FAMILY FAVORITES IN MADISON: Memorial Terrace; Botanical Gardens; Farmers’ Market; Wisconsin Brewing Company
Alisa Sleep
Owner, Madison Mom
FAMILY/KIDS: Alan, and our three boys David, William, and Arthur
ABODE: Belleville, a small-town suburb of Madison
HOMETOWN: Fitchburg, another suburb of Madison
OTHER CITIES YOU'VE LIVED IN: Milwaukee,WI
ALMA MATER: UW Milwaukee
CAREER: SAHM who likes to freelance in her freetime! I manage social media planning, contribute to multiple publications, and create content for various sources.
HOBBIES: Exploring WI and getting outdoors with my boys, writing, and getting creative
FAVORITE MADISON RESTAURANT: Not Madison, but Paoli Schoolhouse is my all-time fav in whole area!
FAMILY FAVORITES IN MADISON: Henry Vilas Zoo, Devil's Lake State Park, and so many more!
Kyla Charles
Social Media Manager
FAMILY/KIDS: Husband CJ and kids: Nola & Jonas
ABODE: Waunakee
HOMETOWN: Randolph, WI
OTHER CITIES YOU'VE LIVED IN: Milwaukee; Chicago; Norfolk, VA; & San Francisco, CA
ALMA MATER: UW Milwaukee
CAREER: Architecture prior to kids, now part-time work at home mom doing shop drawings for workspace studio.
FAMILY FAVORITES IN MADISON: Union Terrace - we love finding a new place to eat downtown and walking around!
Melissa Gammon
Event Coordinator
FAMILY/KIDS: I married my college sweetheart Ben, and we have 4 kids: Harrison, Jack, Cooper, and Dorothy
ABODE: Verona
HOMETOWN: Pekin, IL
OTHER CITIES YOU'VE LIVED IN: Oxford, Ohio, which is home to Bagel and Deli, a restaurant so good I wear their t-shirt on the regular.
ALMA MATER: BS: Bradley University; MA: Miami of Ohio; PhD: UW Madison
CAREER: I am an associate faculty associate in Communication Arts at UW-Madison
HOBBIES: I love to read and read about 200 books a year. I am also writing my first novel.
FAVORITE MADISON RESTAURANT: Mickie's Dairy Bar-- best grilled cheese, fries, and chocolate milkshake in the world, and I have tried them all (mostly)
FAMILY FAVORITES IN MADISON: We love diving into Hawks Landing Pool in the summer, hanging out on the Memorial Union Terrace, visiting the Vilas Zoo, relaxing on Friday nights at Wisconsin Brewing Company, bowling and eating Babcock ice cream at Union South, and playing bar trivia together at Babe's.
Sarah Jedd
Writer
Julie Jensen
Writer
FAMILY/KIDS: Andy, Cameron, and Carson (and two lady cats)
ABODE: Verona
HOMETOWN: Winona, MN
OTHER CITIES YOU'VE LIVED IN: Duluth, Minneapolis, Madison
ALMA MATER: University of MN - Duluth
CAREER: Appraisal coordinator
HOBBIES: Reading, traveling when possible, puzzling (both with puzzles and over life questions), coffee, watching movies and TV, spending time with family and close friends, occasional swimming, walking, and yoga.
FAVORITE MADISON RESTAURANT: Johnny Delmonico's for adult-only meals, Cafe Hollander for family meals
FAMILY FAVORITES IN MADISON: The Henry Vilas Zoo, the Terrace at Memorial Union, Olbrich Garden, Allen Centennial Garden, splash parks, parks with playgrounds, the Capitol Square, the Westside Community Market
FAVORITE MADISON RESTAURANT: lol I haven’t been out in years! The only place I do go is Sushi Murimoto in Hilldale! Love their sushi!
FAMILY FAVORITES IN MADISON: Monroe Street, lakes, Farmers Market, State Street.
Alecia Jacobson
Writer
FAMILY/KIDS: Husband Steven. Children Lydia and Leo.
ABODE: Driftless region 25 minutes west of Madison.
HOMETOWN: Dodgeville/Verona
HOBBIES: Photography, Writing & the Outdoors!
FAMILY FAVORITES IN MADISON: State Street Shopping, Memorial Union, Brittingham Boats and too many others to mention!
Alexis Phillips
Writer
FAMILY/KIDS: Husband: Eric; Son: Ellis
ABODE: Monona
HOMETOWN: Racine, WI
ALMA MATER: University of Wisconsin-Madison
CAREER: Director of Career & Leadership Development at UW-Madison; Owner of Madtown Momma (madtownmomma.com)
HOBBIES: Reading, writing, playing softball and bingo
FAVORITE MADISON RESTAURANT: This is such a tough question! I have different favorites for different meals/cuisines. 🙂 Favorite food cart lunch: Banzo; Favorite sit-down lunch: Forage; Favorite burger: Cranberry Creek; Favorite Pizza: Angelo's; the list goes on an on...
