Minnesota Monthly November/December 2022

The Spirit of Minnesota

PlUs

bEst New ResTaUranTs + ChEf of the yeAr

If you’re considering making a charitable gift this year, think beyond writing a check. Non-cash donations like real estate, stocks or retirement assets can have an enormous impact in your community.

Thanks for voting us #1 in service!

Minnesota, you’ve never seen anything quite like this.

Walk through our doors and you won’t believe your eyes. Everywhere you turn there’s more. In fact, a typical store carries 8,167 unique wines, 4,874 unique spirits and 2,693 unique beers. Sure, we have unbeatable selection and prices, but we bet you’ll keep coming back for unrivaled service.

Plan your visit at TotalWine.com.

The first thing you notice at Total Wine & More is the unbelievable selection. That’s because everywhere you turn, in every aisle, there’s— well, more. But believe this: A typical store carries 8,167 unique wines—with up to a quarter of a million bottles on the shelves—4,874 unique spirits and 2,693 unique beers.

BEST

From arts and culture to shopping and services, our writers and readers select their favorites of 2022.

Where should you dine next? These new establishments deserve all the buzz. Plus, chef Daniel del Prado is our chef of the year.

Face of a Top Minnesota Dermatologist

Face of a Top Minnesota Dermatologist

Look Good, Feel Great with Beautiful Skin.

Look Good, Feel Great with Beautiful Skin.

TM

Dr. Crutchfield has been re co gnized by his peers as a “ Top Doctor” annually , f or the past 2 1 years.

Dr. Crutchfield has been re co gnized by his peers as a “ Top Doctor” annually , f or the past 2 1 years.

“At Crutchfield Dermatology, I see every patient personally. We specialize in medical dermatology such as acne, psoriasis, eczema, vitiligo, and ethnic skin-of-color concerns. We are also a nationally recognized leader in cosmetic dermatology including Botox, fillers, and laser treatments. I want people to look great for their age, not di e rent. Less is more. Most importantly, I perform all the cosmetic treatments, personally.”

“At Crutchfield Dermatology, I see every patient personally. We specialize in medical dermatology such as acne, psoriasis, eczema, vitiligo, and ethnic skin-of-color concerns. We are also a nationally recognized leader in cosmetic dermatology including Botox, fillers, and laser treatments. I want people to look great for their age, not di e rent. Less is more. Most importantly, I perform all the cosmetic treatments, personally ”

Charles E. Crutchfield III, MD ’s countless honors include the Mayo Clinic ’s Karis Humanitarian Award and being named one of “100 Most Influential Health Care Leaders” b y Minnesota Physician Magazine . Whether for medical or aesthetic concerns, if you or a loved one deserves the highest quality skin care f r om a le ading dermatologist, Crutchfield Dermatology is the right call.

Charles E. Crutchfield III, MD ’s countless honors include the Mayo Clinic ’s Karis Humanitarian Award and being named one of “100 Most Influential Health Care Leaders” b y Minnesota Physician Magazine Whether for medical or aesthetic concerns, if you or a loved one deserves the highest quality skin care f r om a le ading dermatologist, Crutchfield Dermatology is the right call.

“Experience counts. Quality matters.”

Jason reviews Noyes & Cutler, Molly Yeh loves Thanksgiving, Earl Giles opens 117

Rod Kaats is the Ordway’s oracle, holiday shows open, “Hockeyland” follows two Minnesota teams, Nov/Dec events

Duluth’s

Dudley

Edmondson was profiled in the PBS series “America Outdoors with Baratunde Thurston.” The program also asked Minnesotans David and Lise Abazs and Dave and Amy Freeman about their conservations efforts

Sept/Oct’s Where in MN?

THE WINNING RESPONSE

These beautiful doors belong to the Plummer Building, located on the Mayo Clinic campus in Rochester. I had the good fortune of working in that building for a number of years. Each day, I admired the beautiful architecture and would notice something new that I had not seen before. It is truly spectacular!

–Jeffrey Huhn, Rochester

See p. 18 for this month’s Where in MN?

and outdoors activism. Read more about both couples at MINNESOTAMONTHLY.COM/ AMERICAOUTDOORS

In an extended interview with psychotherapist and author Corey Yeager, managing editor Erik Tormoen asks about the

impetus of his book and how grace factors into health MINNESOTAMONTHLY.COM/ COREYYEAGER

Editor Amy Nelson reviews products, events, and odds and ends in her column at MINNESOTAMONTHLY.COM/ EDITORSPICKS

SCENE FROM PBS’ “AMERICA OUTDOORS WITH BARATUNDE THURSTON”

The Call of the Loon

can something be called common but be exceptional at the same time? We think so, and it’s why we chose the loon— technically known as the common loon—to illustrate this Best Of issue. If you’ve ever spent time on a Minnesota lake and heard the hauntingly distinct call of a loon, you know there’s nothing standard or simple about Minnesota’s state bird.

Creative Director Tonya Sutfi n fi rst suggested the loon to symbolize our editors’ picks and reader survey results for the best in Minnesota. “I think loons are beautiful and graceful,” she texted me as we worked through the creative process. Her text arrived about the same time a good friend’s daughter was ending her summer internship with the National Loon Center in Crosslake. I learned quite a bit following this college student’s blog posts and hearing about all the work the center is doing for loon conservation e orts. I went back and re-read our 2021 story “How Minnesota Could Lose the Loon” for additional context and understanding.

After enthusiastically agreeing to the artistic suggestion, we reached out to illustrator Alexis Politz, who is included in our Best Of list as the best up-and-coming illustrator, to create this striking cover image and clever art for our feature story. After a few tweaks to the ripples on the water, the medal in the mouth, and the size of the loon’s eye, we think we landed on a majestic illustration. We hope you agree.

PUBLISHER Tammy Galvin

EDITORIAL

EDITORIAL DIRECTOR Alesha Taylor

EDITOR Amy Nelson

MANAGING EDITOR Erik Tormoen

FOOD EDITOR Jason DeRusha

AESTHETIC EDITOR Jerrod Sumner

CUSTOM PUBLICATIONS SENIOR EDITOR Mary Subialka

CUSTOM PUBLICATIONS ASSOCIATE EDITORS

Samantha Johnson, Katherine Lawless

PROOFREADER Anna Buchholz Bagiackas

EDITORIAL INTERNS Emma Enebak, Frank Lien, Kate Linggi

ART

CREATIVE DIRECTOR Tonya Sutfin

ASSOCIATE ART DIRECTOR Natalie Pechman

GRAPHIC DESIGN INTERN Caitlin Nourse

PRODUCTION

PRODUCTION MANAGER Ly Nguyen

DIGITAL PRODUCTION DIRECTOR Deidra Anderson

ADVERTISING COORDINATOR Mikayla Snyder

INTEGRATED MARKETING

ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER + DIRECTOR OF MARKETING, EVENTS & PARTNERSHIPS Arthur Morrissey

EVENT OPERATIONS MANAGER Rick Krueger

COMMUNICATIONS SPECIALIST Teghan Murphy

SOCIAL MEDIA INTERN Laura Simonson

SALES

SENIOR ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE Kristin Gantman

ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES Sue Fuller, Lori Herz, Lori Miller

EVENT ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE Scott Rorvig

SALES + MARKETING SPECIALISTS

Madeline Braverman, Kirsten Heiland

BUSINESS

DIRECTOR OF BUSINESS OPERATIONS Kathie Gorecki

ACCOUNTING ASSOCIATE Natasha Baj j u

CIRCULATION

CIRCULATION MANAGER Riley Meyers

CIRCULATION ASSISTANT Cathy Krajenke

EDITORIAL & BUSINESS OFFICE

GREENSPRING MEDIA

9401 James Ave. S., Suite 152 Bloomington, MN 55431 612-371-5800 FAX 612-371-5801

HOUR MEDIA CEO Stefan Wanczyk

PRESIDENT John Balardo

SUBSCRIPTIONS & BACK ISSUES

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EDITORIAL To contact the editorial department with feedback, freelance submissions, or story suggestions, go to minnesotamonthly.com/contact.

ADVERTISING Information about advertising is available at minnesotamonthly.com/advertise or by calling 612-371-5800.

Amy Nelson, Editor anelson@greenspring.com

The pages between the covers of this magazine (except for any inserted material) are made from wood fiber that was procured from forests that are sustainably managed to remain healthy, productive, and biologically diverse.

Wayne Catan is a book critic whose work has appeared in The New York Times, USA Today, the Los Angeles Review of Books, the Minneapolis Star Tribune, The Millions, Chapter 16, and the Pi sburgh Post-Gaze e. He teaches English literature at Brophy College Preparatory in Phoenix, where he also serves as the head wrestling coach. For this issue, he reviewed a new book by Nick Hornby about Prince and Charles Dickens (p. 17).

How Do You Embrace Winter?

Show us how you enjoy winter in Minnesota and the spectacular scenes the season offers by submi ing your images in a new photo contest. We are looking for a variety of examples of Minnesota’s winter wonderland, captured by our readers and taken within the past two years, to display in the Jan/Feb issue of Minnesota Monthly and in an online gallery. A winning image—as judged by us—will be awarded $250 and may be featured on the magazine cover. Both amateur and professional photographers may participate, and high-resolution versions are required for print. Submit your work at MinnesotaMonthly.com/winter-photocontest by Monday, Nov. 7

Part art director, part designer, total creative does-it-all-er, Melanie Haroldson is one of those le -brain creatives who loves organizing information and solving tricky creative puzzles just as much as she loves directing concepts and shots that look beautiful. An award-winning designer and creative director, she is the co-founder of the photography collaborative The Pegboard and owner of Haroldson Art & Design. For this issue, she helped style the holiday gi guide (p. 40).

Freelance photographer Cle is Wright creates elevated imagery for commercial and advertising campaigns in print and on social media platforms. He is an awardwinning landscape photographer and published fine artist. An avid adventurer of the outdoors, he explores and photographs on extended backpacking and kayak expeditions. He photographed the holiday gi guide (p. 40) for this issue.

Stories

PHOTO CONTEST:

The fastest growing cancer in the United States is preventable.

One of several types of throat cancer, oropharynx (OPX) cancer develops behind the mouth in the tonsils and tongue. Risk factors for OPX cancer are common, including use of tobacco, use of alcohol, and exposure to virus. But the most prevalent cause over the last decade is the sexually transmitted infection known as human papillomavirus (HPV), making OPX cancer become the fastest growing cancer in the U.S.

Thankfully—in addition to the innovative treatment plans pioneered by experts at Mayo Clinic—HPV-related cancers are preventable. If you or your children have not been vaccinated for HPV, ask your doctor for guidance on vaccination.

Comprehensive care you expect in a one-of-a-kind clinic.

By a ecting the back of the mouth where the base of the tongue and throat come together, OPX cancer and its treatment can impact everyday quality of life in a variety of ways: breathing, swallowing, tasting, chewing, smiling, talking, and singing—to name a few. For this reason, the Oropharynx Cancer Clinic at Mayo Clinic’s campus in Rochester, Minnesota, is designed to focus on a patient’s goals for quality of life.

The multidisciplinary team is pioneering novel approaches to individualized treatment for patients with OPX cancer, and begins the process for each by meeting collectively pre-treatment in a single room with the patient. The team’s collaborative approach leads to personal, comprehensive, and e cient care during a stressful time for patients, saving a significant amount of time that would otherwise require multiple visits. Experts specializing in otolaryngology, oncology, radiation oncology, and more, when needed, speak with the patient about the diagnosis, minimally invasive treatment options, and likely outcomes to align on an individualized treatment plan. According to clinic founders, the most important person on the care team is the patient.

mayoclinic.org/visitorguide

HPV vaccines are the only way to fully prevent HPV-related cancers.

4 in 5 women

will have been infected with HPV by age 50

Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) 5:1

Rate which HPV in males outpaces HPV in females, yet vaccination lags among males

1 vaccine

The HPV vaccine is recommended as routine vaccination for boys and girls between the age of 11 and 12. Before age 15, the vaccine requires two doses. If after age 15, the vaccine requires three doses and is approved through the age of 45

A multidisciplinary team of experts with a single focus.

The team at the Oropharynx Cancer Clinic are leading research in cancer care, using innovative techniques and technology.

Let’s take a look at the clinic’s approaches to treatment, a combination of which is determined within each individualized treatment plan.

Surgery: Head and neck surgeons specialize in minimally invasive surgical techniques, including transoral robotic surgery, and 3D printed models for care planning.

Radiation therapy: Since many of the long-term e ects of OPX cancer treatment are related to radiation dose received, radiotherapy dose is tailored to patient risk factors.

The right amount of treatment goes a long way.

It’s not uncommon for patients to arrive at the Oropharynx Cancer Clinic frightened about traditional diagnosis and treatment of OPX cancer. Where traditional treatment is long, aggressive, inflexible, and greatly impacts quality of life, the minimally invasive, less intensive techniques used by the clinic give its team the ability to provide just the right amount of treatment for each person, and nothing more. For example, the de-escalation of radiation therapy dose and volume can result in fewer side e ects and improved quality of life. This personalized approach to treating OPX cancer wouldn’t be possible without access to the latest technology and innovative techniques available at Mayo Clinic.

Chemotherapy: Medical oncologists select the chemotherapy drugs that are most likely to be e ective against the patient’s cancer cells. The care team helps manage side e ects. For people with throat cancer, chemotherapy is often used after surgery to kill any remaining cancer cells. Sometimes it’s combined with radiation therapy.

Reconstructive surgery: Some patients with head and neck cancer may need reconstructive surgery to regain mouth function. OPX head and neck surgeons use the latest techniques in reconstructive surgery for restoring the ability to speak and eat.

Rehabilitation: Specialists in speech and swallowing therapies, dietetics, physical therapy, and occupational therapy help patients through the recovery process after treatment.

Building more momentum for less intense treatment.

Two clinical trials focused on reducing side e ects and recovery time have generated critical data at the Oropharynx Cancer Clinic. The clinic’s nimble structure, shorter treatments, and 90% patient participation rate allows its experts to gather significant data in a relatively short amount of time, transforming the way HPV-related OPX cancer is treated. With rigorous standards for record keeping that spans patient treatment plans, outcomes, and long-term recovery, the trials lay the groundwork for continuous learning and advancement while improving quality of life for patients.

Pictured on left page: Eric J. Moore, M.D.

Pictured above left: Daniel L. Price, M.D.

Right: Michelle A. Neben Wittich, M.D.

Katharine A. Price, M.D.Daniel J. Ma, M.D.

Forget ‘ author .’ Add ‘model’ to your resume,” Carrie Yeager jokes to her husband, Corey Yeager, who sits a few feet away in the Yeager family’s Brooklyn Park home as a photographer readies his camera. For the photo shoot, the 53-year-old therapist is ensconced in his “sacred space”—a well-worn leather chair where he wrote most of his new self-help book, “How Am I Doing?: 40 Conversations to Have With Yourself.” Two shih tzus have stationed themselves near Corey like tiny guardians—Champ, perched next to Corey’s shoulder, and ESPN, curled up on the ottoman.

Prior to authorship, Corey had already filled out a tall resume. Among his former clients are some big names: the Smithsonian Institute, the Oprah Winfrey Network. Last year, he appeared on the Apple TV+ show “The Me You Can’t See,” co-hosted by Winfrey and Prince Harry, to o er therapeutic expertise. He previously served as director of educational equity for Minneapolis Public Schools, helped to break in the state’s O ce of Black Male Student Achievement, and, as a researcher, dug into the “family system” by which he says African Americans have supported one another’s emotional and mental wellness through community bonds and “fictive kinship.”

In late 2018, Corey also started as the psychotherapist for the Detroit Pistons basketball team, regularly flying to Michigan for sessions with the players. The Pistons hired him shortly before the National Basketball Association mandated that teams retain at least one mental health professional. He chose to commute to Detroit rather than disturb his roots in Minnesota, where he has lived about half his life. “Even though I wish I could be home more, the family’s deeply understanding of the work that I do,” he says later.

All four of the Yeager sons play, or played, football, so Corey and Carrie travel to Iowa and North Carolina for college games, and wedge high school practices into the airtight, color-coded schedule on Carrie’s laptop. A football player himself growing up, Corey made it to the National Football League draft after a standout Division I run at Long Beach State—but the NFL didn’t pick him. Feeling crushed, he ultimately moved on, and by his mid30s, Corey was working at Ford Motor Company’s St. Paul plant. By then, he had met and married Carrie, who saw something in him that he had overlooked. At 6’3”, he says his size long defined him. “I think I had been sold a bill of goods that my physical stature was really what made me who I am. I was absolutely wrong.” Carrie pushed Corey to take night classes at Metropolitan State University, and

when the plant shuttered, he says he turned down a $100,000 payout for an educational scholarship.

What led him to become a marriage and family therapist?

“I had some struggles with alcohol, and Carrie and I, maybe seven years or eight years into our marriage, went to therapy together,” he says. Therapy had never graced his radar—but now he wanted more of it. The first in his family to get a bachelor’s degree, Corey went on to earn a master’s in psychotherapy from Argosy University and a doctorate degree in family social science from the University of Minnesota. As a therapist, he may be exercising what he says his grandmother named his “gift of discernment” back when he was 10 years old. “People’s stories are deeply important to me, so if you tell me a story, I cherish that ... because you didn’t have to share that with me.”

Set for an Oct. 18 release, “How Am I Doing?” deploys a series of questions, along with Corey’s own self-reflections, that he has commonly posed to his clients. The hardest question, he says, hinges on nuance: “Do you love to win, or hate to lose?” (Corey loves to win.) The prompts are open-ended, but the first—“Who knows you best?”—has a correct answer, he suggests: No one knows you better than you do. “This is what therapy is about,” he says. “It’s about eliciting a-ha moments, becoming more aware of yourself and others.”

When the photo shoot ends, Corey comes in from the front yard, seeming fresh and energized, and sinks again into his sacred space. This interview has been edited for length.

Could you tell me about this chair being your “sacred space”?

Oftentimes, sacred spaces call us; we don’t necessarily call them. And I think that’s what happened here. We always had a

centrally located seat that I’ve claimed. Over time, we had a lot of family conversations with me sitting here and the family sitting around me— moments where I was in thought about where we’re headed as a family. Then, as I started to write the book, I was sitting here. God, this space right here is central to so many things that we do, that I do. This is sacred to me.

When you were about to get involved with the NBA as a therapist, did it almost feel too close to something that would be painful to think about—how you went far in football but weren’t picked by the NFL? No, I think that I’ve always had the yearning and kind of love and passion for sports. So, as I began my master’s, my grandmother, Granny, who I write about in the book, was in her early 90s. I called her and said, “Granny, I’m going to go into a master’s program.” Well, my grandmother had a sixth-grade education but was easily the most wise person I’ve ever encountered; I don’t foresee encountering anyone as wise as her in my lifetime. And she said, “Well, baby, I don’t know what a master’s is. But this is what I want you to do: I want you to sit down. I want you to write out whatever your dream is for that master’s, or that education. Fold it up, tuck it in your Bible, and go about your work.” So, I did. I wrote down, in 2007, “I want to find a way to use therapy to work in the NFL or the NBA.” I wrote that down 15 years ago, tucked it away, and went about my business—but always thinking I want to find a way to be a part of that sports world and connect psychology to it.

Last year, The New York Times reported that more Black people were turning to therapy, and a number of Black public figures spoke openly about seeking that kind of help. Megan Thee Stallion, for instance, talked about a stigma in Black communities around therapy and mental wellness. Could you speak to that stigma and cultural shi ?

I think the cultural shift is incremental. Very small, but important nonetheless. This stigma that is occurring, in terms of mental wellness and that approach for the African American community, specifically, is rooted in a 400-year history in this

country. This stigma that the African American community has is rooted in a long and storied history, that is not trusting of the networks, the social endeavors that will say, “Hey, come on in, we’re going to treat you well.” Yeah, what happened in the Tuskegee Institute? What happened with all of those pieces that made us say, “Hey, we don’t necessarily trust that”? So, we’re not going to just jump in and tell you our deep-rooted struggles and stories, because we have a lower level of trust, and rightfully so. I think there’s some change, but our trust level is still very low.

Your book ends on the idea of grace. What is the meaning of grace?

I see grace as finding the ability that, if someone, or ourselves, makes a mistake, or makes a stumble or fumble, I can say, “No, that’s alright. Don’t worry about it. It’s OK. We can move past that.” I think, as human beings, we’re good at doing that with everyone else. We’re not great at doing it with ourselves. We don’t give ourselves that same grace that we give everyone else. It’s one of the reasons I closed with grace, because I think the next thing I want to talk about, and write about, is probably more deeply looking at, “So, what is grace? How do we use it? What does it mean to us? How does it benefit us? Why do we struggle with giving grace to ourselves?” That’s something that you’ll see with me: I’m always curious about a lot of things.

Where do you think that curiosity comes from?

It has to come from those early years in my upbringing. My dad was sick and passed away when I was 15. And I remember, when he passed away, thinking, “The world is continuing to move, but I have to deal with the loss of my father. I wonder why no one is addressing this issue in the way that I think they should.” But I didn’t say it to anyone. I was thinking about it. No one was really talking through that. I didn’t go to therapy. But I was struggling. So, I think those are some early roots of me being curious about things that I may not be able to change but I wanted to understand more.

Today, what would you tell your younger self, just a er you didn’t get that NFL dra pick?

I would tell my younger self, “Hey, somehow, it’s all going to work out. Because you’re a good person. And you’re a hard worker. It may not seem like it’s going to work out in the struggles that you’re going to have to traverse. But it will ultimately all work out.’’ So, if I could have heard those words, I think it would have been helpful. Because I had no idea, when football was done—I didn’t have a degree, I had no idea what I was going to do. None. I say it all the time: In life, we must be rivers, not ponds. A pond can be a stagnant piece of water. But a river is ever regenerating and moving. So, as human beings, that’s what we have to do. We have to keep moving.

Corey Yeager sits in his “sacred space” next to his family dogs, Champ (top) and ESPN

More Than a Mall

MINNESOTA MALLS ARE ANSWERING SHOPPERS’ CALLS TO CENTER COMMUNITY AND CULTURE

by KATHERINE LAWLESS

Time and time again, we hear that shopping malls are on life support. Shopping centers around the country have faced a decline in annual visitors since the mid-2000s, amid the dawn of online shopping and the 2008 recession. And recent times have felt even more dire. By the end of 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic had reduced mall visitation across the country to less than half of what it was in 2019, according to a shopper analytics company. Pandemic-era consumers have become used to the perks of shopping online, and malls continue to deal with vacancies and lost revenue. In Minnesota, shopping centers have lost anchoring department stores and need new tenants and new draws.

But forget what you heard. In a new book, design critic Alexandra Lange says malls have a lot of life left. “Meet Me by the Fountain: An Inside History of the Mall” argues that the future of malls lies in the inclusion of community-oriented experiences, such as diversified food courts, health care clinics, recreation centers, and cultural events.

Lange appears to have a point. Earlier this year, CNBC reported that retailers had net store opening increases in 2021 after several previous years of net declines, and suburban retail center tra c has nearly returned to 2019 levels.

Locally, Minnesota malls are defying expectations with new o erings and openings. In Eden Prairie, the Asia Mall is set to become the Twin Cities’ first pan-Asian mall, anchored by an Asian grocery store, decorated with East Asian designs, and home to a Japanese gift shop and restaurants serving food from China, Vietnam, and Korea. Marshall Nguyen, one of the lead agents in its development, told the Star Tribune he hoped the mall would serve as a centralized location for Asian groceries and a “one-stop shop for family gatherings and parties.”

In the context of Lange’s book, the Asia Mall may join a lasting lineage of Minnesota shopping centers that have set the template for malls—and have worked to keep it relevant since then.

Lifestyle Centers

For many who grew up pre-internet, shopping malls were a first taste of freedom. Parents approved of these sheltered community areas, and kids flocked there to work first jobs and exercise newfound purchasing power. Here, teens could get their ears pierced, pick out prom dresses, see fledgling pop stars like Britney Spears—or simply waste time, like the characters in 1995’s “Mallrats” (filmed at Eden Prairie Center). For older Americans, malls have provided a weather-proof public space with access to food, escalators, benches, and bathrooms, which make them perfect for daily walks—hence the moniker “mall walkers.”

This has all gone more or less to plan, Lange says. In tracing the history and cultural significance of American shopping malls, she outlines their original, lofty goal. After World War II, the United States saw exponential growth of suburban neighborhoods, but these areas lacked central gathering places—especially for women and children, who were otherwise isolated in the home. Malls were intended to fill that void.

Minnesota helped lead the way. The nation’s first enclosed shopping mall was Edina’s Southdale Center, a project that opened in 1956 and was commissioned by the Dayton Company. For the design, the Dayton family, known for department stores, brought in “the father of the shopping mall,” Austrian architect Victor Gruen. Functionally, it had to be enclosed because “[Minneapolis] was either buried in snow and bitter cold in winter, or scorching hot in summer, or rained out in spring and autumn,” wrote Gruen when describing the project.

Lange writes that Gruen imagined a climate-controlled community hub with access to many shops as well as medical centers, schools, and even residences. While that dream was not fully realized in the mid-’50s, many American malls have continued to strive toward Gruen’s multi-purpose model in their own ways over the last 70 years, Southdale included.

Today, mall visitors can get a workout at the Life Time fitness center at Southdale, right after seeing a movie at the mall’s AMC movie theater. Life Time has proposed a 32-story residential

high-rise at Southdale, too, to develop a “curated living project.” Other malls have similarly made the transition into “lifestyle centers,” a term referring to multi-use entertainment and retail spaces that rose in popularity in the late 1980s and ’90s.

The Shoppes at Arbor Lakes in Maple Grove has a day spa and a Planet Fitness, plus an indoor play area for kids. Roseville’s Rosedale Center has hosted several fashion shows in the last year that center on di erent themes—such as the religious holiday Eid and differently abled models. This is part of Rosedale’s push for inclusivity at the mall, says representative Lisa Crain. Decades after Southdale opened, Mall of America, the largest retail and entertainment center in North America, has reeled in shoppers with attractions like the Nickelodeon Universe theme park, Sea Life Aquarium, and two upscale hotels attached to the mall.

Eden Prairie Center has added several new entertainment options for shoppers, in hopes that the mall will serve as a community gathering space. “As we move into this next phase of retail, we have been thrilled to introduce a growing list of entertainment o erings,” says the mall’s senior general manager, Nancy Litwin. That includes Sandbox VR, Tactical Urban Combat, Hi-Five Sports Zone, and Safari Adventures. Local malls have also hosted drag shows and Halloween events.

Looking to the near future, Lange hypothesizes that instead of department stores, food halls will anchor the modern mall. Rosedale Center recently fi nished a $100 million renovation that includes Potluck, a food hall celebrating Minnesota’s culinary greatness and o ering an opportunity for “local operators that are looking for a venue to try out their concepts or open a second location,” Crain says. Similarly, Mall of America started offering Minnesota State Fair food year-round at the dining and entertainment hub The Fair on 4.

Food-centric malls also provide an opportunity to appeal to suburban ethnic minorities, an underserved but powerful part of the suburban community, Lange writes. She notes that malls can diversify by appealing to the “ethnoburbs,” or residential areas with large minority populations. In the Twin Cities, that means reaching the many families who have roots in Latin America, Somalia, Laos, Vietnam, and other countries. And that’s where the Asia Mall comes into the picture.

