Past Events
June 2016
The Churches of Northeast Minneapolis
Catholic Eldercare will host a free presentation on Monday, June 6, 1:30-3 p.m. at the MainStreet Lodge, 909 Main St. NE. The rich diversity of ethnic groups settling in Northeast Minneapolis created an array of worship spaces in the Northeast neighborhoods. In this fully illustrated presentation, you will look at the heritage of religious buildings in Northeast, from the 1840s to the present. Presented by Kristin Anderson as part of Catholic Eldercare's Elder Enrichment Series. Call 612-362-2450 to register.
Find out more »July 2016
Poetry: Early Folk Poets of the Red River Valley
Catholic Eldercare will host a free presentation on Monday, July 11, 1:30-3 p.m. at the MainStreet Lodge, 909 Main St. NE. Along the border between Minnesota and North Dakota lies the beautiful Red River Valley, a geologically distinct region of rich soil, harsh climate, and overwhelming flat land. It was settled in a single pioneer generation, and in the following native-born generations publishing poets flourished there, a tradition of Midwestern folk poetry never before collected or studied - until now.…
Find out more »August 2016
Charles Lingbergh: Triumph, Tragedy, and Controversy
Catholic Eldercare will host a free presentation on Monday, Aug. 1, 1:30-3 p.m. at the MainStreet Lodge, 909 Main St. NE. In 1927, Charles Lindbergh became the first pilot to fly solo from New York to Paris. This feat made him one of the biggest celebrities of his time. However, his life following the flight was filled with tragedy and controversy. Join in to explore the complicated life of a complex man. Presented by David Jones as part of Catholic…
Find out more »September 2016
Celebrating Minnesota in Music
Catholic Eldercare will host a free presentation on Monday, Sept. 12, 1:30-3 p.m. at the MainStreet Lodge, 909 Main St. NE. Explore a wide variety of music, chosen to illustrate some of the "150 people, places and things that have shaped our state" which were selected by the Minnesota Historical Society for Minnesota's one hundred fiftieth birthday. Many delights from Dvorak to Dylan and from Prince to Whoopee John. Brief descriptions along with listening to recorded music. Presented by Carolyn…
Find out more »October 2016
Stories in Poetry
Catholic Eldercare will host a free presentation on Monday, Oct. 3, 1:30-3 p.m. at the MainStreet Lodge, 909 Main St. NE. No matter how you slice it, people love stories. People may think of young children eagerly gathering into a circle at "story time", but children of all ages love stories. People find stories in novels and movies, history and drama, myths and folktales, and in poetry. A story is a "narration" with a plot, one or more characters, and…
Find out more »November 2016
A History of the St. Anthony Park Neighborhood
Catholic Eldercare will host a free presentation on Monday, Nov. 7, 1:30-3 p.m. at the MainStreet Lodge, 909 Main St. NE. Developed as a nineteenth century "railroad suburb" situated between Minneapolis and St. Paul, St. Anthony Park is one of the best-known neighborhoods in the Twin Cities. With lively business districts, lovely houses, interesting parks, and small industrial area, St. Anthony Park and its neighbors (the University Grove, the St. Paul campus, and the State Fairgrounds) tell a story of…
Find out more »December 2016
Prohibition: A Grand Misadventure
Catholic Eldercare will host a free presentation on Monday, Dec. 5, 1:30-3 p.m. at the MainStreet Lodge, 909 Main St. NE. In 1920, the United States entered a period during which the manufacture, sale, and transportation of intoxicating liquors was banned. As it turned out, the US also entered a period of lawlessness and corruption, unequaled in its history. Many Prohibition supporters felt that the passage of the Eighteenth Amendment would bring about law and order and restore the family.…
Find out more »January 2017
Songs of Hiawatha: Music suggested by Longfellow’s epic poem
Catholic Eldercare will host a free presentation on Monday, Jan. 9, 1:30-3 p.m. at the MainStreet Lodge, 909 Main St. NE. Taking cues from this poem that is filled with familiar names, explore music that expresses its themes Class will include reading section of the poem, listening to music, and discussion. Designed for four-part series, but could be abbreviated. Presented by Carolyn Bliss as part of Catholic Eldercare's Elder Enrichment Series. Call 612-362-2450 to register.
