Wednesday   

Students will discover how Chinese music embodies the nation’s history, philosophy, and cultural values, while examining its regional diversity and global influence. The course features guided listening to both traditional and modern works, demonstrations of instruments such as the guqin, pipa, erhu, and hulusi, and opportunities for students to experience basic playing techniques and rhythmic participation. No prerequisite or prior musical training required—students will learn through active engagement and creative reflection.

This June, the Penumbra Theater presents August Wilson's Joe Turner's Come and Gone. The play follows Harold Loomis' search for spiritual and emotional healing in a Pittsburgh boarding house, a refuge for fellow travelers during the Great Migration. Staged with intimacy and power, Wilson's lyrical play blends realism and mysticism to capture a solemn crossroads of Black identity and American history. Session 1: Background lecture prior to seeing the production. Session 2: Discussion of the performance after seeing the production. 

Recommended reading: Joe Turner's Come and Gone by August Wilson.

What happens when life presents impossible choices? In this story-driven class, we’ll explore real moral dilemmas—some hilarious, some profound—through original comic monologues. Each tale sets up an ethical puzzle, then shifts to the question: “What would you do?” The focus is on YOUR perspectives and the lively discussions that follow. No right answers, no lectures—just great conversations about the choices we all face. This is the class where ethics is entertaining.

Join Bob Frame and Nicholas Malnarcic in conversation with industrial historian Fred Quivik for a discussion of Minnesota flour milling history and the current state of milling in Minnesota. Learn more about Bob Frame’s new book about the Minneapolis flour milling industry and Nic’s work as the Assistant Plant Manager at the large and historic Ardent Mills four mill in Hastings.

Recommended Reading: Robert M. Frame III, Making Mill City: Flour and Fortune in Minneapolis, University of Minnesota Press, 2026.

Economics plays a central role in the functioning of every aspect of society. This course addresses a set of prominent policy issues where economics is at their core. We will explore their origins as policy matters, the underlying data and evidence, and what policy levers are available to deal with them. Lectures will be standalone, taught by a subject matter expert. Potential topics include Climate, Healthcare Economics, Economic Federal Debt, Social Security and many more. The topics presented will be determined by what is most topical at the time of the course

In this course, Ed Linz will discuss the physical and psychological challenges of heart transplantation, and how one lives following such a gift.

Tour five diverse gardens in the western metro that will provide inspiration to gardeners of any skill level. Participants will visit one garden per week, where each host will describe their garden, offer tips, and answer questions. The first stop is Barry Schade’s Bryn Mawr garden, which includes a backyard pond and boulevard rain garden. Tours begin on June 24 and take place on five successive Wednesday mornings. Due to garden sizes, tours will be limited to 35 participants. 

In week one, we will visit the Raptor Center for a program in which Raptor Center staff show live birds. Afterwards, we will go into the area where the birds are kept. In week 2, we will visit the College of Biological Sciences Conservatory. The staff will show us the public display gardens and talk about the Conservatory. Then, we will visit the research collection and do a treasure hunt. There may be an option to join lunch outings after each session (own expense). 

The Minnesota Museum of American Art’s exhibit “Here Now” showcases 150 selected works from the Museum’s permanent collection that explores the expanse of American identities and complexities. These tours, led by the Museum’s guides, will investigate the lived experiences and creativity of the artists from many communities and cultures that have contributed to what we call American Art. New pieces have been rotated in the exhibit! No course fee; Museum donations welcome.

Fine grained computer motion control can be used to create exquisite kinetic art. Sisyphus Industries in Minneapolis is a collective of creators who make kinetic art by using a small robot (the Sisbot) to magnetically pull a steel ball through sand. The tracks the ball leaves in the sand field provide intricately changing patterns that are further enhanced by controlling lighting effects under a tempered glass cover. Lead artist Bruce Shapiro will guide us through the process used at the Sisyphus studio as their creators progress from initial conceptual design to a finished art piece. Bruce Shapiro's computerized kinetic art pieces are permanent installations in museums in Switzerland, Germany, US, Canada, Poland, and Australia. Meet at: 451 Taft St NE STE 1, Minneapolis, MN 55413.

Join us in visiting and sampling food and items from major Twin Cities international Markets and then have lunch on site or nearby.

June 3: Holy Land – Middle Eastern 2513 Central Ave. NE, Minneapolis MN 55418, (Free parking in lots behind Bldg.) Meet Inside.

June 10: La Mexicana Supermercado -Hispanic. 1522 East Lake St. & Bloomington Ave. Minneapolis MN 55407 (Free Parking behind Bldg.) Meet Inside.

June 17: United Noodles – Asian 2015 E. 24th Street (Enter from 24thMinnehaha Ave. and turn left down street next to Coastal Seafoods) Free Parking. Meet inside.

June 24: Hmong Town Market – S.E Asian. 217 Como Ave, St Paul, MN 55103. (free Parking Lot) Meet outside West Bldg.

Learn about the Federal Reserve and the history of central banking in the United States. Bank staff will discuss the board of governors, the regional reserve banks, and the economy of the 9th Federal Reserve District overseen by the Minneapolis Fed. Topics include monetary policy, bank supervision, and payments processing. The tour includes a visit to the bank's cash processing area, where $90 million in daily deposits and transfer orders are processed for area financial institutions. Be prepared to stroll for 90 minutes. Check in by 9:50 a.m. or you’ll miss the tour. Park at your own expense. All participants must be registered in advance to attend. Waitlisted members will not be allowed entrance. 

Tour 1: June 10

Tour 2: June 17

Tour 3: June 24

Learn about the Federal Reserve and the history of central banking in the United States. Bank staff will discuss the board of governors, the regional reserve banks, and the economy of the 9th Federal Reserve District overseen by the Minneapolis Fed. Topics include monetary policy, bank supervision, and payments processing. The tour includes a visit to the bank's cash processing area, where $90 million in daily deposits and transfer orders are processed for area financial institutions. Be prepared to stroll for 90 minutes. Check in by 9:50 a.m. or you’ll miss the tour. Park at your own expense. All participants must be registered in advance to attend. Waitlisted members will not be allowed entrance. 

Tour 1: June 10

Tour 2: June 17

Tour 3: June 24

Learn about the Federal Reserve and the history of central banking in the United States. Bank staff will discuss the board of governors, the regional reserve banks, and the economy of the 9th Federal Reserve District overseen by the Minneapolis Fed. Topics include monetary policy, bank supervision, and payments processing. The tour includes a visit to the bank's cash processing area, where $90 million in daily deposits and transfer orders are processed for area financial institutions. Be prepared to stroll for 90 minutes. Check in by 9:50 a.m. or you’ll miss the tour. Park at your own expense. All participants must be registered in advance to attend. Waitlisted members will not be allowed entrance. 

Tour 1: June 10

Tour 2: June 17

Tour 3: June 24

Fish, like us, are vertebrates. You may think that the similarity ends there, but how different are we, really? This class examines the bodies of freshwater fish at a basic level: their main characteristics, both structure and function. This class is not for the squeamish, as the majority of our time after an indoor introduction will be spent examining the bodies of real fish. We will begin with external parts but then continue on to internal anatomy as you are asked to wield scalpel, probe and scissors! All equipment (including gloves!) provided.

Minneapolis is blessed with one of the nicest ballparks in Major League Baseball. Your 90 minute tour will give you a look at the history and some of the special places that make this park so wonderful.