UW Men’s Basketball Watch Parties

Start
December 06, 2025
End
February 22, 2026
Schedule
4 sessions
Location
5805 Monona Drive

at

New Social Event!

Join us at a UW Men’s Basketball

Watch Party!

Basketball fans, put on your best red and white gear and join your fellow PLATO buddies to cheer our UW Badgers on to victory! It’s more fun to watch with a group of other crazy fans!

The 2025-2026 PLATO Basketball Watch Parties will be held at the Silver Eagle Bar & Grill, 5805 Monona Dr., Monona, WI 53716. The Silver Eagle is located approximately 1 mile north of the Beltline on the west side of Monona Drive. There is ample parking available for those who drive. Look for tables with PLATO signs once you arrive. Registration is not required and guests are welcome to join us.

Wisconsin vs Marquette

Saturday, December 6

1:00 p.m.

Wisconsin vs. Rutgers

Saturday, January 17

1:00 p.m.

Wisconsin vs. Ohio State

Saturday, January 31

1:00 p.m.

Wisconsin vs. Iowa

Sunday, February 22

3:00 p.m.

The times listed are game start times. PLATO organizers will be at the Silver Eagle to reserve tables 30 minutes prior to game time. Please contact Barb Drake at barbaradrake21@gmail.com with any questions.

GO BADGERS!!

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2nd Friday Breakfast at Lakeside St. Coffee House

Start
December 12, 2025
End
May 08, 2026
Schedule
6 sessions
Location
402 W Lakeside St, Madison, WI 53715

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?: If you are new to the Lakeside Coffee gathering please RSVP Sharon by email or phone (sscratti@gmail.com or 608-280-8050)

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Fireside Theatre: "A Wonderful LIfe"

When
December 17, 2025
8:00 AM - 5:30 PM
Location
Fireside Theater in Fort Atkinson
Spaces left
3

Registration is closed

Fireside Theatre: "A Wonderful LIfe"

Wednesday, December 17, 2025

Registration deadline is Monday, December 1

The story of George Bailey and his wonderful life in Bedford Falls has brought hope and inspiration to every heart with its celebration of the goodness in all of us. The Fireside is proud to bring you this stunning, live stage version of Frank Capra’s beloved film. Written by Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award winning lyricist Sheldon Harnick, one of the creators of FIDDLER ON THE ROOF, and Grammy and Emmy Award winner Joe Raposo whose music from SESAME STREET inspired generations of young people, A WONDERFUL LIFE captures all the magic of the film as it shines with the spirit of Christmas.

The meal includes Creamy Potato Soup, Scalloped Potatoes and Garlic Green Beams, freshly baked breads, choice of entree, Bailey's Irish Cream Cheesecake for dessert, and coffee/tea/milk. Entree choices include:

Chicken Monterey - Breast of Chicken, dipped in egg, lightly breaded with Panko Crumbs, sautéed to a golden brown, topped with a blend of Spinach, Artichoke, Parmesan, Monterey Jack, and Cream Cheese, finished with Havarti Cheese and presented on a Sun-Dried Tomato Cream Sauce.
Grilled Atlantic Salmon - Served with Citrus Beurre Blanc Sauce
Beef Short Rib - Chef Carved Medallions of Roast Beef Tenderloin with a traditional Peppercorn Sauce
Vegetarian Option - Vegetarian Skewers with Tofu

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)
8:00 a.m. - Depart Verona Park & Ride
8:30 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.

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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, December 1, 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

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3rd Friday Lunch on the East Side

Start
December 19, 2025
End
May 15, 2026
Schedule
6 sessions
Location
876 Jupiter Drive

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3rd Friday Lunch on the East Side at Great Dane East

Where? Great Dane East, 876 Juniper Drive, Madison

When? Meets on the third Friday of each month from 11:30-1:30

What? Lunch with friends, old and new. To view the menu go to https://www.greatdanepub.com/menu/. You will pay with your own check with gratuity at your own discretion.

Directions: Entrance is a few hundred feet from Cottage Grove Road and conveniently located on Madison Metro's Route C.

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

Organizer: Sue Ellerhorst

RSVP is required because we are limited to 24 or fewer. Email Sue at nana@orcagranny.com by the Wednesday before the lunch to let her know you are coming. Also email her if you have any questions.

