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• 1st Friday Breakfast on the West Side

  • Start
    April 04, 2025
  •  
  • End
    December 05, 2025
  •  
  • Schedule
    9 sessions
  • Location
    724 S. Gammon Rd., Madison

  

  
  

  1st Friday Breakfast is returning to the

  Pancake Cafe in September

  
  

  Make new friends, learn more about PLATO and greet new members at a full service breakfast café.
  

  • Where?  Pancake Cafe, 724 S Gammon Rd., Madison

  • When?  Meets on the first Friday of each month from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.

  • What?  Breakfast with friends, old and new.    To view the menu go to https://places.singleplatform.com/pancake-cafe-9

  
  

  • Directions: Located at the intersection of Watts Road and S. Gammon Road across from Woodman's.

  
  

  • Parking: There is plenty of parking in the adjacent parking lot.  No stairs!

  
  

  • Organizer: Catherine Masi

  
  

  • RSVP or Questions?  Email Catherine at  catherine.masi@gmail.com  to let her know you're coming the Thursday before the breakfast.  Also email her if you have any questions.

  
  

  
  

  Show details
• Where Nature and Architecture Converge

  • When
    August 25, 2025
  •  
    8:00 AM - 5:30 PM
  • Location
    Spring Green
  • Spaces left
    3

  Registration is closed

  
  

  
  

  Where Nature and Architecture Converge

  Monday, August 25, 2025

  Registration deadline is Monday, July 21

  
  

  Taliesin is the home of Frank Lloyd Wright's Wisconsin home for nearly 50 years Taliesin means "shining brow" in Welch. In honor of his heritage and is built on the brow of a hill in Wisconsin's Driftless region. Join us and immerse yourself in Taliesin's unique mix of architecture, nature, culture, and agriculture in Spring Green. This will be an intimate look at the 70-year career of one of America's greatest architects, with a professional guide, in the hills of the Driftless Area valley.  Following lunch, we will visit downtown Spring Green.  As always, there will be a surprise stop on our trip.

  
  

  _________________________________________
  

  Lunch

  Lunch is included in your registration fee and consists of:

  • Handcrafted sandwich
  • Chips
  • Sweet treat from the bakery
  • Drinks: coffee, iced tea, lemonade, water

  _________________________________________

  PLATO is partnering with the Verona Senior Center  and UW Retirement Association on this travel opportunity.  Pick-up locations are different from PLATO's usual trips.  You will be required to fill out the 2025 Verona New Member Form  (no charge) and 2025 Verona trip waiver Form.  You can fill out these forms in advance or on the day of the trip.

  Schedule:  (Return times are approximate)

  8:00 a.m.  Pick-up (East Madison) Dutch Mill Park and Ride (East Lot)

  8:30 a.m.   Depart Verona Park & Ride

  5:00 p.m.   Return Verona Park & Ride

  5:30 p.m.   Return Dutch Mill Park and Ride

  Departure Locations:

  New Verona Departure Location!

  Verona Park & Ride - 2585 Old PB, Verona, WI

  
  

  East Side (Dutch Mill Park & Ride (East Lot))

  Map below for those boarding the bus on east side Dutch Mill Park & Ride. Please park in the "east" lot as indicated by the arrow. (east of Arby's)
  

  
  

  Cost: $100 per person and includes bus transportation, driver tip, admission fees, meal, taxes, and gratuities.

  Seating is limited, so register today!  Registrations must be received no later than noon on Monday, July 21, 2025.

  Mail-In Registration Form:   Print, Fill-In, and Mail this Form for those who wish to register off-line and by check
  

  Refund Policy:  PLATO refunds an event fee if cancelled prior to the registration deadline.  Refunds after the registration deadline are only processed if a wait-listed registrant can attend.  Refunds made by check.

  PLATO Membership:  PLATO membership is $60.00/year and all memberships renew on July 1. 
  

  For further information, contact PLATO trip coordinator, Bob Shaw,  robert.e.shaw@gmail.com , 608-255-3486.
  

  Show details
• Dane County Landfill Tour

  • When
    September 09, 2025
  •  
    10:00 AM - 11:30 AM
  • Location
    3656 County Highway AB, McFarland, WI
  • Spaces left
    0

  Join waitlist

  

  Dane County Landfill Tour

  Tuesday, September 9 from 10:00 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.
  

  Free to PLATO members and guests.

  Registration is required.

  Ever wonder what happens to your trash after it leaves the curb? Join us for an eye-opening, behind-the-scenes field trip to our local landfill and waste management facilities — a fascinating journey into the world of recycling, renewable energy, and responsible disposal.

