by Zoe Yates | Jun 1, 2026 | Best of St. Croix Valley, Featured
by Zoe Yates | Jun 1, 2026 | Featured
Summer is the best time to celebrate a milestone, though I am definitely biased. I was born at the tail end of strawberry season, and picking the vibrant fruits at local farms was a birthday tradition throughout my childhood. I have fond memories of kneeling in the...
by Editorial Staff | Jun 1, 2026 | Photo Contest
Look through your photo files. What do you see? Whether it’s a candid moment, an iconic area landmark, a brush with nature or something in between, odds are it captures a glimpse of what it’s like to call the St. Croix Valley home. From June 1–July 31, our annual Lens...
by Abigail Larson | Jun 1, 2026 | Entertain, History
Since the 1940s, Somerset, Wisconsin, has honored its French-Canadian heritage with an annual celebration. Featuring all the mainstays of a great small-town get-together, Pea Soup Days (peasoupdays.com) features a carnival, games, a parade and, as the name suggests,...
by Sarah Eral | Jun 1, 2026 | Book Club, Noteworthy
For decades, Pulitzer Prize-winning author and Minneapolis resident Louise Erdrich has expertly blended the minutiae of normal life with thoughtful storytelling, magical realism and a spiritual view of the land through her Ojibwe roots. While she’s best known for...
by Hailey Almsted and Zoe Yates | Jun 1, 2026 | Arts, Featured, Ingredients, Local Makers, Outdoors
Each month of summer arrives with new delights in the fields and farms across the East Metro. Rows of fragrant flowers and succulent fruits paint the rolling hills with color—ripe for the picking but only for a little while. Make the most of this seasonal abundance by...
by Zoe Yates | Jun 1, 2026 | Best of St. Croix Valley, Featured, People
In each Best of St. Croix Valley issue, I have the opportunity to share a piece of my world in my Editor’s Picks. Last year, I took you on a tour of my favorite destinations in Western Wisconsin, the place I call home. This year, I’m exploring a topic that has been on...
by Zoe Yates | Jun 1, 2026 | Photo Contest
Stillwater resident Greg Schulz of Pictures Over Stillwater was leaving a preproduction meeting for the Opera On The River event when he spotted some hot air balloons taking off. With the help of a visual observer and familiarity with the area’s skies and obstacles,...
by Kassondra Burtis | Jun 1, 2026 | Build, Giving Back
St. Croix Valley Habitat for Humanity has a legacy of generosity and innovation. Three decades of providing affordable housing to families is an accomplishment to be celebrated. Throughout 2026, that’s exactly what St. Croix Valley Habitat for Humanity (SCVHFH) is...
by Hailey Almsted and Zoe Yates | Jun 1, 2026 | Ingredients, Local Makers, Outdoors
It’s always a good idea to add a you-pick farm to your summer bucket list! Timing and crop availability vary year to year; make a plan to check in with your favorite growers, so you don’t miss out. Berry picking will begin with strawberries in mid-June—these summer...
by Editorial Staff | Jun 1, 2026 | Noteworthy, Weddings
This beautiful time of year brings coral bells and wedding bells! And, as you know, every wedding celebration starts with a special announcement. We are pleased to announce that plans for our annual wedding issue are currently underway. We’re ready to showcase your...
by Findlay Drabant | Jun 1, 2026 | Outdoors, Wellness
Kari Goeden organizes a bimonthly walking club to foster community. On a crisp day last autumn, 68 women huddled shoulder-to-shoulder, smiling brightly as they posed for a picture in front of the Stillwater Historic Lift Bridge. The moment marked the first official...
by Danielle Gallus | May 15, 2026 | Featured, Local Makers, Restaurants
Young entrepreneur Ethan Sorensen opens his Main Street shop. Sit-down restaurants account for the bulk of Stillwater’s dining scene, but Ethan Sorensen saw room for something different—quality food without the wait. “I’ve always loved seeing all kinds of people come...
by Madeline Kopiecki | Apr 24, 2026 | Education, Featured, Giving Back, Outdoors
The mobile visitor experience will launch at this year’s Wild Rivers Fest. Wild Rivers Conservancy and the National Park Service have turned years of planning into a first-of-its-kind reality. On May 2, the organizations will launch a new way for local communities to...
by Danielle Gallus | Apr 13, 2026 | Local Makers, Restaurants
Anthony Gilbert represented the Stillwater pizzeria at the International Pizza Expo. From a local kitchen to an international stage, Melt Pizza Company continues to gain global recognition. “This is only my third time competing [at the International Pizza Expo], and...
