Lifestyle

As many do this time of year, The Wisconsin 100 team is reflecting on the past year. From our inaugural issue in January focused on debuts to our Thankful Issue in November, we have enjoyed chronicling life and business around the state.

Looking back at January’s debut of The Wisconsin 100, it’s interesting to see how things played out during the year – mostly positive, we’re happy to report.

The Economic Impact Issue covered success stories about the state’s economy – from the recent business boom in Beloit, to the prosperous Eaux Claires festival.

In July, The Wisconsin 100 team shared how silent sports like biking, fishing and hiking represent a big slice of the state’s tourism industry, making a major economic impact on the northern Wisconsin region.

The month of September took readers of The Wisconsin 100 across the state with their dinner plates. One of our favorite articles shined a spotlight on the quintessential Wisconsin dining experience: supper clubs.

This year of stories, podcasts and videos wouldn’t have been possible without the talented business people across the state who took time to work with us. From tasty businesses like Milwaukee’s Chillwaukee and Driftless Cafe in Viroqua to creative professionals like Jerrica Zaric Interior Design and the voice of Milwaukee radio, Steve Palec – thank you and so many others!

One Word 365 says by choosing your word, it becomes the compass that directs your decisions and guides your steps.

Showing gratitude can take countless forms, particularly when we thank members of the United States military.

Less than a decade ago, a man named Todd Bol held a rummage sale outside his western Wisconsin home. After using garage door remnants to construct a miniature schoolhouse, he filled it with books and stationed it at the end of his driveway, garnering attention from visitor after visitor.

Plan on giving back this holiday season? There’s an app for that:

The University of Wisconsin-Madison has long printed a weekly publication called The Union, and it was this name that would inspire the satirical newspaper, The Onion.

Life is like a box of chocolates — you never know what you’re going to get — unless, that is, you visit Indulgence Chocolatiers. Guests are greeted with a variety of handcrafted, delicious and beautiful chocolate confections.

It’s hard to imagine a family gathering or football potluck without them. In 1932, a man by the name of Baptiste established a family-owned and operated corner bakery on Milwaukee’s south side.

Sugar, spice and myriad savory blends are on display at America’s largest independent spice retailer, Penzeys Spices, headquartered in Wauwatosa. Whether you’re on the hunt for the perfect pumpkin pie spice or Italian herb mix, Penzeys has been supplying a variety of ingredients to cooks across America for over 60 years.

Located in Milwaukee’s Third Ward on Chicago Street, Sweet Diner rewards early-morning customers and late-morning brunch-goers alike with an expansive menu of sweet and savory breakfast fare.

“I think on early shifts, it’s all about learning to function in a perpetual state of physical and mental fatigue,” said Vince Vitrano, WTMJ-TV news anchor and reporter.

Paul Henschel is a confirmed night owl. A machinist for Milwaukee Forge, he works third shift, clocking in from 11 p.m. to 7 a.m., Sunday through Thursday.

When the snow flies, Wisconsin residents still expect a smooth and safe morning commute. They rely on people like Tyler Steffen, a Waukesha public works employee who has been clearing snowy roads for 20 years.

TEMPO Milwaukee President and CEO Jennifer Dirks typically starts her workday with 7 a.m. coffee meetings.

As an English teacher at Hartford Union High School, Jennifer Rodig is accustomed to rising early. Her day starts with lesson planning even before students arrive, but getting students’ attention when class starts at 7:25 a.m. proves to be challenging.

Farming is a family tradition for dairy farmer Rick Roden of Roden Echo Valley, LLC.

Studies show that working out first thing in the morning increases your productivity throughout the day. If that’s the case, Kerri Schanowski is as productive as they come.

Wisconsin owes many of its culinary staples to traditional European recipes, including Alpine-style cheese, bratwurst and, as of 2013, the official state pastry: kringle.

With one of the largest trauma surgeon teams in the state, the Medical College of Wisconsin is prepared to save lives day and night. Working around the clock sometimes means shifts of 35 hours or more.

An iced Americano aficionado with a knack for perfecting the craft of coffee making, Chris Johnston, barista trainer at Valentine Coffee Co., wakes up around 4 a.m. daily. After a comedy sketch and a bowl of oatmeal, he’s on his way to foster the talent of Valentine’s employees and provide quality assurance to wholesale clients.

Morning routines among Branigan staffers vary by personality:

Crunchy, creamy, chocolaty, nougaty or even sour – what’s your favorite Halloween candy? We want to know.

Some people like haunted houses. Others relish an exploration into uncharted areas of the brain’s most inexplicable fears. If that’s more your speed, add these hair-raising haunts to your October bucket list.

Just passing through or seeking thrills, here’s the map explained:

“We do everything possible to make the haunted house feel genuinely unique,” said Jacob Eugster, founder of Screamin’ Acres Haunted Houses Inc. and a UW-Madison business student.