Lange writes, “By the 2010 census, 62% of Asian Americans lived in the suburbs of the 100 largest U.S. cities, making such malls a necessary and ubiquitous part of 21stcentury suburban life.” Whether it’s by celebrating culture, developing food halls, or investing in entertainment options, the malls that survive are the malls that center community experiences. Focusing on the social and wellness needs of shoppers may just be the future of malls.

BOOK REVIEW

Prince and Charles Dickens— Are They Creative Cousins?

I was skeptical when I learned that author Nick Hornby (“High Fidelity,” “About a Boy”) wrote a book comparing Charles Dickens to Minnesota superstar Prince, titled “Dickens and Prince: A Particular Kind of Genius,” to be released in November. But the more I read, the more I understood the connection. Hornby hooks the reader early, discussing the fact that both artists died in their late 50s—Prince was 57; Dickens was 58— and by age 12, they were on their own. A er Prince’s parents got divorced, his father kicked him out for allegedly bringing girls home, forcing him to live in his friend’s basement. At 12, Dickens was sent to live in a boardinghouse where he labored away in a shoe blacking factory.

Much of the 192-page book is dedicated to Hornby tracing the arc of their careers, beginning with the success they both achieved in their 20s. By 29, Prince released “1999,” “Purple Rain,” and “Sign O’ The Times.” Many songs from these albums, including “Let’s Go Crazy,” “Purple Rain,” “1999,” and “Li le Red Corve e,” are still in heavy rotation on radio stations and streaming services worldwide. By 26, Dickens had wri en two critically acclaimed novels, “Oliver Twist” and “The Pickwick Papers.”

But Hornby is not just interested in reporting on their accomplishments; he also delves into the uniqueness of their creativity and why they were so prolific. Were they born with God-given talent? Did early trauma motivate them to be perfectionists? Were they afraid of failure? These are some questions that Hornby a empts to answer, but one thing is sure, Prince and Dickens were obsessed with perfecting their cra . In his teens, Dickens taught himself shorthand and worked as a journalist. Prince purchased records from a local record store and copied lyrics “to break down a line, to see what it’s made of.”

Hornby also writes about their financial responsibilities. Prince signed a $100 million deal with Warner Bros. in 1992, and, at the time of his death, Dickens’ estate was worth $58 million in today’s money. However, they had a lot of expenses. Prince’s overhead, which included the upkeep of Paisley Park, topped $2.5 million per month, and Dickens had 10 children to feed.

Hornby closes his intriguing tale of two artists with the indelible impact of their legacies, which includes Prince’s unforgettable Super Bowl XLI hal ime show in 2007. Hornby’s masterful comparison conjures the lives of Dickens and Prince, reminding readers of just how special they were. –Wayne

Catan

“Dickens and Prince: A Particular Kind of Genius” by Nick Hornby, 192 pages, Riverhead Books, $18, Hardcover

Lorie Line WHERE are THEY NOW ?

Pianist Lorie Line was featured on the cover of Minnesota Monthly’s November 1996 issue with a red and white keytar and the headline “Get in the spirit with Lorie Line and other holiday performers.” For the feature story about holiday events, she’s decked out in Christmas lights, si ing atop a piano bench, and described as “a pop phenomenon” with “perky, preppy professionalism.” The blurb adds, “Line, of course, is the Cinderellastory star who rose from a $20-anhour gig playing at Dayton’s to the top of Billboard’s New Age charts.” As holiday traditions and seasonal entertainment events kick into high gear, Line is still very much in the music business and performing her popular holiday tour. She reports this year is her 33rd consecutive tour, kicking off “An Intimate Christmas with Lorie Line” the day a er Thanksgiving. She’ll perform a rapid-fire repertory of 33 concerts in 33 days across the Midwest, hi ing stops including Colorado, Nebraska, North Dakota, Wisconsin, and, of course,

WHERE in MN?

THESE WHIMSICAL PUBLIC ART PIECES HAVE RESIDED IN THE PLAZA OUTSIDE AN IMPORTANT BUILDING IN MINNEAPOLIS FOR NEARLY 25 YEARS. THE SERIES OF ROUND-BODIED STATUES IS TITLED “ROCKMAN” DESPITE THE MULTIPLE SCULPTURES DOING SUCH ACTIVITIES AS MOWING THE GRASS, TAKING A PHOTO, AND GAZING AT THE SKY.

Recognize this spot?

If so, fill out our form at minnesotamonthly.com/whereinmn to tell us where it is and share your connection to it. We’ll feature our favorite responses in an upcoming issue and send the winner a Minnesota Monthly prize package.

Minnesota before returning to her home on Lake Minnetonka in time for Christmas. “I still have the same rigorous schedule,” she says. “The cast in my tour is smaller, but my itinerary the same. These days are my favorite in my career.”

But the holiday performances are only a fraction of what Line has accomplished. “I have 54 books of music and just might be the most published pianist in modernday times,” she says. She has arranged and published almost 800 songs, has 716 million streams on Pandora, and has recorded 65 albums. “Last but not least, I’m very proud to have done this through the grace of God and alongside Tim. We’ve been happily married for 36 years.”

What’s next for the musician? “My goal next year is to create the Lorie Line Foundation, which will be a dream come true.” Find more at lorieline.com –Amy Nelson

Where are They Now?

Minnesota Monthly catches up with memorable personalities and events. Want an update on someone or something specific? Email your idea to editor Amy Nelson, anelson@greenspring.com.

LORIE LINE ON THE COVER OF MINNESOTA MONTHLY IN

Kampa describes herself as a kid at heart. An illustrator and surface pa ern designer, she creates colorful art for an array of home goods, from kitchen towels and paper goods to wall art and children’s counting cards. Circus-themed counting cards, $28; megankampa.com

CHILD’S PLAY

THESE QUALITY GIFTS FOR THE LITTLE ONES CAN BE HANDED DOWN FOR GENERATIONS

by JERROD SUMNER

Laura and Jason Folger created this for their own children—a board that hones balance, builds strength, and encourages flexibility. With a li le imagination, it can become a slide, tunnel, or teeterto er. Curvy board, $120; facebook.com/ folgertonwoodworks

With a graphic design degree in hand, Rachel Winter started sewing dresses in 2008, and things took off with the birth of her first child in 2013. Today, the company creates apparel, toys, and room decor with a focus on high-quality, sustainable, gender-neutral designs. Gray duck baby bodysuit, $25; sweetpeaandco.net

For more than 45 years, this multi-generational, family-run business has been cra ing goods that inspire creativity and imaginative play. From its workshop in St. Paul, Beka cra s heirloom-quality block sets with the goal of creating products that will last generations. Hard maple building blocks, $79.90; bekainc.com

A second-generation teddy bear maker, Jen Murphy makes bears the old-fashioned way: one stitch at a time. These bears are made to be played with and cherished. Murphy was taught the cra of bear making by her mother and loves sending her creations into the world. Classic bear, $182; polkadotclub.com

1. Megan Kampa

2. Folgerton Woodworks Inspired by the balance board trend, Farmington couple

3. Sweetpea & Co.

4. Beka

5. Polka Dot Club

Presented by

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A NIGHT TO SIP, SHOP AND SUPPORT!

Friday, November 18 | 6pm to Midnight

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Purchase tickets at FashionFest.umn.edu

FashionFest features a strolling wine and food tasting; a stellar shopping experience with elite Twin Cities’ boutiques; an extraordinary live auction; and a fabulous New York-style fashion show. And to date, FashionFest has raised more than $1.5M to support life-changing programs and services for our pediatric patients and their parents.

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Shifting Sands

THE BEST FAMILY VACATION IS THE ONE THAT DOESN’T PUT AN UNDUE BURDEN ON EXHAUSTED PARENTS AND THAT’S EXACTLY WHAT WISCONSIN’S SAND VALLEY DELIVERS by

ASHLEA HALPERN and ANDREW PARKS

SAND VALLEY IN ROME, WISCONSIN

Before the pandemic, we were on the road six months a year for work. Our pace of travel slowed considerably during COVID-19, but we still managed to eke out half a dozen international trips and scores of domestic outings. Then we got pregnant.

Border closures and complicated testing rules were no match for our appetite to see the world. But a baby?

A bit more intimidating. Friends with kids told us to kiss our freewheeling travel days goodbye. Friends without kids just watched in amusement, eyebrows raised. We were determined to prove them all wrong.

Our son, Julian, arrived at 10:54 p.m. on a blustery-cold night in late January. Five weeks later, we were packing up the car for our first big interstate road trip. The destination: Sand Valley golf resort in rural Rome, Wisconsin, about three and a half hours from the Twin Cities. The drive east couldn’t have been more pleasant, passing a succession of bucolic cranberry bogs blanketed in snow and churches advertising Friday night fi sh frys. Still, it was a far cry from what we’d imagined our post-baby travel lives to look like. (Long-haul flights to Asia because “all babies do is sleep”? Yeah, right. Sure.)

We timed our trip to Sand Valley’s annual Brews & Brats Weekend, a three-day festival celebrating two of Wisconsin’s four major food groups (the others are cheese curds and brandy Old Fashioneds). It was one of several themed weekends the hotel hosts to draw visitors who don’t realize there is plenty to do in winter at a resort known mostly for its award-winning golf courses.

When Chris and Michael Keiser founded Sand Valley in 2016, it was an instant hit with golfers. The 12,000-acre property comprises glassy ponds, stands of red pine, and rippling sand barrens created by a glacial lake that drained out some 14,000 years ago. The brothers are committed to restoring much of the indigenous vegetation (the land was used as a pulp tree plantation in a previous life) and determined to embrace year-round

recreation, opening their resort to wintering guests for the first time in late 2020. Now it o ers a full slate of frozen pursuits—ice fishing, cross-country skiing, sledding, snowshoeing, ice skating, pond hockey, and polar plunging among them.

Four- and eight-bedroom cottages make Sand Valley an ideal getaway for families and larger groups, while the main lodge houses single king rooms, double queens, and two smartly decorated suites. For maximum seclusion, guests can do no better than the picture-perfect Crenshaw’s Cabin, perched above the 18th hole. Luxe touches abound, from 300 thread-count sheets to L’Occitane toiletries. And for new parents like us, we were grateful for a Pack N’ Play in the room, good soundproofing, and the ability to travel with our two small dogs. (Many of the rooms and cabins at Sand Valley are pet friendly.)

The festival kicked o with a multi-course New Glarus beer dinner on Friday night. Dozens of drinkers gathered around a long, communal table in Aldo’s Farm & Table, a cavernous space cozied up by a crackling fireplace. Strangers clinked glasses and made small talk, which grew increasingly louder and bawdier as the night wore on. Seated next to us was a gregarious trio of couples, all celebrating their anniversaries. They started drinking early and were in a back-slappingly good mood when the first course (beer-battered cheese curds paired with New Glarus’ Spotted Cow, a cask-conditioned fruity farmhouse ale) arrived. By the time the caramel apple beer bread and a fizzy-sweet Belgian red landed, the couples had practically lost their voices from laughing so hard. And here we were, fi rst-time parents, nervous that our newborn son would cause a ruckus.

The next morning, we strapped on our son and returned to the hotel restaurant and lounge for a Brews & Brats Mini Fest.

Ashlea Halpern with son Julian; Andrew Parks displays his catch

THE WINTRY VIEW OF THE GOLF COURSE FROM A ROOM

he’s not working the front desk at Sand Valley, he’s drilling holes in ice as thick as our arms are long. The self-taught ice fisherman led us on a short drive to Lake Leopold, where he had already set up gear and a tent for our family. He cut two fishing holes inside the tent and two outside and dedicated the next few hours to showing us how to fix the line, read a fish finder, jig like a pro, and smile big for the camera when we caught a 10-inch bass. (OK, when he caught a 10-inch bass; we piggybacked on his victory for the photo op.)

Five craft breweries from Wisconsin, including O’so Brewing Co. in Plover and Hinterland Brewery in Ashwaubenon, were joined by brewers from Michigan, Minnesota, and Delaware. The resort was a hive of activity, with visitors guzzling down beer samples (the thick-bodied Bon Bon chocolate milk stout from 3 Sheeps Brewing in Sheboygan was our favorite), dancing to live music, and fist pumping when the ra e winners were announced. Small bites were served at every station, including an ultra-devilish deviled egg topped with beer-braised pork belly. Julian slept through the whole thing.

Later that day, we headed for the hills. There wasn’t enough snow on the ground to go snowshoeing, so we mucked up our hiking boots trekking along the resort’s 2.2-mile Ridge Trail. Our cheeks were stinging red by the time we got back to the lodge; the baby—all bundled up under 45 layers of clothing—was as toasty as could be.

But when it comes to outdoor adventure, we saved the best for last: ice fishing with Ray Blossfield, a man of many talents. When

It was a bitterly cold morning, but our tent radiated warm conversation. We learned that Blossfield’s mom works as a server at Sand Valley; she tipped him o to a job in security. A former defensive lineman, Blossfield cuts an imposing presence, but he’s got the patience of a saint and the heart of a teddy bear. When Julian had a full-blown meltdown in the middle of the frozen lake, he took it in perfect stride.

And that’s when we realized: All this worrying about how disruptive it would be to travel with an infant was mostly in our heads. Yes, it’s a lot of gear to schlep. No, we can’t be as fancy-free and spontaneous as we once were. But the team at Sand Valley couldn’t have been kinder or more accommodating. Same goes for the other resort guests, many of whom are doting parents or grandparents themselves, quick to share a smile and impart a word or two of advice. We left the hotel feeling rather verklempt and can’t wait to return when Julian is old enough to sink a hole in one—or at least fake it like his parents.

COMING SOON TO SAND VALLEY

The resort is expanding big-time in 2023 and 2024. Here’s what visitors have to look forward to.

TWO NEW GOLF COURSES

Construction on Sedge Valley, the property’s third 18-hole course, began in the spring. Architect Tom Doak is heading up the design, which is inspired by the heathland courses of England and promises “classically styled holes that everyone can enjoy.” Doak is also re-creating C.B. Macdonald’s the Lido. The additions are in good company, joining existing layouts by Coore & Crenshaw (the eponymous Sand Valley, built in 2016, and the 17-hole short course Sandbox from 2017) and David McLay Kidd (Mammoth Dunes, 2018).

A NEW ‘CUE JOINT/ENTERTAINMENT COMPLEX

Pit barbecue and cra beer—that’s what’s on tap at Sand Valley’s forthcoming smokehouse. Patio seating will overlook a 6-acre pu ing and chipping course, while all-season golf simulators and a gaming parlor keep golfers busy in inclement weather.

A NEW INDOOR TENNIS CENTER

Sand Valley already boasts 15 grass tennis courts; next year, it will add a 13,000-squarefoot tennis center to its resume. The building will also include a pro shop and a bistro with a wood-fired oven.

A NEW POOL HOUSE

When it’s ready to go, guests will be able to take a dip in an infinity pool overlooking Mammoth Dunes, roast away their stress in a steam room or sauna (cold plunge optional), or book a muscle-melting massage in one of eight treatment rooms.

A NEW PRACTICE FACILITY

Swing a bit rusty? Sand Valley’s 50-acre practice space will include a 500-yard driving range, a short game and pu ing area, and indoor-outdoor hi ing bays for practice drills.

ASHLEA HALPERN AND ANDREW PARKS ARE THE CO-FOUNDERS OF MINNEVANGELIST, A WEBSITE DEVOTED TO SPREADING THE GOSPEL OF MINNESOTA’S GREATNESS. FOLLOW THEIR ADVENTURES ON INSTAGRAM AT @ MINNEVANGELIST AND VISIT MINNEVANGELIST.COM TO LEARN MORE.

ALDO’S FARM & TABLE

The New Guard of Conservation

AUTHOR, PHOTOGRAPHER, AND ALL - AROUND OUTDOORSMAN DUDLEY EDMONDSON REFLECTS ON HIS RELATIONSHIP WITH NATURE AND CALLS FOR A MORE INCLUSIVE CONSERVATION SECTOR

by MACY HARDER

Growing up in Columbus, Ohio, Dudley Edmondson says he found solace in the outdoors. Green spaces provided an escape from city life and the tension in his household. He didn’t have to worry about social norms or how he was being perceived by others—in nature, he was free.

Edmondson says that for people of color, this sense of true freedom can only be found in wilderness spaces. “When you’re sitting on a bench in a Starbucks, or in your work cubicle, or walking down a busy city street, you have to be a certain way because society demands it,” he says. “When you’re in the wilderness, none of that applies. You can be whoever you want to be. … The fish in the creek don’t care what color you are, they’re not going to call the cops on you.”

Despite this, Edmondson still felt like an outlier. “I didn’t know anybody like me when I was growing up in my neighborhood. None of the adults or kids were connected to nature. … At one time, I felt I was the only Black person who enjoyed nature and the outdoors,” he says. “Spending my childhood and early adulthood not knowing that there were people like me out there, I finally decided I wanted to go and find some of these people.”

Now based in Duluth, the birder, photographer, public speaker, and author spent four years conducting interviews across the country for his book “Black & Brown Faces in America’s Wild Places.” The book profiles African Americans with nontraditional outdoor vocations and hobbies to create a set of “outdoor role models” for the Black community.

“Scientists of color can inspire young college and high school students.Conservationists of color can make people more concerned about their communities and the green spaces in and around them,” he says. “I felt like if I put a set of outdoor role models in front of the nation’s African American community, Dudley Edmondson is based in Duluth

then maybe the message of connecting to nature and conservation might transfer across from the folks in the book to the folks reading the book.”

Edmondson has gone to great heights through his work in natural conservation. He was at the White House for the signing of America’s Great Outdoors Initiative in 2010, and in 2021, he was appointed by the Minnesota House of Representatives to the Lessard-Sams Outdoor Heritage Council to help protect and restore Minnesota’s prairie, wetlands, and forest habitats.

Much of his work focuses on making the conservation sector more diverse and inclusive, because, as he says, leaving people of color out of this narrative is negatively impacting the environment.

“The only reason conservation is necessary is because colonizers, European settlers, destroyed this nation’s natural environment, not unlike what they did in their homelands. So having the people who make conservation necessary be the only people who are practicing conservation just doesn’t make sense to me,” Edmondson says. “You can’t be the destroyer of the environment and the savior of the environment all at the same time.”

The racial disparities within environmental conservation are prevalent. A 2021 report by Green 2.0, an independent campaign that collects data on racial and ethnic diversity within the environmental movement, examined demographic data from 67 non-governmental organizations

(NGOs) and 20 grantmaking foundations. The report found that NGOs are “still overwhelmingly white-led,” with only 25.3% of participating organizations headed by people of color. It also found that in 2021, participating foundations funded white-led organizations at nearly double the rate of those led by people of color.

For a more diverse range of perspectives, Edmondson suggests asking people who have historical knowledge about the natural environment.

“There’s a lot of place-based knowledge from Indigenous communities and the history of enslaved Africans who also spent a lot of time on the land. None of that is ever really considered to be useful when coming up with conservation practices,” he says. “When white Americans don’t really have that perspective ... I don’t think they can completely make the best decisions for restoration and preservation.”

Edmondson suggests that white-led conservation organizations could report to an Indigenous oversight committee that “knows what is truly necessary to bring the environment back,” he says. “If you’ve got a diverse think tank of

people, you’re gonna probably come up with better solutions.”

But Edmondson says that in general, he has noticed more people of color getting involved in the outdoors in the last three to five years. He credits this to a wave of grassroots organizations and groups like Outdoor Afro, Color the Crag, Black Birders Week, and others that are focused on getting people of color involved in outdoor activities.

As a result, Edmondson says his experience outdoors today is di erent than what it was 40 years ago. “I’ve never been happier to see something change,” Edmondson says. “I knew that there were people out there. I just needed to find them.”

Edmondson was recently featured in the PBS series “America Outdoors with Baratunde Thurston.”

Dudley Edmondson, le , was among several northern Minnesotans interviewed by Baratunde Thurston, right, for the PBS series “America Outdoors with Baratunde Thurston.” The episode Edmondson was featured in aired in August

Snowskating Takes to the Slopes

IN A NEW SPORT, A MINNESOTA COMPANY COMBINES SKATEBOARDING, SNOWBOARDING, AND SURFING

by CHRISTOPHER PASCONE

Which one is harder: skateboarding, snowboarding, or surfing? How about combining all three? It already exists, and it’s called snowskating. Sure, hurtling down a mountain on a skateboard attached to a small snowboard (called a sub-deck) may sound crazy, but snow sports participants always are craving that next rush. And St. Paul’s Hovland Snowskates helps snow addicts fulfill that winter craving—in spades.

What does snowskating feel like? Dan Russell, chief executive o cer of Hovland Snowskates, says it seems “surfey or skatey, or a lot like snowboarding.” It all depends on what you want to get out of it, Russell says. “You can surf and slash while freeriding, or skate the terrain park.” Hovland Snowskate’s website claims that they make a snowskate to fit your style, “whether you’re a park rat, powder junkie, or backcountry fiend.” How does that equate for beginning snowskaters?

Heidi Olson, 13, and her brother Gus Olson, 16, both snowskate at Chester Bowl ski hill in Duluth. Heidi notes some immediate di erences of snowskating versus more common forms of gravity-powered

snow sports: “In skiing, your feet are attached to bindings, and you have two skis under you. In snowskating, your feet aren’t attached to the board, and there’s only one ski.” Gus says everything feels faster on a snowskate because there isn’t as much control. “You’re not strapped in, so you’re constantly shifting your weight so you don’t fall o .”

In snowskating, the deck you stand on is usually much smaller than a normal snowboard, and the sub-deck that the snowskate deck is attached to is much shorter (although they do also offer a 152-centimeter powderskate called the Bubba for deep snow). Gus Olson clearly enjoys the freedom that the skateboard deck entails. “I usually have my back foot on the tail of the deck, and my front foot over the front trucks,” he says. “I can lean my body weight on my back foot, and do a wheelie the whole day down the hill. But I can switch my feet positions constantly.”

Hovland Snowskates leads in the worldwide world snowskate industry.

Dan Russell, who was raised in Duluth, explains the company’s name: “Hovland is named after Hovland, Minnesota, which sits on Lake Superior just north of Grand Marais. Both Ryan Braski [company cofounder] and I spent a lot of time on and in Lake Superior and in the Boundary Waters growing up. Hovland is on the lake and at a trailhead into the Boundary Waters, so when we were looking for a name, it felt right.”

The town was settled by Scandinavian fishermen in the 1880s, and this connection seems to have been good luck.

“We got connected with a distributor in Norway pretty quickly,” Russell says, “and it became a really good market for us. Norwegian pro snowboarder Terje Haakonsen was a partner in that distribution company and already a ripping snowskater. So after a while it made sense to bring him in to help us grow snowskating and Hovland.”

Russell and Braski, along with two other Duluthians, Ted Simmons and Dominic Talerico, first started doing research and development and finding manufacturing about 10 years ago. “Snowskating is still small, but growing fast,” Russell says, “and Hovland is at the forefront of pushing that growth.”

Some of Hovland’s employees are still in the Twin Cities, Russell notes, but the main operations are in Eagle County, Colorado. “The nature of the business is that we have to travel a lot,” he says. “Japan is a big market for us. Canada is growing quickly. Europe is a huge opportunity. We have to be everywhere snowboarding and skiing is popular, so for a small company, it’s challenging. But also a lot of fun.”

To help with Hovland’s worldwide expansion, the company brings on sales representatives in various countries who know the nuances of their local snow sports industries. “The way Eiichi puts the brand forward in Japan is very different from how Joey does it in Canada,” Russell explains. “We’re fortunate to have people who understand their local snowboard culture, and how business is done in their markets.”

Hovland also has to do public outreach about snowskating to get resorts to accept a new sport.

That means on-hill demos so people can try it for themselves. And many resorts require that the snowskates have metal edges and a leash (like the kind

used in surfing). “One thing we know is that if people try it, they usually have fun,” Russell says. “We’ve had seasons where we’ve done 200-plus demos and events worldwide.”

In Duluth, Chester Bowl, which caters to beginners and families interested in learning winter sports, received a $2,000 grant in 2021 to add eight Hovland snowskates to the hill’s rentals. Snowskates have some benefits for walk-up rental opportunities because renters don’t need to fit boots or bindings. Sam Luoma, programs manager at Chester Bowl, says Chester doesn’t rent skis or snowboards, “but snowskates are a really easy thing to do as a daily rental.”

Luoma, who skateboards and snowboards, says snowskating is completely di erent than both. “I couldn’t tell you which one snowskating is more like, because it’s something different altogether. It’s a weird mix, because you try to use your edges for control, like on a snowboard, but it’s like a skateboard because your feet move around on the board, and you want them to move around to do di erent things.”

He also says the novelty of snowskating is a big draw: “You see kids doing snowskating in big groups here, and they love just trying something new. It’s fun here, because we encourage it.”

Chester offers free snowskating lessons on Saturdays and Sundays in January. Teaching kids to ride the chairlift with the board in their hands is a key component of the lessons. “A big concern is using the leash correctly, because if you drop the snowskate o the lift, it can hit people below you and then fly down the hill below. But we’ve all been through that before when snowboards came out. And now everybody allows snowboards. The leash keeps the skate attached to you at all times.”

Snow lovers around the world have time to get used to it. Because from Norway to Japan, and everywhere in between, Hovland Snowskates is bringing a whole new sport to the world. Whether in the Austrian Alps or Chile’s Patagonia, look for a piece of Minnesota’s North Shore on the slopes.

SNOWSKATING DOES NOT REQUIRE BINDINGS

r

winter f un

Winter is the perfect season for a cozy getaway or outdoor adventure. These destinations offer plenty of lodging, dining, and recreation ideas to celebrate the holiday season in style.

PHOTO NELLY SENKO/ADOBE

See Superior Sites

LAKE COUNTY, MINN.

The North Shore is packed with winter outdoor adventures, and because Lake Superior rarely freezes over during winter, it’s beautiful to see open water and explore along the big lake. Venture out for an afternoon wildlife expedition by tracking hares, shrews, wolves, deer, and ermine. Step soundlessly through the north woods, stopping to guess the width of virgin pine, listen to the chickadees, or just savor the moment. The only reliable winter transportation was a pack of dogs and a wooden-runner sled back in the day. Today, mushing through the snow remains a unique northern Minnesota activity. Play in the powder, skim across frozen lakes, or tour the trails on snowmobiles in Lake County. Hundreds of miles of snowmobile trails from the North Shore to Ely allow visitors to explore the spectacular Lake Superior shoreline, adjacent ridges, lakes, forests, and towns. lovinlakecounty.com

Make Memories and Start Traditions

FOX CITIES, WIS.

