Madison

Has anyone checked out the new Stanton Optical on East Wash yet? Or know anyone that has? I'm wondering if it's as good as it seems. Buy 1 get 1 free glasses + free eye exam? Hmmm....

Thanks everyone & Happy Holidays

Team Trivia's only game in the entire state is tonight @ the Sports Pub. Starts @ 8pm.

Special Free Answer for just LJ Madison peeps: 1966

Hello hivemind,

Are there any restaurants that are open on or near the west side of Madison that you know of that are open tonight? My family's coming in and I'm getting increasingly stumped as to what to do. The backup plan is to cook for them tonight, but it'd be nice just for us all to relax tonight.

Any picks would be more than welcome. Thanks!

My son is suffering some wicked dust allergies, even with a mattress cover, and I'd like to get his mattress steam cleaned. Can anyone recommend a local company that does a good job (i.e. won't leave it a soggy, moldy mess)?

Toot toot!

Dane101 and Mayhem Productions present...
THE FIRE BALL (AKA "FIRE BALL II: FIRE BALLSIER")

On Saturday, January 30th the hottest event of the winter returns for a night of dancing, debauchery, and awesome costumes! That's right freaks, it's the return of last year's wildly successful FIRE BALL - featuring a dance party with DJ CHEN-CHENG, belly dancing, burlesque, and fetish demos. Plus, it's your night to shine with our masquerade theme prompting any and all to don their finest party duds (anything from steampunk to sci-fi, Victorian to Renaissance, fetish to haute couture). We'll have a photographer on hand to document all the fabulous fashions! (pictures from last year's event here--NSFW)

We've got an excellent line-up of performers for you, too:
MISS TAMALE (sizzling burlesque all the way from Chicago)
ASHAR DANCE COMPANY (belly dance from right here in Madison)
SABLE SIN CYR (classic burlesque by way of Baltimore)
THE TWINS (a darkly funny sister act)
FOXY VERONICA'S PEACH PIES (hometown caburlesque)
GRAYDANCER (bondage performer)

We can't wait to see you there! For more info, keep an eye on www.dane101.com

That's THE FIRE BALL II: FIRE BALLSIER
Saturday, January 30th at the High Noon Saloon
9:00 p.m., $7/door, 21+

I feel ashamed. I grew up here, but have no idea where in Madison one goes to purchase a reliable yet affordable sled for a 9 year old (nephew). I just found out he wants one for Christmas, I have not a lot of funds to procure one, but even a nice plastic disc would be fine. But where?

Extra points if you find me a place on the near-west side or on a bus line, as I have no car.

Anybody have a favorite electrician?  Small operations on north or east side would be great.  Also is there a way to search text entries of madisonwi entries?  I didn't find tags for electrician and wasn't sure how else to look.

Thanks!

We need to have some plumbing work done, specifically fixing or replacing our water softener and/or the laundry tubs, both in our downstairs utility room (basically they are so limed up they're toast). Does anyone have a recommendation for a good, reasonably priced plumber? I saw an ad in a coupon flyer for Dan the Plumbing Man, aka All Clear Plumbing; anyone ever worked with him? We've lived in this house for 12 years and I'm not sure we've ever had a plumber come in before. The house itself was built in 1972 and the plumbing has always been the weak link but thus far we've managed to skate by without professional help.

Thanks in advance!

Hello,

I am seeking recommendations for acupuncturists in Madison. Specific experience with chronic back pain caused by leaking disks is a huge plus. Also, if there are any to avoid, that would be useful information, too.

Thanks in advance.

This Saturday, Mad Cat on Mineral Point is hosting a weekly Adoption Fair for Dane County Friends of Ferals. DCFoF will be there from 12-3pm, with a small selection of our available furballs. View the rest of them here (Has 130/165 of our cats up so far): http://www.daneferals.org/animals/list?Species=Cat My fosters are Bitsy and Tina!

Come scritch the kitties, talk to our volunteer staff, chat up the foster parents. While you're there, feel free to ask a volunteer to take you out to the Friendly Room and meet Lyric, Sweet Tart, Haley and Patience. If you want more information, pick up some volunteer paperwork. Or, pick up an adoption packet and begin the pre-approval process!

We currently have about 165-170 cats in our shelter and in foster, and a huge wait-list for incoming cats.

How can you help?

1) Adopt! When you adopt an abandoned cat, you are righting a little bit of the wrong in our world. Cheesy? No doubt, but I totally believe it! All of our cats come to you fixed (or if too young, we'll do it for ya later on), with updated shots and all that goodness. We do have some "Special Needs Kitties", those that have FIV, FeLUK and other not-so-fun conditions. Those guys need homes, too!

2) Volunteer! We have a shelter on the West Side that needs socializers and medicators, as well as a Friendly Room over at Mad Cat that needs a Wednesday and a Sunday person to come in and do a quick clean. There are also opportunities to deliver cats, trap cats, work the various Adoption Fairs and work on Fund-raising.

