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Photo by Aryn Lill of
About the Cover
One of the geometric designs a student can choose during a barnyard quilt session put on by The Blue Fox. Based out of Detroit Lakes, The Blue Fox travels across the Twin Cities metro and western Wisconsin, conducting acrylic painting classes that focus on art as therapy. The reclaimed barn wood used as the canvas was locally sourced from a contractor in Hutchinson, Minnesota.
SAVOUR MAGAZINE Vol. 11 No. 3
COPYRIGHT ©2024 PRESS PUBLICATIONS
Material may not be reproduced in whole or part in any form whatsoever.
Publisher Carter Johnson
General Manager Patty Steele
Managing Editor Shannon Granholm
Contributing Writer Logan Gion
Photographer/Photo Editor Paul Dols
Advertising Brad Solem
Production Manager Mary Peterson
Production Designer Laurie Ericson
SaVour Magazine connects our readers and local businesses through personal stories and compelling images. We foster shared ideas to highlight creativity, the beauty of nature and perseverance. Our mission is to humanize the economic and community impact of supporting local merchants. The majority of content is paid for by our advertisers.
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From the SAVOUR TEAM
There comes a time every fall, about the time I have the heat on in my car in the morning and the air conditioning on in the afternoon, when I find myself sitting on my wooden Adirondack rocker in my front yard, soaking in autumn’s sights—luminous leaves, cinnabar sunlight, fluttering foxglove—all highlighted with cool frost as the morning fog evaporates over a still, azure lake. I’ll have hot chocolate in one hand and an apple donut in the other, my cheeks rosy. It’s heaven—until a cruel wind slices my summersoftened skin. “Fool!” the draft hisses, backed by the chorus of a thousand scratching leaf stems, “You’ve become feeble. Cold, darkness, wet snow shoveling that somehow
makes you sweaty yet chilled— it’s coming.” I grumble and head inside, rubbing my nowstiff jaw muscles, slurping down the rest of my lukewarm brown sludge.
This issue of SaVour offers readers solutions for prolonging the first half of that sweater-weather moment. Stay back, winter’s chill! Our fingers fight your numbness with knitted mittens we made at Darn Knit Anyway in Stillwater. Our legs are covered by an embroidered blanket crafted at Affinity for Quilts. Our hearts are warmed reading about the charity Loose Ends and the wholesome closure their volunteers provide across the globe.
So prepared do we think you’ll be that we’ve included
Darn KnIt Anyway Pages 6-7
Easier-Than-Apple Pie Tarts Page 17
apple orchard excursions in our calendar and a chart on different apples worth scouting this season. If savory is what you crave instead, there’s a new saloon in town, 4 Deuces. The only winter draft you’ll be worried about is the one on tap. Oh, and don’t worry if you don’t feel you have the proper attire for a saloon—4 Deuces hosts cowboy-hat-making events!
We believe that with the ideas provided within, by the time Turkey Day comes around, you’ll have a cornucopia of experiences for which to be thankful.
Little Jack Frost, get lost!
Logan Gion & the SaVour team
Barnyard Quilts with The Blue Fox
Page 12
What’s Happening
Pages 18-20
The Blue Fox
SAVOUR Autumn 2024
Darn Knit Anyway’s Close-Knit Community
By Logan Gion | Photos by Aimee Pelletier
If hearing about a specialty knitting store on Main Street in Stillwater—a business district whose competition is as steep as its roads—doesn’t surprise readers, this will: Darn Knit Anyway has more than doubled their location’s footage post-COVID. How the fluff did owner Aimee Pelletier do it?
According to Pelletier, she didn’t; the customers did.
“COVID happened, which shut the storefront down to people coming in…” Pelletier recalls. “And we had different knitting groups that would come. They would bring lawn chairs and sit in the alley, or they would sit on the grass outside or the patio outside. So they
really kept community together as a group.”
Such loyalty took time for Darn Knit Anyway to craft, especially because Pelletier opened the store in the wake of the 2008 recession. “I did commercial interior design and my company was getting bought out by a bigger company,” Pelletier yarns. “And so my husband said, ‘Maybe you want to think about doing something with all that stuff you make.” And so I did. I wrote a business plan, and with the help of lots of people, brought it to a bank and got a loan 15 years ago.”
Pelletier felt the store “puttered along” until 2016-17 when she decided to lean into the community aspect by creating knittingthemed events.
“I think our sales have tripled since 2018,” Pelletier estimates. “We do this event called ‘Knit the River’, we do a two-and-a-halfhour boat ride and knitters just hang out. We do three of them in June, three of them in September. They're 200 people each.” All of the 2024 cruises have sold out. “They could buy a ticket to a cruise any day,” Pelletier says. “But they choose to have tickets with us, with this community of knitters.”
Upon visiting Darn Knit Anyway, the appeal is immediately understood—cozy smells that aren’t overbearing, comfy chairs in a chic red-brick environment, dedicated groups that don’t mind needling questions
from curious newcomers. Naturally, this store also boasts an enormous variety of materials and supplies, from silk thread to cashmere wool. “And there are yarns now that are made from plastic water bottles,” Pelletier adds, stating the biggest trend “in the environmental space is kind of small producer, local farms, single breed sheep… it’s so much easier to keep track of. Like, ‘Okay, they're treating their animals well.’”
