David Beard
Empty Bowl, good feeling inside
17th annual Empty Bowl
Tuesday, April 26 – 10 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.
The Depot, 506 West Michigan Street, Duluth
Empty Bowl benefits Second Harvest Northern Lakes Food Bank, providing food for more than 3 million meals annually to people in need throughout northeastern Minnesota and northwestern Wisconsin. $15 includes a handmade bowl and a simple, delicious soup meal.
Game Night at Collector’s Connection
Collector’s Connection used to be cramped, a place to stall while my wife wandered the mall. No longer! It’s become a destination. Last night, my wife and I played two games with a charming young couple of students and the Host, who did an excellent job of teaching us how to lose gracefully. The evening was free, though I bought a comic on the way out! (more…)
Slumber party report needed
Action at Yarn Harbor -- Not Slumber Party
Did anyone attend the “Slumber Party” at Yarn Harbor?
The next one will be May 13th. More info about Yarn Harbor is here.
Duluth Sub Sandwich Shops
Charley’s Subs is opened in the Mall. I always appreciate a new business, even if it’s a franchise. Where is the best sub sandwich in town?
Chicago?
What’s the word among PDD’ers about the Duluth Playhouse’s production of Chicago?
Brewhouse Prix Fixe
I always feel odd enjoying the Fitger’s Brewhouse. Nearly everyone under 30 I’ve ever known in Duluth, and some older, has worked for the Brewhouse empire. And empire is not a carelessly chosen word; the success of the Brewhouse, Red Star, Burrito Union and the new expansion into City Hall may be local in origin, but functions in much the same way Wal-Mart does: by grinding through an ample supply of tourism-economy low-wage no-benefit employees. I feel good about eating local; I wish that I felt better about the economic impact of that particular local choice.
That said, there’s a newspaper circulating in the free racks around town talking about how the Brewhouse supports local agriculture, and so I thought I’d give them a chance, again, in prix fixe, as part of the Greater Downtown Council’s Eat Downtown event. I was not disappointed.
The burger was hearty and filling, the fries and onion rings are almost a meal to themselves, and the German chocolate stout cupcake will bring Kate and me back in the future.
Really, really awesome. Whoever designed this Prix Fixe (and gave me a window into the local agriculure connection at the Brewhouse in that newspaper) has brought me back to their table.
Now, if I could buy that cake to bring to work …
R.I.P., Le Bistro
Le Bistro restaurant in the former City/County Complex in Superior will close April 16, a victim of the sluggish economy.
The [Food] Game is Fixed
You have one more week to enjoy Eat Downtown! The Greater Downtown Council-sponsored event, with 19 participating restaurants, is back this year.
The DNT describes the program here.
Kate and I at ate J J Astor — an amazing dinner, including blackberry salad, for me a pressed chicken, for her walleye with grapefruit and bleu cheese salad, for me a chocolate pudding for dessert, for her an orange olive oil cake. Amazing. Also of note: the happy-hour specials at the Astor are at least competitive with other local happy hours. We had never seen the bar added in the remodel before; it (and the whole space) is awesome.
Bellisio’s was awesome both for the company (M., S., and L.) as for the very filling mix of a caprese salad (the highlight of my meal), various pasta dishes, and tasty gelato.
Being a tourist in your own town is sometimes one of the best ways to rediscover your love for it. Try a local restaurant today. And note: some of the restaurants with more modest aims have a “two for twenty” menu in the evenings.
Rollerdames
It’s Saturday. My wife has a cold, and I get “the look” when I suggest that I might go out and leave her shivering under blankets.
So I’m not at the bout between the Harbor City Rollerdames and whomever they are playing tonight. [It doesn’t matter whom — they will be crushed.]
If you have results, please post here. Go Rollerdames!
Wildwoods Rehabilitation
Drum roll!!! Trumpets!!! Wildwoods Rehabilitation is now an official nonprofit organization!!! (Applause!)
