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The Story of Brandy the Dog
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A Letter From the Publisher’s Boss
Meow,
It’s me. Riley. I’m sure you remember me from the letter I wrote on Eden Prairie Lifestyle publisher John Lee’s behalf two years ago. He asked my brother Jesse to write it last year – a charitable invitation, given Jesse’s total inability to express his thoughts in English (his being a cat and all).
It’s good to be back, because if there’s one thing I love, it’s attention. If you haven’t already, please admire my photo accompanying this letter. I’m cute, aren’t I? Yes. I am very cute. I’m so cute that you couldn’t help but stoop down to rub my luxuriously furred belly if I were to present it to you with a soft, inviting purr…
Sike! That was a CUNNING RUSE. As soon as you reach to pet me, I will bat your hand away with my adorable little paw. And then, after you’ve reeled back in surprise, I will say “purr, purr ” and entreat you to pet me again.
And you’ll do it. Oh yes. You’ll have to do it, because I get whatever I want. I am the alpha cat. I am the top cat. When I see a piece of furniture, I nap on it. When I find a little plastic ball with a bell inside, it becomes my little plastic ball with a bell inside. And when John leaves a glass on a countertop, tabletop, or other horizontal surface that I might possibly nap on someday, then guess what? I imperiously nudge that thing toward the edge until my hegemony over all surfaces is once again unchallenged by drinkware.
Do you know which passing fancy just occurred to me? It is this: Read all of John’s annual Kids & Pets issue. Keep your children home from school (I don’t care that it’s August; do it anyway) and read the Kids & Pets issue to them, too. Call distant relatives and read it to them over the phone. I may be an animal with only the dimmest notion of causality, but I understand that you're doing all this will help John somehow. And when John benefits, do you know who else does? Me I’m the best one.
Thank you as always to Eden Prairie Lifestyle’s sponsors. Your support goes directly toward buying me treats that I like.
August 2026
PUBLISHER
John Lee | john.lee@citylifestyle.com
PUBLICATION DIRECTOR
David Scheller | david.scheller@citylifestyle.com
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Blake Lawrence | blake@realmediamn.com
CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS
Steve McCuskey, Rajendran Thiagarajan, Diane Wilke, Eden Prairie Schools, Posers Photography, Real Media MN
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Joe Haeg, noted German wirehaired pointer appreciator and father of Cadence Chiropractic founder Dr. Amanda Haeg, shares a tender moment with Brandy, noted dog. CadenceChiroMN.com
Photography: Diane Wilke
The Modern Mystery School Cuts the Ribbon
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Flip Lab Cuts the Ribbon
Flip Lab helps athletes build strength, discipline, and skill while fostering a lifelong love of movement. Their programs follow the Acrobatic Arts curriculum: an internationally recognized program that blends the flexibility and power of acrobatics with the creativity and expression of dance. Flip Lab’s programs are accessible to athletes of all levels, and create an environment where every student builds balance, control, and confidence. FlipLabAcro.com
ARTICLE BY DAVID SCHELLER | PHOTOGRAPHY BY DIANE WILKE
Brandy the Dog
Meet Her at Cadence Chiropractic’s Motion Is Life
5K/1-Mile Walk-or-Run Fundraiser on Saturday, October 3rd at 10am
BRANDY WAS ALONE.
Though she had met her fair share of people. Her first owner? A family that wasn’t equipped to manage a German wirehaired pointer’s fathomless vigor. Her second, and possibly third? A big question mark. Her latest? An outdoorsman, who’d no use for a dog that wouldn’t hunt.
Therein lay Brandy’s great problem. She was gun shy; too frightened by the report of a firearm to be of any use around one, for reasons nobody could say. The outdoorsman, having discerned this, had been contemplating doing something dreadful to Brandy.
And then – for the first time in her two years of life – Brandy was lucky. She broke loose from the outdoorsman's place and wandered toward a bar, where she was tied up until somebody could come to get her.
“There I was, doing some remodeling for a local bar during the pandemic, when I came across this wirehair; beautiful, but clearly not doing well,” recounted Joe Haeg. “I took notice right away because that’s my all-time favorite breed. Smart. Loyal. Tenacious. Good around children. A fur and feather dog in full, which can track, point, and retrieve on water and land alike.
“After learning about Brandy’s situation, I couldn’t just walk away. I’d owned a dozen wirehairs before then. I swore that Ziggy would be my last. But there was something too touching about that skinny, shaky dog to ignore. She reminded me of 12 of the greatest friends I’ve ever had, I suppose. I almost named her ‘Lucky 13’ right there.”
Upon evoking similar sentiments from Joe’s wife Mary Jo, Brandy became one of the Haegs. But there was still a problem. Although he values a dog’s life inestimably higher than Brandy’s previous owner, Joe is an outdoorsman as well. What is a hunter to do with a gun dog who doesn’t like guns?
“I decided to try rehabilitating Brandy,” said Joe. “We started out slow: visiting a game farm so she could get excited about birds, and parking outside the Minnesota Horse and Hunt Club to listen to gunfire through rolled-up windows. With lots of comforting and reassurance, Brandy grew calmer and calmer in a gun dog’s natural environment. It wasn’t long until I could fire a 28 gauge shotgun right behind her without sending her into a tizzy. And before I knew it, she wasn’t remotely bothered by a louder, more powerful 12 gauge, either.
“She’s a lover, who has to be right by you (and ideally on top of you) at all times.”
“My friends said it couldn’t be done, but those powerful wirehair instincts won out in the end. Brandy became one of the greatest hunting dogs I’ve ever had.
“But she’s also much more than that. She’s a lover, who has to be right by you (and ideally on top of you) at all times. That’s probably pent-up loneliness from spending so much of her puppyhood penned
up in a kennel. She’s a buddy, who loves playing fetch with my grandkids, and dances around and snatches their hats off their heads while they’re sledding. She rides around with me in my truck. She supervises me whenever I grill. She wakes me up if I have the audacity to try sleeping past six. And when she gets that mustache all messy, and then gives me a great big kiss? Well … that's just part of loving a wirehair.”
"Brandy is incredibly sweet," said Dr. Amanda Haeg, Joe's daughter. "She'll take any opportunity to be petted and loved. I took her camping once, and she slowly, sneakily leaned closer and closer into me until she'd somehow ended up fully in my lap – and she is not a small dog.
"I adopted my own cat, Stealth, 17 years ago. I treasure every cuddle and purr from her, too. Our family tradition of welcoming pets into our hearts is why I'm so excited to host our eighth annual Motion Is Life 5K/1-mile walk-or-run fundraiser this year in support of Pet Haven. They're the oldest foster-based pet rescue in Minnesota, and they do incredible work with harder cases like Brandy once was.
