Cities South - December 2025

Place Setting

Local florists and ceramic artists create beautiful tablescapes

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CONTENTS 10 Hands-on Healing Lakeville massage therapists offer structural integration for better movement.

12 Conveniently Delicious Let’s Dish celebrates two decades and expands its ready-to-bake options.

14 Place Setting Local florists and ceramic artists create beautiful tablescapes.

22 Helping Paws A Lakeville-based nonprofit raises service dogs who help people throughout the community.

26 Relax With a Glass Liven up your holiday celebrations with inspiration from Prior Lake’s Rhino Wine Bar. Editor’s Letter Noteworthy On the Town Last Glance

Photo: Photo: xxxxxxxxx Chris Emeott

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Conveniently Delicious, page 12

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from the EDITOR

O n the Cove r: Place Setting, page 14 Pho to by : Chris Emeott

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Liz Po tas ek liz@localmedia.co

Photo: Chris Emeott

My family thinks I have a problem: too many mugs. I love to drink coffee each morning, and I somehow got into the habit of collecting handmade ceramic mugs. I have a blue one from Puerto Rico that’s shockingly light weight (the artist told me it was due to a unique blend of clays that he developed himself). I have another one that’s my favorite color of aqua, which I purchased from the Lakeville Art Fair. Then there’s the mug that was made by a family friend and a whole collection of mugs made by my incredibly talented cousin who creates amazingly intricate patterns with her glazes.

And yes, my family is probably right. My collection of mugs spills into several cupboard shelves, but as I recently sorted them, I found that I couldn’t part with any of them. They’re little pieces of art that I get to drink from everyday.

The daily joy I get from those mugs actually inspired our story, Place Setting story on page 14, which features vases created by local ceramic artists and floral arrangements designed by local florists. Each of the vases is a stunning piece to display year round.

I was particularly inspired by the shapes and textures each florist created in their versatile arrangements that can be enjoyed throughout the winter. I can’t think of a better way to set the table for a special occasion—or a better gift to give for the holidays.

Whether you drink from your favorite mug or add a seasonal bouquet to your table, I hope you find a way to add a bit of joy to your daily routine. Wishing you a wonderful holiday season, and plenty of happiness in the coming year!

Find us o nline: Cities South @citiessouthmag @CitiesSouthMag

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VOL. 4 NO. 6 December 2025/January 2026

More seasons.

Made possible by blood donors.

Give families more time together this year by donating blood.

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PUBLISHER Susan Isay EDITOR Liz Potasek MANAGING CREATIVE DIRECTOR Renée Stewart-Hester MANAGING EDITOR Hailey Almsted DIGITAL EDITOR Madeline Kopiecki COPY EDITORS Kellie Doherty and Sherri Hildebrandt STAFF WRITERS Mollee Francisco, Emily Gedde, Meredith Heneghan, Jennifer Pitterle and Paige Udermann CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Ashley Christopherson, Scarlett Larson, Kamala Stromwall and Katie Tomsche DIGITAL INTERN Claire Krieger EDITORIAL INTERNS Diane Meyer and Avery Vrieze EDITORIAL ADVISORY BOARD Kati Bachmayer, City of Lakeville; Jeffrey DeMars, City of Prior Lake; Jeanne Hutter, Lakeville Chamber of Commerce; Jenny Nagy, Prior Lake Savage Area Schools SENIOR MANAGING ART DIRECTOR Sarah Dovolos ART DIRECTOR Allison Nolden ASSOCIATE ART DIRECTOR Jamie Klang GRAPHIC DESIGNER Yaz Lo LEAD STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER Chris Emeott PRODUCTION DIRECTOR Brittni Dye PRODUCTION MANAGER Lisa Stone PRODUCTION COORDINATOR Mimi Coz SENIOR ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES Laura Bjorgo, Cynthia Hamre and Sara Johnson

Come in to give Dec. 20—Jan. 2 and choose between fuzzy socks or a winter hat as thanks.

ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES Rochita Chatterjee and Gina Neumann

PRESIDENT Pete Burgeson To subscribe to Cities South Magazines, please visit localmedia.co.

