Travel

Crystal Waters, Rich Culture and Natural Beauty

Explore A New Destination This Summer Article by Sarah Knieff Spring is here folks, which means summer travel plans are just around the corner. If you’re looking for a new place to explore, these unique destinations offer the perfect place to invest your days off. Anna Maria Island, Florida “Once a best-kept secret among Floridians, Anna Maria Island has always been known for its sugar-white beach coastline, emerald green and blue Gulf waters, and quaint business districts. Today, it is...

March 2024

Finance + Legal Services

Finding Your Center

Investing in Yourself, Your Community, and the World Article by Sue Baldani | Photography by Lucy Hawthorne At the age of 19, Jina Penn-Tracy was diagnosed with cancer. The impact that that had on her life was tremendous. “I became much more aware of environmental contamination and the impact of chemicals on the environment,” she says. “I read something by Hazel Henderson, an amazing woman, futurist and economist, and her whole message was that what we do to the environment is a direct result...

March 2024

Finance + Legal Services

How to Fund A New Business

Financial Insight From Bridgewater Bank Article by Sarah Knieff Thinking about starting a new business, but not sure how to fund it? It’s okay, Tony Ferraro, managing director of commercial lending for Bridgewater Bank, has got your back. Using his 25 years of finance experience, he is here to answer four critical funding questions that all entrepreneurs ask. Read on, you may be surprised by his responses. How can I fund my new business? How someone goes about funding a new business...

March 2024

Auto + Marine

Invest in Electric

Discover Cutting-Edge Design and Exhilarating Power in the 2024 Acura ZDX Article by Sarah Knieff Acura is going all-electric with its spring launch of the new ZDX. The name comes from a 2010 model, but unlike the boxy, gas-powered original, this 2024 SUV’s look is sleek with a floating roof, smooth sides and a grille with a light-up border.   Engineered with a low center of gravity and near 50/50 weight distribution, the base A-Spec model provides 342 horsepower and an estimated 309-mile...

March 2024

Home + Design

Prep Like a Pro

Get Your Home Paint Ready Using These Tips Article by Sarah Knieff Painting the exterior or interior of your home can be a big undertaking, especially if you don’t know where to start. That’s why Greg Chileen, owner of Chileen Painting, is here to help. Consider his tips and tricks for your next home project. Exterior Painting the exterior of your home should be your number one painting priority.  Painting seasons are short in Minnesota and keeping up the exterior of your home is very...

February 2024

Home + Design

Stop Stressing

These Real Estate Gurus are Here to Help Sell Your Home Article by Sarah Knieff So you’ve decided to sell your home. Big decision sorted. But now thoughts of prep work, staging, and dealing with all kinds of stressful tasks are running through your head. Your biggest concern is where to even start. Okay now stop. Take a breath and sing Hakuna Matata. You don’t have to fret. Sarah Balestri and Kate Buckley, Coldwell Banker realtors, are in your corner. Here to answer all your home prep...

February 2024

Home + Design

Living in Luxury

Now is the Time to Find a Home That has Everything You Want Article by Sue Baldani | Photography by Lucy Hawthorne While Fazendin Realtors is happy to help people buy and sell homes in every price range, the luxury market in Minneapolis is really hot right now. “Listings increased 6.3% last year for million-dollar plus properties over the previous year,” says broker and owner, Andy Fazendin. “Meanwhile, for the rest of the market, there was a decline of 12.5%.”   With luxury homes, there are...

February 2024

Home + Design

Big Impact

FBC Remodel Creates Gathering Places for Families Article by Sarah Knieff | Photography by Spacecrafting and Boulevard Real Estate Lyndsay Bussler, lead senior designer for FBC Remodel, goes to work every day with one goal in mind: making a positive impact on families. “I have been with the company for almost 16 years now,” she says. “I’ve learned that sure, the glamorous projects we do are fun with the addition of structural beams and fancy materials, but the ones that create a more...

February 2024

Home + Design

Welcome to the Pillsbury Castle

A New Family Breathes Life Into the Space Article by Sarah Knieff Let’s step back in time for a moment.   It’s 1903 and you have been invited to a housewarming party at the magnificent Pillsbury Castle by the owner himself, Alfred Pillsbury, son of Pillsbury Co-Founder John S.    How did you get invited, you ask? Well, perhaps you are an up-and-coming artist that Alfred would like to introduce to society. You see, to many Alfred is best known as an enthusiastic promoter of the arts who...

February 2024

Home + Design

Treasured Real Estate Opportunities

Iconic Homes That Bring a Touch of Whimsy to the Area Article by Sue Baldani Anyone who lives or drives around Minneapolis has had the pleasure of viewing some of the most iconic structures in the area – the Mushroom houses, or as they’re also known, Gnome homes and Hobbit houses. These cottage-inspired structures, with their mushroom cap-styled roofs, were designed to blend into their surrounding landscapes. Master Builder Earl Young was the designer behind many of the homes in the area...

January 2024