“Pet Haven is going to make this year’s fundraiser the first to include a live adoption event! Come meet some amazing dogs in need of forever homes, and learn about equally amazing cats in need of the same.”
(Learn about; not meet. Cats do not like events.)
“Whether you’re as passionate about loving and supporting animals as my dad and I are – or just want to connect with our community during a fun, completely noncompetitive outing – I welcome you to Cadence Chiropractic’s Motion Is Life fundraiser on Saturday, October 3rd at 10am,” Dr. Haeg invited. “Feel free to bring your own dog along. Brandy will be there to point the way!” CadenceChiroMN.com
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Pet Evolution Eden Prairie
Feed ‘em. Groom ‘em. Spoil ‘em.
Gucci. Cartier. Louis Vuitton. Bring your big, hairy dog into any of these fine shopping establishments, and the staff will turn their noses up at you. “Ex cuse me,” one will say in the ingratiating tone that implies you aren’t allowed to do whichever stupid thing you are presently doing. “You will have to take that … ahem – dog – outside.” And you know what? You kind of see their point. No one wants to buy a prechewed purse or inexplicably damp dress. And you know what else? Your dog would probably rather be someplace else, too. Where?
A place filled with toothsome treats. A place filled with fortifying foods. A place filled with toys that are of keen interest to dogs. And your dog, being the magnanimous animal they are, would also prefer being someplace that caters to kitties as well
SHOP WITH YOUR GOOD BOY AND/OR GOOD GIRL AT PET EVOLUTION
Pooches and their people shop together at Eden Prairie’s premier pet boutique!
ARTICLE BY DAVID SCHELLER
Let your pal’s powerful schnoz zero in on which treats it likes best. High-octane rewards for commendable behavior? Low-calorie dainties for non-fattening training? Authentic animal pieces that sweep dogs and cats off their paws? Such tantalizing viands are in endless supply at Pet Evolution!
So too are the foundations of healthful pet diets – each carefully formulated to nourish and preserve the very same body it’s meant for. There are Select foods, free of corn, wheat, soy, byproducts, and artificial nastiness; Classic foods, featuring every same advantage as Select plus higher protein; and Signature foods, made exclusively with raw or freeze-dried ingredients.
Can’t find the precise food brand you want? Simply place an order that is just like your pet: special . And if Pet Evolution’s copious selection of products – including health supplements such as hip and joint chews, homeopathic remedies, and calmifying CBD tinctures –confound you to the bounds of bewilderment, any one of the store’s staff are at the ready to answer your whats and whys. Knowledge. It’s power.
Have you ever bought your dog a neat new toy only to watch them pooh-pooh it? Let the choosy bugger have their way and pick out their own amusements. Pet Evolution has plush toys for lovey-dovey goldens to snuggle; tough toys for German shepherds who can chew through ballistic steel; tuggable toys that won’t give out between two St. Bernards; mentally stimulating toys that will keep border collies from going bazooey; and cat toys, for cats. If your puss thinks the world ends with little plastic balls with bells inside, then Pet Evolution will knock their boots off.
CLEANING AND GROOMING: ANYPLACE, ANYTIME
Has your pet ascended to new heights of funkitude? Is their coat unbefitting of the regal creature they are? Take them on the short drive to Pet Evolution, where miracles of beautification are destinkulation and performed.
Pet Evolution’s five full-size DIY scrub-a-pup stations make it easy to freshen up Fido on the go. Unlimited shampoo. Unlimited towels. A complimentary smock to keep you (mostly) dry while your dog does the whapflap-whap snoot-to-tail shiver. You’ll find everything a well-bathed dog can’t be without, right down to a stateof-the-art high-velocity air dryer. Wet pooch enters. Dry pooch exits. It is a wild time to be alive!
CONTINUED >
Pet Evolution’s 11 professional pet bathers and groomers aren’t Johnnies-come-lately to the pet bathing and grooming scene. Bathers are only there because they intend to become groomers. Groomers are only there because they’ve extensively trained. Together, they can transform any dog into the canine embodiment of absolute perfection. Picture a beautiful dog. That can be your dog.
Pooches and their people shop together at Eden Prairie’s premier pet boutique!
Pet Evolution’s magic works on cats, too. “Oh no,” you might be thinking. “My cat is a peachy lil’ critter, to be sure, but they may try brutally mauling any well-intentioned stranger who so much as attempts bathing or grooming them.” Don’t worry! Pet Evolution’s forward-thinking staff are accustomed to not being torn to ribbons by disgruntled tabbies, and preserve that status quo by implementing protective gloves, gentle harnesses, and special ventilated head bubbles on a strictly as-needed basis. The clear plastic spheres make cats look like gumball machines – except instead of candy, they contain scheming.
Is your day too hectic to extract even a single second for pet grooming? Continue not worrying! Pet Evolution’s Mobile Nail Van now delivers far more than claw-shortening services. Trimming. Waterless shampooing. Teeth brushing. Even gland expression! These and other pamperings are all available right in your driveway once you welcome the Mobile Nail Van to your hacienda. And your cat doesn’t have to sit idly by while your dog receives such convenient preening. They’ll be delighted to learn there’s a place in the van for them too!
Visit Pet Evolution at 8248 Commonwealth Drive any day of the week. Call (952) 521-3355 to schedule a grooming or summon the Mobile Nail Van. Visit PetEvolution.com if this article has only satiated a fraction of your appetite for information about our town’s greatest pet boutique.
Pet Evolution
Deshedding. Dematting. Deodorizing. Anti-itching. Extra freshening. Ear plucking, ear cleaning, CBD skin and coat treatment, and more. Pet Evolution’s customizable grooming services let you primp your pup however you please.
Flying Cloud Animal Hospital
TWO NEW VETS JOIN THE TEAM
ARTICLE BY DAVID SCHELLER | PHOTOGRAPHY BY REAL MEDIA MN
Dr. Livia Gans and Dr. Taylor Chevalier
Human doctors? A thoroughly commendable bunch. If you spend an extra decade in school and rack up student debt equivalent to the GDP of a smallish country for the sole purpose of keeping people like me alive, then you deserve a firm pat on the back.
But animal doctors? They’re the most admirable of all, because they help the best kinds of people. I am speaking of those goodest of good boys and girls: the pooches and the kitties.
Eden Prairie pets are now better poised to reach advanced age than they have ever been before. With the addition of Dr. Taylor Chevalier and Dr. Livia Gans to their roster, Flying Cloud Animal Hospital has become half a dozen vets strong.
“We’ve been a big part of our community for over 50 years, and have a strong following to show for it. We also recently moved to a much larger clinic, complete with a surgery suite and the southwest metro’s only dedicated dentistry suite I’m aware of,” said Dr. Jeffrey Krull, owner of Flying Cloud Animal Hospital. “But reputation and real estate can’t help us keep up with the 65 to 73 new clients we’re now greeting each month. If we’re to continue surpassing their expectations for their pets’ healthcare, then we’ll have to keep adding more and more talented and passionate doctors.
