Plymouth February/March 2022

RETURN TO THE WELL A women-centered coworking space fosters community and wellness for local entrepreneurs

FEBRUARY/MARCH 2022

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F E B R U A R Y/ M A R C H 2 0 2 2 “Every step along the way is a learning process. You take one step, and you hope that it’s the right step, and then somebody at that next step will introduce you to where you need to go for the next step. It’s a fun process.” —Brit Williams of Please & Thank You Granola Bars

PAGE 1 0

DEPARTMENTS

FEATURES

IN EVERY ISSUE

10 — (How To) Book Time to Read

18 — Return to the Well

4 — Editor’s Letter 7 — Noteworthy 33 — On the Town 40 — Last Glance

12 — Champagne and Coffee Stains Plymouth blogger provides helpful resources for Peloton newbies.

14 — Adventure In and Out of the Kitchen A personal interview with Vann executive chef Erik Skaar.

24 — Be My Galentine A day celebrating the friends you love.

Photo: Chris Emeott

Celebrate National Reading Month with tips from two of Plymouth’s resident bookworms.

A women-centered coworking space fosters community and wellness for local entrepreneurs.

TASTEMAKERS 36 — Grateful Granola Brit Williams bakes granola bars with manners.

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Family owned & operated in the Twin Cities since 1951.

50th & France

◆

Highland Park

◆

RFMoeller.com 3

F R O M T H E E D I TO R Madeline Kopiecki, plymouthmag@tigeroak.com

A

New Name.

New Look.

FORMERLY CHERRYWOOD POINTE OF PLYMOUTH A Senior Living Community with Care Services

Same ownership.

Same great care,

fter two years of writing for this magazine, I’m excited to introduce myself as the new editor of Plymouth Magazine. My story with Tiger Oak Media began in 2019 as an editorial intern for our sister titles, Lake Minnetonka Magazine and Woodbury Magazine. From there, I’ve written for several of our sister titles within different metro communities, including Plymouth.

I’m excited to delve more deeply into the stories that build Plymouth and the community members that shape them. I’m also grateful for the example set by our outgoing editor Renée Stewart-Hester, who has been an incredible mentor to me over the years working at Tiger Oak Media.

For this February/March 2022 edition, our focus on health and wellness strikes a personal chord with me. The pandemic gave me the leeway to discover a hobby I never thought I’d have—biking. Growing up in Edina, my neighborhood was under construction during the prime learning years when everyone else shed their training wheels. COVID-19 found me in empty streets on a second-hand bike, taking overlong turns and making shaky hand signals until I grew enough confidence to start taking the Greenway 40 minutes to my day job in Hopkins.

In a similar way, blogger Ali Van Straten found herself looking for new ways to exercise during the pandemic. She uses her blog Champagne and Coffee Stains to detail her journey as a newbie-turned-aficionado of the Peloton app. Read more about her health and wellness journey on page 12.

Wellness involves what we put into our bodies as well as how we use them.

When I can’t be found biking around nearby Lake of the Isles, I’m often trying out a new recipe in my kitchen or playing around with drying and preserving my own ingredients source either from my AeroGarden or the Lyndale Farmers Market.

Brit Williams has her own tale to tell when it comes to holistic foods. Her locally made Please & Thank You Granola Bars started as a way to cut preservatives out of her family’s diet. Now, she’s baking granola bars with manners for customers nation-wide. Read more about her story on page 36.

As we’re looking toward spring and new growth, now is a great time to break out of our hibernation and become more connected with ourselves and the community around us. I look forward to connecting more with the Plymouth community as a whole and learning how you’ll spend these lengthening days.

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On the Cover Dawn L. Johnson, photo by Chris Emeott

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February/March 2022

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Photo: Chris Emeott

CALL FOR A TOUR.

VOL. 18 NO. 6 plymouthmag.com

publisher SUSAN ISAY

editor MADELINE KOPIECKI

managing creative director RENÉE STEWART-HESTER

managing editor HAILEY ALMSTED

copy editor KELLIE DOHERTY

staff writers DAN AMUNDSEN AVA DIAZ MADELINE KOPIECKI STACI PERRY MERGENTHAL

editorial interns BRYCE HELMBRECHT-LOMMEL GRACE MASUDA

editorial advisory board Elizabeth Cohen, Studio M Ann Marie Grocholsk, AMG Photography Deb Sakry Lande, Interfaith Outreach Emilie Kastner, City of Plymouth Amy Parnell, Wayzata Public Schools Luann Svendsen, Plymouth Reads member and community volunteer

senior managing art director SARAH DOVOLOS

art director ALLISON NOLDEN

lead staff photographer CHRIS EMEOTT

print production director BRITTNI DYE

digital production director DEIDRA ANDERSON

project coordinators ADRIANNA BLACK BULL, LISA STONE

senior account executives BROOKE BEISE KATIE FREEMARK CYNTHIA HAMRE SARA JOHNSON

circulation and marketing KATIE RINGHAND

credit manager APRIL MCCAULEY

chief operating officer SUSAN ISAY

chief financial officer BILL NELSON

Plymouth Magazine 9877 AIRPORT ROAD NE BLAINE, MN 55449 612.548.3180 SUBSCRIPTIONS: Plymouth Magazine is published 6 times a year. Rates $12 for 6 issues.

Back issues $5.95.

For subscription and customer service inquiries, please contact customerservice@tigeroak.com or call 1.800.637.0334. ©Tiger Oak Media Inc. 2022.

All rights reserved.

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6

N OT E WO RT H Y

lo c a l t ip s, tidb its & insights

ORGANIZE

VIE W

Dress for Success

Flights of Fancy

When you open your closet door, are you excited to pick out an outfit or filled with dread because of the mess? Closets are one of the most crucial places to keep organized in your home, but they’re also one of the quickest to become cluttered due to everyday use.

Culling through your clothes and shoes prior to organizing is a great place to start. Consider donating unwanted clothing to shelters, business attire nonprofits, churches or schools.

Depending on your budget, closet organizing systems are a worthwhile investment to optimize wall space. A shelf and hanging bar often simply don’t cut it. Strategically adding shelves, drawers and compartments provide more options for keeping clothes and accessories in easy reach for those sleepy early mornings or chaotic midday changes.

