helps clients visually express their décor and personal narratives
Nestled on a quiet street just steps from the lake, you’ll love the luxurious lifestyle this boutique Waypoint condo offers. Two beds, two baths, office, formal dining, lots of storage & two heated garage stalls. 415 Indian Mound #103. $1,175,000.
Kowalski’s Certified Akaushi Beef comes from the largest purebred group of Akaushi outside of Japan. You won’t find a more tender steak. Our Certified Akaushi Beef is hand-cut and fork-tender with ribbons of creamy white marbling for a rich, buttery taste you won’t forget! A supreme steak built for the ultimate steak lover!
Let’s face it. Cedar roofs look great but owning one is a little scary. “Has it been damaged by hail?” “Will it blow off in a storm?” “I hear something chewing up there!” But despite what you may hear, your cedar roof is still one of the most beautiful and long-lasting products on the market. The only catch is you have take care of it.
That’s where I come in. My free, written estimate includes a thorough analysis of your roof. Bringing over 25 years of experience to the table, I will evaluate its’ condition to determine whether or not maintenance, repairs or replacement is the best option for you. Worst case scenario you get a free inspection from a true expert. Best case, we work our magic on your roof and add years to its lifespan.
In fact, Kuhl’s Contracting is looked to for the evaluation and restoration of cedar roofs by more insurance companies, home inspectors, realtors and architects than any other company in Minnesota. Not to brag, but we are pretty awesome. Don’t take my word for it. Check out our talents at www.kuhlscontracting.com. Or ask around. We have probably done work for someone you know.
I started this company in 1987. Since that time we have worked on thousands of homes around the Twin Cities. My approach to business has never wavered. Be honest, be
and do great work. As a result our list of
Available exclusively at
Every Diamond of Wonder is natural, ethical, and benefits the students at The Dow Academy in Mochudi, Botswana, serving children from daycare through secondary school.
Welcome, readers, to our 20th anniversary as the Lake Minnetonka area’s premier community lifestyle magazine. We couldn’t be prouder of our longstanding roots in and commitment to this community. A lot has changed over the course of two decades, but we look back with pride and joy at the relationships we’ve made, the community we’ve been a part of and the stories we’ve told.
Over the years, we’ve met residents—who are cornerstones of this community’s success—and others, who are enthusiastically leading the Lake Minnetonka area into the future. Our pages have been filled with deeply-rooted businesses, ventures that have leaned into evolving alongside the community and newcomers to the space who are striving to make their mark. Residents, business owners, creatives, educators, health and wellness providers and a host of others have all shared their wonderful stories within our pages.
As we’ve watched this area grow and evolve over the years, Lake Minnetonka Magazine and its sister publications have done their share of growing, too. I fondly recall the excitement in 2005 when the premiere issue of Lake Minnetonka Magazine landed in your mailboxes. And that same enthusiasm has expanded over the years. From launching three magazines 20 years ago to now publishing eight thriving lifestyle magazines and operating growing websites and social media platforms, we stay true to our original mission: focusing on local residents, businesses and services while shining an appreciative light on what makes this community a great place to live, work and play.
Editor and locally-based Renée Stewart-Hester is eager to continue our legacy and proudly offers original, engaging and elevated content, written exclusively by our team of writers. Alongside her, our committed and talented Art, Editorial, Production and Sales team members work month after month—and we can’t thank them enough.
Most importantly, thank you—dear readers and advertisers—for your continued interest, loyalty and support of Lake Minnetonka Magazine. Some of you have been with us from the beginning, and we look forward to walking into the next 20 years with you and welcoming more readers and businesses to our pages.
With appreciation,
ON THE COVER
Blanchard , Photo by Chris Emeott, page 27
Susan Isay Publisher
VOL. 20 NO. 1 lakeminnetonkamag.com
PUBLISHER
Susan Isay
EDITOR
Renée Stewart-Hester
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, Daniel Huss, Jennifer Pitterle and Rachel Schuehle
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS
Andrew Akhaphong, Hollie Blanchard, Jan Cook, Laurel Famigletti, Alison Feik, Lynette Kalsnes, Spencer Olson, Rima Parikh, Molly Rivard, Raela Schoenherr, Lisa Stevens and Katie Tomsche
DIGITAL INTERN
Taylor Hamilton
EDITORIAL INTERNS
Ellie Heyerdahl and Emma Souza
EDITORIAL ADVISORY BOARD
Mary Cornelius, Minnetonka Schools ; David Decker, House Novel ; Sue Gartner, Crown Warehouse & Delivery Service ; Kelly Olsen, Olsen Global ; Michele Phillips, blogger, writer and photographer ; Anna Skemp, Greater Wayzata Area Chamber of Commerce ; and Amanda Zielike, House Novel
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, Mary-Catherine Hartel and Sara Johnson
PRESIDENT Pete Burgeson
To subscribe to Lake Minnetonka Magazine , please visit localmedia.co. For customer service inquiries, please contact hello@localmedia.co, or call 612.208.6248. ©Local LLC 2025. All rights reserved.
