White Bear Lake - May 2025 by Local.

Jay Rendall’s upcoming book focuses on an early industry of White

THE BOAT BUILDER CHRONICLES

Bear Lake

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MAY/JUNE

2025

“It is not in the stars to hold our destiny but in ourselves.” —William Shakespeare, English playwright and poet

To Meteor and Beyond, page 28

Photo: Chris Emeott

from the EDITOR

There’s nothing better than a clear summer night, when the stars shine clear in the dark sky. I often stop and stare on my way back inside after closing up the chicken coop. It’s a reminder of the vastness of the world—of opportunity, of human experience and of life.

As our team put this issue together, the cosmos became a clear theme tying the stories together. This is most obvious in our Tastemakers section, where I connected with Meteor and Stargazer owner and founder Robb Jones, an innovative Minneapolis bartender who grew up in White Bear Lake. Jones has focused the past five years on creating bars that fill a gap in the Minneapolis bar scene. His newest project is a response to unjustifiable cocktail prices—at Stargazer, fancy cocktails are worth every penny (page 28).

Elite trail runner Rachel Drake has spent many nights racing through moonlit mountain forests. We connected with Drake, a White Bear Lake Area High School graduate, to learn about her journey from high school track phenom to a world-class ultramarathon runner (page 16). Drake is the daughter of Craig and Gloria Drake—two exceptional community leaders and volunteers.

And speaking of outstanding community members, we connected with Jay Rendall—an area sailor and coach—about a project 15 years in the making. Rendall is currently finishing up a book focused on the boat builders of White Bear Lake. He’s uncovered never-beforeseen documents and photographs, and the book is set to reveal some remarkable stories of prominent figures in this community’s boat building history. Read about his progress and some highlights on page 20.

What’s more? We’re also talking about birds, regenerative travel and a new student-led coffee shop. I’m thrilled to share these stories with you, Readers.

As we ease into warm, clear evenings, don’t forget to step outside, look up and revel in the beauty of our world.

Until next time,

Jay Rendall, Photo by Chris Emeott, page 20

Zoe Yates zoe@localmedia.co

Photo: Chris Emeott

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, Daniel Huss, Jennifer Pitterle and Rachel Schuehle

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Alexandra Eve, Ellie Fuelling, Kelly Neeb, Katie Tomsche and Kia White

DIGITAL INTERN

Taylor Hamilton

EDITORIAL INTERNS

Ellie Heyerdahl and Emma Souza

EDITORIAL ADVISORY BOARD

Kevin P. Donovan, White Bear Rotary ; Kelly Neeb, community volunteer ; 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, Mary-Catherine Hartel and Sara Johnson

PRESIDENT Pete Burgeson

• Student-centered instruction. We believe all students grow and learn in different ways and at different rates, all can achieve.

• More academic opportunities to explore interests, excel and design your future.

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

• Our educators inspire, facilitate, and challenge students, nurturing curiosity and confidence. We provide a window to their future.

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

YOUR WEDDING, OUR PAGES

Your wedding is one of the most important days of your life—filled with romance, the love of family and friends and, of course, all those wonderful, unforgettable details. At White Bear Lake Magazine, we embrace celebrating local love stories, and we want to feature yours.

We’re interested in showcasing your extraordinary wedding in our very special wedding issue, which will be published in January/ February 2026. Your wedding could be featured alongside articles that highlight premier,

local businesses in the wedding industry and information important to others planning their upcoming nuptials.

Was your wedding (or one you photographed!) an elegant, one-of-a-kind celebration? Were your guests treated to a black-tie affair, a lavish destination event or a curated soirée? From couture fashion and bespoke décor to breathtaking venues and personal touches, we’re looking for weddings that stand out and inspire. —Editorial Staff

To be considered, wedding gallery submissions will be accepted from May 1 through September 1, 2025, for weddings that took place from September 1, 2024, onward.

For all submission requirements, guidelines and FAQs, visit whitebearlakemag.com.

VIEW

Soil Song

Unearthed 3, mixed media on cradled canvas.

What does earth sound like? This is a question that artist Brianna Harrington asks in her series Soil Song: Exploring the Decaying Vibrancy of the World’s Soil, which was on display at White Bear Center for the Arts this winter.

Harrington, an artist who has always been interested in environmentalism and our connection to nature, created this series of paintings by collecting soil from local parks and combining it with paint to create abstracted scenes. She is interested in the sound coming from the soil, a term called ecoacoustics. Healthy soil will have an abundance of worms, insects and microbes, all of which make sound. Depleted soil, on the other hand, is much quieter, with fewer life forms making a ruckus. In the next year, Harrington hopes to continue the Soil Song series by recording the soil to see how the land has changed over time. “I’m excited to see how this idea evolves and take people on the journey of being curious about our world with me,” she says.

Ellie Fuelling is the communications manager at White Bear Center for the Arts. Learn more at whitebeararts.org.

summers

A Bonfe tune-up ensures your system runs e ciently, helps prevent breakdowns, and keeps your home cool when it matters most.

