Maple Grove - July 2023

BEST of 2023

More urgent care ready to go.

Ready with more doctors. Set with more specialty services and orthopedic urgent care locations open 8 — 8 daily.

Go for more of what you need to keep your body moving. No referral or appointment necessary. TCOmn.com

JULY/AUGUST

“My new mantra: Don’t let perfection get in the way of action. We just need to start somewhere.” —Michelle Horan, entrepreneur, page 14

DEPARTMENTS

12 — Play Ball

Pickleball, softball and baseball are on the menu for Maple Grove Parks and Recreation.

14 — A Reusable Coffee Cup?

There’s an App for That!

Kingdom Coffee utilizes a sustainable alternative to single-use coffee cups.

FEATURES

18 — Meet Your Winners

Celebrate your Best of Maple Grove 2023 Readers’ Choice Poll winners and finalists!

24 — A Sustainable Future

The City of Maple Grove increases efforts to conserve natural resources.

TASTEMAKERS

36 — The Right Stuff

Paulie’s offers entertainmentbased dining.

Photo: Chris Emeott

New Location, Same Great Care!

FROM THE EDITOR

HAILEY ALMSTED — HAILEY@LOCALMEDIA.CO

Well, readers, it’s that time of the year again—it’s time to crown your Best of Maple Grove 2023 Readers’ Choice Poll winners. But before flipping over to the big reveal, I’d like to introduce myself as the new editor of Maple Grove Magazine. I have worked behind the scenes in these pages for several years, and it has been the most rewarding experience to step up and get to know this wonderful city in a more intimate light.

I’ve enjoyed spending time dining at local area restaurants, shopping around the boutiques at The Shoppes at Arbor Lakes and walking through the city’s many trails, parks and nature areas. Outside of this wonderful community, you can typically find me curled up with good book, sipping an iced coffee— no matter the time of year!—or enjoying time with my fiancé and our two pets.

NOW OPEN!

10150 Niagara Lane N, Suite 100 Maple Grove, MN 55369

As the Twin Cities’ largest and most experienced cancer treatment provider, we know that treating cancer calls for more than compassion. It means giving our patients access to more than 100 cancer care experts, evidence-based treatment paths, close-to-home locations and comprehensive services to support the whole person.

Our compassionate team works tirelessly towards one common goal –fighting cancer. mnoncology.com

But let’s take a closer look at our family and friends, neighbors and co-workers, who make our community such a dynamic place to live, work, play and raise families. Maple Grove prides itself on its outdoor spaces, and there are a few new ones coming to the city. On page 12, writer Daniel Huss connects with the City of Maple Grove Parks and Recreation Department to chat all things sport courts—pickleball, included!

We’re also diving into the city’s sustainability efforts. On page 14, writer Kristie Smith looks at the new eco-friendly business, Good to Go Cups, an alternative product to single-use coffee cups, available at Kingdom Coffee. In my Editor’s Picks on page 24, I take a look into how the City of Maple Grove is increasing its green projects, and I also chat with the sustainability experts at Great River Energy. Regarding the city’s efforts, City of Maple Grove planning manager Peter Vickerman says, “... We have a great legacy of preservation in the community, and it is wonderful to see that continuing.”

Readers, what’s your favorite part of living, working and playing in Maple Grove? I’d love to hear! Send me an email at hailey@localmedia.co.

Photo: Chris Emeott

publisher

Susan Isay

editor

Hailey Almsted

managing creative director

Renée Stewart-Hester

managing editor

Hailey Almsted

digital editor

Madeline Kopiecki

copy editors

Kellie Doherty

Sherri Hildebrandt

staff writers

Jody Carey

Zoe Deal

Mollee Francisco

Emily Gedde

Daniel Huss

Hanna McDaniels

Kristie Smith

Josie Smith

Jamie Tjornehoj

contributing writers

Lise Spence-Parsons

Nikki Steele

Laurie Stieg

Katie Tomsche

Kira Vanderlan

editorial interns

Clare Greeman

Nandini Parikh

editorial advisory board

Grace Becker , Osseo Area Schools

Kiley Meyhoefer , City of Maple Grove

Heidi Nelson , City of Maple Grove

Amy Seeman , Mezmira

senior managing art director

Sarah Dovolos

art director

Allison Nolden

graphic designer

Yaz Lo

junior designer

Jamie Klang

lead staff photographer

Chris Emeott

production director

Brittni Dye

production manager

Lisa Stone

production coordinator

Mimi Coz

senior account executives

Cynthia Hamre

Mary-Catherine Hartel

Sara Johnson

Abbie Kinn

Kathie Smith

president

Pete Burgeson

BEST OF FAQS

Each year, our Best of Maple Grove 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 Maple Grove 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

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

3. Voters needed to vote in at least five categories to ensure their ballots were counted.

What you should know about our annual readers’ poll.

Bring out Your Best with Design

Interior design is all about transforming spaces and creating an atmosphere of beauty, tranquility or inspiration. But what if you incorporated your best in the design? Think about what you excel at or aspects of your personality that stand out. Are you crafty or musical? Funny or artistic? Bring those amazing elements of yourself into your redesigned space.

For example, if you are a talented skateboarder, what if you hung unique skateboards in your office? For the musician, can you turn a piece of music you’ve written into custom wallpaper? If you love to sew, how about making the

new throw pillows for your space? As for me, I have a silly sense of humor, so you’ll see funny coffee table books and irreverent art on the walls. Whatever your strength, share it in a unique way through interior design.

Photo: Kira Vanderlan

Kira Vanderlan is an award-winning interior designer and owner of Zestful Design, based in Maple Grove. Visit her website at zestfuldesign.com.

Over the Rainbow

“All it takes is the right book to turn a book hater into a book lover,” writes

Gretchen Anthony in The Book Haters’ Book Club

In the Lyn-Lake neighborhood of Minneapolis, there nestles a small independent bookstore struggling to survive. Elliot, one of the owners, has recently passed away, leaving his business partner, Irma, with the financial burden of keeping the Over the Rainbow bookstore open. Elliot’s life partner, Thom, and Irma’s daughter, Bree, the business manager of the bookstore, are devastated to learn that Irma has sold the bookstore to property developers, who plan to redevelop the site with condos. Bree’s sister, Laney, learns the news and comes in from California with her own unresolved feelings toward everyone.

Bree, Thom and Laney patch up their estrangements long enough to band together to form a secret alliance to undermine the sale of the bookstore. With the help of friends and neighbors, they drum up business by having nightly dance parties in the vacant lot across the street from the bookstore.

What was the real reason that Irma decided to sell and what were her real feelings toward Elliot? Is she a villain or a victim? You will have to read the book to find out.

Laurie Stieg is associate librarian at Hennepin County Library-Maple Grove. Read more at hclib.org.

TASTE Winner, Winner, Chicken … Salad

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 on all sides until the juices run clear. Drain and discard the juices. Remove the chicken from the pan, cool and cut it into cubes. 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

VIEW Being the Best

Being the best you can be is about striving to improve yourself and reach your full potential. It means setting high standards for yourself and working hard to achieve your goals, whether they are personal, academic or professional.

