus’ countercultural bent was evident in this snarky dispatch about the day that State Street was transformed into a pedestrian mall. The debate over 

what to do about State Street still rages today.

On the far side of the Capitol Square, another transformation was taking place. The notorious Main King Tap, a hallmark of King Street’s 

reputation as “Madison’s Red Light District,”

 closes, paving the way for the classier First Settlement District to come decades later.

The long-standing issue of two Madisons – one for white people and one for Black people – was highlighted in this poll, which found that more than half of Black Madisonians strongly disagreed with the idea that they have the same opportunities as their white neighbors. Less than one-fifth of white neighbors strongly disagreed with that statement.

L’Etoile is also celebrating its 50th anniversary this year

 and is a nationally-known pioneer in the farm-to-table movement. This profile of founder Odessa Piper captures the moment that she was emerging as a culinary force to be reckoned with.

After decades of public contention, Monona Terrace Convention Center opens on the shore of Lake Monona. This cover story says designer Frank Lloyd Wright would have “loved and hated” the result.

Epic Systems’ decision to move out of Madison and build a sprawling new campus in Verona has “profound and troubling implications” for the region, Marc Eisen writes in this story, including its environmental and economic impact.

Isthmus went big when Overture Center opened its doors downtown, and publisher Vince O’Hern presciently declares “the state of the arts in the city will never be the same.”

‘The Sky’s The Limit,’ Feb. 20, 2009

Construction cranes are a familiar site now on the isthmus, but this story looks at how the downtown skyline is 

beginning to change with ever-taller developments

Wisconsin’s Capitol Protests: A 13-Day Timeline

When public employees took to the streets to protest Gov. Scott Walker’s attempt to repeal Act 10, Isthmus reporters chronicled the twists and turns of the labor fight that drew national attention to Madison.

When an unarmed 19-year-old Tony Robinson was killed in the stairwell of a Williamson Street apartment by a Madison police officer, peaceful but passionate protests erupted about 

police violence and the city’s racial disparities.

Madison alt-weekly Isthmus is celebrating its 50th anniversary this month. The editors dug through the archives to look to see how the newspaper covered some momentous moments in local history, from the transformation of State Street to the construction of Epic Systems' Verona campus.

How Isthmus Covered 50 Years of Madison History

The History of Madison in 10 Isthmus Headlines

People, places, and scenes from Madison's past.

Madison History

One single act by itself won’t save the world. One single person on their own won’t save the world. But the message of Earth Day on April 22 is that a lot of people all doing little things to preserve and beautify the planet can achieve big results.

Earth Day has its roots in Wisconsin – U.S. Sen. Gaylord Nelson founded it in 1970 as a national day to promote environmentalism, and it went global in 1990. 

, host Bianca Martin talks to Curt Meine, a senior fellow with the Aldo Leopold Foundation, about Wisconsin's conservationist tradition.

There are all kinds of family-friendly, thoughtful, and fun ways to celebrate Earth Day and support environmental causes in Madison this week.

Given Earth Day’s Wisconsin roots, UW-Madison goes big for Earth Day with this weeklong series of events. This year’s festivities includes a 

 crafting activity on April 19, a two-day 

symposium by the Center for Ecology and the Environment

 on April 21, featuring a keynote address by Isaias Hernandez, an environmentalist and educator best known online by the moniker 

For the first time, Overture Center is sponsoring a massive clothing swap on April 18. Bring your gently used clothing to the Rotunda lobby to donate this week, then come back Saturday to find new fashions to enjoy.

At the April 18 event, DaneNET will also be accepting donations of electronics that they can refurbish and donate to nonprofits and low-income households.

Get rid of your computers, peripherals and other tech safely at this event sponsored by Hilldale and Goodwill on April 18.

Sign up to volunteer to help clean up Dunn’s Marsh, Swan Creek, and other open spaces in Fitchburg on April 18.

Arts and science meet in this special concert on April 20, where meteorologists and musicians join forces to use climate data to create musical pieces.

Madison Parks is looking for 900 volunteers to clean up over 60 of its parks on April 25. 

Register online and see where volunteers are needed most

, then head out with your neighbors to help keep Madison beautiful.

Earth Day is personal for Wisconsin, because it was U.S. Sen. Gaylord Nelson who made it a national day to celebrate and promote environmentalism. So there's a lot going on in Madison, including the weeklong Earth Fest at UW-Madison, a clothing swap at Overture Center, and multiple volunteer opportunities.