A great way to organize your closet is by color, which reduces the amount of time you spend looking for particular pieces. As a pro-tip, consider placing the colors that look best on you closer to the front for easy no-brainer outfit options.

Opening the doors to an orgaWe are at the start of a new year and new

Artist: Mary Catherine Solberg

nized closet will leave you feeling

beginnings, which is also a great time

Title: Day Dream III

less stressed and more confident

for reflection. Mary Catherine Solberg’s

Medium: Original Mixed Media on Canvas

in your appearance. If you’re still

original work, Day Dream III, captures a

Scale: 30x30

at a loss as to how to get started,

calm state as the subject goes deep in her

consider working with a profes-

thoughts. Meditation is a practice that uses mindfulness to train your awareness and achieve a mentally clear state. Beauty is both inner and external, but when you feel grounded in your thoughts and who you are there really isn’t anything more beautiful.

February/March 2022

plymouthmag.com

sional organizer.

Hollie Blanchard is the co-founder of Art Girls Mpls. For more information about this or similar artwork, contact the Art Girls at artgirlsmpls.com; hollie@artgirlsmpls.com Art Girls Minneapolis @artgirls_mpls

Kira Vanderlan operates a decluttering, organizing, staging and design company. Find more tips at zestfuldesign.com.

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N OT E WO RT H Y

READ

Celebrate With A Good Book Local book bloggers give their recommendations for March’s National Reading Month.

a relatable man who is dying from cancer. Particularly suited for readers employed in the medical field, this book provides an eye-opening perspective on how a patient is treated compared to how they feel they are being treated.

In Five Years

by Rebecca Serle Having a look at your own future could be surprising. What changes might you make if you lived for one hour, five years from now? That is the scenario of In Five Years. It highlights the power of friendship, what it means to love and how to take care of oneself while grieving.

This book is beautifully written and will generate self-reflection.

The Things We Cannot Say

by Kelly Rimmer This story is a dual timeline narrative juxtaposing modern time with 1942 Nazi occupied PoRazorblade Tears

and turns. There is just being.”

is mentally ill. Aleisha and Muke-

land. The timeline follows pres-

by S. A. Crosby

(Sincero, 2013). This is the book

sh build an unlikely friendship at

ent day Alice and her son, who

Razorblade Tears is an action-

to read if you know what you

their local library, bonding over

is on the autism spectrum, then

packed thriller focused on two

need to do, but you just need

books as they each struggle to

switches to the WWII love story

fathers, Ike and Buddy, who

that swift kick to get started.

overcome obstacles. As a bonus,

between Alice’s grandmother,

want to avenge the murders of

If you feel like you may be in a

this novel provides several good

Alina, and Tomasz. Present

their gay married sons. In the

rut with any aspect of your life,

book ideas!

day Alina is hospitalized and

midst of the action, Razorblade

this will help you change your

Tears also touches on racism,

perspective. A perfect read if

When Breath Becomes Air

to Poland before Alina’s death

prejudice, homophobia and

that New Year’s resolution is

by Paul Kalanithi

to recover her most cherished

privilege, but like spinach in a

fading into the dark and needs

This autobiography takes the

mementos. This journey leads

smoothie, it is worked in without

some attention!

reader through Paul Kalanithi’s

Alice to find more than she

life, starting at the beginning

anticipated. Forget what genre

The Reading List

of his terminal diagnosis to his

you normally read and read this

You Are a Badass: How to Stop

by Nisha Adams

death. This story is beautiful in

novel; you will not regret it.

Doubting Your Greatness and

The Reading List is a love affair

that Kalanithi and his wife do

Start Living an Awesome Life

with books and their ability to

not let his terminal diagnosis

by Jen Sincero

heal. The novel follows the jour-

stop them from living. This book

“You’re on a journey with no

ney of Mukesh, a recently wid-

is not a self-help book filled

defined beginning, middle or

owed grandfather, and Aleisha,

with one-liners and the typical

end. There are no wrong twists

a young teenager whose mother

jargon, rather it is the story of

8

Katie Timcho and Amy Sundet discuss reading and share book recommendations. Find more on their Instagram account @overbookedmoms.

February/March 2022

plymouthmag.com

Photo: Chris Emeott

detracting from the chase.

tasks her Alice with returning

SIP

The Month for Pairings

Better Together

Once in a while moons align and the right wine matches with great food. I hope you enjoy some of my favorite pairings as much as I do.

Côtes du Rhône and the grill: Consider any food with a char or sear marks—from grilled veggies to a big steak. The deep fruit of a Château d’Aigueville Côtes du Rhône (around $14) pairs wonderfully with beef and veggies off the grill.

Chocolate and red wine: Is there anything better? I did a tasting and accidently came across this combo—Vina Robles cabernet (around $20) and sea salt chocolate caramels—decadent, and

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(How To) Book Time to Read Celebrate National Reading Month with tips from two of Plymouth’s resident bookworms.

By Dan Amundson

10

February/March 2022

plymouthmag.com

Photo: Chris Emeott

ENLIGHTEN

THE POPULARITY OF reading for pleasure is taking a dip as it becomes quicker to get entertainment from a screen than a book. In honor of National Reading Month in March, we talked to Plymouth residents and book lovers Katie Timcho and Amy Sundet about their reading habits and how others can start reading again.

Timcho and Sundet run @overbookedmoms, an Instagram account to share their recent reads. While the two stay busy taking care of their families and living life, they always find time to read and to get their kids reading. In Timcho’s case, she finds time to read in-between

YOU R DREAMS / O U R EXPERTISE / YOU R H O ME

her kids’ nap times or during sports practices; for Sundet, it’s not uncommon to see her in the school pick-up line with a book in her hands.

Audiobooks are also a way to take in a good book, and they allow you to listen while you’re driving or doing another task. “Some people like to toggle back and forth between the audiobook and the physical book,” Sundet says.

“They read when they can but listen when it’s the only option, and they make it flexible to their lives.”

Finding what works for you is the key, whether it’s finding the right method, time or genre of book. Both Timcho and Sundet agree that finding a book that piques your interest is crucial. “Don’t be afraid to stop reading a book if you don’t like it,” Sundet says. “No one will force you to finish it just because you started it.”

