LIVING LAKESIDE
Distinctive Design Build and David Charlez Designs


craft one-of-a-kind
Prior Lake home
Distinctive Design Build and David Charlez Designs
craft one-of-a-kind
Prior Lake home
More doctors ready to go.
Ready with more doctors. Set with more specialty services and orthopedic urgent care locations open 8 — 8 daily. Go for more of what you need to keep your body moving. No referral or appointment necessary. TCOmn.com
Spring is our favorite time to make a fresh start, and you’ll find a lot of inspiration for “beginnings” in this issue, from a new lake home to new garden plans. Plus, learn about a nonprofit organization helping families reset for success.
10 — Add Life to Your Yard
Attract birds, bees and butterflies to your outdoor space with these suggestions from Sailer’s Greenhouse.
12 — A Cut Above
Competitive dog groomer
Susan Hatch was top ranked nationally, and she’s aiming to repeat that success by showing English springer spaniels.
14 — Caring for the Caregivers
An Eagan nonprofit founded by a teenager helped more than 15,000 people in 2022.
16 — Living Lakeside
Distinctive Design Build and David Charlez Designs craft a one-of-a-kind lake home.
20 — Year-Round Yard
Three features that make outdoor living more rewarding in all seasons.
28 — Drink to Your Health
On tap or in a can, Bootlegger Brewing perfects kombucha.
As a lifelong Minnesotan, I can survive a Minnesota winter with the best of them. I’ve found that getting outside for a bit each day is key: I love building snow people and sledding with my kiddos, the occasional cross-country ski with my husband and even chilly, star-filled morning runs.
But my real trick for winter survival is focusing on the promise of spring and summer. I’ve spent the past few months dreaming about my garden plans, mentally prioritizing house projects to tackle in warmer temperatures and coordinating summer camps to keep the kiddos occupied once school lets out.
And now it’s go-time! I can’t wait to start digging in the garden, and although I’ve got to wait a few more weeks, I’m already strategizing about what I can add to attract butterflies and hummingbirds this year. I found the suggestions from Nikki Sailer of Sailer’s Greenhouse on page 10 to be very inspiring. I’ve also been thinking about ways to encourage the family to get outside more this season, and I like the idea of outdoor athletic courts, gas fireplaces and pergolas (see page 20).
On a personal note, I wanted to thank you for the kind feedback we received regarding our first issue in February/March. We start work on each issue about six months in advance, and waiting to share it with you is always the hardest part of the process! Feel free to drop me a line at liz@localmedia.co with story ideas and suggestions.
South Metro Kitchen Design experts for over 23 years. PREMIER
DELIGHT IN THE FUN of bubbles without a hangover with this delicious kombucha mocktail from Bootlegger Brewing in Apple Valley. Elevate a ginger flavored kombucha—a beverage made with fermented tea—by adding an easyto-make lavender blueberry simple syrup.
Lavender Blueberry
Ginger Kombucha Tea
» 1 12-oz. can Bootlegger Brewing Hearty Woodsman Ginger Kombucha Tea
» 1–2 Tbsp. lavender and blueberry simple syrup (recipe below)
Fill two 8-oz. glasses with ice, drizzle
1–2 Tbsp. of lavender and blueberry simple syrup over ice, and top each glass with 6 oz. of Hearty Woodsman Ginger Kombucha Tea. Gently stir and enjoy.
Lavender Blueberry Simple Syrup
» 1 cup sugar
» 1 cup water
» 2 Tbsp. lavender flowers
» ½ cup frozen or fresh blueberries
Bring sugar, water, lavender flowers and blueberries to a boil in a small saucepan. Boil until the sugar is dissolved in the water and the berries are starting to pop. Let cool, and strain using a fine mesh sieve into a jar, pressing blueberries to release juices.
Too lazy for simple syrup? Jake Haneman, owner of Bootlegger Brewing Kombucha, also recommends adding another layer to your kombucha by muddling fresh herbs— like basil or rosemary—then adding ice and Hearty Woodsman Ginger Kombucha. Learn more about Bootlegger Brewing on page 28. —Liz
I highly recommend not only a few favorite titles below, but other books by all three of these talented authors.
The Midnight Library
When Nora Seed’s life becomes unbearable to the point of suicide, she finds herself between life and death in a mysterious library that allows her to revisit her regrets. Each book transports Nora to what may have been, had she chosen a different path. Will she find the one that offers happiness and fulfillment? Short, approachable and thought-provoking, this story of parallel universes may cause a shift in your own life perspective.
The Island of Sea Women
by Lisa See Young-sookand Mi-ja grow up together in the matriarchal society of Korea’s Jeju Island, where female deep-sea divers provide for their families. Over time, the friends are torn apart by love, loss, betrayal and war. Multigenerational characters give this heartwrenching saga depth, and hope. Well-researched with rich details, The Island of Sea Women is a great choice for book groups.
A Gentleman in Moscow
by Amor TowlesDespite his sentence to a life of house arrest in the attic of an elegant Moscow hotel in the 1920s, count Alexander Rostov maintains his gracious manners, charm and refined taste. He befriends Nina, a bureaucrat’s young daughter, and endears himself to restaurant staff, living a full life inside the confines of the hotel. The writing is as beautiful as the cast of brilliant characters. You’ll get lost in this novel and won’t want it to end.
