There will be a public promotional event for the DPI at Valentini’s Restaurant on Monday, March 29th at 6:00pm. FREE with appetizers, a cash bar, and entertainment by singer/guitarist Emma Rustan. Please RSVP to the Facebook event, calling the DPI 218.393.2468, or by emailing dpi@duluthphotographyinstitute.com. Go to www.duluthphotographyinstitute.com for more info on the DPI.
Earth Hour will be coming back to the Duluth area this March! From 8:30p.m.- 9:30p.m. on March 27 the World Wildlife Fund asks individuals and businesses to turn off their lights for the hour. Nearly one billion people from 87 countries participated in Earth Hour last year! (more…)
I noticed last week that the sign is up outside the Fitger’s Brewery Complex for the Mexico Lindo restaurant. Any word on an opening date? Anyone?
In other Mexico Lindo related news, don’t go to the Cloquet location on Friday. I’m predicting the place will be packed like never before. Denfeld plays Hermantown for the Section 5A hockey championship at the Cloquet Area Recreation Center at 7 p.m. I’m sure I’m not the only one planning a pregame meal.
Something truly wonderful and astounding has happened to the city of Duluth, people. Last night I and three companions went to Hanabi, the new Japanese restaurant at 1st and 1st W. And the verdict is: Oishii! Kanji! (Delicious! Gorgeous!) And truly great service!
Seriously, our party are sushi and service snobs, and we were all blown away by what we ate and the level of friendly service. One particular menu item had us all gasping for breath, sinking in our seats in waves of flowing pleasure: The North Shore roll. Whoever invented this Thing From Heaven and designed it’s presentation deserves a Nobel Prize for Supreme Deliciousness.
Also, the price range is very reasonable, the environs are modern and inviting, the staff is easy on the eyes, there is a great and cheap Happy Hour menu, the chairs are comfortable, and the plateware is fantastic.
To whomever is responsible for bringing Hanabi to Duluth (and 2 blocks from my house!): Thank you, thank you, thank you.
So, I tried several times to comment in the “restaurants” discussion thread in response to people talking about Trader Joe’s, cheap wine and such, and my comment didn’t go through for some reason. Guess it was the “anti-threadjack” filter PDD has now! (Wouldn’t that be nice!)
My thoughts were these:
A 17-year old woman died from heat exhaustion about a year ago while working in a vineyard that supplies grapes for 2-buck-chuck. Trader Joe’s dodged the responsibility by saying it was a “contractors” problem. That seems slippery ethics to me.
The United Farm Workers is suing the state of California (partially prompted by this case), to get the state to protect workers from hazardous field conditions.
The reality seems to be that if you get to buy it cheap, someone (workers) or something (the environment) is getting exploited.
So, my question, do we and/or should we think about these kinds of things when we’re looking for a buzz to accompany our dinner?
What is going on with all the new food joints in Duluth?
Hanabi Japanese Cuisine opens Saturday according to Aaron Gall, manager. (That’s Aaron in the photo above, hard at work putting the final touches on the place.) Hanabi is at 110 N. First Ave. W., downtown. Hours will be 11 a.m. to 11 p.m., Monday through Saturday. Closed on Sundays. Click here for PDF of menu.
Culver’s is opening a new butterburger and custard joint by the Miller Hill Mall.
Texas Roadhouse is opening a new restaurant south of Home Depot on Mall Drive.
Buffalo Wild Wings is opening by fall 2010 at the old Gander Mountain location.
Chipotle Mexican Grill looked at the Gander Mountain spot, but won’t be locating there. Perhaps a different Duluth location will be chosen, though, because Chipotle is opening a new joint every eight minutes.
Mexico Lindo, a popular restaurant in Cloquet, is opening a new location in the old Baja Billy’s/Chi-Chi’s spot in the Fitger’s Brewery Complex.
This is all on top of places that opened last year: Zeitgeist Arts Café, Takk for Maten/Kippis, Zen House in the Holiday Center and so on. Not to mention Sclavi’s in Superior.
The time to spend money we don’t really have is upon us. So why not give that money from the future to our friends and neighbors?
