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City Cast Madison

Rob Thomas

Multiple deaths and injuries are being reported after a student at Abundant Life Christian School 

, Madison Police Chief Shon Barnes said. The suspect is also dead, Barnes said.

Officers responded to an active-shooter report at the school at 10:57 a.m. Monday. When they arrived at the school, they found the suspect was dead, Barnes said.

Barnes said that those in the hospital have injuries that range from minor to life-threatening.

Roads around the school, a private K-12 school with around 400 students at 4901 Buckeye Rd., are blocked off as police continue to investigate. The public is being asked to avoid the area.

A Madison Metropolitan School District official said nine nearby schools, including La Follette High School, Sennett Middle School, and Elvehjem Elementary School, were put on secure hold.

In a statement Monday, Gov. Tony Evers said,

 "I am closely monitoring the incident at Abundant Life Christian School in Madison. We are praying for the kids, educators, and entire Abundant Life school community as we await more information and are grateful for the first responders who are working quickly to respond."

City Cast Madison will continue to monitor the story as it develops.

Madison police are actively investigating a shooting at Abundant Life Christian School in Madison. (Hayley Sperling/City Cast Madison)

Many people drive by the nondescript two-story brick building on the corner of East Washington Avenue and South Baldwin Street without realizing they’re passing by a piece of rock music history.

Smart Studios was a recording studio that was ground zero for the ‘90s alternative rock movement. Nirvana, Smashing Pumpkins, and studio founders Butch Vig and Steve Marker’s own band Garbage recorded music there.

Filmmaker Wendy Schneider captured the grungy, influential history of the studio at 1254 E. Washington Ave. in her documentary “

.” On the City Cast Madison podcast, Schneider talked to host Bianca Martin

 about her experiences making the documentary

As musicians on the 1980s Madison rock scene, Vig and Marker would often hang out at the Plaza Tavern. When it was last call, they’d declare “Let’s get smart!” and go record music until sunrise.

After several frustrating experiences trying to book time to record at other people’s studios, the duo decided to start their own.

The original Smart Studios actually originally opened across the street

, in what was then the Gisholt Machine Tool warehouse. They invited any and all Madison bands to come record there.

Grunge bands from the Midwest heard the music coming out of Smart Studios and wanted to come to Madison and record there too. As their notoriety grew, Vig and Marker bought the two-story building in 1987 to accommodate all the demand.

When Nirvana came to Smart Studios in 1990

 to record eight songs—one of which, “Polly,” appeared on their “Nevermind” album—Smart Studios was known nationwide as a place to come and record. But Vig and Marker made a point to make sure lesser-known local bands could still book time to record there too.

As Garbage began using the studio more and more to record their own music, that left less time for outside bands to make music there. And as the ‘90s grunge movement faded in the ‘00s and Garbage took more and more of Vig and Marker’s time, the studio’s importance began to fade. The studio closed its doors in 2010.

 and planned to turn it into a combination private residence and short-term rental. But when city rules made it too onerous to convert the downstairs into an AirBnB, she made the entire two-story space her home.

While updated and modernized, the decor of the residence pays homage to Smart Studios musical roots. Walls are covered with framed posters of bands who recorded there, along with pages of the studio’s recording schedules, and other memorabilia that reminds guests of its indie rock legacy.

Why did Nirvana, Smashing Pumpkins, Death Cab for Cutie and other bands want to record songs in Madison? As a new documentary explains, Smart Studios, the recording studio founded by Butch Vig and Steve Marker of Garbage, played a key role in the '90s indie rock scene. 

Smart Studios Turned Madison Into an Indie Rock Destination

How Smart Studios Put Madison on the Musical Map

What Madisonians have been wondering. We break down why things in Madison are the way they are and how they work.

Madison, Explained

People want to know where their produce comes from, their milk, 

. So why not their meat? As concerns rise about factory farming and the treatment of animals, a new breed of local butcher shops have flourished using the “farm-to-table” model. They partner directly with small-scale Wisconsin farmers so they can tell their customers exactly where that ribeye steak comes from.

 co-owner Pip Freeman about the shop’s commitment to sourcing their meat from Wisconsin farms that treat their animals humanely and provide responsible land stewardship. (Warning: Today’s episode 

Here are some butcher shops around Madison where you can stock up for your Memorial Day cookout and beyond.

This shop on Monona Drive sells pasture-raised beef, pork, lamb and chicken, as well as a curated grocery section and wine, beer and spirits. 

Also make sure to follow them on Instagram

 or sign up for their newsletter to learn about their Thursday sandwich specials – they’re worth planning lunch around.

Started as a retail outlet for the organic food producer Black Earth Meats, this whole animal butcher shop on University Avenue in Shorewood Hills sells a dizzying array of meats, including handmade sausages every Thursday.

