Edina - July 2023

BEST OF 2023

For some of our patients, the goal is hoisting the trophy. But you just want your joint pain to go away so you can hoist your grandkids. At TRIA Orthopedics, we’ll treat your shoulder so you can be there to lift them up. When that happens, it feels like we all win. It’s why you’re treated and how you’re treated by TRIA.

Dunham Lane | Edina, MN

JULY 2023

This month, we’re celebrating some of the very best in Edina—from businesses and boutiques to the people and organizations that make this community so special.

Photo: Michael Levine

DEPARTMENTS

18 — A Foundation Farewell

Dick Crockett, longtime executive director of the Edina Community Foundation, offers reflections upon his retirement.

20 — Test the Water Swimply offers another way to dive into pool life.

22 — The Dog Days of Summer

Bring your furry friend along to these local patios.

28 —Unlimited Potential Morningside Theatre Company’s artistic director was raised to take the theater to new levels.

FEATURES

33 — The Best of Edina 2023

Meet the people, places and businesses that were voted community favorites.

38 — Be a Tourist in Your Own City

Discover the origin story of Edina, and visit a few historic sites along the way.

TASTEMAKERS

52 — Plucky Partners

Best friends dip into new ways to showcase pickles.

FROM THE EDITOR

Our July issue is always a fun one, as it’s the Best of Edina issue. Not only does it unveil the winners of our annual readers’ poll (page 13), but it’s also an opportunity to celebrate some of the fun and meaningful things Edina has to offer.

Writer Zoe Deal put together a list of dog-friendly patios around town, so you never have to choose between spending time with your human and furry friends again (page 22). We also checked in with Morningside Theatre Company’s new artistic director to hear about how the group has expanded its offerings since the pandemic (page 28). For my annual Editor’s Picks, I indulged my own curiosity by exploring the origins of this city (page 38). And we’re also honoring the newly retired executive director of the Edina Community Foundation, Dick Crockett, after 20 years in public service to the betterment of the city (page 18).

The Best of Edina issue is always a beautiful reminder of what a vibrant, thriving and generous community this is. Now, you have my permission to skip ahead to page 33 to see our reader-voted winners and finalists— but don’t forget to page back through and read about the other community members and businesses featured throughout this issue!

Photo: Chris Emeott

publisher Susan Isay editor Amy Overgaard president Pete Burgeson

What you should know about our annual readers’ poll.

BEST OF FAQS

Each year, our Best of Edina readers’ poll brings together our readers and social media followers, who look forward to supporting local businesses and service providers with their votes.

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

VOTING RAN ONLINE DURING JANUARY WITH THREE SIMPLE RULES*:

How does voting work?

We feature an all write-in ballot, so our voters can easily make their top choices. Once voting closed, tabulators determined which businesses were the top vote-getters.

What’s a finalist vs. a winner?

The top vote-getters in each category become finalists and were announced in the spring on our website. (Once votes are tabulated, our editorial team fact-checks 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 vote-getter(s) moves up to become a finalist.) The top vote-getter is the winner and is announced in July on our website and in our magazine.

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.

*Any rule not adhered to may have resulted in entire surveys being discarded, and all results were subject to editorial discretion.

FAQS:

How do you choose the categories?

Each year, our editorial and management teams evaluate survey categories to include topics our readers find most relevant. Readers provide feedback, which we appreciate receiving, about categories they’d like to see added or eliminated. You’ll notice several new categories this year!

How can business owners get on next year’s ballot?

We recommend encouraging clients or customers to vote for your business in our next readers’ poll, which goes live on our website in January 2024. (Remind them of the rules, so their ballots are valid.)

I’m a winner! How do I purchase a framed cover?

Winners can request a free digital copy of the Best of 2023 magazine cover design, which also indicates the winning category and the business’s or organization’s name. Winners can also purchase a framed award certificate, which is 14x17 inches and features a black, wood frame. The cost is $110 per item, including shipping and handling, and can be ordered at localmedia.co/awardcertificate. —Editorial Staff

CITIZEN OF EDINA

Myra Han

Myra Han is anything but an average teenager. In addition to playing violin in the Edina High School concert orchestra, competing in varsity tennis and serving as a lead peer tutor in the writing center, she carved out time to found a student group for Asian American and Pacific Islanders.

And, when the Edina Public Schools held a listening session following an uptick in hate incidents—many specifically aimed at Asian Americans— Han stepped up again to co-found the Edina Asian American Alliance (EAAA) during her senior year. EAAA launched in April 2022 as an intergenerational coalition of students, parents and community members allied in their commitment to Asian and Asian American youth in the Edina community. EAAA members strive to make the Asian and Asian American experience more visible and understood, build coalitions and advocate for equity, inclusion and anti-racism.

Han just finished her first year at Duke University and is involved in club tennis and Global Health Brigades, an international movement of university students working to improve health conditions in the developing world. Despite those commitments, Han helped plan EAAA’s first Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) Month Festival. Held in May in Rosland Park, the festival aimed to celebrate culture with a series of performances including a Lion Dance and a Taekwondo exhibition. Community leaders spoke, and several AAPI community organizations hosted booths.

“The festival was a beautiful celebration of rich culture,” Han says. “I’m grateful to all the supportive community members and the EAAA team that made this possible.”

The Edina Asian American Alliance is a Community Impact Partner of the Edina Community Foundation. Find out more about the organization at edinaasianamericanalliance.org.

Photo: Mon C. Non

TASTE Winner, Winner, Chicken … Salad

“This sweet and crunchy pasta salad is one of our most popular deli items, and now you can make it yourself at home,” says Katie Tomsche of Lunds & Byerlys.

Cherry Chicken Pasta Salad (6 to 8 servings)

• 1 Tbsp. vegetable oil for frying

• 2 ¼ lbs. boneless skinless chicken breasts

• 16 oz. dry gnocchi or shell pasta

• ¾ cup celery, thinly sliced

• ¾ cup red onion, chopped

• 5 oz. dried cherries

• 1 ¼ cups mayonnaise

• 1 ¼ cups poppy seed dressing

• 1 ½ tsp. salt

• ¼ tsp. black pepper

• 1 cup walnuts, chopped and toasted

• lettuce or spinach, for serving

Heat the oil over medium-high heat in a nonstick skillet. Brown the chicken breasts on all sides until the juices run clear, about 15 minutes. Drain and discard the juices. Remove the chicken from the pan, cool and cut it into cubes. (For quicker prep, use the Lunds & Byerlys ready-to-heat pulled chicken in the deli.) Cook the pasta in boiling, salted water, according to package directions. Drain and rinse with cold water. In a large bowl, combine the chicken, pasta, celery, onions and cherries. In a small bowl, combine the mayonnaise, dressing, salt and pepper. Fold 1 ¾ cups dressing mixture into the salad, cover and refrigerate several hours or overnight. (The remaining dressing mixture should be kept in an airtight container in the refrigerator until ready to serve.) To serve, fold in the walnuts, add additional dressing if desired and serve over a bed of greens.

Katie Tomsche is the content manager for Lunds & Byerlys. Taste more at lundsandbyerlys.com

Welcome to Edina’s Best New Public Space

neighborhood and give shoppers, diners and owners the opportunity and environment to know each other personally.

The plaza at Nolan Mains has also become a space for community gatherings—from Friday night concerts every summer to pumpkin painting in October, and a petting zoo and flower garden celebrating spring every April, among many other annual events.

Whether you’re indulging in caramel sea salt ice cream, finding the perfect party dress, gathering with friends for afternoon tea, scoring the ideal gift, trying a new juice or savoring the best New Orleans cuisine at this end of the Mississippi, Nolan Mains is your destination.

