General Information on Madison
http://www.visitmadison.com/   Madison Convention and Visitors Bureau
http://visitdowntownmadison.com
http://visitdowntownmadison.com/uploads/media/Campus_construction_map_Mar5.pdf A current map designed to guide visitors around downtown (including construction obstacles)
http://visitdowntownmadison.com/uploads/media/BID_Map_Parking.pdf  A general map with parking
http://www.thedailypage.com/ -- The Isthmus always lists upcoming events, local news, movie location and times, music venue listings, restaurant reviews, hours and addresses for several locations, etc.
http://www2.fpm.wisc.edu/trans/info_visitor.asp  UW parking info


Events & Activities
Cultural Events and Institutions
http://www.overturecenter.com/
http://www.overturecenter.com/calendar   The Overture Center calendar for June
http://www.mmoca.org/ The Madison Museum of Contemporary Art
 http://www.mmoca.org/events/index.php -
http://www.mmoca.org/events/filmatmmoca/index.php - Beginning in the month of June, the museum offers a film series (Rooftop Cinema) throughout the summer where short avant-garde and art films are screened in the rooftop sculpture garden, adjacent to the bar/restaurant.
http://www.wisconsin.gov/state/core/wisconsin_state_capitol_tour.html Capitol Building tour
http://www.mononaterrace.com/ Monona Terrace
http://www.chazen.wisc.edu/home.htm - Formerly the Elvehjem Museum but still located on UW Campus
http://www.wisconsinhistory.org/museum/ Wisconsin Historical Museum
http://www.union.wisc.edu/events/ - Wisconsin Union – Check for events and activities sponsored by the Wisconsin Union

Browsing for books, music, films:
http://www.fourstarvideoheaven.com/ - Four Star Video Heaven – find several local filmmakers’ work as well as features and shorts screened at the Wisconsin Film Festival
http://www.avolsbooks.com/ Avol’s
Paul’s Books - 670 State Street
http://www.roomofonesown.com/ A Room of One’s Own
http://www.rainbowbookstore.org/ Rainbow Bookstore Cooperative
http://www.b-sidemadison.com/ B-Side Records
Exclusive Company - 508 State St
http://www.madcitymusic.net/ MadCity Music Exchange

Outdoor Activities
Union Terrace http://www.union.wisc.edu/terrace/ 
Olbrich Gardens http://www.olbrich.org/ 
UW Arboretum http://uwarboretum.org/ 
Rent a bicycle at Machinery Row Bicycles near the Monona Terrace and ride along the lakes and around downtown. http://www.machineryrowbicycles.com/index.php/rentals
Dane Country Farmers Market – Saturdays 6am-2pm around the Capitol Square http://www.dcfm.org/
Picnic Point http://www.lakeshorepreserve.wisc.edu/visit/picnicpoint.htm
James Madison Park http://www.cityofmadison.com/parks/major/jmpark.html
Allen Centennial Gardens http://www.horticulture.wisc.edu/allencentennialgardens/

Downtown and Nearby Music Venues
Overture Arts Center http://www.overturecenter.com/ - check calendar for music schedule
UW Memorial Union - http://www.union.wisc.edu/events/ - check calendar for music schedule
The High Noon Saloon http://www.high-noon.com/
The Frequency http://madisonfrequency.com/
The Majestic http://www.majesticmadison.com/
The Orpheum Theater http://www.orpheumtheatre.net/liveshows.php (films too!)
The Annex - http://www.intheannex.com/
Restaurant Magnus http://www.restaurantmagnus.com/musicschedule.php (also see Restaurants and Bars)
The Cardinal Bar http://www.cardinalbar.com/ - bands, DJs, and dancing
Ivory Room Piano Bar - http://www.ivoryroompianobar.com/
Barrymore Theater http://www.barrymorelive.com/
See bars for more info on DJs and dancing venues

