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Upcoming events

    • April 04, 2025
    • December 05, 2025
    • 9 sessions
    • 601 Junction Road, Madison



    New Location beginning October 3


    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 two blocks south of Old Sauk Road on Junction Road.

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

        Organizer:  Catherine MasiPlease note: I appreciate your patience as I try to find a permanent home for this event.  We will try this location for a couple of months but may decide to change again if it doesn't work out.

        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.

            • June 27, 2025
            • October 24, 2025
            • 5 sessions
            • 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 Ca
            fe, 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.
              • September 12, 2025
              • December 12, 2025
              • 4 sessions
              • 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)



              • October 17, 2025
              • December 19, 2025
              • 3 sessions
              • 876 Jupiter Drive

              at


              New Social Event!

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

              First Lunch is Friday, October 17


              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.



                    • October 28, 2025
                    • 7:00 PM
                    • Capitol Lakes, 333 W. Main Street, Madison

                    PLATO members and Capitol Lakes residents are invited to the PLATO Arts Café!

                    This is a complimentary event to celebrate the PLATO writers and artists whose work was chosen for inclusion in The Agora, Volume 9. Enjoy readings and artwork by various PLATO member contributors and live music by Vets on Frets, a band that includes PLATO member Rick Larson.

                    Time:  7:00-9:30pm

                    Venue:  Capitol Lakes Grand Hall Auditorium located at 333 W. Main St, Madison, WI 53703.

                    Parking:  Ramp parking across the street; bring your ticket in to be validated by the front desk for free parking.

                    Fee & Guest Policy:  This is a complimentary celebration for PLATO members and Capitol Lakes residents and their guests are welcome.

                    Registration:  Registration is not required and you don’t have to stay for the whole event

                    Questions:  Contact Edie Urness-Pondillo, Managing Editor for The Agora, at 615-424-5960 or epondillo@aol.com.


                    • November 18, 2025
                    • American Players Theatre, Spring Green, Wisconsin
                    • 13
                    Register


                    THE 39 STEPS

                    American Players Theatre - Touchstone Theatre

                    TUESday, NOVEMBER 18, 2025  1:00 pm matinee

                    MEMBER Registration Deadline October 29, 2025

                    non-member registration October 23-29, 2025


                    A Hitchcock parody in 2 ACTS / 4 actors / 100 characters!

                    Grab your gummy bears and buckle up for a fall-down funny thriller, as a charming everyman is swept up in romance and ridiculous twists. Launched into an intrigue he didn’t know he needed, our Mr. Hannay navigates femmes fatales, villains and clowns with dashing, theatrical flair. It’s a seductive spy story based on all the best noir, with a hearty comic twist – think North by Northwest, but by Noël Coward. All brought to gleeful life by four incredible actors playing over 100 characters. It’s the thrilling escape we’ve all been craving – a special event in the intimate Touchstone Theatre that will leave you in stitches.

                    From the novel by John Buchan and the movie by Alfred Hitchcock

                    Estimated running time: 2 hours, 30 minutes (includes intermission)

                    Cost: $98 per person for members and their guests. Non-members may register during a limited time at the same rate. Lunch is not included. Bus driver tip is included.

                    Seating: The 39 Steps will be staged in APT's 201-seat indoor Touchstone Theatre, where every seat is a good one. It's about a 5-minute stroll from the parking lot, up a gentle slope (though there is a shuttle available if you prefer to ride). The path leads through the prairie to a beautiful, modern, intimate, and climate-controlled facility. Once inside, you'll find a gift shop, concession stand and restrooms--the same amenities as the Hill Theatre (but to slightly smaller scale). More information about this theater.

                    lunch

                    We will arrive early in Spring Green to lunch at Riverside Bar and Grill, located on the Wisconsin River. The price is not included in your ticket. Prices range from $10 for soup and salad to $12-$14 for sandwiches, plus beverages.

                    Itinerary (note only 2 pickup locations)

                    Bear in mind that our boarding bus route is like Madison Metro or any other municipal bus service. Please arrive 15 minutes early at your boarding stop so you don't miss the bus. When everyone is aboard and seated, we leave. 

                    Don't be late. We can wait just 5 minutes at any one location.

                    Leave Madison - Please arrive 15 minutes before departure

                    9:20 AM Bus arrives at East Towne Mall, old Sears parking lot (across from Culvers and under Lamppost 10)

                    9:30 AM  Bus departs East Towne

                    10:00 AM  Bus arrives at Oakwood Village University Woods (West), 6205 Mineral Point Road, Madison, WI 53705

                    10:10 AM  Bus departs Oakwood Village

                    Spring Green/American Players 

                    11:00 AM  Bus arrives at Riverside Bar & Grill

                    12:10 PM  Bus departs for American Players Theatre

                    12:25 PM  Bus arrives at American Players Theatre

                    1:00 PM    The 39 Steps  begins

                    3:30 PM  The 39 Steps ends

                    3:50 PM  Bus departs for Madison (there will be ample time for restroom stops and returning to the parking lot)

                    Arrive Madison (estimated)

                    4:50 PM  Bus arrives at Oakwood Village University Woods

                    5:30 PM  Bus arrives at East Towne Mall

                    ACCESSIBILITY POLICY

                    On the bus you must be able to climb steps to board and exit. If you need assistance, we require that you bring a friend to give you a hand.

                    guest & Non-Member policy

                    Members must register their guests. Each PLATO member is entitled to bring one non-member guest per trip; fees are the same. (Members may bring more than one near the registration deadline date if seats are available. Check with trip organizer.) Non-members may only register during a limited time period. PLATO membership is $60.00/year. Memberships renew each July 1. 

                    Mail-in registration form

                    If you are not registering online, you can print, complete, and mail in this Registration Form with your check.

                    Contact information 

                    For further information, contact the theater trip organizer(s);

                    Carla DiIorio: carlad@tds.net or 608-886-4556

                    Mike DiIorio: mdiiorio1234@gmail.com or 608-520-4448


                  PLATO is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization supported in part by:



                  info@platomadison.org

                  Facebook: @platomadison

                  608-572-6869

                  6209 Mineral Point Road #203
                  Madison, WI 53705








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