Lake Minnetonka Magazine celebrates its 20th anniversary this month. Enjoy a look back at some of our iconic covers from the last two decades. Through stunning, in-house photography and art direction, local residents, businesses and events have been promimently featured. We hope you continue to enjoy discovering each month—who’s on the cover!
With a celebratory nod to Lake Minnetonka Magazine’s 20th anniversary, stylist Jessica Hilde leans into the traditional gemstone that marks 20 years—emeralds. Whether one is looking for stunning jewelry or emeraldinspired clothing, Hilde offers some of her expertly culled recommendations, available through her showroom. (For more, visit lakeminnetonkamag.com.)
Emerald, Diamond and Gold Necklace: This elegant piece features a vibrant emerald and sparkling diamonds set in 20K gold, a 18K paperclip gold link chain and magnet clasp. Gretchen Ventura (9536); $10,995
Gold Ball Chain Necklace With Diamond and Emerald Drops: Made with 14K yellow gold, this 3 mm chain features six faceted diamonds and seven pear-shaped emerald drops. Gretchen Ventura (9564); $5,995
Gold Ball Chain With Diamond and Emerald Drop Necklace: Stun in this 14K yellow gold 1.2 mm ball chain necklace with six faceted diamonds and seven emerald drops. Gretchen Ventura (9653); $3,295
Rose Cut Diamond, Emerald and Diamond Bead Bracelet: This unique combination of rose cut diamonds, emeralds and faceted pyrite augments any jewelry collection. Gretchen Ventura (2667); $2,195
Baroque Botanical Cloqué Surplice Dress: This fluid, long-sleeve fit and flare dress features a sweeping surplice neckline, softly pleated shoulders, a concealed back zipper and charmeuse ribbon tie. Lafayette 148 (MDET9R-2B83); $1,998
Jessica Hilde is a Wayzata-based award-winning stylist, personal shopper andwardrobe consultant. Style more at jessicahildestyle.com.
What’s an anniversary without a toast? We asked our friends at Lunds & Byerlys for a celebratory sip recipe, worthy to raise a glass, no matter the occasion, and exclaim santé—cheers.
French 7Tea5
Legend has it that the original SoixanteQuinze (French 75) was created during World War I by a Parisian bartender. It included gin, lemon, grenadine, applejack brandy and water. Since its inception, this fancy-looking, easy-to-make drink has gone through several evolutions, eventually adopting today’s signature SoixanteQuinze splash of Champagne in place of water. Join us as we give this classic cocktail yet another tasty twist—tea.
Craftily named French 7Tea5, our recipe centers around blackberry-sage black tea from The Republic of Tea and includes simple syrup, gin, lemon juice and, of course, Champagne. We also add a splash of Chambord for that beautiful berry color and garnish with tea leaves and a refreshing twist of orange. Is it sweet? Yes, but not too sweet. We like to call it a nice sipper with a playful bite. The fruity notes of the Chambord play well with the tea simple syrup, and the bit of citrus helps balance the saccharine flavor.
For the complete recipe, visit lakeminnetonkamag.com.
Katie Tomsche is the content manager for Lunds & Byerlys. Sip more at lundsandbyerlys.com.
• Awarded top producer and established expert in the Lake Minnetonka community
• In-depth understanding of today’s market and trends
• Experience and creativity for all real estate needs
• Unmatched service and results
KRISTI WEINSTOCK REALTOR® C. 612.309.8332 kdweinstock@cbburnet.com weinstockgroup.com 19400 Highway 7 Excelsior, MN 55331
Concerts in The Commons in Excelsior on Wednesdays May through September, feature eight free concerts with food and beverage vendors. Funds go toward community charities and Community for the Commons, supporting park improvements. The event is also supported by other sponsors, including the City of Excelsior (excelsiorconcerts.com).
Kicking off fall comes by way of the Lake Minnetonka Oktoberfest on September 27, which is held in conjunction with the City of Shorewood and the Excelsior’s American Legion Post 259. The event at the American Legion benefits the Hendrickson Foundation, which has a mission to grow the game of hockey, making it more accessible. Attendees can enjoy German food, music, beer and activities (German folk dress contents, a German hammer game, Masskrugstemmen and trivia).
MEETING NOTES
When: 6:45 a.m. Wednesdays Where: Maynards, 685 Excelsior Blvd., Excelsior
The Object of Rotary, as explained at my.rotary.org, is to encourage and foster the ideal of service as a basis of worthy enterprise and:
• The development of acquaintance as an opportunity for service
• Ethical standards in business and professions; the recognition of the worthiness of all useful occupations; and the dignifying of Rotarians’ occupation as an opportunity to serve society
• The application of service in Rotarians’ personal, business and community life
• The advancement of international understanding, goodwill and peace through a world fellowship of business and professional persons united in the ideal of service
excelsiormorningrotary.org
Excelsior Morning Rotary Club @theexcelsiormorningrotary
rotary.org Rotary International @rotaryinternational @rotary
Orono golf course’s history is on par.