Your Guide to Earth Day in Madison

How to Celebrate Earth Day 2026 in Madison

It’s been over a month since the United States and Israel launched a war with Iran, and drivers are feeling it at the gas pump. According to AAA, the 

average price of a regular gallon of gas in Dane County is $3.87 a gallon

. That’s 60 cents higher than it was a year ago and almost a dollar higher than a month ago.

 on how you can beat sticker shock at the pump and we asked our readers to share some suggestions of their own for beating high gas prices. Here’s what we heard back and thanks to everyone who contributed!

“Kwik Trip has a rewards program and you can choose 5 cents off a gallon as your reward for every 15 visits. You can stack them. And if you have the app on your phone, you can earn at least one extra visit per day for watching a dumb commercial video (which I watch on the bus, of course).” – 

, a public program here in Dane County that helps people swap solo car trips for other options. The program actually dates back to the 1970s, when it started during the oil crisis to encourage ridesharing — so it’s especially relevant right now. Thought it might be helpful to flag us as a local resource your audience could check out.” 

“Not really a fuel-saving tip per se, but if you have the means to sell your gas car and replace it with a used EV, your fuel cost will go way down immediately! Electricity rates are much cheaper (even per-mile) than gas and also much more stable.

EVs also require less maintenance, can be ‘fueled’ nightly at home avoiding gas station stops, are quieter, more fun to drive, and reduce carbon emissions. Plus, by going with a used EV, you don't have to deal with the steep depreciation of a new car. Modern EV batteries are exceeding longevity expectations, too, so you don't have to worry about it being like an old cell phone whose battery is worn out after a few years.” –

Reader Tips On How To Beat High Gas Prices

What Madisonians have been wondering. We break down why things in Madison are the way they are and how they work.

Madison, Explained

Derek Kolstad is getting back to Normal. Normal, Illinois, that is. The Madison-born screenwriter behind the first three “John Wick” movies (named after his Wisconsin grandfather) was calling from the road on the way to Normal, where he was screening his new action movie, also called “Normal.”

In “Normal,” a small-town sheriff (Bob Odenkirk) who’s new to a sleepy Minnesota town of Normal discovers that the entire population, from the glad-handing mayor (Henry Winkler) to the local barkeep (Lena Headey), are all in on a terrible secret. And they’ll go to murderous lengths to stop their new sheriff from uncovering it.

Kolstad is coming back to Madison to screen “Normal” and talk 

about it April 11 at the Barrymore Theatre

 as part of the Wisconsin Film Festival. Tickets are rush-only at the door for that screening, but “Normal” will officially open in theaters on April 17.

Do you think the people of Normal, and of Wisconsin, will embrace your film as a representation of the Midwest?

I grew up in Madison, and most of my family still live throughout the state, as well as Michigan and northern Minnesota. These are the kinds of towns I grew up in. I don't mock anything. I embrace it, and everything is kind of a love letter to them. I think they'll pick up on what I'm cooking here.

Was Wisconsin a place of excitement and danger for you growing up here?

I always lived in my head, man. I grew up on the west side, and every weekend I was at the Marcus Theatres, and then there was a 99-cent theater in Middleton. I loved Madison, and the idea of moving to Los Angeles to pursue a career in movies, which was a dream that I had had since I was 11, it felt easier going to Mars.

But as far as (the idea for) “Normal,” a lot of my family is still out in Mazomanie. And I would drive through the downtown section and there’s always that one store that’s open where you’re like “How the hell is that store open? Is there really enough business here for a yarn store?”

So “Nobody 2” was inspired by the Wisconsin Dells, and “Normal” was inspired by Mazomanie. If you were adding a third movie to the Wisconsin action trilogy, where would it be set?

There’d have to be a quintet. You have to have one up in Green Bay, because not only am I a Packers fan, I’m a shareholder. My parents lived in Junction, just outside of Wausau. And then I have a lot of family up in Superior. Those are the core-memory locations that I got.

Do you have any other favorite Madison memories?

A lot of memories I have of downtown Madison are going to the Orpheum. My favorite experience was one time going to the Orpheum, and not knowing what movie we were going to watch. And it was “The Hunt For Red October,” which was awesome.

I love Madison. I go back there a couple of times a year. The thing about “Normal” is that it’s a thank you to the people and the places where I grew up.

Derek Kolstad may be best known for writing the first three "John Wick" movies. His latest action film, "Normal" starring Bob Odenkirk and Henry Winkler, is a love letter to Wisconsin.