As the name suggests, this butcher shop is located on the UW-Madison campus, inside the Meat Science & Animal Biologics Discovery Building. The show sources its products from 2,000 acres of farmland that the university owns for agriculture research in Arlington, as well as other local producers.

While Underground Butcher on Williamson Street 

, its sausage-making business lives on at a facility on East Wilson Street. Its handmade sausages, including soppressata and black garlic salami, are made from humanely-raised high-quality pork.

This Monona Drive institution has been in existence since 1964, and 

is as much of a deli and a grocery store as it is a butcher shop

. Not only can you get a top-quality cut of meat like Ken’s signature burgundy pepper sirloin, you can pick up a seven-layer salad, a loaf of Stella’s cheese bread, and a fresh-baked apple pie as well.

While UW Provision is one of the largest retail and wholesale producers in the Midwest, locals in Middleton flock to its specialty grocery store known as “The Meat Market.” It sells everything you need for a holiday cookout, including UW Provision meat, salads, desserts, beverages, and even grilling tools.

While this Madison OG butcher’s 84-year-old shop on Old Middleton Road closed in 2022, it lives on in Waunakee as a wholesaler and an online retailer. See what’s for sale, place your order, and pick it up at the Athens Grill in Westport.

With summer coming up, you might want to stock up for the next cookout. Here are some of Madison's favorite butcher shops, from Meat People Butcher to Ken's Meat & Deli, many of which work closely with Wisconsin farmers.

The Best Butcher Shops in Madison

These Madison Butcher Shops Are a Cut Above 

The latest on the best and newest restaurants and bars in Madison. We'll help you find where to eat, drink, and socialize.

Madison Food & Drink

Food & Drink

There are many podcasts out there about writers and the writing life. But there’s likely only one where the host asks the writer who their favorite Green Bay Packer is.

 hosted by Madison writer Jeff Oloizia, which launched the first episode of its 10-episode debut season last week. Each week, Oloizia, a former New York Times editor, talks to a Wisconsin author about their work, the act of writing, and the ups and downs of making it as a writer in the Midwest, far from the publishing hubs of New York and Los Angeles.

The debut episode, available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and other podcast players, features Madison essayist 

. The second episode, dropping Wednesday, features “Still True” author Maggie Ginsberg, whose next novel “Daisy Chain” will be released in 2027.

Oloizia talked to City Cast Madison recently about “Writing Forward.”

When I decided once for all that I wanted to stay put here and I wasn’t going back to New York, I thought “What can I make that will challenge me and add something to the literary community here?” I thought about starting a magazine, which in 2026 is a pretty tall order. But things have gotten to a point with podcasting that it’s pretty practical to start it up yourself.

As someone who aspires to publish books himself, I like to listen to people who are in the place that I want to be, talking about it. And I think it’s all the more powerful if they’re from the same place as I am.

Listening to the first episode, it really sounds like a conversation between two writers as opposed to an interview.

My hope is that it’s like overhearing two of your favorite writers in a bar. Which is not to say that I don’t want it to have structure and real purpose. Each of my guests I choose with some themes in mind. Sure, we’ll talk about somebody’s new book, but I really want to have a more holistic conversation about the writing life and their career.

How do you think the show reflects a Wisconsin vibe?

There are certain podcasts that I won’t name that I can’t get through because they’re too pretentious. I’m aware that there’s always that risk, but the kind of writing that I like, not to mention podcasts, definitely have some high and some low. I think that’s a very Wisconsin thing, too. Don’t take yourself too seriously. We’re all just here to have a good time. I want to get into it, but I also want my guests to have a good time.

I think everybody is always happy to talk about craft. You spend four or five years working on a book, and if somebody’s going to ask you how you did it, that’s a dream. But certainly aspects of the writing life, ambition, imposter syndrome.

I feel like it’s the thing that people don’t often get to talk about, especially in Wisconsin, where you aren’t supposed to say the quiet part out loud. But I think there needs to be a place to talk about ambition. I don’t think that’s a dirty word. In some ways we sort of hold ourselves back when we ignore that.

What do you hope listeners take away from “Writing Forward”?

My hope for the podcast is that if people can listen and take away one thing, one little nugget or quote or craft idea that they can apply to their own creative life, I’ll be happy with that. I’m sort of doing the same thing. If I go to a book event or reading, that’s what I’m looking for. I just want to hear people who I admire and whose writing I admire think out loud. I get to have a front row seat to that.

On the new podcast "Writing Forward," Madison writer Jeff Oloizia interviews Wisconsin authors about their writing process, how to be successful as a Midwestern writer.

Madison Writer Starts 'Writing Forward' Podcast

Wisconsin Authors Are an Open Book on New Podcast

Find the best of everything that Madison has to offer.

