As you might know, Madison is celebrated for beer, football, and cheese—sometimes a frustrating sentiment for locals. But you can’t really argue, as the city contains plenty of options for drinking: Karben4, Parched Eagle, or Ale Asylum all have taprooms to maintain, while almost every restaurant in the city will surprise you with a vast selection of potential brews. Hoping for cheese (curds)? Aren’t we all? Look no further than the Tipsy Cow or Graze.
Madison
- State
- Wisconsin
- Population
- City Limits
- 263,332
- Metro Area
- 680,796
Sources: World Population Review, Wikipedia
- Known by many names
- Mad City, Madtown, City of Four Lakes, The Berkeley of the Midwest
There’s a lot to love about this down-to-earth capital city, starting with its location. Situated snugly on an isthmus between two lakes—Mendota and Monona—the city embraces a lifestyle focused on the wild outdoors that’s soothing to anyone’s creative soul.
It’s one of just two cities (the other being Seattle) in the United States built on an isthmus, a narrow strip of land connecting two larger areas of land with water on either side. For those looking to stay active, you can easily see the lake’s expanse on bike, by wakeboarding, or perhaps by camping nearby at New Glarus State Park. If you didn’t already know, all Wisconsin state parks allow alcohol on-site, which is a definite boon for the beer-loving local population. For a more manicured take on the natural wonders of Madison, the Olbrich Botanical Gardens offer 16 acres of gardens.
A progressive city, in a less-than-progressive state, Madison has its eye firmly set on the future. The city’s construction makes it incredibly easy to navigate (we’d recommend a bike), and a young population tends to set the tone. Often, many students are out laughing (or cringing) at Comedy on State’s open mic nights, or catching their favorite artists at The Majestic Theatre, The Sylvee, or The Orpheum. There’s even high-fashion and streetwear options from August on State Street.
“In Madison, creativity seems to linger. It doesn’t hit like a lightning bolt of inspiration. More like a fine mist of rain that follows you throughout the day. When I think about creating something new, I don’t consider how much time it will take. Or how much money it’s going to take. The only thing I’m thinking about is how I’ve got to get this done—I’ve got to make this real.”
AJ JuarezDancer, choreographer, and founder at Barrio DancePhotography by Nate Ryan
Just a taste of what Madison has to offer
- Colectivo Coffee
- Capitol Square
- The Majestic Theatre
- Olbrich Biergarten
- August
- James Madison Park
- Madison Museum of Contemporary Art (MMoCA)
- Monona Terrace
- Old Sugar Distillery
Colectivo Coffee
Capitol Square
The Majestic Theatre
Olbrich Biergarten
August
James Madison Park
Madison Museum of Contemporary Art (MMoCA)
Monona Terrace
Old Sugar Distillery
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“...Madison is my biggest reminder to excel in the moment.
Straight from our city insiders
To further understand the vibrancy and nuance of the top three cities in our index, our WeTransfer team sat down with creative professionals who live, work, and play there to hear how the city has influenced them—and vice versa.
The art in Madison will save your life—it surely saved Jennie Bastian’s
As told to WeTransferAs an artist, parent, and arts administrator, Jennie Bastian shares her perspective on how setting boundaries creates the conditions for creativity, the progressive that Madison needs to be, and the intimacy that comes with community care.
Read moreMadison inspires Terrence Adeyanju to lay down visual footnotes to his human experience
As told to WeTransferTerrence Adeyanju—or PEELD®, as some people know him—discusses his greatest act of rebellion as a creative, the overwhelming tension that can come with labels, and the ephemerality that comes attached to our life experiences.
Read moreIn Madison, there’s no reason to be sad if you can dance with AJ Juarez
As told to WeTransferAJ Juarez, founder of Barrio Dance, tells us about the future in Madison that’s yet to be built, the self-taught mechanisms of creativity that complement his work, and the generous neighborhood surrounding his city and his studio.
Read more
Named after the month the owner’s son was born, August (in their own words) is an amalgamation of streetwear, sneakers, art, music and literature. The shop carries rare and upcoming streetwear and shoe brands, and serves as a thoughtful beacon for Madison’s creative community. The shop often hosts live sessions featuring hip hop, poetry, spoken word, jazz, fashion shows, and more.
“We’re building something new here in Madison. And part of that story is building it together—from art shows that feature budding fashion designers, to collaborations with local illustrators representing the city. August has been a hub for our creative community here.” Rob BowhanOwner at August
Madison’s been elite for a long time. But it can’t stay hidden forever, according to the masses.