Onlookers watched as a decommissioned vessel was set ablaze. In 1901, Dr. George LaPaul had a stern-wheel steamboat built bearing his name at a cost...
Community
What’s at the Bottom of Minnesota’s Lakes? These Marine Archaeologists Are Finding Out
Husband and wife team of marine archaeologists have made it their mission to study what’s at the bottom of local lakes. Despite Minnesota’s early...
Senior Spotlight: Volunteering is Vincent Cao’s Passion
Inpired by family, Wayzata High School student Vincent Cao finds ways to give back. Our annual Senior Spotlight feature highlights the high school...
Chamber of Commerce Director Shares Why She Loves the Lake Minnetonka Area
Chamber director Laura Hotvet shares her lifelong passion for the Excelsior area. “I live in Shorewood, not far from where I grew up,” says Laura...
The History of Oak Hill Cemetery Holds Lessons for the Present
The graves of residents past can remind us of what’s important. Many have driven past and visited Oak Hill Cemetery, located along Excelsior...
This Summer on Lake Minnetonka, Watch the Dramatic Flight of the Dragonfly
Nature’s beauty is rich and intense this month. The drama of Lake Minnetonka in July is hard to resist: the boats, the teenagers, the sparkle of the...
‘Ultra-long Exposure’ Photo Makes Lake Minnetonka Look ‘Mystical’
A long exposure captures the stillness of a summer sunset on Lake Minnetonka. Each month, we feature one of the winning photos from our 2018 Lens on...
Twin City Polo Club Plays ‘Hockey on Horses’
We visit the Twin City Polo Club in Maple Plain. One of our best suggestions for a fun, outdoor family event this summer is polo. Just fill up the...
Excelsior Native Makes a Good Hat That Gives Back
Local biz makes stylish outdoor apparel and gives back. Excelsior native Tony Filippi founded Summit Creek Hat Co. last summer, inspired to create a...
Meet the Best of Lake Minnetonka 2019
We celebrate the winners of our 2019 Best of Lake Minnetonka readers’ choice survey, and celebrate how wonderful it is to watch our neighborhoods,...
Wayzata’s Renaissance Man of Television Reflects on Career in Hollywood
Wayzata-based TV producer, writer and actor Bo Kaprall shares his show biz success story. “Downtime” and “time off” are not words that easily fit...
Local Photographer Captures Summer on Gray’s Bay
"Summer in the Lake Minnetonka area for me is about color, beautiful sunsets, people out and about, and outdoor seating at restaurants." Each month,...
Minnetonka Theatre Alum Now Leads Hennepin Theatre Trust’s Education Efforts
Minnetonka native takes on new theater role. Some people explore a life in the theater because they fall in love with a particular show. For others,...
Local Author Has Been ‘Hooked On History’ Since Age 12
Love of lake history. At age 12, Scott McGinnis read a biography about Winston Churchill that kickstarted his path as a historian. “His life was so...
The Tragedy of Lake Minnetonka’s Halsted Brothers
The lives of the Halsted brothers ended sadly near the Lake Minnetonka bay that bears their name. After serving in the Civil War as a Navy captain,...
National Youth Sailing Championship Comes to Lake Minnetonka
Minnetonka Yacht Club hosts the ILYA X-boat Youth Championship. For the first time since 2006, Lake Minnetonka will be home to the exclusive youth...
Lake Minnetonka’s Very Own Boy—Er, Make That Man—Band
Manhassen strikes a fun chord as a homegrown cover band. An engineer, an entrepreneur and a couple of account managers walk into a bar … Since 2014,...
You’re Never Too Old to Learn Something New
Natalie Webster goes back to school. I’m 48 years old. Though I didn’t go to college, I never stopped learning. I don’t have a formal education in...
Opportunities, Resources and Activities for Seniors in the Lake Minnetonka Area
With the senior population skyrocketing in the years to come—and with seniors wanting more out of their later years—local organizations adjust in...
Sweat-proof Your Hat or Helmet with These Locally Invented Liners
Tonka Bay native patents a moisture-wicking liner for hats and helmets. It seemed odd to Justin Johnson that this ubiquitous problem—getting a...
