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?

Stop by the Perfect Duluth Day tent at Fallfest at Chester Bowl today and pick up a free sticker, 50 cent pop, candles, and other goodies. We’re the first booth on the right as you enter the park, conveniently located next to the biffies.
Saturday, 10-4

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).

I’m in search of a remotely cheap air conditioning service and recharge on my 2007 Chevrolet Aveo. It stopped working about a month ago during that one really long, hotter-than-blazes-every-day week in which I had to drive 50+ miles every day … and I’m taking a few trips to the Twin Cities in the next few weeks, so it would be lovely to have working AC again.

I’ve called Midas in West Duluth and Arrowhead Amoco, and they are both charging upwards of $100. Does anyone know of anywhere with good service that would be any cheaper? Thanks in advance!

Is it usual, or even legal, for a landlord to demand that all the tenants leave the apartment building while it is being inspected for licensing?  We got the written notice for an inspection in a week and then the landlord tells us face to face “don’t be here while the inspectors are here.” Weird?

Does anyone have a recommendation for a Duluth contractor to add insulation inside walls? I had an energy audit and the auditor recommended adding insulation inside my exterior walls, since there’s no insulation in there right now.

This is the first large project I’ve undertaken in my house and I’m intimidated by the process of picking a contractor. Before anyone suggests it, I did go to an informational class through the Duluth Energy Efficiency Program and submitted my information, but my house is already too efficient for me to have access to those resources.

I’m hoping someone here may have done this recently and has a recommendation for me.

Hi, Wildwoods Rehabilitation is interested in a booth at the Harvest Festival. We have a few questions and wonder whether the PDD community might have some answers.

1. Would an agency who has already exhibited at Harvest Fest be willing to share rough numbers (how many t-shirts, brochures, etc. to bring, how many volunteers to staff the booth)?
2. We’re looking for good rates to produce t-shirts locally. Any recommendations?
3. We’re looking for good rates to produce buttons, magnets, and bumper stickers locally. Suggestions?

We’re also looking for other suggestions of ways to get our organization out into the community. Thanks as always, PDD& community, for giving us a forum to get the word out.

During attic clean out I came across the remnants of an old beer and soda can collection put together during the 1970s.  It is about 500 cans, mostly pull tab but also a few flat tops.  Cool old Schmidt scenery cans, and the like.  Anyone know any can collectors in the Duluth area that might be interested in looking through them for gems?

My wife and I are trying to paint the house this year and have discovered a substantial carpenter bee nesting area under the eve. We don’t want to have them exterminated because we love these nice bees. The hive is inside the sofet and are accessible to the right bee charmer.

Can anyone recommend a bee keeper who wants to relocate these pleasant bees?

Not that I distrust the kids totally, but there are some youth in Duluth going door to door. They are collecting ‘points’ toward a trip and award to sell subscriptions to magazines. But along the way, the young man who came to my door asked to come in for a writing surface. When the table in the entry wasn’t enough, he asked to come in further for a counter or dining table. Then he asked for some bottled water. All of this made me increasingly uncomfortable. After he left, I called the phone number on the receipt and Googled the name of the company. Upshot is, they are tagged by the Better Business Bureau for not refunding money and not delivering product. Buyer beware.

The corn analysis made me think of this right away and had to share based on the corn comments. If you haven’t seen this already, it’s worth watching through. In addition to the experiment results, Elise’s scripted narration and awkward pauses are fantastic. She’s not from Duluth, but is from Minnesota and really likes our town.

Someone in PDDland has to know the best place in town to get my bingo on. Help me out here.

Nikki and I are finally shaking off the procrastination and getting down to planning our wedding (late)  and looking for an officiant!  If anyone knows, or has any recommendations for an officiant, we’d love to hear them!  The ceremony is being held in Leif Erikson Park this September and we’re looking for someone who’s either non-denominational or generally open-minded Christian.  We’ve emailed a few people from the various directory websites but would be much more comfortable with first-hand experience or recommendations.

My wife and I bought our first house almost 2 years ago in the Chester Park area of town. It’s an extremely small lot, neighboring houses are no less than 10 feet from ours on both the south and west sides. I love our house, it’s pretty much awesome. The neighbors, or lack thereof, however…..

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The Munger Trail is CLOSED between the Grand Ave./Co. Rd. 23 bridge and the 93rd. Ave. W. bridge.  Figured I’d save somebody the leg work.

Greetings, people of Duluth. I am not one of you. But I will be soon. My wife and I are moving to Duluth in August, and are in the middle of house/apartment/duplex/hobbit-hole hunting. Reviewing PDD for tips, I have learned that ShipRock should be avoided, and that people really like to argue about the Hillside neighborhood. Any more … constructive advice? Great rental experiences? Recommended companies to go through? Places other than Craigslist to look for listings? Questions to ask before signing the lease? Any and all advice is appreciated!

My husband and I are returning to our Minnesota roots by moving to Duluth in the next week or so. I’ve been a piano teacher for 16 years now. I’ve got friends and contacts in Duluth that keep assuring me that if I “put out my shingle” I’ll have a full studio in a snap.

What I can’t figure out is how exactly I do that. In my old neighborhood in Chicago I made a pretty flier and put it on people’s doorstep the first year I taught — after that it’s been word of mouth.

Anybody have any ideas for me?

