community trips
FiftyNorth invites members and non-members to venture off campus for exciting day and multi-day trips
We take advantage of the Twin Cities rich cultural and gastronomical offerings, and we also plan destination travel to special events farther afield, like the Shakespeare Festival in Winona. Museums, performances, restaurants, historic sites and natural wonders are all fair game for FiftyNorth exploration.
Our member-led Travel Committee collaborates with staff to plan relevant trips based on member interest. Our trips are offered at a discounted rate for members. Scholarships are always available to offset costs because we want everyone to see this beautiful world.
LET’S MURDER MARSHA AT THE MANTORVILLE THEATRE COMPANY
Sunday, October 18
10:45-4:00pm
Trip Leader: Norma Monroe
Capacity: 10 minimum, 20 maximum
In the event we do not meet minimum capacity we may have to cancel this trip.
Cost: $75 Includes transportation in the YMCA van, food and performance.
Registration deadline: October 1
A happy housewife named Marsha, hopelessly addicted to reading murder mysteries, overhears her loving husband discussing her upcoming birthday surprise. To her ears, though, it sounds like they are planning to murder her! What will Marsha do? How will the birthday surprise turn out? This is a terrific show for audiences who like their comedy broad, fast, and nonstop.
This show is a dinner theatre which means audience members will eat their meal at tables while watching the show at the theatre! Our dinner will be provided by Hidden Pines Bar & Grill. The meal of salad & breadsticks, baked ziti (with beef) and/or chicken alfredo, and mini cheesecakes or gluten-free chocolate cake will be served assisted buffet style. Water will be available. A cash bar will also be available with seltzers/pop/beer/wine (only cash and credit cards are accepted).
TRIP - TOWN & AROUND: GUIDED TOUR OF THE FLATEN ART MUSEUM AT ST OLAF COLLEGE
Monday, October 19
10:30-11:30am
Trip Leader: Michelle Brant
Capacity: 12
In the event we do not meet minimum capacity we may have to cancel this class
Cost: Free
Registration deadline: October 14
Address: 1520 St Olaf Ave
Featured Artists - Michon Weeks & Brenda Berkman
For Michon Weeks, painting is a contemplative practice akin to meditation and prayer. Working in egg tempera, oil, and acrylic, Weeks paints the quiet terrain of everyday life: yards, tree lines, and utility poles. But these paintings do not describe the ordinary elements of the Minnesota landscape. They are the artist’s method for slow, sustained presence—and an invitation to the viewer to stay with something long enough for meaning to surface.
Marking a quarter of a century since the September 11, 2001 attacks, the Flaten Art Museum highlights a print series from its collection: Thirty-Six Views of One World Trade Center by St. Olaf alumna Brenda Berkman ’73. Berkman — the sole named class plaintiff who opened the New York City Fire Department to women firefighters in 1982 — was a fire officer and first responder at the World Trade Center on 9/11, witnessing the destruction and loss that reverberated across the country.
Transportation is on your own. Free parking in the Buntrock parking lot.
TRIP - OZARK - JUBILEE BRANSON COUNTRY CHRISTMAS AT TREASURE ISLAND
Wednesday, November 4
10:30am-5:00pm
Trip Leader: Michelle Brant
Capacity: 30
Cost: $115 – Includes lunch, performance and transportation by Benjamin Bus, Inc.
Registration deadline: October 10
Direct from BRANSON the OZARK JUBILEE features an all-star cast of Branson’s top entertainers. This year presenting, “AN ALL NEW CHRISTMAS SHOW”, WITH NEW MUSIC, NEW JOKES, but the same, WORLD CLASS TALENT THAT YOU HAVE COME TO EXPECT! This year the OZARK JUBILEE will be honoring and paying tribute to our VETERANS, and thanking them for their SPECIAL SERVICE.
The entire second half of the show is a total variety of Christmas music. From traditional standards you’ll remember such as Silent Night, White Christmas and many more to some more contemporary Christmas selections. They will share with you the TRUE meaning of Christmas with music, comedy and message to provide an day of entertainment that will touch your heart.
*Lunch is included in the price – 2-slices of turkey, mashed potatoes & gravy, dressing, corn, rolls, assorted bars and coffee.
TRIP - CHASKA CURLING CENTER
Thursday, November 12
2:45-8:00pm
Trip Leader: Jim Pence
Capacity: 34
Cost: $60
Registration deadline: November 5
Precision, teamwork and strategy. Step into the world of Curling. The Chaska Curling Club is housed in the Chaska Event Center. A large multipurpose facility south west of the Twin Cities. They boast of six “sheets” of ice and 1,000 members. Curling year round.
Upon arrival we will be greeted by Clay Orvik, the Curling and Event Center Supervisor. Clay will give us a brief tour of the facility which should include walking around the sheets of ice on a carpeted wooden walkway. We will not be on the actual ice. It’ll be chilly and cold enough to keep the ice frozen. About 40-46 degrees. Clay will give us an overview of what Curling is. The rules, history, rocks, brooms, sliding, teams (rinks), goal of the game and how to score.
Once the tour and tutorial are finished, we should be able to grab a bite to eat from the newly remodeled Copperfield’s restaurant. You can choose to eat your meal in the restaurant overlooking the ice, or you may take your meal and “sit at the glass” on benches overlooking the games from inside the warm room area adjacent to the restaurant tables. All very close to each other. This was would be easiest to enjoy a game while you eat. It’s your choice.
The cost of the meal is on your own.
TRIP - TOWN & AROUND - YOLKS ON US
Thursday, November 19
10:30am-12:00pm
Trip Leader: Laurie Brackee
Address: 1401 Riverview Dr., Northfield, MN 55057
Capacity: 30
Cost: Cost is on your own.
Registration deadline: November 16
Let’s meet for brunch at Yolks On Us for an enjoyable late morning breakfast or lunch. They have a diverse menu of many breakfast items as well as many sandwiches, burgers, soups and salads. Meet FiftyNorth members in a casual atmosphere with folks that enjoy meeting new people and eating good food.
TRIP - MANKATO KIWANIS HOLIDAY LIGHTS
Tuesday, December 8
2:00-7:30pm
Trip Leader: Laurie Brackee
Capacity: 20 minimum, 24 maximum
In the event we do not meet minimum capacity we may have to cancel this class
Cost: $55
Registration deadline: December 3
Please join us for a beautiful holiday display of lights at Sibley Park, Mankato. We will start our afternoon by having a dinner at the Olde Brick House, a lovely Irish Pub with traditional Irish food and more.
We will then proceed to the light display to drive through in our coach bus. There will be time to walk around the park to see the light displays, around 100,000 lights, see the animals including live reindeer and enjoy concessions and souvenirs. Dress warm if you want to walk, to enjoy the park to its fullest. The Kiwanis are collecting non-perishable food items.
