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• Empowered, supported learning. Students are agents and owners of their learning in an environment that is safe, supportive and challenging — with high expectations for student success.

• Inspiring, nurturing educators. Our educators facilitate learning and challenge students — fostering curiosity and confidence.

• Transformative learning.

Our flexible learning spaces and learning studios ignite opportunities for communication, collaboration, creativity and critical thinking.

Photo: Carly Mac Photography

Twin Flames, page 12

FROM THE EDITOR

I’ve always been drawn to my family’s history. From a young age, I spent hours of family gatherings holed up in closets with albums and boxes of letters and images. Flipping through the pages, holding scallop-edged photographs and turning them over to memorize the names of my ancestors sparked in me an interest in documentation. I find myself today doing that very work, through both writing and photography. Weddings are one of my favorite places to be with my camera—rivaled only by the process of creating this weddings issue of White Bear Lake Magazine

I feel I’ve found a kindred spirit in one Emma Sharpe, who is also entranced by her family history. You can read about the journey of her heirloom wedding dress, which was lovingly altered by Reyna Becerra of Reyna’s Alterations, on page 8.

Happy stories are such a light in these times, and we’ve devoted this issue to love stories. On page 12, writer Jennifer Pitterle shares the multicultural wedding of White Bear Lake’s Nicholas Langevin to Chơnhạnh VũVân. And on page 20, Landon and Samantha Hoppe celebrate their reception at The Charleston Event Center, complete with a first dance on the patio under string lights, delicious food from Stonehouse Catering and stunning photos on a dock overlooking a serene pond.

There are infinite ways to celebrate love. While weddings are an important milestone for many, the building of years and life and love is just as beautiful. Writer Emily Gedde connected with Kelly Koerpel, the officiant and planner behind Cheers My Dears, to learn more about what vow renewals can look like. Koerpel has some sweet experiences to share from couples who are choosing to recommit to each other later in life. The story can be found on page 10.

Happy New Year, Readers!

Zoe Yates zoe@localmedia.co

On the Cover: Landon and Samantha Hoppe, page 20

by:

Photo: Chris Emeott

Photo

Hailey Nelson Photography

VOL. 13 NO. 3

January/February 2026

PUBLISHER

Susan Isay

EDITOR

Zoe Yates

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

Angie Hong, Cynthia Maya, Rachael Perron, Amelia Reigstad, Katie Tomsche and Kia White

DIGITAL INTERN

Claire Krieger

EDITORIAL INTERNS

Diane Meyer and Avery Vrieze

EDITORIAL ADVISORY BOARD

Kevin P. Donovan, White Bear Rotary ; Kelly Neeb, Greater White Bear Lake Community Foundation ; Lexi Munson, White Bear Center for the Arts ; and Russ Reetz, White Bear Lake Area High School

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

ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES

Rochita Chatterjee and Gina Neumann

PRESIDENT Pete Burgeson

Growing a Life Together

White Bear Township residents and small business owners Nick and Staci Andro will celebrate their 10th wedding anniversary this autumn. The couple tied the knot at a family cabin in Bemidji on October 8, 2016, surrounded by an array of locally grown flowers and pumpkins. The experience inspired Staci to start growing her own flowers, which snowballed into Hazel & Goose, an urban flower farm and floral studio. The Androses, who both grew up in the East Metro, are raising two kids, Crosby, 6, and Luna, 4, in a community they love. “With family ties and countless memories on its lakeshores, we knew this was the place we wanted to plant our roots,” Staci says. —Zoe Yates

Ring Tone

The tone we use within our conversations is like a superpower—one that we can use in positive or negative ways. Did you know tone of voice is the leading cause of miscommunication? Research tells us that 10 percent of conflict is due to a difference in opinion and 90 percent is due to the tone of voice. It’s important to think about what tone

you generally take and whether you have different tones with different people. (We tend to speak more poorly to the people we love the most.)

How you adjust your tone of voice, especially within partner conflict, can allow you to be a more compassionate communicator. Think about how much easier cake flavor decisions and invite

list discussions could be if we keep our tone of voice in check during wedding planning and preparations!