Contributed by Laura Westlund, an Edina resident, tour guide at the Weisman Art Museum and an art hound for Minnesota Public Radio.

Photo: Anne Deanovic/Nolan Mains

Sam Masur and Sadie Green meet in the game room of a Los Angeles hospital, where Sam is recovering from a bad car crash and Sadie’s sister is undergoing treatment for leukemia. Sadie and Sam, both 11, bond over Super Mario Bros.; a friendship develops over their shared love of gaming and the fact that neither Sadie nor Sam has a lot of friends.

Nine years later, Sam sees Sadie in Harvard Square’s T Station. Sam is at Harvard University, studying mathematics. Sadie is at Massachusetts Institute of Technology, studying computers and gaming. Sam must decide if he will call out to her. They had a falling out, in the way only 13-year-olds can, painfully and irrevocably. Sam shouts her name

In the T Station, Sadie gives him a disk with a game that she has created on it. Sam shares it with his roommate, Marx Watanabe, who is Sam’s only friend at Harvard and his guardian angel.

It is Sam’s idea that he and Sadie will build a game together. It is Marx’s father’s idea that Marx will produce and bankroll it. The three friends work, live and bleed for this computer game, Ichigo. And they find love, in all its riches and pain.

Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow is Gabrielle Zevin’s third novel for the adult market. It is an extraordinarily great read.

Contributed by Maureen Millea Smith, a retired librarian and a Minnesota Book Award–winning novelist. You can find her books at maureenmilleasmith.com.

PORTRAIT A Foundation

Farewell Dick Crockett, longtime executive director of the Edina Community Foundation, offers reflections upon his retirement.

By Jennifer Pitterle

THIS PAST MARCH , a familiar presence in the Edina community turned to a new chapter in his civic life. Dick Crockett retired after 20 years as the executive director of the Edina Community Foundation. Under his leadership, he helped shape the organization into the wide-reaching, diverse nonprofit it is today, with programs like Edina Reads, the annual Edina 4th of July Parade, Community Impact Program, Connecting with Kids and more.

The foundation was founded in 1977 as a partnership between the City of Edina and Edina Public Schools; following its conversion to an independent community foundation in the early 2000s, the board put out a notice for an executive director. Crockett answered the call. “I’d been a lawyer, practicing higher education law for 34 years,” he says. He spent 21 years practicing at North Dakota State University and 13 years in private practice work that focused on higher education law, both in Syracuse, New York, and in the Twin Cities. He had also worked as legal counsel for education-related nonprofits, so he says the move to the Edina Community Foundation was a “natural transition.”

What are some of the things Crockett is most proud of accomplishing with the foundation? “The first one that comes

One of Dick Crockett’s many legacies is enriching Edina with art such as this sculpture in Centennial Lakes Park.

to mind is a commitment to recognizing the very diverse backgrounds of people who’ve made a contribution to the community,” he says. Locals who have received the Connecting with Kids Award and other recognitions “really represent a wide range of Edina people, with a diversity of ethnic, racial, gender and career backgrounds,” Crockett says. “A lot of people don’t realize how active people from different backgrounds are in serving the community. It certainly came to be very satisfying to see that happen.”

He also found it gratifying to work to bring more public art to Edina, including sculptures around Centennial Lakes Park and inside City Hall. “Inside the front door of City Hall, there’s a black marble raven on a pedestal. That came from one of our first summer art programs in Grandview Square Park,” Crockett says.

He’s leaving the foundation in great hands, having put together more than 70 pages of transition materials for the incoming leadership. “I knew we needed a collection of materials that reflected my institutional memory,” he says. “I came in with a particular background and organizational experience; the person succeeding me will likely have a different background, interests and goals, and the board should be receptive to that. And coming out of the pandemic, the real challenge is increasing the efforts to find sustainable financial support for the community and the foundation.”

What’s next for Crockett? He’s staying busy, with plans for a cycling trip in Maine, a hiking trip in Utah, a civil rights tour in Alabama and more. He’s also writing a collection of stories about people he knows, with a first draft slated for this fall. “I enjoy understanding people I know in my family and in the community. What I particularly enjoy is capturing their essence in a story.” Thanks to Crockett, Edina’s own story is a more generous, diverse and connected one.

Edina Community Foundation, 6750 France Ave. S. #220; 952.300.2378; edinacommunityfoundation.org

Edina Community Foundation @edinacommunityfoundation @EdinaFoundation

Photo: Chris Emeott

OUTDOOR LIVING Test the Water Swimply offers another way to dive into pool life.

By Renée Stewart-Hester and Amy Overgaard

THERE’S NOTHING LIKE SWIMMING on a hot summer day. But not everyone enjoys swimming among fish and, at times, invasive species. And most people don’t own home pools. So, what’s a person to do when they want to take a dip in a pool, host a pool party or need some quality float time?

Enter: Swimply. Best described as the Airbnb or VRBO of the pool set, it offers an option for those willing to pay the price for a private pool. For an average of $45 an hour (costs vary), renters can secure the use of a pool in over 125 markets across the United States, Canada and Australia.

Home pools are available for rent right here in Edina. Michael Levine began renting out his Edina pool in the summer of 2022. He and his wife purchased their home earlier that year, and come spring, Levine was relishing swimming laps every morning. “[During] one morning swim, I reflected on the fact that the pool sits idle 95 percent of the time. It seemed selfish that I was the only one who got to enjoy the pool and that it was such an underutilized asset,” he says. After a quick internet search to see if a pool rental business existed, Levine found Swimply and signed up.

Similar to booking short-term homestays, interested parties search the Swimply website for indoor and outdoor pools in their desired locations. Sites include amenity information and stipulations. In this pandemic-influenced world, Swimply mandates open time between bookings, so hosts are able to sanitize the pool and adjacent areas before the next renters arrive.

“I strive to distinguish my pool from the

competition by keeping it sparkling clean and the chemistry perfectly balanced,” Levine says. “I’m an avid swimmer, so pool cleanliness is tantamount. The pool is cleaned by surface and underwater robots at least three hours daily. Chlorine levels and pH are monitored in real time to ensure they remain at safe and healthy levels. And, of course, the water is continuously circulated and filtered by a powerful, high-capacity pump.”

Amenities vary by location, but aside from cleanliness, Levine offers deck chairs, clean towels and a bucket of chilled complimentary beverages. “My intention with the pool rental promise is to delight and make it as enjoyable an experience as possible for my guests,” Levine says, noting that his pool has also been rented out for photo shoots.

“I also want the reservation experience to be as laid-back as a lazy summer

afternoon at the pool,” he says, which is why he extends time if guests are running late and is flexible with cancellations due to inclement weather.

“The experience has been great for our family,” Levine says. “Guests are generally considerate, and we only rent the pool at times when we were not planning on enjoying our backyard pool space. I truly enjoy sharing our pool, hearing the laughter of kids playing and knowing that the pool brings joy to our Swimply guests.”

Find Levine’s pool in the Minneapolis market under “Suburban Oasis.”

To learn how Swimply got its start, visit edinamag.com.

swimply.com Swimply

@swimply @swimply

Photos: Michael Levine; iStock.com/1413050088

PETS

The Dog Days of Summer

Bring your furry friend along to these local patios.

By Zoe Deal

SUMMER IS ARGUABLY PEAK DOG OWNER SEASON . And while there is much fun to be had with our fluffy companions (cue the slow-motion, Homeward Bound, man’s-best-friend montage of sloppy kisses and playtime on a grassy field), there can be a certain level of stress that comes with taking our beloved pets out and about—especially when food is in the cards.

