Woodbury - March 2026

Local families enjoy personalized food experiences A FULL PLATE

Unique Solutions for Living

FROM THE EDITOR

It’s no secret that I’m a book lover. Last year, I read exactly 100 books, but my love for reading began long before any yearly goal or to-be-read list. It started in childhood, when I wandered the aisles of the R.H. Stafford Library, located inside Woodbury’s Central Park. Some of my fondest memories are rooted there: picking out books to take home, walking through Central Park with the unmistakable scent of the waterfall in the air, stopping for ice cream at the café that has long closed and playing at Lookout Ridge. Last February, I was lucky enough to experience it all one more time. My sister and I took my nephew to Lookout Ridge on its final day before the renovation began. Watching him race across the jungle gym, weave through the giant tubes, climb into the boat and search for hidden treasures in the seek-and-find felt like watching my own childhood come full circle. Afterward, we wandered through Central Park and enjoyed all the greenery and water for the last time.

Now, the renovation of Central Park and Lookout Ridge is complete. I toured the space on its opening day in November; to my surprise, the same sense of nostalgia washed over me. The updates beautifully honor what made the park so special, keeping its magic alive. Readers, I invite you to learn more about the renovations, including the new murals and greenery, on page 22. Looking toward the future, the R.H. Stafford Library is set to kick off its renovation predesign and community engagement study this spring with construction anticipated to be complete in 2028. Until then, I’ll continue to peruse the same aisles I wandered through as a child while enjoying all the new features at Central Park.

Cheers,

Hailey Almsted hailey@localmedia.co

On the Cover: A Full Plate , page 16

Photo by:

Chris Emeott

VOL. 21 NO. 8 March 2026

PUBLISHER

Susan Isay

EDITOR

Hailey Almsted

MANAGING CREATIVE DIRECTOR

Renée Stewart-Hester

MANAGING EDITOR

Hailey Almsted

DIGITAL EDITOR

Madeline Kopiecki

COPY EDITORS

Kellie Doherty and Sherri Hildebrandt

STAFF WRITERS

Mollee Francisco, Emily Gedde, Jennifer Pitterle, Alexandra Tostrud and Paige Udermann

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Patty (Stutzman) Paulus, Rachael Perron and Katie Tomsche

DIGITAL INTERN

Claire Krieger

EDITORIAL INTERNS

Diane Meyer and Avery Vrieze

EDITORIAL ADVISORY BOARD

Shawn Hogendorf, South Washington County Schools ; Michele Magistad, Woodbury Area Chamber of Commerce ; Sue McKeown, Resident ; and Shelly Schafer, City of Woodbury

SENIOR MANAGING ART DIRECTOR

Sarah Dovolos

ART DIRECTOR

Allison Nolden

ASSOCIATE ART DIRECTOR

Jamie Klang

GRAPHIC DESIGNER

Yaz Lo

LEAD STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

Chris Emeott

PRODUCTION DIRECTOR

Brittni Dye

PRODUCTION MANAGER

Lisa Stone

PRODUCTION COORDINATOR

Mimi Coz

SENIOR ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES

Laura Bjorgo, Cynthia Hamre and Sara Johnson

ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES

Rochita Chatterjee and Gina Neumann

PRESIDENT Pete Burgeson

To subscribe to Woodbury Magazine , please visit localmedia.co. For customer service inquiries, please contact hello@localmedia.co, or call 612.208.6248. ©Local LLC 2026. All rights reserved.

Sip on Something Sweet

Woodbury residents can enjoy good vibes, refreshing drinks and sweet treats at a new dirty soda shop, Sip. (sipmn.com). Sip. owners Connor and Sarah Bolduc were inspired to develop a dirty soda shop after hearing rave reviews from a family member who traveled to Nashville, where the concept is popular. “They experienced what [dirty soda] was,

fell in love with it and brought that idea back here,” Connor says. The couple was influenced, so they created their brand and set up shop at 7060 Valley Creek Plaza Suite 111.

Sip.’s menu features unique combinations, such as The Godfather, a pepper soda with splashes of raspberry, coconut cream and lime, or lemonades with fruit purées and

Go Pro(tein)

Homemade protein shakes can be a great way to add a little nutrition to your diet, but they often fall flat when it comes to flavor and texture. To make protein shakes more flavorful and interesting, vary the liquid base, incorporate healthy ingredients for texture and added nutrition and experiment with flavor enhancers. This recipe for a Chocolate Peanut Butter Smoothie (Find it at woodburymag.com.) offers 25g of protein per serving—with no added sugar—and tastes great, for these key reasons:

» A smooth, nutty liquid base: Unsweetened almond milk enhances flavor and adds creamy texture.

» Nutritious, naturally sweet and creamy fruit: Frozen bananas add natural sweetness and create a creamy, milkshake-like texture while adding extra nutrients and fiber.

» Healthy fats and luxurious textures: Peanut butter adds a nutty, rich flavor and extra protein, plus healthy fats to keep you feeling full longer. Cashew and almond butter would work just as well.