For customer service inquiries, please contact hello@localmedia.co, or call 612.208.6248. ©Local LLC 2025. All rights reserved.

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Stop another moment of silence with a minute of conversation.

Find the Words is an independently funded initiative that helps schools in the Twin Cities metro area evaluate and implement Sandy Hook Promise’s gun violence prevention programs.

Apply at findthewordsmn.com

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N OT E WO RT H Y

Maple Pound Cake This recipe is light and fluffy, filling the kitchen with the dreamy scent of maple syrup. And that buttery Maple-Rum Glaze? It forms a golden, almost butterscotch-like crust, taking this cake to the next level. It’s an outstanding make-ahead hostess gift that can be enjoyed as a midnight snack or breakfast the next day.

Plus, this recipe makes two loaves—one to keep and one to give. For the complete recipe, visit citiessouthmags.com.

Maple Pound Cake: » 2 cups cake flour, plus more for dusting » 1 tsp. baking powder » 1 tsp. kosher salt » ½ tsp. baking soda » 1 ½ sticks unsalted butter, room temperature, plus more for greasing » 2/3 cup brown sugar, packed » 2 large eggs, room temperature » ½ cup pure maple syrup » 1 cup sour cream, room temperature » 1 tsp. vanilla extract » ¼ tsp. maple extract

Maple-Rum Glaze: » 2 Tbsp. unsalted butter » ½ cup pure maple syrup » ¼ cup dark rum

Catch a Captivating Play The Mousetrap is a classic murder mystery play based on Agatha Christie’s short story Three Blind Mice. This show is known for its intricate plot and masterful storytelling, and it captivates audiences with suspense and intrigue. The

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production of The Mousetrap in London’s West End is the world’s longest running play, making history on March 19, 2025, with 30,000 performances.

Expressions Community Theater of Lakeville joins the enduring legacy of The Mousetrap with its production of this timeless classic. Performances are 7 p.m.

January 23–24 and 29–31 and 2 p.m.

January 25 and February 1. Visit lakevilleareaartscenter.com for tickets.

Kamala Stromwall is directing The Mousetrap produced by Expressions Community Theater of Lakeville.

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Photo: Lunds & Byerlys

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

life as it should be Your Community, Your Vote Let’s close the year with some exciting news. Best of Cities South is moving—to February! We think it’s a perfect fit. Afterall, February is the month of love, and we all adore our local businesses and service providers.

Our 2026 annual

readers’

choice poll will be better than ever, featuring an all-new, voter-friendly platform at citiessouthmags.com and an entire month for readers to make their selections for their favorites in more than 70 categories, including our inaugural wedding section. Find additional details in our February/March issue and online. —Editorial Staff

Cozy Mystery For fans of Agatha Christie’s Miss Marple or readers who love a multilayered mystery story with heart, I’d suggest curling up with Karen Dukess’s newest book, Welcome to Murder Week. After main character Cath’s mother dies, Cath finds tickets for an upcoming Murder Week in a small village in England that her mother had planned for them to attend.

Bewildered, she embarks on a journey alone to solve not just the fake murder of Murder Week but to also uncover questions about her own family’s history. This book has it all: mystery, humor, a rich cast of characters and even romance, perfect for reading on a cold winter evening.

Ashley Christopherson is the owner of Niche Books in Lakeville. Read more at nichebooksmn.com.

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When Lakeville’s Natalie Hammer began studying massage therapy a few years ago, she discovered a lesser-known modality that felt “more like a puzzle that you’re solving,” she says. “I became interested in structural integration because there’s more to it. There’s more challenge.”

Structural integration uses myofascial bodywork techniques, meaning that practitioners use skillful touch in combination with a client’s own movement to reorganize the connective tissues (fascia) to improve posture, movement and overall well-being.

Hammer’s son and business partner, Xavier Holland, had a similar introduction. He’d been a recipient of structural integration bodywork and soon after sought his massage therapy license, so he could offer the service to clients. “The work really helped me,” Holland says. “It’s been exponential.”

