Ashtray of the Beast

Too tired to blog ...

Lighting Up the Dome

One of my co-workers was driving across town as the winter storm closed in over the city this afternoon. She was waiting at a red light on Washington Avenue when a pink bolt of lightening shot straight down out of the sky and struck the statue of Wisconsin at the top of the dome, sending a shower of sparks in all directions.

So I was a little surprised to see the floodlights come on after dark ...

Morning in Capitol Square

Not as warm as yesterday, when temps in the sixties brought out walkers in their shirt sleeves. Today never got warmer than the mid-forties, and then ...

Capital Square, Mid-Afternoon

... the snow began.

The Snows Kept Coming

Once it got started it built up quickly.

Nuts To You

Oddly old-style detail erupts from the facade of a thoroughly modern office block on capital square

Windowless

When you come on a building that's lost all its windows it's as startling as meeting somebody you know who smiles and suddenly reveals she's lost all her teeth.

I'm not sure yet what's going on with this building - whether they're in the process of demolishing it, or just replacing all the windows as part of remodeling. I'll come back in a week to see.

A Church In The Brutalist Style

That seemed more than a little contradictory to me.

Looking Up I

The bank building at 2 E Mifflin on capital square.

Looking Up II

Police Line, Do Not Cross, caught in a tree on Mifflin Street, capital square.

Looking Up III

The condos at 100 W Wisconsin on capital square.

... still hanging on ...

Trademarked

A hedgehog? A squid? A map of the Pacific Rim islands? One of Jimi Hendrix's guitars with the neck broken off? A Lion?

It's a lion. It is.

Punch Buggy

Spotted this one on East Wilson Street yesterday. A well-used bug; note the t-shirt seat covers and the shredded rear seat. The lenses on the rear lights were dated 1970, but even with all those years (and no doubt plenty of mileage), this bug's in pretty good condition. Wonder just how many winters it's tramped through the salt-soaked slush of Madison streets?

Where Should We Go For Breakfast?

My Darling B wanted to go out for breakfast this morning and we'd noticed how popular Cleveland's Diner is in the mornings when we drive by on the way to work, so we swung by to give it a try.

"Popular" is such an inadequate word. There were people lined up on the sidewalk waiting for one of the seven tables or a stool at the counter. That's hardly ever a bad sign. Even better: We didn't have to wait more than ten minutes.

Barb had a Denver omlette, minus mushrooms. I had eggs, bacon and two pancakes. The two waitresses were running their legs off and the short-order cook never stepped away from his griddle. When our food came, Barb was tickled to find no mushrooms in her omlette; usually the ball drops somewhere along the way. She gobbled it down making lots of yummy sounds. My eggs were deliciously buttery, the bacon was crisp but not overdone, and the pancakes were fluffy and sweet. The food was simple, hot, and very, very good.

Cleveland's on East Wilson Street. Worth the drive into town, worth the wait.

Give Peace A Chance

Spotted outside the capital on Main Street during lunch hour. It was a breath of fresh air from all the electioneering going on. No slogans. No names. Just a guy with a wish for peace.

They don't make them like this anymore

Tucked away between a four-story apartment building and a block of flats, this tiny bungalow is hanging on behind a nicely done front gate. It can't be more than a couple of rooms and a cozy front yard. I wouldn't have believed you could still find a house this cute in the middle of Madison unless I'd seen it with my own eyes.

... and the house looks like this.

The deep, narrow lot sort of necessitates a bungalow about this size. Still looks mighty cozy.

Yet another view of autum

Our false summer started today, temps in the sixties and everybody walking around in shirt sleeves, trying to make the most of it. I took several laps around the square when I could take a break from work, and let my eyes wander to the window when I couldn't.