Dr. Jeffrey Krull
“And our two newest recruits? Outstanding individuals, through and through. They’re both hot out of the gate from University of Minnesota’s renowned Veterinary Medical Center. They’re naturals at getting along with our team, clients, and patients alike. They’ll prove pivotal to Flying Cloud Animal Hospital’s persistent growth, which will carry on until we can accommodate all of our patients’ urgent medical needs for the same cost as scheduled care, as well as further expand our in-house diagnostic services.”
“I’ve actually been with Flying Cloud Animal Hospital since 2020,” said Dr. Chevalier. “I started out here as an assistant without any experience. All I had was a lifelong love for every dog and cat I’ve ever met. Dr. Krull and his team welcomed me with open arms, and quickly taught me everything I needed to be of help at such a busy clinic.
“That amazing support continued when I decided to apply to veterinary school. They guided me through the application process. They even wrote me glowing letters of recommendation.”
“My own letter informed U of M that they had no other choice but to accept Taylor into their veterinary program,” added Dr. Krull. “Why? Because I wanted to hire her back the instant she earned her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine. It’s rare to meet someone so personable and intelligent. It's rarer still to employ them.”
“Dr. Krull is too kind,” said Dr. Chevalier. “He is also encouraging. He told me to get out there and explore after graduating. Find out what other veterinary clinics have to offer before locking in to his own. And that’s exactly what I did – although it didn’t take long until I realized that I’d already discovered the best right where I started.
“Flying Cloud isn’t just great because of its people, and the warmer, deeper relationships they nurture with clients and their pets. It also delivers more accurate and immediate results by incorporating X-ray, ultrasound, and diagnostic laboratory services directly into the practice. And thanks to the decades’ worth of connections that Dr. Grace, Dr. Koupal, Dr. Krull, and Dr. Rodman have forged with leading specialists throughout the Twin Cities, Flying Cloud can treat many issues right here in our clinic. We have access to advanced surgical and cardiology services through specialists who visit Flying Cloud. And if we can’t treat whatever ails your pet, we
can refer them to one of several talented specialists nearby. Why would I practice anywhere else when every way I can help animals is already right here?”
“Dr. Chevalier has made me certain of her potential,” added Dr. Krull. “So much so, in fact, that I was totally confident making a rather large request of her before her new career had even started. I asked her to bring me yet another vet.”
“And I’m sure glad you did,” said Dr. Gans. “I met Taylor during our first day of orientation at U of M. We have been best friends ever since – and I’m definitely not just saying that because she got me an interview with such a marvelous clinic right out of veterinary school. I truly do love her to bits!
“That’s largely because I empathize with her so much. We’re both driven by this powerful and inextricable urge to help animals; innocent little creatures, who have infinite capacity for love and zero clue about what’s going on. I’ve cared about them since before I can remember, or at least since the first time my dad took me to go wildlife watching.
“At our cores, Taylor and I share the same mission: to spare pets from as much pain as we’re able, and keep them around so they can continue being loved for as long as possible.
“I’ve known that Flying Cloud is the perfect place to achieve that goal since my first day shadowing here. When you’re just starting out, you worry that experienced vets will be too busy to help and advise you. But this is a close-knit community, where guidance and mentorship are considered just two more tools of the veterinary trade. Such camaraderie has created an environment where pets needs’ always come first, and families are guided toward informed decisions about their most beloved members’ care. That and Flying Cloud’s top-notch facility – which adds new state-of-the-art technology seemingly all the time – have assured me that I’ve gotten the best start to my career that I could have hoped for. And at the rate things are going, I might just wind up ending my career here a few decades from now, too.”
Flying Cloud Animal Hospital is located at 12365 Singletree Lane in Eden Prairie. Learn more about everything the independently owned and operated clinic has to offer at FlyingCloudAnimalHospital.com, or call (952) 941-8676 to schedule an appointment or request emergency care.
tail waggin’ dinner HELPING PAWS
Saturday, September 19th at Radisson Blu Mall of America
ARTICLE BY DAVID SCHELLER | PHOTOGRAPHY BY STEVE MCCUSKEY
They are more than friends.
They are faithful, radiant, extensively trained aides to individuals who have physical disabilities. To veterans and first responders living with service-related PTSD. To people navigating courthouses, mental health facilities, and other places that are vastly improved by the addition of lovely goldens and Labs.
They are Helping Paws assistance dogs.
They also aren’t cheap. From conception to graduation, a single puppy costs the Eden Prairie nonprofit upward of $35,000. Volunteers who house dogs-in-training incur expenses of their own as well. But they all manage thanks to the kinds of people Eden Prairie Lifestyle readers see in the mirror.
You’re invited.
You’re invited to Helping Paws’ signature annual fundraising event: the Tail Waggin’ Dinner, which will welcome over 500 donors, volunteers, and graduates to the apex of Midwestern hospitality – the Radisson Blu Mall of America – on the evening of September 19th.
Tickets are now on sale!
Galagoers will arrive to drinks, hors d'oeuvres, and a silent auction featuring over 150 lots. Sports memorabilia. Nearby getaways. Dog-themed treasures. You can bid on all these and more – silently
Test your luck. Take a turn at the wine pull (made possible through Tonka Bottle Shop’s gracious support) and pluck out a vino valued between $45 and $200. Play plinko, and let the quincunx of destiny determine which fabulous prize you’ll take home. Enter the golden ticket raffle for a wine tasting tour in California!
Dinner. Choose from multiple entrées, and relax. Helping Paws’ finest are too well mannered to attempt mooching from your dining table. Once dinner has ended, the Parade of Puppies commences: darling creatures wondering what the heck is going on as they’re carried table to table to be oohed and ahhed at.
Shh. It’s 7:15 o’clock. The presentation is starting. Speeches by executive director Alyssa Golob, and school counselor Shannon Moore on Helping Paws facility dog Herbie’s impact at Falcon Ridge Middle School. Short films featuring the absurdly cute SFM Litter, and forecasting the future of Helping Paws.
CONTINUED >
And to cap it all off? The live auction. Bid on BIG lots; yet-to-be-determined lots, which may (or may not) take the shape of all-inclusive concert packages and tropical getaways. If you’re feeling particularly benevolent, you can bid on Paws of Gratitude lots: goods and services that make Helping Paws volunteers’ lives better, such as dog toys, dog food, house cleaning, and professional lawn dedoodooization.
“In 2024, we moved to our big, modern facility in Eden Prairie,” said Jonathan Kramer, marketing manager for Helping Paws. “In 2025, we opened our Puppy Enrichment Center next door. This year marked the grand opening of our Advanced Training Center two doors down.
