Local entrepreneur pays homage to her heritage

Local entrepreneur pays homage to her heritage
More specialists ready to go.
Ready with more doctors. Set with the most specialty services and urgent care locations open 8am — 8pm daily. Go to TCO for the care your body needs to keep moving. No referral or appointment necessary. TCOmn.com
“My overall experience was great. I love the window, and from sales to scheduling, the experience was very good. The installers are highly skilled professionals and I would recommend Renewal by Andersen to all my contacts.”
“If I’m an advocate for anything, it’s to move. As far as you can, as much as you can. Across the ocean, or simply across the river. The extent to which you can walk in someone else’s shoes or at least eat their food, it’s a plus for everybody. Open your mind, get up off the couch, move.”
—Anthony Bourdain, American chef
10 — Shades of the Season Vision expert provides tips for this year’s sunglasses trends.
12 — Sweet Solutions Local entrepreneur pays homage to her heritage.
14 — Are We There Yet? Missi Vagt offers suggestions for family travels.
16 — Worley Gig A Plymouth-based band is rocking it.
20 — Fore ward Thinking Plymouth native tees up golf and travel.
30 — Appetite for Adventure Executive chef brings international inspirations to the Four Seasons Hotel Minneapolis.
If you’re anything like me, you travel through your stomach. My camera roll from a college study abroad trip to Spain has as many photos of food as it does the stunning architecture of Barcelona and the friends I met along the way. Particolored ribbons of late night gelato stands on La Rambla; mouthwatering fruit stalls at the St. Josef Mercado de la Boqueria; two-bite montadito sandwiches with jamón ibérico; towering burgers at a Route-66 themed diner in Sitges. For me, travel and food have always been inextricably linked.
In this travel and fashion themed issue, I want to take you on an international culinary tour. From the ginger beer developed by a Liberian-born Plymouth entrepreneur (page 12) to the culinary influences of an international chef (page 30), Plymouth plays hosts to flavors from around the world.
Food is a universal language. It invites you to travel outside yourself and experience new cultures and flavors. If a vacation is out of the question for you during the upcoming months, at least your taste buds can travel. And, if you are planning a trip, I invite you to taste something new.
Until next time,
On the Cover Tashie George, photo by Chris Emeott, page 12
See what we’re doing behind the scenes and around town! Plymouth Magazine @plymouth_mag @plymouthmag
VOL. 19 NO. 6 plymouthmag.com
publisher Susan Isay editor
Madeline Kopiecki managing creative director
Renée Stewart-Hester managing editor
Hailey Almsted digital editor Madeline Kopiecki copy editors
Kellie Doherty Sherri Hildebrandt staff writers
Zoe Deal Mollee Franscisco Emily Gedde
Susie Hopper Daniel Huss Hanna McDaniels Malena Larsen Josie Smith
Kristie Smith
contributing writers
Emily Maxson Christian Nesheim Nikki Steele Amy Sundet Katie Timcho
editorial interns
Nicole Berglund Megan Hegenbarth
editorial advisory board
Kelley Burfeind , Interfaith Outreach
Meghan Milovich , blogger and fundraiser for Children’s Hospitals
Zach Nelson , Wayzata School District
Mark Poppendeck , Beez ‘N Treez Foundation
Brian Rosemeyer , City of Plymouth
LuAnn Svendsen , Plymouth Reads chair and community volunteer senior managing art director
Sarah Dovolos art director Allison Nolden junior designer Jamie Klang lead staff photographer Chris Emeott production director Brittni Dye production manager Lisa Stone production coordinator Mimi Coz senior account executives
Brooke Beise Cynthia Hamre Sara Johnson
Kathie Smith president
Pete Burgeson To subscribe to Plymouth Magazine please visit: localmedia.co For customer service inquiries, please contact hello@localmedia.co or call 612.208.6248.
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Bonfe can help keep your home safe and comfortable. We fix broken furnaces and boilers, busted air conditioners, fried electrical systems, clogged drains, collapsed sewers and a whole host of other home headaches.
This is one of my all-time favorite meatless dishes, inspired by the Lebanese dish Mujadara. In this recipe, I substitute cauliflower rice for the rice and top the mixture with a garlic tahini sauce. It is the ultimate comfort food, perfect for enjoying on a cold winter day.
Lentil and Cauliflower Rice Bowls Serves 2–4
» 4 Tbsp. olive oil
» 2 large onions
» 1 1/2 cups green or brown lentils
» 3 cups water or broth
» 4 cups riced cauliflower
» 1 tsp. sea salt
» 1 Tbsp. cumin
» 1 bunch fresh parsley, chopped
» Garlic Tahini Sauce (Find the recipe online at plymouthmag.com.)
