"And it was all yellow": my visit to the National Mustard Museum.

Here are three words I never thought I'd say together: National Mustard Museum.

Jared is my best friend from summer camp, and when he made his first ever trip to the state of Wisconsin, I knew I had to show him a variety of my favorite Madison activities. And let's face it: the city is multifaceted. Delicious falafel from Banzo, skating on a frozen lake at Tenney Park, and dancing the night away at Plan B to Madonna's "Girl Gone Wild" were some of my favorite parts of his visit, but the weirdest part of his visit would certainly be the mustard.

In 2012, my parents visited Madison to help me move into my condo. During their time here, they went to the National Mustard Museum: a quirky, kitschy, lovable, free museum in Middleton (on the west side of Madison). Mom insisted that Jared and I experience the place together, and who wants to say no to mom? Not Jared and me. So the mustard excursion began.

Boasting a "Learn, Taste, Shop, Laugh," mantra, this place is exactly what it sounds like (and it doesn't take itself too seriously, either). Home of the world's largest collection of mustards and mustard memorabilia, the National Mustard Museum pays homage to America's yellowest condiment. 

Why is there a National Mustard Museum? The answer to this question, I still do not know, but what I can say is that the place was certainly unique, and I'd recommend that anyone who passes through Madison needs to see it for themselves at least once. But just in case you aren't passing through any time soon, here are some highlights:

Decked-out walls with mustard-themed art and comics:

Books of vintage mustard advertisements:

Mustards from around the world:

These shelves are alphabetized and labeled with mustard from all 50 states. 

Close-up on my home state of North Carolina.

A display devoted to the mustards of Canada. 

A vending machine for instant mustard gratification:

Oh, and an empty mustard mascot costume.

We made a new friend.

It was everything I'd expect a mustard museum to be, really. And after a plethora of free samples, I settled on a souvenir:

Maille (pronounced "my") dijon mustard, now at home in my kitchen. According to a museum employee, this is a highly celebrated mustard that won the Worldwide Mustard Competition. Yeah, not only is there a mustard museum, but there's competitive mustard making. For real.

Jared is one of my best friends, and he traveled over 1600 miles to visit me. That's what good friends do anywhere. Spending an afternoon learning about the history of mustard? Well, in Wisconsin, I guess that's what good friends do, too.

Unusual things I've seen in Madison, part 3: Ella's Deli.

I'll continue my series of unusual things with a truly one-of-a-kind dining experience.

Sighting #5: Ella's Deli

I've lived in Madison for a year and a half, and I can't believe it took me this long to blog about Ella's Deli. Opening on E. Washington Avenue in 1976, it is, to say the least, quite the spectacle. Decorated in a lively mix of vintage toys and interactive displays, the atmosphere is whimsical and full of life: definitely more than just a place to grab a bite. Classic cartoons soar across the ceilings, lighted wall displays blink in bright colors, and the tables are equipped with nostalgic activities (magnetic mustache drawing or pushing a button to activate a train, for example). The carousel outside is the icing on the cake, making the magical world of Ella's Deli a place where kids (and kids at heart) keep coming back.

Since the majority of the displays are constantly in motion, lighting up, or both, it's a tad difficult to photograph, but I did my best to document this rare kitschy gem:

Flying Mighty Mouse.

Polar bears surrounding the ice cream menu.

Magnetic drawing table.

Flying Popeye.

Flying Superman.

A lil' band playing a tune.

And just to prove that Ella's Deli in fact serves food,
here are the fried pickles (recommended by my coworker, Libby).

Click here for unusual things, part 1.
Click here for unusual things, part 2.

Cow photo op!

As I have previously stated on this blog, I never miss a good cow photo op. When my friend Kat and I were at The Goodman Center a few weeks ago, I was quite excited to spot this kitschy cow statue hanging out by the parking lot. After attempting to sit on top of this gal multiple times, I realized it was much more difficult than it looked, so I opted to pose next to my new friend.

A little snow on the ground didn't stop me from meeting this lovely lady!

No parking lot is complete without a cow!

Holy cow!

This morning I went to the Dane County Farmers' Market at its indoor winter location (Madison Senior Center). Joined by my friends Kat and Bronwen, we perused the market while an acoustic guitarist sang Beach Boys classics. Kat enjoyed a delicious biscotti and Bronwen overheard a conversation about goat whey (she also recently encountered a woman who claimed to sense positive and negative cheese energy-- yup, this really happened). I visited the Gypsy Travelin' Market & Bakery booth, only to discover these cookie gems:

Winged "holy cow" cookies: precious!

Only in dairyland.

Unusual things I've seen in Madison: part 1 of many to come.

As I have clearly expressed on this blog, Madison is (to say the least) an interesting place to live. Erika says it best: "My city is too vibrant!" And she's right! Where else in the world is one going to find a motel attached to a laundromat attached to a Chinese buffet attached to a bowling alley. Yes, this really exists on East Washington Avenue in Madison (why separate these four useful things when they can just be connected, right?).

Here are a couple of interesting sightings that I have experienced in Madison:

Sighting #1: The drugs building (I don't know what else to call it):

At the corner of Baldwin Street and E. Johnson Street, this looks like a nice place to buy some drugs, right?

After driving by the other side at a later date, I discovered that it was in fact a pharmacy. Still, I applaud their tile art.

Sighting #2: 866-Get-A-Cow:

Outside a laundromat on East Washington Avenue, this advertisement really speaks for itself.

Every time I drive past this, I laugh. I applaud 866-Get-A-Cow for their advertising. This is in fact a promotion to rent a "container on wheels" (acronym: C.O.W.), but the container itself appears to be advertising the rental of an actual cow. And hey, it got me to their website, which I never would have visited if it weren't for this lovely cow (yup, she is wearing lipstick in the cartoon).

What can I say? Never a dull moment.

Why I love Willy Street.

In my three weeks of residency in downtown Madison, I have already come to love the Williamson Street ("Willy Street") neighborhood. It's free-thinking and artsy with a crunchy granola after-taste: totally my scene.

Willy Street is full of some lovely kitschy wonders:

Mannequin legs on a balcony (look closely).

I'd say I've been to the neighborhood 4 or 5 times already and I always find something smile-worthy to see. I joined a local stitch-n-bitch (knitting group) last week and they meet at Mickey's Tavern on Willy Street. It's a welcoming bar with an efficient waitress and cheap, delicious food:

Tonight's dinner at Mickey's Tavern: veggie burger wrap with chips and dip. Delicious!

I have gathered that Madison in general is a very vegetarian-friendly city. This is a new concept for me after going to college in Cincinnati where they worship meaty chili and growing up in Charlotte where pork barbeque steals the show. It's nice to see a veggie burger wrap on the menu. Also, I love Madison's abundance of local restaurants instead of boring chains. I really like to support local businesses, and I get the impression that Madisonians agree.

I like you already, Willy Street. I expect you to produce some fond memories.

Welcome to Wisconsin. There's a cow on the balcony.

When my mom and I went apartment hunting in downtown Madison, I was quite amused to find this life-sized painted cow on a downtown balcony for no apparent reason other than kitsch: