White Bear Lake Magazine - March 2023

Misfit of Creation

Kassina Folstad is paving her own path with design studio and shop Hello Norden

Moving what matters forward.

SOLD

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MARCH/APRIL 2023

“It is spring again. The earth is like a child that knows poems by heart.”

—Rainer Maria Rilke

Photo: Chris Emeott

DEPARTMENTS

12 — Bear Tracks

Driverless shuttle breaks transportation barriers for some area residents.

14 — Learning Together

Family literacy program gives families the opportunity to thrive.

16 — White Bear Lake by the Hour

Enjoy the best the area has to offer on your spring break staycation.

FEATURES

18 — “Two is a Coincidence; Three is a Collection”

Retiree’s art collection takes shape and color.

24 — Misfit of Creation

Kassina Folstad is paving her own path with design studio and shop Hello Norden.

TASTEMAKERS

36 — Baking Bliss

One local turns love of baking into a business.

Why Be a Bear?

Spring always feels like art to me. More than any other season, it presents a fresh canvas, with pops of color—pinks, greens, blues— to be enjoyed and documented. This year is a big one for me, with my wedding coming up in June. And whether it’s something small, like taking a walk outside to observe daffodils springing forth or something significant like a vacation, family occasion or life transition, I’m sure you too, reader, have something to look forward to as we step into spring.

Though this is our homes, family and senior living issue, with each story fitting into these themes, I feel that, together, the stories within these pages are a gallery of creativity. As you flip through, you’ll find pieces on families learning English together, a retiree who has filled her home with art and spring break staycation inspiration.

Tune into my conversation with our cover star, interior designer Kassina Folstad, on page 24. Folstad is a Mahtomedi native who has a unique perspective on nervous system-informed design. And further in, you’ll find the incredible story of 19-year-old baker Elouise Suoja of 350 Degrees Bakery. Writer Emily Gedde speaks with Suoja about her upcoming return to White Bear Lake upon graduating college. Here’s to spreading love and uplifting others this spring!

Photo: Chris Emeott

ZOE

SMALL SCALE HOMESTEADING

MICHELLE BRUHN is no stranger to this community and these pages. From her half-acre backyard in White Bear Lake, Bruhn has worked to build connections around regenerative gardening as a local food advocate and educator. And now, the Winter Farmers Market coordinator and blogger at Forks in the Dirt is digging deep into her own practices and sharing the spoils in a new book, Small Scale Homesteading, released February 21.

Co-written with Minnesota food preservation instructor and best-selling author Stephanie Thurow, the book goes

into a variety of introductory homesteading practices; chapters include topics on starting a garden, preserving a harvest, raising backyard chickens, tapping maple trees for sap, creating healthy food and cleaning product recipes, and building a community food network.

The book is for everyone, Bruhn says, and features stories from backyard growers across the state and even farther. “We wrote this book to help people do more wherever they’re at, with whatever they have,” Bruhn says. “There’s this whole idea of homesteading [that] you need

EVENT AND BOOK SIGNING

Stop by the Minnesota Horticultural Society's booth at the Minneapolis Home + Garden Show on March 4 at noon to hear Bruhn and Thurow speak on companion planting, with a book signing to follow at 1 p.m.

40 acres, and you have to homeschool your kids and all this other stuff, and modern homesteading … is a way that anybody can jump in and start being more conscious about … sustainable living. Every little thing that we do really does matter, and making those small changes can really add up in the long run.”

The book will be available for purchase online at Amazon and Barnes & Noble, as well as at Lake Country Booksellers and select Tractor Supply stores across the nation. Learn more at simonandschuster.com. —Zoe Deal

Photo: Michelle Bruhn

DISCOVER

Spotlight on Community

Since 2015, White Bear Lake has been host to Bear Boating, a nonprofit organization run entirely by volunteers. The organization provides complimentary excursions for fishing and sightseeing trips from June through August on White Bear Lake for seniors (age 60 and older), active duty military members, veterans and individuals with disabilities. The Bear Boating pontoon goes out three times a day, five days a week; it holds 12 passengers and is wheelchair and walker accessible. In 2022, it took a total of 145 trips, each with a volunteer cap’n and two first mates. Volunteers contribute time and expertise to help create memories for all their guests.

TASTE Something

Fishy

Long before my family became the fish fanatics they are today, the only fish I could get any of them to eat was Beer-Battered Cod. All fish lovers start somewhere! These days, I only fry fish at home once or twice a year. Even for me, the process is a little overwhelming. Going in, I just have to accept that I’ll be able to smell the cooking oil for a day or so afterward, and I’ll have to deal with the unpleasantness of disposing properly of said oil. I’d argue these small inconveniences are totally worth it.

There are three keys to a great fish fry. First is a light, crispy coating. Don’t open your beer (or other bubbly liquid) until just before you use it to maximize the air bubbles in the batter. Second is temperature control (with a thermometer!). Oil that’s too hot is likely to burn fried food; too cool and that same food will be greasy. Finally, there’s the choice of fish. I like the big flakes and clean taste of wild-caught Alaskan cod, but you can get equally good results with this recipe using other similarly textured white fish, such as catfish or tilapia.

Rachael Perron is the culinary and branding director for Kowalski’s Markets, where she specializes in product development and selection, culinary education and communications. Find the recipe for Beer-Battered Cod at whitebearlakemag.com and more at kowalskis.com.

Dave Ryan, president and head cap’n says, “Bear Boating could not be the successful nonprofit it has been without the support of the White Bear Lake community and our more than 90 volunteers. We’re looking forward to an even bigger year in 2023, and we’re always looking for more volunteers.” To learn more, visit bearboating.org.

In celebration of the dedicated volunteers that uplift this community, the Greater White Bear Lake Community Foundation spotlights a noteworthy citizen or initiative of the White Bear Lake area in each issue. Learn more at gwblcf.org.

Photo: Kowalski's Markets

Bear Spirit

Throughout the winter months, you may have caught a glimpse of Bear Spirit making its way across White Bear Lake through different venues. The digital artwork was created by Marlena Myles, a selftaught Native American (Spirit Lake Dakota/Mohegan/Muscogee) artist located in St. Paul. Her art brings a modern approach to Indigenous history, languages and oral traditions, using the land as a teacher. She has dedicated her art career to educating “Minnesotans of all backgrounds [on] the Indigenous history of this place we call home,” Myles writes in her artist statement. Bear Spirit captivates the viewer through its structured beauty of color and shape, influenced by traditional art of the Dakota Nation. The piece is also futuristically bold, utilizing a digital crispness and captivating, symmetrical design. More of Myles’ inspiring work and public art projects can be seen on her website (marlenamyl.es), along with prints and patterns for sale on her online shop.

Karna Holub is the gallery coordinator at White Bear Center for the Arts. Learn more about its offerings and events at whitebeararts.org.

Aging in Place

Our homes provide us with comfort, a familiar environment and the feeling of stability. Why should that have to change as we get older? Recently, building and designing a home where one can age in place has grown in popularity—and for good reason. Some benefits include maintaining social engagement in the community, cost-effectiveness, living with family and pets, and the ability to stay in one’s home longer.

To build and design an “Aging in Place” home, whether it is a new construction or remodel, many different details and elements need to be considered to ensure that your home will allow the individuals living there to function as independently as possible through evolving ages and levels of mobility.

Interior designers often consider onelevel living and the inclusion of wider hallways and doorways suited for wheelchairs. Lighting is a big factor as well; it is important to add sufficient lighting that can be adjusted for aging eyes. When it comes to kitchen design, cabinets and appliance placement are planned and placed for limited mobility use. Finally, the bathroom needs a shower with easy access and functional components to provide assurance. Considering these additions or remodels early can provide peace of mind through the aging process.

Monica Diaz is the owner and principal interior designer at Decore Interiors LLC, based in White Bear Lake. For more information, visit decoreinteriors.com.

Photo: Francisco E. Gonzalez Photography

Bear Tracks

Driverless shuttle breaks transportation barriers for some area residents.

By Nicole Berglund

WHITE BEAR LAKE RESIDENTS

have a new way to get around town. In August 2022, the Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) launched the self-driving shuttle research and demonstration project, Bear Tracks. As one of three demonstration projects in the state, the vehicle aims to bring greater access and mobility to the community by providing low-speed public transportation to the White Bear Lake area.

The driverless shuttle connects the community YMCA with senior and

affordable housing and a day program for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Its 1.5-mile route, free to the public and operational weekdays from 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., brings up to 10 passengers down Linden and Willow Avenues and Orchard Lane.

Though one may not think much of a vehicle that travels a maximum of 15 miles per hour, this rainbow-colored shuttle has big potential. The shuttle offers a solution for individuals previously left without a way to get around

town. The stops at affordable housing and care facilities allow residents to get out of the house or visit the YMCA. “The project partners are excited for the potential of connected and automated vehicle technology to provide seniors and adults with developmental, physical or intellectual disabilities with greater mobility and independence and to reduce isolation,” says Tracy Shimek, the housing and economic development coordinator for the City of White Bear Lake.

The yearlong program will also

Photo: Minnesota Department of Transportation

generate crucial data and research opportunities for local institutions through August. The Minnesota Center for Transportation Excellence is doing workforce development with the shuttle, and the University of Minnesota has partnered with MnDOT to research com munity perspectives and expectations. They also hosted high schoolers in grades 10–12 for field training about technology and future job opportunities.

Safety is paramount in the shuttle’s operation. Along with an ADA-compliant ramp and fold-down seats for wheelchair accessibility, the shuttle isn’t fully driver less. “An operator is always present to ensure your safety,” Shimek says. “If neces sary, the operator can manually take over.”

The shuttle is outfitted with sensors that allow it to “see” where it is and the surrounding environment. “While in operation, the shuttle drives on a prede termined path,” says John Balon, manag ing director of the shuttle’s manufacturer, Navya Inc. “In combination with the sensors, the shuttle can see and predict surrounding movement, including pedes trians, other road users and even leaves or tree branches blowing in the wind.”

