Mankato Living

MANKATO LIVING fall | 2018

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| CONTENTS

Modern Castle 6 // A RIVER RUNS THROUGH IT 8 // LIFE IN THE BIG GREEN VALLEY 11 // SHOPPING FOR THAT PERFECT SOMETHING 12 // LOCAL EDUCATION 14 // ALIGNING COSTS AND EXPECTATIONS 16 // ITALIAN BRUSCHETTA 20 // SAVOR 22 // MODERN CASTLE

28 // BUILDING A CUSTOM HOME 30 // MEET THE DEICHMAN TEAM 31 // BUILDING THE DEICHMAN WAY 32 // CHEERS 33 // TO BUY OR TO BUILD 34 // BUILDING THE HOME YOU WANT 38 // THE ART OF DOWNTOWN

TOUR OF HOMES 2018 All proceeds collected from admission to the Dream Home on the Tour of Homes 2018 will be donated to the Young Life Foundation. Young Life is an organization focused on raising future leaders through mentoring, activities and service learning. Children from all backgrounds are welcomed throughout their adolescence to make healthy, productive choices, embracing faith and preparing to become responsible, compassionate adults. More information can be found at www.greatermankato.younglife.org

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22

Building a Custom Home

28

5 MANKATO LIVING

River A

runs through

While you won’t find the barges and steamboats of yesteryear moored in downtown Mankato, you will find “Bent River Outfitters” a river guide and equipment rental company that specializes in getting locals and visitors alike out to kayak, canoe and paddleboard the scores of rivers which converge locally. On a sunny summer day, you’ll find dozens of paddlers and inner tubers f loating their way down the scenic waterways of the Blue Earth river from Rapidan Dam, all the way to the Blue Earth’s junction with the Minnesota. Eagles, herons, hawks and deer are common sights for the observant paddler. Getting out on the plentiful rivers and lakes of Southern Minnesota is a wonderful way to have fun, cool down and enjoy the scenery of the waterways that define the local landscape.

Minneopa State park, just west of Mankato, is centered around a roaring waterfall, acres of native prairie and features a growing herd of Bison that roams the open range of the prairie. There are excellent hiking trails, birdwatching, picnic shelters and camping to be found around the area.

it

Mankato sits astride a conf luence of hiking and bicycle trails that makes up a network stretching over hundreds of miles. These well-maintained

trails take walkers, runners and bicyclists through deep forest, along open prairie, over streams, rivers and around serene lakes. In the winter months, many stretches of trail are groomed, making them ideal for cross country skiing or snowshoeing.

For the downhill skier or snowboarder in the family, Mount Kato, just south of town, has 19 trails and 55 acres of snow-riding fun, including multiple terrain parks and a snow tubing area. Mount Kato has an active ski school for beginners and a competitive youth ski team for the racers in your family. During the summer months, the recreation area sports a network of mountain biking trails and holds racing events of the twowheeled variety.

There are five excellent golf courses within a 20 minute drive of the City Center, including the Minneopa Golf Club, North Links Golf Course, Mankato Golf Club, Terrace View Golf Course and the Prairie Ridge Golf Course. If your game gets truly up to par, the Hazeltine National Golf Club, which has played host to multiple PGA championships and US Open Tournaments, is just a 45 minute drive up highway 169, in Chaska, MN.

7 MANKATO LIVING

life in the

big green

valley

T

housands of years ago, in the final days of the last ice age, an ancient inland body of water, Lake Agassiz, formed around the area currently known as the Red River Valley.

Over thousands of years of glacial melt, this massive lake rose, the waters reaching depths of 600ft in some places, until one day, some 10,000 years ago, when the waters overtopped the glacial lip that had been holding them back and sent millions of gallons of water rushing down toward what is now southern Minnesota.

This torrent is known to geologists as the River Warren and where it cut its course, it left a river valley 5 miles wide and 250 feet deep, in the midst of what is now prairie, woodland and some of the most fertile farmland in the world.

The River Warren receded and what was left in its stead is the Minnesota River.

At the time of the River Warren, ancient big game hunters already occupied the area. The descendants of these hunters became the Dakota and Ojibwe tribes, which are still active communities across Minnesota. When Europeans arrived on the banks of the Minnesota river, they were welcomed by rich soil, plentiful fresh water and a climate very familiar to many of the Norwegian, Swedish and German immigrants who found their way there. Mankato, situated at the sharp bend in the Minnesota river, swiftly became a regional hub for travel and commerce. Riverboats and railways were instrumental in building Mankato into a center for farming, milling, manufacturing and trade. Today, Mankato’s location, just a short drive from the Twin Cities, has allowed the city to maintain its small town feel while developing its own great mix of arts, culture, entertainment, dining and recreation.

