Recommendations
Stop Being So Selfish
I love this site. I love how inquisitive everyone is. I love the willingness to share.
But I hate the “Advice” and “Recommendations” posts.
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Duluth Dog Kennel Recommendation
Our last few attempts at using a dog/house sitter had some unintended consequences. Some of the more interesting: various porn-related scenarios [purchased and delivered]; a Mountain Dew “ash tray” was left in front of our basement toilet [we don’t smoke]; one of our cars apparently was used and the backseat mistaken for a dumpster; and a “three bears ‘bed scenario'” which resulted in a lot of laundry. Without addressing the vetting process I used in staffing, or commenting on my solicitation process, I’d like some recommendations on area kennels for boarding two dogs: one an old lab and the other an old terrier. We’re heading up to the Lutsen area for the holiday and would love to find help up that way; but assume most facilities are in this area.
Duluth Business Accountants
I’m looking for a strong, business accountant in Duluth for a business start up … Any suggestions?
Jalapeno Express: Fast Mexican food in Downtown Duluth!
(Click the menu to see it in a larger, more readable format.)
Jalapeno Express has finally opened downtown in the space where Maya Mexican (and Grapevine Cafe, and Taj India, and Mr. Nick’s) used to be. My husband and I caught them in the middle of their “soft” opening and partook of a couple of burritos. Due to some confusion while we were ordering, we ended up with some extra food. I’m pleased to say that Duluth now officially has a legitimate answer to Chipotle. The chicken was good, the carnitas was good, and the al Pastor was terrific as well. We added some awesome cheese dip, chips and a rice drink called “horchata” (which was suggested by the staff). I work nearby, and I think I’ll be hitting them up for quick Mexican at least once or twice per week!
Awesome service at a corporate monolith
I usually feel a little guilty eating factory farmed meat shaped into mass-produced meals, but when they have Simpsons toys as the kid’s meal (or mid-thirty-year-old-man’s meal) toy, I am there. (more…)
Simple Plumbing Job – DIY?
It looks like I need to replace the lateral sewer line connecting my house to the city system. I qualify for the “up to 3K” reimbursement; but the job is estimated at “around 6K.”
In lamenting to my friends on this issue, multiple responses have been “Schultsy can run a ‘mini’ [excavator]; why don’t you have him dig out the old line? Putting in a new one is pretty straight forward – like roofin’ – you’re just paying for labor.”
Does anybody have any experience with this? Is it simply digging out the old line, removing the old house trap and connecting into the waste out from the house and then hooking up to where it feeds into the city system? What part of this would need a “licensed plumber”? I don’t have “replace sewer line” on my bucket list, and I’d rather take that 3K [which I don’t have] and recreate with it.
What’s all the fuss about AimClear and Visit Duluth?
Like with parenting and other stuff I write about, I understand just enough about social media, search engine optimization and search engine analytics to be dangerous. But I think I might understand more than the marketing “gurus” at Visit Duluth.
Marty Weintraub is a nationally (internationally?) sought out speaker and consultant on every kind of web marketing that you can imagine – Social Media, Keyword Search, Ad Placement, and so on. He also, apparently, loves Duluth. So he did some research on how the community is being marketed online and produced a study for free to give us all some food for thought on how Visit Duluth is spending its (tax generated) budget and if it couldn’t be optimized to deliver better results in the digital age.
Did $10 Million In Destination Marketing Make Duluth Famous? (more…)
Damn you La Niña! What do I do now?
According to the Duluth News Tribune, and pretty much every other website I’ve seen, it’s gonna be a cold one this winter. My question is… How do I get out and enjoy it without spending any cash? I’ve thought about buying snowshoes or ice skates, but even a good pair of those would set me back. Does anybody know of any nooks or crannies in this area that would make for some enjoyable winter exploring?
Walking Dead
I went to the Zinema 2 last night to watch the Walking Dead.
Zombie Theology, July 2011
This event was sparked by the Comic Book Guy at DragonPort Games and Comics last year. As I understand it, he contacted the Zinema and co-promoted the event. The house was stuffed to the gills, SRO.
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600 Reasons to See Low
Low, the iconic band from Duluth, is performing a rare benefit concert with opener Charlie Parr at Marshall School Auditorium on Friday, Oct. 14, at 8 p.m. (doors @ 6.30pm). This concert is presented by Life House, a local nonprofit that helps homeless kids get off the street, and back into a safe environment.
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Worst. Miniature. Golf. Ever.
Spirit Mountain Mini Golf | is hands down the worst miniature golf course I have ever played. It is not “unique” nor an “outdoor adventure” – it comes across as under-challenging, half-assed, simple and incomplete. The next time I want to play on an unfinished-looking, masonite-smooth play surface(!), no challenge or engagement of a rat cubicle 9-hole course, you’ll be the first to know, Mr. Salmela. Seriously. I like your houses. Stick to that. A complete rip-off at $4.
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Give me your Twin Ports Halloween events!
I will post them on HauntedDuluth.com for free! If it’s a major Halloween bash or a tiny haunted garage on Halloween night, I want to add it to my site!
Post your event info as a comment in this post, or email me from the HauntedDuluth.com contact page.