So I have several Qwest, Charter and power lines running through my yard to the rental houses next to us. Over the years, the contractor installers have run new lines and not pulled the old ones. One line is low enough for me to be able to grab it. That one isn’t a power line so don’t get excited. But really, what are the rules governing this? Do I have any recourse to get the cable or telecom to remove the old ones … or dare I say it .. route all their lines elsewhere? Do utility easements extend to non-power companies? Where do I go to find out the utility easement ordinances which apply to my Hillside home?

I’m looking to spend a weekend in Ashland. This is what I know to do so far:

1. Stare at the beautiful bay.

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The idea of a “family game night” has gotten some traction in our house — the kids are getting old enough to keep game pieces out of their mouths and “waiting their turn” no longer incites screams or tantrums.  We were at the bookstore at the mall the other day and there were a lot of games that looked pretty fun — but it was a bit overwhelming.  Any suggestions for board-type games under these categories?

(1) family [includes children ages 5 and 7]

(2) party [games played with adults, but not requiring massive amounts of skill or concentration -- to be enjoyed during a social, etc.]

(3) children [specifically for children to play amongst themselves (ages 5 and 7)]

1. Where can I get a fresh House of Donuts style donut? I’m craving one something fierce.
2. Are there any flea markets in the area? I used to love going to the one in Superior until it went up in a big toxic poof of smoke.
3. Is anyone else having problems with the PDD comments RSS feed? I’m not seeing new comments and am wondering if it’s just a problem with my reader.
4. Are there any local artists who create palladium jewelry?
5. What weird or interesting new thing did you learn today?

Thanks for your time! Now back to your regularly scheduled PDD.

I’ve got some business travel set up for Northern Colorado and Utah in late June.  Any suggestions for a resort which may still be running lifts?  Ideally, I’d like to find something open during the week of 20 June.  Arapahoe Basin is open until the 19th – that’s the latest I’ve been able to find.  Also – suggestions on renting gear verses checking or shipping?  Seems that for a two day junket – one is better off just renting from the shop.

I did not plan ahead very well for this summer to get my camping reservations established at the 6 month or 1 year window reservations open up. Probably for the best as this encourages some exploration. I’m looking for advice on campgrounds along the south shore of the Lake. I haven’t done much camping in Wisconsin — a few nights on Madeline — that’s it [not including sleeping in the car in Superior]. Anybody willing to share their favorite camping spots in northern Wisconsin? I don’t need hook-ups or showers or KOA amenities. A developed swimming area and beach would be nice, as the kids will be in tow.

• WED: All American Club

• THU: Narum’s Soup Party

• FRI: ??

• SAT: Mindy’s BYOBBQ / Tim Nelson’s / Glass Elevators

I had a chance to take a pack of kids out to a working orchard near Wrenshall, MN (pictured above) and it was just a fantastic experience, I’d never seen anything like it before, except in books. There used to be groves like this, and “wild” groves used by people and critters for sustenance all around our region, but there aren’t many left anymore according to the experts at UMD.

Imagine an apple production and consumption culture within a thriving orchardist community, small orchards dotting the landscape, filled with heritage varieties locally adapted to our region. This was the reality of the area around Duluth, Minn., during the first half of the 20th century. But the advent of the industrial food system divested this community of its heritage, although those abandoned orchards beckon our call back to a more sustainable way of life.

Last fall, I read about a new orchard coming in near 6th Ave E in Duluth’s Hillside. Today I found out about this chance to win an orchard for the Duluth Area from Edy’s Fruit Bars. Here’s a link to sign in and vote, vote early and often.

As of today Duluth was placed 3rd in the nation: Not too shabby. Hopefully if people can stay on this we can come out on top. Almost forgot: Duluth community members and organizations will get the fruit. If this is successful expect a surge in NICE homegrown Duluth pies & cobblers in the next 5-10-15 years.

I’m looking into buying a motorcycle after several years of not riding. I think that a bike between 650 and 1000cc would be big enough. I have been looking at cruisers such as Yamaha V Stars, Kawasaki Vulcan and Honda Shadows and other similar bikes. I have a budget of about 3000. Any recommendations on a reliable comfortable use bike? There are so many more styles and makes since I rode last, it’s overwhelming. Thanks

I am thinking seriously about picking up an older, used motorcycle in the interest of saving myself some money on these higher fuel prices. I am wondering if it is worth having a motorcycle for commuting in Duluth with our limited days of warmth. I am not averse to riding in cold weather if it is above freezing but would like to avoid snow, ice or any heavy rain. With that being said, are there any current riders out there have any knowledge on how many days a year you can actually ride your motorcycle in Duluth and if you feel like it is worth owning one in this climate?

Help!

I am looking to relocate my small office to another spot downtown.  Somewhere in the area of Lake Avenue a few blocks east or west would be great.  Any good ideas?  I’m not super picky, but want some good light and clean, etc.  Currently spending about $200 a month so I am also hoping to stay in that range.

It’s that time of year where I’m in need of your retired steel-tined leaf rake. It cannot be plastic or bamboo- it must be steel. I chop the tines off for thumb piano keys and I need a whole lot of them for a music program/workshop I’m doing later in the spring. If your rake is missing all but one of it’s tines, I’ll still take it. You can contact me through yelling loudly or the internet thingy.

July 4th weekend, two couples are sitting at the beach around mid afternoon watching their kids play in the sand.  They are at the “s” curve beach at Park Point, approx 100 yards to the right of the sidewalk.  They are talking quietly, drinking a few beers from cans.  Each open beer is wrapped in a can “coolie” or whatever you call them.  Each beer can is immediately put back in the small cooler when emptied. 

What are the chances that a community officer (or whoever patrols the beaches) will come up and hassle them?