Hammer and Holland opened Somatic Healing & Alignment in Lakeville in September 2023. In addition to structural integration, they also offer somatic experiencing, a nervous system regulation technique that uses touch therapy to help people work through physical and emotional trauma.

Left: Structural Integration can improve posture, movement and overall well-being.

Below: Xavier Holland and Natalie Hammer, owners of Somatic Healing & Alignment, are board-certified Structural Integration practitioners.

Hands-On Healing Lakeville massage therapists offer structural

By Jennifer Pitterle

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Photos: Chris Emeott

integration for better movement.

Both Hammer and Holland work with “all types and kinds of people,” Hammer says. “Athletes can definitely benefit from this. If you’re older, you’ll benefit because we can help get better alignment, so your movement can be better and you have more ease.”

A typical session starts with a “visual body read,” Hammer says. Then, the client moves to the massage table, and the therapist uses their hands to release the fascia and allow it to move more easily.

“There can be sensation, but it shouldn’t be painful,” Hammer says. Clients also participate actively by making small movements at the direction of the therapist “to bring more body awareness to that area,” Hammer says.

Holland says structural integration generally helps clients feel more aware of and grounded in their bodies. “The change of the whole body may increase your capacity to do something, because you physically have more space of movement,” she says. Hammer adds that clients often see increased breath capacity.

“People will say, ‘Oh, I didn’t realize I was breathing so shallow,’” she says.

They often see clients who want to correct their postural alignment—thanks to the modern “hunch” many of us experience from looking down at screens for hours at a time.

Most people can continue their normal activities after a session with minimal soreness. Athletes should wait 24 to 36 hours before trying a strenuous workout.

Client Lisa Lindner had been struggling with chronic pain and started with a three-session series of structural integration work at Somatic Healing & Alignment. “I noticed such a dramatic change,” Lindner says. “It was honestly mind-blowing, the relief I felt.” Lindner notes that clients should be prepared for the deep-tissue nature of Structural Integration. “This is not a relaxing massage. You need this deep work to really see results,” she says. It’s been worth it for Lindner, who says she feels more grounded and moves more easily.

“Your physical body represents who you are,” Holland says. “It’s nice to touch areas you don’t pay attention to and move through them. There’s a lot of physical changes and personal growth.”

Somatic Healing & Alignment somatichealingalignment.com Somatic Healing & Alignment

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Conveniently Delicious Let’s Dish celebrates two decades and expands its ready-to-bake options.

By Jennifer Pitterle

When the holiday season kicks into high gear, the heat is on—especially in the kitchen. Meal preparation can feel like it’s on a never-ending rotation. Cooking food for a celebration here or there is manageable, but when faced with the deluge of other holiday preparations, even making daily meals can be overwhelming.

Extra help in the kitchen is invaluable. Let’s Dish launched in 2003 with a handful of meal-preparation locations.

Co-founder and CEO Darcy Olson has seen two generations of families enjoy Let’s Dish. “We get to hear so many

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stories,” she says. “People have said our meals have made it much easier for their kids to help out in the kitchen or for them to grow in their careers because making dinner is an equal partnership.”

More than two decades later, Let’s Dish has adapted to families’ changing needs.

Instead of assembling meals themselves, customers can shop in the stores or order online to pick up fully prepped kits (over 100 appetizers, mains and desserts), and many can go from “freezer to cooked in 30 minutes,” Olson says.

In addition to perennial favorites

(like the beloved Cheese Curd Crusted Chicken Ranch Bake), Olson says popular items include Midwestern standbys Swedish Meatballs With Egg Noodles and Skillet Pot Roast and global dishes, featuring Burrito Bowls with barbacoa beef, shredded chicken or vegetables, and Chicken and Vegetable Pad Thai.

All of this goes to getting three square meals on the table during busy work weeks or preparing for the holidays. “We want to offer a variety of classic comfort foods that you can make really easily,” Olson says. In addition to classic dinners

citiessouthmags.com

Photo: Chris Emeott

Swedish Meatballs With Egg Noodles

like Family Style Chicken Pot Pie, Let’s Dish offers breakfast and lunch options, featuring Cinnamon Rolls With Cream Cheese Icing, Sausage and Hashbrown Breakfast Bake and a variety of sandwiches and wraps.