By Daniel Huss
Your golf course has some history when cut hayfields served as fairways and borrowed tomato cans, spade into the soil, were used as golf cups. Your golf course has some history when the fairways were watered by a team of horses, pulling a watering wagon. And your golf course really has some history when green fees were 35 cents.
Leo Feser referenced the above in a story penned in May 1971, describing the history of Orono Orchards Golf Course. (The City of Orono purchased the course from the Feser family in 1967.) Feser designed, built, played and ran the course—with lots of help from family and friends. The first green fees were sold on
July 4, 1924, making this year the course’s 101st anniversary.
Orono Orchards Golf Course was the first privately owned public course in Minnesota and the first public course in the state to feature grass greens. (In 1924, all the other municipal courses played sand greens.) When it opened, the only other public courses in the Metro area were Glenwood (now Theodore Wirth Golf Course) and Columbia courses.
Kim Linder, clubhouse manager and events coordinator, says the course’s calling card is its elevation. “Growing up in Orono, I used to call it a billy goat golf course,” she says. In Feser’s history, he wrote that the course’s nickname was
The City of Orono hosts a tree-lighting ceremony on the Orono Orchards Golf Course grounds on the first Saturday of December. Santa attends and arrives not by sleigh, but via an Orono fire truck. The day’s festivities are followed by what has been described as the best fireworks of the season. (Bonus: no mosquitoes!)
When there’s snow, the course features free sledding throughout the winter season, and the clubhouse opens for snacks and hot chocolate on designated days. Last winter, the city, for a first time, planned to groom cross-country ski trails.
men’s league is the longest running men’s league in the state. Its youth league is just the opposite, as it’s relatively new. “Before I came here, which is about four years ago, kids weren’t allowed to play without an adult,” Linder says. “That’s crazy, as junior players are the future of the sport.”
Some 15,000 rounds were played on Orono Orchards last year. This factors in losing 10 days because of inclement weather and 49 days when golf carts couldn’t be used. (There isn’t a cart path, and the grounds were too wet.)
If you’re one of those hitting the course this year, consider that over 100 years ago, Frank Eisinger, a charter member of the golf course construction crew, would take the ground’s watering wagon home at the end of each day and refill the water tank from a windmill-powered well. He’d return in the morning with his wagon, pulled by a team of horses, to water the greens—in preparation of welcoming another round of golfers.
Orono Orchards Golf Course, 265 Orono Orchards Road S., Wayzata; 952.473.1909; oronomn.gov
Orono Orchards Golf Course @oronomn_thelakeshorecity
The seven moods of menopause— Itchy, B*tchy, Sleepy, Sweaty, Bloated, Forgetful and All Dried Up—may be a joke, but for millions of women, the reality is anything but funny. From relentless hot flashes and mood swings to brain fog and intimacy concerns, menopause can feel overwhelming. Yet, these struggles are often dismissed as a normal part of aging, leaving many women searching for real solutions.
This Women’s Health Month, MedStudio, a Minnesota-based holistic clinic, encourages women to take charge of their well-being. Founded in 2014, MedStudio is among the state’s first privately owned medical clinics led by Advanced Practice Registered Nurses. With a focus on natural hormone therapy, functional medicine and whole-body wellness, MedStudio helps women restore balance, energy and confidence—so they can thrive, not just survive.
“Women deserve better than, ‘Oh, that’s normal, or just live with it,’” says the MedStudio team. They understand that menopause isn’t just a phase. It’s a life transition that requires compassionate, personalized care. Beyond traditional treatments, MedStudio offers customized hormone therapy, coaching and wellness plans, advanced weight loss support and solutions for renewed intimacy—all in a safe, judgment-free space.
The impact? Life-changing. One patient shares, “Thanks to MedStudio, I feel like a million bucks! No more night sweats—I’m finally sleeping again.” Another says, “I wish I had found MedStudio sooner!”
With over 6,000 women entering menopause daily and 1 in 4 people over age 30 experiencing hormone imbalances and deficiencies, the need for effective, science-based care is greater than ever. MedStudio offers free consultations where you can learn more about how their services can help you feel like yourself again.
MedStudio empowers women to regain their health by addressing hormone problems that don’t have to be endured silently. No more sleepless nights or sweating through board meetings—real solutions exist to help you feel like yourself again. To learn more, visit medstudio.com.
Attributing a positive outcome to being in the right place at the right time can feel a touch trite, a bit clichéd, but when Hollie Blanchard tells the story of how her business, Art Girls, came to open in Deephaven at the end of last year, her words hit the mark—bullseye.
“To be opening my first studio in Deephaven is so very surreal and yet feels so right,” Blanchard says. “I was at a place where I was ready to take the leap into finding an office outside of my home.”
