Month: February 2011
Shaunna Heckman Saturn Return CD Release Concert

With special guests Toby Thomas Churchill and Russian Bride
Friday February 11, 2011
8:00 PM
Sacred Heart Music Center
$5 in advance/ $7 at the door
available online at www.sacredheartmusic.org
Brewhouse beer with ID
“When all is said and done, more is said than done.” – Alan Page
Sure the Packers won (another) super bowl victory tonight. Congratulations, I guess. But hey, for those of us that are Vikings fans, we may not have a gillion Lombardi trophies like Green Bay does, (we don’t have one even, Packer fans will be sure to tell you), but we’ve got something even better than the Packers:
A state supreme court justice. SO there.
Here’s MN Supreme Court Justice and former Viking great Alan Page talking about education, transcending politics, and the importance of strong families last week on MSNBC
“When all is said and done, more is said than done.” – Alan Page (more…)
Quote of the Day
I have this quote framed and hanging on my wall in my den. I found it when I first moved to Duluth. Thought PDD’ers might be interested.
“Sometimes when I become discouraged, I say to myself, I should have gone to another city to seek my fortune. But then I look over these hills and see the natural beauty of our community, I console myself and wonder — where in all the wide world could I find a view like this?” — Samuel Snively
Happy Tet!
A good time was had by all at Saigon Cafe for Vietnamese New Year!
The dinner was served at long tables (a break from the norm), creating a long space in the middle of the restaurant and creating the opportunity to meet new people. And people had come from as far away as Hibbing and Grand Rapids for the feast. Dinner consisted of a wonderful shrimp dish made with fruit, a mixed seafood dish, a beef in a curry sauce, and one of the staples of Vietnamese food, a seasoned meatball (often made of shrimp and pork). Two tasty soups and a salad and a fruit rounded out an excellent buffet-style dinner.
Youngsters played Vietnamese games in the back, and a dragon dance in that newly created space in the middle of the restaurant.
I can’t imagine more fun, and I have a newfound respect for what this small, locally owned business does for our community.
Saigon Cafe Vietnamese Restaurant
114 W. First St.
Duluth, MN 55802
(218) 727-3987
Cooking Classes in Duluth
I am wondering where to look for a community education-type cooking class in Duluth. Any suggestions?
Fire-N-Ice Bowl
Sunday, Feb. 6, from 12-2pm
3727 W. Arrowhead Road. Duluth
Eastridge Community Church will be hosting its first annual Fire-N-Ice Bowl. We will be having a chili cook off (over 15 styles), hot chocolate and other refreshments along with free ice skating at our rink, sledding on the luge, snowshoeing (snowshoes provided by Hartley Nature Center).
All is free and open to the entire community; come on out! It’s February, it’s cold, let’s have some fun.
Debt in Duluth
I was reading a recent DNT article about the Twin Ports credit debt. Mainly, how it’s one of the highest in the country. Just nutty, but got me to thinking about my personal debt and why I have it. What do I have to put on a credit card? Well the creditor changes, but it is always that — a creditor. Cellphone, electric, Charter … they have all had the plastic treatment.
Why does this happen though? I work 60 hours a week, make a living wage … perplexing.
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Spanish For Young Minds in Proctor
We are currently seeking to fill a small group of 3-4 young minds (3 and 4 year olds) for informal Spanish instruction in our home to run for 4 to 6 weeks at which point the venue may switch to a Hermantown location. The idea is to integrate play, activities and normal child behavior with learning a foreign language.
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Hey brewers of the Midwest, we like what you are doing. Keep up the good work.
Surly Abrasive Ale
Double Oat IPA
8.8 percent alcohol by volume
On tap at Beaner’s Central and maybe other places
Bell’s Hopslam Ale
American Double/Imperial I.P.A.
10 percent alcohol by volume
Available in bottles at Beaner’s Central, Zeitgeist Arts Cafe and maybe other places
And congratulations to the amazing Dave Hoops and the folks at Fitger’s Brewhouse. Their Bourbon Barrel Edmund Imperial Stout took first place in the Strong Porter/Stout category at the eighth annual Festival of Wood and Barrel-Aged Beer in Chicago in November.
What are you drinkin’?
Frost/Nixon opens at the Play Ground
Frost/Nixon, starring Jason Page and John Schmidt, runs Feb. 3-5, 10-12 at 7:30pm at the Play Ground in the Tech Village. Tickets at the door are $10.
Loup-Garou and the Medical Underground at Sir Ben’s

Think you’re going to have another uneventful Monday night…nope! Come down to Sir Ben’s and watch some free tunes and enjoy a brew, sandwich, soup, nachos, hummus, or just the atmosphere.
