Category Archives: Minnesota

Goodbye Pizza Ranch. Hello Unhinged Pizza.

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It’s a sad day for Waconia. Our beloved Pizza Ranch is no longer. Well sort of.

The Pizza Ranches in Waconia, Norwood Young America, Glencoe, Delano have all changed to Unhinged Pizza.

Unhinged Pizza

Unhinged Pizza has the same owners, managers, and employees so not a lot is changing. They have a new name and have added some new food like ice cream!

256 Twisted Flavors

256 Twisted Flavors

It seems that the owners broke away from the Pizza Ranch franchise and went out on their own. Or that’s what I understand.

From what I’ve heard, the food is just as good as it was and all your favorites are still there.

Locations are all still the same too, it’s just got a different name. Change is scary, but this shouldn’t be to much of a change for us Pizza Ranch lovers.

Unhinged Pizza

Welcome Ground Round Grill & Bar to Waconia

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ground round waconia

Waconia welcomes Ground Round! The new restaurant is a nice addition to the city as we have a lack of good sit down restaurants  Besides bars and fast food, there aren’t a lot of other choices. Ground Round is a nice alternative.

Ground Round began construction on July 11, 2012 in Waconia. The new restaurant is 4,812 square feet and features a sports bar, lounge and dining room. They will officially open at 4pm on Monday January 28th, 2013.

It’s a good place to take the buddies, the kids or even get food for take out.

Address:
520 Cherry Drive
Waconia, Minnesota 55387

Phone:
(952) 442-1985

Hours:
Mon – Sun: 11:00 am – 12:00 am

2012 Carver County Fair

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The Carver County fair is ready to kick off on August 8th 2012!

There are plenty of things to see and do, lots of food and great entertainment this year.

There will be free shuttle buses during the fair too from parking areas and you can even hop on as they drive around the streets of Waconia.

This year’s biggest attraction just may be Welde’s Big Grizzly Bear Show! It’s on every day of the fair at 2, 4 and 6pm. Carver county is one of the only fairs around to see this show so don’t miss it!

Theres always the great fun at the petting zoo, midway and all that food. So come on by!

2012 Entertainment Schedule

Wednesday

11:00 am to 5:00 pm Mr. Fun: FunTime Funktions Spin Zone Education Building
12:00 pm 4-H Activities Patio
2 pm to 5:00 pm Quilters of Carver County Demonstrations Ag Building
2:30 am Arts in Performance Patio
4:00 pm Ragtown Patio
4:30 pm 73 Paces Entertainment Center
5:00 pm Kiddie Parade: FunTime Funktions Spin Zone Education Building
7:00 pm ATV Pull – FREE event Grandstand
8:30 pm Johnny Holm Band Entertainment Center
9:00 pm Michael Elsenpeter Patio

Thursday

10:00 am Blow Bubbles, Crafts for Kids Bingo Tent
11:00 am to 5:00 pm Mr. Fun: FunTime Funktions Spin Zone Education Building
11:00 am 500 Card Tournament Entertainment Center
1:00 pm Lyndon Peterson Entertainment Center
Farm Bureau Presents: Carver County Century Farms Program Entertainment Center
Outstanding Senior Citizen Program Entertainment Center
1:00 pm Demonstrations and Promotion Patio
1:30 pm 9th Annual Best Fruit Bread Contest Ag Building
2:00 pm to 5:00 pm
6:00 pm to 8:00 pm		 Quilters of Carver County Demonstrations Ag Building
3:30 pm Arts in Performance Patio
4:30 pm Daisy & the Dukes Entertainment Center
5:00 pm Kiddie Parade: FunTime Funktions Spin Zone Education Building
5:00 pm Andy Austin Patio
6:30 pm Horse Game Show West Arena
7:00 pm Motokazie Supercross Grandstand
8:30 pm Dahmen Brothers Patio
8:30 pm G.B. Leighton Entertainment Center

Friday

10:00 am Blow Bubbles, Crafts for Kids Bingo Tent
11:00 am to 4:00 pm School Supply Drive for Children of Military Families Entertainment Center
11:00 am to 5:00 pm Mr. Fun: FunTime Funktions Spin Zone Education Building
11:00 am Sheephead Tournament Entertainment Center
11:30 am Fashion Review Practice Patio
12:00 pm Be a Dairy Ambassador – Kids ages 10 – 12 Judges Square
12:30 pm Senior Arts in Performance Patio
1:00 pm Charlie Johnson Old Time Music Entertainment Center
1:00 pm Gymnastics Demonstration – Laketown Gymnastics Bear Show Location
1:15 pm Public Fashion Review Patio
1:30 pm Cookie Jar Contest. Entry time 10 am to 1 pm Ag Building
2:00 pm to 5:00 pm
6:00 pm to 8:00 pm		 Quilters of Carver County Demonstrations Ag Building
2:00 pm Veterans March Through Fairgrounds
2:30 pm Veterans Honor Program Entertainment Center
2:30 pm Share the Fun Acts Patio
3:00 pm tp 6:00 pm VetCamp – for students in grades 9-12 who are interested veterinary medicine. Tent Outside Dairy Barn
3:30 pm Arts in Performance Patio
4:00 pm Flower Arranging Contest Entertainment Center
4:30 pm Blurred Vision Entertainment Center
5:00 pm Kiddie Parade: FunTime Funktions Spin Zone Education Building
5:00 pm Magician Matt Dunn Patio
6:30 pm Tractor Truck Pull Grandstand
8:30 pm Dance – Music of Good For Gary Patio
8:30 pm Diamondback Entertainment Center