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Young Life doesn’t wait for kids to clean up, grow up or show up. Young Life goes to them, crossing barriers to build bridges of authentic friendship. We enter their world with no expectation of who kids should be, but with every hope for who they can become. Our leaders learn kids names and hear their stories. They dig through the hard dirt of disappointment or discouragement, when kids suffer set-backs or devastating news. In the process, kids begin to realize, “This Young Life leader won’t give up on me. I must be important.”

Offering weekly Club events, world-class summer camp adventures, and committed mentors. We serve Junior High, Senior High and College adolescents. Club — the best night of a kid’s week. Camp — the best week of their life; or just the invitation to spend time with a leader who has become their friend. We do what we do because we believe the heart of our message is so important — God loves each and every adolescent and we think it’s important for them to know it.

Young Life Greater Mankato Travis Bowen, Area Director 507-995-1741 | www.greatermankato.younglife.org

SHOPPING FOR THAT

SPECIAL SOMETHING

Graif Clothing Graif ’s Clothing opened in 1924 and for 90 years has been an anchor presence in Mankato. Graif ’s offers designer clothes with personalized service and tailoring for men and women who want to look their best and stay on the cutting edge of fashion. The perfect place to go for that new suit or dress, Graif ’s can handle everything from the cuff links to the shoes.

Creekside Boutique

Creekside Boutique specializes in designer women’s clothing, handbags, shoes and accessories. Choose from the best of distinctive fashions in a comfortable atmosphere, with an individualized touch. Drop into the store or schedule an appointment to get a true concierge shopping experience.

Salvage Sisters Salvage Sisters, located in historic Old Town, is the place to go to find truly one of a kind furniture, gifts, handmade goods and home décor. Founded in 2012, Salvage Sisters specializes in restyling classic furniture in modern colors—they also offer full service interior decorator consultations.

Local Education

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he Greater Mankato area offers premier educational opportunities from preschool to higher education.

Greater Mankato’s colleges, universities, private schools and public school system all offer a high degree of learning excellence and a commitment to a lifetime of learning.

Mankato’s public school system, which currently ranks in the top 17% in the nation, offers 10 elementary schools (Grades K-5), 2 middle schools (6-8) and 4 high schools (9-12). The Mankato Area Public School System (MAPS) educates over

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8,000 students a year and focuses on having them all college and career ready. In addition to the public schools Mankato also offers a large variety of Charter and Parochial Schools adding diversity to the educational landscape.

The Mankato area is also home to many outstanding colleges and universities including the Minnesota State University, Mankato which has over 16,000 students from all over the world. The University, founded in 1868, offers 130 major and 85 after grad programs in a variety of subjects.