In Wisconsin’s Fox Cities region, gaze upon the hundreds of ice shanties spreading across the frozen depths of Lake Winnebago, skate across fresh ice in downtown Neenah, or explore the crystallized trails at Heckrodt Wetland Reserve. For entertainment indoors, enjoy a Broadway show at the Fox Cities Performing Arts Center, taste the warmth of hot cocoa at a picturesque riverfront cafe, or shop Fox River Mall, the second largest mall in the state. Got a few little ones in tow? Take them to Building for Kids and see their excitement while running from exhibit to exhibit. Watch the concentration on their face as they create a treasure to take home at the Bergstrom-Mahler Museum of Glass. Plan now to not miss the largest nighttime holiday parade in the Midwest, happening in downtown Appleton on Nov. 22. foxcities.org

Hudson is a Hot Spot

Winter in Hudson is distinctive with unique flavors, colors, and activities to enjoy in the scenic St. Croix River Valley. In recent years, outdoor dining has extended into the winter months, thanks to the comfort of outdoor igloos and heated spaces. Pier 500 and San Pedro Café o er covered spaces for enjoying a meal with friends or family. Starting in November and continuing through February, Hudson has several holiday festivities, including a park filled with 250,000 holiday lights. Buena Vista Lights in the Park is a local favorite that o ers a little something extra during Candlelight Stroll-horse-drawn carriage rides. Hudson’s collection of shops, shows, activities, and nature views create a picture-perfect opportunity for visitors during the winter. hudsonwi.org

The Fox Cities are where winter heats up. From skating at The Plaza to roasting s’mores and drinking cocoa flights, the fun only snowballs from there.

Magical Moments in Northfield

NORTHFIELD, MINN.

Hallmark Holiday Moments

In the quaint town of Cannon Falls, holiday cheer bustles through the city. The downtown streets are brightly decorated with snowflakes and garland, and wreaths are strung across the intersections. Cross-country ski down the Cannon Valley Trail, or head to Hannah’s Bend Park to catch a sleigh ride with Rudy and his ponies. Visit with Santa during his appearances at the pancake feed at the fire station. Stores throughout town will have sales and treats to celebrate Small Business Saturday on Nov. 27, which is also the date of the Deck the Falls Parade, beginning at 5 p.m. As part of the parade, there will be floats, fire trucks, and ambulances lit up and playing Christmas music. Elves and reindeer will hand out candy canes and trinkets, and Santa and Mrs. Claus will end the parade as the final float. After the parade, warm up with some hot apple cider and witness the lighting of the community Christmas tree followed by a fireworks show. cannonfalls.org

Explore the great outdoors with a visit to Northfield, where there are plenty of trails to enjoy outdoor activities such as cross-country skiing, sledding, and snowshoeing. At the Gear ReSource Outfitters in nearby Dundas, owners Robert and Nicole Stai are experts in all things recreation and o er di erent snowshoe packages, including moonlight adventures and visits to area parks, like Caron Park. Three snowmobile clubs are largely responsible for keeping the area’s trails groomed and ready for riding, and adjacent cities serve as regional hubs that provide an easy sled ride from city to city for a full day of fun. Northfield hosts a variety of wintertime events, including Save-A-Buck on Nov. 26 and the annual Winter Walk on Dec. 9. In the heart of the holiday season, this event draws crowds from near and far for a magical one-night festival. visitnorthfield.com

Live It Up in Lanesboro

LANESBORO, MINN.

When the ground freezes over and the snowflakes begin to fall, head to southeastern Minnesota for winter fun and relaxation. Lanesboro and Whalan are located in the heart of the historic blu country, just two hours from the Twin Cities. Head to Cedar Valley Resort in Whalan for local bike trails that are groomed for cross-country skiing. Eagle Blu Environmental Learning Center has snowshoe trails with river bottom and blu views. Lanesboro’s bass pond o ers ice fishing and winter fly fishing on the Root River, one of the Midwest’s best fly-fishing watersheds. Lanesboro is full of historic bed-and-breakfast establishments like Root River Inn and Stone Mill Hotel and Suites. Sylvan Brewing and Root River 102 host events like comedy nights and crafting nights throughout the winter. Don’t miss both the outdoor recreation and indoor relaxation Lanesboro o ers. lanesboro.com

CANNON FALLS, MINN.

Ski, Sip, and Celebrate

ST. LOUIS PARK, MINN.

When the weather turns cold, there’s plenty of fun to be had in St. Louis Park. Cross-country ski the groomed and single-track ski trails at Theodore Wirth Regional Park, take a fat-tire bike for a spin, explore the area on snowshoes, or go tubing or sledding. Experience the best of Minnesota “ice” and lace up skates at the ROC, St. Louis Park’s covered outdoor skating rink. Next door, the Rec Center boasts two sheets of ice that are perfect for both figure skating and hockey. There are nearly 20 outdoor rinks at parks throughout the community, many with warming houses. After a day of outdoor play, warm up with a cocktail or mocktail at Copperwing Distillery, home to Vodskey, a vodka made from bourbon mash, or its neighbor, Dampfwerk Distillery, known for European-style fruit brandies and herbal liqueurs. For dining and nightlife fun, don’t miss the vibrant West End to experience a world full of flavors. discoverstlouispark.com

Festive Fun in Fairmont

FAIRMONT, MINN.

Fairmont’s five lakes o er a scenic drive in any season with plenty of surrounding countryside and parks to explore. Looking for a unique indoor activity? Try some target practice at the Fairmont Trap Club’s shooting range. Outdoor fun can include snowmobiling on the 140 miles of groomed trails. Winter is a popular season for hunters who travel to Martin County to take advantage of the waterfowl, white-tail deer, and pheasants that gather in the region. Visit Fairmont for a weekend with family or friends by shopping the many boutiques and specialty stores in downtown, or a stop by one of the many lakeside dining restaurants or the Fairmont Brewery Co. The holiday season o cially begins with the annual Glows Parade on Nov. 18. visitfairmontmn.com

Get away to a cozy hillside cottage this winter for some rest and relaxation. The secluded lodging is situated along the rugged bluffs of the Mississippi River, making for some breathtaking views of Wisconsin. Hawks View is only a short distance from the historic river town of Fountain City, allowing you to enjoy the charm of small-town shops and restaurants. Seven Hawks Vineyards is one of the largest vine-yards in the Upper Midwest, where samples are free for guests. hawksview.net

Discover the Delights of the Range

EVELETH, MINN.

Along Minnesota’s Iron Range, alpine skiers, boarders, snowshoers, fat bikers, and cross-country skiers will love the laid-back, family-friendly atmosphere at Giants Ridge Recreation Area. Skirting the Superior National Forest, this year-round destination brings some of the best winter activities together in one convenient hub, just three hours from the Twin Cities. Looking for something faster? Visitors can bring their sleds and explore the snowmobile trails that head all the way to Canada. The cities of the range are connected by club trails that lead to the state’s biggest names in snowmobiling, The Arrowhead and The Taconite trails. Visit Bob Dylan’s childhood home, Minnesota Discovery Center’s indoor and outdoor museum exhibits, the fat-bike trails of Redhead Mountain, and enjoy events like Weihnachtsfest, Festival of Lights, Laskiainen, and more this winter. ironrange.org

Winter Bliss

Grab

Holiday Lights at Lighthouse Bed & Breakfast

TWO HARBORS, MINN.

LIGHTHOUSE BED & BREAKFAST

Two Harbors, MN lighthousebb.org

Located in Two Harbors just 20 minutes north of Duluth, the Two Harbors Light Station has been guiding ships into Agate Bay since 1892, and the Lighthouse Bed and Breakfast offers the unique chance to be a lighthouse keeper for a night or two. Winter is a magnificent time to stay at the lighthouse, as it is decorated for the holidays and is a great location from which to explore the winter wonderland of the North Shore. Enjoy winter activities in the northland such as dog sledding, snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, and fat-tire biking. lighthousebb.org

Be Lighthouse Keeper for An Evening at the

Guests check in at our Seven Hawks Vineyards tasting room, wine shop & wine bar in downtown Fountain City, WI.

Cozy up by the fireplace and relax in utmost comfort. Take in the hawk’s eye views of the freshly blanketed snow, surrounding the Mississippi River from the warmth and comfort of your own room.

Winter Beauty in Bemidji

BEMIDJI, MINN.

Bemidji is a winter wonderland filled with activities for people of all ages, including snowshoeing, ice skating, downhill skiing, and cross-country skiing. For those who love the indoors, the many boutique shops, restaurants, resorts, and hotels o er a place to enjoy the winter elements in comfort. Winter in Bemidji will kick o this year with the 26th annual First City of Lights Night We Light Celebration on Nov. 25. Over a half million lights and displays will adorn the trees and parks throughout the city. Festivities include Santa’s Workshop at the tourist information center, a parade through downtown Bemidji, Illuminated Tour of Homes, horse-drawn wagon rides, caroling, and a window display contest throughout historic downtown. The event is centered around Paul Bunyan’s Christmas tree, a 56-foot animated musical tree. New displays include a 20-foot Fountain of Hope and the Salute to Heroes. visitbemidji.com

A MINNESOTA HOLIDAY

VOLUME 14 • 2022

Proceeds Benefiting

Featuring The Blenders, Kat Perkins, Chris Koza, Jennifer Grimm, Phil Thompson and more!

Do It All in Detroit Lakes

DETROIT LAKES, MINN.

Visit Detroit Lakes this winter for many outdoor and indoor activities. Ice fish in hand-constructed ice houses or expansive ice castles, snowmobile 250 miles of groomed trails through prairies and forests, or skate at the outdoor ice rink in People’s Park or the indoor rink at Kent Freeman Arena. Celebrate the winter season at Polar Fest, which returns in 2023 from Feb. 10-26. Enjoy the Poles-N-Holes Fishing Derby, Polar Fest Plunge into Little Detroit Lake, vintage snowmobile rally, MinneSODA hotdish challenge, and frozen fireworks display at the City Beach. Take a drive to Detroit Mountain Recreation Area for alpine skiing, snowboarding, snow tubing, and fat biking. Maplelag Resort is known for its world-class cross-country skiing, with rentals and lodging available. And get a cultural fix at any of the Historic Holmes Theatre’s live performances. Sample craft beers at Buck’s Mill Brewery, which is newly opened on Detroit Lakes’ main business corridor of Washington Avenue. visitdetroitlakes.com

Visit Duluth

DULUTH, MINN.

Escape to Duluth this season to enjoy all the winter wonderland activities. Duluth has miles of groomed ski and snowmobile trails and downhill runs. Home of the second largest vertical drop in the Midwest, Spirit Mountain o ers downhill skiing and snowboarding for both beginners and experienced snow enthusiasts. Go snow tubing or enjoy the full-service chalet offering food and drinks. Kick o your winter boots and lace up your blades to enjoy a day of ice skating on one of Duluth’s many rinks. If you would like to stay indoors, take in Duluth’s rich arts and culture scene from art galleries, operas, museums, and musicals. Check out all the unique stores and restaurants downtown to enjoy a day of shopping and delicious dining. Grab some cocoa and walk through Bentleyville’s Tour of Lights, a free walk-through light show that opens Nov. 19 (for more information on this event, see p. 128). visitduluth.com

FROM NORTHEAST TO THE North Star

STELLAR GOODS TO GIFT THIS HOLIDAY SEASON

BY JERROD SUMNER

PHOTOGRAPHY BY CLETTIS

WRIGHT

STYLING BY MELANIE HAROLDSON

ART DIRECTION BY TONYA

SUTFIN

Opposite: Red Velvet Cake, The Lynhall, $110, thelynhall.com; This page: “At Home” by Gavin Kaysen, $35, gavinkaysen.com; Three-Liter Charred Oak Barrel, $45, Cranberry Liqueur, $38.99, Tattersall Distilling, tattersalldistilling.com; Moose ‘n’ Moon Whiskey Glass, Adam Turman, $15.99, adamturman.com; Side Hustle Knife Roll, Craftmade Aprons, $95, craftmadeaprons.com; OS Boning Knife, Jeb Taylor Knives, $185, jebtaylorknives.com; Mr. Bear, Zelba + Mary, from $70, zelbamary.com; Serving Board, NorShor Woodshop, from $125, norshorwoodshop.com; Maple Bourbon Toffee Almonds, We Are Nuts, $9.99, wearenutsmn.com; “Home Is Where the Eggs Are,” Molly Yeh, $32.50, mynameisyeh.com

Woodland Floral Throw Blanket, Heart Berry, $92, heartberry.com; Handthrown Coffee Mug, Cassidy Lynne Rude Pottery, $42, shorproducts.com; Geode Crackle Glass Coaster, Dock 6 Pottery, $14.50, dock6pottery.com; Winter Blend Loose Leaf Tea, Well Rooted Teas, $14, wellrootedteas.com; Teal Luxe Robe, DeNova, $158, mydenova.com; Zen Rock, Lynn Tanaka Design, price varies, visit Instagram @lynntanakadesign

The Iona bag, Hanson Leather Co., from $485, hansonleatherco.com; Jarred Colored Matches, Northern Glasses, $12.99, northernglasses.com; Winter Flora Pajamas, She She, from $85, bysheshe.com; Candle Accessories, prices vary, Hand-poured Candles, from $39, Carpe Noctem Candle Co., carpenoctemcandleco.com

The 1980 Hockey Stick, Ironwood Hockey, $170, ironwoodhockey.com; Mid-Century Bungalow Birdhouse, John Posl, $129.99, tangletowngardens-shoppe.com and corazononline.com; Skotch Jug, Skotch Kooler, $165, skotchkoolerusa.com; Hamm’s Hockey Bear Flannel, Angry Minnow Vintage, $63, angryminnowvintage.com; Mountain Pillow, Woolves, from $45, Northrup King Building (Studio 180)

Bear Pillow, Woolves, from $100, Northrup King Building (Studio 180); Bad Breakup Socks, For Goodness Socks, $18, forgoodnesssocks.com;

Snowboard, D.C. ICE x CHAMONIX, $300, chamonixcollection.com

Fair Isle North Hat, Askov Finlayson, $36, askov nlayson.com; Color Block Rib Knit Scarf, Kevin Kramp, $245, visit Instagram @of cialkramp; Thai Basil Bloody Mary Mix, LoveJoy’s, $14, lovejoysbrand.com

Bed Blanket

Faribault Mill

Spread the warmth this holiday season and gift a new bed blanket to a loved one or yourself. With every bed blanket purchase, Faribault Mill will donate a blanket to a young person experiencing homelessness.

(Starting at $395)

507-412-5534 faribaultmill.com

Terroir Chocolate

This handcrafted, bean-to-bar chocolate is set off with the “crack” of maple toffee and forged from the finest Minnesotaharvested maple syrup, straight from the sugar shack up the road. Maple-smoked sea salt also infuses the bar with richness and depth. ($7.50)

218-731-1290 | tcchocolate.com

Anne Waddell JeWelry

These handmade clipping bangles are available in a mix of silver, 14-karat yellow gold, and rose gold. Create your own unique stacked wrist to complement your personality and aesthetic. ($195-$1,500) 952-797-2618 | waddelljewelry.com

Holiday Gift Guide

The act of gi giving has a reputation of being a stressful guessing game, putting pressure on the idea that an object becomes a reflection of love. If you are still looking for the perfect presents for your friends and family this holiday season, we’ve got you covered. From gi s for your significant other, children, hosts, or even yourself, there is something for everyone on your list.

Smoked Maple Brittle

Beach Bangles

Frontier Wool

“HELLO, DOLLY!” Theater Latté Da

Matchmaker extraordinaire Dolly Levi is determined to make everyone’s lives richer and happier—including her own! Regina Marie Williams stars as Dolly in a bold re-imagining of this beloved comedy, Feb. 1 through March 19, at Theater Latté Da. (Tickets start at $35) 612-339-3003

latteda.org

$5 Off Purchase Black Sheep Coal Fired Pizza

As simple as a Cheese & Sauce or as extravagant as an Oyster Mushroom or Rosemary & Garlic, Black Sheep has the perfect pizza for your unique taste buds. These wooden coins are the perfect stocking stuffer and can be used at any Black Sheep location. ($5) 651-342-2625

blacksheeppizza.com

One Free Draft Beer StormKing BreWpub + BarbeCue

StormKing’s mission is to create a space for everyone, bringing community together as your friendly neighborhood bar. Grab a coin (or three) for your family and friends, good for one free draft beer. ($5-$9)

612-315-3562

stormkingbrewpub.com

A John Denver Christmas AmeS Center

America’s top John Denver tribute is an unforgettable and magical experience that will take you back to the ’70s when John Denver’s music spanned the radio dial. This enchanting holiday show features all the Denver hits and holiday classics. ($75/ticket or use code COUNTRY to unlock ½ price) 952-895-4685 ames-center.com

Disney’s “Beauty and the Beast” OrdWay Center for the Performing ArtS

Step into an enchanted world this holiday season as the Ordway proudly presents Disney’s “Beauty and the Beast.” The beloved Broadway musical stage adaptation of the Academy Awardwinning animated film will run Nov. 30 through Dec. 31. (Tickets start at $41)

651-224-4222 | ordway.org

Stems & Vines Flowerscription

STemS & VineS

FlorAl BoutiQue

Give the gift your loved one can enjoy month after month with a Stems & Vines Flowerscription!

They will receive a fresh, seasonal arrangement on the same day each month, delivered right to their doorstep. The Stems & Vines flower subscription is the perfect gift.

(Prices vary)

952-440-3200 | stemsandvines.com

“The Classic Nutcracker” Ballet minneSota

Enjoy Ballet Minnesota’s “The Classic Nutcracker,” a dazzling holiday family tradition. Experience the magic of the stage as you follow Clara, who encounters enchanted puppets, marching soldiers, and a sparkling Sugar Plum Fairy. ($5-$45)

651-222-7919 | balletminnesota.org

Big StiCk Studio

Looking for an exquisite gift for that one person who’s hard to buy for? This unique wooden puzzle contains Minnesota-themed pieces and creates the shape of our great state. The beautiful wooden box will complement any home or lake cabin. ($70)

952-212-3848 bigstickstudio.com

Big StiCk Studio

This locally made Puzzle Race is the perfect gift to interact with the competitors in your life. The race includes two identically shaped 20-piece wooden puzzles. Who knows, maybe the winner gets to skip cleaning up? ($30)

952-212-3848 | bigstickstudio.com

Minnesota Wooden Puzzle

Happy Hour Minny and Paul

This party in a box combines a classic festive design with old-fashioned favorites. It includes a craft shaker kit, zesty dill pickle pretzels, artisan cocktail cherries, and the finest orange bitters. A handwritten card is included! ($98) 612-314-5660 minnyandpaul.com

Salted Nut Roll Remix: Popcorn & DelightS

Give the gift of decadence with a rendition of the Minnesota-made salted nut roll, featuring velvety peanut butter white chocolate drizzled over crisp salted caramel corn, caramel-covered peanuts, and creamy vanilla popcorn. ($11.95) 651-207-4225

remixdelights.com

Spiced Cherry and Orange Concentrate

SWeet Haven TonicS

Sweet Haven Tonics makes craft cocktails simple. This tonic's depth of flavor brought by the spiced ginger and warming cinnamon makes it an instant classic. Mix with vodka for a cozy cosmopolitan, or watch it transform whiskey into the perfect old fashioned in seconds! ($10) 507-766-0815 | sweethaventonics.com

Habanero Express The SalSa Collaborative

Looking for a great gift for the performing arts fan in your life? Give the gift of a worldclass live theater experience that they’ll never forget with an Ordway gift certificate. 651-224-4222 | ordway.org

This sauce is a habaneropowered steam engine! While punchy and bright, Habanero Express is a great “everything” sauce to keep on hand. ($10) 612-532-9552

thesalsacollaborative.com

Gift Certificate

OrdWay Center for the Performing ArtS

Gift Card

The CoWleS Center for Dance & the Performing ArtS

Need a last-minute gift idea? Give the gift of dance! The Cowles Center for Dance & the Performing Arts

offers digital gift cards, in any dollar amount, to be redeemed for any performance. Any unused amount can be kept for future use.

612-206-3600 | thecowlescenter.org

RIVSALT Stainless Steel Grater Serge + Jane

RIVSALT is all about design, communication, and experience. This stylish gift pack includes a stainless steel grater, natural wood stand, and Himalayan salt rock. Grating your own salt elevates the dining, cocktail, and baking experiences, and the beautiful design complements any dining table. ($30)

612-281-3019

sergeandjane.com

Crystal Energy Jewelry Moxie MalaS

Moxie Malas is crystal energy and aromatherapy jewelry created as a wearable affirmation of the energy within. Each piece has a story to tell and is handmade in Minnesota with genuine stones and crystals. ($20-$36) 651-808-7378 | moxiemalas.com

First City of Lights ViSit

Bemidji

Celebrate the 25th year of Bemidji's First City of Lights celebration—one of Minnesota’s largest illuminated displays. Featuring over a half million lights spread throughout the park and Bemidji’s historic downtown, you're invited to ring in the spirit of the season in Bemidji. 218-444-6081 | visitbemidji.com

“Who Brought the Humbug?”

The CoWleS Center for Dance & the Performing ArtS

Rhythm Street Movement is back for the holidays! This fun, funky, and hilarious show pairs live music with amazing tap dance for a unique mix of comedy, drama, and mystery that’s sure to be a memorable evening for the whole family. (Tickets start at $35) 612-206-3600 | thecowlescenter.org

The North Star Automatic Wolf Creek Watch co.

The North Star Automatic from Wolf Creek Watch Co. is a wonderful gift this holiday season for the watch enthusiast in your life. Available online or at Security Jewelers in Duluth, Minnesota. ($1,275) wolfcreekwatchco.com

Holiday Show Tickets! StageS Theatre Company

“Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer: The Musical” returns to Stages Theatre Company, Nov. 18 through Dec. 27. This timeless tale of misfits, flying reindeer, and an abominable snow monster is tons of holly jolly fun for the whole family. ($18-$25) 952-979-1111 | stagestheatre.org

Gift Certificate

StageS Theatre Company

Give the gift of theater with a gift certificate for Stages Theatre Company. Gift certificates are available for show tickets, workshops, and classes. 952-979-1111 | stagestheatre.org

Gift Certificate

LighthouSe Bed & BreakfaSt

There's no better gift than giving the ultimate North Shore experience to someone you love. Whether it's a cozy winter retreat or a cool place to stay in the heat of the summer, guests can be keeper for an evening at the Lighthouse Bed & Breakfast at the Two Harbors Light Station, the oldest continuously operating lighthouse on the North Shore. 888-832-5606 | lighthousebb.org

Superfood Grain Free Granola International Gourmet, Inc.

International Gourmet’s versatile plant-based, gluten-free, grainfree, and sugar-free snack is perfect as a breakfast cereal, salad, or fruit topping, adding a delicious nutritious crunch and a superfood boost to any meal. ($9) 612-554-6227

internationalgourmetbaking.com

suPeriOr SelEcTioNs

This year was lled with highs and lows , openings and closings , surprises and successes . We wanted to focus on the positive from this year and asked several writers and editors to select some shining moments and outstanding items. Our readers also helped pick the best of the best in categories ranging from airline and art gallery to yoga studio and vacation site in our readers’ survey.

• BY • EM

CASSEL, JERARD FAGERBERG, SAMANTHA JOHNSON, KATHERINE

LAWLESS,

LIANNA MATT MCLERNON, AND TODD WALKER

• ILLUSTRATIONS BY • ALEXIS POLITZ

bEst Brewery speCial RelEase

Fair State Brewing Cooperative

Fair State runs on a current of pure imagination, with every limited release sparking new curiosity. This past year saw everything from Czech dark lagers to over-fruited sours to vegan smoothie ales alongside the ever-improving roster of hazy IPAs. Fair State also opened up a sandbox to some of the country’s best breweries, producing memorable collaborations with Cloudburst (Corporate Sellout Move), Bierstadt (Side Pull), and Creature Comforts (Doin’ Howdies). –JF

Best neW brewEry

Arbeiter Brewing

The last days of Harriet Brewing were bad enough to scare anyone away from 3038 Minnehaha Avenue in Minneapolis, but since opening in early 2021, Arbeiter Brewing has proved more worthy than predecessors. While Arbeiter’s foundation is traditional European styles, it maintains an experimental streak, showcased best in Hoop Jump, the beer that introduced Minnesota to the now-ubiquitous “cold IPA” style. –JF

beSt BeEr trenD

Dry-Hopped Lagers

IPAs have de ned craft beer over the last decade, but recently, it is lagers that have become the darlings of the local scene. By dosing pilsners, maibocks, and helles with

late-stage hops, Minnesota breweries have created an exciting bit of consonance— pairing bitterness and grassy aromas with the styles’ signature dry nish. Look to Fair State (Back of House), Insight (Avant), 56 Brewing (Can We Do a Lager?), and Lake of the Woods Brewing (Channel Marker) for sterling examples. –JF

bEst noNalcOhoLic BeEr Bauhaus Nah Hefeweizen

As the progenitors of Twin Cities nonalcoholic craft beer, it’s no surprise Bauhaus Brew Labs has built up the tastiest portfolio of buzz-free beer on the market. The Nah brand routinely takes classic beer styles and reinterprets them for drinkers who don’t want booze in their brew. The limited-release Hefeweizen was a particularly faithful achievement, abundant in the fruity avors and oral esters of the German wheat beer. –JF

BeSt chiCkEn saNdwich

Bebe Zito Ice Cream

Bebe Zito mixes nostalgia with indulgence. The ice cream and burger shop introduced a chicken sandwich this year, in the midst of the fast-food chains’ chicken sandwich wars, with a signature overthe-top touch. A huge chunk of corn ake-breaded chicken is slathered with honey butter and slammed atop neon green pickles, a monster that conquers all comers. –JF

BesT Vegan Eats

Francis Plant-Based Burgers

As the rst vegan eatery to pop up at Sociable Cider Werks’ rotating residential kitchen, Francis followed a storied list of tenants including the Curious Goat, Sammy’s Avenue Eatery,

Bebe Zito

Arbeiter Brewing

Fair State Brewing Cooperative

and Yia Vang’s Union Hmong

Kitchen. The cidery was right to take a chance on its rst fulltime vegan vendor—Francis has been a huge hit, and has since moved into a Northeast brickand-mortar with an expanded menu of sandwiches, salads, house cocktails, and boozy milkshakes. –EC

bEst resTaurAnt

ReviVal

Little Tijuana

Neighborhood Lounge

Tons of Twin Cities bar ies mourned the loss of Little T’s—a late-night grease, strongass drinks paradise just off Eat Street—when it closed during the pandemic. Now it’s back, thanks to a trio of guys you may know from Petite León: beverage director Travis Serbus, executive chef Dan Manosack, and bar manager Bennett Johnson. They’ve traded TexMex for Asian fusion in a way that feels every bit as fun and carefree as the neighborhood lounge’s predecessor but just a little bit chef er. –EC

Best ReStauraNt merChanDise

Modern Times

Head inside through the lefthand door at Modern Times, and you’ll be greeted by a merch spread that rivals the offerings at any rock show.