Amelia Reigstad, Ph.D., is a communication consultant, best-selling author and founder of The Women Collective, a curated retail experience in downtown White Bear Lake. Learn more at thewomencollective.com.

Photo: Shea Jurgensen Photography

A Story to Swoon Over

Sisters Emily Arcand and Stephanie Phenow are lifelong readers—and lovers of rollicking and romantic happily-ever-afters. The duo launched Swoonworthy Booksellers (swoonworthybooksellers.com) in early 2024. The heartfelt bookselling business is concentrated on romance novels and creating an uplifting space for readers of romance.

Arcand and Phenow have already felt the love at festivals and pop-up events around the Metro, as well as at their permanent “mini-bookstore” at The Women Collective. Excited customers have swarmed the sisters’ pretty pink bookstands, finding not only their next great love stories but a welcoming and enthusiastic community of similarly interested readers. “People love having a place to discuss the romance books they’re reading and discover new books,” Arcand says. “The squeals of delight and cackles that commonly come from our store speak for themselves.”

Looking for a book recommendation? Arcand and Phenow have their customers covered, whether you’re new to heart-throbs and love triangles or are already a seasoned slowburn savorer. For readers in the throes of wedding planning, Arcand recommends the Bridesmaid for Hire series by Meghan Quinn. —Diane Meyer

Showered in Flavor

Who says cake can only make an appearance at the wedding reception? Fresh lemon and almond extract marry to create this heavenly Lemon-Almond Ricotta Cake, which is rich and amazingly light. With simplicity and beauty, it’s perfect to serve at an engagement party or wedding shower celebration. Visit whitebearlakemag.com for the complete recipe.

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

Family Ties

Modern weddings bring heirlooms and heritage into focus.

By Zoe Yates

There’s a growing trend in the wedding industry—and it’s greater than basque waists and Espresso Martinis. Modern couples are exploring meaningful ways to incorporate their family and heritage into their wedding festivities, from memorial tables to moments of remembrance.

Even further, many couples choose to incorporate family heirlooms into their wedding attire—in ways big and small. Reyna Becerra, the founder of Reyna’s Alterations in White Bear Lake, has special projects like this on her docket at all times. She has sewn fabric hearts into dress linings, used a mother’s dress to create custom handkerchiefs and pocket squares for an entire wedding party, and made numerous getting-ready robes from ’80s satin gowns. “It’s so fun to see the smiles, the joy,” Becerra says. “I feel so confident that I can do things that some brides don't think is possible.”

It’s been more than 20 years since Becerra’s first legacy wedding dress project—and 40 years since she began working in the bridal industry. Her expertise and willingness to try new things have brought her numerous unique bridal projects. Over the years, Becerra has altered family wedding dresses to create modern rehearsal dinner and latenight reception gowns, often by dropping the neckline and “chopping” the skirt shorter. And for the brides who hope to wear a family dress when they say “I do,” Becerra is ready to infuse new life into beloved heirlooms.

Emma Sharpe, the fourth woman in her family to wear this handmade gown, poses with a photo of her grandmother, Alvera Nichols Kemper, taken in 1948 on her wedding day.

Last year, she worked with the Sheldon family of Lino Lakes to alter a dress with a distinctive legacy. Made and designed by Eva Skoog Winters for her daughter, Alvera Nichols Kemper, in 1948, the satin gown was later worn by Kemper’s daughters—Kathleen Kemper Picard in 1981, and Ann Kemper Sheldon in 1995. Thirty years later, on October 4, 2025, Sheldon’s daughter, Emma Sharpe (née Sheldon) became the fourth woman in the family to walk down the aisle in the now 77-year-old gown.

The women in the family joke that they are “the sisterhood of the traveling wedding dress,” Sheldon says. “This has been touched by some of the greatest women I know,” she says, holding back tears. “We’re all different shapes and sizes, but we’re all going to wear this family heirloom.”

