:: Unofficial Waconia Minnesota ::

The Waconia fire department is cooking breakfast again!  Pancakes, sausage and french toast means there is something for every one.  I’m getting hungry just thinking about it.

The breakfast is this Sunday, April 6th and goes from 8:30 am to 12:30 pm at the Firedepartment.  Tickets are only $6 and you can get them at the door.  Ohh and the food is soo good.

See you there!

The 2007 Carver Country Fair rolls into Waconia August 8th to the 12th!

Grandstand events include:

• Aug 8th - Triple B Rodeo -7pm
• Aug 9th - Hell Drivers - 7pm
• Aug 10th - Semi Pull - 6:30pm
• Aug 11th & 12th - Demolition Derbies - 6:30 & 6pm

Entertainment includes:

• Aug 7th - Killer Hayseeds - 8:30pm
• Aug 8th - Johnny Holm Band - 8:30pm
• Aug 9th - Butch Automatic - 8:30pm
• Aug 9th & 10th - Paul Christian - 5:30 & 3pm
• Aug 10th - Smokescreen - 8:30pm
• Aug 11th - Smok’n Guns - 8:30pm
• Aug 11th - Richie Holliday, Tom Steffen, John Lewis - Comedians - 6pm
• Aug 12th - The Chaparrals - 6:30pm

Patio Entertainment

• Wednesday - Silverado
• Thursday - Catherine Scott - Musical memories of the Swing Era 30’s and 40’s big band music.
• Friday - Jym Elders - Mentalist
• Saturday - Drewdini - Comedy/Magic
• Saturday - Scott Severson DJ
• Sunday - Toby Kid - Comedy/Juggling

Plus you can’t for get the rides, bingo & card tournaments, pig races, livestock exhibits, food, beer garden, pony rides, exotic petting zoo and kids pedal pull! That’s tons of fun for everyone!

Admission is $5 for adults, kids under 8 are free and if you come in a car, it’s $5.

“Corn to be Wild” this year at the 2007 Carver Country fair in Waconia, MN!

More details can be found at the official fair site.

Does anyone know a good roofer in the Waconia area? I have looked through Yahoo Local but it’s hard to know who to choose when it’s just a web listing. Have you had good experiences or bad? Share them and help others find good quality roofing companies in the Waconia area.

I personally am looking for a roofer for a smaller house. I’ve contacted five companies so far and gotten three free quotes. Some I’ve been impressed with others not so much. But then again, I’ve just met them briefly, I haven’t had a roof replaced.

If yo could share your roofing recommendations or stories below that’d be great.

I have to say that Younsteads/ Waconia Goodyear is a great fix it shop. I take my car there whenever I have an issue and they always have time open. You can call ahead, or email, for an appointment, but it doesn’t have to be far out. I’ve called on my way home before and they said “Bring it on in.”

They do everything from oil changes to fixing AC, replacing tires, belts and pretty much anything you need. They even have a tow truck if you need it. Plus they have great hours. Open from 7-7 Monday-Friday and shorter hours on Saturday. Closed Sundays. It’s really nice to have a shop that expect me to take time off work to get in.

I recommend Youngsteads as they are a good group of people and do great work.

Younsteads/ Waconia Goodyear is located just off highway 5 next to the Marathon station at the stoplight.

43 Hwy. 5 West
Waconia, MN 55386

Phone: (952) 442-1967
Fax: (952) 942-1643

I’m putting out the request for a company that can come fix/seal our asphalt driveway.

I think ours just needs to be sealed, but I don’t really know any good local companies. Our driveway could probably be completely re-done, but sealing it should be good for a few years.

Any recommendations?

I’m looking for suggestions on local companies to aerate my lawn. We thought of dethatching but think we’ll start with aeration. We called Scotts and TrueGreen but are wanting a few more opinions.

Thoughts?

With all the snow we’ve had in the past, and now with all the melting and re-freezing, the chances of getting in an accident are a bit higher. That’s where HEI Collision Center comes in. They give out free insurance claims and, if you choose them, they do great work.

My wife got rear-ended the other week, no not related to snow, and HEI was able to get us a quote right away. You just stop by and and they’ll take a look at it. They even faxed it in to the insurance agent for us and gave us car rental information.

We ended up going with HEI to do all the repair and they did a great job. The rear bumper looks as good as new now and I’d go back to them if we needed any other work.

Have you had to use HEI Collision Center or any other local body shops?

HEI Collision Centerf
200 West Main Street
Wacoinia, MN 55387
Phone: 952-442-1123
Fax: 952-442-7462

I haven’t checked out all the bars in town because I stopped after Hoppers. It’s located next to the movie theater and it has some great burgers.

We were told by a friend to check them out and we are so glad we did. The burgers are big and delicious. You can even call ahead and get them to go. We often order them to go and then enjoy them while watching TV.

Granted you can also stay and have some drinks. It is a bar of course.

They have other menu items too like fries, onion rings, chicken, walleye, cream cheese wantons and so much more. I’m hungry just thinking about it.

The atmosphere has always been nice and the service very friendly. Check them out, if even just for burgers.

Hoppers Bar & Grill
119 S Olive St
Waconia, MN 55387
(952) 442-1149

It’s a great time of year to head out and get fresh apples. We hadn’t been to an apple orchard to pick our own before so we headed out to Deardorff Orchards to check it out.

It’s located just to the east of Waconia on a gravel road. Quite easy to get to, but you have to park on the side of the road.

It’s a farm and not a fancy orchard like other’s we’ve driven by. It’s friendly and has a great family feeling.

We grabbed a bag and took a wagon ride out into the apple orchards and they dropped us off. We then picked whatever apple’s looked good to us.

Most apples were $1 a pound with a few varieties a bit more. It’s a lot more enjoyable then getting them at the grocery store that’s for sure and something I’d recommend for all.

They even have a petting zoo, pumpkins, a nice store and a few other activities. It’s free to go and enjoy and apple’s and pumpkins are priced right. There is fun for the whole family!

Deardorff Orchards
8350 Parley Lake Rd.
Waconia, MN 55387
952-442-1885
Map

Pne of the things that first drew my wife and I to Waconia was the Pizza Ranch.

She first got hooked on it in Decorah Iowa. She went to Luther College and so between Pizza Ranch and Mabes, it seems like that’s all they ate. As I visited friends at Luther, I was also introduced to the Pizza Ranch. At that time they had 3D pizzas and those were awesome. Pizza, breadsticks and desert pizza all in one. Mmmm

After living in the cities for a few years we thought about the Pizza Ranch but Decorah was a bit of a drive. We looked it up on the net and found one in Waconia, wherever that was. We got adventurous one day and found Waconia and the Pizza Ranch.

Now that we live here, we still visit often. The 3D pizza seems to have disappeared but the buffet is great. One price for all you can eat pizza, chicken, onion peals, salad, desert pizza and so much more. Even if you don’t feel like going out, the Pizza Ranch delivers to your front door.

I’d have to say it’s the best place to eat in town and one I’d recommend to anyone. From kids to adults, you’ll find great food at the Pizza Ranch.

. o O ( Just blogging about it makes me hungry. )

The Pizza Ranch is located at:
224 WEST 1ST ST.
Waconia, Minnesota 55387
Phone: 952-442-3321