April/May 2019

This issue is all about getting outdoors. Whether it’s on the river, on the golf course or on a local restaurant patio, we’ve got tons to love in here for all things open air.

Here are some of the best reader submitted photos from this year's Hudson Hot Air Affair. The mid-winter event has been delighting spectators for 30 years. This year's theme was Pirates Fly’n the Croix-Ribbean. 

 
boating, st. croix river boating, st. croix valley, Point St. Croix Marina, boats

As we approach our warmer months, boats will appear on the St. Croix River like a seasonal bloom that is joyfully anticipated by so many outdoor enthusiasts.

 
Jake Wisse and Ed Vater, Bending Branches, Outdoors,

Bending Branches makes paddles designed for stand up paddle boarding, canoeing, kayaking, longer excursions, day trips and whitewater as well as deeper lakes, rivers and salt water.

 
patio, pavers, paver patio, home remodel

Warmer temperatures extend an invitation to create livable spaces beyond the patio doors and into our gardens and yard.

 
Coral, pantone color of the year, pantone, living coral

Pantone's 2019 Color of the Year is Living Coral. Here are some ways to weave the color into your home's palette.

 
soaker tub, tub, bathroom remodel, bathroom

More and more, home and boutique hotel bathrooms are welcoming soaker tubs, some of which offer jets and other options.

 
Royal Golf Club, Arnie's, Arnie's restaurant, golfing, golf

This spring and summer you’ll want to spend some time on the patio at Arnie’s.

 
home and garden, gardening, home remodeling, home design, home and garden resources

Whether you’re building a home from the blueprints of your dreams or remodeling a house to suit your family’s needs and wants, we want to help you relax.

 
Diro Outdoors, downtown Stillwater, bike rentals, rent a bike, renting a bike

DIRO Outdoors now offers self-serve bike rentals in downtown Stillwater.

 
Dandelion, Nature, Outdoors, St. Croix Valley

Nineteen-year-old Violet Penman is a graduate of Hudson High School and a student at the University of Wisconsin – River Falls.

 
boat sale, boating, buying a boat, boat maintenance, boat sellers, where to buy a boat

For local boat sales, slip leasing, storage and maintenance information, check out these local marinas and boat dealers.

 
St. Croix River Hounds, Northwoods League, summer baseball, Division I Baseball, St. Croix Meadows Dog Track

Starting in the summer of 2020, the Hounds will play at the former St. Croix Meadows Dog Track site as part of the Northwoods League.

 
Bird Branding, tropical wings, migratory birds, Costa Rica, tropical birds

The upcoming St. Croix Flyway Bird Migration Celebration champions the international partnership.

 
Bella Leonhart, Golf, youth golf, drive chip & putt, 2019 masters, augusta national golf club, golf channel

At 11 years old, Bella Leonhart has won over 30 Minnesota Junior PGA competitions, made the All Star Minnesota Junior League team and played in more than 27 competitive rounds of golf in 2018.

 
Kelli Kaufer, Interior Design, salvage, kitchen remodel, salvage materials

Try mixing vintage and modern in your home makeover like in this urban family kitchen.

 
baseball, baseball season, stillwater baseball, stillwater ponies, high school baseball

Last season, in dramatic fashion, the Stillwater Ponies shut out Minnetonka 4-0 to finish the season with 20 straight wins and their first state championship since 1991.

 
Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel, NEA Big Read, National Endowment for the Arts, ArtReach St. Croix

The entire community is encouraged to read "Station Eleven" by Emily St. John Mandel as part of a grant received by ArtReach St. Croix.

 
Squire House Gardens, gardening, Hudson gardens, lens on st. croix valley, squire house

This Hudson garden is full of native plants and plants that are wildlife friendly, like trees and shrubs that produce nuts and berries for birds and squirrels.

 
The Hidden Life of Trees, Peter Wohlleben, Mysteries of Nature, nature books, nature reading

Peter Wohlleben's "The Hidden Life of Trees" is the first in his Mysteries of Nature trilogy, perfect for nature lovers or even those just casually curious.