Minneapolis Public Schools

Join us at Open Window Theater for a literary and cinematic classic, The Lilies of the Field -- the story of an itinerant African American worker in the early 1960s who encounters a small group of East German nuns in a parched valley of the American Southwest. An Army vet and a Baptist, Homer Smith offers to help the struggling Roman Catholic nuns build a fence. The problem? They can’t afford to pay him. But the Mother Superior has something much bigger in mind. She believes Homer was sent to them by God to build a chapel. In 1963, Sidney Poitier became the first-ever black man to receive the Best Actor Academy Award for his portrayal of Homer Smith in the highly acclaimed film. In 2020, the film was selected for preservation in the United States National Film Registry by the Library of Congress as being “culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant.” Meet Community Ed Staff at Will Call to pick up your tickets. Open Window Theater is located at 5300 S Robert Trail #400, Inver Grove Heights, MN 55077. After March 15th you can transfer your tickets but no refunds or cancelations are available. If event is full, please enroll for the waitlist. We will contact you if a space becomes available.

Every city has its secrets and Minneapolis is no exception! Much has been made of the historically documented Gangster Era in Saint Paul but it’s fraternal twin was also unquestionably busy with its own system of graft and grotesquerie‘s just across the river. Come ride along with Marie “Mickey” Comforti and hear stories about Kid Cann’s Minneapolis Combination, Tommy Banks’ Syndicate and Bugsy Siegel‘s Business partner, Minneapolis’ scion, Davie Berman. Visit the hotspots and parking lots where they lived, lied, worked and died. Learn about the private enterprises they developed (and sometimes dismantled) to create empires that went far beyond the confines of their Minneapolis neighborhoods. 12:45 pm Board Coach Bus 1:00 pm Bus Departs PICK UP LOCATION: Southwest High School - 3414 W. 47th Street, Mpls, MN 55410 Park & meet in the Chowen Ave. lot on the West side of the school between 46th & 47th Streets. If tour is full, please enroll for the waitlist. If there is enough interest, we will move to a bigger bus.

Many of us have been to Duluth before, but on this trip we'll visit historic locations and special interest stops, rarely visited before -- all during the 'air conditioned' Duluth summer. On this full-day tour we'll... • See a Frank Lloyd Wright, design, gas station. • Tour the Fond du Lac Indian Reservation, where we will tour the first church built for Ojibwe people in Minnesota • Travel through one of Minnesota’s most scenic parks, Jay Cooke State Park • Explore many of Duluth neighborhoods with stops at scenic overlooks known only to locals • Tour Karpeles Manuscript Library Museum, full of historical manuscripts all displayed in a historic church • Enjoy a short walk through a neighborhood that is Duluth’s answer to Saint Paul's Summit Avenue • Visit a church that has the largest collection of Tiffany windows in the Upper Midwest * See many other attractions and historic sites on our motorcoach tour throughout the city * Enjoy lunch at one of the more unique restaurants in Minnesota * Includes all admissions, tours, lunch & a bakery stop. NOTE: Fast food dinner stop on the way home is on your own. TIME: 7:15 am Board Bus 7:30 am Bus Departs Southwest High School 8:30 pm @ Return to Southwest High School PICK UP LOCATION: Southwest High School - 3414 W. 47th Street, Mpls, MN 55410 NOTE: Only transfer of registration available after June 13th. No refunds. If tour is full, please enroll for the waitlist. If there is enough interest, we will move to a bigger bus.

2024 Historic Galena & Dubuque Join historian Dave Bredemus on this beautiful ride discovering historic towns and locations along the Upper Mississippi River .Tour towns that are creations of 18th and 19th century America. Classic river towns that emerged in the days of keelboats and steamboats when the Mississippi River was the symbol of the Western Frontier. Many of the towns that we will visit proceeded the states that now embrace them: Galena was founded before Illinois, Prairie De Chien came before Wisconsin and Dubuque formed before Iowa became a state. Current Itinerary includes: * Tour of Ulysses S Grant House * Guided walk around the Julien Inn area * Historic Mathias Ham House in Dubuque * Fenelon Place Elevator Ride (shortest & steepest railway in the world) * Tour of St. Luke’s United Methodist Church Dubuque which has one of the largest collections of Tiffany stained-windows in the world * Dinner at the oldest restaurant in Iowa, Breitbach Country Dining Restaurant * Tour of the National Brewery Museum * Dinner at Potosi Brewery * Historic city bus tours of Guttenberg, McGregor and, Dubuque IA, Galena IL, Prairie de Chien WI and many other small towns as we travel on both sides of the Great River Road along the Upper Mississippi River * Walking tour of Galena IL, the Queen City of the Upper Mississippi with hundreds of pre-1850s structures. * See the site where the founder of Saint Paul, MN, Father Lucian Galtier is buried Includes Motor Coach transportation and two nights lodging at the Historic Julian Inn in Dubuque, Iowa. Includes: Bakery stop, Friday Dinner in Dubuque, Saturday Dinner at the oldest restaurant in Iowa, Breitbach Country Dining Restaurant, and Sunday Dinner at one of the Upper Midwest best supper clubs. Breakfast and lunch are on your own. Ages 21+. Board Bus: Friday, May 17th, 7:45 am Departure: Friday, May 17th, 8:15 am with bakery stop included Departs from: Southwest High School (3414 W. 47th Street). Chowen Ave. parking lot on between 46th and 47th Streets. Return: Sunday, May 19th @ 8:00 PM NOTE: Any cancelations after April 1st, 2024, will be refunded less $5 if we are able to fill the spot from our wait list. Tranfer of registration is a great option. If tour is full, please enroll for the waitlist. We will contact you if a space becomes available.