Cut the onions in half and thinly slice them. In a large sauté pan, heat 2 Tbsp. olive oil. Add the onions and cook over medium-high heat, stirring occasionally. Rinse the lentils. In a medium saucepan, combine the lentils and water or broth, and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat, and simmer for 20–25 minutes or until tender. Drain any excess liquid, and return to the pan. When the onions are a deep brown, remove half of them from the pan, and set aside. Add 1–2 Tbsp. of olive oil to the pan with the remaining onions. Add the cauliflower rice to the olive oil and onions, and sauté for 3–5 minutes. Add the lentils, sea salt and cumin to the mixture, and combine well. Divide the lentil mixture between 2–4 bowls. Top each bowl with the extra caramelized onions. Drizzle with Garlic Tahini Sauce, and top with chopped parsley.
Emily Maxson is a Plymouth food blogger and author of Emily’s Fresh Kitchen Cookbook. For more recipes, you can visit emilysfreshkitchen.com, or follow her on Instagram @emilysfreshkitchen.
When I think about travel and fashion, there are two places that jump to the top of my head—Italy and France. Luckily, they make some of the best wines in the world to back up their reputation.
From Italy, try a Langhe Rosso like the one from Luigi Giordano. The Langhe region makes some of the highest quality wines in the world from a grape called nebbiolo. The region encompasses Barolo and Barbaresco, which some of the best wines in the world call home. This wine is sturdy, elegant and at a price you cannot beat. It is a great introduction to some of the most fashionable wines in the world.
After your jaunt to Italy, how about a stop in southern France? This region is the hottest new value in French wine. Try Château de C iffre, a grenache/syrah blend from the Saint-Chinian region. Smooth and balanced, this wine seems like it stepped out of a french bistro and said, “Here I am! Drink me!” Impress your family and friends with this gorgeous red.
Christian Nesheim is the owner of Vinifera Wines and Ales. Find more at viniferawinesandales.com.
Relationship statuses come in all different shades. This February 14, express yourself with a Valentine’s Day outfit that pulls inspiration from across the color wheel.
Instead of diving in feet first, perhaps take a step back and let your Valentine’s Day style lure your special someone in slowly, with a peak of white lace under that work blazer or cardi sweater. You have that lace cami from years ago—pull it out, and use it as your base layer instead of your thermals. If you already got rid of your lace cami, you’re in luck: This wardrobe staple is making a comeback in 2023.
The Barbie movie is set to release this summer, and the trailer has already set social feeds a flutter with the resurgence of “Barbiecore.” In case you didn’t catch it the first time around, Barbiecore is super straightforward: think pink, top and bottom. It doesn’t even have to be the same color pink—just make sure you keep it in the same pink tone
to mix and match this monochromatic look. Looking for that joyful sunny disposition that we all crave around this time of year? Try adding Empire Yellow (Pantone 14-0756), an effulgent hue that will brighten anyone’s day. According to Pantone, this exact shade is one of the biggest fashion trends of the spring season. Add a pop of yellow to the ontrend Barbiecore pink set, (think pink sweater and yellow jacket), and you will be the trendsetter of the spring season.
You can’t go wrong with wearing red. Red is known to get the heart pumping, so wear this color for a special effect. Try stepping things up with a red dress and red lipstick. The color is classic and always on trend—especially this season—so just go for it. You’ll be stunning!
Nikki Steele is a stylist serving the Plymouth community and more. For more style tips, follow Steele on Instagram @nikkisteelestyle or go to nikkisteelestyle.com.
Books from two international authors invite your imagination to travel while your body stays put.
These Impossible Things by Salma El-Wardany is a novel focused on the friendship between three Muslim women who are torn between family, relationships and staying true to their culture. As they grow up, their lives begin taking different paths before ultimately reuniting them in a beautiful way. This is a remarkable story about female friendships and all that they encompass.
The novel Counterfeit by Kirstin Chen will make you question any designer item you own. Dual narration follows two wealthy Chinese American women, Winnie and Ava, who first meet as college roommates. After losing touch, they reconnect 20 years later and together build a global counterfeit purse empire. These cunning and business savvy women are the ultimate leaders as they, like the book, demand attention.
Local bookworms Katie Timcho and Amy Sundet run the Instagram book blog @overbookedmoms.
A LONGSTANDING STYLE STAPLE of travel, regardless of the climate you’re visiting, is sunglasses. Whether you’re trying to protect your eyes from the brightness of the snow or the sun, see the winding roads better or sharpen your ability to take in the sights, sunglasses are an essential tool even if they aren’t prescription.