Mankato Area Schools ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS

Roosevelt Elementary School

Central Freedom School

Risen Savior Lutheran School

300 W. 6th St.

110 Fulton St.

502 West 7th St.

Bridges Community School

Mankato Mn. 56001

Mankato, Mn. 56001

Mankato, Mn. 56001

320 Garfield Ave.

507.345.4285

507.387.3047

507.388.6624

Rosa Parks Elementary School

East High School

Grace Lutheran School

1001 Heron Dr.

2600 Hoffman Rd.

600 Lind St.

Eagle Lake Elementary School

Mankato Mn. 56001

Mankato, Mn. 56001

Mankato, Mn.56001

500 Le Sueur Ave.

507.387.7672

507.387.5671

507.388.9355

Washington Elementary School

West High School

Kato Public Charter School

1100 Anderson Dr.

1351 S. Riverfront Dr.

110 N. 6th St.

Franklin Elementary School

Mankato, Mn. 56001

Mankato, Mn. 56001

Mankato, Mn. 56001

1000 N. Board St.

507.345.3059

507.387.3461

507.387.5524

MIDDLE AND JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOLS

CHARTER AND PAROCHIAL SCHOOLS

COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES

Dakota Meadows Middle School

Loyola Catholic School

Bethany Lutheran College

1900 Howard Dr.

145 Good Counsel Dr.

700 Luther Dr.

North Mankato, Mn. 56003

Mankato, Mn. 56001

Mankato, Mn. 56001

507.387.5077

507.388.0600

507.344.7000

Prairie Winds Middle School

Good Shepherd Lutheran School

Minnesota State University, Mankato

2101 Lor Ray Dr.

122 Taylor Center

North Mankato, Mn. 56003

Mankato, Mn. 56001

507.388.4336

507.389.1822

Immanuel Lutheran School

Rasmussen College

1123 Marsh St.

1400 Madison Ave.

Mankato, Mn. 56001

Mankato, Mn. 56001

507.345.7927

507.625.6556

North Mankato, Mn. 56003 507.387.2800

Mankato Mn. 56001 507.257.3530

Mankato Mn. 56001 507.345.4287 Hoover Elementary School 1524 Hoover Dr. North Mankato, Mn. 56003 507.388.5202 Jefferson Elementary School 100 James Ave. Mankato Mn. 56001 507.388.5408 Kennedy Elementary School 2600 E. Main St. Mankato Mn. 56001 507.387.2122 Monroe Elementary School 441 Monroe Ave.

1200 Prairie Winds Dr. Mankato Mn. 56001 507.345.6625

HIGH SCHOOLS Central High School 110 Fulton St. Mankato, Mn. 56001 507.387.3047

Mount Olive Lutheran School

South Central College

North Mankato, Mn. 56003

1123 Marsh St.

1920 Lee Blvd.

507.387.7889

Mankato, Mn. 56001

North Mankato, Mn. 56003

507.345.7927

507.389.7200

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Aligning COSTS AND EXPECTATIONS

T

ransparency, trust and communication are at the core of the relationship between the Deichman team and their clients. “It’s our job to help our client’s make intelligent decisions,” Mark says, “we have to give them the tools so they can make the decisions that work for them and their budget.” Occasionally this means steering a client away from making a decision that doesn’t make sense. “We won’t let you make a mistake, without knowing you’re making a mistake.”

The team has a tried and true method for ensuring that clients are thinking about the right things when it comes to their building project. This approach identifies areas where a married couple, for example, might have differing expectations or tastes—the team will work to find commonality between the couple and make sure everyone is pulling in the same direction.

Three things need to be in alignment for any project: budget, size and amenities. Establishing a budget at the beginning of the process and adhering to it is part of the transparency that has gained Deichman Construction so many strong relationships with clients and subcontractors.

If a client wants to make decisions that will deviate from the budget, that is within their right, but Mark wants to be certain they’re making an informed decision. “If you want a $10,000 chandelier, as opposed to a $1,500 chandelier, that’s fine—but we want to make sure if you go with the $10,000 one, you’re getting $10,000 worth of enjoyment from it. If you aren’t, then it doesn’t make sense for you.”

Italian Bruschetta with chopped tomatoes and basil on grilled crusty bread •

1 1/2 pounds plum tomatoes, seeded and cut into small dice

•

1/4 cup chopped fresh basil

•

6 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, divided

•

2 tablespoons finely chopped red onion

•

2 large cloves garlic, minced

•

2 teaspoons red wine vinegar

•

Freshly ground black pepper to taste

•

Crushed Red Pepper Flakes

•

1 French baguette, cut into 1/2-inch thick slices

•

1 tablespoon high-quality balsamic vinegar, or to taste

1 2 3 4

Stir tomatoes, basil, 3 tablespoons olive oil, red onion, garlic, red wine vinegar, and pepper together in a bowl; let tomato mixture stand at room temperature for 15 minutes, then place in the refrigerator to marinate for 45 minutes.

Set oven rack about 6 inches from the heat source and preheat the oven’s broiler.

Brush one side of each slice of bread with remaining olive oil. Place bread slices, oiled-side-up, onto a baking sheet.

Broil until golden brown, about 2 minutes; remove from oven. Spoon tomato mixture evenly over the top of toasted bread slices; drizzle balsamic vinegar evenly over tomato mixture.

Serve immediately

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MODERN

CASTLE STORY BY COLIN CHAMBERS PHOTOS BY JORDAN POWERS PHOTOGRAPHY

D

riving the narrow gravel roads, winding their way through the wooded hillsides of the Minnesota river valley, a lost traveler could be forgiven for thinking they had somehow ended up in the French countryside. The Jones residence looks every bit the European country castle, complete with a stone turret crowned by crenellations. The house rises across a field and pasture, framed by a verdant forest of maple, oak and poplar. A tidy horse stable and pasture stands between the road and the main house, families of deer wander along the edges of the yard, picking at the grass.

The lady of the castle, Rachel, describes the inspiration behind this impressive home, “We both liked the Gothic, medieval style… and we were sci-fi geeks, we’re into Tolkien,” and they found the team to bring their dreams to life at Deichman Construction. From the two-story library nestled within the curved stone turret, to the Tudor styled latticework windows, to the broadsword and coats of arms hanging from the wall of the master bedroom, the house is full of touches designed to bring castle living into the 21st century.