Mugs, T-shirts, hoodies, prints, water bottles—the collection takes up an entire wall, and many of the designs were created in collaboration with local artists like Casey Deming, Xena Goldman, and Lora Hlavsa. Don’t see something you dig? It’s unlikely! But just check back later if so, because they’re always adding new designs. –EC

bEst “BotTle shOp”

Marigold at Honeycomb

Earlier this year, the colorful bottles of shampoo and

conditioner and other hair care products at Honeycomb Salon in King eld were joined by a few new kinds of bottles, these ones lled with nonalcoholic spirts and other beverages. The shift was subtle, and it came about as Honeycomb owner Erin Flavin prepared to open the city’s rst completely nonalcoholic bottle shop in the space next door. Like many of us, Flavin took a hard look at her drinking during the pandemic, and the NA bev store, with its creative collection of alcohol-free wines and seltzers and sodas, is a reminder that drinking without drinking alcohol can be just as rewarding—if not more so. –EC

bEst Pop-Up ResTauraNt

Marty’s Deli

Two indisputable facts: We don’t have enough truly great sandwich shops in the Twin Cities, and we don’t eat enough things on focaccia. Marty’s Deli capably takes care of both. In the early stages of the pandemic, Marty’s—named for founder and sandwich maven Martha Polacek—started operating out of the Bar Brava kitchen in Minneapolis, gaining a following thanks to Polacek’s creative sandwich combos and delightful house-made focaccia. She’s got a brick-and-mortar spot in the works, but for now, nd Marty’s popping up

around town at spots including Bar Brava, Grumpy’s, and Dangerous Man. –EC

besT DiVe baR The Spot Bar

With cheap beers, cribbage boards, darts, pinball machines, and a jukebox, the Spot Bar in St. Paul’s West Seventh neighborhood has been the go-to dive for locals for decades. Stop by the nondescript wood-paneled corner bar for the meat raf e and swing around the back to check out the new deck. And while the of cial opening time is 10 a.m., if you nd yourself nearby earlier, give a pull on the door and you may be surprised. –TW

Francis

Marty’s Deli

Little Tijuana

bEst Sports Team to Watch Minnesota Wild

The Wild’s general manager Bill Guerin is determined to make the team a contender. In three seasons as the team boss, the former NHLer has signed Russian superstar Kirill Kaprizov, drafted the team’s future in Marco Rossi and Jesper Wallstedt, and traded for goaltending legend MarcAndre Fleury. The roster is unrecognizable from when he took over, and for the rst time since the Marian Gaborik years, it’s the team to beat in the western conference. –JF

Angry Cat sh

massive warehouse in Golden Valley has everything from a bowl to half pipes, high boxes, and rails, welcoming every level of skater. All winter long, the coping is rocking, with some of the best pro skaters in Minnesota doing the kind of moves you’d expect to see in a video game—as well as those who are just hoping to be inspired to drop in. –JF

Best Minnesota Sports Moment

Aurora FC goes undefeated in inaugural season

Despite the success of Minnesota women’s sports teams, they rarely get the adulation they deserve. Even so, no sports story has been as sensational as the United Soccer League’s pre-professional soccer team Aurora FC. The team went undefeated in its rst season, nishing 11-0-1. But the players couldn’t complete the perfect season, tragically falling in overtime in the nals. –JF

bEst Urban Hiking Location Pike Island

a way that makes you wonder if maybe—just maybe—this team could be for real. He has redeemed Kirk Cousins. He has redeemed the Stefon Diggs trade. Now in his third year, could “JJettas” redeem the entire franchise? –JF

BesT neW Music Venue

The Treasury

A new all-ages, alcoholfree venue from the same folks behind the Garage in Burnsville, the Treasury is an important addition to our local music scene. There are so few places in the Twin Cities where young people can go and experience live music in a space that’s safe, welcoming, and encouraging—but also fun. The Treasury, located in the basement of the Old Swedish Bank building in St. Paul, is one of them. –EC

BeSt TiKtok/ INstagram CoMic

Sam Schedler (@samsched)

Schedler’s follower count (more than 150,000 on Instagram and almost 200,000 on TikTok) speaks for itself. Whether you’re following for the baking content (“and that’s a threat”), the “Where the Crawdads Sing” hate, or the polite pleas to mechanics from those of us who don’t know what kind of oil we use, thank you very much, odds are you’re laughing or quietly groaning in agreement. –EC

bEst Up-and-Coming IlLustRator

Alexis Politz (alexispolitz.com)

beSt Bike Shop

Angry Cat sh Bicycle Shop + Coffee Bar

Bike shops can be intimidating places, especially those that cater to more experienced riders. Angry Cat sh is certainly one of the higher-end shops in the Twin Cities, but it deserves recognition for how approachable and helpful the staff is. Whether you’re looking to hit some Cuyuna trails or commute to downtown, this staff will empower you with the knowledge to become an everyday biker. Great coffee doesn’t hurt, either. –JF

BesT Skate Park

3rd Lair Skatepark

3rd Lair feels like a level in “Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater.” The

Along the southern limits of St. Paul is an island formed by the con uence of the Mississippi and Minnesota rivers. Pike Island is a peaceful spit of land that feels like it’s miles away from the Twin Cities, with a woody 3.7-mile trail and calm, dandy beaches. In the winter, it’s one of the most scenic cross-country skiing locations within a short drive. –JF

Best Reason to Believe in Minnesota Sports

Justin Jefferson

Not since Randy Moss wore No. 84 has there been so much hope for the Minnesota Vikings. Since his sensational 2020 rookie season, Justin Jefferson has lit a re in the fandom, reeling in passes in

This Twin Cities registerednurse-slash-comic’s deadpan delivery and aura of baf ed disappointment have been a hit with disillusioned millennials and zoomers alike, and

This artist has done work for all kinds of local and national businesses, bands, and brands: Copycats Media, KFAI, Car Seat Headrest, Lydia Liza, and Black Garnet Books, to name a small fraction. But this year, some of their most important work was done in collaboration with Planned Parenthood, for whom Politz worked on a series

Justin Jefferson

Alexis Politz

of graphics about states with abortion access. “Abortion is still safe and legal, and you betcha we’ll ght to keep it that way,” Minnesota’s reads. –EC

bEsT Film Series

Nic Cage, “National Treasure” at the Trylon

The “Nicolas Cage is good, actually” movement has been growing for a while now, and the critical reappraisal was lovingly skewered, or at least

from the Twin Cities, and if you haven’t been invited by a friend with a boat to spin around this picturesque lake, hop aboard the Pearl of the Lake riverboat, which is a replica of the paddlewheels from the 1800s. Continue exploring the area by traveling along the Great River Road with a stop at Reads Landing Brewing Company near Wabasha. Along the Wisconsin side, stop at the Harbor View Cafe in Pepin or grab a slice of pie at Stockholm Pie & General Store. –TW

Best PickleBall CoUrt

Lucky Shots Pickleball Club

It’s impossible to avoid the pickleball craze these days, and the premier playground for enthusiasts is Lucky Shots Pickleball Club in northeast Minneapolis. Lucky Shots has 12 indoor courts and leagues available for all levels of players. Another bonus: The club is right next door to Brother Justus Whiskey Company. –TW

beSt Music fesTival Lakefront Music Fest

made meta, in this year’s “The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent,” a ctional tale in which Cage plays a bizzaro version of himself. The Trylon seized on the renewed appeal of one of America’s weirdest and most proli c talents, hosting a summer-long salute to the polarizing actor that included everything from the blockbuster hits (“Con Air”) to the zany love stories (“Moonstruck”) to the psychedelic horror icks (“Mandy”). –EC

beSt Day Trip Pepin, Wisconsin

The Lake Pepin area is reachable in under two hours

This outdoor two-day festival next to scenic Prior Lake has been growing each year because it caters to both country and rock music fans with a day dedicated to each. Gourmet food and drink vendors elevate the experience. –TW

BeSt Baby Name Predictor

Emily Kim

Minnesotan TikToker Emily Kim (@emdoodlesandstuff) has made an art form out of predicting in uencer baby names for her nearly 205,000 followers. After carefully observing the curated lifestyles of in uencers, she makes predictions based on previous children’s names as well as the cultural backgrounds, home aesthetics, and fashion styles

of the micro-celebrity parentsto-be. While Kim is not always right (though she did predict Colleen Ballinger’s son’s name and in uenced one momstagrammer to name her baby August), it’s always fun and in good humor. –KL

bEst LocAl wRiter

Abby Jimenez

Abby Jimenez is a Minnesota author of four books and the founder of cupcake bakery Nadia Cakes. The USA Today best-selling author is also a winner of Food Network’s “Cupcake Wars” and was on two seasons of TLC’s “Fabulous Cakes.” Her most recent book, “The Happy Ever After Playlist,” is now being turned into a movie. The story follows main character Sloan Monroe as she attempts to track down the owner of an adorable dog

who jumps into her car one day. The owner turns out to be a traveling musician and, over time, the two hit it off. It’s a touching love story that focuses on new beginnings and leaps of faith. –SJ

Best legiSLaTive PuSh

CROWN Act

February saw the Minnesota House passage of the CROWN Act, which stands for “Creating a Respectful and Open World for Natural Hair” and seeks to clarify the de nition of “race” in the Minnesota Human Rights Act. The goal: to protect against hair-based discrimination. Unfortunately, the Senate Civil Law and Data Practices Policy Committee did not submit it for consideration by its deadline, an echo of an earlier attempt in 2020. –LM

Best Clothing Line

Houston White line

In September, Target launched a line of clothes with Houston White, resulting in a menswearinspired brand and multi-year partnership with the North Minneapolis artist. For those who don’t know White, he has a barbershop (the start of a community hub), a coffee brand, and multiple fashion lines, plus he’s the champion of Minneapolis’ Camden Town neighborhood

revitalization. You don’t need to know White’s resume to appreciate this collab, though. The bold colors and patterns speak for themselves. Find the inaugural 40-plus products at Target locations including Lake Street, Brooklyn Park, and St. Paul Midway, or check it out online. –LM

beSt stOrE

Cake Plus-Size Resale

Cat Polivoda opened Cake Plus-Size Resale in 2017, but the shop is just as notable today as when it began. Besides providing a bodyaf rming space, where people can try on apparel and receive style consultations, Polivoda has increased online shopping options and has grown the event lineup, with an annual plus-size burlesque show. This year, the team also added monthly virtual Fat Chats and kept the pre-pandemic annual

pool party alive with casual Fat Beach Days. –LM

BeSt NeW ColLecTive Coalesce Collective

Coalesce Collective’s debut at spring Fashion Week MN shined a light on AAPI and other BIPOC creatives with polished looks drawing inspiration from Hmong, Vietnamese, Somali, and other cultures. For its second event, in the fall, Coalesce focused on the glam of the 1920s, when women’s rights and the power of the arts, culture, and race were on the rise. Follow the individual designers on social media—it’ll be well worth the inspiration

ooding your feed. –LM

bEst lipstiCk Brand

Lip Esteem

Tameka Jones started Lip

Esteem in 2020 and a year

later earned a New Kid on the Block award for new St. Paul businesses. This year, she has opened the brand’s brick-andmortar home on Selby Avenue. Best-selling products include the cinnamon-mauve I Promise and scarlet Lady Boss matte shades, but all are praised for being long lasting, moisturizing, and smudge free. As a bonus, the brand checks off the “feel good” boxes: They are plant based, gluten free, and cruelty free. –LM

bEst skiN care gUru

Jenny Liu

Jenny Liu (@derm.talk) is the straight-shooting, board-certied dermatologist/in uencer of your dreams. When she’s not working as an assistant professor at the University of Minnesota Medical School, she shares much-needed (and science-backed) skin care tips and tricks with her hundreds of thousands of followers across TikTok, YouTube, and Instagram. Liu covers everything you need to know to take care of your body’s largest organ, including luxury skin care dupes, the truth about physical exfoliants, and the rules of retinol. –KL

Houston White Line at Target

Coalesce Collective

beSt seCondhaNd StyList

Everyday Ejiji

Stylish. Sustainable. Supportive of women of color. What could be better? Everyday Ejiji is an Afro-Latina-owned vintage and secondhand shop in Minneapolis that specializes in bold and bright fashions perfect for everyday fashionistas and your most glamorous events. Not only does founder Ashley Becerra have the best of the

Twin Cities’ thrifting nds, but she also lends her expertise as a professional stylist. –KL

Best TriNkets

Larissa Loden

It can be dif cult to nd high-quality jewelry that goes with everything and ts your personal style. Or at least it was before Larissa Loden came on the scene. Her St. Paulbased brand includes necklaces, earrings, and bracelets

in classic chains and hoops, along with customizable styles bearing your name, zodiac sign, birthstone, Myers-Briggs type, Enneagram, etc. Her handmade creations make the perfect gift. –KL

bEst JeWelEr

Wild Witchery Co. Hailey Houge is the designer and creator of Wild Witchery Co. As a silversmith and a practitioner of electroforming (a process that uses electroconductive paint and involves multiple layers of metal), she gained popularity for her “forever bracelets,” dainty yet beautiful chains made of sterling silver and 14-karat gold that are custom tted and carefully welded. Wild Witchery also sells beautiful necklaces, earrings, and stacker rings with colorful stones. –SJ

BeSt VintaGe ShoPping

Tandem Vintage

With the goal of providing a little “joy for your closet,” Tandem Vintage is a secondhand shop run by owner, buyer, photographer, and self-proclaimed “stain queen” Amanda Baumann. Her love of colors, patterns, and all things fun led her to create this space on West 38th in Minneapolis where all are welcome. Tandem features local brands under BIPOC, LGBTQ+, and/or woman/nonbinary owners, with sizes up to 3X, so everyone can learn to love secondhand shopping. –SJ

Em Cassel is the former editor of City Pages and a current editor and coowner of Racket, a new online alternative publication from a group of CP editors.

Jerard Fagerberg is a freelance food and beer writer who lives in Minneapolis. You can nd his work in Good Beer Hunting, The Takeout, Racket, and this publication you are currently reading.

Samantha Johnson is a writer, editor, and content director for Greenspring Media, contributing to the company’s custom publications, including Twin Cities Living, Real Food, and Minnesota Monthly When not writing, you’ll nd her thrift shopping or playing video games with her husband.

As an associate editor on Greenspring’s custom editorial team, Katherine (Kate) Lawless contributes her journalism and strategic communications skills to the core and custom publications, including Twin Cities Guest Guide, Real Food, and Minnesota Monthly

Lianna Matt McLernon is a Twin Cities writer who has written about a gamut of topics, including local fashion, the international pharmaceutical supply chain, and lots and lots of theater—perhaps her love for the latter is why her day job is at Theater Mu, the second largest Asian American theater company in the country. When she’s not working, there’s a good chance you can nd her at an ice rink.

Todd Walker is a TV and radio personality who produces the Todd About Town weekly roundup of the latest happenings around the Twin Cities plus food, travel, and entertainment news.

Lip Esteem

Tandem Vintage

rEadeRs’ cHOiCe

BASED UPON ONLINE VOTES FROM TRUSTED READERS:

BURGER Red Cow

PIZZA

Pizza Luce

TACO

Nico’s Taco and Tequila Bar

BREWERY

Surly (write-in winner)

DISTILLERY Tattersall

CANNED COCKTAILS/ READY-TO - DRINK COCKTAILS Tattersall

COFFEE SHOP

Spyhouse

CBD

Nothing But Hemp

FRENCH FRIES

Meritage

CELIAC FRIENDLY Colita

DONUTS

Glam Doll PATIO

W.A. Frost and Company

HAPPY HOUR

The Freehouse and Barrio (tie)

ICE CREAM

Sebastian Joe’s

LOCAL VINEYARD

Carlos Creek Winery

BLOODY MARY

Hell’s Kitchen

BRUNCH

Hope Breakfast Bar

Nothing But Hemp

BAR FOR CRAFT COCKTAILS

Constantine

CHICKEN WINGS

Monte Carlo

DIVE BAR

Grumpy’s Northeast

BAKERY

Bellecour Bakery

DELI

Kramarczuk’s Sausage Company

VEGAN/VEGETARIAN

The Herbivorous Butcher

FOOD TRUCK

The Anchor Fish & Chips

MEAT SHOP

Von Hanson’s

BARBECUE Revival

TAKEOUT Brasa

HARD SELTZER Fulton

SEAFOOD

Coastal Seafoods

COUNTER SERVICE

Cafe Latte

SPECIAL OCCASION Manny’s

DESSERT

Yum! Kitchen and Bakery

DATE NIGHT

Spoon and Stable

FAMILY MEAL Blue Door Pub

SUSHI

Billy Sushi

WOMEN’S CLOTHING Primp

MEN’S CLOTHING MartinPatrick3

SHOPPING CENTER Galleria

FURNITURE STORE Room & Board

GROCERY STORE

Lunds & Byerlys

LIQUOR STORE

Surdyk’s

AUTO DEALERSHIP

Walser Automotive Group

HOME GOODS HomeGoods

GIFT SHOP Patina

ATHLETIC WEAR

Lululemon

JEWELER

R.F. Moeller Jeweler

FINE ANTIQUES H&B Gallery

NURSERY/GREENHOUSE

Gertens Garden Center

MAKER/ARTISAN

Hennepin Made

Tattersall

INTIMATE APPAREL

Flirt Boutique

SPECIALTY MARKET

Midtown Global Market

KIDS STORE Paci er

ART GALLERY

Northrup King Building

OUTDOORS REI

HAIR SALON Haus Salon

SPA

The Marsh

SPECIALTY GYM Orangetheory

The Freehouse

GYM/ATHLETIC CLUB

Life Time

COLLEGE/UNIVERSITY

University of Minnesota

MEN’S STYLIST

The Dapper Wolf

CHILDCARE

Primrose Schools

MANICURE & PEDICURE

Envy Nails Uptown

DOGGIE DAYCARE

Wagging Tails

VETERINARIAN Como Park Animal Hospital

PET GROOMING

Bubbly Paws

MASSEUSE

Massage Envy

YOGA STUDIO

St. Paul Yoga Center

CONVENTION CENTER

Minneapolis

Convention Center

EVENT CENTER Machine Shop

HOME IMPROVEMENT STORE Frattallone’s

CUSTOM HOME BUILDER

John Kraemer & Sons

HOME REMODELER MA Peterson

INTERIOR DESIGNER

Martha O’Hara Interiors

HOME ARCHITECT

Peterssen/Keller

LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT

Mom’s Design Build

NONPROFIT

Boys & Girls Clubs of the Twin Cities

HEALTH CARE SYSTEM

Mayo Clinic

REHAB FACILITY

Hazelden Betty Ford

AIRLINE Delta

HIGH SCHOOL ( PUBLIC ) Minnetonka

HIGH SCHOOL ( PRIVATE )

Saint Thomas Academy

MUSEUM

Minneapolis Institute of Art

THEATER

Guthrie Theater

LOCAL BAND

The Cactus Blossoms

CONCERT VENUE First Avenue

DANCE CLUB

The Saloon

SPORTING VENUE CHS Field

RACING

Canterbury Park

HOTEL Hewing Hotel

RESORT

Grand View Lodge

CASINO

Mystic Lake Casino

COMEDY CLUB

Acme Comedy Co.

RADIO STATION - MUSIC 89.3 The Current

RADIO STATION - TALK

KFAN (FM 100.3)

TV STATION KARE (Channel 11)

SPORTS TEAM Minnesota Twins

ADOPTED CELEBRITY Lizzo

HOMEGROWN CELEBRITY Prince

VACATION SPOT

Duluth

STATE PARK

Gooseberry Falls

MOUNTAIN BIKE TRAIL

Theodore Wirth Park

PAVED BIKE TRAIL

Grand Rounds National Scenic Byway

SCENIC DRIVE North Shore Scenic Drive

RUNNING ROUTE

Lake of the Isles

CAMPSITE Split Rock Lighthouse State Park

BOATING Lake Minnetonka

HIKING Eagle Mountain Trail

GOLFING

Hazeltine National Golf Club

ANNUAL EVENT

Minnesota State Fair

FISHING LAKE/RIVER

Lake of the Woods

BEACH

Itasca State Park

SKIING Lutsen Mountains

SNOWSHOEING Minnehaha Creek

POOL

Edina Aquatic Center

ICE SKATING Bayfront Festival Park

The Cactus Blossoms

Duluth

Gooseberry Falls

Life Time

BEST

By JASON D e RUSHA

RESTAURANTS

From a highly anticipated ne-dining experience in a ve-star hotel to a remarkable remake of a sports bar, these 10 spots have us excited again about food and drink

Photography By KEVIN KRAMER

Grilled octopus from Daniel del Prado’s new restaurant, Macanda, p. 68

CHEF of the YEAR

Daniel del Prado

no chef embodies the energy, the excitement, and the ambition of the Minnesota food scene like chef Daniel del Prado. His 2022 would make your head spin: He bought the former home of the Bachelor Farmer, he opened a new 200-seat restaurant on Lake Minnetonka, and he took over all of the restaurants in Rand Tower Hotel in downtown Minneapolis.

Del Prado says his recent successes have all been part of his plan. “I remember being a kid and wondering why I couldn’t have a bicycle like other kids because I was poor,” del Prado told me.

continued from p. 65

Born in Buenos Aires, Argentina, del Prado’s American dream is part spontaneous “let’s go to Miami,” part skater/snowboarder dude who started cooking in Vail, Colorado, and part romantic who followed his love at the time to Minneapolis.

He became a star cook at Bar La Grassa, helped Isaac Becker open Burch Steak, and went on to create the Linden Hills hot spot Martina, followed by Colita. Then his Rosalia restaurant got him hooked on pizza. In 2021, he opened Cardamom at the Walker Art Center, Josefina in Wayzata, and Sanjusan in the North Loop. This year, he opened Macanda in Wayzata (and the HiFi cocktail bar inside). He has also taken over Bar Rufus, Miaou Miaou, and Blondette—all of them in Rand Tower Hotel. Downtown Minneapolis has been slow to come back to life after the pandemic, but Rand Tower has been getting busier and busier. And Macanda has been packed, bringing a fresh take on Mexican flavors to the Lake Minnetonka crowd since July.

“I’ve had a busy couple of years,” del Prado laughed. “When the pandemic hit, I think I was prepared for it. It sucked—nobody can really be prepared—but I believe in this country, and I believe in this city, and I knew it was going to come back.”

That optimism is embodied in the $5 million building del Prado and business partner Ryan Burnet just bought in the North Loop. The goal is to bring back the energy of the former Bachelor Farmer, reimagined as an Argentinian steakhouse. The inventive cocktails his group is known for will have a home in a new basement bar.

“When I was on my first date with the woman who’s now my partner, it was at the Bachelor Farmer. I told her what I was going to do in five years, and she thought I was crazy. And I did it, and I did more, too,” he said—a statement that may read as arrogant, but when del Prado said it, it sounded humble and confident.

In Buenos Aires as a poor kid, his mom told him he’d be more prepared in life because of his upbringing. He has escaped violence and poverty and is embracing the future of the Twin Cities. “And it’s still coming back,” he said.

RESTAURANT of the YEAR

Mara

just when many of us worried the end of fi ne dining was arriving in Minnesota with the closure of some of our biggest fourstar restaurants during the pandemic, along comes a shimmering, golden beacon of hope. Mara by Gavin Kaysen is a glorious addition to our scene that serves as a salve for many wounds: It’s in the heart of a downtown that has been struggling, it’s unmistakably high-end and high cuisine, and it’s a return to the soft touch of service. I love how there are many entry points, too. If you want a truly top-notch cocktail in a sleek, sexy surrounding, you can slide into one of those comfortable seats at Adam Witherspoon’s bar and spend just $15. If you want to be a baller and impress a date or client, it doesn’t get much more elegant than that open dining room where you can see right into the kitchen, and everyone can see which local athletes or celebs are dining there, too. 245 Hennepin Ave., Minneapolis

Above: The bar at Mara; chermoula-spiced chicken with pita bread and a glass of red wine

BEST St. Paul RESTAURANT Gus Gus

whenever anyone asks me what new restaurant they should check out, I’ve been telling them Gus Gus. There’s a combination of cheeky fun and high-quality cooking happening in the basement of an apartment building on the edge of the University of St. Thomas campus. It starts with the bitter orange Jell-O shots—I dare you not to laugh and reminisce about your own college days while experiencing those layers of flavors. Then you advance to dinner with great snacks, like homemade spiced corn nuts and chips with speck and creme fraiche. For entrees, my favorite is the sea bass on an incredibly creamy and flavorful white ragu. Chef Kevin Manley and his co-owner wife, Anna Morgan, have created a winner. 128 Cleveland Ave. N., St. Paul

BEST Transformation of a RESTAURANT Khâluna

when you walk into ann ahmed’s glorious Khâluna, it’s almost impossible to believe it was once a neighborhood sports bar, Harriet’s Inn. Gone are the TVs and just about everything other than doors to the outside patio, which now has a roof and windows that open. It’s gorgeous despite the views of the gas station across the south Minneapolis street. Shea Design helped bring Ahmed and husband Tarique’s vision of a Thai resort to life with stunning furniture and lighting and lush landscaping to create an escape right in our own town. The great looks are only part of the story, of course. The updated design is the perfect backdrop for Chef Ahmed’s precise and bold global flavors, along with one of the most interesting wine and cocktail lists in the area. 4000 Lyndale Ave. S., Minneapolis

The rainbow rice small plate

From left: The cheeseburger; owners Anna Morgan and Kevin Manley; Brussels sprouts with Jell-O shot

BEST Suburban RESTAURANT in HENNEPIN COUNTY Macanda

the restaurants that succeed in Wayzata all have one thing in common: They are places you go to see and be seen. Gianni’s, CōV, and 6 Smith all attract various versions of power brokers and beautiful people with handbags more expensive than my car. So Macanda is a perfect addition to that scene—with a major shift because the bar, HiFi, has the potential to attract an under-35 crowd. Chef Daniel del Prado opened Macanda, and there are elements of this menu that feel familiar if you love Colita, or even Josefina up the street. Colita’s guacamole uses guajillo salsa and peanuts; Macanda’s uses a pistachio salsa. You’ll go nuts for it anyway. Smoked and grilled meats have always been del Prado specialties, and you’ll see a beef long rib with a rich mole negro here. And similar to all of this very busy chef’s restaurants, the cocktail program here is clever and exciting. I especially enjoyed the frozen cocktails on the stunning Lake Minnetonka patio. 294 Grove Lane E., Wayzata

Clockwise from left: Hamachi aguachile, acai gin and tonic, South 8 Straight Up cocktail, salmon tiradito, and crab tostada; grilled chicken tacos; the dining room in Wayzata

BEST Suburban RESTAURANT in RAMSEY COUNTY Churchill St.

what do you get when you take a bunch of alumni from the Bachelor Farmer, a civic-minded entrepreneur looking to improve her hometown, and an absolute restaurant desert? You get a first-class restaurant with almost nonstop crowds morning, noon, and night. Churchill St. is the restaurant you wish you had in your neighborhood. Carly Gatzla knew Shoreview needed a place to gather, and she’s certainly created that with this open, modern farmhouse aesthetic in what used to be a hardware store. It has terrific co ee service in the morning, an extremely talented baker making old-fashioned doughnuts that cost just $3, and a chef who has worked at Michelin-starred restaurants making burgers and avocado toast and a breakfast burrito. Dinner is where Churchill St. serves both the neighborhood and those of us smart enough to travel from around the metro. You’ll find a great fried chicken sandwich, but also a beautiful roasted walleye and a flat iron steak, all for around $30. 4606 Churchill St., Shoreview

BEST Suburban RESTAURANT in DAKOTA COUNTY

Farmer and the Fishmonger

it ’ s so exciting to see the absolute revolution in locally owned, high-quality, high-fun restaurants in the south metro engineered almost single-handedly by restaurateur Tony Donatell. The guy who turned a gas station strip mall in Eagan into one of the coolest whiskey bars in the state has now brought farm-to-table food to Apple Valley. It’s quite the upgrade from the Ruby Tuesday that used to fill this spot. Farmer and the Fishmonger offers unusual and fascinating raw oysters, an excellent tuna crudo, and quality steaks. The steak frites dish features a 14-ounce rib eye for $36. Seared scallops have charred pickled corn and then a little local popcorn for crunch. It’s fun, it’s fresh, and a great option for people who don’t want to drive to Minneapolis or St. Paul for a special dinner. There are lots of sandwiches (including a Minnesota morel mushroom burger) and a decent kids’ menu, too, to serve the weeknight diner. Cocktails, as in all of Donatell’s restaurants, are out-of-this-world with lots of fresh ingredients that update the classics.

