The Madisonian Mentality

During a weekend visit to Madison a few years ago, my dad once commented, “people in Madison really know how to live.” This comment has stuck with me ever since, as the perfect summary of what I love so much about this city.

He’s right – they do. It doesn’t matter if it’s raining, sleeting, snowing, or if it’s 93 degrees with a similar humidity percentage. Whatever the conditions, you’ll find people out and about eating, drinking, talking, and taking in all that the city has to offer.

The Art Fair on the Square is one of my favorite weekends in Madison. Each year my parents come down and we hit up the fair, find a new place to eat lunch, and linger among the swarms of people circling the artists’ tents around the capital. Almost every single year, the weather has been the same: hot (really hot), humid, and sunny. There is typically little breeze, little shade, and lots of sweating. But that doesn’t stop the great people of Madison from getting out, buying art, and eating steaming, greasy cheese curds in the 93-degree heat.

Wednesday was no different. For six weeks during the summer, the Wisconsin Chamber Orchestra puts on Concert on the Square, and thousands of people (120,000 each summer, to be exact) flock to the square with blankets, wine and beer, cheese (of course), and anything else that’s portable enough to transport. Personal favorites from this past week included Ben & Jerry's ice cream and Fudgesicles. (Apparently those are portable too.) Wednesday night was hot, humid, buggy, and even included a balmy, steamy rain shower, which made things just a little grosser and just a little wetter. But that didn’t stop us. The square was just as full as it always is, the entirety of the capital lawn was hidden under colorful blankets, and people ate, drank, talked, and laughed while sweat poured down their foreheads.

I love Madison. I love the people, the activities, the lakes, and the food...the capital square, Willy Street, the bike trails, and the summer. But most of all, I love the way sweet Madisonians get out and live – almost fiercely – even when it means picking up a few mosquito bites, some sunburn, or some partially frozen fingers along the way.