Life + Culture

Life Minded

Check Please Article by Jen Fortner There was a long stretch of time when my favorite activity was to go out to eat. A restaurant, especially a new one, with a hard-to-get table was my top choice for weekend plans. This was before every place offered takeout, and we could have anything and everything at home. Before food delivery and online ordering and curbside pickup.  This was also long before my favorite weekend plans became canceled weekend plans.  In our early 20’s, my husband was...

Home + Design

Where the Wood Speaks

How local woodworker Carl Ecker found a home at Five Swans and turned a Wayzata staple into the centerpiece of every gathering Article by Haley Asanovich There is a moment in Carl Ecker's woodworking process that he enjoys more than any other. The board comes to him roughly cut, unremarkable. Then it goes through the planer. That’s when the wood reveals itself. The grain surfaces. The character shows up. What was once just a piece of walnut becomes something no one else will ever own. “When...

Food + Beverage

Publisher’s Picks

We’re sitting down at three of our favorite local restaurants to share what makes them special, and the dishes that keep us coming back Article and Photography by There’s something about a great meal that brings us all together, doesn’t it? Food has a way of anchoring our best memories, whether it's sharing a cozy table with family or escaping for a much-needed date night with my wife. As we put together this issue’s culinary feature, I wanted to step out from behind the publisher’s desk and...

Auto + Marine

Dining Aboard the Finest

Steamer City of Saint Louis Article by Nathan Hofer Compared to most metro communities, Lake Minnetonka boasts an unusually varied and high-end dining scene. On the surface, lakeside fine dining appears to be a modern trend. In reality, the lake has demanded the highest culinary standard for the better part of 150 years. A prime example could once be found sailing aboard the steamboat City of Saint Louis . The City , as she was commonly known, was the second largest boat to grace the waters...

Food + Beverage

Your Local Restaurant Roundup: Editor’s Picks

Local favorites for memorable meals, casual nights out, and everything in between. Article by Lauren Beaubaire Our publisher, Dave, got to share his restaurant picks, so now it’s my turn! These are the spots I find myself recommending, returning to, and craving when I don’t feel like cooking, which seems to happen often hence the many recommendations. Consider this your guide to a great meal around the lake. This is one you may want to keep handy for your next night out. Tono Pizzeria +...

Food + Beverage

Fall Coffee Gets a Flavor Upgrade

From rosemary and brown butter to miso maple and basil peach, Base Camp Coffee is shaking up the seasonal fall coffee menu. Article and Photography by Fall is officially here, which means pumpkin spice season has also arrived in all its cozy, caffeinated glory. But whether you’re a die-hard PSL fan or ready to venture beyond pumpkin in search of a new fall favorite, we know the perfect place for both: Base Camp Coffee & Provisions. Located inside Unmapped Brewing Co. in Minnetonka, Base Camp...

Beauty

Look Better, Feel Better

How Andrew Hulse and 18|8 Wayzata built a salon around one simple idea: a great haircut changes more than your hair Article by Haley Asanovich | Photography by Emily John Photography Walk into 18|8 Fine Men's Salon in the Promenade of Wayzata, next to The Hotel Landing, and you won't find the fast, in-and-out haircut model a lot of guys grew up with. Owner Andrew Hulse built the business around a longer appointment, a real consultation, and a stylist who actually knows your hair. Nine years...

Life + Culture

Life Minded

Tennis anyone? Article by Jen Fortner This column is about shoes. It is September, and September is THE month for new shoes. Be still my heart (and feet). September always and will always make me think about back-to-school. I feel the year resets in September rather than January. Back to structure. Fresh pencils. Does anyone use pencils now? New clothes. A paper planner. New shoes. NEW SHOES. It almost made it worth going back to school so I could saunter around showing off my fresh shoes. ...

Style + Beauty

104 Years of Treasure Hunting

Inside the Wayzata Community Rummage Sale that's raised funds for local charities for more than a century. Article by Rebecca A. Hahn As we “Baby-Boomers” find ourselves reminiscing about stories from our past, I personally have learned to accept my son Miles’ initial response, “Oh, is this going to be another back-in-the-day story, Mom?” Well, here goes Miles and all of those reading this story at this moment. Way, way, way “back in the day,” the 16th century to be exact, sailors would stow...

Style + Beauty

What to Pair with Your Purse?

Sets & wide-leg pants are taking over this season's trends Article and Photography by Fashion in 2026 is all about ease, elegance, and intentional dressing — and no trends embody this better than coordinated sets and wide-leg pants. Together, they define the year’s fall look: streamlined silhouettes, balanced proportions, and outfits that look styled even when they’re effortless. Why Matching Sets Are Everywhere Matching sets, whether knit, linen, tailored, or athleisure, have surged...