Our job at the Maple Grove Arts Center is to promote artists and help them project their best art into Maple Grove and

surrounding areas. We can achieve that either by placing artwork in our gallery or at various locations around Maple Grove. We also give art instruction via our classes for both adults and our youth. Come down to the center and see what being “your best” could resemble.

Ultimately, being the best you can be is not about perfection but about

ongoing growth and development. It’s about embracing your unique talents and strengths and using them to make a positive impact in the world around you.

Lise Spence-Parsons, a local artist and author, is the president and treasurer of Maple Grove Arts Center. View more at maplegroveartscenter.org.

Photo: Lunds & Byerlys

The Best Style Tips

Looking stylish and put together can be a challenge, but with these best of the best styling tips, you can elevate your wardrobe and feel confident every day.

1. Repeat, Repeat, Repeat. One of the most important and my personal favorite style tip is to repeat your favorite outfits. Yes, you read that correctly. Repeat outfits. If you look and feel great in a particular outfit, don’t be afraid to wear it often. Not only does repeating save you money and time, but it’s also an ecofriendly practice by recycling your clothes.

2. Choose Seasonal Fabrics. When picking out clothes for the season, be mindful of the fabrics you choose. In the summer, opt for lightweight and breathable fabrics like cotton and linen. In the winter, choose heavier fabrics like wool and cashmere.

3. Hire a Personal Stylist. If you’re feeling overwhelmed with your wardrobe or unsure of what to wear, consider hiring a personal stylist. They can also help you make the most out of your existing clothes, saving you time, money and reducing waste.

Remember, style is all about feeling good in what you wear. As I always tell my clients, “When you look good, you feel good, then you do good and that’s how we’re going to change the world, one style at a time!”

Nikki Steele is a Maple Grove resident and the owner of Nikki Steele Style. Find more at nikkisteelestyle.com.

Play Ball

Pickleball, softball and baseball are on the menu for Maple Grove Parks and Recreation.

By Daniel Huss

MAPLE GROVE IS HAVING A BALL with the city’s new sports courts.

An 18-court pickleball complex is set to open soon at Lakeview Knolls Park, which will also include shaded seating, a picnic shelter and restrooms. Although pickleball has been played on existing Lakeview Knolls courts in the past, the city—and the entire nation— is seeing the sport grow rapidly.

“The sport has grown significantly, and we’re meeting demand,” says Chuck Stifter, City of Maple Grove Parks and Recreation director.

When asked where this growth is coming from, Stifter anecdotally mentions younger players. “Parents and their children are playing,” he says. Historically, pickleball has been considered a game for older adults.

Parks and planning superintendent Ben Jaszewski says community engagement, both online and in person, influenced final plans. “The community has been involved from the start,” he says.

Traffic and noise were two of the biggest concerns and were mitigated,

in part, by placing courts as far away from residential property as possible, plus the addition of landscaping and sound barriers around its perimeters. The number of courts was also a concern as the pickleball community wanted a complex large enough to handle the pickleball community. “They want to play at the same place,” says Jaszewski.

Lakeview Knolls playground equipment will be replaced in the fall. Trail improvements are also planned. “In a sense, it will be a whole new park,” says Jaszewski.

A Total Transformation

Gleason Fields will undergo a complete transformation as the historically soggy soccer/football/lacrosse fields will be replaced by four artificial-turf ball fields— three youth fields and one full-sized field.

“Those fields have had drainage issues for a long time,” Jaszewski says. Reconfiguration was made possible because of the Fernbrook Fields complex, which officially opened in 2019 and houses four artificial turf fields lined for football, soccer and lacrosse. The OsseoMaple Grove Athletic Association serves as a funding partner.

The new softball fields will include spectator seating, dugouts, fences and LED lighting. The baseball field will include a grandstand. “It’s intended as a youth complex,” Stifter says. “The bulk of the association’s membership is 8 to 18 years old.”

The plan was to have the fields playable by this past spring, but trail improvements were delayed because of the long winter, so it will progress throughout the summer.

“We expect a lot of demand, as you can get on a turf field earlier than a traditional limestone aggregate field,” Jaszewski says.

Before settling on 100 percent turf fields, Jaszewski says hybrid fields— turf outfields coupled with limestone aggregate and grass infields—were considered. “Maintenance looked like a nightmare,” he says.

Premier Facilities

Both the Lakeview Knolls Park and Gleason Fields venues have the potential to host tournaments and events—which mesh with the City of Maple Grove’s desire to turn standard facilities into premier facilities. A sledding hill, second sheet of ice, sports dome and community gyms serve as examples.

“Lakeview Knolls and Gleason Fields are really nice projects that add to an already nice parks system,” Stifter says. “They’ll be nice to complete.”

Lakeview Knolls Park, 9391 Fernbook Lane N.; Gleason Fields, 18815 67th Ave. N.; 763.494.6000; maplegrovemn.gov

Markets, indexes, interest rates, inflation . . . they all go in two directions, up and down. But there is only one direction a business can go to remain successful: Forward. Especially in uncertain economic times Crown Bank can be the partner that helps make your plans to move forward possible. It’s what we do best.

By Kristie Smith

Michelle Horan and Melissa Seeley

THEY SAY IF YOU WANT TO HELP FUTURE GENERATIONS , model good behavior. And if you have passion, put it to work. Twin Cities entrepreneurs Michelle Horan and Melissa Seeley are doing both with their new company, Good To Go Cups, a business focused on sustainability that puts their love of coffee front and center, with a focus on grinding things up in the single-use cup economy.

The two began their journey together when they volunteered to help launch the organics recycling program for their local school district. Fast forward more than a decade, and Horan and Seeley are both still passionate about recycling and sustainability.

In 2021, they took an online course from the Ellen MacArthur Foundation. For both women, the class was a lightbulb moment. “We [had] spent all these years advocating for recycling and composting/organics … The Ellen MacArthur Foundation advocates for the circular economy,” says Seeley, who shifted her focus to reduction and reuse rather than just end-of-life waste management. “The foundation helped us realize we can’t recycle our way out of a waste problem.”

That same year, Hennepin County offered a waste reduction grant. The two women applied and received the funding. And that’s how Good To Go Cups got its start. “We focused on reuse by designing a ‘to-go’ coffee cup that can be used up to 50 times [and] is recyclable and compostable,” Seeley says.

Good To Go Cups are made of an innovative polymer, which is high-heat tolerant and compostable. Horan says they were very intentional about their material selection, seeking to find a way to keep materials in use. When a cup reaches the end of its lifecycle, it’s sent back to the manufacturer, where a majority of the old material will get ground up

Photo: Chris Emeott

a

Customers at Kingdom Coffee are able to order coffee in

16-oz. reusable Good to Go cup, then return the cup and repeat the process.

and turned into new cups. Any residual material that can’t be reused can be composted. Each cup’s life cycle is monitored in the Good To Go Cups app, where customers can sign up, see where the cup is and track its number of uses.