After seeing a For Lease sign in a window at Deephaven Court business center, Blanchard had a moment of clarity. “[Deephaven] has been my community since 2009, moving back home from [New York City],” she says. “My children attend school in the neighborhood. I travel these roads for errands, activities and client appointments. It was a moment which
felt crystal clear—this is where I need to be; this is the next chapter for Art Girls.”
December 12 was the official grand reopening of Art Girls. The Deephaven location is a working office and a space to gather with clients and serves as a walkin venue for clients acquiring original artwork. “We like to say we are a fine art concierge from A to Z,” Blanchard says of her business, which originally launched in 2019 when she took her first leap of faith, holding onto her belief that art should be viewed in not just art galleries, but in homes and businesses.
And that A to Z reference? Some of those letters go along with art rentals, artwork rehoming, client consultation (in person or remote), cataloging and commercial management, custom framing, white glove installation and whatever clients require to ensure their art is purposely and exquisitely purchased, installed and maintained.
Art Girls boasts more than 3,000 pieces of inventory. “We have strong representation of local artists with an array of impressionistic, traditional, abstract, classical realism, collage, sculpture [and] ceramic, and a bespoke collection filled with treasures of days gone by,” Blanchard says. “Our platform features a diverse range of original artworks from emerging and established artists. Whatever the design aesthetic, we have pieces to complement and enhance it.”
If clients can’t find pieces that illustrate their design sensibilities or aesthetic preferences, Art Girls offers commission options, allowing clients to work closely with artists to create bespoke artworks.
For Blanchard, business is personal, and she speaks of the joy she experiences when connecting with clients through art. “Art connects people as you learn about their story—the connection they have to an abstract or objective piece and
“I am telling you, something special is happening at Deephaven Court with a community of so many wonderful woman entrepreneurs,” Hollie Blanchard says. “I feel privileged to be among the amazing small businesses in this vicinity.”
feel their joy once the art is installed,” she says. “That is why I do this. It is infectious, and to help someone find joy through art, it is such a gift to me and them.”
For nearly three years, Terri M. has purchased many abstract, human portraiture or animal pieces from Art Girls and had framing done for black and white photographs of her sons, “... the priceless pieces of my art,” she says.
“My home truly is my haven. It’s my special place that grounds me in love, peace and gratitude,” says the Shorewood resident. “I have always created my spaces—whether it be my bedroom when I was little, my office when I was an executive or my home—to reflect who I am and what I feel. So, while I consider furniture, lighting, etc., to be décor style, I believe that my art represents a much deeper connection. Each piece may represent different periods of my life, my
The love of art germinates and is fortified to grow through inspiration of all sorts. Hollie Blanchard fed her love of art through various arteries of education, family and life experiences.
“Growing up, I was intrigued by beautiful artistry and viscerally pulled in by so many different tangible displays (beautiful stationary, fashion, interior décor, artwork, floral arrangements, Dayton’s downtown, my grandmother’s costume jewelry and decorating the tree for Christmas),” she says. “I had two amazing art teachers who were inspirational, and [I] realized early that art was essentially expressing into words your thoughts, ideas and feelings.”
Blanchard first focused on fashion, “... sketching, stylizing, draping, creating, constructing new looks … In fashion, you get to be the artist with a blank canvas each day,” she says. With a degree in apparel design from the University of Minnesota, she headed to New York City and worked for a celebrity stylist and later in the jewelry industry. With the city as her backdrop, Blanchard spent many hours combing the city’s flea markets and museums for a chance to interface with art through different avenues.
As it can, love brought her back home to the Lake Minnetonka area, where she lives with her husband, Chris Blanchard, and their children and where she also lives to share her love of art with whoever steps into Art Girls.
evolving roles, my values, my aspirations, memories and, most of all, love.”
To Terri’s point, art is flexible by nature and can do more for a home beyond punctuate its aesthetics. “Anything can be home décor, but original art is deeper. It adds life; it is emotional ... The emotions that the artist are pouring into the canvas or clay, you can feel this,” Blanchard says. “It adds curiosity to the viewer, which often engages into a rich conversation on your personal narration for the pieces in your collection.”
How are clients telling their stories through art? “In a world full of mass production, I see consumers wanting a more intimate [and] personal connection to their space, and original artwork is the key,” Blanchard says. “It is a stamp of our zeitgeist; our collection is a journey of life we have traveled ... where we were, what we were feeling, a narration of you.”
Blanchard’s perspective resonates with Terri, who first connected with her through social media, inquiring about a painting of an elephant protecting her calf. “It evoked so much in me as a mom, as my sons had just lost their dad,” she says. “It was a very emotional time, and my focus was 100 percent on protecting and guiding my sons through this journey.” Blanchard brought the piece to her home, “… so I could not only see it, but really feel it,” Terri says. “I was drawn so strongly with the piece. It reflected exactly how my heart and soul were feeling at that time.”