Not only is reading the right book enjoyable, but it’s also good for your mind. “Reading is an escape from reality,” Sundet says. “You can’t multitask when reading, so you’re not thinking about work or anything else.”

What’s good for the goose is also good for the goslings. Sundet says leading by example is a great place to start when trying to get your kids into the practice of reading; pick up a book instead of sitting on your cell phone in the evenings.

Timcho makes sure she and her 3-yearold read together every night. “We make sure to have books at his interest level, so he gets excited,” Timcho says. “We want to develop that habit early.”

If you’re unsure of where to start, Timcho recommends checking out the local library. "It's all about finding the right book that interests you,” she says. @overbookedmoms

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BE WELL

Champagne and Coffee Stains Plymouth blogger provides helpful resources for Peloton newbies.

AS A WORKING MOM, Plymouth

resident Ali Van Straten found herself falling short when it came to working out and eating healthy. Searching for a way to combine her busy life with her passions, she launched her blog Champagne and Coffee Stains in 2019 as way to express herself creatively through easy recipes, fitness tips and

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family-friendly content. Come COVID-19, she was furloughed from her job for three months, providing her with the opportunity to pursue this blog full time.

With more time on her hands due to gyms being closed, Van Straten needed to find a different way to exercise, leading her to the discovery of the Peloton

On right: Champagne and Coffee Stains founder Ali Van Straten utilized the Peloton app while running in the local Music in Plymouth 5K in summer 2021—all while 30 weeks pregnant.

February/March 2022

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Photo: Ali Van Straten

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app. Although most commonly known for their bikes and treadmill machines, Peloton is more than just that. As an online community for individuals to get in tune with the healthiest versions of themselves, the app offers a variety of live classes ranging from strength barre, yoga, running and cycling. “It is pretty much all types of fitness. You can use your phone, and you don’t even need equipment, which is how I started,” Van Straten says. “It is like having a fitness studio in your house.”

Navigating her way through the app, Van Straten says she found more functions than she could have ever imagined.

But although it was all exciting, as a newbie, it can be overwhelming to navigate the vast array of programs offered. Finding that it was necessary to share her experience with others, Van Straten turned to creating Peloton-specific content on her blog. “I think there is so much out there, and there [are] so many ways to approach it,” she says about the variety of class options offered. “There weren’t really a lot of resources when I was getting started, and I wanted to document my journey and provide assistance to others experiencing the same things as me.”

Champagne and Coffee Stains features a variety of content, ranging from how to synch your Apple Watch to the bike and how to stack your classes to tips on financing your machines and meal guides for preworkouts. Beyond the physical gain, Van Straten says she also loves the interconnectedness of the Peloton community. Meeting friends online through Facebook groups, she realized that there were others like her who wanted to be held accountable.

“The community is really what drew me in, and what appealed to me was the aspect of being able to workout at home virtually with all of my friends at any time that I want to,” she says.

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Champagne and Coffee Stains; champagneandcoffeestains.com; ali@champagneandcoffeestains.com

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TA S T E

Adventure In and Out of the Kitchen A personal interview with Vann executive chef Erik Skaar.

By Staci Perry Mergenthal

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February/March 2022

plymouthmag.com

AFTER SPENDING HIS CHILDHOOD IN PLYMOUTH, Erik Skaar

began developing his cooking style by working in some of the best kitchens across the country. In 2019, with Lake Minnetonka as a backdrop, he opened Vann restaurant in Spring Park. Skaar attributes his award-winning success to the uniqueness, consistency and novel approach he takes to fine dining.

“The concept is unique compared to a lot of other restaurants here in the cities,” executive chef Skaar says. “I source a little bit more obscure product, and I like to be adventurous.”

Vann’s prix fixe menu changes daily depending on what Skaar is inspired by at the market, his research and what is seasonably available from his fish purveyors, farmers and foragers, ensuring access to rarefied ingredients, including sea grapes, uni, tilefish, oyster mushrooms, Hokkaido sweet potatoes, Hokkigai clam and fresh wasabi root.

But it’s what happened when he was 16 that inspired his food adventures and changed the trajectory of Skaar’s life.

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Get to know Skaar outside his no less than 72-hour work week.

Photos: Chris Emeott

Most memorable meal?

When I was 16, my aunt Cyndi and [late] uncle Ernie took me to the Four Seasons in Manhattan. I don’t remember exactly what I ate, but I know I had filet and roasted dry-aged duck.

Why did you become a chef?

Going to the high-end restaurants in New York when I was 16 sparked everything. I had never tasted or experienced anything like that before, and I loved the environment and the creativity with food—I didn’t know that was possible.

Later, I cooked while I was in school at the Institute of Production and Recording in Minneapolis and decided when I got out of school, I wanted to go

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White chocolate bavarois paired with Raymond Ragnaud, dessert wine/ cognac, Pineau des Charentes.

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February/March 2022

plymouthmag.com

into the kitchen instead of the studio.

Now I curate the music at Vann, pairing the mood with the atmosphere and food.

Best thing about being a chef in your own restaurant?

I love creative control. I like being able to do what I want and do what inspires me on that given day.

Your second passion?

The gun range, target shooting with a pistol.

Vann is in Spring Park.

Why live in Plymouth?

I purchased my house here before I opened the restaurant. My wife and two children have friends and go to school close to here. We have a great neighborhood and great neighbors.

How do you spend your day off in Plymouth?

I like to play in the yard with my kids and go fishing at Medicine Lake. My son loves fishing. There [are] good hiking trails around here too.

Is there a food you don’t like?

Ketchup. Any food that has ketchup on it or in it.

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Favorite tattoo?

My Minneapolis skyline. I got it when I was working in Colorado. I missed home a little bit, and I love my city, so I wanted to put it on my body.

Top tip to elevate our cooking at home?

Brine meats and fish. Put any spice or aromatic in a brine and it imparts more flavor. Let the seasoning penetrate the meat, and you get a juicier product.

We turn your house into the home of your dreams!

