August 2021 Newsletter


A note from our President…..
Summer’s going faster than ever. Come on out and enjoy it with us before it’s all gone!
Flicks & Fun—cool off at a new movie
Coffee Break—enjoy breakfast at Yum!
Lunch Bunch—join us for great food at the Mill Valley Kitchen
Lake M’Tonka Cruise—-sign up now if you can come
Card Sharks—come play any game that suits you at Linda’s
Garden Party—meet us for a potluck dinner in Marcia’s garden


PLEASE NOTE THAT YOUR RSVPs NEED TO BE RECEIVED IN A TIMELY MANNER. BETTER TO RSVP EARLY AND CANCEL IF NECESSARY, THAN TO CALL AFTER THE RSVP DATE.

See you there! Sally Ebnet sally@TheWanderersMSP.org


ACTIVITIES

FLICKS & FUN: Tuesday, August 3rd—Time and Movie TBA
Keep cool at an afternoon movie. Watch your inbox for more info as it becomes available.
Happy Hour to follow nearby for those interested.
RSVP by Monday, August 2nd to ChrisM@The WanderersMSP.org


COFFEE BREAK:  Friday, August 6th, 10:00AM—Yum! Minnetonka
3460 West 70th Street6001 Shady Oak Road, Mtka.
This is the Yum! people keep requesting. It’s a larger space with outdoor seating.
RSVP by Wednesday, August 4th to GailS@TheWanderersMSP.org


LUNCH BUNCH: Tuesday, August 10th, 11:30AM—Mill Valley Kitchen
3906 Excelsior Blvd, St Louis Park
Located on the corner of Excelsior and France, Mill Valley Kitchen aims to create a memorable and wholesome dining experience that leaves you feeling satisfied and nourished. It’s about sourcing and preparing food as close to its whole state as possible.There is minimal on-street parking, but there is a parking lot behind the building. Menu at Millvalleykitchen.com
RSVP by Saturday, August 7th LynnChel@aol.com


LAKE MINNETONKA CRUISE:  Monday, August 16th, 5:10PM Departure—Al & Alma’s
201 Piper Road Mound, Minnesota 55364  952.472.3098

Celebrate summer! Come with The Wanderers on our 3rd annual 2-hour cruise on beautiful Lake Minnetonka.  Enjoy visiting with members that you have and haven’t met.  
Take in the magnificent sights of the lake and sip your favorite beverage (cash bar) while enjoying a beautiful buffet of their most popular appetizers. Since 1973 Al & Alma’s has been offering dinner cruises.  It’s the perfect way to take in the sites and fantastic history of Lake Minnetonka.
The captain and crew share stories of the lake, point out beautiful estates, and navigate the shores, channels, many bays and islands of the lake.  Boarding begins at 6:00pm; boat departs promptly at 6:30pm and returns to port at 8:30pm.  Cost is $48/person. If you’re interested, contact Al & Alma’s directly to see if space is still available. Contact AnneS@TheWanderersMSP.org if you’re coming.

Buffet Menu·     
·       Signature fried chicken
·       Al’s Signature Slow Cooked BBQ Riblets
·       Signature Guacamole Dip and Chips 
·       Fresh Cut Fruit 
·       Island Salad 
·       Alma’s Brownies and Lemon Berry Bars 
A carpool will leave Anne Shea’s home at 5:10 PM SHARP.  Please indicate if you plan to car pool or meet us there at 6:00. AnneS@TheWanderersMSP.org
Directions to Anne’s – Going south on HWY 100 to 77th street exit.  Turn RIGHT (W) and follow 77th St.—as it becomes Edina Industrial Blvd.—to 78th St.  Turn RIGHT at 78th.  Turn RIGHT at Delaney Blvd. Turn RIGHT at Pondwood Drive. 7732 Pondwood Drive.
Directions Al and Alma’s – please see their website Lake Minnetonka Boat Cruises, Dinner Cruises | Al & Alma’s Charter Cruises


CARD SHARKS: Tuesday, August 24th,  7:00PM—-at a member’s home
We’re playing any game(s) that the group wants. Dessert will be served; tea and water will be available. Feel free to bring a beverage of your own or a snack to share.
RSVP by Sunday, August 22nd to LindaS@TheWanderersMSP.org

GARDEN DINNER PARTY: ThursdayAugust 26th, 4:00PM—At a member’s home
Come enjoy a POTLUCK dinner in Marcia’s beautiful garden.  Each year Marcia buys thousands of annuals and plants them herself.  She has charming chairs and tables for everyone—no need to bring any!  To ensure that she has a balanced selection of food – please consider:  4 Entrees, 4 Salads, 1 Fruit Bowl, 2 Breads and 3 Desserts. Please let her know what you will be bringing – later RSVPs can fill in to round out the offering! 
Marcia will provide all beverages. Cancelled if it rains. 
RSVP: by Saturday, August 21st to Marciamtgroth@aol.com


WALKERS: every Tuesday and Thursday, 8:30AM—Centennial Lakes 
Need motivation to get out, move, and exercise? Join us as we walk around Centennial Lakes.  Meet us at the “Big Clock” outside of the Hughes Pavilion.  Walk around the lake or as much or as little as your legs allow. Be on time–we’ll start walking promptly!   No need to RSVP – just come.



COMING UP

BOOKS & BOOZE:  Tuesday, September 28, 3:30 PM – Cahill Bistro,
7078 Amundson Ave, Edina, MN 55439

BOOK – Elizabeth is Missing: A Novel by Emma Healey
A sophisticated psychological mystery that is also a heartbreakingly honest meditation on memory, identity, and aging.  An elderly woman descending into dementia embarks on a desperate quest to find the best friend she believes has disappeared, Her search for the truth will go back decades and have shattering consequences..
RSVP: by Friday, September 26 to AnneS@TheWanderersMSP.org

June 2020 Newsletter

A note from our President…..

“What is so rare as a day in June” said poet James R. Lowell.  Enjoy the beautiful month of June even though we may not be together

Books and Booze—meet us at Cahill Bistro to discuss Daughters of the Lake

Walkers—meet us at Centennial Lakes every Tuesday and Thursday

See you there!             Sally Ebnet     Sally@TheWanderersMSP.org

ACTIVITIES

WALKERS: Every Tuesday and Thursday, 8:30AM—Centennial Lakes

The Wanderers are walking outside again, weather permitting. Need motivation to get out, move, and exercise?  Join us as we walk around Centennial Lakes.  Meet us at the “Big Clock” outside of the Hughes Pavilion.  Walk around the lake or as much or as little as your legs allow.  Be on time; we’ll start walking promptly!  If it rains we will meet at Southdale’s Hennepin County Service Center entrance on the east side outside Jimmie John’s.  No need to RSVP – just come.

BOOKS & BOOZE: Tuesday, June 30, 3:30PM—Cahill Bistro

7078 Amundson Ave., Edina (70th/Cahill) 

PLEASE REGISTER AGAIN FOR THIS. 

We are so excited – this is the first time that a Minnesota author will be joining us.

NOTE: THE AUTHOR WILL BE JOINING US—we will be seated in tables of 6 with tables social distanced.  Please wear masks when not eating.

 IF YOU ARE COMING: Please send me at least 3 questions – 1) About the author 2) About the book we are reading or 3) About her other books or anything else.

Daughters of the Lake by Wendy Webb (Mystery)  After the end of her marriage, Kate Granger has retreated to her parents’ home on Lake Superior to pull herself together—only to discover the body of a murdered woman washed into the shallows.  Tucked in the folds of the woman’s curiously vintage gown is an infant, as cold and at peace as its mother.  No one can identify the woman except for Kate who has seen her before, in her dreams…One hundred years ago, a love story ended in tragedy, its mysteries left unsolved.  It’s time for the lake to give up its secrets.  As each mystery unravels, it pulls Kate deeper into the eddy of a haunting folktale that has been handed down in whispers over generations.  Now, it’s Kate’s turn to listen.  As the drowned woman reaches out from the grave, Kate reaches back.  They must come together, if only in dreams, to right the sinister wrongs of the past.

NOTE:  A fee of $5 will be charged to provide a small honorarium to the author and pay for her drinks/food. 

RSVP by Wednesday, June 24thto AnneS@TheWanderersMSP.org

COMING UP

CAROL’S ANNUAL JULY GARDEN PARTY: Tentatively set for Saturday, July 4th, 10:00AM until whenever!

At the home of a Member

Come join this Wanderers casual gathering for conversation and good food. My garden has lots of shade; however, if you are sun-sensitive wear a hat. If a few people bring lawn chairs, that would be helpful. Menu is potluck – so bring one of your favorite dishes. Later responses may be asked to help “round out” the offerings. I prefer that you email your response (that makes it easier for me to keep track I will have my preserves available for anyone who wants to purchase. If it rains we’ll reschedule.

