Edina, MN June 2024

Jumping into June

In May we celebrated the ladies, but we could never forget the gentlemen! June kicks off everything we love about summer in Edina and beyond, and this month we curated some content for the guys including unique ideas and experiences for Father’s Day (or any day of the summer).

For the chef of the house, our team caught up with Joseph Rueter, owner of Vivront on 50th & France. Vivront carries and represents the best of the best when it comes to specialty kitchen knives, sharpening, classes and more. Their worldwide sourced products are beautiful art for the kitchen and can elevate your culinary experience both aesthetically and functionally.

Local Edina resident and fly fisherman, Scott Harness, has found a joy and passion in teaching beginners how to hone this craft. Feather Thief, now growing beyond just classes, sells specialty flies and merchandise, and encourages fly fishermen to “make memories” and “steal the moment.”

Our city has so much to offer in the summer season, and sometimes we need to escape the daily grind. From axe throwing to dining, golfing to cruising on the lake, or something as simple as catching a movie with family or friends, we picked just a few fun things to try and check off your rest and relaxation list.

Golf can be one of the most wonderful and also challenging sports of all time. Just when you think you’ve got it all figured out….there goes your ball – into the water or up in the trees. We’ve included some quick tips on how to perfect your golf swing if you are in need of going back to the basics.

Finally, for the masters of the grill, we have a recipe for a great steak.

Happy Father’s Day and Happy Summer Edina!

June 2024

PUBLISHER

Alexandra Patty | alexandra.patty@citylifestyle.com

EDITORIAL COORDINATOR

Sarah Knieff | sarah.knieff@citylifestyle.com

MARKET SUPPORT COORDINATOR

Kassi Miranowski | kassi.miranowski@citylifestyle.com

SALES SUPPORT COORDINATOR

Susan Shannon | susan.shannon@citylifestyle.com

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Sue Baldani, Sarah Knieff, Daniel Schowengerdt, Tall Grass Meat Company, Casey Weber

CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHER

Andrew Vick

Corporate Team

CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER Steven Schowengerdt

CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER Matthew Perry

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF HR Janeane Thompson

AD DESIGNER Zach Miller

LAYOUT DESIGNER Kelsi Southard

city scene

WHERE NEIGHBORS CAN SEE AND BE SEEN

an Exhibition on March 21 at Billy Reid.

MINNETONKA, GOLDEN VALLEY AND PRIOR LAKE

Distinguished

Summer House: A New Westin Edina Experience

The Westin Edina Galleria presents "Summer House," a nautical-inspired getaway where you trade the beach for the lake, delight in coastal-American menus, sip on signature summertime cocktails, and enjoy curated experiences. Dates include June 23 through July 19.  edinaweekendwonders.com/ summerhouse

Barefoot Baby Opens in the Galleria

Welcome to Barefoot Baby, a Sweet Ivy store, where the sweet personalities of your children take center stage, from tiny surfers to graceful ballerinas, and everything in between. Its collection caters to every stage of childhood, offering a curated selection of clothing for mamas, infants, toddlers, and youths in a range of sizes. Barefoot Baby will be nearest to Door 8 in Edina Galleria. barefootbabyclothing.com.

The June House Promises Relaxed Luxury at Affordable Prices

The June House, a bespoke furniture retailer, is excited to announce the grand opening of its flagship location this month at Centennial Lakes Plaza in Edina, MN. “Almost everything we sell, we make from items around the globe with an already rich history,” says Owner, Ariel Gravelle. The vision behind The June House is to bring the luxury and warmth of travel home, no matter the season. Learn more at www.thejunehouse.com and on Instagram @the.june.house.

At Crown Bank, every client relationship comes with our commitment to understand the client’s needs, their goals, and their concerns. That unwavering commitment serves as the foundation for the journey toward success that we take together. Because from there anything is possible.

What can we make possible for your business?

SHARPENING YOUR SKILLS

“I’m curious by nature, which has given me a lot of business ideas over the years, but this one really took hold and became a [lifelong passion] that just so happens to earn money,” Joseph Rueter, owner of Vivront, a curated knife and sharpening store, says.