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’21 17

R e tu rn to the We l l Julie Burton

Walking through the front doors of ModernWell is like walking into an oasis. With bright walls, floor-to-ceiling windows, cushy couches and welcoming work desks, the space is designed for creativity. “It feels warm; it feels uplifting and inspired,” says Minnetonka resident Julie Burton, ModernWell’s founder and CEO. Describing the business as a “femalecentered coworking community,” Burton says, “Everything that is done here is [done] with a thoughtful consideration for the needs of women.” While a handful of men have joined ModernWell’s

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community since it opened in 2018, most of its almost 200 members are women, many of whom are business owners, entrepreneurs and creatives, who rent private offices or use one of the building’s many common spaces to work.

Burton decided to open ModernWell when she recognized that many women— especially working mothers—need more collaboration than a typical co-ed workspace offers. Even the business’s name is inspired by women-centered communities. In Biblical times, Burton says, “Everything happened around the well,” from gathering water to swapping stories

and advice. She tries to foster that same environment at ModernWell, where, “People are free and encouraged to connect and to share stories” as they work.

With a master’s degree in journalism and a background in public relations, Burton never imagined that she would open her own business. When she left her full-time job to start her family, however, she realized how much she missed the community that a career and workplace provide.

Even though Burton was freelance writing and teaching fitness classes around the Twin Cities, she couldn’t

Story by Kira Schukar Photos by Chris Emeott

Nina Badzin

shake the feeling of being lost. “It’s a different kind of loneliness, and I don’t know that I really even understood it at the time,” Burton says. She loved having the choice to stay home with her kids, “But I also felt a certain amount of shame, like ‘OK, you are supposed to be doing something. You should be doing something more.’”

Then in 2015, Burton and her friend Nina Badzin of Minnetonka started the Twin Cities Writing Studio, a weekly class held at the Hopkins Center for the Arts. “We called it a Writing Studio, because […] we wanted it to be a playful

February/March 2022

plymouthmag.com

space,” Badzin says. Although Badzin and Burton never advertised the Writing Studio as a women-centered group, its membership was exclusively female.

It was in one of the Writing Studio meetings that Burton identified the next stage of her life and the answer to her struggles working as a freelancing writer and mother. In the meeting following the 2016 presidential election, Burton says, “… I looked around the table, and I just had this moment where I felt like, ‘OK, now it’s time. I’m going to create something, and it’s going to be around women, and it’s going to be around creativity, and

it’s going to be a brick and mortar.’”

Within weeks, Burton had a vision for ModernWell and a driving goal for the community she hoped to build. “We need to continue to empower ourselves and each other,” she says. “We need to share space, and we need to share ideas, and I want to be part of that.” Less than a year later, Burton signed a lease on the building in Minneapolis that would become ModernWell. “It was so fast. I mean, I was almost possessed,” she says.

On January 2, 2018, many of the women from the Writing Studio became part of ModernWell as its founding mem-

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ModernWell, 2909 S. Wayzata Blvd., Mpls.; 763.999.7920; hello@modernwell.co; modernwell.co ModernWell @modernwellco @dear.nina.b @modernwellco // ninabadzin.com; Podcast: Dear Nina @NinaBadzin

bers. When she unlocked the doors on opening day, Burton remembers feeling excited and aligned, as if, “This was the chapter that was supposed to be happening at the time,” she says.

Badzin and Burton continue Thursday Writing Studio meetings out of ModernWell, and Badzin has expanded it to include a second group that meets on Tuesdays. “There’s something really magical about actually being connected to other people around

work that you’re interested in,” Badzin says. Badzin, a freelance writer, hosts the friendship advice podcast Dear Nina, which she writes from a quiet corner of ModernWell.

ModernWell memberships range from $110 to $1,000 and include access to the community space, conference room and consult rental time, discounts on workshops and events and access to the community member portal and Facebook group. At the center of the

community is Burton, who drives to ModernWell every day to catch up on work and talk to members. “One of my favorite parts of my job is when I connect people with other members,” she says. “We’ve seen people sit here in this space, meet other people, talk to other people and figure out their next move.”

Looking around at the community she’s built and thinking back on her years of freelancing, Burton says, “I created a space that I would have wanted.”

Membe r H i gh l i g h t s

In 2020, two years after being let go from her corporate job, life coach and Plymouth resident Dawn L. Johnson teamed up with Chaz Sandifer to create Let Go Let Flow, a platform via Zoom that facilitates conversations between Black and white women about racism and reconciliation. “We brought Black and white women together because there were a lot of white folks who came into this new awakening [after George Floyd’s death],” Johnson says. “[We’re] really breaking down what that looks like with love—not shame, not pointing fingers, not anger, not name-calling, but really from a heart-centered approach.”

Around the same time in 2020, Burton had begun to reflect on the lack of diversity in ModernWell’s membership. “When George Floyd was killed, I felt like, ‘OK, we have a platform, we’re not doing enough for diversity, equity and inclusion, and my membership isn’t diverse enough,’” she says. Over the course of the year, Burton reached out to Black women leaders in the Twin Cities to learn how to make ModernWell a more inclusive space.

When Sandifer first suggested to Johnson that they join ModernWell, Johnson was skeptical. Two decades of working at her corporate job had left her wary of spaces that adver-

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tised themselves as inclusive to women of color. “The inclusive piece was never there,” Johnson says.

“I never felt welcome.”

Before they decided to join ModernWell at the end of 2020, Johnson and Sandifer “sat with [Burton] for a long time and basically interviewed her,” Johnson says. “It was such a touching conversation, so [Burton] is the reason—[her] heart and [her] journey and [her] transparency and the love that [she] has shown, not just [to] [Sandifer] and I, but [to] many women of color.”

Since joining the community, Johnson and Sandifer have moved the conversations hosted by Let Go Let Flow to ModernWell. As Johnson expands her life coaching business, The Dawn Johnson Experience, she uses the space to meet with clients and connect with other ModernWell members. “[Burton has] truly cultivated a space of love, a space to show up and be your true self,” Johnson says.

joincoachdawn.com Dawn L. Johnson @thedawnjohnsonexperience The first thing that photographer and Excelsior resident Belén Fleming noticed when she walked into ModernWell was the wall of

north-facing windows along the front of the building. “Right away, I was like, ‘Oh, my gosh, these windows, this light, wow—all of the things I could do,’” she says.