When Sharpe first tried on the gown, with its high neckline and buttons down the back, the seams began to fall apart before her eyes. The family came to Becerra with fingers crossed, hoping that she would take the project on. And she did, altering the dress to fit Sharpe’s tall frame and resewing most of the seams. She added new lace to the bodice and the hem, along with mother-of-pearl buttons to replace the worn originals. As Becerra worked, she even referenced a picture of the original pattern, kept for all these years. “I try and try until I get it done,” Becerra says. “I like challenges.”

Over the past year, the family watched the dress transform at multiple fittings at Reyna’s Alterations. “[It’s not] my dress anymore. Not my mom’s dress. Not my sister’s dress. Now, it’s Emma’s dress,” Sheldon says. “It’s not anything like the dresses that we see on her friends, but she loves it. She has always loved family, like this is the kid that is going to keep all the family heirlooms. And she’s the one that’s going to keep us alive.”

Messenger of Love

Vow renewal ceremonies celebrate couples growing together.

By Emily Gedde

When Debby and Jim Dalfanso decided to renew their wedding vows for a milestone anniversary, the couple wanted someone they felt comfortable with and trusted to reunite them in love after two decades of marriage.

White Bear Lake’s Kelly Koerpel was the perfect fit.

The owner of event design boutique Cheers My Dears, Koerpel loves love. A certified ceremony officiant and experienced wedding planner, she has spent the past 15 years serving couples on their wedding days and

beyond. Vow renewals, like the Dalfanso’s, are extra special. “These ceremonies show that after however many years of marriage, you are different people, yet the same at your core as a couple,” Koerpel says, adding that vow renewal ceremonies can be anything the couple desires. There are no rules, just memorable moments.

The Dalfansos found themselves opting for a simpler celebration. The pair renewed their vows on a golf course in Florida on their 21st anniversary, drinking Champagne and

enjoying each other’s company. “We had gotten married young, and we had grown a lot as a couple,” Debby says. “When we got married, there was a lot of razzle dazzle … after a considerable amount of time together, it’s not about the party or the jewelry; it’s the connection. We wanted to celebrate that.”

There’s no right or wrong time for a vow renewal celebration. It can take place five or 50 years after the wedding and can be sparked by a variety of reasons. “I’ve done vow renewal ceremonies that are part of a

family reunion,” Koerpel says. “Those are special because the whole family is together.”

For couples who perhaps never had the wedding they dreamed of, a vow renewal can be an opportunity to create a special moment and new memories. “It’s not about the dress or the venue,” Koerpel says. “It’s about the words, the people and the love.”

Others have taken place when couples recommit to each other after a period of separation. “They’ve come out on the other side, and they want to celebrate that with each other and a lot of times, their families,” Koerpel says. “They renew vows to celebrate resilience.”

Couples deserve a pat on the back for everything they’ve been through, Debby says, adding, “Kelly was the perfect person to help us celebrate that. She has the ability to make you feel like she’s known you forever. That connection she has with people is special. She really sees people.”

Each ceremony, couple and vow make an impression, reminding Koerpel why she continues to do this work. “I am a messenger of love and hope,” she says. “I love to be able to create this space for people.”

Cheers My Dears cheersmydears.me

Cheers My Dears

Kelly Koerpel leads Debby and Jim Dalfonso through their vow renewal ceremony at a golf course in Florida.

TWIN FLAMES

A multicultural wedding honors both American and Vietnamese traditions.

When Chơnhạnh VũVân and Nicholas Langevin met in 2015, they were University of Minnesota undergrads on the lookout for new friends in their dorm. Langevin, who grew up in White Bear Lake, proposed in August 2023 during a trip to Vietnam to visit VũVân’s extended family. The beautiful setting of their engagement, on a lagoon with mountains as a backdrop, would foreshadow the multicultural focus of their wedding, which incorporated many Vietnamese traditions.

Written

Left: The couple at their American-style wedding ceremony at Abella Weddings and Events in Chisago City

Right: The traditional Vietnamese wedding ceremony took place at Chùa Phât-Ân Vietnamese Buddhist Temple in Roseville.

by Jennifer Pitterle

Photos by Carly Mac Photography

VũVân and Langevin’s wedding spanned two summer days. On June 23, they held a traditional Vietnamese tea ceremony with their immediate families in VũVân’s parents’ Maplewood home. “It’s kind of like the woman saying goodbye to her family because she’ll be living with her husband now. The couple also gets blessings from the ancestors and thanks them for all they’ve done,” she says.

