Wisconsin Life

Not long ago, dating apps were heralded as a fresh and modern way to meet that special someone. But they come with unique challenges and are now pushing their users to seek alternatives. WPR’s Anna Marie Yanny recently attended an artsy singles mixer in Madison, and asked people why they were motivated to look for that special someone in person.

Frog Bay Tribal National Park has hiking trails, shoreline and wetlands. The nearly 200-acre park on Lake Superior is a great place to go for a run or to look out on the Apostle Islands. For members of the Red Cliff Band of Lake Superior Chippewa, the land also holds a special meaning. WPR’s Trevor Hook brings us this story on the park’s history and its significance.

Have you ever picked up a hobby because a friend or relative was really into it? Did you try to see they’re truly onto something? Writer Yia Lor of Eau Claire did this with geocaching, an outdoor activity her late sister, Jer Lor, loved to do with her kids.

Orioles, pelicans and snowy owls are a few of the hundreds of species that birdwatchers are on the lookout for in Wisconsin this year. Many will travel the state and roam their neighborhoods crossing birds off their life lists — people like Dexter Patterson, co-founder of the BIPOC Birding Club of Wisconsin. WPR’s Bridgit Bowden has more the group as part of our Wisconsin Road Trip series.

When’s the last time you stopped to look at your spare change? For writer Ron Weber, one ordinary find leads him on an unexpected American odyssey.

For some people in Wisconsin, baseball is a summer staple. And for Kenosha Kingfish fans, there’s a baton twirling usher who is an icon at the team’s Northwoods League games. WPR’s Evan Casey has more from the ballpark as part of our Wisconsin Road Trip series.

As a teenager, Marty “Meatman” Sosnowski of Green Bay, Wisconsin never felt like he fit in. He stopped trying to by not going to school. At the time, he didn’t feel like school was right for him. Years later, he realized the importance of getting an education, no matter what he was interested in. He talked about this with his sister, Lynne Williamson, during a StoryCorps Mobile Tour stop in Green Bay on Aug. 18, 2023.

The auto repair industry is dominated by men. But on Madison’s northside, Dutch’s Auto Service veers from that reality. As Christina Lieffring tells us, the women-owned auto repair shop may be unique but it faces universal struggles in a changing industry.

Wisconsin State Parks are full of wonders — for human visitors, and for their dogs, as well. WPR’s Anya van Wagtendonk recently went to Natural Bridge State Park to learn more about the best ways to get outside with our four-legged friends.

It’s the first day of summer and WPR’s Wisconsin Road Trip series is highlighting the best stargazing spots across the state. WPR’s Anna Marie Yanny recently drove to Door County, where Wisconsinites can see actors perform under the stars and visit the state’s only International Dark Sky Park.

Leslie Schroeder has a dream. That dream is to have a flax-to-linen textile industry in Wisconsin. Inspired by the local food movement, Schroeder wants to create a market for sustainable and quality local clothing. To jumpstart that effort, the Madison resident helped create the Midwest Linen Revival and is organizing events, like Field to Frock.

Blue moon ice cream is a staple at roadside shops throughout the Upper Midwest. But where did this Smurf-colored treat come from? And what explains its long-standing appeal? WPR’s Sarah Lehr brings us the scoop from an ice cream shop in Columbus as part of our Wisconsin Road Trip series.

The year was 1984. Prince came out with “Purple Rain.” Bruce Springsteen was touring for “Born in the USA.” And on the south side of Milwaukee, America’s polka king, Frankie Yankovic, performed at the Our Lady Queen of Peace parish festival. In attendance that day was six-year-old Mike Schneider. The Yankovic concert changed his life because it inspired Schneider to pick up the accordion. WPR’s Nick Rommel recently talked with the Wisconsin Polka Hall of Famer at a gig in Eagle.

Even in our era of two-day shipping and instant downloads, many booksellers are finding that readers still want the connection of finding their next read in store. WPR’s Hope Kirwan hit the road for our Wisconsin Road Trip series to visit a unique bookstore in the Driftless Area of southwestern Wisconsin that’s bringing in more customers every year: Driftless Books & Music.

Adrian Molitor knows a thing or two about hardwood floors. With his Madison-based business, Molitor Traditional Flooring, he’s restored historic floors in some of southern Wisconsin’s most iconic homes and businesses. Jess Miller caught up with Molitor to talk about why the old, weathered wood speaks to him.

When people feel stuck in life, they may seek out new friends or new hobbies. When Jen Rubin of Madison was at that crossroad, she decided to become more spontaneous — in a bold way. The following story was told on April 3, 2017 at The Moth during an open-mic StorySLAM in Madison where the theme of the night was “Fresh.” Here’s Jen Rubin live at The Moth.

It can be really sweet to look back on art projects you created in kindergarten. Maybe it’s a finger painting or a stick figure portrait of your family. For John Klungness of Bayfield, he treasures a wooden corner shelf he made — a work of art he’s had for about 90 years.

Some of the people we meet might only be in our lives momentarily, but they can have a profound effect that can last a lifetime. Geoffrey Saunders, private first class in the 101st Airborne Division of the U.S. Army, had that effect on Adriana Bonewitz. She shared her experience as part of StoryCorps’ Military Voices Initiative, which is made possible by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.

One day each spring, volunteers around Wisconsin get up at dawn to participate in the International Crane Foundation’s Annual Midwest Crane Count. It’s a long-running citizen science project that helps collect data about sandhill and whooping cranes. As WPR’s Richelle Wilson tells us, it’s a chance for some people to connect with friends.

Spring has a way of energizing the five senses. And when it comes to the sense of smell, there are a few scents that we only have a brief time to enjoy, like the lilacs. Author Chris Hardie brings us this essay, “Lilacs: The sweet smell of spring.” It’s featured in his book, “Back Home: Country Tales Through the Seasons.”