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City Cast Madison

Rob Thomas

Did you know that Wisconsin is the only U.S. state to not recognize Veterans Day as a state holiday? Veterans Day, however, is still a federal holiday, and there are plenty of ways that Madisonians are honoring those who served and remembering the fallen this Nov. 11.

Here’s what’s going on in Madison this Veterans Day, as well as the reason why it’s not a state holiday in Wisconsin.

😦 What Do You Mean, Veterans Day Isn’t a State Holiday?

The reasons behind that are complicated. Wisconsin had always been a strong supporter of 

, the worldwide occasion that celebrated the end of World War I. In the 1950s, the U.S. government renamed Armistice Day as Veterans Day to honor Americans who served in all wars. But Wisconsin stuck to observing Armistice Day, and while there were some efforts in the 1980s to add Veterans Day as a state holiday in Wisconsin, it did not gather enough support to pass.

Those efforts have resurfaced in recent years. In 2022 the Wisconsin Senate passed a bill to make Veterans Day a state holiday, but it has not come up for a vote in the Assembly. In his 2025-26 budget, Gov. Tony Evers included a provision that would make both Veterans Day and Juneteenth state holidays, 

but it was removed by the Republican-led Joint Finance Committee

In 2025, a group of Democratic lawmakers 

 which would align Wisconsin with the U.S. government’s observance of Veterans Day. But it was never approved by the Legislature.

Veterans Day observance in the Wisconsin Capitol Rotunda

 will take place on Nov. 11, hosted by the Madison Veterans Council at the Wisconsin Department of Veterans Affairs. The program begins at 9:15 a.m. with a concert by the VFW 1318 Band, followed by a speakers’ program at 10 a.m.

In honor of the Wisconsin Veterans Museum’s 125th Anniversary, from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. Nov. 11 the museum 

will be serving up free cups of a special 125th anniversary coffee blend, “Rood Awakenings,”

 in honor of the museum’s first leader and Civil War veteran Hosea Rood. The coffee was roasted by Kawkauna-based 

Come to the Red Gym from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. for 

 featuring several speakers honoring the military and veteran’s contributions to the UW-Madison campus. At the Memorial Union, 

University Veteran Services will engrave dog tags

 to honor the veteran or service member in your life.

A group of Madison College students and guest artists will present original military-themed stories at 

 in the Studio Theater at the college’s Truax Campus. The event is free for students and veterans.

Every book in the Wisconsin Veterans Museum bookstore is 30-50% off

 as the museum makes room for a refreshed book section. The sale runs through Nov. 21.

In 2024, Madison Irish rock band The Kissers released “The Foe and the Fallen,” a concept album about World War I. 

listen to Kissers frontman Ken Fitzsimmons talk about the project

Wisconsin is the only U.S. state that doesn't recognize Veterans Day as a state holiday. Discover why it isn't an official state holiday, how the history of Armistice Day impacts this status, and find out how Madisonians are honoring those who served and remembering the fallen this November 11.

Six Veterans Day Events in Madison

How To Honor Veterans Day in Madison

Find the best of everything that Madison has to offer.

Madison’s Best

Madison's Best

Jade Iseri-Ramos

This is the first time that Democrats have held control of the state Assembly, Senate, and governorship since 2010 and party leadership is ready to hit the ground running.

At Governor-elect David Crowley’s victory party, Democratic Assembly Leader Greta Neubauer told supporters that now is the time to “

end decades of Republican obstructionism.

” Both Neubauer and Senate Minority Leader Dianne Hesselbein said lowering costs, increasing funding for public education, legalizing cannabis, and securing abortion access are top priorities.

State Sen. Kelda Roys, who represents much of Madison, said 

democratic voters want to see the Legislature get things done

 and address the key issues of “affordability, wages, public education, and health care.” [WPR, WORT]

University of Wisconsin-La Crosse political science professor Anthony Chergosky expects 

 the Scott-Walker-era policy that prevents public employees from collective bargaining. Chergosky told Cap Times the party is also sitting on a backlog of policies that they will also want to prioritize, like offering universal school meals and legalizing recreational cannabis. [CapTimes]

previously said they hope to work with their Republican colleagues

, and avoid working in party-specific silos. Sen. Brad Pfaff, a Democrat from Onalaska, said in an interview with Wisconsin Watch before Election Day “I firmly do believe that it is important that we allow both sides to be heard and for a variety of issues to be considered, and that just hasn’t happened over the last few years.” [Wisconsin Watch]

With full control of the state government for the first time since 2010, Wisconsin Democrats prioritize lowering costs, increasing education funding, and securing abortion access.

Wisconsin Democrats Outline Priorities For New Legislative Era

What Dems Want To Do With Their New Legislative Trifecta

On the City Cast Madison podcast, we break down some of the biggest Madison news of the week. Find new episodes every Friday.

City Cast Madison: Madison's News Podcast

Madison News

What’s for breakfast? In Madison, we have a dizzying array of options for the most important meal of the day. We could line up for brunch at a buzzed-about place, belly up to the counter for a classic diner staple, or kick back and have an elegant locally-sourced breakfast at one of Madison’s finest restaurants.

On the City Cast Madison podcast today, executive producer Hayley Sperling talks to Cap Times food and culture editor 

The Secret To Brunch in Madison 

One of my favorite ways to start the day in Madison is with a breakfast sandwich, whether it’s a quick grab-and-go option or a big, messy, cheesy creation you have to wrap both hands around. Here are a few of my favorites.

Did I miss your favorite Madison breakfast sammie? Drop me a line at 

 and let me know and I’ll collect them for a future article!

🥓 What’s your go-to Madison breakfast sandwich?

The Capital City Breakfast Sandwich at Barriques

My Saturday morning tradition is to pick up this somewhat unorthodox take on the breakfast sandwich, which includes egg, bacon, Wisconsin-aged cheddar, spinach, and a tomato-sriracha spread on a rosemary cheddar scone.

There’s nothing that can’t be improved by the addition of a doughnut, and a breakfast sandwich is no exception. As she says on the podcast, Hayley is a big fan of Zippy Lube’s sandwich, which features a hot ‘n’ fresh donut with egg, cheese, and bacon, sausage or veggie sausage.

You can’t go wrong with anything at this Willy Street institution, but my go-to is the Drew, with an Italian sausage patty, fried egg, cheddar, and chili-maple aioli on the bakery’s in-house Italian bread.

There’s a reason why there’s a line out the door every weekend. It’s worth it even for Lazy Jane’s affordable no-frills classic, featuring a sunny-side up egg, sausage patty, and cheddar on a toasted English muffin.

By far the cheapest option in town, the University Avenue bagel factory makes a great little sandwich to order when you’re commuting in or out of town. And the bagels of course cannot be beat.

This sandwich lives up to its acronym, with Nashville fried chicken added to the traditional egg-cheese-bacon combination, with a little calabrian chili aioli for added heat.

Check the daily specials menu at this Monona Drive. favorite for something really cool, but I also love this beauty, featuring ham and tomato jam along with a fried egg, horseradish mayo, red onions, and goat cheese on wholegrain bread.

The fact that this sandwich comes on a housemade Bloom biscuit alone should be enough to get you in the door. But inside the biscuit comes savory sweet potato, caramelized onions, arugula, cheese, and curried vegan cream cheese. Add an egg or bacon for protein.

The Marigold Breakfast Sandwich at Marigold Kitchen

I’m a little surprised that an iconic breakfast institution like Marigold only has one breakfast sandwich on its menu, but it’s a doozy. Nestled within a ciabatta roll is a fried over hard egg, cheddar-spiked boursin cheese, bacon, tomato, and green onion.

Madison restaurants have tons of options for a great breakfast sandwich in town, whether you want a quick grab-and-go sammie from Bagels Forever or a more elaborate creation from Marigold Kitchen.