Afterward, the couple joined 200 guests at the Chùa Phật-Ân Vietnamese Buddhist Temple in Roseville, which VũVân says has been a longtime spiritual home for her and her family. After a lively lion dance to bring good luck and ward off evil spirits, the couple and their wedding party processed into the temple for the traditional Vietnamese wedding ceremony, officiated by the temple masters.

For the first day’s festivities, VũVân wore the traditional áo dài (a long, split tunic over trousers) and headpiece in red. “Red symbolizes good luck and bringing good wealth into the marriage,” she says. Langevin (in blue) and the wedding party also wore custommade áo dàis shipped from Vietnam. VũVân’s grandmother, who lives in Vietnam, woke up at 2 a.m. in her time zone so she could watch the ceremony via FaceTime at 5 a.m. “It’s hard for my extended family to travel out of the country,” VũVân says. “That’s why having our engagement in Vietnam was so important— to make sure they were all part of it.”

Top Left: Details from the couple’s ceremony at Chùa Phât-Ân Vietnamese Buddhist Temple.

Bottom Left: The festivities began with a traditional Vietnamese tea ceremony with their immediate families.

Right: The couple wore traditional áo dàis in red and blue for their Vietnamese wedding festivities.

The wedding party rose bright and early on June 24 to prepare for their American-style ceremony and reception at Abella Weddings and Events in Chisago City. VũVân wore a white Lillian West gown, and Langevin donned a navy Knights Chamber suit.

“It was important to us to include both Vietnamese and English,” VũVân says. “I said my vows in Vietnamese, and then Nick would repeat them in English and vice versa. It was really special.” All of the wedding’s cards and signs were in both languages too.

An interpreter was on hand both Friday and Saturday to ensure all of the couple’s family and friends could participate in—and enjoy—every element of their multicultural, multilingual celebration.

For the evening’s reception, VũVân’s family handcrafted each piece of the decor, down to hand-tied flower bouquets. For dessert, the couple offered Ben & Jerry’s ice cream as a personal touch. “It’s my favorite treat—and I think our guests still talk about it,” VũVân says. “But every piece of our wedding felt really special.”

Top Left: Guests arrived at the venue via a picturesque trolley.

Bottom Left: The event stationery was designed and printed through Truly Engaging.

Right: The couple captured portraits overlooking the fields at Abella Weddings and Events.

VENDORS

Bridal Attire: Our Shop Bridal, ourshopbridal.com

Bridal Alterations: Custom Sewing by Heather, customsewingbyheather.com

Bridesmaid Attire: Azazie, azazie.com

Catering: Thanh Luong Vegetarian, thanhluongchay.com (Friday); Fork & Flair, forkandflair.com (Saturday)

Dessert: Ben & Jerry’s, benjerry.com; Dorothy Ann Bakery, dorothyannbakery.com; Nothing Bundt Cakes, nothingbundtcakes.com

Event Coordinator: Honey b. Weddings, honeybweddings.com

Groom and Groomsmen Attire: Knights Chamber Clothiers, knightschamber.store

Hair: Michelle Cain Langevin (Friday); Hair by BK, hairbybk.com (Saturday)

Jewelry: Shane Co., shaneco.com

Makeup: Tiaj Xiong (Friday); LHN Beauty, lhnbeauty.com (Saturday)

Photography: Carly Mac Photography, carlymacphotography.com

Stationery: Truly Engaging, trulyengaging.com

Venue: Chùa Phật Ân Temple, phatan.org (Friday); Abella Weddings and Events, abellaweddingsandevents.com (Saturday)

Videography: Make Your Memory, makeyourmemory.co

Create your dream wedding with a thoughtfully elegant country club experience at Dellwood Country Club. Beyond a standard venue, we provide exceptional service and curated amenities. Our casually elegant clubhouse is just 20 minutes from Minneapolis and St. Paul, and we warmly welcome outside events—no membership needed to celebrate with us. 29 Highway 96 E, Dellwood 651.426.3218 dellwoodcountryclub.com/weddings @dellwoodccweddings

Written by Zoe Yates

Photos by Hailey Nelson Photography

AN EVENING AT THE CHARLESTON

The historic mansion provides a serene setting for one couple’s June nuptials.

