Tuesday   

Charles Dickens' Nicholas Nickleby, first published in 1838, focuses on universal issues, such as family and marital relationships, debt, and power--as well as education, business, and the theater.  It is also a great read, with satisfying villains and heroes, as well as some good love stories.  Course participants will read and discuss the book in seven sessions.  The course leader will locate the novel in historical context and guide discussions.

Required reading: Nicholas Nickleby by Charles Dickens, Penguin Classics, 1999. 

 

Jane Austen's Persuasion has been reimagined by a number of contemporary authors. It is a less complex novel than Pride and Prejudice, but there is room to reimagine situations and events. In this brief course, we shall review some of the major variations set in the Regency and in our time. Wentworth and Anne come alive again in a variety of settings. Their timeless love wins out in the unfavorable atmosphere of her family and close associates.

Recommended reading: Persuasion by Jane Austen, any edition.

 

King Lear may well be Shakespeare's greatest play, and performing the title role is the dream of an actor's lifetime. Together, we will explore Shakespearean drama in general, read and enact King Lear, and attend the Guthrie Theater's presentation of Kunene and the King, by South African playwright John Kani. Theater professionals will join us for discussions about bringing a play from the page to the stage. Neither experience nor comfort with Shakespeare is necessary to enjoy this course–just a desire to experience one of literature’s consummate works and ponder its contemporary parallels.

Recommended reading: https://www.folger.edu/explore/shakespeares-works/king-lear/read/

 

Robert Caro’s multi-volume study of Lyndon Johnson—the best biography in American letters—will soon be completed with its fifth and final volume. We will examine volume 4, The Passage of Power, which chronicles Johnson’s relationship with the Kennedys, both Jack and Bobby, from the late 1950s through the transition to the Johnson presidency.

Recommended reading: The Passage of Power, by Robert Caro (Knopf, 2012). 

 

The Age-Friendly University (AFU) of Minnesota Council invites you to join a special screening of the internationally acclaimed documentary, Silver Screamers, a heartwarming and inspiring film that follows a spirited group of older adults as they step far outside their comfort zones to make a low-budget horror film. Defying stereotypes with humor, resilience, and heart, the film proves that creativity and purpose have no expiration date. Following the screening, join us for an exclusive Q&A session with the film’s director, Sean Cisterna. Together, we will discuss healthy aging, lifelong social engagement, and how we can reshape societal assumptions about what older adults are capable of when given the right space, support, and opportunity. Course fee includes film, popcorn, and a soda!

 

From Martians building canals to human travel, we have long dreamed of life on Mars. Our knowledge of Mars has changed dramatically since the turn of the century, making now the perfect time to explore. This three-session course covers the evolution of our understanding. Session one will explore Mysterious Mars: the early history and early mission successes and failures. Session two will explore Rovers on Mars: the advanced rovers and their groundbreaking findings. Session three will explore Humans on Mars: the realities of travel, living, and ethics of exploration in space. All are welcome; no previous space travel required!

Why are we here? Not Minnesota, or even Earth, but how is it that we (and life in general) can even exist in the universe? If you like lying awake at night thinking profound thoughts, then this is the right course for you. Whether you prefer the actions of a divine hand or the random vagaries of quantum chance, there will be plenty to chew on. We will combine presentations with open discussions on the mysteries of life. Weekly readings will be on the internet, and participants wishing more detailed discussions are encouraged to explore the recommended books. 

Recommended reading: The Mind of God, Paul Davies;   A Fortunate Universe: Life in a  Finely Tuned Cosmos, by G.F. Lewis and L.A. Barnes

 

10-6: Deborah Dillon/Steve Birch: Peak Higher Education: How to Survive the Looming Crisis by Bryan Alexander.

10-13: Maureen Smith: All the President’s Money: How the Men Who Governed America Governed Their Money, by Megan Gorman.

10-20: Merrily Mazza: The Think Tank Racket by Glenn Diesen.

10-27: Sherrie Gette: More Everything Forever by Adam Becker.

