Blog
In the Spotlight: the Union’s very own yoga master
By Emily Connor It was only a few minutes into our coffee meeting to talk about Lisa Lawrence’s yoga practice when a young woman sitting nearby took notice. She had only heard a few of Lisa’s opinions before feeling the need to come and meet the eclectic and vivacious woman behind the words. “I don’t teach a popular or sexy yoga. I teach an ancient yoga,” explained Lisa, a longtime Mini Courses yoga instructor and favorite familiar Union face. “It’s the real thing.” Lisa specializes in Kundalini...
read moreGuest post: Steven Skolaski on Rennie’s grand opening
By Steven F. Skolaski Steven F. Skolaski serves as a member of the board of directors for the UW Foundation and is the president of the Oscar Rennebohm Foundation Inc. Steven is a UW Madison alumn of the class of 1971 and is a former employee of the original Rennebohm Drug Store. It has been nearly a month since the grand opening of Rennie’s Dairy Bar in the Wisconsin Institutes for Discovery building located on the corner of University and Randall, which also happens to be the site of the former Rennebohm Drug Store #1. At the grand...
read moreSweet Honey in the Rock’s music is more than just a melody
By Erin Bannen and Emily Connor Few bands can master mixing beautiful melodies with social commentary and political rhetoric. However, Sweet Honey in the Rock has been masterfully producing powerful and persuasive vocals for over 35 years. This all female, African American a cappella group will bring its unique sound, thoughts and stories to the Wisconsin Union Theater stage to entertain Madison audiences this October. When it comes to Sweet Honey in the Rock, no specific category or genre can define this unique musical experience. The group...
read moreYoutube dancing sensation films at Terrace
By Emily Connor On July 17th, Union members got a chance at Youtube stardom when dancing Internet sensation Matt Harding came to the Memorial Union Terrace to film a scene for his next “Where the Hell is Matt?” video. Matt’s first dancing video became a huge hit in 2005 after he created a video of himself dancing badly around Asia. What started as just a silly way to document his travels became an Internet phenomenon and even captured the attention of major sponsors, like Stride Gum. Matt was then able to film more videos of...
read moreMemorial Union Reinvestment design plans begin for next year
By Emily Connor In 1928, as the oak doors first opened and students and community members stepped onto the marble floors, not one could imagine the amount of history, heart and soul that the Memorial Union would come to hold. For over eighty years, thousands have come and gone, reading at the Terrace, enjoying a beer at the Stiftskeller and studying in the hallowed hallways. However, as time progressed, the building showed its need for renovation, and the Memorial Union Reinvestment project emerged to ensure that the heart and soul of campus...
read moreThe Travel Adventure series: A piece of Madison history
By Erin Bannen and Emily Connor In a global technological society where Skyping a friend in Italy and watching a Youtube video of the Libyan protests are commonplace, it might seem that the Wisconsin Union Theater’s Travel Adventure Series is obsolete. These days, learning about a different culture may be only one click away on the Internet. The Travel Adventure Series has given audiences multicultural experiences for over 50 years. For only a moderate ticket price, guests get a chance to experience a captivating film featuring another...
read moreIn the spotlight: a musical double life
Brooke Jackson needs a personal assistant as much as anyone ever has. On what is supposed to be a quiet summer morning, she rushes to her interview straight from another meeting, bringing with her the undeniable energy that usually accompanies her presence, and Marcel, the miniature Chihuahua who usually does not. Today is not exactly a normal day for Jackson. Marcel has just been to the vet, and therefore gets to spend the day with his owner. Jackson is leaving the next day for a vacation in New York, and she has a new graduate student...
read moreThe scoop on Babcock ice cream
Think back to childhood and the thrill of hearing the ice cream truck drive through the neighborhood. Every kid goes frantic, rushing to get spare change from their parents and then chase after an old van slowly making its way down the street, blasting circus music through tiny speakers. Nothing was better than the rush of reaching the truck and indulging in a cool ice cream treat. Wisconsinites and UW Madison students experience a similar enjoyment, even into adulthood, with Babcock Ice Cream. Produced in the university’s very own Babcock...
read moreHoofer Riding club features famed clinician
By Megan Reichert and Emily Connor Each summer since 1931, Hoofers has helped bring outdoor living to Madison’s urban center. In true Hoofers tradition, self-taught experts have shown others everything they need to know about sailing, kayaking and other summer sports. However, Hoofer Riding Club has invited internationally-known professional equestrian clinician, Melanie Michalak, to teach a musical freestyle dressage clinic this July. Michalak is a musical freestyle designer, competitor, judge and clinician who will be leading the...
read moreEnjoying the summer heat
As I write this on the morning of July 1st, all of us at the Memorial Union are bracing for the afternoon heat – expected to exceed 100 degrees with the heat index. It certainly brings new meaning to our annual “Hot Summer Nights” promotion for what’s happening on the Memorial Union Terrace, which is now in full swing. I hope you’ve already had the chance to attend some of our events and are making plans to attend a few more before the season winds down. We’ll do what we can to keep the Terrace cool – like keeping the beverage stations well...
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