FAMILY FAVORITES IN MADISON: Chocolate Shoppe Ice Cream; Bridge Road Park in Monona; Dane County Farmers Market; Flix Brewhouse for dinner and a movie; free summer concerts at Winnequah Park
Alicia Hazen
Writer
FAMILY/KIDS: Will, kids: Kaylen, Tiffany, Shane
ABODE: Verona
HOMETOWN: Black Earth
OTHER CITIES YOU'VE LIVED IN: Los Angeles, Santa Barbara, Redondo Beach, Torrance, (all in CA)
CAREER: Executive Assistant as well as a SAHM, creator of Move Your Roots (www.moveyourroots.com)
HOBBIES: meditation, exercise, reading, listening to podcasts, baking
FAVORITE MADISON RESTAURANT: don’t have a favorite!
FAMILY FAVORITES IN MADISON: the zoo, the lakes, splash pads, Wisconsin Brewing Company (in the summertime)
Regina Thompson
Writer
FAMILY/KIDS: Dawn - spouse; Joe and Nora - kids
ABODE: Madison, WI
HOMETOWN: New Berlin, WI
OTHER CITIES YOU'VE LIVED IN: La Crosse, WI; Orlando, WI; Nashville, TN; Seattle, WA; Minneapolis, MN; Galway, Ireland; Valladolid, Spain
ALMA MATER: UW - La Crosse (Psychology); UW - Oshkosh (Nursing)
CAREER: SAHD
HOBBIES: Cooking, Anything coffee related, DIY projects, working out, following college basketball
FAVORITE MADISON RESTAURANT: Estrellón
FAMILY FAVORITES IN MADISON: Music Together at Monroe Street Arts Center, The Children's Museum (both Black Earth and Madison), Elver Park playground and splash pad, Concerts on the Square
Dan Sage
Writer
FAMILY/KIDS: Georgia (Spouse), Alayah and Emma
ABODE: Edgerton, WI
HOMETOWN: Madison, WI
CAREER: I run the Administrative End of Madison Melted, Taco Local, and International Catering Co, I also currently own a bookstore in Edgerton called The Library Cafe.
HOBBIES: Every Crafty thing I can get my hands on! Hiking, Traveling, Writing, Reading, Gardening, Cooking, Singing, Running, and this year will be unveiling my new travel blog!
FAVORITE MADISON RESTAURANT: Morris Ramen, Heritage Tavern, Sardine
FAMILY FAVORITES IN MADISON: Nights at the Union (even better in a boat!), Downtown Library, PBS Kids open house, All the Wilmar Neighborhood Festivals, Biking around the Lake, and Farmer's Market
Diana Greene
Writer
Jackie Thurnau-Anderson
Writer
FAMILY/KIDS: Husband: Rob; Kids: Frankie and Luisa
ABODE: Madison
HOMETOWN: Appleton, WI
OTHER CITIES YOU'VE LIVED IN: Savannah, GA | Minneapolis, MN | La Venta, Honduras
ALMA MATER: University of Minnesota (BA) and University of New Orleans (MFA)
CAREER: Writer, Teacher and Owner of Green Table Media (greentablemedia.com).
HOBBIES: I love to travel (near and far!), eat amazing food, and have a beer with friends.
FAVORITE MADISON RESTAURANT: Ah, so many! Red Sushi and Lombardino's are two of my faves.
FAMILY FAVORITES IN MADISON: My family loves the Olbrich Biergarten (especially its sandbox), area splash pads, Olbrich Gardens, and are super-excited for Garver Feed Mill to open!
Amelia Fontella
Writer
FAMILY/KIDS: Husband Joe, daughter Kennedy, son Croix
ABODE: Verona
HOMETOWN: Stavanger, Norway
OTHER CITIES YOU'VE LIVED IN: I’ve lived in multiple states including Colorado, Virginia, Texas, and New York and also went to middle school in Argentina
ALMA MATER: University of Texas at Austin and Columbia University in NYC
CAREER: SAHM and Social Worker
HOBBIES: running, international travel, hiking, cooking and baking, finding cute puppies to pet
FAVORITE MADISON RESTAURANT: Red Sushi
FAMILY FAVORITES IN MADISON: Downtown Farmers Market, local splash pads and pools, Apple picking at Sutter’s Ridge Farm, canoeing on Lake Monona
Kathryn Kuehn
Writer
FAMILY/KIDS: Carson (spouse), Hank & Ike
ABODE: Madison
HOMETOWN: Oak Park, Illinois
OTHER CITIES YOU'VE LIVED IN: Chicago, San Francisco
ALMA MATER: UW-Madison (undergrad), National Louis University (graduate)
CAREER: Curriculum & Programming Director at The Well Preschool
HOBBIES: Pilates, bingo, writing (of course!)
