Why the Eastside Does it Better
Written by Miles VaranaPhotography by Calder Sell
- Willy Street.
For decades, Williamson Street, which runs from the intersection of John Nolen and Blair into the heart of the Marquette Neighborhood, has been an epicenter of culture and counterculture in Madison. Lined with bars, restaurants and artistic spaces, Willy Street is a thinking person’s version of State Street. Notable spots include Ha Long Bay, hand’s down the best Asian cuisine in town (take that, QQs), the Willy Street Co-op, and the other famous Mickey’s--Mickey’s Tavern.
- Johnson Street.
It’s the new Willy Street, albeit denser with Epic yuppies than aging hippies. Johnson Street features an eclectic mix of condo developments and Victorian homes. The walk from James Madison to Tenney Park is one of the most pleasant in the city, brimming with businesses and lakeside curiosities. The geologically-inclined should be sure to stop at Burnie’s Rock Shop along the way. 
- It has the best restaurants.
With fine dining spots like Sardine, trendy upstarts like Pig in a Fur Coat, and classic Madison greasy spoons like Stalzy’s Deli, the Eastside features the most challenging culinary scene in town. Ask locals for their opinions on Roman Candle or the aforementioned Ha Long Bay (which recently reopened after being struck by a vehicle earlier this year) and you will hear words of boundless affection. Ask about Monty’s Blue Plate, a 50s style diner and Food Fight staple, and the answer may be more ambivalent.
- You’ll find the best bars.
Unlike the party bars of campus, the pretension of the square, and the corporate blandness of the Westside scene, bars on the Eastside offer a good mix of quality and grittiness. For handcrafted artistry at high prices, stop by Gib’s or Old Sugar Distillery. For cheap drinks, working class vibes, and a d20 fortitude check to save yourself from losing your liver, try The Caribou or Crystal Corner. 
- The people are nicer.
Okay, I don’t have hard evidence to back this up, but I have lived in Madison for twenty years. Although the Eastside lacks the opulence of its Western counterpart, it is also less prone to the snobbery and elitism that prevails in many areas across the isthmus. People are less judgmental, and more relaxed.
- It’s cheaper.
You heard it hear first. The Eastside has, barring certain outlying areas like the Northside and Sun Prairie, the cheapest rents in the Madison area. Why pay $700 for a Spring Street studio when you can rock an efficiency off Willy just over half that price? If you’re a humanities student like myself, parts of the Eastside are closer to your classes than Camp Randall is.