Pelletier is particularly watchful of her shipping now because Darn Knit Anyway’s online shipping sales. “We did ship to all 50 states,” Pelletier beams. “So the last three states were New Mexico, Mississippi and Hawaii. And so we put on our email and on social media, ‘Hey, anybody from these three states want to make a purchase?’ And we gave a $25 gift card to the first two people from each state!”
While grateful for the online growth, Pelletier emphasizes that her core customers are Twin Cities folk, and that Darn Knit Anyway will offer you pearls of wisdom along the way. “So big box, it’s just not as accessible,” Pelletier compares. “You know, you can buy a skein of yarn at Michael ’s or Joann's, but you can’ t go back and say, 'Could you help me with this project?’ Here, you can come back in and ask me a question about it. And my team is happy to help.”
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Sheet pan chicken thighs and vegetables
Servings: 4 people
Ingredients
• 8 Gerber’s Amish Farm Bone-In Skin-On Chicken Fryer Thighs
• 3 tbsp. Kowalski’s Extra Virgin Olive Oil, plus more for coating the vegetables
• 4 tbsp. Kowalski’s Signature Award-Winning Rotisserie Rub (from the Meat Department)
• 2 tbsp. baking powder (do not substitute with baking soda)
• 4 medium carrots, cut into large pieces
• 1 lb. baby red potatoes, cut in half
• 3 small beets, peeled and cut into 1/2 " chunks
• 1 medium red onion, cut into 1" chunks
• kosher salt and freshly ground Kowalski’s Black Peppercorns, to taste
Directions
1. Preheat oven to 425°.
2. Line a large sheet pan with parchment paper; set aside.
3. Place chicken in a large mixing bowl; using clean hands, rub evenly with oil, seasoning and baking powder.
4. Transfer chicken to the prepared sheet pan, skin side up.
5. Arrange vegetables evenly around chicken; drizzle with oil and gently stir to coat.
6. Bake in preheated oven until vegetables are tender and chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165° (35-45 min.).
7. If desired, broil for 5 min. to crisp the chicken skin and achieve a darker color.
8. Season with salt and pepper to taste; serve immediately.
Tasty Tips:
• 1-2 Honeycrisp apples, cut into 1 " chunks, can be roasted along with the vegetables. They’re a delicious seasonal addition to this meal.
• Red potatoes may be successfully substituted with sweet potato chunks, and carrots may be substituted with 1 lb. halved Brussels sprouts. Find both in the Prepared Produce Section.
Recipe provided by Kowalski’s Markets
Loose Ends: Knitting Charity Focused on Giving Closure
By Logan Gion | Photos by Carol Jersik
“There are times I look in my cupboards and I say, ‘Oh, my gosh, I can’t fit any more sweaters in here. Who can I knit for now?’” jokes Carol Jersik, a knitter with 25 years of experience. “You can do chemo caps, and you can do hats for babies, but I was looking for something when I didn’t have other charity work to do.”
Enter Loose Ends, a nonprofit established in May 2023.
Experienced knitters from across the globe can volunteer to be “finishers” of projects from people who have passed on. The finishers then give those projects to the deceased’s loved ones. When Jersik volunteered, Loose Ends gave her a survey asking how experienced she was in each style, skill and piece. They then matched Jersik based on location proximity so that the pair can meet face-to-face.
Jersik’s first project came from a woman whose grandmother had died 60 years ago. Among the possessions left behind was a box filled with 100 five-inch-by-five-inch knitted squares. The woman carried these squares with her for nearly 60 years because she didn’t know how to knit, much less make an afghan blanket how her grandmother did.
The woman and Jersik met in Darn Knit Anyway’s makers lounge so they could organize the squares how her grandmother would have. “We finished it and she sent me a photograph of her son all wrapped up in it,” Jersik beams. “She gave it to him for Christmas.”
A Norwegian sweater was Jersik’s next project, sent in by a lady whose mother had passed. Even though Jersik is a self-proclaimed “sweater knitter,” this particular sweater style demanded an unorthodox
technique. “There’s a process where when you’re knitting a Norwegian sweater. You knit in a tube so you never have to knit on both sides of it, and then you cut it to turn it into a cardigan and to put sleeves into it.”
Thankfully, Darn Knit Anyway’s staff was familiar with the technique and demonstrated. The lady’s project was then finished and delivered this past August.
Jersik finds the work fulfilling, describing. “It gets quite emotional, both when the person is telling you the story of this object and how much it means to them that they’re going to be able to pass that on. That’s why I went to Loose Ends, was to reach beyond what I do for my family and my friends.”
Collaboration is often necessary to ensure finishers complete projects according to submitters’ wishes, but Jersik makes clear that nothing can replace a loved one. “It’s true that the whole project wasn’t done by that one person, but their intention is there in the original project,” she explains. Upon request, finishers can “put a special stitch in where the original knitter left off.”