Fleming, who photographs primarily in natural light, was two years into running her lifestyle, branding and portrait photography business, Belu Photography, when she joined ModernWell in 2018.

Within a couple months, Burton started connecting Fleming with other ModernWell members, who needed professional headshots.

Fleming found that the natural lighting in the building’s main conference room was perfect for her style of photography, and, by the end of the year, she was booking back-to-back appointments with customers from inside and outside the ModernWell community.

“When I started shooting headshots, I think that is really when my business started to take off because I was getting to know so many people,” Fleming says.

Now three years into her ModernWell membership, Fleming is collaborating with another woman in the community to refresh her website and company branding. After working in a large company office for most of her career, Fleming feels excited to be a part

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Dawn L. Johnson

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Membe r H i g h l i g h t s

At left: Stephanie Pierce and Belén Fleming

of ModernWell’s coworking environment. “You’re coming into work with other people, who are doing completely different things than you,” she says. “And I always found that to be extremely inspirational and a way to really be innovative.”

beluphotography.com Belu Photography @belu.photography Before ModernWell opened in 2018, Edina resident Stephanie Pierce was considering leaving her human resources job at General Mills, where she had worked for 24 years.

Although she loved her job, Pierce found that she needed more flex-

22

ibility and time to pursue her own projects outside of work.

That same year, Pierce says, “I was starting to meet people like [Burton], who were stepping into their passion projects.” Pierce doesn’t consider herself to be a risk-taker, but watching Burton open ModernWell inspired her to start her own business.

In 2019, Pierce left her position at General Mills to start KJP Consulting, a human resources firm that coaches small and mid-sized businesses in talent development and diversity, equity and inclusion.

Pierce also co-hosts the podcast Her Next Chapter with Burton.

Pierce joined Burton’s advisory board at ModernWell. For her, ModernWell is more than just a comfortable workspace. Having a women-centered community means that she can easily connect on a personal level to the other members, many of whom have worked in corporate spaces, own businesses or are also mothers. “You can truly bring your whole self to work,” she says. “It gives you a place to find people where you may have things in common or to find people whose stories might be a little bit more similar to your story.”

kjpconsulting.co Podcast: Her Next Chapter

February/March 2022

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STORY BY AVA DIAZ

PHOTOS BY CHRIS EMEOTT

BE MY GALENTINE A DAY CELEBRATING THE FRIENDS YOU LOVE.

Celebrating love whether you’re single or not, Galentine’s Day is a time to surround yourself with the people you love. This unofficial holiday is truly as sweet as it sounds. Conceptualized by Leslie Knope of the popular television show Parks and Recreation in 2010, the celebration in season two takes place over a brunch filled with waffles and love from her friends. “Every February 13, my lady friends and I leave our husbands and our boyfriends at home, and we just come and kick it breakfast style,” Knope says in the episode.

“Ladies celebrating ladies.”

Whether you’re bonding over a spa night, cuddling up to watch a movie or putting on a fantastic brunch to emulate the episode, there is truly no wrong way

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to celebrate it! Galentine’s Day is simply about gathering together your closest gal pals to embrace each other’s presence on the day before a holiday that is widely considered exclusively for lovebirds.

We spoke with lifestyle blogger Rana Monet about how she would plan a Galentine’s Day with her friends.

Activities

Activities can encourage individuals to interact with one another and can be a way to physically incorporate the theme of the event.

Organize a card and gift exchange, similar to the premise of Secret Santa, where friends in the group are randomly assigned one another to anonymously give a Galentine’s Day gift.

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Food

Food, for many, is the focal point to any occasion. Amp it up by creating an event that is catered to you and your friends’ tastes. Start with Pinterest for meal ideas or a potluck-style spread that incorporates anything from charcuterie and dips to salads and entrees. To ensure no two dishes are the same, Monet says to create a spreadsheet to help gauge what everyone will bring and provide a resource for those with any dietary restrictions.

If potluck style isn’t for you, create a tea party-esque spread equipped with a variety of appetizers and cupcakes from a local bakery along with fresh, seasonal fruits. Top the menu off with a signature holiday cocktail like a strawberry mocktail or cosmopolitan for a flirty, festive touch.

Decorations

The eye is in the beholder and how they choose to value the holiday. According to what they perceive Valentine’s Day to be, the colors could alter their decorating motives. The event could be centered around the classic and heartfelt red and white shades, or you can take Galentine’s Day quite literally and opt for an utterly girly route with a gradient of pink tones.

If Valentine’s Day really isn’t your thing, Monet suggests taking the antiapproach with Gothic elements and all black décor.

When decorating, it is important to consider your own preferences to add a personal touch to the event.

After all, you are spending the day celebrating you and honoring your besties. Considering the uniqueness

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STRAWBERRY MOCKTAIL • 30 mL of lemon juice • 30 mL of strawberryflavored syrup (or fresh fruit puree) • tonic water • lemon • strawberries Shake the fruit juices with ice, and strain. Dump the “dirty” ice into a glass of your choice, and top the drink with tonic water. Stir to combine. Express the zest of a lemon peel. Garnish with a strawberry slice and a lemon peel twist. —Ava Diaz

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of this event, Monet says the best way to approach décor is to find pieces that are multipurpose and potentially secondhand. So you don’t sacrifice too much from a cost perspective, she suggests thrifting vintage pieces like funky vases, lacy linens and dishware. This is not only an easy way to repurpose classic items, but it will also make your event unique. “It makes it feel more

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special than your standard themed paper plates,” Monet says about the salvaged items.

Tablescapes

As the center of the event, the tablescape is the key factor in showcasing your theme. “I focus on place settings and the decorations to set the tone for the event,” Monet says. When dressing the table, she

shares how she uses the power of a clean linen tablecloth, unique dishware, flowers and plenty of candles to create a chic and inviting experience.

As an inexpensive way to decorate, candles can also provide a source of ambient light, add variation of height to the center piece and can be an easy way to incorporate your color scheme without going over the top.

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— Check out these local vendors to source some of your Galentine’s Day items for the celebration.