Shimek sees Bear Tracks as the natu ral progression of transportation planning in the Metro. “As automated vehicle technology advances, transportation planners are taking a proactive approach to anticipate what infrastructure is needed to make the most of these developments,” Shimek says. “Whether or not all vehicles will be fully automated someday remains to be seen, but it’s like when the Model T was introduced—not everyone stopped using horses right away. A transition time was required.”

Looking to the near future, Shimek believes these small-scale pilot programs can help develop microtransit systems that could lead to larger-scale transit options. Interested members of the public can board the shuttle at the YMCA, near the west end of the parking lot.

Bear Tracks; beartrackswbl.org

We welcome those who live, work, worship or attend school in White Bear Lake. Experience the Cities

GENERATIONS Learning Together

By Hanna McDaniels

THE FAMILY LITERACY PROGRAM , hosted by White Bear Lake Area (WBLA) Early Childhood Education at Normandy Park Early Childhood Center, aims to meet families where they’re at in the English language learning process.

The program, run in partnership with Harmony Learning Center, welcomes local families whose first language is not English and works to increase literacy through three main components: parentchild time, separate child and parent learning time, and parent and family education. In two classes that meet twice

Family Literacy Program gives families the opportunity to thrive.

per week, parents are encouraged to join their children in a play-based language learning curriculum.

Local mother Angelica Reyes says of her son’s experience in the program, “It’s great to see him grow. He’s so much more confident since we’ve joined these classes.”

The parent-child time focuses on large motor skills, such as painting and arts and crafts, and lots of toys to promote play-based learning. “We are just really intentional about having parents have that special time with their children in our classroom,” says Amy Ottaviani, early childhood family education teacher, parent educator and educational equity specialist.

The classroom hosts families with varying language skill levels. Some families are focused on learning the basics of English, whereas others are refining grammar and vocabulary skills. “The most important thing for us is we are teaching them what they want to learn. We are open to anything, and if they want to learn it, we’ll teach it,” Ottaviani says.

All families currently in the family literacy program are first generation immigrants. In autumn of 2022, the program had families hailing from Afghanistan, China, Colombia, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, India, Kenya, Mexico, Somalia and Ukraine. The program helps to fill a need in the district, which serves students and families who speak 59 home languages in addition to English.

Families are often able to form bonds through shared experiences. The program has set days when families share stories and food from their cultures with each other.

“I was so happy when Amy invited me to the class,” Reyes says. “... I really like it because I’ve met many moms from different countries, and they have similar problems to me. It’s been really great.”

WBLA Early Childhood Programs, 2482 East County Road F; 651.653.3100; earlychildhood.isd624.org

White Bear Lake Area Schools

We Welcome New Agents to Our Team!

Photo: Chris Emeott

Angelica Reyes and her son.

White Bear Lake by the Hour

9 a.m.

Start the morning off right with breakfast at one of the many cafes and bakeries around downtown. Locals love the traditional breakfast options at Cobblestone Cafe and Keys Cafe & Bakery. Lighter eaters will find something quick to enjoy in the form of pastries and espresso from Grandma’s Bakery.

10 a.m.

By Zoe Deal

SPRING IS NEARLY HERE, and for local kids, that means one thing: spring break! And while our sights may be set on far-off, warm places as this Minnesota winter comes to an end, many of us will likely find ourselves indulging in a well-deserved staycation.

Yes, there may be an inclination to cozy up at home during break, but let us not forget that White Bear Lake was once a vacation destination in its own right. Even before the lake melts and boats return to White Bear Lake, there’s so much to enjoy about our hometown, and we’re ready to prove it.

“Both residents and visitors are so proud of this community,” says Lisa Beecroft, Editorial Advisory Board member and owner of Beecroft Marketing & Events. “You can see it in the beauty of the landscape and the buildings—all the love that people put into the things that they have. It just makes it wonderful for everybody to come to the White Bear area and enjoy all of the different amenities.”

Wondering where to start? With the help of Beecroft and our community, we’ve come up with some suggestions— one for almost every hour—of the best ways to enjoy your hometown staycation.

In White Bear Lake’s resort days, the area was a mecca for lake adventures. Enjoy the natural bounty of the area before the ice melts with an ice fishing excursion on the lake. If it’s your first time, make sure to keep an eye out for the lake’s natural springs as the weather warms, and hire a local guide. Or take the family skating indoors during open skate at the White Bear Lake Sports Center ($5 per person, $4 skate rentals available; 9–11 a.m., weekdays).

11 a.m.

Embrace the area’s legacy of lake resort leisure by making an appointment at one of the area’s many spas and salons. Families with older children (16 and under, with chaperone/waiver) may enjoy a massage or facial at Sunbear Salon & Medical Spa or Indulge Salon and Spa, both located downtown.

Noon

Once you’ve worked up an appetite, choose from one of many fantastic restaurant options around the lake. Some 2022 Readers' Choice favorites for a sit-down menu include Brickhouse Food and Drink and Washington Square Bar & Grill, or try take-out at Eat! @ Banning and 5th or Alleycat’s Gourmet Sandwiches if you’re not ready to slow down.

1 p.m.

One of the main draws for visitors is White Bear Lake’s downtown core, but it has much to offer locals, too. “I love walking around downtown,” Beecroft says. “... certainly there’s always something to find.” Start off on Washington Square Avenue, and stroll in a square around the block, down Third Street, Banning Avenue and Fourth Street. Don’t miss some of the newer businesses, including Roam Bike Shop, Haus Theory and Oldies & Goodies.

2 p.m.

White Bear Lake is well known for its artistic side, which can be seen in full force with a visit to the White Bear Center for the Arts (WBCA). Along with courses on a variety of mediums, WBCA has rotating gallery exhibitions that are open to the public and an art shop where visitors can purchase works by local makers.

3 p.m.

It’s time to get outside! “My first draw is always the lake,” Beecroft says. “So much of what we build and do is around the lake.” History lovers will enjoy the historic homes and lake views along Lake Avenue near downtown. Bring the kids to Discovery Hollow Nature Play Area at Tamarack Nature Center to enjoy fort building, climbing and other nature-based play.

4 p.m.

After your outdoor explorations, warm up with a cup of coffee or hot chocolate from The Anchor Coffee House or a sweet treat from Orso Bianco Gelato, and enjoy some quiet reading or browsing at Lake Country Booksellers in downtown White Bear Lake or the local branch of Ramsey County Library.

5 p.m.

Enjoy dinner at one of the area’s many premier dining establishments. Mizu Japanese (Beecroft’s top pick for its sushi), Acqua Restaurant & Bar,

Enjoy the best the area has to offer on your spring break staycation.

Rudy’s Redeye Grill and Manitou Bar + Kitchen are popular destinations for dinner located within walking distance of the lake

6 p.m.

If you have time, don’t miss watching the sunset from a local beach. Even when the lake is frozen, you can expect beautiful colors to fill the sky above the lake on clear evenings.

7 p.m.

Try to align your day on the town with a show at Hanifl Performing Arts Center. March 10 is the opening night of Calendar Girls , a production by the Lakeshore Players Theatre in its 70th season. Families with children age 10 and older will enjoy The Giver , which opens on April 14.

8 p.m.

It’s been a long day! End your tour of White Bear Lake with a nightcap at The Alchemist or Big Wood Brewery before settling in for the evening at your home or local lodging.

Illustrations: Jamie Klang

Retiree’s art collection takes shape and color.

Settled in a colorful home in White Bear Lake, a 5-foot-tall ceramic giraffe sports a cigarette hanging from its mouth. Dangly diamond-like earrings and gaudy gold boots complete the look.

“It’s fun, and I get a kick out of her,” says Kathy Hoelscher. “That’s why I bought her.”

Hoelscher collects art but doesn’t consider herself an art collector, never mind the eyecatching glass pieces and vibrant paintings that dot her Lake Avenue home.

“It just happened,” Hoelscher says. “I’m not an artist, and there’s no theme or anything like that. If I see something I like, I’ll try to get it.”

Hoelscher’s collection, pieced together over some 30 years, is best described as eclectic. There’s blown glass; vibrant oil, soft watercolor and encaustic (hot wax) paintings; and rudimetary metal sculptures. There’s even a garden sculpture shaped with old bowling balls.

Hoelscher’s pieces have come from all over the world. She purchased a watercolor in France and a smaller painting in Ireland. There’s a piece from Venice and several from London.

“I like to buy from street painters,” Hoelscher says. She’ll often purchase the art and then have a photo taken with the artist.

How does she know when she wants to make a purchase? Does she consider the difficulties of carrying art up and down the cobbled streets of foreign countries?

“You never know if you’ll ever be back,” she says. “I usually buy small paintings. They’re unframed, and they’re easy to carry.”

Written by Daniel Huss . Photos by Chris Emeott

Though she’s had pieces shipped back to the states, more often she comes prepared. She always starts a trip with empty space in her luggage. She also buys local. In fact, White Bear Lake artist Mike Judy is one of her favorites. She enjoys going to the American Craft Council show in St. Paul each year and also fancies Art at St. Kate’s, Saint Paul Art Crawl and the Art-A-Whirl in northeast Minneapolis.

She really loves the crawls, as that’s a format that allows attendees to visit one gallery after another. “Going to studios and galleries [is] like going to art museums,” Hoelscher says.

Hoelscher’s passion for art comes, in part, because of the opportunity for different interpretations.

One of her favorites, a piece titled Boys, Girls and Oranges from Russian-American painter Alexandra Rozenman, is a perfect example. A pair of baby carriages can be found in the lower right corner of the painting, but the viewer’s eye immediately goes there. The carriages are illuminated from what could be a harvest moon. There is a tapestry and a grouping of four oranges.

A flowing glass sculpture sits on the wall of Hoelscher’s kitchen. It reminds her of a fish at sea. To her neighbor, it looks exactly like an electric guitar. They’re both right.

“What would we do without art?” Hoelscher says.

Collector James L’Arbalestier wrote in his autobiography, “Beware of acquiring things of the same nature: two is a coincidence; three is a collection.”

Hoelscher has an art collection by any definition.

“I’m running out of space,” she says. As a remedy, she’ll relegate some of her tired pieces to less-used places in her home. “I have a couple pieces I only see when I do the laundry, but I still like seeing them, and they still make me happy,” she says.