Travel down interstate 35 south a little over 2 hours. We’ll cross the border into Iowa and spend a fascinating day touring a different “Twin Cities”: Mason City and Clear Lake Iowa. In Mason City we will partake in a walking tour of the Rock Glen neighborhood which is full of prairie-style architecture. Mason City has some Frank Lloyd Wright structures. We will tour two of them: the Stockman House and the Park Inn Hotel -- the last remaining Frank Lloyd Wright hotel. We will tour the Meredith Wilson home and neighborhood, as well as, the nearby YWCA that is being restored at an arts venue and artist residence. Enjoy time on your own for lunch and to explore downtown Mason City. In Clear Lake we will visit rock ‘n’ roll icon the Surf Ballroom. This ballroom has been an important historic landmark since the 1930s. Created to resemble an ocean beach club, murals were hand-painted to depict pounding surf, swaying palm, trees, sail boats, and lighthouses. Buddy Holly played his last concert here before his fatal plane crash in 1959, forever known as the day the music died. Learn the story of major recording stars that have visited the Surf Ballroom, or played a concert here at some point during their career. Includes Motorcoach tours of Mason City and Clear Lake, all museums, tours, and attractions plus a bakery stop. Lunch in Mason City is on your own. TIME:- 7:15 am Board Bus 7:30 am Bus Departs Southwest High School 6:30 pm @ Return to Southwest High School Pick-Up & Drop Off Location: Southwest High School - 3414 W. 47th Street, Mpls, MN 55410 NOTE: Only transfer of registration available after May 22nd. No refunds. If tour is full, please enroll for the waitlist. If there is enough interest, we will move to a bigger bus.

Delve into the magic of laughter and the deliciousness of chocolate in this workshop to remember. In this interactive program, we’ll explore the history of both chocolate and laughter as creative forms of self-care that lead to an increased feeling of wellbeing. We’ll stretch your smile muscles and work your abs with an array of laughter games as we delve into a mindful meditation of chocolate tasting that is sure to satisfy. From now on, you’ll be inspired to sprinkle chocolate chuckles wherever you are. Guaranteed to keep you licking your lips with laughter and chocolate. Group meets at the New Branches located at 5011 31st Ave. S., Minneapolis, MN 55417 If the event is full, please add your name to the waitlist. We will notify you if a spot opens.

NOTE: This event is postponed until February 22, 2024. “Milkweed,” a Holocaust-era young adult novel, is now in development as a feature-length animated film right here in the Twin Cities! If you’ve ever wondered about the countless and complex steps necessary to create a feature-length animated film, here’s your chance to learn! Members of the animation team for “Milkweed,” adapted from an award-winning young adult novel by Jerry Spinelli, will share their process and answer questions. Producer Gail Rosenblum will also talk about free Holocaust and empathy lesson plans, using the novel “Milkweed,” which are available to middle school teachers. Teachers eager to incorporate Holocaust materials into their lesson plans with the new Minnesota mandate are invited to attend to learn more. A portion of the proceeds will go to the non-profit, The Milkweed Film and Middle School Holocaust Education Project. Ages 10-99 welcome! Check out Milkweed the Movie Facebook Page.

Loss is something that affects us in profound ways. Whether we have had a shattered dream, lost a loved one due to death or divorce, or faced simple life changes with significant emotional and/or physical challenges, we sometimes find ourselves stuck with no way to process the many layers of emotional trauma that we have experienced. In this 2-hour workshop, we will use concepts and golden threads borrowed from the ideas of Kintsugi, the Japanese art of precious scars, together with words, as a catalyst for healing and helping us to see things in a new way. Though we cannot undo our individual circumstances, by tapping into our creativity, we can uncover and recognize the restorative power that lies within us. Group meets at the New Branches located at 5011 31st Ave. S., Minneapolis, MN 55417 If event is full, please add your name to the waitlist. We will notify you if a spot opens.

Join us at the Guthrie Theater for a frightfully funny musical. On Skid Row, Mr. Mushnik plans to shutter his failing florist shop when his timid staffer Seymour presents an exotic-but-wilted flytrap named Audrey II. Convinced it will boost business, Seymour encourages Mr. Mushnik to display the peculiar plant, which Seymour successfully revives. As Audrey II draws much-needed crowds to the shop, Seymour makes a disturbing discovery: It needs fresh blood (and lots of it) to grow — a secret that forces Seymour into a Faustian bargain to keep his fame and fortune intact. A hilarious mashup of science fiction, horror and musical theater, this cult-classic boasts Motown-inspired hits like “Feed Me (Git It),” “Suddenly, Seymour” and “Little Shop of Horrors." Tickets will be in Area 1. Meet Community Ed staff at Will Call to pick up your tickets. The Guthrie Theater is located at 818 2nd St S. Minneapolis, MN 55415 Transportation is on your own. After June 18th you can transfer your tickets but no refunds or cancelations are available. If event is full, please enroll for the waitlist. We will contact you if a space becomes available.

