Author: Kelley Regan

Eden Prairie has been recognized as one of the best cities to live in, and homebuyers are certainly taking notice. People of all ages are moving to this area not only because of its proximity to Minneapolis but because it is also a complete city. According to the website Niche, Eden Prairie ranks No. 1 as the best suburb to live in Minnesota for 2021. It’s home to exemplary schools, parks, and opportunities. Residents who move here get welcomed into a diverse and flourishing community. But buying in Eden Prairie may mean entering a crazy real estate market, and the pandemic…

It was a winter blast, thankfully spared from the arctic chill. Eden Prairie’s Winter Blast event at Staring Lake Park on Saturday afternoon, Jan. 8, took advantage of a one-day break in the subzero weather. The temps heated up into the 20s, providing residents a chance to embrace and celebrate winter without having to risk frostbite. The city-sponsored event offered a variety of fun outdoor activities for all ages. Bundled against the elements, a line of children and parents lumbered up the sledding hill in heavy snow boots before jumping aboard colorful inflatable tubes or sleds and darting back to…

The silhouette of a bronze feature depicting a female nurse with her hand on the world at Purgatory Creek Park stands amid a brilliant Monday, Dec. 6, sky at dusk. The moon and Venus are visible (above the bronzed world). According to earthsky.org, the moon, Jupiter, Saturn, and Venus are all visible in the western sky after sunset from Dec. 6-9. Learn more by clicking on this Space.com article. The bronze feature, titled World Peace, is part of the Eden Prairie Veterans Memorial.

Last year’s EPLN Eden Prairie holiday lights map was a hit. So, we’re bringing it to you again. Enjoy an evening with your family viewing some of the creative displays in the city this holiday season! Outdoor holiday lights were introduced in North America after the first safe outdoor Christmas light bulbs were invented. The lights made their appearance in the 1930s to spread a bit of holiday spirit during the Depression. It may not be the Depression-era, but we still look forward to the first twinkling of color that announces the season of giving. Eden Prairie residents are generous…

The frigid cold temperatures did nothing to dampen the warm greetings seniors received at the Valentine’s Day event at the Eden Prairie Senior Center on Feb. 12. Staff and volunteers greeted each guest as they entered the makeshift “drive thru” for a few kind words and a friendly “masked” face. Sue Bohnsack, Senior Center director, and Josh Rockey, recreation specialist, handed out red carnations and a goodie bag to each attendee. Inside each goodie bag were thoughtful gifts donated by the event’s generous sponsors. The Eden Prairie Fire Department and the Eden Prairie Police Department were also on hand to…

We leave something of ourselves behind when we leave a place, said the author Pascal Mercier. A part of us stays behind and can only be found again by returning. With that in mind, today we are debuting a regular feature: This Week in Eden Prairie History. This Week in Eden Prairie History steps back into a place in time where a part of us all – whether near, far, or no longer with us – is found in the events of the past. The short descriptions below are invitations to doorways into Eden Prairie’s past. By stepping through you…

If you happened to be near The Waters senior living center on Jan. 20, you may have heard polka music in the air. That’s because the residents at The Waters received their first-dose immunizations for COVID-19. What could have been a somber affair for the residents was morphed it into a lighthearted event called a “poke a party.”  After each resident received the immunization, they were invited to take a swing at the COVID-shaped piñata. The second shot will be coming in approximately four weeks and, thanks to the creative staff, it surely will be another fun event.

Just south of County Road 5 on Eden Prairie Road sits a stately Queen Anne home which houses one rock star café. The building is an integral part of Eden Prairie’s history. Smith Café offers scrumptious home cooked fare, an accomplished wine list, and an incredible cup of joe. Yes, the café offers an incredible dining experience where you are you able to satisfy those hunger pangs, but it also remedies that Eden Prairie history fix you might be needing. The home itself was built in 1877 by Sheldon Smith and his wife Mary, one of Eden Prairies founding families.…

Eye strain associated with screen time has increased during COVID-19, according to Dr. Afire Hasan, optometrist and owner of Insight Vision Care in Eden Prairie. Hasan said there is “quite an increase in kids coming in with eye strain from increased computer usage which has resulted in more prescription glasses as well.” Hasan recommends that both kids and adults take a break from the screen every twenty minutes. Eye strain and dry eyes are a common complaint from people who spend time in front of a screen as people tend to blink less. For this problem, Hasan recommends using a…

With the pandemic pressing down on us the need to stay at home has left many families scrambling for ideas to keep everyone entertained. It is a challenge but it’s also the perfect time to focus on family and friends and to cherish the time spent with those who are most precious.  To help spur a little action in your home we’ve put together a list of fun activities.  We hope these ideas help you and your family. Zoom or Facetime – A little online love goes a long way. Give your family or friends a virtual call.  Both you…