14883 Florence Trail, Apple Valley

House focaccia

Seared halibut with a Penicillin cocktail

BEST Party RESTAURANT Mr. Paul’s Supper Club

i never would have guessed that Edina’s 50th and France would be the hottest party intersection in the Twin Cities—but where Nick Kosevich and Tommy Begnaud go, the party tends to follow. Mr. Paul’s is fun, it’s unpredictable, it’s exciting. Even with its high-energy bar and highenergy servers, it’s not annoying like an Applebee’s on your birthday. Instead, the Mr. Paul’s vibe that anything could happen here tonight is intoxicating. Speaking of intoxicating, Kosevich’s cocktails are perfect. He makes the best hurricane this end of the Mississippi River and an amazing Sazerac as well. You’ll love the food, too. There are nicely done steaks mixed in with Creole classics like boudin balls and crawfi sh etou ee. Over the year, they’ve expanded the menu and offerings with a New Orleans-style brunch as well as ticketed experimental cocktail dinners at the back bar. During lunchtime, visit that back bar for po’ boys and snacks along with a killer frozen Irish co ee. 3917 Market St., Edina

BEST Brewery FOOD Nouvelle Brewing

give the team at travail credit for never resting on their laurels. They closed Pig Ate My Pizza down the street from their groundbreaking Robbinsdale restaurant to return to a more experimental pub establishment where cooks could play with more than just dough and toppings. I loved it. A lot of the pizzas are back, but the revamp shines the light on the beer. Andy Goettsch brings a chef’s perspective to brewing, with a food-friendly variety of light, hoppy, malty, and fruity beers. Grab a spectacular chicken sandwich, order a Piggie Pie, and sit down with a Vienna Lager or a Princess Peach sour. 4124 W. Broadway Ave., Robbinsdale

Left to right: Pub mussels and frites; the brownie croissant with a Bird Town Road cocktail; the dining room

A po’ boy sandwich with a hurricane cocktail

BEST Bar Emerald Lounge

want to be transported to New York’s Lower Manhattan via West Seventh Street in St. Paul? You can, thanks to a couple of creative souls who met working together at Emerald Lounge’s neighbor, Claddagh Co ee. Amanda Caruso and Molly Bard are serving one of my favorite martinis in town in a long, narrow, slinky bar that’s become St. Paul’s hot spot. It’s chill enough to serve Old Dutch potato chips with a killer house-made French onion dip, but fancy enough to serve an over-the-top braised pork shank and elegant mussels in a tom kha gai-inspired broth. Sit at the bar or nestle into a comfy chair and enjoy the Anne with an “e” cocktail, a gin and chartreuse drink named after Molly’s mom, who owns Claddagh. 455 Seventh St. W., St. Paul

BEST Wisconsin RESTAURANT Tattersall Distilling

cross the river to river falls , Wisconsin, for an incredible showcase for an incredible distillery managed by Morrissey Hospitality. With more solar panels on the roof than any other distillery in the country, the real energy of Tattersall comes inside the large, open dining room. River Falls has embraced it, and Minnesotans are crossing the border to enjoy the great cocktails and terrific food. A trout spread pays homage to the nearby Kinnickinnic River, and the brat burger reminds you where you are. It’s nice to be able to buy a full bottle of one of my favorite gins after finishing dinner, too, a limitation to the Minnesota law that was partially behind Tattersall’s expansion to the 715 area code. 1777 Paulson Road, River Falls, Wis.

Above: The bar; white wine and Anne with an “e” cocktail, with broccolini and bucatini

Roasted chicken

WE CELEBRATE MINNESOTA DENTISTS

Patterson Dental congratulates all those named Minnesota Best Dentists for their excellence in care. We thank you for your passion and dedication to advancing oral health.

Backed by 145 years of experience supporting and strengthening dental practices, Patterson Dental proudly delivers on our promise of Trusted Expertise, Unrivaled Support. From toothbrushes to software to digital imaging to o ce design, we provide the products, equipment, technology and services that dentists need to modernize and grow their practices.

We are Patterson. Learn more at pattersondental.com.

2 0 2 2

For those seeking a local dentist, Minnesota Monthly presents a list of the best dentists in the state, as selected by their peers.

Best DENTISTS

Presented by:

Best Dentists IN MINNESOTA 2022

Presented by:

Our 2022 Best Dentists list features outstanding dental professionals in Minnesota. To find these individuals, we partnered with Professional Research Services (PRS), which contacted more than 2,500 licensed general dentists and dental specialists in Minnesota and asked who they would recommend with their own family’s dental care. Each dentist was allowed to recommend up to three colleagues in every given dental specialty (endodontics, general dentistry, oral and maxillofacial surgery, orthodontics, pediatric dentistry, periodontics, and prosthodontics). Once the ballots were complete, nominees were carefully evaluated based on survey results, the legitimacy of their license, and their current standing with the Minnesota Board of Dentistry. As a result, a list of more than 300 professionals were selected Minnesota’s Best Dentists, honoring excellence in the field.

ENDODONTICS

Omar Abusteit

The Dental Specialists

40 Nicollet Blvd. W. Burnsville, MN 55337 952-746-4519

Gerald C. Anderson

Allied Endodontic Specialists, P.A. 14040 81st Ave. Maple Grove, MN 55311 763-657-1502

Robert Beasley

Owatonna Endodontics 125 28th St. NE Owatonna, MN 55060 507-242-1441

Andrew J. Brasser

Wayzata Endodontics, P.A. 101 Lake St. W., Ste. 100 Wayzata, MN 55391 952-476-0070

Mary Ann Bunczak Forest Lake Endodontics 1420 Lake St. S., Ste. 200 Forest Lake, MN 55025 651-464-9888

Roger Burke

Metropolitan Endodontics

625 E. Nicollet Blvd., Ste. 340 Burnsville, MN 55337 952-435-0370

Olga Ivet Castro White Bear Lake Endodontics

4801 Hwy. 61, Ste. 200 White Bear Lake, MN 55110 651-429-3535

Mathew G. Del Mastro

Endodontic Professionals, P.A. 3401 Hwy. 169 N. Plymouth, MN 55441 763-559-0859

Andrew Doroschak

Metropolitan Endodontics

625 E. Nicollet Blvd., Ste. 340 Burnsville, MN 55337 952-435-0370

Scot Doyle Metropolitan Endodontics

625 E. Nicollet Blvd., Ste. 340 Burnsville, MN 55337 952-435-0370

Kirk DuLac Endodontic Associates Limited

3833 Coon Rapids Blvd., Ste. 240 Coon Rapids, MN 55433 763-427-1720

Rhet Finley

Metropolitan Endodontics 625 E. Nicollet Blvd., Ste. 340 Burnsville, MN 55337 952-435-0370

Todd M. Geisler

Edina Endodontics

3939 W. 50th St., Ste. 201 Edina, MN 55424 952-653-4500

Mathew M. Grau

Land of Lakes Endodontics, PA 2850 Curve Crest Blvd., Ste. 115

Stillwater, MN 55082 651-439-8764

Eric Grutzner

Metropolitan Endodontics

11800 Singletree Lane, Ste. 300

Eden Prairie, MN 55344 952-996-0806

Mark R. Jensen

Endodontic Professionals, P.A. 3401 Hwy. 169 N. Plymouth, MN 55441 763-559-0859

Kris Johnson

Northland Endodontics, PA 11800 Aberdeen St. NE, Ste. 140 Blaine, MN 55449 763-772-0330

Mary B. Johnson Endodontic Specialists, P.A. 6545 France Ave. S., Ste. 665 Minneapolis, MN 55435 952-927-8694

Thomas A. Karn

Great River Endodontics, PA 622 Roosevelt Rd., Ste. 180 St. Cloud, MN 56301 320-259-5078

Robert Kaufman

Metropolitan Endodontics 625 E. Nicollet Blvd., Ste. 340 Burnsville, MN 55337 952-435-0370

Alan S. Law

The Dental Specialists 241 Radio Dr., Ste. A Woodbury, MN 55125 651-636-1072

Philip E. McKenzie

The Dental Specialists 3360 Northdale Blvd. NW Coon Rapids, MN 55448 763-233-3322

Michael Mitelsteadt

Metropolitan Endodontics 8401 Seasons Pkwy. Woodbury, MN 55125 651-735-6430

Thomas Neafus

Endodontic Associates

Limited

700 Village Center Dr., Ste. 150 North Oaks, MN 55127 651-481-8443

Andrew Z. Nerness

Nerness Endodontics 2945 Hazelwood St., Ste. 330 Maplewood, MN 55109 651-777-7744

Susan G. Penniston

Endodontic

Professionals, P.A. 3401 Hwy. 169 N. Plymouth, MN 55441 763-559-0859

Bradford J. Pugh Endodontic Professionals, P.A. 3401 Hwy. 169 N. Plymouth, MN 55441 763-559-0859

Ernest S. Reeh

River Valley Endodontics PA 2600 Wildpines Lane Stillwater, MN 55082 651-321-7247

Michael Reynolds

Metropolitan Endodontics 2125 Upper 55th St. E., Ste. 200 Inver Grove Heights, MN 55077 651-451-6479

Jeffrey L. Ryan Endodontic Associates

Limited 700 Village Center Dr., Ste. 150 North Oaks, MN 55127 651-481-8443

J.D. Simonton

Modern Care Endodontics 18572 Joplin Ave. Lakeville, MN 55044 952-920-4400

Edward J. Stec

The Dental Specialists 25 N. Lake St., Ste. 110 Forest Lake, MN 55025 651-464-7388

Mark P. Sullivan

The Dental Specialists 6545 France Ave. S. Ste. 366 Edina, MN 55435 952-241-5851

Michael J. Tulkki

Wayzata Endodontics, P.A. 101 Lake St. W., Ste. 100 Wayzata, MN 55391 952-476-0070

Philip J. Wadsworth Endodontic Professionals, P.A. 3401 Hwy. 169 N. Plymouth, MN 55441 763-559-0859

A trusted partner in the dental community

PATTERSON DENTAL IS PROUD TO CELEBRATE 145 YEARS

of providing the best products, technologies, services, and business solutions to the dental community.

Our commitment to the oral health industry is as strong today as ever before, and we remain focused on helping dental practices advance. Our comprehensive portfolio of products and industry-leading technology and equipment are designed to further strengthen practices and the patient experience.

Offering step-by-step support locally

Every customer has our promise that we will be there when and how they need us, no matter the circumstance.

Take Dr. Ali Barbarawi, owner of Chicago Lake Family Dental in Minneapolis. When his practice was destroyed during the civil unrest in 2020, he knew immediately that he wanted to rebuild, and our team was there to help him do it. He reopened in 2021, returning stronger than ever for his patients.

Our work with Dr. Mohamed M. Ali of Minneapolis-based Lakeshore Dental provides another example. Our Patterson team worked closely with him to develop a blueprint to take his startup from zero patients to full capacity in two years.

A history of giving back

Being an active part in the communities in which we live and work is engrained in our culture. We do this through the Patterson Foundation, grants to area nonprofits, and our passion for volunteerism.

Locally, we provide both sponsorship and volunteers at a number of oral health events. This includes our long-standing collaboration with

the Mission of Mercy (MOM) events in Minnesota, which helps both children and adults obtain needed dental treatments at no cost. Nationally, Patterson Dental and the Patterson Foundation have donated more than $500,000 in cash and in-kind donations to Mission of Mercy events to help provide oral care for those in need.

Find out more about how Patterson Dental strengthens our customers and communities by visiting us at pattersondental.com

2022 Best Dentists

Thomas Waldron Grove Endodontics, P.A.

8811 92nd St. S., Ste. 109

Cotage Grove, MN 55016

651-768-8180

Catherine Wurm

Central Minnesota Endodontics, PA

1900 Kruchten Court S., Ste. 100

Sartell, MN 56377 320-656-1456

GENERAL DENTISTRY

Paul Anderson

White Bear Smiles

4778 Banning Ave. White Bear Lake, MN 55110 651-426-8998

Jill Ash Valley Creek Family

Dentistry

9950 Valley Creek Rd., Ste. 200 Woodbury, MN 55125 651-731-1054

Richard G. Bataglia

Foley Dental

11237 Foley Blvd. NW

Coon Rapids, MN 55448 763-292-2251

Michelle Bebeau

Blaine Lakes Dental 1566 125th Ave. NE Blaine, MN 55449 763-757-1535

Patrick Becicka

Albertville Family Dental 5047 Jason Ave. NE Albertville, MN 55301 763-497-8165

Jennifer Bertrand

Smile Design Dentistry 3475 Plymouth Blvd., Ste. 100 Plymouth, MN 55447 763-347-2159

Megan L. Beuckens

Ethos Dental

6945 Penn Ave. S. Richfield, MN 55423

612-866-2233

Chad Boger

Boger Dental

2720 Annapolis Circle N., Ste. A Plymouth, MN 55441 763-401-6180

Chad Bretingen

Centennial Lakes Dental Group 7373 France Ave. S., Ste. 500 Edina, MN 55435 952-831-2800

Timothy Brooks Smiles For Life 9801 Dupont Ave. S., Ste. 400 Bloomington, MN 55431 952-888-2300

Shari K. Bruning Basset Creek Dental 5851 Duluth St., Ste. 100 Golden Valley, MN 55422 763-546-1301

S. Christopher Chang Maple Grove Family Dental Clinic 12000 Elm Creek Blvd., Ste. 220 Maple Grove, MN 55369 763-420-4421

Catalin Constantin Parkway Dental Center 4701 Nicollet Ave. Minneapolis, MN 55419 612-824-4211

David A. Cook Smiles At France 4999 France Ave. S., Ste. 230 Minneapolis, MN 55410 612-824-7033

Richard W. Copeland

Richard W. Copeland DDS 130 Hickory St. Mahtomedi, MN 55115 651-426-9720

John Cretzmeyer

Dentistry for the Entire Family 1099 E. Moore Lake Dr. Fridley, MN 55432 763-586-9988

Jennifer DeChant

Minnesota Head & Neck Pain Clinic 3475 Plymouth Blvd., Ste. 200 Minneapolis, MN 55447 763-577-2484

Michael Doroschak

Doroschak Dental 230 Broadway St. NE Minneapolis, MN 55413

612-379-2300

Lisa Edstrom

Denmark Dental

1519 Central Pkwy., Ste. 240 Eagan, MN 55121 651-452-4455

Lucas Eichmeyer Centennial Lakes Dental Group

4800 Olson Memorial Hwy., Ste. 110 Golden Valley, MN 55422 763-544-0121

John E. Elvecrog

Crossings Dental Care

8170 Old Carriage Ct. N., Ste. 150 Shakopee, MN 55379

952-224-8090

Mark J. Elvecrog

Crossings Dental Care

8170 Old Carriage Ct. N., Ste. 150 Shakopee, MN 55379 952-224-8090

Manuel Englander Englander Dental

3801 W. 50th St. Minneapolis, MN 55410 612-926-2100

Kelsey J. Eshleman Park Dental

7774 Hargis Pkwy., Ste. 104 Woodbury, MN 55129 651-714-8237

Steven A. Gorman

The Gorman Center for Fine Dentistry

700 Village Center Dr., Ste. 100 North Oaks, MN 55127 651-483-5134

Erin Gunselman

Hennepin Healthcare Clinic & Specialty Center

715 S. Eighth St. Minneapolis, MN 55404

612-873-6963

Nicole Haus

Harbor Dental

3001 Harbor Lane, Ste. 100 Plymouth, MN 55447 763-553-0451

Mat Hawn

Linden Hills Dentistry

4289 Sheridan Ave. S. Minneapolis, MN 55410 612-922-6164

Shana Heisler

Rogers Dental Center 21410 136th Ave. N., Ste. 109 Rogers, MN 55374 763-428-2217

Peter Hinke

Linden Hills Dentistry

4289 Sheridan Ave. S. Minneapolis, MN 55410 612-922-6164

Rachel K. Holm

50th and France Dental Care

3939 W. 50th St., Ste. 210 Edina, MN 55424 952-922-5561

Daniel R. Isaacson

Isaacson Gentle Dentistry 4700 White Bear Pkwy. White Bear Lake, MN 55110 651-762-7677

Thyra Jagger

Dentistry for the Entire Family 1099 E. Moore Lake Dr. Fridley, MN 55432 763-586-9988

Corey Jensen

Smile Design Dentistry 3475 Plymouth Blvd., Ste. 100 Plymouth, MN 55447 763-347-2159

Joe W. Johnson Crosstown Family Dental 2010 W. 66th St. Richfield, MN 55423 612-866-5014

Neil Johnson Centennial Lakes Dental Group 7373 France Ave. S., Ste. 500 Edina, MN 55435 952-831-2800

Priya Kamdar

M Health Fairview - Boynton Health Dental Clinic 410 Church St. SE Minneapolis, MN 55455 612-624-9998

James Keller

Cedar West Family

Dentistry 1537 E. 66th St., Ste. 101 Richfield, MN 55423 612-861-7188

James G. Koller

James G. Koller, D.D.S. 2601 Centennial Dr., Ste. 102 North St. Paul, MN 55109 651-777-6454

Michael T. Kratz

Edina Dental Care 3939 W. 50th St., Ste. 208 Edina, MN 55424 952-922-2214

Sam LaChance Greenway Dental 2309 Lyndale Ave. S. Minneapolis, MN, 55405 612-424-6850

Douglas L. Lambert Cosmetic, Family & Sports Dentistry, PA 6545 France Ave. S., Ste. 585 Edina, MN 55435 952-922-9119

Randy Landa WestLand Dental 318 Clydesdale Trail Hamel, MN 55340 763-559-0775

Christopher Lebo M Health Fairview - Boynton Health Dental Clinic 410 Church St. SE Minneapolis, MN 55455 612-624-9998

Leandro (Lee) M. Lira Cities Dental Group 3505 Vicksburg Lane N., Ste. 1200 Plymouth, MN 55447 763-694-7500

Winston Liu Centennial Lakes Dental Group 4800 Olson Memorial Hwy., Ste. 110 Golden Valley, MN 55422 763-544-0121

Steven Lorentzen Lorentzen Dental 5500 Wayzata Blvd., Ste. 280 Minneapolis, MN 55416 763-540-0101

Joseph Madden Boger Dental 2720 Annapolis Circle N. Plymouth, MN 55441 763-463-0724

Mark Malterud

The Minnesota Center for Minimally Invasive Dentistry 770 Mt. Curve Blvd. St. Paul, MN 55116 651-699-2822

2022 Best Dentists

James McGill McGill Family Dentistry

1421 E. Wayzata Blvd., Ste. 300

Wayzata, MN 55391 952-473-1521

Jean Merry

Merry Dental Care Center, PA 7460 Market Place Dr. Eden Prairie, MN 55344 952-942-0808

John Mitelsteadt

Mosaic Dental - Eagan Valley 4555 Erin Dr., Ste. 180 Eagan, MN 55122 651-877-8383

Bret Moore Smile Design Dentistry 3475 Plymouth Blvd., Ste. 100 Plymouth, MN 55447 763-347-2159

Tom Morgan Morgan Family Dental 16670 Franklin Trail SE Prior Lake, MN 55372 952-447-4611

Frank E. Mork III

Crosstown Family Dental 2010 W. 66th St. Richfield, MN 55423 612-866-5014

Thomas J. Musser

Art & Science Family Dentistry

1000 Radio Dr., Ste. 240 Woodbury, MN 55125 651-739-1894

Melissa Naidyhorski

Tranquility Dental 7415 Wayzata Blvd., Ste. 201 St. Louis Park, MN 55426 952-334-3304

Lauren O. Neitzke

Prior Lake Dental 14120 Commerce Ave. NE, Ste. 300 Prior Lake, MN 55372 952-447-1080

Jeffrey E. O’Neil

Ethos Dental 6945 Penn Ave. S. Richfield, MN 55423 612-866-2233

Jeff Olson

Oak Ridge Dental 625 E. Nicollet Blvd., Ste. 310 Burnsville, MN 55337 952-435-0355

David S. Padula

Padula Dental, P.A. 7260 University Ave. NE, Ste. 115

Fridley, MN 55432 763-571-1070

Barry Panning Harbor Dental

3001 Harbor Lane, Ste. 100 Plymouth, MN 55447 763-553-0451

Michael M. Pelke

Woodbury Dental Care 215 Radio Dr., Ste. 201 Woodbury, MN 55125 651-739-7910

Jill Pucel-Koopman A Gentle Dental Center 14115 James Rd., Ste. 303 Rogers, MN 55374 763-428-2226

Jane Puntillo

Linden Hills Dentistry

4289 Sheridan Ave. S. Minneapolis, MN 55410 612-922-6164

Ira Rabinowitz Park Dental 5000 W. 36th St., Ste. 250 St. Louis Park, MN 55416 952-920-3700

John F. Reardon Reardon Dentistry

333 N. Main St., Ste. 111 Stillwater, MN 55082 651-439-6125

Kordie Reinhold Linden Hills Dentistry 4289 Sheridan Ave. S. Minneapolis, MN 55410 612-922-6164

Nelson L. Rhodus University of Minnesota

School of Dentistry

515 Delaware St. SE, 7-536 Moos Tower Minneapolis, MN 55455 612-625-0693

Jason Ross

Lakeshore Family Dentistry PA

4706 Banning Ave. White Bear Lake, MN 55110 651-429-3348

Stacy Roszkowski

Lifelong Dental Care

2125 Upper 55th St. E., Ste. 210 Inver Grove Heights, MN 55077 651-457-4888

Jeffrey Rud Eagan Family Dentistry 4178 Knob Dr. Eagan, MN 55122 651-452-4317

Benijala Salihbegovic Metro Dentalcare St. Paul Midway

1375 St. Anthony Ave. St. Paul, MN 55104 651-645-4671

Steven Sarles Prior Lake Dental

14120 Commerce Ave. NE, Ste. 300 Prior Lake, MN 55372 952-447-1080

Kristi Scherweit

Boger Dental

2720 Annapolis Cir. N., Ste. A Plymouth, MN 55441 763-401-6180

Mark Schlaefer

Braveland Family Dental 2500 W. County Rd. 42 Burnsville, MN 55337 952-895-0300

Tanya Schulz Peterson

Heart of the City Dental

550 W. Burnsville Pkwy., Ste. 200 Burnsville, MN 55337 952-856-8771

Mary E. Seieroe

Hennepin Healthcare

Clinic & Specialty Center

715 S. Eighth St. Minneapolis, MN 55404 612-873-6963

Adam Shand Centennial Lakes Dental Group

7373 France Ave. S., Ste. 500 Edina, MN 55435 952-831-2800

Annika Simon

M Health Fairview - Boynton Health Dental Clinic 410 Church St. SE Minneapolis, MN 55455

612-624-9998

Drew F. Spencer

Edina Five-0 Dental

3948 W. 50th St., Ste. 205 Edina, MN 55424

952-922-8111

Peter J. Stanton St. Paul Family Dentistry 1050 Larpenteur Ave. W. St. Paul, MN 55113 651-488-5522

Cynthia M. Strand

Hennepin Healthcare Clinic & Specialty Center 715 S. Eighth St. Minneapolis, MN 55404 612-873-6963

Ellen Swif White Bear Smiles

4778 Banning Ave. White Bear Lake, MN 55110 651-426-8998

Sepi Taghizadeh Isles Dental Associates, PA 2534 Hennepin Ave. S. Minneapolis, MN 55405 612-374-4321

Loren J. Taple

Northwood Dental 1227 Northwood Pkwy. Eagan, MN 55121 651-687-0789

Carey Tri River’s Edge Dental Clinic 16023 Elmhurst Lane, Ste. 104 Lakeville, MN 55044 952-232-6454

Jessica Tri River’s Edge Dental Clinic 16023 Elmhurst Ln., Ste. 104 Lakeville, MN 55044 952-232-6454

Joseph Trowbridge

Britely Dentures + Implants 8325 Wayzata Blvd., Ste. 150 Golden Valley, MN 55426 763-309-8725

Steven J. Veker 44th Street Dental 3925 W. 44th St. Edina, MN 55424 952-260-8082

Anna Weber

Parkside Dental, P.C. 825 S. Eighth St., Ste. 1216 Minneapolis, MN 55404 612-332-0559

Tiffany M. Weyandt

Stone Creek Dental 7935 Stone Creek Dr., Ste. 150 Chanhassen, MN 55317 952-937-2839

Jeff Wichmann Valley Oaks Dental 14600 Granada Dr. Apple Valley, MN 55124 952-432-8110

Travis Wildenberg Harbor Dental 3001 Harbor Lane, Ste. 100 Plymouth, MN 55447 763-553-0451

ORAL & MAXILLOFACIAL SURGERY

Tim Ackerman

True North Oral Surgery & Implants 9950 Valley Creek Rd., Ste. 100 Woodbury, MN 55125 651-578-7000

Karl H. Andreasen

Momenta Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery 700 Village Center Dr., Ste. 170 North Oaks, MN 55127 651-237-6134

David L. Basi

Northern Star Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery 1660 Hwy. 100 S., Ste. 145 St. Louis Park, MN 55416 952-465-0105

Prasad Bastodkar

Associated Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons, PA 3833 Coon Rapids Blvd., Ste. 220 Coon Rapids, MN 55433 763-421-6271

Regan F. Brown

The Oral Surgery Center 748 Bielenberg Dr., Ste. 160 Woodbury, MN 55125 651-233-2140

Gregory M. Burns

The Oral Surgery Center 748 Bielenberg Dr., Ste. 160 Woodbury, MN 55125 651-233-2140

Julie A. Chavez

Northern Star Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery 1660 Hwy. 100 S., Ste. 145 St. Louis Park, MN 55416 952-465-0105

MINNESOTA ORAL & FACIAL SURGERY

877-719-8041 | MNOFS.COM

Dr. Deepak Kademani, D.M.D., M.D., F.A.C.S., is an internationally recognized oral surgeon and educator supporting dentists throughout Minnesota. His team at Minnesota Oral & Facial Surgery are highly trained and led by board-certified surgeons providing world-class dental and surgical care. Their mission is to provide an exceptional patient experience—where each patient in their practice receives a personalized approach to treatment, provided with compassion and integrity.

Dr. Kademani has over 20 years of experience and is committed to education, research, and philanthropy within the dental community. He has authored over 100 peer-reviewed publications and two textbooks used worldwide to educate surgeons. He has given over 300 invited lectures and continues to educate students and dental providers at local, national, and international dental conferences. He cares for patients all over the state and is known for treatment of some of the most complex surgical cases, including dental implants and comprehensive oral and facial surgery.