9pm // Free // 21+ after 10pm
Derailed train cars fall from bridge by Duluth’s ore docks
A Canadian National train carrying 17 empty cars derailed while approaching a limestone storage area on a trestle bridge near the Duluth, Missabe and Iron Range Railway Ore Docks this morning.
Two cars fell; one landed upside down, the other landed against a support for the ore docks and sat standing on its end. No one was hurt.
Blithe Spirit by Noel Coward
UMD Theatre presents Blithe Spirit by Noel Coward
February 17-19 & 23-26 @ 7:30 pm
February 20 @ 2 pm
Mainstage Theatre, Marshall Performing Arts Center
Directed by Kate Ufema
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Minnesota Ballet Celebrity Dance Challenge
Thursday, Feb. 10, 7:30 p.m.
Fregeau Auditorium, Marshall School
1215 Rice Lake Road, Duluth
Northland celebs pair with Minnesota Ballet company dancers in this for-fun competition that has the whole Twin Ports speculating and the audience voting for the winning couple. Celebs rehearse for weeks their dance style from kicky swing to Broadway jazz to tap. And while the votes are counted, the Minnesota Ballet presents a lively mini performance.
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Free photo exhibit submissions wanted
Submissions for 4x: A Print Exhibition at the Duluth Photography Institute will be taken until Friday, Feb 4. We have a lot of entries, but we could use even more! Anyone can enter images into the exhibit and there is no charge for submitting! The DPI will be open Thursday evening from 3-7pm and Friday from 3-6pm. Drop off your entries during these times or contact the DPI for more information. For the official “rules,” see duluthphotographyinstitute.com.
UMD Hockey Kiss Kam Videos
Check out the UMD Hockey Kiss Kam videos on YouTube. The channel is updated after every home series for both men’s and women’s hockey games.
Town Hall in Duluth
Duluth area legislators: Sen. Roger Reinert, Rep. Mary Murphy, Rep. Tom Huntley, and Rep. Kerry Gauthier are holding the first of three Town Halls, on Saturday, Feb. 12, from 10 to 11:30 a.m. at Asbury United Methodist Church at 6822 Grand Ave.
The Town Hall will focus on the state budget deficit. All are welcome to attend.
Duluth Electricians
My kitchen is dark, and I don’t like it. I need an electrician. It’s a small job (hopefully). Any recommendations?
Thanks. My underdone chicken thanks you, too.
Gramma’s Boyfriend/Batteries/DJ Kevin Craig — Lake Ave Cafe 2/4/11
Lake Avenue Café is proud to present Minneapolis group Gramma’s Boyfriend, along with Batteries and DJ Kevin Craig, on Friday, Feb. 4. This is the third in the “First Fridays” series of monthly live music events taking place at the cafe.
Gramma’s Boyfriend is a new group from Minneapolis comprised of members from Haley Bonar, Andrew Bird, Happy Apple, and Alpha Consumer, among others. If you don’t know about Batteries or Kevin Craig, well, you better ask somebody. The show starts at 10pm, the cost is $6, and the show is open to ages 21+. Have some fun.
What America Needs: Minneapolis Film Maker at UMD
Tuesday, Feb. 15, 7 p.m.
UMD’s Bohannon Hall 90
Free admission
Minneapolis videographer Mark Wojahn will be presenting his film, What America Needs, and discussing his work following the film.
From the film web-site:
Travelling by train from N.Y.C to L.A, a documentary videographer asks more than 500 people from dozens of different communities:
“What do you think America needs?”
Collectively, their answers relate an unexpected story of hope.
What America Needs invites you to share your thoughts and feelings on our country by participating in our dialogue.
East Hillside Patch seeking director
East Hillside Patch, a nonprofit organization, is seeking a program director.
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Low show
To celebrate the release of C’mon, LOW are hitting the road. Beginning with an intimate show at St David’s Sanctuary at SXSW. Other highlights from the band’s upcoming 28-date run include LOW‘s first headlining show at Barbican in London and a performance at Radio City Music Hall with Explosions in the Sky.
LOW – DULUTH SHOW
Thursday, April 14, 2011
Harbor City School Theatre
Duluth National Bank
Duluth National Bank, now the West End branch of U.S. Bank, was the subject of a “Where in Duluth?” post a month ago, focusing on its burglar alarm. Note that today’s burglar alarm is apparently not the original. It’s rounded at the top, while the one above is flat at the top.
The photo above appears to be circa 1922, which is when the building was built. The bank was founded in 1910, but was located across the avenue from this location.
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