Our professional technicians know their craft, respect your home, and make maintenance easy. Because your comfort is our family’s priority.

Photo: Brianna Harrington

EXPLORE

Anna Rauk Mitchell is a veterinarian at Birch Lake Animal Hospital whose dogs, Babs and Dart, have unique backstories from Up North. Mitchell, in addition to her seven years at Birch Lake, has

SIP

LILLET SPRITZ

Lillet (pronounced lil-lay) is an aperitif wine made with Bordeaux grapes and citrus liqueurs, and if you haven’t tried it, you’re in for a treat. It’s mellow and smooth with hints of honey and herbs—perfect in a refreshing, low-ABV spring or summer spritz.

Lillet Spritz

» 4 oz. Lillet Blanc

» Angostura bitters

» ice

» 2 strawberries, one sliced and one whole, divided

» 3 oz. tonic water

» orange twist, for garnish

In a highball glass, combine the Lillet Blanc and 2 dashes of bitters. Stir to combine. Fill the glass with ice, layering the ice with the strawberry slices. Top the cocktail with the tonic water. Squeeze the orange twist over the glass to release a fragrant mist of citrus oil. Garnish with the orange twist and a whole strawberry.

For more refreshing cocktail inspiration, including an innovative French 7Tea5 recipe, visit whitebearlakemag.com.

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

served in the Peace Corps, Veterinarians Without Borders and as a vet at the John Beargrease Sled Dog Marathon race. —Zoe Yates

The following answers from Mitchell have been condensed for space.

Dogs: Babs and Dart

Ages: 8 and 15

Breed: Alaskan Husky

How you met: I used to work up in Ely at the Ely Vet Clinic. One of my coworkers up there was a musher. I found them both through her. Dart, I got at age 3 because she just didn’t want to be a sled dog. Babs actually ran the Iditarod the year before I got him, and then he was on the winning team of the Beargrease. He was 70 miles into the UP 200 race, and the vet team at one of the checkpoints heard an

arrhythmia and pulled him from the race. I heard through the grapevine that this had happened and ended up adopting him and having him assessed by a cardiologist and getting the right treatment.

Favorite traits: They definitely aren’t for everybody because huskies, as a breed, can be stinkers. If they don’t get enough exercise, they look for other ways to utilize that energy. We’re blessed to have a large fenced-in area where they can chase each other around, and my husband and I are both runners, so they work really well for our family.

More to know about former sled dogs: They very much have an on/off switch. Although Babs has run some pretty elite races, they learn that when you’re relaxing you’re really relaxing. And then when you’re on, you’re really on.

Meet

Anna Rauk Mitchell and Dart in the Boundary Waters.

It’s a Wrap

Put a new spin on housewarming gifts for homeowners. Encourage a new hobby or a way to enjoy a bit of outdoor living by gifting a birdhouse, feeder or a bird identification book. There are several options at White Bear Lake’s All Seasons Wild Bird Store and wildbirdstore.com.

Staff points to Birds of Minnesota Field Guide by Stan Tekiela, respected Twin Cities author, naturalist and wildlife photographer. The field guide groups birds by color, making it a great and easy-to-use choice for birdwatchers and children.

Visit page 12 to read more about how to offer proper accommodations and feed for feathered backyard visitors. —Mollee Francisco

June 16th-20th

DESTINATIONS

Wander Wisely

Travel agent Mallory Tolbert shares her tips for sustainable and regenerative adventures.

By Jennifer Pitterle

Mallory Tolbert, owner of White Bear Lake’s True North Travel Co., is working to reshape the way we think about travel. She guides her clients toward experiences that not only don’t harm their vacation destinations (i.e. sustainable travel), but

actually have a positive impact on the people and ecosystems they touch—a practice called regenerative travel.

“Regenerative travel is about actively contributing to the places we visit— whether that’s through supporting local communities, preserving the environment or restoring natural ecosystems,” Tolbert says. “It’s asking, ‘How can I leave this place better than I found it?’”

Tolbert says several factors are behind the increased awareness and popularity of regenerative travel. “Partly, it’s about protecting these destinations for future generations,” she says. “... People are realizing their environmental footprint matters.” Today’s travelers are simply looking for more meaningful experiences—not just to sightsee, but to engage with the communities they visit, especially after the isolation of COVID-19.

Tolbert, who has more than a decade of experience in the travel and tourism industry, creates detailed destination guides, with impact reports, to help her clients select accommodations that prioritize environmental conservation, support local economies and preserve cultural traditions. “Money talks. We want to keep the money in the destination instead of giving these multimillionaire resort owners more of our dollars,” Tolbert says.

