W O O D B U R Y MAGAZ I N E MARCH 2022
Woodbury High School students participate in Youth in Government
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MARCH 2022 “It was one of those March days when the sun shines hot and the wind blows cold, when it is summer in the light and winter in the shade.” —Charles Dickens
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FEATURES
18 — Demystifying Facials
28 — City Cartography
What’s the science behind them, and which is right for you?
A Minnesota former local is making waves with her hand-painted artwork.
20 — Above and Beyond New luxury apartment complex redefines modern living.
32 — Longhorn and Leather
22 — Celebrating Big
Interior Impressions creates a modern, ranch-inspired space in a Lake Elmo home.
Personalized yard signs deliver joy and connect neighbors.
TASTEMAKERS
24 — Scholar Success Woodbury High School students participate in Youth in Government.
IN EVERY ISSUE 10 13 42 46 56
— — — — —
Editor’s Letter Noteworthy On the Town Gallery Last Glance Photo: Chris Emeott
DEPARTMENTS
48 — Pop the Cork on Crémant Let’s lift a glass to spring entertainment and celebrations.
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F R O M T H E E D I TO R Hailey Almsted, woodburymag@tigeroak.com
Dr. Marc Roehrich Dr. James Erlandson
Where visiting the dentist feels like visiting a friend. Inside our practice, you may forget you’re at the dentist. We love to laugh and have fun, while still providing high-quality care customized to meet your needs. You’ll feel among friends here.
S
unday, March 20 marks the first day of spring, and that means a seasonal refresh is on deck—wardrobes, pantries, décor and more will be on my “to-do” list. But there’s another thing that I plan to rejuvenate this spring: my skin! Like many others, my skin is prone to dryness and dullness in the winter months, and with spring just around the corner, I plan to add monthly facials to my already-extensive skincare routine. Woodbury’s newest facial bar, Face Foundrié, opens this month and specializes in approachable skincare. It offers an array of facial services, curated skincare products and more. “… It’s truly ‘everyone with a face,’” says Face Foundrié’s Cheyanne Thurston. Although you’ll find me booking a hydrafacial, writer Madeline Kopiecki dives into two other services, including the Cryo Queen and facial cupping services. Read the full story on page 18. This issue of Woodbury Magazine is our annual homes issue, and we’re looking at a Western-inspired home in Lake Elmo. Interior Impressions founder and principal designer Amy Leferink coined the home to be “Longhorn and Leather” themed, completing the décor with rustic and woodsy textures, leather chairs, a fun, birch-inspired wallpaper and—of course!—a beautiful, longhorn art print. Read more about this home remodel on page 32. We wrap up this spring issue with a bubbly sip of crémant wine. Writers Staci Perry Mergenthal and Dan Amundson pop the cork on this sparkling wine and share an aspirational spring sip—perfect for a Sunday brunch or a celebratory “cheers!” Take it all in on page 48. Happy spring, readers! I’ll see you next month!
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On the Cover Wesley Ross, photo by Chris Emeott
March 2022
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Photo: Rachel Nadeau
CALL TODAY!
VOL. 18 NO. 7 woodburymag.com
publisher SUSAN ISAY
editor HAILEY ALMSTED
managing creative director RENÉE STEWART-HESTER
managing editor HAILEY ALMSTED
copy editor KELLIE DOHERTY
staff writers DAN AMUNDSEN AVA DIAZ DANIEL HUSS MADELINE KOPIECKI STACI PERRY MERGENTHAL
contributors TERI BENNIS JOHN FARRELL III RACHAEL PERRON
editorial interns GRACE MASUDA BRYCE HELMBRECHT-LOMMEL
editorial advisory board Pepe Barton, South Washington County Schools Tanner Ignaszweski, Woodbury High School Mike Lewis, 3P Boxing 24/7 Laurie Mordorski, Woodbury Lakes Stacey Morgan, Belay Creative Michelle Okada, City of Woodbury Public Safety Margaret Wachholz, Woodbury Heritage Society, Woodbury Community Foundation, Woodbury Senior Living Sarah Sorenson-Wagner, South Washington County Schools
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
Woodbury Magazine 9877 AIRPORT ROAD NE BLAINE, MN 55449 612.548.3180 SUBSCRIPTIONS: Woodbury Magazine is published 12 times a year. Rates $18 for 12 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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BUY. SELL. BUILD. 16-TIME SUPER REAL ESTATE AGENT PROFESSIONAL STANDARDS COMMITTEE, MN ASSOC. OF REALTORS
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N OT E WO RT H Y
lo c a l tip s, tidb its & insights
A BREATHTAKING BOOK Woodbury author publishes the benefits of breathwork for kids.
Photos: Sarah Dovolos
LOCA L AUT HOR COL L EEN C A N N IN G
describes her new children’s book Bellies to the Sky as “an excellent way to teach children, and anyone who is reading, how to use our breath to relax and slow down.” The book is told by four animal spirit guides, who lead the audience in mindful breathing to achieve a deep sense of calm and more peaceful night’s sleep. Canning has traveled to 56 countries to take part in various yoga, self-care and breathwork teachings and has learned from distinguished leaders all around the world. She was at a yoga retreat in December 2013 when inspiration for the Bellies to the Sky struck.
March 2022
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“I thought, there’s got to be a way to blend the coaching of breathwork with animal guides and relaxation. I raced back to my condo and started writing,” Canning says. Breathwork can help children remain calm, sharpen attention and focus, reduce stress and more. This nighttime read shares powerful teachings accompanied by dreamy illustrations. Canning says, “Life can be stressful, but breathwork is the biggest tool at our disposal to slow down and relax.” Bellies to the Sky is available for purchase in-store at Patina and Red Balloon Bookshop and online at Amazon and Barnes & Noble. —Grace Masuda
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Beer: Stout is the way to go. Guinness, “the mother milk” of the Emerald Isle, is a must. Give Wexford Irish cream ale or Murphy’s Irish stout a try, too. For lighter beers, Harp Lager or Smithwick’s (pronounced smiddicks) are a good bet. Cider: Magners could be the most popular and easiest to find.
Cocktails: I have two signature St. Patrick’s Day cocktails. » Johnny Jump Up: Pour a shot of Irish whiskey over a glass with ice; fill it with Irish cider. » The Melon Ball: Add a shot of melon Schnapps, a shot of Haskell’s vodka and orange juice to a shaker. Mix, and pour over a tall glass with ice. Irish Whiskey: For some, you can’t have a true St. Paddy’s Day without a bit o’ whiskey. Any of the following would be great: Jameson, Bushmills, Tullamore D.E.W., 2 Gingers, Powers, Paddy’s, The Irishman and Redbreast. Each of these has the standard whiskey, aged whiskeys or flavored whiskeys. John Farrell III is the vice president of Haskell’s The Wine People. Find more at haskells.com.
