Page 99 – Wisconsin Life

Elderberries grow abundantly in ditches, stream beds, and along bike paths in Wisconsin. Forager and chef Lee Davenport has been harvesting elderflowers around Madison for more than a decade. Elderberries have a fragrant flower that can be used to enhance the flavor of jams, pickles, chutneys and vinegars.

A Passion For Polo Reignited In Milwaukee
Gallery
A Passion For Polo Reignited In Milwaukee

Sports

A Passion For Polo Reignited In Milwaukee

One sunny Saturday in July, I succumbed to an invitation to the Milwaukee Polo Club. It came from a friend, Courtenay Rohs, a nurse who plays polo. I had resisted visiting the club in Merton for years, afraid I’d want to play.

Poetry And Beer, Together At Last At Poetry And Pints
Gallery
Poetry And Beer, Together At Last At Poetry And Pints

The Arts

Poetry And Beer, Together At Last At Poetry And Pints

The brewing floor of Madison’s House of Brews is often bustling with activity, but not like this. Brittany Cavallaro reads from selections from her latest book of poems to a crowd squeezed in between the kettlers, fermenters, and bags of grain.

Human Nature Revealed On The Mini Golf Course
Gallery
Human Nature Revealed On The Mini Golf Course

Culture & History

Human Nature Revealed On The Mini Golf Course

You can learn a lot about people by seeing how they play games. I’m not the first person to say so, but I’ve probably spent more time testing the idea than most.

State Ban On Oleo Margarine Led To Smuggling
Gallery
State Ban On Oleo Margarine Led To Smuggling

Culture & History

State Ban On Oleo Margarine Led To Smuggling

Imagine this, it is 1950, Spooner a Friday evening, darkness is descending. My mother and a few of her friends are sitting around THE kitchen table talking quietly One woman says, “Who will drive?”

Summer Photo Contest: Send Us Your Photos
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Summer Photo Contest: Send Us Your Photos

The Arts

Summer Photo Contest: Send Us Your Photos

Our Wisconsin Life Summer Life Photo Contest is now closed for submission. We are hard at work reviewing your photos. The top three photos in each of our five categories will be posted online for two weeks of public voting (see below for complete contest rules).

Taxidermist Preserves Animals From Around Wisconsin And Across The Globe
Gallery
Taxidermist Preserves Animals From Around Wisconsin And Across The Globe

Science & Nature

Taxidermist Preserves Animals From Around Wisconsin And Across The Globe

A walk through the lobby of Mayes Taxidermy in Stevens Point can seem like a combination shopping trip and safari, as dozens of exotic and lifelike animals stare back from the nondescript walls and showroom floor.

Chainsaw Craftsman Ken Schels Makes Art From The Trees
Gallery
Chainsaw Craftsman Ken Schels Makes Art From The Trees

The Arts

Chainsaw Craftsman Ken Schels Makes Art From The Trees

You may not realize it when you see Ken Schels wielding his chainsaw at carving competitions, but he thinks deeply about trees. Emily Bright got a tour of Schels’ workshop and a glimpse into his mind as he sets about carving.

Lessons Learned From A Summer Job In A Pickle Factory
Gallery
Lessons Learned From A Summer Job In A Pickle Factory

Culture & History

Lessons Learned From A Summer Job In A Pickle Factory

There are summer jobs specific to Wisconsin–washing Friday night fish fry dishes and brandy old-fashioned tumblers at a Supper Club or herding Girl Scouts into tents at camps like Tiwaushara and U-Nah-Li-Ya.

Celebrating bassist and Madison jazz legend Richard Davis
Gallery
Celebrating bassist and Madison jazz legend Richard Davis

The Arts

Celebrating bassist and Madison jazz legend Richard Davis

Editor’s note: Legendary bassist Richard Davis of Madison, Wisconsin passed away in early September 2023, surrounded by his loved ones. He was 93 years old. To honor and remember Davis, we’re revisiting this story from 2015, when writer Dean Robbins celebrated the bassist’s and University of Wisconsin professor’s career.

Recalling Friendship And Summer Nights On Lake Hallie
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Recalling Friendship And Summer Nights On Lake Hallie

Culture & History

Recalling Friendship And Summer Nights On Lake Hallie

I lived in town near school and my best friend, Karen, was a “bus kid.” When we were twelve she often came home with me from evening basketball practice. On those short walks, I scared her with tales of our eccentric neighbor guy.

Wedding DJ: One More Song
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Wedding DJ: One More Song

The Arts

Wedding DJ: One More Song

This dance, as well as my wedding DJ career, was supposed to end an hour ago. I started this job 17 years ago, as a way to make spare money on weekends.

Spoken Word Artist Performs Her Poem “We Be”
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Spoken Word Artist Performs Her Poem “We Be”

The Arts

Spoken Word Artist Performs Her Poem “We Be”

Althea René Miller moved to Wisconsin from Southern Los Angeles on a whim as an 18-year-old. The University of Wisconsin—Madison is what brought her here, but it is her dedication to the broader Wisconsin community that is keeping her here.

An Over The Lake Drive To Milwaukee
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An Over The Lake Drive To Milwaukee

Culture & History

An Over The Lake Drive To Milwaukee

My dad never asked for directions. Never. He always knew the best way to get there, especially when he didn’t. One spring day, we were preparing to go to Milwaukee to eat at our favorite Chinese restaurant and do some Chinese grocery shopping; we lived in Oshkosh, about an hour and a half north of there.

Artist Creates Piece From The Destruction Of A Tornado
Gallery
Artist Creates Piece From The Destruction Of A Tornado

The Arts

Artist Creates Piece From The Destruction Of A Tornado

When a series of tornadoes hit Verona on June 17, 2014, the town was hit hard. Trees, a school, barns, and homes suffered severe damage. It also inspired a work of art by Verona fiber artist Pat Kroth.