Events

July 30 - Wednesday, 7 p.m.-dark
Arboretum Native Plant Garden Tour: "Sun and Shade." If you are wondering which native plants will thrive in full sun or which can grow in shade, find inspiration in our native prairie and forest gardens. We will feature many summer-blooming species on this tour.

July 30 - Wednesday, 7 p.m.-dark
Arboretum Native Plant Garden Tour: "Sun and Shade." If you are wondering which native plants will thrive in full sun or which can grow in shade, find inspiration in our native prairie and forest gardens. We will feature many summer-blooming species on this tour.

August 2 - Saturday, 9 a.m.-noon
Arboretum Ecological Restoration Work Party: "Wingra Oak Savanna." Volunteer for restoration activities and learn about prairies and savannas. Tools and training are provided, and groups are welcome with advance notice. Meet at the gravel parking lot along Arbor Drive just off Monroe Street. For more information: 265-5214 or mlfarrior@wisc.edu

ECHO VALLEY HOPE
PRESENTS
WIDENING THE CIRCLE BENEFIT CONCERT & SUSTAINABLE GATHERING
SATURDAY, AUGUST 2

Widening the Circle
A benefit concert and sustainable gathering
Saturday, August 2, 2008
Echo Valley Hope, Inc. is an educational and charitable nonprofit corporation created by a small group of people wanting to make a difference. In recognition of the need for sustainable living and renewable energy, Echo Valley Hope seeks to educate the general public and supports the efforts of similar organizations in all aspects of ecological preservation. Charitable activities include providing good nutritious food and clean water to those in need from disaster or long term disadvantage.

Help benefit South African AIDS orphans and vulnerable children at a local fundraiser on August 2! This year’s Africa Alive festival, hosted by Kidlinks World Inc., will be held at Capital Brewery in Middleton on August 2, 2008 from 2pm until 8pm. Africa Alive is a fundraiser, from which 100% of the proceeds raised will go directly to benefit AIDS orphans and vulnerable children in Southern Africa. Africa Alive also provides entertainment for the whole family and an opportunity to get people excited about helping children in another part of the world.

August 3 - Sunday, 8:30-10:30 a.m.
Arboretum Walk: "Grady Tract."  With lavender liatris and yellow coneflowers, the prairies are alive with color that attracts viceroy, monarch and other butterflies. Meet at the Grady Tract parking lot located at the southeast corner of the Beltline and Seminole Highway intersection.

*Rhône Ranger Wine Dinner
Wednesday, August 6
L'Etoile, Madison

* *L'Etoile's next wine dinner will feature the charismatic and daringly
enterprising growers of Rhone varietals in the New World*.

"Rhone Ranger" is a term that has been around for about 25 years and it
refers to a group of (predominantly California) winemakers; these
winemakers developed a reputation as mavericks, pioneers, and
risk-takers because they chose to grow different grapes - syrah,
grenache, and mourvedre - rather than those already established classics

Seventh annual Concert in the Park

This summer’s seventh annual Concert in the Park gets underway at 7 p.m. Wednesday, August 6th at 1200 John Q Hammons Drive in Old Sauk Trails Park. This musical celebration features the Wisconsin Chamber Orchestra, conducted by Andrew Sewell. The Concert is FREE and open to the public. Come around 5:00 P.M. to enjoy activities with the kids, socialize and picnic with other Old Sauk Trails Park neighbors.

The rooftop reception is scheduled for Thursday, August 7th (rain date, Friday, August 8th) from 4:30PM to 7:30PM at Park East by the Gardens Condominiums, located at 3502 Dennett Drive in Madison. A short program from 5:30-6:00PM will give guests an opportunity to learn about greening our buildings and our building codes to reduce global warming, while enjoying the plantings on the rooftop in this spectacular lake-view site.

Thursday, August 7th at 6:30 pm Southern Italian Favorites Cooking Class
Chef Tory and Chef Stacy both love food from around Naples and Sicily,
so this Italian class will explore the wonderful offerings from these
areas. This class is a must because the food is just delicious!
www.letoile-restaurant.com

August 9 - Saturday, 9 a.m.-noon
Arboretum Ecological Restoration Work Party: "Core Area and Curtis Prairie." Volunteer for restoration activities and learn about prairies and savannas. Tools and training are provided, and groups are welcome with advance notice. Meet at the front steps of the Visitor Center. For more information: 265-5214 or mlfarrior@wisc.edu

The Friends of the UW Geology Museum will be hosting the second annual fundraising event at the Capital Brewery on Saturday, August 9, 2008, starting at 7:00 pm. The event is open to all and kids are encouraged to attend. The highlight of the evening will be the showing of the movie “Star Wars IV, A New Hope” beginning at dusk. Prior to the movie, there will be games for kids, live music by “Mud Music”, and fossils and minerals, for viewing and sale. There is no charge for this event, but donations are welcome. Bring a picnic dinner and join the fun.