RSVP by Sunday, June 28ththto carol.schaub@comcast.net

BOOKS & BOOZE: Tentatively set for Tuesday, July 28th, 3:30PM—-Cahill Bistro

7078 Amundson Ave., Edina (70th/Cahill)

Sherlock Holmes and the Ice Palace Murders by Larry Millet  (Mystery)

Book available to reserve for curbside pick-up at Washburn Library (52nd/Lyndale) or download audible version at HClib.org. If you have a copy to share, please let us know.

Sherlock Holmes rides again in this delightful mystery, based on another newly discovered manuscript. The year is 1896, and St. Paul’s magnificent Winter Carnival is underway when the city’s most powerful man, railroad magnate James J. Hill, summons Holmes and Watson. It seems a wealthy young man has disappeared on the eve of his wedding, and his fiancée has suspiciously discarded her wedding dress. After a grisly discovery in the carnival’s ice palace leads to a flurry of clues, Holmes is on the case. His pursuit of the murderer takes him through the highest echelons of St. Paul society, over the frozen Mississippi River, and into cahoots with one Shadwell Rafferty, a gregarious saloonkeeper and part-time private investigator whose quick wit and fast thinking make him a formidable rival and an invaluable ally. A splendid sequel to Sherlock Holmes and the Red Demon, and written in the same deliciously authentic Sherlockian style, this latest adventure offers an exhilarating portrait of America on the verge of a new century as well as an intriguing mystery that is nothing short of truly chilling.

May 2020 Newsletter

A note from our President…..

The first of my daffodils are blooming, and with this week’s rain the tulips will pop soon. I hope you’re getting outside for long walks, and watching this beautiful spring take off.  Appreciate the lack of loud lawn mowers and airplanes.

Obviously, our usual activities are suspended until further notice. 

            Sally@TheWanderersMSP.org    

COMING UP

BOOKS & BOOZE: Tentatively set for June, 3:30PM—Cahill Bistro

7078 Amundson Ave., Edina (70th/Cahill)

We are so excited – this is the first time that a Minnesota author will be joining us.

NOTE: THE AUTHOR WILL BE JOINING US—The event is limited to the first 15 people who RSVP!

Daughters of the Lake by Wendy Webb   (Mystery)  

After the end of her marriage, Kate Granger has retreated to her parents’ home on Lake Superior to pull herself together—only to discover the body of a murdered woman washed into the shallows.  Tucked in the folds of the woman’s curiously vintage gown is an infant, as cold and at peace as its mother.  No one can identify the woman except for Kate who has seen her before, in her dreams…One hundred years ago, a love story ended in tragedy, its mysteries left unsolved.  It’s time for the lake to give up its secrets. As each mystery unravels, it pulls Kate deeper into the eddy of a haunting folktale that has been handed down in whispers over generations.  Now, it’s Kate’s turn to listen.  As the drowned woman reaches out from the grave, Kate reaches back.  They must come together, if only in dreams, to right the sinister wrongs of the past.

NOTE:  A fee of $5 will be charged to provide a small honorarium to the author and pay for her drinks/food.  

RSVP to AnneS@TheWanderersMSP.org.  There will be a waiting list.   A confirmation will be sent to the first 15 people who register.

April 2020 Newsletter

A Note from our President –

April showers bring May flowers and hopefully a variety of fun activities for you and your Wanderers friends.  Due to the virus scare, most of our regular activities are being suspended until further notice.  Watch for any updates.  We’re thinking positive and for now are planning Books & Booze.   In the meantime, work on your crafts, walk around the lake, subscribe to Netflix, get caught up on your reading or try a new recipe. Be safe!

I hope things will back to normal soon!

See you then!         Sally Ebnet     Sally@TheWanderersMSP.org

ACTIVITIES

GALLERIA FLORAL SHOW & LUNCH BUNCHCANCELLED

WALKERSSUSPENDED UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE

VOLUNTEER PROJECT:  SUSPENDED UNTIL FURTHER

COFFEE BREAK:  SUSPENDED UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE

NEEDLECRAFTERS:  SUSPENDED UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE

FLICKS & FUN:  SUSPENDED UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE

FRIDAY NIGHT 500:SUSPENDED UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE

LUNCH BUNCH & GARDEN TOUR:  CANCELLED

BOOKS & BOOZE:  Tuesday, April28th, 3:30PM—Cahill Bistro

7078 Amundson Ave., Edina (70th/Cahill)

NOTE: THE AUTHOR WILL BE JOINING US—The event is limited to the first 15 people who RSVP! We are so excited–this is the first time that an author has joined us.

Daughters of the Lake by Wendy Webb   (Mystery)  

After the end of her marriage, Kate Granger has retreated to her parents’ home on Lake Superior to pull herself together—only to discover the body of a murdered woman washed into the shallows.  Tucked in the folds of the woman’s curiously vintage gown is an infant, as cold and at peace as its mother.  No one can identify the woman except for Kate who has seen her before, in her dreams…One hundred years ago, a love story ended in tragedy, its mysteries left unsolved.  It’s time for the lake to give up its secrets. As each mystery unravels, it pulls Kate deeper into the eddy of a haunting folktale that has been handed down in whispers over generations.  Now, it’s Kate’s turn to listen.  As the drowned woman reaches out from the grave, Kate reaches back.  They must come together, if only in dreams, to right the sinister wrongs of the past.

NOTE:  A fee of $5 will be charged to provide a small honorarium to the author and pay for her drinks/food.  

RSVP to AnneS@TheWanderersMSP.org.   A confirmation will be sent to the first 15 people who register.

COMING UP                    

THEATRE OUTING:  Wednesday, May 6th, 10:30AM Departure – Old Log Theater

5185 Meadville Street, Greenwood, MN 55331

11:00AM Lunch (Maynard’s, 685 Excelsior Blvd.) & 1:30 PM Play – The Dixie Swim Club (Old Log Theater) 

NOTE: April 8th is the RSVP DEADLINE!

The Dixie Swim Club, has been a favorite for many of us! Let’s see it again!  This touching comedy centers around five Southern women who became friends on their college swim team.  The group sets aside a long weekend every August to recharge their relationships.  Free from husbands, kids and jobs, they meet at the same beach cottage on North Carolina’s Outer Banks to catch up, laugh and meddle in each other’s lives.  The play begins 22 years after they graduate from college.  “The Dixie Swim Club” focuses on four of those weekends and spans a period of thirty-three years.  As their lives unfold and the years pass, these women increasingly rely on one another, through advice and raucous repartee to get through the challenges (men, sex, marriage, parenting, divorce and aging) that life flings at them.  And when fate throws a wrench into one of their lives in the second act, these friends, proving the enduring power of ‘teamwork’, rally around their own with the strength and love that takes this comedy in a poignant and surprising direction.  It is really a study in friendship and how it grows and changes through the years. 

Cost:Lunch on your own at Maynard’s, play costs $26.88) (Ten people are needed for Wanderers to obtain this cost which is for group pricing.)

Carpooling: A carpool will leave the back parking lot of Kohl’s at Knollwood (Hwy.7/#169) at 10:30AM.  Please indicate when you RSVP if you plan to join. Please provide you cell number and if you’ll be joining us for lunch.

RSVP: Your check is you RSVP. Contact AnneS@TheWanderersMSP.orgfor mailing instructions.

BOOKS & BOOZE:  Tuesday, June30th, 3:30PM—Cahill Bistro

7078 Amundson Ave., Edina (70th/Cahill)

Sherlock Holmes and the Ice Palace Murders by Larry Millet  (Mystery)

Sherlock Holmes rides again in this delightful mystery, based on another newly discovered manuscript. The year is 1896, and St. Paul’s magnificent Winter Carnival is underway when the city’s most powerful man, railroad magnate James J. Hill, summons Holmes and Watson. It seems a wealthy young man has disappeared on the eve of his wedding, and his fiancée has suspiciously discarded her wedding dress. After a grisly discovery in the carnival’s ice palace leads to a flurry of clues, Holmes is on the case. His pursuit of the murderer takes him through the highest echelons of St. Paul society, over the frozen Mississippi River, and into cahoots with one Shadwell Rafferty, a gregarious saloonkeeper and part-time private investigator whose quick wit and fast thinking make him a formidable rival and an invaluable ally. A splendid sequel to Sherlock Holmes and the Red Demon, and written in the same deliciously authentic Sherlockian style, this latest adventure offers an exhilarating portrait of America on the verge of a new century as well as an intriguing mystery that is nothing short of truly chilling.

March 2020 Newsletter

A Note from our President –

When March arrives can spring be far away?  Enjoy the company of your fellow Wanderers

while taking in all our fun March activities.  

Coffee Break—Enjoy bakery treats and good conversation at Patisserie Margo

Needlecrafters—Join others doing their favorite crafts at Patisserie Margo

Night-Time Book TalkDiscuss Elephant Companyat Lunds & Byerlys Mezz

Flicks and Fun—See the movie “Emma”with happy hour after the movie

Galleria Floral Show & Lunch Bunch—Take a stroll through the flowers & lunch at Crave

Friday Night 500—Play 500 at Mary’s

            See you there!         Sally Ebnet     Sally@TheWanderersMSP.org

ACTIVITIES

WALKERS:  Tuesdays and Thursdays, 8:30AM—Southdale Center

Need motivation to get out and move before the holidays begin?  Join us for an hour (3 laps) of walking inside Southdale–or as much as your schedule and legs allow.  Gather at the bench outside Jimmy John’s just inside Hennepin County Service Center entrance on the East side of Southdale.  Just come!