March 2022
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Photo: Chris Emeott
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St. Patrick’s Day—when it comes to this day of days, many people become Irish, wearing a bit of green, having a pint and singing a song. For people like me, I am Irish every day, so I take this day off! To best celebrate the snakes being driven from Ireland, I am a purist, and tradition is what I prefer. We cook corned beef, cabbage and potatoes, and I have some beverage suggestions to serve on this fun day.
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N OT E WO RT H Y
Saturday, April 2, 2022 East Ridge High School 4100 Pioneer Drive, Woodbury MN 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
TAST E
The Spice of Life FREE Family-Friendly Community Event! • 175+ Business & Organization Exhibitor Booths • Entertainment • Food Vendors • Kid’s Area • Prize Drawings • Vehicle Fair
I’m returning to work this month after a weeklong staycation, and I’ve spent a ton of time inside recently. From deep cleaning my washing machine and organizing closets/drawers to snuggling by the fire, I certainly made the most of my time off. I also engaged in a fair amount of culinary therapy—which differs from my day-to-day job in that I’m cooking solely for myself. It’s such a rarity that I’m not “working” when I’m in the kitchen, that at first it felt almost unnatural. But after paging through some forgotten cooking magazines (which I then recycled, of course!) and flipping through old vacation pictures, I started plugging into my own appetite and cravings. I rediscovered flavors and foods I haven’t enjoyed in years, as well as new tastes I might not have tried while “on the clock.” One day, while cleaning out my spice cabinet, I came across more than a few bottles of lesser-used but once-treasured seasonings. I’ve always loved spicy food, (by which I mean food with lots of spice, not peppery-hot dishes). Turmeric, cloves, cumin, coriander, cardamom, sumac and fennel were each purchased for a reason before being buried far back on my shelves. So, I set about to use them up. What came about was some of the most satisfying and healing food I’ve made and enjoyed in quite a long time—Lebanese-style chicken
Sponsored by
wings, a Persian rice dish called tahdig, a Yemeni hot sauce called skhug and something altogether mixed up that I didn’t know what to call other than Mediterranean nachos. (Find the recipe at woodburymag.com.) My kitchen smelled intoxicating.
For more information, visit woodburychamber.org 16
Rachael Perron is the culinary and brand director for Kowalski’s Markets, where she specializes in product development and selection, culinary education and communications. Find more at kowalskis.com.
March 2022
REA D
Owls: Our Most Charming Bird
A Wedding to Have and Behold Hold an idyllic wedding in a stunning setting at Union Depot. This iconic St. Paul landmark provides a charming backdrop for an unforgettable experience. Surround your ceremony with historic architecture, natural light and an incredible ambiance. Union Depot has a variety of event spaces to choose from—tailor your event to match your vision. Plan a wedding you’ll remember for a lifetime at Union Depot.
Discover a nonfiction bird book that unexpectedly reads like a birder’s own illustrated nature journal. In this book, Matt Sewell documents over 45 unique owls ranging from the African Wood Owl to the Verreaux’s Eagle-Owl. Each owl receives its own onepage description, which includes items such as an owl’s song, call, common name, coloring, size, scientific name, feather placement, eye color and nesting habits, along with Sewell’s personal reflections. Accompanying each owl description is a one-page image completed using watercolor paints. Art enthusiasts and visual learners will be drawn in by each illustration, looking again and again at the multiple beak styles, eye colors, ears (or earless), feather colors and wing sizes. One soon discovers the illustrations are done by the author, who is
2022 & 2023 DATES STILL AVAILABLE.
also an artist. Bird enthusiasts and those interested in ornithology will appreciate the the categories are divided by areas on Earth where owls inhabit—woodlands, tropics, wilderness and desert.
Teri Bennis is a librarian at the R.H. Stafford library in Woodbury. Find more to read at washcolib.org.
woodburymag.com
kianagrantphotography.com
inclusion of scientific names and how
Visit uniondepot.org/plan-your-event to get started or call 651.202.2708. UNIONDEPOT.ORG
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214 4TH STREET EAST, ST. PAUL, MN 55101
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BEAUTY
Demystifying Facials What's the science behind them, and which is right for you?
A NEW FACIAL BAR opened its doors in Woodbury this spring. We sat down with Cheyanne Thurston from Face Foundrié to hear what to expect from this Twin Cities-based beauty spot. “Our owner and founder Michelle Henry had just had her third kid and was struggling with her skin,” Thurston
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says, when explaining the initial spark of inspiration for Face Foundrié. “She felt really failed by the industry; there wasn’t anything affordable. There wasn’t anything that she could book within the same week let alone the same day.” If she was having trouble locating a facial bar with accessibility and the affordability
she was looking for, Henry figured others were facing the same problem. In 2019, Face Foundrié opened its first location at the Edina Galleria, and more locations have been springing up across the Metro since. Now, franchisees owners Todd and Sherri Kanzenbach are excited to bring this concept to Woodbury.
March 2022
woodburymag.com
Photo: Face Foundrie
By Madeline Kopiecki
“With this concept, it’s truly [for] ‘everyone with a face,’” Thurston says. This means that, aside from a broad swath of ages, Face Foundrié has become a stepping stone for men, who are increasingly interested in skincare. Curious about what this new facial bar has to offer? We asked Thurston to break down some of the most popular services on its menu.
Discover the Difference
S U M M E R S E NS A T I ON ! Anticipated Summer Camp Themes and Field Trips: All Things Summer - Picnic in the Park Music and Movement - Teddy Bear Band Nature Explorers - Dodge Nature Center Storybook Adventures - Stages Theater: The Little Mermaid Amazing All-Stars - Conquer Ninja Wild Safari - Sustainable Safari and Petting Zoo Discovery Kids STEAM week - The Works Museum/Children’s Museum Color Wars - Color Me Mine Crazy Creatures - Sea Life and Bruce the Bug Guy Culinary Culture - THAT Cooking School Imagination Station - Science Museum Summer Sizzle - USA Inflatables and Cookout!
