by Madeline Kopiecki | Jan 6, 2026 | Local Makers, Restaurants
White Bear Lake will continue to enjoy authentic Chicago-style pizza. Over a decade ago, the late Gary Bougie and his wife, Keri Bougie, partnered with Kowalski’s Markets to open Pizzeria Pezzo at 2143 4th St. in White Bear Lake. The authentic and award-winning pizza...
by Zoe Yates | Jan 1, 2026 | Featured
I’ve always been drawn to my family’s history. From a young age, I spent hours of family gatherings holed up in closets with albums and boxes of letters and images. Flipping through the pages, holding scallop-edged photographs and turning them over to memorize the...
by Editorial Staff | Jan 1, 2026 | Best of White Bear Lake, Noteworthy
Let’s start the year with some exciting news. Best of White Bear Lake is moving—to February! We think it’s a perfect fit. After all, February is the month of love, and we all adore our local businesses and service providers. Our 2026 annual readers’ choice poll will...
by Jennifer Pitterle | Jan 1, 2026 | Featured, Weddings
A multicultural wedding honors both American and Vietnamese traditions. When Chơnhạnh VũVân and Nicholas Langevin met in 2015, they were University of Minnesota undergrads on the lookout for new friends in their dorm. Langevin, who grew up in White Bear Lake, proposed...
by Zoe Yates | Jan 1, 2026 | Weddings
Mahtomedi native Emma Richter tied the knot with Cameron Monson on June 14 at The Whim in Minneapolis. The wedding highlighted White Bear Lake area small businesses with lush floral arrangements from Hazel & Goose and a decadent white two-tier cake and desserts...
by Diane Meyer | Jan 1, 2026 | Book Club, Noteworthy, Shops
Sisters Emily Arcand and Stephanie Phenow are lifelong readers—and lovers of rollicking and romantic happily-ever-afters. The duo launched Swoonworthy Booksellers (swoonworthybooksellers.com) in early 2024. The heartfelt bookselling business is concentrated on romance...
by Katie Tomsche | Jan 1, 2026 | Noteworthy, Recipes, Weddings
Who says cake can only make an appearance at the wedding reception? Fresh lemon and almond extract marry to create this heavenly Lemon-Almond Ricotta Cake, which is rich and amazingly light. With simplicity and beauty, it’s perfect to serve at an engagement party or...
by Zoe Yates | Jan 1, 2026 | Featured, Weddings
The historic mansion provides a serene setting for one couple’s June nuptials. Leading up to Landon and Samantha (née Maul) Hoppe’s June wedding, the forecast called for a 99 percent chance of rain—and rain it did. As the pair exchanged vows at Gloria Dei Lutheran...
by Emily Gedde | Jan 1, 2026 | Entertain, Weddings
Vow renewal ceremonies celebrate couples growing together. When Debby and Jim Dalfanso decided to renew their wedding vows for a milestone anniversary, the couple wanted someone they felt comfortable with and trusted to reunite them in love after two decades of...
by Amelia Reigstad | Jan 1, 2026 | Education
The tone we use within our conversations is like a superpower—one that we can use in positive or negative ways. Did you know tone of voice is the leading cause of miscommunication? Research tells us that 10 percent of conflict is due to a difference in opinion and 90...
by Hailey Almsted and Zoe Yates | Jan 1, 2026 | Drinks, Entertain, Featured, Weddings
The vows are exchanged, the kiss has sealed the marriage—and now it’s time to celebrate in style. Add a memorable touch to your cocktail hour and reception with a mobile bar that brings charm to the big day. Whether it’s a vintage camper or a chic tap trailer, these...
by Zoe Yates | Jan 1, 2026 | Noteworthy, Weddings
White Bear Township residents and small business owners Nick and Staci Andro will celebrate their 10th wedding anniversary this autumn. The couple tied the knot at a family cabin in Bemidji on October 8, 2016, surrounded by an array of locally grown flowers and...
by Zoe Yates | Jan 1, 2026 | Style, Weddings
Modern weddings bring heirlooms and heritage into focus. There’s a growing trend in the wedding industry—and it’s greater than basque waists and Espresso Martinis. Modern couples are exploring meaningful ways to incorporate their family and heritage into their wedding...
by Zoe Yates | Nov 1, 2025 | Featured
As time passes, it’s beautiful to recognize the moments that become memories. I think it’s one of the most brilliant parts of aging, collecting core memories and recalling them with friends and loved ones. As we put together this issue—in which music is very much a...
by Zoe Yates | Nov 1, 2025 | Giving Back, Local Makers, Noteworthy
At White Bear Lake United Methodist Church, a community bread oven is a cornerstone of a mission to care. The traditional brick oven was built by members of the church in 2010 after former pastor Bryce Johnson attended a bread school during a sabbatical in Tuscany. In...
