It’s only natural that we take time to reflect, as we reach the end of the decade. In the last ten years, we pretty much said goodbye to the cathode ray tube TV, the cassette tape, lickable stamps, and the Rolodex. Those were a few of the items on a list compiled by New York Magazine.

That got me thinking about what’s disappeared in Madison since the year 2000.

O’Cayz Corral: Every one from Nirvana to the White Stripes played this bar on East Wilson Street. It burned down New Year’s Day, 2001. There’s still an empty lot where the bar, and its neighbor, The Comic Strip once stood. I’m kinda bummed that I never saw a show there.

Luther’s Blues: I saw a lot of bands at this bar that closed a couple of years ago, on University Avenue.  The loudest show I ever saw in my life was at Luther’s. It was Los Lonely Boys, opening for John Eddie. Great show, but really, really LOUD.

The Madison Blues Festival:  It was a great chance to see legendary artists, from B.B. King to Buddy Guy, Jeff Beck to Little Richard. Some excellent performers graced the Triple M Stage too–including Sue Foley, and Jackie Greene, among others. So what if all the artists weren’t technically blues artists. I really miss this event.

The Oscar Mayer Theatre at the Madison Civic Center: I know part of the theatre survives inside the Overture Center, but it’s just not the same. Some of the artists I’ve seen at the Oscar Mayer Theatre included the Indigo Girls, Dave Brubeck, the Bodeans, John Prine, Melissa Etheridge, and Hootie and the Blowfish. (Yeah….I saw Hootie. I’m not ashamed).

Also disappearing in the last decade from Madison–the daily print edition of the Capital Times,  Madison K-Marts, and smoky bars. I can’t really say I miss the last two items on that list.