Apart from daily meals, hosting duties can get a boost. Olson recommends stocking up on easy-to-heat appetizers, including Baked Ham and Swiss Sliders, Bourbon-Glazed Wild Rice Meatballs, Pulled Pork Sliders on Pretzel Buns and Shredded Beef Wellingtons.

Gift-giving has become another significant part of Let’s Dish’s service, offering delivery across five states and free, handwritten gift messages with each order. Olson says delivery boxes have also become a popular option for supporting parents with new babies, families dealing with illness or elderly individuals who struggle with cooking—something her own family knows well. “My mom isn’t able to cook anymore, so my dad, at 89, does all of their cooking,” Olson says.

“Let’s Dish has been a big help with that.”

While Olson witnesses the importance of convenient meal preparation in her own family, she has spent her entire career in the food industry and loves seeing the impact of wholesome, easyto-make food for busy families. “I’ll see women who were young moms back when Let’s Dish started, and now they’re buying meals for their new grandkids or their college students,” she says.

Recently, a new partnership between Target and Let’s Dish brought the company’s beloved meals to the freezer aisles of Metro Targets. When Target reached out about the collaboration, Olson and her team leapt at the opportunity to expand the reach of their accessible meals. “It’s pretty surreal and has really meant a lot to the company,” she says.

As of this writing, nine of Let’s Dish’s popular three-serving-size meals are in 25 Target locations. “We’re really excited to continue to grow with Target,” Olson says.

Visit Let’s Dish at 6880 Boudin St. NE, Prior Lake, or also find menu options at Target, 18275 Kenrick Ave., Lakeville. Visit target.com for other participating locations.

Let’s Dish letsdish.com @letsdishmn

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Local florists and ceramic artists create beautiful tablescapes.

Photo: xxxxxxxxx

Floral design: Cedar Rae Floral Ceramic vase: Gunner Jenrich

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citiessouthmags.com

Place Setting

Written by Liz Potasek — Photos by Chris Emeott

Photo: xxxxxxxxx

So much time and attention go into planning big holiday meals. From developing the menu to prepping the food, it can be easy to overlook the finer details. But it’s the little things, like the scent of fresh greenery, eyecatching florals and handmade art, that set the tone and make a special meal feel all the more significant.

We paired up local ceramic artists and florists to create three stunning centerpieces as inspiration for decking the halls this holiday season.

While each piece has its own unique charm, we did notice a foolproof formula for setting the scene: First, find a handmade ceramic piece that you love. Second, do not underestimate the value of some hearty greenery, along with pinecones and seedpods—flowers welcome, but optional.

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Natural Beauty

Andrea Mullenmeister of ANM Pottery doesn’t think that beauty should feel rare or distant. “I want to help people find wonder and joy in everyday rituals,” she says. As the founder of the Pleasant Street Art Walk, she brings art and artists to Prior Lake every September.

Mullenmeister’s work is inspired by nature, and she creates pieces that look like branches, leaves, and nuts. “Beauty is not far away,” she says. “It’s all right here with us.”

ANM Pottery anmpottery.com ANM Pottery

Stems & Vines prides itself on working with local growers (with greenhouses to accommodate growing flowers throughout the winter months) to source fresh, healthy florals year round.

Florist Kori Brier, a regional manager at Stems & Vines, wanted to create an arrangement with an earthy, natural and hearty texture to highlight Mullenmeister’s pieces.

Brier used cedar, spruce and Oregonia greenery in the walnut vase, as well as seedpods to mimic the look of a walnut.

For the birch vase, Brier started with greenery again and chose Sanguisorba Burnet for a pop of color. “I wanted something out of the ordinary and something that would make onlookers question what it was,” Brier says.

Stems & Vines stemsandvines.com Stems & Vines Floral Boutique

Photo: xxxxxxxxx

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Organic Shapes

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Gunner Jenrich studied visual arts with a focus on ceramics at Mankato State University, Mankato. His work is based on abstract, organic shapes, and he makes a lot of plant pots in his home studio, which he made from an ice fishing house. He primarily works with handbuilding, using coils or slabs, which gives his work a whimsical, wobbly appeal.