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1st Friday Breakfast on the West Side

Start
January 02, 2026
End
September 04, 2026
Schedule
9 sessions
Location
601 Junction Road, Madison

Where? Panera Bread, 601 Junction Road, Madison, WI

When? Meets on the first Friday of each month from 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.

What? Breakfast with friends, old and new. To view the menu go to https://www.panerabread.com/en-us/menu.html.

Directions: Located 1.5 blocks south of Old Sauk Road on Junction Road.

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

Organizer: Catherine Masi

RSVP or Questions? For the January breakfast email Judy Groth at judygroth@icloud.com to let her know you're coming the Thursday before the breakfast. Also email her if you have any questions.

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Winter Courses Begin

When
January 05, 2026

Many Winter courses begin the week of January 6th. Most Winter courses will meet once a week for 4 - 6 weeks. Be sure to check the course list to see the dates, times and lengths of individual courses.

Nonmembers may attend the first two sessions of a course at no cost, but if they intend to continue with the course, they should join PLATO by paying the appropriate fee. Residents of host facilities are exempt from fees when participating in PLATO activities at their residence.

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Lecture – Memories of My Childhood on Badger Creek

When
January 15, 2026
1:30 PM - 3:00 PM
Location
Oakwood Village University Woods Arts & Education Center

Memories of My Childhood on Badger Creek

Thursday, January 15 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

Peggy Prilaman Marxen grew up next to Badger Creek, near the town of Meteor in northwestern Wisconsin’s Sawyer County, surrounded by a close-knit family, yet geographically isolated from the rest of the state. Her family supplemented their subsistence herd of dairy cows by hunting, fishing, selling timber off their farm and making maple syrup. Her home, just like those of her neighbors, lacked indoor plumbing, electricity, and a telephone. As a child, Peggy attended a one-room schoolhouse and walked biked or sledded three miles to school and back regardless of the weather. She and her family witnessed changes to rural Wisconsin that altered their lives, including new farming techniques, school consolidation, construction of roads and technology.

Peggy has written a book entitled, The Farm on Badger Creek, recalling her memories of a childhood in the far north of Wisconsin which has since disappeared. Her book will be for sale at the conclusion of her lecture.

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

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Spring Course Registration Opens

When
January 20, 2026

PLATO Course registration generally begins on a Tuesday four weeks before the week in which most courses begin. Registration generally ends after week 2 of the session.

The course schedule becomes public on the same day that registration opens.

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Lecture - Protecting Due Process & Immigrants in Our Community

When
January 22, 2026
1:30 PM - 3:00 PM
Location
Oakwood Village University Woods Arts & Education Center

by Grant Sovern

Thursday, January 22 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

Grant Sovern is one of the founding attorneys and board president of the Community Immigration Law Center (CILC) in Madison. In his day-job, he is a partner and the practice group leader for Quarles & Brady’s national employment immigration practice with 13 offices across the US. He led the statewide effort to develop a network of pro bono attorneys to represent the 800 Afghans who settled in Wisconsin after their evacuation from Kabul. He has taught immigration law at the University of Wisconsin Law School and worked as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Niger, West Africa. Grant appears often in media stories about immigration issues and frequently speaks at conferences and presentations about ways to improve our current immigration system. He has won awards for his pro bono work for people who cannot afford an immigration lawyer by the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court, the Committee of Civil Rights Under Law, Mintz Levin, and Quarles & Brady.

Grant is a member of the American Immigration Lawyers Association, and was cited in the Wisconsin Law Journal “Immigration Law Powerlist” for 2025. He has also been listed in the “Best Lawyers in America” citation from 2008 – present, and was also named a “Lawyer of the Year” four different times in the “Best Lawyers in America” publication.

His lecture will focus on the challenges of protecting due process rights and the immigrants living in our community.

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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

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4th Friday of the Month Coffee

Start
January 23, 2026
End
May 22, 2026
Schedule
5 sessions
Location
Rotunda Cafe in the Lobby of Lake Ridge Bank, 1965 Atwood Ave., Madison, WI

COFFEE GATHERING

Make new friends and meet new PLATO members over a cup of coffee and breakfast snacks.