11-3: Phil Fishman: Suffrage by Ellen Dubois

11-10: Dan Hunt: King Leopold’s Ghost by Adam Hochschild

11-17: Ann Knapp: The Swerve by Stephen Greenblatt

 

The Nobel Conference is a 2-day conference held at Gustavus Adolphus College. This fall’s topic is the Mississippi River and will be held on 6-7 Oct.  Lectures will explore racial, historical, geological, and biological facets of the Mississippi River and its inhabitants. OLLI participants can watch the free conference either in person or through streaming and then we will have three Zoom meetings to discuss the lectures.  For more info about the Conference go to: https://gustavus.edu/about/nobel-conference. Attending in person includes other conference activities.

This four session course will meet at the Urban Growler Brewery and cover the following topics:

Session 1: History - Ancient History, Middle Ages, Modern Times

Session 2: Ingredients - Water, Grains, Hops, Yeast

Session 3: Process - Grist Mill, Mash Tun, Lauder Tun, Brew Kettle, Fermenter, Packaging

Session 4: Beer Styles - Ales, Lagers, Hybrids, European Styles

Urban Growler is located at: 2325 Endicott St, St Paul, MN 55114. Plenty of free parking available. 

 

Whether you're considering part-time work, volunteer opportunities, new hobbies, or simply seeking a more meaningful retirement, understanding your interests can provide valuable direction. Based on the Strong Interest Inventory and John Holland's six interest themes (Realistic, Investigative, Artistic, Social, Enterprising, and Conventional), this interactive workshop will help you identify your own "compass," explore activities that match your natural interests, and discover new possibilities for a pleasurable, engaging, and purposeful next chapter.

 

The leaves are changing and dropping from the branches of the trees all around us. This is the best time of year to learn how to identify trees using their leaves! Join a Garden Naturalist on a guided walk to learn how to use dichotomous keys and field guides to identify trees using their leaves, bark, and other key characteristics.  We'll meet at the Wirth Beach parking lot: 3200 Glenwood Ave. Hiking surfaces include paved and natural surface trails that feature changes in terrain and some hills. 

 

The leaves are changing and dropping from the branches of the trees all around us. This is the best time of year to learn how to identify trees using their leaves! Join a Garden Naturalist on a guided walk to learn how to use dichotomous keys and field guides to identify trees using their leaves, bark, and other key characteristics.  We'll meet at the Wirth Beach parking lot: 3200 Glenwood Ave. Hiking surfaces include paved and natural surface trails that feature changes in terrain and some hills. 

 

Fall migration is underway, and many species of warblers, raptors, and waterfowl are passing through on their journey. Come for a guided birding walk on the trails in South Theodore Wirth Regional Park. A garden naturalist from The Eloise Butler Wildflower Garden will teach you how to identify both migrating and resident bird species by their behavior, plumage, and song as you explore. We'll meet in the Wirth Beach parking lot off Glenwood Avenue: 3200 Glenwood Ave. Minneapolis, MN 55405. Trails exhibit mild changes in terrain, distance covered may be up to 1.5 miles.

Fall migration is underway, and many species of warblers, raptors, and waterfowl are passing through on their journey. Come for a guided birding walk on the trails in South Theodore Wirth Regional Park. A garden naturalist from The Eloise Butler Wildflower Garden will teach you how to identify both migrating and resident bird species by their behavior, plumage, and song as you explore. We'll meet in the Wirth Beach parking lot off Glenwood Avenue: 3200 Glenwood Ave. Minneapolis, MN 55405. Trails exhibit mild changes in terrain, distance covered may be up to 1.5 miles.

Have you ever wondered how the lights stay on across 15 states? Join us for an exclusive tour of the MISO Regional Control Center. Step inside the high-tech "nerve center" of the Midcontinent’s electrical grid, where expert operators manage a massive real-time energy market and coordinate the flow of electricity for 45 million people. See the giant video walls, witness the technology that balances supply and demand in seconds, and learn how MISO is leading the transition to a cleaner energy future.