In contrast, traditional, single-use cup production uses a “take-make-waste” model; taking natural materials to make a product that ends up in a landfill. Each single-use coffee cup is used for an average of 13 minutes; it’s estimated that at least 2.5 billion single-use coffee cups are thrown out each year.

Once the app and final product were developed, the two “eco-preneurs” set out to build a market. “We needed to get cups in shops and put the ownership on customers rather than the businesses themselves,” Seeley says, noting they wanted to make sure it was as easy as possible for the coffee shop employees. “We give the cups to the shops for free to make it low-risk and encourage reuse.”

Customers can either enjoy their coffee in the shop and leave the cup there or take it with them and exchange the used cup for a clean one next time they visit a participating shop. Most participating coffee shops offer a discount for people who use Good To Go cups.

Customers can access Good To Go cups in Maple Grove’s Kingdom Coffee, plus coffee shops in Minneapolis, Minnetonka, Rochester and St. Paul— and even as far as Sedona, Arizona.

About her new business, Horan says, “My new mantra: Don’t let perfection get in the way of action. We just need to start somewhere.”

Good To Go Cups; goodtogocups.com

Good To Go Cups @goodtogocups

Kingdom Coffee, 7899 Main St.; 763.424.3866; kingdomcoffeemn.com

Photos: Chris Emeott

Written by Hailey Almsted

Celebrate your Best of Maple Grove 2023 Readers’ Choice Poll winners and finalists!

MEET YOUR WINNERS

Maple Grove Magazine readers, welcome to your annual Readers’ Choice Poll. You showed up online this January at maplegrovemag.com and wrote in your top picks in a host of categories—now we have your results.

This year, you may notice a couple of new additions to the poll, including entirely new overarching categories dedicated to self care, pet care, services and leisure. We’ve also expanded beyond the city, so you’ll meet winners from the neighboring communities in our Best of the West Metro categories. And finally, we’re encouraging you to travel beyond our community into the great state of Minnesota with our Discover Minnesota categories.

Without further ado, let’s meet your winners and finalists!

DINING

Best Bakery

1. Nadia Cakes

2. Nothing Bundt Cakes

3. Great Harvest Bread Co.

Best Bar, Brewery or Distillery

1. Omni Brewery & Taproom

2. Malone’s Bar & Grill

3. Brick & Bourbon

Best Breakfast or Brunch

1. 3 Squares Restaurant

2. The Original Pancake House

3. The Village Inn + Granite City Food & Brewery

Best Desserts or Ice Cream

1. Crumbl Cookies

2. Nadia Cakes

3. Nothing Bundt Cakes

Best International Cuisine

1. Lotus Maple Grove

2. El Rodeo Mexican Restaurant

3. Sawatdee Thai Cuisine

Best Locally Owned Coffee Shop

1. Daily Dose Cafe and Espresso

2. Kingdom Coffee

3. Annabelle House MN

Best Outdoor Dining Space

1. The Highlander at Rush Creek Golf Club

2. The Lookout Bar and Grill

3. Crave American Kitchen & Sushi Bar

Best Plant-Based or Vegan Menu

1. Crisp & Green

2. Crave American Kitchen & Sushi Bar

3. Grabbagreen

Best Restaurant

1. Malone’s Bar & Grill

2. Pittsburgh Blue Steakhouse

3. Biaggi’s

Best Restaurant for a Power Lunch

1. Crisp & Green

2. Tie: Café Zupas; Malone’s Bar & Grill

Best Takeout or Curbside Service

1. Malone’s Bar & Grill

2. Lotus Maple Grove

3. Biaggi’s

Best Burger

1. Malone’s Bar & Grill

2. Paulie’s*

3. Brick & Bourbon

Best Chicken Sandwich

1. Malone’s Bar & Grill

2. The Highlander at Rush Creek Golf Club

3. 3 Squares Restaurant

Best Pizza

1. Frankie’s Chicago Style Pizza

2. Punch Pizza

3. Angeno’s Pizza and Pasta

*Formerly known as Rock Elm at the Grove

ABODE

Best Builder

1. J Brothers DesignBuild - Remodel, Inc.

2. Hanson Builders Inc

3. JP Brooks Builders

Best Carpet and Flooring Store

Best Interior Design Firm

1. Zestful Design

2. Tie: Pinnacle Interior Designs; Shelly’s Interior Concepts

Best Landscape Design Service

1. Lynde Greenhouse & Nursery

2. LADC Companies

3. Stronger Escapes LLC.

Best Lawn Service

1. CB Services Lawn, Landscape & Irrigation

2. LADC Companies

3. West Metro Lawn Care & Snow

Best Locally Owned Hardware Store

1. Jerry’s Do it Best Hardware

2. Ace Hardware

3. Levahn Brothers Plumbing & Hardware Hank

Best Remodeler

1. Neighborhood BuildingRemodeling

2. J Brothers DesignBuild - Remodel, Inc.

3. Tie: Huge Improvements; Mav’s Construction and Remodeling Inc

Best Senior Living Residence

1. SilverCreek on Main

2. Arbor Lakes Senior Living

3. Applewood Pointe of Maple Grove at Arbor Lakes

SELF CARE

Best Garden Center

Best Barbershop

1. Willow Salon

2. 18/8 Men’s Salon

Best Home Cleaning Service

3. Talisman Hair Studio

Best Boutique Fitness or Yoga Studio

1. Orangetheory Fitness

2. Burn Boot Camp

3. Jazzercise

Best Home Decor and

Store

Best Med Spa

1. Belladerm MedSpa

2. Woodhouse

3.