Sweet Treats Nikkolette’s Macarons 3425 Highway 169 N. nikkolettesmacarons.com How Sweet It Is Desserts 15705 35th Ave. N. facebook.com/howsweetweare Decorations and Party Favors Bachman’s Plymouth 10050 Sixth Ave. N. bachmans.com Abode & Co. 3375 Plymouth Blvd. S. #220 abodeandco.shopsettings.com Secondhand Treasures Goodwill - Plymouth 15750 32nd Ave. N. goodwilleasterseals.org Turn Style Consignment 15545 34th Ave. N. turnstyleconsign.com

— A special thank you to the following people and businesses for supplying their time, expertise, supplies and location.

Rana Monet ranamonet.com rana.monet A Family Affair Event Styling afaeventstyling.com A Family Affair - Event Styling afa.eventstyling Brick + Linen bricklinen.com bricklinen Island Floral island-floral.com island_floral Fountain Hill Winery fhwandvineyard.com Fountain Hill Winery & Vineyard fountainhillwinery

“Understanding Your Needs, Protecting Your Rights”

Individuals & Families Estate Planning Probate Elder Law Family Law • Custody Conservatorships Litigation & Dispute Resolution Business & Corporate Law Real Estate Nonprofit Law Employment Law

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CELEBRATING 40 YEARS OF EXCELLENCE Heritage Christian Academy 1981-2021

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HERITAGE students learn true American and World History, Reading, Writing, and ‘Rithmetic.

HERITAGE students practice loving and serving others--for God’s glory …And that‘s just the beginning!

The sky’s the limit when a child is free with mind and heart grounded in Truth

Equipping Minds • Engaging Hearts • Encountering Jesus Christ PreK - 12th Grade Schedule a tour at: admissions@heritagechristianacademymn.org or call: 763-463-2223 heritageweb.org Maple Grove 29

Sign your child up for private or semi-private lessons and rock bands at Back to Rock Plymouth!

All instruments available and all skill levels welcome.

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Comfort Keepers® is here to help seniors thrive safely while living independently at home. Our empathetic caregivers are specially trained to provide uplifting care and support. We’re here to help!

Comfort Keepers 524 Central Ave. N., Osseo 763.273.4207 comfortkeepers.com

Women-owned law firm with over 45 years experience in family law, estate planning and probate.

Helping your family focus on the future!

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Right at Home provides best-in-class home care services for seniors and elderly adults who may be facing medical or nonmedical home care services needs.

Contact us to learn how we can assist you and your family.

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A Strong History in Local Healthcare

Individualized care is the priority for treating a wide-range of health concerns.

L

iving a healthy life often aligns with keeping a healthy spine and strong physical agility. Since 1986, The Brost Clinic has been helping its patients achieve and maintain a healthier and more active lifestyle. It also is committed to assisting patients in gaining pain relief, so they can return to their normal activities and enjoy their lives to the fullest.

The Wayzata clinic, award winning for patient care and excellent service, is one of the largest chiropractic clinics in the Midwest. With seven specially-trained doctors and a committed, friendly team, the group is dedicated to providing patients with successful chiropractic and natural health care experiences.

At The Brost Clinic, patients’ care routines are carefully tailored to address their individual needs. No two injuries or conditions are exactly the same, and they aren’t treated as such. Patients of all ages—from babies to seniors—receive the individualized care their bodies require and deserve.

The team at The Brost Clinic is experienced in treating a wide range of injuries and conditions related to, but not limited to, automobile or other types of accidents and athletic injuries. For those suffering disc-related issues, the team provides nonsurgical disc decompression treatments.

It also offers drug-free natural solutions for pain, whether it is acute or chronic. In addition to chiropractic care, patients can be treated with acupuncture, massage therapy, specially-tailored nutritional supplements and rehabilitation exercises.

As the world of health care continues to evolve, the team at The Brost Clinic remains committed to engaging in continued education by attending postgraduate seminars and monitoring other advancements and discoveries—all to provide patients with the best services and treatments available.

The 7,400-foot-state of the art clinic recently opened three additional treatment rooms to increase the ease of appointment flow and the level of experiences for its everexpanding patient clientele.

Health insurance and Medicare plans are accepted, and affordable cash plans are available for wellness care.

THE BROST CLINIC

1421 Wayzata Blvd. E., #100, Wayzata 952.473.9637 • www.thebrostclinic.com

O N T H E TOW N

th in g s to se e a n d do in and aro und Ply m o uth

ALLEY-OOP! Share your March Madness picks with local sports bar The Sunshine Factory for a chance to win.

B EER S, WI N GS A N D SLA M DUN KS. March Madness is here, and chances are you probably don’t have enough TV screens at home to watch the big games. The good news is local sports bars like The Sunshine Factory Bar and Grill are here to help.

General manager April Hanson says The Sunshine Factory will host a 2022 Bracket Challenge run through the CBS sports brackets.

The challenge is free to play and offers gift card prizes for winners. Registered participants also get 15 percent off their individual tab during all live March Madness matches.

Picks are due by midnight the night before the first games start. For more information about how to sign up, go to esunshinefactory.com.

—MADELINE KOPIECKI Ages 21 and over. Free. Game times vary.

The Sunshine Factory Bar and Grill, 4100 Vinewood Lane N.; 763.535.7000; esunshinefactory.com

Compiled by Bryce Helmbrecht-Lommel and Grace Masuda

Brewing Company. Get ready to get sweaty this Sunday morning, and join in on a free outdoor workout. This ses-

LOCAL EVENTS

Kick sledding with Three Rivers

sion includes cardio and strength-based

Winter Bluegrass Weekend

exercises and welcomes all experience

03/04–03/06

levels. All ages. Free. 11 a.m.–noon. Luce

The Minnesota Bluegrass Old Time

Line Brewing Co., 12901 16th Ave. N.; 763.324.8114; lucelinebrewing.com

02/19

Music Association is bringing the Winter Bluegrass Weekend to Plymouth.

With three stages including national, regional and local artists, plus dances

house this winter? Join Three Rivers

Celebration of Black History Month

Park District for kick sledding, a unique

02/27

a hit weekend. All ages. $20–$50.

winter activity that is fun for all ages.

