PDD Gift Guide 2011
By brian on Nov 21, 2011 in For Sale, Recommendations
Here it is, the annual gallery of local goods, submitted for your holiday shopping approval. If you’re going to get all material this Christmas, it might as well be local material, right?
In most cases you can acquire these items in retail stores or shop online. Click on the images for more information and links.
We know there are more ways to spread the holiday cheer, so add to the list of ideas through the comments to this post. And if you can’t get enough of this stuff, check out the PDD Gift Guide 2010 and PDD Gift Guide 2009. Most of those items are still around.
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- Lifespan Closets
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Nate Lindstrom
Photo Calendar
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- Migrations compilation
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- White Winter Winery
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- Magic Map of the BWCA
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- Another Side of Duluth Does Dylan
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- 185Chocolat
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- North Shore Architectural Antiques
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- Northern Waters Smokehouse
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- Frost River Bags
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- Gourmet DipKits
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- Lotus Guitar Pedal
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- Cat Toys from Marvelous Melissa
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- Duluth Coffee Co
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- Dogbooties.com Harness
I checked in at the West Duluth Super One last week and apparently Upper Lakes Foods still does not have a manufacturer for Connolly’s Tom & Jerry Batter. So Christmas is ruined again this year. (The inferior Mrs. Bowen’s mix is in stock, not that anyone should care.)
Speaking of items that are not available, does anyone know why Duluth’s famous Pajama Warmers are all out of stock?
Growlers from Fitger’s Brewhouse are welcome under my tree any time.
People! I know Northern Lights Books & Gifts has gone to that Great Bookstore in the Sky, but if you are looking for good books, esp. some excellent regional titles, check out the Bookstore at Fitgers! Good selection, the store is owned by the company that owns the building, and managed by the very personable Sally Anderson.
Chris Monroe picture books would make an excellent present for the child of all ages in your life this year.
Your Friendly Neighborhood Specialty Coffee Roasters are still serving up hard-to-find microlot coffees, superb blends and fine teas … individual packages and gift boxes alike.
The Medium Control = local modern goods
All goods are designed and hand screen printed by a Duluth husband + wife creative duo. Swing on by our Park Point store.
Cheers, Kristy+Tommy
Two more 2012 calendar options:
The 2012 Duluth Memories calendar features historical photos from the Duluth News Tribune archives. It is available at the DNT office at 424 W. First St. for $7 or online for $10. Proceeds from sales go to support the Newspapers in Education program, which is a cooperative effort between schools and newspapers to promote the use of newspapers as an education resource.
Photographer John Heino shot the images for the Enger Tower calender. It costs $25, with proceeds benefiting the Enger Restoration Project. You can buy them at Duluth Grill, Happy Space in the Fitger’s Brewery Complex, Lake Superior Magazine Gift Shop, Evolve Duluth, Berquist Imports, Jitters Coffee and Tea House, Larsmont Cottages, Thirsty Pagan Brewing, Duluth Playhouse and Takk for Maten, or online at engertowerduluth.com.
Oh, I am going to get my friend in NYC the calendar with the pics of the King of Norway, she was so impressed that he came to Duluth and didn’t go to NYC! She has a new respect for Duluth.
We have a new local series in our line of Listen To Nature Sustainable Apparel™ at Happy Space that would make great gifts.
Duluthian By Nature includes Enger Tower, the Lakewalk and lots in between with a nod to our music scene. Long sleeve bamboo with organic cotton.
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Park Point is for Lovers is from one of Starfire’s PDD shirt design contests. Short sleeve bamboo in standard fit, organic cotton in ladies jr. fit.
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Keep Our North Shore Superior is coming in December in sustainable zip hoodies, recycled Ts & bamboo ladies long sleeve V-necks.
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You can see the details by clicking Alternate Images in the product descriptions here.
We’re just down the hall from those growlers at the beer store, across from the Chico Bon Bon books at the book store, and we carry Marvelous Melissa’s cat toys and the Enger calendars -- all shown above. Thanks for the local listing each year, Brian.
Here are a few music releases from this year. Some acts are selling actual CDs, some are bandcamp downloads. The CD releases are probably available at Electric Fetus too.