» Well-selected flavor enhancers: Unsweetened cocoa powder and a splash of vanilla bring depth and warmth.

Rachael Perron is the culinary and branding director for Kowalski’s Markets, where she specializes in product development and selection, culinary education and communications.

sweet cream. For those with dietary restrictions, Connor says the shop offers dairy-free creamers and sugar-free syrups.

Connor says the Sip. menu emphasizes distinctly Minnesotan flavors, such as lingonberry or blueberry, which can be found in a variety of drinks, including the Dr. Berry. Sip more on Instagram @sip.dirtysodamn. —Avery Vrieze

East Ridge High School’s Sophia Soo’s AP Art and Design 2D Portfolio earned a perfect score. She is the first student in South Washington County Schools to do so.

Agnes Aubert’s Mystical Cat Shelter

In 1920s Montréal, Agnes Aubert lives a meticulous Type A lifestyle. The owner of a cat shelter, Agnes rescues feline friends from the streets and finds them forever homes. When she is forced to relocate her shelter, she discovers that her new landlord isn’t any ordinary property owner but is dark magician Havelock Renard, who once tried to end the world.

Although Agnes is focused on rescuing cats and ignoring Havelock, their stories begin to intertwine as his magic puts her charity in danger. To save the shelter, Agnes must put aside her discomfort and protect the self-absorbed Havelock.

Author Heather Fawcett penned the beloved Emily Wilde series, and her recent release, Agnes Aubert’s Mystical Cat Shelter, is just as cozy and heartwarming as ever. —Hailey Almsted

A Perfect Score

East Ridge High School senior Sophia Soo has made local history, becoming the first student in South Washington County Schools to earn a perfect score on her AP Art and Design 2D Portfolio—an accomplishment achieved by only 2 percent of students worldwide.

Sophia, who identifies as Asian and American, says her portfolio is inspired by her relationship with her cultural identity. “I grew up in a family at a crossroad of different cultures while being always immersed in American culture,” Sophia says. “In the same way that many other American-born Chinese went through phases of doubt about their identity, I went through some of the same challenges.”

Most of the five pieces in Sophia’s submitted portfolio, How Can I Reckon With My Own Cultural Identity?, were painted in oil on canvas or wood panels; she challenged herself technically by incorporating other mediums, such as paint pens, with which she has less experience. “In my art portfolio, I wanted to explore the different phases of my relationship with my identity and portray my journey toward accepting my body and self,” Sophia says.

Learn more about Sophia at woodburymag.com. —Hailey Almsted

Fantasy vs. Reality

Yue Zeng brings her passion for art to the forefront of her life.

By Avery Vrieze

Yue Zeng first recalls falling in love with art during grade school. From China, Zeng says her parents didn’t view being an artist as a realistic career, but she’s always had an eye for art. “Back then, my homework in art class was always the example for my art teacher to show around the class, and I think that was really the beginning point,” Zeng says. “So I always have a positive attitude toward artwork.”

Zeng immigrated to the United States in 2008, spending time in New York, where she earned a master of science degree, and worked in the chemical industry for two years. However, without a creative outlook, she felt stuck. “They didn’t need me to develop anything new,” Zeng says. “They already have developed the method, the method is done, and then I just conducted it, followed step by step. And that can feel boring.”

Then life took a turn—Zeng experienced health complications that led to mandatory bed rest, and she realized that she craved creativity. “I needed something that can actually belong to me in the future,” she says. “It’s not just working for someone; I need to build some legacy for myself and to give me this freedom so in the future, whatever happens, I can always say, ‘OK, at least I have this to myself.’”

In 2017, Zeng began painting more seriously, often depicting cats and dogs. Now, mostly painting in oil, she enjoys creating fantastical, surrealist works inspired by animals,

Top: Underwater Ruin, 16”x20”, oil paint.

Bottom: Frozen Cactus, 16”x20”, oil paint. Yue Zeng was inspired after visiting Arizona’s

everyday life and mythical creatures. “Oil paint is more friendly, easier to correct,” she says. “You can just put another layer on it if you’re not satisfied [and] keep layering on it until you are satisfied. I don’t have to worry about making mistakes when I do the imaginary stuff because no one has ever seen it before.”

Working out of her Woodbury home, Zeng finds inspiration everywhere. While some might find it hard to stay motivated without an office space or studio, Zeng says working at home in her loft is where she thrives. The time she spends on each work varies—but she often starts with a brainstorming session and then determines how each part of the piece will flow together. “I am just waiting for the moment that everything comes together,” Zeng says. “The subject, the background, the color theme and then some interesting details; they all have to fall in one place at this moment. Then I can keep going from there.”

Even though she no longer works in the chemical industry, Zeng brings a bit of an analytical approach to her art. She often treats her painting process like a science project, especially when she first started, to determine her preferred medium, surface and size of paintings. “I had to settle down all these little variables, and then I started to establish my own standard operating procedure,” she says.

Yue Zeng yuezengartstudio.com

Fore!

A new restaurant and golf venue offers cool-weather fun.