Minnesota Oral & Facial Surgery is excited to announce two new providers to its practice. Dr. Scott Claiborne, D.D.S., M.D., is a fellowship trained and board-certified oral and maxillofacial surgeon with a focus on dentoalveolar surgery, dental implants, head and neck pathology, and facial pain. Dr. Carrie Cera Hill, M.D., M.B.A., F.A.A.D., is a board-certified dermatologist with extensive experience in all aspects of medical, surgical, and aesthetic dermatology. Together, Minnesota Oral & Facial Surgery’s providers are committed to excellence with a holistic approach to patient care.

Minnesota Oral & Facial Surgery’s three state-ofthe-art o ces utilize the latest technologies in virtual surgical planning, all-on-four immediate dentures, and facial/reconstructive surgery. They also o er comprehensive cosmetic surgery services, including hair transplantation, CO2 laser resurfacing, and Botox and Facial Fillers. Their team approach to treatment strives to achieve beautiful and natural aesthetic outcomes.

Together, Dr. Kademani and his highly trained team are here to exceed your expectations!

Dr. Deepak Kademani, D.M.D., M.D., F.A.C.S.

2022 Best Dentists

Louis J. Christensen

HealthPartners Dental Specialty Center Woodbury

8515 Eagle Point Blvd. Lake Elmo, MN 55042

651-523-9950

Michael J. Downie

Twin Cities Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery

925 Hwy. 55, Ste. 202 Hastings, MN 55033 651-437-3262

Todd C. Gerlach

The Dental Specialists

6545 France Ave. S., Ste. 366 Edina, MN 55435 952-926-1053

Laurie Goldenberg

Associated Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons, PA

3833 Coon Rapids Blvd., Ste. 220 Coon Rapids, MN 55433

763-421-6271

Frederick J. Haas

Oral & Maxillofacial Surgical Consultants, P.A.

7373 France Ave. S., Ste. 602 Edina, MN 55435 952-835-5003

William P. Hoffmann

Minnesota Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery, P.A. 15655 37th Ave. N., Ste. 280 Plymouth, MN 55446 763-520-1234

Joseph A. Huss

Associated Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons, PA 3833 Coon Rapids Blvd., Ste. 220 Coon Rapids, MN 55433 763-421-6271

Mathew J. Hutchinson St. Paul Oral Surgery PA 750 Main St., Ste. 203 Mendota Heights, MN 55118 651-451-1873

Anthony A. Indovina Jr.

Dakota Valley Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery

10440 185th St. W., Ste. 200 Lakeville, MN 55044 651-447-6870

Joby E. Jaberi

Dakota Valley Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery

155 28th St. NE

Owatonna, MN 55060 651-447-6870

Jason E. Jenny

Twin Cities Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery

925 Hwy. 55, Ste. 202

Hastings, MN 55033 651-437-3262

Kirby Johnson OMS Specialists

11800 Aberdeen St. NE, Ste. 130 Blaine, MN 55449 763-757-2220

Deepak Kademani Minnesota Oral & Facial Surgery 2380 Troop Dr., Ste. 202 Sartell, MN 56377 320-257-9555

Mathew J. Karban

The Dental Specialists 3360 Northdale Blvd. NW Coon Rapids, MN 55448 763-201-6962

Christopher E. Koehn Twin Cities Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery

925 Hwy. 55, Ste. 202 Hastings, MN 55033 651-437-3262

Bret J. Kurtzman

Oral & Maxillofacial

Surgical Consultants, P.A. 7373 France Ave. S., Ste. 602 Edina, MN 55435 952-835-5003

Diana Jee Hyun Lyu Midwest Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery, PA 11800 Singletree Lane, Ste. 404 Eden Prairie, MN 55344 952-452-9151

Luke J. MacMenamin

The Oral Surgery Center 8401 Seasons Pkwy. Woodbury, MN 55125 651-233-2140

Andrew Madson OMS Specialists

550 County Rd. D W., Ste. 12 New Brighton, MN 55112 612-788-9246

Luke A. McMahon

Oral & Maxillofacial

Surgical Consultants, P.A. 7373 France Ave. S., Ste. 602 Edina, MN 55435 952-835-5003

Ryan D. Morris

Centrasota Oral & Maxillofacial Surgeons

3950 Veterans Dr., Ste. 100 St. Cloud, MN 56303 320-252-3611

Timothy J. Neuner

Oral & Maxillofacial Surgical Consultants, P.A. 7770 Dell Rd., Ste. 100 Chanhassen, MN 55317 952-975-0605

James Omlie

Oral & Maxillofacial

Surgical Consultants, P.A. 7770 Dell Rd., Ste. 100 Chanhassen, MN 55317 952-975-0605

Andrew G. Pearson

Oral & Maxillofacial

Surgical Consultants, P.A. 7373 France Ave. S., Ste. 602 Edina, MN 55435 952-835-5003

Paul Peterson

OMS Specialists

Mark Roszkowski

South Suburban Oral & Maxillofacial Surgeons

625E Nicollet Blvd., Ste. 205 Burnsville, MN 55337 952-435-0310

Daniel Sampson

OMS Specialists

550 County Rd. D W., Ste. 12 New Brighton, MN 55112 612-788-9246

Nick R. Spanel

Oral & Maxillofacial Surgical Consultants, P.A. 7770 Dell Rd., Ste. 100 Chanhassen, MN 55317 952-975-0605

Eric F. Stich

Oral & Maxillofacial Surgical Consultants, P.A. 7373 France Ave. S., Ste. 602 Edina, MN 55435 952-835-5003

Tudor Stiharu

Marcus J. Urza

Hennepin Healthcare

Clinic & Specialty Center 715 S. Eighth St. Minneapolis, MN 55404 612-873-6963

Tyler Varhol OMS Specialists

550 County Rd. D W., Ste. 12 New Brighton, MN 55112 612-788-9246

Paul Vollmer

True North Oral Surgery & Implants 1420 Lake St. S., Ste. 200 Forest Lake, MN 55025 651-578-7000

Sean P. Welander Centrasota Oral & Maxillofacial Surgeons 3950 Veterans Dr., Ste. 100 St. Cloud, MN 56303 320-252-3611

Jacob G. Yetzer

Family Dental

550 County Rd. D W., Ste. 12 New Brighton, MN 55112 612-788-9246

Richard Pihlstrom

Metro Dentalcare Specialty Center Burnsville 14344 Burnhaven Dr. Burnsville, MN 55306 612-638-1238

The Dental Specialists 18258 Minnetonka Blvd., Ste. 100 Wayzata, MN 55391 952-303-8858

Erik Ziegler

Eric A. Stine

Morgan Family Dental

South Suburban Oral & Maxillofacial Surgeons

Centrasota Oral & Maxillofacial Surgeons

Dr. Tom Morgan, FAGD, FMIII

625 E. Nicollet Blvd., Ste. 205 Burnsville, MN 55337 952-435-0310

Abdollah Rahimi Minnesota Maxillofacial and Oral Consultants, P.A. 15600 36th Ave. N., Ste. 100 Plymouth, MN 55446 763-559-7688

P. Angie Rake

Dakota Valley Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery

10440 185th St. W., Ste. 200 Lakeville, MN 55044 651-447-6870

3950 Veterans Dr., Ste. 100 St. Cloud, MN 56303 320-252-3611

Oral & Maxillofacial Surgical Consultants, P.A. 7770 Dell Rd., Ste. 100 Chanhassen, MN 55317 952-975-0605

ORTHODONTICS

Bradley M. Sundick

Oral & Maxillofacial Surgical Consultants, P.A. 7770 Dell Rd., Ste. 100 Chanhassen, MN 55317 952-975-0605

Lance Svoboda

Hennepin Healthcare

Clinic & Specialty Center 715 S. Eighth St. Minneapolis, MN 55404 612-873-6963

Scot Rake

Dakota Valley Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery 2130 Cliff Rd., Ste. 100 Eagan, MN 55122 651-447-6870

Steven J. Rodenburg

The Oral Surgery Center 8401 Seasons Pkwy. Woodbury, MN 55125 651-233-2140

Charles J. Tentinger St. Paul Oral Surgery, P.A. 2550 University Ave. W., Ste. 115N St. Paul, MN 55114 651-645-6429

John Aamodt

Erickson-Aamodt Orthodontics

2130 Cliff Rd., Ste. 220 Eagan, MN 55122 651-447-5906

Sean P. Bates

Bates Orthodontics

Known for our relaxed, stress-free atmosphere, Morgan Family Dental stands alone in our dedication in providing patients with the highest quality dental care and patient education around! Our honest, upfront approach will make you feel right at home. We enjoy building trustworthy relationships with your entire family in our state-of-the-art dental facility! Services provided range from cosmetics and implants to Invisalign and endodontics, to much more simple procedures such as composite f illings and Zoom whitening!

14755 Victor Hugo Blvd., Ste. 103 Hugo, MN 55038 651-429-0094

Rachel Uppgaard

University of Minnesota

School of Dentistry 515 Delaware St. SE, 7-174 Moos Tower Minneapolis, MN 55455 612-625-2495

Kimberly G. Bohlig Lake Minnetonka Orthodontics 11601 Minnetonka Mills Rd., Ste. F30 Minnetonka, MN 55305 952-938-1443

Trudy Bonvino

Dr. Thomas Morgan is a leader in his field earning both his Fellowship in the Academy of General Dentistry and his Fellowship in the Misch Implant Institute, a rare accomplishment achieved by a handful of dentists. Let your mind be at ease knowing you are in the best hands with Dr. Morgan; whether it be his calm, caring demeanor, his extensive knowledge and training, or the state-of-the-art technology available, Dr. Morgan is a step above.

Cosmopolitan Orthodontics 14065 Commerce Ave. NE Prior Lake, MN 55372 612-254-6540

Congratulations to Dr. Thomas Morgan for having been named a Mpls.St.Paul Magazine Top Dentist in all eleven published listings, including the most recent 2022 issue.

Dr. Morgan has also been inducted, once again, into the

Dr. Tom

FAGD, FMIII

2022 Best Dentists

Scot Bowlby

Edina Orthodontics

3939 W. 50th St., Ste. 207

Edina, MN 55424

612-254-6666

Angela Bukstein

Pura Vida Orthodontics

1130 County Hwy. 10 Spring Lake Park, MN 55432 763-784-0420

Heather M. Carr Lake Minnetonka Orthodontics

11601 Minnetonka Mills Rd., Ste. F30

Minnetonka, MN 55305 952-938-1443

Stephen Colby

Edina Orthodontics

7373 France Ave S., Ste. 400 Edina, MN 55435 952-831-1324

Mark Dale

Accorde Orthodontics

6810 Hemlock Lane N. Maple Grove, MN 55369 763-425-9888

Delia Dall’Arancio

Minnesota Orthodontics

3475 Plymouth Blvd. Plymouth, MN 55447 651-450-7273

Emilie Del Mastro Minnesota Orthodontics

13690 Rogers Dr., Ste. 100 Rogers, MN 55374 651-450-7273

Brian DeVoe

DeVoe Orthodontics

700 Village Center Dr., Ste. 140 North Oaks, MN 55127 651-490-3155

Dustin Ditch

Evolve Orthodontics

510 22nd Ave. E., Ste. 702 Alexandria, MN 56308 320-460-8400

Jennifer Eisenhuth

Dr. Jennifer Eisenhuth

Orthodontics

3340 Sherman Court Eagan, MN 55121 651-419-4420

Suzan Ekim

Ekim Orthodontics 16190 Erie Ave. SE Prior Lake, MN 55372 952-447-6077

Keith Erickson

Erickson-Aamodt Orthodontics

2130 Cliff Rd., Ste. 220 Eagan, MN 55122 651-447-5906

Kelly Espe

Edina Orthodontics

7373 France Ave. S., Ste. 400 Edina, MN 55435 952-831-1324

Rebecca Hanson

Central Minnesota

Orthodontics 140 Twin Rivers Court Sartell, MN 56377 320-255-1111

Rachel Hart

Pura Vida Orthodontics 1130 County Hwy. 10 Spring Lake Park, MN 55432 763-784-0420

Andrew Helmich

Accorde Orthodontics

6810 Hemlock Lane N. Maple Grove, MN 55369 763-425-9888

Steve Henseler

Henseler & Kocian Orthodontics

1000 Radio Dr., Ste. 220 Woodbury, MN 55125 651-739-1555

Paul Hobday

Accorde Orthodontics

6810 Hemlock Lane N. Maple Grove, MN 55369 763-425-9888

Heather Horton Horton Orthodontics

8480 Woodbury Crossing, Ste. 110 Woodbury, MN 55125

651-738-9060

Michael Hoxie

Ovation Orthodontics

7825 Terrey Pine Ct., Ste. 101

Eden Prairie, MN 55347

952-937-0111

Bruce Hultgren

Ovation Orthodontics

7825 Terrey Pine Ct., Ste. 101

Eden Prairie, MN 55347

952-937-0111

Jason R. Huse

Huse Orthodontics

622 Roosevelt Rd., Ste. 120 St. Cloud, MN 56301 320-253-8908

Keith A. Kemnitz

TC Orthodontics

2999 W. County Rd. 42, Ste. 138 Burnsville, MN 55306 952-894-1365

Michael King

Michael King Orthodontics 2687 W. 78th St. Chanhassen, MN 55317 952-470-2627

Kyle Knudsen

Central Minnesota

Orthodontics

140 Twin Rivers Court Sartell, MN 56377 320-255-1111

Paul Kocian

Henseler & Kocian Orthodontics

1000 Radio Dr., Ste. 220 Woodbury, MN 55125 651-739-1555

Kraig Kotemann

Kotemann Orthodontics

13998 Maple Knoll Way, Ste. 102 Maple Grove, MN 55369 763-420-6834

Scot Kotemann

Kotemann Orthodontics

13998 Maple Knoll Way, Ste. 102 Maple Grove, MN 55369 763-420-6834

Michael Lee

Ovation Orthodontics

7825 Terrey Pine Ct., Ste. 101 Eden Prairie, MN 55347 952-937-0111

Rosemary Lelich

Family Orthodontics

5804 Excelsior Blvd. St. Louis Park, MN 55416 952-900-3400

Alisa Madson

Pura Vida Orthodontics

1130 County Hwy. 10 Spring Lake Park, MN 55432

763-784-0420

Michael McDermot

McDermot Orthodontics

13046 Falcon Dr. Baxter, MN 56425

218-829-1630

Tammy L. Meister

Meister Orthodontics

1696 Grand Ave. St. Paul, MN 55105 651-699-2013

James R. Miller

Advances in Orthodontics

7575 Golden Valley Rd., Ste. 220 Golden Valley, MN 55427 763-544-2211

Stephen R. Nelson

Lake Minnetonka

Orthodontics

11601 Minnetonka Mills Rd., Ste. F30 Minnetonka, MN 55305 952-938-1443

Ben Nemeth Nemeth Orthodontics 3131 12th St. N. St. Cloud, MN 56303 320-253-4981

Yu Pan Pan Orthodontics

5101 Vernon Ave. S., Ste. 502 Edina, MN 55436 952-926-3747

Bradley L. Pearson Pearson Orthodontics 7450 France Ave. S., Ste. 270 Edina, MN 55435 952-926-2551

Dan Sleten Sleten Orthodontics

1820 Market Dr., Unit B Stillwater, MN 55082 651-439-3350

Adam J. Sperl The Dental Specialists

18315 Cascade Dr., Ste. 110 Eden Prairie, MN 55347 952-653-0475

Geoffrey Sudit Mint Orthodontics

2804 W. 43rd St. Minneapolis, MN 55410 612-509-6468

Krestine K. Tiziani

Lake Minnetonka Orthodontics

11601 Minnetonka Mills Rd., Ste. F30 Minnetonka, MN 55305 952-938-1443

Doug Vayda

Vayda McMahon

Orthodontics 101 Central Ave. N. New Prague, MN 56071 952-758-6999

Patricia Vayda

Edina Orthodontics

3939 W. 50th St., Ste. 207 Edina, MN 55424 612-254-6666

Jesse N. Veil

Veil & Wild Orthodontics 11800 Singletree Lane, Ste. 200 Eden Prairie, MN 55344 952-903-9484

Andrew Wahl Village Orthodontics 850 County Rd. D W. New Brighton, MN 55112 612-788-9666

Estee Wang Lakes Orthodontics 1668 Cope Ave. E. Maplewood, MN 55109 612-254-6550

Justin R. Wild Veil & Wild Orthodontics 11800 Singletree Lane, Ste. 200 Eden Prairie, MN 55344 952-903-9484

Cassandra Zirbel Zirbel Orthodontics 7729 79th St. S. Cotage Grove, MN 55016 651-459-6674

PEDIATRIC DENTISTRY

Amanda Allen

The Dental Specialists 6545 France Ave. S., Ste. 340 Edina, MN 55435 952-926-3892

Nick Baylon

Baylon Family & Pediatric Dentistry 11943 Central Ave. NE Blaine, MN 55434 763-757-2914

Richard Baylon Baylon Family & Pediatric Dentistry 11943 Central Ave. NE Blaine, MN 55434 763-757-2914

Greg S. Beinlich Pediatric Dentistry 2850 Curve Crest Blvd. W., Ste. 100 Stillwater, MN 55082 651-439-5640

Adena Borodkin

Golden Valley Kids Pediatric Dentistry & Orthodontics 7575 Golden Valley Rd., Ste. 220 Golden Valley, MN 55427 763-222-1299

LINDEN HILLS DENTISTRY

4289 SHERIDAN AVE. S. MINNEAPOLIS, MN 55410

612-922-6164

LINDENHILLSDENTISTRY.COM

Since 1988, Linden Hills Dentistry has welcomed patients with warm and generous hospitality. Its full suite of general, cosmetic, and wellness services includes Botox, Smile Design, and Invisalign. Implant placement/restoration and all endodontic services are done with the most current technology. Linden Hills Dentistry is dedicated to providing patients with the best possible experience at each dental visit.

Linden Hills Dentistry’s contemporary, state-ofthe-art technology combined with exceptional sta skills, o er the best care the Twin Cities have to o er. The team consists of 25 exceptional people that you will love to know. The sta care about their patients’ comfort and strive to provide the best possible care and service to improve the quality of life for their patients, their employees and their families, and the Linden Hills community. You are invited to experience the Linden Hills Dentistry di erence.

PHOTO TONY NELSON

WE SPECIALIZE IN HELPING LONG-TIME ABSENT PATIENTS TAKE THE FIRST STEP BACK TO A HEALTHY SMILE

Dr. Thyra Jagger Dr. John Cretzmeyer Dr. Robert Laing Dr. William Bauman

2022 Best Dentists

Dennis Carreras

Dentistry For Children

140 Twin Rivers Court Sartell, MN 56377 320-257-3380

Tori Thuy Conrad

Tweet Pediatric Dentistry

7845 Century Blvd. Chanhassen, MN 55317 952-401-3341

Daniel Glenn

Dakota Children’s Dentistry

5955 Carmen Ave. Inver Grove Heights, MN 55076 651-450-6111

Julie Haman St. Paul Pediatric Dentistry 373 Ruth St. N., Ste. D St. Paul, MN 55119 651-774-0311

Xu Han

The Dental Specialists

675 E. Nicollet Blvd., Ste. 120 Burnsville, MN 55337 952-926-1065

Kala Hinz

Dentistry for Children & Adolescents, Ltd. 2743 Superior Dr. NW Rochester, MN 55901 507-288-8060

Megan Kinder

Blaine Kidds Pediatric Dentistry

1351 113th Ave. NE., Ste. 400B Blaine, MN 55434 763-415-1222

Mitch Kramer

Dentistry For Children 140 Twin Rivers Court Sartell, MN 56377 320-257-3380

Meredith Kurysh

Sprouts Pediatric Dentistry

14722 Victor Hugo Blvd. N. Hugo, MN 55038 651-429-1205

Venetia Laganis

Laganis Pediatric Dentistry

7767 Elm Creek Blvd. N., Ste. 110 Maple Grove, MN 55369 763-420-2610

Carmen Lammeier

St. Paul Pediatric Dentistry 373 Ruth St. N., Ste. D St. Paul, MN 55119 651-774-0311

Amelia Leuer

Camp Smile Pediatric Dentistry

2805 Campus Dr., Ste. 245 Plymouth, MN 55441 763-383-1788

Joshua G. Lipschultz

Metropolitan Pediatric Dental Associates

1519 Central Pkwy., Ste. 250 Eagan, MN 55121 651-454-0334

Colin Maguire Camp Smile Pediatric Dentistry

2805 Campus Dr., Ste. 245 Plymouth, MN 55441 763-383-1788

Michelle Meiser Riverdale Kidds

Pediatric Dentistry

3585 124th Ave. NW, Ste. 400

Coon Rapids, MN 55433 763-767-1524

Claire Mielke

MapleTree Pediatric Dentistry

1915 E. County Rd. D Maplewood, MN 55109 651-779-9002

Paul Musherure

HealthPartners Dental Clinic St. Paul 205 Wabasha St. S. St. Paul, MN 55107 651-293-8300

James D. Nickman Metropolitan Pediatric Dental Associates

700 Village Center Dr., Ste. 110

North Oaks, MN 55123

651-484-8611

Michele Olson

MapleTree Pediatric Dentistry

1915 E. County Rd. D Maplewood, MN 55109

651-779-9002

Adam L. Ridgeway

The Dental Specialists

1835 W. County Rd. C, Ste. 290

Roseville, MN 55113

651-501-0018

Darcy Rindelaub

Riverdale Kidds

Pediatric Dentistry

3585 124th Ave. NW, Ste. 400

Coon Rapids, MN 55433

763-767-1524

Gayathri Sambasivan

Dentistry for Children & Adolescents

7373 France Ave. S., Ste. 402 Edina, MN 55435

952-831-4400

Sally Schuete Dentistry for Children & Adolescents

7373 France Ave. S., Ste. 402 Edina, MN 55435

952-831-4400

Alison Seamans

Camp Smile Pediatric

Dentistry

675 Water St., Ste. 2 Excelsior, MN 55331

952-242-9200

Mike Steil

Central Minnesota Pediatric Dentists, P.A. 2454 Eighth Ave. S., Ste. 100 Sartell, MN 56377 320-253-0272

Taylor Stephens

Tailwind Pediatric Dentistry 250 Central Ave. N., Ste. 113 Wayzata, MN 55391 952-475-3135

Angela Wandera Dr. Angela Wandera & Associates

8785 Columbine Rd. Eden Prairie, MN 55344 952-941-7393

Melanie Yuen

Hennepin Healthcare Clinic & Specialty Center

715 S. Eighth St. Minneapolis, MN 55404 612-873-6963

PERIODONTICS

Mathew M. Abramson

Perio Partner, PA

625E Nicollet Blvd., Ste. 330 Burnsville, MN 55337 952-435-0333

Jeanne Barss

EPIC: Exceptional Periodontal and Implant Concepts 3475 Plymouth Blvd., Ste. 200 Plymouth, MN 55447 763-694-6158

Roger Etel Minnesota Periodontal Associates

4801 Hwy. 61 N., Ste. 300, White Bear Lake, MN 55110 651-429-2299

Caitlin Hemmerich

Ridge Periodontics & Dental Implants

2480 White Bear Ave. N., Ste. 201 Maplewood, MN 55109 651-770-3014

Thomas Hoover Thomas Hoover Perio 3401 Wooddale Ave. S. St. Louis Park, MN 55416 952-920-9209

Daniel Jabs

Ridge Periodontics & Dental Implants

2480 White Bear Ave. N., Ste. 201 Maplewood, MN 55109 651-770-3014

Jonathan Jenkins

Dr. Jonathan Jenkins, DDS, MS 3960 Coon Rapids Blvd., Ste. 320 Coon Rapids, MN 55433 763-427-4912

James Jensen

EPIC: Exceptional Periodontal and Implant Concepts 3475 Plymouth Blvd., Ste. 200 Plymouth, MN 55447 763-694-6158

M. Elias Kersten Metropolitan Periodontists, P.A. 74 S. Ninth St., Ste. 210 Minneapolis, MN 55402 612-332-0869

Kiran Kingsley Southdale Periodontics

6545 France Ave. S, Ste. 190 Edina, MN 55435 952-922-6949

Jerod Klava

Southdale Periodontics

6545 France Ave. S., Ste. 190 Edina, MN 55435 952-922-6949

Leilani LaBelle

Maple Grove Periodontics & Implant Dentistry 12000 Elm Creek Blvd. N., Ste. 320 Maple Grove, MN 55369 763-420-0200

Donald E. Lareau

Twin Cities Periodontics 3555 Louisiana Ave. S. St. Louis Park, MN 55426 952-935-9009

Connie A. Lee

Minnesota Periodontal Associates

4801 Hwy. 61 N., Ste. 300 White Bear Lake, MN 55110 651-429-2299

Nicholas P. Lowe

Twin Cities Periodontics

3555 Louisiana Ave. S. St. Louis Park, MN 55426 952-935-9009

Shahir Malek

Twin Cities Periodontics

3555 Louisiana Ave. S. St. Louis Park, MN 55426 952-935-9009

Charles McCann

Downtown Periodontics & Implant Dentistry 825 Nicollet Mall, Ste. 725 Minneapolis, MN 55402 612-263-8571

Satya R. Molleti

The Dental Specialists 40 Nicollet Blvd. W. Burnsville, MN 55337 952-926-3128

Douglas G. Petersen

The Dental Specialists 6545 France Ave. S., Ste. 366 Edina, MN 55435 952-926-2763

Frank J. Raab II

HealthPartners Dental Clinic Bloomington 8600 Nicollet Ave. S. Bloomington, MN 55420 952-541-2888

Andrés R. Sánchez PerioWest 7810 Terrey Pine Court Eden Prairie, MN 55347 952-567-7457

Anthony J. Skinner

Twin Cities Periodontics

3555 Louisiana Ave. S. St. Louis Park, MN 55426 952-935-9009

Katherine Smith

Twin Cities Periodontics 3555 Louisiana Ave. S. St. Louis Park, MN 55426 952-935-9009

Jennifer Chang Sullivan Maple Grove Periodontics & Implant Dentistry 12000 Elm Creek Blvd. N., Ste. 320 Maple Grove, MN 55369 763-420-0200

Presented by:

DAKOTA VALLEY ORAL AND MAXILLOFACIAL SURGERY

651-452-6933 DAKOTAVALLEY-OMS.COM

Dakota Valley OMS is committed to providing the highest standard of oral and maxillofacial care in a professional manner. With specialized knowledge in pain control and advanced training in anesthesia, Dakota Valley OMS doctors are able to provide excellent care with maximum patient comfort and safety.

Surgeons Scott Rake, D.M.D., P. Angela Rake, D.D.S., Anthony A. Indovina Jr., D.D.S., Chris French, D.D.S., Cassandra L. Stacy, D.M.D., and Joby E. Jaberi, D.D.S., M.D., are certified diplomats of the American Board of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery. They practice a full scope of oral and maxillofacial surgery and provide expertise ranging from corrective jaw surgery to wisdom teeth removal. They also diagnose and treat facial pain and injuries, as well as perform a full range of dental implant and bone grafting procedures.

Dr. Manuel Englander of Englander Dental, located in Edina’s 50th and France neighborhood, provides cosmetic, implant, reconstructive, and general dentistry. Trained in both general family dentistry and prosthodontics, Dr. Englander and his professional and compassionate team provide a wide range of treatments for all ages, from basic preventive care to complex cosmetic and restorative procedures.