She also has pieces displayed (stored) upstairs. What she won’t do is part with any of them. “Oh, no, I’m not selling,” she says.

Her philosophy, first and foremost, is to purchase art that makes her happy. Whether she has a place for it is a consideration, but not a major factor. And, yes, she likes functional art like lamps and tables (one of her treasures, purchased in Door County, Wisconsin, is a handcrafted end table made from authentic beaver-gnawed sticks), but she doesn’t seek them out. Instead, functionality is a bonus.

One of her oldest collections consists of 10 antique water pitchers. They’re each unique and very colorful. They sit in an inviting sort of way atop her kitchen cupboards.

Hoelscher isn’t comfortable calling herself a collector, nor is she comfortable admitting her art has a theme.

But to anyone who visits, her theme is obvious. It’s colors. Bright, bold colors. The reds are rambunctious, and the blues are boisterous. The yellows yell. And somehow it all fits together. The flat art, waxy art and glass art all get along. The square pegs (willow lamp base, beaver-gnawed table and patinaed brass bear) fit right in.

“There’s no rhyme or reason, but my art makes me happy,” Hoelscher says. That’s reason enough.

Kassina Folstad

is paving her own path with design studio and shop

Hello Norden.

WRITTEN BY ZOE DEAL PHOTOS BY TAYLOR HALL O’BRIEN

Sitting in the black-walled office of her St. Paul home, architectural and interior designer Kassina Folstad oozes an effortless cool. Her wavy hair is pushed casually atop her head, just grazing her slate gray Guns N’ Roses T-shirt. In the portrait on her website, Folstad is sporting big glasses and a bold lip; today, she’s fresh faced yet looking just as enigmatic. And if it wasn’t for the occasional coughing fit (she has a cold), one would think her gravelly voice just another layer to her self-described outlier status.

Though Folstad characterizes herself as both modest and introverted, she speaks about her business and personal life with a measured self-assurance. It’s well deserved. In seven years as owner and principal designer at Hello Norden, a Minneapolis design studio and shop, she’s staked her place in the industry through a distinct business offering and rugged Northern style.

That Folstad found her way into this work has much to do with her upbringing in Mahtomedi in a family of building hobbyists. “Nights and weekends, they would build their own homes,” she says of her parents and uncles. Over the years, their impact added up. “On the street that we lived on, for example, my family built, probably, I would say around 10 of the houses,” Folstad says.

When a young Folstad, known then as Sina Zimmerman, wasn’t biking around town, drinking root beer floats at Four Seasons or playing competitively in the local soccer league, she recalls the long days helping her family build homes and cabins from the ground up. “There’s video footage of my cousin and me being on the second floor of the house, no railings of course … just hammering nails in the subfloor,” Folstad says. “It was just kind of a cool family thing.”

Building a Business

The skills honed over the decades, from both her family and schooling (Folstad has degrees in computer science and visual communications/business from the University of St. Thomas) have given her a unique perspective when it comes to home and interior design. “It bred a lot of hard work,” she says.

Though she spent years in advertising and as an independent consultant doing large program development, Folstad never stopped pursuing the family trade in her free time. “I bought my own first house when I was 25 and ripped the roof off it, put a second story on it and completely changed the main level layout,” she says.

But it wasn’t until complications arose during the birth of her daughter in 2015 that Folstad considered

capitalizing on her building and design skills.

“I started [Hello Norden] out of necessity when my daughter nearly died in childbirth,” Folstad says. After the traumatic birth experience, her daughter spent the first weeks of her life in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at Children’s Minnesota and later spent months in and out of appointments with a handful of specialists. The emotional toll and financial strain of the situation led Folstad to pivot the course of her life and career to support her daughter.

“I suffered a lot with the trauma of what happened to my daughter. I was just a deer in the headlights for the first three years because I just had to make money,” Folstad says. “I just had to make it work.”

Initially, Folstad would walk through homes with Realtors and potential buyers, giving them ideas and

renovation dollar amounts on the fly. When the home sold, she was hired to do the work. A year in, she was doing $100,000 projects. “It didn’t surprise me because that’s literally what I did my whole life, so I thought, ‘Cool, here we go!’” Folstad says.

Homes that Heal

Though Hello Norden’s scope has changed in the years since—now honing in on complete architectural and interior transformations—the presence of mind and heart in her designs stems from this origin story.

“When something happens to the magnitude of what happened to me, it changes you forever and makes you appreciate life,” Folstad says. She simplified her approach to work and life in Hello Norden’s first years, tuning into what made her feel whole.

To Folstad, this apothecary bath reflects the signature Hello Norden look. With a stunning array of textures, high-end finishes and a vanity made from found materials, this modern yet vintage space communicates the warmth and ingenuity that Folstad seeks to bring to every project.

Originally a living room, each wall of Folstad’s bedroom received its own architectural update. Windows were removed, then added; materials were repurposed from other areas of the home; doorways switched walls. The updated space is both moody and cozy, with each wall being home to a distinct architectural element: traditional beadboard (painted a soft black), historic Midwest street pavers and (not pictured) wood paneling, a vintage barn door and a reclaimed University of Minnesota bookcase. With a desire to keep the architecture as the focal point, Folstad chose simple, bold furnishings. One of her favorite elements is the distinct lighting fixture made up of various sizes of hanging, exposed light bulbs tied in a knot.

