Life + Culture

What's New in Waconia

Ideas for tailoring a Valentine’s Day that speaks to every kind of love Article by Emily McKeever In the book  The 5 Love Languages: The Secret to Love That Lasts , you’ve got your words of affirmation, gifts, acts of service, physical touch, and quality time. While it’s always considerate to respect your main squeeze, confidant, or partner by honoring the way they experience and convey love, on February 14th (or somewhere in that neighborhood), it’s sort of… required. So, give a heartfelt...

Arts + Culture

Sweet Love

Float on air, and Candie Clouds, this Valentine’s Day Article by Emily McKeever Love can make you feel as if there are butterflies in your stomach, like you’re falling head over heels or that you’re on cloud nine. Heads somersaulting over heels feels a little scary and unsafe, and who wants anything fluttering anywhere in their body? But cloud nine? Ahhh… now that sounds nice. What if cloud nine was, in fact, a cloud, but one that was made of delicious cotton candy? What if you could have it...

Food + Beverage

Brewing Community and Curating Creativity

Meet Jon Schmidt and learn how his passions created a community oasis Article by Amanda Wagner | Photography by Maria Claire Photography Jon Schmidt is more than a local artist; he is the visionary owner of the Mocha Monkey coffeehouses, where caffeine meets community, and the aroma of freshly brewed coffee mingles with the creative spirit. After a transformative stint in India, Jon knew he wasn’t cut out for the corporate world. Jon’s initial foray into the arts came serendipitously during...

Life + Culture

Life Minded

When Cupid Misses Article by Jen Fortner Valentine’s Day is a much-maligned holiday these days. It’s criticized for being too commercial, too manufactured, too consumer-focused, too much. I always loved the childhood Valentine swaps, and I like red- and pink-themed clothing and can even choke down some chalky conversation hearts. There are the charming chocolates in faux velvet heart-shaped boxes. The bouquets of expensive roses in the dead of winter. The cards. Again, the chocolate. Plus...