“You have to get really good at messing up first and then really good at being really good. I spent countless hours honing my skills and educating myself.”

It all began during the pandemic when everyone was cooking more because well, quarantine and being bored go together like PB&Jelly.

“Like many others, I was in the kitchen a lot,” he explains. “As I cooked, I realized that my knives were dull and made things much harder to cut. So, naturally, I went online to see how I could get them sharpened through a mailing service, but I couldn’t find a company that was making it easy. That’s when I decided to make my own.”

And just like that the idea of Vivront was born. The first task: learning how to actually sharpen a knife properly.

“You have to get really good at messing up first and then really good at being really good,” Joseph says. “I spent countless hours honing my skills and educating myself.”

Education: check. Sharpening skills: check. Next was the creation of the first iteration of Vivront.

“Everything started in my garage in Edina with a team of one – me,” Joseph says. “I shipped everything to the client that they would require – postage, packaging, etc. Then they would send it to me simply by dropping off the package in the post. I would get their knives in the mail, sharpen and return them right back.

He continues, “It’s all a very smooth process and the feedback I received was amazing. People told me they enjoyed being in the kitchen again, which led them to making healthier eating habits. I don’t think the regular consumer realizes how life changing a great, sharp knife can be for cooking. It truly makes a difference.”

Once the mailing program started to take off, Joseph was spending a lot more time during cold Minnesota winters in that unheated garage, which was less than ideal.

“I wanted somewhere warm to work in and decided to rent a commercial space in Wayzata in 2022,” he says. “My team grew at this store and we all learned a lot about what consumers wanted. Not only did they like our sharpening program, whether it was through the mail or now at the store, they also wanted access to top notch knives and sharpening classes so they could learn themselves.”

Joseph and his Vivront team took all this into account, implementing ideas as they could, until another big move happened. On November 4, 2023, Vivront moved back to where it all began: Edina, but this time not in a garage.

“Wayzata was for learning, which I couldn’t be more grateful for, and now the Edina store is a culmination of everything. We do knife sharpening classes, cooking classes, in-store sharpening dropoff, an updated mailing program for all over the country, and we have 84 feet of kitchen knives on display that are not widely available.”

Not even a year in the new space, Joseph says things are going even better than he could have expected.

“I had faith that Vivront would work well on 50th and France due to convenience, but we have truly been welcomed with open arms.”

“I have so many ideas for different classes and how to connect with our community even more. I’m excited for what’s to come.”

Because of this, Joseph has been able to further hone in on another passion of his: helping reduce school lunch debt across local communities.

"I created The Give Back Program [as a part of] Vivront's foundational mission of [helping others.] For every kitchen knife we sharpen, a portion of the revenue goes to improving school lunch, starting by paying down lunch

account balances. We also have had the chance to train school nutrition teams on knife skills and help empower them to adjust menus."

As Joseph looks toward the future of his store, he says things are just getting started.

“I have so many ideas for different classes and how to connect with our community even more. I’m excited for what’s to come.”

4948 France Ave. S

vivront.com

952-222-5336

“I can fish vicariously through other people, and no one is in a bad mood on the river during a guided fishing trip because everybody’s really excited to go fishing.”

On the Fly

Take a day to Fish and Make Happy Memories

Scott Harness has been a real estate broker for 35 years and owns Owner Options Realty in Edina. It’s a great job and pays the bills, but his real passion is fly tying and fly fishing.

Last year, he founded Feather Thief in order to share his love for the sport. The name comes from a book he read about Edwin Rist, a professional flute player who would travel around Europe playing concerts and events, and who was also an avid fly tyer.

“Back in the day, there were different birds that they would use certain patterns from and they would try to replicate them exactly,” says Scott. “Well, a lot of those birds became extinct. Rist somehow got access into the Natural History Museum in England and stole 300 extinct birds.”

Not only did Rist use the feathers to tie his own flies, but he also started selling the feathers. The authorities eventually tracked him down, but he managed to avoid prosecution. Even though Scott gathers a lot of his own feathers, and of course doesn’t steal any, he was intrigued by the story.

Scott, who’s going to be 64 this year, came to the point where he enjoyed the flies that he tied and giving them to friends as much as he enjoyed watching people or helping them to learn how to fish. “I had as

much fun sitting on the riverside saying, ‘Cast over here’ or ‘Do this,’ and that's how I became a guide.”