Tangier 57, It Is People (CD, E. Fetus, Bandcamp)
Sarah Krueger, Dancing with Phantoms (CD and download options)
Ryan Van Slooten, Rise or Fall (CD, iTunes, amazon, retail and more)
Excuse Me Princess (Bandcamp)
The Surfactants (Bandcamp)
Lions and Creators (Bandcamp)
Danecdote (Bandcamp)
Manheat (Bandcamp)
I’m looking forward to reading this kid’s book by Kevin Kling and Chris Monroe. That’s an awesome match up.
The Skyline Planning and Preservation Alliance will be selling the old Skyline Parkway signs at the Coppertop Church on Saturday, Nov. 26, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Proceeds go toward the removal of trees from blocked lookouts along Skyline, and to the Enger Tower and Park Restoration Fund.
I am so going to Shane Bauer’s store at Fitger’s! Now if they carried Marvelous Melissa’s slippers I’d be in heaven.
I would also recommend Portage’s new album, The Unsalted Sea. The lead singer is Trent Waterman of North Shore Sessions. The album is available at portage.bandcamp.com.
May I also throw my local hat in the mix? I sell on Etsy, but I’m local and available for custom orders and fittings.
Moe Sew Co. Millinery
I illustrated 2 new kid’s book this year. Probably available at your favorite bookstore, or at the links provided.
A few more albums:
Though not exactly local, Minnesota Beatle Project Vol. 3 includes former Duluth band Cloud Cult covering “Help,” as well as current Duluthian Charlie Parr (with Nicholas Mrozinski) covering “Rocky Raccoon.” It’s due out Dec. 6, with proceeds benefiting music and art education in Minnesota Public Schools. It’s available at Target.com and Target stores throughout Minnesota, independent record stores, iTunes, Amazon, CD Baby and Rhapsody.
Big Top Chautauqua has released Blue Canvas Christmas, featuring the Blue Canvas Orchestra.
Christmas by the Lake, Volume V, has reportedly already exceeded the 2010 sales of Volume IV. It features 20 songs by musicians from throughout the region and sells for $12 each at area Super One stores, Pam’s Hallmark in the Miller Mall, Big Daddy’s Burgers and online at lundeenproductions.com. Proceeds benefit the Northern Lights Foundation. Performers are: The Superior Singers, Tom Cawcutt Sr., Jane Aas, Maxi Childs Trio, Hermantown High School Vocal Point, Mark Rubin, Just Friends, Lake City Smokin’ Section, Doug Greenwood, Les Hazelton, Mary Lou Williams, Rose Hoene, Sound of Strings Ensemble, All About Music, Denfeld High School Little Mob, Hallbjorn, Greg Tiburzi, Ripple Effect, Jen West, Northwestern High School, The Downbeats, Denfeld High School Solid Gold and Ken Ahlberg.
And my favorite EP of 2011 is Old Knifey and the Cutthroats After Hours Hoe-down.
Chris Monroe will be signing copies of Monkey with a Tool Belt & the Seaside Shenanigans at The Bookstore at Fitger’s Sunday, December 11, at 12PM.
Gift certificates from Midi Restaurant make a great gift anytime of the year.
I suppose these two albums from City Pages’ list of Minnesota’s Best Albums of 2011 should be included in a few stockings this year.
Technical clarification: is Haley still considered a Duluthian?
I think Haley is still a Duluthian in the same sense that Bob Dylan is still a Duluthian. If you live here for a while and achieve some level success, we will latch on to you like rats clinging to a meat truck. Whether it’s a motherly kind of love of a stalker kind of love is not something we should analyze.
News from Mayor Ness:
For a limited time, for every Duluth-area album you buy from the Electric Fetus, you’ll get a free copy of the Mayor’s Mix.
Quoth the mayor: “Charlie Parr has a new album out there, so does Sarah Krueger! There’s a lot of great local music to choose from — get yourself down to the Fetus and pick up a few for your friends.”
For your more refined flannel-shirted friends, there’s always Lake Superior caviar from Dockside Fish Market in Grand Marais.
Star Tribune: “Lake Superior caviar? You betcha.“