1. Grand Design Floors

2. Floors of Distinction

3. Tie: Carpet Country Carpet One Floor & Home; The Tile Shop

1. Lynde Greenhouse & Nursery

2. Fair’s Nursery

3. Malmborg’s Garden Center

1. J&K Brightness

2. Divine Shine Cleaning Company

3. Tie: Empower Washers; MaidPro

Furniture

1. Becker Furniture & Mattress

2. Furniture Manor

3. DMP Furniture

Spa

Spavia Day Spa

Best Place for a Manicure and

Pedicure

1. Woodhouse Spa

2. Van’s Nail & Spa

3. Beaute’ Contour Nail Lounge

Best Salon Spa

1. Willow Salon

2. Woodhouse Spa

3. Simonson’s Salon & Spa

Best Holistic Wellness Practice

1. Bloom into Balance: Craniosacral Therapy

2. Maple Grove Family Chiropractic

3. The Wellery Chiropractic

Best OB-GYN Practice

1. Oakdale OBGYN

2. Clinic Sofia OBGYN, PA

3. OBGYN & Infertility

Best Orthodontic Practice

1. Kottemann Orthodontics

2. Accorde Orthodontists

PET CARE

Best Dog-Friendly Establishment

1. Omni Brewery & Taproom

2. 3 Squares Restaurant

3. Brew Park Plymouth

Best Dog Park

1. Elm Creek Park Reserve

2. Dog Park at Fish Lake Regional Park

3. Brew Park Plymouth

Best Allergy Practice

1. HealthPartners & Park Nicollet

2. Tie: Advancements in Allergy and Asthma Care, Ltd.; Allergy & Asthma Specialists, P.A.

Best Chiropractic Practice

1. Broman Chiropractic & Wellness Center

2. The Wellery Chiropractic

3. Northwood Chiropractic and Wellness

Best Cosmetic Dentistry Practice

1. Brook West Family Dentistry

2. Grove Health Dental

3. Arbor Lakes Dental

Best Dental Practice

1. Grove Health Dental

2. Arbor Lakes Dental

3. Brook West Family Dentistry

Best Dermatology Practice

1. Associated Skin Care Specialists

2. HealthPartners & Park Nicollet

3. Clarus Dermatology

Best Eye Care Practice

1. Pearle Vision

2. Northwest Eye

3. Bass Lake Family Eye Care

Best Family Medicine Practice

1. Voyage Healthcare

2. HealthPartners & Park Nicollet

3. Allina Health Maple Grove Clinic

3. TC Orthodontics

Best Orthopedic Practice

1. Twin Cities Orthopedics with Urgent Care Maple Grove

2. TRIA

3. Summit Orthopedics

Best Pediatric Practice

1. South Lake Pediatrics

2. Children’s Minnesota Partners in Pediatrics Primary Care Clinic

3. Laganis Pediatric Dentistry

LEARNING

Best Dance Studio

1. The Dance Complex

2. Dancin On Broadway

3. Tie: Escalate Dance & Theatre Studio; Jazzercise

Best Preschool Program

1. St. John’s Lutheran School and Preschool

2. Step By Step Montessori Schools

3. St. Vincent De Paul Catholic Church

Best Swim School or Lessons

1. Foss Swim School

2. Maple Grove Community Center

3. Anoka-Hennepin Community Education

Best Pet Boarding or Daycare Service

1. Red Barn Pet Retreat

2. ADOGO pet hotels

3. All Seasons Canine Country Club

Best Pet Grooming Service

1. Bubbly Paws

2. Red Barn Pet Retreat

3. Shaggy Dog Grooming

Best Veterinarian Practice

1. North Paws Veterinary Clinic

2. Corcoran Pet Care Center

3. Tie: Heritage Animal Hospital; VCA Animal Wellness Center of Maple Grove

SERVICES

Best Accounting

1. Jenson & Co.

2. Barton Walter & Krier

3. Bayerkohler & Graff, Ltd.

Best Family Photographer

1. Bobeedy Photography

2. Julie Chappell Photography

3. Makally Photography

Best Home Inspector

1. Peace of Mind Home Inspections

2. Tie: Built To Last Inspections LLC; Rock Solid Home Inspections

Best Law Practice

1. Henningson & Snoxell, Ltd.

2. Mundahl Law

3. The Law Offices of Brian E. Stevens, PA

Best Mortgage Company

1. First Class Mortgage

2. Mortgages Unlimited

3. Edge Home Finance Corporation

SHOPS

Best Apparel Boutique

1. Evereve

2. Apricot Lane Boutique

3. Leela & Lavender

Best Florist

1. Donato’s Floral

2. Maple Grove Floral

3. The Wild Orchid

Best Gift Shop

1. The Woods

2. GoodThings

3. Patina

Best Jewelry Store

1. Mark Michael Diamond Designs

2. Goldwear Jewelers

3. Jared

Best Specialty Kitchen or Foods Store

1. Love That Olive

2. Lunds & Byerlys

3. GoodThings

LEISURE

Best Park, Open Space or Beach

1. Elm Creek Park Reserve

2. Central Park of Maple Grove

3. Fish Lake

Best Place for a Date Night

1. Pittsburgh Blue Steakhouse

2. Crave American Kitchen & Sushi Bar

3. Tie: Biaggi’s; Malone’s Bar & Grill

Best Place for Family Activities

1. Central Park of Maple Grove

2. Elm Creek Park Reserve

3. Maple Grove Community Center

Best Place for an Outdoor Adventure

1. Elm Creek Park Reserve

2. Central Park of Maple Grove

3. Eastman Nature Center

Best Place to Watch Fourth of July Fireworks

1. Town Green Park

2. Maple Grove Community Center

3. The Lookout Bar and Grill

BEST OF THE WEST METRO

Best Golf Course

1. Rush Creek Golf Club

2. Pheasant Acres Golf Course

3. Tie: Baker National Golf Course; Edinburgh USA

Best Music School

1. StudioRoe

2. Rogers School of Music

3. Schmitt Music

Best Outdoor Skating or Hockey Rink

1. Central Park Ice Skate Loop

2. Kerber Park

Best Private School

3. Providence Academy

Best Speciality Athletic Store

DISCOVER MINNESOTA

Best Campground

1. Baker Park Reserve

2. KOA

3. Whitewater State Park

Best Hiking or Biking Trail

1. Elm Creek Park Reserve

2. Superior Hiking Trail

3. Tie: Bertram Chain of Lakes Regional Park; Three Rivers Park District

Best Live Theater

1. Bunce Performing Arts

2. Yellow Tree Theatre

3. Orpheum Theatre

Best Museum

1. Science Museum of Minnesota

2. Minneapolis Institute of Art

3. Minnesota History Center

Best Music Venue

1. The Armory

2. Tie: The Lookout Bar and Grill; Town Green Park

Best Nordic Ski Trail or Alpine Hill

1. Elm Creek Park Reserve

2. Lutsen Mountains

3. Buck Hill

Best Resort or Lodge

1. Grand View Lodge

2. Tie: Bluefin Bay on Lake Superior; Great Wolf Lodge

Best Wedding Photographer or Videographer

1. Tie: Chapel Video Production; Vick Photography

2. Tie: Eric Vest Photography; Justin Cox Photography

Best Wedding Venue

1. Rush Creek Golf Club

2. The Hutton House

Best Theater Program

3. Tie: Elm Creek Park Reserve; Leopold’s Mississippi Gardens

3. Elm Creek Elementary School

1. St. John’s Lutheran School and Preschool

2. St. Vincent De Paul Catholic Church

1. TC Running Company

2. Dave’s Sport Shop

3. Tie: Lettermen Sports; Maple Grove Cycling

1. Bunce Performing Arts

2. Yellow Tree Theatre

3. Maple Grove Senior High School

Laganis Pediatric Dentistry cares for patients and the community.

Setting a pattern for a lifetime of good dental care is the cornerstone of Laganis Pediatric Dentistry, which has been serving the Maple Grove area since Venetia Laganis, DDS, MS, purchased the practice in 2002.

The practice has a multifold approach to its mission, including always providing exceptional care in a compassionate way; addressing patients as whole people; building connections with the families to foster trust; being honest in treatment recommendations; diagnosing and referring patients as needed; and providing excellent care—always.

“We strive to treat all patients and their families with respect, compassion and honesty,” Dr. Laganis says. “All of us are moms, so we truly understand the desire to do the best for your children, and we want to be partners with parents on that quest. We love establishing relationships with families and watching kids go through all the stages of growing up.”

