Plymouth Magazine - June 2022

PRESENTING YOUR PICKS FOR THE

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J U N E /J U LY 2 0 2 2 “That group of people just makes it their labor of love. It’s a tremendous amount of work, and they do it with enthusiasm.” —Mele Willis, Music in Plymouth

PAGE 28

DEPARTMENTS 16 — Community Tradition Music in Plymouth celebrates its 50th anniversary.

18 — A Helping Hand Interfaith Outreach and Community Partners assists neighbors in need.

20 — Melanin Magic Coloring book celebrates Black creators.

FEATURES 26 — Drumroll Please …

You voted, we listened.

28 — All Aboard We’re taking a historical bus tour through some of the most beloved places in Plymouth.

TASTEMAKERS 42 — Emily’s Fresh Kitchen

IN EVERY ISSUE

PAGE 16

8 — Editor’s Letter 11 — Noteworthy 36 — On the Town 40 — Gallery 48 — Last Glance

plymouthmag.com

Photo: Three Rivers Park District; City of Plymouth

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ummer is a time for block parties, barbecues and fun, and we at Plymouth Magazine like to get in on the excitement with our annual Best of Plymouth issue. For Best of Plymouth 2022, your responses to our write-in poll highlight some of the very best Plymouth has to offer as a community, from good eats and great drinks to trusted professionals and essential services.

Whether you’re circling back after sneaking a peek at this year’s winners and finalists or letting the suspense build before diving into the big reveal (page 26), we want to express our thanks to everyone who voted. You’re sure to see some old favorites in the winner’s circle from past years, but for 2022 we took your advice and added some new categories too, including Best Pizza, Best Plant-Based Menu, Best OBGYN and Best Jeweler.

For this issue, I also wanted to delve into Plymouth’s past and see what goes into building such a strong community foundation. You’ll notice a new Noteworthy in the mix—contributed by Rebekah Coffman from the Plymouth Historical Society—will add a historical element to our magazine going forward (page 14). I was lucky enough to meet Coffman during the course of writing my editor’s picks (page 28), which offers a historical tour through Plymouth’s past as well as a sneak peek at its future.

I was also lucky enough to meet many of the past and present leaders of Plymouth’s favorite community recourses over the course of writing my editor’s pick. I would like to thank Cathy Fisher of the Plymouth Library and Diane Evans, Kari Hemp and Jessica Riley of the Plymouth Community Center for their time, insight and enthusiasm in bringing Plymouth’s past to its present.

Without further ado, welcome to the Best of Plymouth 2022.

Until next time,

SATURDAY, JUNE 25, 2022, 8:00AM HILDE PERFORMANCE CENTER See what we’re doing behind the scenes and around town!

PLYMOUTHMAG.COM @PLYMOUTH_MAG

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PLYMOUTH MAGAZINE @PLYMOUTHMAG

June/July 2022

plymouthmag.com

Photo: Chris Emeott

CALL TODAY FOR YOUR APPOINTMENT

THENEDIA.COM

Madeline Kopiecki, madeline@localmedia.co

VOL. 19 NO. 2 plymouthmag.com

publisher Susan Isay

editor Madeline Kopiecki

managing creative director Renée Stewart-Hester

managing editor Hailey Almsted

copy editor Kellie Doherty

staff writers Ava Diaz Dan Amundson Daniel Huss Madeline Kopiecki Staci Perry Mergenthal

contributing writers Hollie Blanchard John F. Farrell III Amy Sundet Katie Timcho Kira Vanderlan

editorial interns Emily Deutscher Hanna McDaniels

editorial advisory board Elizabeth Cohen, Studio M Ann Marie Grocholsk, AMG Photography Deb Sakry Lande, Interfaith Outreach Emilie Kastner, City of Plymouth Amy Parnell, Wayzata Public Schools Luann Svendsen, Plymouth Reads member and community volunteer

senior managing art director Sarah Dovolos

art director Allison Nolden

lead staff photographer Chris Emeott

production director Brittni Dye

production manager Lisa Stone

senior account executives Brooke Beise Katie Freemark Cynthia Hamre Sara Johnson

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READY. SET. GOddard!® We help children explore and discover their interests through play in a safe environment.

We provide ample opportunities for fun learning experiences, promoting a lifelong love of learning in literacy, science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics.

THANK YOU TO ALL THE FAMILIES WHO VOTED US BEST OF PLYMOUTH FOR SIX YEARS!

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N OT E WO RT H Y

Be st o f Ply m o uth FA Q

By Editorial Staff

Get better acquainted with our annual readers’ poll.

OU R R EA D ER S’ P OL L is an annual favorite for many of our readers, who look forward to supporting local businesses and service providers with their votes. Additionally, the results serve as a great reference point for area residents in search of new dining venues, retail spots, services and more around Plymouth.

If you’re new to the Best of Plymouth readers’ poll or just curious about the process, read along to discover the ins and outs, so you’re ready to vote next year!

VOT I N G WAS O P E N O N L I N E DURING JANUARY WITH THREE SIMPLE RULES*:

1. One entry was allowed per person; each ballot needed to include an email address.

2. Ballots must have been completed by 5 p.m. January 31, 2022.

3. Voters needed to vote in at least five categories to ensure their ballot was counted. *Any rule not adhered to may have resulted in entire surveys being discarded, and all results were subject to editorial discretion.

WA N T TO K N OW M O R E ?

HERE ARE THE ANSWERS TO SOME F R E Q U E N T LY A S K E D Q U E S T I O N S :

How do you choose the categories?

Each year, our editorial and management teams evaluate survey categories to include topics our readers find most relevant. We always consider feedback

from our readers and appreciate hearing about categories you’d like to see added or eliminated.

How does voting work?

This year, we included an all write-in ballot, so our voters could easily make their top choices. Once voting closed, tabulators determined which businesses were the top three vote-getters.