  Tour highlights Include:

  • Clean Sweep Facility: See how hazardous household materials like paints, cleaners, and batteries are safely collected and handled.
  • Construction & Demolition Recycling Center: Learn how building materials are sorted and reused to keep tons of waste out of landfills.
  • Renewable Natural Gas Plant: Discover how organic waste is turned into clean, renewable energy that powers homes and vehicles.
  • Active Landfill Site: Get a rare, firsthand look at how today’s landfills are engineered to manage waste while protecting the environment.

  Why You Should Come:

  • Gain a deeper understanding of where your waste goes — and why it matters.
  • Learn how to reduce your own environmental footprint.
  • Perfect for  sustainability advocates and curious minds of all ages.

  Space is limited and spots fill quickly, so register today for this unique, educational experience that just might change the way you see your garbage!

  ____________________________________

  Safety information:  The health of our visitors and staff is important to us and we have implemented the following policies and procedures for our tour program:

  - Safety vests will be provided and must be worn at all times during the tour.

  - No sandals or open toed shoes. 

  - Bathroom access is extremely limited, please plan accordingly.

  Weather: Tours proceed rain or shine, so tour attendees should dress for the weather. 

  Directions:  Please meet at Hope Park  (3656 County Highway AB, McFarland, WI) directly outside our landfill facility where our mobile Trash Lab exhibit is located. The Trash Lab exhibit will be parked out front, with a "tours" sign to mark where we will be gathering. Visitors will have a chance to explore the Lab prior to getting on our Waste + Renewables bus for the grounds tour. 

  
  

  For further information, contact PLATO trip leader, Cynthia Moore,  eron99c@gmail.com , 608-228-8836.

  Show details
• Pre-Civil War Quilts: Secret Codes to Freedom on the Underground Railroad

  • When
    September 09, 2025
  •  
    1:30 PM - 3:00 PM
  • Location
    Oakwood Village University Woods Arts & Education Center

   

  Pre-Civil War Quilts: Secret Codes to Freedom on the Underground Railroad

  
  

  Tuesday, September 9 from 1:30-3:00 p.m.

  
  

  In-Person at Oakwood Village University Woods

  Arts & Education Center

  
  

  6205 Mineral Point Road

  
  

  Registration is Not Required

  FREE PARKING
  

  
  

  In her lecture Connie Martin tells the history of the Underground Railroad, safe routes used from South to North, and stories of how quilt codes and their meanings, were used to warn of dangers, indicate how transport might occur and who might help as “Friends” on the Underground Railroad. She includes information passed down to her, a sixth- generation descendant of captured slaves forced into slavery in America. She shares her knowledge originating from an information packed family Bible dating back to the 1850’s. It revealed key abolitionists, safe escape routes passing from Kentucky through counties in Illinois. She mesmerizes the audience with her visually stunning slides showing each quilt code within vibrant, fabric, quilt patterns along with instances of special stitching used in over a dozen beautifully hand-crafted quilt replicas; each sewn by her mother for this presentation.

  Connie’s mother, Dr. Clarice Boswell, wrote a book, Lizzie’s Story: A Slave Family’s Journey to Freedom, the foundation of the presentation, and then created and performed this family presentation for 16 years.

  Connie Martin is a retired middle school Language Arts teacher of 32 years, a 35-year Aqua Fitness Master Trainer, senior Fitness Instructor, mother, and G-Ma to four grandkids. She earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Illinois State University where her thesis was on Integrating African American History in Educational Curriculums.                                                   

  ________________________________________

  Transportation Options:

  
  

  Bicycle:  Bike racks are available

  
  

  Bus: The BRT Route A bus  runs every 15 minutes and stops in front of Oakwood at the Island/Mineral Point station.  

  
  

  Car: 
  

  • Use the Island Drive entrance at 6205 Mineral Point Road.
  •  Veer left and follow the drive to the 2nd driveway with sign “Heritage Oaks Parking Garage.”
  •  Turn right into driveway.
  •   Press the buzzer and the Oakwood desk attendant will buzz you in. There are 70 parking stalls. Park in any visitor or non-reserved stall. Take the elevator up one floor to the main entrance, turn right and walk through the mail box area into the lobby. Ask at the desk for directions to the Performing Arts Center.
  • When you exit the underground parking, the garage door opens automatically.
  • _________________________

  Questions?  Contact lecture organizer Barbara Drake at barbaradrake21@gmail.com

  Show details
• 2nd Friday Breakfast at Lakeside St. Coffee House

  • Start
    September 12, 2025
  •  
  • End
    December 12, 2025
  •  
  • Schedule
    4 sessions
  • Location
    402 W Lakeside St, Madison, WI 53715

   

  We are returning to Lakeside St. Coffee House beginning in September.

  Meets every 2nd Friday!