NEEDLECRAFTERS:  Mondays, March 9th & 23rd, 1:30PM—Patisserie Margo

4510 Valley View Road, Edina

Do you knit, crochet, needlepoint, do bead work or any other portable craft?  Or, would you like to learn?  If so, join us. Enjoy coffee, bakery treats, food, and great conversation at Patisserie Margo.  Just show up!

Questions? Contact Sara5217@aol.com   

COFFEE BREAK:  Wednesday, March 11th, 10:00AM—Patisserie Margo

4510 Valley View Road, Edina.

Margo’s is a local family-owned coffee shop/bakery.  They serve breakfast and lunch, not to mention the assortment of freshly baked pastries and breads.  Spring is almost here!

RSVP by Monday, February 10thto GailS@TheWanderersMSP.org

NIGHT-TIME BOOK TALK:  Monday, March 16th, 7:00PM—Lunds & Byerly’s Mezz

France Ave. at Hazelton Road, Edina
Elephant Companyby Vicki Constantine Croke

In 1920, Billy Williams came to colonial Burma as a “forest man” for a British teak company.  Mesmerized by the intelligence and character of the great animals who hauled logs through the jungle, he became a gifted “elephant wallah.”  Elephant Companychronicles Williams’s growing love for elephants as they provide him lessons in courage, trust, and gratitude. It’salso a tale of war and daring.  When Japanese forces invaded Burma in 1942, Williams operated behind enemy lines.  His war elephants carried supplies, helped build bridges, and transported the sick and elderly over treacherous mountain terrain.  Cornered by the enemy, his company attempted a risky trek over the mountainous border to India, with a bedraggled group of refugees in tow.  Part biography, part war epic, Elephant Companyis an inspirational narrative that illuminates a little-known chapter in the annals of wartime heroism.

RSVP by Saturday, March 14th to Sara5217@aol.com  

FLICKS & FUN:  Tuesday, March 17th—“Emma” the theater and time will be announced when they become available.

Jane Austen’s beloved novel Emmahas been reimagined in a delicious new film adaptation.  One critic characterized the film as being immaculately crafted and perfectly charming.  In it rich, clever Emma Woodhouse is a restless queen bee in her sleepy little English town.  In this satire of social class and growing up, Emma must go through misguided matches and romantic missteps to find the love that has been there all along.  This film received an 88 percent favorable rating from critics on Rotten Tomatoes.

Afterward we will go to a nearby restaurant for happy hour.

RSVP by Monday, March 16thto LynnJ@TheWanderersMSP.org

FRIDAY NIGHT 500:  Friday, March 20th, 7:00PM—at the home of a 

If you enjoy playing 500 cards—or would like to learn–please join us. Or, just come for the conversation.  We will play tables of 4. If you want to learn, let me know. There’ll be a beginner’s mini class from 6-7PM.   Dessert will be served; Keurig beverages and water will be available. Feel free to bring a beverage of your own or a snack to share.

RSVP by March 19th to MaryH@TheWanderersMSP.org

GALLERIA FLORAL SHOW & LUNCH BUNCH: Tuesday, March 31st, 10:30AM—Galleria

Meet inside the door near Big Bowl (NW entrance)   Galleria Mall, 70th/France Ave

The Galleria Floral Experience is back with a sugar coated twist for 2020year’s event you will explore the sweeter side of spring, full of fabulous florals and oversized candy sculptures.  There will be plenty of photo opportunities at this extravaganza with an extra sweet setting including a 6-foot-tall gummy bear in a floral forest and a 13-foot-high ring pop.  And don’t forget to look up throughout the experience to spot the charming cotton candy clouds.

We’ll enjoy lunch at Crave at noon after our stroll through the mall.

RSVP by Sunday,March 29th, to MaryJoS@TheWanderersmp.org

_______________________COMING UP_________________________

VOLUNTEER PROJECT:  Wednesday, April 1stfrom 1:50PM Departure—VEAP 

9600 Aldrich Ave. So., Bloomington.  We need to arrive by 2:15PM, check in through door A, and ask for Courtney. Returning at 5:15PM

VEAP provides food for needy people in the community.  We’ll be sorting checking donations, bagging produce, and performing other tasks, as needed.  Wear closed toed shoes, such as tennis shoes, and clothing that’s okay to get dirty.  It’s also suggested that you bring a water bottle.
Carpooling is preferred as parking is limited.  Indicateif you’re carpooling, if you are willing to drive, or will meet us there. Carpoolers meet behind AMF Southtown Lanes, American Blvd./Knox, for a 1:50PM departure.  If driving yourself: Drive to the west side of the building (overlooking 35W) and park as far back as possible. Enter through Door A marked “VEAP Volunteers and Staff.”  A volunteer will buzz people in.  Overflow parking is available across Lyndale Ave. at US Bank.
RSVP by Saturday, March 28thto BarbD@TheWanderersMSP.org

Note: We plan to volunteer at VEAP every other month so please add this activity to your calendar.

BOOKS & BOOZE:  Tuesday, April28th, 3:30PM—Cahill Bistro

7078 Amundson Ave., Edina (70th/Cahill)

We are so excited – this is the first time that a Minnesota author will be joining us.

NOTE: THE AUTHOR WILL BE JOINING US—The event is limited to the first 15 people who RSVP!  NOTE:  A fee of $5 will be charged to provide a small honorarium to the author and pay for her drinks/food.  

Daughters of the Lake by Wendy Webb   (Mystery)  

After the end of her marriage, Kate Granger has retreated to her parents’ home on Lake Superior to pull herself together—only to discover the body of a murdered woman washed into the shallows.  Tucked in the folds of the woman’s curiously vintage gown is an infant, as cold and at peace as its mother.  No one can identify the woman except for Kate who has seen her before, in her dreams…One hundred years ago, a love story ended in tragedy, its mysteries left unsolved.  It’s time for the lake to give up its secrets. As each mystery unravels, it pulls Kate deeper into the eddy of a haunting folktale that has been handed down in whispers over generations.  Now, it’s Kate’s turn to listen.  As the drowned woman reaches out from the grave, Kate reaches back.  They must come together, if only in dreams, to right the sinister wrongs of the past.

RSVP to AnneS@TheWanderersMSP.org   There will be a waiting list.   A confirmation will be sent to the first 15 people who register.

THEATRE OUTING:  Wednesday, May 6th, 10:30AM Departure – Old Log Theater

5185 Meadville Street, Greenwood, MN 55331

11:00AM Lunch (Maynard’s, 685 Excelsior Blvd.) & 1:30 PM Play – The Dixie Swim Club 

NOTE: April 8th is the RSVP DEADLINE!

The Dixie Swim Club, has been a favorite for many of us! Let’s see it again!  This touching comedy centers around five Southern women who became friends on their college swim team.  The group sets aside a long weekend every August to recharge their relationships.  Free from husbands, kids and jobs, they meet at the same beach cottage on North Carolina’s Outer Banks to catch up, laugh and meddle in each other’s lives.  The play begins 22 years after they graduate from college.  “The Dixie Swim Club” focuses on four of those weekends and spans a period of thirty-three years.  As their lives unfold and the years pass, these women increasingly rely on one another, through advice and raucous repartee to get through the challenges (men, sex, marriage, parenting, divorce and aging) that life flings at them.  And when fate throws a wrench into one of their lives in the second act, these friends, proving the enduring power of ‘teamwork’, rally around their own with the strength and love that takes this comedy in a poignant and surprising direction.  It is really a study in friendship and how it grows and changes through the years. 

Cost:Lunch on your own at Maynard’s, play costs $26.88) (Ten people are needed for Wanderers to obtain this cost which is for group pricing.)

Carpooling: A carpool will leave the back parking lot of Kohl’s at Knollwood (Hwy.7/#169) at 10:30AM.  

Questions?  Contact AnneS@TheWanderersMSP.org

Directions to the Old Log:  Hwy. 7 West to Excelsior. Turn RIGHT (N) at Christmas Lake Road stoplight.  Turn LEFT (W) onto Excelsior Blvd.  Go three blocks and turn RIGHT onto Minnetonka Blvd/Old Log Way.  Turn LEFT at the street sign marked Old Log Way/Meadville Street.  You will see the entrance to the theatre immediately on your right.

