Being a four season bike commuter in Minnesota presents some serious challanges. In addition to the usual traffic issues, you have to deal with mountainous snow drifts, slushy streets and sub-zero temperatures. Biking in this environment seems like something left to the most experienced of riders, but as Joe Meiser, Product Development Manager for Quality Bicycle Parts, said, a few everyday items can help get you started. As riders get more experience, he explained, they may want to think about purchasing some of the more specialized biking gear to improve performance and comfort. He took …

Fall brings with it colder nights, deeper colors and winter preparations for all sorts of plants and animals. In addition to bringing harvest themes and these rich fall colors to your garden, a few preparations can keep greenery growing right up to the edge of winter. Beyond that, underneath the snow and ice, your garden can develop the conditions which will bring a bright blooming spring. Jesse Jacobson, manager at Tonkadale Greenhouse, was happy to show how fall and winter are anything but the end of your garden. With the right steps, the cold season can be a restful break that gives the …

Mozza Mia Executive Chef Heather Swan shows us a few trade secrets of how to make the best flying pizza you can.

"It's easier to get out of the water, but it's a little harder to stay there," Alex Marine says. Marine is the lead wakeboard instructor at Waketonka, a local water sports school. Wakeboarding is a combination of water skiing and snow boarding which is becoming more popular on Minnesota's lakes. Marine offered a few key tips to get body and board out of the water and cris-crossing over the wake. He also demonstrated some tricks, but those are for more advanced students. Waketonka students Andy Longval and Mike Evanson also offered some demonstrations of correct wakeboarding technique.

Grooming is an important part of keeping your dog safe in the heat and keeping the ticks off. Heidi Baroun, owner of Heidi's Elite Pet Grooming, explained that matting of the coat and undercoat can cause many unexpected problems and is easily dealt with by gentle brushing and a good bath. The least-exposed areas of the dog—such as the ears, the arm pits, the tail and the rear end—are the most likely trouble spots for both skin infections and ticks. Careful inspection while gently brushing out the matted fur can help prevent both problems. Baroun was joined by Lana, a 3-year-old Chow/Husky/…

Summer is a great time to have a garage sale. The weather is usually nice, and it's a good excuse to sit outside and chat with friends and neighbors. Unfortunately, it can be stressful and overwhelming if a little bit of planning isn't part of the week before the sale. Megan Adam hosted a garage sale at her parent's home in Minnetonka over the weekend, and she shared some of the lessons she's learned in two years of organizing.

West Metro realtor Cheryl  Holds teams up with Patch to answer the all-important question: How do I get my house sold? Top Tips: 1. Make the entrance inviting. 2. Finish any unfinished projects, including painting. 3. Clean, clean, clean—even inside cabinets and closets.  4. Think about Kitty and Fido! 5. Create a warm and inviting atmosphere with soft music and yummy smells.  BONUS TIP FOR BUYERS: Be realistic! In the era of HGTV, sometimes buyers have unrealistic expectations too.

When you think about golf, images of mature men in funny pants or hats is probably one of the first pictures to appear. Maybe some people think of Tiger Woods, kilts or maybe Cristie Kerr. Pretty much the one thing furthest from your mind is a 6 year old swinging a golf club. But at the Hopkins Pavillion, Skyhawks Sports Camps is running a SNAG camp for very young golfers. SNAG (Starting New at Golf) gaves young kids a chance to get a handle of some of the basic skills of golf using a plastic club, a plastic tee, and a bright tennis ball in lieu of the standard heavy gear. Led by coaches Dan …

Over seventy-five floats, bands and luminaries moved along Main St. in Albertville on a Sunday afternoon. Despite the lingering threat of rain, several miles along the parade route were lined with spectators from the area. From start the finish, the parade lasted close to three hours, and parade hosts Brittany Crocker and Jacob Bebeau offered their color commentary the entire time. The hosts took some time after their marathon on the microphone to share a few tips and pointers for making a great community parade. Enthusiasm and advertising were the key, they said, in addition to a good mix of…

The approach of summer is heating up the streets, lakes and trails of the Metro, but a group of students are getting a head start on a near tropical experience with a popular form of exercise called Zumba. Led by Katherine McGraw at Edina Community Center, the students are learning the dance & workout moves with a latin beat. Zumba combines the dance moves of salsa, tango, cha-cha with a 60-minute workout. Katherine explained that the styles are great exercise because they develop the core muscles. The range of dance moves work against muscle memory, which increases the calorie burn of the …

For many people, beer is best served alongside a brat or a burger. Or maybe with a freshly grilled steak or recently caught fish.  But Bryan Buser, manager of The Four Firkins, a specialty beer store in St. Louis Park, thinks beer offers as many gourmet opportunities as fine wine.  Looking for a beer to complement your cheese? Maybe you want to wow your friends with a grown-up version of a root beer float? Perhaps you want to pair a pasta dish with something heartier than wine? Bryan was happy to share with us just a few of the options that can enhance both food and drink.

"Vinyl records sound better, and it's been scientifically proven," said Adam Welle, manager of Down in the Valley. He has been collecting records for his entire life, amassing a collection of nearly 5,000 records. In addition to a hobby, he's made it his work and is the go-to guy for vinyl records at the local record store. Adam led us through a few key things that anyone needs to start collecting vinyl records. He noted that it was less expensive to purchase vinyl then CDs or other digital media, and you often get a great piece of art at the same time. Current releases can include digital …

So, here's your conundrum. Ever since your 3-year-old watched "Finding Nemo" at daycare, he's wanted  an aquarium. Rather than grabbing a goldfish from the local superstore, why not do it up right?  Clint Anderson of Discovery Aquatics walks us through the steps of starting a new, saltwater aquarium.  Part of a small niche of stores that cater to saltwater tank owners' needs, Anderson recognizes the importance of owning a saltwater tank, particularly when it comes to the coral you can grow, along with providing a solid home for your little clown fish.  "There are so many you can get," he said…

Did you grow up idolizing one of the many versions of The Karate Kid? In this week's Ask Me Anything, Jeff Sidner, senior director of South Minneapolis National Karate school, shows us how to do a spin wheel kick. Sidner got into karate in 1989. Karate boosted his confidence and taught him how to avoid dangerous situations. In 2000, he ranked fifth in the black belt heavyweight division of the North American Sport Karate Association. He's currently the top-ranked regional competitor in fighting and forms in the over-30 division. 'Ask Me Anything' runs every Wednesday. If you know of experts …

At first glance, Tangletown Gardens appears to be a comfortable labyrinth of plants, garden decorations and tools. You don't have to go very far inside to see that this store is offering much more than basic garden retail. Owners Scott Endres and Dean Engelmann offer a variety of food and urban agriculture options to their customers. A family farm, forty minutes outside of the Twin Cities, allows them to provide fresh produce through Community Supported Agriculture. When Liberty Custards closed, they jumped at the opportunity to open a restaurant focused on local food and sourced by their …

Editor's Note: Today, Patch is debuting another of four new video series. "Ask Me Anything" introduces us to local experts who share their knowledge and skills with us in this new weekly feature. New editions of Ask Me Anything will appear every Wednesday. The walls in It's About Time Clock Repair are cluttered with clocks of all sizes and shapes. Some swing, some chime and others tick quietly. For the last 38 years,  Tom Trudell has operated his clock repair and sales business from this small storefront on Nicollet Avenue. The clocks he sells can't be found in big box stores. The repairs he …