Long days and even longer nights make Madison summers a time of year when students look to soak up the heat and enjoy a world devoid of papers and exams. However thousands of students returning home at the end of the spring semester makes Madison a college town without many college students.
But as the torrents of people subside, what's left becomes what many residents have come to love about Madison: summer.
'I took a summer class after my sophomore year just so that I could stay,' UW-Madison senior Emily Barsness said. 'Everyone is just a little more relaxed, and without the stress of classes, there is more time to be with your friends.'
People heading outside encourage the city's culture with areas like Memorial Union Terrace and public parks'like James Madison Park, 314 E. Gorham St.'becoming social magnets. The Henry Vilas Zoo, 702 S. Randall Ave., is open daily to the public at no charge and is within walking distance of campus. With Monona and Mendota lakes providing a cooler way to beat the summer heat, boating and swimming are popular at Madison's numerous beaches.
Nights on the town are Madison standards, but patios and outdoor seating make summer in the city a far cry from the insulated demands of cold winters. Bar specials on any given day let people unwind and hit the nightlife without the traffic and large crowds the fall and spring semesters typically bring.
'It seems that during the school year there's more of a mad rush to get as drunk as you can,' said Dustin Brucher, bartender at The Plaza Tavern and Grill, 319 N. Henry St. 'The group that stays behind for the summer tends to have a more composed approach.'
The warm weather does bring more people out, however, and the Madison Police Department keeps a strong presence downtown that is no different than when school is in session.
'We do see less of a student crowd at the bars and the downtown area, but bar time never slows down,' Madison Police Department Information Officer Mike Hanson said. 'We are mindful of the fact that people are out later and that the heat raises agitation.'