We turned to Lindsey Durr, the director of operations at Kennedy Vision Health Center, for what to take into consideration when looking for new sunglasses.
First, Durr notes how important it is to take care of your eyes. Regardless of if you’re wearing sunglasses as a statement piece or to improve vision, you should always have your favorite pair on hand to prevent a litany of eye-related ailments.
“It’s really important to note the kind of lifestyle you have before buying a pair of sunglasses,” Durr says. “If you’re driving a lot, we recommend going with a thinner band because thicker bands on glasses can cause a blind spot.” If you live an active lifestyle or are simply prone to sweating, Durr says it’s better to consider an acetate frame than a metal frame, which may irritate the skin.
With your lifestyle taken into account, it’s time to get to the fun part—the style of the glasses. Durr says to look for glasses that are the opposite shape of the face. “If you have a rounder face, you’ll really look good in a cat-eye lens. If you have a square jawline, you should not be getting squared lenses.
Vision expert provides tips for this year’s sunglasses trends.
It’s not just style, sunglasses help maintain healthy eyes. Durr lists some of the ill effects skipping sunglasses may lead to.
• Vacuolar Degeneration: An eye disease which blurs your sense of vision.
• Skin Cancer: Eyelids are delicate and not exempt from skin cancer. Durr says 10 percent of skin cancer is on the eyelids.
• Sunburn: Yes, your eyes can become sunburned. Think redness, eye pain and potentially blurry vision.
Instead, you should gravitate towards more round glasses,” she says. This way, the glasses aren’t in competition with your features but instead provide contrast in a way that will add a complimentary balance to your face.
You can also play around with colored lenses. Durr says the most common lens colors are brown and gray. Brown lenses are the best for driving, while gray are the darkest and will give you the most coverage. “Other colors are typically just a tint or fashion statement, but there are some cool additions to the other colors,” Durr says. A blue tint to your glasses can be very calming and is great for migraines; yellow tints are used in a lot of shooting ranges because they create more focus for the eye; pink tints lessen the frequency of light and are ideal for people who experience migraines or muscle spasms.
Durr says the trending sunglasses brands of 2023 are going to be Prada and Tiffany & Co. “Prada and Tiffany actually just dropped their newest collections. These sunglasses will be what every celebrity is wearing and what we see the most. They also have the most fun, and they have pieces for everyone,” Durr says.
She also notes to keep a lookout for smaller, elegant lenses with a futuristic look. The trends are gravitating toward simpler, sleeker pieces, instead of the big, chunky shapes we have grown used to. Above all, the most important look you should go for is the look that will make you feel most confident for the new year.
Kennedy Vision Health Center, 10600 Old County Road 15; kennedyvision.com
Kennedy Vision Health Center @kennedyvisionhealthcenter
@KennedyVisionMN
TASHIE GEORGE is in the business of finding solutions. The Liberian-born, New York-raised Plymouth resident has created change in each of her communities through IFRI LLC. Her everevolving company looks to bridge the gap between Africa and the African diaspora in the U.S. and empower both communities. “It’s not often that we see folks that look like us going beyond, achieving things that are thought of as unachievable,” George says. “It’s important to be strong. It’s important to be consistent and persistent to show our community that you can do it.”
George’s actions back up her stance. In the wake of the Ebola epidemic and her father’s death, her online platform, IFRI-Mart, supported the distribution of African food products in Liberia, helping people in the diaspora to support loved ones through food deliveries. When larger companies came in to offer the same service, George pivoted and began to distribute African products in the U.S.
She soon realized that many of the companies she was supporting and marketing were profiting off of a community they did not give back to. George immediately shut down her website. “I said, ‘I’m going to break the cycle, I'm going to break this chain … I’m going to create my own line of products made in Africa,’” she says. After returning to Liberia in 2020 for the first time since childhood, she discovered her path in a beverage beloved by her family and community: ginger beer.
George’s Mandingo-Grebo ginger beer will be available in both alcoholic and nonalcoholic varieties. The name is an homage to her parents’ tribes; her father’s, the Mandingo of Guinea, and her mother’s, the Grebo of Liberia. “That’s the make-up of me. That’s who I am,” George says. “The logo is a cartoon character of my face, but the eye is the connection of the map of Guinea and the map of Liberia, which is my parents connecting me together, giving me the vision to see further.”
Local entrepreneur pays homage to her heritage.