Karen Mackey is an adult services librarian at Wescott Library in Eagan. Read more at dakotacounty.us/library.
It’s not really summer in Minnesota without a ride on the High Roller, the iconic Valleyfair roller coaster that’s been with the park since it opened in 1976. The 125-acre theme park features more than 75 rides and attractions, as well as the opportunity to reunite with the Peanuts gang at Planet Snoopy. The amusement park opens for the season on May 14, and park goers can cool off at Valleyfair’s Soak City Waterpark
starting May 27. While there’s plenty of fun to be found on any day at Valleyfair, mark your calendars for special events, including Grand Carnivale from June 24–July 9, Fourth of July fireworks and Latin Days on August 5–6. Daily tickets average $34.99 online or $60 at the gate, and season passes start at $79 with taxes and fees.
Valleyfair, One Valleyfair Drive, Shakopee; 952.445.7600; valleyfair.com ValleyfairMN @valleyfairmn @valleyfairmn
While it’s not hard to make, Croque Madame is an oh-so-worth-it hassle.
Croque Madame
Serves 4
» 4 tsp. Dijon mustard
» 8 slices firm white sandwich bread
» ½ lb. thinly sliced Boar’s Head Tavern Ham
» 1 cup shredded Swiss cheese, divided
» 5 Tbsp. unsalted butter, divided
» 3 Tbsp. flour
» 2 cups milk
» ½ tsp. kosher salt, plus extra for seasoning the eggs
» ¼ tsp. freshly ground Kowalski’s black peppercorns, plus extra for seasoning the eggs
» 1 dash ground nutmeg
» 4 eggs
Spread mustard evenly on one side of 4 slices of bread; top with ham and ⅔ of the cheese. Set aside. In a small saucepan, melt 3 Tbsp. butter over medium-low heat. Whisk in flour; cook for 3 minutes. Whisk in milk; bring to a
boil, whisking constantly. Reduce heat to low; simmer, whisking occasionally, for 5 minutes. Whisk in salt, pepper, nutmeg and remaining cheese until cheese is melted; remove from heat. Spread 1 ½ Tbsp. sauce on the remaining slices of bread; sandwich with other halves. In a nonstick skillet, melt 1 Tbsp. butter over medium-low heat; cook sandwiches until golden (3–4 minutes), turning once. Move to a baking sheet; spread ⅓ cup sauce on the top of each hot sandwich. Broil sandwiches until sauce is bubbling and golden in spots (2–3 minutes). While sandwiches broil, melt remaining butter in the skillet over medium heat until foam subsides. Crack eggs into skillet; season with salt and pepper to taste. Cook eggs, covered, until whites are just set and yolks are still runny (about 3 minutes). Top each warm sandwich with an egg; serve immediately.
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 more at kowalskis.com.
In the mid-1990s, Deb Haupt started going to garage and estate sales with a friend. “I loved the hunt,” she says of her knack for finding unusual vintage and antique pieces. Since one house can only hold so much, Haupt started offering an antique sale three times a year in her garage. That worked well until she and her husband, Greg Haupt, went on a trip to Germany, found some wholesale dealers and started buying shipping containers worth of goodies. By 2003, her garage was full, so Deb and Greg rented a house in Rosemount and opened regular pop-up shops. In 2009, the couple ended up buying Haupt Antiek Market’s current location in Apple Valley.
The shop, which is open Thursday through Sunday one weekend each month, features vintage and antique finds from Haupt, as well as 13 other dealers. Each month the shop is staged around a new theme with a fresh inventory of vintage furniture, art, pottery, seasonal wares and more. This spring, watch for a Garden Revival, featuring watering cans, potting benches, planters and more, in April and Cabin Season in May. Upcoming dates include April 20–23, May 18–21 and June 22–25. —Liz
PotasekHaupt Antiek Market, 7570 W. 147th St., Apple Valley; hauptantiek.com
Haupt Antiek Market @hauptantiek
AS YOU PLAN AND PLANT THIS YEAR’S GARDEN , don’t underestimate the joy of watching a hummingbird seeking nectar or spotting the first monarch butterfly of the season, returning from its long migration to Mexico. With some carefully selected plants, your gardens can become a magnet for birds and butterflies.
We asked Nikki Sailer of Sailer’s Greenhouse in Prior Lake for inspiration on what to plant this season. “There are many plants that are great for attracting pollinators,” she says. “They are typically attracted to plants that have large, bright flowers. The more you plant, the greater habitat you will create, which will lead to more pollinators.”
Perennial Plants
For those ready to shovel dirt but unaware of what to put in it, Sailer suggests perennial plants that return year after year. Perennials typically do better in the ground than in a container, and they usually have a specific bloom time throughout the season (unlike annuals, which often bloom all season).
» Bee Balm (monarda)
Also known as bergamot, this plant has colorful flowers, that attract butterflies, bees and hummingbirds when planted in large swaths. Plant in full sun or part shade.