The Wayzata Symphony Orchestra

Bundle up and get sledding. Ages 5 and

presents a musical synopsis of Black

Looking for a reason to get out of the

iStock.com/jacoblund

Central Middle School, 305 Vicksburg Lane N.; 763.745.6000; thewso.org

older; children under 13 must register with an adult. $15. 11 a.m.–12:30 p.m.

French Regional Park, 12605 Rockford Road; 763.694.7750; threeriversparks.org

music from 1750 to 2020 to celebrate Black History Month. The performance

and arts and crafts, this is sure to be

7–11 p.m. Friday, 11 a.m.–11 p.m. Saturday, 10 a.m.–5 p.m. Sunday. Crowne Plaza Minneapolis West, 3131 Campus Drive; 601.651.3694; minnesotabluegrass.org

features Bruce Henry, an accomplished jazz vocalist and composer as well as

Quilters and Crafters

an African American historian. There

03/17

Sunday Funday CrossFit

will be a reception after the concert

Join the Quilters and Crafters group

02/20

to meet the musicians. All ages. Free;

to create scripture wall hangings.

CrossFit Sisu is coming to Luce Line

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donations accepted. 3–5 p.m. Wayzata

The group strives to encourage oth-

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O N T H E TOW N

Luminary Loppet

through a lit trail in the nature preserve.

This magical event is a great way to get outside and spend time with your family. Afterward, there will be a bonfire with s’mores, hot chocolate and hot dogs to warm up. All ages, children under 18 must be accompanied by an adult. $25. 6–9 p.m. Oakdale Discovery Center, 4444 Hadley Ave. N., Oakdale; 651.747.3860; ci.oakdale.mn.us

Accordo 02/14 Accordo is a collective of present and former principal players of the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra and Minnesota Orchestra who enjoy playing chamber music together. Accordo has been performing since 2008 to enthusiastic audiences in packed venues. All ages. Prices vary. 7:30 p.m. Sanctuary at Westminster Presbyterian Church, 1200 S. Marquette Ave., Mpls.; 651.292.3268; schubert.org

Cocoa Cuddles Craft and Gift Show 02/19 Ski and snowshoe rentals are avail-

back for the second year in a row. Explore

pillowcase dresses to send around

able. The event also includes unique

unique crafters and vendors from all

the world. All ages. Free. 9–11:30 a.m.

ice sculptures, music, fire danc-

around the Midwest. Shop one-of-a-kind

ers, food trucks and a REI Luminary

art, food, clothing and handmade gifts at

Party for guests 21 and older. Ticket

this family-friendly event. Free admission.

10 a.m.–3 p.m. Cottage Grove Armory, 8180 Belden Blvd., Cottage Grove; 651.444.9907

Wayzata Free Church, 705 County Road 101; 763.473.9463; wayzatafree.org

costs for the event go to the Loppet Foundation. All ages. Ticket prices vary.

AREA EVENTS

Into the Woods

6 p.m. Lake of the Isles, 2500 Lake of the Isles Parkway E., Mpls.; 612.604.5330; loppet.org

Wednesdays–Sundays 02/02–02/20

Polar Fest

With characters such as Little Red Riding

02/11–02/27

Hood, Cinderella, Jack, The Baker, and

Embrace the cold this winter at Detroit

others, take a trip into the woods in

Lakes’ 10-day Polar Fest. The festival

search of magical items and friends.

includes winter activities of all kinds,

This musical is a great experience for the

including a polar plunge, ice fishing,

whole family. All ages. $17–$49. Times

snow sports and vintage snowmo-

To have your event considered: email

biles. The celebration also features a

plymouthmag@tigeroak.com by the

5K run, crafts, fireworks and more.

10th of the month three months prior

All ages. Free. Times vary. Detroit Lakes City Beach, Washington Park, Detroit Lakes; 218.234.2501; polarfestdl.com

to publication.

vary. Artistry, 1800 W. Old Shakopee Road, Bloomington; 952.563.8575; artistrymn.org

Luminary Loppet 02/05 Make the most of the cold weather by

Due to the fluidity being experienced in the current environment, please note that

spending your night at the enchanting

Family Moonlight Snowshoe

some events/dates and even some busi-

outdoor Luminary Loppet. Participants

02/12

ness operations may have changed since

can walk, ski or snowshoe down a

The Oakdale Discovery Center is host-

these pages went to print. Please visit

candlelit path on Lake of the Isles.

ing an educational snowshoe walk

affiliated websites for updates.

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Photo: Todd Bauer

The Cocoa Cuddles Craft and Gift Show is ers while making quilts, layettes and

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Get More Hair. Get More Life!

The Hair Restoration Institute of Minnesota provides multi-therapeutic treatments.

F

ounded in the Twin Cities in 1995 and attracting a nation-wide clientele, the Hair Restoration Institute of Minnesota (HRI), is clear in its mission: to alleviate the suffering caused by hair loss and help people to “get more hair and get more life.” The bottom line is this: People don’t have to accept hair loss, especially when HRI’s multitherapeutic treatments are available.

“Our difference is that we are not a single-therapy clinic offering only one kind of treatment. As one of the only multi-therapeutic clinics in the country, we customize treatments to patients and solve their hair loss using every means available,” says Nate Bruschi, HRI’s care coordinator.

One of the most popular treatments for male and female pattern baldness is a medical hair transplant—a one-day treatment with permanent results that HRI backs up with a clinical guarantee. HRI is the only clinic within 100 miles of the Twin Cities that uses Neograft minimally-invasive technology to complete transplants without leaving the traditional linear scar from older methods.

Led by senior physician Gary M. Petrus, M.D., a hair transplant surgeon with over 25 years of experience in his field, the HRI medical team adopts a holistic approach when it comes to tending to clients’ needs—before, during

and after treatment. Each surgical procedure includes free laser treatments to promote healing, and every patient is provided with HRI’s own medically-formulated shampoo and conditioner to give them the best long-term result.

In addition to hair transplants, HRI also offers non-surgical options, such as platelet-rich plasma therapy, laser hair therapy and dermal lens hair replacement technology.