NIGHT-TIME BOOK TALK:  Monday, May 18th, 7:00PM—Lunds & Byerly’s Mezz

France Ave. at Hazelton Road, Edina
The Traveling Cat Chroniclesby Hiro Arikawa (limited copies in library)

A life-affirming anthem to kindness and self-sacrifice, The Traveling Cat Chroniclesshows how the smallest things can provide the greatest joy.  We take journeys to explore exotic new places and to return to the comforts of home, to visit old acquaintances and to make new friends.  But the most important journey is the one that shows us how to follow our hearts… An instant international bestseller, this book has charmed readers around the world.  With simple yet descriptive prose, this novel gives voice to Nana the cat and his owner, Satoru, as they take to the road on a journey with no other purpose than to visit three of Satoru’s longtime friends.  Or so Nana is led to believe… With his crooked tail–a sign of good fortune–and adventurous spirit, Nana is the perfect companion for the man who took him in as a stray.  And as they travel in a silver van across Japan, with its ever-changing scenery and seasons, they will learn the true meaning of courage and gratitude, of loyalty and love.

SUMMER ROAD TRIP:  Monday, June 8th-11th—Lanesboro and Galena

NOTE SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 29THRESPONSE DATE!

Summer’s coming! I’m making plans now for a trip to these two historic towns in SE MN and NE IL.  Join Me!

Here’s the scoop: Limited to 8 women. We will travel in two cars.  

Tentative price is $270.00 including: 3 nights double occupancy lodging (single rooms extra), 2 continental breakfasts, car travel expenses, water and Happy Hour snacks. Everyone will have her own Q or K bed.

Not included: 1 Breakfast, 4 Lunches, 3 Dinners, Happy Hour beverages for 3 nights

Optional theater outing. tours

Tentative itinerary: a visit to the Spam museum in Austin, Amish country tour. Spend the first night in Lanesboro with Happy Hour on the porch and dinner out.  We can go out to breakfast, or bring some yogurt and fruit.  We’ll go on to Historic Galena for nights two and three, including a breakfast of fresh scones, etc. There we can tour museums (home of General Grant), shop, take in a ghost tour or theater performance, etc. Of course more eating and drinking. 

RSVP by Saturday, February 29th to Sall@TheWanderersMSP.org if you are definitely interested or a maybe.  From there we can finalize more details.

_________________ALL ABOUT US___________________________

DO YOU PLAY MAHJONGG?  

We’re looking for Wanderers who love to play mahjongg.  We know that there are several of you that play and we would love to hear from you.  We are trying to put a group together that might like to meet during the day at a time convenient for all.  If you are at all at “least” interested please contact MarciaMTGroth@aol.com  ASAP

January 2020 Newsletter

A Note from our President –

Help ring in another great year of welcoming women to our group. Don’t forget to bring a guest! In the meantime, have a Happy New Year!

Flicks and Fun—See the movie “Little Women”followed by happy hour at PF Chang’s

Coffee Break—Enjoy bakery treats and good conversation at YUM!

Night-Time Book Talk—Discuss Edgar and Lucywith the group at Byerlys Mezz

Lunch Bunch—Enjoy lunch at The Mandarin Kitchento honor the Chinese New Year

            See you there!         Sally@TheWanderersMSP.org

ACTIVITIES

To RSVP simply click on the red email addresses below

WALKERS: Tuesdays and Thursdays, 8:30AM—Southdale Center

Need motivation to get out and move before the holidays begin?  Join us for an hour (3 laps) of walking inside Southdale–or as much as your schedule and legs allow.  Gather at the bench outside Jimmy John’s just inside Hennepin County Service Center entrance on the East side of Southdale.  Just come!

FLICKS & FUN: Tuesday, January 7th—AMC Southdale Theater

Little Women              Time will be announced when it becomes available.

“Little Women” received a 98 percent favorable rating from 45 critics on Rotten Tomatoes.  Their consensus: “With a stellar cast and a smart, sensitive retelling of its classic source material, this adaptation of “Little Women” proves some stories truly are timeless.  The classic novel, and the writings of Louisa May Alcott, unfold as the author’s alter ego, Jo March, reflectsback and forth on her fictional life.  The beloved story of the March sisters—four young women each determined to live life on her own terms—is both timeless and timely.  Afterward we will go to PF Chang’s for happy hour.

RSVP by Monday, January 6th to LynnJ@TheWanderersMSP.org

COFFEE BREAK: Wednesday, January 8th, 10:00AM—YUM!  back room

4000 Minnetonka Blvd., St. Louis Park.

The menu changes often and everything is made from scratch.  Service is friendly and parking is attached.

RSVP by Monday, January 6th to GailS@TheWanderersMSP.org

NEEDLECRAFTERS:  Mondays, January 13th & 27th, 1:30PM—Patisserie Margo

4510 Valley View Road, Edina

Do you knit, crochet, needlepoint, do bead work or any other portable craft?  Or, would you like to learn?  If so, join us. Enjoy coffee, bakery treats, food, and great conversation at Patisserie Margo.  Just show up!

FUN & GAMES:  Wednesday, January 15th, 4PM-7PM—BINGO & Meat Raffle

Richfield VFW, 6715 Lakeshore Drive, Richfield MN 55423 (66th/Lyndale)

We’re trying a new venue, as the Legion has discontinued its meat raffles.  This raffle starts at 4PM ($1).  BINGO starts at 5PM.  A packet of cards is $11 (10 games, 3 cards each game), or you can buy individual games for $1.  We must use dabbers, which can be purchased at the bar.

RSVP by Tuesdsay, January 14th to ConnieL@TheWanderersMSP.org

NIGHT-TIME BOOK TALK: Monday, January 20th, 7:00PM—Lunds & Byerly’s Mezz

France Ave. at Hazelton Road, Edina
Edgar and Lucy by Victor Lodato

“8-year-old Edgar remembers nothing of the accident people still whisper about.  He only knows that his father is gone, his mother has a limp, and his grandmother believes in ghosts.  When Edgar meets a man with his own tragic story, the boy begins a journey into a secret wilderness where nothing is clear: not even the line between the living and the dead.”

RSVP by Saturday, January 18th to  Sara5217@aol.com  

LUNCH BUNCH: Thursday, January 30th, 11:30 AM—The Mandarin Kitchen

8766 Lyndale Avenue South, Bloomington, 952-884-5356. Please park at the restaurant’s designated spots or on the street 

In honor of Chinese New Year 2020 we will dine at The Mandarin Kitchen where our group has had lunch before and liked it.  This restaurant has been a staple of food connoisseurs for years.  My Chinese friend, whose family ran a highly successful Chinese (Cantonese) restaurant for years, tells me she thinks it’s the best in town.  It looks small from the outside, but inside it’s huge with an extensive menu, The portions are large so likely you will be able to enjoy leftovers, and their prices seem very reasonable.   

RSVP by Tuesday, January 28th to maryjostraub@icloud.com  

COMING UP

                    

VOLUNTEER PROJECT:  Wednesday, February5th, 2:30PM to 5:15PM—VEAP 

9600 Aldrich Ave., Bloomington.  Must arrive by 2:15PM. Check in at door A, with Courtney. 

VEAP provides food for people in need in the community.  We will be sorting and quality checking donations, sorting and bagging produce, and performing other warehouse tasks, as needed.  Wear closed toe shoes, like tennis shoes, and clothing that’s okay to get dusty or dirty.  It’s also suggested that you bring a water bottle.
Carpooling is highly recommended as parking is limited.  Let Barb know if you will carpool and are willing to drive, or will meet us there.  Carpoolers will meet behind AMF Southtown Lanes, American Boulevard and Knox, for a 1:50PM departure.  Parking info:  Drive to the west side of the building (overlooking 35W) and park further back if possible.  (They like to keep closer rows open for people using the Food Shelf.)  Enter through Door A on the west side marked “VEAP Volunteers and Staff.”  A volunteer will buzz people in.  Overflow parking is available across Lyndale Avenue at US Bank.
RSVP by Saturday, February 1st to BarbD@TheWanderersMSP.org

Note: We plan to volunteer at VEAP every other month so please add this activity to your calendar.

BOOKS & BOOZE:  Tuesday, February 25th, 3:30PM—Cahill Bistro

7078 Amundson Ave., Edina (70th/Cahill)

Rosemary – The Hidden Kennedy Daughterby Kate Clifford Larson (Adult non-fiction)

They were the most prominent American family of the 20th century. Joe and Rose Kennedy’s strikingly beautiful daughter, Rosemary, attended exclusive schools, was presented as a debutante to the Queen of England, and traveled the world with her high-spirited sisters.  And yet, Rosemary was intellectually disabled—a secret fiercely guarded by her powerful and glamorous family.  Major new sources—Rose Kennedy’s diaries and correspondence, school and doctors’ letters, and exclusive family interviews—bring Rosemary alive as a girl adored but left far behind by her competitive siblings.  Kate Larson reveals both the sensitive care Rose and Joe gave to Rosemary and then—as the family’s standing reached an apex—the often desperate and duplicitous arrangements the Kennedys made to keep her away from home as she became increasingly intractable in her early twenties. Finally, Larson illuminates Joe’s decision to have Rosemary lobotomized at age twenty-three, and the family’s complicity in keeping the secret. 