By Jennifer Pitterle

Ready for a new kind of night out? The ParT Barn, a restaurant and bar featuring cuttingedge golf simulators, opened late last fall, offering a unique venue with a dual focus on food and fun in the East Metro.

Mike Whalen co-owns the Iowa-based Heart of America Group, which developed ParT Barn (8515 Hudson Blvd. #8702). He says it was important for the new concept to keep great food at its heart and not as an afterthought. “We’re coming at it from the perspective that we’re a food and beverage operation with golf simulators, and not the other way around,” Mike says.

For Mike’s wife and co-owner, Kim

Whalen, the goal is simple: “We hope that it’s a place that, after you spend an hour hitting golf balls, you’re excited to stay and have dinner,” Kim says. She compares the atmosphere to an old-fashioned supper club or country club, with dark wood paneling and vintage green accents. The menu features traditional entrées, like steak, along with shareable plates that visitors can bring along to their golf simulator booths to graze on while they play. “We also have really focused on the cute bar,” Kim says, which offers a full complement of wine and beer options along with signature cocktails.

The Whalens have owned The ParT Barn

space since the early 2000s and felt it was time for a new concept in the location. “We just felt that the restaurant needed to be repositioned, and we were really excited about doing this new concept with the golf simulators,” Mike says. He adds that Minnesota’s long winters—and, thus, short golf season— make the timing perfect for an indoor golf experience. The simulators are state of the art. “This is probably the difference between a black-and-white RCA in 1954 and a flatpanel LED TV … that hangs on your wall today,” Mike says. “It is so realistic.”

Guests can choose to play on-screen versions of more than 200 famous golf courses. And beyond course-based play, the simulators also allow for serious practice, as guests can work on specific techniques and have the simulator analyze their swing and other elements. “We’re bringing in a lot of golf pros and coaches from local high schools and colleges,” Mike says. “This will offer a chance for coldweather instruction in an environment that’s as close to being on the course as you can get.”

The Whalens see the area as an ideal spot for the new venture. “People here really like to be able to go with a group and have fun locally,” Mike says. “To do it close to home and have something good to eat, I think it’s a pretty cool idea.”

Kim notes that, while other golf-simulator venues have arrived in the Twin Cities over the past several years, they tend to be primarily focused on the golf—maybe offering beers and a few snacks. At The ParT Barn, she hopes even nongolfers will come along to watch and eat, even if they opt out of playing. “We also hope to be a venue for corporate events and parties,” Kim says.

“ I worked with Hyounsoo recently for the sale of a h ome in Woodbury. When looking for the perfect realtor, I did my rese arch and found how qualified she was, (her numbers tell the story of h er success ) but it was in meeting her and experiencing her energy that I was totally blown away. One of the key questions we asked her w as what she would do for us that would be different than any ot her Realtor and she replied, “Everything!” This sold me on what she was willing to do! The amazing part is that Hyounsoo actually did!! For Hy ounsoo, it is never that you are just another client, you become a frie immense amount of trust built very quickly. It is f know she will achieve the best experience possible Is passionate about her work and for those she care I will always consider it a blessing to have had Hyounsoo enter into my life and be the person that proactively and professionally guided me through such a significant transition that was more than ju a transaction. You are phenomenal at what you do!”

nd, and there is an or this reason that you for you! Hyounsoo s about. st

thepartbarn.com

A Full Plate

Local families enjoy personalized food experiences.

For Woodbury’s Berit Coleman, Rowan & Dough couldn’t have entered the meal prep market at a more apropos time. “We were looking for private meal prep for some health challenges,” she says. After reading reviews and getting personal recommendations, Coleman decided to give the St. Paul company a try. “They have experience working with medical conditions—low salt, low carb, etc.,” she says. That was last January, and the Colemans haven’t looked back. “It’s so worth it for good health,” Berit says.

Natalie Allesee is the founder and owner of Rowan & Dough. Simply put, Allesee loves cooking for people—including several families in Woodbury. Whether it’s creating personalized meal prep options, cooking a private dinner or teaching culinary classes, Allesee is all about creating exceptional food experiences. “I love the creativity and flow of putting food together,” she says.

A Chef’s Journey

Allesee has 15 years of restaurant experience under her belt, but the love of food and her entrepreneurial spirit go back much further. “I was the kid trying to sell cans of soup on my front lawn,” she says. “I was always trying something.” In college, Allesee joined the rugby team, but found more joy in cooking elaborate meals for her teammates than studying, so she traded the University of Minnesota–Duluth for Le Cordon Bleu College of Culinary Arts Minneapolis/ St.Paul. “I loved it,” she says.

Allesee landed her first restaurant gig at

The Signature Café in Minneapolis’s Prospect Park. There, she saw “all the ins and outs,” she says, of the restaurant business. “It’s fascinating to have a job where you never stop learning,” she says. She went on to work at Trotter’s Cafe in St. Paul and then the Birchwood Café in Minneapolis. “Everything was locally sourced there,” she says. “I met so many of the farmers I still use to this day.”