» Ornamental Onion (allium ‘millenium’)
These low-maintenance flowers do best in full sun and bloom in midto late summer. It attracts butterflies and have an oniony smell.
» Butterfly Weed (asclepias tuberosa)
Sailer describes this plant as a “cute, little perennial that obviously butterflies love.” It’s also low maintenance, loves full sun and has bright orange flowers that add a pop of color to gardens.
» Black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia)
There are several different varieties of Black-eyed Susans, known for attractive, bright yellow petals surrounding a dark brown or black cone-shaped center. It blooms in late summer.
Attract birds, bees and butterflies to your outdoor space with these suggestions from Sailer’s Greenhouse.
» Milkweed (Asclepias)
Another important plant that has the unfortunate “weed” moniker, Milkweed is essential to the survival of monarch butterflies, as well as other pollinators.
Annual plants won’t survive a Minnesota winter, so gardeners will only have these types of plants for one year. On the plus side, Sailer says they typically bloom all summer, which is great for pollinators.
» Vermillionaire® Large Firecracker Plant (cuphea hybrid)
Prolific orange flowers with red or yellow highlights make this plant a stunner in the center of a container. Vermillionare is known for attracting lots of hummingbirds.
» Annual salvias (salvia)
With a wide variety of annual salvias, there’s likely one that’s perfect for your container or garden bed. Sailer recommends salvia guaranitica black and blue, which attracts hummingbirds and butterflies.
» Fuchsia (fuchsia)
This plant, with lovely two-toned flowers, drapes beautifully in a hanging basket. Keep it in a shady spot, and don’t let its soil dry out. The hummingbirds will thank you.
» Lantanas (lantana)
This easy-to-grow plant provides good filler in a container and comes in a wide variety of bright colors.
» Sunflowers (helianthus)
There’s a plethora of sunflowers out there, and most varieties grow tall, making them ideal for planting in the ground. Sailer says it's great to grow from seed.
» Zinnias (zinnia)
Zinnias work well for containers or mass plantings. It also comes in a variety of colors and sizes. It’s a great plant for pollinators because it blooms all season, Sailer says.
Sailer’s Greenhouse, 1610 170th St. E., Shakopee; 952.403.0630; sailersgreenhouse.com
Sailer’s Greenhouse
@sailersgreenhouse
leaks, sparks, clogs, or just starts making one of those weird noises…
SUSAN HATCH says dog hair has taken her to lots of places.
The owner of Lakeville’s Fancy Paws Pet Salon is not wrong.
Hatch learned to groom when she was just 13 years old, spending a full summer in dog grooming school. She groomed on Saturdays throughout high school and college. “I studied marketing, English and biology at the University of Minnesota,” Hatch says. “After college, I worked in medical sales.”
In 2012, she returned to her dog grooming roots, trading her medical sales career
for the opportunity to open a grooming salon and take part in national dog grooming competitions. She’s had no regrets.
As a member of Groom Team USA, Hatch was considered one of the top 10 dog groomers in the country. Every two years, Groom Team USA competes in the World Grooming Championships. In 2017, Team USA won gold.
Yes, competitive dog grooming is a thing, and yes, Hatch is very good at it. “There are only so many dog grooming
competitions, and I did well enough to make the team,” Hatch says. “I was on the team for two years.”
While most people think standard poodles, shaved shapes and hair dyes when it comes to dog grooming, the actual grooming competitions aren’t about wild cuts. “Creative grooming isn’t competitive grooming,” Hatch says. “It’s a whole different ball game.”
The goal of competitive grooming is to replicate the breed standard in a set amount of time. In other words, the dog is supposed to “look” the part. That
Competitive dog groomer Susan Hatch was top ranked nationally for grooming, and she’s aiming to repeat that success by showing English springer spaniels.
HussSusan Hatch
translates to accentuating breed ideals and diverting attention when needed. “All dogs have faults,” Hatch says. “The job of a groomer is to hide those faults.”
When asked for examples, Hatch mentions the preferred dip in a dog’s back, rib spring and tail set. She adds that grooming can alter the appearance of the dip or make a dog more or less curvy. (When viewed from above, a healthy dog should have an hourglass figure.)
When competing, most show dog groomers rarely use electric clippers. Scissors, which sometimes can cost thousands of dollars, trump clippers. And hand stripping (manually removing hairs from the follicle) trumps scissors. “You’re judged on the standard, but technique is a factor,” Hatch says.
And it’s best to start with a pretty dog.
As a member of Groom Team USA, Hatch was asked to appear on the HBO Max reality show Haute Dog. “They asked all of us to audition,” Hatch says of her Groom Team USA mates. “Half of us made it, and half of us didn’t.”
The ones who did fly to California were isolated in hotel rooms during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic. “We were all friends and had competed against each other before,” Hatch says. “I didn’t win, but I’d do it again. The exposure to grooming made it worth it.”
Her experience in grooming competitions is opening the door for her to transition to dog showing competitions. Her new goal is to work with a team to show the best English springer spaniel in the country. She also shows American cocker spaniels.
Why springers and why cockers?
“I love how springers want to please you,” Hatch says. “I love how they have the energy to do things, and I love how they can shut down and sit on a couch. Cockers are merry. They’re the clowns of the sporting group.”