Cryo Queen
“The Cryo Queen is actually our newest facial. It uses cryo technology or ‘cold therapy,’ and it is extremely cold air that’s blown onto the face,” Thurston says. The shocking effect on the skin boosts circulation and collagen production. “It targets both that anti-aging effect but also acne concerns because it’s truly almost freezing the pores closed, so that can help with congestion that you’re facing as well. It is a good service for just about anyone,” she says. Hydrafacial
“It’s a patented fusion technology,” Thurston says. “It’s simultaneously infusing things into the skin while extracting things out. This is actually a three-step [facial], so it goes through the cleanse, the exfoliation, which is a chemical peel, and then an infusion of these delicious serums that your skin is going to be obsessed with.” “This is our most expensive facial but for good reason; it leaves you with the most incredible glow. It also comes with this canister that shows you everything that has come out of your skin, and our estheticians are trained on diagnosing from there. This is phenomenal for every month, but we do recommend it at least twice a year to reset your skin,” she says. Facial Cupping
“This is a fun one,” Thurston says. “It’s just using the cups you traditionally see used on the body, but it’s not going to leave those big bruises. It’s a lighter, controlled suction. It’s lifting the fascia from the fat or the bone that you have on your body and plumping it. It boosts circulation, and it also helps with any drainage.” Face Foundrié 995 Hudson Place Suite 540 facefoundrie.com @facefoundrie
Face Foundrié @ facefoundrie
Themes and field trips subject to change
Infant/Crawler • Our all-inclusice approach to care includes infant formula, diapers, baby wipes and wholesome infant purees freshly prepared by our on-site chef. • Baby rooms are the perfect environment for little ones to discover their physical abilities as they learn to roll over, crawl, pull up and eventually walk. We focus on your babies’ growth and development by creating strong bonds and learning through play. • Screened-in porch designed specifically for getting infants and crawlers outside to enjoy new sights, sounds and fresh air. • Over-sized rooms include full sized cribs for each child, gross motor equipment and large windows for maximum amounts of natural light. • Procare Connect parent app allows for notifications of diapering, naps, meals and daily photos of your child to be sent directly to your mobile device.
Waddler/Toddler • Our all-inclusive approach to care includes diapers, baby wipes and wholesome meals and snacks freshly prepared by our on-site chef. • Sign Language, Spanish, Character Education, LANA & Music enrichment classes included in tuition. • Individual attention and caring teachers encourage hands-on exploration and social interaction in a safe and engaging environment. • Our Waddlers & Toddlers progress naturally because they’re constantly encouraged to be creative and curious, to learn and to have fun learning. • Procare Connect parent app allows for notifications of diapering/potty, naps, meals, curriculum and daily photos of your child to be sent directly to your mobile device.
Preschool/Kindergarten Readiness • Our all-inclusice approach to care includes STEAM, yoga, Spanish, LANA nutrition and music enrichment programs; as well as wholesome meals and snacks freshly prepared by our on-site chef. • Character development, community outreach and off site field trips round out our academic curriculum. • Proprietary curriculum designed to nurture the whole child provides a strong academic introduction to literacy, science, math and social sciences while combining social, emotional and physical aspects of developemnt. • Procare Connect parent app allows for notifications of naps, meals, curriculum, enrichment programs and daily photos of your child to be sent directly to your mobile device. • Real time notifications for diapering, naps, meals and other daily activities • Receive daily photos of your child exploring exciting new topics and curriculum • Convenient options to submit tuition payments online • Keep up with school events and news with messages pertaining to your child’s classroom
(651) 998-1661 | www.steppingstoneslearning.org 11253 Eagle View Blvd. Woodbury, MN 55129 19
ABODE
Above and Beyond New luxury apartment complex redefines modern living. By Ava Diaz
residents is the new two-building complex, Beyond Apartments by Core Living. Opening the east building last September and the west building last December, the complex features 255 units ranging from studio spaces up to three bedroom-three bath units. Beyond fuses a boutique aesthetic with the bustle of suburban conveniences to create a comfortable modern lifestyle. Located in the heart of Woodbury, this complex has access to a variety of local shops, restaurants and major highways. “We are still close to the hustle and bustle of Woodbury … but we are also in a quiet little niche,” says property manager Allison Fischer. “It is a little oasis.” As a luxury apartment, Beyond features over 14 different floor plans and a myriad of amenities. But what defines luxury, and how does it work to appeal to specific individuals? A luxury apartment refers to a living space where tenants have access to an above-average level of comfort, quality and convenience. Typically consisting of a variety of amenities, this form of living has now become a standard for renters in the community, says Core Living marketing manager Heather Ouellette. Though the rental market is ever changing, the one thing that remains constant is this desire for individuals to have access to different options in their living spaces.
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March 2022
woodburymag.com
Photo: Spacecrafting
CONTINUING TO REDEFINE APARTMENT LIVING for Woodbury
“You can get the basics of what you need to live at a lower price point, but you don’t get that same level of features within the apartment itself,” Ouellette says about conventional apartments as opposed to luxury spaces. “You are not going to have a greater range of amenities built to cater to a variety of different resident needs … but the mix of amenities definitely goes up as you look at different luxury apartments.” In the age of COVID-19 and especially during quarantine, people discovered what they like and dislike in their own living quarters. Creating more thoughtful spaces with flexibility in mind, homeowners have turned to multipurpose arrangements. “With the pandemic, we saw that people needed more space to work from home. They want opportunities to socialize in various spaces and different sized groups,” Ouellette says. Understanding the need for a worklife balance, Beyond turned to creating a variety of spaces outside of each unit that catered to these needs. Equipped with a few different communal spaces, these areas offer a variety of seating options to fit most preferences. The most unique being the private phone booths that allow individuals to have their own closed off space to quietly study or work without any distraction. “It is shared, but you can make it yours for an hour or a day,” Ouellette says. Encouraging the use of their range in facilities—a 24-hour fitness center and studio, pool, patio spaces and golf simulator to name a few—the complex is conveniently equipped to readily suit most needs. “The home really is the entirety of the community,” Ouellette says. “Your dedicated private living space might be a bit smaller to fit your budget, but you still have access to all of those spaces to do other activities … It is Core Living and connecting you to the community.”
THANKS FOR YOUR WINNING Celebrating CARE!”
– Jessie Diggins, 40 YEARS
of Smiles!
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651.739.1894 • www.artsciencedentistry.com 1000 Radio Drive, Suite 240, Woodbury 21
SCENE
Celebrating Big
Personalized yard signs deliver joy and connect neighbors.