Gunner Jenrich gunnerjenrich.co @ceramics.by.gunner

Jessica Schaum followed her passion for floral design after years of working in natural resources management and advocacy, and launched Cedar Rae Floral in March 2024.

Schaum’s work is inspired by her walks through nature, and she often incorporates branches, driftwood, pine cones, seedpods or sticks into her whimsical arrangements. For the arrangement pictured on page 14, she created floral ornaments, using jewelers wire to hang flowers from branches.

Cedar Rae Floral cedarraefloral.com @cedarraefloral

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The greenery in Bachman’s signature winter bouquets not only reflects the season, it allows for longevity throughout the winter months. Keep the branches watered, and simply swap out the floral to give the arrangement new life, as well as a fresh color scheme. Floral designer Marla Warner used a mix of artificial materials, as well as fresh flowers to create a shape that draws attention to the beautiful texture of the vase. Red berries complement red roses and white lilies, adding texture and depth to the arrangement.

Save your silent nights.

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Allyssa Tipton Pottery allyssatiptonpottery.square.site @allyssatiptonpottery

10,500+ Reviews

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Allyssa Tipton of Lakeville started pursuing her interest in ceramics when she got a gift certificate for a class at the Lakeville Area Arts Center for Mother’s Day a few years ago—and now she’s teaching classes at the center and selling her work throughout the Metro.

Tipton says her pieces are often inspired by nature, and she likes to layer on decorative clay elements to her smooth, wheelthrown pieces to add texture and depth. Tipton also co-organizes the Pleasant Street Art Walk in Prior Lake.

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Helping Paws

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A Lakeville-based nonprofit raises dogs to help people throughout the community.

Photos: Chris Emeott

Written by Alexandra Tostrud

Trainers at Pawsitive Perspectives Assistance Dogs (PawPADS) in Lakeville work with dogs to practice turning lightswitches off and on.

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If you’ve met one of the school resource dogs at Lakeville Area Schools, you’ve seen Pawsitive Perspectives Assistance Dogs (PawPADS) in action. The Lakeville-based nonprofit raised Hero, who became Lakeville’s first school resource dog at Eastview Elementary in 2014, and has continued to train dogs for schools and government offices.

But facility dogs for schools are only a small part of PawPADS’ legacy. The group also raises diabetic alert dogs, as well as service dogs who are adept at helping people with physical disabilities.

Linda Ball founded PawPADs in Oregon in 2006 and brought the organization with her when she returned to Minnesota in 2008. As the nonprofit approaches 20 years in operation, it has trained 87 dogs for dozens of clients

within 200 miles of the Metro.

Training begins when dogs are around 8 to 10 weeks old, and they spend about two years with PawPADs staff or those in training programs. As a group of dogs nears the finish line, Ball and her staff review the waitlist to see if any of the dogs have strengths that will be best suited for clients on the list. “What does this client need? And what dogs do we have that might fulfill that need?” Ball says.

Once they feel confident in potential matches, PawPADs brings a few clients on the waitlist to a 12-day Partner Training Camp, where PawPADs tests if an anticipated match is right for the dog and client before officially partnering them for a crash-course in handling; canine care, health and wellness; and service dog owner rights.

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Top: Mackenzie Passel training Charlie at the Mall of America. Charlie has since been placed with Ruby Ardolf.

Bottom: Hero, Eastview Elementary’s first school resource dog, listens as a student reads aloud.

Program manager and trainer Maddie Jensen has observed firsthand how remarkable an intentional partnership match can be. “We have a dog that’s here on training, and all of a sudden they step it up tenfold because they know their partner really, truly needs that retrieve, or they need them to open the door,” Jensen says.

PawPADs has trained dogs by partnering with various entities, like correctional facilities, universities, and youth and veteran programs. The university partnerships, called Assistance Dog Education Program and Training (ADEPT), offer college students hands-on training experience with the dogs in teams of two. ADEPT trained service dogs work with several students over the course of their training. “In their journey, they’re impacting people and changing people’s lives, and then ideally, at the end of that journey with us, they’re placed with their perfect job,” Ball says.