“People want to look as vibrant, beautiful and fit as they feel, but life can get in the way,” says Laura Reed, manager of the Hair Replacement Department. “COVID-19 has been such a stressful time for so many people, and stress is linked to hair loss. We help people get their lives back— with hair!”

HRI’s future includes a new state-of-the art facility with calming views over natural vistas, where staff can continue providing a superior experience to patients from the Twin Cities and beyond.

HAIR RESTORATION INSTITUTE OF MN 8009 34th Ave S #1225; Bloomington, MN 55425 612.588.HAIR (4247) • myhairlossclinic.com

TA S T E M A K E R S

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Grateful Granola Brit Williams bakes granola bars with manners.

BY MADELINE KOPIECKI

Photos: Please & Thank You Granola Bars

P L EASE & TH A N K YO U G R A N OL A B A R S , locally produced

in Plymouth, tackles more than just grumbly, empty stomachs. “I want to remind people the power of manners and respect,” says founder Brit Williams.

To further spread this message of basic kindness, Williams has renamed her granola bars after different manners.

Before launching her etiquetteinspired product names, Williams’ first two bar flavors were named after the family member who inspired each flavor. This personal touch reflects her initial quest to create a tasty and nutritious snack for her family. “The first one was the Pardon Me, and that was specifically for [my husband],” Williams says.

It was, in fact, her husband who inspired the entire granola venture. After realizing the store-bought granola bars he was eating had little nutritional value and lots of additives, Williams set to work crafting a granola bar recipe he could eat instead. In her husband’s case, that meant chocolate and dried cranberries. The next flavor, Sharing Is Caring, Williams made for herself. “It is jam packed full of nutrients and goodness,” she says, adding that

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she prefers to leave chocolate out of her morning go-to bar.

At the same time Williams was experimenting and refining her bar recipes, she also was working full-time as an event planner. In short order, her bars were a success at those events too. “Fastforward to April 2019; I was doing an event for a national health food grocery store, and the staff there were eating my granola bars and they were like, ‘Do you sell this?’” Williams says. When she asked if she should, their enthusiasm was enough to spur her on to the next step.

By June 2019, Williams sold her first granola bar and started doing business on Instagram. From there, Please & Thank You grew, first to getting its own website to Williams becoming licensed to sell in local farmers markets. “It worked out really great,” she says. “I built this foundation where I could get into a commercial kitchen, which I did January of the beginning of [2021].”

Please & Thank You Granola Bars now shares a commercial kitchen space with many other local Plymouth makers, including Nikkolette Krumheuer of Nikkolette’s Macaroons. “[Krumheuer]

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TA S T E M A K E R S

has a company called MSP Kitchenery, and there is a number of us local makers that share a kitchen space there; it’s a wonderful incubator for new businesses,” Williams says.

Now instead of filling all her free time with granola bar baking, Williams has a set schedule that helps her juggle a full-time event planning job, her budding entrepreneurial business and two young kids. “Every step along the way is a learning process,” Williams says. “You take one step, and you hope that it’s the right step, and then somebody at that next step will introduce you to where you need to go for the next step. It’s a fun process.”

At the same time her business was expanding, Williams expanded her assortment of bar flavors as well. “I was asked to create a nut-free bar, which was the hardest recipe I think to come up with,” she says. Williams embarked on the project of creating her own apple butter from scratch, resulting in the You’re Welcome granola bar, which is also nut-, dairy- and gluten-free.

For the time being, Williams says she’s sticking with the five flavors of granola bars she currently has, along with two flavors of granola and a homemade peanut butter, but she doesn’t rule out crafting new ones to meet customer requests in the future. “Right now, my biggest focus is getting us into new wrappers and new packaging,” Williams says. While her current packaging is compostable, it doesn’t allow for a long shelf life, which makes it more challenging to get her bars into retail spots like grocery stores.

If you’re looking to try out a Please & Thank You granola bar yourself, you can visit the Maple Grove indoor farmers market or buy from Williams directly at pleasethankyougranolabars.com.

Please & Thank You Granola Bars pleasethankyougranolabars.com Please & Thank You Granola Bars @pleasethankyougranolabars

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Y O U R N E I G H B O R H O O D R E A LT O R Plymouth Paul’s Promise Honesty, Open Communication and Results Paul Gilliam 612-322-2257 PAUL@HOMEGUYSMN.COM “Paul is a realtor who makes it a point to meet your desired outcome.” -Sam F. Minneapolis

advertise with

RE C I P E : P L EASE & T H A N K

PLYMOUTH MAGAZINE

YO U G RA N O L A B AR C HEE SE C A K E

@

Using a mini cupcake pan, divide your Golden Rule granola bar into quarters. Mold each quarter into

Contact Katie Freemark

612.270.9339 katie.freemark@tigeroak.com

SOLVING YOUR PROBLEMS, NOT CREATING THEM.

mini crusts. Press them around until each fits nicely in the bottom of the cupcake tin. Place your pan in the freezer for 15 minutes to set the crust as you make the filling.

Make filling using your favorite cheesecake recipe. Scoop the filling into the cupcake tins, and level them off. Cover with foil and place in the fridge (not the freezer) to set for at least six hours or overnight, if preferred.

Once you are ready to serve, remove from the tins, and sprinkle just a little bit of cinnamon over each mini cupcake.

Recipe from Brit Williams.

PROVIDING A MEANS TO A DREAM.

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39

LAST GLANCE

By Madeline Kopiecki

HONORABLE MENTION: ACTIVITIES AND EVENTS

Picture Plymouth Dazzling snow makes for a beautiful photograph.

“A F TE R Y E A R S of taking photos of my family, I started taking scenic photos again during the pandemic when I started exploring all of the wonderful parks here in Plymouth.

We moved from the Chicago area to Plymouth a few years ago, and I love how there are so many parks with lakes and trails that stretch from the lakeside into rolling hills and woods—making it easy for a soothing way to unwind while we’re working from home these days.”

—Catharina Milostan of Plymouth Photographer: Catharina Milostan

Title: Wintering Canoes - Clifton E. French Regional Park in Plymouth, MN Equipment: Motorola Moto G7 Location: Clifton E. French Regional Park

To view other Picture Plymouth photo contest winners, visit plymouthmag.com.

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