Leading up to Landon and Samantha (née Maul) Hoppe’s June wedding, the forecast called for a 99 percent chance of rain—and rain it did. As the pair exchanged vows at Gloria Dei Lutheran Church in St. Paul, surrounded by 170 of their closest family members and friends, rain pattered against the stained glass.

But after the rings were exchanged, kisses shared and the marriage license signed, the Hoppes exited the church to good weather. “It just quit raining the entire day and was sunny and beautiful,” Landon says. “It was a blessing.”

The flow of the day was of the utmost importance to the Hoppes, and they chose The Charleston Event Center in White Bear Lake as their reception venue for its blend of beautiful indoor and outdoor spaces. “[We] just fell in love with The Charleston Event Center’s team and just the aesthetic of the space,” Samantha says. Guests arrived for a cocktail hour on The Charleston’s main floor with windows overlooking the idyllic pond and patio. “It was very peaceful,” Samantha says.

Dinner was served in the elegant ballroom on the lower level. The meal was a priority for the Hoppes, who did multiple tastings before settling on Stonehouse Catering. Dinner started with a Caesar Salad, followed by a main course of Marry Me Chicken or Braised Beef served with mashed potatoes and green beans almondine, and a vegetarian pasta option. Stonehouse also provided a selection of mini desserts for guests, and the

head table shared a small marble cake with vanilla buttercream made by Queen of Cakes. Samantha fondly remembers her first dance on the patio with her father, Jeremy Maul, to the tune of The Skye Boat Song, the main theme of the TV show Outlander, “a show that we both enjoy,” Samantha adds. Maul, of Scottish heritage, donned a kilt for the occasion. “I don’t know if it was the kilt or just the enthusiasm of our dancing, but he almost dropped me,” Samantha says, describing a moment where the duo nearly fell over. “It was a silly moment that definitely stuck with me.”

As the sun set, the couple walked out to the pond to enjoy a serene moment together. As they turned to head back to the party, Landon recalls the moment he caught sight of their guests, dancing and laughing on the patio. It remains his favorite memory of the day. “It just really made me think of how appreciative we are … looking out and seeing everyone having a great time,” he says.

Left: The Hoppes met as children in a 4H Club in the Mankato area. Years later, they exchanged personal vows at Gloria Dei Lutheran Church in St. Paul.

Right: Samantha Hoppe wore a sheath dress with a statement-making detachable bow, complemented by a cathedral veil handmade by her great aunt, Lori. Landon Hoppe selected a blue suit, along with a set of cufflinks and a watch that belonged to his late grandfather.

VENDORS

Bar and Beverages

Complete Beverage, completebeverage.com

Bridal Attire

My Darling Bridal, mydarlingbridalmn.com

Cake Queen of Cakes, queen-of-cakes.com

Catering Stonehouse Catering, stonehousemn.com

Ceremony Venue and Music

Gloria Dei Lutheran Church, gloriadeistpaul.org

Trustworthy Music, trustworthymusic.com

Floral and Rentals Style Society, stylesocietymn.com

Groom’s Attire

Graif Clothing, graifclothing.com

Hair and Makeup

Taylor Marie Beauty, taylormariebeauty.com

Linens Encore Events, encoreevents.biz

Photography

Hailey Nelson Photography, haileynelsonphotography.com

Reception Venue

The Charleston Event Center, charlestoneventcenter.com

Transportation

Rent My Party Bus, rentmypartybus.com

RAISING THE BAR

Written by Hailey Almsted and Zoe Yates

Photo:

he vows are exchanged, the kiss has sealed the marriage—and now it’s time to celebrate in style. Add a memorable touch to your cocktail hour and reception with a mobile bar that brings charm to the big day. Whether it’s a vintage camper or a chic tap trailer, these bars add an unforgettable (and Instagrammable!) twist to wedding festivities.