What’s a finalist vs. a winner?

The top three vote-getters in each category become finalists and are announced in the spring on our website, and the top vote-getter is the winner and is announced in the summer on our website and in our magazine. Once votes are tabulated, our editorial team factchecks the address and contact information for each finalist. If a finalist is no longer a valid selection due to a closed business, etc., the next highest votegetter(s) moves up to become a finalist.

Can a business or organization be a finalist if it’s located outside of the magazine’s coverage area?

In order to qualify as a finalist in the survey, each business or organization must be located in the community and/or provide services to local residents.

I’m a business owner. How can I get on next year’s ballot?

We recommend encouraging people, including your clients or customers, to vote for your business in our next readers’ poll, which goes live on our website in January 2023.

June/July 2022

plymouthmag.com

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N OT E WO RT H Y

READ

Summer Reads

Is it really a Minnesota summer if you

the sequel, Finlay Donovan Knocks ’em

mediately draw the reader in emotion-

don’t pick up a few beach reads?

Dead, came out this past February.

ally and this book did not disappoint.

We have curated a list of some must-

The novel opens with Kenna, a young

read books to fill your beach bag with

Blush by Jamie Brenner

mother, being released from prison

all summer!

This story follows three generations

and embarking on a journey to find

of strong women trying to save their

and connect with a daughter she has

Beach Read by Emily Henry

beloved family winery. Grab yourself

never met.

The aptly titled Beach Read is the epit-

a glass of blush and let this book

ome of a perfect beach read! This novel

sweep you away to the vineyards

In My Dreams I Hold a Knife

follows two beachfront neighbors and

of the Northeast. Who doesn’t love

by Ashley Winstead

authors who believe they have nothing

reading a tale of women outwitting

Six friends brought together for their

in common but are brought together

their men?

10-year college reunion have hopes of

after a secret affair is unearthed. This

impressing each other. Instead, they

feel-good story is the perfect light

28 Summers by Elin Hilderbrand

discover their late friend Heather’s killer

summer read.

The town of Nantucket conjures roar-

is among them. This dual timeline novel

ing waves and sand between your

gives off vibes of the movie Urban

Finlay Donovan is Killing It

toes. This novel follows the love story

Legend, where a group of friends are

by Elle Cosimano

of Jake and Mallory, a pair who have

sitting around putting together what

Finlay is a single mom with two kids

a one-weekend-per-year affair. Hilder-

happened. This thriller is perfect for

and a deadbeat ex-husband who has a

brand has solidified her place as the

readers who love problem solving.

snobby new fiancé. She is a moderate-

queen of beach reads with this gem.

ly successful author who, over sand-

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wiches at Panera, accidently becomes

Reminders of Him by Colleen Hoover

a contract killer. If you love this novel,

Hoover is known for her ability to im-

Local bookworms Katie Timcho and Amy Sundet run the book blog @overbookedmoms.

June/July 2022

plymouthmag.com

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N OT E WO RT H Y

Detail of Hennepin County Plate 72, S ½ Sec 36. T. 118.

R. 22. From Atlas Villages of Medicine Lake Plymouth in Hennepin County, Minn.

Image courtesy of Hennepin County Library.

CO NSIDER

Carver’s Inn The summer months are filled with cause

is the history of African Americans in our

country air along with chicken, barbecue,

for celebration, from the warming sun’s rays

community. We acknowledge this is only

sandwiches and beer.

to the sizzle of the season’s first barbecue.

the beginning of a much-needed process,

But summer is also a time of remembrance.

but we wish to share an example from our

and inn can be seen in a section map from

While we recognize national independence

research and encourage others to share

the 1930s, near the present-day location of

in July, June symbolizes how freedom was

stories and resources that could help us

the Waterford Park Building along Highway

delayed for many of our nation’s African

continue in this effort.

169. While the physical traces of the Carver’s

American communities.

June 19th, known as Juneteenth, is a

Searching through historical census data

The location of the Carver family home

business may no longer be found, we hope

and periodical clippings, we learned about

to continue to uncover more of their legacy.

holiday celebrated in recognition of the day

the Carver family. The 1920 census shows

We welcome any information community

when federal troops reached Galveston,

record of the married couple Fred S. and

members may have about the Carver fam-

Texas to ensure all those enslaved were

Georgia A. Carver who lived in Plymouth

ily or other histories they wish to share by

freed. This event took place two and a half

with their family, including Alice F. Carver,

emailing info@plymouthmnhistoricalsociety.

years after the Emancipation Proclamation

Fred’s mother, and their son, Wesley.

org or calling at 763.509.5282.

had been signed by President Abraham

Further newspaper searches reveal

Special thanks to Ted Hoshal for his

Lincoln in September 1862, representing a

the Carvers were entrepreneurs. In 1913,

research which brought this information

much-delayed message of freedom.

Fred founded the Railroad Porters’ and

to light.

Over the past three years, the Plymouth

Waiter’s South Side Club and co-founded

Historical Society has been undertaking an

the Colored Railroadmen’s Association.

inventorying effort of its collection. As part

After moving to Plymouth in 1919, the

of this process, we’ve identified areas where

family later began Carver’s Inn, a restau-

we lack representation and one such area

rant advertising cool breezes and fresh

14

Rebekah Coffman is the manager of the Plymouth Historical Society. Learn more about Plymouth’s history at plymouthmnhistoricalsociety.org.

June/July 2022

plymouthmag.com

Join us in welcoming Dr. Brian Brumfield to our team!

VIEW

Pup Portrait

7000 E. Fish Lake Rd . vcamaplegrove.com . 763.420.7958

There can be an unconditional bond when it comes to our pets. For centuries, dogs have been coined “man’s best friend” as the bonds of unfailing love, devotion and loyal companionship deepen with time. When I saw the life with which artist Karin Jacobs captures her original pet commissions, I was beyond moved. The animals’ personalities were on full display, and the sincerity of their souls echoed in their eyes. Jacobs feels overjoyed with the fact that her clients “feel” their beloved dog or cat in her artwork.