Adds Scott, “I can fish vicariously through other people, and no one is in a bad mood on the river during a guided fishing trip because everybody's really excited to go fishing. It's people at their best and it’s just an absolute blast.”

Feather Thief specializes in teaching beginners. “That seems to be my forte,” he says. “I take people on their journey and teach them how to tie it, cast it, and catch it.”

Using flies as opposed to other bait can be more of a challenge, he explains. “You could always, of course, put a worm and a sinker on your line and you'll probably catch more fish, but there’s something special about fly fishing.”

Recently, he took two gentlemen, ages 82 and 78, fishing on the Rush River in western Wisconsin. “They've been friends forever and I helped them catch bigger fish than they've ever caught in their whole lives. It was so heartwarming. This is why my taglines are ‘Steal the moment’ and ‘Making memories.’”

Scott says you can catch all types of fish with a fly. “It can imitate a minnow, a crayfish, a leech, a bug, and anything else, so you can catch everything from bass to muskies.”

There’s even something called “match the hatch.” “There are bugs that trout eat in the river like mayflies, caddis, midges and more. They are very specific to each river, and so the term ‘match the hatch’ means when those trout are feeding on those bugs, you have to have something that's very similar or almost exactly the same as what they're eating. And that's where the fly comes in.”

Scott, an Edina resident, who has been married to his wife Eileen for 33 years and has two grown sons, Ben and Cole, is often at the Linden Hills Farmers Market and the Mill City Farmers Market. This is how most people, especially urban dwellers, find out about Feather Thief.

“A lot of people have always wanted to learn how to fly fish but didn't know they could do it around here,” he says.

This past winter, he taught classes at Edina Community Education Services, and currently offers classes and merchandise in local artisanal shops. Customized events are available for groups of friends at their homes and at companies for team building too.

Of course, many of his classes take place in the great outdoors where he guides people on true adventures. They may go to Whitewater State Park and Forest, Lake Harriet, and other great fishing spots.

For Father’s Day, Feather Thief will have t-shirts, hats and other merchandise available on its website. Scott also sells custom-tied flies in a gift tin. “Each one is slightly unique because the feathers are all slightly different,” he says.

“What better gift to give your dad than a gift certificate to go fly fishing and have him take you along?” says Scott.

FeatherThief.com

Eight Exciting Things To Do Around Town

AXE THROWING, ESCAPE ROOMS, RESTAURANTS AND MORE

Bad Axe Throwing

Braemar Golf Course

Braemar Golf Course is conveniently located in southwest Edina within Braemar Park. The park is 500 acres of rolling hills and scenic lakes surrounded by beautiful, untouched oak ridges. The course offers 18 holes and a driving range.

6364 John Harris Dr. braemargolf.com 952-903-5760

Bad Axe is the world’s biggest urban throwing club and the go-to destination for adults to have fun. The Minneapolis location hosts axe-throwing leagues, birthday parties and corporate events.

2505 Kennedy St. NE Suite A badaxethrowing.com 844-818-0999

Edina Theatre

Edina Theatre is a legendary spot for movie watching. It offers arthouse and independent releases along with hollywood blockbusters, live comedy and music events.

3911 W 50th St. manntheatres.com 952-926-1307

Missing Pieces

Family-owned and operated, Missing Pieces has the most immersive escape rooms in Edina. It combines mystery, storytelling, and strategic gameplay to put you at the center of an adventure. Teams must work together to discover secrets, unravel riddles, and piece together puzzles as the main characters in each of the exciting escape rooms.

5233 Edina Industrial Blvd. missingpiecesmn.com 952-658-8974

Paradise Charter Cruises

Paradise Charter Cruises and Minneapolis Queen offer sightseeing boat cruises, scenic tours and private charters on Lake Minnetonka and the Mississippi River. Enjoy breathtaking panoramic views of the majestic Mississippi River, the Minneapolis Skyline and the beautiful Lake Minnetonka area, with options ranging from wedding boat and river cruises, corporate events, birthday parties, dinner cruises and more.