From then on, their client-owner relationship developed. “[Blanchard] knew and could almost anticipate other pieces that would connect with me,” Terri says. “There is something so special about [Blanchard] bringing the art to my home versus purchasing [it] in a gallery. It’s personal; it’s now in my space, and I know right away if it reflects a part of my story. As I add art, I love to share what the piece means to me with my sons. I want them to know, [that] after I am gone, that my collection told our family story and that my love for them is at the core.”
Art Girls, 18285 Minnetonka Blvd. Suite F, Deephaven; 612.772.2855; artgirlsmpls.com
Art Girls Minneapolis @artgirls_mpls
Retired landscape architect Barbara Burgum highlights native species in her Deephaven gardens.
Written by Jennifer Pitterle — Photos by Chris Emeott
The 1905 Craftsman home on the shores of Lake Minnetonka seems like it was made for Barbara Burgum, who purchased it in 1999. While she’s spent years preserving and rehabilitating the stately house, the grounds themselves have offered another fertile opportunity: an outlet for Burgum’s passion for gardening and the natural world.
Burgum, a retired landscape architect, overhauled the 2-acre property in 2012. She invited two of her landscape architecture classmates, Frank Fitzgerald and
“The more you know, the more you realize you don’t know anything. You can always learn more about the interactions between the plants and their pollinators the interactions between the soil and the plants.”
Barbara Burgum
a 40-foot cedar pergola. There, Burgum grows a few veggies—cucumbers, kale and tomatoes—and other flower varieties. In the mix are blackberry lilies (part of the iris family) with speckled orange blooms; tall golden grass; perennial sweet pea; and bottle gentian, which provides important habitat for queen bees, the only members of the hive who are strong enough to enter its tight blossoms. The south side of the house features some shade trees, which provide shelter for delicate ephemerals, beautiful shrubs and one of several rain gardens that dot the property.
There are more than 500 varieties of plants—primarily native species. “I get many plants from Kelley & Kelley Nursery [Orono],” Burgum says, hitting a circuit of local plant shops in the spring, including Mother Earth Gardens in Minneapolis. She’s generous about sharing her gardens with visitors, often through tours organized by the Lake Minnetonka Garden Club, of which Burgum has been a longtime member. “I always enjoy going on garden tours at private homes, too,” she says. “You can really see interesting
things that people are doing.” The Minnesota Landscape Arboretum is one of Burgum’s favorite local public gardens. “It’s just fabulous, and I’m out there multiple times a year,” she says. Burgum also seeks out interesting landscapes during her travels abroad. She values the sense of place that influences each garden. “But the things that look good around a French château or a Japanese temple would be out of place here,” she says. “I won’t be making a Versailles garden here, no matter how much I might enjoy looking at it.”
season. She says, “Some days, I’m working from sunup to sundown, and, other days, I’m just wandering around with a cup of coffee and admiring things.” She’s deeply appreciative of the folks who help keep the gardens growing. Nancy Kennedy, a local master gardener, has worked with Burgum for several seasons. Burgum’s property manager, Rob Rehberger, is instrumental in the day-to-day work. “This is a team effort,” she says. “I can’t do this on my own.”
For Burgum, gardening isn’t really about tidy borders of annuals or a perfectly curated vegetable patch. “The more you know, the more you realize you don’t know anything,” she says. “You can always learn more about the interactions between the plants and their pollinators— the interactions between the soil and the plants. You wake up excited every day going, ‘What am I going to see today that I’ve never seen before?’”
Read about Barbara Burgum’s home— and its many porches—in the April issue of Lake Minnetonka Magazine
One Minnetonka painter finds healing—and her sense of identity—on the canvas.
Written by Jennifer Pitterle Photos by Chris Emeott
Minnetonka painter AJ Lindstrom-Oye found her way to art, so she could “show up as me,” she says, after a life marked by uncertainty, stress and burnout. “Being adopted at 3 months old from South Korea has always left somewhat of an unknown space inside me,” she says. Without a strong sense of identity or understanding of what her future would hold, she had to look inward—and to her big imagination—to find herself.
Lindstrom-Oye grew up in Maple Grove. Her adoptive parents divorced when she was 2, and she says her childhood was marked by poverty and instability. School was an escape. “I leaned into friends and learning,” she says. Lindstrom-Oye always loved art but
didn’t pursue it seriously until well into adulthood. Instead, she earned her bachelor’s degree in finance from Augsburg University, Minneapolis, while working full time, and built a career as a project manager in the tech and financial services industries.
It wasn’t until 2020, after her young family settled in Minnetonka, that art began to play a transformative role in her life. “We moved so many times; we never put anything on our walls,” she says. But their Minnetonka house felt like a place where the family—Lindstrom-Oye, her husband, Dan Oye, and their children, Makenzie, 10, and Liam, 7—could put down roots. “I thought, ‘You know what? I’m going to paint something.’”