As an example, Tolbert cites one of her favorite itineraries: a trip to Victoria Falls and the Okavango Delta in Botswana and Zimbabwe. She encourages travelers to spend a few days at Matetsi Victoria Falls, a lodge that funds anti-poaching initiatives and restores wildlife corridors on its private reserve. Next, transfer to the &Beyond Nxabega Okavango Tented Camp, which offers luxury tent suites

Photo: Matetsi Victoria Falls

Matetsi Victoria Falls Lodge is a conservation-focused and regenerative lodge in Zimbabwe.

TRAVEL WITH HEART

Mallory Tolbert shares her top tips for planning a regenerative trip.

1. Look beyond the big names. “Many of these huge resorts are siphoning money out of the destinations and paying abysmal rates to their workers,” Tolbert says. Locally owned hotels and lodges keep funds right in the community.

2. Ask about sustainability. Before you book a hotel or tour, email the operators to find out about their sustainability initiatives, including any certifications from third parties like Green Globe or Travelife.

3. Engage in local culture. “Participate in experiences that improve destinations,” Tolbert says, like visiting a market or co-op, helping with a reforestation project or simply booking tours with a guide who can connect you with the community.

4. Watch out for “greenwashing,” which are vague claims of being eco-friendly or sustainable. “Look for specific initiatives and transparent practices,” Tolbert says.

and education about local cultural traditions. “You can also visit a local primary school and market to get insight into traditional lifestyle and support local artisans,” Tolbert says. A six-night trip to these destinations starts at around $12,000 per person and includes accommodations, meals and beverages, guided excursions and contributions to conservation initiatives.

Even if you’re not ready to book a big trip with an agent, you can use Tolbert’s strategies to make your next adventure a more sustainable one. “It would mean so much if I just knew that this was on someone’s mind the next time they’re booking a trip,” Tolbert says. “You can have such an impact with just getting on a plane.”

truenorthtravelco.com

True North Travel Co. @truenorthtravel_co

OUTDOOR LIVING

Feathering Their Nest

Birds are welcome additions to any outdoor landscape.

By Mollee Francisco and Zoe Yates

As we take an extra look at outdoor living in this issue, why not educate ourselves about housing birds, our winged neighbors that do so much to fortify natural habitats and provide hours of enjoyment to novice and dedicated birdwatchers?

While birdhouses aren’t one-size-fitsall, some good starter homes appeal to the masses. We asked Katie Cunningham, a sales associate at All Seasons Wild Bird Store in White Bear Lake, for recommendations for birdhouses, feeders and feed.

For starters, what do we need to know when birdhouse shopping? There is a variety to choose from, but remember that the size of a birdhouse’s portal opening indicates what type of bird it is suited for. For example, wrens need a 1 1/8-inch entry that’s 3 to 6 inches from the base of the house, and chickadees require 1 1/4-inch openings that are 8 inches up. “Bluebirds nest in specific boxes and in specific habitat areas that are conducive to their needs,” Cunningham says. Perches, while adding a certain curb appeal, aren’t needed, but good ventilation is important. A post model with a squirrel baffle is the most predator-proof.

Should we place nesting materials in birdhouses?

Katie Cunningham (KC): There is no need to place materials in a birdhouse. Birds are resourceful creatures. They may even take out the material you put in, thinking it was from other birds. It can be helpful to provide nesting materials that include grass clippings, small pieces of straw and piles of small twigs but not human hair, string or yarn or dryer lint. Tip: The end of the nesting season is the

best time to clean out nesting materials. Use warm, soapy water and air dry. Some birds (bluebirds and house wrens, for example), nest more than once a year, so be aware and clean out those houses after each nesting. Cunningham also recommends rechecking the houses in early spring to make sure no overwintering critters have left a mess.

What is a good starter bird feeder?

KC: If you want to begin feeding our fine feathered friends, a good tube feeder is your best bet. You can also add a weather guard on top to protect your seed from rain and subsequent molding or a tray to catch the seed. Tip: Cleaning out enclosed feeders once a quarter is ideal. Empty out the food, soak the feeder overnight in water and gentle dish soap. Use a bottle brush to scrub the interior, and rinse.

What are some birdseed options?

KC: There is a large variety of seed to feed birds. It depends on what type of birds you want to attract and feed. There is the traditional black oil sunflower seeds. Many birds eat this staple. There [are] peanuts for woodpeckers, cardinals and blue jays. Suet is a treat for all woodpeckers, thistle for finches and jellies for orioles. If you are trying to dissuade the squirrels, then golden safflower is a good one. If you don’t want all the mess around the base of your feeders, then there is "no mess" seed. Another popular type is the compressed seed cakes shaped like cylinders.

What about squirrels?

KC: If you decide to feed the birds in your yard, then you will inevitably enter the “squirrel wars.” You will win some of these battles, but so will they. There are squirrel-proof feeders, which work pretty well. There are baffles for your poles, and hot pepper seed is an option. It is a continual challenge of back-and-forth. Of course, you can always feed them.

On School Grounds

White Bear Lake Area High School launches a student-run coffee shop.

