by Emily Gedde | Dec 1, 2025 | Noteworthy, Pets
Getting members of your household ready for holiday photos can be a logistical challenge—from photo-ready outfits to fresh haircuts. You, spouse and kids: check, check and check. But did you remember to schedule dog grooming for one of the most photogenic family...
by Katie Tomsche | Dec 1, 2025 | Noteworthy, Recipes
This recipe is light and fluffy, filling the kitchen with the dreamy scent of maple syrup. And that buttery maple-rum glaze? It forms a golden, almost butterscotch-like crust, taking this cake to the next level. It’s an outstanding make-ahead hostess gift that can be...
by Renée Stewart-Hester | Dec 1, 2025 | Entertain, Gift Guides, Local Makers
Let holiday desserts serve up sweet flavors and stunning table décor. Does anyone else fall victim to SHDF—seasonal holiday decision fatigue? The questions come tumbling down this time of year like a never-ending blizzard. What to buy, bake or serve; who to gift,...
by Diane Meyer and Renée Stewart-Hester | Dec 1, 2025 | Outdoors, Sports
Frozen Lake Minnetonka serves a wintry mix of outdoor activities. When Lake Minnetonka—in all its dynamic beauty—sits right in your community backyard, it warrants attention—all year-round. We’re well versed by now when it comes to warm-weather exploits. Winter also...
by Renée Stewart-Hester | Dec 1, 2025 | Photo Contest
In the depth of winter, it’s often lovely to receive a reminder of what awaits after the thaw and springtime emerges. And in this time of gift giving, voters in our annual photo contest gifted James Diebel’s Spring Double Rainbow with the Readers’ Choice Award. “This...
by Diane Meyer and Renée Stewart-Hester | Dec 1, 2025 | Outdoors, Wellness
Paul Frantzich wasn’t a fan of the cold. But taking an icy plunge for the first time four years ago during a frozen Minnesota February, he suddenly felt as though “nature was aware” of him, he says. Frantzich was invigorated by his resilience as he overcame his...
by Rima Parikh | Dec 1, 2025 | Book Club, Education, Noteworthy
Ben Orlin, a St. Paul teacher turned author, has collected old fashioned paper-and-pencil games from around the world. Math Games with Bad Drawings: The Ultimate Game Collection features 75 math-inspired games, each easy to learn, endlessly playable and perfect for...
by Madeline Kopiecki | Nov 25, 2025 | Featured, Gift Guides, Giving Back, Shops
Water Street will be aglow with lights and holiday cheer. On November 28 and 29, downtown Excelsior will transform into a festive winter wonderland with a little help from the Excelsior Lions Club. The inaugural Christmas in Excelsior was designed with the community...
by Renée Stewart-Hester | Nov 1, 2025 | Uncategorized
While tucking in for a chat with a cabin neighbor, I noticed a plaque hanging in her kitchen, just outside of dining room guests’ view: “Be like a duck. Remain calm on the surface and paddle like crazy underneath.” The quote, often attributed to actor Michael Caine,...
by Jennifer Pitterle | Nov 1, 2025 | Local Makers
Let’s Dish celebrates two decades and expands its ready-to-bake options. When the holiday season kicks into high gear, the heat is on—especially in the kitchen. Meal preparation can feel like it’s on a never-ending rotation. Cooking food for a celebration here or...
by Raela Schoenherr | Nov 1, 2025 | Book Club, Noteworthy
The Lager Queen of Minnesota by J. Ryan Stradal might just be the ideal novel to read during this holiday season as it’s filled with familial ties. Set in Minnesota, the novel features characters that could feel like your relative, neighbor or the people you grew up...
by Renée Stewart-Hester | Nov 1, 2025 | Arts, Noteworthy, Shops
Artist Rich Sladek is set to feature his work November 29 to December 7 at the 31st annual holiday boutique at the Gillespie Center, 2590 Commerce Blvd., Mound. (Visit gillespiecenter.org for details.) The Orono resident will include greeting cards, posters, stone...
by Feroza Mehta and Renée Stewart-Hester | Nov 1, 2025 | Entertain, Recipes
Some recipes know how to behave while traveling for Thanksgiving. Whether you’re driving a couple of hours, heading across the Metro or just stepping down the street, traveling with a dish to share for a Thanksgiving gathering can cause some travel troubles. Spillage...
by Renée Stewart-Hester | Nov 1, 2025 | Entertain, Interior Design, Shops
From holiday celebrations to weekday dining, tableware brings timeless elegance. Preparing a dining table or buffet for life’s special occasions, including Thanksgiving, requires a creative balance that begins with a foundation—setting a lovely and inviting table that...
by Renée Stewart-Hester | Nov 1, 2025 | Photo Contest
Gundula Behbahani captured the striking saffron and blue-gray sky over Lake Minnetonka during a spontaneous moment on her way home from work when she decided to stop and enjoy the sunset. “Afterglow captures the beautiful sunsets we experience on Lake Minnetonka—the...