From the bartenders and staff to its three mobile bars, Lakeland-based Give Us A Shot Bartending offers several concepts. Serve four on-tap alcoholic and nonalcoholic beverages with the 4 Tap Mobile Bar. (No bartender or electricity required.) Enjoy a pre- or post-ceremony drink with the Champagne Cart. The fun continues with the Tap Cart, a compact cart on wheels that has all the basics. Plus, equipment rentals (and all concepts as mentioned earlier) are available via its sister business, Bars and Bubbly. “I like being face-to-face with people. To me, that’s exciting,” co-owner Ron Hilpish says. “[The

mobile bars] give the event an upscale feel and give people something to talk about.” giveusashot.com and barsandbubbly.com

Tipsi ’Tini Events brings a luxury take to the mobile bar concept in Minnesota and Wisconsin. The Lindstrom-based company’s Tapper Trailer is a self-serve solution for private events, offering four customizable taps that can pour a variety of beer, cocktails, mocktails, soda and wine. The trailer achieves a modern, elevated look with pine boards and black hardware with a stunning marble hexagonal backsplash. The trailer doesn’t require any electrical hookup or generator; it’s run off of ice. Tipsi ’Tini works with clients to build a shopping list, using client-purchased ingredients to fill kegs. The team will stay nearby to refill kegs if needed, and clients have the option to add a bartender to their package to mix drinks for guests. thetipsytini.com

Wanderlust MN Mobile Bar was created

by North St. Paul resident Candice Mich.

The business specializes in custom cocktail menus, nonalcoholic options, signature cocktails and more.“What I love most about Wanderlust is the ability to be personable with clients,” Mich says. “I take the time to get to know who [clients] are and what they like, so I can customize their menu … Every event becomes an opportunity to create something unique and memorable.” wanderlustmnmobilebar.com

Area mobile bars operate as a dry-hire service in compliance with Minnesota and Wisconsin state liquor laws that require a business to operate in a brick-and-mortar to obtain a liquor license. This means that clients or event hosts are responsible for supplying and purchasing any alcoholic products, while the mobile bar provides a range of bartending services, as well as bar set-ups, garnishes and mixers.

Photo:

The Tapper Trailer, a mobile bar by Tipsi ’Tini Events, has a chic, elevated look and is run off of ice, so it doesn’t require any electrical hookup.

AN EXPERT’S TAKE ON SIGNATURE COCKTAILS

Katie Olson, bar manager at The Alchemist, is a master mixologist with a penchant for creating bespoke cocktails. Olson’s top piece of advice for finding and choosing signature cocktails for a wedding is to keep an open mind. “Meet your mixologist, sit down with them, tell them what you enjoy [and] tell them what you don’t like,” Olson says. “Give them the freedom to surprise you.”

Olson encourages couples to choose something they love—and stop worrying about the masses. “Your cocktail is an expression of yourself … [your guests] are here for you, and I think that you should choose something that shows a little bit about who you are,” Olson says.

We asked Olson to dream up inventive cocktails for weddings through the seasons.

For spring nuptials with an artful focus, Olson’s mind immediately goes to glassware. “I would have some really nice antique, thrifted glasses, and every glass is different,” she says. Flavors would be out-of-the-box, a Japanese vodka or gin-based beverage with coconut cream syrup with hints of pandan or lychee. “Maybe some boba jellies in there,” Olson says. “Taro [powder] would make it purple!”

The perfect cocktail for a summer garden party? “I’m thinking pink,” Olson says without hesitation. Vodka would be the ideal base for a cocktail that features refreshing, seasonal ingredients like cucumber-strawberry or kiwi and is topped with cava, a Spanish sparkling wine. “Definitely a vintage flute for that one,” Olson adds.

For an autumn wedding in a more rustic, rural setting, “I would definitely choose a dark spirit,” Olson says. She dreams up a cozy, spiced cocktail that features mulled bitters and 2XO American Oak Bourbon, a brand with a small-town feel. “You want to taste your experience,” Olson says.