“All that growth? It’s all in service of providing world-class assistance dogs free of charge to those who most need them, and it’s thanks in huge part to our generous donors and corporate sponsors.
“The theme for this year’s Tail Waggin' Dinner is ‘A Future in Motion.’ It will showcase how far we’ve come since our humble beginnings in 1988, and why we believe a bright tomorrow lies ahead.”
Last year’s gala raised a record $300,000. Every dollar of it went toward the creation of angel-dogs.
This year’s gala will do even better with you as an honored guest. Buy your tickets. Mark your calendar. Meet nice dogs. Help make more nice dogs.
HELPING PAWS TAIL WAGGIN’ DINNER
The Helping Paws Tail Waggin’ Dinner will be held at Radisson Blu Mall of America on Saturday, September 19th from 5 until 8:30pm. Visit HelpingPaws.org to purchase tickets and learn more about how you can support the organization. Volunteer your time as a trainer, or your home as a puppy host!
REVSPORTS
Just Let Them Play
ARTICLE BY DAVID SCHELLER
I CAN BE ANYTHING. The theme song to Reading Rainbow embodied it best; the infinite paths that spread ahead of childhood, when every new experience opens doors to a thousand imagined opportunities.
And then you grow older. And that once fine web of paths turns to highways. And every minute passes to the clicks of a thousand doors swinging shut.
“And I find it sad that sports – which I’ve always known to be the greatest source of inspiration to children – are becoming increasingly inaccessible to them,” said Coach John Richardson, founder of RevSports.
“Kids who show a lot of potential are commonly locked into a single sport, which they must then structure their lives around to play at a serious level. Kids who show less are usually locked out of sports altogether – as if they don’t deserve to throw a ball around if they can’t keep up with their most athletic peers.
“But that’s not how sports ought to be! When you’re a kid, playing basketball should be as easy as walking to your friend’s driveway. Joining a baseball team should cost no more than the price of a glove. Your first thought when you pick up a football shouldn’t be about your player efficiency rating. It should be only this: I’m about to have fun
“RevSports is making sports right again. We now teach more than two dozen of them
for schools, community centers, parks and recreation boards, early childhood learning centers, and sports facilities in over 50 communities throughout the metro area. Wherever we go, we provide instant access to sports. Total immersion! The pure joy of play, and nothing else.
“That mission requires us to hire coaches who can teach (or quickly learn how to teach) multiple different sports, and really connect with the kids they’re out there to encourage. Unfortunately, coaches like those are rare. If 20 apply, only one of them might wind up showing the qualities of a long-term hire.
“But the payoff for such careful recruiting? It’s incalculable. Greater confidence. More versatile motor skills. Introductions to new friends. Less risk of burnout and overuse injuries. Exposure to a pastime they might just enjoy for the rest of their lives. Those are only a few of the rewards awaiting kids who play several sports instead of just one.”
RevSports is hosting three separate four-day Sports Extravaganza Camps at Eden Prairie’s Homeward Hills Park this August! Visit RevSports.org to enroll children between the ages of 6 and 12, or learn how you can incorporate Coach John’s multitalented team into your own community program. You can also visit EdenPrairie.RevSports.org to see all the upcoming programs RevSports is offering in our fair city.
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EDEN PRAIRIE MONTESSORI
ARTICLE BY DAVID SCHELLER
R-E-S-P-E-C-T FIND OUT WHAT IT MEANS TO ME
“The first five years last a lifetime.”
IT IS THE AGE OF NINCOMPOOPERY. People everywhere are abandoning deportment in favor of becoming irascible brutes. They’ve zero consideration for their surroundings. They give just as much thought to others. They’re altogether unpleasant to be around!
This news is alarming to any parent of a young child. They don’t want to raise a boor. They want their child to become an adult who dances across kaleidoscopic social landscapes with grace and tact, and finds happiness in harmony with their neighbors. They would also rather stick bees in their ears than spend years sharing a home with that most vexatious of all creatures: a discourteous teenager.
Perish the thought!
This poses a challenge if your own sense of decency impels you to earn a good living. How can your child learn respect when that most respectable figure in their life (i.e. you) is ocupado?
“Respect. Empathy. Compassion. We believe these qualities are innate to everyone," said Shonali Harrison, CEO of Eden Prairie Montessori. “That’s why our approach to early child care is relatively simple: provide them with a warm, loving environment, and recognize them whenever they choose to be respectful toward their peers, teachers, and environment.
“Putting activities back on the shelf the way they’re meant to be stored. Pushing your chair back in when you rise from the table. Hanging up a jacket you see on the floor, even if it isn’t yours. Caring for a potted plant that you grew from a seed. Leaving a caterpillar be while it’s rearranging itself into a beautiful monarch. These are just a few of the little lessons we teach in mindfulness and good manners.
“But the greatest teachers here are the children themselves. I regularly watch older children showing younger ones how to be kind and share, and preschoolers reminding each other to say thank you when their teacher pours their milk. I have seen many budding arguments between classmates swiftly resolved by knee-high Good Samaritans. After 35 years with Eden Prairie Montessori, I’m still amazed every day by just how conscientious little ones can be.”
Does the thought of shepherding uncivil tots through a field trip give you angina? It does the same to Shonali and her colleagues. Fortunately, the little ones’ conscientiousness stays resolute wherever they roam.
“They encourage each other to take turns on all the activities when we visit the Minnesota Children's Museum,” said Shonali. “They advise their friends to be gentle to the trees, flowers and bugs at Richardson Nature Center, which we’re lucky to have so close to both of our day cares. They’re at their all-time charmingest when we spend the day in Waconia with Carlson’s Lovable Llamas, where they treat the animals so tenderly as they lead them up and down the path, and spend much of the adventure making sure their new friends stay happy. ‘C’mon! Let’s lie on the grass if you’re tired,’ they say to the llamas. ‘Look! You can eat the grass, too!’
“I don’t know what llamas think, but I choose to believe they’re touched by such kindness.
“If they aren’t, then at least I am. It’s proof that goodness is still strong. Our children will continue spreading acceptance, tolerance, and love long after we’re gone. They won’t be able to help themselves. It’s in their nature. They just need the teensiest push to let it all out.”
Eden Prairie Montessori has two convenient locations at 7455 Market Place Drive and 8098 Glen Lane. You may learn more about their infant, toddler, preschool, kindergarten and summer programs at EdenPrairieMontessori.com, as well as schedule a tour of either school with Shonali, Jen, or Sue at your side.
Having those reunions in a clean environment means a lot, when it means a safe and healthy place for friends and family. Summer is about enjoyment. Don’t let cleaning get in your way. We’ve been preparing cabins for the summer and it’s never too late to get yours done! Well… that’s until summer is over.