Katie Luther, joining us from Wittenberg , Germany, 1525, would probably be the first to tell you that, as King Solomon wisely stated, “there is nothing new under the sun“. This was especially true during the Renaissance period. It was an era that was filled with great thinkers fabulous art and science AND stein swinging hymns! But it was also a time of protests, riots and civil unrest (much like today!) Listen to Katie Luther recount her own experience escaping from her life as a cloistered nun and hear how she started her vibrant life with her outlaw husband, Martin Luther, who wrote a number of those fabulous hymns! Discover how her open dissent left a delicious legacy in brewing that we still enjoy to this very day. And join in on a selection of those songs (and possibly a steinful of something extra) all in the spirit of the ones shared around Luther’s refectory table. Meet at Sisyphus Brewing located at 712 Ontario Ave W #100, Minneapolis, MN 55403. Beer purchases not included. If event is full, please add your name to the waitlist. We will let you know if a spot becomes available.

Finding love. Choosing family. On a bitterly cold winter’s night in the heart of Paris, a young woman’s search for a candle light fatefully sparks one of the most enduring love stories of all time. But can a love so great be sustained? Join Mimì, Rodolfo, and their bohemian friends as they find levity and joy amidst the hardship and struggle of a life in pursuit of art. Featuring some of the most captivating music ever written, Puccini’s La Bohème weaves moments of warmth and ecstasy together with anguish and heartbreak in this enduring story of love, loss, and life. Optional educational lecture one hour before the performance. Performance held at The Ordway. Register online or call 612.668.3000. Only transfers available after April 5th.

Join Jillian "Live from Ireland" as she shares an eclectic mix of Dublin's public art, architecture, mythology, historical figures, and a little Irish fun.

Drumming is the heartbeat of many Indigenous cultures. Join FireBear and his drum circle for a performance and storytelling. They will share the significance of drum circles in bringing balance, equality, wholeness, and connection. Held at the Center for Performing Arts located at 3754 Pleasant Ave, Minneapolis, MN 55409 If class is full, please enroll for the waitlist. We will contact you if a space becomes available.

Join us for a 5-course tasting dinner at Owamni. 5:30-6 pm. Social gathering time 6:-6:15 pm. Speaker 6:15-6:30 pm. First courses served Private events at Owamni are special because the culinary team curates a menu specifically for our group based on seasonality of ingredients, sourcing and any dietary preferences. Most of the items that are served are exclusive to our group and are not served in the upstairs dining room on the regular menu. "At Owamni, we like to use foods that are from this region, such as bison, venison, rabbit, wild rice, and corn. Foods we do not use in our establishment are wheat flour, dairy, refined sugars, or any foods that are not native to North America. Not only is this a clean and healthy way to eat, it is also a learning experience about how our Ancestors ate before we were colonized. One of the main parts of the mission at Owamni is the revitalization of our culture and our Indigenous food practices and how we can show our guests what it feels like to eat a full meal and leave feeling energized and whole." Includes dinner and gratuity. (House red /white wine and iced tea available to purchase directly from restaurant). Owamni is located at 420 1st St S, Minneapolis, MN 55401. If event is full, please enroll for the waitlist. We will contact you if a space becomes available.

Join U of M enthusiast Rosie Mattson as she takes us through Stadium Village from The Graduate Hotel to the Alumni building, along Washington Ave. through Coffman Union and into Weisman Art Museum. Learn about the work being down at the world-renowned hospital and future developement plans for Statium Village. Tour meets by the fireplace in the lobby of the The Graduate Hotel located at 615 Washington Ave SE, Minneapolis, MN 55414. If tour is full, please enroll for the waitlist. We will contact you if a space becomes available.

Add some adventure to your yoga practice by taking it out into the world! Breathe, stretch, move, and enjoy the view. All levels are welcome. Please wear comfortable clothing you can move in and bring a yoga mat. For outdoor excursions, please dress for the weather and bring a large towel to go underneath your mat. Transportation is on your own. Transportation is on your own. If the class is full, please enroll for the waitlist. We will contact you if a space becomes available.

Spring is the perfect time to set intentions, find balance, and reconnect with your movement and mindfulness practice. Nurture your spirit with a half-day retreat at the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum. Enjoy all-day admission to the Arboretum, Hatha and Yin yoga, meditation, journaling, and time to explore on your own. Light refreshments are included. Transportation is on your own. Please wear comfortable clothing you can move in and bring a yoga mat and water bottle. Leave refreshed with a journal and native plant. If retreat is full, please enroll for the waitlist. We will contact you if a space becomes available.