It goes without saying that both breeds benefit from a good grooming.
WHEN KAITLYN STOCK WAS 13 YEARS OLD , she loved going to garage sales to find a good deal; when she found an Eddie Bauer stroller for only $10, her interest in giving back sparked a lifelong career.
Stock took the old stroller in hand and brought it home to her parents, where she was returned with dumbfounded glances. “I remember my mom being like, ‘You’re crazy. Why do you need this?’” Stock says. She laughs and recalls that she just needed it, but she just didn’t quite know what for yet.
“Later, my mom called up her friend, who happened to be a social worker at a local school. And she was like, ‘Listen, Kaitlyn’s lost her mind,’ and they talked about it. They laughed. Not even 24 hours later, that friend called back and said, ‘I know why she had to buy that,’” Stock says.
The friend had a client, who was getting a foster child the next day, and they had no supplies. When Stock was asked if she would like to donate the stroller, she didn’t hesitate. “At that moment, I realized there was a need in the community for this passing on of children’s items that nobody had tried to fill yet,” Stock says.
With that need for the community in mind, Stock later connected with a woman named Jen, who was doing work that consisted of direct donations instead of donating to stores like Goodwill. Jen proposed that Stock also needed to do this important work; it was a must in the community.
“I honestly do not know or remember how Jen and I connected; my family doesn’t know either, but it was meant to be. And I owe her a lot of how this all started,” Stock says.
Shortly after, Kaitlyn’s Kloset was officially founded—just before Stock’s 16th birthday.
The nonprofit organization has grown for eight years, helping more than 15,000 people in 2022. “When I started, I had so much trouble with self-doubt, especially because I was young,” Stock says. Now, Stock says that she is so happy that she took the leap. Regardless of her age, she now runs an organization that is helping thousands of people and making a difference in her community.
“It’s really important that we donate
An Eagan nonprofit founded by a teenager helped more than 15,000 people in 2022.Kaitlyn Stock
to actual people and not just stores, and what we see is that 90 percent of our products actually come back,” Stock says. “They choose to donate back to us instead of donation facilities.” Seeing products go into the hands of families and caregivers in need is an important part of what Kaitlyn’s Kloset does.
Kaitlyn’s Kloset is entirely donation and volunteer driven, but every bit of help truly makes an impact. Donors and volunteers can find links to help on Stock’s website, along with donation guidelines and information regarding current needs. “The biggest need we are seeing in the community right now are diapers and personal care products, like nail clippers,” Stock says.
“I used to run Kaitlyn’s Kloset out of my basement, and I’d have products up to my ceiling. Now, we are based out of Eagan,” Stock says. Drop-in hours are Monday, Wednesday and Friday at the Saints Martha and Mary Episcopal Church in Eagan.
With the growth and clear impact Kaitlyn’s Kloset has made on not only the community, but Stock’s personal life, her trajectory on what she studied in college would be a clear reflection of the real work she was doing in her community.
“I ended up studying and graduating with a degree in social work from the [University of Wisconsin-River Falls],” Stock says. Now, she can offer resource referrals to other programs through Kaitlyn’s Kloset like helping families apply for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and sharing information about rental assistance programs for her clients.
“If I were going to give any advice to young teenagers that want to make a positive impact, I’d tell them to just go for it. You can do it,” Stock says. “And there will be a lot of people that will question what you want to do, but you need to surround yourself with people supporting your dreams and goals.”
Kaitlyn’s Kloset at Saints Martha and Mary Episcopal Church, 4180 Lexington Ave. S., Eagan; sites.google.com/view/ kaitlynskloset-mn/home
Kaitlyn's Kloset - MN
@kaitlynsklosetmn @kaitlynskloset
Designs craft a one-of-a-kind Prior Lake home.
written by ZOE DEAL photos by CHRIS EMEOTTWhat happens when a renowned home builder acquires the perfect land? He keeps a piece of it for himself.
“It was kind of a dream come true,” says Matt Odenthal, owner of Lakevillebased custom home builder Distinctive Design Build LLC. The land in question is 2.8 acres on Prior Lake, which Odenthal bought and developed into six lots, three of which are flat lakeshore. “... You can’t find flat lakeshore on Prior Lake, and all three of these lots are just dead flat. They’re extremely valuable.”
After trying to buy the land for a year and a half, Odenthal and his wife, Amanda, were on vacation when they got a call out of the blue asking if they were ready to write a purchase agreement. It was a deal months in the making. “Truth be told … it took me about a year and a half to get the deal done. The [previous owner] had something that everybody wanted,” Odenthal says.
Nestled on a cul-de-sac on the north side of the lower Prior Lake area, the best lot of the bunch is a rare gem—expansive, flat and flanked on one side by woods. Such a distinct spot was bound for great things, and it didn’t take long for Odenthal to manifest a new home for his wife, son and daughter—just across the water from their previous home on the south shore of the lake.
“That was always our intention going in,” Odenthal says. “We developed the lots
and picked the best one … Being a builder, we move around every couple of years, so we’re always looking for the next lot.”