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Private Dining
urban speech & OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY
Go Team Pippa!
ARTICLE BY DAVID SCHELLER
“Of course, there is only one Pippa,” said Kari Kidd, the 7-year-old’s mother. “But genetically speaking, she is one in 3 billion. Her difficulties began before she was born. She started therapy in the NICU, and continued at Masonic Children's Hospital when she was 3 months old.
“Among other challenges, Pippa has apraxia; essentially, a disorder that causes her brain to miscommunicate with her speech muscles. She can think and reason perfectly fine. She just has extreme difficulty forming the words she needs to express herself.
“The Mayo Clinic therapist who diagnosed Pippa with apraxia explained she would best benefit from a different kind of speech therapy than she had been receiving. After some digging, I discovered only two clinics in the state of Minnesota that offer it.
“Why did I choose Urban Speech & Occupational Therapy? I can’t really say for sure. Call it ‘going with my gut’ or ‘following my maternal instinct,’ but something in me sensed that Julie Urban and her team would take the greatest care of Pippa.
“As fortune would have it, I’d turn out to be right.”
“Kari and her husband Byron first brought Pippa to us when she was 4 years old,” said Julie. “To be frank, we didn’t know what to expect at the onset. Pippa’s file is complex, and includes diagnoses stemming from her chromosomal variation that we had never encountered before.
“But Pippa is not a collection of diagnoses. She is a beautiful little girl, who is motivated to communicate. I could tell upon meeting her that she just needs the right set of tools to help her speak her mind.”
“Animal noises. The sing-song intonations of a mothering voice. The word ‘uh-oh,’” listed Kari. “Pippa has a stark aversion to these and several other sounds, and won’t hesitate to let you know it. But for every thing Pippa doesn’t like, there are a dozen more she adores. She loves music. She loves her family. She loves safari animals! And I’ve loved watching how Urban Speech & Occupational Therapy incorporates everything that makes Pippa special into her lessons.”
“That goes far beyond singing songs about zebras,” said Julie. “Her parents chose our clinic because it is one of the very few offering Prompts for Restructuring Oral Muscular Phonetic Targets (PROMPT) therapy, which involves gently guiding the child’s jaw, lips and tongue into the correct positions for clear vocalization. Keeping Pippa engaged and encouraged during that process means always taking her special interests into account. When we do our jobs right, PROMPT doesn’t feel like therapy to her at all. It feels like pure fun.
CONTINUED >
“That’s something we do for every other child we treat, regardless of their speech or language differences. Our team of seven speech-language pathologists and three occupational therapists are all well versed in Bluey, Ms. Rachel, Minecraft, Spider-Man, and Spongebob. I’m currently working with a little boy who has turned me into one of the world’s foremost authorities on Godzilla. In other words, we know what’s ‘cool’ here at Urban Speech & Occupational Therapy.”
“Julie and Kristina Theodosopoulos, Pippa’s other primary speech-language pathologist, have also done a wonderful job incorporating her other preferred communication methods into therapy,” said Kari. “They fully accommodate my daughter when she is more comfortable using sign language or her augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) device. And when Pippa discovered a new reading app, they were more than eager to make it a part of her progress. I’ve been truly impressed by their openness to all the ways Pippa has shown she can grow.”
“With a little flexibility and a lot of encouragement, Pippa has come a long way,” said Julie. “When we first welcomed her, she could only make one or two sounds in isolation. Now she independently says ‘mama’ and ‘papa,’ and is mastering sounds that she will eventually form into all kinds of new words. She is also becoming more proficient with her AAC device; a daunting piece of technology at first glance, but one she can now use to piece complex ideas together.
“Although Pippa receives hers elsewhere, we also provide occupational therapy that teaches children the skills
they need to play, study, interact with peers, and live their daily lives without assistance. We help kids meet their sensory needs, develop fine and gross motor skills, learn to regulate their emotions, and much more. Our sensory gym, which is indistinguishable from an indoor playground from its appearance alone, has been instrumental in our mission to foster independence.”
“What touches me most is just how greatly Julie and her team have inspired Pippa to try her best,” said Kari. “They have made her super comfortable with her surroundings. They deal with all her frustrations, which are perfectly justifiable given the hardship she’s endured, with tact and affection. And when Pippa has input, they don’t ignore it in the interest of sticking with the program. They listen. They listen to her, and they let her know she has been heard, and they make her understand that her voice matters.
“Pippa still has a long journey ahead, but I know she’ll meet future challenges with the same strength and resilience she shows every day. She has an indomitable spirit, a smile that lights up a room, and a group of great healthcare professionals who care deeply for her happiness and well-being. My husband and I call those people ‘Team Pippa.’ It’s a team we are glad to have Urban Speech & Occupational Therapy be a part of.”
Urban Speech & Occupational Therapy welcomes children of all ages and abilities to their clinic at 6409 City West Parkway, Suite 206 in Eden Prairie. Please visit UrbanSpeechMN.com to learn more, or call (952) 500-8871 to schedule an initial consultation for your child.
Kristina Theodosopoulos, M.A. CCC-SLP and Pippa
“ Working with Kim Guild and The Guild Group was truly one of the best decisions we made during a major life transition. Kim went far beyond what we expected. Throughout the entire journey, Kim was patient, steady, and incredibly supportive. She made a complex and emotional process feel manageable, and she showed up not just as an outstanding professional, but as a genuine partner and friend. We would wholeheartedly recommend Kim to anyone buying or selling a home, and we can confidently say the same about the exceptional team that supports her. We are deeply grateful for her care, expertise, and commitment. - Bruce & Richard
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THE TRUE STORY OF HOW I LEARNED TO LOVE KARATE
ARTICLE BY DAVID SCHELLER PHOTOGRAPHY BY REAL MEDIA MN
“YOU’D BE AMAZED BY THE PHYSICAL IMPROVEMENTS OUR STUDENTS UNDERGO.”
It had been one full year since my epic martial arts duel against Tyler Hauer: co-owner and head instructor of DOJO Karate in Eden Prairie, and the only man who has ever bested me in combat.
Until then, my hulking physique and finely honed reflexes had proven insuperable to every opponent who once stood in my path. But my first taste of defeat was sobering. It made me realize that I would never ascend to greater heights without better technique.
Thus did I travel the world mastering as many new martial arts as I could. I studied Muay Lao on the peak of Phou Bia under the tutelage of the great Ajarn Inthavong. I learned Bartitsu in the Roman ruins beneath London from the sole heir to E.W. Barton-Wright’s original technique. I even went to Apple Valley, where I learned the tiger, leopard, and snake styles of Shaolin kung fu for free at the zoo.
And then – as fortune would have it – I learned that an enigmatic international supercriminal was hosting an underground martial arts tournament on the remote Japanese island of Aogashima. Two elite CIA operatives told me all about it after tracking me down at my favorite bar.
