Around the Bubbler: What's on tap this week

Still the only one

Melissa Etheridge is calling her current tour the "Revival Tour," and she means it. It's her first trip back out on the road since battling breast cancer four years ago, a fight that she says left her exhausted, grateful and with a renewed sense of purpose that shines through on last year's "The Awakening" CD, as well as her Oscar-winning theme song for "An Inconvenient Truth."

Her current show is a three-hour opus that covers the entire arc of her life. Etheridge will be at Overture Hall, 201 State St. at 8 p.m. Wednesday, July 30. Tickets are $38 to $78 through the Overture box office, 258-4141, or at www.overturecenter.com.

Raise the roof with Queenie

The rooftop music won't end, it will just be changing names and dates.

Concerts on the Rooftop winds up its summer series on Thursday, July 24 with Queenie and the Blue Cats holding court on top of the Monona Terrace. Music begins at 6 p.m. but food and drinks are available beginning at 5:30 p.m.

If Mother Nature doesn't seem as if she's cooperating, call 241-4000 to find out if the concert has been moved or canceled.

Next week, the Monona Terrace music series changes to Dane Dances on Friday nights. First up, on Aug. 1, will be Kali Kalor and the Davis Family Band.

For more information, go to www.mononaterrace.com.

Gente Feliz

Another Independence Day celebration is on tap, minus all the fireworks that blasted away on the Fourth of July.

Colombianos en Wisconsin is hosting its seventh Happy People Fest (Festival de la Gente Feliz) to celebrate Colombian independence from Spain. The event begins at 11 a.m. Sunday, July 27 at Fireman's Park in Middleton. It includes music from Grupo Candela and Fuego Musical, with dance from Boliviamanta.

For more information, go to www.colombianosenwisconsin.org or call 217-6132.

Magnificent folks in their flying machines

Beginning Monday, July 28 through Sunday, August 3, the skies above Oshkosh will be filled with airplanes and the EAA Aviation Center grounds will be packed with revelers as the organization's annual AirVenture Oshkosh 2008 takes flight once more.

But if the increasing price of gas makes you hesitant to make the hour and half drive to Oshkosh, this year EAA has set up Rideshare, a program that allows attendees to hitch a ride, save a little bit of cash, and make new friends along the way.

Daily admission to AirVenture Oshkosh 2008 for non-EAA members is free for children under the age of five, $15 for children between 6 and 13, $20 for teens between 14 and 18 and $35 for adults. Weekly passes are also available. More details about admission rates and EAA Rideshare program are available at www.airventure.org.

Eat, drink, be happy

Cuisine connoisseurs, it's your lucky day -- well, week. Madison Restaurant Week returns Sunday, July 27 for another six days of fine dining that are sure to leave Madison diners salivating.

Madison Restaurant Week doesn't just allow foodies the chance to unite and share their love of cuisine. At $25 for a three-course dinner and $15 for a three-course lunch, this event also provides curious diners with an extraordinary value.

On the list of participating restaurants, you'll find some Madison favorites like Lombardino's and Mariner's Inn, but diners can also sample restaurants that often seem less accessible, such as Fresco and Harvest.

No cover charge is needed for Madison Restaurant Week, just $25 for dinner and an appetite.

For a list of participating restaurants and their menus, visit www.madisonmagazine.com.

Heat it up!

Get ready to laugh and dance your pants off, both figuratively and quite possibly literally, at the Hot Mess! burlesque show coming to the Majestic Theatre, 115 King St., at 8 p.m. Saturday, July 26. Producer Emily Mills introduces Miss Tamale as master of ceremonies and the show features six main performers, including Madison's own the MadKings and Cherry Pop Burlesque, Chicago's Smarmy Chorus Girls, and many more.

You must be 18 or older to attend this show. Tickets can be bought for $10 at the door or ahead of time on the Majestic Web site (www.majesticmadison.com), by phone (1-800-514-ETIX), or at local businesses including Context, Strictly Discs, and Pipefitter.

Dancing in the streets

This Saturday, July 26, don't hesitate to drive, bike, or even run to Madison's near east side for a hot event, in more ways than one. Craft vendors, artists, deliciously greasy food, and several exceptional musical talents are just a few of the perks of Atwood Summerfest festival, which takes over the 2000 and 2100 blocks of Atwood Ave. from noon to 7 p.m.

The event offers two stages of live music all day, including Tex Tubb and the Jokermen's Bob Dylan tribute, the Mid-Westerners, Paul Cebar, Motor Primitives, Baghdad Scuba Review and many more.

A kid-friendly event, Atwood Summerfest will also feature several planned activities, games, and entertainment designed just for the little shavers. All proceeds will go directly back to the community via the programs of the sponsor, the Goodman Atwood Community Center.

Fiesta Hispana

Latino culture in all its many vibrant forms, from music to food to crafts, is celebrated at Fiesta Hispana this Saturday, July 26 at Warner Park, on the shores of Lake Mendota. In addition to the booths selling food and wares, the festival features a full lineup of Madison bands, including El Clan Destino, Son Mundaza, Brisas del Peru and many more. The festival runs from 11 a.m. and is put on every year by Centro Hispano, so visit their Web site at www.chdc.us for more information.