NIGHT-TIME BOOK TALK: Monday, March 16th, 7:00PM—Lunds & Byerly’s Mezz

France Ave. at Hazelton Road, Edina
Elephant Companyby Vicki Constantine Croke

In 1920, Billy Williams came to colonial Burma as a “forest man” for a British teak company.  Mesmerized by the intelligence and character of the great animals who hauled logs through the jungle, he became a gifted “elephant wallah.”  Elephant Companychronicles Williams’s growing love for elephants as they provide him lessons in courage, trust, and gratitude.  It’salso a tale of war and daring.  When Japanese forces invaded Burma in 1942, Williams operated behind enemy lines.  His war elephants carried supplies, helped build bridges, and transported the sick and elderly over treacherous mountain terrain. Cornered by the enemy, his company attempted a risky trek over the mountainous border to India, with a bedraggled group of refugees in tow.  Part biography, part war epic, Elephant Companyis an inspirational narrative that illuminates a little-known chapter in the annals of wartime heroism.

December Newsletter

A Note from our President –

            Things are starting to move into high gear with the countdown to Thanksgiving, Hanukkah and Christmas underway.  So, my annual gift to you is this advice:  Let go of just a little this year, and take more time for you!  If only I can follow my own advice!  Join us at all, or some of the wonderful activities we’ve planned—they’re guaranteed to relieve a little stress, put you in the holiday spirit and help you touch base with busy old and new friends.

Holiday Happy Hour & Ugly Sweater Contest—come for the fun at Anne’s

Flicks & Fun—see “A Beautiful Day In The Neighborhood” with happy hour afterward

Needlecrafters—finish up those Xmas gifts at Patisserie Margo

Coffee Break—come gather at Sally’s

Holiday Luncheon—meet us at Poor Richard’s for this festive gathering

Books & Boozeteetotalers and non-readers are always welcome

            See you there! 

            Sally       

ACTIVITIES

FLICKS & FUN: Tuesday, December 3rdA Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood

Time and theater will be announced when they become available.

According to LA Times, this film is far from a Mr. Rogers biopic.  As Fred Rogers, Tom Hanks plays the supporting character, while Matthew Rhys as an Esquirejournalist tasked with profiling the TV legend. The film explores the effect the star had on the writer, revealing less about himself than expressing a genuine interest in the journalist.  97% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes and critics’ consensus that “Much like the beloved TV personality that inspired it, A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhoodoffers a powerfully affecting message about acceptance and understanding.”

RSVP by Monday, December 2nd to LynnJ@TheWanderersMSP.org

HOLIDAY HAPPY HOUR & UGLY SWEATER NIGHT:  Sunday, December 8th, 3:30-6:30PM

At the home of a Member

“HO, HO, HO” Let’s party!  Don’t forget to wear that horrible holiday sweater you’ve saved in your closet. There will be a prize for the ugliest! So make it really UGLY!  Bring a heavy appetizer as this will be dinner for most of us – and OH YA – wrap a white elephant gift (if you so desire) in your finest paper – so your gift will be selected first!  We want to drool over all the gifts.  Come with your holiday spirit and laughter. 

Wine and water are available – bring other beverages if you desire!

RSVP by Friday, December 6th to AnneS@TheWanderersMSP.

NEEDLECRAFTERS:  Mondays, December 9th & 23rd, 1:30PM—Patisserie Margo

4510 Valley View Road, Edina

On December 9th the group will meet at the home of a Member to make centerpieces for the holiday party.

Do you knit, crochet, needlepoint, do bead work or any other portable craft?  Or, would you like to learn? If so, join us. Enjoy coffee, bakery treats, food, and great conversation at Patisserie Margo. Just show up!

WALKERS: Tuesdays and Thursdays, 8:30AM—Southdale Center

Need motivation to get out and move before the holidays begin? Join us for an hour (3 laps) of walking inside Southdale–or as much as your schedule and legs allow. Gather at the bench outside Jimmy John’s just inside Hennepin County Service Center entrance on the East side of Southdale.  Just come!

COFFEE BREAK: Wednesday, December 11th, 10:00AM—at the home of Sally Ebnet

4501 Claremore Court   952-920-4042

‘Tis the season!  Please bring a favorite holiday pastry or snack to share.

RSVP by Sunday, December 8th to Sally@TheWanderersMSP.org

HOLIDAY LUNCHEON: Monday, December 16th, 11:30AM—Poor Richard’s Commonhouse

8301 Normandale Blvd., Bloomington   952-835-8308   The Franklin Room

Don’t miss our annual holiday fete!  You’ll choose whatever you’d like from their regular menu and pay your own tab. As a special holiday treat, The Wanderers will gift each guest $10 towards their lunch.

RSVP by Wednesday, December 11th to Sally@TheWanderersMSP.org

BOOKS & BOOZE: Tuesday, December 17th, 3:30PM—Cahill Bistro

7078 Amundson Ave., Edina (70th/Cahill)

The Nestby Cynthia D’Aprix Sweeney

A warm, funny and acutely perceptive debut novel about four adult siblings and the fate of the shared inheritance that has shaped their choices and their lives.  Every family has its problems, but even among the most troubled, the Plumbs stand out as spectacularly dysfunctional.  Years of simmering tensions finally reach a breaking point in New York City as Melody, Beatrice, and Jack Plumb gather to confront their charismatic and reckless older brother, Leo, freshly released from rehab.  Months earlier, an inebriated Leo got behind the wheel of a car with a nineteen-year-old waitress as his passenger.  The ensuing accident has endangered the Plumbs joint trust fund, “The Nest,” which they are months away from finally receiving.

RSVP by Saturday, December 14th to AnneS@TheWanderersMSP.org

COMING UP

__________________________________________________________________________


NIGHT-TIME BOOK TALK: Monday, January 20th, 7:00PM—Lunds & Byerly’s Mezz

France Ave. at Hazelton Road, Edina
Edgar and Lucyby Victor Lodato

“8-year-old Edgar remembers nothing of the accident people still whisper about.  He only knows that his father is gone, his mother has a limp, and his grandmother believes in ghosts.  When Edgar meets a man with his own tragic story, the boy begins a journey into a secret wilderness where nothing is clear: not even the line between the living and the dead.”

RSVP by Friday, January 17th to SaraK@TheWanderersMSP.org

VEAP VOLUNTEER PROJECT:TheVEAP volunteer project was a great success, and willcontinue on a regular basis.  VEAP (Volunteers Enlisted to Assist People) is a basic needs and social service organization with a focus on providing access to healthy foods.  VEAP serves the residents of Bloomington, Richfield, Edina and South Minneapolis.  Watch for more info on The Wanderers volunteering the first Wednesday afternoon of every other month beginning in February

BOOKS & BOOZETuesday, February25th, 3:30PM—Cahill Bistro

7078 Amundson Ave., Edina (70th/Cahill)

Rosemary – The Hidden Kennedy Daughter by Kate Clifford Larson (Adult non-fiction)

They were the most prominent American family of the twentieth century. The daughter they secreted away made all the difference.Joe and Rose Kennedy’s strikingly beautiful daughter Rosemary attended exclusive schools, was presented as a debutante to the Queen of England, and traveled the world with her high-spirited sisters.  And yet, Rosemary was intellectually disabled — a secret fiercely guarded by her powerful and glamorous family.  Major new sources — Rose Kennedy’s diaries and correspondence, school and doctors’ letters, and exclusive family interviews — bring Rosemary alive as a girl adored but left far behind by her competitive siblings.  Kate Larson reveals both the sensitive care Rose and Joe gave to Rosemary and then — as the family’s standing reached an apex — the often desperate and duplicitous arrangements the Kennedys made to keep her away from home as she became increasingly intractable in her early twenties.  Finally, Larson illuminates Joe’s decision to have Rosemary lobotomized at age twenty-three, and the family’s complicity in keeping the secret.  

RSVP by Saturday, February 22nd to AnneS@TheWanderersMSP.org

November 2019 Newsletter

A Note from our President –

November marks the start of a busy holiday season with Thanksgiving coming on the 28th.  Even though it’s bound to be busy we hope you save some time for fun activities with your Wanderers friends!

Volunteer Projectparticipate in a one-time community service project at VEAP

Theater Outing—see “Ripcord”at the Masonic Ives Theater

Coffee Break—enjoy coffee and bakery treats atA Taste of Scandinavia

Flicks & Fun—see “Harriet” and enjoy happy hour afterward at a nearby restaurant

Nighttime Book Talk—discuss “Lilac Girls” at Lunds and Byerlys Mezz

Lunch Bunch—enjoy good food and conversation at the Barnes and Noble Kitchen

Needlecrafters—join other Wanderers doing knitting and crocheting at Patisserie Margo

            See you there!        

 Sally Ebnet     Sally@TheWanderersMSP.org

  ACTIVITIES

WALKERS: Every Tuesday and Thursday, 8:30AM—Southdale Center—East Side

Need motivation to get out and move before the holidays begin? Join us for an hour (3 laps) of walking inside Southdale–or as much as your schedule and legs allow. Gather at the bench outside Jimmy John’s just inside Henn. Co. Service Center entrance. Just come!  