Now, two years later, the Odenthals are settled into all 7,249 square feet of their Hamptons-style home, enjoying 120 feet of lakeshore, an in-ground pool, and six bedrooms and seven baths spanning three levels. It was a labor of love, with Odenthal working alongside his team to craft his family’s dream home. “I was very involved,” Odenthal says. “... We started the house on March 30 of 2021, and I’ve been on site every day.”
Odenthal hired David Zweber of David Charlez Designs in Lakeville to craft a home suited to the family’s tastes and the land’s unique character. Zweber is responsible for designing more than 30 homes on Prior Lake over the past decade, each as singular as the last.
“The cool thing about David’s program is that there’s not another house out there that looks like this one,” Odenthal says. “It’s 100 percent unique and built to fit that lot and that lot only. One of a kind.”
Zweber married Odenthal’s traditional taste to Amanda’s contemporary one, resulting in a monochromatic, modern exterior—with high-end details like a sweeping cedar shake roof, gray-washed siding, oversized moldings, curved and gridded windows, dramatic pitch changes and arches—in an authentic coastal architectural approach.
“We listed off the features we thought were essential for our family … and we just let [Zweber] do his job,” Odenthal says.
Inside, the lake is the focal point of the design, with sweeping windows spanning floor to ceiling across the entirety of the main and lower floors. Enter through the front door, and the lake is the first thing you see—then come all the intricate architectural and finishing details.
“Just as soon as you walk in, you’re kind of mesmerized by all the woodwork and detail that you see,” Odenthal says. “It’s breathtaking.”
The great room on the main level features a lofted ceiling and exposed wood beams that extend through the dining room and into the expansive kitchen. The open floor plan here and the layout of the lower level (home to a billiards table, man cave, family room and a wet bar that opens to the outdoor pool area), are designed to make the home an ideal gathering space. “In a perfect world for [Amanda], she’d have people over every week and be entertaining, so that’s how we tried to design around that aspect,” Odenthal says.
Just left of the foyer, a dramatic suspended staircase is the focal point of the home’s design and one of many interior elements suggested by Amanda. The custom, self-supporting staircase was designed and built by a Wisconsin-based company, Arcways, and installed over
two days by a team of 12. “It was a challenge; let’s put it like that,” Odenthal says. “It came in two different pieces. We had to use chain hoists and built temporary walls to get it into the house … We had 12 people on site for two days. To be honest with you, it was the hardest I’ve ever worked since I stopped framing, physical labor-wise.”
From the main level, one can look up the staircase into what Odenthal calls “the witch’s hat” for a spectacular view of the intricate beam detail. “It turned out way better than we anticipated,” Odenthal says. “Hard work, but worth it in the end.”
Upstairs, a hallway featuring a barrelvault ceiling leads to the childrens’ bedrooms (each with their own en-suite baths), an in-home theater and the lake-facing owner’s suite with a balcony, owner’s bath and oversized closet with a built-in island dresser. “When you wake up in the morning, the bed is facing out toward the lake, so you wake up looking
at the lake,” Odenthal says. The balcony— when paired with the suite’s built-in dry bar—makes for the perfect private place for morning coffee or an evening glass of wine, Odenthal says.
“I’ve built a lot of homes for myself and you want to try to be budget conscious, but I just knew on this one that we had to splurge a little bit …” Odenthal says. “We didn’t want to do the normal trendy custom house. We really wanted to make it something unique and special.”
The finished product is “one of the most architecturally significant homes built on Prior Lake,” Zweber says. “It’s in a very high traffic area of the lake where it’ll get noticed a lot, and I think it’ll really be one of those homes that will really be a landmark on the lake.”
Both Odenthal and Zweber remarked on how working together on this project provided an opportunity to push the envelope of architecture and building to create something entirely new.
“It’s great working with somebody that’s
got that level of knowledge already, where we can just help expand upon those ideas and try to bring fresh new perspectives to the project. The builder’s own home is so personal to them, and it’s not like doing just a regular project to them,” Zweber says. “It just allows for an extra level of challenge in trying to bring something as unique as possible to the table.”
The pair have worked together in the past, and, while their relationship is primarily a professional one, Odenthal says they’ve built a friendship through this project. During the build, Zweber would often stop by to check on progress.
“That’s our goal when we’re doing these homes … at the end that you can walk away being friends and having built that relationship, and with David we do have that,” Odenthal says.
Is the home what Odenthal expected? “It is. It’s better … It’s a 10 out of 10,” he says. “It’s been a long road, and I’m just glad we’ve gotten to a finished product … I’m just happy to finally enjoy it.”