3) Foster! One of the biggest ways to help, besides out-right adopting, is to become a Kitty Foster Parent. It takes little to no financial commitment on your part (a lot of times you can get the food for free), and it's such a great experience :)

4) Spread the Word about Us! Nuff Said :)

Hey Madison,

Want to shop local but also want to shop online? Now you can do both!

Use Etsy's "Shop Local" feature. Put "Madison, WI" in the search box here to view more than a hundred local shops.

Also, since my stuff is probably buried on page 47 of that list, here's a direct link to my shop and a special offer for madisonwi readers: I'll refund your shipping cost (via PayPal) AND provide free gift wrapping for your order, if you can pick it up in person! (I'm on the northeast side of Madison near New Orleans Takeout on Fordem.)

Just order online through Etsy as usual and put "I'm in Madison and I'll pick it up" or something to that effect in the note to seller.

Not to take away from the recent request for blankets for dogs, but Madison Mutts is having a donation drive at their training center this Saturday from 9-6 for dog, office, and construction supplies.

They also need volunteers with construction/skilled trades experience to help with some improvements to their training center.

You can bring your dog Saturday and get pictures taken with Santa!

( Event info and wishlist items )

I just found out that I will be unable to attend the Breaking Benjamin / Sick Puppies / 30 Seconds to Mars concert tomorrow night (Thur, Dec 17). It's at the Rave/Eagles Club in Milwaukee. Doors open at 7pm.

I just saw Breaking Benjamin and Sick Puppies in Chicago on Monday - it's an AMAZING show, and I hate that I can't go to this one (it would be my 6th time seeing Sick Puppies - they're an incredible band, in case you're unfamiliar!). 30 Seconds to Mars is Jared Leto's band - if you can get past his bitchiness, they're not too bad either! ;)

I paid $90 for the two tickets; I'm asking $70. Please reply here or email i_am_kristenny @ hotmail . com if you're interested. I can meet you in town tomorrow to make the exchange, if it helps.

Thanks!

Post job and applicant news here.

I have a question and a bit of a rant regarding car insurance.

My parents have been with State Farm for over 40 years. When I first got my license and drove one of our cars all the time, the rates were fine. Now that I'm on the policy as an occasional driver of one vehicle (I only drive once or twice a week), they've been screwing with the billing and the rates.

First, we got a bill in October that was wrong and, although it is now December, they have yet to fix it and send us a correct bill to pay. On top of that, they've failed to keep us up to date on new changes to our policy in a timely manner and generally just seem to not know what the hell they're talking about when we call our agent.

Second, they sent us a letter last week saying that we were losing our good driver discount because I got one speeding ticket in July for going 7 miles over the limit. Other than that, I have a clean driving record and so do my parents. I can understand them being cautious because I'm young, but it seems a little ridiculous to me and my parents that our rates would change so much high one ticket.

Finally, the most ridiculous thing is that they sent us a letter saying they would raise our rates because my credit score wasn't high enough. I'm not even the policy holder, so I fail to see exactly what my credit score has to do with anything.

So, the question: Can anyone recommend good agents with either American Family or All State? Pros/cons about those two?

Okay, I'm a UW student, and frankly, I hate not having any gym to go to during the various "off" times around this time of year. Are there ANY gyms in the city that offer a week/day pay-to-use kind of thing? Anything? I know everyone's basically a year membership, but maybe I'm missing something. Argh, help!

Have any extra blankets, towels, sheets, or just general snuggly things? Midwest Area Pit Stop, a local pitbull rescue, needs blankets and warm things for their dogs this winter. As of 12/13/2009, they've got enough for 60% of their dogs, but they need more! If you're interested in donating, you can drop off donations at either Nutzy Mutz location (on Midvale Boulevard or East Lakeside Street). (Or, if it would somehow be more convenient, let me know and I can send you my address and you can drop them of at my place, but I don't think that'd be much easier!)

I'm not affiliated with them at all, I saw their post here on Craigslist. I'm just trying to get the word out.

I am in desperate need of a haircut, but I only have $15-20 to spend. Can anyone recommend a good but inexpensive place near the UW campus? Thanks!

Hi, archives got me nowhere. I'm searching for recommendations on insulation contractors? Our attic is woefully under insulated, and I'd like to get it done soonish, rather than waiting until after the winter. Anybody have any warnings or recs for contractors?

I've checked the memories and learned a lot about where to go for haircuts. However, there's not a whole lot of info specific to curly hair.

This is my first haircut in Madison, and I've only let one woman cut my hair in the last 10 years. And now I'm looking for a new style (shorter) and I'm a bit terrified.

What I'd like is someone who will let me explain what I want, and who will be able to read my hair enough to give me a reality check on whether it will look good or not, and who will help me come up with a hip style that doesn't make me look like my mother. Someone with good experience cutting curly hair is VERY important to me - my hair does weird things, and I'd like to find someone who understands that, and is willing to break some of "rules" of haircutting.

So. Curly-haired people of Madison, who should I entrust my (hopefully gorgeous after a new style) locks to?

Oh. I live on the East Side and work downtown, but if I had to, I could probably get out to somewhere in the West.