Hello Norden

“My company name, Hello Norden … Norden is German and Scandinavian for north, and so it’s sort of a play on words. Hello is just to give you that sense of easygoing, approachable, and Norden ... clearly we’re the northernmost state, but also my aesthetic is very Northern, so it’s always going to make you feel like you can cozy up and put your feet on a coffee table. All of our spaces feel that way,” Folstad says.

Folstad’s living room is the result of the transformation of all transformations. What once was six rooms and two outdoor decks is now a modern industrial family-friendly living space featuring a custom staircase, exposed wood beam headers and a cohesive, minimal color palette. A wood-burning stove along with layers of leather and hides throughout the space speak to Folstad’s Nordic style.

But still, months and years later, Folstad was experiencing symptoms that she would later find out were physical manifestations of her trauma.

“I was becoming really sensitive to noises and lights and sounds and stuff, and then I noticed that I was designing spaces in certain ways, but I didn’t understand why at the time,” Folstad says. Her friend, who worked as a trauma therapist, was the one to suggest that what Folstad was experiencing was due to her trauma. The pieces all came together.

“What I’ve been learning is that the way that I approach design is from a nervous system regulating standpoint,” Folstad says. “I was applying all these design principles that I didn’t have a name for them, but they were ways to design spaces that felt good for me.” All of Folstad’s signature detail-oriented processes—specific light placement and dimming, acoustics, safe window and door locations, soft-edged furnishings, organic and monochromatic colors, shapes and textural layers—bring a sense of control, comfort and safety as much as aesthetic.

“I apply my principles to every project, more overtly in certain ones than others,” Folstad says. “... Every human has experienced some stressor and trauma in their life, so it helps everybody.”

New North

While much of Folstad’s work revolves around interior transformations, she’s equally attentive to nervous system-informed design principles in furnishings and decor. At the Hello Norden offices and shop in Minneapolis, new and reimagined offerings include heirloom quality pieces with an edge—think antique wool rugs, leather club chairs, sheepskin throws and rustic coffee tables—all with a heart for anti-consumerism and eco-friendly design. Folstad has also curated a collection of kitchen and dining, home decor, apothecary and bed and bath products. “I want to be that go-to space for people looking for a highly-curated aesthetic,” Folstad says.

Since opening the Hello Norden shop in January 2016, Folstad has worked even further to bring more of her unique style to visitors through her Misfits of Creation line of reimagined home furnishings. The pieces, antiques and odd-balls made anew in Folstad’s creative vision, are statement-makers reflective of her signature mountain modern aesthetic.

“I use a lot of vintage and really sort of unique shapes that are not for the masses … You don’t see anything in my designs that you just would be able to point to and say, ‘I know where they got that,’” Folstad says. “We’re highly custom, highly textural, and, so to me, it was just sort of a natural extension to be able to carry all of these pieces that have a story and that, a lot of them are one of a kind.”

And now, Folstad is expanding Hello Norden’s offerings to include a custom furniture line available to both designers and homeowners. The products will be made in the U.S. and sold online and in store with a predetermined selection of colors and sizes. But, ever the creative, Folstad wants to make it possible for

The hardwood flooring, seen throughout the main level of Folstad’s 100-year-old home, is a result of a significant undertaking to remedy the mistakes of previous renovations. To level the floor, Folstad’s team handmilled reclaimed hardwood into flooring and custom cut each 16” strip of wood. The floor was then sealed with a zero VOC (volatile organic compound) vegetable oil blend.

clients to get their exact vision with this new line.

“We will also accept customer-owned materials,” Folstad says. “Any designers can come to us—or even homeowners, too—if somebody just wants to come into the shop, we have tons of fabrics there, and we can do anything, really. Sky’s the limit.”

At the end of the day, Folstad is just hoping to help others create a space that feels entirely their own. “The spaces that you live in should tell a story, and it should tell your story. I don’t want to walk into a place and know the stores that you got things from or to have it look like anything else [or] other people,” Folstad says. “Make your space unique and tell a story … it’s going to make you more proud to live in it.”

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EARTH DAY AT THE PARK

EACH YEAR, Tamarack Nature Center hosts a plethora of springtime events and opportunities to bring us back into the outdoors. “We’re helping people discover the value of nature,” says outdoor education manager Sovatha Oum.

The nature center will host a “Sap to Syrup” event on March 11 and 18 (registration required), inviting participants to learn about the syrup-making process through a 45-minute guided tour and self-guided exploration. All are welcome as volunteers demonstrate how to tap trees and boil the sap to create syrup. “It’s definitely a cool event,” says Kristopher Lencowski, director of park operations for Ramsey County.

“It’s unique to this geography. They can’t do it at just any nature center.”