About Wildwoods
Wildwoods, a Minnesota nonprofit, is a group of wildlife rehabilitators and volunteers in Duluth. We work to help injured and orphaned animals return to their natural lives. Though we are currently based out of the homes of our individual wildlife rehabilitators, we plan to open a free-standing center in the Duluth area in the next 6-12 months.
We invite you to browse the pictures and stories of the wild animals on YouTube on pffarr’s channel. We are very fortunate to live in such a wild, wonderful corner of the world. Enjoy!
Email
* duluthrehabber @ yahoo.com
Facebook
* https://www.facebook.com/#!/profile.php?id=100001386579814
Tower/Soudan mine appears to be on fire
The retired mine and active tourist site & research lab at the Tower/Soudan mine appears to be on fire, about a half mile beneath the surface.
Minnesota Brown collects the story.
The DNR has a release here:
“Fire underway in mine shaft at Soudan Underground Mine State Park (Released March 18, 2011)
“Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and the Minnesota Interagency Fire Center (MIFC) are responding to a fire that has been detected inside the mine shaft at Soudan Underground Mine State Park near Tower, Minn. There have been no injuries or loss of life due to the fire. It does not pose a risk to nearby communities or the environment.
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NerdNite VIII
You don’t need a GPS to find coolness. You do need it to try GeoCaching, one of the awesome events discussed at NerdNite VIII.
We loved all the talks, and we loved learning about a local creative resource. Kudos to all who planned it, and looking forward to the next one! I’d love to know about NerdNite as a movement — I learned a little at nerdnite.com, but want to learn more!
Annual Requests: Mountain Dew Throwback and Paczki in Duluth
Fat Tuesday is coming … and yesterday, at Mt. Royal, I found my annual fave, Mountain Dew Throwback.
So, where have you seen the made-with-sugar, not-corn-syrup delight called “Mountain Dew Throwback?” And what other sugar-soda delights are available in Duluth? Last year, I discovered the Mexican Coke at Cub via this thread. I’m open to other, maybe even local? sodas.
And: last year, I discovered that not all Super Ones are the same. The Paczki delights vary from location to location. Last year, the Lakeside Super One was awesomest — best in taste and appearance. But where will I find them this year?
Previous Posts on the Subject:
Annual Food Queries: Throwback; Paczki
Shopping Advice…
Harbor City RollerDames
See you at the next bout?
2-19-2011 HCRD Hearbreaker’s Brawl (Intraleague) World of Wheels, Superior
From: harborcityrollerdames.com
Harbor City Roller Dames is the Twin Ports’ and Northern Minnesota’s origingal women’s flat-track roller derby league! HCRD provides an opportunity for all women ages 19+ to learn and play the sport of flat track roller derby and participate in the skater-run business aspects of the organization. HCRD strives to maintain a presence of athletic entertainment in the Northland while using the efforts of the league to give back to the local community.
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Lillian’s of Duluth
My wife and I went to Lillian’s on First Street this week. I just recently noticed that something went into the old New Moon location when passing it on the bus, though apparently, they’ve been here since August.
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Happy Tet!
A good time was had by all at Saigon Cafe for Vietnamese New Year!
The dinner was served at long tables (a break from the norm), creating a long space in the middle of the restaurant and creating the opportunity to meet new people. And people had come from as far away as Hibbing and Grand Rapids for the feast. Dinner consisted of a wonderful shrimp dish made with fruit, a mixed seafood dish, a beef in a curry sauce, and one of the staples of Vietnamese food, a seasoned meatball (often made of shrimp and pork). Two tasty soups and a salad and a fruit rounded out an excellent buffet-style dinner.
Youngsters played Vietnamese games in the back, and a dragon dance in that newly created space in the middle of the restaurant.
I can’t imagine more fun, and I have a newfound respect for what this small, locally owned business does for our community.
