Of the many changes 2020 has brought, one of the positives is expanding our understanding of the word “bubble.” It means our nearest and dearest — not just the people we live with, but those we quarantine with or expand our circles to include during the pandemic.
Now, Nineteen09 and other venues around the state are giving us a fun way to bubble up with our crews.
The beautiful Cross Plains wine bar calls its three plastic bubbles The Globes, while others sometimes call theirs domes or igloos. No matter the name, they’re a fun way to get out of the house, cozy up and enjoy some treats and laughs.
The Nineteen09 globes are nestled across the outdoor patio, and available to rent for up to two hours. A special family-friendly rental stocks a globe with hot chocolate or hot apple cider, plus a plate heaping with cookies.
My family and I arrived just before dusk, adding a bottle of wine to the mix before being zipped up into our bubble. Fearing we’d all get chilly as the night went on, I’d bundled us up in parkas and winter boots and brought hats, mittens and scarves. I shouldn’t have worried! The little stove inside our globe kept us toasty, even as the temps dipped into the thirties.
As we sipped drinks and nibbled on cookies, the four of us chatted, told jokes and played a game. Even after being together practically nonstop at home the past few months, we had a blast at The Globes. Maybe it was the novelty of being inside a giant plastic bubble or the way the lanterns and string lights above us cast a glow as the night turned dark, but the evening was absolutely magical.
In addition to Nineteen09, bubbles are popping up across Wisconsin, including at:
Lodge Kohler in Green Bay
Hagemeister Park in Green Bay
Grand Geneva Resort in Lake Geneva
The Ridge Hotel in Lake Geneva
Karben4 Brewing in Madison
Forage Kitchen in Madison
The Madison Club in Madison
Café Benelux in Milwaukee
Eldr+Rime in Milwaukee
Brix Cider in Mount Horeb
Fox River Brewing Company in Oshkosh
Hilton Garden Inn in Wausau
Or you can rent your own private igloo with Ash + Arrow Events in the Madison area.
(And if you know of one we’ve missed that should be on the list, please let us know!)
Here’s to continuing to find the fun in challenging times and filling your bubble with love!
– Katie Vaughn
Katie Vaughn is the editor and co-founder of Northerly. She is a University of Wisconsin-Madison and Stanford University-trained journalist with experience as a writer, reporter, editor, blogger and author. She lives in Madison with her husband, daughter and son, and is always up for an adventure.