When she’s not working on Mandingo-Grebo, George spends her time mentoring others in her community. Her initiative IFRI-TRYV supports women entrepreneurs in Liberia through business incubator training and grants. She hosts the annual BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Color) Business Expo in Minneapolis, manages the Hennepin County Elevate Business program and was appointed by governor Tim Walz to the State of Minnesota Emerging Entrepreneur Board in August 2022. “I feel like if you can make a difference in one person’s life everyday, for me, I’ve served my purpose on this earth,” George says.
Of all her efforts, George says her greatest joy comes from being a mother to her 16-year-old daughter. “Raising a kid that has the courage to run for student senate in the 10th grade, because she wants to ensure that her peers are living with integrity and responsibility and respect, I think that’s what I’m most proud of,” George says. “I feel like I’ve made a positive contribution to society through my child, and the more I see her flourish and grow, that's when I feel like I’m doing something right.”
Mandingo-Grebo is set to hit the market in early 2023. For more details on availability and to find Mandingo-Grebo at a location near you, visit ifrillc.com. Visit plymouthmag.com for a Ta-Mosa recipe featuring Mandingo-Grebo.
IFRI LLC., 612.424.0281, Ifrillc.com IFRI LLC @ifrillc
THE
WAY TO TRAVEL from Point A to Point B is in a straight line, but that’s rarely the route trips take. In reality, travelers move in squiggly lines and often relish the experience more because of it.
And what’s the squiggliest of travel experiences? Easy answer: traveling with kids.
Missi Vagt, owner of Plymouth-based Sand & Shore Travel, has been there and done that, so much so that she has developed what she coined her “Busy Mom’s Worry Free Travel Checklist.”
The list evolved through hours of research, information garnered from
a company she partners with and from personal experiences.
The number one concern on her list is the stroller, which not only helps parents of young travelers navigate airports, it helps them navigate vacations. Vagt notes that strollers can often be gate checked, meaning you can leave your stroller at the door of the plane and retrieve it when you exit.
A car seat can be an even bigger concern, literally. “Have you seen some of these car seats? They can be the size of a Volvo,” Vagt says. “In reality, it’s another large piece of luggage.”
If you’re going to pack your own car seat, Vagt recommends checking the seat, in its original packaging, with the rest of your luggage. Another option is to bring the car seat on the plane. A word of caution: Car seats are not allowed in exit rows. In fact, installing the car seat in a window seat might be the only option. Check first, as different airlines have different policies.
A final car seat option is to rent one once you arrive. If you choose this option, be prepared to hold your baby through the airport and throughout the flight. Wraps and cloth baby carriers that allow you to “wear your baby” make this a lot easier. Vagt recommends that if you don’t normally carry your baby in a wrap, practice at home first.
Mindful distraction is the answer to, “Are we there yet?” To keep kids entertained on planes and in cars, Vagt packs individual backpacks for each of her travelers. Inside, she’ll include age-appropriate activities (stickers, coloring books, magnets, small craft projects and soft cover books). She adds that tablets and headphones are givens, but not enough.
What does she pack in her own backpack? “In my backpack, there’s nothing but food and snacks, and no one is allowed to look inside,” Vagt says. Vagt’s backpack is a hit throughout the trip. “It’s not just for the plane,” she says.
Vagt is deliberate in how she packs for a vacation. Considerations include what the week will look like and what everyone will be doing and wearing. Her number one rule is to not overpack. “You learn what you need to bring and pack it correctly,” she says. “If I forget something, I’ll just buy it, as there are Costcos and Targets everywhere.”
And yes, rolling your clothes does save space.
Is there a single item travelers tend to forget? “Travelers pack their phone chargers but forget to bring chargers for watches, tablets and everything else,” Vagt says.
The one item no one should ever forget? “Patience,” Vagt says. “And grab a big bag. You’ll use it.”
Back
What do Willie Nelson, Led Zeppelin, Eric Church, Miranda Lambert and Heart all have in common? Yes, they all have the letter “E” in their names. No, that’s not the answer.
The answer is that Plymouth’s Devon Worley, lead singer for the Devon Worley Band, counts each of the above performers and bands as inspirations. In fact, the band’s most recent release covering Led Zeppelin’s Immigrant Song is one of their highest charting singles to date.
But one standout single doesn’t mean the Devon Worley Band only specializes in covers. “We like a good cover as much as the next guy, but we’re 100 percent an original band,” Worley says.
In fact, the Devon Worley Band has recorded three original albums and is close to dropping a fourth. It has also opened for Lynyrd Skynyrd and Bush, toured Scotland and England and performed at Minneapolis’ 7th St. Entry, a venue connected to the iconic First Avenue.
It’s music, according to Worley, is described as some country, some Minneapolis funk, some rock and some heavy stuff. “No matter what it sounds like, it’s us,” Worley says. “We actively move away from genres and play and write what we like.”
