I find it fitting—in such a lovely, organic sense—that the themes of outdoor living and art join together to create this month’s issue. In so many ways, nature serves as one of our first art teachers—presenting the sometimes vibrant, other times subtle, revolving colors and textures of the seasons and plant life; revealing the sometimes wild, other times docile, spirits of animal life; and on it goes with the breathtaking and inspiring galleries of all types of life. As we turn to art, explore the story of Excelsior artist Annalisa Sawtell, who is inspired by the natural beauty around her. “A ..read more

Finding enough to do in her Long Lake garden isn’t difficult for Meg Cowden. She relishes the opportunity. “Gardening is a multifaceted life-giving hobby,” she says. “It provides you with the opportunity to slow down, observe [and] experience deep reverence daily, and it’s grounding.” Photos: Chris Emeott Master gardeners showcase their earthly endeavors. Like many things in life, experiencing them firsthand often provides an elevated experience. For example, when visiting a garden, one can view how colors, shapes and textures are married with nature’s tender hand to reveal natural art in it ..read more

Artist Adam Turman will exhibit bold, colorful landscape art at the Minnesota Lanscape Arboretum May 9 through July 14. Photo: Adam Turman Twin Cities artist, muralist and printmaker Adam Turman is coming to the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum May 9 through July 14 with a solo show, Did You See That? A working artist since 2003, Turman has been creating bold, colorful work, including large-scale murals around the state. You may recognize his work from his booth at the Minnesota State Fair and collaborative partnerships with Minnesota brands, such as Faribault Mill, Polaris, 3M and Children’s H ..read more

Photo: Cindy Perone Family portrait comes to life on water. “I absolutely love nature and being outside on this water,” Cindy Perone says. “This little family swam right next to me while I was out boating. “Taking pictures of nature is so much fun,” the Shorewood resident says. “Just getting outside and taking photos of what you enjoy or what inspires you can open up a new window to how beautiful the world is.” Perone enjoys taking water-focused images. “I love capturing images of the water, especially Lake Minnetonka,” she says. “I travel frequently to Destin, Florida, and also focus on pho ..read more

Photos: Minnetonka Public Schools Foundation The Minnetonka Public Schools Foundation hosted its marquee fundraiser Dream Makers on February 3 at Equestria West (Bavaria Downs, Chaska). The 21st annual Dream Makers, emceed by KSTP’s Chris Egert, included an online and live auction, raising $305,365 for the Fund-A-Dream and Teacher Grant program. The post Dream Makers 2024 appeared first on Lake Minnetonka Magazine ..read more

Gin & Jam Cocktail. Photos: Lunds & Byerlys There’s so much to celebrate this month with bridal and baby showers in the offing, as well as Mother’s Day and the opening of the picnic season with Memorial Day. Lunds & Byerlys offers some seasonal sips that are ideal for any springtime gathering. Gin & Jam Cocktail (1 serving) Pucker up, buttercup! This tart, boozy cocktail is so good, you’ll want to serve it for every gathering. 1 ½ oz. Plymouth gin ½ oz. Campari 1 oz. freshly squeezed lime juice ½ oz. simple syrup 1 Tbsp. triple berry jam ice 1 ½ oz. sparkling water thyme spr ..read more

Gift Alert: Consider LAGO for Mother’s Day, bridal showers, cabin warming or some self-gifting. Photo: LAGO Who knew that a sunset boat ride around Lake Minnetonka, complete with Aperol Spritzes, would lead to a product launch—meet LAGO. During a cruise on the water, Krista Panosian says she and her friend (later business cofounder) asked themselves, “Why isn’t there something to steady our stemmed glasses, giving us a chance to put them down, pace our sips and truly soak in the moment?” “We wanted to enjoy our drinks without the worry of a spill or, worse, breaking a good glass,” Panosian s ..read more

iStock/Emanuel Perez Although there is some debate as to the origins of the beloved hamburger, can we all agree that there is no better time than Memorial Day weekend to load up the grill with burgers? This Garlic Chipotle Mayo Burger has a fantastic blend of beef, leading to a juicy burger with a punch of flavor. Everything from the mayonnaise to the caramelized onions helps to elevate the burger we have come to love. Garlic Chipotle Mayo Burger Burger 1 lb. burger blend, 70 percent ground chuck, 20 percent ground beef short rib and 10 percent beef fat 1 egg 2 garlic cloves, minced 1/8 cup ..read more

iStock/SolStock How about prizeworthy games, tasty food and live music? We love a good alliteration, especially when it includes Bingo and Burgers by the Bay, which is planned for May 4 at the corner of Water and Lake streets in Excelsior. The event is hosted by the Excelsior Morning Rotary Club. Bingo games will run from 1–6 p.m. with more than $7,500 in prizes, and a live band is set to perform from 6–9 p.m. Burgers will come by way of Kowalski’s Markets, and the Excelsior American Legion is handling cold beverages. The event raises funds to help support the Excelsior-Lake Minnetonka Chamb ..read more

Ryan Rivard’s climb in 2022. Photos: Ryan Rivard And the climb is just the start of his latest journey. On April 8, 2024, 41-year-old Wayzata local Ryan Rivard boarded an airplane and set off on the adventure of a lifetime. His first destination: Lukla, Nepal. His ultimate destination: the peak of Mount Everest. “Honestly, I’m just really pumped,” Rivard says, when speaking about his upcoming trip. “I’m pretty stoked about everything.”  Rivard has been training for the climb since early 2023. “I’ve probably been training for about seven or eight months with the oxygen deprivation mask ..read more