It’s important to note that pediatric dentists are specifically trained to treat younger patients by completing two to three years of specialty training beyond dental school and receiving postdoctoral education in child psychology,

behavior modification and pharmacology. They also undergo yearly training and recertification to stay current with the most recent developments in technology and patient care.

Setting healthy dental patterns early in life is critical. “Early education, prevention and intervention can maximize the chances of a child growing up with happy and healthy smiles,” Dr. Laganis says. “A child with excellent dental care and positive dental experiences becomes an adult who can maintain healthy oral hygiene habits and is not fearful of the dentist.”

When is the right time to first take

a child to the dentist? The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry and the American Academy of Pediatrics recommend a well-baby dental visit by the first birthday. The goal is to establish a “dental home” in order to educate parents about the prevention of dental caries and identify dental disease. “We discuss information on proper oral hygiene, home and professional preventive therapies, diet, caries risk assessment, oral habits and dental injuries,” Dr. Laganis says.

These proactive and compassionate efforts are resonating with patients and their families. “This is the best pediatric dentist we’ve ever experienced, and we’ve been to several,” Andrea B. says. “Everyone is so kind, personal and genuine and goes about each cleaning and procedures with nurturing care and gentleness. My kids love the

dentist—which speaks volumes to the quality of their experiences.”

Bria X. echoes her sentiments. “My child was afraid from her first visit at another pediatric dental office,” she says. “This time, she was a completely different child, but it was clearly because she connected with Dr. Venetia. She was personable and very easy to communicate with. We will be continuing to see her for all needs for healthy, clean teeth.”

It’s important to recognize that dental anxiety and fear manifest in patients of all ages. “The entire team here is truly exceptional,” Jenny F. says. “Dr. Laganis, all the dental assistants and the manager made me feel very comfortable with my anxiety as well as my kids’ anxiety. They are very kind, compassionate, thorough and do quality work.”

Caring for patients extends into the

broader community, and the team is committed to being active supporters of local endeavors. “As an all women office, we love to be a part of encouraging and supporting other women in all things,” Dr. Laganis says. “We are proud sponsors of a variety of girls’ sports and activities, including Maple Grove Girls High School Hockey, NWC River Hawks, Champlin Park Girls High School Soccer and the St. Michael-Albertville Varsity Game Day Cheerleading team.”

A SUSTAINABLE FUTURE

The City of Maple Grove increases efforts to conserve natural resources.

written by HAILEY ALMSTED

Great River Energy’s Maple Grove campus

Residents of Maple Grove know just how beautiful our community is. It’s surrounded by natural greenery and is home to 13 named lakes. It features accessible green spaces, such as Central Park of Maple Grove and Elm Creek Park Reserve, and the City of Maple Grove is working toward creating an even more ecofriendly community for its current and future residents.

“... We have a great legacy of preservation in the community, and it is wonderful to see that continuing,” says City of Maple Grove planning manager Peter Vickerman. We sat down with Vickerman to talk more about city initiatives, as well as how residents can practice a more sustainable lifestyle.

Maple Grove is home to so many green spaces, lakes, streams, forests … Why is it important to the City of Maple Grove to preserve these natural surroundings?

It is really something that has been important to the residents of Maple Grove for its entire history as a quality of life issue. Having access to natural spaces makes the city a more desirable place to live with recreational opportunities and wildlife habitat. As we move into an era with both more frequent heavy rain events and more dry stretches, these natural areas help alleviate some of the extreme impacts from these events.

Tell me about some of the green initiatives that the City of Maple Grove has implemented over the years.

… Most, if not all, of these initiatives both save energy and save money over the long haul. And this is something that has been happening for a while. For example, the Government Center uses a geothermal loop in the nearby groundwater pond … The geothermal loop is a series of pipes that go into the lake [behind the Government Center], and there is a liquid in the pipes that flows through it. The cold liquid comes into the air and cools everything down; it’s our air conditioning. The same is true in wintertime.

The lake under the ice is cold, but it is warmer than the outside air temperature, and it warms up the air coming in and keeps the building warm … This paid for itself in about three years while reducing our natural gas and electricity usage.

One of the other things we did not too long ago was make it really easy for folks to put solar panels on their homes. That was first done in 2014, but not many people took advantage of it. So you can put it on your roof, and all you need to do is get a permit for it. There are no public hearings or special permitting that some other cities require. It has really taken off in the last three to four years especially … The community has responded with installations on private property. The school

districts have done a bunch of projects and businesses, too.

… All of these initiatives help keep our expenses low, benefiting the taxpayers, who fund these operations, and benefiting the environment.

The City of Maple Grove has approved more than 75 permits for electric vehicle (EV) charging units, alongside the four EV chargers offered by the Maple Grove Transit Station. Why is EV accessibility important to Maple Grove?

First, it is a demand issue, where we see more and more people desiring to have these chargers because they have EVs. It also helps with moving people to EVs who may be on the fence, as they can see there are more and more places for them to charge up. So it is both reacting to the existing market and doing our part to

Photo: Great River Energy; Chris Emeott

Peter Vickerman

GREEN ENERGY

Minnesota’s first not-for-profit electric cooperative, Great River Energy (GRE), hosts its campus in Maple Grove. The co-op, which is owned by 27 organizations across the state, works to provide affordable, reliable and cleaner energy to power people’s lives.

Residents may recognize the GRE campus for the 166-foot turbine that stands in front of its building. “The turbine produces 10 percent of this building’s electricity needs. It’s a 200kW wind turbine,” says Daniel Becchetti, communications and marketing manager. “… To give you a sense of how that compares, is that in southern Minnesota, wind farms are twice as big and might have 10 times the output. It is relatively small but big for a suburban landscape.”

The Maple Grove building, which opened 15 years ago on Earth Day, was certified LEED Platinum by the U.S. Green Building Council— it was the first in Minnesota and the 102nd in the world, Becchetti says. According to its website (usgbc. org), LEED-certified buildings save money, improve efficiency, lower carbon emissions and create healthier places. To achieve certification, a building must address carbon, energy, water, waste, transportation, materials, health and indoor environmental qualities.

“Our goal as an energy company was to focus on energy efficiency in our LEED building,” Becchetti says. “We collect rainwater and snow melt in a tank in the front yard. Then the water is filtered and sanitized to flush our toilets. The campus is entirely planted with pollinator-friendly habitats and native species.”

About the building and its green features, Becchetti says, “We wanted to build a model showcase of energy efficiency technology.”

When it first opened, Becchetti says it welcomed those interested in energy efficiency in by busloads. “We’ve had 15,000 people tour this place,” he says. Today, it is still a model for energy efficiency—and tourists, though fewer than when it opened, are still welcome.

support the expansion of that market.

It’s something that people have a lot of interest in, [and] we’re getting interest from private companies … We have basic requirements but otherwise we aren’t making you go through a bunch of hoops. It’s important to put [EV chargers] in, and they don’t take up parking spaces—they are there for those types of cars. We are seeing them privately, and there will be more of a public push on some of our buildings … We will be seeing more and more throughout the city.

Maple Grove achieved Step 2 certification in the GreenStep Cities program. Can you touch on that program?