1DETAILS OF OFFER: Offer expires 5/31/2023. Not valid with other offers or prior purchases. Buy one (1) window or entry/patio door, get one (1) window or entry/patio door 40% off, and 12 months $0 money down, $0 monthly payments, 0% interest when you purchase four (4) or more windows or entry/patio doors between 4/1/2023 and 5/31/2023. 40% off windows and entry/patio doors are less than or equal to lowest cost window or entry/patio door in the order. Additional $25 off each window or entry/patio door, no minimum purchase required, taken after initial discount(s), when you purchase by 5/31/2023. Subject to credit approval. Interest is billed during the promotional period, but all interest is waived if the purchase amount is paid before the expiration of the promotional period. Financing for GreenSky® consumer loan programs is provided by federally insured, federal and state chartered financial institutions without regard to age, race, color, religion, national origin, gender, or familial status. Savings comparison based on purchase of a single unit at list price. Available at participating locations and offer applies throughout the service area. See your local Renewal by Andersen location for details. License MN:BC130983/WI:266951. Excludes MN insurance work per MSA 325E.66. Renewal by Andersen locations are independently owned and operated. 2Values are
Whether you’re fighting cabin fever in January, beating the heat in July or just trying to get the most out of an early spring or late fall day, we’ve found three upgrades that will improve outdoor living conditions in all seasons.
Pergolas provide the best of both worlds: They let in light while providing shade, and they delineate a space without walls. Becca Bastyr, a senior designer who has worked with Mom’s Design Build for 18 years, incorporated two pergolas into a recent Prior Lake home renovation, which was completed in the spring of 2022. “The pergolas give a sense of architecture and bring the sense of the house down,” Bastyr says.
The homeowners had just completed a renovation of the home’s interior, when Bastyr was brought on to help the inside flow to the outside. The inside of the house was California Mediterranean with a little Norwegian style, and the goal was to replicate that in the exterior. “I was really inspired by the lighter colors and clean lines,” she says, adding that she used a mix of materials, including stucco, concrete and wood throughout the project.
She created four levels on the exterior of the house to extend the interior living space. A pergola on the lowest level delineates a yoga space and an outdoor living area; a pergola on the midlevel deck extends an interior room that’s used for entertaining.
A gas fireplace and a brick cubby designed for an electric fireplace insert, also on the lowest level,
help to extend the season by adding warmth to both spaces. “The spaces are pretty usable through spring, summer and fall,” Bastyr says.
The pergolas also enhance the space in the winter. “With the winter in Minnesota, when you’re thinking about exterior design, you’re thinking about it functioning inside while looking out,” Bastyr says. “Adding Christmas garlands and lights gives the feeling of home extending outside.”
Mom’s Design Build, 12275 Weckman Road, Shakopee; 952.277.6667; momsdesignbuild.com
Mom’s Design Build @momsdesignbuild
Mom’s Design Build @momsdesignbuild
An outdoor fireplace creates a natural gathering spot for all seasons, and the Outdoor GreatRoom Company in Lakeville offers everything from finished or ready-to-finish fire tables, fire pits and outdoor fireplaces in a variety of styles to custom fire and do-it-yourself components.
The company manufactures about 60 percent of its products in Minnesota and specializes in gas fireplaces and tables. “The nice thing about gas versus wood is you can run it for 15 minutes and turn it off,” says Joey Shimek, the vice president of sales for the Outdoor GreatRoom Company. This convenience makes it easy to enjoy a quick round of s’mores after dinner or to flick a switch and create instant ambiance for a late night cocktail.
The fire tables, fire pits and outdoor fireplaces can be hooked up to a pre-installed gas line, giving them a permanent location. Depending on the style and location, they can serve as a focal point for your outdoor living area or a great place to gather.
Shimek says he sees more and more people using the features year-round. “They can extend your outdoor living season at least two weeks longer in the fall and two weeks earlier in the spring,” he says.
Outdoor GreatRoom Company, 9583 217th St. W. #100, Lakeville; 866.303.4028; outdoorrooms.com
Outdoor GreatRoom Company @outdoorrooms
The Outdoor GreatRoom Company
@OutdoorRooms
ATHLETIC COURT
Adding an athletic court to your yard might be more versatile than you’d think: Flood it in the winter to create an ice rink, or play a variety of sports in the spring, summer and fall. “If you’re going to do a court, it’s best to do it when kids are young,” says Katie Mills, owner and president of Millz House in Apple Valley. “As they grow older, they grow with it.”
Young children can use the court as a smooth surface for practicing to ride big wheels, tricycles and bicycles, and the courts can be designed to work for multiple sports, including basketball and pickleball.
Mills installed one for her own children and has
fond memories of sending her two boys outside with shovels on warm March days, so they could shovel off the court for a basketball game.
Millz House installs custom outdoor athletic courts designed to fit each customer’s yard and lifestyle, offering free estimates. The price of an athletic court is closely tied to the price of concrete, as well as the logistics involved with installation, but Mills says in general, an outdoor court can cost between $15,000–$17,000 for a small court or $20,000–$30,000 for a large court.
Courts can be upgraded with basketball hoops, boards (for a hockey rink in the winter) or net attachments and customized with hand-painted lines or team logos.
In addition to outdoor athletic courts, Millz House offers indoor courts, playground equipment and garage floor coating, and its Apple Valley showroom doubles as an indoor play area for young children.
Millz House, 14645 Felton Court Suite #104, Apple Valley; 952.446.5858; millzhouse.com
Millz House @millzhouse14645
things to see and do in and around our community
The Treetop Trail offers a fresh perspective.
THE MINNESOTA ZOO’S much-anticipated Treetop Trail is set to open this summer, providing visitors with a new perspective of its animal exhibits. At 1.25 miles long, the trail will be the world’s largest elevated pedestrian loop, allowing zoo patrons the opportunity to walk among the tree tops and enjoy views of some of the zoo’s undeveloped natural areas.
