After years of anticipation, a newer and much bigger Menomonie Market Food Co-op opened in downtown Eau Claire this past Fall, featuring a range of local vendors and a full-service deli. Sometimes, bigger is better! Readers also will remember 2023 as the year Chippewa Valley Technical College picked an adorable new mascot, the River Otter — chosen in part because it’s a playful and social animal. This last one’s a bummer: After announcing their pending relocation, Modicum Brewing and Covizza ended plans to move to The 1106 (formerly Artisan Forge Studios), leaving the local brewery to close its doors permanently. —Hannah Angell