Blog
Making time for personal connections
Summer has been a long time in coming this year. The extended cool and wet spring has certainly put many of us in a “can’t wait for summer to arrive” frame of mind – and I’m no exception. Although, in addition to wanting to see all of you at the Memorial Union Terrace and the new Union South Plaza, I must admit that my desire to have summer arrive has had some personal motivation behind it as well. Our oldest son, Quinton, just graduated this last weekend from the performing arts high school he’s been attending the last two years. This summer...
read moreThe great pie debate
Many families have a few recipes handed down through the generations, pies whose aromas mingle with memories of Christmases past, or a potato salad that’s made an appearance at every family reunion since the Stone Age. The Wisconsin Union family is no exception, and for many alumni there is one dessert that inspires loyalty and nostalgia unlike any other: fudge bottom pie. Sue Ellen Knutson, a UW alumna, remembers her first bite of the famous confection like it was yesterday. She was six years old and on campus visiting her older...
read moreSummer Terrace event schedule announced
The Memorial Union recently announced their summer entertainment lineup for the Terrace, featuring musicians of all genres and cinema under the summer sky. With events six days a week for the next few months, it’s clear no one in Madison has any excuse to utter the phrase “I’m bored,” this summer. Beginning June 6 and running through August 23, Monday evenings will feature lakeside cinema. This summer’s theme is “On the Road Again: A Cinematic Journey Across American, City by City,” and includes classic and contemporary favorites such as...
read moreGhost towns mini course
Ranging from the classical to the experimental to the political, the Wisconsin Union Theater 2011-2012 line-up truly reflects its history. In the final season before the theater goes dark for two years of renovations, an award-winning, international group of performers promises to fill one of the theater’s most important goals: to bring cultural enrichment to the students and faculty of UW Madison. This year’s Concert Series showcases a combination of the classical and the innovative. On the classical side, the Academy of St. Martin in the...
read moreMini Courses feature local history
Wisconsin Union Mini Courses have long been popular options for members to combine a little education with a lot of fun. Recently, courses that explore local history have allowed particpants a unique look at Wisconsin traditions. If you missed the spring courses, there is still plenty of time to enroll in summer courses. Traditional beer and cheese take the stage Wisconsin is known for its beer and cheese, and this spring a special Mini Course introduced participants to a few unique places to enjoy our state’s traditional fare. On April...
read moreAn artistic tour of Union South
Union South is truly a special place. Along with the innovative design of the building itself, a myriad of local artistry, generous donations, and student dedication helped bring artistic touches to every corner of the building. The Union’s many works of art and the stories behind them could fill a book, but below we highlight just a few of the most prominent installations and the people that made them happen. A recurring naturalistic theme winds its way through most of the building’s permanent art installations, picking up on the...
read moreHoofprints: Sailing Club kicks off summer season
The Hoofers Sailing Club will hold its First Annual Instructor Auction on June 3 to kick off the summer sailing season. The evening’s festivities will begin at 5:00 in the Memorial Union Great Hall with a reception followed by hors d’oeuvres. Silent bidding for the many prizes on the ticket will last until 8:30 at which point the winners will be announced. Prizes include a wine and cheese sunset cruise, private lessons with a Hoofer’s instructor, a dinner cruise on Lake Michigan, tickets to Wisconsin Union Theater shows, and...
read moreRecap of Union South opening weekend
Grand opening video filmed and edited by Capture House Video. The huge orange ribbon waited patiently until just noon on April 15. In a rush, it was cut multiple times and more than 2,000 students, faculty, staff, and Union members hurried in to discover the wonder that is the new Union South. Without exception, jaws dropped as guests moved quickly throughout the building, exploring every nook and cranny they could reach. Exclamations of ‘amazing’ and ‘awesome’ echoed throughout every level. Crowds filled halls and...
read moreUnion South: An unparalleled success
We are nearly a month in from the Union South Grand Opening and the students and staff of the Wisconsin Union are still riding high from the April 15th celebration! By now, I’m sure many of you know that the response we received from students, faculty, staff, Union members, and the Madison community was beyond our wildest expectations. From an hour before the doors opened on that Friday at noon until we closed on Sunday night, Union South was literally a buzz with people, activity and life on its opening weekend – and it really hasn’t let up...
read moreWisconsin Union Hotel welcomes first guest
While thousands of people rushed the entrances April 15th to get their first look at the new Union South, a member of the Memorial Union Building Association’s board of trustees became the lucky first to try out the Wisconsin Union Hotel. Walter Pancoe arrived the afternoon of April 14th and checked in as the hotel’s inaugural guest. “Thanks to all of you for a most memorable event and my particular thanks to Jessica Johnson for her ‘beyond the call of duty’ in making my stay in the Wisconsin Union Hotel so great...
read more