Madison-Born Derek Kolstad Goes From 'John Wick' To 'Normal'

After ‘John Wick,’ Madison-Born Writer Wants Something ‘Normal’

It’s spring in Wisconsin, which means the weather is a rollercoaster and your coat closet is full of both heavy winter parkas and light spring jackets, just in case. You decide what to wear, and I’ll tell you about some of the great things in Madison this month to go out and experience! Deal?

🍅 The Farmers’ Market Goes Back Outside

Along with the nicer weather comes the return of the 

 to the Capitol Square on April 11. The market will be there every Saturday through November 14, except for July 11, where it will move to Breese Stevens Field to make room for 

On April 18, Madison record stores will be packed for Record Store Day, with exclusive limited-edition vinyl releases and used records for sale. A week later, on April 25, a dozen Madison indie bookstores are getting together to celebrate 

, with in-store parties and readings and special giveaways, 

including a free print by Madison artist Megan Stout featuring all 12 bookstores

It just isn’t spring in Madison until the 

, which for 44 years has brought thousands of Madisonians together to celebrate UW-Madison. This year’s race is on April 25, and includes an 8K run, an 8K wheelchair race, and a 2-mile walk through downtown and the campus.

Forward Theater closes out its 2025-26 season with a biggie, 

 running in the Overture Center Playhouse April 9-26. Lauren Gunderson’s comedy is an update on “Much Ado About Nothing” set in the world of romantasy audiobook narrators.

 is coming to the Orpheum Theater on April 16, as hosts Chuck Bryant and Josh Clark take an amusing deep dive into a surprise topic. They’ve recorded 2,000 episodes, but there’s always something new to learn!

 returns to the Alliant Energy Center from April 17-19. It’s the largest three-day horse fair in America, with 300 clinics, seminars and educational events, over 500 vendors, and of course hundreds of horses.

Your Guide to April 2026 in Madison

April 3 will be the end of an era for Madison journalism. 

Tone Madison, the proudly independent online publication

 that has challenged Madison’s institutions from political to cultural since 2014, is closing its doors.

“We didn’t water down our voice to placate advertisers or funders,” the editors wrote in their announcement. “There were no unaccountable executives, no rich men turning our publication into a plaything, no compromise. We’re proud that we were always willing to poke the bear, even when other outlets were busy trying to make friends with the bear.”

The Tone Madison archive will remain online, so readers can enjoy some of their favorite stories and headlines that Tone published over the years. Here are some of our faves. Who else but Tone could have written about a feud between a local editorial cartoonist and a witch?

This one’s a bit of a homer, as City Cast Madison’s Executive Producer Hayley Sperling wrote for Tone Madison back in 2018 to share a sneak peek into the delight that is late-night 

 and what makes the experience quite so magical.

Writer Reid Kurkerewicz makes the case for 

why John Wilde is Wisconsin’s most famous painter, 

not without some reader pushback, and the fascinating legacy he leaves behind.

That Time a Witch Cursed Phil Hands’ Dick

As Tone Madison’s editor’s note declares: “I don’t know if Tone Madison has ever published a headline more attention-grabbing than this one.” A feud between a cartoonist and a professor ended with…

dismantling of the statue of the “Forward” symbol 

during the summer of 2020, and how hollow the act feels in the face of racism she was intimately familiar with and facing during her undergraduate time at UW-Madison.

UW-Madison professor Sami Schalk started a movement of amplifying pleasure activism, and others contributed their own forms of pleasure activism – from 

 last-minute Tuesday night concert by “metalcore giants” Underoath 

and found sad pizza, empty chairs, and good music, interspersed with a band Q&A all in an arcade.

Breese Stevens Field’s $500 ‘Curated Picnic Basket’ Experience’

Tone co-founder Scott Gordon highlights the moment when access to

 entertainment in Madison began to feel, “uncontainable and unhinged”

: the $500 “curated picnic basket” that included apples, pears, and… disposable plates? This might seem more commonplace in the days of luxury cabanas at Breese Stevens Field, but back in 2017, the price tag was shocking.

state’s greatest bizarro digital communication,

 or something,” when Megadeth’s Dave Mustaine commented “cool building” about the state’s Capitol Building, just a few years shy of its centennial celebration.

For a film culture writer, it’s easy to criticize the multiplexes. But it’s not so easy to criticize the indie theatrical scene. So kudos to Tone film editor Grant Phipps for being willing to take on both in his piece questioning why theaters of all sizes are still showing films by problematic directors like Roman Polanski and Luc Besson. It’s a no-sacred-cows essay that encapsulates what makes Tone Madison so special.

For a decade, Tone Madison has been an essential part of Madison’s independent media landscape. As the website announces that it's shutting down on April 3, we revisit some of our favorite stories and headlines.