By Daniel Huss

If a bookstore can house a coffee shop, why can’t a high school do the same? That’s not exactly the conversation a group of White Bear Lake Area High School (WBLAHS) students had with their media specialist, Lindsay Lamwers, back in 2018, but it was similar. Prophetically similar.

The students pitched the plan to the administration, raised funds and came up with recipes. “[The students] did their homework,” Lamwers says.

Once approved, students at South Campus solicited and voted on names and logos for the coffee shop. School Grounds beat out options like Bearibou, Bears Den, Bearly Awake and Books ’N Beans, and opened in the South Campus concession stand in spring 2020. In 2024, it moved to a dedicated space in the new unified high school building.

School Grounds is a half-credit elective open to juniors and seniors interested in learning about the food service industry.

Students work directly with school staff and local businesses, gaining real-world experience in the process.

“They register for it, just like any class,” says Christina Freeman, School Grounds advisor and family and consumer sciences teacher. “... Our goal is to have at least four kids each hour of the [six period] day.” Lunchtime is the exception, with seven students rotating shifts through the rush. “During lunch, there’s always a line,” Freeman says.

A big day at School Grounds generates $1,000 in sales. An average day falls in the $400–$600 range. Low price points (a latte is $2.50) limit profits, which go right back into keeping the shop stocked.

Beverages are sold in 12-ounce sizes or smaller. “Everything they sell has to meet USDA Smart Snack Standards,” says Bridget Lehn, the district’s nutrition director. “There are limits on calories and sugar.”

While Lilly Seifried works at the coffee shop, she’s new to coffee. “My friends

were always going to coffee shops, and I finally gave in,” she says.

Lilly didn’t know how to make a mocha when she started working at School Grounds during the first semester of her senior year. Now, she’s suggesting new offerings. “It’s a good place to learn about customer service,” Lilly says. “I like people, and I like conversation.”

Aside from classic coffee offerings, School Grounds’ top sellers are refreshers—drinks made by combining juice concentrate, water, lemonade and unique flavors like Strawberry Açaí and Elderberry Dragon Fruit. “Our first-semester students figured out what they wanted to offer. Our second-semester students [will] roll with the basics that we came up with,” Freeman says. The seasonal specials are all dreamed up by inventive students, and new offerings are on the horizon, including smoothies and ready-to-bake scones.

When the shop is slow, students work on assignments related to food service,

Photos: Chris Emeott

recipes, sanitation and work expectations. In the first semester, 23 students earned their ServSafe Certification.

“We are checked by the health department … we’re held to the same standards as any business,” Freeman says. “It’s the most real experience you can give a kid for how it would be to work in any food service.”

Freeman says her favorite part of School Grounds is seeing students make it their own. “They started a Barista Recommendations with their favorite drinks,” Freeman says. “They had a poster of every barista for every hour and what drinks they’d recommend.” First-semester students also started a Customer of the Month initiative.

“They really took the space and made it their own, and I think that’s just so sweet and special,” Freeman says.

wblahs.isd624.org

Left: School Grounds is run by juniors and seniors who register for the half-credit elective.

Right: James, one of the students working at School Grounds, prepares a beverage.

FROM WHITE BEAR

TO WORLD CLASS

Rachel Drake running Pfeifferhorn Peak in Alta, Utah.

Ultramarathon runner Rachel Drake finds her stride.

Written by Rachel Schuehle and Zoe Yates

Rachel Drake didn’t set out to become a professional athlete, but the White Bear Lake native’s love for trail running has seen her climb to the heights of the ultramarathon world.

A decade into her trail running journey, the anesthesiology resident and Nike-sponsored athlete is pursuing her sport with joy and gratitude. “[Running has] gotten me through a lot of challenges in life, especially with medical school and residency, which can be stressful,” Drake says. “It’s a way for me to unwind. It’s meditative. It’s when I feel the most myself.”

The Starting Block Drake grew up on a quiet street near the north shore of White Bear Lake. Her parents, Craig and Gloria Drake, instilled a love for the outdoors in Drake early on. “I think I was less than a month old the first time I went camping,” she says.

The family’s house was just two doors down from Longville Park, where Drake spent many afternoons playing tennis and other games with the neighborhood kids. In the winter, the family hopped on cross-country skis in their backyard to traverse Dellwood Golf Course. In the summer, Drake took lessons at the White Bear Sailing School. “My brother and I would ride our bikes there wearing our life jackets, just like cackling the whole time,” she says.

At White Bear Lake Area High School (WBLAHS), Drake joined the tennis team. While she had a few wins, she wasn’t in love with the sport. But it was during the mandatory mile at the start of her sophomore season that Drake was scouted by Patti Percival, the school’s cross-country coach.

“I vividly remember watching Rachel run a mile on the track during tennis practice and thinking what a beautiful runner she is,” Percival says. That spring, Drake joined the track and field team, running the 1,600- and 3,200-meter distances. She quickly found a passion for and community around running. “We had such a good team. Katie Moraczewski, Abby Tracy, Brianna Waldvogel—there were just a lot of really fast people on the team. I learned a lot from them,” Drake says.