Bars
Genna’s Lounge - http://www.gennaslounge.com/ - 105 W Main St
Tornado Room - http://www.tornadosteakhouse.com/ - 116 South Hamilton
Cooper’s Tavern - http://www.thecooperstavern.com/ - 20 W Mifflin St
Brocach Irish Pub - http://www.brocach.com/home.html - 7 W Main St
Great Dane Brewery - http://www.greatdanepub.com/- 123 E Doty St
Paul’s Club – 212 State St
Nick’s Restaurant - http://www.nicksrestaurantmadison.com/ - 226 State St
Zander’s Capitol Grill – upscale sports bar with food - http://www.zanderscapitolgrill.com/ - 118 State St
Maduro – cigar bar - http://www.madurocigarbar.com/ - 117 E Main St
Opus Lounge – cocktail lounge - http://www.opuslounge.com/ - 116 King St
Essen Haus – German drinking hall, home of “the boot” - http://www.essen-haus.com/essenhaus.htm - 514 E Wilson St
Natt Spil - DJs every night, serving food until 1am – http://www.thedailypage.com/theguide/venue.php?venue=2129 - 211 King St
Restaurant Magnus http://www.restaurantmagnus.com/ - 120 E Wilson St
Plan B – Madison’s newest LGBT venue – DJs, dancing - http://www.planbmadison.com/ - 924 Williamson St
Shamrock Bar - http://www.shamrockbar.com/ - oldest (ca 1985) LGBT bar in downtown Madison - 117 W Main St
The Malt House – craft beer bar on the near east side – http://malthousetavern.com/ - 2609 E Washington Ave (E. Washington & Milwaukee St)


Restaurants
Recommended for Breakfast
Sardine – great brunch, overlooking Monona Lake, and one of the best burgers in Madison - http://www.sardinemadison.com/ 617 Williamson St
Sophia’s – only open for breakfast/brunch on weekends – great bakery and omelletes – 831 E Johnson St
Marigold Kitchen – http://www.marigoldkitchen.com/ - breakfast and lunch during weekdays, brunch on the weekend
Orpheum Lobby Restaurant – extensive, upscale brunch buffet - http://www.orpheumtheatre.net/restaurant.php - 216 State St
Plaka Taverna - formerly Cleveland’s – now a Greek Tavern but still has classic breakfasts - http://www.plakamadison.com/ - 410 E Wilson St
Café Soleil – breakfast, sandwiches, and bakery – owned by L’Etoile – http://www.letoile-restaurant.com/aboutthecafe.html - 25 N Pickney St
Bradbury’s – crepes (breakfast, lunch) and coffee - http://www.bradburyscoffee.com/ - 127 N Hamilton
Bon Appetit Café - http://www.bonappetitmadison.com/ - 805 Williamson St
Gotham Bagels – closest thing to a NY bagel in Madison, WI - http://www.gothambagels.com/ - 112 E Mifflin St
The Old Fashioned – http://www.theoldfashioned.com/ - 23 N Pickney St
Café Continental - http://www.znbar.com/ - 108 King St
El Dorado Grill – southwestern cuisine – 744 Williamson St