The trail was designed as a way to make use of the infrastructure surrounding the zoo’s old monorail, which closed in 2013. “It’s a major repurposing project,” says Zach Nugent, communications and media relations manager for the Minnesota Zoo. “We are so excited to have it right here in Minnesota.”
Once construction is finished, the trail will be accessible to walkers, strollers and wheelchairs. “The goal is to connect people with nature,” Nugent says. “Through this trail, people of all abilities will really be able to connect to the world.” —Megan
HegenbarthMinnesota Zoo, 13000 Zoo Blvd., Apple Valley; 952.431.9200; mnzoo.org
Minnesota Zoo @mnzoo @mnzoo
LOCAL EVENTS
Home Garden Expo
04/01
Apple Valley’s Home Garden Expo is back with over 120 home- and gardenrelated businesses and organizations. There will be free face painting, fire trucks and grilled food. All ages. Free. 9 a.m.–3 p.m. Eastview High School, 6200 140th St. W., Apple Valley; 952.432.8422; applevalleyhomeandgarden.com
Engelbert Humperdink
04/28
The legendary Engelbert Humperdink performs hits from his large body of
parkdental.com
work at the Mystic Lake Showroom. He has been performing for over 50 years. Ages 21 and older. Tickets start at $40. 8 p.m. Mystic Lake Showroom, 2400 Mystic Lake Road, Prior Lake; 844.649.6952; minneapolis-theater.com
Lakeville Home Show
04/29
The show features 120 home improvement professionals and other local businesses. The first 100 attendees will receive a goodie bag. All ages. Free. 10 a.m.–4 p.m. Lakeville Hasse Arena, 8525 215th St. W., Lakeville; 952.232.1765; minnesotahomeshows.com
Fine Arts Festival
05/01–05/15
Bring the whole family to look at artworks at the 2023 Fine Arts Festival. View artwork from current students of Trinity School at River Ridge. All ages. Free. 8 a.m. Trinity School at River Ridge, 601 River Ridge Parkway, Eagan; 651.789.2890; trinityriverridge.org
Shakespeare’s Comedy of Errors
05/19–05/21
Twin Cities Homeschoolers for the Arts’ production of William Shakespeare’s Comedy of Errors is a fresh adaptation of this classic show. There will be separation at birth, mistaken identity, deception and ransom. All ages. $12. Times vary. Lakeville Area Arts Center, 20965 Holyoke Ave., Lakeville; 952.985.4640; lakevilleareaartscenter.com
Family Nature Club
05/20
Bring your kids to the Jeffers Pond Family Nature Club to explore the nature around them. All ages. Free. 8 a.m. Jeffers Pond Elementary, 14800 Jeffers Pass NW, Prior Lake; 952.226.0600; jp.plsas.org
Minnesota Craft Beer Festival
04/01
There will be over 110 breweries providing beer and music from the Rough
that fit my schedule
We provide flexible hours, personalized care and 98% patient satisfaction. Schedule online today!
House. Ages 21 and older. Tickets start at $49.99. 1–5 p.m. Minneapolis Convention Center (Hall D+E), 1301 Second Ave. S., Mpls.; minnesotacraftbeerfestival.com
Twin Cities Auto Show
04/01–04/08
Stop by the Twin Cities Auto Show to look at hundreds of vehicles from both domestic and imported brands. All ages. Ticket prices vary. Times vary. Minneapolis Convention Center, 1301 Second Ave. S., Mpls.; twincitiesautoshow.com
Hamilton
04/04–05/06
The story of Alexander Hamilton is brought to life in this musical by LinManuel Miranda. Ages 10 and older. Prices vary. Times vary. Orpheum Theatre, 910 Hennepin Ave., Mpls.; 612.339.7007; hennepintheatretrust.org
42nd Annual Film Festival
04/13–04/27
Celebrate the art of film with the MSP Film Society. Ages 21 and older. All ages. Prices vary. Times vary. The Main Cinema, 115 SE Main St., Mpls.; 612.395.4444; mspfilm.org
CREATE.
Your child will grow and develop through a research-driven, relationship-oriented, play-based learning curriculum. Serving infants through Pre-K children. Family- and Locally-owned since 1976. www.EspeciallyforChildren.com
To have your event considered: email citiessouthmag@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.
IN 2015, JAKE HANEMAN took a wild leap with his career. He left his successful engineering job to launch what was at the time a somewhat obscure concept: a kombucha brewery.
Kombucha tea, a fermented tea drink made using a culture of a symbiotic colony of bacteria and yeast (commonly called a SCOBY), was developed in China and has been around since about 220 B.C. Haneman was introduced to the sparkling, slightly sour drink by his sister-in-law in 2003. “I was introduced to it knowing nothing about it,” he says. “We were drinking it before it was mainstream.”
In 2005, Haneman was inspired to start brewing his own kombucha at home in 2- and 5-gallon batches using the SCOBY that had been in his sisterin-law’s family. “I had been brewing kombucha for eight to 10 years when I started Bootlegger,” he says, adding that he had been looking to leave his corporate job and start his own business, but he wasn’t sure what type of business to pursue. “My friend and business partner had said “Why don’t you do kombucha?’ I had not given it a thought,” he says.