WHEN WOODBURY NATIVE
Maureen Isbell moved home from Dallas, she brought the notion that everything’s bigger in Texas to the lawns of Minnesota nice. Delivering larger-than-life yard greetings to eastern Twin Cities Metro areas and Wisconsin, Isbell and her husband, Dwayne, opened a Sign Gypsies franchise, a Texas-based company with more than 800 locations, in August 2019. “Sign Gypsies was huge in our Texas neighborhood,” Isbell says. “I watched it bring our community together—we knew when the neighbors at the corner retired or when the cul-de-sac couple’s daugh-
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ter was accepted to the University at Arlington. We sent care packages to the couple who brought home a new baby.” Isbell set out to bring that sense of community to Woodbury. In her first two years in Minnesota, Sign Gypsies placed celebration signs in more than 1,300 yards. With a flat fee and an inventory of more than 600 special interest and hobby graphics, individual letters and numbers, just about anything is possible to surprise a loved one with a personalized message. Businesses and organizations have found the customizable signs helpful in calling attention to special activities, like hiring events, supply drives, thanking bus driv-
ers, teachers and healthcare workers, and welcoming students back to school. “We don’t have a standard number for any of our signs,” Isbell says. “If you request it, we have it and your yard fits it, you’ll get it,” she says, enabling Minnesotans to come up with clever slogans like “Halfway to 80,” “Happy Birthday Jenny 867-5309,” “Send RIP” (Yellowstone fans know) and “No-Mo Chemo.” Even a dog named Sandwich got a customized birthday surprise. Early education principal Christine DeBoer ordered a first day of school sign for students at New Life Academy. “The families and students loved having the
March 2022
woodburymag.com
Photos: Sign Gypsies
By Staci Perry Mergenthal
sign,” DeBoer says. “They were able to take first day of school pictures by it and capture it all right by the school.” She also used Sign Gypsies to surprise a friend’s daughter on her 18th birthday and has referred friends to the service. “They communicate so well, ask what you are specifically looking for, send pictures of the signs when they get them up and take them down on time,” she says. It’s truly a family business as their sons Tony, Jesse and AJ make deliveries with the couple while daughter Meadow helps at home with their three younger children. Holidays and celebrations like birthdays, retirements, baby announcements and graduations can spawn friendly neighborhood competition, too. Isbell says after customer John ordered a sign for his wife Lisa’s 50th birthday, Lisa reciprocated later for John’s 50th birthday. John ordered a romantic sign for their 25th wedding anniversary. “He loved it, and his neighbor is angry because he said he raised the bar now for what the wives are expecting in the neighborhood,” Isbell says. Special moments like these remind Isbell why she brought Sign Gypsies to her childhood neighborhood. “Different things you learn about your neighborhood, to build that connection and community without necessarily knowing everyone, that’s my favorite part about this,” she says. “Plus, what better honor than to be part of some of people’s biggest milestones?” There are heartwarming moments. “A woman called us because she spends Saturdays with her mother at the retirement home, and she would always bring her fresh flowers,” Isbell says. “Of course, she couldn’t because of COVID, so she wanted a sign installed that said, ‘Six Saturdays Missed’ and ‘Love You, Mom’ with flower graphics that faced her mother’s window. She emailed us after the pickup and told us her mother sat at her retirement window and stared at that sign and was showing it off to all of her friends at the home ... [The customer] even joked with us and said, ‘I think my mother liked the sign better than having me there on that Saturday.’”
Dr. Dan Ehrmanntraut, DDS
We are a family dentistry practice and have been serving the community for over 30 years.
Services Include: • Preventative • Restorative • Cosmetic • Invisalign Braces
Dr. Steven Setterstrom, DDS
www.preservedentistry.com
651-739-7888 | 7582 Currell Blvd Suite 210 | Woodbury, MN 55125
signgypsies.com SignGypsies-St.Paul @signgypsiesstp
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Photo: Chris Emeott
Wesley Ross
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March 2022
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You have Minnesota’s #1 Hearing Center in town! Hearing of America is committed to continue to do the best for enhancing the quality of life for individuals by providing comprehensive hearing care and therapeutic tinnitus treatment.. Visit hearingofamerica.com for more information! 15% off on rechargeable smart hearing aids!
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HYOUNSOO LATHROP A name that is hard to say but easy to trust
FA C E S
Scholar Success Woodbury High School students participate in Youth in Government. By Hailey Almsted
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FOR WESLEY ROSS AND ANNETEKE ADOGA, leadership
comes naturally. The two Woodbury High School students, both in 12th grade, are in their fifth year of the YMCA’s Youth in Government (YIG) program, an immersive political experience for students in grades eight–12. This past January, Wesley and Anneteke respectively served as youth elect governor and lieutenant governor at its annual conference. “I’ve always been really politically aware, and I always wanted to know what was going on,” Anneteke says. She first joined YIG after hearing students discuss the program in eighth grade. “At first, I didn’t like it. Then I went to the con-
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“... Every single person has value, and we want everyone to run for everything; we want people in these positions, and just know that you have the capabilities to shoot for the moon." Anneteke Adoga
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Anneteke Adoga
Photos: Gysland Photography
ference and said I would stick with it … [Now] YIG is my favorite activity.” Unlike Anneteke, Wesley was initially uninterested in the program. However, three weeks after moving from Georgia to Woodbury, Wesley’s mother noticed a pamphlet for YIG at the Woodbury YMCA. “She asked if I wanted to join, and I said, ‘No’ … She said, ‘Well, you’re going to anyways!’” he says. “I got sent to the first meeting, learned about the program and still wasn’t sold.” Then, similarly to Anneteke, Wesley discovered his passion for the program following its yearly conference. The four-day conference includes students from all over Minnesota to roleplay state government. Students between grades eight and 10 are at a hotel simulating the creation of new bills and policies; students in grades 11 and 12 meet at the Minnesota State Capitol to work on upper legislation while fostering an environment to debate politics. “I can put it in no better words than to say it’s a great place to learn,” Wesley says. “The learning process that we receive from YIG is something you can’t replicate elsewhere, [and] the Minnesota YIG is one of the best in the country.” Wesley has previously served the program in a few roles; Anneteke is currently serving her first role with the program. Though Wesley and Anneteke chose not to run as a team at first, the pair found themselves running together after both one another’s teammates had dropped out of the YIG election. Anneteke says, “I knew we would make a great team, and that it would be exciting to be a part of this leadership … We’ve made good connections, and we’ve seen
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new, diverse faces in this role.” Wesley agrees. “I’m happy to have Anneteke along with me because there’s no better person to facilitate that growth in the youth,” he says. “Seeing the way Anneteke works and speaks … It’s beautiful ...” Wesley and Anneteke fostered youth growth this past January at the YIG conference. With a $500 program cost and the need for professional attire, some students are unable to join due to finances. To help students in need, Wesley and Anneteke raised funds. “I want students to know that we’re happy to have you and help you learn, and there’s a stipend to help you get clothing and a meal,” Wesley says. The pair also ran a clothing drive, which included business casual and professional attire for students to select. “It [was] a free pop-up shop for any student ... to walk in and come out with anything they may need, free of charge,” he says. Outside of YIG, Wesley is a club leader and business owner. He started the Automotive Club at Woodbury High School, owns two businesses and is working full time on expanding his network. Cars, reading, exploring the diverse landscape of Minnesota, paintball and advocating are more of Wesley’s passions. Anneteke is a proud activist, having assisted in organizing a statewide school walkout protesting police brutality. She’s also a part of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, America’s oldest and largest civil rights organization, where she works with St. Paul schools in creating support systems for students of color. “In all of my roles, I’ve been the first person who looked like me or had experiences like me, and as more people see faces like mine, I hope they’ll have the courage to step out ...” Anneteke says. “The sky is your limit. Every single person has value, and we want everyone to run for everything; we want people in these positions, and just know that you have the capabilities to shoot for the moon.”
