Recommendations
So it begins … again
The Homegrown Field Guide arrived today! They will be distributed over the next week to all of your favorite venues and local businesses. An online copy will be available shortly.
Duluth Piano Restoration
Has anyone had an antique piano restored in the Duluth area? I am looking to have a 1907 upright restored and thus far have an estimate from Master Piano. It seems to me it would be worth getting more than one estimate for such an extensive and costly undertaking. I understand Streblow is another option. I am wondering if there are any additional companies to consider or if anyone has any experience working with either of these companies.
Where is the best place to eat smelt?
The spring smelt run should be not too far off. I was wondering where people thought the best place to get the golden fish fries were in the area? I have heard that most places that serve them don’t get them from local sources. Any smelt aficionados out there?
Far Par driving range and mini golf open
The Far Par golf course now has the driving range and mini golf open. No doubt the best mini golf in the Twin Ports. Noon to 7 p.m. Just west of Woodland Ave on the corner of Calvary Road and Arnold Road.
Looking for good handyperson
Have you ever had a section of ceiling fall into your guest bedroom due to water leaking around the bathroom toilet flange and into the subflooring? The Ramos family has! Last night! As the picture shows, I have already fixed the problem. Nevertheless, certain members of the household are insisting on something more.
As such, we are looking for a good, bonded, insured carpenter or handyperson to make the necessary repairs. Price is important, but honesty and dependability are more so. Does anybody have any suggestions?
Question for Local History Buffs
On behalf of four 8th grade boys that I am assisting with National History Day projects I am seeking assistance from anyone who could point them in the right direction. Two boys are making a short ten-minute documentary about the Civilian Conservation Corps in this area and the other two boys are making an exhibit about the Duluth Canal. They are looking for additional pictures for their projects and anyone who may be available for an interview or to answer questions. Please reply here if you can offer any help and I will pass your e-mail information along to the students. If you have any tips for them I could pass on it would also be appreciated as well. They are very motivated and competing to represent our area at the national competition in Washington DC this June.
fountainheadmn @ yahoo.com
Eat Downtown!
Kate and I have been Eating Downtown lately, part of the annual promotion of downtown restaurants. (more…)
Learning to Sew
My wife is looking for the best way to learn to sew — nothing in the community ed calendar for this semester, but maybe for the future?
What other ideas might you suggest?
Duck boat tours in Duluth
Does anyone think army duck-boat tours would make it in Duluth?. They can go on land and water. It’s a big success in Wisconsin Dells, Chicago, Boston and other cities. I’m looking for opinions and possible investors.
Small Engine Repair Recommendation
My snow blower conked out and I need to find somewhere to take it for repair. I remember a thread like this not long ago but can’t find it searching here on PDD or through Google. If anyone can find the link and repost in the comments that would be great. Any other recommendations of places to go or to avoid would be appreciated. Any place that will pick up equipment would be most helpful because I don’t have a truck.
2012 Main Street Model Contest
Hey everyone, I’m Kaylee Rose. I was selected as an eligible entrant in the 2012 Main Street Model contest. Today through March 19 I need your votes everyday! It would be an absolute dream to be part the Maurices team and represent everything the brand stands for! Please check out the link below, read more and vote for me!
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Chastity Brown on KUWS Tuesday
In support of her forth-coming record Back-Road Highways, Minneapolis-based soul, roots and blues musician Chastity Brown will be on be on KUWS 91.3 FM at 7 p.m. tonight and will also be performing an in-studio with KUMD 103.3 FM on Thursday at 2 p.m. On Thursday night, she will be playing a show at Amazing Grace at 7 p.m., tickets are $10. See the Facebook event for more information.
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FYI: Lakeside Presbyterian Preschool
The Big E and I sent our kids to Lakeside Presbyterian Preschool and we think its a pretty neat place. Our kids are alumni, but one of the teachers there asked me to post this flyer in a nutshell:
Open House Thursday, March 1 5:30-7pm. Preschool for 3-5 year olds.
