We are looking to replace our furnace this spring. Can anyone recommend some places that sell and install furnaces?

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.

The Podium at Teatro Zuccone

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?

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 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 for free!

http://jackcampbell.bandcamp.com/album/control

Let’s say you were sending a care package to someone. You want it to reflect Duluth. The female recipient is in college out of state and isn’t from Duluth (although her parents are recent transplants). What would you send?

The Duluth Public Library is working on updating its list of places (other than the library) where patrons can access computers for internet access, word processing, etc.

Even with expanded hours coming, it’s good to give folks options if they aren’t near a library, need access when the library is closed, or have used up their computer time for the day.

The library has a pretty good list going, but I thought we could crowd-source a bit and see if anyone out there can suggest additions. We know about local colleges (UMD, St. Scholastica, and Lake Superior College) that offer some level of access to non-students, as well as the UPS store, which offers computer time for a fee. What are we missing? Where else can we refer our patrons?

Thanks!
Jeremy Osgood
Duluth Public Library

The other night my p.o.s. car took a poop. It seems to be something electrical. After a few attempted jumps nothing will power on, of course this happened on the first cold morning we’ve had all damn month.

I’m going to have to have it towed. Who should I take to? I live in the Hillside, but I’m a little leery of Hemlock because of a past experience, and my boyfriend recently had sub-par service from Murphy’s.

Open to any suggestions!

My parents are taking a little vacation from Minnesota down to Apache Junction, AZ [they will hike more in the 6 weeks they are there than my wife and I will all year]. They have an iPad and very little technical moxy. The condo they are in does not have ISP; and they would like temporary internet service.
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Where do people go for fun or to hang out on a regular basis? I am trying to find a fun place to hang out other than on Friday or Saturday. I am 28 and don’t like to sit at home all the time.

Real people. Real Duluth. Downtown living is real living, folks… not that other neighborhoods aren’t “real,” but come on, the casino is my neighbor!

http://duluth.craigslist.org/apa/2764171933.html

I moved here a few months ago and love the area. My wife is looking for two types of stores: A Hobby Lobby type of store, and a good baker’s supply store. Can anyone help me out here?

I’m getting married next summer and we are looking for a venue for our reception. I’m hoping to be able to either choose a caterer or do our own food and hold 250-300 people. I saw the post from last year and looked into several of those suggestions but I thought I’d see if anyone had any new ideas.

This summer I took the folks out west to visit family and began what I hope may become a growing gallery on PDD. Shots of the PDD sticker/logo and where it has traveled (or been spotted).

The Mount Rushmore shots turned out ok ….

Perfect Duluth Day sighting at Mount Rushmore

But it’s the accidental pictures with the roaming, wild asses that turned out to be even more of a treat for me.

Wild Ass PDD Sighting, South Dakota

Now, who’s got some more?

Can anyone point me to good places to ice skate or cross-country ski on lakes around Duluth this week? Looking for lakes with a sheet of smooth-ish ice or with an inch or two of snow to ski on.

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My parents are up in town this weekend and wanted to know where to get good wild rice. They indicated they wanted cracked broken pieces and whole grain. I am by no means a wild rice expert. Can anyone help?

I just moved to Duluth and I’m a homebrewer. I was wondering if there is any local places to refill Co2 tanks for kegerators?  I have my own tank.

I am contemplating joining the technologically advanced, putting down the dusty library book and purchasing an e-reader. Does anyone have any opinions about the pros and cons of the Kindle versus the Nook? I don’t necessarily need the tablet aspect of it, primarily I would use it for reading, probably listen to Pandora while reading, but that’s about it. I’m not big on games so I can live without that feature.

I heard a good question I have not been able to find the answer to yet. Is the Nook limited to only Barnes and Noble books or can you get books from Amazon too? Is one easier to use than the other? If you have any suggestions, I’d love to hear them.

We have been trying to get a hold of some leather rivets and other tools for working leather to no avail.  Obviously the internet will have plenty of what we are trying to find, but the internet is for wussies.

I’ve tried Michael’s, Hancock Fabrics, Menards, Kmart, Target and Harbor Freight ToolsThatSmellBad.  While we were able to find a leather punch tool, nobody has any rivets for joining pieces of leather together.

There has to be someone around town that specializes in this kind of work, other than some place like Duluth Pack which doesn’t actually sell the stuff.

Extra points for a place with a variety of supplies.

I am about 90% sure I am getting my first pair of snowshoes for Xmas this year. I have always wanted to get into this but need some advice on a few things. Besides the actual snowshoes, what kind of actual shoe is best to wear? Is snowshoeing something that needs to be practiced or is it pretty much walking in the snow? I live very close to Hartley Nature Center so that will be the main trail but where are some other good places to go in town? Any advice would be appreciated.

I am looking for a videographer that can help me with a project. I am looking for someone that is creative, unique, and likes people. It will be a compensated project, and needs to look good. Any suggestions or contacts?

Winter is upon us, and we have decided to get a remote car starter. We are new to the area, and do not know much about these things. We thought the nice people here might have some advice on what remote starter to get and what local Duluth/Superior business is good to install it. We would like to have a remote starter that can start the car from far away, and have it installed by some good people in the area. Does anyone have experience with this? Thanks!

My daughter just turned four in October. She won’t make the cut-off for kindergarten next fall so we’re looking for a preschool to enroll her in next fall. Any recommendations?

Here it is, the annual gallery of local goods, submitted for your holiday shopping approval. If you’re going 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.

Does anyone have any recommendations of where to get a simple professional head shot taken?  I am just looking for a photographer perhaps in downtown Duluth that would do a good job for a fair price.

Is there any Argentinian tango in Duluth? Any classes, clubs or other interested dancers?

I’m curious if anyone has dates of estimated chair-lift openings at area [and by that I mean "day trip"] alpine hills? Lutsen was rumored to open on the 19th of November and Big Powderhorn is scheduled to open the 10th of December.

Any advice on where to look for early-season runs?

I know this is super early (as it’s only the beginning of November), but does anyone know of any Christmas tree farms in the area where you can cut your own tree? I somehow ran out of time last year and had to get a pre-cut one. So I’m getting started early trying to find a cut-your-own farm.

Also, could you include addresses and times/dates open if you know them?

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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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.