From the Birchwood Café, now closed, Allesee landed a spot at Lenny Russo’s James Beard Award-nominated Heartland restaurant in St. Paul. “That’s truly where I fell in love with food,” Allesee says. With its dailychanging menu and no recipes to follow, she learned how to create dishes based on “intuition, feel, taste and pure adrenaline,” she says. “It was a high-octane environment.”

“We were always creating something from scratch,” Allesee says. “You had to be vigilant about making sure the food not only tasted good but sounded good … Talk about really putting love into something.”

Allesee started at Heartland as a prep cook and had worked her way up to senior sous chef at the time of the restaurant’s closing in 2016. Not long after Heartland’s closing, Allesee took a break from restaurants but not from cooking. “I read cookbooks and played with recipes,” she says.

Planting Seeds

After stints in Duluth and coastal Maine, COVID-19 brought Allesee back to Minnesota in summer 2020, when she started working at Waldmann Brewery & Restaurant in St. Paul. There, she helped develop a Community Supported Brewing Program akin to Community Supported Agriculture programs, in which Allesee would prepare four weekly take-home meals to be paired with a crowler of beer. “We ended up breaking sales records,” she says. “That planted the seed for what a prepared take-home meal can be.”

With that notion still swimming around in the back of her head, Allesee took an executive chef position at The Lynhall in Edina. “I loved it so much—the oversight, the administration, creating menu items—but I really missed cooking,” she says. “After two years, I put my notice in.” Allesee didn’t have a plan for herself, but the universe did. “A friend asked me to come in and cook dinner for them,” she says. “And then they referred me to someone else. I kept saying, ‘Yes.’”

Rowan & Dough launched in 2023, offering culinary classes, meal prep services and private dining opportunities. The name is a combination of Allesee’s favorite things: her golden retriever, Rowan, and dough.

Palate Pleasing

In the two-plus years since starting the business, Allesee has added two employees and creates weekly meal prep kits for 45 families, many of which live in Woodbury. “The set menu changes each week,” she says. “We are as hyperlocal as we can get.”

Allesee can customize meals to suit just about anyone, including those who are autoimmune restricted or who follow a low-FODMAP diet, have celiac disease or are vegan. “We take the time to learn all about people’s palates and preferences,” she says.

After a year of dining on Allesee’s creations, Coleman and her family have their favorites. “We love the Beef and Vegetable Cabbage Wrap with Coconut Curry,” she says. “The kids love her meatballs. It’s beef, onion and carrot with a nice spice to it. And the roasted carrots; the way she uses spices and herbs really elevates them.”

Each week, Coleman selects three meals from an average of eight to nine options created for them. “We choose three proteins, three vegetables and two sauces,” she says. Coleman loves the program’s convenience, noting that it allows them to focus on family instead of stressing about grocery shopping or cooking. “It streamlines things at dinnertime,” she says. “It feels like you’re treating yourself, but it’s high value, absolutely worth the price.”

Striving for the Best

The Colemans have also hired Rowan & Dough for a combination culinary class/private dinner where Allesee taught them knife skills that they used to prep the vegetables for their meal. “She’s so passionate about food and people loving to cook,” Coleman says of Allesee. “She’s very well trained. It was a great experience.”

Allesee hopes to keep growing Rowan & Dough’s presence in the Twin Cities, adding to her meal prep options and taking on more private dinners. She also dreams of someday opening a Rowan & Dough storefront with a small event space that could host dining pop-ups, taking inspiration from chef Jamie Malone’s Paris Dining Club.

But all of that is in the future. Right now, Allesee is focused on giving her all to her clients. “I don’t need to be the biggest,” she says. “I want to be the best.”

Rowan & Dough

rowandough.com

@rowananddough

Written by Hailey Almsted — Photos by Chris Emeott

INSPIRED BY NATURE

Explore Minnesota’s bountiful landscapes at the newly renovated Central Park.

pon walking through the doors of the newly renovated Central Park, guests are greeted by a green wall and striking waterwall, multiple gathering spaces, native plants, several art installations by Minnesota artists and an updated amphitheater. The remodel is reminiscent of Central Park’s beloved past and features details inspired by the surrounding natural environment. “It wasn’t really a question. We tried to maintain as much of the spirit of [Central Park’s] original vision,” says Michelle Okada, Parks & Recreation director. “The expansion lent to what people loved about it.”

Although the planning of the $42.3 million

project began over a decade ago, construction didn’t start until spring 2024, and Central Park celebrated its grand reopening in November. “The process allowed for really thoughtful implementations,” Okada says. “The park is designed as an extension of the natural environment,” says Parks & Recreation parks planner Joshua Kinney, who oversaw the art installations. “For much of the year in Minnesota, getting outside can be a challenge, so we wanted to create an indoor experience that still feels connected to nature. It’s really about blending the indoors and outdoors in a way people can enjoy year-round.”

slate

TAKE A DEEP BREATH

One of Central Park’s dearest elements was the water feature—a component that Okada knew had to be reinvisioned. “It was very difficult to maintain it, but that was something that we did hear was, ‘We don’t want to lose the water feature,’” she says. In its place is the new slate waterwall, which gives the impression of flowing water, alongside the bountiful green wall.