Find out more »February 2017
Shakespeare: The Play’s the Thing!
Catholic Eldercare will host a free presentation on Monday, Feb. 6, 1:30-3 p.m. at the MainStreet Lodge, 909 Main St. NE. William Shakespeare has long been regarded as one of the most significant writers in literature. Shakespeare's accomplishment is mainly built on the three dozen plays his admiring fellow actors published seven years after his death. In this presentation, Dr. Moe will discuss Shakespeare and his world, and explore the themes and techniques found in his famous plays. You will…
Find out more »July 2018
Art and the Reformation
Catholic Eldercare will host a free presentation on Monday, July 9, 1:30-3 pm at the MainStreet Lodge, 909 Main St. NE. How did the Protestant Reformation effect art and artists, and how did art help to shape the Reformation? In books, posters, pamphlets, and paintings, you will see new types of art and new uses for old forms. From portraits of the Reformers to propaganda pieces, this presentation includes many images from the lively visual arts of Martin Luther's time.…
Find out more »August 2018
The Washington Monument: Centerpiece of the National Mall
Catholic Eldercare will host a free presentation on Monday, August 6, 1:30-3 pm at the MainStreet Lodge, 909 Main St. NE. The 555-foot Washington Monument stands proudly in the center of the National Mall in Washington, DC. Building the monument involved disagreements about the design, political infighting, inability to raise money, and a 22-year interruption in the building phase. Presented by David Jones as part of Catholic Eldercare’s Elder Enrichment Series. Call 612-362-2450 to register.
Find out more »September 2018
Walt Whitman and Civil War
Catholic Eldercare will host a free presentation on Monday, September 10, 1:30-3 pm at the MainStreet Lodge, 909 Main St. NE. Whitman is one of the most interesting and influential U.S. poets. He worked as a printer and journalist before publishing the first edition of Leaves of Grass. Ralph Waldo Emerson wrote of the this book, " I find it the most extraordinary piece of wit and wisdom that America has yet contributed." The Civil War profoundly affected Whitman, who…
Find out more »December 2018
Singing the Christmas Story with St. Luke
Catholic Eldercare will host a free presentation on Monday, Dec. 3, 1:30-3 pm at the MainStreet Lodge, 909 Main St. NE. The birth of Jesus as told in St. Luke's gospel is surrounded in song. And people have been singing about this birth story ever since. Join presenter Carolyn Bliss to take a look at the songs of Luke, Chapters 1-2, and the hymns and carols that have grown out of the words of Luke 2:1-14. Part of Catholic Eldercare’s…
Find out more »January 2019
Building for Beer in the Twin Cities
Catholic Eldercare will host a free presentation on Monday, Jan. 7, 1:30-3 pm at the MainStreet Lodge, 909 Main St. NE. St. Paul and Minneapolis were once dotted with breweries, biergartens, brewers' mansions, and saloons, all connected to the early brewing industry, and there has been a renaissance of local beer spaces in recent years. Explore the landscapes and architecture of beer from the mid-nineteenth century to the present. Presented by Kristin Anderson as part of Catholic Eldercare’s Elder Enrichment…
Find out more »February 2019
Classics in Poetry: Gerard Manly Hopkins
Catholic Eldercare will host a free presentation on Monday, Feb. 4, 1:30-3 pm at the MainStreet Lodge, 909 Main St. NE. Born in 1844 near London, Gerard Manly Hopkins was deeply religious. He converted to Catholicism and was ordained a Jesuit priest in 1877. He spent much of his career teaching. In 1878, he became Professor of Greek and Latin at the University of Dublin. He died in 1889, aged 44. Hopkins was also a gifted poet. His imagery, rhythms,…
Find out more »March 2019
The Lincoln Assassination
Catholic Eldercare will host a free presentation on Monday, March 4, 1:30-3 pm at the MainStreet Lodge, 909 Main St. NE. When John Wilkes Booth assassinated Abraham Lincoln, the Civil War was ending and emotions were high. Killing the President was just part of Booth's plan. Join in to explore this fragile time in history, and the plot that very nearly succeeded in toppling the government. Presented by David Jones as part of Catholic Eldercare’s Elder Enrichment Series. Call 612-362-2450…
Find out more »April 2019
Twin Cities Spaces and Places to the 1870s
Catholic Eldercare will host a free presentation on Monday, April 1, 1:30-3 pm at the MainStreet Lodge, 909 Main St. NE. Beginning with sites long sacred to the region's Native Americans, this illustrated presentation visits significant early Twin Cities locations as it considers the many enduring links to this historic heritage. Presented by Kristin Anderson as part of Catholic Eldercare’s Elder Enrichment Series. Call 612-362-2450 to register.