Artist: Karin Jacobs Title: Winnie Scale: 10x10 Medium: Original Oil on Canvas

Contributed by Hollie Blanchard of The Art Girls. View more at artgirlsmpls.com.

Art Girls Minneapolis @artgirls_mpls

15

PERSPECTIVES

Community Tradition Music in Plymouth celebrates its 50th anniversary.

By Dan Amundson

WHETHER IT’S FOR A WEDDING,

Photos: Music in Plymouth

business or event, 50th anniversaries are a cause for celebration. One Plymouth event is celebrating such a milestone this summer thanks to the hard work of volunteers and the community.

Initially started as an event to give the small but growing suburb of Plymouth a sense of identity, Music in Plymouth has since grown over its lifespan to an event that hosts nearly 15,000 people. This year, it’s celebrating its golden anniversary.

Al Hilde Jr., the mayor of Plymouth when the event started, created a committee along with Curtis Carlson, founder and CEO of Carlson Companies, to bring the Minnesota Orchestra into the city for a free concert. The committee, now known as the Plymouth Civic League, has continued to put the event on every year since.

As attendance has grown, so have the venues. The event was first held in vacant parking lots in Plymouth’s Minneapolis Industrial Park. After a few years bouncing around different lots, it eventually moved to the Hilde Performance Center, which was constructed in 2002 after Hilde Jr. and his wife, Jayne, donated the money for its creation.

It takes a lot to put on an event like this for so long. Every member of the Plymouth Civic League is a volunteer, and they work hard to make the event work. It’s a year-round commitment to make sure the concert goes off without a hitch. “That group of people just makes it their labor of love,” says Mele Willis, the head of public relations for Music in Plymouth. “It’s a tremendous amount of work, and they do it with enthusiasm.”

Top: Music in Plymouth 2017.

Bottom: Music in Plymouth featuring the Minnesota Orchestra 1973.

16

June/July 2022

plymouthmag.com

Y O U R N E I G H B O R H O O D R E A LT O R Plymouth Paul’s Promise Honesty, Open Communication and Results Paul Gilliam 612-322-2257 PAUL@HOMEGUYSMN.COM “Paul is a realtor who makes it a point to meet your desired outcome.” -Sam F. Minneapolis

Willis also credits the Plymouth community for the success of the event. The league relies on donations from the public and local businesses to support the event financially. If community members didn’t contribute, the event wouldn’t exist. “There’s a lovely cross-section of grassroot support for the event,” Willis says. “We don’t take that for granted.”

This year’s concert is on July 6th and has a big lineup. The Grammy-winning Okee Dokee Brothers kick things off in the evening, followed up by Charles Lazarus and the Steeles. Following their performance, the Minnesota Orchestra will once again take the stage for their typical primetime spot. Fireworks will follow the concert lineup.

Even if the music doesn’t peak someone’s interest, Willis still encourages people to come check out the event. There will be food trucks, activities for kids and it’s a great way to spend time with other community members. “There’s something for everyone,” Willis says. “Plus, it’s a summer evening in Minnesota. What’s not to love?”

People can find more information on the Music in Plymouth website, along with its Facebook page. There they can also donate to the event if they so desire.

“It’s really kind of phenomenal being the 50th anniversary,” Willis says. “We’re looking forward to a full evening of celebration with the community.”

Visit our On the Town community calendar (page 36) to learn more about when and where you can find this year’s Music in Plymouth event.

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Music in Plymouth has a new opt-in text service which provides occasional updates on Music in Plymouth events and opportunities.

Learn more using this QR code.

LOCATIONS New Hope Office 763-544-8745 Chanhassen Office 952-401-1752 17

DOING GOOD

A Helping Hand Interfaith Outreach and Community Partners assists neighbors in need.

By Ava Diaz

WHAT STARTED in the basement

of a Wayzata church 43 years ago has since flourished as a way to ensure the basic needs of the community are being met. “This community rallies together and I think it is a model for other communities,” says Kevin Ward, the executive director of the Interfaith Outreach and Community Partners (IOCP). “It is neighbors taking care of neighbors.”

The IOCP looks at what it means to be stable. Leveraging its efforts through the help of the community, it provides families with the necessary tools to achieve a stable future. IOCP gathers resources and works with the community so that basic human needs such as food, accessible housing, a livable wage, safety, financial support and a sense of

18

belonging don’t go missed. “We want to build a community where everyone feels accounted for,” Ward says.

Resale Select

Sorted, organized, administered and sourced by active members of the community, the Resale Select provides items for families and individuals to make their house feel like a home. Celebrating its 10th year, Ward says it has been a great way to provide a refresh for many homes within the community. The shop features clothing items, household items, books, technology, such as TVs and computers, and furniture.

Set up like a thrift shop, clients work with staff to access the items they need; all shoppers’ purchases support and

strengthen Interfaith programs. “When [customers] give support to the resale and when we sell and shop, [the profits are] going right to help other neighbors,” Ward says. “It is this cool kind of cycle.”

The most desired items for donation: • Big, tall and large sizes for men, women and children • New or gently used handbags and shoes • Household furnishings such as furniture and décor SuperShelf

Though canned items are great and withstand the test of time, the need for fresh produce is often overlooked when it comes to food shelves. To make these

June/July 2022

plymouthmag.com

Photos: Interfaith Outreach and Community Partners

SuperFood Shelf

The IOCP SuperShelf by the numbers Serves nearly 200 households per week.

44 percent of the individuals served through the shelf are children.

Every $1 donated is equal to $9 worth of food at the shelf.

desired healthy options more appealing and accessible, IOCP collaborated with the University of Minnesota to revamp their food shelf to become a SuperShelf last fall.