Where to Get a Great Breakfast Sandwich in Madison

The Best Breakfast Sandwiches 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

🗳️ David Crowley is Wisconsin’s Next Governor

: In the closely-watched race for the governor’s seat being vacated by retiring Democratic Gov. Tony Evers, 

Democratic candidate David Crowley bested Republican Tom Tiffany

 Tuesday by a margin of 54.1% to 45.9% with over 95% of the votes in. Crowley will become Wisconsin’s first Black governor, and Secretary of State Sarah Godlewski will become Lieutenant Governor.

Democratic incumbent Josh Kaul beat Republican challenger Eric Toney

 54.7% to 45.3% in a rematch of the 2022 race.

Democrat Yee Leng Xiong won the race for state Treasurer

, becoming the first Hmong American to win statewide office in Wisconsin, and 

 was elected secretary of state, completing a Democratic sweep of statewide offices. [WPR, 🔒NYT, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel]

🏳️‍⚧️ Martinez-Rutherford Wins Seat in New Dem Majority

: Democratic Assembly candidate Dina Nina Martinez-Rutherford 

won her race to represent the 76th District

 over Republican Nina Chat. Her victory makes her the first openly transgender person to serve in the Wisconsin state Legislature.

In other Madison-area legislative districts, Democratic incumbents Renuka Mayadev, Shelia Stubbs, and Lisa Subeck all easily won re-election. 

Wisconsin Democrats overall flipped both the state Senate

 and the Assembly, giving them a legislative trifecta for the first time in nearly two decades. [Daily Cardinal, WPR]

⛔ Split Decision on Constitutional Amendments: 

Voters split on three GOP-backed constitutional amendments

 on the ballot. They voted against a measure to prohibit the closing of places of worship during public health emergencies. But they approved one to restrict diversity, equity, and inclusion policies at state and government agencies. As of Wednesday morning, results are too close to call on the proposed amendment to limit the governor’s partial veto power. [WPR]

: Dane County Clerk Scott McDonell’s office said that 

79.1% of eligible voters in the county, or 313,218 voters

, cast their votes in Tuesday’s election. For context, this is pretty on par with voter turnout in the 2022 midterm elections. [Dane County]

Find Election Day results, vote counts, and race outcomes for key Madison races.

Madison Election Day Results 2026

All the Latest Results From Election Day

Elizabeth Kauma

We asked you to send in your scariest Halloween pets, and man you delivered! Keep scrolling to see these floofs in all their glory ⬇️

Julie G. submitted Emery in his Halloween gear! According to her, Emery is in the process of becoming a therapy dog and is hound (pun intended) for running around in the colder weather with his siblings!

Mairin H. took inspiration from the Louvre robbery, and dressed up Fanny as le cat burglar. Fanny sadly passed away in June, but Mairin is hoping that Fanny haunts her forever. Guaranteed, her glamorous spirit won’t be forgotten.

Winnie here has double the costumes, so therefore double the Halloween spirit! I love Cavapoos, pineapples, and hot dogs, so this is a home run for me!

This pupper is dressed up like his namesake: Waldo! His owner Marc, has a quest for us!

“My dog Waldo is somewhere in the attached photo. Can you find him?”

Lily was already the champion of my heart, but now she is dressing up as a World Series champion Brewer!

Bonsai may normally just be a regular bunny, but when halloween comes around, Bonsai becomes a bat!

Phoenix the cat is dressed up like a punk rocker, which makes sense since Phoenix is a rockstar all year long. You’ll be sure to find them at the next Hissfits concert 🤘

Bee still my heart! Diesel the cat is the cutest bumblebee bee I have ever seen.

Halloween is for everyone in Madison, that is why we are showing off our favorite pet halloween costumes. 

Madison Pets Stun in their Halloween Costumes

Our Favorite Photos of Your Pets in Their Halloween Costumes 

🎉 Celebrate 1,000 City Cast Madison Podcast Episodes

Friends, Neighbors, and all fans of City Cast Madison are invited to 

for a thousandth-episode bash at Lola’s Hi/Lo Lounge. We will have a swag giveaway, awards, and a DJ spinning our favorite tunes.