The park will also host spring Bird Walks (April 29, May 6, 13 and 20; free, registration required) and celebrate Earth Day with a clean up and garden work day from 9:30 a.m. to noon on April 22 (pre-registration required). Tasks involve cleaning litter from trails, treating invasive buckthorn and preparing the gardens for the growing season. The garden’s beauty and bounty directly benefit the community. In 2021, Tamarack Nature Center donated 1,500 pounds of food, including tomatoes, eggplant, herbs and spices, to the White Bear Area Food Shelf.

A popular destination for kids and

families, Tamarack Nature Center has been growing and evolving since the 1970s. Now spanning 320 acres, the center is focused on improving accessibility for all communities to enjoy the park and join the team of volunteers and staff.

—Nicole Berglund

To pre-register for the Earth Day clean up garden and work day, call 651.266.0365 or email volunteer@tamaracknaturecenter.org.

Tamarack Nature Center, 5287 Otter Lake Road, White Bear Township; 651.266.0360; ramseycounty.us

Tamarack Nature Center

Photo: Ramsey County

LOCAL EVENTS

Mystery Book Club

03/01

Join the monthly mystery book club. March’s theme is nonprofessional crime fighters. Ages 18 and older. Free. 1:30–3 p.m. Ramsey County Library, 2150 Second St., White Bear Lake; 651.724.6007; rclreads.org

Barn Quilt Painting Class

03/25

Create and paint a unique 14”x14” barn quilt on reclaimed wood. All ages. $55. 1–4 p.m. Affinity for Quilts, 2199 Fourth St., White Bear Lake; 651.429.1039; affinityforquilts.com

Spirit of White Bear Lake 5K

04/01

This course is on the paved Mark Sather Trail path, and proceeds support the White Bear Lake Rotary Club Strive Scholarship. All ages. $25. 9 a.m. Boatworks Commons, 4495 Lake Ave. S., White Bear Lake; 651.357.6109; whitebearrotary.org

Live Music Happy Hour

04/02–04/26

Enjoy live music all month long at Washington Square Bar and Grill. Ages 21 and older. Free. Times vary. Washington Square Bar and Grill, 4736 Washington Square, White Bear Lake; 651.407.7162; washingtonsquareonline.net

Home Show

04/22

Plan your next home project with over 100 experts. All ages. Free. 10 a.m.–4 p.m. Hippodrome Ice Arena, 4855 Bloom Ave., White Bear Lake; 952.232.1765; minnesotahomeshows.com

AREA EVENTS

Blues for an Alabama Sky

03/01–03/12

Watch as a group of friends face challenges and dream big together in Depression-era Harlem. All ages. Prices vary. Times vary. Guthrie Theater, 818 S. Second St., Mpls.; 612.377.2224; guthrietheater.org

Photo: Ramsey County

Sap to Syrup

Compiled by Nicole Berglund and Megan Hegenbarth

Tina: The Tina Turner Musical

03/01–03/12

Witness the magical life of this Grammy award winner. Ages 14 and older recommended. Prices vary. Times vary. Orpheum Theatre, 910 Hennepin Ave., Mpls.; 612.339.7007; hennepintheatretrust.org

Tots & Trains

03/01 and 03/15

Enjoy family fun with Tots & Trains at The Jackson Street Roadhouse & Museum. Adults can enjoy coffee and treats while kids can play with train tables and interactive games. All ages. Tickets starting at $7. 10 a.m.–noon. The Minnesota Transportation Museum, 193 Pennsylvania Ave., St. Paul; 651.228.0263; transportationmuseum.org

Irish Diplomacy

03/02–03/30

Every Thursday, come listen to the Irish Diplomacy at Finnegans and enjoy a combination of electric and jazz music. Ages 21 and older. 6–8 p.m. Finnegans Brew Co., 817 Fifth Ave. S., Mpls.; 612.208.3374; finnegans.org

National Geographic Live

03/10–03/11

Experience breathtaking nature views accompanied by the Minnesota Orchestra. All ages. Prices vary. 8 p.m. Orchestra Hall, 1111 Nicollet Mall, Mpls.; 612.371.5656; minnesotaorchestra.org

My Fair Lady

03/21–03/25

Enjoy the classic tale of Eliza Doolittle and Henry Higgins live. All ages. Prices vary. Times vary. Ordway Music Theater, 345 Washington St., St. Paul; 651.224.4222; ordway.org

To have your event considered: email whitebearlakemag@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.

BAKING BLISS

One local turns love of baking into a business.

Written by Emily Gedde Photos by Maxwell Behnke

IF ELOUISE SUOJA could choose a magical power; it would be for frosting to make itself.

The 19-year-old Mahtomedi High School alumna laughed as she explained the wellthought-out magical power that would complement her love for baking.

Suoja, owner of 350 Degrees Bakery, has a bright future ahead of her. With several years in the kitchen already under her belt, she is looking forward to turning her passion into a full-time career. “I’m mostly self-taught, and I just really love doing this,” she says.

Suoja developed her passion for baking at 14 years old through front yard bake sales. She and a friend would spend two days baking cupcakes, cookies and puff pastry desserts for friends, family and neighbors. At 16, Suoja began working at a bakery in Stillwater, where she learned the ins and outs of a baking business. But it wasn’t until 2021 that she knew baking was going to be her career.