Armed with a large canvas, paint and an old house-painting brush she found in the basement, Lindstrom-Oye created her first piece in an afternoon. She posted an image of it online, and friends and family members reached out to tell her how impressed they were. But she wasn’t thinking of herself as an artist. “I just wanted something for our house,” she says.
Nevertheless, that first painting ignited something. “I just couldn’t stop painting,” she says. “It was such a good outlet and space for me to not have to do structure and strategy and planning and risk management like I did all day long at my job.”
She hasn’t looked back.
Today, Lindstrom-Oye works primarily with acrylics on large canvases (Her
biggest to date was 48 by 60 inches.), creating pieces that are abstract, intuitive and spontaneous. She uses a lot of texture, allowing the paint to build up on the canvas, and natural color palettes. “I’m into really warm, earthy tones and blues and greens,” she says. “I also love solid black and white. I’m drawn to earthy, deep and abstract colors.”
Painting also lets Lindstrom-Oye feel grounded in her physical body, not constantly tangled in her thoughts. “I’m just kissing 5 feet tall, so I paint things that are the size of me,” she says. “But it allows my body to move freely.” She set up a studio space in her home and now spends several hours each week painting; her goal is to finish one piece each month.
As it goes for many working parents, burnout and exhaustion necessitated a move away from her corporate job. “I built a website and gave myself a brand and a brush name,” Lindstrom-Oye says. Her brand is GHL Artistry, an homage to her Korean name, Gyehee Lee. “The name has a lot of meaning to who I am at my core,” she says. “I’ve been on a journey my whole life, trying to navigate and love and enjoy life. The name represents a part of me [that] I knew nothing about.”
In addition to her journey of self-discovery, she also draws inspiration from her children. “If I could say anyone is my favorite artist, it would be my kids,” she says. “We’ll paint together, and I’ll give them canvases and let them just
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kind of go. They don’t have any conditioning or preconceived notions. They just go and create.”
Lindstrom-Oye also embraces the business side of her art. She’s sold several pieces and has done a few commissions for special spaces in clients’ homes. Even then, she lets her intuitive creativity guide her. “I meet with the client and get a feel for them. I let them know what colors I’m thinking, and the goal is to paint
something beautiful that feels good in the space,” she says.
The artist has shown her work at a small community gallery in St. Paul and has reached out to other local galleries and businesses about showcasing pieces. And while Lindstrom-Oye is proud to sell her work, her focus remains on the joy it brings. “Whether or not it’s sold, I just love it in public spaces for people to enjoy,” she says.
Written by Lisa Havelka
After a long winter, I buckled up my kids for a quick spring road trip to stretch our legs and see the landscape as it started to bloom along the Mississippi River. For impressive scenery within a few hours of our home in Southern Minnesota, we drove from Red Wing to Winona along the Great River Road. Not only is this road trip one of my family’s perennial favorites, the route is also an official All-American Road and National Scenic Byway!
Our first stop was Barn Bluff Regional Park in Red Wing. The 2.9-mile hike took us to the top of a limestone bluff with panoramic views of the river and historic downtown. Back on Main Street, we visited the Red Wing Shoe Company Museum — home to both the beloved Minnesota brand and the World’s Largest Boot.
Traveling south to Lake City, we couldn’t resist stopping along the way to find treasures from the 100 Mile Garage Sale. The annual event occurs the first weekend in May and includes sales in 15 historic river towns along the river. We popped into the quintessential Chickadee Cottage Cafe for a coffee to go as we set out to explore the lakefront.
Lake City sits on the shores of Lake Pepin, which is the widest spot of the Mississippi River. As the birthplace of water skiing, celebrated with the town’s annual Water Ski Days in June, we had to take a family selfie with the giant bronze statue of Ralph Samuelson, the inventor of water skis.
Back in the car, we continued south
activity in the Center was a great way to build up an appetite for lunch at Slippery’s. Known for its appearance in the movie “Grumpy Old Men,” one of the most famous movies filmed in Minnesota, it filled our bellies and gave us more spectacular views of the eagles along the banks of the Mississippi.
Finally, as we wrapped-up our little family road trip we made a sweet treat stop at Bloedow Bakery in downtown Winona. Easily my favorite doughnut shop in Minnesota, these donuts are not just for breakfast! The kids grabbed some doughnuts from the bakery case, and I bought a frosted cookie.
With more great river views, we took our treats to Levee Park where the kids burned off their dessert delirium by climbing the man-made boulders in the park.
The Great River Road is brimming with incredible adventures for every type of traveler. Take a road trip to dozens of charming Mississippi River towns right here in Minnesota, head to Itasca State Park to drive the Mississippi River Trail as it winds across Minnesota and continues south to the Gulf of Mexico, or plan a camping trip at Great River Bluffs State Park, where awe-inspiring views of the Mississippi will leave you breathless.