Photo:

To this day, Drake holds the second-fastest school record for the 3,200-meter run.

“She had great success right away as a track athlete, and this convinced her to run cross-country the next fall,” Percival says. “She outworks anyone when it comes to achieving her goals.”

Drake still looks back to a sectional meet her senior year of high school as her most memorable race. To qualify for the state meet in the 3,200, Drake had to place in the top two of her section. “I remember being a little ways back with 300 meters to go, which is less than a lap. And I heard Patti say, ‘It’s not too late!’”

Drake “put in a good kick” and won the race. The other two girls—Drake’s good friends—also qualified for the state meet based on their times. “It was just really cool because we all got to go,” Drake says. “It was one of the moments where I thought it was over, and I pulled through.”

Point-to-Point

Drake was recruited by coach Gary Wilson to the University of Minnesota cross country and track and field teams. “I was what we would call a ‘bubble’ person, where you’re not for sure going to be on the travel team. I had to do race-offs before, for a travel spot,” Drake says. With more on the line, Drake felt drained of her joy for running. “I was in this high state of stress, worried if I was going to make it,” she says.

After graduating with bachelor’s degrees in biochemistry and Spanish, Drake moved to Portland, Oregon, to begin medical school at Oregon Health and Science University to become an anesthesiologist.

She took some time off from competitive running, though it was the trails near her new campus that solidified her choice to move west. “I went for a run after my

interview, and it was just like, ‘Wow. I can be in this sea of green just two minutes from the hospital on foot!’” Drake says.

“It was a slow unraveling of this whole new world,” Drake says. Before long, fellow runners began encouraging her to look into ultramarathons. “It was initially a social reason to go from running to racing,” she says.

At her first 50K—the 2015 McKenzie River Trail Run in Blue River, Oregon— she met her future husband, ultrarunner Tyler Green. “After the race, everyone was just swimming in this stream, and he offered me some soap,” Drake says. The two became fast friends and married in 2019. Their son, Lewis, was born in 2022.

For her first few years of racing, she stuck close to home with races in the Pacific Northwest. Eventually, Drake decided to try to get on a world championship team. After applying for at-large

As a student at White Bear Lake Area High School, Rachel Drake participated in track and field, as well as cross country. She still holds the second-fastest school record in the 3,200-meter run.

DRAKE’S FAVORITES:

International Race: Ultra Trail du Mont Blanc (Chamonix, France).

“The race goes around Mont Blanc, and you run through Italy and Switzerland, encircling the mountain.”

Outdoor Space: Forest Park Conservancy (Portland, Oregon). At a whopping 5,200 acres, Forest Park is one of the largest urban forests in the country.

App for Athletes: Strava. “It’s like social media for athletes. You can share your runs, plan routes out in advance or look at heat maps to find new trails others are exploring.”

Song To Run To: Makeba by Jain. “I’ve listened to it for three hours straight on repeat.”

positions with no luck, Green encouraged her to do an automatic qualifier race in Moab, Utah. If she finished in the top two, she would qualify for the team.

She went on to win the 2018 Moab Trail Marathon. “From there, it was just seeking more competition,” Drake says.

Making Gains

To date, Drake has raced in 25 ultramarathons. In February 2024, she won the Black Canyon 100K in Arizona, one of the most competitive trail races in North America. The race ended in a truly adorable fashion. “My parents were there watching Lewis, and my dad handed him off to me before I crossed the finish line,” Drake says.

Drake is sponsored by Darn Tough, HydraPak, LEKI, Nike, Osprey and Precision Fuel & Hydration. For 2024, she was named the Female Trail Runner of the Year by the Mountain Ultra Trail Running Council. She was also named UltraRunner Magazine’s third-ranked UltraRunner of the Year and Freetrail’s fourth-ranked Trail Runner of the Year.

Last year, Drake relocated to Salt Lake City to start her medical residency at the University of Utah. There, Drake is dedicated to uplifting young runners and improving access in her community and often organizes local runs and leverages her sponsorships to donate gear. In November, she hosted a community trail run where the first 100 runners each received a free pair of Darn Tough socks. Making strides can look different for each person, but Drake takes it one step at a time. “With running, I’m always able to feel progress, that I’m gaining skills,” she says. “Doing a little something, going for a short run or a slower workout, may not be flashy, but it’s still meaningful.”

What keeps her going? “It’s just the curiosity of what I’m capable of and, honestly, the joy it brings me,” Drake says. “I really feel like, when I’m trail running, that this is something that I was made to do.”

@rachelraedrake

Rachel Drake at the Black Canyon 100K with her son, Lewis.

Jay Rendall

Photos: Chris Emeott; Johnson Boat Works Collection

THE BOAT BUILDER CHRONICLES

Jay Rendall’s upcoming book focuses on an early industry of White Bear Lake.

