🌱 Patch AM: Where will Hopkins seniors graduate now that Mariucci is off-limits?

Morning Hopkins! We've got the scoop on the latest happenings in town. Read on to get looped in. ☀️

In today's newsletter:

• Where will Hopkins seniors graduate now that Mariucci is off-limits?
• How a holiday trolley once linked Hopkins to both downtowns
• How a housing leader helped bring supportive homes closer to Hopkins

Also on today's calendar: Pet Mondays – Photos with Santa and 6 more events.

Today's riddle: What did the boat dock say when it was arrested? 🤔 (Answer below!)

Weather forecast:

• Saturday: Frigid; breezy in the p.m., with a high of 1 and low of -15 degrees. ⛄️ Brr!
• Sunday: Partly sunny and cold, temps: high: 6, low: 1.
• Monday: Partly sunny and not as cold, with a high of 30 and low of 18 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

• State's largest school district moves grad ceremonies to U.S. Bank, which comes with a $100,000 price tag (kare11.com) — Hopkins Public Schools are among several districts scrambling to lock in new graduation venues after the University of Minnesota stopped hosting ceremonies at Mariucci Arena, driving up costs and complicating logistics. While Anoka-Hennepin and Osseo have already booked U.S. Bank Stadium, Hopkins officials say they’re in final contract talks and expect to announce their new location soon.
   

• What route did the Lake Harriet ‘Holly Trolley' travel in the streetcar era? (startribune.com) — A beloved holiday trolley ride at Lake Harriet traces just one surviving mile of a once-massive streetcar line that used to run all the way from St. Paul through Minneapolis and out to Hopkins. Local history buffs will appreciate how central this route once was to everyday travel, connecting Hopkins residents directly to both downtowns long before today’s transit options.
   

• Minnesota Icons 2025: Lee Blons, Beacon Interfaith Housing Collaborative (finance-commerce.com) — Beacon Interfaith Housing Collaborative’s longtime leader Lee Blons is honored for expanding deeply affordable and supportive housing, including projects planned in Hopkins and other suburbs. Her work helped bring youth, family, and reentry housing beyond Minneapolis and St. Paul, while driving major state policy wins that could shape future housing stability for Hopkins residents in need.
   

📸 Around Hopkins

Show off your photography skills and the sights around town! Click here to submit your Photo of the Day to Patch AM!

🗓 Upcoming Events in Hopkins

Add your event to our calendar and newsletter!

★ Featured events ★

Monday December 15

• Pet Mondays – Photos with Santa
  Eden Prairie Center, 8251 Flying Cloud Dr, Eden Prairie, MN, 55344,
  11:00 am

Want to see your event featured? Click here!

Other local events

Sunday December 14

• Elf The Musical JR
  Stages Theatre Company , 1111 Mainstreet , Hopkins
  1:00 pm
• Capture the Magic Holiday Concert
  Eisenhower Community Center , 1001 MN-7 , Hopkins
  3:00 pm

Tuesday December 16

• Crafternoon
  Hopkins Library , 22 11th Avenue North , Hopkins
  1:00 pm
• Computer Tutor
  Hopkins Library , 22 11th Avenue North , Hopkins
  3:00 pm
• Youth Game Day
  Hopkins Library , 22 11th Avenue North , Hopkins
  4:00 pm
• Evening Family Storytime
  Ridgedale Library , 12601 Ridgedale Drive , Minnetonka
  6:00 pm
• HHS Winter Choir Concert
  Hopkins Senior High , Auditorium , Hopkins
  7:00 pm

Wednesday December 17

• Elf The Musical JR
  Stages Theatre Company , 1111 Mainstreet , Hopkins
  10:00 am

📣 Hopkins Shout Outs!

Want to say something great about someone in town? Click here to submit your Shout Out to Patch AM! It's free!

🗓 Events Nearby

Saturday December 13

• English Conversation Circle
  North Regional Community Library , 1315 Lowry Avenue North , Minneapolis
  11:00 am
• Loom-Knit Winter Wear
  Webber Park Community Library , 4310 Webber Parkway , Minneapolis
  12:00 pm
• Edina Puzzle Exchange
  Edina Library , 5280 Grandview Square , Edina
  12:30 pm
• Lyric Hybrid: Weaving Poetry and Memoir
  Ridgedale Library , 12601 Ridgedale Drive , Minnetonka
  1:00 pm

Have we missed something on our calendar? Add an event yourself! As always, before attending confirm event details to ensure accuracy.

Thank you 👏👏👏 to the local businesses for making Hopkins PatchAM possible:

• AnnapurnaBlue Heath and Wellness — (952) 405-0342
  You Are The Sun ~ Costa Rica Women's Retreat ages 35 - 70+

Click here to show your appreciation! 💚

Want to see your business here? Click here to connect with local customers.

💬 Chatter

What your neighbors are talking about on social media

• St. Davids Developmental and Therapeutic Services posted a job opening for Part Time Recreation Support Staff (Afternoon, Evenings, and Weekends) in Hopkins. Apply here.
• American Family Care posted a job opening for Medical Receptionist in Hopkins. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Hopkins here.

🗞 Nearby News

St. Louis Park

• Beltline Station development issued affordable housing bonds (hometownsource.com)
• St. Louis Park, Hopkins calendar Dec. 11-18 (hometownsource.com)

Minnetonka

• Plymouth sets 2026 levy at 7.1% increase (hometownsource.com)
• Minnetonka police reports Nov. 30 to Dec. 6 (hometownsource.com)
• Basketball Game Preview: Moorhead Spuds vs. Minnetonka Skippers + Official Tickets (maxpreps.com)

Minneapolis

Ok Hopkins! So now you're in the loop about what's happening today. Thanks for reading, and see you in your inbox next time! Oh -- and if you like what you're reading, invite a friend to Patch AM!

-- The Patch AM Team

P.S. The answer to today's riddle: I demand a jury of my piers.
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Send it to us!

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