Find more travel inspiration and plan your trip at ExploreMinnesota.com
Explore Minnesota; exploreminnesota.com
Explore Minnesota @exploreminnesota
Deeply nestled in the pines of the Superior National Forest along Minnesota’s historic Gunflint Trail, Bearskin Lodge offers beautiful cabin lodging adjacent to over one million acres of pristine wilderness in the Boundary Waters Canoe Wilderness (BWCA). Canoe, kayak, hike, bike, swim, fish and explore in a family-friendly environment. Natural sand swimming beach and daily free family crafts and activities. One of Minnesota’s premier resorts since 1925.
At Rainbow Treecare, Lawncare, Pest Experts, every client’s project is approached with a personalized and holistic perspective. “We look at your property as a unique ecosystem and consider how all its elements work together to enhance the world in which you live, work and play,” says Ben Cooper, Rainbow’s General Manager. “Caring for your individual ecosystem enhances your neighborhood and contributes to the health of the planet.”
Employee-owned Rainbow offers a comprehensive suite of services, including lawn care, tree care, structural pest control, and installation and removal of holiday lights. “Our mission is about caring for your world,” Cooper says. “Whether it is the world of your home, yard or community, Rainbow is committed to keeping your property safe, healthy and aesthetically beautiful.”
As part of that commitment, the company prioritizes training and educating its team. Rainbow employs more certified arborists than any other locally-owned business in Minnesota and has created roles, such as master pestologist, to train and educate the next generation of professionals.
That level of commitment began when Rainbow was launched by its founder in a garage as a direct response to
the spread of Dutch elm disease in the 1970s. In fact, the name of the company comes from a street in Minnetonka— Rainbow Drive—where the founder first attempted to sell elm tree protection services.
In the 1980s, the business expanded, and today it continues to set itself apart by promoting science-based practices, demonstrating unwavering integrity with customers and standing behind recommendations that are effective and safe for the planet. “Rainbow is a leader in the green industry, developing products, practices and protocols that are utilized by arborists and landscape professionals across the country,” Cooper says. “We believe our commitment to the Earth will foster a thriving community for future generations.”
“It was a wild thing to undertake. I can’t explain what kept me motivated.”
Alexa Fitzpatrick, who founded her company after having a series of strokes.
Alexa Fitzpatrick was happily living the American dream when a sudden medical crisis flipped her world upside down. But when life gave her lemons, the Minnetonka resident says she made a Martini, and she means it quite literally.
Fitzpatrick is the founder of Jayded AF, ready-to-drink Martini cocktails. The idea for her company was born shortly after she had a series of strokes at just 36 years old. “It was sobering,” she says. Today, the married mother of twins is fully recovered, and not only does she have a new lease on life, but she runs a new business and has a partnership with the American Health Association to share her story.
Born and raised in London, Fitzpatrick moved to the United States when she was 18 to attend college in Texas and later became a radiation therapist once in Minnesota. She went on to get her master’s degree from Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota and was working as a clinic manager in vascular surgery, successfully managing a team of 60 during COVID-19.
In October 2020, Fitzpatrick started
experiencing fatigue and other symptoms. She chalked it up to living a busy life. “I thought I was a tired mom,” she says, recalling standing in her bedroom closet when she got a headache, and the right side of her body went numb. According to the American Stroke Association, arm numbness, facial drooping and slurred speech are all signs of a stroke. “You would think working in vascular surgery, I would know, but I still wasn’t able to identify it,” she says.
Fitzpatrick went to bed early that night, but the next day when she mentioned the experience to one of the vascular surgeons, he urged her to go to the ER and get a CT scan. While the scan was unremarkable, an MRI revealed that she had experienced five strokes the night before. Fitzpatrick would later become unresponsive and experience four more strokes due to a blood clot in her carotid artery. She spent the next 10 days in a St. Paul hospital on heavy blood thinners. “It was a scary time,” she says. “It seemed like such a blur.”
When Fitzpatrick was released, her neurology team estimated she would be
May is National Stroke Awareness Month. A stroke is a cardiovascular event that occurs when a blood vessel to the brain is blocked by a clot or ruptures, starving the brain of oxygen and nutrients and causing brain cells to die. According to the American Stroke Association (ASA), a division of the American Heart Association, strokes are the fifth highest cause of death in the United States and a leading cause of disability.
ASA says to remember FAST if you suspect someone is having a stroke. According to the association:
Face Drooping: Does one side of the face droop, or is it numb? Ask the person to smile to see if it is uneven.
Arm Weakness: Is one arm weak or numb? Ask the person to raise both arms to see if one arm drifts downward.
Speech: Is speech slurred? Is the person unable to speak or difficult to understand? Ask the person to repeat a simple sentence, like: “The sky is blue.”