That’s all the info I’ve got. Call them for more.
Meet Rick Nolan
Rick Nolan is running against Chip Cravaack in the 8th Congressional District.
Looking for a good HVAC contractor
Bonus time is almost here and this new Duluth resident would like to add air conditioning to the upper floor of the house I bought last August. (With our current weather, it seems like summer is just around the corner.) Home uses hot water to heat, so no ducts! Can anyone recommend someone?
McNair Event at St. Scholastica
There’s been a lot of heat on PDD, on the DNT, and apparently, even on NPR, about the “Unfair” campaign to raise consciousness about the existence of structures that result in white privilege. As a result, questions of race and class and gender are flaring to the foreground.
Just for a brief counterpoint, I want today to take a look at a program that “does it right” — that recognizes that race is one variable, an important one, but only one in a matrix of privilege and works to destabilize that matrix. (more…)
Long-term local mortgage in Duluth
Can anyone suggest a Duluth-area finance institution that borrows 15 years + fixed rate for a mortgage, and keeps the loan local/in-house?
Where to have VW Jetta TDI oil changed?
I’m just wondering if anyone has any good places to go get an oil change for a 2010 VW Jetta TDI. This will be the first time it won’t be performed by a VW dealer because the free oil changes have expired. I’m assuming Foreign Affairs might be my best option. Normally I change my oil in all my vehicles but this is the first diesel engine I’ve ever owned, so I’m a little nervous to do it myself.
Duluth Plumbing Advice
I need some advice on my circa-early-1900s plumbing. The tub plugs up about every 6 to 9 months. We snake out a good hair clog and move on with our lives. Tonight we can’t snake the clog. This happened one other time and we paid Roto Rooter a couple hundred dollars for a visit. The Roto Rooter guy tried to sell me some treatment for another couple hundred dollars that would smooth out the pipes and stop future clogs. It sounded like snake oil last time, but now I’m wondering if they can actually do something to help. So A) I’d like opinions on a good Duluth plumber to work on a clog and B) would like to know if the Roto Rooter treatment is worth $200 (or whatever it costs these days).
Digital Photography Workflow Help!
Wondering if there are local photographers/graphic designers in Portslandia who are willing to help others figure out what they should/should not be doing in their digital workflow. I’m talking everything from camera settings to output. I’m sick of looking for answers in online forums. I need someone to sit down with me at my computer and let me throw questions at them. I’m running Lightroom 3 and Photoshop 4 on a Mac. Paid or unpaid help is appreciated!
Duluth Furnace Installation
We are looking to replace our furnace this spring. Can anyone recommend some places that sell and install furnaces?
Zenith City writers share their work
The Podium at Teatro Zuccone
Last night I attended a very special evening of area writers sharing essays, poems and stories at Teatro Zuccone. It’s really exciting to see this kind of event assembled. Kudos to all involved. If winter is the off-season for the Duluth arts and culture scene, you’d never know it by all the things happening in our community these days. Here’s a link to my review of the event last night and the writers who alternately made us laugh or think more deeply about the meanings of our lives, sometimes at the same time.
Duluthian staying in Rochester
We have an upcoming, at least week-long, visit to the Mayo in Rochester. We’ve stayed at the Fiksdal. Does anyone have any recommendations for not-too-expensive but not awful lodging etc. in Rochester?
Engraving in Duluth
I have a small plate for my guitar that I want to have engraved with my initials. After a quick search I’ve found a few places that would be able to do this for me, but I was hoping some of the fine folks here have any experience or recommendations with any of these companies.
Ideally, it would be laser engraving about 1×2 inches.
Jack Campbell of Excuse Me Princess releases EP
Jack Campbell is working with Nate Rendulich of Blue Water Dance and Keith Yanes of Coal Car Caboose and will be playing around town starting this Spring. Download the EP, Control, for free!