Special K Posts

What the heck is that thing?

Here’s something I always wonder about when I see it, but then immediately forget: Across from the cemetery on Highland Street there is a series of roofs built on the ground in a field, enclosed by a fence.

A cursory search on PDD and Google revealed no answers about its purpose. It’s probably capping something boring like an old dump or the sewer, but I remain curious.

So, does anyone know what it is?
 

Perfect Duluth Easter Brunch?

So, being of a mindset that doesn’t lean particularly religious, the wife and I tend to sleep in on Easter Sunday. I had always been under the impression that Easter brunch was sort of a big thing, so a few years back we ventured out seeking a leisurely breakfast/lunch combo with bloodies and mimosas, only to discover all the usual downtown brunch suspects were closed!

We probably gave up a bit too early in our search since we ended up at the bar at Tycoons, but there were surprisingly few open places. To save me from that situation again, what does PDD suggest as the best place in the area to get a proper Easter brunch?

Toasty’s is coming to Downtown

Walking along Superior Street today I noticed several Toasty’s menus conspicuously leaning in the window of the former Farley’s (among others) location.

A quick Facebook search reveals a post which includes:

“Here is a sneak peek of Toasty’s Sandwich Shop.  Located downtown on Superior Street.  Scheduled to open Fall of 2015”

Will Toasty’s succeed where so many others have failed?  Is the location in fact cursed?  What caused the most recent downfall of Farley’s?  Discuss!

Downtown Duluth meter hours

OK, did I miss a memo or something? When the hell did the downtown meter enforcement time get extended to 9 o’clock? And who thought that was a good idea when we’re trying to get people downtown to frequent shops and restaurants?

Chinese Lantern Restaurant Fire of 1994


(Duluth News Tribune photo of Jan. 16, 1994, Chinese Lantern fire)

Back in the 1980s we lived in Silver Bay, and my parents used to make special trips down to Duluth just to go to this place. Now they drive up from the cities to visit and we’ll take them out to eat at many of the fine restaurants we have, and they’ll always comment about how great the Chinese Lantern was and how there’s nothing else like it. Even when my wife worked at the Duluth Athletic Club, before the flooding closed it, she would always hear comments like, “This place is great, but it’s no Chinese Lantern.”

So what was it about that place that people still lament its passing 20 years later?