Going forward, Jersik hopes to receive more projects, but because Loose Ends is so new, there are more finishers available than projects submitted. Therefore, Jersik encourages “anybody who has a project that someone has started and that person has passed or they’re no longer able to do their craft, that they should just reach out. Go to Loose Ends, and they’ll have them all matched up in no time.”
For more information, visit looseends.org.
Affinity for Quilts fits everyone into their design
By Logan Gion | Photos by Paul Dols and Logan Gion
It’s a place for all of us to gather that do the same thing,” responds Joayn Dana when asked why she loves Affinity for Quilts in downtown White Bear. “You know, we don’t feel like oddballs. We all come here and we fit right in.”
Quilting is at least 5,000 years old, dating back to the early days of Ancient Egypt. It’s an established hobby. To hear practitioners described as “oddball” pricks the ears of grandmothers and aunts. “My family sees me coming with patterns, and they run screaming,” Dana explains.
“I have a nephew. I asked him, ‘Do you guys have a Christmas quilt?’ ‘No, we’re fine! We’re good on quilts!’
So you can overdo it.”
As Dana says this, the ten other women at the crafting table chuckle knowingly. They’re all present for the weekly embroidery club. “We enable each other really nicely—‘You need that.’ ‘You should buy that kit,’” Dana jokes. Looking around Affinity for Quilts, customers don’t need much of a push to make a purchase. Rows upon rows with bolts upon bolts of fabric stitch together a visual feast. Looking closer, each fabric holds a unique pattern begging to be used for a project. “If you see a fabric you like, buy it because the fact is it’s not going to be around. All these companies
do limited runs,” informs store owner Diana Wendorf. “Once it’s gone, it is gone.”
Wendorf, who started the store in 2019, is cut from an unexpected cloth for a quilt shop owner. “I came from the Fortune 500 world,” she reveals. “I worked for such places as Wells Fargo, Citibank. My last position was at Regis Corporation.”
Dissatisfied with her workplace’s direction, she was looking for a change. Then, while on a quilting retreat, she heard about an opportunity. Wendorf recalls, “Somebody said Bear Patch was for sale. My husband looked at me and said, ‘Why don’t you buy it?’ So I did.”
Thankfully for the “oddballs,” many of whom had been regular customers of Bear Patch Quilting since its opening in 1997, they only had to wait a few months before Affinity for Quilts opened—with many products, classes, and staff members even carrying over!
“It’s a fun place to work and deal with people who like to be very creative. You get to help them succeed,” says Tammy Berry, one of the staff members who made the transition. Berry believes that the reason Affinity for Quilts succeeds is because the store has “good people who are good at helping people succeed… and we can do math.”
For readers (and article writers) who thought “floss” was only a dental term, the art of quilting involves a surprising amount of geometry— scale, congruence, proportion. “Width of the fabric is 40 inches,” explains Berry. “So that’s your new favorite number. And all your math’s based off that.”
Here’s another unusual aspect of quilting: finality. “Quilting was a hobby I picked up because it stayed done. I could walk away,” recalls Berry. “I did pottery in college. But you don’t do pottery when you have little kids. You can’t walk away from that long.”
Unfortunately, during the pandemic in 2020, everyone had to walk away. Almost exactly one year after opening Affinity for Quilts, Wendorf shut the store down because of the quarantine. Here, Wendorf’s
business background came in handy.
“I questioned myself as to why Joann’s, Hobby Lobby and these kind of places… Well, how can these be guys be open? They sold materials for masks. What do I have a store full of? I have a store full of material.” Fortuitously, COVID made Affinity for Quilts more popular, bringing in new business because of curbside pickup and giving people a chance to pick up a new hobby.
If such a hobby sounds interesting, Wendorf is only happy to accommodate. “We do offer beginning quilting classes for people who want to quilt. We offer those twice a year. We usually do one in the fall and one in late winter, early spring,” Wendorf informs. After that, Affinity for Quilts offers plenty of clubs for every different style, from sashiko embroidery to Singer featherweights. Of course, each activity has plenty of “oddballs” doing the same thing.
“It is so nice having a quilt shop in our area,” beams Sharon Lenertz, a member the embroidery club and designer of numerous autumnthemed quilt kits. “[Wendorf] has got a wonderful selection of fabrics. She carries all of my embroidery floss. It’s just nice that you don’t have to go down the street from White Bear Lake.” Here Lenertz looks fondly at her “oddball” cohort before saying. “There’s so many nice things in downtown White Bear Lake.”
“Quatrefoil” by Brenda Henning
“Superstition” by Sharon Lenertz
“Autumn” by Sharon Lenertz
“Chatsworth” by Doug Leko
Sew or Saw?
By Logan Gion | Photos by Aryn Lill
One of Affinity
for Quilts’ classes involves materials of a different kind. Instead of bolts of fabric, there are buckets of paint. Instead of longarm machines, there are yardsticks. Participants of this class make barnyard quilts— geometric patterns painted on squares of reclaimed barn wood. Those roadtripping through the Minnesota or Wisconsin countryside may see enormous versions affixed to the sides of actual barns, but more homeowners are attending barnyard quilting classes to create a stunning home décor piece.