What distinguishes a SuperShelf from a generic food shelf is the nutritional quality of the food available for the clients. “It is comparable to a typical grocery store,” Ward says. “We are making it more user friendly and creating a belonging environment where people want to come.”

Elements that were updated to enhance the shopping experience: • Increased variety of healthy proteins, grains and produce and culturally specific foods to serve the varying populations.

• Redesigned layout to make heathier choices more visible such as displaying produce in the front of the food shelf and placing items at eye level.

• Incorporated color-coded signs in the four most spoken languages in the region: English, Spanish, Russian and Somali.

• Created more engaging displays to showcase different varieties of foods.

To learn more about how to get involved visit iocp.org.

Interfaith Outreach and Community Partners, 1606 County Road 101 N.; 763.489.7500; info@iocp.org Interfaith Outreach & Community Partners Resale Select Store, 1605 County Road 101 N.; 763.489.7549; resaleselect@iocp.org Resale Select

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19

A R T A N D C U LT U R E

Melanin Magic Coloring book celebrates Black creators.

By Ava Diaz

20

June/July 2022

plymouthmag.com

Photos: ByVegalia

crown-bank.com

PLYMOUTH ANIME ARTIST, Vegalia Jean-Pierre, always longed to see herself, a Black woman, represented in the fantastical realm of literature. What is often considered as a place for individuals to escape from reality didn’t always feel as such for her.

Breaking barriers, Jean-Pierre took matters into her own hands and created a coloring book, Melanin Magic, to provide a positive representation for people of color and uplift diverse creators. “I didn’t even notice that I never had that growing up,” Shanice Penn, one of the Melanin Magic artists, says about the lack of Black animated characters in pop culture.

The book features a collection of 35 original fantasy designs showcasing a variety of mermaids, magical beings, fairies, hybrids and mages with Blackcentric features. “It is beyond being magical, it is building on to a world that doesn’t necessarily exist and there is no reason why Black people can’t be in that space as well,” Jean-Pierre says.

Collaborating with 13 other Black artists from around the world, Jean-Pierre says she wanted to share the opportunity in the hopes of reaching a larger audience. Connecting via social media, they were able to conceptualize, design and share ideas digitally from start to finish.

Creating a variety of original images, the only requirements consisted of the incorporation of Black-centric features and a tie to the genre of fantasy.

“It is a very organic, authentic feeling when something is made with you in mind without being forced,” Melanin Magic coordinator and artist Kiki Agee says.

Incorporating these elements helps individuals feel heard and connected to the pages they are coloring in. “To see someone like you in that space, it makes you love it more and you feel more a part of that community,” Penn says.

With more culturally inclusive projects in the works, Jean-Pierre hopes to continue to encourage her followers to connect with Black or brown characters.

“I hope that little girls and boys can see themselves as magical beings and fantasy creatures or characters,” she says. “I hope it inspires people beyond just the ones that are coloring in it.”

Yes, possibilities still exist.

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Bottom left: A colored page done by @jvzmina, one of the artists who collaborated on Melanin Magic.

Bottom middle: Two young girls enjoying the pages Melanin Magic.

22

June/July 2022

plymouthmag.com

As one to color outside the lines, Jean-Pierre also launched a collection of digital paint brushes on her Gumroad website that emulate Black-centric hair with the swipe of a pen earlier this year. (These brushes featuring braids, twists and curls, can also be purchased to be used on the digital version of the coloring book.) Her viral creation ignited the idea to physically translate these hairstyles to paper.

Even though you can draw and color different natural hairstyles for Black people, it is much more impactful to see the textural features already in the book, says Penn. “It inspires youth to love their hair as is.”

Hard copies of Melanin Magic can be purchased on Amazon and at Barnes & Noble or get a digital copy on byvegalia.gumroad.com.

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Drumroll please …

W R I T T E N BY M A D E L I N E KO P I EC K I

The Best of Plymouth issue always puts a celebratory feeling in the air, and this year was no different. In January we opened the polls for you to write in your favorites for local businesses, service providers and more—and you delivered the goods.

Now, it’s time to reveal the winners as chosen by you!

Some names will be familiar, but we’re happy to introduce new ones, too, for the Best of Plymouth 2022.

Best Bar / Brewery / Distillery

Best PlantBased Menu

Best Interior Designer

Best Breakfast

Best Restaurant

Best Landscape Designer

1. Luce Line Brewing Co. 2. The Sunshine Factory Bar & Grill 3. Cowboy Jack’s

B E S T

O F

P LY M O U T H

2 0 2 2

1.

The Original Pancake House 2. Peg’s Countryside Café 3. Benedict’s

Best Outdoor Dining 1.

The Sunshine Factory Bar & Grill 2. Rock Elm Tavern 3. Cowboy Jack’s

Best Pizza

1. Latuff’s Pizzeria 2. ElMar’s NY Pizza 3. Broadway Bar & Pizza

1.

The Sunshine Factory Bar & Grill 2. Stalk & Spade 3. India Palace Plymouth

1.

The Sunshine Factory Bar & Grill 2. Rock Elm Tavern 3. OAK Eatery

Best Takeout / Curbside 1.

The Sunshine Factory Bar & Grill 2. OAK Eatery 3. La Cocina de Ana

Best Builder 1.

J Brothers Design Build - Remodel, Inc. 2. Bergeron Homes 3. Hanson Builders

1. Jayne Morrison Interiors 2. Bergeron Homes 3. J Brothers Design Build - Remodel, Inc.

1. David’s Lawn Service 2. Dundee Nursery and Landscaping 3. Bachman’s

Best Nursery / Garden Center

1. Bachman’s 2. Dundee Nursery and Landscaping 3. Gregor Farm & Greenhouse

Best Remodeler 1.

J Brothers Design Build - Remodel, Inc. 2. Platinum Remodeling & Handyman Services 3. Bergeron Homes

Best Chiropractic Practice 1.

