Rimkus!’s old pal – and Pacific Northwest National Treasure cartoonist – Ambrosavage was born and raised “across the (proverbial) tracks” on the blue collar side of Madison Wisconsin in the 50’s and 60’s, where he is presently spending the holidays with his Dad (now in his 90’s) – an original swingin’ “Mad Men” who worked in that classic amorphous, mysterious, unknowable “Father Knows Best”-esque industry, insurance. I asked Ambrosavage (the younger, that is) to give us a little report about what’s left of the Madison he knew… and drank in, during his youth. Even if you’ve neve been there, it kinda makes you want to go back…waaay back….:
In answer to yer question Rimkus! – I grew up on the northside of Madison – which has become one of Madison’s least fashionable sides of town but I love it as it is pretty much the same as it was 50 years ago – which is why it is not fashionable! The money is now on the west side of town so is where all the fashionable shops n restaurants n bars n theaters n such are. The northside is extremely limited as far as restaurant’s n bars go but there are a couple of gems – Kavanaugh’s Esquire Club was a fav of me and my pals back in the day and still is. It has a classic horse-shoe shaped (dark) bar and features wise-cracking bartenders. It is still owned by the Kavanaugh family. This was the bar/restaurant that the president of Farmer’s Mutual (Now American Family Insurance) took my Dad to on Dad’s first day of work there in 1948. That would be DURING the work day not after. For martinis. Oh – and lunch. I am fairly certain Dad often went there with his pal’s on Friday’s after work as he generally came home with a box of Kavanaugh’s famous Friday fish fry fish. He also came home on Friday’s with a happy glow – and sometimes a ciggy. He did not smoke but on Friday’s he often came home with a cigarette and would amuse the children by blowing smoke rings as we all sat at the dining room table waiting for mom to unbox the fish. But dad didn’t smoke. He just blew. Smoke. Heh. Kavanaugh’s. Pretty much unchanged since 1948.
http://www.esquireclubmadison.com/about.html
Another northside fav is Busse’s Markway Tavern. Also circa mid-40’s – post big duce. Also pretty much unchanged by time. A tiny little joint that back in the day had three happy hours a day coinciding with the 3 shifts at the Oscar Meyer meat packing plant – a stone’s throw away. SO first happy hour was at 7am. I never made that one. Bussy was still serving up the cold ones back when me n my north-side pals were hitting the joint – but he has since moved on to the 4th shift….anyway – Busse’s is too small to have a website – but here is a review from Yelp:
Busse’s is very much a typical neighborhood tavern, with cheap drinks (cheapest in the city that I’ve found) and nice down to earth people. Recent updates have been made as far as tv’s, games, sound system, etc., so if you haven’t been in a while to catch a game or hear some music (the old juke box was circa 1970’s) you might give it another shot.
If you are into “bomb” shots the Chuck Norris shot is something you need to try. If you like tap beer the selection is limited, but very inexpensive, and the lines are always clean (hint: the owner drinks tap beer). Cocktails are stiff, and REALLY inexpensive.
If you’re a northsider looking for a new local hangout, or someone heading to a Mallard’s game looking for a spot near Warner to hit up before or after the game (they always have Mallard gameday specials) this is the place.
– John X. Ambrosavage (with Rimkus!)