Affinity for Quilts’ owner Diana Wendorf contracts the barnyard quilt class with Aryn Lill of The Blue Fox. Wendorf notes that she was interested because of “the fact it was quilting and it was something different. Her classes has done very well here.”
“I’ve been teaching there for about five years,” Lill says. “I’d say about 95% of people that leave love what they did.” Lill feels that, comparatively; traditional painting classes provide an experience: “They’ll be like, ‘Oh, that was fun,’ but they are not gonna hang up their picture with [barnyard quilts],
people hang them up.”
Lill first heard about barnyard quilts eight years ago, when she was teaching an acrylic painting class. “I started going on Pinterest, and then I was like, ‘Should I make instructions for these?’ I get this process. I instruct people,” Lill remembers. “It just kind of fell into place for me. And I don’t quilt at all.”
Barnyard quilts, according to Lill, can be done by quilters who don’t paint, painters who don’t quilt and everyone in between. There is, however, one unexpected skill students use: geometry. Lill always gets a kick out of her students’ reactions: “‘I have to use a ruler?’ ‘I have to measure?’” This is one aspect that connects all types of quilting, Wendorf believes, reasoning, “Well, there’s a lot of math involved in any squares that you do of quilting. You know, your specialty rulers and things like that.”
Another similarity Lill has with the other class instructors at Affinity for Quilts is a desire to continue creating outside the classroom. Lill’s illustrations, for instance, can be seen this fall at the Minnesota Zoo’s Jack-oLantern Spectacular. “I love teaching,” Lill says. “But I also love just being an artist. I think it’s kind of ridiculous to think of a teacher as teaching 24/7. You have to keep learning and growing to be a good teacher.”
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4 Deuces Saloon brims with activity
By Logan Gion
With an address like 2222 4th Street, the name “4 Deuces” was obvious to Terry Kellerman. The co-owner—along with his wife, Ann—of Kellerman Event Center and The Alchemist had the title sloshing around in his head long before Big Wood Brewery moved locations.
“I was going to name The Alchemist 4 Deuces, but some friends of mine were all telling me ‘no, it sounds like a cowboy thing,’” explains Terry Kellerman. Events Manager Kristin Cranmer adds, “We were going on like 4 Deuces Bar,” she frowns, her hand flopping on the table, “whereas ‘Saloon’ kept the vibe of the character and coolness of this building that [Kellerman] has already created.”
Kellerman informs, “This building was built in 1906— really, the last year of the cowboys.”
Stepping into 4 Deuces Saloon, one feels like they’ve left White Bear Lake behind— or, at least, rewound the clock a century. Winding pipes, cellar-like rooms, and an enormous hobbit door make patrons feel like they’ve discovered a hideaway. A lush, alleyway garden outside only adds to the effect. Kellerman calls the atmosphere “elevated rustic,” aiming to attract those who’ve been too intimidated to try The Alchemist.
“The biggest complaint that I hear from locals, is that The Alchemist is… so snooty type feel. And the saloon is the opposite of that,” he explains. Leaning into that welcoming feel, 4 Deuces Saloon isn’t just a taproom—though they have a sturdy selection of beers.
“Full liquor license, all spirits,” Kellerman states. “We
have some specialty drinks on our menu, like our Blackberry Smash Margarita. Hugely popular,” Cranmer expands.
“We have a Coke fountain system. Currently, we have pizzas, charcuterie, hummus, spinach dip, buffalo dip.”
One would think these fullservice options the biggest draws since 4 Deuces Saloon opened (on 4/2/24, naturally), but Cranmer believes a cultural shift has taken place.
“In my opinion, the days of the general public sitting at a bar and just hanging out, drinking, are not what they were. People need a reason to come,” informs Cranmer. “So let’s give them a reason to come.” Thus, 4 Deuces Saloon recently hosted a cowboy-hatmaking bar.
“It was a great time,” Cranmer reports, “We had people from White Bear, Forest Lake, all the surrounding communities. What was nice, based on their feedback, was that this was the first one that was this far west.” As Cranmer shows of her sage-colored flat brim, she explains. “So they start you with a hat, and then you style it and age it how you want to. There’s cowboy, there’s fedora. There’s all these different styles. My friend and I are going to see Hootie and the Blowfish tomorrow night, and I’m wearing mine.”
Cranmer boasts that, in addition to another hatmaking bar this November, 4 Deuces Saloon has plenty of other events and live music coming this fall. Ultimately, Kellerman hopes the community members “feel at home. When you walk in that door and come down those stairs, it is totally like, ‘Cheers.’ Going into the basement bar.”
Paul Dols | SaVour Magazine
KristenCranmer | Contributed
Apple Varieties
By Logan Gion | Photo by Shelli Ellis
Late Summer/Early Fall
Akane (Tokyo Rose)
Pronounced ah-KHAN-eh, this late summer apple is all about balance. Perfect sweet-tart flavor and juicy with firm skin, the Akane is the ideal picnic apple if you have plenty of napkins on hand. The light, refreshing feel invites consumers to eat multiple in one sitting. It’s only drawback is short storage life.