Thankfully, Edina is as full of petfriendly patios as it is fantastic cuisine. To help you make the most of this summer with your dog, we’ve compiled a list of area establishments that welcome pups to their patios. Whether you’re looking for a quick bite, a sweet treat or a place to sit back and relax, these spots make it easy to enjoy the Edina area with your four-legged-friend.

AGRA CULTURE

This fast-casual, counter-serve spot is focused on healthy fare and includes a stylish patio that’ll make you and your pup want to stay awhile.

3717 W. 50th St.; 612.345.5442; agra-culture.com

CAHILL BISTRO

Come for the dog-friendly patio, stay for the shrimp ceviche and tres leches cake at this neighborhood staple, serving up Latin American fusion cuisine.

7078 Amundson Ave.; 952.426.4196; cahillbistroedina.com

EDINA GRILL

With a patio facing France Avenue, this contemporary establishment is a great place to relax and refuel on classic fare while on a stroll with fido.

5028 France Ave. S.; 952.927.7933; edinagrill.com

PEOPLES ORGANIC

Featuring an organic menu with vegan, vegetarian and gluten-free options, this flagship store also has an expansive patio.

2292 Southdale Center; 952.426.1856; peoplesorganic.com

PINSTRIPES

Located near Centennial Lakes and known for bowling, bocce and ItalianAmerican cuisine, Pinstripes welcomes dogs on the fire pit patio.

3849 Gallagher Drive; 952.835.6440; pinstripes.com

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Photo: Shake Shack

Left: This dog is overjoyed at the tray of delicious Poochinis from Shake Shack.

Photos: Pizzeria Lola; Wooden Hill Brewing; Sweet Science Ice Cream; Agra Culture

Pizzeria

Wooden Hill Brewing Company

Agra Culture

Sweet Science Ice Cream

PIZZERIA LOLA

This establishment, named after the owner’s pizza-loving weimaraner, Lola, welcomes patio pupperinos.

5557 Xerxes Ave. S., Mpls.; 612.424.8338; pizzerialola.com

SHAKE SHACK

This location offers modern digs, an expansive, pup-friendly patio and a Woof Menu, featuring the Pooch-ini, a vanilla custard sundae with ShackBurger dog biscuits.

6603 France Ave. S.; 612.389.1151; shakeshack.com

SWEET SCIENCE ICE CREAM

Dog regulars abound at Sweet Science Ice Cream. Though dogs can’t come inside, owner Ashlee Olds says staff can take orders at the door or even come outside to dogwatch. Plus: Sweet Science sells Puppy Paws treats to reward pups for their patience— best enjoyed while people-watching from the Plaza at Nolan Mains.

3919 Market St.; 612.217.0070; sweetscienceicecream.com

TAVERN ON FRANCE

The welcoming patio at Tavern on France is an ideal place to enjoy American comfort food with a fluffy friend.

6740 France Ave. S.; 952.358.6100; thetaverngrill.com

WOODEN HILL BREWING

Visitors will enjoy eclectic pub fare, craft brews and the company of their furry friends at Wooden Hill’s vibrant outdoor space.

7421 Bush Lake Road; 952.960.9663; woodenhillbrewing.com

Unlimited Potential

Morningside Theatre Company’s artistic director was raised to take the theater to new levels.

By Jody Carey

WHEN MANY ARTS ORGANIZATIONS are slowly emerging from the shadows of the past few years, Morningside Theatre Company (MTC) has blossomed with more actors on stage than ever before.

Ella Williams, in their second year as artistic director of MTC, has enthusiasm, talent and energy, drawing kids and adults to the stage. Parents who once did the kid drop off at Edina Morningside Community Church and and Linden Hills United Church of Christ, which houses the basement theater, now park the car and grab their script. Under Williams’ direction, and perhaps the magic of a spoonful of sugar, the neighborhood children’s theater transformed into a family community theater earlier this year, selling out all performances of Mary Poppins.

Williams’ mother, Jane, founded the theater in 2010 and served as its director until Williams took over last year. “I’ve never been part of something longer than MTC,” Williams says about growing up in the church basement.

The company was small in the early days, with nine campers, which meant Williams played two parts in the production of Into the Woods. From camper/actor to becoming a teen helper and returning home during college summers, Williams has smoothly taken the reins as full-time artistic director. “I’ve been training my whole life for this job,” Williams says.

Not even a pandemic could slow down Edina’s favorite theater. Offering online music camps “was an awesome way to keep families who have been with us for years engaged,” Williams says. “We were super glad to be back in person in 2021. We were all masked, but we were back, and that was awesome.”

Williams says the heart of MTC is enthusiastic families, energetic teen helpers and a “small team of people who are all very dedicated and work really hard.” This small team includes two new collaborators on the team who Williams fondly calls

Ella Williams, artistic director of Morningside Theatre Company.

their “Jane replacement.” Arts administrator and resident music director JJ Gisselquist joined the team in 2021, and former MTC camper Gigi deGrood is the stage manager and scenic designer.

The passionate trio brought Mary Poppins to the stage earlier this year with overwhelming success—though this show took place upstairs, in the church sanctuary, rather than on the basement stage. It was the first attempt at casting adults and MTC’s debut as a community theater. Of the 41 cast members, 10 were part of a family duo or trio.

Local moms Michelle Hines and Christy Gutt raised their hands to join the cast of Mary Poppins; neither had ever set foot on stage as an actor.

Experiencing how much her daughter, Muriel, enjoyed going to Morningside camps, Michelle couldn’t resist the chance to be in a show like Mary Poppins. “If I’m ever going to do it, now is the time. I know every word,” she says of the musical that transcends generations. “It was really, really fun.”

Muriel will be in seventh grade this fall. She joined MTC for the first time last summer after Williams directed a skit at Muriel’s elementary school’s reada-thon, and she got to participate. “I liked singing, but I hadn’t done any type of theater before,” Muriel says.

MTC is very welcoming, Michelle says, “particularly for middle school kids who need a place where they can be themselves and not feel judged or made to feel like they have to act a certain way … [It’s] a place where it’s OK to be enthusiastic.”

Eighth grader Lily Gutt is in her third summer with MTC. Her mom, Christy, stumbled upon MTC when they bought a house down the street. The family moved from Texas, where Lily was involved with theater, but says Williams “made me feel like I’ve always been there,” adding how she appreciates how everyone cheers each other on.

Christy is another first-time thespian who played a buttoned-up Katie Nana in Mary Poppins. “I was too shy in middle school or high school,” she says, but adds that everyone at MTC is “so enthused, it’s hard not to want to be part of theater.” The energy also drew in another Gutt sibling; Lily’s older sister, Ella, was in charge of lighting for the show.

The production level is “above and beyond” the theater company Lily was

Photo: Chris Emeott

Christy Gutt and her daughter, Lily.

Ella Williams with the cast of the SpongeBob Musical (August 2022).

Photos: Chris Emeott; Morningside Theatre Company

part of outside Austin, Texas, Christy says, noting how impressed she is with the level of technology, like lighting and microphones, young actors have access to.

Part of MTC’s charm is the intimate size and location, but Williams isn’t ruling out expanding to different locations in the future. It’s not easy turning eager kids away, but Morningside’s cozy basement can only hold so many campers.

Over 240 inspired young actors signed up for summer camps this year, the largest number in the company’s 13-year history. Williams wishes there was more time in the summer to offer more camps. They try not to turn anyone away and add camps whenever possible.

Check out a performance this summer, including Legally Blonde The Musical Jr. or Urinetown: The Musical. MTC offers seven musical camps during the summer for kids K-12. All performances are open to the community.