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written by HAILEY ALMSTED
A Minnesota native is making waves with her hand-painted artwork. Trading in cold Minnesota winters for sunny California is many Midwesterners’ dream. Aleisha Nelson made that dream come true nine years ago when she moved from Shoreview, Minnesota, to Santa Clara, California, to pursue a degree in computer science. Now, Nelson lives in San Francisco, where she’s taken on another dream: art. “While growing up in Minnesota, I did all the winter sports like figure skating but also played soccer,” Nelson says, noting the many times she traveled to and from Woodbury for competitions. But during her time in high school at CretinDerham Hall High School, she desired to move out of state for college. “One of my first choices was Boston College, but Santa Clara had palm trees and was super sunny,” she says. “Everyone was in a good mood, and I immediately thought, ‘I have to go there.’” So, she pursued four years of warmth at Santa Clara University with the idea of moving back to Minnesota post-graduation. Although Nelson graduated with a degree in computer science and now works as a software engineer for Walmart, she says she’s always had a creative side. Growing up, she created DIY birthday cards for friends and family and recalls buying books with blank pages to illustrate and
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write stories. At Cretin-Derham Hall, she enrolled in a drawing class, where she drew a giraffe using charcoal. “Even to this day, I’m like, ‘How did I draw that?’ … It was my first taste of, ‘I could be good at this, and people are recognizing it,’” she says. In college, she joined the newspaper team, working on layouts, and opened an Etsy shop, selling painted sorority letters. “People all across the U.S. started buying them, and that was my second taste of, ‘Wow, I could do something I really enjoy doing and make money from it, too,’” she says. After the National Panhellenic Conference, a support organization for sororities, asked Nelson to stop selling the letters, she wasn’t sure where she’d go next. “I was getting ready to study abroad in South Africa [with family]—I love traveling with my family—and I was curious about San Francisco because it’s the big city an hour away from Santa Clara,” she says. So, she drew a map of the city, and her friends started asking her about “the map on the wall;” eventually, she began creating maps for friends, family members and sorority sisters. “I applied to a craft fair in San Francisco … When I got in, I realized I didn’t have enough maps or products, but I did it and thought it was so much fun to see other people do what I love doing,” she says. After using her technology skills to create a more robust website, and “officially” starting Art by Aleisha, she began going to more craft fairs around the country. In 2019, she visited Los Angeles, New York City and Austin, Texas, which helped her grow her customer base and social media. That year,
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Photo: Nicki Fladebo
City C A RTO G RA P H Y
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Vanity Fair magazine featured her hand-painted neighborhood maps on its gifting “It List” in three issues. When COVID-19 hit in 2020, she was certain her sales would drop because craft fairs weren’t happening; instead, she noticed a shift to online shopping, and her website sales grew. Now, Nelson is thriving on social media. At the time of writing, she has 33,000 followers on TikTok and another 14,500 on Instagram. “It allowed me more time to make prints, since I wasn’t traveling, and I was sitting in my room at home,” she says. Her shop has expanded from offering custom maps to include prints, travel totes, film prints and more. “The hand-painted maps are the colorful ones, and I started drawing maps on my iPad with black and white line illustrations, [and] those are the online prints,” she says. “As an artist, it’s fun to be experimenting with new things … I really love to travel, and I love how that plays into the maps that I make.” Nelson’s custom hand-painted maps are more than just matter-of-fact maps; instead, each piece of art includes special locations, illustra-
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tions, personalization and more. “The thing that is most inspiring … It’s always been the stories that people come to me with why they want to create a map,” she says. “I’ve had people come to me and say it’s their parents’ 25th wedding anniversary, and the map will include places where their children are born, where their family business started, where they met and got married. It’s so cool to finish it and hear stories about opening them … People start crying and get really emotional.” Although many artists use big cities as inspiration, Nelson says she can make a map of any location, no matter the size. “From the beginning, I said I can make a map of anywhere, even if you’re from the most rural place,” she says. Although cartography is the star of the show, Nelson says she’s been breaking into a new kind of art: murals. In April 2020, a Cretin-Derham classmate reached out to see if she knew anyone interested in mural work; although she had no prior experience, she signed herself up for the job. “All of a sudden, I was under a contract to
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paint a mural [that is] three stories off the ground and huge,” she says. “It took seven days, and it’s a really cool location because, when you’re driving from Woodbury to St. Paul, you can see it from the highway.” The Lowertown mural was her first, but certainly not her last. That company hired her for a second time to paint a life-size, three panel art installation for an apartment complex in the Minnehaha neighborhood. She’s also done murals in people’s homes around the country and is now working on another life-size art installation for a coffee shop in Northfield, Minnesota. “It’s so fun to be working on new things, and I had so much fun painting the first mural … I would love to do more in the future,” she says. Art by Aleisha started in Nelson’s college dorm room, lived in her San Francisco bedroom for several years and is now moving into an art studio in San Francisco. As the art business grows, so does her enjoyment of owning her own company. “I would love to run my own business and have that be my only thing,” she says. “Having the computer science skillset has been very cool and helpful in random little ways … Up until now, I’ve had both [computer science and art], but it is my dream to one day be running my own business full time.” Nelson says Art by Aleisha is growing rapidly, and it’s no wonder considering how beautiful her murals and handpainted maps are. “It’s cool how meaningful [the maps] can be or how emotional it makes people,” she says. “I’m just so grateful, and it makes me want to keep making them.”