Fall
Honeycrisp
University of Minnesota’s most prized invention and the official state fruit of Minnesota, Honeycrisp is ready to harvest midSeptember. It easily stores in a fridge for months and its scientifically designed to have plump cells, meaning every bite is juicy and pressurized, giving this variety its satisfying crunch. Put them in a pie, a jam, a lunchbox—it doesn’t matter. Honeycrisp always delivers.
Duchess (of Oldenburg)
A Russian heirloom apple from a tree that thrives in cold climates, the Duchess variety reigns supreme over pies and tarts. Its goldenrod, aromatic flesh makes for the quintessential homemade baking experience.
Paula Red
Often described as a bridge between summer and fall, this variety of apple is tart yet reminds some of strawberries. While they can be eaten fresh, they quickly become mealy. As such, the Paula Red is the go-to for canning, sauces and ciders. Extremely soft when cooked, so not good with pies.
Zestar
This University of Minnesota apple was bred to be like Honeycrisp, but harvested early in the season. While the crispiness is the same, the Zestar has a tangy flavor. When baked, the taste becomes tart with notes of brown sugar. It stores well for at least a month.
SweeTango
SweeTango is a cross between Honeycrisp and Zestar. Its citrus profile makes it perfect for cider, but many tasters believe that’s a waste of its talents. SweeTango is the ultimate fall snack. Its not as large as Honeycrisp, yet retains all the sweet juiciness its parent is known for. SweeTango also adds a delightfully tart bite. While it doesn’t store as long as Honeycrisp, SweeTango dances away with the top spot during September and October.
Late Fall/Early Winter
Regent
An airy surprise, the Regent flits between light, sweet and fruity. Its crisp, crackling body makes for delightful snacking. Its flavor and shape stay firm after cooking, making for a honeyed pie flavor. Its hardy stock also makes it ideal to store well into winter.
Snowsweet
The University of Minnesota’s hybrid between Sharon and Cornell Red, SnowSweet is a late-season treat. Savory and buttery, this apple is perfect for holiday dishes, especially salads. Its thick white slices are slow to brown and stay crisp, giving it high aesthetic value.
Chestnut Crab
This crab apple is on the larger side, which qualifies it for fresh-eating. Its flavor is surprisingly nutty, which makes it a satisfying snack to bring along on a hiking or fishing trip. Its unexpected taste makes it a secret ingredient for many an applesauce, butter or jelly.
Virginia Crab
One of the few apple varieties included that’s not recommended as a snack. The American heirloom apple has been used for centuries to make dry cider. Its eye popping pink and green exterior adds visual points to any dish, and it pairs well with sausage, mushroom or nutty dishes.
Honey Gold
Haralson and Golden Delicious were the parents of this super sweet variety. True to its title, Honey Gold is bright yellow or golden red in color. Passersby might even mistake this variety for a pear, then be even more confused when sampling this apple’s pearlike flavor. Unlike pears, however, the Honey Gold stores well for up to three months.
Fireside
Striped orange and yellow, Fireside apples were first grown during the 1940s, likely named after President Roosevelt’s “Fireside Chats.” Minnesota bred, the Fireside apple grows large and keeps when stored. Its sugary-sweet flavor is great when eaten fresh, but its juiciness lends itself well to sauces and cider.
Easier-ThanApple-Pie Tarts
Servings: 4 people
Ingredients
• 1/2 pkg. (1 sheet) frozen puff pastry
• 2 tart baking apples (such as Honeycrisp), peeled, cored and sliced 1/4 " thick
• 3 tbsp. Kowalski’s Unsalted Butter, melted
• 4 tbsp. sugar
• Kowalski’s Signature Vanilla Ice Cream, for serving (optional)
• Kowalski’s Classic Caramel Sauce, warmed, for serving (optional)
Directions
1. Let pastry sheet sit at room temperature for about 30 min. until it can just be unfolded without breaking (the pastry should stay as cold as possible); unfold and cut into 4 pieces.
2. Preheat oven to 400°.
3. Place pieces of pastry at least 1 " apart on a rimmed baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
4. 4. Place overlapping slices of apple on the pastry, leaving a 1/2 " border around the edges; brush apples evenly with butter.
5. Sprinkle each piece of pastry with 1 tbsp. of sugar.
6. Bake in a preheated 400° oven until pastry is dark golden-brown on the edges and apples are tender and starting to darken (about 40 min.).
7. Remove from oven; cool on pan for 2 min.
8. Move tarts to a wire rack; cool for at least 10 min.
9. Serve with ice cream and a drizzle of caramel sauce to taste
Find It!
Find Kowalski’s Classic Caramel Sauce near the ice cream toppings.
Recipe provided by Kowalski’s Markets
What’s happening
presspubs.com/savour
STILLWATER
Trolley Tours
When: 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. daily through Oct. 26
Where: 400 E. Nelson Street
Details: Our 45-minute narrated tour will take you on a journey as Stillwater evolved from a booming lumber town full of beautiful old Victorian Mansions to “One of the prettiest little towns in America.”
