When I walk around my neighborhood, especially around the lakes, I often find myself speculating about the history of the homes I pass. Was that home’s architect a Frank Lloyd Wright enthusiast or was it the original homeowner? Is that a seamless later addition or the original façade? I’m not the only one with these types of idle questions, but now there’s a resource I can consult for some of my more nagging queries.
HouseNovel was founded by area residents David Decker and Amanda Zielike. The husband-wife team came up with the idea for a crowdsourced house history website after a walk very similar to my own. It turns out the October/November issue was a fitting time to feature the business, since its number one question from clients is, perhaps unsurprisingly, “Is my house haunted?” Although we didn’t explore anything on the spectral side of home histories, HouseNovel did solve a longstanding house mystery that has been haunting the Plymouth Historical Society.
We keep the spooky atmosphere of the season going with The STEM Lab of Minnesota, an educational party company that specializes in leaving kids spellbound by science. Billie Pace-Graczyk-Melson serves as our mad scientist, whipping up science wizardry and sharing an experiment that’s frightfully fun.
Turning our attention to Thanksgiving, who better to consult about food and hosting than a chef? Beth Wells has honed her culinary skills at well-known Twin Cities restaurants, but she’s learned to keep things simple when bringing sides to the Thanksgiving table. “My biggest hits have just been really good stuffing, sweet potatoes, something classic,” Wells says. But for those looking to expand their culinary repertoires—whether for hosting or for fun—Wells hosts monthly handmade pasta classes at The Fox and Pantry and shares her recipe for restaurant-grade pasta that you can make at home.
Until next time,
—Madeline Kopiecki
