What can you find in this week's Isthmus? Highlights from the latest issue follow:
- Alan Talaga and Jon Lyons chronicle a visit to Madison by Santa Claus.
- Joe Tarr reports on Mayor Soglin's quest to check Overture's books.
- Joe Tarr reports that Metcalfe's is still interested in building a grocery store on the 800 block of East Washington.
- Amy Barrilleaux talks to Madison College about Gov. Walker's plan to tie education funding to jobs.
- Ruth Conniff fears for the safety of Wisconsin children following the Connecticut school massacre.
- Jen Herritz and Jessica Steinhoff get the lowdown on local New Year's Eve celebrations.
- Laura Jones examines Overture Center's plan to cultivate new audiences in 2013.
- Cameron Connors has his heart warmed by Children's Theater of Madison's production of A Christmas Carol.
- Katie Reiser reviews Madison Ballet's latest production of The Nutcracker.
- Scott Gordon checks in with local author Kim Johnson-Bair, who's written a book inspired by her time working at MadCity Music Exchange.
- Jessica Steinhoff asks Madison-raised rapper F.Stokes about his forthcoming album and his Boxing Day show at the Frequency.
- Dean Robbins explores a 1970s animal experiment gone wrong in Project Nim on HBO.
- Scott Renshaw is wowed by the romantic comedy Silver Linings Playbook, a romantic comedy starring Bradley Cooper and Jennifer Lawrence, and enjoys memorable moments in the ups and downs of This Is 40, Judd Apatow's spinoff of Knocked Up.
- André Darlington is seduced by Chocolaterian.
- André Darlington searches for good wines to pair with oysters.
- Close to Home: Andy Moore remembers his father's off-key celebrations of the season.
- Tell All advises a woman whose husband hates Christmas.
- Jason Joyce delivers a comeuppance to whining Packer backers.