Morningside Theatre Company, 4201 Morningside Road; 952.926.6555; emcucc.org/morningside-theatre-company

Morningside Theatre Company

@morningsidetheatreco

Michelle Hines and her daughter, Muriel.

Top Edina preschool ABC Express has a 39-year history of providing outstanding childhood education and care. As a family-owned and operated school, original owners Cathy Burley and Joanie Keis have established a legacy like no other and are passing the baton to their daughters, Anne Pickerign (co-owner and director) and Sally Schlee (co-owner and assistant director), who both grew up in the program, lived in Edina, are raising young children and have worked in various roles at ABC Express.

“On behalf of Joanie and myself, it is an honor to pass ABC Express to our daughters, knowing they will bring fresh philosophies to the table while maintaining the school’s original legacy,” Burley says.

The Christian-based preschool operates year-round, including summers, and has extended care on either side of the school day. It is one of the only schools in Edina with a staff of experienced teachers with an average tenure of 10+ years.

ABC Express provides strong academics, free choosing activities and daily outdoor time on its newly renovated playground—surrounded by expansive acreage. Students develop tools to help them as they progress through the program, which leads to a love of learning. “They get the best of both worlds—large social pieces throughout the day and strong, smaller-group academic learning times,” Pickerign says.

“We often hear from partnering schools in the district that

our ABC Express students are some of the most prepared students they have entering kindergarten. We are proud of that and strive to prepare our students for their academic, social and spiritual futures,” Pickerign says.

“Our children grew academically, entering kindergarten testing in the top percentiles in both math and reading. In addition, they also grew spiritually, socially and emotionally— making lasting friendships,” current parents Jasmine and Matt Scarlett say.

Located conveniently in the heart of Edina, attached to St. Patrick’s Church, ABC Express is accepting applications for fall enrollment, and tours are available now. Follow us on Instagram @abcexpress_preschool.

Top preschool with 39 years of service to Edina students and families continues its legacy with new ownership.

Written by Amy Overgaard

Meet the people, places and businesses that were voted community favorites.

THE BEST OF EDINA 2023

Our annual readers’ poll is a way for you, our community members, to show love and support for the people, places and businesses that make your lives better. You weighed in on your community favorites by voting throughout the month of January, and we shared our list of finalists online in March. And now, it’s finally time to present your favorite restaurants, shops, service providers, destinations and more. Whether you’re new to the area or just seeking some guidance, we hope this list of winners will help you discover something new and find the best of the best in whatever you’re looking for.

Without further ado, your 2023 winners!

DINING

Best Bakery

1. Patisserie Margo

2. Wuollet Bakery

3. Breadsmith

Best Bar, Brewery or Distillery

1. Wooden Hill Brewing Company

2. Mr. Paul’s Supper Club

3. The Hilltop

Best Breakfast or Brunch

1. Edina Grill

2. The Original Pancake House

3. The Lynhall

Best Desserts or Ice Cream

1. Sweet Science Ice Cream

2. Edina Creamery

3. Crumbl Cookies

Best International Cuisine

1. Coconut Thai

2. Raag Progressive Indian Cuisine

3. Pajarito

Best Locally Owned Coffee Shop

1. Rustica

2. Patisserie Margo

3. Café Cerés

Best Outdoor Dining Space

1. Ciao Bella

2. CōV

3. Pinstripes

Best Plant-Based or Vegan Menu

1. Stalk & Spade

2. Agra Culture

3. Good Earth

Best Restaurant

1. Mr. Paul’s Supper Club

2. CōV

3. Ciao Bella

Best Restaurant for a Power Lunch

1. Crisp & Green

2. sweetgreen

3. Agra Culture

Best Takeout or Curbside Service

1. Coconut Thai

2. Mr. Paul’s Supper Club

3. Tie: Crisp & Green; Snuffy’s Malt Shop

Best Burger

1. Red Cow

2. Mr. Paul’s Supper Club

3. Snuffy’s Malt Shop

Best Chicken Sandwich

1. Edina Grill

2. Red Cow

3. Wooden Hill Brewing Company

Best Pizza

1. Hello Pizza

2. Tie: Davanni’s Pizza and Hot Hoagies; Pizzeria Lola

ABODE

Best Builder

1. John Kraemer & Sons

2. City Homes

3. Stonewood, LLC

Best Garden Center

1. Sunnyside Gardens

2. Bachman’s

3. Gertens

Best Home Cleaning Service

1. The Maids

2. Exclusive Services by MyGirls

3. Details & Dixon’s Home Services

Best Home Decor and Furniture Store

1. Room & Board

2. Foxwell Studio x Shoppe

3. Brooke & Lou

Best Interior Design Firm

1. Ellington&Co. Design

2. Zimmer Design

3. Martha O’Hara Interiors

Best Landscape Design Service

1. Southview Design

3. Bachman’s

Best Lawn Service

1. Edina Seasonal Services

2. Quality Seasons

3. Organic Lawns by Lunseth

Best Locally Owned Hardware Store

1. Jerry’s Do It Best Hardware

2. Settergren Ace Hardware

3. Frattallone’s Hardware & Garden

Best Remodeler

1. John Kraemer & Sons

2. New Spaces

3. City Homes

Best Senior Living Residence

1. The Waters

2. Aurora on France

3. Vernon Terrace of Edina

SELF-CARE

Best Barbershop

1. Dick’s Sports Barbers

2. Tonic Barber

3. Tie: Gent Cuts and Grooming; Sloane’s Beauty Bar

Best Boutique Fitness or Yoga Studio

1. Barre3

2. Pure Barre

3. CorePower Yoga

Best Med Spa

1. Skin Artisans at Edina Plastic Surgery

2. Pure Lux Medspa

3. Lili Salon Spa

Best Place for a Manicure and Pedicure

1. Haven Nail Studio

2. Lili Salon Spa

3. Spalon Montage

Best Salon Spa

1. Spalon Montage

2. Lili Salon Spa

3. Sloane’s Beauty Bar

Photo: xxxxxxxxx

2. Yardscapes, Inc.

WELLNESS

Best Chiropractic Practice

1. Chiropractic Health & Wellness

2. 50th & France Chiropractic & Wellness

3. Health Architect

Best Cosmetic Surgery Practice

1. Edina Plastic Surgery

2. Tie: Hilger Face Center; Midwest Facial Plastic Surgery

Best Dental Practice

1. 44th Street Dental

2. Edina Dental Care

3. Southdale Dental Associates

Best Dermatology Practice

1. Dermatology Specialists

2. Zel Skin & Laser Specialists

3. Pinnacle Dermatology

Best Eye Care Practice

1. Chu Vision Institute

2. Southdale Eye Clinic

3. Tie: Perspectives Vision Clinic; Sanderson Eye Clinic

Best Family Medicine Practice

1. Edina Family Physicians

2. Allina Health Centennial Lakes Clinic

3. France Avenue Family Physicians

Best Holistic Wellness Practice

1. Center for Collaborative Health

2. Advanced Health and Vitality Center

3. Orka Health and Wellness

Best OB-GYN Practice

1. Associates in Women’s Health

2. Southdale ObGyn

3. OBGYN Specialists

Best Orthodontic Practice

1. Pearson Orthodontics

2. Edina Orthodontics

3. Tie: Mint Orthodontics; Pan Orthodontics

Best Orthopedic Practice

1. Twin Cities Orthopedics

2. TRIA

3. Summit Orthopedics

Best Pediatric Practice

1. Southdale Pediatrics

2. Pediatric Services

3. Metropolitan Pediatrics

LEARNING

Best Dance Studio

1. Platinum Dance Center

2. Victoria Dance Productions

3. Corda Mór Irish Dance

Best Language Immersion Program or School

1. Normandale Elementary French Immersion School

2. Casa de Corazón

3. International Spanish Language Academy

Best Learning or Tutoring Center

1. Kumon Math and Reading Center

2. WizEducators

3. Mathnasium

Best Preschool Program

1. ABC Express Preschool

2. The Berry Patch School

3. Especially for Children

Best Swim School or Lessons

1. Foss Swim School

2. Life Time Swim

3. YMCA

PET CARE

Best Dog-Friendly Establishment

1. The Block Food + Drink

2.