Written by Zoe Yates

Time is the builder of history. As the years stack up, moments are compressed—creating a few diamonds that become precious in our collective memory. While we treasure the pieces of history that last—more are lost forever. In many cases, it’s dedicated citizens who take up the mantle, pursue curiosity and preserve our history.

Jay Rendall is one of those citizens. He’s working to secure a place in local lore for the boat builders who were invaluable to the area’s early growth. For the past 15 years, Rendall has scoured archives and spoken with the families of notable figures to compile a comprehensive history of White Bear Lake’s boat builders.

A lifelong racing sailor raised in Madison, Wisconsin, Rendall took a job at Johnson Boat Works in 1977

after graduating from the University of Wisconsin-Madison with a degree in natural resource management. By that time, he was familiar with the area from trips out to White Bear Lake to get his Johnson sailboats repaired. At Johnson Boat Works, he learned various skills, going from rigging to doing hull graphics in the fiberglass shop. “I loved to sail, and what could be better than sailing as your job? Well, turns out sailing as your job wasn’t so fun, because it was your job,” Rendall says.

The two-year experience cemented his place in White Bear Lake. Though he didn’t return to boatmaking (He worked for Minnesota Department of Natural Resources for 28 years.), he never left the area. He became a part of local sailing and hockey communities and went

J.O. Johnson came to White Bear Lake from Norway in 1893 to work for Amundson Boat Works. He was 18 years old. Three years later, he left Amundson to pursue plans for a radical new sailboat. His first sailing scow, funded by a local sailor with the White Bear Yacht Club, won its first race in 1897. “This is a historic drawing right here. This is the first design of the [E Scow], and they’re still sailing these today,” Jay Rendall says. “I recovered this. I found it laying on top of a cabinet with a cat laying next to it.”

E Scow drawing by J.O. Johnson, 1923

The Johnson family continued the tradition of boat building for more than 100 years. J.O. Johnson’s sons, Iver, Milton and Buster, took the business forward. Then, Skip and Steve, cousins in the third generation of the family, transitioned Johnson Boat Works from wood to fiberglass in the ’60s–’70s. The company’s boat molds were sold in 1998. Today, Skip’s stepson, Jason Brown, still repairs sailboats at his company, White Bear Boat Works.

Local adventurer Gerry Spiess is most known for crossing the Atlantic Ocean in 1979 on his 10-foot plywood boat, Yankee Girl, which he built in his garage in White Bear Lake. It took him 54 days to sail from Virginia to England. He would also go on to cross the Pacific Ocean in 1981 and fly the perimeter of the United States. Jay Rendall connected with the Spiess family to obtain neverbefore-seen images and sketches, as well as audio recordings. Many of these artifacts will be featured in a new exhibit at White Bear Lake Area Historical Society in early May.

Twelve commercial boat builders have operated out of White Bear Lake through the years, specializing in canoes, duckboats, sailboats and steamboats. Those early boat builders were more than competitors—they were neighbors and friends. “They were friends, but when it came to their business, they were strategic,” Jay Rendall says. “They all had their own niches.”

Photos: Johnson Boat Works Collection; Spiess Family

Jay Rendall and his wife, Penny, in their sailboat, Orange Crate, before a race on Lake Mendota in Madison, Wisconsin. “Penny was my crew,” Rendall says. “We were racing, but there was hardly any wind that day.”

Penny and Jay in a Johnson C Scow, 1977

on to coach and serve on various boards. Over the years, he became close friends with Fletcher Driscoll, a local boat builder credited with resurrecting the lake’s A Scow Fleet. (Read more about Driscoll at whitebearlakemag.com.)

It was in conversation with Driscoll in 2010 that Rendall’s courage to write a book was ignited. “[Driscoll] was telling me about his boatworks, and I asked if it was written down,” Rendall says. “When he said, ‘No,’ we agreed there was a need to tell the boat builder stories.”

Rendall quickly realized there were more boat builders in White Bear Lake than he could’ve fathomed. Even those entrenched in the topic—including the families of local legends Gus Amundson, J.O. Johnson and Gerry Spiess—had only fragments of the whole picture.

The White Bear Lake Area Historical Society (WBLAHS) has been both a resource for and a recipient of Rendall’s research. “We love this project because it’s something near and dear to the community. Boatbuilding [and] sailing has a lot of enthusiasm, a lot of followers, a lot of interest,” says Sara Markoe Hanson, WBLAHS executive director. “It’s a piece of the history that can get very minute, and we just don’t have the staff to be able to dig down and approach it at the level [Rendall] is.”

Today, the working manuscript lives on the hard drive of Rendall’s computer along with innumerable articles, interviews, letters, photographs and sketches. Over the years, he has restored dozens of frames of damaged slide film from the Johnson family, scanned the Amundson scrapbook and recovered century-old original drawings and family artifacts.