For most dogs, that means joining the 63 percent working placement rate, while others go on to become a beloved family pet.

PawPADs doesn’t use any force or punishment training to obtain these results.

“We really want to be fair to the dogs,” Ball says. “We’re asking them to do something in our world, to do something that’s not normal. I think they deserve nothing but the best. It is all reward-based training.”

Though some dogs don’t have the personality to be a service dog, an alternative path opened through one program at Eastview Elementary. Principal Taber Akin observed the impact that service dogs had on students at other schools, just a few hours at a time, and asked himself: What if the dog never left? To answer this, he worked with PawPADs to bring

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Photos: PawPADS; Eastview Elementary staff

school resource dog Hero to Eastview.

A school resource dog doesn’t do anything a human staff member can’t do, Taber says, but there’s something about having a dog in a school that offers students a unique level of comfort. “There’s a little bit of magic there,” Taber says. From calming upset children to providing a safe space, dogs like Hero and his successor, Baxter, warm the school’s environment.

Though the demand for facility dogs is growing, the majority of PawPADs placements are traditional service or alert dogs. PawPADs recipient Ruby Ardolf, 21, is affected by Strømme syndrome, causing blindness and cognitive delay, and her service dog, Charlie, gives her an independence she wouldn’t otherwise have. “I loved Linda’s philosophy of the right dog for the right person, rather than trying to get dogs placed,” Ardolf ’s mother, Angie Diehl, says.

Ardolf was on the waiting list for about two years, and Diehl affirms she would have doubled the wait just for Ardolf to have Charlie in her life.

“Charlie just seemed to be right from the very beginning,” Diehl says.

Keeping PawPADs small, with about 15 dogs in training at any given time, helps with a more thoughtful matching process.

The size also keeps staff connected with past clients to offer support even after the matching process, according to Jensen.

One benefit of a small program, Ball says, is the ability to help people in unexpected ways. PawPADs placed Minnesota’s first survivor support dog with 360 Communities and ran a pilot program in Hudson, Wisconsin, to support the sexual assault response team.

The nonprofit hopes to continue serving local communities in unconventional ways, Ball says. “We really believe dogs have the ability to change lives on different levels,” Ball says. “All the way up, as well as through placement.”

READY, SET, BAKE! When it comes to holiday baking, we have you covered. For our favorite festive recipes, visit: LundsandByerlys.com/HolidayBaking 1 5 5 5 0 E N G L I S H AV E . A P P L E VA L L E Y, M N 5 5 1 2 4 1299 PROMENADE PL, EAGAN, MN 55121

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PawPADs pawpads.org Pawsitive Perspectives Assistance Dogs (PawPADs)

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Written by Liz Potasek

Relax With a Glass Liven up your holiday celebrations with inspiration from Prior Lake’s Rhino Wine Bar.

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ucked into downtown Prior Lake, Rhino Wine Bar offers more than just a glass of wine: It’s a chance for grown-ups to exhale the stress of the day.

The initial inspiration for the wine bar came from owner Sara Wintheiser’s experience at a little place near her family’s cabin Up North. “I felt like I could finally relax there,” Wintheiser says. “I could sit in their comfy chairs, eat the charcuterie board, have the wine and my kids could get the root beer … It was just a breath of fresh air.”

Wintheiser wanted to create a similar experience in Prior Lake.

She wanted to design a place where couples could go on a date night and book clubs could meet over a glass of wine. And she

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accomplished that with Rhino. Anchored by dark green walls, lush foliage and pops of brass, the bar features multiple furniture groupings—including a comfy emerald couch—that lend themselves to intimate conversations and boisterous catch-ups alike.

The curated wine menu changes monthly and is inspired by the seasons. “In the summer, you’re going to have more refreshing, crisp wines,” Wintheiser says. “In the winter, they’re going to be more wholesome, with more warmth to them.”

Customers are welcome to sample a wine before they commit to a glass, and customizable wine flights also provide the perfect opportunity to explore the menu. If customers like what they taste, they can always buy a bottle to take home. “We like to keep

Left: Comfortable seating helps facilitate conversation as customers relax with a glass of wine at Rhino Wine Bar in Prior Lake. The bar is available for private rental for parties and events.