The Cost of Food
According to the USDA, the weekly cost of food on a “thrifty” budget in 2011 is $40.60 for men and $36.20 for women (19-50 years old). For my household of two, that comes to $10.97/day. I am now undertaking a challenge to base our household food budget off these numbers. This budget seems reasonable (even generous), but I have been spending about twice that amount on groceries and alcohol each week.
Unfortunately, an easy solution would be to eat off the McDonald’s dollar menu for three meals a day or to switch from the Co-op to Sam’s Club. Thankfully it’s harvest season and we have lots of fresh and canned produce from our garden already paid for.
How much a week do you spend on groceries in the Duluth-Superior region? Any tips for frugal grocery options? Comments on the price of food?
Duluth Handyman/woman?
Instead of exclusively perusing Craigslist, I thought I’d put a question to the friendly community of PDDers.
Can anyone please recommend a handyman and/or woman who could help me with my inability to properly execute seemingly simple home repair tasks?
Good Duluth dry cleaners?
My husband needs his good winter coat cleaned, but I don’t know anything about the dry cleaners in Duluth. Which ones are recommended? Which ones (if any) should we avoid?
Duluth – Onigamiinsing
[This post originally included an embedded video that no longer exists at its source.]
I’ve since moved away, but I love coming back to visit my hometown of Duluth. I made this little video one evening this summer at Leif Erikson Park, I thought some of you might enjoy. (more…)
Mentor Duluth on Kare-11 Tuesday night
The KARE-11 special tonight from 7-8 p.m. on channel 11 focuses on youth mentoring. Several mentor programs will be featured including Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Greater Twin Cities, Parenting with a Purpose, Bolder Options, Kinship of Greater Minneapolis, Northside Achievement Zone, Courage Center and the Y’s Mentor Duluth!
Program Coordinator for Mentor Duluth, Dave Schaefer will be participating in this TV news event. Federated Insurance is sponsoring the show. You will see many familiar faces! A live phone bank will also be part of the call to action. See the link below for more information.
Winter Outdoor Settings
What are PDDers’ favorite winter outdoor settings? I am looking for a nature spot, that is fairly accessible in the the winter (1,000-foot walk at most), one that doesn’t necessarily have a dramatic view (it would be a plus though) but the setting should be fairly dramatic with rocks, trees, or waterfalls. The setting can be in either city but preferably up to 20 miles outside of the Twin Ports. I am getting married in the winter and I am looking for a spot to hold a very small and very short outdoor wedding.
Recommendations for Duluth Brake Mechanic?
Does anyone have any recommendations for local brake mechanics, ones that are honest/non-skeevy, but also can solve a braking-system mystery that four other mechanics have been unable to fix?
First off, I hate my car and wish it were a phoenix that would burn, and from the ashes would produce a new car. I don’t believe this is a standard feature on a Kia, so I’ll have to keep this piece of crap limping for at least another year or two (you may recall my prior bitching regarding this car).
Second, I’m afraid that if this mystery doesn’t get solved, you’ll find me and my Kia at the bottom of the lake sometime this winter.
Anyone have any good suggestions? Thanks!!! I really appreciate your advice (randomly stabbing at the yellow pages isn’t getting me anywhere).
Christine Hoberg at SXSW with Spin Magazine
Christine Hoberg, a singer-songwriter with ties to Duluth-Superior, is looking for people to download a song from Spin/PopChips.com and nominate her to perform at the annual South by Southwest Music Festival in Austin, TX. Christine is entering the contest from New York City, her current hometown. If she is the winner of her city then she will go on to compete against the winning artists from Chicago, Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Seattle (I know, I know, weird how they left the musical hotbed of Duluth off of that list).
The easiest way to do this is to click this link to Facebook and follow the directions, and yes you do (apparently) need to do this via facebook although you can listen to Christine’s music a number of places online her website, https://www.christinehoberg.com/ is a good jumping off place.
As of this writing, Christine is currently in the lead for her New York City. Being her “real” hometown, let’s push her over the top and keep her there.
My Weekend Soundtrack
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uRWyxzmNdJc&feature=youtu.be
The Western Ridge, Zoo Animal at Beaner’s Central Friday 9/2
Two great bands from the Twin Cities and one from Duluth will be playing at Beaner’s Central on Friday, Sept. 2. Show begins at 8 p.m.; tickets are $5. I’m excited to travel up to see them and hope some Duluth peeps will come out as well. You won’t be disappointed!
Duluth Does the Bumpers? Thrift Store Adventures
Last week I saw this album at a thrift store in Hinckley for 50 cents and I didn’t want to have to explain to Mrs. Goose why I bought it so I ended up walking away, despite the bargain. But given Duluth’s various brushes with rubber ball fame (or infamy) I figured maybe someone else might want to stop by and grab it.
I would also like to put this one in the hat for the next Duluth Does album. I would just love to hear Sarah Softich, the Boomchucks and even that Danecdote kid take a swing at some of these tracks. Here’s the title cut:
Duluth Trails
[This post originally contained an embedded video that is no longer available at its source.]
I took this video on my first trip along the Congdon Trail earlier this month. What a beautiful, short and highly recommended hike! A great place for a perfect Duluth day. I’d like to make more videos of Duluth’s waterways (besides the big lake). Any suggestions?