Best Dog Park

Best Pet Boarding or Daycare Service

1. Top Dog Country Club

2. Pets Are Inn

3. Augusta Dog Training and Daycare

Best Pet Grooming Service

1. Haute Dog Spa

2. Bubbly Paws

3. Chuck & Don’s

Best Veterinarian Practice

1. Vet Partners Pet Hospital

2. Westgate Pet Clinic

3. Southdale Pet Hospital

SERVICES

Best Family Photographer

1. Vick Photography

2. Tie: Brooke Alexandra

Photography; Dave Puente

Photography; Little Bean Photography

Best Law Practice

1. Tie: Kallas Law Office; Monroe Moxness Berg

2. Taft

Best Mortgage Company

1. Tie: Bell Bank; Edina Realty Mortgage

2. Associated Bank

SHOPS

Best Apparel Boutique

1. Evereve

2. Serge + Jane

3. Nani Nalu Beachwear Boutique

Best Florist

1. Haute House Studio

2. Arts & Flowers

3. Artistic Floral

Best Gift Shop

1. Patina

2. Bean + Ro

3. Serge + Jane

Chuck & Don’s

3. Serge + Jane

1. Van Valkenburg Park

2. Minnehaha Off-Leash Dog Park

3. Flying Cloud Drive Dog Park

Best Jewelry Store

1. R.F. Moeller Jeweler

2. Continental Diamond

3. Van Guilder’s Goldsmith

Best Specialty Kitchen or Foods Store

1. France 44 Cheese Shop

2. Tie: Cooks of Crocus Hill; Lunds & Byerlys

LEISURE

Best Park, Open Space or Beach

1. Centennial Lakes Park

2. Bush Lake Beach

3. Lake Harriet

Best Place for a Date Night

1. Mr. Paul’s Supper Club

2. Edina Theatre

3. Bojae’s Wine Bar

Best Place for Family Activities

1. Centennial Lakes Park

2. Life Time Fitness

3. Edinborough Park

Best Place for an Outdoor Adventure

1. Centennial Lakes Park

2. Lake Harriet

3. Tie: Bredesen Park; Hyland Lake Park Reserve

Best Place to Watch Fourth of July Fireworks

1. Rosland Park

2. Stone Arch Bridge

3. Centennial Lakes Park

BEST OF THE WEST METRO

Best Golf Course

1. Braemar Golf Course

2. Interlachen Country Club

3. Edina Country Club

Best Music School

1. Schmitt Music

2. Songs With Sarah Music School

3. House of Music

Best Private School

1. Our Lady of Grace

2. Breck School

3. The Blake School

Best Outdoor Skating or Hockey Rink

1. Centennial Lakes Park

2. Arden Park

3. Pamela Park

Best Speciality Athletic Store

1. Gear Running Store

2. Athleta

3. General Sports

Best Staycation Hotel

1. The Westin Edina Galleria

2. Hewing Hotel

3. Hotel Ivy

Best Summer Camp

1. YMCA Day Camp Kici Yapi

2. Cathedral of the Pines Camp

3. Camp Sizzle Berry

Best Theater Program

1. Stages Theatre Company Summer Theatre Workshops

2. Tie: Chanhassen Musical Theatre Camp; Children’s Theatre Company Summer Camps; Guthrie Theater Summer Camps

Best Winery

1. Schram Vineyards Winery & Brewery

2. Tie: Parley Lake Winery; The Winery at Sovereign Estate

DISCOVER MINNESOTA

Best Campground

1. Itasca State Park

2. Tie: Lamb’s Resort & Campground; Tettegouche State Park; Whitewater State Park

Best Entertainment Venue

1. Edina Theatre

2. Target Field

3. Tie: First Avenue; Xcel Energy Center

Best Hiking or Biking Trail

1. Superior Hiking Trail

2. Tie: Grand Rounds Scenic Byway System; Nine Mile Creek

Best Live Theater

1. Guthrie Theater

2. Orpheum Theatre

3. Children’s Theatre Company

Best Museum

1. Minneapolis Institute of Art

2. Walker Art Center

3. Science Museum of Minnesota

Best Music Venue

1. First Avenue

2. Dakota

3. Tie: The Armory; Xcel Energy Center

Best Nordic Ski Trail or Alpine Hill

1. Hyland Hills Ski Area

2. Buck Hill

3. Tie: Afton State Park; Lutsen Mountains

Best Resort or Lodge

1. Tie: Grand View Lodge; Madden’s on Gull Lake

2. Bluefin Bay

Best Wedding Venue

1. The Hutton House

2. Nicollet Island Pavilion

3. Tie: Bavaria Downs; The Depot

Serge + Jane found its style home on 45th and France Avenue.

When searching for a home for their next business venture, Jamie and Casey Carl didn’t have to look far. They opened Serge + Jane in 2019 on France Avenue. “We live in Edina and wanted to work and do business in our own community, with our friends, family and neighbors,” Jamie says. “Casey and I have been in retail our entire careers, and opening my own shop has been my dream since I was young.”

The vibe at Serge + Jane is relaxed, casual and cool. Think: California meets Minnesota lifestyle. It offers apparel and accessories for men, women and children (newborn to size 14); a wide range of gifts and home décor items; goods from local makers, artists and designers; and new and used vinyl records. “We carry something for everyone in the family, even the pets,” Jamie says, noting the store features a Petisserie, a fully-stocked pet bakery with treats, bones and gear for dogs and cats.

“Supporting local artists, unique designers and emerging brands is part of our DNA,” Jamie says. “We’ve hosted a number of events to celebrate artists who are sharing their work, many for the first time. We are proud to bring great new brands to the area and work hard to create and collaborate on fashionable experiences and events in the city.”

Serge + Jane also features specifically culled brands across all departments, including Belstaff, Faherty, Havaianas, Pistola Denim, Rails and Sol Angeles and international brands, featuring Farm Rio and Scotch & Soda.

Look to those brands for some of this summer’s must haves. Jamie suggests denim shorts, dresses and tennis club chic for the entire family in Kelly green, Barbie pink and fresh whites!

Finding the right style and fit can take some doing, and the team readily shares its expertise with customers. “Customer Service is top priority at Serge + Jane,” Jamie says. “Clients can expect personalized help, styling and always authentic, honest opinions.”

BE A TOURIST IN YOUR OWN CITY

written by AMY OVERGAARD

Today, Edina is home to over 53,000 residents with over 40 distinct neighborhoods. But when Edina incorporated as a village 135 years ago, in 1888, there were just two main settlements and 485 residents; it was largely farmland centered around local waterways.

As someone who enjoys history, I thought it would be fun to use my Editor’s Picks feature in our Best of Edina issue to take you on a tour of various historic sites around the city that were important both leading up to incorporation and in the first 50 years of the city’s history.