With a drive through porte-cochere, a dining room that seats 18 around a massive custom built wooden table, an intricately carved fireplace, even a retractable ladder that drops down to allow access to the f lat roof-top observation deck. This house was built with majesty in mind.

Far from a drafty, echoing stone fortress however, the Jones house is full of life and the voices of children in excited play. Visitors will surely be greeted by the kids, spilling out of the impressive main entrance. The house feels lived in and alive, with special design elements aimed at giving the children a truly magical childhood.

The house features ample play rooms, an indoor basketball court and more unique additions like a secret

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It’s nice to be out in the quiet.

RACHEL JONES

area perched by a window on the second story of the library. The house is situated on a 10 acre yard, freeing up the family to run outside and play, enjoying the peace and beauty of nature.

“It’s nice to be out in the quiet,” Rachel says, “Have some space, have some privacy. For the kids it’s really nice—they can go outside and play and they don’t have to worry about anything, they’re not by a busy road. The wildlife is beautiful. You’ll look in the back yard and there’ll be a big buck out there, the birds are beautiful, there’s big packs of wild turkeys. The kids love it. They love looking out the window and seeing that stuff.”

Rachel grew up in the Twin Cities area, her husband Tom is originally from Hurricane, West Virginia; they met during residency in Milwaukee and had a choice of where they wanted to go to build their lives together.

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So why Mankato? “We were originally looking in the cities but the market there for surgeons is heavily saturated, as with most metropolitan areas.

The hard part is, when you work as a physician in a big city you’re expected to work in multiple facilities, you’re taking calls on the weekends, you’re having to travel a lot from place to place, spending a lot of extra time away from your family. One of the great things about Mankato is when you’re here you work in just one or two different places, everything is in close proximity and when you want to go to the cities—when you want to eat at a fancy restaurant, go see a show, stay in a nice hotel, you’re only an hour away. At the same time, you still get the small community feel. Mankato is, in some ways, still a small community. When we go out someplace it’s rare that we don’t see someone we work with or a patient, or someone we know… You start to like that after a while. It’s nice. You know people and

they know you. There are a lot of nice things in this community; when people get sick, when people have trouble, everybody bands together and tries to help one another. That’s a great aspect of living in a place that’s a little bit smaller. ” The Joneses met Mark Deichman in 2011 and worked with Deichman Construction to do renovations to two previous properties before building their dream home. When the Joneses were touring homes, looking at several different properties in the area, they discovered that the ones they liked the most had something in common: they were all built by Deichman Construction. So, when it came time to begin looking for land to build on, they called Mark.

“He got back to us almost instantly, very responsive, he took us around to many different places, he really worked hard to help us find a place, when

somebody provides that kind of service for you when you haven’t even committed to build a house with him, that stands out. Tom always laughs and says the reason we went with Mark is that every time he saw a mechanical room in one of his houses they were perfectly organized. For me, it was different reasons. I was looking at the aesthetics. One thing I love about Mark: he provides excellent customer service. It’s the same with his guys—both Drew and John have been project managers at the house, they were wonderful.

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I really enjoyed working with Mark. He obviously makes a good product, but more than that, he stands behind it and provides great service for everything you need along the way—and his guys do too—I mean everybody that came through, overall it was a very good experience.”

At roughly 14,000 square feet, the house has space enough to accommodate anything the family would like to do. Rachel loves to entertain and recently held a fundraiser for a friend in the form of a medieval themed dinner party, complete with costumes, a harpist and a six-course meal for 18 guests around the dining room table. “I love being able to do things like that,” Rachel says, “You can do it when you have the space.”

In the future, Rachel plans on having many more events.

When she grew up her parents put on huge Easter egg hunts and Rachel envisions her own, inviting friends and family over for the occasion. “The house itself isn’t what makes the memory, it’s all the things you do with it and all the things you do in it.” That of course was part of the reason they decided to build when they did, a desire for their children to enjoy the house and make memories while they are still young. “I’m excited for them to live here for most of their lives.”