“We want you to enter this tournament as a front for your real objective,” said one agent.
“Which is?” I asked, coolly.
“Take a photo of the shadowy kingpin while he’s doing something embarrassing…”
He paused to look me dead in the eyes.
“...and then post it on Facebook, where all his friends will see.”
I waved them away without so much as glancing in their direction. “Forget that,” I sneered. “I ain’t nobody’s puppet –least of all yours. And besides, I got magazine articles to write.”
“You hear that, Mr. Doe? Sounds like we didn’t pique his interest,” said the one agent to the other.
“Sure seems that way, Mr. Cardholder,” said the other. “But you know what? I might just have something here that’ll help change his mind.”
The stolid, featureless man slid a manilla envelope across the bar counter. “We’ll be seeing you,” he whispered. He and his consort then made their way silently out the door, where they quickly dissolved into the nighttime.
“Hmph,” I muttered under my breath. “What could the U.S. government possibly have to offer that I, a regional magazine publication director, don’t already have?” I took a big anticipatory sip of my chocolate milk while I opened the envelope, only to spit it all out when I discovered its contents.
A Post-it note, with a date, time, and geographical coordinates written on it…
…and a photo…
…of Tyler Hauer
FLASH FORWARD
The frenetic voice of the tournament’s announcer scarcely overcame the din of the crowd.
“It is the FINAL BOUT of the Aogashima Annihilation Tournament!” the electric voice thundered. “Each of the world’s two mightiest martial artists has defeated every challenger between himself and this very moment. An unstoppable force meets an equally unstoppable force! The grand showdown between Tyler Hauer of DOJO Karate … and David Scheller, of Eden Prairie Lifestyle! The fight of the millennium begins … NOW !”
If the crowd roared before, it now screamed as though someone had poured mice down its collective pants. I eyed Tyler from across the arena. He stood proud. Defiant. Like his seven previous opponents that day hadn’t registered as much more than a light warmup.
I could tell right away that I’d have to resort to psychological tactics. I employed my ultra-super-secret technique that I’d learned from making phone calls: casual conversation style.
“So … Tyler,” I spoke as I subtly angled myself into the ideal position from which to throw a flaming fist punch. “It’s been a year since we last spoke. How have things been going at DOJO Karate?”
“They’ve been amazing!” Tyler answered cheerfully. “We recently celebrated a huge milestone when we promoted
our first-ever brown belts. A big feat for a dojo that has only been in business for two and a half years! I can’t wait to continue helping them master the steps, forms, and sparring they’ll need in order to advance to black belt.”
Just a little longer, I thought. “Wow!” I replied. “Earning a black belt sure must take a lot of hard work.”
“Oh, definitely,” Tyler answered before dodging my flaming fist punch and then launching me 15 feet across the arena with a lightning-swift mae geri . He continued: “You’d be amazed by the physical improvements our students undergo. Especially in this day and age when so many children are on their iPads too much, it’s great to provide an encouraging yet rigorous setting where they can develop strength, agility, and coordination while making new friends!”
My insides were badly rattled, but I managed to get back on my feet with considerable effort. “I see,” I said as I began making virtually invisible motions that would subconsciously compel Tyler into opening himself up to a cyclone wheel kick. “So those kids must fight pretty good, huh?”
“Without question,” he answered. “Although, to be sure, our students don’t begin sparring until they’ve earned their green belts. They have to learn the basics first, as well as demonstrate their understanding that fighting is strictly for self-defense. ‘Might for right.’ That’s the axiom we all say at the beginning and end of each class. It reminds us that power is a gift, and must only be wielded for good reasons. But you know what? At the end of the day, karate’s not about fighting–”
At that instant, Tyler executed a perfect age-uke, repelling my cyclone wheel kick as though he’d read a letter warning him about it a week prior. He countered with a choku-zuki that sent me spiraling through the air.
“–it’s about confidence,” he continued. “That’s the biggest change I see in our students, who learn that discipline, respect, and self-improvement are three of the greatest virtues one can have in life. They see that they don’t have to be perfect. All that truly matters is that they try!”
My muscles burned. My bones creaked. Every nerve ending in my body felt like it had been dipped in strong acid. Even so, I managed to rise. I needed to buy a little more time before I could focus my last remaining reserve of strength into one final all-out attack. I wheezed: “Heh … yeah … (huff … huff) … so … you must have seen a lot of great kids come a really long way, then … right?”
“Totally!” Tyler answered brightly. Good , I thought to myself. I see I’ve touched on one of his favorite subjects. “For example, we have this one awesome 11-year-old, who I won’t refer to by name in front of all the people watching this martial arts tournament. This guy was super introverted the first time he came in. I soon learned he had been born with a physical disability that makes it hard for him to play sports, and for which he had been bullied a lot.
“IT’S ABOUT CULTIVATING A COMMUNITY; A PLACE WHERE STUDENTS SUPPORT ONE ANOTHER AND HAVE EACH OTHER’S BACKS. IT DOESN’T MATTER HOW MUCH OF AN UPHILL BATTLE AWAITS YOU. YOU’LL FIND YOUR PEOPLE AT DOJO KARATE.”
But by his fourth class, he was completely into karate. Glued to every instruction. Even practicing at home! He’d bring in his iPad not to play games, but so he could show me the forms he’d been practicing in his free time. I’m proud to say he’s now one of those brown belts I first mentioned. It’s unreal how sure of himself he has become!”
I still wasn’t ready to unleash my ultra-super-duper-secret technique. I had to stall Tyler just a moment longer. “It seems like karate really brings kids out of their shells, then, huh?”
“Every single time,” Tyler replied. “We have another great student – a cheery little girl whose homeschooling had left her unsure of how to behave around kids her own age. She was also a bit standoffish at first, but it wasn’t long until she started making real meaningful connections with her peers. She’s even started helping out in some of our classes! She has also gotten a lot more coordinated. She could barely balance on one foot for five seconds when she first joined us, but now she’s executing pretty complicated sequences of movements with surprising fluidity. With outright gracefulness, really!”
NOW. I tilted into a dead sprint toward Tyler, leapt eight feet into the air until I was right above his head, and then shot straight down like a bolt of lightning. “AIR-RENDING MOONBENDING BONE-CRUNCHING DRAGON SHOT!” I screamed at the top of my lungs as I plunged with the force of a thousand very powerful somethings.
But I never felt Tyler beneath me. I landed on the ground where he had just previously stood in utter befuddlement.
I felt a light tap on my shoulder. Stunned, I turned to behold Tyler, who then appeared before me like a deva carved into a mountainside set alight by fire of otherworldly origin. I could only look on in awe as I watched him unleash a shutō-uchi capable of crushing solid iron into powder.
