David Beard Posts

The [Food] Game is Fixed

Apr 02, 2011 11 Comments

You have one more week to enjoy Eat Downtown! The Greater Downtown Council-sponsored event, with 19 participating restaurants, is back this year.

The DNT describes the program here.

Kate and I at ate J J Astor — an amazing dinner, including blackberry salad, for me a pressed chicken, for her walleye with grapefruit and bleu cheese salad, for me a chocolate pudding for dessert, for her an orange olive oil cake. Amazing. Also of note: the happy-hour specials at the Astor are at least competitive with other local happy hours. We had never seen the bar added in the remodel before; it (and the whole space) is awesome.

Bellisio’s was awesome both for the company (M., S., and L.) as for the very filling mix of a caprese salad (the highlight of my meal), various pasta dishes, and tasty gelato.

Being a tourist in your own town is sometimes one of the best ways to rediscover your love for it. Try a local restaurant today. And note: some of the restaurants with more modest aims have a “two for twenty” menu in the evenings.


Restaurants

Rollerdames

Apr 02, 2011 3 Comments

It’s Saturday. My wife has a cold, and I get “the look” when I suggest that I might go out and leave her shivering under blankets.

So I’m not at the bout between the Harbor City Rollerdames and whomever they are playing tonight. [It doesn’t matter whom — they will be crushed.]

If you have results, please post here. Go Rollerdames!


Sports

Wildwoods Rehabilitation

Mar 22, 2011 10 Comments

Drum roll!!! Trumpets!!! Wildwoods Rehabilitation is now an official nonprofit organization!!! (Applause!)

About Wildwoods
Wildwoods, a Minnesota nonprofit, is a group of wildlife rehabilitators and volunteers in Duluth. We work to help injured and orphaned animals return to their natural lives. Though we are currently based out of the homes of our individual wildlife rehabilitators, we plan to open a free-standing center in the Duluth area in the next 6-12 months.

We invite you to browse the pictures and stories of the wild animals on YouTube on pffarr’s channel. We are very fortunate to live in such a wild, wonderful corner of the world. Enjoy!

Email
* duluthrehabber @ yahoo.com

Facebook
* http://www.facebook.com/#!/profile.php?id=100001386579814


Random

Tower/Soudan mine appears to be on fire

Mar 19, 2011 1 Comment

The retired mine and active tourist site & research lab at the Tower/Soudan mine appears to be on fire, about a half mile beneath the surface.

Minnesota Brown collects the story.

The DNR has a release here:

“Fire underway in mine shaft at Soudan Underground Mine State Park (Released March 18, 2011)

“Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and the Minnesota Interagency Fire Center (MIFC) are responding to a fire that has been detected inside the mine shaft at Soudan Underground Mine State Park near Tower, Minn. There have been no injuries or loss of life due to the fire. It does not pose a risk to nearby communities or the environment.

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Random

NerdNite VIII

Mar 10, 2011 1 Comment

You don’t need a GPS to find coolness. You do need it to try GeoCaching, one of the awesome events discussed at NerdNite VIII.

We loved all the talks, and we loved learning about a local creative resource. Kudos to all who planned it, and looking forward to the next one! I’d love to know about NerdNite as a movement — I learned a little at nerdnite.com, but want to learn more!


Uncategorized

Annual Requests: Mountain Dew Throwback and Paczki in Duluth

Mar 05, 2011 26 Comments

Fat Tuesday is coming … and yesterday, at Mt. Royal, I found my annual fave, Mountain Dew Throwback.

So, where have you seen the made-with-sugar, not-corn-syrup delight called “Mountain Dew Throwback?” And what other sugar-soda delights are available in Duluth? Last year, I discovered the Mexican Coke at Cub via this thread. I’m open to other, maybe even local? sodas.

And: last year, I discovered that not all Super Ones are the same. The Paczki delights vary from location to location. Last year, the Lakeside Super One was awesomest — best in taste and appearance. But where will I find them this year?

Previous Posts on the Subject:
Annual Food Queries: Throwback; Paczki
Shopping Advice…


Random

Harbor City RollerDames

Feb 15, 2011 1 Comment

See you at the next bout?