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BUILDING A CUSTOM HOME

When you visit a Deichman house, you will inevitably find a plaque installed in the concrete that identifies it as a house built

by Deichman Construction. The houses themselves are distinctive markers of the workmanship and unique results of the Deichman brand. A custom home should be unique and creative in its design and amenities and Mark specializes in drawing out the particular desires of each client. In the past, clients would often cut pictures out of magazines that fit their aesthetics. With the ubiquity of the internet clients can now find examples of almost anything online. As a result, the Deichman team has continued to evolve its solutions and get inventive to find a way to make client requests practical in their execution. Deichman encourages clients to use visual representations of their tastes, as not everyone is f luent in the art of architectural language. When a client finds an example of what they want, it falls to the Deichman team to make it a reality and they almost always rise to the occasion. This is a collaborative process from start to finish.

It’s important for home buyers to get out to the build site and feel the space during the build. This allows the client to ensure things are shaping up exactly how they want them to and to make any lastminute changes or additions before the process is finalized. When the time comes to place the windows in a house, the team will ensure that the clients have a chance to walk through, figure out what views they want are—then and only then will they finalize the order for the windows. “In the custom world, there’s a tremendous amount of owner input.”

So what’s the most unique design element the Deichman team has ever incorporated into a house? “It seems like every time we think we’ve seen it all, we see something else,” Mark says. There was the cabinet job that was so precise they needed to buy two logs from the Southern U.S. and ship them to Mankato just to make the plywood to construct the cabinetry. “Secret rooms” or rooms with disguised entries have become something of an informal trademark, which a lot of people ask for. At the Joneses house, during construction they asked if it would be possible to put an observation deck on the roof, “Our answer was, of course,” Mark says and adds again, “We’re not very good at saying no.” They re-engineered the roof system and then the problem became how to access it. You would never know from looking, but there is a button you can push and a ladder lowers from the ceiling. The ladder leads up to a passageway, to another automatic hatch and then out to a paver patio. These elements were all added during the building process, “but that’s what they wanted,” Mark says and it is clear that Mark is an expert at getting clients what they want.

Meet THE DEICHMAN TEAM

Jonathon Soine

PROJECT MANAGER

Jonathon grew up in Maynard, in central Minnesota, but came to Mankato with his wife Katie, who has roots in the area and he plans to stick around, “I’m never moving again,” Jonathan says, before breaking into an infectious laugh.

Jonathon has been working in construction for the better part of two decades. His father owns a construction company and Jonathon jokes that he’s been working in the business since the time he could first swing a hammer. Johnathan earned a 4 year Construction Management Degree from Mankato State University and brings an extensive set of skills to Deichman Construction. So, what is it like working with Mark Deichman? Jonathon says it’s a great team and what makes it run well is trust; Mark trusts his project managers to make the right decisions and gives them the tools to facilitate the problem-solving process on truly unique builds. “We have a lot of conversations about curved walls,” he says, adding that he enjoys getting to be a part of such interesting projects.

It’s an intimate thing to go into someone’s home to perform work and Jonathon takes that responsibility seriously. He always goes out of his way to communicate fully with the customer, “Just so they know that we’re treating their home with respect… We like to treat them like we would expect to be treated, if we had someone come into our house,” he says.

In his free time, Jonathon enjoys hunting, fishing and spending time with his eight-year-old twin daughters and two-year-old son.

Drew Sprengeler

SR. PROJECT MANAGER | VP Drew has worked at Deichman Construction for 16 years and in that time, he has come to think of Mark Deichman like a father. Drew is originally from Janesville Minnesota, just east of Mankato and earned a Degree in Construction Management at Minnesota State University in Mankato. In the years before joining the Deichman team, Drew worked with other companies doing construction, but ultimately found that the care, customer service and quality of Deichman Construction was distinctive. “That’s what I enjoy the most,” Drew says, about working with clients to build custom homes, “Giving them what they want and making them happy.”

Drew forms lasting bonds with the homeowners he works with, as projects progress he enjoys getting to know the owners and their families, making sure they are satisfied and helping them with smaller projects as they arise after the main build. “A big part of that is trust and honesty—it takes you a long way.”

Problem solving is Drew’s favorite part of the job, he takes a great deal of pride in finding elegant ways to produce remarkable results on unique designs. “It teaches me a lot,” Drew says, describing how he finds new products and solutions to give clients exactly what they are looking for. So, what’s the most distinctive project he’s worked on—does one stand out above the rest? As all of our projects are one of a kind, each are special to me in their unique way, but the Jones house was in a class by itself, “Because of everything that went into that… my time and the collaboration we had with everybody, it was a heck of a project.”

Drew lives on a farm in Janesville with his wife Tara and his two daughters (3 and 6). Family is a central part of the culture at Deichman Construction, “My favorite thing about working with Mark is he’s a family man first… He knows how important family is. I couldn’t ask for anything better.” In his spare time Drew enjoys, camping, fishing and hunting, as well as raising animals at his farm, “I don’t know if I should say I enjoy doing chores,” Drew adds wryly, “But I enjoy the animals.”