  • Where:  Lakeside Street Coffee House

  • When:  Meets on the second Friday of each month

  • Time: 9:30 am to 11:30 am
  • A prominent stairway leads to the lower level where our group meets.
  • The menu changes daily. To find out today's menu, please call the restaurant directly - 608 441-7599
  • Place:  Lakeside St. Coffee House, 402 W. Lakeside St., Madison
  • Directions are pictured on the map below
  • Parking: Street Parking
    
  • Organizer: Sharon Scrattish
  • RSVP or Questions?: Let Sharon know you're coming the Thursday before the breakfast by email or phone (sscratti@gmail.com or 608-280-8050)

  
  

  

  
  

  Show details
• Healing the Heart through Forgiveness

  • When
    September 25, 2025
  •  
    1:30 PM - 3:00 PM
  • Location
    Oakwood Village University Woods Arts & Education Center

   

  
  

  Healing the Heart through Forgiveness

  
  

  Thursday, September 25 from 1:30-3:00 p.m.

  
  

  In-Person at Oakwood Village University Woods

  Arts & Education Center

  
  

  6205 Mineral Point Road

  
  

  Registration is Not Required

  FREE PARKING
  

  
  

  Lisa Rickert has spent 20-plus years working with defense teams on death penalty cases around the country. She has witnessed the pain and trauma of those who have lost a loved one to murder. In the process, she has also explored and uncovered layers of pain and trauma in the lives of those who killed another human being. She has been humbled by those who trusted her with their stories of buried wounds and has been in awe of those who chose mercy in response to unspeakable pain.

  It is Lisa’s core belief that people who forgive contribute to a kinder, more peaceful world.

  Lisa earned her MSW at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.  As a social worker, she has worked in the areas of juvenile delinquency, child protection, and sentencing advocacy.  She has always been fascinated by emotional healing practices, particularly the work of Dr. Robert Enright, a professor of educational psychology at UW-Madison, and a leader in the study of forgiveness in the  healing process.                                                                                           

  
  

  
  

                                                     

  ________________________________________

  Transportation Options:

  
  

  Bicycle:  Bike racks are available

  
  

  Bus: The BRT Route A bus  runs every 15 minutes and stops in front of Oakwood at the Island/Mineral Point station.  

  
  

  Car: 
  

  • Use the Island Drive entrance at 6205 Mineral Point Road.
  •  Veer left and follow the drive to the 2nd driveway with sign “Heritage Oaks Parking Garage.”
  •  Turn right into driveway.
  •   Press the buzzer and the Oakwood desk attendant will buzz you in. There are 70 parking stalls. Park in any visitor or non-reserved stall. Take the elevator up one floor to the main entrance, turn right and walk through the mail box area into the lobby. Ask at the desk for directions to the Performing Arts Center.
  • When you exit the underground parking, the garage door opens automatically.
  • _________________________

  Questions?  Contact lecture organizer Barbara Drake at barbaradrake21@gmail.com

  Show details
• Rodgers & Hammerstein's Oklahoma!

  • When
    October 09, 2025
  •  
    8:30 AM - 5:30 PM
  • Location
    Fireside Theater in Fort Atkinson
  • Spaces left
    6

  Register

  
  

  
  

  Fireside Theatre, Fort Atkinson

  Thursday, October 9, 2025

  Registration deadline is Monday, September 15

  It's an American classic!  It's the show that first introduced the immortal writing team of Rodgers and Hammerstein! It's the show that ushered in the Golden Age of American Musical Theatre! It's OKLAHOMA! This bright, brassy, boisterous musical comedy is filled with colorful costumes, breathtaking dancing, side-spitting humor, and a musical score featuring such hits as "People Will Say We're In Love," "Surrey With the Fringe On Top," and the rousing title number "Oklahoma!" The original production won a Pulitzer Prize and various Broadway revivals have won multiple Tony Awards. Now The Fireside presents a fresh, new, not to be missed telling of this time-honored musical.

  The meal includes a Scallop Appetizer, freshly baked breads, choice of entree, Double Layer Carrot Cake for dessert, and coffee/tea/milk. Entree choices include:

  • Chicken Florentine:  Pan seared Chicken Breast stuffed with Fresh Spinach and Cheeses, served over a Spinach Cream Sauce and served with Garlic Whipped Potatoes and Roasted Asparagus.
  • Baked Almond Crusted Cod:  Two Northern Cod Fillets coated with Dijon Mustard and crusted with Toasted Almonds, Japanese Breadcrumbs, and Fresh Herbs. Baked to crunchy perfection and served with our decadent Tarragon Sauce and served with Garlic Whipped Potatoes and Roasted Asparagus.   
  • Beef Short Rib:   Slowly braised in beef stock and dressed with a red wine demi-glaze and served with Garlic Whipped Potatoes and Roasted Asparagus.
  • Vegetarian Option:  Vegetarian Manicotti with red sauce

  PLATO is partnering with the Verona Senior Center  and UW Retirement Association on this travel opportunity.  Pick-up locations are different from PLATO's usual trips.  You will be required to fill out the Verona Senior Center New Member Form (no charge) and Verona Senior Center Liability Agreement.  You can fill out these forms in advance or on the day of the trip.

