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SLIDE SHOW: Terrace Downtime

August 12, 2014

Relaxing in tiers, people hang out on the Terrace on a summer night. In the foreground, boats are docked at the Goodspeed Family Pier in Lake Mendota.

Now, this is more like it. Shaking off responsibilities and welcoming the extended daylight of summer, people made their way to the Memorial Union Terrace during many recent evenings, eager to take in the sights, sounds and smells of this beloved campus spot. They happily set aside meeting agendas and must-do schedules and electronic distractions to chat, dance to the music, gaze at — or jump into — the lake, munch on brats, savor ice cream and just be. And overhead again and again? “We need to do this more often.”

Text by Cindy Foss. Photos by Jeff Miller.

Families take a leisurely stroll along the Lake Mendota shoreline past Outdoor UW, home to the Wisconsin Hoofers and outdoor equipment rentals.

As if walking on water, people traverse the lake using stand-up paddleboards.

Busting out ballerina moves, audience members feel the rhythms of Northern Comfort, a bluegrass band performing on the Terrace’s music stage.

Speaking of moves, friends make theirs during a game of chess on one of the Terrace’s bright yellow tables.

The smells of summer waft from the Terrace’s Brat Stand as corn on the cob, chicken and hot dogs cook on the grill.

As the sun begins to set over Lake Mendota, that familiar design — the sunburst that adorns that back of a Terrace chair — stands out in silhouette.

A glowing sunset, a light lake breeze, Babcock ice cream cones. Does it get any better?

Feel free to hum along: They’re sittin’ on the pier of the Terrace …

Taking in the lake from a new perspective, people relax on an upper deck at the Wisconsin Union Theater, part of a recently completed renovation project.

No ordinary surroundings for a game of fetch, as dusk falls, a dog happily goes after a ball his owner has thrown into the lake.

With legs dangling off the Goodspeed Family Pier, people cap off a perfect summer night along the Terrace.