GreenStep Cities is a voluntary program to help cities achieve their sustainability and quality-of-life goals. It is quite

comprehensive with best practices related to everything from renewable energy, trail and sidewalk connections, purchasing recycled paper, to economic development of green industries. It has really taken off and worth checking out more. The various steps relate to how many of the best practices a city has adopted and reported. (To learn more about the GreenStep Cities program, visit greenstep.pca.state.mn.us.)

… We are still working on these [projects], and there have been some great projects recently where the City Council has approved the preservation of additional natural resource areas. One of the great parts is [that] this was done at no cost to the city by working with the developers to preserve a great forested area near the Hindu Temple [of Minnesota] and large areas along Rush Creek.

Photos: Great River Energy

SUSTAINABILITY AT HOME

“The great thing is that there is so much that can be done,” Vickerman says. “The challenge is that there isn’t a silver bullet; it is a lot of little things that add up!” Here are a few of Vickerman’s tips for working toward a more sustainable home.

1. Save on Electricity: “For Xcel Energy customers, the Windsource Program is a great and simple step,” Vickerman says. This program allows customers to choose how much power is received from wind energy—starting with one block per month, equivalent to 100-kilowatt hours of electricity.

2. Create a Sustainable Kitchen: “Improving the efficiency of your appliances and homes is another good starting point,” Vickerman says. Swap your incandescent bulbs to LED bulbs to save energy; unplug small appliances (like the toaster) when it’s not in use; and don’t let your water run while you’re brushing your teeth.

3. Green Transportation: “Look for ways to walk or ride a bike to destinations rather than getting in the car,” Vickerman says. “You can get some great exercise, and it reduces congestion and emissions.” A healthy body and a healthy environment? Sign me up.

LIFE CHANGING COMMUNITY

Surrounding yourself with people who will be there for you creates lasting change. Together, we charge forward to change the conversation about fitness. At Burn Boot Camp, we build each other up.

Burn Boot Camp

14500 Weaver Lake Road

651.600.1517 burnbootcamp.com/maple-grove-mn

Providing personalized, 100 precent complimentary planning services for your dream Disney vacation!

Walt Disney World Disneyland

Disney Cruise Line

Aulani Resort in Hawaii

Adventures by Disney

Angela Vahalik

Castle Bound Travel Company

Accommodates All Travelers

612.460.1581

angela@castleboundtravelco.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

Donato’s Floral is a family owned business. We have been a part of this community for over 35 wonderful years. We deliver daily joy with natural botanicals.

Donato’s Floral 10200 73rd Ave. N. Suite #102 763.416.0488 donatosfloral.com

Maple Grove Resident for 25+ Years

1,600 + thrilled clients Voted #1 Realtor in Maple Grove. We look forward to serving you!

Jarrod Peterson Real Estate Group 7767 Elm Creek Blvd. 763.258.4400 askjarrodheknows.com

This is our home. Let us help you make it yours. Reach out today to get connected with one of our Maple Grove agents. We look forward to helping you.

Edina Realty Maple Grove 7767 Elm Creek Blvd. Suite #200 763.420.2424

edinarealty.com/office/maple-grove

Never give up. Start training today!

EXTREME SUPPORT

EXTREME ENCOURAGEMENT

EXTREME ACCOUNTABILITY EXTREME RESULTS

Kickboxing. Strength Training. Bring this in for a free week.

Farrell’s Extreme Bodyshaping 9893 Maple Grove Parkway 612.245.8933

fxbmaplegrove.com

We are a local family business of licensed health insurance agents dedicated to help you with all your health insurance needs.

Medicare Prescription Drug Individual/Family Health Small Group

Twin Cities Health Insurance Solutions, Inc 7044 East Fish Lake Road 763.280.8882 medicareoptionsmn.com

Family owned and operated with a selection of 2,000+ frames + sunglasses. Five doctors are in office 7 days a week!

We Know Eyes at Maple Grove Pearle Vision.

Maple Grove Pearle Vision 13195 Weaver Lake Road 763.420.5112 maplegroveeye.vision

MEET OUR NEWEST PROVIDERS

Appointment Line: (763) 587-7999

www.voyagehealthcare.com

Kat Corcoran, MD OB/GYN

Kaitlyn Laube Ward, DPM Podiatry

Owen McCann PA-C Family Medicine

Heather LaBere, MD Family Medicine

CELEBRATE MAPLE GROVE ALL YEAR-ROUND

Get into the community spirit with these annual events.

February

In its 15 year history, the Maple Grove Polar Plunge has raised more than $2.1 million dollars for Special Olympics Minnesota. The event, which typically takes place in February, welcomes plungers of all abilities to dive in the chilly waters at Fish Lake Regional Park. plungemn.org

March

Hosted twice per year, the Maple Grove Home Show welcomes area residents to dive into their home remodeling or interior design projects. It features resources, savings and professionals from several areas, including landscaping and gardening; heating and air, solar and insulation; new construction; kitchen and baths; home furnishings and more. The event is free to attend, plus there are hourly giveaways for attendees and home improvement seminars. minnesotahomeshows.com

June

Maple Grove and area residents look forward to Chalkfest at Arbor Lakes each year, as the event brings dazzling chalk art creations to life. The free, twoday festival is complete with entertainment, food and fun for the whole family—artists from all over the world come together on Main Street to showcase their creative talents. And don’t miss out on the Chalkfest at Arbor Lakes Mural Tour at the end of the event! chalkfestarborlakes.com

July

Planned by Maple Grove Community Organization (MGSO), Maple Grove Days is the biggest celebration and has brought together the community for over 30 years. It started as a small

parade and has since turned into five days of fun for the whole family. The celebration includes a medallion hunt, outdoor movies, a business expo, outdoor yoga and tournaments, fireworks and, of course, a parade. mgco.org

October

Have a scary good time at Halloween Family Fun Day, hosted by MGCO. Bring a goodie bag to be filled with candy and trinkets, or get crafty at the craft table— don’t forget to practice your best scream! You’ll have a howling good time at the Scream Off. The event is topped off with

a Hallo-weeny Fashion Show, so be sure to show up in a great costume. mgco.org

December

Get into the holiday spirit during this month-long holiday celebration around Arbor Lakes. Horse-drawn carriages, carolers, ice skating and more will be happening during this winter event, which also includes: Winter Wonderland Weekend at The Shoppes at Arbor Lakes; Hometown Holidays at Arbor Lakes Main Street; Santa’s Workshop at The Fountains at Arbor Lakes; and Breakfast with Santa. arborlakes.net —Hailey Almsted

Chalkfest at Arbor Lakes

LOCAL EVENTS

Maple Grove Homebuyers Workshop

07/11

Buying a house can be a stressful and confusing process, but this free class will help you navigate the process of buying, selling and everything in between. Ages 18 and older. Free. 6:30–7:30 p.m. Maple Grove Library, 8001 Main St.; hclib.org

Maple Grove Days

07/12–07/16

This fun-filled week includes parades, outdoor movies, games for kids, a beer tent, a silent auction, fireworks and more. All ages. Free. Times vary. Maple Grove Community Center, 12951 Weaver Lake Road; mgco.org