Madison’s Best

Madison's Best

Every Wisconsin resident thinks they know what a supper club is. But ask them to define it, or tell you whether a restaurant does or doesn’t qualify, and it might spark a serious debate.

To help settle the arguments, former Madison Magazine editor-in-chief Andrea Behling asked her readers to come up with 

a list of “essential supper club criteria.”

 City Cast Madison podcast host Bianca Martin talked to Behling

, from wood paneling to French onion soup.

Here’s a list of Madison-area restaurants that definitely qualify for supper club status.

Behling wrote that she knew within the first few seconds of entering this iconic restaurant that it qualified as a supper club. Hit the restaurant for a perfectly cooked ribeye or a shrimp cocktail, or crowd at the bar for the perfect martini.

A step inside this far east side spot is like a trip back in time, from the complimentary relish tray and bread bowls to the cheese curds “fried until the cheese screams to escape.” The key lime pie martini is the club’s signature cocktail.

The Waunakee supper club has stayed in the family for decades, with son Austin Andres taking over for his late father Rex. The Innkeeper is a particular favorite for special occasion banquets and large groups, including upcoming Easter and Mother’s Day banquets.

For over 40 years, the McFarland restaurant has embodied the essentials of the supper club experience, from a full salad bar to prime rib specials.

This Sauk City institution is worth the drive, putting an Old World Bavarian spin on the supper club tradition with schnitzel, sauerbraten, and oompah music on the speakers.

Does a high-end restaurant envisioned as a “celebration of Wisconsin’s iconic supper clubs” count as a supper club itself? Hard to say, but with its retro decor and innovative reimaginings of supper club staples like wedge salads and Pink Squirrels, it’s not to be missed.

This restaurant on East Washington Avenue certainly looks the part, housed in a historic building that dates back to 1885. But it’s a relatively new venture that has Fish Fry Fridays and Prime Rib Saturdays, along with relish trays and “spectacular sides” like grilled asparagus and mac ‘n’ cheese.

Head west to Cross Plains for this 88-year-old supper club that offers “the kinds of nights that turn into traditions,” with surf and turf, a cheese ball for starters, and an ice cream drink for dessert.

You can savor the Wisconsin supper club tradition without traveling far from Madison, hitting historic spots like Tornado Steak House, Kavanaugh's Esquire Club, and Mariner's Inn. 

The Best Supper Clubs in the Madison Area

Supper Clubs in Madison You Have To Try

Madisonian? Recently on the City Cast Madison podcast, we 

talked about the experiences and traits that define a Madison resident

. If you’re not sure where you stand, here’s a quiz on some things that every Madisonian ought to know about their city.

Quiz: Are you a True Madisonian? 

Happy May! While UW-Madison commencement is the big event this month, there's plenty going on for townies and students alike. Here's your guide to the events you shouldn't miss.

😆 Charlie Berens Gets a Wisconsin Welcome

How popular is Wisconsin comedian Charlie Berens? He’s sold out three of his four shows at Overture Hall on May 8 and 9 – 

only a few seats for the late show on May 8 remain

Listen to him on the City Cast Madison podcast

 talk about what makes Wisconsin funny, and his surprisingly serious stance against data centers.

Children’s Theater of Madison is putting on the hit Broadway musical

 about a group of ragtag newspaper boys who rally against their greedy publishers May 2 through 17 in the Starlight Theater at MYArts.

🎉 The Center for Black Excellence’s Grand Opening

Center for Black Excellence and Culture will open its doors on May 6

, with a free grand opening celebration and open house, so you can explore all three levels of this testament to Black resilience and creativity.

Former Wisconsin author Jane Smiley (“A Thousand Acres”) will close out the Wisconsin Book Festival’s spring series with 

a free May 6 event at Madison Central Library

 to talk about her new book “Lidie,” which revisits the main character from her 1998 novel “The All-True Travels and Adventures of Lidie Newton.”

 on Memorial Day Weekend, May 22 through 24 on Willow Island at Alliant Energy Center. Headliners for the music stages include The Lovin’ Spoonful and Great White.

Acclaimed indie-rock singer-songwriter Courtney Barnett took a few years off, but she’s back with a new album and tour. 

Parrfection Produce Farm Market near Monticello is hosting its 

. There’ll be over 100,000 tulips (minus any that the deer get into), plus food trucks, bouncy houses, and opportunities for lots of beautiful photos.

From Brat Fest to Tulip Fest, from 'Newsies' to Charlie Berens, there's lots going on in Madison this spring.