2 Water St., Excelsior twincitiescruises.com

952-474-8058

Pinstripes

If you’re looking for a unique spot to connect with your family and friends, Pinstripes bowling alley and bocce courts are the place to be seven days a week. Take a break from routine and gather where sophistication meets fun. Enjoy the full-service Italian-American bistro food and beverage menu.

3849 Gallagher Dr. pinstripes.com

952-835-6440

Tavern 23

Tavern23 provides an electric variety of multi-cultural cuisine and the best atmosphere to watch your favorite sports team on TV. The menu features beer, wine, cocktails, sushi rolls, flatbreads, pizzas, cheese curds, edamame and more.

7651 France Ave. S tavern23mn.com 952-658-7800

Punch Bowl Minneapolis is the only venue where scratch kitchen, craft beverages and epic gaming all come together for one unforgettable party. Plan your next visit with the boys for ultimate fun.

1691 Park Place Blvd.

punchbowlsocial.com

763-400-3865

Your child can avoid the math learning loss that typically happens over the break by attending summer sessions at Mathnasium. And the benefits don’t stop there!

• Faster progress is possible without the distraction of other academic commitments

• We’re vacation-friendly, with live face-to-face instruction, both in-center and online

• Kids can start the new school year with confidence

Lynnhurst • 5315 Lyndale Ave S, Mpls • mathnasium.com/lynnhurst SLP-Edina • 5610 W 36th St, St. Louis Park • mathnasium.com/slp-edina SW Edina • 7104 Amundson Ave, Edina • mathnasium.com/swedina (763) 269-6969

Contact Us for a Free Trial Session

www.mathnasium.com

Perfecting Your Golf Swing

Whether you are a new golfer or have been playing for decades, we all want the same thing—to be a single-digit handicap (or better). In some professions, golfing with clients is a must, and slicing off the tee box can kill the deal.

Get fit for equipment.

01.

If you are buying clubs off the rack, you aren’t giving yourself the best chance for success. Golf technology is evolving every year, and although you don’t need to buy a new driver each year, if you’ve been playing with the same clubs for 5+ years, it’s time to take advantage of the new equipment. Newer clubs have lower and deeper center of gravity (CG), creating an easier launch off the face. Even off-center strikes can produce a straight shot with the right set of clubs. Any major golf store will fit you for free—just make sure you get the correct length club and size grip. The clubs don’t swing themselves, so don’t neglect instruction and practice, but getting the right equipment is a vital piece of the puzzle.

On drivers and hybrids, some of the newest equipment have premium shaft options off the rack. Generally, a $300 driver has a low-grade $15 shaft that you should change. The shaft is the engine of the club, so getting custom shafts will add distance and forgiveness—guaranteed.

As for the putter, you use it more than any other club in your bag on every round of golf. It should be the most tailored club in your bag.

02.

Get good golf instruction, REGULARLY.

We’ve all heard someone say, “I should get a lesson sometime.” To be effective, you need regular lessons from a PGA certified pro, not just one lesson. Getting quality instruction from the same instructor can turn slices into draws and give you the confidence to play with anyone on any course. Years ago, golf instructors started instruction with chipping and putting and then graduated to the driver. Now, instructors have been pressured to start with the driver because we all want to outdrive our friends. Resist that temptation! Get instruction on your short game and irons first. My friend regularly outdrives me by 50 yards, but my ball is in the hole first most of the time because of my training and practice on the short game.

03.

Read quality golf books for a higher golf IQ.

There are thousands of golf books, but don’t worry, you only need to read a handful of them to up your golf IQ. Here are some top reads:

Short game: Dave Pelz’s Short Game Bible by Dave Pelz

Mental game: Golf is Not a Game of Perfect by Bob Rotella Mechanics: Practical Golf by John Jacobs

Ball flight laws: The Practice Manual by Adam Young (only read the first 50 pages)

04.

Practice your short game every day.

You don’t even have to spend time away from your family while practicing if you don’t have a golf simulator. You can practice putting and chipping on the carpet while watching TV with your family.

Chipping and the bump and run: The only mechanical advice I will give is the most important lesson you can learn in the short game. When you miss your approach shot you must be able to chip the ball within 8 feet of the hole for a one putt. Try this shot from Dave Peltz’s short game book. It gets me up and down from 25 yards out to just off the green.