Visitors also “loved coming to the indoor garden,” Okada says. “They wanted more of it.” Removing the waterfall allowed the space to be reimagined. Hundreds of plants, such as bamboo, Norfolk pine and pothos, surround the space. Benches, a fireplace area, seated booths and tables, and a walkway connect the open area to create a space designed for community. “Our hope is that people feel the spirit of the original meandering trail through the park,” Okada says.

EXPLORE THE BLUFFS

Mark Granlund of Red Wing has been a professional painter since 1988 and launched the arts and education programming at Como Zoo & Conservatory, served as an arts and gardens coordinator for the City of St. Paul, and is currently a public arts administrator for Metro Transit. “I am an artist [doing, showing and selling] my work, and doing administrative stuff around arts,” he says.

Most of Granlund’s work includes still life and landscapes, as seen in Horizons of the St. Croix, a large-scale mural at Lookout Ridge. The art encompasses the indoor play spot from top to bottom and brings the St. Croix Valley to life. “I started with one wall. Eventually, people liked it so much that it kept expanding into the playground area and into the vertical area,” Granlund says.

For over two years, Granlund began with small, watercolor sketches and worked with the playground designers to incorporate the play space’s colors into the painting. Next, he did studies with oil paint, refining the color palette, composition and lighting, and built the organic cotton canvases from sustainably harvested lumber. Finally, he painted—for nearly eight months.

“I’ve become attuned to Minnesota’s unique combination of sky and rock, water and woods, and how they relate to each other,” Granlund says, noting he has painted the St. Croix Valley region before. “I created designs that would fit the space that are reminiscent but not exact places … I tried to have a consistent sense of the sky and the lighting on the bluffs so that it feels like a real space.”

Of the Lookout Ridge project, Okada says, “Part of the project really was trying to keep what was appreciated and enjoyed in the old facility. There was a synergy; we wanted to keep Lookout Ridge, Lookout Ridge … Keeping it, refreshing it and expanding it.”

For the children who will be climbing up and down the playground, Granlund dreams that they feel the story he created. “I hope it feels like a cozy, natural space down below, like the murals along the riverbed. That it feels cozy and nice, sort of wooded; then, as they climb up the structure, they start getting up into the sky and things start changing,” he says. “When they get to the top, they’re looking out at something … and can see the painted sky.”

FEEL INSPIRED

During the two year period, architectural artist Heather Novak-Peterson partnered with the City of Woodbury team to create two murals, which were then turned into mosaics by the women-led team at Mercury Mosaics in Minneapolis. Novak-Peterson describes herself as a “big tree fan,” she says, and appreciates exploring the artistic boundaries of the surrounding landscapes. “I was inspired by oak trees and birch trees throughout the trails and parks in the area,” she says.

Incorporating ideas from the City of Woodbury into her creative process, NovakPeterson spent months sketching, painting and working with the murals’ large scale. Over a period of seven months, Mercedes Austin, founder and CEO of Mercury Mosaics, and her team coordinated with Kinney and Novak-Peterson to bring the pieces to life. Created with 16 to 20 different colors, each hand-cut, hand-glazed tile is uniquely crafted to capture the essence of Novak-Peterson’s artwork.

Found near the entrance, The Language of Branches captures the rich green, blue and rust tones of the oak savannahs of Minnesota;

in contrast, The Watchful Grove, located by the connecting entrance to Stonecrest, celebrates the birch tree and its resilience, and features the distinctively white trees brought to life with their inviting eyes. “When I see tile like this … It has that otherworldly feel,” Austin says. “That’s what [Novak-Peterson] got across. I remember saying, ‘This artwork being in a civic building has a museum quality to it.’ It’s something that will put the city of Woodbury on the map.”

Both pieces serve as a love letter to Minnesota, Novak-Peterson says. “[Minnesota’s natural landscape] is something I so deeply appreciate,” she says. For Novak-Peterson, she hopes her pieces serve as a link. “I think I would love for [visitors] to feel a connection,” she says. “It’s nice to celebrate an awesome community and get a great feeling when you’re there … Watching different generations, hanging out together and enjoying a beautiful day, is really fun to see.”

Central Park woodburymn.gov Woodbury Parks & Recreation

Heather Novak-Peterson hjnovak.com @hnp_hjnovak

HGA hga.com @hgaarchitects

Kraus-Anderson krausanderson.com Kraus-Anderson

Mark Granlund markgranlund.com

Mercury Mosaics mercurymosaics.com @mercurymosaics

OB-GYN VISITS, OPTIMIZED

A top doctor shares key tips on how to turn routine check-ups into deeper conversations.

With short doctor visits and much to talk about when it comes to women’s health, it’s helpful to make the most of the time in the exam room. With that in mind, Corinne Brown-Robinson, M.D., an OB-GYN at HealthPartners in Woodbury, shares her top tips for optimizing care. —Elizabeth Millard

Consider your OB-GYN as a key resource.

