Foodies in Madison

From street carts to fine-dining shrines, Wisconsin's capital city worships food.

Everyone knows what people in Wisconsin like: beer, cheese and bratwurst.

They also like foie gras, frisee salad and seared pork belly. Southern Wisconsin is a fertile quilt of artisan farms, and their lovingly grown produce goes straight to the Dane County Farmers Market and the restaurants of Madison.

I've made a lot of delicious memories in Madison: the celeriac soup at L'Etoile, the raspberry truffles of Candinas, the Hopalicious pale ale from Ale Asylum.

One fall weekend, I made some more.

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Best bets for the weekend

Stalk fall scenery in sunlight or ghosts by torchlight.

Leaf-peepers may rub elbows with ghouls this weekend. In Wisconsin, torches and jack-o-lanterns will light hiking trails at Governor Nelson, Merrick, Devil's Lake and Copper Falls state parks, and the moon will be nearly full.

In southeast Minnesota, there's a Moonlight Hoot Scoot on the luminary-lit Root River Trail, a popular place to bicycle. This is a great time to go hiking or biking: Up north, there are fresh views through newly bare trees, and farther south, much of the region still is at peak color. Our favorite for hiking: Devil's Lake.

Pumpkins will fly along with leaves at two chuckin' festivals, in Union Grove near Racine and Morton near Peoria.

You can join ghost walks in a dozen cities, especially Chicago, which pulls out all the stops for Halloween. There's a Zombies vs. Vampires Pub Crawl in Wicker Park, and the city's new Halloween Gathering arts party is set around Grant Park, with a parade along Columbus Avenue.

The Twin Cities equivalent is the Halloween Outdoor Puppet Extravaganza, which features giant figures, fire spinners, stilt-walking and music in a dark St. Paul park on the Mississippi.

Milwaukee has two of 10 historic and haunted hotels in Wisconsin. And if you really want to jump out of your socks, visit the Dark Side of House on the Rock, an eccentric maze that's creepy even in daylight.

Hunting season (deer, not ghosts) is coming, so we've updated our list of fun November girlfriend getaways and tastings on wine trails.

And now that the crowds are gone, it's a good time to go on a late-fall getaway.  LivingSocial Escapes has a nice selection of local hotel deals, from Minneapolis to Bayfield to South Haven. If you buy a voucher, reserve quickly — but not too quickly, because you always should read the fine print.

Next weekend

Scare up a costume and join the parade.

Halloween in Anoka, Minn. This town just north of Minneapolis calls itself the Halloween Capital of the World. Highlights include a big parade at 1 p.m. on Halloween. Oct. 23-31.

Jack O'Lantern Days in Fish Creek, Wis. This Door County town offers mask making, pumpkin carving, trick or treating and a Halloween parade at 1 p.m. Saturday. Oct. 30-31.

Freakfest in Madison. This fest along State Street features music on two stages, outdoor horror movies, a costume contest with prizes and much sampling at bars. Oct. 31.

Dia de los Muertos in Milwaukee. In Walker Square Park, there will be an art market, ofrenda-making, Aztec dancers and a 1 p.m. parade. Oct. 31.

For more events, see our Events Calendar.

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