I chatted with John Flynn, the research coordinator at the Edina Historical Society, to learn more about the city’s origins—including some of the earliest settlements and neighborhoods, historic sites that have stood the test of time and insight into where Edina got its name (and what it was almost named instead).

Where it Started:

The Cahill Community

In the mid-1850s, a group of Irish Catholics, who were fleeing the potato famine in Ireland, settled along NineMile Creek, near West 70th Street and Cahill Road and the surrounding area. This was the first group of people to settle in modern-day Edina.

Cahill School

Most of the settlers were farmers, and Flynn says the St. Patrick’s Catholic Church community and the Cahill School, built in 1864, were the heart of their settlement. From 1864–1884, the school building housed the congregation on Sundays, and it was

also a central meeting place for the community, serving as a community center of sorts for meetings, dances and other social activities when school wasn’t in session.

According to city records, “Cahill School continued to serve children of all ages until the 1950s, even as the new planned communities of Morningside and the Country Club District built new, more modern schools for their children. In 1958, historic Cahill School closed, and students were moved to a new brick school house on West 70th Street, also named Cahill School (which has since been torn down to make room for housing). In the 1960s, the City of Edina acquired the historic school building and moved it to its current location.”

Today, residents can visit the Cahill School structure at 4924 Eden Ave. in Frank Tupa Park. The Edina Historical Society offers field trips to Cahill School, giving students an authentic experience of a school day in a one-room schoolhouse; it also offers homestead camps throughout the summer.

In 1970, the Cahill School was added to the National Park Service’s National Register of Historic Places in recognition of the fact that it’s one of the few remaining one-room schoolhouses in Minnesota and its significance as a community gathering place for the Cahill community throughout the second half of the 19th century.

Early Industry:

The Edina Mills District

“The second group of people settled over where [Minnehaha] Creek crosses under 50th Street—basically

more or less the Country Club area,” Flynn says, noting that this group also settled in the area in the mid-1850s and were Protestants and were mostly born in this country.

The Edina Mills

Seeking to harness the creek as a power source for industrial use, individuals from this group of settlers helped establish The Edina Mills (then called the Waterville Mill) in 1857, which was located near where today’s West 50th Street and Browndale Avenues intersect. Other than the mill, there were three other community structures in this settlement: a blacksmith, a general store and, eventually, The Minnehaha Grange Number 398 (or Grange Hall).

“What happened in 1857 was,

Photos: Chris Emeott; Edina Historical Society

DISCOVER THE ORIGIN STORY OF EDINA, AND VISIT A FEW HISTORIC SITES ALONG THE WAY.

Cahill School in the 1950s (above) and 1935 (below).

Left: Edina around 1930. Wooddale School, built in 1926, is near the upper right corner. The other difference is that it shows West 50th Street—the fork in the road next to the golf course is the junction of Eden Avenue and 50th Street. Edina Mills can be seen just to the right of the water. It’s partially obstructed by a tree.

Right and bottom: Edina Mills today.

“Thy sons, Edina, social, kind, With open arms the stranger hail; Their views enlarg’d, their liberal mind, Above the narrow, rural vale: Attentive still to Sorrow’s wail, Or modest Merit’s silent claim; And never may their sources fail! And never Envy blot their name!”

MASTERPIECE IN THE WHITE OAKS

because they had those established structures there, there were some men who platted the area,” Flynn says, noting that the area was about 10 acres, encompassing the area of today’s Williams, Wooddale and Utley parks.

“These men wanted to basically make a city out of just this little area, and they were going to call it Waterville,” he says. “... There was a nationwide financial panic in 1857 … and [the plat] never got filed with Hennepin County … I think that, had that financial panic not happened, it’s very possible that we could be known as Waterville today instead of Edina.” However, the area continued to be called Waterville for the next 15–20 years.

The mill started out as an active grist mill and later processed wheat, corn, rye, oats and barley for the local market, according to city records— which also note that during the early years of the Civil War, the mill ran 24 hours a day to meet the demands of the U.S. Army at Fort Snelling. About a decade later, the mill was renamed Edina Mills. At that time, it was under the ownership of Andrew Craik, who named it after his native Edinburgh, Scotland—with “Edina,” specifically, pulled from a poem by Robert Burns called Address To Edinburgh, which the poet wrote shortly after arriving in the Scottish city.

The mill was eventually acquired by Henry Brown, who established Browndale Farm, a large stock farm, in Edina. The mill site was part of that estate until it was sold to Thorpe Brothers Realty Company in 1922

Photos: Chris Emeott; Edina Historical Society

Robert Burns, From Address To Edinburgh

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for the Country Club development. However, the mill itself had closed in the early 1900s, after water level issues made operations impossible.

Today, though the mill house no longer exists, the Edina Mills Archaeological Site marks the significance of the mill in the early development of the city; it was designated an Edina Heritage Landmark in 2006. This historic site is located on Minnehaha Creek in Dwight Williams Park. The mill dam, located under Browndale Bridge, is the only existing structure associated with the historic mill.

Grange Hall

The Minnehaha Grange Number 398, built in 1879, was the local meeting place of a national fraternity of farmers called the Order of the Patrons of Husbandry. “It was formed by

farmers, discussing the needs of farmers at that time and basically just discussing the best ways to be a successful farmer,” Flynn says. City records also show that “this building served as Edina Village Hall from its incorporation in 1888 to 1942. Many historic events took place here, including the decision to name Edina and the secession of the neighborhood of Morningside.”

The building was originally located on the southeast corner of today’s Wooddale Avenue and West 50th Street—though it now sits half a mile down the road at Frank Tupa Park, next to Cahill School. It was moved in the late 1930s when St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church was built on that corner. The Grange Hall was added to the National Park Service’s National Register of Historic Places in 1970. In 2002, the Grange received Edina

Heritage Landmark designation in recognition of the importance the Grange held in Edina’s history.

The history doesn’t stop here. Head to edinamag.com to read more about the development of other early neighborhoods in the city—including the rapid growth of the Morningside Neighborhood, the early history of 50th & France Shopping District and the origins of the Edina Country Club District. To learn more about the early Grandview District, search for Yancey Park on our website, and read about the legacy of the Yancey family in Edina’s early history.

Edina Historical Society, 4711 W. 70th St.; 612.928.4577; edinahistoricalsociety.org

Edina Historical Society @edinahistory

Photos: Edina Historcial Society; Chris Emeott

Left: Edina in 1925. This is a northeasterly view and features Edina Country Club golf course, Country Club neighborhood and the Minnehaha Creek and mill pond running through the middle of the photo.

Right: Grange Hall today.

Zimmer Design delivers curated design projects for clients.

When it comes to home décor, the marriage between form and function is an important relationship for creating a home that lives up to the homeowner’s needs and expectations—and this is the goal for the team at Zimmer Design.

The team provides spatial planning and interior design, working directly with clients, contractors and builders. “We create 3D renderings and/or CADS, selection schedules, as well as the interior sourcing from plumbing fixtures to furnishings,” says Kelly Vickers, owner.

To get to that stage, Zimmer Design actively listens to clients’ visions. “Don’t hold back,” Vickers says. “Give me all your ideas! Individualized design allows me to be the most creative, which is what my clients deserve. I follow my clients’ visions for their spaces, adding my signature elements and pragmatism along the way. I deliver a genuinely curated design no matter the genre.”

Vickers has a gift for creating different design stories. “I connect with my clients,” she says. “I want to know how they want to feel in their new space. Good design is a feeling. I utilize my clients’ input along with my intuition and expertise. It’s the reason all my designs look unique.” Where does Vickers glean most of her inspiration? “Nature,” she says. “I love nature’s majesty.” While a good designer finds inspiration all around, keeping an eye on what elements

have staying power is also important, which resonates with Vickers. “Sustainability is wildly important to Zimmer Design and our savvy clients,” she says. “This is the trend I value— everything else follows.”

