by Renée Stewart-Hester | Mar 1, 2026 | Arts, Featured, Shops
An artist feeds her creative fire by listening and learning. It began with an assignment at Minnetonka Middle School East (MME). Students were tasked with researching a topic they were interested in but knew little about. For Claire Coffee, the choice was clear—in a...
by Editorial Staff | Mar 1, 2026 | Giving Back, Outdoors
Despite a temperature of 7 degrees and a brisk breeze, nearly 300 hardy divers registered for the 2026 ALARC Charity Ice Dive in Excelsior. The annual New Year’s Day fundraiser began in 1990 and raises money for several organizations, including Excelsior Fire...
by Danielle Gallus | Feb 10, 2026 | Giving Back
Lake Minnetonka Magazine is a proud sponsor of the annual fundraiser. Dedicated to bringing the community together, The Arc Minnesota will honor individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities at its annual gala on March 7. This year’s mission is to...
by Madeline Kopiecki | Feb 5, 2026 | Arts, Shops
The new self-led tour includes artists, live music and local businesses. Eighteen artists will host designated art zones throughout downtown Excelsior for the first-ever Excelsior Art Crawl, which takes place from 11 a.m.–5 p.m. February 7 and 8. “A typical art zone...
by Danielle Gallus | Feb 3, 2026 | Noteworthy, Restaurants, Shops
Sip warm refreshments while shopping small on February 21 in downtown Excelsior. The Excelsior-Lake Minnetonka Chamber of Commerce and over 20 participating businesses will treat community members to hot cocoa and cookies during the Hot Cocoa Stroll. Although the...
by Hailey Almsted | Feb 3, 2026 | People, Sports
Meet those from the West Metro who have gold medal dreams. The Opening Ceremony for the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games arrives on February 6, and the North Star State will be well represented in Italy. Minnesota is set to send the second-most amount of...
by Renée Stewart-Hester | Feb 1, 2026 | Uncategorized
Even after all these years, the moment is saved in my heart. As I stood that afternoon at the bottom of the church stairs, leading up to the narthex, I told myself to be in the moment. Release the nerves; let in the joy. And walk. Just walk up those stairs, take my...
by Diane Meyer | Feb 1, 2026 | Giving Back, Outdoors, Pets
Update: the Klondike Dog Derby has been canceled for 2026 due to lack of snow. Embrace winter adventure at the annual Klondike Dog Derby March 6 and 7 by participating in prerace events and cheering on world class mushers and dogs. The teams will race through the...
by Avery Vrieze | Feb 1, 2026 | Education, Noteworthy, Weddings
Talking about money isn’t always easy, especially when a couple is juggling the excitement and expenses of planning a wedding. Hannah and Brady Rein understand it all too well. The accountants-by-day created Financially Engaged, a platform designed to help partners,...
by Liz Potasek | Feb 1, 2026 | Arts, Education, Noteworthy, Weddings
If the engaged couple wants to take a hands-on approach with their invitations, addressing the envelopes can bring some personalization to the experience. Not everyone has lovely or legible handwriting, but where there’s a will, there’s a way! Allison Hague teaches...
by Raela Schoenherr | Feb 1, 2026 | Book Club, Noteworthy
While the title and book cover suggest lighthearted reading, Cara Bastone’s romance novel is beautifully written with plenty of emotional depth about friendship, family, becoming a parent, growing up and embracing change. When a 20-something woman finds herself...
by Alexandra Tostrud | Feb 1, 2026 | Arts, Weddings
Painter Leanne Larson creates a unique, colorful memory of special celebrations. Wedding days can be memorialized in countless ways, but paintings created on site have exploded in popularity as a unique way to commemorate the momentous life event. Leanne Larson, a...
by Katie Tomsche | Feb 1, 2026 | Entertain, Noteworthy, Recipes, Weddings
Who says cake can only make an appearance at the wedding reception? Fresh lemon and almond flavoring marry to create this heavenly cake, which is rich, dense and amazingly light. With simplicity and beauty, it’s perfect to serve at an engagement party or wedding...
by Renée Stewart-Hester | Feb 1, 2026 | Weddings
When Lake Minnetonka offers a gorgeous wedding photo backdrop, the quintessential dip-kiss moment elevates to an entirely new level. Mycah Bain Photography captured the special moment for wedding couple Paige and Joe Slattery. With the ceremony at Orono’s Noerenberg...
by Hailey Almsted | Feb 1, 2026 | Noteworthy, Weddings
Accidental spills, dress snags, lipstick smudges, unwanted headaches—the list of potential wedding day kerfuffles goes on. Whether before or during the festivities, a well-stocked emergency kit can answer most SOS calls. Consider it a Mary Poppins bag filled with...