“It has brought the whole family’s

stories to life. It’s quite touching,” says Skip Johnson, the grandson of Johnson Boat Works founder J.O. Johnson. “A lot of it, you sort of forget over the years, but when someone is revisiting it all, it brings it all back.”

The project is a true labor of love— both for Rendall and the families whose history he is documenting. He even initiated a reunion of sorts for the Amundson family (of Amundson Boat Works) when, after interviewing some Amundsons out in Oregon, they came to White Bear Lake to see the finished Boatworks Commons Community Room. It was the first time some of the extended family members had met.

“Several elders in the boat builders’ families have said, ‘Hurry up and finish the book before I die.’ Unfortunately, I let a couple down, and they have passed,” Rendall says. In January 2023, he was almost one of them. Rendall had a silent heart attack, leading to an eight-hour open heart surgery. “Fortunately, I’m still here and can finish the book,” he says.

While Rendall has yet to announce a release date for his book, he’s getting close. For updates and more information on his research through the years, view Rendall’s Facebook page: The Boat Builders of White Bear Lake - by Jay Rendall.

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TO METEOR AND BEYOND

Robb Jones speaks about his new project, Stargazer, subverting expectations and preparing the next generation of bartenders.

Written by Zoe Yates — Photos by Chris Emeott

“What can the future of cocktail bars be?”

This is how Robb Jones explains the concept behind Stargazer, his newest project in Northeast Minneapolis in collaboration with the chef-owners of Travail Kitchen.

Jones, a White Bear Lake native, rose from obscurity as bar director at Gavin Kaysen’s Spoon and Stable. In 2019, he left to found Meteor, an industry bartender’s take on a “towny bar” known for making affordable, approachable cocktails without pretense. Just great bartenders, great drinks and some hot dogs. Last year, Meteor celebrated five years and a James Beard Award nomination for Outstanding Bar—both happy surprises for Jones.

“[The nomination is] amazing, but I also feel you’re only as good as your last cocktail or last interaction with a guest,” Jones says. “I don’t want to feel like we’ve reached our zenith. I think it’s just important to keep pushing.”

While hitting on Jones’ cosmic focus, Stargazer is something else entirely. The 40-seat cocktail bar, situated in the nucleus of culinary innovation that is the intersection of 13th Avenue and Second Street (Oro by Nixta, Vinai and Young Joni are close neighbors), is driven by an intentional menu of made-to-order cocktails and small plates. The focus is on guest experience with a fun interactive digital menu that takes you to the stars.

“Meteor was a reaction to people being too fancy unjustifiably, and Stargazer is what that should be. They’re both reactions to me seeing things that were missing, that maybe people tried and failed doing, but I think we can actually pull off,” he says.

Before he descended upon the Minneapolis bartending scene, Jones spent 12 years working in kitchens, making his way from the McDonald’s inside of Walmart in Vadnais Heights (his first job at age 15) and many Marshall Fields Marketplace Deli locations (age 19–21) to the Arizona Culinary Institute.

Robb Jones

As a student at White Bear Lake Area High School, he struggled to cope. “I had typical ADHD kid problems,” Jones says. “Homework didn’t exist for me. I couldn’t figure out how to get it done.”

Cooking wasn’t just a job—it was a remedy. “You’re always getting the stimulation that you need,” he says of working in a kitchen with an ADHD diagnosis. “It’s the same reason I take on too many projects today. It keeps me in the zone.”

His first job out of culinary school was at The Ritz-Carlton in Phoenix, where he thrived with great mentors who had high expectations. “All I did was work and be in a band,” Jones says of those years. “That was all I did, just worked and worked and worked and worked, and I think it was really good for me because that work ethic, I maintain.”

Back in Minnesota, he secured a kitchen job at Bradstreet Craftshouse, a formative Minneapolis cocktail bar. The cocktail renaissance of the 2000s was in full swing, and just three months into the job, he became fascinated by the creative possibilities in bartending. A front-of-house job also satisfied the human element that he was missing. “The satisfaction of getting feedback from guests was just amazing and something that I craved,” Jones says.

All these years later, Jones is returning to his bartending roots with Stargazer. “The idea of Stargazer is to bring back the bar that I first worked at, and I think the bar that doesn’t exist in Minneapolis,” Jones says. What is that bar? Bradstreet with better timing. “Let’s make it be a fancy cocktail bar on purpose because I think we’re ready for it,” Jones says.

At Stargazer, you’ll find classic cocktails at their best. The menu shines with spirits and ingredients you can’t find in just any liquor cabinet—made for customers who are ready to trust their bartender.

At both Stargazer and Meteor, Jones makes it a point to depart from the cocktail batching that is common in some of the area’s top bars. Every one of Stargazer’s roughly 50 cocktails (and mocktails) is made by hand, from scratch. It’s Jones’ way of continuing the classic bartending tradition by cultivating versatile bartenders.