Time to Call 9-1-1: Check the time, so you’ll know when the first symptoms appeared.
out of work for six months as she recovered. After only three months of occupational, physical and speech therapies, she returned to work, but Fitzpatrick soon realized that she was not ready. “I had a mental breakdown,” she says. “It’s not uncommon for people who have had a stroke.” She began an intense 9 a.m.–5 p.m. weekday therapy program. “It was a really sad and dark period,” she says.
As Fitzpatrick began to rebuild her mental health, she made the decision not to return to her career. “I felt more and more empowered by that,” she says. That spring, she had an epiphany. She wanted a Martini but didn’t have the ingredients and couldn’t find a premade Martini on the market. That’s when her business switch flipped on. She liquidated her 401(K) (“I do not recommend doing that,” she says.) and jumped. “There’s a risk aversion that dissipates after a stroke,” she says. Bit by bit, Fitzpatrick built her company, locating a beverage development company, a bottle manufacturer and a distributor. “I Googled my way through this business,” she says. “One step at a time.”
In June 2023, Jayded AF launched, and yes, the double entendre is intentional. “It’s controversial but also really, really fun,” she says. The name is not only a reference to its founder, whose middle name is Jayde, but also a commentary on the market. “It’s a brand for people who are bored of the options out there,” Fitzpatrick says.
“It’s a brand for people who are bored of the options out there.”
Alexa Fitzpatrick
Compiled by Ellie Heyerdahl and Emma Souza
LOCAL EVENTS
05.03
Family Birding Walk
Go on an afternoon walk with city staff while listening to birds, brought to you by Wild Ones Prairie Edge alongside the City of Minnetonka. All ages. Free. 4–5 p.m. Civic Center Park, 14600 Minnetonka Blvd., Minnetonka; 952.939.8203; minnetonkamn.gov
05.04
5K Fun Run
Join others for a fun Star Warsthemed 5K. All ages. $45–$70. 11 a.m. Back Channel Brewing Co., 4787 Shoreline Drive, Spring Park; morgan@breweryrunningseries.com; breweryrunningseries.com
05.07
Senior Choral: Spring Concert
Enjoy a performance by the Minnetonka Senior Choral at its spring concert. All ages. Free, advanced registration required. 7–8:30 p.m. Minnetonka Community Center, 14600 Minnetonka Blvd., Minnetonka; 952.401.5954; musicassociation.org
05.15
75th Anniversary Celebration
Join Senior Community Services in celebrating its 75th anniversary with live music, casino tables, raffle prizes and more. Ages 21 and older. $25–$75. 5:30–9:30 p.m. Medina Entertainment Center, 500 Highway 55, Medina; 952.541.0841; seniorcommunity.org
05.17
Tonka Youth Triathlon
Swim, bike and run in the Tonka Youth Triathlon. Ages kindergarten to eighth grade. $69 per athlete, $5 for the 100-yard dash. Race day begins at 7:30 a.m. Minnetonka Middle School East, 17000 Lake St. Extension, Minnetonka; 952.401.6800; minnetonkaschools.org
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05.30
Jazz Band Concert
Enjoy the Minnetonka Jazz Band during its spring concert. All ages. Free. 7:30–9 p.m. Minnetonka Community Center 14600, Minnetonka Blvd., Minnetonka; 952.401.5954; musicassociation.org
AREA EVENTS
05.11
Mother’s Day Concert
Celebrate Mother’s Day at the St. Paul Civic Symphony’s annual concert, Legendary Women All ages. Free. 1–3 p.m. Landmark Center, 75 Fifth St. W., St. Paul; 651.292.3225; landmarkcenter.org
05.16–05.18
An American in Paris
Enjoy the musical-inspired ballet and experience art and love through Paris in
the 1950s. All ages. Children/students $30, seniors $35, adults $40. Times vary. E.M. Pearson Theatre, 312 Hamline Ave. N., St. Paul; 651.313.5967; balletcolaboratory.org
05.24–05.25
Oddities and Curiosities Expo
Visit vendors, artists and small businesses for creative unique pieces. All ages. Tickets start at $11.55. 10 a.m.–4 p.m. Minneapolis Convention Center, 1301 Second Ave., Mpls.; 612.335.6000; minneapolis.org
To have your event considered: email lakeminnetonkamag@localmedia.co by the 10th of the month three months prior to publication. 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.
Preventative Care | Implants
Dentures | Braces and Invisalign Oral Surgeries | Teeth Whitening Crowns and Veneers
Improve your water quality, restore water oriented activities and increase the value of your property by controlling aquatic nuisance weeds this year. Aquacide products will help manage your recreational lake or pond to make the most of your property’s potential.
Aquacide Company Serving Minnesota Lakeshores 800.328.9350 killlakeweeds.com
Top Shave Lounge has got you covered. Book your appointment online or stop in for quality products.
Premier internet is essential for your daily life. Midco® is constructing the advanced fiber network and reliable connections you and your neighbors need to power tomorrow. Get ready for multi-gig speeds, enhanced security, unlimited data and so much more.
Immediate care for a quicker return to active
