by Malena Larsen | May 1, 2023 | Featured
My love for the outdoors started when my dad took me on our first father-daughter camping trip when I was a kid. It ended up becoming our summer tradition. We camped in must-see Minnesota spots, from Stillwater to Alexandria to Taylors Falls. Now, I can’t imagine a...
by Megan Hegenbarth | May 1, 2023 | Photo Contest
Rod Smoliak captures a unique bird gliding on the water. Maple Grove photographer Rod Smoliak took this award-winning photograph as a pelican caught its meal in the water. Over 100 pelicans had taken up residency at Rice Lake last summer, and Smoliak had been visiting...
by Madeline Kopiecki | May 1, 2023 | Arts, Community
Creativity spills off the page and on to the pavement at Arbor Lakes’ annual art festival. Since 2016, a specific stretch of Maple Grove streets have erupted in a celebration of color, creativity and a bit of optical trickery over a stretch of two days during the...
by Nikki Steele | May 1, 2023 | Noteworthy, Style, Travel
Are you someone who feels your traveling style can only be comfortable and not cute or cute and not comfortable? What if I tell you that you can travel and be both? You’ll be a believer once you read these four quick style tips: Layers are a Must When traveling,...
by Malena Larsen | May 1, 2023 | Pets, Restaurants
Hit the paw-tio at these dog-friendly restaurants around Maple Grove. Feeling thirsty but you don’t want to leave your furry friend behind? Whether you’re craving a coffee or you have an ice cold beer on the brain, Maple Grove has pup-friendly spots where you can...
by Renée Stewart-Hester | May 1, 2023 | Outdoors
Swimply offers another way to dive into pool life. The Land of 10,000 Lakes. We’re well-versed in one of our state’s most-used taglines. Minnesotans certainly embrace their water lives—but not everyone enjoys swimming among aquatic life and, at times, invasive...
by Sharon Noble | May 1, 2023 | Book Club, Noteworthy
Ever wonder about the lifestyle of a flight attendant? Stories of excitement and glamour of flying to exotic places, the jet lag and drudgery of serving unruly passengers can be found in Ann Hood’s memoir. Hood grew up in Rhode Island, dreaming of adventure and the...
by Hanna McDaniels | May 1, 2023 | Featured, Local Makers, Recipes
Kickstart grilling season with picks from local vendors. As the spring season brings in the warm breeze, you might have to start up your oven for an even warmer aroma. Our friends at the Maple Grove Farmers Market have helped us put together local recipes you can...
by Zoe Deal | May 1, 2023 | Education, Featured, Pets
These companion animals are growing in popularity. Sometimes, a bird picks you. That’s what happened to Metro area resident Karen Anderson on a day she least expected. It was 1994, and Anderson was a few years from an early retirement, visiting an exotic pet store in...
by Renée Stewart-Hester | May 1, 2023 | Drinks, Noteworthy, Recipes
A big batch beverage—punch—offers an easy, serve-yourself option to any adult gathering. This recipe has long been served at our family events, and it’s been a consistent crowd pleaser. Note: With the growing market of nonalcoholic spirits, consider swapping out the...
by Kristie Smith | May 1, 2023 | Arts, People
A local photographer and entrepreneur starts a business out of her home. Facebook Marketplace, a 3-year-old, an inspiring lunch with a friend and the rise and fall of the sun. All of these elements helped Rachel Kathleen Gorden turn her love of photography from a...
by Mollee Francisco | May 1, 2023 | Outdoors, Sports
Packing smart for a day on the trails. With more than 55 miles of trails in Maple Grove, what better place to get out and explore. Whether you’re looking for the peace and solitude of a bike ride through the woods or planning a hike with a lakeside picnic lunch, Maple...
by Lise Spence-Parsons | May 1, 2023 | Arts, Noteworthy, Pets, Travel
Someone wise once said that travel broadens the mind. After traveling throughout Europe and parts of Australia, I would have to agree. The upside is that you see so many other cultures and experience many new foods and customs. The downside is that you can never get...
by Madeline Kopiecki | Mar 24, 2023 | Arts, Featured, Outdoors
Creativity spills off the page and onto the pavement at Arbor Lakes’ annual art festival. Since 2016, a specific stretch of Maple Grove streets have erupted in a celebration of color, creativity and a bit of optical trickery over a stretch of two days during the...
by Editorial Staff | Mar 1, 2023 | Best of Maple Grove
This March, we’re celebrating the finalists for the Best of Maple Grove 2023 readers’ poll. In January, we invited readers to reflect on the very best Maple Grove has to offer and place their votes in our annual Best of Maple Grove poll. Now, we’re...