This week, the mayor dines thrice on the official schedule. A Monday lunch with UW-Madison Chancellor Biddy Martin at the Great Dane, a Thursday breakfast with former Mayor Joe Sensenbrenner at Marigold Kitchen and a Thursday lunch with Wanda Fullmore, the Mayoral Office clerk, at Ocean Grill.
No dispute: These are all great spots. They consistently make up a list of restaurants I recommend to visitors staying downtown. Plus, they all happen to be within two blocks of the City-County Building, which makes them convenient.
But come on! What was it Barack Obama said about spreading the wealth around? Is there some kind of ordinance preventing the mayor from picking up a check outside the Oh-Three? What's wrong with burgers at the Harmony? Waffles at Sophia's? Rib tips at Papa Bear's? By sticking to joints in the shadow of the Capitol, Mayor Dave is barely dipping his toe in Madison's culinary pool.
Plus, there's a lot more to this town than state workers, attorneys and alt-weekly staffers, which is what you're going to find at Marigold, the Great Dane and Ocean Grill (with all due respect... love you guys!). Mix it up a little. Variety is, as they say, the spice of life.
MAYOR CIESLEWICZ WEEKLY SCHEDULE
Monday, December 1, 2008
9:00 a.m. Visit from Shanghai's Minhang District delegation (Mayor's Conf. Room)
10:00 a.m. Policy Staff Meeting (Mayor's Conf. Room)
11:30 a.m. Nan Fey, Mario Mendoza (Mayor's Office)
12:00 p.m. Lunch with Chancellor Biddy Martin (The Great Dane)
2:00 p.m. Dick Grasmick, Rachel Strauch-Nelson (Mayor's Office)
3:30 p.m. Mayors' Innovation Project Steering Committee conference call (Mayor's Office)
4:30 p.m. Common Council Leadership Meeting (Mayor's Conf. Room)
5:30 p.m. Picture with World AIDS Day 2008 agencies organizers
Tuesday, December 2, 2008
9:00 a.m. Taping of the Mayor's Report (MMB 260)
10:00 a.m. Recording intro for the Sister Cities program on City Channel (MMB 260)
10:30 a.m. Mayor's Management Team Meeting (Mayor's Conf. Room)
2:00 p.m. Dave Gawenda, Ray Harmon (Mayor's Office)
3:00 p.m. Phone call from Lt. Gov. Barbara Lawton (Mayor's Office)
3:30 p.m. Office/work time
6:30 p.m. Common Council Meeting (City-County Building, Rm 201)
Wednesday, December 3, 2008
10:00 a.m. Staff Meeting (Mayor's Conf. Room)
2:00 p.m. George Hank, Joel Plant (Mayor's Office)
3:30 p.m. Lucia Nuñez, Ray Harmon (Mayor's Office)
5:00 p.m. Google Madison Office Open House (301 S Blount St)
Thursday, December 4, 2008
8:00 a.m. Breakfast with Joe Sensenbrenner (Marigold Kitchen)
9:00 a.m. Bill Vandenbrook, Ray Harmon (Mayor's Office)
10:00 a.m. Chief Noble Wray, Joel Plant (Mayor's Office)
11:30 a.m. Larry Nelson, Ray Harmon (Mayor's Office)
12:00 p.m. Lunch with Wanda Fullmore (Ocean Grill)
2:30 p.m. Westside Staff Team Meeting (MMB 110)
4:00 p.m. Christine Beatty, Joel Plant (Mayor's Office)
Friday, December 5, 2008
9:00 a.m. Staff Retreat
3:00 p.m. Office/work time