artbyaleisha.com @artbyaleisha @artbyaleisha
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INTERIOR IMPRESSIONS CREATES A MODERN, RANCHINSPIRED SPACE IN A LAKE ELMO HOME. Local homeowner Christa first heard about Interior Impressions through friends, but the recommendation stuck in her mind years later when she moved to Lake Elmo with her family. “When I first had Amy [Leferink] come, it was a new build, and so we needed window treatments just because there were none,” she says. From there, the family asked Interior Impressions founder and principal designer Amy Leferink and her team to help transform the upper level of the new house into a home with new furnishings. The success of this first collaboration, which turned
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the upper floor into a modern woodland retreat, lead Christa to call on Leferink again years later for a basement refresh. “They found that [the basement] was sort of an afterthought when they originally moved into the house,” Leferink says. “They kind of let it be the kids’ play zone and didn’t really spend any time making it look nice or making it feel like a place they were proud to have guests over.” After eight years in the home, Christa says her family was looking to use the space differently. “[We wanted it to be] entertaining for our kids and their friends but also
written by
MADELINE KOPIECKI
photos contributed by
INTERIOR IMPRESSIONS
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a space where we would feel comfortable having our friends,” Christa says. “So not just kids toys and everything else, but more of a space where we can watch movies or spend time with friends.” From the outset, the design for the basement hinged around a central request; Christa’s husband wanted to incorporate a cow or longhorn into the design for a lodgelike feel. “[Christa] kind of laughed and said, ‘We don’t have to do that,’” Leferink says. “But we loved it. We were all over it.” Leferink says something that sets Interior Impressions apart from other design firms is
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how they keep the client central to the design process. “We do not have a specific style that we’re delivering to every client,” Leferink says. “Our clients live in their homes, we don’t live in their homes, and their homes should reflect who they are as a person and a family and how they live. Our approach is always focused on what their likes are and what their lifestyle is.” After convincing Christa this Western lodge look could be done in an elevated style, Leferink’s team got to work pulling different design elements together. “Something that we have, that not every design firm has, is a large showroom in
Woodbury at our design studio, so we really have a lot of resources at our fingertips,” Leferink says. While this means a library of different tile, wood flooring and carpet samples, it also includes a warehouse stocked with accessories. “We go to High-Point in North Carolina— it’s a design market—at least once a year, if not twice,” Leferink says. Interior Impressions also has trade accounts with a variety of companies, which gives them access to accessories not found in retail stores. “Just very specific things that fit the look, it’s easier for us to source because we’re
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buying direct and source from all over the world,” Leferink says. “It really is a curated design specifically tailored to our clients.” Even small decorative pieces can create a cumulative character in a space. Christa notes the sense of warmth in such pieces can bestow on a room, “[Leferink] has such a unique talent in finding the right accessories to put on shelving and on your tables just to make the space feel lived in and comfortable but not overcrowded,” Christa says. On the top floor, some of Christa’s favorite pieces are a set of ornate boxes and small frames containing family photos. In
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the basement, one of the clear showstoppers is the artwork. “In the basement, we wanted an animal print of some kind,” Christa says. “And so we worked together to find something that wasn’t too western but still fit the aesthetic of what we were going for.” Interior Impression’s collaborative approach doesn’t mean Leferink is shy to introduce some of her own ideas into the mix. “I feel like literally every project that we’ve been doing in the past couple of years we’ve used wallpaper somewhere,” she says. Although some clients cringe at the mention, Leferink notes that wallpaper
has come a long way and is no longer the nightmare to handle that people expect. “We get big samples, and we’ll put them on the wall,” Leferink says. “And we do really let them know it’s different now. They make wallpaper that is easy to remove. It’s not like the old days where you had all the stinky chemicals and scraped it for hours. It’s so easy to remove when you’re sick of it.” Like many, Christa balked at the initial suggestion of wallpapering the wall behind and around the TV. Now, it’s one of her favorite design elements in the space. “I definitely never would have chosen to
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put wallpaper there,” Christa says. “I don’t know why, but I really love it. It just adds a different element to the room.” Leferink says the textured appearance of the wallpaper, which resembles cork or birch bark, adds interest to a space that is otherwise hard to decorate. “When you have a TV on the wall, there’s really not a lot you can do behind it, and I feel like that’s one of the prime opportunities to add some color and interest to the walls,” Leferink says. “It doesn’t have to be busy; it just elevates the look instantly.”
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Another one of Christa’s favorite features is the new and durable vinyl flooring. “They felt like they needed a more durable flooring surface because it’s a walkout basement, and the kids would be in and out from the backyard,” Leferink says. “We put in a luxury vinyl plate that looks like wood floor, but it’s a vinyl, so it’s really, really durable and easy to maintain.” For a final, unexpected twist, Leferink championed a patterned carpet for the sunken family room. “I was thinking something kind of plain,” Christa says. “[Leferink] came in with several patterns
that I wasn’t sure about, but we ended up with one I absolutely love. We get a lot of compliments on it, so that was definitely [a favorite design detail]. She’s just really good at pulling the pieces together.” After furnishing two floors and a set of window treatments, Christa says she can’t say enough good things about Leferink and her team. “They’re just really easy to work with; they’re good listeners, and they’re really good with mixing in what is current and in style and including your own personal aesthetic.”
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DIY workshops for people who love to create and connect with friends. Use discount code VLW1021 for $10 off a Regular PYP Workshop!
Our family provides Minn. grown hemp products to help manage anxiety and stress, sleep challenges, pain, inflammation and more with CBD, CBG, CBN formulas and education for all ages.
Board & Brush Creative Studio 2230 Eagle Creek Lane Suite F 651.217.9663 boardandbrush.com/woodbury
CBD Centers Woodbury 9000 Hudson Road Suite 616 651.340.3706 woodburycbd.com
Chuck & Don’s is unlike any pet experience in the world. We’re a community of experts from pet foodies to groomers to behaviorists dedicated to holistic pet wellness.
Where magical celebrations come to life! Custom balloon garlands, sleepover tent rentals, event decor and backdrop rentals to uniquely celebrate your next party or event!
Expert advice. On-site jeweler. Your destination for all things dazzling. From engagements to just because, we’ve been helping Minnesota feel the love for 50 years. Visit for a free ring cleaning!
Chuck & Don’s Pet Food & Supplies 265 Radio Drive Suite G 651.209.1757 chuckanddons.com
Dot & Daisy Minneapolis/St. Paul Area and Western Wisconsin 651.295.3000 | 715.781.1336 dotanddaisy.com
Helzberg Diamonds Woodbury Lakes 9140 Hudson Road Suite 519 952.656.7395 helzberg.com
An updated full service men’s grooming salon. Offering the most up to date styles in a relaxed, family friendly setting
We help families create clarity and confidence with retirement planning, helping you spend more time and energy on things you enjoy! Securities offered through LPL Financial, Member FINRA/SIPC. Investment advice offered through Great Valley Advisor Group, a registered investment advisor. Great Valley Advisor Group and Pursuit Wealth Management are separate entities from LPL Financial.
House of Handsome 7803 Afton Road Suite 18 605.690.7305 houseofhandsomemn.com
Pursuit Wealth Management 652 Bielenberg Drive Suite 201 612.315.5588 pursuit-wealth.com
Discover your true potential! We are experts in holistic health who empower individuals to heal disease at its root and live abundant lives.
Whether you’re purchasing your dream home or looking to refinance—I’ll be there to guide you every step of the way.
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We are not your typical music school. Have fun learning guitar, piano, drums, vocals and so much more! Private lessons and group classes available. Rock U Music School 10150 Hudson Road Suite 111 651.414.9734 rockumusicschool.com
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O N T H E TOW N
th in g s to se e a n d d o in and aro und Wo o db ury
SLAM DUNK Local restaurants and bars host March Madness fun.
3rd Act Brewery
LOCAL EVENTS
6:30–8 p.m. R.H Stafford Library, 8595 Central Park Place; 651.731.1320; washcolib.org
Outdoor Family Storytime 03/14 Bring your little ones or the whole family to Cottage Grove Ravine Regional
Monthly Twilight Flow
Park for an outdoor storytime experi-
03/04
ence. The storytime focuses on emo-
Book Club
Begin this month by taking some time
tions, life skills, counting and kindness.