Suzanne Bohning

OFFICE MANAGER Suzanne brings over 25 years of experience in the construction industry.

Suzanne joined the Deichman Construction team in 2009 and offers expertise in managing over 100 reps in the construction industry. She is responsible for multiple tasks at Deichman Construction including human resources, customer service, accounts payable, accounts receivable and payroll.

Suzanne is active at her church with bible study and fellowship.

30 MANKATO LIVING

She is a graduate of Vocational College with a sales and marketing management degree.

Suzanne is originally from Lakefield, MN. In her spare time she enjoys spending time with her family, golfing and attending bible study.

BUILDING

THE DEICHMAN WAY

CHOOSING YOUR HOMESITE

WELCOME HOME During the walkthrough we’ll show you how systems operate, provide you with points of contact and review warranties with you. Our work doesn’t stop here; we’ll continue to be accessible to you.

You may already have the site for your new home but if not, no problem. We will assist DESIGN you in your search to find YOUR HOME the perfect site and community to fit Our team at Deichman will assign your lifestyle.

“Fun Homework” - once that’s complete we will start the blueprint process and match you up with a designer that best fits your style.

THE BUILDING PROCESS After all of the preparation, your dream becomes reality.

All aspects of construction are overseen by the Deichman Construction team.

MEET THE TEAM Before breaking ground on your new home, you will work with our designer and Project Manager using our chronological selection process.

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SECURE FINANCING

MAKE YOUR DREAMS COME TO REALITY

After your financing is secure and in place we begin the new home construction process with your dream home.

CUSTOMIZING YOUR DESIGN Decisions about the products and material to use for your new home are important to finalizing your FINALIZE YOUR budget. Once this is done BUILDING pricing takes about AGREEMENT 2-4 weeks to be completed.

Once site costs and allowances are determined, we can finalize pricing and sign paperwork to begin. We document change requests and obtain approval to avoid miscommunication.

Cheers

The Mankato Brewery started up in 2012, bringing craft brewing back to town, in the tradition of the breweries that operated downtown as early as the 1800s. Today they produce 10 varieties of beer at their brewery in North Mankato. The Brewery is open for tours and operates a taproom where customers can sample the wares. The taproom is available for parties or other events and regularly hosts live music and fundraisers for local non profits.

The Schell’s Brewing Company, just down highway 14 in New Ulm, is one of the oldest family owned and operated breweries in the country.

Schell’s produces some classic, consistent products, but also switches it up with new seasonal varieties every year. The brewery itself is a sight to behold, with some of the original buildings dating back to the 1860s.

This tour is a ton of fun for the whole family, nestled into the forest near the outskirts of town, one can take in the science and art of the brewing process, see how things were done back in the 1800s and even see the family’s pet peacocks showing their plumage and roosting atop the tap house.

The great grandson of August Schell, founder of Schell’s brewery, wanted to put his own spin on fermentation and in 1993, established Morgan Creek Vineyard, in the countryside between Mankato and New Ulm. The winery focuses on creating cold-hearty varietals of European and American style wines and operates Minnesota’s only underground winery—all aging and fermentation is done in an impressive underground earthen structure. Open for wine tastings from May to

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November and serving up European-inspired wood-fired cuisine at their on-site Wine Café.

“Chankaska” is a Dakota word meaning “forest enclosed” and amidst the wooded hills north of Mankato you’ll find the Chankaska Creek Ranch and Winery. Established in 2008, Chankaska was named “Best Winery” by the Minneapolis Star Tribune. The winery produces reds, whites and rosés; they have also recently expanded to distilling batches of whiskey, gin and brandy. The location has become a popular event and meeting center, often hosting live music and has developed into one of the most popular wedding locations in the Midwest. Open for tours and tastings, their café features a menu of Mediterranean inspired fare, including a variety of gourmet pizzas.

The Winterhaven Vineyard and Nursery was established in the year 2000, in the farm country southeast of Mankato. Eventually, as the vines matured, and the family began pressing grapes for wine, the Indian Island Winery was opened. Today the winery hosts a bustling tasting room with outdoor seating overlooking the vineyard. Live music and events are common, including the annual Grape Stomp competition in September. A unique blend of Minnesota wines from dry whites and reds to sweet dessert wines holding notes of chocolate. The tasting room carries a menu with north country touches, from bison burgers to wild rice soup— a great place to have a glass of wine, some dinner and watch the sun set over the green countryside.