I closed my eyes and waited for the blow that would end my magazine writing career once and for all. But it didn’t come. Instead, I felt a gentle pat on the cheek.
“Karate instruction isn’t about dragging people up,” Tyler shouted to me over the deafening cheers of the crowd. “It’s about cultivating a community; a place where students support one another and have each other’s backs. It doesn’t matter how much of an uphill battle awaits you. You’ll find your people at DOJO Karate.”
My eyes filled with tears at the beauty of Tyler’s words, as well as all the immense pain he had inflicted on me. “Please … tell me how…” I entreated as I dropped to my knees in reverence.
“That’s easy!” he chimed. “Just drop by 7916 Mitchell Road Monday through Saturday to see what we’re all about, or visit DOJOKarate. com to check out our martial programs for preschoolers all the way up to adults. We also offer fitness kickboxing, and provide the perfect venue and activities for kids’ birthday parties!”
And that’s exactly what I will do – as soon as the CIA stops looking for me for not doing that thing I had promised them I’d do.
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Eagle Excellence Showcase
Eden Prairie Schools and FEPS Welcome You to Celebrate Greatness This October
Last year marked the grand debut of Eden Prairie Schools’ Hall of Fame: 20 alumni, staff members, and community leaders whose achievements surpass every standard for excellence.
So auspicious an occasion demanded a crowd – precisely what Eden Prairie Schools and the Foundation for Eden Prairie Schools (FEPS) drew to Valley View Campus when they hosted the Eagle Excellence Showcase there last October. Around 200 attended to celebrate Eden Prairie’s best and brightest, as well as raise funding that FEPS has already granted to students, staff, and organizations making a powerful difference throughout the school district.
The soirée was a resounding success, and 20 Hall of Fame inductees and other special honorees represent only a fraction of our city’s greatness. That’s every reason Eden Prairie Schools and FEPS needed to host the second annual Eagle Excellence Showcase on the evening of Saturday, October 3rd.
“Our newly renovated Valley View Campus provides the perfect venue for what has become FEPS’ signature fundraising event,” said Molly Malone, director of community engagement and alumni
relations for Eden Prairie Schools. “It’s spacious yet intimate, with a solarium and patio overlooking the south shore of beautiful Bryant Lake.
“Guests are invited to arrive at 5:30 for happy hour. In addition to mingling, they can bid in FEPS’ silent auction: gift cards and packages donated by local businesses, and other items from award winners. A live auction featuring tours, trips, and other curated experiences will follow later in the evening.”
“The big presentation will begin with a seated dinner,” said Jody Ward-Rannow, director for FEPS. “It will showcase this year’s 10 Hall of Fame inductees’ grit, perseverance, and success, along with the triumphs of Eagles over the years. We will also present FEPS’ annual Legacy Awards honoring those selfless teachers, staff, volunteers, alumni, and other community members who make our town’s educational system so exceptional.”
“Eden Prairie Schools will bestow even more distinctions to some of our own inspiring team members,” added Molly. “Truly an uplifting spectacle, and a special thing to be a part of! You’re certain to leave with a stronger devotion to our community than you have ever felt before.”
ARTICLE BY DAVID SCHELLER
PHOTOGRAPHY BY EDEN
PRAIRIE SCHOOLS
“With your help, we’re seeing just how high our Eagles can soar!”
“FEPS awarded around $60,000 in grants last year alone,” Jody continued. “Those funds are available to any organization with an idea that will make a big impact, as well as educators who need additional supplies or equipment to take their lessons to the next level. We have recently covered the costs of books, 3D printers, VR goggles, special programs, and even Eden Prairie High School’s new Emerging Technologies Lab. It’s all in service of unlocking more students’ potential, motivating them to reach greater heights, and giving us plenty to celebrate during Eagle Excellence Showcases for decades to come.”
“Thank you to everyone who attends and donates,” said Molly. “With your help, we’re seeing just how high our Eagles can soar!”
Visit EdenPr.org/eagle-excellence-showcase to learn more!
CONGRATULATIONS TO THIS YEAR’S HALL OF FAME INDUCTEES AND LEGACY AWARDS WINNERS!
2026 Eden Prairie Schools Hall of Fame Inductees
• Alia (‘01) and Radwa Elkaffas (‘05) - Food Dolls content creators and New York Times best-selling authors
• Anna (Bachman) Itman (‘96) - Former Pom Squad dancer and dedicated coach
• Blake Cashman (‘15) - EPHS football and NFL star
• Conn McCartan (‘78) - Star student and esteemed EPHS principal
• Greg Elder (‘86) - L.L.Bean CEO
• Judy Baxter - Legendary girls lacrosse coach
• Kyle Rau (‘11) - EPHS hockey and NHL star
• Linda Bergman † - Former teacher, Baro tutoring champion, and volunteer
• Reuel Long (‘42) † - War hero/POW
• Tim Beekmann - Longtime teacher and beloved principal
2026 FEPS Legacy Award Winners
• Elementary Teacher of the Year - Stacy Natal, Prairie View Elementary School reading specialist
• Secondary Teacher of the Year - Andy Malone, Central Middle School social studies teacher
• Staff of the Year - Montserrat Muñoz, Cedar Ridge Elementary and Forest Hills Elementary Schools cultural liaison
• Staff of the Year - Heriberto Vargas, Spanish communications specialist
• Staff of the Year - Katy Hokanson, Area Learning Center paraprofessional
• Volunteer of the Year - Jan Schmidt, Forest Hills Elementary School
• Community Leader of the Year - Jenifer Loon, PROP
TREY & KATIE KENNEDY
ON MARRIAGE, KIDS, AND THE COMEDY OF REAL LIFE
Trey Kennedy makes a living finding comedy in regular life. Marriage. Toddlers. Yoga pants. The Thursday-night scramble between school dropoffs, soccer practice, and whatever has to be done by morning. Twelve years in, it shows: millions of followers across every platform, three stand-up specials, a sold-out Relatable Tour, and a style of humor fans send each other captioned, “Are you watching me?” He delivers the kind of comedy that travels because everyone’s living some version of it.
Katie, his wife of six years, is a former biomedical engineer who also built a modeling career. She’s now raising their kids and co-hosting Correct Opinions alongside Trey — the show where the two of them swap takes on marriage, parenting, and whatever came up that week.
Trey has been at this longer than people realize. An Edmond, Oklahoma kid who grew up playing basketball described himself as a “shy kid who never thought he’d be an entertainer.” He started making videos while attending Oklahoma State University. After building millions of followers on Vine before the platform shut down, he gave himself six months on Instagram and Facebook to see whether he could rebuild from zero. He did. Stand-up soon followed. His first special, Are You For Real?, streams on YouTube; the second, Grow Up, on Amazon Prime; the third, built around the Relatable Tour, wrapped earlier this year. “I’ve been trying to be funny every week for like twelve years now,” he says. A slow climb, made one bit at a time.