Northern Edge Chiropractic LLC 2. Experience Wellness Chiropractic 3. Plymouth Spine and Health Center

Best Dental Practice 1. Boger Dental 2. Smile Design Dentistry 3. Bay Creek Dental

Best Dermatology Practice

1. Pinnacle Dermatology 2. Lakes Dermatology 3. Associated Skin Care Specialists

Best Eye Practice 1.

Kennedy Vision Health Center 2. Plymouth Vision Center 3. Northwest Eye

Best Fitness Studio / Yoga Studio / Gym 1. Life Time 2. Surge Cycling 3. Orangetheory Fitness

Best Medspa

1. Gr8Skin MedSpa 2. Anew Medspa Clinic 3. InnerBeauty Med Spa & Laser

Best OBGYN Practice

1. Oakdale ObGyn 2. Haugen Ob/Gyn 3. Park Nicollet Women’s Center

Best Orthodontic Practice

Best Doggy Daycare / Kennel

Best Pediatric Practice

Best Law Firm

1. Kottemann Orthodontics 2. Smile Design Dentistry 3. Reese Orthodontics

1. Red Barn Pet Retreat 2. Camp Bow Wow 3. Plymouth Heights Pet Hospital

Children’s Minnesota Partners in Pediatrics 2. South Lake Pediatrics 3. Wayzata Children’s Clinic

1. Mundahl Law, PLLC 2. Fredrikson & Byron, P.A. 3. AND Law Offices, PLLC

Best Salon / Spa

1. Christopher J Salon 2. Urban Eve 3. Reflect.Salon

1. Kumon 2. Brightmont Academy 3. Huntington Learning Center

Best Apparel Boutique

Best Place for Kids’ Activities

1.

1. Urban Eve 2. Abode & Co. 3. Nikki Steele Style

Best Florist

1. Bachman’s 2. Dundee Nursery and Landscaping 3. The Wild Orchid

Best Gift Shop 1. Abode & Co. 2. Art 2 Heart 3. Patina

Best Home Furnishings / Décor Store 1. HOM Furniture 2. Abode & Co.

Best Jeweler

1. Artelle Designs 2. Graham Jewelers 3. Continental Diamond

Best Specialty Foods / Kitchen Store 1. Lunds & Byerlys 2. Fresh Thyme Market

Best Learning / Tutoring Center

1.

Urban Air Adventure Park 2. Clifton E. French Regional Park 3. Mini Hops Gymnastics

Best Private Preschool / Childcare 1.

The Goddard School of Plymouth 2. Bloom Early Learning & Child Care 3. New Horizon Academy

Best Senior Living Residence

1. Trillium Woods 2. The Waters of Plymouth 3. SummerWood of Plymouth

Best Veterinary Practice 1.

Rockford Road Animal Hospital 2. Plymouth Heights Pet Hospital 3. Vet Partners Pet Hospital

ALL ABOARD

Written By Madeline Kopiecki

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We’re taking a historical bus tour through some of the most beloved places in Plymouth.

When I asked the Plymouth Magazine editorial advisory board for their Best of Plymouth picks, the topic many returned to was the great public resources in and around Plymouth. From places that nurture learning to those outfitted for play and exploration, I considered all the public resources and facilities I’d been learning about through my position as editor of Plymouth Magazine, and I wanted to dig deeper.

I started out by contacting Rebekah Coffman, manager of the Plymouth Historical Society, to learn more about the history behind some of Plymouth’s most valuable resources. Pre-COVID-19, Coffman says the Historical Society used to lead bus tours around sites of note in the community. For our purposes, I want to share what I’ve learned by taking us on a (metaphorical) historical bus tour of our own, through a history of Plymouth that starts in its preEuropean past and brings us up to the present day.

We’ll start with our departure point at the Plymouth Historical Society itself.

PLYMOUTH HISTORICAL SOCIETY

“The Plymouth Historical Society started out of community members’ impetus to preserve the city’s first town hall,” Coffman says. Built in 1885, the modest white frame building with its fieldstone foundation served as the center for Plymouth’s government through the 1950s. But by the 1970s, Coffman notes that the building had fallen into disrepair. “The Society worked to preserve the town hall building and expanded it through an additional upper-level room, excavated a finished basement level and repurposed it for use as a museum,” Coffman says.

Photo: City of Plymouth

This building now houses the Plymouth Historical Society’s vast collection of artifacts, most of which date back to the 19th century and early 20th century. Coffman notes that the collection historically placed an emphasis on EuroAmerican settlers in the area, but she’s interested in reflecting a wider lens of the various people and cultures that have called Plymouth home.

“We are taking ongoing steps through archival research and programming to expand these stories,” Coffman says.

Some of the modern programming that’s

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expanding Plymouth’s historical narrative includes an oral history and mapping project, as well as the society’s themed virtual open house events. But even a few decades back, researchers working with the Plymouth Historical Society found ways to capture different facets of Plymouth’s past. One such research project, conducted and written by Roberta Laidlaw and Megan Lynch in 1995 and provided through the Historical Society’s archives, brings us further back in time to our first stop: Clifton E. French Regional Park.

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CLIFTON E. FRENCH REGIONAL PARK

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Laidlaw and Lynch note that while information about the park’s namesake (the park district’s first superintendent Clifton E. French) is widely available, “There is a real void of information concerning the past history of the area.” Through a combination of written and oral histories, the two aimed to provide an account of Plymouth that extended even further back than the initial 1848 visit of scout Antoine LeCount.

According to the earliest written histories available, from 1780 to 1853 the present-day park site was home to the Mdewakanton band of the Dakota tribe. When the French-Native American scout LeCount first arrived to the area, Laidlaw and Lynch note that there were no roads except those used by the Dakota people living in the area. LeCount built the first log cabin

on the eastern shores of Medicine Lake in what is now French Regional Park and was joined by 36 other settlers by 1855.