Clients appreciate the breadth of services. “Kelly surpassed all our expectations of what working with an interior designer would be like,” says Katie (Edina). “We hired Kelly to not only design the space, but also act as our project manager with the general contractor and subs. She was everything you want: on time, excellent communicator, available, resolved issues quickly and effectively, relaxed, and just plain fun to be around.”

Whether buying or selling, I work in all price ranges and with all ages! First time home buyers to empty nesters, I’d be honored to help you and your family!

Ellyn Wolfenson

3033 Excelsior Blvd.

612.644.3033

ellynwolfenson.com

Refresh your home with custom artwork. Christina B. Johnson has been sourcing clients with her colorful paintings since 2018. Shop her work at Edina-based Foxwell Shoppe and At Home & Co., or contact Christina for a consultation.

@christina.b.johnson christinabjohnson.com

christinabergjohnson@gmail.com

Enjoy USDA Certified Organic at your locally owned Clean Juice. We offer healthy, organic sandwiches, wraps, salads, smoothies, acai bowls, fresh juice and more! Eating healthy made easy! Dine-in, take out or delivery available.

Clean Juice 3943 Market St. 952.479.7054

cleanjuice.com

Comfort Keepers® is here to help seniors thrive safely while living independently at home. Our empathetic caregivers are specially trained to provide uplifting care and support. We’re here to help!

Comfort Keepers

5798 Lincoln Drive 763.273.4207

comfortkeepers.com

The Goddard School’s safe, flexible and caring environment gives your child the space to take chances, make connections and experience authentic learning so they can become school-ready, career-ready and life-ready.

The Goddard School in Edina 7201 Washington Ave. S. 612.438.2288

goddardschool.com/schools/mn/edina/edina

CHRISTINA B. JOHNSON Artist

Mainstream Boutique exists for today’s busy woman. Our mission is to love, strengthen and celebrate women. We want you to LOVE what you wear!

Mainstream Boutique of Edina 7523 France Ave. S. 952.303.4530 mainstreamboutique.com/pages/edina

You’re Local. We’re Local. Bachelor’s and master’s degree programs for working professionals in the areas of business, applied leadership, MBA and others. Contact us at link.mnsu.edu/mag today to get started!

Minnesota State University, Mankato 7700 France Ave. 952.818.8888 link.mnsu.edu/mag

IV vitamin therapy provides a much faster boost of energy, a more robust immune response, easier recovery from stresses on the body and a slowing down of the aging process.

The DRIPBaR 3515 W. 70th S. 612.429.6822 thedripbar.com

Join us at Town Hall Station on the corner of Valley View and Wooddale, in a converted 1950s filling station. Serving highquality scratch prepared food accompanied by our world-class beers and drink, accompanied by uncompromised hospitality and attention to our customers.

Town Hall Station 4500 Valley View Road 612.767.9747

townhallstation.com

Taproom + Kitchen

Mention this ad to get a free pint when you purchase a flight of beer!

Trivia hosted every Wednesday starting at 6:30 p.m.

Wooden Hill Brewing Company 7421 Bush Lake Road 952.960.9663

woodenhillbrewing.com

CUSTOM OUTDOOR ACCENTS

Including Pots, Custom Metal, Outdoor Kitchens, Furniture, Fire Features and Patio Surfaces.

Visit our Showroom in Eden Prairie.

Twisted Elements, Inc. 9721 Valley View Road 612.305.0456

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things to see and do in and around Edina

A PATRIOTIC PARADE

The Edina Community Foundation hosts a trio of Fourth of July events.

Photos: David Kurtovich

FOR OVER 30 YEARS, Edina residents and visitors in surrounding communities have enjoyed the annual Edina 4th of July Parade, put together by the Edina Community Foundation (ECF). This year’s parade will take place on July 4 at 10 a.m. The parade route runs on 50th Street, from City Hall to Halifax Avenue, and onlookers are encouraged to set up early, as up to 20,000 people are expected to attend.

“It’s the biggest … most-anticipated event every year in Edina, on the best day of the year,” says Mary Brindle, Edina 4th of July Parade committee co-chair. “The parade is the event that brings together all aspects of our community: schools, businesses, nonprofits, public safety, neighborhoods, faith communities, youth athletics, music and our favorite animals.

The ECF, along with the City of Edina, also orchestrates the city’s fireworks display and a veterans’ dinner that celebrates local veterans, who participate in our parade each year. The annual veterans’ dinner will be at 5 p.m. July 3 at St. Peter’s Edina. Veterans, active military members and their families are encouraged to attend this dinner, which is sponsored by Chick-fil-A.

The fireworks display will take place at Rosland Park at 10 p.m. July 4, preceded by a performance by The First John Philip Sousa Memorial Band, with fifes and drums at 8 p.m. and concert at 8:45 p.m. Alison Briggs, the director for the ECF, says the foundation is contracting a new fireworks company, J&M Displays—and the result will be the biggest fireworks show the city of Edina has ever seen.

—Amy Overgaard

In the event of rain, find updates at edinamn.gov.

2023 Edina 4th of July Parade: All ages. Free. 10 a.m. 50th Street S., from City Hall to Halifax Avenue; 952.300.2378; edinaparade.org

CREATE. LAUGH. LEARN. 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.

Two Edina locations. Opening in SW Minneapolis, May 2023.

www.EspeciallyforChildren.com | 952.857.1100

LOCAL EVENTS

Fitness on the Plaza

07/02

The Bar Method hosts an outdoor mat class at Nolan Mains. Clean Juice will provide samples and have pop-up sales available. All ages. Free. Noon–1 p.m. Plaza at Nolan Mains, 3945 Market St.; 952.491.0001; 50thandfrance.com

Vintage Village

07/08–07/09, 07/15–07/16

50th & France partners with Everyday Ejiji, an Afro-Latina-owned online, vintage and secondhand business based in Minneapolis, to bring a Vintage Village to Nolan Mains. All ages. Free. 11 a.m.–5 p.m. Plaza at Nolan Mains, 3945 Market St.; 952.491.0001; 50thandfrance.com

Golf Challenge

07/17

Struthers Parkinson’s Center gives people diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease and their families access to wellness and support programs. Play a round of golf or donate an auction item at this 20th annual event. Ages 18 and older. Prices vary. Edina Country Club, 5100 Wooddale Ave.; 952.993.5023; parknicollet.com/foundation

Farmers Market

07/27

This year, the Farmers Market features live music on the patio, Edina Liquor in the Hughes Pavilion and fresh food vendors alongside the boardwalk. All ages. Free. Centennial Lakes Park Hughes Pavilion, 7499 France Ave. S.; 952.833.9582; edinamn.gov

50th & France in Photos

07/29

Join the Edina Historical Society’s John Flynn as he presents a photo gallery of the businesses that have existed in 50th & France. All ages. 7–8:30 p.m. Location TBD. 612.928.4577; edinahistoricalsociety.org

Compiled by Hailey Almsted and Clare Greeman

Child Development Centers

WINNER ’22 BEST

AREA EVENTS

Red, White and Sangria! 07/01–07/02

Saint Croix Vineyards shares its favorite, locally produced reds, whites and sangrias, which are available in flights or by the glass. Ages 21 and older. Free entry. Noon–5 p.m. Saint Croix Vineyards, 6428 Manning Ave., Stillwater; 651.430.3310; scvwines.com

Cirque du Soleil: Corteo 07/13–07/16

Corteo tells the funny and tragic story of a clown that highlights the humanity in all of us, told through the amazing acrobatic performances of Cirque du Soleil performers. All ages. Tickets start at $49. Times vary. Xcel Energy Center, 199 W. Kellogg Blvd., St. Paul; cirquedusoleil.com

3M Open

07/24–07/30

This leg of the PGA Tour brings elite golf to the Twin Cities. This event supports the 3M Open Fund, a nonprofit committed to supporting anti-racist efforts. All ages. Tickets start at $55. Times vary. TPC Twin Cities, 11444 Tournament Players Parkway, Blaine; 763.783.9000; 3mopen.com

Loring Park Art Festival

07/29–07/30

This weekend includes beautiful gardens, food and music. All ages. Free. 10 a.m.–6 p.m. Saturday; 10 a.m.–5 p.m. Sunday. Loring Park, 1382 Willow St., Mpls.; loringparkartfestival.com

To have your event considered: email edinamag@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.