Recommended for Lunch
Lunch carts are open during the week on Library Mall and around the Capital Square
Osteria Papavero – rustic, Tuscan region Italian cuisine - http://www.osteriapapavero.net/ - 128 E Wilson St
Muramoto - Japanese fusion with lunch specials - http://www.muramoto.biz/ - 225 King St
The Haze – Eastern/Western BBQ – http://www.thehazebbq.com/ - 106 King St
Café Soleil - breakfast, sandwiches, and bakery – owned by L’Etoile – http://www.letoile-restaurant.com/aboutthecafe.html - 25 N Pickney St
Plaka Taverna (Greek) - http://www.plakamadison.com/ - 410 E Wilson St
Dotty Dumplings Dowry – Burgers of all sorts http://www.dottydumplingsdowry.com/ - 317 N Frances St
Ian’s Pizza (2 locations) – creative pizza toppings by the slice http://www.ianspizza.com/ - 319 N Frances St; 115 State St
Himul Chuli (Nepali) – good vegetarian options – 318 State St
Sunroom Café (overlooks State Street) – http://sunroomcafe.com/default.aspx 638 State St
Hawk’s Bar & Grill – http://www.hawksbar.com/ 425 State Street
Wasabi Japanese Restaurant (sushi) – http://www.wasabijapanese.com/ 449 State St
Buraka (East African and Ethiopian) – 543 State St
Café Costa Rica (Carribean) – http://mangomancooks.com/ 141 S Butler St
Kabul’s (Afghan and Mediterranean) – 541 State St
Husnus (Turkish and Mediterranean) – www.husnus.com 547 State St
Orpheum Lobby Restaurant - http://www.orpheumtheatre.net/restaurant.php - 216 State St
Brocach Irish Pub - http://www.brocach.com/home.html - 7 W Main St
Cooper’s Tavern – gastropub - http://www.thecooperstavern.com/ - 20 W Mifflin St
Gotham Bagels – closest thing to a NY bagel in Madison, WI - http://www.gothambagels.com/ - 112 E Mifflin St
The Old Fashioned – inspired by traditions of Wisconsin taverns and supper clubs - http://www.theoldfashioned.com/ - 23 N Pickney St
Rising Sons Deli (Laotian, Thai carryout) – 617 State St

Recommended for Dinner
L’Etoile (French style fine dining, local farms & seasonal menus) http://www.letoile-restaurant.com/ - 25 N Pickney
Harvest (New American farm to table, local ingredients) – http://www.harvest-restaurant.com/ - 21 N Pickney
Osteria Papavero – rustic, Tuscan region Italian cuisine - http://www.osteriapapavero.net/ - 128 E Wilson St
Muramoto - Japanese fusion and sushi - http://www.muramoto.biz/ - 225 King St
Tornado Room (steakhouse) – Sunday night chicken dinner special, late night menu after 10pm - http://www.tornadosteakhouse.com/ - 116 South Hamilton
Restaurant Magnus – (Norwegian fare, tapas menu, James Beard Award nominated chef 2010) - http://www.restaurantmagnus.com/ - 120 E Wilson St
Brickhouse BBQ (Memphis style bbq) – www.thebrickhousebbq.com - 408 W Gorham St
La Mestiza (Mexican) – www.lamestiza.net - next to Maduro (119 E Main St??)
Fresco – located on the roof of the Madison Museum of Contemporary Art – http://www.frescomadison.com/ - 227 State St
Wasabi Japanese Restaurant (sushi) – http://www.wasabijapanese.com/ 449 State St
Capitol Chophouse (steakhouse) – 9 E Wilson St
Chautara (Himalayan) – 334 State St
Natt Spil – brick oven pizzas and Asian fusion fare - 211 King St
Bandung (Indonesian) http://www.bandungrestaurant.com/ - 600 Williamson St
The Old Fashioned – inspired by traditions of Wisconsin taverns and supper clubs - http://www.theoldfashioned.com/ - 23 N Pickney St
Samba Brazilian Grill – (rodizio) – http://www.sambabraziliangrill.com/ - 240 W Gilman St
Greenbush Bar - coal oven pizza and Italian fare located in a former Italian social club – 914 Regent St
Lao Lan Xiang (Laotian) – will make any vegetarian option vegan – 1146 Williamson St
Weary Traveler (international inspired casual fare, late night food option) – 1201 Williamson St

Miscellaneous Food
Locally made Ice Cream == Babcock Hall ice cream at Memorial Union; The Chocolate Shoppe on State St
Local artisan cheeses and cheese tastings = Fromagination 12 S Carroll St http://fromagination.com/

Cafes
Barriques Coffee Trader (also has wine and sandwiches) – www.barriquesmarket.com 127 W Washington Ave
Michelangelo’s - 114 State St
Espresso Royale (2 locations on State St) - 208 State St; 650 State St
Ancora Coffee Roasters – 112 King St
Fair Trade Coffee House – 418 State St
Dobra Tea Room – 449 State St
Ground Zero Coffee – 744 Williamson St
Washington Hotel Coffee Room www.lakesidefibers.com - 402 W Lakeside St