Plymouth grew to a small farming community by the late 1850s, and Laidlaw and Lynch track the ownership of the park through plat maps from 1873 and 1898. In 1927, the Union City Mission of Minneapolis started buying land in the area to create Mission Farms. This “Christian camp,” as it was called by the locals, initially served as a rehabilitation program for homeless men from the Gateway district in Minneapolis. One descendent from early settlers, Ed Schiebe, who worked at Mission Farms during the Great Depression, recalled how people used to camp in teepees in the woods. Now, those woods form part of French Regional Park.

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Photo: Three Rivers Park District

The Mdewakanton band derives its name from the Dakota word “Mdewakan” or “Lake of the Ancient Spirits.”

PLYMOUTH LIBRARY

Photos: Chris Emeott; Plymouth Library

Plymouth Library’s original building as seen in the 1990s.

From the Great Depression of the 1930s, our tour picks up steam with the 1955 incorporation of Plymouth as a village and our next stop, the Plymouth Library, starts its story four years before Plymouth assumed the status of a statutory city in 1974. Cathy Fischer, first library manager for Plymouth Library and current board president of the Friends of the Plymouth Library, shares the origin of what is now the busiest library in Hennepin County.

After initial approval in 1970, Plymouth Library had a fitful start. In a presentation Fischer delivered in 2011, she notes that in 1975 the Hennepin County Library (HCL) administration said a Plymouth Library was not in the immediate future. It took until 1990 for HCL to include the Plymouth location in its proposed capital budget for 1991. In 1992, the idea continued to gain momentum; a meeting between the Plymouth City Council and the board of HCL resulted in the city deciding to donate the site for the library at 15700 36th Ave. N. Plymouth Library opened its doors on September 17, 1995, and Fischer was there from the beginning.

Opening the new library was, “ … the highlight of my career as a librarian!” Fischer says. “The library director, Charles Brown, commented that in his 25 years of working with libraries, he had never seen as strong a community reaction to a library opening as he did in Plymouth,” she says.

The instant popularity of the library meant it was too small from the day it opened, Fischer says, recalling that the original building didn’t have large enough meeting or study spaces to meet demand. By 2005, the library administration began looking for ways to expand it. Unlike the first building, the new library was quickly approved by 2006. In 2008, the old Plymouth Library building closed its doors for good, clearing the path for a new library building to take its place.

From its opening in 2010, the new Plymouth Library building was as busy as the last, but this building could accommodate the crowds. “The new library has a large teen area, more study rooms, more computers,” Fischer says. She also notes that the automated materials handling system and integrated service desk for both reference and circulation made a huge difference for the staff.

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PLYMOUTH COMMUNITY CENTER

32

K.U.B.E

Walking Track

Photos: City of Plymouth

The library isn’t the only public resource in Plymouth that has been renovated to keep up with demand. Now, our tour heads into the present and points toward the future of Plymouth.

In October 1995, a month after the original Plymouth Library building opened to the public, a group of senior citizens appeared before the City Council. Diane Evans, director of the Plymouth Community Center (PCC) from 2011 to 2022, says that this group of citizens prompted the City Council to form a task force which concluded that the 60,000 Plymouth residents would benefit from a multipurpose, multigenerational activity center.

Evans says Plymouth voters approved the use of $4.5 million in bonds to build an activity center and fieldhouse in May 1998. The originally named Plymouth Creek Activity Center opened in 2000, its 18,000 square feet dedicated to consolidating and expanding senior programs as well as providing an event space for the Plymouth community.

In 2006, an additional 11,000 square feet was added to the PCC through the build-out of the lower level, which now houses the Black Box Theater as well as conference rooms, meeting rooms and two small music rooms.

“The vision and design of the Plymouth Creek Activity Center began in 1997, with the ultimate goal of meeting the current and future recreation needs of all age groups for the next 15–20 years,” Evans says.

Now, 20 years down the line, the PCC has undergone a new set of renovations to ensure it can continue to serve Plymouth’s growing community for the next 20 years to come.

The PCC Active Wing opened in January 2022, unveiling a new playground called the K.U.B.E as well as an indoor walking track, two gymnasiums and three fitness rooms. The second half of PCC’s renovation and restoration project, which began construction at the same time as the already unveiled Active Wing in August 2020, is set to open for the public by this July. Keep an eye out for the new Education Wing and renovated Event Wing this summer.

End of the Line With our eyes on the future of Plymouth, it’s about time we disembark my history tour. I want to thank everyone who was so gracious with their time and knowledge for helping me discover the history behind these fixtures of the Plymouth community.

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O N T H E TOW N

Photo: City of Plymouth

th in g s to se e a n d d o in and aro und Ply m o uth

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PREFERRED SBA LENDER. THE MAGIC OF MUSIC Entertainment in the Park returns to the Hilde Center this summer.

THI S Y E A R , Entertainment in the Park returns to the Hilde Performance Center, featuring a phenomenal lineup of 11 different artists through the months of June and July, as well as the annual Plymouth Sings event and Kids Fest in August. Groups such as the Natyakala Dance Group, Bossa Soul and Blue Groove Bluegrass are slated to appear this summer.

Hosted by the City of Plymouth’s Chamber of Commerce, Entertainment in the Parks has made waves in recent years as one of the hottest events of the summer.

“The City of Plymouth has been offering community concerts for over 20 years,” says Alyssa Fram, recreation supervisor at the City of Plymouth’s Chamber of Commerce.

“Through the years, this event has evolved, branching out from concerts at our [Hilde Performance Center] to include our annual water ski show event, beach event series and movies in the park, to name a few.”

The event not only brings the community together, but also helps to provide exposure to local artists.

Dates and event times vary, so be sure to check out the full lineup online at plymouthmn.gov.