At just 24 years old, Worley has been sitting in with bands for as long as she can remember. The Devon Worley Band started when she was just 13 years old. Simultaneously, she performed with the Minnesota Opera Children’s Chorus. “I was in the Children’s Chorus from fourth grade to my junior year of high school,” she says. “The things I learned singing, I carry into every performance today.”
When asked for specifics, Worley talks of muscle memory and the ability to sing and perform for long periods of time. “I learned how to act like a professional,” she says. “I remember in the fourth grade, when I performed at the Ordway. The manager said I deserved to be there and if I didn’t act like it, I wouldn’t be there anymore.”
Today, Worley fronts her all-time favorite band. “It’s not just me, it’s a band,” she says. “We’re a team. We write together, and we play together.”
Worley plays guitar and the piano, plus she sings. On lead guitar is Jason Medvec. Before his
current nine-year stint with the Devon Worley Band, he toured the U.S., Canada, Europe, Australia and India over the course of three years with the Bay City Rollers.
Bass player Twigg has toured the world with Pharrell Williams’ band, N.E.R.D., and he’s performed on Saturday Night Live . He’s also shared the stage with Justin Timberlake. He’s played in the Devon Worley Band for two years.
Grant Thelen supplies background vocals and occasionally lead vocals. He also plays drums, harmonica and trumpet, sometimes all at once. Although he can’t play the trumpet and harmonica simultaneously, he can bang the drum with one hand and blast the trumpet with the other. Thelen has played with the Devon Worley Band for seven years.
The Devon Worley Band’s writing process is total collaboration. Medvec writes a lot of the music. Worley pens a lot of the lyrics. Twigg and Thelen do both. “After we finish writing, we’ll play it and play it some more,” Worley says. “Our audience gets the final say. If something isn’t working, they’ll let us know.”
Like many bands, the Devon Worley Band makes hay during the festival season, which typically runs May through October. “That’s when you play to the biggest crowds,” Devon says. “It’s when you make the most money.”
As an example, the band played the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally last August.
Venue work follows festival work, and it can last from early November until whenever. “We’re not so high and mighty that we can pick and choose,” Worley says.
Actually, their manager (and Devon Worley’s mom) Jamey Worley does some picking and choosing. “We have to at least cover our expenses,” Jamey says.
What have been the band’s favorite shows?
“My all-time favorite is the time we opened for Lynyrd Skynyrd,” Worley says. “Our [7th St. Entry] debut was pretty great too. It’s where we got one of our best reviews.”
Favorite venues?
“We played at a Wendy’s. They even let us run the Frosty machine,” Worley says.
Jamey mentions a show that they nearly walked away from in England. “It was smaller and different,” she says. “During the day, the place where the band was going to play served as a homeless shelter. At night, it was a pub. I knew what [the band] was thinking, and I was in panic mode.”
The band stayed calm and carried on, and gave one of their best shows ever. “You definitely can’t judge a book by its cover,” Worley says. “That little place became so packed you could barely walk.”
Worley’s biggest takeaway was the audience’s politeness. “They were weirdly polite,” she says. “They’d stop and stare during the performance and then clap profusely for about eight seconds when it ended. You’d start the next song and they’d stare again.”
Worley had never seen such focused attention. “Here, you work hard to gain someone’s attention. There, they just give it to you,” she says.
Lastly, Jamey brings up a reoccurring show they do in Colorado. “Devon and Jason both struggle with altitude,” Jamey says. “Not only did the medic in one of the festival tents know that, he had an IV drip ready for both.”
Before administering, he chastised the two for being soft. “He said we were a bunch of flatlanders,” Worley says.
Ironic, since the Devon Worley Band is a band on the rise.
For more insight about band life with the Devon Worley Band, go to plymouthmag.com for onlineonly content.
Ashlee Ciora was living in downtown Los Angeles when her life coach told her repeatedly, “I see green in your future,” Ciora says.
As senior director for international travel at the Los Angeles Tourism and Convention Board, her work world was upended in March 2020 when the pandemic hit. “Do I stay in L.A., or what?” she asked herself. Ciora called her family in Minnesota and moved back in early 2020. “I had to figure out a new path,” she says, although staying in tourism and hospitality was a given.
“I didn’t really have anything to do, so I played golf with my family,” Ciora says. She grew up in a golfing family, so it was a way to be outdoors, have fun and stay healthy. Ciora also joined the LPGA Amateur Golf Association, Minnesota Metro Chapter, the largest women’s golf organization in the world, and played with local members. She heard those women say, “‘When travel opens up, we want a golf trip,’” she says, and a light came on.