August 10 - Sunday, 8:30-10 a.m.
Arboretum Walk: "Curtis Prairie." Yellow is the dominant color of prairie abundance this time of year -- from sunflowers to goldfinches to swallowtail butterflies.

August 10 - Sunday, 1:30-2:30 p.m.
Arboretum Family Walk: "Pond Stuff." This walk introduces children to the fascinating world of pond life.

August 16 - Saturday, 9 a.m.-noon
Arboretum Ecological Restoration Work Party: "Grady Tract." Volunteer for restoration activities and learn about prairies and savannas. Tools and training are provided, and groups are welcome with advance notice. Meet at the Grady Tract parking lot, located at the southeast corner of the Beltline and Seminole Highway intersection. For more information: 265-5214 or mlfarrior@wisc.edu

August 16 - Saturday, 1-3 p.m.

August 16 - Saturday, 8-9:30 p.m.
Arboretum Night Walk: "Insect Serenade." The fields echo with the sounds of insects, including the snowy tree cricket. Learn how to tell the temperature from the timing of their calls.

August 17 - Sunday, 8:30-10:30 a.m.
Arboretum Walk: "Prairies and Savannas on the Grady Tract." Now is a good time to see the contrast between the sandy, dry West Knoll and wet-mesic Greene Prairie. Meet in the Grady Tract parking lot located at the southeast corner of the Beltline and Seminole Highway intersection.

The film Escape from Affluenza shows how adopting practices of simple living creates independence from the epidemic of rampant consumerism and materialism that ails Americans and the environment. It uses expert commentary, thought-provoking vignettes and humor to show how people can reduce their consumption and simplify their lives. With stories of real people from Seattle to the Netherlands who have altered their lifestyles and re-discovered the joy of living, Escape from Affluenza offers the antidote to debt, stress, time-pressure, and possession-overload.

August 20 - Wednesday, 7 p.m.-dark
Arboretum Native Plant Garden Tour: "Native Grasses." As summer ends and fall approaches, we will take a closer look at our native grasses, from tiny mustache grass to big bluestem. Find out how to identify these attractive plants and grow them in your native garden.

Madison's Semi-annual Fall/Winter Half-Pint Resale is Friday, August 22 1-7pm and Saturday, August 23 9-Noon (Half-Price Sale from 1-3pm), located at the Madison Labor Temple (1602 S. Park St., Madison 53715), and sponsored by Sheet Metal Workers Local 565. Support local families by coming to the Madison-area semi-annual quality children's consignment sale. Find great deals on unique items for children ages 0-7, as well as baby gear, maternity clothing and handmade children's items from local artists. New consignors always welcome!

August 23 - Saturday, 9 a.m.-noon
Arboretum Ecological Restoration Work Party: "Core Area and Curtis Prairie." Volunteer for restoration activities and learn about prairies and savannas. Tools and training are provided, and groups are welcome with advance notice. Meet at the front steps of the Visitor Center. For more information: 265-5214 or mlfarrior@wisc.edu

August 24 - Sunday, 8:30-10 a.m.
Arboretum Walk: "Curtis Prairie." At this time of year, you can walk the prairie and imagine what it was like for settlers to see prairies for the first time -- with grasses and flowers towering overhead -- unlike anything in Europe.

Urban Assault Ride returns to Madison on August 24

August 24 at 9 AM
Olin Park: 1156 Olin-Turville Ct
Cost: $45/per person
Registration/Information: www.urbanassaultride.com

The Trek Urban Assault Ride, that funky bike scavenger hunt that sends two-person teams riding to checkpoints around town to complete crazy obstacle courses at each stop, returns to Madison on August 24.

"Weston A. Price Foundation - Madison Chapter"

Nutrient-Dense Foods - Education & Activism

Mon. Aug. 25 - Chapter meeting 7 pm, Wil-Mar Center, 953 Jenifer St., the
public is invited. For more info, call Carolyn at 221-8696 or see
http://www.madisonwapf.org/

The Old Royal Inn in historic downtown Mineral Point is holding Local Food Celebration Dinners on the 4th Wed of each month. We try to use as much local and seasonal ingredients as possible and try to include as many different producers/farmers as possible. Local musicians play from 5:30 to 6:30, then everyone sits down in the dinning room at the same time to break bread together by candle light. The producers are usually on hand to discuss their product and answer any questions from the group. It is usually a 5 or 6 course meal that ranges from $18 to $25 depending on the offerings.

Madison's Semi-annual Fall/Winter Half-Pint Resale is Friday, August 22 1-7pm and Saturday, August 23 9-Noon (Half-Price Sale from 1-3pm), located at the Madison Labor Temple (1602 S. Park St., Madison 53715), and sponsored by Sheet Metal Workers Local 565. Support local families by coming to the Madison-area semi-annual quality children's consignment sale. Find great deals on unique items for children ages 0-7, as well as baby gear, maternity clothing and handmade children's items from local artists. New consignors always welcome!