Memorial Day weekend is the official kickoff of the bootleg season. Bootlegs are Minnesota’s version of a Mint Julep/Mojito (favored by the Kentucky...
Noteworthy
‘Drive Your Plow Over the Bones of the Dead’ Is A Polish Thriller with Twists
In Drive Your Plow Over the Bones of the Dead by Olga Tokarczuk, detective Janina lives alone on the outskirts of a forest. Caring for several...
Celebrate The Luck of The Irish with Food and Drink
St. Patrick’s Day—when it comes to this day of days, many people become Irish, wearing a bit of green, having a pint and singing a song. To best...
A Colorful Hopefulness
“There’s no place like home,” proclaims Dorothy Gale in The Wizard of Oz. Our homes are the foundation of all of our hopes and dreams while exuding...
The Golem and the Jinni
The novel The Golem and the Jinni by Helene Wecker experiments with several different genres but is primarily fantasy historical fiction. Taking...
Simply Entertain
I love to entertain, whether it’s for a planned dinner or an impromptu gathering of friends. Here are my rules and some go-to wines that make this...
Our Malady: Lessons in Liberty from a Hospital Diary
Prior to the pandemic, Yale historian Timothy Snyder fell gravely ill. Our Malady: Lessons in Liberty from a Hospital Diary, is his account of a...
Day Dreaming
Immerse yourself into a world of bliss. “Beauty is inner and external, but when you feel grounded in your thoughts and who you are, there really...
What Grows Together Goes Together
Wine and the holidays go hand in hand. When hosting, a great pairing can make a meal so much better. Wine makes the dish taste better, and great...
It’s Time to Try Something New!
This cocktail is very easy to prepare and noncommittal, too, as these ingredients are often available in smaller format bottles, so give it a try. 2...
High School Stadium Receives New Scoreboard
You know it’s time to replace a piece of equipment when its replacement parts can’t be found. Such was the case with the Maple Grove Senior High...
For Your Collection
“Blue skies smiling at me, nothing but blue skies, do I see.” These song lyrics by [Irving Berlin] feel so appropriate as we soak in these last days...
Versatile Whisky Tops This List
For me, there is nothing better than sipping terrific bourbon. This barrel is exclusive to our store and, in my opinion, worth every penny. We...
Favorite Microhistory Titles Cover Several Topics
Microhistory is a non-fiction genre that takes a comprehensive look at a single event, topic or concept but reads more like novels or memoirs. Even...
Cavins Hosts a Chart-topping Podcast
“We knew that people were feeling anxious, depressed and their lives had been turned upside down in 2020,” longtime resident Jeff Cavins says. “We...
Create Your Own “Best of” List
Whether I’m scrolling through social media or picking up a magazine, I am always drawn to the “best of” lists. Having those recommendations can make...
Consider “Spirited” Gift Ideas
With Mother’s and Father’s days bubbling up, why not make a trip to your local liquor store for some gifts? Drekker Brewing’s beer is difficult to...
Plant Life Provides Lasting Cheer
Getting out into nature has been difficult this past year. Give the gift of spring cheer to those who could use it the most—seniors. Whether it’s...
Bountiful Bunnies
Adopt a bunny—or learn more about your own. During a year mostly spent at home, having a furry companion has become an even greater comfort for some...
Family Mystery Underscores Maternal Love
At once a study of generational mother-daughter relationships and a tightly-knit family mystery, Eve Chase’s The Daughters of Foxcote Manor travels...