With her background, Ciora immediately thought about a business featuring women’s golf trips. She consulted with other golf and travel experts, and decided the niche was perfect for her.
Women’s golf is big business in the U.S. There were 6.2 million women golfers in 2021, and, last year, $1.53 billion was spent on women’s golf equipment and apparel. There is a meteoric rise in the number of junior women golfers taking up the game.
After doing more research, Ciora learned that there are only about five companies in the country that specialize in women’s golf trips. She founded Women on Fairways LLC, and was soon a solo entrepreneur, developing a concept of experiential trips for women golfers and bootstrapping her business from the ground up.
She’s done everything to get Women on Fairways rolling. Ciora designed her own website, wrote all the copy and built all the pages. She’s also her own public relations person, marketing professional, financial expert and operations leader. “Women want to talk to other women about a golf trip,” she says.
As part of the business model, Ciora puts together Swing and Sip golf experiences—small, escorted golf trips for women. She plans the transportation, activities, golf, shopping, spa time or whatever clients want. “It’s fun, noncompetitive and great for professional
women, moms or a group of friends,” she says. “All they have to do is show up with their clubs.”
The trips aren’t just zeroed in on golf (two rounds are scheduled and a third round can be added). It’s that experiential element that sets Women on Fairways apart from men’s golf trips. “With guys, everything is about the golf. They go to Ireland [and] to Scotland. They play all day. They stay out all night then tee off again at 6 a.m.,” says John Glozek, publisher of NYGOLF Magazine “What women want is beyond the golf. They want dinners, spas, getting together, the entire experience,” he says.
“Ashlee’s timing is perfect for this,” Glozek says, and destinations like Palm Springs, California, and Boyne, Michigan, are prime locales. “Imagine walking around Mackinac Island with a glass of wine at sunset after a day of golf,” he says. “She’s so focused and excited to present these trips.”
Other options include having a golf pro available before tee offs, and offering wellness, yoga and health opportunities during the trips. “Women always want to improve their game, but they also love the 19th hole,” Ciora says, referring to a bit of post-round fun. “We want these trips to be very relaxed, have drinks on the course if desired, take carts and enjoy how good golf is for you,” she says.
The cost for an escorted Women on Fairways trip is based on single and double occupancy and varies depending on the destination and resort. The second focus of Women on Fairways includes nonescorted golf travel trips, for which Ciora still does all the planning and event booking.
As Ciora continues to chart her business, she evaluates golf courses for future trips. “These are not bucket list courses [Pebble Beach or Torrey Pines],” she says. “Those courses are hard to get on, and they are male dominated.” Ciora has specific qualifications she looks for when deciding on a course. Yes, it must be playable, but the amenities are just as important to her. “Off the fairways, I look at the pro shop,” she says. “Does it have a good selection of women’s clothing and gear? What are the carts like? Are the bathrooms great? Is the clubhouse
Admittedly, golf sports some of the best fashion options in the athletic world. Ciora shares her favorite styles.
Pullover hoodies are a must.
Golf attire translates off the greens, too. Think joggers on and off the course.
Golf skirts are functional, sporty and classy. She favors navy and white skirts by Puma and Callaway as part of her traditional classic look.
Leave your handbag at home. Instead, get a wristlet or small makeup bag for essentials.
Splurge on golf shoes, which must be comfortable and structured to protect golfers from wet and cold surfaces.
Even in uncertain times, growth isn’t something you hope for, it’s something you plan for. And the best growth plans are based on what’s possible - to anticipate, to create, to achieve. At Crown Bank we specialize in partnering for what’s possible. What can we make possible for your business?
While getting her business going takes a tremendous amount of time and travel, Ciora loves spending time with her young nephews and her parents. “Family has been a tremendous support system while I am building a company,” she says. As a Plymouth native who attended Wayzata High School, Ciora loves visiting Minnesota. And her favorite local course? Rush Creek Golf Course in Maple Grove.
welcoming with good food? I’m not interested in a place has [just] a snack stand.” The resorts, in her estimation, need to be first class with great food, spa amenities and beautiful rooms.
As for the future of Women on Fairways, Ciora plans to offer golf trips for solo travelers and for couples. She’d also like to help design member golf trips for private country clubs. “I want Women on Fairways to be golf and lifestyle,” she says. While a lot of golfers gravitate to Florida, she’d like to book trips to California and Arizona, which provide different experiences than the Orange State.
Speaking of color, evidently, Ciora’s life coach was right. “Now, my life is nature and trees and golf—all green,” she says.
womenonfairways.com
Women on Fairways, LLC
@womenonfairways
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Luce Line Brewing Co. offers a sweet treat this February 14.