Contact: 651-430-0352 or stillwater. trolley@gmail.com
Rooftop Yoga
When: 8:30 a.m. Every Thursday in September
Where: The Miller, 200 Chestnut St. E., Suite 402
Details: Whether you’re a seasoned yogi or a beginner, this event is perfect for all levels. Enjoy the fresh air and stunning views as you flow through your practice. Don’t forget to bring your mat and water bottle.
Contact: 612-799-1861 or liveyourtruthyoga@gmail.com
Murder Mystery Dinner Theater
When: 6:30-9 p.m. Saturday, Sept.14; Saturday, Oct. 19; Saturday, Nov. 2; Saturday, Nov. 23
Where: Stillwater Events Center, 1910 Greeley St. S.
Details: A night of mystery and intrigue where anyone could be the killer, even you! Put your sleuthing skills to the test as you examine clues and mingle with suspects, all while enjoying a delectable three-course meal. But beware – you might find yourself a suspect in this gripping tale.
Contact: 888-659-2952 or www. murdermysteryco.com/dinner-theater/ minneapolis/
Sheep to Something
When: 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 28; 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 29
Where: Darn Knit Anyway, 423 S. Main St. Details: A team competition that follows the fleece of a sheep to its end product. Teams prep, spin and knit/crochet/weave something all in one day! We’ll have a marketplace both days with farmers and shepherds from the area with local yarn and fiber.
Contact: 651-342-1368 or info@ darnknitanyway.com
Inaugural Log Run Half Marathon
When: 8 a.m.- noon Saturday, Sept. 21
Where: Lowell Park, 201 Water St. N. Details: Plans include bringing the finish line back into downtown Stillwater for the first time since 2015. Mostly downhill race gently descending into historic Stillwater. It’s been known as one of the fastest courses around. See the website for event details and registration information. Contact: 651-504-4044 or www. runstillwater.com/st-croix-crossing
Rivertown Fall Art Festival
When: 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 5 & Sunday, Oct. 6
Where: Lowell Park, 201 Water St.
Details: Hosted by the Greater Stillwater Chamber of Commerce. Over 160 artisans showcased. The event also offers a beer and wine tent, food, live music and entertainment.
Contact: 651-439-4001
Harvest Fest
When: 10 a.m.- 6 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 12 & Sunday, Oct. 13
Where: Lowell Park, 201 Water St.
Details: Giant pumpkin weigh off, live music, beer and wine garden, vendor market and more.
Contact: www.harvestfeststillwater.com
Stillwater Fall Craft and Gift Show
When: 10 a.m.- 4 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 19
Where: Stillwater High School, 5701 Stillwater Blvd. N.
Details: Over 160 crafters and vendors at this popular show. Food truck, coffee truck and kettle corn on site. Contact: 715-557-1785 or info@ rsgdevelopment.com
MAHTOMEDI
Express Concert: Vivaldi’s “The Four Seasons”
When: 3-4 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 29
Where: St. Andrew’s Lutheran Church, 900 Stillwater Road
Details: St. Paul Chamber Orchestra
Principal Violin Kyu-Young Kim takes center stage in this Baroque Express Concert. This concert features Antonio
Vivaldi’s original “Four Seasons,” a collection of four violin concertos first composed 300 years ago, each movement named for one of the four seasons of the year. Tickets are free.
Contact: 651-291-1144 or content. thespco.org/events/upcoming/
Comedi in Mahtomedi
When: 7:30-9 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 3 and Thursday, Nov. 7
Where: Dugout Bar, 96 Mahtomedi Ave.
Details: Free stand-up comedy show in downtown Mahtomedi! Stay for awesome food, a beer, or your favorite drink! Contact: 651-440-9128
WHITE BEAR LAKE
Beginner Quilt Making Class
When: 6-9 p.m. Tuesdays, Sept. 17, Oct. 1, and Oct. 15
Where: Affinity For Quilts, 2199 Fourth St. Details: Join us for our three-part class to learn the very basics of quilt making. Learn how to use the rotary cutter, cutting mat, basic quilt ruler, reading a quilt pattern while creating the Star Light quilt top. A straight-stitch sewing machine is required.
Contact: 651-429-1039 or quilt@ affinityforquilts.com
Perfect Pairings Night
When: 6-8 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 19
Where: 4 Deuces Saloon, 2222 Fourth St. Details: Christine, a local dairy farmer, will share her passion for artisan cheese by hand selecting meats and cheeses to pair with our selections of beer and wine flights. A personal sized charcuterie board is included in the ticket price. Must be 21 or older to participate.
Contact: 651-429-9286 or kristen@ kellermaneventcenter.com
Scarecrow Stroll
When: 10-5 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 26 through Saturday, Sept. 28
Where: 4779 Washington Ave.
Details: The Scarecrow Stroll is a fun way to get into the feels of Fall. Stroll the shops and businesses of Downtown White Bear Lake and check out the amazing scarecrows. Pay attention as you will get to vote for your favorites!