  Schedule (Return times are approximate)

  8:30 a.m. - Depart Verona Park & Ride

  9:00 a.m.  - Pick-up (East side) Dutch Mill Park and Ride (East Lot)

  5:00 p.m. - Return Dutch Mill Park & Ride

  5:30 p.m. - Return Verona Park & Ride

  
  

  Departure Locations

  New Verona Departure Location!

  Verona Park & Ride - 2585 Old PB, Verona, WI

  
  

  East side (Dutch Mill Park and Ride (East Lot) 

  Map below for those boarding the bus on east side Dutch Mill Park & Ride. Please park in the "east" lot as indicated by the arrow.

  

  ___________________________________

  Cost:  $125 per person and includes bus transportation, driver tip, admission fees, meal, taxes, and gratuities.

  Seating is limited, so register today!  Registrations must be received no later than noon on Monday, September 15, 2025.

  Mail-In Registration Form:   Print, Fill-in, and Mail this Form  for those who wish to register off-line and by check.
  

  Refund Policy:  PLATO refunds an event fee if cancelled prior to the registration deadline.  Refunds after the registration deadline are only processed if a wait-listed registrant can attend.  Refunds made by check.

  PLATO Membership:  PLATO membership is $60.00/year and all memberships renew on July 1. 
  

  For further information, contact  trip organizer, Bob Shaw,    robert.e.shaw@gmail.com, 608-255-3486
  

  Show details
• Beyond Politics: The Content of Wisconsin’s Character, Past & Present

  • When
    October 09, 2025
  •  
    1:30 PM - 3:00 PM
  • Location
    Oakwood Village University Woods Arts & Education Center

   

  
  

  Beyond Politics: the Content of Wisconsin's Character, Past & Present

  
  

  Thursday, October 9 from 1:30-3:00 p.m.

  
  

  In-Person at Oakwood Village University Woods

  Arts & Education Center

  
  

  6205 Mineral Point Road

  
  

  Registration is Not Required

  FREE PARKING
  

  
  

  Mike McCabe brings a farming background and a lifetime of experience in politics, journalism, nonprofit leadership and public sector management to his writing. He ran a spirited underdog campaign for governor of Wisconsin in 2018. Earlier he started the grassroots group Blue Jean Nation and for 15 years led the Wisconsin Democracy Campaign, an independent watchdog group that tracks the money in state elections and works for reforms making people matter more than money in politics. In that role, Mike blew the whistle on wrongdoing by elected officials and earned a reputation as one of the nation’s best political money trackers.

  He was recognized by the Society of Professional Journalists and Wisconsin Freedom of Information Council as the “Citizen Openness Advocate of the Year” for 2012, and the University of Wisconsin’s School of Journalism honored him with its Distinguished Service Award in 2015.

   Over the years, his work attracted the attention of national news networks including ABC, CBS, CNN, Fox, NBC, MSNBC, NPR and Al-Jazeera America, as well as newspapers including The New York Times, Washington Post, USA Today and Wall Street Journal, and magazines such as Time and New Yorker. He also has been a frequent guest on news programs and talk shows on television and radio stations in Wisconsin and around the country. A dynamic and much sought-after public speaker, Mike has made more than 2,000 presentations to a wide range of audiences over the course of his career.

  Mike is the author of three books including Blue Jeans in High Places: The Coming Makeover of American Politics, published in 2014 and currently in its fourth printing, Unscrewing America released in 2020, and Miracles Along County Q released at the end of 2024.  Mike will have these books for sale at the conclusion of his lecture.

                                                                                         

  
  

  
  

                                                     

  ________________________________________

  Transportation Options:

  
  

  Bicycle:  Bike racks are available

  
  

  Bus: The BRT Route A bus  runs every 15 minutes and stops in front of Oakwood at the Island/Mineral Point station.  

  
  

  Car: 
  

  • Use the Island Drive entrance at 6205 Mineral Point Road.
  •  Veer left and follow the drive to the 2nd driveway with sign “Heritage Oaks Parking Garage.”
  •  Turn right into driveway.
  •   Press the buzzer and the Oakwood desk attendant will buzz you in. There are 70 parking stalls. Park in any visitor or non-reserved stall. Take the elevator up one floor to the main entrance, turn right and walk through the mail box area into the lobby. Ask at the desk for directions to the Performing Arts Center.
  • When you exit the underground parking, the garage door opens automatically.
  • _________________________

  Questions?  Contact lecture organizer Barbara Drake at barbaradrake21@gmail.com

  Show details