VOLUNTEER PROJECT:  Wednesday, November 6th,1:50PM Departure-5:15PM—at VEAP 

9600 Aldrich Ave. So., Bloomington.  We need to arrive by 2:15PM, check in through door A, and ask for Courtney. 

VEAP (Volunteers Enlisted to Assist People)provides food for people in need in the community.  We will be sorting and quality checking donations, sorting and bagging produce, and performing other warehouse tasks, as needed.  You should wear closed toed shoes, such as tennis shoes, and clothing that’s okay to get dusty or dirty.  It’s also suggested that you bring a water bottle.
Carpooling is highly recommended as parking is limited.  Carpoolers will meet at Sara’s house

RSVP Saturday, November 2nd to Sara5217@aol.com Please indicate If you plan to carpool and if so, if you are willing to drive.  Or meet us there at 2:15PM.

Parking Directions:Drive to the west side of the building (overlooking 35W) and park further back if possible.  (They like to keep closer rows open for people using the Food Shelf.)  Enter at Door A marked “VEAP Volunteers and Staff.”  A volunteer will buzz people in.  Overflow parking is available across Lyndale Avenue at US Bank.



THEATER OUTING:  Thursday, November 7, 1:00PM—“Ripcord” at the Masonic Ives Theater, 11411 Masonic Home Drive, Bloomington, MN 952-948-6500

Cranky Abby and cheerful Marilyn match wits in this hijinks-laden comedy!  When cantankerous Abby is forced to share her room in assisted living with endlessly chipper Marilyn, the two women make a seemingly harmless bet that quickly escalates into a hilarious game of practical jokes and one-upmanship, revealing hidden truths that neither wants exposed.

There are two options. 

  1. Lunch and production is $47.00 (which includes all taxes and fees).  Lunch is served in the downstairs dining room at 11:30AM.  We will meet as a group in the lobby around 11:15AM to go downstairs for lunch.  Lunch is:  Creamy Chicken Breast, Roasted Red Potatoes, Glazed Carrots, Cold Salad—Chef’s Choice, Dinner Roll, Assorted Desserts, Coffee, Hot Tea, Water.
  2. Production only is $27.00 (which includes all taxes and fees).  We will meet in the Ives Theater lobby at 12:30PM.  

RSVP ASAP to SHoffman7@comcast.net

COFFEE BREAK:  Wednesday, November 13th, 10:00AM—Taste of Scandinavia in Festival Foods 

401 West 98th Street, Bloomington.

Taste of Scandinavia is a local favorite for many of us.  Menu items range from bakery to full breakfasts.  We’ll have a reservation for 10 under Gail’s name and adjust that as we get a better count.  RSVP to this one since they will set places for an exact count.

RSVP by Tuesday, November 12th to GailS@TheWanderersMSP.org

FLICKS & FUN:  Tuesday, November 19th— “Harriet.”  

Time and theater will be announced when they become available.

“Harriet” isa tribute to Harriet Tubman who was a pivotal figure in American history.  Shewas an abolitionist and activist who,after escaping slavery in 1849, led 70 other slaves to freedom.  According to Vanity Fair,“‘Harriet’ is a vaster, more interesting film than it will get credit for. This isn’t merely a movie about the path from slavery to freedom. It’s a movie about the tensions between blacks who were born free versus those who were born in chains, about the gendered work of abolitionism, about laws shifting under the nation’s feet and paving the path to Civil War, making the lives of the formerly enslaved more dangerous by the minute.”

Later we’ll go to a nearby restaurant for happy hour and conversation about the movie.

RSVP by Monday, November 18thto LynnJ@TheWanderersMSP.org

NEEDLECRAFTERS:  Mondays, November 11th& 25th, 1:30PM—Patisserie Margo

4510 Valley View Road, Edina

Whatever your knitting, crocheting, or craft skill level, join us!  You can even bring your mending!  Come to learn or just chat over your project. Enjoy coffee, food/bakery treats, and great conversation. 

NIGHT-TIME BOOK TALK: Monday, November 18th, 7:00PM—Lunds & Byerly’s Mezz

France Ave. at Hazelton Road, Edina

The Lilac Girlsby Martha Hall Kelly

“Inspired by the life of a real World War II heroine, this powerful debut novel reveals an incredible story of love, redemption, and terrible secrets that were hidden for decades.  NY socialite Caroline has her hands full with her post at the French consulate and a new love on the horizon.  But her world is forever changed when Hitler’s army invades Poland in September 1939 and then sets its sights on France.  An ocean away, Kasia, a Polish teenager, senses her carefree youth disappearing as she’s drawn deeper into the underground resistance movement. In a tense atmosphere of watchful eyes and suspecting neighbors, one false move can have dire consequences. For the ambitious young German doctor, Herta an ad for a government medical position seems her ticket out of a desolate life.  Once hired, though, she finds herself trapped in a male-dominated realm of Nazi secrets and power.  The lives of these three women are set on a collision course when the unthinkable happens and Kasia is sent to Ravensbruck, the notorious Nazi concentration camp for women.  Their stories cross continents—from New York to Paris, Germany, and Poland—as Caroline and Kasia strive to bring justice to those whom history has forgotten.  Martha Hall Kelly has crafted a remarkable novel of unsung women and their quest for love, freedom, and second chances.  It is a story that will keep readers bonded with the characters, searching for the truth, until the final pages.

RSVP by Friday, November15th to Sara5217@aol.com 

LUNCH BUNCH: Thursday, November 21st, 11:30am—Barnes and Noble Kitchen

at the Galleria in Edina.

Come and join us for a casual but elegant lunch at the Barnes and Noble Kitchen.  If you google the cafe and peek at the menu you will see a selection of lunches from simple and quick to more substantial and hearty.  The cafe has received 41/2 stars from reviewers.  And their juicy brisket burger was rated one of the Top 10 Best Burgers in Minneapolis by the Star Tribune in 2018!  Lynn and I have eaten there often and love it. After lunch you can browse the bookstore. 

RSVP by Tuesday, November 19th to maryjostraub@icloud.com.

  COMING UP

HOLIDAY HAPPY HOUR/AKA UGLY SWEATER NIGHT:  Sunday, December 8th, 3:30-6:30PM—

at Anne’s Home

“HO, HO, HO” Let’s party! Don’t forget to wear that horrible holiday sweater you’ve saved in your closet.  There will be a prize for the ugliest sweater!  So make it really UGLY!  Bring a heavy appetizer as this will be dinner for most of us – and OH YA – wrap a white elephant gift (if you so desire) in your finest paper – so your gift will be selected first!  We want to drool over all the gifts.  Come with your holiday spirit and laughter. 

Wine and water are available – bring other beverages if you desire!

RSVP by Friday, December 6th to AnneS@TheWanderersMSP.org.

Directions to Anne’s: HWY 100 to 77th street exit.  Turn RIGHT (W) and follow 77th St.—as it becomes Edina Industrial Blvd.—to 78th St. Turn RIGHT at 78th.  Turn RIGHT at Delaney Blvd Turn RIGHT at Pondwood Drive.

BOOKS & BOOZE:  Tuesday, December17th, 3:30PM—Cahill Bistro

7078 Amundson Ave., Edina (70th/Cahill)

The Nestby Cynthia D’Aprix Sweeney

A warm, funny and acutely perceptive debut novel about four adult siblings and the fate of the shared inheritance that has shaped their choices and their lives.  Every family has its problems, but even among the most troubled, the Plumbs stand out as spectacularly dysfunctional.  Years of simmering tensions finally reach a breaking point in New York City as Melody, Beatrice, and Jack Plumb gather to confront their charismatic and reckless older brother, Leo, freshly released from rehab.  Months earlier, an inebriated Leo got behind the wheel of a car with a nineteen-year-old waitress as his passenger.  The ensuing accident has endangered the Plumbs joint trust fund, “The Nest,” which they are months away from finally receiving.

NIGHT-TIME BOOK TALK: Monday, January 20th, 7:00PM—Lunds & Byerly’s Mezz

France Ave. at Hazelton Road, Edina
Edgar and Lucy by Victor Lodato

“8-year-old Edgar remembers nothing of the accident people still whisper about.  He only knows that his father is gone, his mother has a limp, and his grandmother believes in ghosts.  When Edgar meets a man with his own tragic story, the boy begins a journey into a secret wilderness where nothing is clear: not even the line between the living and the dead.”

October 2019 Newsletter

A Note from our President –

Halloween is coming up at the end of the month. But we promise there will be no tricks—just a month of treating yourself to a variety of fun activities with your Wanderers friends!

Flicks & Fun—see “Judy” and enjoy happy hour afterward at a nearby restaurant

Garden Tour:  visit Eloise Butler Gardens

Coffee Break—enjoy coffee and bakery treats atDenny’s 5th Avenue Bakery in Bloomington

Lunch Bunch—enjoy authentic Mexican food at Cantina Laredo in the Mall of America

Game Night—join Wanderers for free BINGO and a $1 meat raffle at the Richfield Legion

MIA’S Puzzle Room Experienceexperience art in a new way and have lunch afterward

Needlecrafters—join other Wanderers doing knitting and crocheting at Patisserie Margo

Books and Booze—discuss “Cocoa Beach” at the Cahill Bistro

            See you there!        

