Recommendations

Sprint coverage in Lakeside/Lester Park?

Does anyone have a Sprint phone in Lakeside/Lester Park? I’m with AT&T and its coverage has become almost non-existent in the past six months. I’m thinking about trying Ting, which uses an intriguing billing model, but it uses Sprint’s network and I don’t want to find out its coverage sucks too. Its map looks okay, but I was hoping that someone here could back that up with actual experience.

On a semi-related note, am I the only one in the country who can’t imagine paying $80 per month for a phone? I’m currently only paying $20 a month (no data) by having a line on my sister’s AT&T plan.

Party Bus Rental

We are needing transportation for our wedding on Aug. 18. We’ll be needing enough room for 35 people, so I am thinking a school bus would be our best option. We’re looking for a ride to our wedding at 4 p.m. and from the wedding at midnight. Any suggestions?

Travel Advice: San Diego

In a few weeks, I’m going to be in the San Diego area for work [i.e. standing in front of a marketing display slapping backs and shaking hands]. The Prioress is going to meet me at the tail end for a few days. (more…)

Vietnamese Lantern Review

I know this a Duluth blog, but I wanted to get the word out about the Vietnamese Lantern in Two Harbors. I ate there last night and it blew my socks off. The food was amazing!
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Minnesota Wine Exchange Review

I spent last Friday evening at the Minnesota Wine Exchange for the first time.  It is a fantastic place to enjoy Minnesota wines and beers right in the center of Downtown Duluth (Lake Ave & Superior St.).  If you’re interested in sampling wines, you can purchase a “flight” consisting of three glasses, each filled 1/3 full with a different wine for the reasonable price of $5. 

If you’re hungry, there are appetizers and sandwiches which I plan on trying some day soon when I go there for lunch. If you want to relax and enjoy conversation with friends, this is the place to go. Background music for listening with local art exhibited on two levels for viewing. The  paintings of the late John Peyton are currently being displayed.

This is a locally owned business selling Minnesota products which is a win-win situation. If you haven’t been there, I would encourage you to try it. The day I went there was a perfect Duluth day indeed!

Water

As some of you know, I have long been interested in storm-water retention. Looking at these pictures of the flood, I am going to once more enter into the fray. I do not do this seeking anything, it just seems to be a common sense thing to do on so many levels. This is what I think. Take it for whatever you want. One small thing you could do.
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“Candyland” at Spirit Mountain MTB Park

Great video on Candyland Spirit Mountains new MTB Trail.

Duluth Food Trucks and Carts 2013 Rundown

chow-haul-food-truck-duluth

How many mobile restaurants are there in Duluth? What do you think of them? Let’s crowdsource a list. Below are the only ones I know of. I’ll add more to the list when you, the people, make them known.

Chow Haul – Burgers, wontons, nachos, etc.

D’s Dogs – Hot dogs

The King of Creams – Ice cream

Mrs. Delicious – Ice cream

The Rambler – Paninis, pot roast, pulled pork, etc.

Un Taco Mas by Rosie – The trailer isn’t up to code yet, but food is being made in Superior and delivered.

Is that Oriental food truck that used to be on Central Entrance still around?

Help me stop, please

Where should I take my 2005 Prius to see if the funny noise it’s making is something wrong with the brakes?

Bike Thefts on the East Side

My son’s bike was stolen this weekend. A really nice white-and-black Specialized Hardrock Comp with disc brakes was taken from my back yard. The officer from DPD told me there has been a rash of bike thefts east from 10th Avenue East. I spoke with a pawn shop owner who told me they are often moved out of town to more populated cities to our south. So get ’em locked up and put away or end up like my little-big man who will be mowing lawns for a new one.

Greenhouse Advice

I’m trying to make my yard and garden more inviting to pollinators, and I’m having trouble finding greenhouses in the Duluth area that don’t treat their flowers with long-lasting systemic insecticides that get into the pollen and nectar. I don’t want to bring flowers and shrubs home that will poison the bees and butterflies I’m trying to attract. Any recommendations for where to get untreated plants locally? I’ve gotten some at Burchfiel’s and some at Boreal Natives, but they don’t have everything I’d like to plant.