RSVP NOW! 

 to let us know something you love about Madison! We especially want niche, specific, and hyperlocal answers.

🛍️ Shop Till You Drop at Local Markets

November is a great time to start holiday gift shopping. Thankfully for us, Madison is full of pop-up markets boasting unique, locally made items. First up is 

 on Nov. 6-7, where you can check out the new main gallery exhibition at the Center for Black Excellence and Culture while getting some shopping in. That same weekend, the 

 will be featuring work from fiber artists at a gallery night that Friday, with full market hours on Saturday.

 to see a wide range of traditional and contemporary art from more than 40 Native artists. The award for hippest market of the season goes to the 

, which will be taking place at Garver Feed Mill Nov. 20-21. And finally for your Black Friday shopping alternative, don't miss the 

Madison Makers Market Annual Black Friday Market and Pub Crawl

 at various locations on the near east side.

Looking for a space to tell your story, or learn more about others' lived experiences? Then you're in luck! 

 is coming to the High Noon Saloon on Nov. 9. The theme for this open-mic storytelling competition is Home for the Holidays, so dust off those cozy or chaotic stories from festivities past.

UW-Madison is also hosting a storytelling event — 

 — on Nov. 18, featuring former Wisconsin Poet Laureate Dasha Kelly. Finally, tickets are still available for 

 on Nov. 1, where Black women and Latinas from the Wisconsin area are gathering at the Goodman Community Center to talk about their dreams and challenges. You can learn more about Midwest Mujeres Collective, who's putting on this annual event, on a recent episode of City Cast Madison 🎧

Madison Restaurant News, Wage Gap for Latina Workers, and Nobel Prize Winner at UW]

The spirit of giving is strong in Madison, and there are plenty of opportunities to give back on and around Thanksgiving. On Nov. 26, 

 needs servers for their Thanksgiving Day meals. If you're not available on the holiday itself but still want to help out, never fear — HyVee has some open shifts for their 

Second Harvest Food Bank of Southern Wisconsin

 also needs volunteers to package up food. 

 also holds a Thanksgiving basket drive and is stilling looking for folks to help build and distribute the baskets. If you can’t donate your time, you can always donate food!

Madison doesn’t have an NHL team (yet 🤞), but that doesn’t mean you can’t see great hockey! Madison is home to the Madison Capitols, which is in the United States Hockey League, the country's top junior hockey league. 

 against The Green Bay Gamblers at LEGACY20 Arena at Deforest Yards on Nov. 13.

If you're not looking to go to Deforest, you can cheer on the incredibly talented Badgers hockey teams. Personally, my top picks for the month are the 

 against University of St. Thomas on Nov. 14 and 15, and the 

Discover the best things to do in Madison, WI this November - from cheering on your favorite sports team to celebrating your favorite podcast.

Things to Do in Madison in November 2026

What To Do in Madison in November 2026

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 

After opening in late October, this breakfast and lunch cafe 

from the owner of Lallande and Bloom Bake Shop

 is still evolving. While their current menu features unique breakfast and lunch offerings like Eggs En Cocotte and Man'oushé, the website promises wine, cocktails, beer, and small plates in the evenings come December.

Rokuaji, which had its soft opening in early October, is in the former Brocach space right off Capitol Square. The bistro serves sushi, ramen, and other Asian cuisine. Its name translates to “six flavors,” which the restaurant’s website says is because a good meal isn’t built on just one note, but “six flavors making room for one another.”

This rum lounge will be making its way to the east side in December, and we are so excited to see what the mind behind I/O Arcade Bar will create in the basement space under Baked Lab.

This spot has a storied history in the Isthmus, it opened in 2010 as a restaurant, transitioned to catering in 2015, and half way through October of 2026, it reopened in the Madison Public Market. It serves standard soul food, which is, of course, delicious!

Opened last month, Osaka Ramen & Hibachi’s menu features a variety of signature and specialty ramen as well as teriyaki and hibachi offerings.

