Some people just have an "eye" for capturing beautiful things. At Mad City Dream Homes, we've been working with Justin Lackner of Lackner Photography, because he has this "eye." Take a look at his photography, and you'll agree that he's gifted at finding and capturing Madison's natural beauty.

"I've always loved Madison. The more places I've been, the more I love this city. It has the amenities of a big city, but is so easily accessible by car, bike or public transportation. And the parks- they are beautiful- and there are plenty of them to explore and enjoy," he said. Lackner is responsible for the park photography we feature on our website. His talent for capturing these natural spaces is invaluable. "With nature photography, you have the time to sit

Remember the "good old days" when kids got up on a summer morning, played outdoors, and returned home at night?  Parents didn't fear danger, and kids were free to roam the neighborhood. People assume that this is a throwback to another time, but in Madison, it's still happening at the neighborhood pools. The city is home to at least 13 neighborhood pools. Many are membership driven, but a few offer paid admission to the public. In either case, they are typically centrally located within neighborhoods, and offer a place where neighbors gather, children are known by name, and the staff keep a close eye. Between the neighborly atmosphere and the schedule of daily swim lessons, swim team, water ballet, and other events, kids can stay busy from morning to

You’ve done your homework, worked with the stager, and made the improvements necessary to make your home attract buyers. You kept it perfect for showings, and generated great interest. Finally, you accept an offer, and believe you will soon move on to a new adventure. But then it happens. The buyer's home inspection report includes mold. What do you do?

We’ve walked many sellers through this predicament, and have found some excellent solutions. One of our favorite mold experts is Rapid Response Remediation. This company has effectively cleaned up several of our clients' properties, and has done it in a timely and affordable manner. Rob Mozgawa, managing partner of the company, says that people are more afraid of mold than they need to be.

“It's an

When is the best time to start your estate planning? Age 18. The reality for most people is that this planning doesn’t happen until much later, but Bob Nennig of Nennig Law Offices, LLC can help clients of all ages prepare for the future. Nennig knows that most clients aren’t experts on estate planning. He prides himself in walking them through the process, explaining the options, and making sure that they are both pleased and protected by the final results. You don’t have to be exceptionally wealthy to make plans. If you own a home and have a retirement plan, you're ready to make an estate plan.

Estate planning is different from financial advice. It is designed to look at your assets and then create the best possible way to share them with your loved

Have you heard the news? Expedia.com released a list of the nation's "Super Cool" cities. In their final list of 21, Madison made #2. But if you look at their point structure, Madison tied Austin, TX, for #1. It's not clear how they made their final decision on the list. We know we're the "coolest." 

That said, Expedia noticed what locals already know: Madison has the best assortment of restaurants, farmer's markets, social events and quality of life. The rating looked at the number of restaurants per 10,000 residents. Madison easily passed this standard, with a broad assortment of unique options and fabulous chefs. Graze, on the Capitol Square, is even named in Expedia's review as a favorite. Of course, the Dane County Farmer's Market, along with the

Don't let the unusually warm weather fool you- it's still winter in Wisconsin. This weekend the Madison Winter Festival will celebrate all things winter at its new location in Elver Park. Festival planners say the new location offers many perks for the festival, which was previously held downtown. 

"Not only does Elver Park entertain great resources for outdoor activities, the venue also accommodates participants and spectators with indoor facilities equipped with bathrooms, concessions and a warm shelter. Elver Park also maintains the easiest access to artificial snow in Madison to ensure that the events listed in the program can be held despite lack of natural snow coverage," says Irina Komarova, festival director.

Events include a "Fat Bike" race

The groundhog predicted another 6 weeks of winter in Wisconsin, but don't let the cold and snow keep you from living life to the fullest. Sara Ifert, wellness coach at Go Simple Wellness, offers several suggestions for healthy living this winter:

Enjoy Madison Parks: Get vitamin D, fresh air, exercise, and FUN at local parks. From sledding at Elver park, to the many free skating rinks (rentals available at some parks) there are plenty of ways to stay active and enjoy the outdoors in winter. Getting outside is a great way to beat winter blues and have fun!

Browse Willy St. Co-op: With a few locations in town, you can find a friendly co-op nearby with plenty of natural foods, organic fruits and vegetables, green juices, and an excellent hot food

It's that time of year- when frantic shopping trips and holiday parties fill the schedule. But it's also a time to swing by area attractions, slow down, and enjoy the season. As Madison prepares to celebrate the holidays, there are several stops worth visiting. Take a drive through town and enjoy the lights, and don't miss these must-see events along the way:

Olbrich Botantical Gardens Holiday Express opens December 3, and features electric trains, provided by the Wisconsin Garden Railway Society, intricate Lego creations made by the Wisconsin Lego Users Group (WisLUG), and, of course, beautiful flowers and plants. Walk through and enjoy the pirate village, dragon and other creations. The trains change regularly, as different volunteers bring their own

If you're like many of us, you're probably thinking about your holiday shopping already, and preparing gift ideas for loved ones. This weekend, before the busy-ness of Thanksgiving takes over, Madison shoppers can head downtown and peruse a wide variety of beautiful and interesting artwork, available for purchase. Overture Center for the Arts and the Madison Museum of Contemporary Art (MMoCA), are co-hosting the annual Holiday Art Fair. Shoppers can enter for a $6 fee ($5 if ordered in advance, children 12 and under are free). Artists from all over the nation will be showing their work, and selling items for gifting or personal enjoyment. More than 70 artists are included in this year's fair, and offer a broad selection of fine art. Booths will feature

Are you ready for Halloween? Ghouls and ghostly apparitions abound this time of year and if you need any help getting into the spirit Madison Ghost Tours has you covered.

For the last several years the group has organized tour groups around Capitol Square. From their website: "Discover the haunted history of Madison, Wisconsin with our 90-minute ghost walk around the state’s capitol. You can expect to meet the colorful characters, vengeful spirits, monsters, and stories of the people who love Madison so much that even death can’t stop them from staying in the city!"

The tour will take you from the Great Dane on Doty St., full of stories passed from former employees and management, past the Majestic Theatre where a strange figure has frequented the