Saigon Cafe Vietnamese Restaurant
114 W. First St.
Duluth, MN 55802
(218) 727-3987
Vietnamese New Year in Duluth
Am I right in thinking that there’s a Vietnamese New Year celebration in Duluth last week, this week or next week?
Nerd Nite a success
Congratulations to Nerd Nite, the excellent night out at Teatro Zuccone.
Talks about rock tumbling, Star Wars prop replicas, and astronomy marked the evening as what it could be, at its best: a showcase for the passions of individuals. [If the talk on Fan Fiction fell short, it only fell short because the speaker was talking about someone else’s passions, not her own.] I had no idea the energy and the technique involved in rock tumbling. I had no idea the complexity of recreating (replicating) the props used in the first Star Wars movies. And, well, a bedroom designed so that the Big Dipper can be viewed in 3 dimensions from various other stars in the Galaxy, well, wow.
I enjoyed myself, I met a new person, and I felt the passions of others. What more could I ask for $5 admission and $3 for a bottle of Minnesota-brewed soda pop?
Thanks to the organizers, to the Zuccone for hosting, and to the presenters for a great night out.
DTA Applause
I just realized how awesome the New Year’s changes to the DTA are:
Changes that matter to me:
Route 6: 10:15 p.m. trip added from downtown. Previous schedule: Last bus leaving downtown was 9:15 p.m weekdays.
Route 6: 7:45 p.m., 8:45 p.m., and 9:45 p.m. trips added from downtown. Previous schedule: Last bus from downtown was 6:45 p.m on Saturdays.
Route 7: 8:05 p.m. trip added from downtown. Previous schedule: Last bus from downtown was 7 p.m on Saturdays.
The end result: I can stay at the mall later on the weekends and still get home; I can see a 7 p.m. movie at the DECC on Saturdays and still get home.
Hooray for me. How ’bout you? Check here.
New Year’s Eve Nerdliness
Dragon Port Games will have an overnighter to ring in the New Year. Games of all types are available to play for free, and experts will gladly show you how to play something new. They might even let you win.
Kids are welcome with their parents, too; soft drinks and snacks will be available for purchase.
Swing by. (more…)
Duluth Artist Paints Abroad
You may recall Ken Marunowski, former UMD faculty member and local artist (who premiered his work locally in an unconventional venue, the gallery space at Chester Creek Books and Antiques, last Spring).
Ken has been painting abroad: France, then South Africa, then France again.
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Duluth Meal Deals and Happy Hours
I took a lot of heat from friends for always going to Green Mill for Happy Hour. $5 apps that make me think of college, you know.
But it made me think about meal deals around town for happy hour. What do you got?
1. Green Mill, $5 apps
2. Midi: Is this right? Buy one, get one entrees?
3. Blackwater: $5 pizzas? How big are these pizzas?
4. Thai Krathong: All you can eat Pad Thai Tuesday? Does it include beef/shrimp/chicken?
5. Sammy’s Woodland: All you can eat pizza buffet Tuesdays?
and
1. Lunch at Saigon Cafe, buffet for $5.99?
What else can you add to this list? I want to eat out in new and exciting places this week!
Hmong New Year in Duluth
The Duluth/Twin Ports Hmong New Year is free and open to the public. It features celebrations with programs showcasing Hmong traditions. On Saturday, Dec. 4, at the First United Methodist Church (“The Coppertop Church”), 230 E. Skyline Parkway, Duluth, doors open at 9 a.m., a program starts at 11 a.m., and will be followed by lunch at 12:30 p.m.
You got your zombies in my movie theater
The season finale of The Walking Dead is Sunday. Standing room only has been a problem for some of the weeks. Get there early (it’s free!), buy a beer and bring a little extra scratch to Dragonport Games, where you can buy more than 1000 pages of Walking Dead comics, books and more.
Lady of the Lake Warhammer Tournament
I don’t play, but I know an opportunity for cool pictures when I see it. The Lady of the Lake Warhammer Tournament was held at Dragon Port Games and Comics Saturday. (more…)