VALENTINE’S DAY falls on a Tuesday this year, a workday in the middle of another busy week, which might make celebrating a little less celebratory. However, Luce Line Brewing Co. believes love can still be in the air.
The local brewery is having a special Valentine’s Day event, the SweetHeart Special, on February 14. Its special offer is a combination of any one of it’s pizzas with any two pours (beer or seltzer) for $20. The first 50 people to order the special will also get a sweet chocolate treat to share.
Luce Line Brewing Co. is all about creating a space where people feel comfortable and can spend time with their loved ones. “We want people to hang out with someone they care about, whether it be a friend or lover,” says Tim Naumann, one of the owners of Luce Line. “Our customers tell us we have great beer, comfortable surroundings and a friendly staff. We make it easy to have fun.”
Valentine’s Day also wouldn’t be quite right without live entertainment. Be sure to check in at lucelinebrewing.com to see who will be playing, where you can make table reservations in advance to ensure you and your sweetheart get a spot.
“If you are looking for a fun, drama-free Valentine’s Day, that is exactly what we have on tap for you,” Naumann says. —Megan Hegenbarth
Compiled by Nicole Berglund and Megan Hegenbarth
LOCAL EVENTS
Con of the North 02/17–02/19
Get ready for one of the biggest games convention up North. There will be roleplaying games, card games, war games, board games, computer games and more. All ages. Ticket prices vary Times vary. Crown Plaza Minneapolis West, 3131 Campus Drive; conofthenorth.org
Scottish Fantasy 03/05
Listen to classical music with a Scottish twist by the Wayzata Symphony Orchestra. All ages. Free. 3–5 p.m. Wayzata Central Middle School, 305 Vicksburg Lane N.; thewso.org
Season Outreach Concert 03/12
Join Plymouth Concert Band for it’s spring concert. They will be performing with a special guest, the Minnesota Junior Winds. All ages. Free. 4 p.m. Wayzata High School, 4955 Peony Lane N.; plymouthconcertband.org
Mike Poot
03/25
In the mood for acoustic country, folk, rock and blues? Come to The Grocer’s Table to hear Mike Poot live. All ages. Free. 6–9 p.m. The Grocer’s Table, 326 Broadway Ave. S., Wayzata; 952.466.6100; thegrocerstablemn.com
St. Paul Winter Carnival 02/01–02/05
This winter celebration boasts scavenger hunts, an ice fishing tournament, snow sculptures and parades. All ages. Free. Times vary. Rice Park, 109 W. Fourth St., St. Paul; 651.223.7400; wintercarnival.com
WinterFest 02/04
At WinterFest, there will be s’mores, hot cocoa, a bonfire, music, face painting and more. All ages. Free. 1–3 p.m. Loring Park, 1382 Willow St., Mpls.; minneapolisparks.org
iStock.com/ErinMuller
The Little Prince Through 02/05
Based on the book by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, this play follows a young boy as he tells a stranded pilot about his intergalactic adventures. All ages. Prices vary. Times vary. The Guthrie Theater, 818 S. Second St., Mpls.; 612.377.2224; guthrietheater.org
Shen Yun 02/24–02/26
This vibrant display of classic Chinese culture returns to Minnesota, which pairs classical Chinese dance, folk dance and story-based dance with stirring orchestral music. All ages. Prices vary. Times vary. Orpheum Theatre, 910 Hennepin Ave., Mpls.; 612.339.7007; hennepintheatretrust.org
The biggest winter beer festival in Minnesota is returning to the Minnesota State Fairgrounds this February. Try beer samples from breweries across the country. Ages 21 and over. Prices vary. 3–6:30 p.m. Minnesota State Fairgrounds, 1265 Snelling Ave. N., St. Paul; 651.288.4400; beerdabbler.com
From photographers to venues, florists to caterers, the Twin Cities Bridal Show gathers premier wedding businesses under one roof. Enjoy exhibitions from over 100 companies at this show hosted by The Wedding Guys. All ages. $15 for standard, $20 for Aisle of Style, $5 fashion show add on. Noon–4 p.m. St. Paul RiverCentre, 175 Kellogg Blvd. W., St. Paul; 651.265.4800; rivercentre.org
To have your event considered: email plymouthmag@localmedia.co by the 10th of the month three months prior to publication.
Due to the fluidity being experienced in the current environment, please note that some events/dates and even some business operations may have changed since these pages went to print. Please visit affiliated websites for updates.
plymouthmag.com
Plymouth home, but it’s been one of many over an international career with Four Seasons. Originally from Montevideo, Uruguay, the chef has traveled through South and Central America up to the U.S. to bring a distinct perspective to the Four Seasons’ Riva Terrace, an alfresco Italian restaurant that opened this past June on the hotel’s fourth floor.