This Italian restaurant chain has set a Sept. 2 opening date for its first Wisconsin location at Hilldale in the space that was formerly Amara, offering wood-fired pizzas, fresh pastas, and “garlic knot sliders.”

This new Japanese restaurant had its soft opening in mid-September on McKee Road in the spot formerly occupied by The Flying Hound. While the focus is on sushi and sashimi, they also serve ramen and other dishes.

After becoming a sensation selling bagels at west side farmers’ markets, Barrett’s Bagels just opened a bricks-and-mortar location on Speedway Road.

When one chicken restaurant leaves, another one opens. The former KFC off Mineral Point Road is now home to this chicken tender chain that calls College Station, Texas home.

The Mediterranean build-your-own chain will offer its first Madison location at Hilldale this fall, with fresh grain bowls, salads, and pitas.

This family-owned food truck offers a taste of Filipino street food, including rice bowls, pinay BBQ skewers, and Filipino milk candy known as pastillas.

The name may be giving copy editors headaches, but the new restaurant on Monroe Street is drawing a lot of attention. Opening Aug. 28 in the former Kettle Black Kitchen space, Sara Anderson and her co-owner and son-in-law, Chef Christopher Lund, are bringing back some old faves while introducing new contemporary Latin dishes.

This new Chinese restaurant opened in the Enson Market on University Avenue, offering build-your-own-bowls with a variety of broths, meats, and add-ons.

Having its soft opening this week at 203 W. Gorham St., this new restaurant promises authentic pho and banh mi, as well as Vietnamese coffee and lemon tea.

This new pizza spot opened Wednesday in the Discovery Building, featuring pinsa pizzas, a Roman-style flatbread. The restaurant will offer four rotating kinds of pizza – September’s limited offering will be prosciutto, fig, and arugula.

This pizza spot just opened in the former location of Ben’s on Water Street, offering 12-inch Neapolitan pizzas baked in a brick stone oven, from margherita and pesto pizzas to the bacon-and-jalapeno “Nfaf Special.”

There aren’t many details about the restaurant going into the first floor of this boutique hotel opening early 2027 in the century-old Churchill Building on the Capitol Square. But folks can get excited knowing there’s at least one big name at the helm — 

Milwaukee chef and “Top Chef” contestant Dan Jacobs

Based on the long lines outside on opening day, Verona is starving for mac ‘n’ cheese pizza and the other unusual slices 

at this Madison favorite’s latest outpost

This Minneapolis favorite just opened its first Madison location on Frances Street, and should do well with the campus crowd with its mix of pizza, cheesesteaks, and “Frankie Tender Combos.”

One of Madison’s favorite breakfast spots, Marigold Kitchen, 

has added sit-down service to its catering kitchen space

 at 1511 Williamson St. Grab a stool at the counter and enjoy a breakfast sandwich or berry French toast sticks.

New York bagels will meet brewed Indian chai in this restaurant planned for the corner of Gorham and Henry streets. 

The owner told the Wisconsin State Journal

 that Dasta should open sometime this fall.

I’m not sure if there’s any connection to the terrific Haveli restaurant that closed recently in Fitchburg, but this new restaurant also offers classic Indian cuisine such as chicken biryani and salmon tikka.

The former Good Company restaurant at the Pioneer Pointe Golf Club is now Thirteen, offering smash burgers, pizzas, sheet pan nachos and more. And you don’t need to know your 9-iron from your 3-wood to eat there!

This month’s list of the area’s best new restaurants includes a new outpost for a wildly popular local pizza chain, a new sushi spot near campus, and a new Indian restaurant in Verona.

Madison’s Best New Spots to Eat and Drink

The Best New Restaurants in Madison

We're trying something new at Madison Minutes! See if you can solve this crossword puzzle about people, places and things (especially lakes) you ought to know in Madison! 

Madison, Explained

Play the Madison Minutes Crossword!

Rob Thomas

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Madison, Explained

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