—Emily Deutscher

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O N T H E TOW N Compiled by Emily Deutscher and Hanna McDaniels

Happy Birthday America Parade

excitement. All ages. Free. 6–9 p.m.

Parkers Lake Park, 15205 County Road 6; 763.509.5200; plymouthmn.gov

Happy Birthday America Parade 06/30 Bring out your wagons, your trikes and your bikes! This Fourth of July-themed parade is a great way to celebrate Independence Day with other families from around town. This year’s celebration features a live performance from the Teddy Bear Band and a parade around the park. All ages. Free. 10:00 a.m.–noon.

Hilde Performance Center, 3500 Plymouth Blvd.; 763.509.5200; plymouthmn.gov

Music in Plymouth 07/06 Celebrate the 50th anniversary of Music in Plymouth, featuring a variety of summer attractions like outdoor activities, concessions stands and a picnic dinner. This year’s lineup includes The Okee Dokee Brothers, the Minnesota Orchestra and fireworks at the end of the concert. All ages. Free. 5:30– 10 p.m. Hilde Performance Center, 3500 Plymouth Blvd.; musicinplymouth.org

The Fabulous Armadillos Feat. Tim Haussner 07/23 Stop by the Hilde Performance Center to enjoy an afternoon of free music by Minnesota’s own hit rock band, The Fabulous Armadillos, and a perfor-

LOCAL EVENTS bag as well as refreshments. All ages. $25.

7 a.m. Hilde Performance Center, 3500 Plymouth Blvd.; musicinplymouth.org

06/26

Live at the Hilde: Gary Clark Jr. 07/29 Music in Plymouth carries on through

Whether you prefer to walk or run, take

Water Ski Show

the month of July with a featured per-

part this year in Plymouth’s annual 5K

06/27

formance by Grammy Award winning

for the chance to win a medal! All pro-

Featuring performances by the

blues, rock and soul artist Gary Clark Jr.

ceeds go toward Music in Plymouth.

Shockwaves, a professional Shakopee-

Live at the Hilde is proudly presented

This year’s 5K begins and ends at the

Prior Lake Water Ski Team, stop by

by Sue McLean & Associates, and fea-

Hilde Performance Center, and all par-

Parkers Lake Park to watch the show

tures several different seating options

ticipants will receive a T-shirt, a goodie

for colorful costumes, music and

with two free drinks for guests who

To have your event considered: email plymouthmag@localmedia.co by the 10th of the month three months prior to publication.

Due to the fluidity being experienced in the current environment, please note that some events/dates and even some business operations may have changed since these pages went to print. Please visit affiliated websites for updates.

38

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Photo: City of Plymouth

26th Annual 5K Run

mance by Tim Haussner. All ages. Free.

6–9 p.m. Hilde Performance Center, 3500 Plymouth Blvd.; plymouthmn.gov

choose the Pond Party Deck. Ages 18 and over. $60–$150. Performance begins at 5 p.m. Hilde Performance Center, 3500 Plymouth Blvd.; musicinplymouth.org

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beloved Lyndale Avenue South—browse the Artisian Market, grab a snack and greet your neighbors! This is a great and safe way to stay connected and meet new friends as well. All ages.

Free. 11 a.m.–4:30 p.m. W. 22nd St. to W. 42nd St., Mpls.; openstreetsmpls.org

Northern Spark Festival 06/11 Browse incredible art installations around the St. Paul Metro area as they light up

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Rock the Garden 06/11 Looking for a way to enjoy Minneapolis’ famous sculpture garden at Walker Art Center this summer? Head down to Rock the Garden this year to enjoy live indie and indie rock music, delicious food and a cold beer from the beer tents. Ages 21

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GALLERY

Year in Review Celebrate each distinctive cover of Plymouth Magazine that led up to the Best of Plymouth 2022. Cheers!

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June/July 2022

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42

BY AVA DIAZ

PHOTOS BY BELÉN FLEMING OF BELU PHOTOGRAPHY

Emily’s Fresh Kitchen Blogger creates recipe book to help cook your way toward better health.

“WHAT YOU EAT C A N IM PAC T YOUR OV ER A L L HEA LT H,” says

Emily Maxson, a Plymouth food blogger and the author of Emily’s Fresh Kitchen Cookbook. Transforming her love for tasty food into a passion for healthful eating, Maxson headed to the kitchen when her health took a turn for the worst.

One morning back in ’98, Maxson woke up with a debilitating pain in her abdomen.

At the emergency room, doctors assumed she was having issues with her appendix.

Unable to detect the source of the pain through an ultrasound, they sent her into the operating room to address what they thought was appendicitis. What was supposed to be a 45-minute procedure turned into a four-hour surgery to remove a small part of intestine damaged from her undiagnosed Crohn’s disease.

Climbing what she refers to as the “pharmaceutical ladder,” Maxson says she was constantly changing prescriptions just to feel OK. “Once you take a medicine, your body gets used to it and then it’s time to move on to a new one or [a] higher dosage,” Maxson says. To escape this endless cycle of consuming chemicals to feel better, she turned to the studies of Elaine Gottschall, the author of Breaking the Vicious Cycle.

For Maxson, this book was eye-opening.

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Its deep dive into the Specific Carbohydrate Diet—a clean diet focused on healing the digestive tract from disease, damage and bacterial imbalances—provided a natural solution for her body.

The subsequent 18 months on this strict diet encouraged Maxson to get back into the kitchen and find new ways to recreate her favorite recipes. To curb her longing for baked goods, she sought ingredient substitutions such as coconut or almond flour in replacement of wheat flour and honey or unsweetened applesauce instead of sugar.

“This can help anyone who wants to feel better through food,” she says about these alternative solutions.

Maxson believes clean eating is the first step toward generating a healthy lifestyle physically, mentally and emotionally.