 Sally@TheWanderersMSP.org

  ACTIVITIES

WALKERSEvery Tuesday and Thursday, 8:30AM—Centennial Lakes 

Need motivation to get out, move, and exercise? Join us as we walk around Centennial Lakes.  We meet us at the “Big Clock” outside of the Hughes Pavilion.  Walk around the lake or as much or as little as your legs allow. Be on time–we’ll start walking promptly!If it rains – we meet at Southdale outside the Jimmie Johns’. No need to RSVP – just come

FLICKS & FUN:  Tuesday, October 1st, “Judy”—possibly at Southdale AMC

Time and location will be announced when they become available.

Starring Renee Zellweger, and based on the life of Judy Garland, “Judy” is set in winter 1968 as Garland arrives in London for a run of sell-out concerts.  The movie recounts her performances, with Renee Zellweger singing some of her best-known numbers including “Somewhere over the Rainbow” from 1939’s The Wizard of Oz.  The movie also delves into Garland’s battles with her management, her relationships with charmed musicians and fans, and the family drama playing out behind-the-scenes of the London performances.  “Judy” has received favorable ratings from 88 percent of the critics according to Rotten Tomatoes. Later we’ll go happy hour and conversation about the movie.

RSVP by Sunday, September 29th to LynnJ@TheWanderersMSP.org 

GARDEN TOUR:  Thursday, October 3rd, 1:00PM Departure–Eloise Butler Wildflower & Bird Sanctuary

1 Theodore Wirth Pkwy., Minneapolis, 612-370-4903, minneapolisparks.org

Home to more than 500 plant species and 130 bird species, the sanctuary is located just minutes outside downtown Minneapolis. Don’t be fooled by its proximity to the bustling city, however. Step onto the self-guided path and you’ll be immediately transported into a wooded paradise. Hopefully, there’ll still be some fall colors and migrating birds to enjoy. After our walk we’ll reward ourselves with a treat at Panera.A carpool will leave at 1:00PM from the Panera Bread parking lot (5680 Cedar Lake Road) near Home Depot at West End. Or, meet is at the garden at 1:30 (pay parking lot) Please indicate if you plan to car pool and are willing to drive.  

RSVP by Tuesday, October 1stto Sally@TheWanderersMSP.org 

VOLUNTEER PROJECT:  Wanderers is considering doing a one-time community project.   Please respond by Monday, October 7thto Sara5217@aol.com if you would like to participate.  If enough people are interested we will schedule a project for October or November.  Two possible opportunities are:

  • Feed My Starving Childrenvolunteers hand-pack rice, soy, dried vegetables, and a nutritionally complete blend of vitamins and minerals into bags which are shipped to the neediest children around the world.
  • VEAP (Volunteers Enlisted to Assist People)provides food for people in need in the community. We can sort food donations, stock shelves, or do other one-time projects.

COFFEE BREAK Wednesday, October 9th, 10:00AM–-Denny’s 5th Avenue Bakery

7840 5th Ave S, Bloomington, 952-881-4445

Denny’s is a family-owned specialty bakery serving the Twin Cities area since 1969.  This bakery is a time-tested staple with a bright, cheery space and a menu of donuts, breads, pastries, and specialty cakes.

RSVP by Tuesday, October 8thto GailS@TheWanderersMSP.org

LUNCH BUNCH:  Tuesday, October 15, 11:30am—Cantina Laredo

Mall of America, 300 West Market—Enter from West side parking ramp

They create authentic Mexican food inspired by the cuisine of Mexico City and add a modern twist.  Imagine grilled fish, chicken or steak topped with one of a kind signature sauces like chipotle-wine and Portobello mushroom or sautéed artichoke heart and roasted red bell pepper.  Pair that with their award-winning margarita, the Casa Rita, made from fresh lime-juice and the finest tequila and you’ve got what they call Modern Mexican.RSVP by Sunday, October 13th to CarmellaA@TheWanderersMSP.org

GAME NIGHT: Thursday, October 17th, 5:00PM—Richfield American Legion

6501 Portland Ave., Richfield 612-866-3647

This place is a hoot! Meet us for an unforgettable evening of food, cheap drinks, and entertainment:  Happy Hour (5-6PM), Dinner and the $1 Meat Raffle (5-7PM), free BARGO (Bingo) 5-7:30PM, and Live Music 7:00PM.  Show up anytime between 5-7PM to partake in any or all of the above (no membership or fees required).

RSVP by Tuesday, October 15th to shoffman7@comcast.net

Directions:  Hwy. 62 East to Portland Ave. exit. Turn RIGHT (S) to Legion on left. WE MEET IN THE DINING ROOM—ON THE RIGHT SIDE AS YOU ENTER. 

MIA’S PUZZLE ROOM EXPERIENCE: Tuesday, October 22nd, 10:00am Departure

Minneapolis Institute of Art, 2400 3rd Ave. S., Minneapolis. 612-870-3000

Cryptic messages. Hidden clues. Secret societies.  This is the museum as a giant puzzle room, a mystery you’re invited to solve using the “Riddle Mia This” app.  You’ll move through galleries looking for clues in the artworks, exposing a faction of anti-technologists.  You’ll see MIA’s collection in a new way!  There is no charge for museum entry or puzzle experience.  We can either use smartphones or museum-supplied devices to guide us through the puzzle.  Afterwards, for those who are interested, we will have lunch at Book Club on 5411 Penn Ave. S. at 1:00pm, 612-822-5411

A carpool will leave the Southdale north parking lot (upper level of ramp near Macy’s Door 5) at 10:00 AM, or meet us at MIA at 10:30 AM. Please indicate if you plan to carpool and are willing to drive. 

RSVP by Friday, October 18th to CarlaH@TheWanderersMSP.org

NEEDLECRAFTERS:  Mondays, October 14th& 28th, 1:30PM—Patisserie Margo

4510 Valley View Road, Edina

Whatever your knitting, crocheting, or craft skill level, we’d love to have you join us!  You can even bring your mending! Come to learn or just chat over your project. Enjoy coffee, food/bakery treats, and great conversation. Just show up.

BOOKS & BOOZE:  Tuesday, October 29rd, 3:30PM—Cahill Bistro

7078 Amundson Ave., Edina (70th/Cahill)

Cocoa Beachby Beatriz Williams

Set in sunny Florida in this lush and enthralling historical novel—an enchanting blend of love, suspense, betrayal, and redemption set among the rumrunners and scoundrels of Prohibition-era Cocoa Beach.  Burdened by a dark family secret, Virginia Fortescue flees her oppressive home in New York City for the battlefields of World War I France.  While an ambulance driver for the Red Cross, she meets a charismatic British army surgeon whose persistent charm opens her heart to the possibility of love.  As the war rages, Virginia falls into a passionate affair with the dashing Captain Simon Fitzwilliam, only to discover that his past has its own dark secrets—secrets that will damage their eventual marriage and propel her back across the Atlantic to the sister and father she left behind.

RSVP by Saturday, October 26th to AnneS@TheWanderersMSP.org

  COMING UP

NIGHT-TIME BOOK TALK: Monday, November 18th, 7:00PM—Lunds & Byerly’s Mezz

France Ave. at Hazelton Road, Edina
The Lilac Girlsby Martha Hall Kelly

“Inspired by the life of a real World War II heroine, this powerful debut novel reveals an incredible story of love, redemption, and terrible secrets that were hidden for decades.  NY socialite Caroline has her hands full with her post at the French consulate and a new love on the horizon.  But Caroline’s world is forever changed when Hitler’s army invades Poland in September 1939 and then sets its sights on France.  An ocean away, Kasia Kuzmerick, a Polish teenager, senses her carefree youth disappearing as she’s drawn deeper into the underground resistance movement.  In a tense atmosphere of watchful eyes and suspecting neighbors, one false move can have dire consequences.  For the ambitious young German doctor, Herta Oberheuser, an ad for a government medical position seems her ticket out of a desolate life.  Once hired, though, she finds herself trapped in a male-dominated realm of Nazi secrets and power.  The lives of these three women are set on a collision course when the unthinkable happens and Kasia is sent to Ravensbruck, the notorious Nazi concentration camp for women.  Their stories cross continents—from New York to Paris, Germany, and Poland—as Caroline and Kasia strive to bring justice to those whom history has forgotten.  Martha Hall Kelly has crafted a remarkable novel of unsung women and their quest for love, freedom, and second chances.  It is a story that will keep readers bonded with the characters, searching for the truth, until the final pages.

