Hello Lake Minnetonka! Hope your coffee tastes especially good this morning. In today’s bring-the-kiddos edition: Summer roadwork ahead, princess brunch, and Summer Fest 2026 + excuses to get the fam out and about this week.
Your insurance won't cover a $12,000 HVAC bill: If your furnace quits before it warms up, your homeowners insurance will tell you it's a "maintenance issue" and wish you luck. Insurance covers sudden disasters. It doesn't cover the systems that wear out over time, and those are the expensive ones. A home warranty is built for exactly this. HVAC, water heater, appliances, plumbing, electrical... all covered for less than $1/day with no age restrictions on what's covered. You call, they send a tech, you pay a service fee. They handle the rest. This one's 50% off right now.* |
01 — Worth knowing In the newsThree local stories this week, plus a few worth your money.
New downtown dining spot: With liquor license approval secured, Lago Tacos plans to open soon in the former Thirty Bales space in Hopkins, joining existing locations in Excelsior, Plymouth, and St. Louis Park -- see Lago's opening plans.
New dining concept arrives: Cooper's Hawk Winery & Restaurants is eyeing Minnetonka and Woodbury for its first Minnesota locations, bringing a wine club, tasting room, full-service dining, and retail market to the suburbs -- meet Cooper's Hawk's bid.
Summer roadwork ahead: West metro drivers, brace for a summer on I-394 and Highway 12 as bridge work continues, ramps close, and traffic will shift eastbound in July, with detours lasting through November -- see what’s closing when.
Nothing prepares you for a pet emergency: I learned that the hard way after charging $10k to a credit card for life-saving surgery on my cat, Miss Stache. As soon as we got home, I signed up for Spot. It’s super affordable – and reimburses up to 90% of the bill.*
The bill all retirees should double check: Car insurance. If you’ve been on the same plan for years, you might be paying way more than you need to. It’s an easy one to forget about, but switching could save you up to $600 this year. Case in point: I shopped around and ended up cutting my premium in half -- this free comparison tool makes it easy.*
You've traveled abroad without being able to speak the local language. You can change that in just 10 minutes a day. Most people are holding real conversations within three weeks. In fact, 92% of users improved their proficiency in just two months, with 25 million subscriptions sold -- take 55% off.* Highlights this week: |
02 — From our sponsor Your insurance won't cover a $12,000 HVAC billIf your furnace quits before it warms up, your homeowners insurance will tell you it's a "maintenance issue" and wish you luck. Insurance covers sudden disasters. It doesn't cover the systems that wear out over time, and those are the expensive ones. A home warranty is built for exactly this. HVAC, water heater, appliances, plumbing, electrical... all covered for less than $1/day with no age restrictions on what's covered. You call, they send a tech, you pay a service fee. They handle the rest. This one's 50% off right now.* |
03 — On our radar
Local business spotlightNearby spots we'd actually send a friend to.
Your easy green escape: When you need a quick reset close to home, Civic Center Park delivers with walking and biking trails, a playground for kid energy, an outdoor amphitheater for summer vibes, a canoe landing, and even an indoor ice rink. Pack a snack, pick a path, breathe a little.
Roll, sip, repeat: Need a low-key spot to wrangle the group this week, Lodestone Coffee and Games LLC has shelves of board games, roomy tables, and the kind of coffee that keeps turns moving. Meet up, test a new title, and call it quality time well played.
Garden glow-up time: Family-owned since 1983, Plant Place Garden Centers brings the easy wins your yard craves, from hardy annuals and perennials to veggie starts, herbs, tropicals and the soil to tuck them into. Swing by this week, pick a few, then pretend the lush results were totally intentional.
|
04 — Our recommendations
We got your backA handful of products and services we think are worth a look.
Makeup for skin that's changed, now up to 65% off: Laura Geller has built its following on formulas made for mature skin, led by the baked foundations women over 40 keep coming back to. Right now, new email subscribers get up to 65% off plus an extra 22%. Enter your email on the page and the discount activates. *See the VIP pricing →
Need cash but can't take on another monthly payment? This gets you a lump sum from your home's equity with no monthly bill and no interest, because it isn't a loan. Use the funds for anything, whether that's home improvements, paying off debt, or a large purchase, and pay it back by the end of your 30-year term. Checking your offer is easy, fully online, and won't affect your credit score. *See your cash offer →
Buy one window treatment this summer, get the second 50% off: “My fourth order over 8 years. Product reliability, consistency to values & warranty kept me returning!” See what keeps customers coming back to 3 Day Blinds. Book your free consultation and enjoy summer savings on blinds, shades, and drapery. *Claim your summer savings →
Carrying $5,000 or more on your cards? Stop the interest charges: A balance that size racks up interest fast, and at today's rates it barely budges no matter how much you pay. This card gives you 0% intro APR until 2028 on balance transfers (made in the first 60 days), with a $0 annual fee. That means almost two years to pay down what you owe with no interest charges. *See if it's a fit →
Wish you had someone to talk to right now? The quiet hours are the hardest, especially when you just want someone to talk to. That's exactly what this is built for: real conversations, real matches, real people. Not endless swiping, but actual chats with singles who want to connect as much as you do. Someone to talk to could be a message away. *Join now and start chatting → |
Have an event to share? We (and our readers) can't wait to hear about it! Submit an event → |
|
05 — The event calendar Fun for the famOur favorite upcoming kid and family-friendly events. All events are subject to change. Always check official event pages before heading out.