Right: A well-curated wine list changes monthly.

HOLIDAY WINE RECOMMENDATIONS Whether you’re giving a gift or trying to find the perfect wine for dinner, consider these recommendations from Rhino Wine Bar. For the Wine Lover: Raymond Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve ($45–$50). Raymond is consistently a go-to wine for the red wine lovers, but if you want to impress with a deeper profile of dark chocolate and oak, then this Reserve is for you. Find out why “Everybody loves Raymond.”

Photos: Bill Hoben, SpotHopper Photographer

For the Party: Kila Cava ($15).

Whether you are buying for a gift, a party or yourself, this cava fits the bill! The bottle is fun, and the bubbles are a blast.

For Dinner Pairing: Weingut Ingrid Groiss Rosé ($20). Wow your dinner guests by pairing a rosé with your holiday turkey. This wine works as a standalone wine as well, so don’t sleep on this fresh bottle from Austria.

For the Sweet Fans: Domaine Cauhape Symphonie de Novembre ($35) is a great dessert wine that hails from France and will make you feel you are living your best life.

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THE RIGHT KIND OF ANIMAL When it came to naming the bar, owner Sara Wintheiser wanted something memorable but not necessarily wine-related.

She started brainstorming animals, and inspiration struck when she was looking through kids’ valentines with a friend and stumbled upon one that said, “You’re the coolest person Rhino.”

“This is it,” she immediately thought.

Rhino Wine Bar’s customizable flights give customers the opportunity to pick multiple pours from the menu.

CELEBRATE WITH BUBBLES Looking for the perfect bottle of bubbly to pop when the clock strikes midnight on New Year’s Eve? Think beyond Champagne at Rhino Wine Bar’s upcoming events: Bubbling With Joy December 8 A Rhino Wine Bar sommelier discusses

Fizz Fest December 13 Pop in for an open house wine tasting to sample sparking wines from different regions, available at a variety of price points. Tickets: $25; available at the bar or through social media in December.

things fresh,” Wintheiser says, noting that rotating the menu monthly allows the wine bar to offer a wider variety throughout the year. “We can always try something new.”

And if a customer comes in wishing for a glass from last month? Wintheiser says sometimes it’s possible to grant that wish. “We might have it in the back, and we can look,” she says.

“So while our menu is limited and changes frequently, we do have surplus in the back.”

Regular customers benefit from Rhino memberships,

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including a Rhino Wino, which includes 12 flights of wine for the price of 10 and is good for a year. There’s also the Winoceros, which provides special access to private events, wine tastings, a complimentary wine flight each month, as well as a monthly complimentary bottle of wine.

Rhino Wine Bar rhinowinebar.com Rhino Wine Bar

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Photo: Bill Hoben, SpotHopper Photographer

different sparkling varietals and highlights the differences in age, bottling, grape, regions and more. Taste the difference between five or so sparkling wines, and discover which bottle you will be popping this holiday season. Tastings always include special event prices for wine bottles. Cost: $25. Register at ce.plsas.org.

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HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE 1

FOR THE FAMILY

2

FO R T H E H O M E

3 1. Chanhassen Dinner Theatres Performance Gift Cards Available Chanhassen Dinner Theatres, 501 W. 78th St., Chanhassen chanhassendt.com 2. Let’s Dish! Gift Card Let’s Dish!

Five Locations: Apple Valley, Eden Prairie, Maple Grove, Prior Lake, Woodbury; letsdish.com 3. The Northfield Plaid Throw $195 Faribault Mill, 1500 Second Ave. NW, Faribault; faribaultmill.com

S P ONS ORE D CONT E NT

O N T H E TOW N

WINTER LIGHTS

Since 1986, we have been serving students from kindergarten through eighth grade. We offer a rigorous curriculum in a safe environment with no hidden agenda—building leaders with a heart to serve the world.