What to Do in Madison in March 2026

Your Guide to May 2026 in Madison

Over 55 years after they broke up, The Beatles still have a hold on the culture like nobody else. Paul McCartney still sells out stadiums at 83, new books and remastered albums are constantly being released, and 

not one but four movies about the Fab Four are coming

Sean Michael Dargan feels that love for The Beatles when he takes the stage with his tribute band, the 

. While other Beatles cover bands dress up in costumes and moptops, the MMT focus on the music, with its five core members backed up with a 16-piece orchestra.

The Madison Mystery Tour is returning to the Barrymore Theatre on May 2 

 playing some of the band’s most famous singles and most obscure B-sides. Dargan, a fixture on the Madison music scene for years, talked about why it’s still so much fun to play The Beatles.

How did you find yourself in a Beatles tribute band?

I love The Beatles. Always have. They were the first band I really, really loved. I stole all my sister's records. But I hadn't really planned on doing a Beatles tribute, The Beatles tributes that I knew all dressed up like The Beatles and pretended to have a British accent. I didn't really want to be any part of that sort of scene. But these guys just play The Beatles like they play their own stuff, and they try to play it note for note.

How did you hit on the idea of “The Beatles Singles”?

The original premise of the band, which started over 10 years ago, was to play every Beatles album on its 50th anniversary. To be blunt, we ran out of albums and we needed something to keep playing.

The singles idea was just another way to build a show that's a little different than what we've done in the past. It’s the same canon, obviously, just more of a smattering across time. We’re doing A-sides and B-sides, so we’re getting all kinds of flavors of The Beatles.

What’s your favorite A-side to play? And what’s your favorite B-side to play?

A-side – “Let It Be,” and it’s for a purely selfish reason. I’m a guitar player, and no one's gonna confuse me with Paul McCartney on the keyboard. But that's the one song in the world that I actually perform on piano. So it's just a gas. I'm really nervous when I sit down. And I haven't felt nervous about playing, you know, in a rock setting in 40 years. So it's kind of a fun experience.

For B-side, it’s got to be “You Know My Name, Look Up the Number.” It’s just the weirdest song, and we do a really credible version of it. (Keyboardist) Steve Morgan and I take the Paul and John parts and go back and forth. It’s just an absurd song, and it’s really fun to try to pull off.

What’s special about these Barrymore shows?

The five of us are the core band, but when we do these Barrymore shows, we have an orchestra. We're doing “Strawberry Fields Forever,” which has huge orchestration, and we’re doing “I Am the Walrus,” which has huge orchestration.

Still, to this day, as soon as the orchestra kicks in on whatever song we’re playing, I get chills. It’s so cool.

Over a half-century after they broke up, the Beatles still have a huge hold on popular culture. For over a decade, the Madison Mystery Tour has been bringing their music to life on local stages, sometimes backed by a full orchestra.

Meet the Madison Band Who Makes the Beatles Come to Life

The Madison Mystery Tour Is Coming To Take You Away

It’s no exaggeration to say that Baraboo is the center of the circus world. After all, it’s the home of 

, which both keeps the history of the circus alive and brings it into the future with its dazzling Big Top Show and other special events.

, host (and Baraboo’s own) Bianca Martin talks to Circus World’s new attractions director, Scott O’Donnell, about what makes the circus and Circus World such a magical place.

"I never know when the next P.T. Barnum, the next Al Ringling, the next Guy Laliberté, is gonna walk through our doors and they might be three or they might be 30, and this might be the opportunity for that light switch to go off and, and that flame of entrepreneurialship and flame of passion and art form is lit,” O’Donnell said.

One of the things that has kept the circus arts so vibrant is the many different directions that performers can take them. Here’s some places to enjoy the circus arts in Madison, whether you want to see a touring show, enjoy an innovative performance by Madison’s own, or even take a class yourself.

This space on Winnebago Street offers classes in the circus arts, such as aerial and trapeze work from groups like Flying Trapeze Madison and Novel Motion Circus as well as putting on innovative shows that redefine circus performance, such as July’s 

Many Madisonian’s first encounter with this enchanting troupe is their high-flying performances among the majestic trees at the Orton Park Festival. But they host events and classes all year round – their new show, “

The big stages at Overture Hall and the Capitol Theater always lure in world-class touring circus performers and acrobats. Check out 

Started in Madison in 2002, Wild Rumpus offers classes and camps for kids and adults in juggling, clowning, and other circus arts. They operate out of a spacious theater space in Mazomanie and offer shuttles from Madison for campers. They also put on shows in Madison at locations like MYArts.

While Circus World in Baraboo is what put Wisconsin's circus scene on the map, there's lots of acrobatics, clowning and more going on in Madison, from Madison Circus Space to Cycropia Aerial Dance.

Circus Shows in Madison You'll Flip For

Madison’s Circus Scene isn’t Clowning Around

Madison police say multiple deaths and injuries are being reported after a student at Abundant Life Christian School in Madison.