FAVORITE MADISON RESTAURANT: Banzo
FAMILY FAVORITES IN MADISON: Elver Park, Bernie's Beach, Lake Wingra, Aldo Leopold Nature Center
Kim Hinkley
Writer
FAMILY/KIDS: Jason (husband) Noah (son)
ABODE: Waunakee
HOMETOWN: Portage
OTHER CITIES YOU'VE LIVED IN: Eau Claire and Madison
ALMA MATER: UW-Eau Claire
CAREER: Former stay-at-home mom, but now a campaign assistant for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society
HOBBIES: Singing, Bingo, watching Badger and Packer football and Brewers baseball
FAVORITE MADISON RESTAURANT: Lone Girl Brewing in Waunakee
FAMILY FAVORITES IN MADISON: The zoo, Madison Mallards games. State Street and the Capitol Square
HOBBIES: Sewing, home renovation, and all things crafty!
FAVORITE MADISON RESTAURANT: Anywhere that serves me a celiac free pastry chef, gluten-free bread at the table. Right now... that's Biaggi's!
FAMILY FAVORITES IN MADISON: Discovering new parks and libraries.
Rachel Patterson
Writer
Jill Rinzel
Writer
FAMILY/KIDS: Husband Tim, Sons Quinn, Reece, and Brennan, and daughter Lena
ABODE: Madison
HOMETOWN: New Berlin, WI
OTHER CITIES YOU'VE LIVED IN: Columbia, MO; Sioux City, IA; Medford, OR; Sun Prairie
ALMA MATER: University of Missouri-Columbia (undergrad), University of Wisconsin-Madison (grad)
CAREER: Product Management, CUNA Mutual Group
HOBBIES: Running, biking, writing, reading
FAVORITE MADISON RESTAURANT: El Dorado Grill
FAMILY FAVORITES IN MADISON: Henry Vilas Zoo, The Madison Children's Museum, Children's Theatre of Madison, Lussier West YMCA, Hawks Landing Pool and Tennis Club, Elver Park sledding, skiing, and spray park
FAMILY FAVORITES IN MADISON: Children’s museum and farmers market
Molly Chanson
Writer
FAMILY/KIDS: Dave (husband); Haley, Roark & Cooper
ABODE: Madison
HOMETOWN: Warsaw, IN
OTHER CITIES YOU'VE LIVED IN: South Bend, IN
ALMA MATER: Indiana University
CAREER: SAHM and part time Public Relations/Event Planner
HOBBIES: walking, reading, spending time with my family of 5
FAVORITE MADISON RESTAURANT: Laredo's or Eno Vino
FAMILY FAVORITES IN MADISON: Farmers Market, Concerts on the Square, All City Swim & Dive League, bike trails, Chocolate Shoppe Ice Cream
Alicia Lundal
Writer
FAMILY/KIDS: My husband Nick and I are raising three energetic, snuggly, loving kids; Boston , Elliana & Grace.
ABODE: Lodi, Wisconsin
HOMETOWN: Adams-Friendship, Wisconsin
ALMA MATER: UW Madison
CAREER: I was a teacher, now I am a stay at home mom. I blog (www.snugglesandsnacks.com) and also support and help positively influence and encourage moms on instagram (tessa.karls).
HOBBIES: cooking, baking, spending time outdoors
FAVORITE MADISON RESTAURANT: I’m a Wisconsin girl, so I’d have to say... The Old Fashioned
FAMILY FAVORITES IN MADISON: Any farmers market, The Madison Children’s Museum, splash pads and parks, and a good Costco hotdog run.
Tessa Karls
Writer
FAMILY/KIDS: Chris (wife extraordinaire) Pickle (2014-born daughter) Bubby (2010-born son), Mazie May our rescue pup
ABODE: Fitchburg
HOMETOWN: even split between Santa Rosa, CA and Cedar Rapids, IA
ALMA MATER: University of Iowa
CAREER: currently working for the state, hustling to work for myself
HOBBIES: aspiring crocheter, friendly but competitive game nights, small talk, big talk, recovering house plant slayer, podcasts, Peloton bike addict, documentary consumer, camping, anything on a patio with sunshine...
FAVORITE MADISON RESTAURANT: Tex Tubbs Taco Palace, Tipsy Cow and Johnny Delmonico's when I'm feeling fancy!
FAMILY FAVORITES IN MADISON: snow shoeing in the Arboretum, beating the rush at Farmer's Markets, going to the Capitol, bike trails and anywhere that serves hand-scooped ice cream with a view
Jaqueline Kamin
Writer
FAMILY/KIDS: husband Max and kids Miriam and Miles
ABODE: Madison, WI
HOMETOWN: Wauwatosa, WI
ALMA MATER: UW Madison
CAREER: Pediatric Clinical Dietitian
HOBBIES: reading, walking while listening to podcasts and looking at cool houses, swimming, drinking sleepy time tea.
FAVORITE MADISON RESTAURANT: Banzo for takeout, Sardine for ambiance, Crema for brunch with kids.
FAMILY FAVORITES IN MADISON: Olbrich Biergarden, Arboretum, walking to playgrounds
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Julie JensenWriter
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