For many women, their OB-GYN is a problem solver, explains Dr. Brown-Robinson. Patients may have questions about fertility or symptoms of a reproductive issue, and this health professional can play a greater role in their health. “Women would benefit from seeing us as more than just a problem-based provider,” she says. “We are here for the wholewoman health journey, and we can talk about all of it: mental health, sleep, nutrition, exercise and concerns about any health issues you might have.”

Providers may not be able to manage each specific issue, but can point patients in the right direction and toward greater resources, Dr. Brown-Robinson adds.

1 2 3 4

Talk about what’s ahead, no matter where you are in your health journey.

Having an open discussion about perimenopause, even in your 30s or early 40s, is a key strategy for preparing oneself for the next big health arc in life, suggests Dr. Brown-Robinson.

“It’s great to start that conversation early, before there are any indications that perimenopause has started,” she says. “You can ask, ‘What should I be watching for? What are next steps if I start seeing these things happen?’ Your body becomes unpredictable during perimenopause, and it’s very isolating, so knowing you’re not alone and having some information in advance is helpful.”

Ask about online resources.

Seeing a doctor requires waiting for an appointment, but search engines are always right there, 24/7. Although it’s not a bad strategy to research symptoms, it’s important to ensure the results are legitimate—and physicians can help with that, too.

“As a provider, I’d suggest that you let me help you,” says Dr. Brown-Robinson. “I can tell you, ‘This page is reputable, go follow this doctor or this dietitian, these are solid sources.’ So it’s not that I think people should avoid going online, it’s that they can work with their provider to figure out what is legitimate, and what advice is worth following.”

Don’t wait until you have an issue.

For many women, juggling has become a necessary skill. They’re powerhouses when it comes to ensuring that children, parents and spouses get the care they need—but tend not to put themselves higher on that list, says Dr. Brown-Robinson. “I often see people who may have struggled with something for 10 years, and they’re finally at the point of being willing to talk about it,” she says. “A lot of times we, as women, are so busy managing other people’s needs that we neglect our own until it becomes an issue, and what would be helpful is to put ourselves first, to see care as a priority.”

TURNING

Danielle Weber debuts her mobile bookstore, Rolling Chapters.

THE PAGE

Danielle Weber has enjoyed reading for as long as she can remember. “I was very obsessed with the Nancy Drew books, The Boxcar Children and the old-timey classic mysteries,” the Woodbury resident says. Now, Weber has turned that passion into a thriving business, Rolling Chapters.

It began in late 2019, when Weber rekindled that childhood hobby of reading. “I loved books as a child,” she says. But reading was put on the back burner in high school and college. Then, during the midst of the COVID-19 quarantine, Weber says her reading goal skyrocketed; at the same time, she became involved in the online book community and started an Instagram account (@foreverbookedup) dedicated to books.

As Weber saw mobile bookstores pop up all over the United States, she felt inspired to create her own brick-and-mortar space. “My husband and I were at Grand Old Day in St. Paul, and we saw a women’s fashion boutique in a big trailer,” Weber recalls. “I thought, ‘This is a concept of what we can do.’” Her husband, Steve Weber, owner of Titanium Electrical, Heating & Cooling in Woodbury, had a spare trailer that wasn’t in use by his business. “It was perfect,” she says.

In June 2025, and with the help of her husband, Weber built out the trailer to serve as a fully functional mobile bookstore; the space includes several bookshelves, shiplap walls and wooden flooring. The trailer was branded and wrapped by Brand Command Vehicle Wraps in Apple Valley. The entire process, from conception to completion, took six weeks. Next came the name: Rolling Chapters. “I was writing down a million different words of bookish things,” Weber says. “I liked the idea of rolling because we’re on wheels, rolling around the Cities. It just fell into place.”

The fiction-only bookstore specializes in fantasy, romance and thriller, plus it has small sections for young adult and children’s books. It also offers bookish apparel, bookmarks, puzzles, stickers and more. Picking inventory is “the hardest,” Weber says. “I want to get everything and anything. I try to find things that I think will appeal to the masses. I want it to feel inclusive for all ages and genders, and for everyone to come in and feel comfortable.”

Rolling Chapters pops up throughout the East Metro at boutiques, breweries, events, fitness studios and more. The book

Written by Hailey Almsted

RAPID FIRE

Your favorite genre is … Women’s fiction

Your favorite book is … Every book by Emily Henry is at the top of my list.

E-reader or physical book?

E-reader

Do you ever judge a book by its cover? Yes.

The last book you finished was … Atmosphere by Taylor Jenkins Reid

A book that everyone should read is … The Grace Year by Kim Liggett

The strangest thing you’ve used as a bookmark is … Probably a pen

Audiobooks—yay or nay?

Yay—I love them, especially thrillers on audiobooks; it’s my favorite.

An underrated book you recommend is … Rootbound by Tarah DeWitt

community has been more than welcoming. “People walk in and say, ‘It’s so much cozier than I imagined,’” Weber says. “That’s the best compliment.”

Weber says she plans to begin her selling season when the weather warms, ideally in late April or early May. She also plans to add more space for bookish items. “It’s been a very cool and exciting adventure. It’s been so fun,” she says. “It’s also so fun meeting people and talking about books.”