03/01
for yourself. YogaFresh is hosting a can-
This is a great opportunity for your kids
R.H. Stafford Library’s monthly book
dlelit twilight flow yoga class to help you
to socialize and enhance their literacy
club is back, featuring a mystery thriller
wind down and reduce stress. The class
that you won’t be able to put down.
is heated and focuses on breath work
This month’s selection is The Guest List
and flowing movements to nurture tran-
by Lucy Foley, which follows a wedding
quility and rejuvenation. Following the
skills. Ages 0–6 and their families. Free. 10–10:30 a.m. Cottage Grove Ravine Regional Park, 9653 Keats Ave. S., Cottage Grove; 651.430.8225; washcolib.org
for a well-known, seemingly perfect
session, there will be a Healthy Happy
couple that somehow ends in a death.
Hour with refreshments provided by
Women Walking
Join the library for an in-depth discus-
the studio. All ages. Prices vary. 5:30–
03/18 and 03/19
sion about the novel and the drama that comes along with it. All ages. Free.
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6:30 p.m. YogaFresh Studio, 10150 Hudson Road; 651.436.5906; yoga-fresh.com
Valuing engagement and connection with the natural world, the Belwin
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Photo: Tate Carlson
Compiled by Grace Masuda
MA R CH MA DN ESS I S HER E, and like many of us, you probably want to watch the games the right way—with other fans, good beverages and even better bar food. It begins on selection night March 13 and concludes on April 4 with the championship game. Head to these local restaurants for great food, fun company and—of course!— the big games. If you want the classic sports bar viewing experience, head to Wild Bills, which has over 60 TVs to watch the games on, and where it’s usually packed with high energy. Wild Bills, 546 Commons Drive; 651.357.1050; wildbillssportssaloon-woodbury.com If you are looking for a calmer and more family-friendly atmosphere, 3rd Act Craft Brewery is the place to be. March Madness is a sign of spring approaching, and 3rd Act always looks forward to people getting together again after the wintertime. 3rd Act Craft Brewery, 4120 Radio Drive; 651.998.2337; 3rdactbrew.com Green Mill in Woodbury is also a popular place during the tournament. The restaurant offers happy hour specials on appetizers and beer and is especially lively during the excitement of the basketball season. Green Mill, 6025 Hudson Road; 651.735.1000; greenmill.com —Grace Masuda
CASE STUDY: Dana and Steve’s lease is up soon and they really desire to have a home that is all their own...
LET’S GET TO WORK! WE’RE HAPPY TO HELP!
Conservancy invites you to celebrate the vernal equinox. The afternoon consists of centering exercises, engaging in meditation, walking in nature and enjoying refreshments around a bonfire. Led by Lynette Anderson, interpretive naturalist and restoration specialist, this event is a great way to transition into the beginning of the new spring season.
Women ages 16 and older. $20. 6–9 p.m. Belwin Conservancy, 1553 Stagecoach Trail S., Afton; 651.436.5189; belwin.org
“You cannot go wrong with Angela and her team! They go above and beyond to help you get the home you’re looking for. I highly recommend them to anyone!” ~Steve & Dana
How to Draw Cartoons Mini Camp 03/28 If your kiddos have ever wanted to learn how to draw cartoons, now is their chance. Kidcreate Studio is hosting a six-hour minicamp, teaching kids the step-by-step process of how to draw different characters and cartoons. This
Angela@SadatSells.com | 651.246.2739 | SadatSells.com
class will allow you to let your creativity flow and your imagination run wild. Ages 5–12. $85. 9 a.m.–3 p.m. Kidcreate Studio, 1785 Radio Drive; 651.735.0880; kidcreate.com
AREA EVENTS
Swing Night at the Caves 03/03 Bring the whole family to the Wabasha Street Caves for a unique night of music and dancing. This lively event features a live swing band, dancing and a whole lot of fun. Please wear clean shoes when on the dance floor. $10 cash only. 6:30– 10 p.m. Wabasha Street Caves, 215 Wabasha St. S., St. Paul; 651.224.1191; wabashastreetcaves.com
MarsCon 03/11–03/15 Join fellow science fiction fans at MarsCon, held in person this year at the Hilton Minneapolis. This high energy convention features an art show, panel discussions, gaming, a charity auction, music and more. Guests must be fully vaccinated or show proof of a negative COVID-19 test. All ages. Free. Times
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O N T H E TOW N
home
re i m a gi ned.
INTERIOR IMPRESSIONS
www.interiorimpressions.org 651-337-2184 Monthly Twilight Flow
vary. Hilton Minneapolis, 3800 American Blvd. E., Bloomington; marscon.org
Disney Princess: The Concert 03/17 Become part of the magic of Disney for one night only at the State Theatre’s production of Disney Princess: The Concert. The production features award-winning vocalists and Broadway actors performing many of your favorite Disney classics. There is no better way to celebrate Disney princesses than attending this magical night. Recommended for ages 6 and up. $34–$168. Show starts at 7 p.m. State Theatre, 900 Hennepin Ave., Mpls.; 612.339.7007; hennepintheatretrust.org
Princess and Easter Bunny Party 03/27 Join the Disney princesses as well as
As we enter our 33rd year as your local, family-owned plumbing company we would like to thank the residents of Woodbury for your continued support. We are honored to be recognized by our neighbors, friends and customers as a Nextdoor Neighbor Favorite for five continuous years!
the Easter Bunny for a great Easter celebration! Professional portraits with the Easter Bunny, interactive storytime with the princesses, songs and games, royal crafts, pixie wishes and more are on deck. All ages. $20–$40. 9 a.m.– 4 p.m. Hyatt Regency Bloomington, 3200 E. 81st St., Bloomington; eventbrite.com
651-738-0580 | www.ajalberts.com 44
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Waitress Dates Vary Waitress is a classic Broadway musical based off the acclaimed book by Jessie Nelson about friendship, empowerment and, most importantly, pie. The musical features music and lyrics from popular singer-songwriter Sara Bareilles. All ages. $44–$122. Times vary. Ordway Center for the Performing Arts, 345 Washington St., St. Paul; 651.224.4222; ordway.org
To have your event considered: email woodburymag@tigeroak.com iStock.com/DrazenZigic
by the 10th of the month three months prior to publication. Due to the fluidity being experienced in the current environment, please note that some events/dates and even some business operations may have changed since these pages went to print. Please visit affiliated websites for updates.
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G A L L E R Y — Photos contributed by Leah Huxtable
Bash for Brains The eighth annual Bash for Brains was held on September 11, 2021, and raised over $110,000. The bash, first held in 2013, has the mission of raising awareness and funds for Alzheimer’s disease research and caregiver support; it first hosted 50 people and raised $7,000. In 2021, the bash boasted a silent auction, live music, food trucks and a cocktail hour. To have your event considered: send date, time, location, photos and contact information, and a brief description of the event to woodburymag@tigeroak.com.