Contact: downtownwhitebearlake.com
What’s happening
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Run and Walk for the Apples
When: 8 a.m.-noon Saturday, Oct. 19
Where: Pine Tree Apple Orchard, 450 Apple Orchard Road
Details: The five-mile race and 1/3-mile kids’ fun run boast trails through the apple orchard, strawberry fields and pumpkin patch. The footing varies from gravel to pavement. No pets or strollers may enter the race.
Contact: 651-440-9625 or customerservice@midwestevents.com
Ladies of the Lake Quilting Show
When: Noon-4 p.m. Oct. 19-20, 26-27
Where: Pine Tree Apple Orchard, 450 Apple Orchard Road
Details: Ladies of the Lake Quilting Society meets weekly at Redeemer Lutheran Church in White Bear Lake. See the many beautiful quilts they’ve made over the past year.
Contact: madquilter7@comcast.net
WBCA Fall Community Day
When: 1-3 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 26
Where: White Bear Center for the Arts, 4971 Long Ave.
Details: Join WBCA for an afternoon of fall-themed fun with live music, a pumpkin carving contest, make-and-take art projects, and more. Costumes are welcome! This is a free event.
Contact: 651-407-0597 or wbca@ whitebeararts.org
Gangster Bus Tour
When: 10 a.m.-2 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 26
Where: White Bear Lake Armory, 2228 Fourth St.
Details: Come along for an adventurous outing to explore the hideouts and haunts of the 1930s-era gangsters who laid low in the cottages around White Bear and Bald Eagle Lakes. Sights include a Mahtomedi speakeasy and the location of a notorious dance club.
Contact: 651-407-5327 or whitebearhistory.org
Holiday Survival Party
When: 6:45-8 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 6
Where: The Alchemist, 2222 Fourth St.
Details: Your ultimate guide to conquering the festive frenzy with your sanity intact, led by life coach Jodi Dehn,
this party teaches you stress-busting strategies, event mastery, and familydynamics navigation. Turn the most chaotic time of the year into the most wonderful time of the year.
Contact: 651-429-9286 or kristen@ kellermaneventcenter.com
Barn Quilt Painting Class with The Blue Fox
When: 1-4 p.m., Saturday, Nov. 9
Where: Affinity For Quilts, 2199 Fourth St.
Details: Create your own unique 14-by14-inch barn quilt design on reclaimed barn wood! Locally sourced, carefully selected, sanded and assembled. Choose from nine beautiful designs! Pick your own color scheme, relax and paint. Class space is limited.
Contact: 651-429-1039 or quilt@ affinityforquilts.com
Hat Making Bar
When: 6-8 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 14
Where: 4 Deuces Saloon, 2222 Fourth St. Details: Grab your friends and unleash your inner fashion designer as you create your very own custom hats. No experience necessary—our expert instructors will guide you every step of the way. Get crafty and have a great time! Tickets available online.
Contact: 651-429-9286 or kristen@ kellermaneventcenter.com
Evergreen Wreath Making Day
When: 6:30-8:30 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 14 Where: Stonehouse Kitchen, 4466 Centerville Road
Details: Get ready for the holidays with this evergreen wreath decorating class along with holiday cocktail (or mocktail) ideas and small bites. There will be a guided wreath instruction from T & Nae using dried florals and holiday baubles. Contact: 651-407-0597 or wbca@ whitebeararts.org
WHITE BEAR TOWNSHIP
Township Day Celebration
When: 2-8 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 21
Where: Polar Lakes Park, 1280 Hammond Road
Details: The day is filled with familyfriendly activities including live music, community demonstrations, a vendor
market, a car show, BINGO and more! Food and refreshments are available for purchase at the VFW Beer Gardens and from various food trucks. Free admission and parking.
Contact: 651-747-2750 or adminoffices@ whitebeartownship.org
SHOREVIEW
North Oaks 25th Annual Rummage Sale
When: 7 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 14; 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 15
Where: Shoreview Ice Arena, 877 Highway 96 W.
Details: This Rummage Sale is organized and presented by the North Oaks Guild II. Community members are able to buy quality items at a great price and proceeds go to fund programs at Children’s Minnesota. For safety reasons, no strollers allowed.
Contact: northoaksrummagesale.org
Touch a Truck
When: 9 a.m.-noon Saturday, Oct. 5
Where: Shoreview Community Center
Lower Level Parking Lot, 4600 Victoria St. N.
Details: Come check out all the big trucks used throughout the city. This is your chance to hop in the driver’s seat of a snowplow, dump truck and more. Don’t forget your camera!
Contact: 651-490-4700
Boo Bash
When: 3-6:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 26; Register by Oct. 23
Where: McCullough Park, 955 County Road I W.
Details: Come join us for a family friendly event filled with spooky fun! Put on your best costume and enjoy trick-or-treating along the spooky trail walk, hayrides, music and bonfire with build-your-own s’mores. Registration is required for anyone attending the event over the age of one.
