This magazine has an Editorial Advisory Board of Edina residents and business professionals who serve as a support to our editorial team. It helps to have people who are on the ground in our community and can serve as eyes and ears for notable happenings. With their help, I’m able to find story ideas, make connections with sources and be in-the-know on what’s new and notable in Edina more easily.
I wanted to take a moment to introduce each of them—though you may know them already. And, since this is the Best of Edina issue, I asked each of them to share a favorite place, food, activity or event around Edina.
Dick Crockett is the executive director at the Edina Community Foundation. After having previously lived in Palo Alto, California, Fargo, North Dakota, and Syracuse, New York, he and his wife “chose” Edina and moved here in 1999. He has served for most of that time at the Edina Community Foundation.
“My favorite place in Edina is Centennial Lakes Park,” says Crockett. “I feel like our community is a special place when I visit there, with its well-used hiking trail around the scenic lake, unique recreational opportunities, perfect location for the annual Torchlight Concert and several sculptures contributed by ECF—Pinecone, the Northwest Airlines Memorial and Reflecting on Friendship.”
Erin Zosel owns Sloane’s Beauty Bar and has been a hair stylist for 27 years—though she stepped away from behind the chair and is currently focusing on running Sloane’s at a higher level. She’s also a real estate agent with The Zosel and Coleman Group with Compass. She and her husband have two children.
“My favorite place in Edina is the White Oaks neighborhood,” says Zosel. “We recently moved into this beautiful neighborhood, and we love it. You’re in the heart of the city, so you can walk to all the cool shops and restaurants, but you’re also tucked away privately in the woods. It’s a hidden gem.”
Jasmine Brett Stringer is a professional speaker, author, on-air TV personality and lifestyle contributor to WCCO-TV, founder of #SharetheMicMN and host of the podcast and lifestyle blog Carpe Diem with Jasmine. She and her husband live in Edina, but they also own a farm in southern Minnesota, and they spend many of their summer weekends gardening.
“My all-time favorite place in Edina is my house,” says Stringer. “After all, there’s no place like home. However, my favorite public place in Edina is Arneson Acres Park. I love walking through the gardens in the summer and taking in the beautiful flowers. Listening to sound of the water from the fountain or slowly walking the new labyrinth ease my mind of any stresses and remind me that in this present moment all is well. Plus, just a mile from Arneson Acres Park is my favorite place to eat in Edina, Cahill Bistro.”
Shelly Loberg is the vice president of the Edina Chamber of Commerce and Explore Edina, where she’s worked for seven years. She’s also actively involved with the Rotary Club of Edina, where she currently serves as a board member and focuses on developing global grants.
“Centennial Lakes Park is hands-down my favorite spot in the city,” says Loberg. “I love to meander the walking path in the summer and always really enjoy all the beautiful plantings there. Taking in the farmers market on Thursdays is a highlight.”
