December 2015 Lake Minnetonka Magazine

In the December issue find out how to book a hassle-free getaway with some helpful travel tips, learn about a local non-profit that matches donors with families in need and put the finishing touches on your holiday gifts with perfect accessories for everyone on your list.

If perfectly cast, a supporting player can steal the show—just as thoughtfully culled accessories and accoutrements step out of an ensemble’s shadow to elicit appreciative nods and maybe even, “Where did you get that?” This year, our gift guide focuses on the big style impact of those supporting

 

Shutterbugs, our 2015 Lens on Lake Minnetonka photo contest has come to a close. Thanks to our readers for their gorgeous photo submissions! A panel of judges chose a winner in each category (listed below).

 

We are a nation obsessed with coffee. The Seattle-based Starbucks coffee shop chain was born in the 1980s, and by the early ’90s, fancy Italian-inspired coffee was trendy.

 

The 2015 St. Jude Theatre of Dreams fundraising event celebrated families and the lifesaving mission of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. Guests enjoyed a premier production of The Little Mermaid.

 

ClearCause hosted its fourth annual Around the World benefit to further its mission to help save lives and protect American students who are studying abroad. The benefit was held in June at Carlson Towers’ Rotunda.

 

For the first time ever, Stages Theatre Company brings A Charlie Brown Christmas to the stage. Closely adapted from the popular TV special, the storyline and music will be familiar to audience members, with a few extra surprises.

 

Welcome to December; winter has arrived. And if you’re like us, you’re gazing longingly at the calendar and dreaming of an escape to warmer climes.

 

Some people realize their career goals after many years of searching and indecision. Others grow up with a deep, lifelong passion for their chosen field. You could say that KARE 11’s newest meteorologist and Shorewood native Jeff Edmondson was born into weather.

 

In our world’s current boom of technology, it’s hard to imagine a travel agency existing in 2015. But not only does Wayzata’s Minnetonka Travel still exist—after 39 years in business—it continues to thrive.

 

Bright and early on Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday mornings, you’ll find a diverse group of yoga students gathered at Williston Fitness Center in Minnetonka.

 

They say necessity is the mother of invention. It was certainly the case for Sarah Tyree of Minnetonka, businesswoman and mom of sons AJ, 24, Sean, 23, and Hunter, 13. She noticed her kids’ feet always stayed cold, no matter how many layers of socks they wore playing in the snow.

 

When you strip away all the consumerism and commercialism that make up a 21st-century holiday season, you can still find plenty of timeless kindness in the Lake Minnetonka area.

 

Pottery, glassware, jewelry, paintings, and more by local artists are available for purchase at the Minnetonka Center for the Arts’ holiday show.

 

A magical pumpkin, a lost slipper and a fairy godmother: The story is the same, but you’ve never seen Cinderella like this. Adapted from the classic fairy tale, with book by Rob Knutson and directed by Kent Knutson, this play is truly a family affair.

 

In The Price of Victory and the Fear of Innovation, author Linda Tedford tells the story of longtime Deephaven resident Brad Robinson, who passed away in October at age 78.

 

For those who choose pine over plastic, December 26 marks the first day of tree-disposal season. If you’re not sure what to do with your post-season tannenbaum, here are a few tips:

 

While there are endless electronic options when it comes to planning your schedule, there is something to be said for a beautiful wall calendar of real paper.

 

Minnetonka resident Amy Mathews brought her hometown magazine along on a trip to Greece earlier this year. (Check out next month’s issue for a peek at Mathews’ craft: hand-dyed scarves.)

 

For the past 10 years, Scott Knight of Knight Family Farms, which specializes in old-fashioned horse and buggy rides, has been offering buggy rides through downtown Excelsior to ring in the holiday season.

 

Colonial Square in Wayzata is bringing back a popular holiday tradition: Santa and his reindeer will be outside in early December to welcome guests at the retail center. The event was well-attended last year, and organizers are planning on another large turnout.

 

We all know someone who likes to “go big or go home” with their holiday decorations each December: blindingly sparkly trees, oodles of jelly bean-colored lights, and a menagerie of knick-knacks.