The Most Memorable Tone Madison Headlines

 as a result of the United States and Israel’s war with Iran, and they seem to go higher every day. The average price of regular gas in Dane County is $3.67 per gallon. That’s about in line with the state’s overall average, and up nearly 60 cents from a year ago, 

Here are some tips on ways to save on gas in Madison.

check the Madison Metro Transit bus schedule

 and use public transportation to get where you’re going. 

 that will not only help you plan your trip, but tell you where your bus is in real time and when you need to be at your stop.

a network of over 100 miles of shared bike trails

 that can get you quickly and safely to every part of the city, and the warming temperatures make a bike ride a lot of fun as well as cost-effective.

Madison BCycle offers a bike-sharing service

 throughout the city. To celebrate its 15th anniversary, 

 for all Dane County residents and workers through April 30.

 is free and tracks gas prices in your area. Enter your address or route, and it will show you the current gas prices at stations along the way. It’s crowdsourced, and you can enter your receipts to earn points toward rewards, including discounts on gas. You can also play games to earn points.

⛽ Take Advantage of Free Rewards Programs

Stretch your gas dollar a little farther with special programs. 

Kwik Trip offers its Fleet Rewards Program

 for people who drive as part of their jobs. While Hy-Vee doesn’t have any gas stations in the Madison area, 

 they can use on items in the store, and when they’re traveling to areas that have Hy-Vee Gas stations.

 keeping tires properly inflated, and making sure to drive the speed limit. As speeds exceed 50 mph on the highway, aerodynamic drag reduces fuel economy. Limiting air conditioner use helps save on gas. Use a windshield shade to lessen heat buildup inside the car, and remove bulky items — it takes more fuel to accelerate in a heavier car.

Fuel saving tips

 What are your fuel-saving tips?

The average price of a gallon of regular gas is 60 cents higher in Dane County than it was a year ago.

How To Avoid High Gas Prices in Madison

How To Beat High Gas Prices in Madison

You may like pizza, but do you really know pizza? Madison has several popular local pizza restaurants, each serving their own distinctive signature pies. Take our quiz and see how well you know your slices.

Test Your Knowledge of Madison's Iconic Pizzas

The latest on the hottest places to eat, drink, socialize, and talk about in Madison.

The latest on the best and newest restaurants and bars in Madison. We'll help you find where to eat, drink, and socialize.

Madison Food & Drink

Food & Drink

Each month, we run down the best new restaurants in the Madison area that have either opened or announced plans to open in the near future. If you know of any that we missed, drop us a line at 

One long-awaited coffee shop opening this week is Ledger Coffee, which on Wednesday opened its first standalone location on Winnebago Street. 

, Ledger’s coffee got high marks as host Bianca Martin, producer Jade Iseri-Ramos and myself chatted about our favorite local coffee shops in Madison – the best places to eat, the best places to work, and the places with the best vibes. Brew yourself up a cup and give it a listen!

 tucked away in the former home of Black Rose Blending has rolled out gradually, with coffee and a limited menu that includes raclette and tins of fish. But on April 29 they kick it up a notch with a full food menu and beer, wine and spirits.

The coffee shop that serves Garver Feed Mill just opened its first standalone location this week on Winnebago 

in the former home of Calnin Design Studio

. While Ledger focuses on the quality of its coffee, it’s hoping to sell pastries from local faves like Level 5 Donuts.

The local chain whose mission is to “bring the bright, fresh flavors of the Hawaiian Islands to the heart of Wisconsin” just opened its third location on Monona Drive. Like its other locations in Middleton and Madison, expect vibrant-colored build-your-own bowls.

This new business is bringing brigadeiros, coxinhas, risoles and other Brazilian pastries to the Sun Prairie Farmers Market and the Northside Farmers Market starting this spring.

Just in time for summer, this new ice cream parlor is opening on Main Street in downtown Sun Prairie, serving housemade ice cream in both traditional and adventurous flavors along with other desserts and craft sodas.

The former Benvenuto’s Italian Grill location on McKee Road is now a golf simulator lounge that includes a full bar and pizza from Salvatore’s Tomato Pies.

The owners of this Monticello barbecue spot have opened a fast-casual version of its restaurant at 567 State St., including brisket sandwiches and mac ‘n’ cheese with pulled pork.

This month's list of new restaurants include a new coffee shop on Winnebago Street, an ice cream shop coming to downtown Sun Prairie and an eclectic spot in the Bay Creek neighborhood.

Food & Drink

Test Your Knowledge of Madison's Iconic Pizzas

Rob Thomas

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