Although Weber works at a book box subscription company full-time, Rolling Chapters is quickly becoming more than just a side hustle. Weber couldn’t be more grateful. “My whole life is surrounded by books,” she says. “I don’t know where I’d be without books.”

Rolling Chapters rollingchapters.com @rollingchapters

As winter lingers and thoughts begin to turn toward spring, there’s no better time to embrace the warmth, comfort, and peace of mind that come with independent living at Saint Therese of Woodbury. Nestled in one of Minnesota’s most vibrant communities, our campus is a welcoming retreat where seniors can enjoy the beauty of winter without the burden of home maintenance.

Step outside your door and into a vibrant community offering:

• A warm saltwater pool and fitness center

• On-site bistro, library and Club Room

• Chapel and spiritual support

• Salon, barber shop and boutique

• Serene gardens and a therapeutic labyrinth

If your health needs change, a full continuum of care is available within the same familiar campus.

Come see why Saint Therese of Woodbury has been a trusted choice for nearly 10 years.

Cultivating Community

An area farm offers a free market, garden plots and educational opportunities.

Written by Jennifer Pitterle — Photos by Chris Emeott

Just north of Woodbury, across from I-94, Cimarron Community Farm sits tucked inside the Cimarron Park mobile home community—an unexpected pocket of agriculture, connection and education. What began in 2010 as a grassroots effort to address food access has grown into a vibrant neighborhood hub under co-directors Madeline Esterl and Elise Hanson.

In 2020, Esterl and Hanson, both experienced in regional agriculture education programs and organizations, learned the farm was looking for new leadership. The space had existed for a decade, led by a team that recognized the importance of bringing healthy produce and food education directly into Cimarron Park, a neighborhood with few grocery options (what experts now call a “food desert”) and unique economic challenges. The original programming focused on cooking classes, garden plots and youth education, and although each year looked a bit different, Esterl says, “The mission had always been food-oriented in that neighborhood.”

When Esterl and Hanson took over operations, they jumped right in and began imagining what the farm could be. “We spent the fall, winter and spring cleaning things out, setting up the organization and getting people on board. It was an ‘if you build it, they will come’ thing,” Esterl says. The first growing season of the revitalized Cimarron Community Farm was summer 2021. “When we started, we were really enthusiastic about being organic farmers. Then, after getting to know our neighbors there, we found ourselves more activated by the education and

Located in an area that is considered a food desert, Cimarron Community Farm fills an important need. The farm improves food access with neighborhood food distribution and a free farmers market that’s open to the broader community, serving up to 120 families biweekly.

Along with classes and youth programs at Cimarron Community Farm, local families have another opportunity to dig in. Michele Roth and her grandson, Kash, (bottom right) are one of 14 Cimarron Park families with a free garden plot at the farm. Last year was Roth’s first time gardening, and she and Kash enjoyed visiting the plot daily to weed, water and watch their food grow.

community support aspect of the farm,” Esterl says. Instead of farming for its own sake, the work became about relationships.

That community-minded approach is woven through the programs now offered at Cimarron. Fourteen families receive free garden plots each year—a blend of experienced growers and beginners. “It’s a good opportunity for people to learn how to grow food,” Esterl says. Many families who immigrated from other countries also grow culturally significant crops, “that we [in Minnesota] don’t know about, and you can’t find in grocery stores,” she says.

Bi-weekly during the growing season, residents can also come to the farm to pick up free produce, sometimes alongside pantry staples from partner food shelves, at its free farmers market, which serves between 70 and 120 families biweekly. Esterl says the free farmers market has turned into an informal gathering place. “People love just showing up … everyone just lingers and hangs out, and it’s a great community space,” she says.

Michele Roth, who has lived in Cimarron Park for 32 years, says the farm “offers a way for my neighbors and myself to enjoy fresh produce and to participate. Last summer was my first year of growing my own garden. My 4-year-old grandson, Kash, helped me and was so excited every day to go up to the garden, to water it and watch it grow.” Roth says Esterl and Hanson are “wonderful, and they work very hard.”

Young people are central to the farm’s mission. During summer day-camp-style programs for Cimarron Park residents, little kids learn to compost, cook, harvest produce and plant seeds. “They like anything dipped in ranch, so it’s an easy sell,” Esterl says with a laugh. Teens take on leadership roles, from

farm-to-table cooking to communications and tending the crops themselves. In some years, up to 30 kids participate weekly over the summer—a remarkable number for a community of 500 households.

The experience matters deeply in a neighborhood where kids navigate both social and economic disparities. Esterl says, “They get to go back to school with their peers, and they get to say, ‘I have learned how to do all of these things.’”

Visitors are often surprised by the variety growing in the fields: more than 80 kinds

of vegetables each season. Communitysupported agriculture (CSA) shares are available to purchase for the general public every summer, offering a way for neighbors to support the farm and local food access. Boxes include everything from broccolini and Napa cabbage to winter squash. Looking ahead, the farm hopes to add more perennial crops, including rhubarb and other fruits, and to continue tending a pear tree that’s getting more abundant each year.