Find out more »May 2019
Poetry: The Sonnet
Catholic Eldercare will host a free presentation on Monday, May 6, 1:30-3 pm at the MainStreet Lodge, 909 Main St. NE. The sonnet is a short poem, crafted in one of several possible patterns, and focused on a main idea. It derives much of its strength form the conventions of developing that main idea, and then responding to it. The sonnet came to England from Italy, and has inspired English poets and readers from over 400 years now. Masterful sonneteers…
Find out more »June 2019
From Papyrus to Printing Presses: Sacred Texts
Catholic Eldercare will host a free presentation on Monday, June 3, 1:30-3 pm at the MainStreet Lodge, 909 Main St. NE. Sacred scripture is now readily available in countless printed versions and on the internet. This easy access stands in contrast to earlier centuries of Christianity, when all texts were handwritten. From ancient scrolls to medieval books, you will look at some spectacular illuminated manuscripts written and illustrated by nuns, monks, and professional lay artists for churches, monasteries, scholars, and…
Find out more »August 2019
MN Medal of Honor Recipients from the Civil War to Vietnam
Catholic Eldercare will host a free presentation on Monday, Aug. 5, 1:30-3 pm at the MainStreet Lodge, 909 Main St. NE. You will meet a 14-year-old orphan who was awarded the Medal of Honor for heroism during a Civil War battle; the schoolmaster who took his students to war, dooming their hometown to oblivion; a Buffalo Soldier; the Commander of the USS Arizona who went down with his ship at Pearl Harbor; a Hungarian freedom fighter who signed up to…
Find out more »December 2019
Blessed Among Women: Mary’s place in Christmas art
Catholic Eldercare will host a free presentation on Monday, Dec. 2 1:30-3 pm at the MainStreet Lodge, 909 Main St. NE. Christmas art features one figure more than any other: the Virgin Mary. Many others populate the scenes – Jesus, Joseph, angels, shepherds, the Magi, and animals – but Mary appears everywhere. In this slide presentation, you'll look at the many places Mary is seen in the beautiful images of the Christmas season. Presented by Kristin Anderson as part of…
Find out more »January 2020
100th anniversary of the End of World War I
Catholic Eldercare will host a free presentation on Monday, Jan. 6, 1:30-3 pm at the MainStreet Lodge, 909 Main St. NE. At the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month in 1918, the guns fell silent on the Western Front. An armistice had been signed at the Compiegne to be followed seven months later with the Treaty of Versailles. Answer questions such as: What were the terms of the armistice? Did the Treaty of Versailles bring real…
Find out more »February 2020
The Life and Work of “Colorado Pete”
Catholic Eldercare will host a free presentation Monday, Feb. 3, 1:30-3 pm at the MainStreet Lodge, 909 Main St. NE. A Norweigan-American named Arthur Peterson (1896-1932) served honorably in World War I, but came home terribly sick, to spend the rest of his life shifting from one veteran's hospital to another. It's a sad story, except that during his years of painful struggle against a terminal condition, he refused to give up on life, and so recreated himself as "Colorado…
Find out more »March 2020
1936 Berlin Olympics: The Nazi Games
Catholic Eldercare will host a free presentation on Monday, March 2, 1:30-3 pm at the MainStreet Lodge, 909 Main St. NE. The 1936 Olympic Games held in Berlin are notorious for the tightly controlled image the Nazis presented to the world. They also became a blueprint for future Games that is followed to the present day. Look at the history of the Olympics and the complicated legacy of the 1936 Games. Presented by David Jones as part of Catholic Eldercare’s…