Soon Haneman started brewing kombucha in a 35-gallon fermenter in his basement and graduated to 600-gallon batches. “I was so naive,” he says. “I had never dealt with large-scale brewing, manufacturing of food and beverage or distribution—all that stuff. It was definitely a trial by fire to get started.”
His previous work as an engineer, consulting with companies to improve their production, came in handy as he learned the industry and launched Bootlegger. “It definitely helps you to stop, look and evaluate,” he says. “It trained me to think in terms
of choke points or bottlenecks. Usually, it’ll come down to one thing.”
While Haneman’s kombucha venture might have seemed somewhat obscure when he launched the business, the drink has grown in popularity over the past eight years, and so has Bootlegger Brewing Kombucha, which is distributed throughout a large portion of the Midwest. Haneman produces about 1,200 gallons of kombucha tea each month using a blend of green and black tea, SCOBY, finished culture and sugar. “I start with a combination of green and black tea because it adds different nutrients,” he says.
Haneman ferments the tea mixture in 600- or 1,200-gallon batches in his Apple Valley brewery. One batch is typically made on a 30-day fermentation cycle. The kombucha is somewhat naturally carbonated through the fermentation process, but Haneman finishes batches in a bright tank, similar to finishing beer. Some of the kombucha is canned and distributed to grocery stores, and some of the kombucha is sold on tap at local restaurants, coffee shops and breweries.
Bootlegger Brewing Kombucha’s distinctive lumberjack branding is indicative of the bold flavors that Haneman has developed. The kombucha brewery started with three flavors: Hearty Woodsman
Ginger, Sturdy Girl Apple Cinnamon and Lookout Lemon Berry. “I started with the ginger, lemon berry and apple cinnamon because they’re approachable,” Haneman says. “When we started, a lot of stuff that was out there was very exotic, and I wanted to make kombucha more approachable to people who hadn’t
BREWING KOMBUCHA
“Everyone thinks their baby is cute, but I do think we have some of the best kombucha that I’ve tried.”
Bootlegger Brewing Kombucha is available in about 250 locations. Here a few nearby:
Bald Man Brewing (Eagan)
Lakeville Brewing Co. (Lakeville)
Tapestry Coffee (Lakeville)
Valley Natural Foods (Burnsville)
Vendella euro boutique & coffee haus (Eagan)
tried it before, so I kept those simple.”
Plain kombucha naturally has some notes of apricot or stone fruit, Haneman says, so he seeks out flavors that will be complementary. “If it were up to me, I would have so many flavors. I like to play around,” he says. “I think of flavors almost visually, like how things pair together … It’s all about finding
Bootlegger Brewing offers its three initial flavors, as well as Legendary Lavender, in cans. Haneman gets a bit more creative with the keg offerings. Bootlegger Brewing’s current signature keg flavor is HopsSquatch with Passion Fruit. “HopsSquatch is dry hopped with a blend of New Zealand hops and passion fruit puree,” Haneman says, adding that since the hops are never boiled during production, they don’t get bitter, and they lend their aromatics
“Everyone thinks their baby is cute, but I do think we have some of the best kombucha that I’ve tried,” Haneman says, noting that he’s mindful of keeping the sugar content fairly low when
Kombucha’s sparkling sweet-tart flavor is reason enough to drink it, but it also has a reputation for being healthy due to the antioxidants and probiotics found in its ingredients, although it’s hard to find scientific studies supporting the health benefits of kombucha. Anecdotally, Haneman credits drinking kombucha with his health. “I prefer having [kombucha] in the morning to coffee,” he says. “It’s kind of like clean energy instead of anxiety energy.”
Bootlegger Brewing Kombucha, 14607 Felton Court #112, Apple Valley; 763.312.0177; @bootleggerbrewing
Photographer Roslynn Long spots a wild animal at the Minnesota Zoo.
MOST PEOPLE GO TO THE MINNESOTA ZOO in Apple Valley to see the zoo animals, but Burnsville nature photographer Roslynn Long seeks out the natural areas of the zoo, which attract wild animals. “The zoo has a lot of acreage,” she says.
Long snapped this picture of a green heron last July when her daughter was at zoo camp. She was walking along a boardwalk when she saw an Eastern phoebe, and then she noticed a green heron hiding behind branches. She stayed still and spent a long time waiting for it to forget that she was there. Eventually, her patience paid off.
Long started photographing birds about 10 years ago. “My favorite bird is whatever bird I’m currently photographing,” Long says. “I really love loons and hummingbirds.”
In addition to the zoo, Long likes to photograph birds in natural areas around the Twin Cities, including the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum, Wood Lake Nature Center, Fort Snelling and Lebanon Hills. Her photos have appeared in Pahl’s Market calendars, KARE 11 Weatherguide calendars, Birds and Blooms magazine, and last July she published In the Shadow of His Wings, a devotional book based on her bird photographs.
Lynn Long Prints; lynnlongprints.com Lynn Long Prints@lynnlongprints