by Teri Iverson | Nov 1, 2025 | Arts, Noteworthy
“Painted entirely by emotion, mostly frustration, I smeared acrylic paint, and I wet down my canvas in an angry fashion. I worked quickly,” says fine artist Stefanie Schmidt. “When I took a step back, I saw Banff National Park. I have never been there, nor have I used...
by Mollee Francisco | Nov 1, 2025 | Drinks, Entertain, Local Makers, Recipes
When it comes to cocktails for hosting a party, Grant Lavrenz recommends shopping your home bar first. “Use stuff you have at home,” he says. “Just open a cupboard, and play around with what you have.” He recommends freezing fruits or vegetables and making infused...
by Hailey Almsted | Nov 1, 2025 | Arts, Education, Noteworthy
For Olivia Rocha, an 11th grader at Maple Grove Senior High School, stepping on to the stage with youth choir Angelica Cantant (angelicacantanti.org) fuels her purpose. The choir will celebrate its 45th season at the Ordway at 4:30 and 7:30 p.m. December 7. In her own...
by Hailey Almsted | Nov 1, 2025 | Photo Contest
“I took this photo in my backyard this past winter,” says Debra Bernard. “It was during a pretty big snowfall, and this beautiful pheasant was just perched in our tree! I quickly grabbed my camera and took a few shots.” Photographer: Debra Bernard Title: Backyard...
by Katie Tomsche | Nov 1, 2025 | Entertain, Ingredients, Noteworthy
This recipe is light and fluffy, filling the kitchen with the dreamy scent of maple syrup. And that buttery Maple-Rum Glaze? It forms a golden, almost butterscotch-like crust, taking this cake to the next level. It’s an outstanding make-ahead hostess gift that can be...
by Mollee Francisco | Nov 1, 2025 | Drinks, Local Makers, Restaurants
The Maple Grove mixologist explores how to mix and match cocktails this holiday season. Grant Lavrenz describes himself as “the world’s okayest bartender,” but don’t let his humility fool you. Lavrenz is always reaching for the stars in his quest to give his customers...
by Renée Stewart-Hester | Nov 1, 2025 | Book Club, Gift Guides
Open up a world of experiential gifting, learning and living. Make gift giving easier this season by leaning into a specialty theme or carefully curated focus. With experiential gifting maintaining its holiday footing and the inclination to eliminate clutter remaining...
by Mollee Francisco | Nov 1, 2025 | Book Club, People, Restaurants
Media personality Jason DeRusha discusses taking on new challenges and expanding his audience. Jason DeRusha laughs as he recalls how clear his career path always was. “I was obsessed with game shows, local news and talk radio,” he says. “I was walking around the...
by Jennifer Pitterle | Nov 1, 2025 | People
A former teacher launches retreats and coaching sessions to help clients find fulfillment. When Ryan Hennessey walked away from teaching in the middle of the 2024–25 school year, it wasn’t an impulsive decision—it was a carefully orchestrated “escape plan” that set an...
by Madeline Kopiecki | Oct 1, 2025 | Photo Contest
Photographers bring Maple Grove into focus. Over the past year, residents have been cataloging local life around Maple Grove. This summer, these same shutter bugs shared some of their favorite shots in our Focus on Maple Grove photo contest. We can’t thank you enough...
by Editorial Staff | Sep 15, 2025 | Photo Contest
From July1–August 31, we invited you to submit your photos of Maple Grove. Now, it’s time to vote for the Readers’ Choice! Scroll through our image gallery below and vote for the images you like best by checking the box. Voting is open from 8 a.m. September 15–5 p.m....
by Susan Isay | Sep 1, 2025 | Uncategorized
Welcome, readers, to our 20th anniversary as Maple Grove’s premier community lifestyle magazine. We couldn’t be prouder of our long-standing roots in and commitment to this community. A lot has changed over the course of two decades, but we look back with pride and...
by Kate Wodtke | Sep 1, 2025 | Education, History, Noteworthy
It’s time to go back to school! Since the mid-1800s, Maple Grove’s dedication to education has been well documented. In 1858, the children of early settlers gathered at the home of Phineas Newton (1812–1887) where classes were taught by his wife, Mercy Jane Champlin...
by Emma Souza | Sep 1, 2025 | Photo Contest
“I had seen the same egret on two separate visits to the reserve … Every time I raised my camera to take its photo, the egret would fly away,” says wildlife photographer Esmail Harunany. After crawling out of sight on the third trip, Harunany was finally successful....
by Teri Iverson | Sep 1, 2025 | Arts, Noteworthy
“This vibrant composition captures the energy of an untamed forest, where bursts of yellow, emerald and cobalt play across the canvas like sunlight filtered through leaves,” artist Julie Miller says. “There’s a raw freedom in the brushwork—ideal for modern interiors,...