Find out more »December 2021
From the Bishop of Myra to Santa Claus: The Many Faces of St. Nicholas
A popular saint across Christian history, St. Nicholas of Myra was—and still is—represented in a traditional religious context. Yet the many images of St. Nicholas are far surpassed in number and variety by the more recent portrayals of Old St. Nick. With lots of images, old and new, Kristin Anderson talks about the transformation of St. Nicholas over many centuries, from early Christian saint to modern holiday icon. Part of the Elder Enrichment series at Catholic Eldercare's Main Street Lodge,…
Find out more »February 2022
Noah’s Art
From the catacombs to contemporary art, the fascinating Noah story has intrigued artists and viewers. In this richly illustrated presentation, take a look at the ark, its animals, the deluge, and the dove to learn about Noah’s faithful obedience to God’s challenging commands. Monday, Feb. 7, 1:30-3 pm. Presented by Kristin Anderson as part of the Elder Enrichment series at Catholic Eldercare's Main Street Lodge, 909 Main St. NE.
Find out more »March 2022
The Forgotten War: Korea, 1950-1953 (Part 1)
In three years of fighting under the United Nations flag, the United States suffered over 33,000 dead, and saw the controversial recall of General Douglas McArthur by President Harry Truman. Review the causes, see-saw fighting, prolonged negotiations, and national and international political implications. Part 1 will cover the background ofo the North Korean invasion and Chinese intervention through the first six months, to about Christmas, 1950. Monday, March 7, 1:30-3 pm. Presented by Hugh Tyndall as part of the Elder…
Find out more »April 2022
The Forgotten War: Korea, 1950-1953 (Part 2)
In three years of fighting under the United Nations flag, the United States suffered over 33,000 dead, and saw the controversial recall of General Douglas McArthur by President Harry Truman. Review the causes, see-saw fighting, prolonged negotiations, and national and international political implications. Part 2 will include the last year and a half and the armistice which halted the fighting. Monday, April 4, 1:30-3 pm. Presented by Hugh Tyndall as part of the Elder Enrichment series at Catholic Eldercare's Main…
Find out more »May 2022
Some mysterious old ballpark pictures: reading the visual evidence
Ambitious sports facilities projects–including Target Field and USBank Stadium–are not new. Back in the late 1880s, both St. Paul and Minneapolis built athletic parks to house their baseball teams and many other sports. Using the oldest known photographs of Twin Cities ballparks, you will visit and explore the athletic parks in a presentation that digs into the revealing details of these old pictures. Monday, May 2, 1:30-3 pm. Presented by Kristin Anderson as part of the Elder Enrichment series at…
Find out more »June 2022
One Family’s Story of the 1918 Pandemic
In many presentations for Main Street Lodge over 20 years, Dr. Lawrence Moe has told remarkable stories about great writers and their work. But in view of the tragic COVID-19 pandemic, this time he has another kind of story to tell, about a virtually unknown branch of his own family that was already reeling from tragedy (a suicide) when the 1918 pandemic struck. The many parallels of that with our shared experience of the current pandemic are thought-provoking to say…
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