“It’s very challenging having a cocktail menu this big … but that’s how myself and Birk [Grudem] at Hola Arepe and Hai

Hai learned; we were in that same school together. And Adam Gorski, who opened Young Joni and all of Ann Kim’s places,” Jones says. “There’s a reason that those are the people that were kind of like doing the things is because they learned how to actually bartend.”

At 45, Jones is taking a step back from the well. It’s a transition encouraged by age (“I’m old.”) and fatherhood. (His son, Milo, was born in 2023.) He’s built the menu and the method, and he’s ready to leave the bartending to his team. “There’s so much nuance that you can’t get from a cocktail book. You need mentorship, and I’d rather be a mentor at this point than just a flashy bartender that people come to see,” Jones says.

Even with all the attention, accolades and even a visit from the Dalai Lama— Jones is staying humble. He’s quick to direct attention to his team (a point of

pride) and finds it difficult to believe people will want to read about him.

“It’s not about me, man. At the end of the day, it’s about the guests and the guest experience. If everyone isn’t leaving happier than when they came in, then we failed,” Jones says. “Anything that I do is irrelevant if people aren’t happy.”

For more from Jones, including his visit from the Dalai Lama and daiquiri recipe, visit whitebearlakemag.com.

Meteor, 2027 N. Second St. #2202, Mpls.; 612.886.2483; meteormpls.com

Meteor @meteor_mpls

Stargazer, 1304 NE Second St., Mpls.; 612.248.8902; stargazermpls.com @stargazer_mpls

From left to right: Vang Bang, Clover Club, Mai Tai, El Diablo

FIDO ON FIRST STREET

Enjoy Dog Days of White Bear Lake this May.

Dog owners and lovers will unite on May 17 for the ninth annual celebration of Dog Days of White Bear Lake. Organized by Indulge Salon and Spa, the event brings a doggone good time for people and pups alike with opportunities to play and build community.

From 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., the downtown “square” (Fourth Street, Banning Avenue, Third Street and Washington Avenue) will be lined with vendors, activities and learning opportunities—and many area businesses also participate.

Indulge owner Kim Schoonover founded the event in 2015. “I really want to raise awareness for animal rescues and support groups. There’s just so many great organizations out there that need people’s help … and dogs that need to find homes,” she says.

Last year’s Dog Days featured 11 rescue groups. “It’s definitely an opportunity to adopt a dog if you have any interest, and there’s all different breeds that are available that day,” Schoonover says, adding that she found her Pyrenees husky mix, Louie, at the first annual Dog Days event.

“It just gives people an opportunity to experience downtown White Bear and just how friendly everybody is,” Schoonover says. “If you don’t have a dog, still come and enjoy all the dogs that are around you!” —Zoe Yates

Indulge Salon and Spa, 2183 Third St.; indulgewbl@gmail.com; indulgesalonwbl.com Dog Days Downtown WBL @dogdayswbl

Photo:

Indulge Salon and Spa

Compiled by Ellie Heyerdahl and Emma Souza

LOCAL EVENTS

05.03

A 5K for May Day

Leap into spring with the May Day Garage Sale 5K, which will feature a kids fun run and May pole. All ages. $13–$34. 9 a.m. Memorial Beach, 4958 Lake Ave.; 651.440.9625; mmraces.com

05.10

Creative Networking

Enjoy coffee while connecting with other artists and creatives. All ages. Free. 10 a.m. Oldies and Goodies, 4717 Clark Ave.; 612.888.4520; oldiesandgoodiesmn.com

05.22

Ensemble Performance

Enjoy a concert from Encore Wind Ensemble with top Twin Cities instrumentals. All ages. $20–$30. 7:30 p.m. Hanifl Performing Arts Center, 4941 Long Ave.; 651.478.7427; lakeshoreplayers.org

06.08

Ski Otters Opener

Don’t miss the Midwest Ski Otters season opener. Sit in the bleachers or bring your own chair or blanket. All ages. Free. 6 p.m. Little Goose Lake, 4150 Hoffman Road; 651.351.0001; skiotter.com

06.19

Marketfest: Ave for the Arts Night

Enjoy live performances from Lakeshore Players Theatre while expressing yourself and admiring the art scene. All ages. Free. 6–9 p.m. Downtown White Bear Lake, East of Highway 61 between Third and Fourth St.; 651.243.0114; marketfestwbl.com

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/dates and even some business operations may have changed since these pages went to print. Please visit affiliated websites for updates.

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The Setting Sun

“There is no sunset that is ever exactly the same,” says Jessica Hosmer, an area resident who has been entranced with photography since childhood. “We spend many summer evenings sitting at the end of our dock on White Bear Lake. On one evening last July, my family had already walked back to the house, but I stayed a little bit longer and witnessed the best sunset of the summer. I was thankful that I had my phone and was able to capture it.”

—Zoe Yates

To view other Lens on the Lake photo contest winners, visit whitebearlakemag.com.

Photographer: Jessica Hosmer

Title: Sunset From the Dock

Equipment: iPhone 14

Category: Places

Award: Second Place

LENS ON THE LAKE