Cheese and snow, was our April in Madison, Wisconsin for Places.

Madison, WI was a snap back to reality. Gone were the shorts and t-shirts of Texas. Snowy mornings greeted us during our stay, and parkas were the fashion du jour. Jason hails from the great state of Wisconsin, so this was a home coming of sorts. We stopped by Googles’ Madison campus and peeped this great sculpture by Tom Every. Our time frame for interviewing the business owners was short, but Madison is clearly not short on incredibly inviting hosts. Here are three spots from our trip.

Fromagination is an artisan cheese shop on the Capitol Square. Ken is passionate about his products and will give you a crash course on cheese tasting and pairings. Did we mention we were in Wisconsin? Nick had his first taste of some squeaky cheese curds and brought home a mug to prove it.

Great Dane is located just off of Capitol Square. Started by two hobby home brewers, they’ve expanded to a full on beer brewing operation and restaurant. Everyone in the area knows that Great Dane is the place to gather with friends and throw back a few, and we were more than happy to join the adoring crowds.

Fired Up Pottery is an art studio for kids and adults alike. Paint your own mugs, fuse some glass into trivets, or throw your mom a fruit bowl on the wheel. This all takes place under the tutelage of Kim, one of Madisons sweethearts. The kids at the shop that day were willing to share their masterpieces with us and ham it up for the camera. We were happy to capture their special day.

“Rate the places you love.”. It’s a message to everyone who cares about local businesses, to go out and support them by leaving a comment on their service. It’s those good (or bad) marks that attracts others to come and check it out. – http://www.google.com/madison/business/