BOOKS & BOOZE:  Tuesday, December17th, 3:30PM—Cahill Bistro

7078 Amundson Ave., Edina (70th/Cahill)

The Nestby Cynthia D’Aprix Sweeney

A warm, funny and acutely perceptive debut novel about four adult siblings and the fate of the shared inheritance that has shaped their choices and their lives.  Every family has its problems.  But even among the most troubled, the Plumb family stands out as spectacularly dysfunctional.  Years of simmering tensions finally reach a breaking point on an unseasonably cold afternoon in New York City as Melody, Beatrice, and Jack Plumb gather to confront their charismatic and reckless older brother, Leo, freshly released from rehab.  Months earlier, an inebriated Leo got behind the wheel of a car with a nineteen-year-old waitress as his passenger.  The ensuing accident has endangered the Plumbs joint trust fund, “The Nest,” which they are months away from finally receiving.

RSVP by Saturday, December 14th to AnneS@TheWanderersMSP.org



September 2019 Newsletter

A Note from our President –

Summer is flying by! It was especially short this year! That’s the beauty of Minnesota—there’s always another season to look forward to. We’relooking forward to more great seasons as The Wanderers. Come along for the fun and friendship—and great food, too!

Needlecrafters—winter’s coming—time to start those cozy, warm projects at Patisserie Margo

Lunch Bunch—enjoy Cuban or American cuisine at Victor’s 1959 Cafe

Night-Time Books—discuss Little Wolves on the Mezz

Flicks & Fun—see Downton Abbey and do HH at PF Chang’s

Coffee Break—enjoy coffee and bakery treats at Starbuck’s in Jerry’s Foods in Edina

Fun & Games—meet at Elaine’s for fun and conversation 

Concert Outing—sing along with dueling pianos at the Masonic theater

            See you there!        

 Sally@TheWanderersMSP.org

  ACTIVITIES

WALKERSEvery Tuesday and Thursday, 8:30AM—Centennial Lakes 

Need motivation to get out, move, and exercise? Join us as we walk around Centennial Lakes.  We meet us at the “Big Clock” outside of the Hughes Pavilion.  Walk around the lake or as much or as little as your legs allow. Be on time–we’ll start walking promptly!If it rains – we meet at Southdale outside the Jimmie Johns. No need to RSVP – just come

NEEDLECRAFTERS:  Mondays, September 9th & 23rd, 1:30PM—Patisserie Margo

4510 Valley View Road, Edina

Whatever your knitting, crocheting or craft skill level, we’d love to have you join us!  You can even bring your mending! Come to learn or just chat over your project.  We meet every other Thursday. Enjoy coffee, food/bakery treats and great conversation. 

LUNCH BUNCH:  Tuesday, September 10th, 11:30AM—Victor’s 1959 Cafe

3756 Grand Ave South, Minneapolis.

This cafe serves a good mix of Cuban and American food.  It has interesting decor, and a patio.  It may be our last chance to dine outdoors this year. They offer good food, good music, good wines and good company in a fun and quirky space with decor reflective of Cuban culture past and present.  

RSVP by Sunday, September 8th to CarmellaA@TheWanderersMSP.org

NIGHT-TIME BOOK TALK: Monday, September 16th, 7:00PM —Lunds & Byerly’s Mezz  

France Ave. at Hazelton Road, Edina
Little Wolvesby Thomas Maltman

Set on the Minnesota prairie in the late 1980s during a drought season that’s pushing family farms to the brink, Little Wolves features the intertwining stories of a father searching for answers after his son commits a heinous murder, and a pastor’s wife (and washed-out scholar of early Anglo-Saxon literature) who has returned to the town for mysterious reasons of her own. A penetrating look at small-town America from the award-winning author of The Night BirdsLittle Wolves weaves together elements of folklore and Norse mythology while being driven by a powerful murder mystery; a page-turning literary triumph.

RSVP by Saturday, September 14th to Sara5217@aol.com 

FLICKS & FUN:  Tuesday, September 24th, “Downton Abbey” at Southdale AMC

Time will be announced when they become available.

If you are as big a fan of the long-running “Downton Abbey” as I am, you probably are eager for the motion picture event. In the movie the Crawleys and their staff “prepare for the most important moment of their lives.  A visit from the King and Queen of England will unleash scandal, romance and intrigue that will leave the future of Downton hanging in the balance.” The movie is due to be released on September 20th, and I am gambling that it will premiere at area theaters.  Later we’ll go to a nearby restaurant for happy hour and conversation about the movie.

RSVP by Sunday, September 22nd to LynnJ@TheWanderersMSP.org

COFFEE BREAK:  Wednesday, September 25th, 10:00AM—Starbuck’s at Jerry’s Foods

5101 Vernon Ave., Edina

Please note: This is the 4th Wednesday in September! Delicious coffee drinks, plentiful pastry choices, and a pleasant space make this a favorite gathering spot. I will get there early and save space for us.

RSVP by Tuesday, September 24th to GailS@TheWanderersMSP.org

GAMES PEOPLE PLAY:  Thursday, September 19th, 7:00PM—at the home of a Member

9700 Portland Ave., #323    Bloomington             

There’ll be lots of fun and laughs. Please bring a snack or beverage to share.   If you have a favorite game—please bring it.

RSVP by Tuesday, September 17th to ElaineK@TheWanderersMSP.org

CONCERT OUTING: Sunday, September 29th, 2:00PM— Deuces Wild Dueling Pianos

Masonic Ives Theater , 11411 Masonic Home Dr., Bloomington  952-948-6500. 

For more than 17 years, musicians David Eichholz and Ted Manderfeld have traveled coast to coast to become one of the most sought after dueling piano acts in North America.  Clap along, laugh along and sing along with Deuces Wild as they offer a zany, witty and wild afternoon of entertainment.  Get ready to be part of the musical action comedy and all out fun. We will meet at the Ives Theater at 1:30 p.m. Afterwards, if there’s interest, we’ll go to Tavern 23 on France  Ave. for “happy hour”. They have fabulous $5 flat breads, pizzas and yummy wine. Tickets are $32.00 (includes all taxes and fees).  We have reservations for up to 16.

RSVP by Friday, September 13thwith your check.  RSVP to shoffman7@comcast.net for instructions.

COMING UP

COMMUNITY PROJECT:  Wanderers is considering doing a community project that would be a one-time commitment.   Two possible opportunities are listed below:

  • Feed My Starving Childrenoffers volunteers a one-of-a-kind experience. You’ll hand-pack rice, soy, dried vegetables, and a nutritionally complete blend of vitamins and minerals into bags which are then sealed, boxed, placed on pallets, and shipped to their partners who are working hard to reach the neediest children around the world.
  • VEAP (Volunteers Enlisted to Assist People)provides food for people in need in the community. Possible volunteer opportunities are sorting food donations, stocking shelves, and doing one-time projects.

If you are interested in volunteering, please contact Sara5217@aol.com.  If enough people are interested we will select an opportunity and schedule it for October or November.

BOOKS & BOOZE:  Tuesday, October 29rd, 3:30PM—Cahill Bistro

7078 Amundson Ave., Edina (70th/Cahill)

Cocoa Beachby Beatriz Williams

Set in sunny Florida in this lush and enthralling historical novel—an enchanting blend of love, suspense, betrayal, and redemption set among the rumrunners and scoundrels of Prohibition-era Cocoa Beach.  Burdened by a dark family secret, Virginia Fortescue flees her oppressive home in New York City for the battlefields of World War I France. While an ambulance driver for the Red Cross, she meets a charismatic British army surgeon whose persistent charm opens her heart to the possibility of love. As the war rages, Virginia falls into a passionate affair with the dashing Captain Simon Fitzwilliam, only to discover that his past has its own dark secrets—secrets that will damage their eventual marriage and propel her back across the Atlantic to the sister and father she left behind.

NIGHT-TIME BOOK TALK: Monday, November 18th, 7:00PM—Lunds & Byerly’s Mezz

France Ave. at Hazelton Road, Edina
The Lilac Girlsby Martha Hall Kelly

“Inspired by the life of a real World War II heroine, this powerful debut novel reveals an incredible story of love, redemption, and terrible secrets that were hidden for decades. New York socialite Caroline Ferriday has her hands full with her post at the French consulate and a new love on the horizon. But Caroline’s world is forever changed when Hitler’s army invades Poland in September 1939 and then sets its sights on France. An ocean away, Kasia Kuzmerick, a Polish teenager, senses her carefree youth disappearing as she’s drawn deeper into the underground resistance movement. In a tense atmosphere of watchful eyes and suspecting neighbors, one false move can have dire consequences. For the ambitious young German doctor, Herta Oberheuser, an ad for a government medical position seems her ticket out of a desolate life. Once hired, though, she finds herself trapped in a male-dominated realm of Nazi secrets and power. The lives of these three women are set on a collision course when the unthinkable happens and Kasia is sent to Ravensbruck, the notorious Nazi concentration camp for women. Their stories cross continents—from New York to Paris, Germany, and Poland—as Caroline and Kasia strive to bring justice to those whom history has forgotten. Martha Hall Kelly has crafted a remarkable novel of unsung women and their quest for love, freedom, and second chances. It is a story that will keep readers bonded with the characters, searching for the truth, until the final pages.