TO BUY OR TO

BUILD There is a significant investment of time and effort in building a custom home and the process is not right for everyone, Mark Deichman is the first to point this out.

“Although we do make the process very efficient,” he adds, explaining that his team does everything possible to help clients organize their time during the process.

At the start of a home search, Mark says, most people are on the same page, “Most of the clients we work with don’t really want to build, they just want a place to live…

And I’d recommend to everyone: If you can find a place to buy that has almost everything you want and in the location you want, then buy it. Buy it, then call us, we’ll be happy to put an addition on or whatever you want to

make it your own. But if you can’t find what you want, and if too much work has to be done to get exactly what you want, then building a home is probably the right choice for you.

The differences in someone who should build versus buy, may be in lifestyle, family size or what stage of life their family is in. Many of the people Deichman Construction has built custom homes for want to create something perfect for their families and plan to stay where they are for a long time. Part of it might come down to this: once you’ve moved into a Deichman home, designed to your own personal specifications, you aren’t going to want to move anywhere else.

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“we’ll probably have grandkids. So, our house is kind of built for lots of family activity. Plus, we have such nice neighbors… I don’t ever want to move again.”

Building the home you want.

STORY BY COLIN CHAMBERS PHOTOS BY JORDAN POWERS PHOTOGRAPHY

J

ess Hatanpa wasn’t going to leave anything to chance. If you’re lucky enough to get a tour of the Hatanpa household, it will become clear early on: Jess knew what she wanted, she’s a detail person and the little details around the house stand as testament to her process. The home her family occupied prior to building this one had been a house near St. Clair which was finished by Deichman Construction. Jess and her husband Aaron recognized the quality workmanship and design in their previous home and knew that the Deichman team would be the best possible choice to help build them a home with all the right details, big and small.

The Hatanpa home is a Transitional styled house, in every sense of the word, borrowing unique design elements from several architectural schools and merging them with modern finishing details and floor plans. The entryway opens up into a curved, barreled ceiling, expanding the space and making an immediate first impression. The walls in much of the house feature a lovely white wood pattern, evocative of classic wainscoting, while the light fixtures, each selected by Jess, are modern statement pieces that catch the eye and bring added character to each room. An elegant curved wall opens up to the space of the hallway at the base of the stairs, a step down separates the living room from the kitchen and it all comes together to form a stylistic pastiche that is at once comfortingly familiar yet boldly distinctive.

The house is nestled on a hillside lot near a wooded ravine on the outskirts of Mankato. 20 years ago, when Jess’s husband Aaron first moved to Mankato from Anoka Minnesota, he drove around town thinking about where he would like to settle and the location where they eventually built stuck out to him. It ended up being the perfect sized lot, immersed in nature, but still close to the center of town and in the Mankato school district for the kids.

Jess was originally from the Mankato Area, but had her options of where she wanted to go after school. “I love Mankato, it’s kind of a big small town.

We know all of our neighbors. I like being here, it’s centrally located, it has great schools.” Jess is very involved in the community, sitting on boards for multiple organizations and currently engaged in a run for City Council.

“We can’t go anywhere without running into someone we know… There’s 50,000 people here and I feel like I know 49,000” she says with a laugh.

This is the house that they plan to stay in for the long term. The oldest kids in the family are 18 and 20, while the youngest are 2, 5 and 6, so by the time the youngest ones are teenagers she explains “we’ll probably have grandkids. So, our house is kind of built for lots of family activity.

Plus, we have such nice neighbors… I don’t ever want to move again.”

The family influence is apparent, from the built-in loft beds in the children’s rooms, to the home theater in the basement, this is a place which was designed to be a family-oriented home. Between two of the children’s rooms there is a Jack and Jill bath with three sinks (two for the boys and one for the girl). There is also a playroom for the children that as they get older can be used as a TV room or study area. The kitchen is built to be the center of the house, with an open floor plan that radiates outward and invites family interaction. Multiple porches, including one with a built-in fireplace promise quiet evenings listening to the birds sing as the sun sets over the trees.

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Aaron’s primary request in the design was that he could have a “secret room”. As such, the door to his office is camouflaged into a hallway wall, which can be pushed open to reveal a spacious study with distinctive curved ceilings and built in cabinetry.

So, what was it like building with the Deichman team? “Whatever you can dream, we can figure out a way to make that happen,” Jess says, relaying the approach of Mark and his project managers.