Arbor Lakes Art Fair

07/15–07/16

In its 21st year, this event offers the opportunity to buy wares from more than 45 exceptional local artisans. All ages. Free. 10 a.m–4 p.m. The Shoppes at Arbor Lakes, Elm Creek Blvd.; 763.370.3003; maplegroveartscenter.org

National Night Out

08/01

On National Night Out, the Maple Grove Police and Fire departments are throwing a picnic with lunch and an emergency equipment show. All ages. Free. 11 a.m–1 p.m. Maple Grove Community Center, 12951 Weaver Lake Road; maplegrovemn.gov

Maple Grove Farmers Market

08/03, 08/10, 08/17, 08/31

Come shop for organic, locally grown food and wares while enjoying the sights and sounds of your neighborhood farmers market. All ages. Free. 3–7 p.m. Maple Grove Community Center, 12951 Weaver Lake Road; 763.494.5955; maplegrovefarmersmarket.com

ABC’s of Estate Planning

08/16

Mundahl Law explains the basics of estate planning, such as wills, trusts and helping to plan for the expected and unexpected. Ages 18 and older. Free. 6:30–8 p.m. Mundahl Law, 6499 Sycamore Court N.; 763.575.7930; mundahllaw.com

LIC: BC748228

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

Godspell

07/20–07/31

The popular musical Godspell brings its heart, humanity, sense of community and great music to the Twin Cities. All ages. Ticket prices vary. Times vary. Bloomington Center for the Arts, 1800 W. Old Shakopee Road, Bloomington; 952.563.8575; artistrymn.org

3M Open

07/24–07/30

This event is a must-see for golf lovers and 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

To have your event considered: email maplegrovemag@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.

Thomas J. Pink, DDS

Compiled by Hailey Almsted and Clare Greeman

Year in Review

What a year it’s been! With vibrant images of standout students, passionate entreprenuers and community members—we love looking back at each distinctive cover of Maple Grove Magazine that led up to the Best of Maple Grove 2023. Which one is your favorite? Let us know on Instagram @maplegrovemagazine.

Discover Compassionate Family Law Attorneys in Minnesota: Your Path to Amicable Resolutions

Welcome to Mundahl Law, where our compassionate and experienced attorneys provide expert legal guidance for individuals and families seeking amicable resolutions in family law matters, including divorce, custody issues, second-parent adoption, estate planning and probate.

At Mundahl Law, our team understands the unique challenges you face and is committed to providing respectful, trusted and practical advice. With personal and professional experience in family law, we bring a level of expertise and wisdom to every client we serve.

Founder and Attorney Susan Mundahl: Susan comes from a family of lawyers and has a deep passion for being a voice for those in need, particularly families going through the difficulties of divorce. Her practice is driven by compassion, practicality and honesty.

Partner and Attorney Amy Rotering: Amy left a 20-year career in the financial services industry to provide services for people going through divorce and preparing for end of life. As a single parent who has experienced the family court system, she is dedicated to guiding others in similar situations to ease the transitions.

Empowering Through Education: We believe that informed decisions lead to better outcomes.

Our comprehensive website offers valuable resources, including blogs, podcasts and educational materials, covering family law, estate planning and probate topics. We empower you to make life-affirming choices for your future.

Upcoming Book:

Susan is currently finalizing her book, The Emotional Divorce, which will be available by the end of the year. This insightful resource will further support individuals navigating the complexities of divorce.

In your journey towards amicable resolutions, choose Mundahl Law as your trusted partner. Our compassionate approach, combined with our expertise in family law, ensures the highest level of support and guidance. Contact us today to schedule a consultation, and let us help you navigate your legal path with care and understanding.

The Right Stuff

Paulie’s offers entertainment-based dining.

Written by Zoe Deal Photos by Chris Emeott

ENTERTAINMENT-BASED DINING is coming to Maple Grove. Paulie’s, the casualupscale restaurant and craft bar formerly known as Rock Elm at The Grove, is under new ownership, with an expansion, new menu and multisport simulators breathing new life into the spot.

Owner and director of operations Paul Sarratori and managing partner Julian Ramirez have taken on this venture fresh off of the 2021 opening of their indoor golf training and fitness space Optimal Performance Golf (OPG) on 93rd Avenue. But Paulie’s is not set to be an offshoot of OPG—it’s the actualization of Sarratori’s childhood dream.

“This has been a dream of mine since I was very young, to own a restaurant,” Sarratori says. “What I’m looking forward to from this process is to take what [former owner] Troy Reding built to the next level. He’s done an amazing job … he has done a lot for the community, and I want to continue that.”

Upon taking over the restaurant in January, their team redesigned the neighboring Sugar and Spice Sweetery space, adding multisport simulators and a connection to the main restaurant. “We wanted to take a little bit of us and put it into the restaurant, which was the simulators [and] offering that entertainment. A new way to dine— entertainment-based dining,” Sarratori says.

Sarratori does want to make one thing abundantly clear: “No, we are not turning into a Dave & Busters. Our idea was to knock down the wall and put simulators there to complement dining,” Sarratori says. “… What I wanted to do was bring back yesteryear, where you felt comfortable, like when you went to your grandparents house to eat, but I still want to keep it casual and upscale.”

The new room—dubbed The Lounge— can accommodate 60 people and is home to two multisport full-swing simulators, which can accommodate 10 total players. It tests their skills in 14 virtual sports and activities, including including basketball, football, golf, hockey, soccer and zombie dodgeball.

Separated from the restaurant by a set of French doors, The Lounge is an extension of Paulie’s offerings and Sarratori’s interest in combining dining and entertainment. “What I want to do, first and foremost, is to have an enhanced event space,” Sarratori says. The room is built for gatherings of many kinds—whether it’s a birthday or work party with the six big-screen TVs playing and simulators or a private dinner party with fireplaces burning and soft music, elevated by the room’s cozy seating, marble counters and hardwood floors.

“It’s pretty much guest driven. Whatever you want, we will provide,” Sarratori says.

When we first spoke with Sarratori, they had yet to find the perfect name. “I will tell you this, naming a restaurant is harder than naming your children,” he says.

The new name required a certain je ne sais quoi—casual yet upscale, fitting for both the restaurant and the simulators, able to attract families in the day and younger customers at night. “What we wanted to do with the name of the restaurant was to keep it classy but also play to the young crowd,” Sarratori says.

“With the condos being built down the road, you’re going to have an influx of young people. You see now people don’t want to be in [the Twin Cities] anymore. They’re kind of shying away from downtown based on everything that’s been

SIMULATED SPORTS

The new multisport simulators bring a new way to spend an evening. Whether you want to unwind and play zombie dodgeball with the kids or fine tune your swing, the simulators are available to rent every day of the week.

Though popularity of simulated sports is undeniably on the rise, the technology has been around since the 1980s. So, how does it work? The simulators function with dual-tracking technology, where high-speed cameras, computer software and infrared light wave technology come together to track and analyze data of a player’s precise actions. The high-speed cameras focus on specific data points of players in motion, processed uniquely for each sport and determining the outcome in real-time.