Morel Hunting in Greater Duluth Area

I’ve done quite a bit of morel hunting in southern Minnesota, where I’m from, but I don’t know if there are morels up here or good places to look. If anyone up here has hunted mushrooms and can point me in the right direction I would appreciate it. I realize that good morel grounds might be top secret around here, but if anyone is willing to share I promise I won’t tell anyone!

T-Mobile Coverage

I was thinking of switching my cell phone to T-Mobile since it doesn’t require contracts anymore and has some decent prices. How good is the coverage? I would guess coverage is fine in Duluth/Superior, but how good is it as you head toward Ashland?

Duluth Garbage Haulers

Who has the best garbage service in town?

Off Street Parking?

My wife and I own a home with 2 vehicles, and no off street parking. This can become a pain when we want to leave town for a long weekend and the sides switch on Sunday. I haven’t done too much investigating, but is there a decent solution to having to be back on Sunday night to move it, aside from selling a vehicle, asking someone to move it for us or taking the parking ticket? Is there a local lot that has a reasonable rate for several days of parking? Anybody anybody?

Long-term renting in Duluth

Where do professional types rent long-term in Duluth? Are there any rental complexes beyond that Boulder Ridge development that would be appropriate for an incoming UMD prof? Biking to campus would be a bonus. A sabbatical house-sitting-type gig would be okay if there was some room to store stuff. Where does one look for rentals of houses these days? Realtors (or friends of realtors) let me know if you have any ideas on rentals/rental agents. Trying to help an incoming UMD prof find a place to live at the end of the summer.

Hanging Posters

I’m looking to hang a poster to promote music gigs, and I’m working on a list of places to hit. Where do you notice posters hanging in town? In short, where are you standing when you notice posters?

Yakima Hack

Through some horse trading and good luck, I’ve acquired two Yakima Rocket Boxes. I would like to mount them both on the current touring rig for our upcoming summer travels, but they both hinge the same direction. I really don’t want to mount one backward, and therefore am trying to figure out if the hinges can be switched with any success.
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Good used-car dealerships for unfortunate souls with bad credit?

My husband and I currently own a beat-up 2002 Aztek.  The car is a piece: bad wiring, broken speedometer, and endless dinging from a malfunctioning brake monitor. It wasn’t a problem when my job provided a fleet of cars to me for my travels as a social worker, I just drove the hunk of junk to work and used their car to transport clients. At my new job I’m required to use my own car for this while driving about 30 miles one way to work every day. I really need to get a new car before this one dies on me completely and leaves me high and dry.

I was wondering where one might find a reliable used car dealership in town. Our credit isn’t the greatest from old hospital bills and the like, but we make good payments and have improved our budgeting skills since getting out of college and realizing hey … bills don’t disappear if you ignore them like an idiot.

If the kind people of PDD have any ideas I’d be extremely grateful!

Miigwech.

Duluth Roofers

Does anyone have any recommendations for a really good roofer who can troubleshoot tricky leaks on old houses?

Floor restoration recommendations

The carpet has got to go. Under the carpet is ugly linoleum. Under the linoleum is beautiful hardwood. Any recommendations for floor pros?

Google Fiber (Austin, TX)

Google Fiber – Duluth, it looks like your next best bet will be Austin, TX. You should consider moving there. I’ll help you pack.

Via Ars Technica.

Game of Thrones Season 3 Premier

Where can a person go to watch the premier of the new season? Any bars in the Twin Ports with HBO? It’d be great if Zinema 2 could pick this up and have weekly screenings!

Where to find fresh fish in Duluth

My wife and I are new to Duluth and I’m looking for the best place to purchase fresh fish for Easter. I haven’t a clue where to start. Help please.

Merch Madness

Kate and I walked downtown for Merch Madness and we found some friendly shopkeepers, some great deals, and some yummy food. (more…)