As soon as it hits 40 degrees in Madison, it is time to shed the parkas and enjoy the … warmth! Since the beginning of February, we have been enduring brutal, seemingly never-ending cold. Thankfully, that spell is (hopefully) beginning to break, and we have many days in the 40’s and 50’s ahead of us.
If you’re like me, you are looking forward to the desire to leave your apartment during the day instead of being holed up on the couch in your coziest clothes wrapped in your warmest blanket for hours on end.
This past weekend, many students took the ‘warm’ weather as an opportunity to enjoy the frozen Lake Mendota. There are many areas on the lake in which students have cleared off the snow and formed ice rinks, and it is also a very pretty place to watch the sunset from.
After many weeks stuck indoors, many of us students don’t know what to do with ourselves now that it is bearable to be outside again. Quite frankly, I am just happy that I don’t have to wear gloves everywhere I go if I want to prevent my knuckles from completely drying out. But what else can we look forward to now that Spring is on the horizon, even amidst the ongoing pandemic? One thing that I enjoy doing is walking towards the Capitol, taking in the atmosphere of State Street, on my way to my favorite Madison cafe, Ancora. They have a delicious grilled cheese and tomato soup combo, and it is also a great place to study. I also recently got the opportunity to go to the Chazen Museum of Art, which is another must-visit in Madison. They had a smaller number of exhibits than normal, however the art was breathtaking. I really enjoyed taking it all in, reflecting, and then writing about it later.
Another great winter activity in Madison is sledding! Many students have tried sledding down Bascom Hill at one point or another, and many others have even built ramps out of snow to ski off of.
While the former is definitely the safer option, fun in the snow is something that Scons don’t take lightly, though the opportunities for such activities are decelerating for the 2020-21 season as the weather gets warmer, however, there will always be a frozen lake to look forward to next winter.