Morelli’s history in the kitchen started with family. “Food is at the center of every reunion, every holiday, every time family
gets together,” Morelli says. “It’s the one subject everybody discusses first—what we’re going to eat. So it started there.”
This passion brought Morelli to culinary school, but it was what he found there that stoked the flames of his early career. “It’s about so much more than just food, right?” Morelli says. “That’s what I fell in love with; the adrenaline during service, working with people and meeting people from all over the world. Cooking is just one part of working in a professional kitchen.”
Carmelo, Uruguay; 2003
Morelli first started working for Four Seasons serving as commis chef at the former Four Seasons Resort Carmelo. He says when he first transferred to a new Four Seasons location outside his country, he wasn’t met with a single hegemonic culture but rather several coexisting ones.
“I went to a destination hotel for Four Seasons, and there I connected with people from all over the world, not just people from within the country,” Morelli
says. “I worked with so many people from different backgrounds and that changed me a lot. It opens your mind a lot.”
Morelli says that what drives him now is the people, or, more specifically the culture of people taking care of people. “We strongly believe in the golden rule: respecting everyone and putting yourself in their shoes,” Morelli says. “I find myself in a spot [as a leader] that I have to provide that. I feel that responsibility, and it challenges me every day. It keeps me going.”
From Uruguay, Morelli’s work with Four Seasons took him to Costa Rica, followed by California. In each location, staple ingredients, popular dishes and cooking methods changed to reflect the local culture. Since Morelli has traveled the Americas through kitchens, we asked him to take us on a tour via our plates.
Carmelo, Uruguay: “Cooking whole lambs on the open fire and baking empanadas in the wood-fired oven.”
Peninsula Papagayo, Costa Rica: “My wife is from Costa Rica, so I still cook Costa Rican food every day. Costa Rican breakfast is really, really good—rice and beans, eggs, fried cheese, plantains, avocado. Of course, they don’t have lunch after that!”
Silicon Valley, California: “I grilled a lot. Power lunches. Every Wednesday, we would roll the grill out on the patio. We had an alfresco section, and we would prepare a special meal entirely from the grill. We would change it every week.”
With 19 years of experience under his belt, Morelli was an ideal candidate when the Four Seasons Hotel Minneapolis was beginning to plan its culinary team. He was tapped to lead the hotel’s Riva Terrace restaurant, which looks to bring the flavors of the Italian Riviera to the Mississippi riverbank.
Morelli says he wants the Four Seasons to be a hub of hospitality and great food. “We are excited to be here,” he says. “The amount of energy that is in this hotel is amazing. All these people come in every day, and they want to be the best. If you
ask someone in banquets about their goal, it is to be the best banquet event team. If you ask someone in Mara, it’s to be the best restaurant. If you ask someone at Riva, it’s to be the best alfresco offering. The same with pastry. Nobody’s going to give you a different answer.”
Plymouth; 2023
Culture shocks aside, Minnesota also offers one glaring difference from the rest of the places Morelli has worked: a harsh winter.
“Since I arrived, I’ve loved it here,” Morelli says. “The landscape, everything
looks so beautiful. I’m learning that I really look forward to the changes in the weather. It was something I never really paid attention to before. Here, you see the process; you sense it.”
For a five-star starter recipe from chef Morelli, visit plymouthmag.com
Riva Terrace, 245 Hennepin Ave., Mpls.; fourseasons.com
Four Seasons Hotel Minneapolis @fsminneapolis @fsminneapolis
FIRST PLACE: NATURE & WILDLIFE
Award-winning photograph captures affectionate display.
“MY FRIEND/NEIGHBOR, who lives a block away from my house in Plymouth, notified me on a very cold day that she had two red foxes in her backyard. I raced over to her house with my camera and, since it was such a cold day, she had me come inside to one of her upstairs bedrooms that overlooks her backyard … Believe it or not, capturing a good photo of a fox or a fox pair has been on my bucket list for a few years. I have only seen a fox two other times in the wild before, but they were both too far away to get a decent photo. I was in heaven seeing this fox couple, especially from the comfort of my friend’s home.” —Jan Speak
Photographer: Jan Speak Title: Affectionate Nose Touch by This Cute Fox Couple! Equipment: Nikon D5000 camera, Sigma 150-600mm lens Location: Neighbor’s house in Plymouth
To view other Picture Plymouth photo contest winners, visit plymouthmag.com.