All of this adds up to a responsive, precise system that is just as useful for skillbuilding as it is for good old family fun. To reserve a simulator, head to thelounge.reservewithrex. com. Prices start at $60 for one hour.

Left to right: Taylor and Julian Ramirez, Paul and Jana Sarratori

going on,” he says. “So, we’re hoping to provide that neighborhood hangout for those people.”

Naming such a multifaceted place presented a task, to be sure. Especially as the new owners seek to elevate the restaurant while respecting Reding’s legacy. In the end, the team settled on Paulie’s.

Sarratori and Ramirez, both Maple Grove residents, initially connected with Reding to cater OPG while petitioning to rezone their facility in 2021. Not long after, Reding mentioned he was looking to downsize his portfolio. It was divine timing. “It just made sense for us to take the next step into the restaurant business,” Sarratori says.

Much of Paulie’s menu will remain true to the Rock Elm way—the tots are not going anywhere. “We’re not going to shy away from what Rock Elm serves. We’re going to keep five or six menu items currently there on the menu,” Sarratori says. For now, the Rock Elm Rig will be shared by Paulie’s and the other Rock Elm locations. Co-general manager Jason Amell stayed on, joined by co-general manager and executive chef Jason Littlefield.

A highlight of the reimagined, scratchmade menu is the artisan pizza—made in an all-new pizza oven, with a recipe, initially for OPG, perfected over months by Littlefield and Sarratori; it was inspired by Sarratori’s East Coast Italian roots.

For Sarratori, it all comes down to experience and creating a place that provides a sense of community and excitement.

“We’re at a time where people are looking for fun things to do when they go out. They don’t want to just sit and eat,” Sarratori says. “I think the public is ripe for it; we’re all getting kind of tired of arm’s length distance and the coldness of places when we walk in … I want everyone to feel at home when they come here.”

Paulie’s, 15641 Grove Circle N.; 763.205.9784; mypaulies.com

Paulie’s @mypaulies

Welcome New Categories to our Annual Photo Contest

THROUGHOUT ITS PAGES, Maple Grove Magazine showcases our community in a multitude of ways, and one of our favorite methods is through our annual photo contest— Focus on Maple Grove. Photographers of all abilities are encouraged to share their images through which they’ve captured fresh and artistic angles of our beloved community.

Previously, we’ve encouraged readers to offer submissions during the month of August. This year, the photo contest will be open during July and August on our website.

After the contest closes, photos are carefully reviewed and voted on by members of our editorial and art departments. (Runners-up and

honorable mentions are selected as the number and quality of photos allow.) Subject matter, photo quality and reflection of the community are all taken under review.

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

Photo Contest Rules and Details

• Submissions are accepted at maplegrovemag.com between July 1–August 31.

• Entrants must live, work or attend school in Maple Grove.

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

• Photos should be taken in Maple Grove.

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

• Readers are invited to vote online for their favorite photo submissions in the Readers’ Choice category between September 15–30.

Third Place: City Landmarks Maple Grove Double Rainbow by Rod Smoliak

Peripheral Neuropathy Breakthrough!

"My feet feel like they're on fire." "Each step feels like I'm walking through wet paint." "I live in constant fear that I'll fall." "I can't sleep, my hands and feet tingle all night."

What do all of these people have in common? They suffer from peripheral neuropathy. It's estimated that more than 20 million people in the United States have peripheral neuropathy. Unfortunately, this figure may be significantly higher as the disease is often misdiagnosed because of its wide array of symptoms.

Dr. Selene Silva of Modern Point Acupuncture in Maple Grove shares this belief. "I've been treating neuropathy, in all its various forms, and so often my patients come to me because of the symptoms, not because of a diagnosis. They read the testimonial of another patient and say to themselves 'hey, I feel the same thing'."

Linda M. of Maple Grove testified to this. "I remember my husband driving me to my consultation and I saw a woman running just outside our neighborhood. I was so envious - I just kept thinking 'I would give anything just to walk again'. My primary care doctor told me my troubles with pain and balance were just symptoms of old age and gave me a prescription. I was so depressed."

Fortunately Linda would eventually see Dr. Selene talking about similar symptoms and how she offers a real solution at Modern Point Acupuncture. "I just knew I had to see her. She was my last hope."

"Almost all of our patients come to us with a story similar to Linda's. They've been everywhere else. They've been told there's no hope. They've been told 'it's just part of getting older'." shares Patient Care Manager at Modern Point Acupuncture. "It just breaks my heart but I know how much we can help people like Linda so I'm always so happy when they walk through our door."

Those diagnosed with peripheral neuropathy often face a very grim reality; Western medicine declares that there is no solution while most alternative therapies carry large price tags and offer little to no resolve. Which is why Dr. Selene and the staff at Modern Point Acupuncture pride themselves on being 'the last resort with the best results'.

Peripheral neuropathy is a result of damage to the nerves and this damage is commonly caused by lack of blood flow in the hands and feet. A lack of blood flow results in a lack of nutrients; the nerves then begin to degenerate and die which causes pain ranging from discomfort to debilitating. Because neuropathy is a degenerative condition once those nerves begin to deteriorate they will continue to do so until they are completely expired, leaving those suffering with crippling balance issues. "In this case, the absence of pain is not necessarily a good thing," shares Dr. Selene. "This usually indicates that your nerves are hanging on by a fragile thread."

So how exactly is Dr. Selene able to reverse the effects of this degenerative disease? "Acupuncture has been used to increase blood flow for thousands of years which helps to get the necessary nutrients to the affected nerves. But the real magic happens when I integrate ATP Resonance BioTherapy. This is tech that was originally developed by NASA to expedite recovering and healing.

"I just can't say enough about Modern Point," Linda shared through tears of joy. "My husband goes for a walk almost everyday. I always stayed home because of the pain and discomfort. Yesterday, I went on a walk with him! and next week we're starting dancing lessons. I am truly living life these days."

According to Linda's test results, she has seen a 74% improvement in pain and functionality, which is on par with a majority of our patients, shares Dr. Selene. "but more important than those

test results is the joy she's expressed being here and hearing about all the amazing things she's able to do because she feels great!"

By seamlessly blending the ancient science of acupuncture with modern medical solutions Dr. Selene has achieved a 90% success rate in reversing the effect of neuropathy. She starts each patient with an intial consultation during which a sensory exam is performed. "This not only aids in a making a proper diagnosis but it helps to define just how much nerve damage has occurred" tells the doctor. "This is important because if a patient has suffered more than 95% damage, there is little that I can do to help them. I'm familiar with medical miracle but I know my limits as a practitioner and the limits of my medicine." When it comes to treating peripheral neuropathy, regardless of its origins, early detection greatly improves your chances of a full recovery.

If you or someone you love are suffering with chronic pain that presents as burning, tingling or 'pins and needles' or you've recently been diagnosed with peripheral neuropathy, it's important to know that there are options. There is hope.

Call (763) 494- 9500 to schedule an initial consultation or visit modernpointacupuncture.com to learn more.