By the rockets' red glare

There's something about fireworks that makes children of us all, raptly looking skyward in wonder and amazement. This was the scene at Blackhawk Country Club in Shorewood Hills Saturday night, but it was repeated in countless neighborhoods and communities around the country.

How to top "The 1812 Overture"? How about the Clyde Stubblefield Band at the Monona Terrace?

When Wednesday night's Concert on the Square was rescheduled for Thursday night due to weather concerns, it dropped on top of the previously scheduled Community Care Concert by the Clyde Stubblefield Band on the Monona Terrace rooftop. A double treat for Madison music lovers -- two great concerts in different downtown open air venues on the same night. On one stage, Maestro Andrew Sewell, the Wisconsin Chamber Orchestra, "The 1812 Overture" with full cannon support -- on the other, Madison's Maestro of the funk beat with his band. It doesn't get better than that.

We had not meant to go to the Concert on the Square last night. It seemed a bit too cold, cloudy and gloomy. But it warmed up and then late in the day, the sun started breaking through, and we decided at the last minute to go after all. Too late to find a parking space downtown, and anyhow, we had told ourselves this year we would bike to the Concerts, so we hit the Southwest Bike Path a little after the concert started. Arrived during the intermission, stayed for the second half, the one with the "1812 Overture" pyrotechnics. The light on our ride was extraordinary -- bright, warm lighting breaking under the dark, low-hanging cloud cover. (This is along the path between West Washington and Brittingham Park.)

Grand Central towers skyward -- luxury rental units in the heart of the UW campus

The real estate development boom of the last few years left Madison with a glut of unsold homes and condos when it cooled, but there is one kind of new development that is still doing well -- luxury rental housing for students near campus. The new $20-million-plus Grand Central development is mostly rented for the fall semester. It's the most expensive residential development launched in Dane County the last two years. Rents start at $1,195 for a one-bedroom and top out at $3,175 for a four-bedroom with a den. Residents can also reserve the 13th-floor party deck. "Developers have found students are willing to pay those higher rents for apartments with all the amenities," UW facilities planner Gary Brown tells The Capital Times.

Big box for the arts lays off two more staffers

The Overture Center for the Arts laid off two more staffers -- their VP of marketing and their publicity coordinator -- in addition to the 15 positions cut in December.