For a classic, black-tie winter celebration, Olson is drawn to cocktails that evoke that late-night feeling, with a darker spirit like Ardbeg Heavy Vapors and chocolate bitters. An elegant alternative would revolve around Grey Whale gin, finished with lavender bitters, honey and lemon. “Maybe even infusing the gin with butterfly pea [or] adding some ginger to give it a bit of spice,” Olson says, adding that she’d finish this cocktail with a hint of glitter.

The Alchemist thealchemistwbl.com @thealchemistwbl

Your Community, Your Vote

Let’s start the year with some exciting news. Best of White Bear Lake is moving—to February! We think it’s a perfect fit. After all, 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 whitebearlakemag.com and an entire month for readers to make their selections for their favorites in more than 70 categories, including our inaugural wedding section. Another special feature this year includes the opportunity to vote each day of the contest. Cast your votes before 5 p.m. February 28, and watch for the list of finalists on our website on March 16. Find additional details and rules online. —Editorial Staff

Offering reliable, personalized, and flexible dog care backed by 15 years of experience. Customized services include daily walks and in-home sitting. Call or text to discuss your dog’s needs.

01.08

Lunchtime Networking

Local business owners and entrepreneurs will enjoy an afternoon of networking and dining from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at 7 Vines Vineyard and Winery. whitebearchamber.com

01.17

Winter Open House

A favorite tradition of the White Bear Center for the Arts, this familyfriendly event invites community members to an afternoon of creative activities and live demos from local artists. Time TBA. whitebeararts.org

01.19

Open Skating

On Martin Luther King Jr. Day, the Hippodrome Ice Arena will host special open skating hours from 2:15 to 3:45 p.m. and welcomes all ages to the ice. communityservices.isd624.org

01.29

Puzzle Competition

Form a team of four and race against other teams to complete a 500-piece puzzle. The competition will start at 5:30 p.m. at the District Education Center, and prizes will be awarded to the top three finishers. communityed.mahtomedi.k12.mn.us

02.14

Winter Farmers Market

Celebrate the final day of the White Bear Lake Winter Farmers Market, which hosts over 30 local food vendors. Visitors can shop and snack from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m. at White Bear Lake Area High School while enjoying complimentary hot apple cider from Pine Tree Apple Orchard. forksinthedirt.com

02.20–03.01

10-Minute Play Festival

Hosted at the West Campus Theatre at Walk A Dog! Reliable, Personal, and Flexible Dog Care!

651.492.8961

Children’s Discovery is a local, family-owned child care center. Our mission is to serve families through the exceptional care and education of children. Discover the di erence today!

Century College in collaboration with the Lakeshore Players Theatre, this communitydriven festival will feature a variety of original shows submitted by playwrights from all over the world. lakeshoreplayers.org

02.21, 02.22

From Broadway to Billboard

Enjoy lively performances of chart toppers and spirited showstoppers by the Lakeshore Players. Performances will be at 7 p.m. on Saturday and at 2 p.m. on Sunday at the Hanifl Performing Arts Center. lakeshoreplayers.org

02.28

The Grunch

In this creative holiday spinoff performed by Mahtomedi elementary schoolers, a grumpy sixth-grader learns to love the spirit of theater. The family-friendly show will take place at 4 p.m. at the Ashland Theatre. communityed.mahtomedi.k12.mn.us

Compiled by Diane Meyer and Avery Vrieze

To have your event considered: email whitebearlakemag@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.

skelly@sheilakellylaw.com sheilakellylaw.com

612.208.3691

gina@localmedia.co

Open Skating at the Hippodrome

Once Upon a June Day

Mahtomedi native Emma Richter tied the knot with Cameron Monson on June 14 at The Whim in Minneapolis. The wedding highlighted White Bear Lake area small businesses with lush floral arrangements from Hazel & Goose and a decadent white two-tier cake and desserts made by 350 Degrees Bakery. The couple focused on creating a memorable Bridgerton -inspired atmosphere for their guests with live music from the Loring String Quartet and a signature scent of peonies, made possible by diffusers placed around the venue. —Zoe Yates

Photo: Brooke Willenbring, brookewimages

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