by Editorial Staff | Mar 1, 2023 | Best of Woodbury, Featured
We’re excited to announce the finalists for Best of Woodbury 2023. This January, we asked readers to vote for their favorite places, businesses and more in Woodbury and the surrounding area. Now, we’re pleased to introduce you to your finalists (listed in...
by Hailey Almsted | Mar 1, 2023 | Featured
One thing that makes our community such a special place to live in is the people who are our friends and family, neighbors and coworkers. Growing up in Woodbury and now working in the community, I have a unique bond to many of the people and places in the city. Justin...
by Hanna McDaniels | Mar 1, 2023 | Featured, Ingredients, Recipes
Full-time blogger brings the taste of beets to plate. When you’re cooking and want to spice up your dish, a beet might not come to mind. Sometimes, the earthy red vegetable seems intimidating for its intense hue, but believe it or not, there are a lot of ways to...
by Kristie Smith | Mar 1, 2023 | Featured, Outdoors
Grab your bins and apps, it’s birding season at Tamarack Nature Preserve. For many in Minnesota, the sounds and sights of a robin or a goldfinch often herald early hints of spring; relief from Earth’s quiet winter slumber. At Tamarack Nature Preserve in Woodbury,...
by Susie Eaton Hopper | Mar 1, 2023 | Giving Back, Wellness
A child life specialist helps children using her creative skills. Audrey Haugen started dancing as soon as she could walk. She learned ballet, tap and any kind of dance. The Rochester, Minnesota, native went on to choir in elementary school, joined a theater troupe...
by Hanna McDaniels | Mar 1, 2023 | Featured, Local Makers
Special education teacher shares sweetness with the community. Melinda Weiss has always had an intense love for baking and been in the kitchen since she was a little girl—a tradition she carried on from her mother and grandmother. “When my mother was a young kid, her...
by Kevin Gilboe | Mar 1, 2023 | Noteworthy, People
Citizen of Woodbury “I always knew I wanted to get involved,” Philip Eviston says. Now a senior at Stillwater Area High School, Philip has been on a mission to make an impact. Already engaged with five cause-based organizations at his school, Philip recently joined...
by Rachael Perron | Mar 1, 2023 | Noteworthy, Recipes
Long before my family became the fish fanatics they are today, the only fish I could get any of them to eat was Beer-Battered Cod. All fish lovers start somewhere! These days, I only fry fish at home once or twice a year. Even for me, the process is a little...
by Nicole Berglund | Mar 1, 2023 | Photo Contest
Resident captures the scenic Powers Lake. Hobby photographer Ron Hawkins captured this sweet photo of his “better half,” Dee, on a calm July morning at Powers Lake. New to Woodbury at the time, he says they “wanted to explore this gem-of-a-lake by kayak, [and they]...
by Hailey Almsted | Mar 1, 2023 | Dining, People
Food blogger Tara Gazdik and her hipster hacks. Tara Gazdik is a creature of habit—but in 2014, she broke free from her comfort zone to start a food blog, where she would eventually try new restaurants and foods, and meet new people. “… Once I find something I love,...
by Gretchen McNaughton | Mar 1, 2023 | Garden, Noteworthy
We all know that March is a hard one to predict. Are we going to see snowfall or be met with an early spring? I, for one, am hoping for an early spring! If that happens, here are some spring gardening to-dos that will help set your garden up for success all season....
by Hailey Almsted | Mar 1, 2023 | Arts, Featured, People
Local filmmaker Justin Atkinson mirrors his own story in Bobby’s Intermission. The year is 1989. A young Justin Atkinson visits Vali-Hi Drive-In for the first time with his mother, Jenifer Cloutier, to see Batman—an evening that ultimately altered the course of...
by Daniel Huss | Mar 1, 2023 | Drinks, Local Makers
Steve and Deb Long showcase their third act. Steve Long, co-owner and brewmaster at Woodbury’s 3rd Act Brewery, likens brewing beer to playing chess. “It’s easy to learn the rules,” he says. “But it’s hard to get good at it.” Long has been brewing beer, whether...
by Nicole Berglund | Mar 1, 2023 | Noteworthy, Outdoors
Nestled on 70 acres, Valley Creek Park had its official grand opening in August 2022. The park hosts a destination playground with three trail sections that connect different places to the park. Two of the trail sections, approximately 3/4 mile, connect the park to...
by Hailey Almsted | Feb 1, 2023 | Uncategorized
The first time I went on an airplane was in ninth grade during a school trip to New York City. I was 14 years old, had only visited three other states aside from Minnesota (Wisconsin, Illinois and Indiana) and was petrified of flying. After I made it through the...