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Pop the Cork on Crémant Let’s lift a glass to spring entertaining and celebrations. BY STACI PERRY MERGENTHAL AND DAN AMUNDSON
P OP P I N G T HE COR K on a bottle of bub-
bly can fill a room with celebratory spirits. As we move into brunch season and springtime celebrations, let’s take a closer look at a Champagne’s lesser-known cousin. With the same richness and body of Champagne, crémant (pronounced kruhmaant) brings the same life and effervescence as its counterpart—at a fraction of the price. We spoke with Mike Scharff of Haskell’s The Wine People to learn more about this sparkling sensation.
This is where secondary fermentation occurs inside the bottle instead of a vat or tank. This is said to give the sparkling wine more texture and nuance that we have come to expect from both Champagne or crémant. This creamy mouth texture is how crémant got its name, which literally translates to "creamy.” WHERE IS CRÉMANT MADE?
Crémant in the most basic of explanations is sparkling French or, more uncommonly, Luxembourg, wine that is produced outside of the Champagne region. These wines are similarly made and of similar quality but at a much more affordable price than we typically find with Champagnes.
Crémant is produced throughout France in eight designated regions: Alsace, Bordeaux, Bourgogne, Die, Jura, Limoux, Loire and Savoie. The most commonly found regions here on our shelves would be Alsace, Bourgogne or Loire. Little discussed is the one crémant found outside of France in the area of Luxembourg’s Moselle district. Crémant de Luxembourg is also made méthode traditionnelle like France's counterparts and is considered true crémant.
WHAT’S THE PRODUCTION PROCESS?
DOES CRÉMANT RUN SWEET OR DRY?
WHAT IS CRÉMANT?
The production process term that is shared with Champagne is méthode traditionnelle.
March 2022
PHOTOS BY CHRIS EMEOTT
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When it comes to sweet or dry, most often crémant comes in brut dryness like
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most Champagne offerings. However, like Champagne, the crémant can vary in sweetness with extra brut (very dry—super uncommon), brut (dry), to a demi sec (slightly sweet or "off-dry"). HOW DOES CRÉMANT DIFFER FROM CHAMPAGNE?
We can certainly get into details like atmospheric pressures and dosage requirements, but what truly sets crémant apart from Champagne is the use of more regionally found grape varietals in addition to chardonnay, pinot noir and pinot meunier, which we commonly see in Champagne. We're talking grapes that many have never even heard of like auxerrois, clairette, mauzac or savagnin, for example. It is because of the wide range of grape varietals that we have these distinct and defined regions throughout France, which can vary from producer to producer. Also, the aging on lees, the dead yeast known to provide the bready bouquet on the
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nose, is a minimum of nine months for crémant, while 12 [months] for Champagne. HOW DOES CRÉMANT COMPARE TO PROSECCO?
The methode traditionnelle process is also what separates itself from the Italian sparkling wine prosecco as its secondary fermentation is vatted not bottled. Prosecco also uses the glera grape almost exclusively. DOES CRÉMANT HAVE THE ABILITY TO AGE?
Champagne is renowned for its ability to age gracefully, while most crémants tend to drink better younger. WHAT IS THE OPTIMAL TEMPERATURE FOR CRÉMANT?
Crémant’s optimal chilled temperature for consumption is generally agreed to be between 47 to 50 degrees F. Two to three hours in the refrigerator will usually do the trick.
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Greg Foote Jewelers Personal Jewelry Services Let’s Celebrate Spring! Enjoy Our Personal Touch: Selecting New Jewelry Refreshing Your Own Rainbow Sapphire Bracelet
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in digital format! Never miss an issue of Woodbury Magazine with free, anytime access to our digital editions. Full screen viewing on your digital device allows easy cover-to-cover reading. You can zoom in on text or images as well as share your favorite Woodbury Magazine stories with friends and family.
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HOW ABOUT FOOD PAIRINGS?
Crémant, like so many other sparkling wines, is such a versatile food wine. Almost anything fruity, oily, fatty or salty is a wonderful compliment. We’re talking meats, fish and other goodies from the sea, salads and fried foods. Fruity or sweet desserts paired with a demisec crémant are also a good choice. This is a testament that sparkling wines like crémant are not and should not be exclusively enjoyed on celebratory occasions but any occasion that good wine is called for.
cated and is becoming increasingly aware of this sparkling gem. Crémant has been asked for by name more and more in our stores each day. Pricing starts mid-teens and up. A FEW OF YOUR FAVORITE CRÉMANTS?
I have several crémants on the shelves, but a couple of my absolute favorites are crémant de Bourgogne from Louis Bouillot. Bouillot comes in brut blanc or brut rosé. This has a bit more pinot noir in the mix. Haskell’s The Wine People
WHY ISN’T CRÉMANT AS WELL KNOWN?
I think the average consumer is more edu-
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6445 Lake Road #200 haskells.com Haskell’s
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WOODBURY CARES PROGRAM
ARTIS SENIOR LIVING CARES ABOUT WOODBURY Passionate Living.
And we are your community partner by providing free monthly As we look back over our lives, it’s educational and support events for our experiences, achievements and families, caregivers and professionals (safely delivered pastimes that define us. While online). needs may change and memories fade, a person’s core identity and “DementiaPartnersWoodbury.com,” passions remain. Enter The Artis a rich, locally-focused website Way, our approach to Memory shares resources to those living with Care Assisted Living provided and to those who are on the within a secure, intuitively dementia journey with a loved one. designed community. We are proud to be a founding member of this community-based Artis of Woodbury’s mission is to group now a part of Woodbury help those with Alzheimer’s and Thrives, in order to help those other dementias live a rich and somewhere on the dementia engaged life. Even as Covid continuum. dominates the national and local conversation, it has not kept us We want to thank the wonderful from providing opportunities for people of this community that make engagement in a safe and fun way. Woodbury such an inviting place to come to work and live.
“We are your community partner by providing free monthly educational and support events for families, caregivers and professionals"
It’s The Artis Way.
We have been welcomed with open arms by the city, the Chamber of Commerce, faith communities and public services.
We are here for you, The Artis Way! For more information on how to participate in WCF's Woodbury Cares Program, email development@woodburyfoundation.org.
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LAST GLANCE
By Grace Masuda
S E C O N D P L A C E : P E O P L E & FA M I L I E S
Joy Ride
Father captures his son’s bike riding victory.
W HAT STA N DS OUT in David Augustson’s second
place photo winner is the joy and excitement in his son’s smile. Augustson recalls taking the photo of his son, Will, and how delighted the youngster was to successfully ride a two-wheeled bike for the very first time. “He was riding his bike, and I was taking a bunch of photos, but this one stood out because of how happy he was to get on two wheels. It was great,” Augustson says. He captured this special moment outside of the daycare in which his son attended this past July.
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Photographer:
David Augustson
Title: First Time on Two Wheels! Equipment:
iPhone XR
To view other Focus on Woodbury photo contest winners, visit woodburymag.com
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