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First Impressions

September 2, 2013 - 11:00am

Russian pianist and composer Sergei Rachmaninoff would eventually become an American citizen, but his first impression of America and America’s first impression of him were not entirely promising. By 1909 Rachmaninoff was enough of an international celebrity to follow in the path of many famous performers who had done well...

The Subversive

September 1, 2013 - 11:00am

Eugene Luening had come through some hard times, and in 1908 he accepted a one-year appointment as director of the Music Department at the University of Wisconsin in Madison. He soon found that he would have to give up some of his freedom, but he never gave up his sense...

Race in America: Why Do Most Of Our Friends Look Just Like Us?

August 16, 2013 - 9:00am

Tanner Colby woke up one day to the uncomfortable fact that he didn’t have any black friends. A self-described “average, middle-class, white guy,” Colby queried his fellow liberal (and white) friends, and discovered the same was true for them.

The realization came as somewhat of a shock. After all, it was fifty years ago this month that Martin Luther King Jr. articulated his vision of integration with these words: “I have a dream that one day... the sons of former slaves and the sons of former slave-owners will be able to sit together at the table of...

Wisconsin Author Tells Story Of Life During Great Depression

August 3, 2013 - 12:53am

Often, the stories a person remembers are those that are told in a way that makes the ordinary seem special. And large historical events come alive in the telling of one person’s or one family’s experiences.

There are few storytellers who do that better than Wisconsin’s own Jerry Apps. He’s written many books -- from novels that draw a reader into small-town life to memoirs of his own rich and interesting experiences.

In his most recent book, “Letters from Hillside Farm,” Apps shares the story of one family during the Great Depression, and how they came...

Expert Offers Tips For Deciphering Wine List

August 3, 2013 - 12:29am

A well-paired wine can turn a good meal into a memorable experience. But when someone is out at a restaurant and is handed a long wine list, it can be stressful to choose the right type for taste, meal and budget.

Jessica Bell, of My Wine School, said she wants to demystify the world of wine so people can choose with confidence, and most importantly, relax and enjoy what’s in the glass.

Bell said she recommends using the server as a resource when deciding on a wine. A restaurant should only have...

Celebrated Chef Comes Back To Wisconsin With Message

August 2, 2013 - 11:43pm

Chef Odessa Piper helped put Madison on the culinary map during her 30 years as chef and owner of L'Etoile in the city's downtown. Now, she is returning home to a champion a cooking with local foods.

Several years ago, Piper sold the restaurant to chef Tori MIller and his sister. These days, Piper lives in a suburb of Boston and working to bring together farmers, educators and cooks. She calls herself a "restaurant chef in recovery."

Piper is returning to Madison for a while to deliver the keynote address at the annual Cheese Society Conference this week. Her message...

Advocate: Random Acts Of Kindness Can Have Health Benefits

August 2, 2013 - 10:22pm

A movement of people who are committed to spreading kindness and inspiring others to do so is speaking about the good deeds that can come of goodwill.

According to Brooke Jones, vice president of the Random Acts of Kindness Foundation, a random act of kindness can not only help the person receiving the aid but the giver as well.

“(It) increases the immune system, lowers the heart rate and blood pressure” when a person does something nice," Jones said.

There are also benefits to teaching children how to be kind and Jones said kindness...

Poet’s New Novel Reflects On ‘Overcoming Life’s Obstacles’

August 1, 2013 - 7:24pm

A Madison poet has completed his first novel, a wise and lyrical coming-of-age story about a young girl preserving in a life full of twists and turns. The book is already getting rave reviews across the country.

Dale Kushner’s novel, “The Conditions of Love,” focuses on Eunice, a girl with an absentee father, an irresponsible mother and a pet turtle, who must endure and overcome a lot despite her age.

Kusher said that she conceived the character of Eunice as she thought about people’s attempts to surviving emotional wreckage.

“One of the biggest themes in the book...

Corporate Trailblazer Discusses How To Overcome Self-Doubt

August 1, 2013 - 7:17pm

While Joyce Roche spent decades trailblazing a path for both women and African-Americans during her rise to the top in corporate America, she said that it was another, more insidious obstacle that threatened her dreams of success: Self-doubt.

Roche's resume reads like a roster of impressive achievements. Roche is a former president and chief operating officer of Carson Products Co., and vice president of global marketing at Avon. She’s won several awards and distinctions, including “21 Women of Power and Influence in Corporate America” and one of the “40 Most Powerful Black Executives.” Most recently, she retired as...

Renowned Cookbook Author Stresses ‘Vegetable Literacy’

August 1, 2013 - 7:13pm

A celebrated vegetarian chef put her knowledge of gardening to work in tracing the complicated web of botanical relationships in her latest book, "Vegetable Literacy."

Deborah Madison, author of the landmark "Greens" cookbook, and the vegetable Bible , “Vegetarian Cooking for Everyone," said that her latest approach to cooking goes way beyond thinking about vegetables as green, yellow, or orange. She added that it's certainly not a new concept.

"I grew up in a family of plant people. My father was a botanist," said Madison. "And if you live with a parent who is walking around...