The Rotunda Cafe, 1965 Atwood Avenue on Madison's near east side

Meet on Fourth Friday of each month

Time: 9:30 am to 11:30 am
Place: Rotunda Cafe, lobby of Lake Ridge Bank, formerly Monona Bank
Ambiance: With a unique, large seating area, The Rotunda Cafe is an attractive rotunda in what was once the Monona Bank building at Schenks Corners. Great ambiance with pleasant, soothing background music.
Place order at counter, bus own table
Food choices are limited but do include breakfast burritos and doughnuts

Parking: (see below)
RSVP or Questions? Email Sue Ellerhost at luvcetaceans@gmail.com or Donaby Henton at aiexplorer125@gmail.com by Wednesday so they know you are coming.
COVID Protocol: Please continue to use a mask if you desire

Parking Options:

Street parking is available on either side of the bank, on Atwood and on Winnebago and further down both streets.
Parking is also available at Trinity Lutheran Church, 904 Winnebago St. Please note: The church requests a small good will donation which will be used to benefit a local neighborhood fund. We will periodically request a few dollars donation for this from our members who use the lot.
Parking is also available in the lot behind United Way, 2059 Atwood Ave. Drive all the way in to the unmarked spaces toward the back of the lot.

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Lecture - Your Voice in Healthcare: How to Prepare and Partner for Better Outcomes

When
February 12, 2026
1:30 PM - 3:00 PM
Location
Oakwood Village University Woods Arts & Education Center

Thursday, February 12 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

Angie Ingraham, MD, MS, FACS, BCPA, is a Board-Certified, Independent Patient Advocate and founder of True North Patient Advocates, LLC. A former trauma, emergency general surgeon, and critical care physician, Angie spent nearly two decades caring for seriously ill patients and conducting research to improve care coordination and communication. She was inspired to launch True North Patient Advocates™ after serving as an advocate for her father, who died of glioblastoma in 2021. Today, she helps individuals, their families, and caregivers navigate the healthcare system with clarity, confidence, and expert guidance. Drawing on both clinical and personal experience, she partners with clients and their healthcare teams to bridge communication gaps, support informed decision-making, and coordinate care across settings. Angie serves on the board of HealthAdvocateX, a national health advocacy non-profit organization, and is a member of the National Association of Healthcare Advocacy and the Alliance for Professional Health Advocates.

Dr. Ingraham believes that every person deserves care that reflects their needs, goals, and preferences — but that often takes effort, especially given the complexities of today’s healthcare system. In this interactive lecture she will identify practical ways to speak up, stay informed, and feel more confident no matter where you are on your healthcare journey. She will share how to be your own best health care advocate and how a professional patient advocate can offer additional support. The audience can expect a lively, engaging conversation and leave with clear steps that they can out to use immediately!

The audience will learn:

Strategies to prepare for appointments, communicate goals clearly, and make medical visits more productive.
How to navigate the healthcare system more smoothly, including tips for hospital stays and getting in to see specialists.
·Ways to stay organized throughout your care, so you can make decisions with confidence and clarity.

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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

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Spring Courses Begin

When
February 16, 2026

Many Spring courses begin the week of February 16. Most Spring courses will meet once a week for 10 weeks. Be sure to check the course list to see the dates, times and lengths of individual courses.

Nonmembers may attend the first two sessions of a course at no cost, but if they intend to continue with the course, they should join PLATO by paying the appropriate fee. Residents of host facilities are exempt from fees when participating in PLATO activities at their residence.

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Lecture - Global Entries: Anecdotes from my Travels Abroad

When
February 26, 2026
1:30 PM - 3:00 PM
Location
Oakwood Village University Woods Arts & Education Center

Thursday, February 26 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

Joe Fahey was raised near the farming hamlet of Belleville, Wisconsin. After earning his MBA from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, he embarked on a 40-year corporate career, residing in all four corners of the United States. As an international marketing executive with several multinational companies, he had the privilege of meeting fascinating people and experiencing extraordinary adventures while traveling to the ends of the earth and places in between. He is now retired and shares his traveling adventures through his book, podcasts and live presentations throughout the Madison area. The audience will hear tales of Joe’s encounters with people and places across the globe!

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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

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Upcoming events

Fireside Theatre: "A Wonderful LIfe"

Wednesday, December 17, 2025

Registration deadline is Monday, December 1

Registration is Not Required

Registration is Not Required

Registration is Not Required

Registration is Not Required