Christian Heritage Academy 7320 175th St. W., Lakeville 952.953.4155 chacademy.com 30

An enchanting way to savor a tranquil night, this year’s Illumination Walk at Ritter Farm Park on January 9 promises peace and respite in the outdoors. Instead of shying away from the darkness outside, community members of all ages are encouraged to embrace the natural beauty of the park and the stunning stillness of the winter landscape.

Whether exploring solo or with family and friends, all can enjoy a breathtaking walk along a glowing path lit by hundreds of luminaries. “Walking the trail at night with only the light of the candles and moonlight makes you feel like you have

stepped away from the city,” says Kacie Robinson, program coordinator with Lakeville Parks & Recreation.

Weather permitting, participants are welcome to strap on their snowshoes as well. Following the stroll, warm up with hot chocolate in the Ed Mako Environmental Learning Center cabin.

Robinson encourages parents with small children to bring sleds for a smoother experience, and strollers are not recommended. All are welcome in the outdoors; dress for the weather and bring an adventurous attitude. Registration is $6 per person at lakevillemn.gov. —Diane Meyer

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Photo: City of Lakeville

Brighten up a dark night with a luminary walk in Lakeville.

Dental care just down the street 12.05

DecemBRRR Dazzle Join your Prior Lake community at the Lakefront Park to enjoy a holiday tree lighting ceremony at 5:30 p.m., followed by bonfires, ice carving demonstrations and the opportunity to visit Santa in the pavilion. priorlakemn.gov

We provide full-service dental care for every age and stage.

Schedule an appointment today!

parkdental.com

12.12, 12.13

An Enchanted Christmas The Lakeville Area Community Band invites all to enjoy a spirited concert of holiday classics at the Lakeville Area Arts Center. lakevilleareaartscenter.com 12.31

Noon Year’s Eve

Ready to find your new best friend?

Celebrate early at Club Prior and ring in the new year with this fun and free family event, offering a dance party and balloon drop, as well as bingo and craft activities from 11 a.m. until 1 p.m. priorlakemn.gov 01.07

Pub Night The Lakeville Area Arts Center theater gets a makeover, taking on a pub atmosphere for this casual night out with performances by David Harland and Sol Strings. lakevilleareaartscenter.com 01.08

Wednesday Night Live Listen to music performed by Bob Bovee. This is the first of a festive winter music series offering performances from 7 to 8:30 p.m. on the first Wednesday of every month through April. priorlakemn.gov

Compiled by Diane Meyer and Avery Vrieze To have your event considered: email citiessouthmags@localmedia.co by the 10th of the month three months prior to publication. Please note that some events may have changed since these pages went to print. Please visit affiliated websites for updates.

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LAST GLANCE

Bright Spot “The air was biting, my face and fingers were numb, but the view was too incredible to pass up,” Kelly Mcrozek says of her determination to get outside and score a photo of this extraordinary winter sundog—bright spots of light that appear on either side of the sun. An amateur photographer, Mcrozek has taken other memorable shots, featuring solar eclipses and the northern lights. She enjoys the peaceful quality of capturing moments in nature such as this. “It was so quiet outside,” she says. “It turned into one of those unplanned, breathtaking sights I was lucky enough to witness.” —Diane Meyer

FOCUS ON CI TI ES SOUTH Photographer: Kelly Mroczek Title: Subzero Sundog

Equipment: Samsung Galaxy 22 Ultra Location: Credit River Category: Seasons Award: First Place

To view other Focus on Cities South photo contest winners, visit citiessouthmags.com.

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This holiday, give kids the greatest gift:

a chance at a lifetime.

Imagine a world where no child dies of cancer.

This holiday, help St. Jude give families hope and children the greatest gift: the chance to live life and celebrate every moment.

Donate Now

St. Jude patient Sully pictured with her mom

stjude.org Art inspired by St. Jude patients © 2025 ALSAC/St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital (MCC-45482)

EXCELLENCE ISN’T CLAIMED. IT’S PROVEN.

At Summit Orthopedics, we’re proud to be Minnesota’s only top-ranked orthopedic and spine outpatient surgery center, recognized by U.S. News & World Report. And yet, our greatest honor will always be helping patients get back to the lives they love.

life. at your summit. summitortho.com