For nearby neighbors, getting involved and making a difference in local food access can

be as simple as joining a CSA, volunteering at a farm event or stopping by the free farmers market, which is open to the public. “People engaging with our CSA is always an awesome way to invest in their neighbors,” Esterl says. And for those who come simply to pick up food—no payment, no questions asked—she has a clear message: “Money shouldn’t be a restriction to what you can eat.”

Cimarron Community Farm

cimarroncommunityfarm.com

Cimarron Community Farm

• Full day summer camps for children ages 5 years (finishing Kindergarten through age 12)

• Weekly thematic units to bridge the summer break from school

• Part and full time options

• Weekly field trips

• Park days, water days, bike days

• Breakfast, lunch and afternoon snack provided by our on-site chef

• Spacious playground and indoor motor room

The “Great Woodbury Get-Together”

Celebrate the businesses that make the community stand out.

The Woodbury Community Expo is back and better than ever from 10 a.m.–3 p.m. March 28. The 17th annual expo, hosted by the Woodbury Area Chamber of Commerce, finds itself at a new location—M Health Fairview Sports Center, 4125 Radio Drive— to bring all exhibitors into one area. “Woodbury is a thriving city with new businesses coming into the community all the time,” says Laurie Staiger, Woodbury Area Chamber of Commerce president. “Many of these new businesses will be exhibiting at Expo.”

Vendors include “everything from health and fitness, wellness, home improvement and kid activities,” Staiger says. There will also be around 10 food exhibitors and two entertainment stages. “My favorite thing about Expo is the attendees who come out and support the event,” Staiger says. “I often see people running into their neighbors who they haven’t seen all winter and getting caught up with one another. It feels like the Great Woodbury Get-Together!” —Hailey Almsted

Discover local businesses, enjoy entertainment and more at the 17th annual Woodbury Community Expo on March 28— now located at M Health Fairview Sports Center, 4125 Radio Drive.

03.11

Hula Hoop Hooray

Enjoy a unique spring break performance experience with Hooperina by learning the power of hula hooping by spinning, tossing, twisting and rolling them all around the room. Everyone is welcome at this free event from 2–2:45 p.m. at Central Park’s Woodlands room. washcolib.org

03.12

Postpartum Support

Feel supported in your postpartum journey with this strengthening workshop from 10–11:30 a.m. at Awake Pelvic Health and Wellness for $35. Intended for mothers and babies, this class teaches postpartum core and pelvic exercise and how to support your baby’s development. awakepelvichealth.com

03.14

Frugal Frolic 5K

Run off the winter blues at 2 p.m. during this St. Patrick’s Day 5K around Colby Lake. athenaclydesdaleracing.com

03.15

Performance in the Park

Join Nancy Olson from 2–3 p.m. for an afternoon of folk music at the Central Park Amphitheater. woodburymn.gov

03.15

Rhapsody in Red, White & Blue

Enjoy an afternoon of music, starting at 3 p.m., by American composers, inspired by the American experience, including George Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue and Antonin Dvorak’s New World Symphony emsorch.org

03.16

Music Together

Parents or caregivers who are considering signing up for the Music Together classes with their children (infants to age 6) can attend this free demo session from 9:30–10:15 a.m. at Kargel Park. woodburymn.gov

03.21

Breakfast with the Bunny

Enjoy a delicious breakfast with the bunny at various times from 8:30–11:15 a.m. at Eagle Valley Golf Course. The $20 registration includes breakfast, a craft and pictures with the bunny. woodburymn.gov

03.26

Basic Needs Inc. Gala

Celebrate the 30-year impact of Basic Needs Inc. in South Washington County from 5–9 p.m. at River Oaks Golf Course and Events Center. basicneedsmn.org

Compiled by

Diane Meyer and Avery Vrieze

To have your event considered: email woodburymag@localmedia.co by the 10th of the month three months prior to publication. Please note that some events may have changed since these pages went to print. Please visit affiliated websites for updates.

“Me and my husband were both first time home buyers who decided to make that first big purchase during the hottest market and Angela was there every step of the way. She explained the whole process to us, was very responsive, answered a million questions and phone calls at all hours, guided us to homes she knew we would like, put up with my husband’s dad jokes, and went out of her way to schedule home tours that worked with our busy schedules. If you’re looking to buy or sell a home, I highly recommend Angela!”

-Michael and Megan

An Icy Reflection

“I have always been fascinated by the reflections in water and ice when seen up close and in the right light. It is always interesting to see the shapes and colors and try to decipher what the reflection is actually of,” Steven Meisel, advanced amateur photographer, says of this photo of an arborvitae bush. “I positioned the camera a few inches from the ice droplet in order to capture the detail in that reflection.”

—Hailey Almsted

FOCUS ON WOODBURY

Photographer: Steven Meisel Title: An Icy Reflection

Equipment: OM–1 camera with a 60 mm macro lens, supplemental flash, 1/50 shutter speed, f14 aperture and ISO 200

Category: Abstract Award: Third Place

To view other Focus on Woodbury photo contest winners, visit woodburymag.com.