Blog
Parking and All the Ways to Get to Experiences for a Lifetime
Where should we park? Have you found parking yet? Is there parking available? We know parking questions come up when you visit downtown areas, including downtown Madison where our experiences for a lifetime await you at our buildings Memorial Union, Union South, the Pyle Center and the Fluno Center as well as our markets and cafes in other spaces. That’s why we’ve got you covered with this story. Here is everything you need to know about downtown Madison and UW–Madison campus parking and travel, and we promise, parking and travel to our...
read moreBear? No. More Like a Friendly Golden Retriever.
The TV show “The Bear” has sparked conversations and news stories around the world about the toxic cultures found in far too many restaurant kitchens. The show centers on the story of an award-winning chef, who returns home to the Midwest to manage his passed brother’s sandwich shop. “The Bear” shows scenes of chefs berating colleagues, asking rhetorical questions intended to belittle them and engaging in name-calling, all with the expectation that the colleagues respond with obedience and a, “Yes, Chef.” Dishearteningly, journalists...
read moreDid You Know This About der Rathskeller?
Whether you are regular or visiting Memorial Union for the first time, der Rathskeller is a Madison classic. From live music to fresh food, the German-style beer hall will immerse you in history and art (and delicious food, of course), and you’ll quickly find out why the space, which we at the Wisconsin Union run, has been loved for decades. Here are four fun facts to impress a friend on your next visit: 1. Previously called, the Taproom. Memorial Union interior designer, Leon R. Pesheret, immediately envisioned a “German beer hall”...
read moreYour Terrace Season Bucket List
I have yet to try many Wisconsin Union adventures. Let’s make a deal; I’ll try something new this summer through the Union, and you will, too! I put together my Terrace season 2024 bucket list and am sharing it here with you! Don’t know about Terrace season? Oh, my friend, you are in for a treat: we’re talkin’ summer by the lake with free concerts, free movies and oh so much more. Don’t have a friend with a lake house? Well, now you do. Learn about Terrace season at TerraceSummer.com. 1. Paddling Rentals First on my list this...
read moreUnleash the Magic and Possibilities this Day of the Badger
Help us unleash the magic and the possibilities of leadership, learning and gathering during the 2024 Day of the Badger. WHAT IS DAY OF THE BADGER? What is Day of Badger, you ask? It’s an annual call to you, our Badgers and Badgers-at-heart around the world, to give to campus efforts you believe in. It all begins at 10:12 a.m. CDT on April 16 and runs until 5 p.m. CDT on April 17 (1,848 minutes in honor of the year the University of Wisconsin–Madison was established). HELP US UNLEASH THE MAGIC AND THE POSSIBILITIES Here, at the Wisconsin...
read moreBrewin’ Up an Even Better Peet’s Experience
We’re brewin’ up something special for you, our patrons, at Memorial Union: a new, even better Peet’s Coffee experience at Memorial Union that we anticipate will open in late spring. If you’ve visited Memorial Union recently, you may have seen temporary walls in front of Peet’s Coffee and that we’ve moved Peet’s Coffee menu options temporarily to the nearby café the Daily Scoop. We promise, what is behind those walls will be worth the wait. Here’s what we’re doing to enhance your Peet’s Coffee experience: We’re doubling our...
read moreMembership Manager Dawn Dever retires after years of enhancing membership value, making membership experiences special
Dawn Dever With a combination of sadness and happiness, we share that Wisconsin Union Membership Manager Dawn Dever will retire in April. Since joining our team, Dawn has dedicated herself to creating a valuable, enjoyable membership experience for our more than 120,000 lifetime and annual members and to ensuring our members’ voices are part of every aspect of our team’s work. She always asked herself how she could make the Wisconsin Union membership experience even better. From tailgate experiences to sweet evenings of chocolate...
read moreExperience the Talent of Student Artists at the 96th Student Art Show
“Reincarnated” and “Two into One,” by Hadrea Lee The 96th Annual Student Art Show debuted in February 2024 at the Memorial Union. The installation that lives in the Main and Class of 1925 Galleries on the second floor shapes a space of creativity and expression amongst the UW–Madison campus community. An exhibit curated by Wisconsin Union Directorate (WUD) Art Committee, brings together all sides of campus to represent the artistic student body. “One of the biggest goals for the committee this year was to bring in a...
read more4 Things You May Not Know about Free Wisconsin Union Lectures
Dr. Jane Goodall, Bill Nye the Science Guy, Angela Davis, Maya Angelou: some of the thought leaders that shared their perspectives, stories, and knowledge as part of the Wisconsin Union Directorate (WUD) Distinguished Lecture Series (DLS) annual speaker series. You may have seen this series on our event calendar before. Here are four things you may not know about the series. It’s free to attend. Yes. You read that correctly. All WUD DLS lectures are completely free for our patrons to enjoy. Most DLS events offer seating on a first-come,...
read moreWisconsin Union Hotel: Revamped, Refreshed, and Infused with Badger Spirit
New locally crafted mattresses, bedding, and carpet, oh my! This winter, the iconic Wisconsin Union Hotel at Union South underwent a major refresh project, and you can be one of the first to stay in the beautifully updated rooms this spring. Maintaining the same familiar feel but with a fresh new face, guests can look forward to new and upgraded: Mattresses and box springsLight fixtures and lampsiHome alarm clocksCarpetPaintBed DecorCloset CurtainsHeadboards The Wisconsin Union Hotel, situated in Union South, has been one of the most...
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