Saturday

9:00 am Horse Performance and Youth Show West Arena
10:00 am Blow Bubbles (supplies provided) Bingo Tent
10:00 am Meat Auction/Buyer’s Brunch Show Tent
10:30 am Meat Auction Show Tent
11:00 am to 5:00 pm Mr. Fun: FunTime Funktions Spin Zone Education Building
11:00 am Dairy Fun and Games for Kids, with Dairy Princesses and Ambassadors Shady Oak Ridge
11:00 am Kids Pedal Pull Ages 4-11
(Registration begins at 10:30 am)		 Entertainment Center
12:30 pm Arts in Performances Patio
1:00 pm Diaper Derby
(Registration begins at 12:30 pm)		 Entertainment Center
1:00 pm Rooster Crowing Contest Show Tent
1:00 pm Gymnastics Demonstration – Laketown Gymnastics Bear Show Location
1:30 pm 4-H Activities Patio
2:00 pm to 5:00 pm
6:00 pm to 8:00 pm		 Quilters of Carver County Demonstrations Ag Building
2:00 pm Cindy Eggers Entertainment Center
2:00 pm to 4:00 pm Come Meet Viktor! MN Vikings Mascot Throughout the grounds
3:00 pm NEW! Mackenthuns presents Unique, Clever Ideas in Cake Decorating Demonstration. Ag Building
3:00 pm Karate Demonstratiion – Dojo Karate Bear Show Location
3:30 pm Kids Prize Give-Away (see above) Patio
4:00 pm Kevin Lang and the Drifters Patio
4:30 pm Bingos Entertainment Center
5:00 pm Kiddie Parade: FunTime Funktions Spin Zone Education Building
6:30 pm Demolition Derby Grandstand
6:30 pm Horse Ranch Rodeo West Arena
8:30 pm Unleaded Patio
8:30 pm Boogie Wonderland Entertainment Center

Sunday

10:00 am Church at the Fair – Music of Jolly Ramblers Entertainment Center
10:00 am Horse O-Mok-See Show (NSCA) West Arena
11:00 am to 5:00 pm Mr. Fun: FunTime Funktions Spin Zone Education Building
1:00 pm Amateur Talent Contest Entertainment Center
1:00 pm Arts in Performance Patio
1:30 pm Little Sister / Little Brother Cup Cake or Cookie Decorating Contest Ag Building
2:00 pm to 5:00 pm Quilters of Carver County Demonstrations Ag Building
2:00 pm Senior Champion, Reserver Champion Round Robin Showmanship Contest Show Tent
3:00 pm Jazz Hounds Patio
5:00 pm Kiddie Parade: FunTime Funktions Spin Zone Education Building
5:30 pm Dale Dahmen and the Beats Entertainment Center
6:00 pm Demolition Derby Grandstand

Fun for everyone!

There is lots more fair information at http://www.carvercountyfair.com/.

Now starts the Highway 5 construction in Waconia.

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Road constructions starts today in Waconia and runs through early August. The project will reconstruct the intersection of 284 and Highway 5 with additional turn lanes, medians and a new flashing yellow arrow light.

During the construction highway 5 will remain open, but parts of 284 and Olive street will be shut down.

The full map of the new intersection can be seen here (pdf). By the looks of it, it’s going to be a much bigger intersection when it’s done.

Free Community Picnic

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If you live in Waconia, then bring the kids down to City Square Park on Friday May 11th for some free food and fun!

Everything kicks off at 3:30pm and goes until 8:30pm.

There will be lots of kids activities, the Governor’s Fishing Opener kick off with Governor Mark Dayton & the Lt Governor Yvonne Prettner Solon at 4:00, a picnic starting at 4:30, music and a DNR fish fillet demo.

Plus there will be a $5 raffle for a Crestliner boat package, an Arctic Cat youth ATV and five  $100 Waconia Bucks.

Since a lot of people are expected, you can park at Trinity Lutheran Church or the Waconia Ice Arena and ride the free shuttle. If you are handicapped, there will be parking at the park.

See you there!!

This weekend is the Minnesota Governor’s Fishing Opener!

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Lake Waconia has the pleasure of hosing the 2012 Governor’s Fishing Opener on May 12th!

A pair of accomplished anglers from Waconia will host Governor Mark Dayton and Lt. Governor Yvonne Prettner Solon on Lake Waconia. Travis Frank will fish with Governor Dayton, and Matt Peters will fish with Lt. Governor Prettner Solon.

This is only the second time in 64 years that a lake in the meto region has been selected for the Governor’s Fishing Opener and we can’t wait for everyone to hit town.

Even though not everyone will get to fish with the Governor, everyone is free to come to town and fish on Lake Waconia.

If you live in Waconia, get ready for a media frenzy and tons of anglers to pack the town.

Never been to Waconia before? Just take 494 to Eden Prairie, hop on highway 5 West and you’ll hit Waconia in about 20 minutes. Google Map

Duebers isn’t closing just yet.

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If you’re a fan of Duebers, then I’d suggest you visit again soon. The store has no official plans to close soon, but it could.

The building Duebers is in is for sale. When the building sells, Duebers will more than likely go out of business.

Now selling a building in this economy isn’t easy. It could be months or years before that happens. Either way, when it does, it’ll be a sad day for downtown Waconia.