“New technologies allow us to treat patients in a painless and comfortable manner, making dental appointments positive experiences,” says Dr. Englander, who has been in practice for more than 30 years. Patients regularly give him five-star reviews for his caring personality, gentle manner, and knack for putting people at ease. He comments, “We are committed to providing a caring, personal, and professional environment for all of our patients.”

2022 Best Dentists

Kathleen V. Thieu

The Dental Specialists

241 Radio Dr., Ste. A Woodbury, MN 55125 952-444-9511

Mark Wilson

Metropolitan Periodontists, P.A. 74 S. Ninth St., Ste. 210 Minneapolis, MN 55402 612-332-0869

Larry Wolff

Northpark Dental 9120 Baltimore St. NE, Blaine, MN 55449 763-786-1560

Ryan Wolff

Metro Dentalcare Specialty Center Maple Grove - Periodontics

15785 95th Ave. N., Maple Grove, MN 55369 612-861-9111

Guizhen Zhang

The Dental Specialists

1835 W. County Rd. C, Ste. 200 Roseville, MN 55113 651-760-3700

PROSTHODONTICS

Ranier M. Adarve

Adarve Prosthodontics

15322 Galaxie Ave., Ste. 205 Apple Valley, MN 55124 888-601-7720

Jason S. Chong

Prosthodontic Associates

1520 W. County Rd. C, Roseville, MN 55113 651-505-3000

David Clay

Center for Prosthodontic Care

6545 France Ave. S., Ste. 680 Edina, MN 55435 952-922-5326

Luis F. Delima

Center for Prosthodontic Care

6545 France Ave. S., Ste. 680 Edina, MN 55435 952-922-5326

Brandon DeWit

Hennepin Healthcare Clinic & Specialty Center 715 S. Eighth St., Minneapolis, MN 55404 612-873-6963

Tom Dresen

Dresen Restorative Dentistry

1000 Radio Dr., Ste. 110 Woodbury, MN 55125 651-735-1585

Presented by:

John Gerstner Valley Dental Group 7501 Golden Valley Rd. Golden Valley, MN 55427 763-544-2213

Donna M. Hecker City West Prosthodontics 7770 Dell Rd., Ste. 170 Chanhassen, MN 55317 952-941-4672

Lisa Fedor James

James Prosthodontics 3021 Harbor Lane N., Ste. 220 Plymouth, MN 55447 763-231-8897

James Lee

The Dental Specialists 40 Nicollet Blvd. W., Burnsville, MN 55337 651-900-8633

Joy Lua Center for Prosthodontic Care 6545 France Ave. S., Ste. 680 Edina, MN 55435 952-922-5326

D. Cary McNeil

ClearChoice Dental Implant Centers 7450 France Ave. S., Ste. 101 Edina, MN 55435 612-424-5069

Andrew Moffit Moffit Restorative Dentistry 502 Jefferson Hwy. N., Champlin, MN 55316 763-427-1311

Terry G. Orr

HealthPartners Dental Specialty Center Woodbury 8515 Eagle Point Blvd. Lake Elmo, MN 55042 651-523-9950

Christopher Sasik

Metropolitan Prosthodontics 3455 Plymouth Blvd., Ste. 250 Plymouth, MN 55447 763-559-7600

Jonathan O. Twomey

Jonathan O. Twomey, D.D.S., M.S. 6600 France Ave. S., Ste. 475 Edina, MN 55435 952-960-2555

Mark W. Wilhelm

Imagine Your Smile: Mark W. Wilhelm D.M.D., M.S.D 6861 Upper Afon Rd., Ste. 101 Woodbury, MN 55125 651-227-2427

LeadersSeniin or Services

CONTINUING CARE RETIREMENT & BEYOND

Seniors considering moving into an adult living community have a plethora of options to choose from, depending on the type of lifestyle and amenities they are seeking. Whether it’s co-op living for a more active lifestyle or assisted living for those needing extra care, look to these leaders in senior services for the perfect place to call home.

651-330-2550 | bestcaremn.com

Best Care is a home care agency that o ers personal care assistant (PCA), financial management (FMS), and 245D services for in-home care. These services are for older adults and individuals living with a disability that would like to remain at home and in their community. With a strongly built reputation, Best Care is known for being the most trusted and respected home care agency in Minnesota.

Established in 2005, Best Care has sought to provide individuals with the resources they need to find the best home care services possible. The goal of PCA services is to allow individuals the option of living independently, as opposed to a clinic or facility. When choosing these services for home care, individuals receive help with daily tasks and activities, assistance with performing health-related functions, and aid in performing redirection and intervention for behavior.

In the state of Minnesota, individuals have the option of choosing their own PCA, which could be a niece, granddaughter,

daughter, or neighbor—getting paid to be the caregiver of the individual needing services. Clients can choose a personal care assistant and then work with an agency, like Best Care, that hires, trains, and pays the hours for care.

Knowing how hard it can be to discuss living independently with help or home care services with older individuals, Leann Lindahl, Chief Strategy O cer at Best Care, explains, “A key piece to note about these services is that it allows loved ones to live more independently in their own home. It provides them with personalized, non-medical care for their daily needs, so they can continue to perform everyday tasks and live life to its fullest potential.”

With an extensive staff of experts and numerous other resources, Best Care can provide answers to questions about how PCA, 245D, and financial management services are used, plus the steps required to obtain them.

Friday, November 11, 2022 5:30-9:00 p.m.

Minneapolis Marriott Southwest 5801 Opus Pkwy, Minnetonka

Print Media Sponsor

Highlights

y Lively cocktail reception

y Exciting silent and live auctions

y Program hosted by Lee Valsvik, KARE 11 and KOOL 108

y Hospital updates from beloved physicians

y Inspiring patient stories

High Steaks and Big

NOYES & CUTLER

229 SIXTH ST. E. ST. PAUL, 612-968-1050, NOYESCUTLER.COM

RESERVATIONS

Recommended

HOURS

Wednesday-Friday, 4-10 p.m.; Saturday, 10 a.m.-10 p.m.; Sunday, 10 a.m.-9 p.m.

INSTAGRAM STAR

Any cocktail with the stunning starburst chandelier in the background

Minnesotans love steak. When you need to celebrate a special moment, take a client out to dinner, or impress a first date, steakhouses are almost always at the top of the idea list. But it takes some bold tenderloins to go up against the big beef in town: icons like Murray’s, Jax, and Mancini’s, as well as modern-day legends like Manny’s and P.S. Steak.

Enter Noyes & Cutler on Mears Park in Lowertown St. Paul. It has taken over the former Public Kitchen & Bar, which never caught on, either despite or because of the multiple high-profile chefs brought in to run it. Chef Justin Sutherland developed Noyes & Cutler’s program along with executive chef Aaron Cave, a former co-worker of Sutherland’s in the rebirth of the Gnome Craft Pub.

“The goal was to have the same high-quality meat but intentionally less expensive so it’s more approachable,” Sutherland told me.

Approachable it is: We enjoyed a 16-ounce New York strip steak for just $40 and a 12-ounce rib eye for $38. (The same cuts would cost you twice as much at Manny’s.) Cave salts and peppers the meat, cooks it on a double-boiler oven that gets up to 1,000 degrees, and then finishes it with a butter made with bone marrow.

“I like to finish steaks with butter, and this adds just a little depth and developed flavor [and] also incorporates the beef flavor into the butter,” he explained. It works. A mound of slowly melting butter puts a sheen and a shine on that deeply charred crust. The kitchen nailed medium rare, as well, with great texture, chew, and flavor at a terrific value.

Beef is where Noyes & Cutler excels. There’s an 8-ounce Wagyu bacon cheeseburger with creamy Gouda and incredible flavors from smoked tomato jam and a grilled scallion aioli. It’s juicy and messy and well worth the $18 price tag.

We loved the beef tartare ($16), as well. Noyes & Cutler takes chopped New York strip steak and brings an Asian flair with a rice wine and fish sauce vinaigrette. Add

more new restaurants Bussin’ Birria Tacos

BLOOMINGTON

Nothing is ho er right now than birria tacos, and Bussin’ Birria Tacos is doing a great job bringing big-time flavor to Mall of America. From the local team behind Hot Indian Foods, Bussin’ Birria is ge ing it done. It’s a tight menu of birria tacos, street tacos, and quesadillas, and you pick your filling and sauce. Birria also comes with a cup of consomme in beef and chicken flavors. Both were rich and comforting. They have vegan options, too, from Herbivorous Butcher. The nachos are great if you’re MOA’ing with a group, too. It’s a very large portion with a terrific zip from the cilantro aioli.

Culinary on North, Mall of America, 60 E. Broadway, Suite C332, Bloomington, instagram.com/bussinbirriatacos_mn

Margie’s Kitchen + Cocktails ANDOVER

What is a completely scratch kitchen with incredible cocktails doing in north suburban Andover? Justin and Becky Ahlstrom moved from Minneapolis years ago and missed the great restaurants, so they opened their own. Their grilled wings are some of the best we’ve had, with juicy chicken and strongly seasoned dry-rub served with a choice of 11 great homemade sauces. The brick-oven pizza is an amazing value, and the Be er Than a Bagel pizza is divine. The burgers were well seasoned and cooked perfectly, the Thai le uce wraps popped with veggies and shrimp, and the cocktails were spectacular.

13735 Round Lake Blvd. NW, Andover, margies-kitchen.com

Fresno chile and a salty, earthy note from seaweed furikake, and you’ve got a lot of contrasting textures and flavors, which is my recipe for a successful tartare.

There’s a wedge salad, which wasn’t really a wedge at all, rather a small head of iceberg lettuce sliced in half. Roasted tomatoes are the di erence-makers here, adding a hint of tart sweetness to the creamy blue cheese and salty bacon.

There were areas where Noyes & Cutler fell short on execution, however. The tostada had lots of charred octopus on avocado puree, but the chimichurri fell flat, and the octopus was under seasoned. Same was true of the trout. Sourced from the Great Lakes, our fish was relatively

dry, likely because the prosciutto wrap absorbed some of the fish’s juices.

The cocktails are classics—don’t miss the barrel-aged boulevardier—and the wine list hits all the steakhouse necessities, with a solid Oregon pinot selection and plenty of California cabernets. As for the vibes, Noyes & Cutler’s service is much warmer than the very large, very open, somewhat sterile room.

Too often, steakhouses are aspirational places, where if you’re not at a table on a corporate credit card, you feel unwelcome. That’s not the case here. Hopefully that friendly approach, coupled with the budget-friendly prices, will finally make this Lowertown space last.

Slice Pizza

MINNEAPOLIS

Complain no more about the lack of solid slice shops in the Twin Cities. Black business owners Adam Kado and Hosie Thurmond are bringing New York-style pizza to Minneapolis. The dough has good flavor and is cooked in a conveyor-style oven to get the outside crispy and the inside chewy. It holds up and supports the toppings, which is important with such a large slice. And the sauce is my kind of sauce—not sweet, with a nice note of oregano and other spices.

Midtown Global Market at 920 E. Lake St., Minneapolis; 519 E. Hennepin Ave., Minneapolis, sliceminneapolis.com

Clockwise from le : Crab cake with Caeser salad and beef tartare; the spacious dining room; riso o with Garden Gibson martini; porterhouse steak; Waygu burger with fries

Molly Yeh’s Minnesota Spirit

about being a mother is being able to make her chicken-and-stars soup during naptime on Sundays. And if one of her earliest memories is waking up from her nap on a Sunday and smelling chicken soup wafting through the house, I will feel like I have done my job as a mother.

STAR OF

THE FOOD

NETWORK’S “GIRL MEETS FARM,” YEH JUST WANTS TO COOK A BIG THANKSGIVING MEAL FOR HER HUGE, FAR - FLUNG FAMILY by

JERROD SUMNER

how you can find recipes for anything on the internet these days. You can get takeout for anything. Even in East Grand Forks, I can get sushi, I can get ramen, I can get Udon noodles, I can get Somali food. We live in the future, and any food is accessible. Writing a recipe for a dish that is readily available online—that everyone knows already—is not something that I wanted to do. I am here to tell a story through food, to celebrate history, to celebrate my ancestry. Jews are storytellers. I feel like recipes are part of these stories I want to tell, to celebrate traditions and to create new traditions with my family.

What inspires you most on a daily basis?

It’s my family. It’s flavors of this region. I’m still learning recipes of the Upper Midwest. Growing up in Chicago and then living in New York, I thought, “Man, I know all the foods.” I moved up here. I heard the word “hotdish” for the first time. I heard the words cookie and salad put together for the first time. I was so confused, so intrigued, and so excited at the same time. Church cookbooks are a huge inspiration to me, and I just have so much fun. Digging deep into those stories about why cookies got put into a salad, why pages of Jell-O salad exist.

meet molly yeh. She’s a mixture of eager-to-learn kid sister and wise Jewish grandmother. She understands and respects who she is as a Minnesotan and honors her heritage and ancestors while raising a family, opening a restaurant, and starring in the Food Network show “Girl Meets Farm” from her “global” headquarters in East Grand Forks. This Q&A has been edited for length and clarity.

Your recipes feel very personal, and your dishes have a balance and story. They celebrate your heritage and this place you call home. What story do you want your food to tell?

When I think about food, it’s deeply intertwined with the story. I think about

For me, of course, the food has to be delicious. But you can do so much more with flavors, as far as finding meaning in them and telling stories and creating memories. So much of my book “Home Is Where the Eggs Are” is about creating new memories with my family, about celebrating old traditions, and celebrating my ancestors’ stories. I want to tell Bernie, my 3-year-old, about her ancestors that came over from Norway. I want her to eat lefse as a way of celebrating that story. Yesterday, we made homemade potstickers for her first day of preschool, and I want her to know where her family came from. Of course, we know lefse, potstickers, and challah are delicious, but I also want her to know why we eat these foods and what are those stories wrapped up in those flavors.

What recipe do you want Bernie to cook for her own kids to tell the story of Molly Yeh?

You’re gonna make me cry. Chicken-andstars soup, 100%. One of my favorite things

A lot of it is learning about my new home and my husband’s ancestors and passing those stories down to my girls, Bernie and Ira. It’s about learning about ingredients from all over the world. It is such a priority of mine to learn about recipes of this region, but at the same time I’m still learning about my Chinese heritage. Every so often I’ll need to call up my grandma to get her recipe for certain dishes she cooked for my dad. That’s a huge inspiration for me as well.

You must have befriended (author and food celebrity) Amy Thielen by now?

I love Amy Thielen! “The New Midwestern Table” is like my Bible. I keep it by my bed. I read it just as a book. I mean, I cook a million recipes. She is an amazing human and storyteller. We always say Midwesterners are cut from a different cloth. There’s a good work ethic.

I’m glad you mentioned the Midwestern work ethic. Can you expand on that?

That’s another thing that was so eyeopening and so inspirational to me moving here. We moved here, and my husband joined the farm and said, “See you.” And then it was harvest time, and I didn’t see

him for weeks. That’s insane. But I saw how much they care about the farm as a business and what that kind of work ethic is. It’s something in the air here, and Amy represents that, too. There’s such a great level of work ethic here, and it shows how much people care, and that is truly inspirational.

What song makes you dance in the kitchen?

Well, with a 6-month-old and a 3-yearold, we listen to a lot of Disney Princess music and a lot of Ra . I’m really good at “Baby Beluga” and “Down by the Bay.” If it’s just me, I’ve been listening to a lot of oldies, a lot of Elvis, a lot of the Mamas & the Papas, a lot of Talking Heads. I grew up and it was pretty much all classical music all the time. And now I’m branching out a little bit more.

We want food to be an experience. There’s a sentimentality to the way you cook. Where does that come from? When you were growing up, were your mom and grandmother telling you their stories?

I have such core memories of cooking with my mom, or weaving through the grocery store aisles with my mom, wanting to get Oreos and her saying, “No, we can make Oreos from scratch!” She taught me how much better it tastes to make things from scratch. Cooking was never seen as a chore. I would watch her cooking while I was doing my homework. And that was her time, her special relaxation time. She loved it, and I inherited that feeling as well.

How do you come up with new ideas?

That’s my favorite thing to do. Just sit there and brainstorm. I love to start with parameters. For example, fall and winter are coming up, so being able to narrow it down based on what the seasons are and what the holidays are and what I have available from my garden or just ingredients from the store.

I think about menus all the time with Bernie’s, our restaurant. I am always dreaming of menus and incorporating those flavors of my ancestors and Nick’s ancestors. And I’m always learn-

ing—like, what crazy gelatin salad have I not made from this church cookbook, or what hotdish have I not fiddled with?

You have a collaboration with Macy’s and also with Hebel & Co Halva. If you could collaborate with anyone, who would it be? I’m a really big figure skating fan and I would love to figure out a way to incorporate food into figure skating. My favorite figure skaters are Jason Brown and the ice dancers Jean-Luc Baker and Kaitlin Hawayek. I’m such a fan girl of figure skating, I would love to find a collaboration there.

What’s

the best advice you have for home cooks during the holidays?

I am so excited for the holidays. I love to menu plan. I love to keep notes on my phone. Remember, you can delegate. You can choose your favorite things that you want to make and focus on those. I am a planner for big holidays. I will have schedules for one day out, two days out, two weeks out.

Learn what can be made in advance and lean into that. Learn that a braised brisket will actually taste better if made the day before and [if] it sits in the refrigerator overnight. Same thing with bread dough or challah dough; let it rise in the refrigerator and it makes it easier. Homemade stocks can be made and frozen for months ahead and taste so much better than storebought stock. You don’t have to do it all in one day. Space things out and you will enjoy them more. And don’t skimp on the butter.

Oh, and read [The New York Times writer and editor] Sam Sifton’s book “Thanksgiving: How to Cook It Well.” I read it every year.

If you could have anybody over to the farm to cook for, who would it be?

My extended family. They’re everywhere, all around the country. I have family in New York, Florida, California, and Chicago, of course.

My dream is to just have them all here for Thanksgiving.

What’s Up

A multi-faceted project more than five years in the making, Earl Giles Restaurant and Distillery is driven by a dream team with decades of experience at Town Talk Diner, Bi ercube, and the beloved restaurant group Jester Concepts (Parlour, Monello, P.S. Steak). Its main event now is a sprawling eatery that also houses a distillery, bo ling company, and extract-driven Drinks Apothecary. “The creative pool of all of us under one roof is a li le dangerous,” says co-founder Jesse Held. “Every time we walk into the building, it’s like, ‘OK, what are we going to do today?’”

Side Dish

Leading the charge in the kitchen is Ma Reisenger, the chef that has “the distinct honor of being the original burger smasher” at Parlour. Neapolitan-style pizza dominates the menu, as it’s the one dish everyone can agree on, but Reisenger keeps things compelling with idiosyncratic combos. The cocktail options are just as interesting, of course, from the Spicoli Cola (cherry, saline, and kola syrup, topped with cherry cream and rum) to the Rabbit Kick (carrot, vanilla, citrus, and black pepper with gin).

Where It’s At

The first thing that hits you about Earl Giles’ cavernous space is the lush plant life that cofounder Jeff Erkkila proudly waters when he’s not researching pyrotechnic flavor profiles and tricky distillation techniques. “We wanted to create an oasis,” Held explains, “and transport people to a tropical place, because Minnesota can be awful outside for half of the year.” It’s escapist dining at its best, and a welcome addition to the northeast Minneapolis neighborhood that also boasts Indeed Brewing, Centro, and others. 1325 Quincy St. NE, Suite F, Minneapolis, earlgiles.com

–Andrew Parks

Dining Distilled

GRAB AN AVANT GARDE COCKTAIL AND A PIZZA AT EARL GILES

CLOCKWISE FROM LEFT: EL JEFE PIZZA, QUINCY COSMO COCKTAIL, BLACKBERRY LAVENDER WITH GIN, PAU HANA COCKTAIL

2 Lat14 Asian Eatery Golden Valley

3 Pau Hana Savage

4 Stanley’s Northeast Bar Room Minneapolis

5 The Freehouse (above) North Loop (Minneapolis)

BIG FAMILY DINNERS

1 Monte Carlo Minneapolis (back room)

2 DeGidio’s St. Paul (big round table in the bar area)

3 Lucky’s 13 Pub multiple locations

4 Mill Valley Kitchen (below) St. Louis Park

5 Jax Cafe Minneapolis

BEST IN ENTERTAINMENT V u G id

With the holiday season fast approaching, there is no better time to pinpoint the perfect venue for family events, New Year’s parties, business entertaining, weddings, and more. Planning large-scale events can feel overwhelming without proper assistance, but luckily, Minnesota is home to many stellar entertainment services and venues. No matter the occasion, the perfect business is ready to help make your entertaining experience special, and we’ve compiled a list of some of the best in the industry.

PHOTO LUSTRE/ADOBE

From family reunions and corporate events to birthdays and engagement parties, the demand for securing venues is at an all-time high in the Twin Cities. We’ve taken the stress out of planning for you by compiling the best of the best—so, sit back, relax, and let these top-notch venues take your upcoming event to the next level.

With 52 self-pour taps, Bear Cave Brewery is the only brewery in the state to use the iPourIt technology, giving guests a unique brewery experience in its self-pour taproom. The modern, four-level brewpub— located in downtown Hopkins— brings incredible crafts brews, scratch cooking, and amazing event spaces all under one roof. In addition to hosting events ranging from birthdays and anniversaries to wedding receptions and happy hours, Bear Cave Brewery is open for lunch and dinner and even o ers a dog-friendly “wooftop” and patio.

The Hotel Landing is a luxury boutique hotel located in the heart of Wayzata on Lake Minnetonka, where you will discover a unique lifestyle destination framed by modern architecture and bustling with urban energy. Its hotel event spaces can accommodate groups from 10-150 people, and its restaurant—ninetwentyfive—offers six unique private spaces that let groups experience both indoor and outdoor dining. Furthermore, Läka Spa at The Hotel Landing was inspired by Minnesota’s Nordic heritage and designed to create a lifestyle and atmosphere that embraces the nature, purity, and freshness of its Lake Minnetonka setting.

Bear Cave Brewery

the hotel landing

B o o k y o u r f e s t i v e h o l i d a y p a r t y o n L a k e M i n n e t o n k a w i t h d e l i c i o u s s e a s o n a l m e n u s a n d l u x u r i o u s a c c o m m o d a t i o n s

The Granada is the last, true “atmospheric auditorium” in Minneapolis with an iconic, curved, soaring, midnight-blue ceiling. When moviegoers attended, it was as if they were watching a movie outside, under the stars, complete with artificial trees and projected twinkling lights and soft clouds—a magical experience. After many years vacant and a lengthy restoration, the revitalized historic 1927 Churrigueresque theater is the perfect place for live music and entertainment, restaurant and theater spaces, top-notch guest service, in-house dining, and catering with a Spanish-infused flair, as well as craft cocktails and expansive beer and wine offerings. From the time you arrive until the final departure, the Granada team will work to ensure your event is a memory-maker.

Step into a business traveler’s dream hotel at Delta Hotels Minneapolis Northeast . With proximity to Interstate 35 and the Minneapolis Convention Center, it is the hotel is the ideal gateway to downtown Minneapolis to catch a game or show at U.S. Bank Stadium, tour the University of Minnesota campus, or take in the views at St. Anthony Falls from the historic Stone Arch Bridge. Host conferences in one of its seven event rooms with 10,241 square feet of space, and appreciate on-site caterers, equipment technicians, and event planners.

Crow River Winery is one of the premier Minnesota Farm Wineries, located just two miles east of Hutchinson, in the middle of the Crow River Watershed on the edge of the great Minnesota prairie region.

Crow River Winery’s facilities feature tasting rooms, an education and

reception area, events center, and patio courtyard. Inspired by Minnesota agriculture and the wine-making process, the architecture lends itself well to its natural environment. For entertaining larger groups, Crow River Winery’s Events Center features full amenities, with space for up

to 400 guests indoors. Adjacent to the Events Center is the patio courtyard. Whether resting after strolling the vineyard or hosting a summer wedding ceremony, the patio courtyard is an opportunity to enjoy the natural beauty of the outdoors.

granada theater

delta hotels minneapolis northeast

DIRECTORY LISTINGS

DELTA HOTELS MINNEAPOLIS NORTHEAST

With close proximity to I-35 and the Minneapolis Convention Center, Delta Hotels Minneapolis Northeast is the ideal gateway to downtown Minneapolis. Host your end-of-the-year conference and meetings in one of its seven event rooms with 10,241 square feet of space, and appreciate on-site caterers, equipment technicians, and event planners. Property amenities include delicious food, spacious guest rooms, on-site local restaurant and bar, complimentary parking, and Wi-Fi. “Simple made perfect.” marriott.com/mspde

PREMIER TRANSPORTATION

Premier Transportation provides comprehensive ground transportation management services for all sizes and types of events. Its fl eet includes sedans, limousines, SUVs, vans, sprinters, luxury coaches, mini-coaches, and motorcoaches. Dedicated management representatives work with you to coordinate the transportation that best accommodates your needs. It has over 40 years of experience in ground transportation, ensuring premier quality and premier services worldwide. premiertrans.com

Western Minnesota Prairie Waters 2022

AVAILABLE AT RETAIL STORES NEAR YOU

Every case of epilepsy is unique. Mayo Clinic’s multidisciplinary care teams understand this better than anyone. That’s why we collaborate using state-of-theart diagnostic tools to provide you with the most accurate diagnosis possible and develop an individualized care and treatment plan tailored to your unique situation.

Gregory A. Worrell, M.D., Ph.D., neurologist for Mayo Clinic, answers your questions regarding epilepsy treatment, diagnostics, and recent advancements in care.

QUESTION: What is an epilepsy center? Who should seek care at them?

WORRELL : Epilepsy centers provide a comprehensive team approach to the diagnosis and treatment of epilepsy. Specialized centers provide routine care for epilepsy and are skilled in providing comprehensive diagnostic and treatments for individuals with uncontrolled seizures (i.e., drug-resistant epilepsy). Any person with hard-to-control epilepsy or anyone that wants to learn more about their epilepsy and treatment options should consider a level 4 epilepsy center.

Q: What are at the cutting edge of epilepsy treatment options?

WORRELL : There have been significant advances over the past decade to identify the networks causing seizures and methods to surgically target these networks.

Q: When should I see an epilepsy specialist? And what should I look for when seeking them out?

WORRELL : Epilepsy specialists provide information about the diagnosis, cause, and treatments for epilepsy. Anyone with epilepsy can benefit from a comprehensive evaluation that addresses the complex aspects of living with this condition.

Q: What is the difference between epilepsy and having a seizure?

WORRELL : Epilepsy is a disease defined by a predisposition to have seizures. Commonly, epilepsy is diagnosed after two or more unprovoked seizures greater than 24 hours apart. Additionally, epilepsy can be diagnosed after a single unprovoked seizure if there is a high likelihood of additional seizures occurring.

Q: What types of treatment options are available to help manage seizures?

WORRELL : Medications are the mainstay of treatment. But low-carbohydrate diets (ketogenic) can also be highly e ective for reducing the tendency to have seizures. There also is evidence to support the significant role of sleep, exercise, and lifestyle in the treatment of epilepsy in combination with medications.

Q: How common is epilepsy?