However, she emphasizes that diets are not one-size-fits-all. Each person’s needs vary, and each body is different. That is why she develops her recipes in a way that’s adaptable to a variety of diets such as paleo, gluten-free, vegetarian and vegan.

“Everyone has a different definition of what healthy means, but many agree that cooking healthy can be hard,” she says.

“I wanted to share with people that it doesn’t have to be complicated, it can be easy, and you can create delicious food.”

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TA S T E M A K E R S

The Specific Carbohydrate Diet Originally used to treat individuals with celiac disease, this diet has since evolved to treat other bodily malfunctions such as cystic fibrosis, ulcerative colitis and diverticulitis. This diet is completely grain-free, and low in sugar and lactose. Based on the molecular structure of carbohydrates, it works to eliminate substances that are too complex for the intestines to break down. If not broken down, the food is left behind and rots, eventually causing a buildup of “bad” bacteria. This diet works to allow the intestines to heal and essentially changes the “bad” bacteria into “good” bacteria.

Foods excluded: grains, milk products high in lactose, starchy veggies like corn, potatoes and squash, sugars and processed packaged foods.

Chicken Bruschetta Capturing the essence of summer,

and place them in a strainer to

this recipe combines fresh seasonal

drain the excess tomato juice.

ingredients with classic grilled taste

3. Chiffonade the basil. To do so,

for a deliciously light and simple

remove the stems and stack the

meal. Maxson opts for grilled chicken

leaves on top of each other. Roll

in replacement of toasted bread for

the basil lengthwise (like a cigar)

a healthier approach to the classic

and slice the roll crosswise to cre-

Italian flavor. For a bonus, she says you can make this recipe even fresher by sourcing the tomatoes and herbs from your own garden or the local farmers market.

Ingredients • 3–4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts • 1 pt. of cherry tomatoes • 6 minced garlic cloves • 1 cup of basil, cut chiffonade • 1/4 cup of olive oil • 1 tsp. of sea salt

ate thin strips.

4. In a small bowl combine the tomatoes, garlic, basil, olive oil and sea salt. Set mixture aside.

5. On a clean cutting board, put one of the chicken breasts flat side down. Butterfly the chicken breast by placing the palm of your hand on top of the meat to secure it in place while cutting it in half horizontally.

6. Repeat this cutting process with the remaining pieces of chicken.

7. Drizzle the chicken with olive oil

• balsamic vinegar, to taste

and sprinkle sea salt to taste.

• salt and olive oil, to taste

8. Grill the chicken for 2 to 3 min-

Directions 1. Preheat the grill to medium high.

2. Cut cherry tomatoes into thin slices

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utes per side or until it is thoroughly cooked.

9. Drizzle with desired amount of balsamic vinegar.

June/July 2022

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TA S T E M A K E R S

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June/July 2022

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Cherry Limeade Ingredients • 3 cups of fresh or frozen pitted cherries

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• ⅔ cup of honey simple syrup (see recipe below) • 2 organic limes peeled, pitted and quartered • 4 cups of water • sparkling water

Directions 1. Blend the pitted cherries and honey simple syrup on high for 8–10 seconds.

2. Add in the quartered limes and blend on high for an additional 5 seconds.

3. Strain contents into a pitcher.

4. Pour 6–8 ounces into a glass

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with ice and top with 2 ounces of sparkling water.

5. Stir and enjoy!

Honey Simple Syrup

8700 Edinbrook Crossing | Brooklyn Park, MN 55443 763-315-8550 | www.edinburghusa.com

Ingredients • 2 cups of honey • 1 cup of water

Directions 1. Combine the honey and water into a saucepan over medium heat.

2. Bring the mixture to a simmer, remove from the heat and let it cool.

3. Store the syrup in a glass

Understanding Your Needs, Protecting Your Rights

jar and refrigerate for up to two weeks.

Businesses Litigation & Dispute Resolution Business & Corporate Law Real Estate Nonprofit Law Employment Law

Individuals & Families Emily’s Fresh Kitchen; emilysfreshkitchen.com

Estate Planning Probate • Elder Law Family Law • Custody Conservatorships

Emily’s Fresh Kitchen @emilysfreshkitchen Emily’s Fresh Kitchen

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47

LAST GLANCE

By Editorial Staff

A Girl and Her S’mores

by Andrea Potaschnick First place in People & Families

Picture Plymouth From professionals to hobbyists, photographers are encouraged to enter our annual contest.

P LYMOU TH MAGA ZI NE enjoys showcasing the lake community in a number of ways, and that includes sharing readers’ points of view through what they see, appreciate and capture with their cameras.

Each August, we encourage readers to submit their favorite photos to our Picture Plymouth photo contest. Whether it’s a picture of their family, pets, a local landmark or a beautiful landscape they saw while out and about, we want to see it!

Plymouth Magazine accepts photo submissions during the month of August through our website plymouthmag.com. Submitted photos are reviewed by our editorial and art departments to determine winners.

Winning photos are decided by consensus, so each submission is carefully considered. Though we certainly consider subject and photo quality, our favorite photos are

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the ones that illustrate and celebrate this community through the perspective of the photographer. We select runners-up and honorable mentions as the number and quality of photos allow.

Readers can also vote online for their favorite photo submissions in the Readers’ Choice category during the month of September.

Winners, runners up and honorable mentions in the following categories receive consideration for photo placement in an upcoming issue of Plymouth Magazine and on our website and social media pages.

1. Activities & Events 2. City Landmarks 3. People & Families 4. Pets 5. Wildlife & Nature

Photo Contest Rules and Details Submissions are accepted at plymouthmag.com between August 1–31.

Entrants must live, work or attend school in Plymouth.

Entrants may submit up to five photos, with no more than three in any category.

Photos should be taken in Plymouth.

Generally, photos should have been taken within a year of the submission date.

Readers’ Choice voting takes place in September at plymouthmag.com.

June/July 2022

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