Star Food Shop Mural - Willy St

I am back, after having some technical difficulties that prevented me from posting yesterday. This is another Willy St. mural - this one looks pristine because it was restored. The Star Food Shop is no more - there probably hasn't been one for decades. However, on various Willy Street blocks there is a Star Liquor, a Star Books and a Star Photo (I love Star Photo).

Jolly Bob's Jerk Joint - Willy St.

Yet another in my "stuff painted on the side of buildings on Willy St." series. This is an instance where I wish I had taken this picture in color. Befitting a restaurant specializing in Carribbean cuisine, this building makes use of color. Now that the weather is finally spring-like, I assume the patio will be open. It is an oasis in a busy urban neighborhood. If you find yourself in our fair city, you should definitely stop in. While they no longer carry Jerk Goat on the menu, I guarantee there are plenty of options - and I haven't even mentioned the drink menu!

King Midas Mural - Corner of Williamson and Patterson Streets

In a neighborhood like Willy St., there are hints of its past on the sides of buildings. Yesterday, I posted a photo of its industrial past - here is a hint of its commercial past.

Willy Street still has plenty of stores - photo supply, bookstores, hempen goods, coffee houses, tatoo parlors, etc., but this King Midas Flour mural points to the old neighborhood grocer. The neighborhood grocer may be long gone, but the Willy Street Co-op is thriving and looking for a second location. If you want to see the Willy Street Co-op, go to www.YouTube.com and check out the Chad Vader shorts. Written and shot here in Madison, The Empire Market is really The Willy Street Co-op!

Madison Candy Co. - Williamson St

This area of Madison was once a manufacturing center of town. Most of the factories are long gone, but hints of its past remain. The former Madison Candy Co. now contains offices and restaurants. A few blocks west, the former Machinery Row now houses a bike shop, offices and a raved-about restaurant. Some people may call it gentrifying, and maybe it is - but the fact is that these former factories were empty for a long time, and as the economy changes, the building use changes. An interesting tidbit - though the Madison Candy Co. is no more, there are several gourmet chocolatiers in Madison. Mmmm....

Mills Street Garden Statue

I chose today's photo because I miss seeing flowers. I took this last fall on campus. The nice thing about the UW campus is that there are all these little pockets of green space. You can see this from University Avenue, but you have to climb some stairs to get to the garden (this is the part of campus built on Bascom Hill). But it is well worth it. I don't get the statue, though. It is no Phallic Tower of Footballs, as posted by my fellow Madisonian Chris, on the other Madison Daily Photo, but we can't have everything, can we? This statue looks like a cement stalk of romaine lettuce.

Miss Forward, Capitol Square

This is a shot from the top of State Street facing the Capitol Building. The statue, Miss Forward, is the personnification of the state motto "Forward." The official Miss Forward is gilded and rests atop the Capitol Dome, which is one of the most photographed sights in Madison. Nearly every time I am downtown, I see someone standing in the middle of State Street, taking a picture of the Capitol. I was not standing in the middle of State Street, as I fear being hit by a city bus or a speed demon bicyclist (with few exceptions, cars are banned on State Street).

Window Shopping - State Street

The final photo in my informal "State Street" series. This isn't the current window display, but it is still appropriate, as (theoretically) it is spring. The store was closed, and it was dark, but the lights from the display glowed.