On Monday, I returned from a short trip to visit friends in Atlanta — high of 78 degrees, sunny enough for flip flops — to drifts of snow in my driveway roughly two feet high. From sunglasses to hot soup in an afternoon.
Our trip south involved grilling (American wagyu teres major, from the shoulder); a world premiere at the Alliance Theatre of “Fires, Ohio” (inspired by “Uncle Vanya”); cinnamon sugar bostock, a divine treat made from leftover bread, at Little Tart Bakery; and the iciest, smoothest Manhattan I’ve ever had at Madeira Park (they added armagnac, a French brandy).
Back where the snow is melting, I’m looking ahead. This weekend, Emanuel Ax plays a Mozart piano concerto under the baton of John DeMain, who is set to retire from the Madison Symphony Orchestra at the end of this season. DeMain’s memoir, published this week, had a challenging road to completion. Classical music writer Greg Hettmansberger had been working on the manuscript for several years when he died in a car accident in December 2020. Culture writer Gayle Worland provided final revisions.
Also looking ahead: Emilie Burditt, who in May will attempt to break a record for a self-supported hike of all 1,200 miles of the Ice Age Trail, from St. Croix Falls to Sturgeon Bay. (Emilie, if you’re reading this: my brother-in-law Matthew maintains a beautiful section of the trail off Wodora Acres Road in Hatley, just south of Rice Lake Preserve. Sign his log book and say hello from Madison, if you stop?)…