With that sentiment in mind, the folks at Perfect Duluth Day have compiled a selection of locally produced goods and services to add to your shopping list. Click on the pics below for details about each item.
This fabulous showcase is by no means comprehensive, of course. We at PDD would like you to contribute to it through the comments. If you know of a local something special for that special someone, let it be known.
Jason Wussow and Dan Dresser, the guys who made the movie Cooking on the Car, are taking their mobile kitchen on the road again soon. They’re hoping to challenge Jay Leno to a cook off – putting their Toyota Camry up against one of Leno’s fancy schmancy cars. Or maybe Conan is still driving his Taurus.
2nd Annual Chester Bowl Wine & Beer Tasting and Silent Auction
Saturday, October 17th, 6:30pm-9:30pm
Baja Billy’s Restaurant – Fitger’s – 600 E. Superior St.
$25 Per Person in Advance
$35 Per Person at the Door
This is the major fundraiser of the year for the ski program and other kids activities at Chester Bowl. See more info and buy tickets online at chesterbowl.org
Does anyone know about the new Japanese Restaurant opening on 1st Ave West? I guess it’s called Hanabi Japanese Cuisine and it is located at 110 N. 1st Ave West. Not sure when they open or what their menu is going to be like. I did hear someone mention Zen House opening a Downtown location, is this it? Or is this a totally different thing?
It has ben confirmed that Sunday September 27 will be the season premier of Extreme Makeover – Home Edition and that the first show if the season will feature none other than our South Shore friends the Huber family. Ace’s on 29th in Superior will be hosting a party during the show – offering FREE appetizers and snacks during the show. The back room will feature EM – HE on all the TVs and we will celebrate Superior’s amazing role in the life changing event. Producers of the show say that the residents and businesses in the Twin Ports turned out in droves, maybe the most local support they have seen in the history of the show. So come on down to Ace’s on 29th in Superior on 9/27 and celebrate the Huber’s joy and watch your fellow Northlanders on TV.
The premise of the piece? “There’s good eats in places other than New York and L.A.” What do we learn from it? “Walleye is a very big deal hereabouts.” In any case, congrats to Nokomis for the (IMO, deserved) recognition.
Twins owner Pohlad dead at 93
Carl Pohlad, a billionaire banker whose Minnesota Twins won two World Series titles during nearly his nearly quarter-century as owner, died today, a baseball official said. He was 93.
Sweet…I missed this the first time he died back in January while I was on vacation.
In other news, has anyone been to Mexico Lindo and noticed that they got rid of the burrito filled with french fries and veggies, and covered in oaxaca cheese? I believe this was one of the main reasons people went there (although their other food is good, too). What gives? Would McDonalds ax the Big Mac and think people wouldn’t care?
I am new to Duluth and live over here in West End…My son and I are concerned about A&Dubs. Does anyone know when it usually opens? Will it survive the new jr high school renovations? I tried to call the number and it is disconnected. I though maybe it opens like Memorial Day or something and folks who are more in the loop would just already know that.
Takk for Maten, the Scandinavian cafe, is tentatively set to reopen May 15 in the former DAC deli space in the Tech Village, on Superior Street next to Pizza Luce. The cafe used to be on Lake Avenue just above Superior Street, until an unfortunate steam pipe incident in January.
Takk for Maten (Norwegian for “thanks for the food”) will occupy the space during the day. At night, tentatively starting in June, it will be home to Kippis (Finnish for “cheers”), a full-service tapas bar.
Come play bags toss, beer pong, wii bowling, & darts to compete for the title of the ultimate drinking team! Teams consist of 4-8 people & the entry fee is $5 per person. Includes First Beer Pitcher Free!
That ever expanding city within a city, or as I like to call it, SMDC-opolis played host to a shockingly pleasant dining experience today …
After the first dr visit of her 10th month of pregnancy my partner and I were both famished and agreed to visit that behemoth’s hearthstone grill (I refuse to put the extra “e” on grill cause that just grates on me, they are trying way too hard to be something they are not).
Anyway, the food was really good. Nice variety, well prepared, and yeah, it’s cafeteria style, but the service was still really good and quick, and it’s nice to pick out your own serving sizes sometimes, especially when you’re rushed or have a big appetite.