The Perfect Steak

Nothing describes summer better than a good cookout! And what is a cookout without a good, quality steak and the perfect grilling recipe?

1. Thaw and acclimate the steak. For searing to occur, the proteins in steak need to be heated to at least 310°F. Tossing cold meat onto a hot grill lowers the temperature and can prevent a crust from forming, so it’s important that any frozen steaks are thawed completely before cooking.

2. Salt your steak 30-45 minutes before grilling. This causes the salt to draw moisture from within the steak up to the surface, where it dissolves the salt and creates a brine that gets reabsorbed into the steak where it breaks down tough connective tissues.

3. Oil the grate on the grill, not the steak. Use tongs and a paper towel dipped in vegetable oil to lube your grates.

4. Manage your heat well. Remember that your grill needs to be hot for your steak to get a good sear. But if it’s hot enough to cause your oil to smoke, it’s too hot.

5. Use the 60/40 rule. The best-tasting steaks are seared on both sides and cooked evenly in the middle. The simplest way to do that is to only flip your steak once. The 60/40 rule suggests that 60% of your cook time should be spent on one side, and 40% on the other.

6. Keep the lid closed. It may be tempting to peek, but trust the experts and keep it shut! Opening the lid makes your grill lose heat, which makes steaks cook unevenly.

7. Check for doneness. A meat thermometer will give you the most accurate temperature reading:

• Rare: 120°F

• Medium Rare: 130°F

• Medium: 140°F

• Medium Well: 150°F

• Well: 160°F

8. Let your steak rest. Pull your steaks from the grill once they’re cooked to 5-10 degrees below your target temperature and rest for 10-15 minutes.

MAY 31ST - JUNE 2ND

Edina Art Fair

Intersection of the 50th & France

The Edina Art Fair is located in the prestigious intersection of the 50th & France Business District in Edina and Minneapolis. The fair has approximately 250,000 - 300,000 visitors attending this festival each year. Check 50thandfrance.com/art-fair for the latest updates as the date gets closer.

JUNE 1ST - 16TH

A Year with Frog and Toad

Children’s Theater Company

Based on the books by Arnold Lobel, best friends Frog and Toad embark on a year of adventures together. A Children's Theatre Company original production and Tony Award winner, this show is full of comedy and music for the whole family. childrenstheatre.org.

JUNE 14TH

Juneteenth with the Minnesota Orchestra

Orchestra Hall | 8:00 PM

In celebration and remembrance in honor of Juneteenth, the annual commemoration of the emancipation of enslaved African Americans, the Minnesota Orchestra, alongside guests and members of the Twin Cities community, will perform a program featuring music by African American composers. minnesotaorchestra.org.

JUNE 15TH & 29TH

Dancing on the Plaza

Nolan Mains Plaza | 7:00 PM

Gather with friends on the Nolan Mains Plaza for dancing with Arthur Murray on select Saturdays from 7-8 p.m. throughout the summer. June dates include 15 and 29. 50thandfrance.com.

JUNE 15TH - 16TH

Stone Arch Bridge Festival

Stone Arch Bridge | 10:00 AM

Named one of the best art festivals in the country, The Stone Arch Bridge Festival features over 200 artists, musicians, culinary artists, a car show, a vintage market, and a family activities area. The festival is located along the banks of the Mississippi River in the North Loop neighborhood, spanning the riverfront area on West River Parkway from Portland Ave. to N 4th St. stonearchbridgefestival.com.

JUNE 22ND

Story Time on the Plaza

Nolan Mains Plaza | 10:00 AM

Join the Morningside Theatre actors for a free, fun musical at the Plaza. The morning will include live performances, interactive games and stories. Once the event concludes, kids and families are invited back to Faribault Mill for a craft and in-store discounts. 50thandfrance.com

Urgent Care

Ready to serve Edina and the surrounding community.

Set to be your first stop for sudden, unexpected injuries. Go for more of what you need to keep your body moving. No referral or appointment necessary.

Walk in 8 - 8 Get Directions

Ready. Set. TCO.