ARTICLE BY KALI KASPRZYK PHOTOGRAPHY BY JANIE JONES
“I’ve been trying to be funny every week for like twelve years now.”
Most of what Trey writes lately starts in his own kitchen. Thomas is three and a half, and he is, in his father’s words, “a movie.” He narrates his own life from the moment his eyes open and mispronounces words in ways his parents now repeat to each other because no one else would believe them. His younger sister, Eva, is what Katie calls “the calm one.” With a third now in the mix, the Kennedys are officially outnumbered.
After six years of marriage, Trey and Katie have learned that the partnership runs best when it gets its own time on the calendar. So once a week, they leave the kids with a sitter and go out for coffee. “You need a system,” Katie says. “It’s about taking time to look each other in the eye. Not the kids. Not the cameras. Just each other.”
The same instinct shapes the work. Most of Trey’s trial and error happens onstage or on Instagram, but the first read is always Katie’s. “There’s only been one time ever I’ve had to be like, ‘you’re not doing that,’” she says. The rest of the time, she just laughs first.
FEATURING TREY & KATIE KENNEDY
Trey and Katie talk about marriage, parenting, and the moments that don’t make the Instagram feed.
Watch or listen to the full conversation wherever you get your podcasts.
HAIR & MAKEUP BY MIKAYLA CRANE
Kyle Luebeck
Dan Geisler
Todd Loudenslager
Open daily from 10 a.m.–10 p.m. May 1–October 31 and the first weekend in December
ShakopeeMN.gov/socialdistrict
PRAIRIE WINE & BREWFEST
Saturday, September 12th, 3-6pm at Purgatory Creek Park
ARTICLE BY DAVID SCHELLER PHOTOGRAPHY BY RAJENDRAN THIAGARAJAN
We have to ask you to be REAL selfless here for a second. We want you to:
1. Go to beautiful PURGATORY CREEK PARK.
2. Surround yourself with LOVELY PEOPLE.
3. Eat FOOD YOU ENJOY EATING.
4. Drink DRINKS YOU ENJOY DRINKING.
5. Witness what might just be WONDERCURE’S LAST-EVER LIVE PERFORMANCE AT PRAIRIE WINE & BREWFEST.
What are we asking you to do, EXACTLY? That’s simple. We are asking you to attend the 12th annual Prairie Wine & Brewfest, where you can:
1. Support the EDEN PRAIRIE COMMUNITY FOUNDATION and the myriad local nonprofit organizations it directly benefits; and
2. DRINK OUTDOORS.
THERE WILL BE BEVERAGES
Beer by respected local brewers such as Fat Pants Brewing Co. Liquor by respected local distillers such as Dapper Barons. Wine by vintners that have yet to be determined. Probably beverages containing a three-letter molecular compound that Eden Prairie Lifestyle’s corporate guidelines forbid any allusion to. Non-alcoholic drinks , too – perfect if you are pregnant, or were inside of a pregnant person within the last 21 years. You can savor them all at Prairie Wine & Brewfest!
THERE WILL BE JAMS
Do you want to hear glockenspiel covers of Yoko Ono songs? TOO BAD. The Eden Prairie Community Foundation’s long-standing commitment to good vibes compelled them to book a band that specializes in the all-time greatest genre of rock: classic. We are speaking, of course, of WONDERCURE: an Eden Prairie cover band
whose music is vastly better than the original artists’, according to the entire Eden Prairie Lifestyle editorial team.
THERE WILL BE PHILANTHROPY
“Prairie Wine & Brewfest is a day of fun and giving back, which has historically raised $40,000 to $50,000 toward our mission of enhancing the quality of life for all who live and work in our community each year,” said Emily Orr, Eden Prairie Community Foundation executive director. “Guests can even help us decide which of our nonprofit partners will receive some of that funding. Come vote for the recipients of the $3,000, $2,000, and $1,000 grants that will be awarded during the festival!”
Be an early bird! Buy your ticket for $30 before August 1st. Be a late bird! Pay $35 after August 1st, or $45 at the door. Be an extra philanthropic bird and inquire about VIP tickets, which make an even bigger contribution to the Foundation and include swag and nearby parking!
EPCommunityFoundation.org
Dog Lover? We Volunteer T
Volunteer
Care for and train our dogs from puppies to service dogs, attending weekly classes and practicing cues in and outside of home.
Host Homes
Open their hearts and homes to our dogs, while our staff trains them during the daytime. Foster a future service dog!
Dog Sitters
Help care for our dogs in training when their Volunteer Dog Trainers or Host Homes travel! Choose the dates that work for you!
events
AUGUST 10TH
American Red Cross Blood Drive at Chanhassen Dinner Theatres
501 West 78th St, Chanhassen | 12:00 PM
Donate blood at Chanhassen Dinner Theatres from noon to 6pm to receive a complimentary show-only ticket valid through November 1st, 2026! Simply register online at RedCrossBlood.org using sponsor code CDT. Registration required; offer limited to 65 registrants.
AUGUST 10TH
Eden Prairie Lions Charity Golf Tournament
6940 Dahlgren Rd, Chaska | 11:30 AM
Get outdoors. Connect with great people. Support meaningful causes! Enter the Eden Prairie Lions Charity Golf Tournament, featuring $10,000 hole-in-one prizes and big giveaways at beautiful Dahlgreen Golf Club! 11:30am check-in; noon grab and grow lunch; 1pm start and scramble; 5:30pm cocktail hour; 6pm dinner, awards and prizes. Register today! EPLionsGolf.org
AUGUST 27TH
Eden Prairie Chamber of Commerce Emerging
2929 Water Tower Pl, Chanhassen | 4:00 PM
Leaders Pickleball Event
Join the Chamber at Mega Pickleball from 4 to 6pm for an evening of fun and professional connection! No tournament. No pressure. Just great company and open play in a relaxed happy hour setting. Designated courts for beginner, intermediate, and advanced levels will be available, as will instruction and paddles! EPChamber.org
What Is Your Business Worth?
The first question a business owner must ask themselves when they look towards an exit plan is to determine the value of their business. As an asset, what is it worth? How will I transition out? What can go wrong? We have the experience to help you maximize the value of your business and strategize for a successful transition on your terms.
Call us now for a FREE consultation.
LEADERS IN CARE. EXPERTS IN MOTION.
At Summit Orthopedics, we’re proud to be Minnesota’s only top-ranked orthopedic and spine outpatient surgery center as recognized by U.S. News & World Report. And while our expertise sets us apart, it’s how we care for people that defines us. Even after thousands of procedures, we treat each patient like the only one.
Pictured above: Dr. Michael Q. Freehill