And as my impromptu photo will attest, the view and ambiance were very very pleasant. Although, if you are a neat freak keep your food on the tray as the outdoor tables had a thin, barely noticeable layer of grime on them.
The cost for this very gastronomically and aesthetically pleasing lunch for two cost (that’s one giant and one very pregnant lady so we are talking appetites here folks.) Well, it came in well under $20.
So I’m wondering to myself, am I crazy, or did I just stumble upon a fantastic new lunch place? And even more shocking to me … did I just find the new best place to dine outdoors in the Twin Ports?
Our 1st outdoor lunch of 2009 at the new(ish) SMDC clinic building
I know it’s a sometimes losing proposition to ask PDDers for their opinions on restaurants (half usually judge food based solely on price, while the other half have such oh-so-sensitive palates that anything served between the two coasts is intolerable and repulsive*) but nonetheless, here I go.
Has anyone eaten at the Bangkok Royal located in the Village Square Mall? What was your experience like?
*Please realize that I’m exaggerating here. And forgive me for coming across like a royal bangkok.
Earth Hour is something that is going on March 28th. They just ask you to turn off the lights to your house from 8:30-9:30 p.m. as a way to ‘Vote Earth.’
I think this is a really cool initiative because last year about 50 million households/businesses participated in Earth Hour by shutting off their lights, and this year they hope to have 1 billion people participate!
I hope you all will join me for Earth Hour on 3/28/2009.
Do you all have any ideas on how to bring Earth Hour to Duluth. Sarah’s table is already serving candlelit dinners for the hour, so if you would like a romantic dinner. But if you all have any other ideas let me know!
Hey everyone!
I am a UMD student and RA on campus and recently I have been working night and day to bring ‘Earth Hour’ to UMD and Duluth Minnesota! If you don’t know about ‘Earth Hour,’ basically it is a global initiative that asks citizens to turn off the lights of their homes/businesses from 8:30-9:30 p.m. on March 28th as a way to vote ‘Earth’. If you would like to learn more about ‘Earth Hour’ the official website is: http://www.earthhour.org/
With ‘Earth Hour’ fast approaching I hope that Duluth businesses and households will support ‘Earth Hour’ and vote ‘Earth’ by participating in one hour of darkness. I thought one of the coolest things about ‘Earth Hour’ can be found in big urban areas such as New York City where the lights to the Empire State Building are cut, or in Sydney Australia where you can watch the lights of the infamous Opera House go dark. ‘Earth Hour’ shows not only that we can work together to achieve sustainability in Duluth and in the World, but is also a great reason to spend time with your loved ones. Not that there isn’t reason to go out on a scenic Duluth night already, but there is something intimate about an hour of darkness.
I have also talked to local restaurants about serving candlelit dinners from 8:30-9:30 p.m. on March 28th. So far we have had many tentative “yes” replies but Sara’s Table at 1902 E 8th Street is the only one who has fully committed to ‘Earth Hour’ by spending the hour with a dark dining area lit only by candles. We hope that on March 28th you can support local restaurants who are participating in ‘Earth Hour’ as a way to further your vote for Earth.
I will add more restaurants to this post as we hear from them.
Overall I believe that Duluth is a city that can make a difference, and participating in ‘Earth Hour’ is something that could really demonstrate where we stand when it comes to global sustainability. And with such beautiful natural scenery surrounding our city, global climate change is something that could forever change our beautiful area and make it something less than a memory. It is these thoughts that not only bring me fear, but hope. A hope that we can make a difference, and that difference I feel may begin in the form of ‘Earth Hour.’ So I hope you will join me by turning off your lights and power on March 28th from 8:30p.m.-9:30p.m and vote not only for Earth but for Duluth also.
Thank you for your interest in bringing ‘Earth Hour’ to Duluth and your efforts in making this a more beautiful world.
Together We Can Fight For Global Sustainability
Let Our Voices Be Heard Through The Darkness
A 17-year old woman died from heat exhaustion about a year ago while working in a vineyard that supplies grapes for 2-buck-chuck. Trader Joe’s dodged the responsibility by saying it was a “contractors” problem. That seems slippery ethics to me.
But if you all have any other ideas let me know!