The Goddard School is committed to excellence in early childhood education.

The importance of early childhood education can’t be understated. The Goddard School of Edina provides an atmosphere suited to the development of selfesteem, confidence and the lifelong love for learning. “By combining the best possible equipment and professionally-educated staff, we provide an outstanding program,” says Hetal Agrawal, on-site owner.

Serving children from 6 weeks to 6 years old, the school is also licensed to serve school age children up to the age of 12. “We are dedicated to providing a safe, clean environment for the children to learn and grow,” Agrawal says. “Our teachers are nurturing, educated professionals, who are committed to maintaining the highest quality in early childhood education.”

Experienced staff members have a certificate or degree in early childhood development. They are all CPR/First Aid trained and complete ongoing professional development.

At Goddard, the spirit of inquiry and discovery are encouraged through experiences to instill confidence in the children’s ability to master new situations and tasks through reasoning. “Children are exposed to a variety of teaching methods, so that they will be able to confidently enter any elementary school,” Agrawal says.

Broadening their language and communication skills is also a focus with instruction in sign language (Time to Sign), Spanish and Portuguese. Maintaining a sense of fun is also important. Students are encouraged to discover and explore in their own creative way. “The program provides a nurturing environment where children can make supportable choices, independently explore learning and develop socialization skills,” Agrawal says. The students are also provided enrichments, such as yoga, music, soccer and dance along with time on the outdoor playgrounds and opportunities in the indoor Fun Lab. These enrichments are included and incorporated into their daily curriculum.

At the helm, is Agrawal. “Providing a high quality educational center within the community that I’ve lived in for over 15 years was my calling,” she says.  “I enjoy getting to know so many families, watch their children grow and share my experiences with the community.”

Plucky Partners

Best friends dip into new ways to showcase pickles.

Written by Mollee Francisco

Photos by Chris Emeott

FOR SARA DOHERTY AND BRITT JUNGERBERG, food has long played an important role in their friendship—from their first meeting in the Chaska High School (CHS) lunchroom back in ninth grade to now, as co-founders of Plucky Pickle Dip. Their spreadable concoction with a base of dill pickles, blended white beans and cream cheese comes in four varieties.

After graduating from CHS, the women remained close friends. Doherty now lives in Excelsior, and Jungerberg is in Edina. They developed Plucky Pickle Dip during their entertaining phase. “We used to do these elaborate dinner parties, and we were always trying new recipes,” Doherty says.

As they got older and had children, those elaborate dinner parties evolved. Multicourse meals that consumed an entire evening became casual get-togethers over small bites with

shorter preparation periods. One of their offerings was a spreadable pickle dip. “Britt and I have always loved pickles,” Doherty says. The dip was such a hit among their guests—including the kids—that they started selling it at local farmers markets. “We launched in 2017,” Jungerberg says. “We couldn’t believe it, but we had one of the longest lines there.”

What was it about the pickle dip that brought the customers in droves? Doherty says it’s one part familiarity and one part nostalgia. “It’s the surprise and delight of a familiar ingredient in a new environment,” Jungerberg says.

Initially, they named their product Darling Pickle Dip. Later, they changed it to Plucky Pickle Dip, feeling that the new name was a better fit. “Plucky is a strong representation of our personalities,” Doherty says.

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PLUCKY PICKLE DIP FLAVORS

Original: Coarsechopped crunchy kosher dill pickles mixed with a smooth blend of cream cheese, white beans, herbs and spices

Spicy: The original with hot cherry peppers

Cheese & Mustard: The original with sharp Wisconsin white cheddar and whole grain mustard

Vegan: The original with vegan cream cheese (not pictured)

HOW TO DIP

It may seem obvious, but Plucky Pickle Dip is perfect on burgers and hot dogs, great on veggies and crackers, and scrumptious on a bagel. What else can you do with it? So glad you asked. Doherty and Jungerberg say the original or spicy flavors are excellent mixed with tuna for sandwiches. Cheddar and mustard is a great addition to deviled eggs. Original is also a tasty topper for cured salmon on a crostini. They also suggest trying the spicy version in Mexican street corn dip or on grilled corn. The dip makes a fantastic base for a veggie pizza, too. For more recipe ideas, visit pluckypickledip.com.

WHERE TO BUY

Plucky Pickle Dip is sold at Costco, Coborn’s, HyVee, Kowalski’s Markets, Lunds & Byerlys and Target.

Plucky Pickle Dip

@pluckypickledip

Britt Jungerberg and Sara Doherty, co-developers.

Photo: Sara Doherty

That wasn’t the only change. The demand for pickle dip outgrew their ability to make the product on their own, and the dip was making its first retail appearances on the shelves at Kowalski’s Markets. “It was too much,” Jungerberg says. “We were still working 9-to-5 jobs.” As a result, they reached out and found a manufacturing partner.

Today, Plucky Pickle Dip is proudly made of products sourced from the Midwest, including Wisconsin cream cheese. It remains one of the only pickle dips on the market, but neither Jungerberg nor Doherty is resting on her laurels. “We have two new flavors coming, maybe more,” Jungerberg says.

Through it all, their longtime friendship has proved to be a significant part of their success. “The partnership has been crucial,” Jungerberg says. “It’s been fun. We’ve been learning as we go and learning to work with each other. We always find a way to get it done.”

Doherty says, “We haven’t had much doubt. We knew we’d make it work.”

Even if the business goes away tomorrow, the duo is confident that the friendship will endure. “Above all, the friendship is what matters most,” Jungerberg says.

Mexican street corn dip welcomes the Plucky Pickle Dip spicy flavor, and deviled eggs receive a flavor boost with the cheddar and mustard variety.

WINNER + READERS’ CHOICE AWARD: PLACES

Library Day

This balanced, black and white photo was voted as a favorite in our Readers’ Choice poll.

BECKY PETERSON and her kids make regular trips to the Edina Library. This photo was snapped on one such trip in April 2022. It features her son, Max, who was 7 at the time.

“My three kids all love going to the library. We regularly have 50 books checked out at any one time, so library visits are often,” Peterson says. “On this visit, my son finished picking out books and then sat down to start reading. I loved how focused he was and the way I could get the right angle to have him isolated without anything else going on around him in the picture.”

She edited it to be in black and white, loving how “it simplifies all that’s going on and makes the focus really on Max and his book,” she says.

Vote for this year’s Readers’ Choice photo for the 2023 Images of Edina Photo Contest. Voting takes place July 1–31 at edinamag.com.

Photographer: Becky Peterson

Title: Library Day

Equipment used: iPhone 13 Pro

To view other Images of Edina photo contest winners, visit edinamag.com.