You Review It: Jo Jo’s Rise and Wine

Tell us and other readers what you think of this restaurant by giving it a star rating and writing a review.

Burnsville Patch’s “You Review It” is a chance for you to share your thoughts about a Burnsville business. You can give it a rating, leave a review and share comments with your neighbors so they know whether they should or shouldn't go. This week: Jo Jo’s Rise and Wine, 12501 Nicollet Ave., Burnsville. Click this link and start your review! Do you want to review other Burnsville businesses? Visit our business directory by clicking here.

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Buds & Bytes Opens a Burnsville Location

The idiosyncratic florist/computer repair shop moved into town in mid-July.

Vida Raine and Chris Buckley have an unorthodox business plan: A single storefront where you can get your hard drive scanned for viruses and put in a floral order for your daughter’s wedding at the same time. The name? Buds & Bytes, Burnsville’s only florist/computer maintenance shop. Originally, the “Buds” was a separate entity from “Bytes.” Raine started up her business in 2003. She opened her floral shop in Silver Bay, a small town north of Duluth. For Buckley, his business had long been a way of life. He began working with computers at the tender age of eight. “I’ve always fixed computers,” Buckley said. Technically speaking, he formally started up his business in 2004. Both Raine and Buckley launched their ventures in an effort to …

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Week in Review: A New Coach, A New Pub and Plenty of Crime

A weekly rundown of the stories that readers deemed most interesting over the past seven days

Last week we covered the most recent work of Burnsville's state legislators, a Cinco de Mayo fundraiser from the fire department, recognition for Burnsville's environmental initiatives and high school softball, tennis, golf and lacrosse. But the Week in Review is about what most peaked the interest of the public. And with that, the list is limited to just the top five.  In order of descending popularity, last week's most popular stories are the following: 5. Burnsville Hires Nationally Recognized Strength Coach Longtime Northfield High School strength and conditioning coach Scott Sahli will take over as Burnsville High School’s strength and conditioning coordinator at the end of the 2010-2011 school year. Sahli, who led NHS to its seventh …

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Editor's Notebook

Bootcamp: For Whom the Kettlebell Tolls

Jason Cameric saw an opportunity to test out some new techniques in Thursday's class. It was no fun.

Editor's Note: Bootcamp is a column I'm writing based on my experiences at Burnsville's Beyond Personal Training. On April 4, I took advantage of a Groupon offering unlimited bootcamp sessions for a month. These are my stories. Ernest Hemingway's For Whom the Bell Tolls chronicles the story of an American man struggling through the brutality of civil war in Spain. After taking part in consecutive bootcamps with BPT trainer Jason Cameric, I feel as though I'm ready for battle. Much different from my earlier camps, Wednesday morning was a cinch. We were guided through the circuits in what has become the usual fashion: 15 minutes of core work and then stations that offer a nice combination of strength and cardiovascular circuits. I finished …

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Burnsville Business

City of Burnsville a Finalist For Environmental Award

Burnsville has completed more than 45 sustainability initiatives since adopting its sustainability plan in 2009. The most recognizable include the Burnsville Ice Center and the white roof on City Hall

The Minnesota Environmental Initiative (MEI) recently named the City of Burnsville a finalist for its first Sustainable Communities award. According to MEI categories, the award recognizes a public/private partnership that demonstrates a commitment to efficient and sustainable community development.  "With Sustainable Communities being a brand new category this year, I think the judges were looking to recognize projects that were much more holistic; projects that addressed an entire system rather than just one thing," MEI senior project associate Georgia Rubenstein told Patch.  Burnsville was nominated for its Sustainability Guide Plan, which was adopted by the City Council in 2009 and details 14 priority areas of eco-friendly development…

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Burnsville Business

Burnsville Partners With Frontier Communications Until 2014

Under the terms of the deal Frontier will be able to offer improved availability, speed and quality for commercial and residential users of broadband

The City of Burnsville has selected local company Frontier Communications to manage and market its fiber-optic network until 2014. According to a joint statement following the deal, the agreement allows Frontier to utilize an unused portion of Burnsville's fiber-optic network at no cost. In return, the communications company will provide line locate services to Burnsville and allow for improved availability, speed and quality throughout the community. Frontier also plans to market additional unused capacity on the fiber network to other commercial customers on behalf of the City. "Partnerships with local companies whose employees live, work and support other local businesses in our community are a ‘win-win’ for everyone," Burnsville mayor …

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Burnsville Business

Performing Arts Center "Aggressively" Seeking Replacement For Envision Academy

BPAC chief executive John Elbaum is expecting to find a replacement for the school within "a few months"

Last week's announcement that Burnsville's two-year-old Envision Academy of the Arts was scheduled for closure at the end of this school year was met with shock and surprise throughout the community and student body. An early statement from the performing arts school stated "financial constraints coupled with low enrollment for the coming school year" as the chief reasons behind the decision.  According to reports, 66 students enrolled in the school in its inaugural year but the number of expected students for next year has since dropped to 35.  Independent school district 191 required 100 students to continue operations in the 2011-2012 school year.   But while Envision Academy tries to solve the enrollment conundrum there is a very real …

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Minding My Business

Minding My Business: Buzz Coffee Shop & Cafe

Liz Kohagen, owner of Burnsville's Buzz Coffee Shop & Cafe, opened the community hot spot in the midst of one of the worst recessions in history. Despite the obvious challenges, Buzz has become one of the most popular places to be in Burnsville.

Editor's Note: Minding My Business is a weekly column that will offer an up-close and personal look at Burnsville businesses and the people behind their success. Check back every Friday for a new installation of Minding My Business. Burnsville Patch: How long have you been in business? Liz Kohagen: We're actually coming up on our two-year anniversary in a couple of weeks. Our grand opening was May 1, 2009. Burnsville Patch: Anything special planned for the big day? Kohagen: I'm working on that. Our big monthly celebration is our Open Mic Night which comes on the first Saturday of every month. In May, that day is the seventh so I'm hoping to combine the two. Burnsville Patch: What other weekly or monthly events do you host? Kohagen: Open …

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Burnsville Business

Fine Wine Finally Flows South of the River

Haskell’s offers around 600 wines that are not available anywhere else in the country

Jay Nelson opened Burnsville’s first Haskell’s wine shop five weeks ago with the sole purpose of bringing fine wines to the southern suburbs. Based on the feedback he has received since opening his doors on Feb. 23, the decision was a solid strategic move. “The traffic since we opened has been phenomenal,” Nelson said. “Two out of every three people that come in tell us, ‘Thank you. Finally (Haskell’s) is south of the (Minnesota) river.” Haskell’s does have 12 shops throughout the Twin Cities—and one in Naples, Fla.—but the Burnsville location is the first one located in the south metropolitan area. The company’s Faribault branch operates in a decidedly southeastern location and serves the communities of Northfield, Faribault and Owatonna …

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