🐶 Bucks for Babe @ The Bond Between | Friday (6/26) at 4:00 PM – Nothing beats meeting your next best friend in person, then bringing them home the same day. In Babe’s honor, Bucks for Babe backs Helping Paws and The Bond Between, with adoptable dogs and cats, retail therapy with fur, fewer returns, and better door greetings.
🎉 Summer Fest 2026 @ Minnetonka Civic Center Park | Saturday (6/27) at 4:00 AM – Bring the crew to Summer Fest for a classic Minnetonka combo of kid chaos and grown-up fun, all free. Think a Tot Trot, llamas, glitter tattoos, axe throwing, and human foosball, with live music, Rotary-poured beer and wine, and fireworks to send everyone home smiling.
👑 Princess Brunch @ Mirabelle (Excelsior) | Saturday (6/27) at 10:00 AM – Got a kid who sings Part of Your World at breakfast? Mirabelle in Excelsior is hosting a Princess Brunch with Moana and Ariel, serving legit brunch for you and storybook magic for them, with tiaras, giggles, and a highly probable maple syrup incident.
🎉 Minnetonka Summer Fest @ Civic Center Park | Saturday (6/27) at 4:00 PM – Minnetonka's Summer Fest is back, an excuse to bump into your neighbors while pretending a lawn chair counts as cardio. Expect local tunes, good food, and kid-friendly chaos, stick around while the lake breeze works its magic and everyone remembers why we live here.
📚 A2D Academy Book Reading @ The Thinking Spot (Wayzata) | Sunday (6/28) at 10:30 AM – Give your screen a rest and settle in for a book reading where 55 kids share their inspiring journeys through big feelings. Expect pint-sized philosophers, rainbow emotions, and a few truths that land harder than your morning newsfeed. Great for grandkids, and your inner kindergartner.
🌊 Adventure Engineers: Ocean Explorers @ Orono Intermediate Elementary | Monday (6/29) at 1:00 PM – Your K-4 kid can go full Jacques Cousteau without tracking sand into your car. A week of indoor shore exploring right here in Orono, fossil digs, squishy sand slime, coral reef crafting, tide pools, and treasure hunts, all playful, hands-on, and sneakily STEM smart.
🎵 Music Series: Choral Music from the Holocaust @ Civic Center Amphitheater | Tuesday (6/30) at 6:30 PM – At Minnetonka Civic Center Park, the amphitheater turns into our Rocket Man runway, with a free Elton John tribute and the singalongs you secretly love. Bring a blanket or lawn chair, grab a Pronto Pup, and pretend your driveway is the Yellow Brick Road.
Want more? Browse our full events calendar | Submit an event |
06 — From our sponsor Heads up for pet parentsTogether with our sponsor Lemonade. Nothing prepares you for a late-night emergency at the vet. I learned that the hard way after charging $10k to a credit card for life-saving surgery on my cat, Miss Stache. From the initial exam fee just to be seen, to x-rays, surgery, medication, and follow-up visits… the bill racks up fast (to say the least). And at that moment? You’re not thinking about your savings, you’re just saying yes to whatever keeps them thriving. As soon as we got home, I dug around online and ultimately signed up for Pet Insurance. It was too late for me, but you could save thousands on your next vet bill with *Lemonade. |
07 — The Lake Minnetonka report Weather forecastToday — High: 74°F — Low: 54°F — Precip: 37%
Isolated rain showers between noon and 1pm, then scattered showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 74. West wind 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 40%. Later: Partly cloudy, with a low around 54. North northwest wind 5 to 10 mph.
Tomorrow — High: 73°F — Low: 55°F — Precip: 3%
Mostly sunny, with a high near 73. North northeast wind around 5 mph. Later: Partly cloudy, with a low around 55. Northeast wind 0 to 5 mph. This house is wildThis Landschute-built home spans an acre with 170 feet of Christmas Lake shoreline and west-facing views that steal the show at sunset. The open floorplan features a wall-of-windows great room, gourmet kitchen with walk-in pantry, and a main-level primary suite with fireplace, heated floors, and private deck. A walkout lower level, boathouse, and heated 3-car garage seal the deal.
Take a peek inside → |
| |