Jess selected all the interior design elements of the home, using the visual tools the Deichman team employs, namely the Houzz app, which allows homeowners to browse pictures and select styles that appeal to them for each room. “I just kept screenshotting pictures, circling things I like and said ‘make this. I want that ceiling, with cabinets that look like these’ and they did it.” Jess could not say enough about the quality of the team and subcontractors who worked on the house, “Drew, our project manager and everyone else who worked on it, they are awesome. They seem like family.”

the

Art of

DOWNTOWN

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M

ankato has long been a place that valued and featured public art, from the exquisite craftsmanship of the Hubbard House mansion, to the monument to grand municipal architecture of the historic courthouse, the town has been a meeting place where artisans, artists and master craftsmen could build a legacy and share it with the greater public. Starting in 2013, the City of Mankato joined with local arts organizations to create the CityArt Sculpture Walk. The streets of downtown Mankato and North Mankato feature 27 sculptures made by artists from around the world. Each year an open call is made to artists to submit their works to be included in a new round of sculptures—if local businesses or residents take a shine to a certain piece, the art is available for purchase or lease and many sculptures have become landmarks-- part of the identity of the businesses that display them.

If viewing the art indoors is more your speed, there is a thriving gallery culture in the area: The 410 Project on Front Street has carved out a space in the f lourishing bar and restaurant neighborhood since 2013, featuring artists and musicians from around the region and offering youth art lessons for budding artists.

Just a few blocks away is the Emy Frentz Art Center, a busy gallery, meeting and performance space adjoined by studio spaces which are occupied by local working artists. On a given week at the Emy Frentz Center you might catch a play, take in some great visual art, listen to a poetry reading or even bring your mat down for a yoga class in the gallery. There’s always something happening at the Emy Frentz Center, which is headquarters for the Twin Rivers Council for The Arts, an organization dedicated to building a culture of artistic expression in southern Minnesota and which was instrumental in bringing the sculpture walk to Mankato.

The Carnegie Arts Center is itself a work of art, the likes of which are now rarely produced. In 1903 the building opened as one of the storied Carnegie Libraries which were being constructed around the country through the philanthropy of steel Baron Andrew Carnegie. Mr. Carnegie donated to the creation of over 2,000 libraries in towns across the country and these impressive stone buildings were designed by architects who saw them as temples to civic engagement. As such, the neoclassical building boasts intricate stonework, soaring ceilings, stone archways and rich, handmade carpentry. The building ceased operation as a library in the 1970s but the Carnegie Arts Center has since filled the space with pottery, paintings and photography.

Minnesota State University at Mankato features two galleries, the Conklin Gallery, in Nelson Hall and the Centennial Student Union gallery.

The Arts Center of St. Peter is just a 10 minute drive up the Minnesota River valley from Mankato, featuring visual art, community events, theater, music and storytelling.

Stone’s Throw Gallery, also in St. Peter, features jewelry, gem-work, gold and silver pieces and other works for sale by regional artists.

Feel like trying your hand at making some work of your own? Design and Wine on Belgrade Avenue in North Mankato helps you make your own work to take home.

Join a regularly scheduled event, open to the public, or schedule your own private event with your family and friends.

In 19 41

businessman John G. Martin purchased the Smirnoff distillery and found himself with a whole lot of vodka on his hands. Meanwhile Martin's friend, Jack Morgan, owner of the Cock 'n' Bull bar in Los Angeles, had a surplus of his very own brand of ginger beer he needed to get rid of. One fateful night at Morgan's restaurant the pair were hanging out with bartender Wes Price who suggested they put the deadstock together, just to see what would happen. Out came a few cooper mugs and boom the Moscow Mule was born. After the first taste they all agreed it was a hit.

Martin soon set off across the country visiting local taverns along the way. At each one he would make up a Moscow Mule in a copper mug, snap a couple of Polaroids, keeping one for himself and leaving one for the bartender, and head off to continue promoting his product. Eventually it caught on allowing us to enjoy this delicious creation today.

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2 OUNCES VODKA ½ OUNCE FRESH LIME JUICE 3 OUNCES GINGER BEER, PREFERABLY FEVER TREE LIME WEDGE, FOR GARNISH

In a cocktail shaker three-quarters filled with ice, combine vodka and lime juice and shake until chilled, about 15 seconds. Strain into a mug, preferably copper, filled with crushed ice. Top with ginger beer.

mankato golf club

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for leasing information visit pinnaclebluffs.com

SPORTS DON’T TAKE SATURDAYS OFF

NEITHER DO WE.

1431 PREMIER DRIVE, MANKATO, MN 56001 | 507-386-6600 | OFC-CLINIC.COM

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