WORRELL : Epilepsy is a common disease worldwide. Epilepsy accounts for more than 0.5% of the global burden of all disease and affects people of all ages, sexes, races, income groups, and geographical locations. Around 7.6 per 1,000 persons will experience epilepsy during their lifetime.

At Mayo Clinic, you’re surrounded by experts from a wide array of medical specialties, with treatment options personalized just for you. Scan the QR code above to learn more.

Q: What should I ask my doctor if they recommend surgery as a treatment option?

WORRELL : Epilepsy surgery is a highly e ective treatment for drug-resistant epilepsy. Fully understanding the possible seizure-related outcomes and risks of surgery are among the most important questions to ask.

Q: Who is prone to get epilepsy?

WORRELL : The primary risk factors for epilepsy are brain injuries of any kind (including infections, stroke, trauma, or other causes), prolonged, complex febrile seizures in infancy, and family history (first-degree relatives, not distant relatives).

Dr. Gregory A. Worrell, Neurologist

Nonpro t spotlight

As the year slowly comes to an end and we enter the season of giving, our thoughts turn to those whose hardships continue. Minnesota is home to many nonprofit organizations whose goals reflect dedication to helping those in need. Consider donating your time, talents, and resources to the local nonprofit community, and be part of a movement of Minnesotans working to uplift those who need it most.

Adult & Teen Challenge Minnesota

740 E. 24th St., Minneapolis, MN 55404 | 612-FREEDOM | mntc.org

For over 30 years, Mn Adult & Teen Challenge has been helping people break free from alcohol, drug, and other life-controlling addictions by addressing their physical, emotional, and spiritual needs.

KEY SERVICES PROVIDED

Mn Adult & Teen Challenge o ers a full range of services to help men, women, and teens with a broad spectrum of addiction issues, from those seeking treatment for the first time to those who have been struggling with addiction for many years. Clients range in age from 14-75 years. In 2019, more than 3,000 clients received services across Minnesota.

• Short-term Licensed Treatment: Outpatient and residential options for 7-90 days; faith-based track available upon request

• Telehealth Services: Assessments and outpatient counseling available

• Long-term Recovery: 12-month faith-based residential program

• Mental health services that address co-occurring disorders such as anxiety, depression, PTSD, etc.

• Alumni services, transitional housing, and leadership training

• Virtual and in-person prevention program targeting Minnesota youth in grades 6-12, with supporting parent and community education forums

• 14 Locations: Minneapolis, Brainerd, Duluth, Rochester, Bu alo (teen boys center)

JOIN THE CAUSE

• Read about how Mn Adult & Teen Challenge’s clients have changed their lives at mntc.org/peace

• Become a mentor or volunteer

• Make a financial or vehicle donation

• Learn more at mntc.org

LEADERSHIP

EXECUTIVE TEAM

Tom Truszinski

CEO

Eric Vagle President

Mary L. Brown

SVP Marketing

Twila Jensen

SVP Finance

JJ (Jonathan) Slag

SVP Development

Saul Selby

SVP Clinical and Transitional Services

Tim Walsh

SVP Long-Term Recovery and Mental Health Services

Dave Irvin

SVP Human Resources and Administration

Jen Brink-Edwards

VP Marketing Communications

Lora Clem

VP Clinical Services

Willie Ramos

VP Long-Term Programming

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

Christopher Dietzen

Chairman of the Board

Tom Truszinski

CEO MnTC

Eric Vagle

Secretary, President MnTC Inc.

Chuck Beske

Treasurer, Chair Strategy & Risk Committee

Sergei Shvetzoff Vice-Chair

BOARD MEMBERS

Bill Bojan

Laurel Bunker

Mark Dean

Paul Flower

Tony Hallada

Mark Hanson

Tom Major

Connie Menne

Christy Poppen

Paul Post

Chuck Shreffler

Mike Smith (Emeritus)

Brad Stevens

Chris Thibodeaux

More than their addiction

Saint Paul & Minnesota Foundation

THE SAINT PAUL & MINNESOTA FOUNDATION envisions an equitable, just, and vibrant Minnesota where all communities and people thrive. As a community foundation, it serves all of Minnesota and is the partner of choice for thousands of donors, nonprofits, and community organizations. A community foundation, like the Saint Paul & Minnesota Foundation, brings together the financial resources of families, individuals, and organizations who care about a specific place and then invest those resources back into the community.

Each year, together with its donors, the Saint Paul & Minnesota Foundation makes over 8,500 grants to communities across the state and nation—inspiring generosity by listening to its donors to learn and help shape their values, vision, and hope for the future. The foundation advocates for equity through its commitment to dismantling systemic inequities faced by so many communities, with a focus on racial equity. Finally, it invests in community-led solutions, by believing its community members are in the best position to identify both opportunities and solutions to any challenges they face.

Hunger

S

utio

ns

Minnesota 555 Park St., Suite 400, St. Paul, MN 55103 952-465-9035 | hungersolutions.org

HUNGER SOLUTIONS MINNESOTA works to end hunger in our state. The nonprofit takes action to assure food security for all Minnesotans by supporting programs and agencies that provide food to those in need, advancing sound public policy, building grassroots advocacy, and informing and educating critical stakeholders about the status of hunger in Minnesota.

As the only statewide anti-hunger organization whose services reach every county of Minnesota, it is not only fighting against hunger today but also finding longterm solutions to end hunger in the future. To learn more about how to advocate and take action against hunger, visit hungersolutions.org/get-involved.

35890 Oasis Rd., Lindstrom, MN 55045 651-303-6003 | farmaste.org

FARMASTE ANIMAL SANCTUARY believes that all animals have inherent worth— and farm animals are not an exception to that rule. The nonprofit rescues abused, neglected, and unwanted farm animals and brings them to its 30-acre farm in Lindstrom, Minnesota. There, they are allowed to roam in the pastures and live out their days free from cruelty. In addition, visitors can connect with the animals through tours and volunteer opportunities. The sanctuary also has a licensed therapist who provides opportunities for clients to participate in animal therapy sessions, and it is also building wellness camps for teens with a focus on providing tools to help manage depression and anxiety.

DRIVE UP. DROP OFF.

Saturday, Dec. 17,

9–11am

Original Mattress Factory stores in: Eagan, Maplewood, Minnetonka & Shakopee. All donors can register to win an Original Mattress Factory Queen Mattress set. Blankets will go to our neighbors through Bridging, whose mission is to empower people to thrive in their homes by providing quality furniture & household goods as they pursue housing stability. Scan

Giv i ng Regis t ry

MN ADULT & TEEN CHALLENGE o ers treatment programs to reach people struggling wherever they are: shortterm residential (7-90 days), long-term residential (13 months), telehealth and online outpatient counseling, and outpatient locations across Minnesota.

612-FREEDOM | mntc.org

With roots in St. Paul and partners across the state, the SAINT PAUL & MINNESOTA FOUNDATION is Minnesota’s largest community foundation and the choice for thousands of donors, nonprofits, and community organizations.

Learn more at spmcf.org

TUBMAN serves diverse youth, adults, and families who are facing violence and trauma. Services include safety planning, domestic violence shelter, housing, legal services, mental and chemical health services, violence prevention, support groups, and more. Get help: (612) 825-0000.

To Donate or Give Help: 612.825.3333 or tubman.org

Mukhtar Ibrahim, 2016 Bush Fellow

Family Tree Clinic, 2021 Community Innovation Grantee

Dr. Brittany Lewis, 2020 Bush Fellow and Dr. Joi Lewis, 2006 Bush Fellow

Rural Access Distribution, 2020 Community Innovation grantee

Oracle

Rod kaats figures he sees 100 to 150 theater shows a year, including almost everything he can in the Twin Cities. “I wouldn’t have it any other way,” he says. “Good work creates bigger audiences.”

Since 2018, Kaats has been the producing artistic director at St. Paul’s Ordway Center for the Performing Arts. Kaats lives in St. Paul as well as on New York City’s Upper West Side, and while traveling, he says, “I bring things back in my suitcase for the Ordway. … It’s amazing how often—even in an experience that’s not quite right—I meet somebody or hear about something, or I get a connection, or I see a designer’s work, or something, that later [are] like little nuts that I’m storing in the tree for use at a later time.”

For the holiday season, Kaats is producing “Beauty and the Beast,” which he says is a good fit because “the core story is about the power of love.” This means that transformation is very much on Kaats’ mind right now: Aside from the love-induced transformation of the Beast in the Disney musical, there’s the adaptation of Bob Dylan’s songs in the Tony-winning “Girl from the North Country,” which Kaats helped co-produce on Broadway last season.

“I work for the Ordway, but the audience is my client,” he says. “I’m really the surrogate for the audience. It’s their experience that I’m watching after. A musical lifts you internally, lifts your soul. It’s joyful and sexy and romantic and thrilling and scary. It’s all those emotions that are sort of churned up when you’re watching a musical.” Big emotions, in other words—which Kaats seems uniquely open to.

Born to military parents in Guam in 1960, Kaats had lived in 17 di erent places by the time he was 10. He went to a Catholic grade school in Thailand, though he wasn’t Catholic or Thai. This endowed him with an open mind. “When you’ve been in those situations and you try to figure out how to get yourself through the cafeteria line in a Catholic school in Bangkok, Thailand, if you don’t welcome challenges and di erences after that point, you’re dead, basically,” he says. “When things are di erent or I don’t understand them or they’re ‘foreign’ in one way or another or outside my experience, I’m like, ‘Great, let’s do this.’”

He was a theater major at the University of Denver, where he took a weeklong workshop from Broadway director Word Baker. “Just like today, I was dazzled by Broadway and everything that that stood for,” he says. Baker put Kaats through the paces and o ered him a job at the end of the week. Baker was looking for an assistant, and Kaats took the job, moving to New York—where he has lived since 1981. At that time, it was 10 days from the start of rehearsals for the show Baker was doing, so Kaats immersed himself in Broadway’s fast pace. “Everything I’ve done in my life goes back to that moment—13 shows in two years.”

He also married and had two children. “I’m not [the] typical closeted man who got married and had kids. That’s not my story,” he says. “I had boyfriends and girlfriends my entire

adolescence, and when I met the woman who became my wife, she knew about it and had met some of my boyfriends. She was very charismatic and beautiful—they say gay men have good taste in women—and we very quickly had two wonderful kids.”

Kaats came out as gay after his divorce, but he and his ex-wife worked together raising the children, who were 8 and 12 at the time, he says. Today, his son is obtaining a Ph.D. at Harvard, and his daughter lives all over the world, working as a writer and astrologer. Kaats now lives with his partner, Louis Sacco, a vocal technique teacher, corporate educator, and actor. At the Ordway, all of his busy, open-minded theatergoing has contributed to another kind of transformation: how the St. Paul theater operates. We asked Kaats about his current work for the Ordway, his journey to the theater, and how he’s making changes.

“Beauty and the Beast” was staged at the Ordway in 2009. It’s a familiar story that’s been animated, filmed, and seen on countless stages from high schools to Broadway. Why do it again?

There is something about revisiting stories that you know, in the same way that you put up the holiday tree or light a menorah or celebrate Kwanzaa. The theater is, in a way, a ritual act. It’s not the show; it’s about our experience together. The familiarity is actually part of the heightening of the experience. So, part of the reason I want to pick a show like “Beauty and the Beast” is because of its familiarity.

The Ordway is unique because it stages its own productions, as well as presenting Broadway touring shows. There’s also an Ordway music series. And it’s home to the Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra, Minnesota Opera, and the Schubert Club. Is it confusing?

I think one of the things about the Ordway is it’s hard for people to figure out what it is we’re doing. And it’s because we’re doing so much. [It’s] like going to a diner with nine pages of menu. There are too many choices. And I think that’s one of the things we su er from because … it’s really hard for someone to get their head around just what it is we do.

One of your “li le teeny” transformations was to change the name of the Ordway’s Musical Theater Series to “Broadway @ the Ordway.” What I’ve been doing, ever since I got here, is very quietly weaving a spell. And if you weren’t paying attention, you might not notice. But now, when you look back, you go, “Oh, wow. There’s been a transformation.” And just to talk about “Beauty and the Beast” is to miss the larger piece. It is a really important moment and it’s going to be a fabulous show, but it’s part of a larger transformation.

During your time at the Ordway, you’ve produced “Mamma Mia!” (2018), “42nd Street” (2019), “Smokey Joe’s Cafe” (2019), and “SIX” (2019). “SIX” went on to Broadway from St. Paul but was shut down by the pandemic. Some of these shows were done in partnership with other theaters—with visiting actors, directors, choreographers—but are still Ordway productions. Are the partnerships part of your Ordway transformation?

In both “Mamma Mia!” and “42nd Street,” what was present was, I think, a very important part of our signature—a combination of local and New York actors. I like that because of the way those things talk to each other. Locals get to work with a director or choreographer and other actors from out of town, and I like it that people from out of town can come to Minnesota and say, “Wow. There’s so much talent here.” It may sound odd, but when you combine people who haven’t worked together before, it creates a little discomfort and puts everybody on their game more. You never want people to be mean or uncomfortable, but a little bit of discomfort bubbles up into good work as people prove themselves. New York is a beacon of American theater and Minnesota is proud of itself for its accomplishments in theater and when you put those two things together, it’s really just an interesting mix.

“Beauty and the Beast” features one of your signature pieces. It’s a partnership with a theater in St. George, Utah, and will have the same director, lead actor, choreographer, set, costumes, and designers who did “Beast” at the Tuacahn Center for the Arts, an outdoor theater set in a canyon in Utah. How will it look at the Ordway?

The Tuachan stage is 85 feet wide and as high as the sky. The Ordway stage is 65 feet wide. The set will be impressive. When the Tuacahn production was delayed because of COVID-19, the Utah theater wanted to keep sta on, so for nine months, the wardrobe team continued to work on the costumes. So, there’s

nine months of extra trim and spangles. I went to look at them, and I almost had to lie down. They’re some of the most beautiful costumes—vibrant for an outdoor theater, so you can imagine what’s going to happen on the Ordway stage. The “Beauty and the Beast” cast is a mixture of New York and local actors, predominantly local. The actor playing the Beast was also in the Tuacahn show. Belle is played by Twin Cities actor Rajané Katurah, who recently moved to New York.

How did you get involved in the Broadway production of “Girl from the North Country,” which features the music of Bob Dylan and will launch its nationwide tour at the Orpheum Theatre in Minneapolis in October 2023?

WHAT Broadway @ the Ordway’s Disney’s “Beauty and the Beast”

WHEN Nov. 30-Dec. 31

WHERE Ordway Music Theater, 345 Washington St., St. Paul TICKETS ordway.org

I was in London and was supposed to see a show called “Disco Pigs.” Instead, we went to “Girl” at the Old Vic and I just completely fell in love with it. I think it’s a masterpiece. I was devastated, moved, and thrilled by the play, and contacted the show’s lead producer, Tristin Baker. I called him on a Saturday and he picked up the phone randomly. He planned to license the show to another producer for the move to Broadway, [but I told him,] “You can’t let that show go. You have to stay with it.” He had heard the same thing from others and kept the show. He would call for advice. I raised some money. You have to invest a certain amount of money to get billing above the title, and I didn’t reach that threshold. I was surprised to see my name above the title with other producers on the poster.”

“THERE IS SOMETHING ABOUT REVISITING STORIES YOU KNOW, IN THE SAME WAY THAT YOU PUT UP THE HOLIDAY TREE OR LIGHT A MENORAH OR CELEBRATE KWANZAA.”

Wrapped With a Bow

FROM THE CLASSICS TO BING CROSBY, MINNESOTA IS SET FOR HOLIDAY PERFORMANCES

by KATHY BERDAN

holiday season theater in the Twin Cities has the tale of a miserly man who finds redemption, a grinchy green creature, and some circus artists spinning a new tale—plus so much more. Here’s a look at some of what’s on stages.

“HOW THE GRINCH STOLE CHRISTMAS”

CHILDREN’S THEATRE COMPANY, MINNEAPOLIS; NOV. 8-JAN. 8

You may know the story, but when CTC actor Reed Sigmund cavorts and snarls as the furry green nemesis of Whoville, it’s a whole new level of holiday heart-expanding. childrenstheatre.org

“A CHRISTMAS CAROL”

GUTHRIE THEATER, MINNEAPOLIS; NOV. 12-DEC. 31

For many folks, it’s just not the holidays without a trip to the venerable Guthrie Theater to see its annual staging (48 years, this year) of the Dickens tale of Scrooge and Tiny Tim. A new adaptation of the story premiered last year and will return this season. guthrietheater.org

“GEORGIANA & KITTY: CHRISTMAS AT PEMBERLEY”

JUNGLE THEATER, MINNEAPOLIS; NOV. 19-DEC. 23

The Bennet sisters from Jane Austen’s classic “Pride and Prejudice” have been dithering and dancing and looking for love during the holidays on the Jungle Theater stage o and on since 2017. The “Christmas at Pemberley” trilogy of plays wraps up this season with the third installment. jungletheater.org

“CIRQUE DREAMS HOLIDAZE”

ORPHEUM THEATRE, MINNEAPOLIS; NOV. 25-26

The holidays can be a circus, so why not celebrate with some spinning, sailing circus arts? Hennepin Theatre Trust brings “Holidaze” to its historic theater for four performances. Also on tap for the Trust stages over the holidays: “Les Misérables,” Dec. 6-18; the Blenders, Dec. 9-11; and Brave New Workshop’s holiday show (Nov. 11-Jan. 28). hennepintheatretrust.org

“HOW THE GRINCH STOLE CHRISTMAS”

“A CHRISTMAS CAROL”

“HOLIDATE”

YELLOW TREE THEATRE, OSSEO; NOV. 25-DEC. 30

Two weary shoppers sit on a bench on the Nicollet Mall, stressed by shopping and holiday obligations. They question “almost everything about themselves—their families, traditions, their relationship, and their future together.” It is written by Yellow Tree producing artistic director Austene Van. yellowtreetheatre.com

“CHRISTMAS AT THE LOCAL”

THEATER LATTÉ DA, MINNEAPOLIS; NOV. 29-JAN. 1

In this world premiere, which was developed as part of Latté Da’s new works program, locals gather to raise a glass and play a tune. “Voices blend, memories are rekindled, and a bit of mystery hangs in the air,” according to the theater. latteda.org

“SCROOGE IN ROUGE”

OPEN EYE THEATRE, MINNEAPOLIS; DEC. 1-23

The Charles Dickens holiday classic gets a quick-change, cross-dressing twist that Open Eye says is “sure to make you blush.” The setup: A musical production of “A Christmas Carol” is in peril when 17 members of the company get sick. Three remaining cast members are left to stage the show. openeyetheatre.org

“THE SNOWY DAY” STEPPINGSTONE THEATRE, ST. PAUL; DEC. 1-23

The classic children’s book “The Snowy Day”—and other stories by author Ezra Jack Keats—brings the wonder of the fresh snowfall, the joy of whistling for the first time, and the delight of finding a special treasure to the SteppingStone stage, which it shares with St. Paul’s Park Square Theatre. steppingstonetheatre.org

“BLACK NATIVITY”

PENUMBRA, ST. PAUL; DEC. 1-24

Penumbra’s Christmas show returns with “familiar faces and a new generation of talent.” Musical direction is by Sanford Moore, with the Kingdom Life Church Choir and some of the Twin Cities’ best singers in a straight-up spiritual extravaganza. penumbratheatre.org

“HOLIDAYS WITH BING”

ARTISTRY, BLOOMINGTON; DEC. 22-31

That’s Bing, as in Crosby, the crooner who’s dreaming of a white Christmas. C. Ryan Shipley is Bing in this show structured like a vintage radio broadcast and featuring some of his “legendary friends.” artistrymn.org

“CIRQUE DREAMS HOLIDAZE”

“BLACK NATIVITY”

“THE SNOWY DAY”

The Heart of Hockey

NEW DOCUMENTARY FOLLOWS RIVAL HIGH SCHOOL TEAMS

by JOHN ROSENGREN

There’s a moment in the new film “hockeyland” when the father of a 17-year-old boy on the Eveleth-Gilbert High School varsity team says, “When he’s not playing hockey, he gets in trouble.” Such can be the salvific grace of hockey.

“Hockeyland,” released in theaters this fall, chronicles the 2019-20 season of two rival northern Minnesota high school boys teams with rich traditions, the Hermantown Hawks and the Eveleth-Gilbert Golden Bears. The 108-minute documentary captures how hockey nurtures those who play it and holds these communities together. Outside forces, though, threaten the existence of such programs, with national development teams, private schools, and suburban programs luring kids away. “It’s such a rare and special thing, these hockey programs built from the community around them,” says Tommy Haines, director and co-writer of “Hockeyland.” “Let’s hope this film helps keep this going, keeps it pure.”

The two teams are intertwined throughout the film, playing each other twice in the regular season and again in the section semifinals. Haines and company capture the crescendoing drama with exciting game footage—filming the action with as many as four cameras—and emotional locker room speeches. The heart of “Hockeyland” is the storylines of four

players—two from each team—gleaned from unlimited access to their locker rooms and living rooms. One is dealing with the diagnosis of his mother’s cancer, another battling his personal demons, another fretting about his future after hockey, and the fourth, Blake Biondi, chasing a dream to play in the National Hockey League. “We were trying to find the authentic experience,” Haines says.

That came naturally for Tommy and his brother

J. T., who’s 21 months older and co-wrote the movie with their Northland Films partner, Andrew Sherburne. The Haines brothers grew up in the Iron Range town of Mountain Iron until their family moved to Rosemount when they were 11 and 13 years old. While they have made two other hockey films—“Pond Hockey” (2008), an ode to the joy of hockey played outdoors, and “Forgotten Miracle” (2009), documenting the dramatic Olympic gold medal the U.S. men’s team won at Squaw Valley in 1960—“Hockeyland” was more personal. “These are my roots I got to explore,” Tommy says. “That’s what makes this one so special.”

“Hockeyland” also tells the story of Hawks’ coach Pat Andrews, who starred for Hermantown in the late ’90s and has returned to replace the recently retired legend Bruce Plante. Andrews admits it was “nerve-wracking” to allow a film crew such intimate access and hard to watch the first time he saw “Hockeyland.” In an early scene, he chews out one of his players. But Andrews claims no regrets. “The film is a great reminder of your actions versus your intentions,” he says. “It doesn’t matter what you intended to say; what people perceive is your actions. It made me a better coach to see that.”

Minnesotans who’ve played hockey or know someone who has—basically everyone—will be able to relate to the culture portrayed. “Everyone is going to find something they can relate to in the film,” says J.T., an attorney who moonlights at the Minnesota Center for Environmental Advocacy in Duluth. “The moms at the Duluth screening told us they felt something in this film they hadn’t quite felt elsewhere. The film let them in the locker room. They learned things about their kids.”

Clockwise from le : Goalie Jacob Backstrom scrapes frost from the window to see the Greenway arena as his Hermantown team arrives for a game; director Tommy Haines; Eveleth-Gilbert Golden Bears team members

Photo by Paper Antler

NOV/DEC Events

11/5

FEAST! LOCAL FOODS MARKETPLACE

The ninth annual festival at the MAYO CIVIC CENTER in ROCHESTER features a variety of food and beverages made with local ingredients by vendors from Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Iowa.

11/10-12

NORSEFEST

A celebration of all things Scandinavian, this annual fair in downtown MADISON, MINNESOTA, features a lutefisk-eating contest, craft and variety shows, a Scandinavian arts fair, and more.

11/10-13

AUTUMN FESTIVAL: AN ARTS AND CRAFTS AFFAIR

This weekend-long arts and crafts festival at CANTERBURY PARK in SHAKOPEE will feature many of the nation’s top artisans along with a wide array of foods and beverages.

11/11-13

TWIN CITIES CON

A celebration of all things nerdy, Twin Cities Con at the MINNEAPOLIS CONVENTION

CENTER features a weekend of TV, comics, and film culture all under one roof with activities, vendors, and discussion panels.

11/12-12/18

ALICE IN WINTER WONDERLAND

COMMONWEAL THEATRE COMPANY in LANESBORO has adapted the classic “Alice in Wonderland” for the holiday season, based on the 2019 novel by Janet Allard and Michael Bigelow Dixon.

11/18-12/27

RUDOLPH THE RED-NOSED REINDEER: THE MUSICAL STAGES THEATRE COMPANY in HOPKINS will stage this timeless holiday classic based on the animated TV special.

11/19

HOLIDAZE EVENT AND PARADE

A popular community tradition, Holidaze in WILLMAR features public events and a large, lighted parade that runs through the downtown.

11/19

MADE IN MINNESOTA EXPO

Now in its eighth year, this event at the RIVER’S EDGE CONVENTION CENTER in ST. CLOUD showcases Minnesota-made products for a variety of holiday shopping.

11/19

MAPLE GROVE HOME SHOW

This event at the MAPLE GROVE COMMUNITY CENTER features up to 120 home improvement companies o ering tips, advice, and product demonstrations.

11/25

HERE COMES SANTA CLAUS

Downtown ROCHESTER hosts this beloved holiday tradition that includes live musical entertainment, a tree lighting ceremony, and appearances by Santa and Mrs. Claus.

11/25-12/18

HOLIDAZZLE

LORING PARK in MINNEAPOLIS once again brings back this premier Twin Cities multiday holiday experience. Festivities with food, beverages, live entertainment, fireworks, and more.

12/3

HOLIDAY ON MAIN

Holiday on Main takes place in HISTORIC DOWNTOWN LAKEVILLE and features a festive day of entertainment, crafts, music, and an appearance by Santa.

12/11

MINNEAPOLIS VINTAGE MARKET

Shop two floors of vintage clothing, home goods, and accessories at this event at MACHINE SHOP in MINNEAPOLIS. A DJ and food trucks will also be on-site.

12/11

WINTER SOLSTICE CELEBRATION

Celebrate the shortest day of the year by exploring GRANITE FALLS Activities include bonfires, lights, and holiday cheer.

12/31

NEW YEAR’S EVE AT THE FACTORY WITH PAUL ALDRICH

Ring in the new year by celebrating at this annual event at HEART OF THE CITY MUSIC FACTORY in ANOKA. The special guest this year is stand-up comedian and recording artist Paul Aldrich. The event will also feature a Mexican food bu et, music, and dancing.

12/31

NYE WITH THE FABULOUS ARMADILLOS

The Fabulous Armadillos will perform at the MEDINA ENTERTAINMENT CENTER to kick o the new year. The versatile band, consisting of a diverse set of members, plays everything from country music to heavy metal.

-Compiled by Frank Lien

HOLIDAZZLE

MAGAZINES | COMMERCIAL PRINTING

We help local organizations produce and distribute magazines, guides, and other print pieces. Our teams can help sell the advertising, design ads, layout the final piece, print and distribute.

NEWSPAPERS | DIGITAL

Our community newspapers, along with advertising shoppers, specialty publications, and associated websites provide an important communication tool for citizens and businesses in these local communities.

The Spirit of MN

LIGHTING UP THE NIGHT

THE LAKE SUPERIOR SHORELINE IS AWASH IN COLOR AS PART OF THE BENTLEYVILLE TOUR OF LIGHTS IN DULUTH’S BAYFRONT FESTIVAL PARK.

THE FREE ANNUAL WALK-THROUGH EVENT FEATURES MORE THAN 5 MILLION LIGHTS AND RUNS SELECT EVENINGS NOV. 19- DEC. 26 .