Each Friday during the summer of 2022, when Suoja hauled her edible creations to the White Bear Lake Farmers Market, she was humbled by the community’s response. “I didn’t see myself this busy and this loved,” she says. “I knew it would be a lot of time and effort, but I didn’t realize how many people would support me.”

To keep her customers wanting more, every week Suoja featured different cupcake flavors. She also started to receive more special orders for graduation parties, birthday celebrations and more.

Now, Suoja is in her final year at Colorado Mesa University and Western Colorado Community College, both located in Grand Junction, Colorado. In May, she will graduate with an associate degree in applied science in baking and pastry arts, as well as two other certificates.

After graduation, Suoja plans to move back to White Bear Lake, but she doesn’t anticipate opening a storefront right away.

“I’ll still be doing the farmers markets and looking into renting a kitchen, so I can get out of my parents’ kitchen,” she says. “I want to go with the flow. If there’s an opportunity, then there’s an opportunity, and I’ll take it.”

Looking back over the past five years, Suoja says she’s proud of how far she’s come. From being intimidated to frost a special-order cake to that quickly becoming her favorite part of baking, she acknowledged her growth as a baker and a person.

“I wouldn’t be here without White Bear Lake,” she says. “They’ve really opened their arms and shown their support throughout my whole baking experience. I’m excited to move back home and start the next chapter.”

PEANUT BUTTER BANANA CUPCAKES

Banana Cupcake Base:

» 1 1/2 cup cake flour

» 1/2 cup brown sugar

» 1/4 cup granulated sugar

» 2 tsp. baking powder

» 1/2 tsp. baking soda

» 1/4 tsp. salt

» 1/2 cup butter

» 3 large ripe bananas, mashed

» 3 large eggs, separated

» 1/2 tsp. vanilla

» dash of cinnamon

» dash of nutmeg

Instructions:

Cream together butter and sugars in a large bowl. Add bananas, egg yolks and vanilla. In a small bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon and nutmeg. Add flour mixture into the creamed mixture, and mix until just combined. Place egg whites in a standard

mixer, and beat until medium peaks form. Fold egg whites into the mixture gradually, one-third at a time. Scoop batter into prepared cupcake liners. Bake in a preheated 350-degree F oven for 15–17 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean.

Peanut Butter Italian Meringue

Buttercream Frosting:

» 3 cups sugar

» 1 cup water

» 1/2 cup light corn syrup

» 9 egg whites (270 grams)

» 2 lbs. butter, softened at room temperature

» 1 tsp. vanilla extract

» pinch of salt

» peanut butter to taste (about 3 Tbsp.)

Instructions:

In a large saucepan, combine sugar, corn syrup and water. Bring syrup to 420 degrees F using a candy thermometer. While syrup is still cooking, start whipping egg whites into soft peaks. Once the syrup comes to 420 degrees F, slowly pour the syrup in a stream over whipped egg whites, and keep whipping (on a high setting) until the mixture reaches room temp. Add butter slowly, and whip until combined. (The buttercream may resemble cottage cheese once all the butter is added. Just keep whipping.) Pipe frosting onto cupcakes using a piping bag with a star tip. Drizzle chocolate ganache on top.

Note: Don’t add the butter when the egg whites and syrup are too hot. The mixture will melt the butter and turn soupy.

Recipe makes about 20 cupcakes.

BAKING WITH SUOJA

What’s your favorite thing to bake?

I love baking, but my favorite thing is to frost cakes.

What’s your least favorite thing to bake?

French macarons. I used to be so good at them, and they’d always come out perfect. Then, I got a new oven. I haven’t figured it out since.

What’s your favorite flavor combo?

I have two, depending on the mood I’m in. I love lemon and lavender. I make my own lavender syrup and lemon curd for my cupcakes, and it’s so good. For my chocolate-y side, I love chocolate, banana and peanut butter.

What’s your most popular baked good?

Kids really love the classics, like peanut butter cups and Oreos. People also love orange creamsicles and strawberry Champagne.

WE VALUE OUR lationship

350 Degrees Bakery; 350degreesbakery.net @350degrees_bakery FULL-

AGES 5-17 PRIVATE

RACE TEAMS FOR AGES 8-18

FIRST

PLACE: WILDLIFE & NATURE

Little Fawn

Local photographer captures a “magical kind of moment.”

“I SAW A LITTLE FAWN walking around in my front yard. I grabbed my camera and went outside to attempt to capture a few photos,” says local photographer Alyssa Boldischar. “At first, the fawn was scared when it saw me and ran down the hill. I sat at the top of the hill very still and quiet for about five minutes, hoping he would come back in view. When, suddenly, I saw his little ears pop up in the greenery about 15 feet away from me … He just stood there for about a minute, very curious—looking at me as I took photos. It was a magical kind of moment. He couldn’t have been more than a couple days old.”

“I have been a professional photographer for 12 years. I moved to the White Bear Lake area six years ago and instantly fell in love with photographing the wildlife, especially the deer,” Boldischar says.

Photographer: Alyssa Boldischar

Title: Little Fawn

Equipment: Nikon D810 camera with a 200mm telephoto lens

To view other Lens on the Lake photo contest winners, visit whitebearlakemag.com.