Contact: 651-490-4600
What’s happening
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BLAINE
WorldFest
When: 1-6 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 14
Where: Tom Ryan Park, 10802 Town Square Dr. NE
Details: This event is a great opportunity for the city to recognize and share its growing cultural and ethnic diversity. Bring the entire family and learn about different cultures through a variety of entertainment and festivities. Contact: 763-784-6700 or blainemn. gov/1239/Blaine-World-Fest
Charcuterie Workshop
When: 6-8 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 25
Where: The Rusty Bumblebee, 10950 Club W. Parkway NE, Suite 160
Details: Learn the art of creating a beautiful charcuterie board in this fun, hands-on workshop! You will learn selection ideas, meat-folding techniques, cheese styling and so much more. The
Scarecrow Trail
When: Sunrise to sunset, Thursday, Oct. 24-Friday, Nov. 1
Where: Community Park, 641 E. County Road F
Details: Local businesses, organizations, and residents will install scarecrow creations along the trail at Community Park. Stop out any time to view the entries, then come back here to vote for your favorite! The trail is free and open to the public during park hours.
Contact: 651-204-6060
Halloween Party
When: 5-7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 25
Where: Community Park, 641 E. County Road F
Details: Put on your favorite costume, and join us for a party under the lights! We’ll kick off with a costume parade through the Scarecrow Trail. Contact: 651-204-6000
Details: Local artists and makers, live music, food, wine and beer garden and more.
Contact: exploreafton.com/art-in-thepark
Derby Days
BAYPORT
When: Friday and Saturday, Sept. 20-21
Where: Bayport
Details: Fun filled days of events all across the town of Bayport. Weekend includes live music, food trucks, outdoor games and a duck race.
Contact: bcal55003@gmail.com
HUDSON
Fall Craft and Vendor Show
When: 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 12
Where: Hudson High School, 1501 Vine St.
Details: Get ready for fall and the holiday season by shopping at various crafter and vendors booth.
Contact: 715-557-1785 or info@
Apple Orchards
Pine Tree Apple Orchard
When: 10-4 p.m. Tuesdays-Saturdays
Where: 450 Apple Orchard Rd., White Bear Lake Contact: 651-429-7202 or pinetreeappleorchard.com
Aamodt’s Apple Farm
When: 10-6 p.m. Daily
Where: 6428 Manning Avenue, Stillwater Contact: 651-439-3127 or aamodtsapplefarm.com/
Applecrest Orchards
When: 4-7 p.m. Wednesday – Friday; 10 a.m.-6 p.m. weekends
Where: 7306 24th Ave. N., Hugo Contact: 651-583-5209
Afton Apple
When: 10-6 p.m. Daily
Where: 14421 90th St. S., Hastings Contact: 651-436-8385 or aftonapple.com
Rising Sun Farm and Orchard
When: 10-4 p.m. Saturdays-Sundays Through October
Where: W7901 830th Ave., River Falls, WI Contact: 715-410-8101 or risingsunfarmandorchard.com
Sunnybrook Apple Orchard
When: 10-4 p.m. Wednesdays-Sundays
Where: 9085 Jeffrey Blvd N, Stillwater Contact: 651-432-4866 or sunnybrookappleorchard.com
Sunrise River Farm
When: 10-6 p.m. Daily
Where: 7602 Wyoming Trail, Wyoming Contact: 651-462-8220 or sunriseriverfarm.com
Whistling Well Farm
When: 9-6 p.m. Daily until November 9 Where: 8973 St Croix Trail S., Hastings Contact: 651-998-0301 or whistlingwellfarm.com
Shelli Ellis | Contributed
Favorite Fall Salad
Servings: 8 people
Ingredients
• 9 oz. Revol Greens Romaine Crunch Salad Blend
• Apple Butter Dressing, to taste
• 1 SweeTango apple, cored and diced (peeled, if desired)
• 1 1/2 cups halved seedless red grapes
• 4 oz. blue cheese (such as Shepherd’s Way Farms Big Wood Blue), crumbled
• 1/4 cup roasted and salted pepitas
• 1/4 cup fresh pomegranate seeds
• 6-8 slices Kowalski’s Bacon, cooked crisp and crumbled, to taste
• 12 oz. butternut squash cubes, roasted
• 4 eggs, hard-boiled and quartered
• 12 oz. Boar’s Head Ovengold Roasted Turkey Breast, in 1/2 " dice
Directions
1. Chop lettuce, then wash in ice-cold water; drain thoroughly in a salad spinner until very dry.
2. Toss greens with dressing to taste in a large salad or mixing bowl.
3. Top salad with remaining ingredients; drizzle with additional dressing to taste.
Apple Butter Dressing
In a medium mixing bowl, whisk together 2 tbsp. Kowalski’s Apple Butter, 2 tbsp. apple cider vinegar, 2 tsp. Kowalski’s Pure Maple Syrup, 1 tsp. very finely minced fresh shallots and 1/2 tsp. Dijon mustard. Drizzle in 2 tbsp. Kowalski’s Extra Virgin Olive Oil very slowly, whisking constantly to form an emulsion. Season to taste with kosher salt and freshly ground Kowalski’s Black Peppercorns. Makes about 1/3 cup.
Recipe provided by Kowalski’s Markets
