by madeline-kopiecki | Dec 6, 2023 | Outdoors, Sports, Wellness
Stay active this winter with outdoor programming in Prior Lake. It’s easy to get a little stir crazy in January, but there’s an easy escape from cabin fever in the Prior Lake area. Three Rivers Park District is offering a smörgåsbord of outdoor activities at Cleary...
by madeline-kopiecki | Dec 5, 2023 | Outdoors, Sports
Gear up to explore the great outdoors this winter with Dakota County parks programming. Cold temperatures don’t keep Minnesotans cooped up, and Dakota County is giving Eagan residents and visitors a few more opportunities to hit the trails this winter. New Year’s Eve...
by Liz Potasek | Dec 1, 2023 | Featured
I always go into the holiday season with a concrete gift-giving plan for my three kids. I try to buy each of them one thing they want, something they need, an item to wear and a book to read. But there are a few shops that test my discipline when it comes to following...
by Josie Smith | Dec 1, 2023 | Featured, Local Makers
Lisa Haggstrom continues her mother and grandmother’s food tradition. Some of our most cherished memories of the holiday season come from gathering around the table with family and friends. Apple Valley resident Lisa Haggstrom of Cookies and More by Lisa remembers the...
by Daniel Huss | Dec 1, 2023 | Gift Guides, Shops
Whimzy stocks a curated collection of toys that kids come back to again and again. It’s not a huge space, but it still takes a couple laps to take in all the treasures that are displayed with care at Whimzy toy store in Lakeville. There’s the sweet reading corner,...
by liz-potasek | Dec 1, 2023 | Drinks, Noteworthy, Recipes
Some people made sourdough during the pandemic. Eagan resident Jeff Roslund, co-founder of Dapper Barons Spirits, made batch after batch of liqueur, trying to remove the sugar while maintaining the sweetness and flavor that make liqueurs a critical component of many...
by Liz Potasek | Dec 1, 2023 | Wellness
Short, dark days plus holidays can lead to difficult feelings; try these pro tips to lighten your mood. Every year in March and April, Kristy Brecke and Lisa Jensen see an uptick in referrals at their talk therapy and massage therapy practice in Eagan. But it’s not...
by Liz Potasek | Dec 1, 2023 | Giving Back, Noteworthy
What was once a family joke—Grandma Lucy’s annual Christmas gift of socks and underwear—became a call to action for one Eagan family. After Grandma Lucy passed away in 2000, family members began bringing socks and underwear to Christmas and donating them to nonprofit...
by Renée Stewart-Hester | Dec 1, 2023 | Entertain, Featured, Local Makers, Outdoors, Sports
Think outside the (gift) box when planning holiday experiences. When visitors come to town over the holidays, hosts can be hard-pressed when it comes to planning “things to do.” And a similar situation can be had when adult children return home for the holidays. While...
by editorial-staff | Dec 1, 2023 | Best of Cities South
… to a collective celebration for the Apple Valley, Eagan, Lakeville and Prior Lake communities and their local businesses and providers that continue to serve and support us in a host of categories. What’s the best way to honor your favorite dining spots, hometown...
by Jennifer Pitterle | Dec 1, 2023 | Featured, Pets, Wellness
A South Metro equine therapy organization serves first responders and military personnel, using the power of animal empathy to heal trauma. Editor’s Note: This story includes mentions of disordered eating and suicide. Lakeville resident Taber Akin usually has a lot on...
by Macy Berendsen | Dec 1, 2023 | Arts
The Twin Cities Ballet offers an updated, distinctly Minnesota twist on the classic ballet with a sensory-friendly performance. Remember that scene in the Nutcracker ballet when Mother Ginger comes out with a bunch of clownish children dancing out from under her...
by Liz Potasek | Dec 1, 2023 | Outdoors, Sports
The Cleary Lake Winter Trailhead provides a great opportunity to explore winter sports. Once there’s enough snow on the ground, the golf course at Cleary Lake Regional Park in Prior Lake becomes a multi-use winter trail, offering an ideal place for snowshoeing,...
by Stacy Price | Dec 1, 2023 | Book Club, Noteworthy
Cultish: The Language of Fanaticism by Amanda Montell What causes people to join groups with dangerous or troublesome outcomes? Author Amanda Montell argues that it is the power of language through words, phrases and mantras that are used not only in “cultish” groups...
by Rachel Schuehle | Dec 1, 2023 | Giving Back, People
Sanya Pirani has spent her childhood giving back to other children. At age 7, Sanya Pirani knew what she wanted to do with her life: help others. “It’s always been my dream,” she says. “I was immersed in philanthropy, volunteerism and charity at a young age.” Sanya...