2-19-2011 HCRD Hearbreaker’s Brawl (Intraleague) World of Wheels, Superior
From: harborcityrollerdames.com

Harbor City Roller Dames is the Twin Ports’ and Northern Minnesota’s origingal women’s flat-track roller derby league! HCRD provides an opportunity for all women ages 19+ to learn and play the sport of flat track roller derby and participate in the skater-run business aspects of the organization. HCRD strives to maintain a presence of athletic entertainment in the Northland while using the efforts of the league to give back to the local community.

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Random

Lillian’s of Duluth

Feb 11, 2011 No Comments

My wife and I went to Lillian’s on First Street this week. I just recently noticed that something went into the old New Moon location when passing it on the bus, though apparently, they’ve been here since August.

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Recommendations

Happy Tet!

Feb 05, 2011 1 Comment

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


Restaurants

Vietnamese New Year in Duluth

Feb 01, 2011 3 Comments

Am I right in thinking that there’s a Vietnamese New Year celebration in Duluth last week, this week or next week?


Random

Nerd Nite a success

Jan 18, 2011 2 Comments

Congratulations to Nerd Nite, the excellent night out at Teatro Zuccone.

Talks about rock tumbling, Star Wars prop replicas, and astronomy marked the evening as what it could be, at its best: a showcase for the passions of individuals. [If the talk on Fan Fiction fell short, it only fell short because the speaker was talking about someone else’s passions, not her own.] I had no idea the energy and the technique involved in rock tumbling. I had no idea the complexity of recreating (replicating) the props used in the first Star Wars movies. And, well, a bedroom designed so that the Big Dipper can be viewed in 3 dimensions from various other stars in the Galaxy, well, wow.

I enjoyed myself, I met a new person, and I felt the passions of others. What more could I ask for $5 admission and $3 for a bottle of Minnesota-brewed soda pop?

Thanks to the organizers, to the Zuccone for hosting, and to the presenters for a great night out.


Random ,

DTA Applause

Jan 15, 2011 7 Comments

I just realized how awesome the New Year’s changes to the DTA are:

Changes that matter to me:

Route 6: 10:15 p.m. trip added from downtown. Previous schedule: Last bus leaving downtown was 9:15 p.m weekdays.

Route 6: 7:45 p.m., 8:45 p.m., and 9:45 p.m. trips added from downtown. Previous schedule: Last bus from downtown was 6:45 p.m on Saturdays.

Route 7: 8:05 p.m. trip added from downtown. Previous schedule: Last bus from downtown was 7 p.m on Saturdays.

The end result: I can stay at the mall later on the weekends and still get home; I can see a 7 p.m. movie at the DECC on Saturdays and still get home.

Hooray for me. How ’bout you? Check here.


Uncategorized

New Year’s Eve Nerdliness

Dec 30, 2010 7 Comments

Dragon Port Games will have an overnighter to ring in the New Year. Games of all types are available to play for free, and experts will gladly show you how to play something new. They might even let you win.

Kids are welcome with their parents, too; soft drinks and snacks will be available for purchase.

Swing by.

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Events

Duluth Artist Paints Abroad

Dec 30, 2010 No Comments

Ken2

You may recall Ken Marunowski, former UMD faculty member and local artist (who premiered his work locally in an unconventional venue, the gallery space at Chester Creek Books and Antiques, last Spring).

Ken has been painting abroad: France, then South Africa, then France again.

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Art

Duluth Meal Deals and Happy Hours

Dec 25, 2010 15 Comments

I took a lot of heat from friends for always going to Green Mill for Happy Hour. $5 apps that make me think of college, you know.

But it made me think about meal deals around town for happy hour. What do you got?

1. Green Mill, $5 apps
2. Midi: Is this right? Buy one, get one entrees?
3. Blackwater: $5 pizzas? How big are these pizzas?
4. Thai Krathong: All you can eat Pad Thai Tuesday? Does it include beef/shrimp/chicken?
5. Sammy’s Woodland: All you can eat pizza buffet Tuesdays?

and

1. Lunch at Saigon Cafe, buffet for $5.99?

What else can you add to this list? I want to eat out in new and exciting places this week!


Recommendations, Restaurants
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