Recommendations
Critical Mass Bike Parade! (Friday, June 26)
Come join us for a casual bike ride through downtown Duluth, Canal Park, and wherever else our wheels may take us to celebrate cycling, promote sustainable transport, and take back the streets from automobiles’ boring and destructive business-as-usual.
Critical Mass is a leaderless ride that happens in cities throughout the world on the last Friday of each month. Everyone is welcome to attend and participate! Come dressed up in costume, birng noisemakers, decorate your bike! (this is a parade of sorts)
In Duluth we meet at Leif Erickson Park by Leif’s statue at 5:30pm. After the ride, riders tend to congregate and socialize in a public area, whether it is Leif Erickson, Lake and Superior St, etc. Food Not Bombs will provide free food.
Hope to see you this Friday!
Duluth Farmer’s Market
The Duluth Farmer’s Market is open for the season and welcomes all new visitors. Located at 14th Ave. E and 3rd Street, the local farmers and gatherers rise early … 7:00 a.m.-12:00 Wednesdays and Saturdays throughout the summer to sell their goods. For sale recently are prospering perennials, adorable annuals, fabulous flower arrangements, jammin’ jellies, special shrubbery, heavenly herbs, early various fruits and vegetables(plants and produce). In addition to farm producers, the market is home to creative crafters, a chocolatiers, card makers, bee keepers, bakers, wild ricers, maple syrup folks, weavers, cheese and candle stick makers. Besides, a good time for all is always had at the market! Hope to see you there!
Talk with Galileo
Tuesday, June 23 at 5:30 p.m.
Galileo at 400: Arrowhead Astronomical Society tour and talk
Duluth Art Institute
FREE
400 years ago Galileo Galilei peered through a small tube and dramatically changed the way we understand our place in the world(s). Join Eric Norland in the Duluth Art Institute Galleries as he guides us through planetary photographs that Galileo could only dream about. A representative from the Arrowhead Astronomical Society will also be on hand to answer questions and discuss this important anniversary.
Rolling Ruts: Inexpensive Golf Just Outside Duluth
If you aren’t particularly good at, or enthusiastic about, golf it’s hard to justify paying about $17 for nine holes, plus another $9 to rent clubs (especially if you’re paying for the whole family.)
Rolling Ruts offers the answer to casual golfers’ prayers. It’s basically free. (more…)
Guys and Dolls Jr. at the Duluth Playhouse
The Duluth Playhouse presents “Guys and Dolls Jr.,” an evening of song, dance and fun for families! You remember the song “Luck Be a Lady,” right? Well, this is that show! It’s presented by the children’s theater summer intensive camp on the playhouse’s main stage, and the cast is all kids.
Thursday & Friday, June 25-26 at 7 p.m.;
Saturday, June 27 at 1 p.m. and 4 p.m.;
Sunday, June 28 at 2 p.m.
Tickets: call 218-733-7555 or visit www.duluthplayhouse.org.
Students: $7 Adults: $9
Only five shows!
Father’s Day
Some father’s day notes …
I read this great book (above) to my daughter at the dentist’s office yesterday. Working with fathers for my “real” job, I notice these things like how medical offices are decorated and set up, many are very friendly to mothers (great), but some are a little daunting for dads (too bad). It’s wonderful that in addition to providing great quality and accessible health care, the Lake Superior Community Health Center also makes an extra little effort like this to make dads feel comfortable and welcome at their kids’ appointments.
I read a lot of books for kids and adults about dads, this book was really great I had never seen it before. I think it would make a good father’s day gift for a dad of school age kids, or one who appreciates crafty art like Steve Jenkins’ paper cut images in the book ….
Looking for an apartment
If anyone knows of a one-bedroom apartment for rent for either July (preferably) or August please give me a heads up. A decent efficiency or studio would work too. Looking for something east of 6th. Ave. E. $400-600. N/S, no pets OK.
Thanks!
kokes
Author? Author?
As you may all know David Sedaris was in town last night promoting the soft-cover release of his latest book When You Are Engulfed in Flames. I had the honor of playing tunes for the waiting crowd which finally wound down at 1 a.m.. I don’t imagine there are any authors that stick around until every last book is signed but he sure did. I could have left early but I was hoping to have him record a promo for my radio show, which he did! I also recorded the show on my phone for those of you who didn’t make it out. It is in 5 parts and may be downloaded below.
Thanks again Mr. Sedaris and I apologize for the photo I snapped of you. It was taken before I found out they were not allowed.
Caroline Smith & the Good Night Sleeps
Performing at Beaner’s Central on Friday, June 12, at 8 p.m.
Listen to songs from their debut album Backyard Tent Set at https://www.myspace.com/carolinesmithmusic.
(I particularly dig the track “Clinch My Teeth.”)
Any Motorcycle Junkyards near Duluth?
Does anyone know of a junkyard near Duluth which has lots of old Honda motorcycles in it?
Twig Renaissance Festival, June 13-14
The Olde World Renaissance Faire is next weekend, June 13 & 14. If you’ve never been, take some time to go. It’s great fun!
Straight Lake State Park
If you ever wanted to see a state park before it’s a state park, here’s your chance. Straight Lake State Park is about two and a half hours away from Duluth, near Luck, Wisconsin.
It is, legally, already a state park, but don’t look for big brown road signs to help you find it. The tiny yellow marker pictured above is all I found. (And when I asked people at a convenience store a few miles away for directions, the best advice I could get was “try asking at the library.”)
There’s an old ATV trail that runs through it (can’t drive those in there anymore) but otherwise there are not really any established trails, maps, parking spots, campsites, ranger stations, etc. (There are little flags here and there that show where some of those things might go some day.)
It is quite a nice lake, so I do recommend it. I wouldn’t say you should drive the 120+ miles from Duluth for this single purpose, but if you’re in the area, check it out.
Good place to buy a used canoe?
I’m thinking about buying a canoe and would like your advice on the best local places. A used canoe would be perfectly fine as long as it is not going to leak. I’ve heard some of the outfitters up by the boundary waters sell used canoes from time to time but don’t know where or when to look for these sales. Any recommendations about places to avoid would be welcome too.
Save the Date: Father’s Day at the Zoo
Boyz II Dadz 9th Annual Father’s Day at the Zoo
First 200 through the gates are free. Free Train Rides. Free Face Painting. Free Family Snapshots. Much more.
Rain or Shine. Everyone Welcome.
Kako Foundation Benefit
Perhaps you saw the article in the DNT a year ago about Rudy Perrault’s 16 year old cousin, Kako, who was brutally murdered in Haiti, after being kidnapped after school on his way to his grandmother’s house. The silver lining to this heinous act, is the KAKO Foundation, a music education program that has already begun in Haiti, with plans to eventually be established in the Twin Ports. The 2nd Annual Haiti Worthy Cause Concert will celebrate this emerging Foundation with great music and food – and, will celebrate Kako, a beacon for us all.
Sunday May 1, Chester Park United Methodist Church
3 PM, Program
4:30 PM Haitian Dinner
Monkey with a Tool Belt Day
According to today’s Duluth Tribune, today is the second annual Monkey with a Tool Belt day (there was a first?).
Local author/artist/target of much local adoration Chris Monroe will be at Marshall Hardware today signing copies of her book. Apparently there will be hot dogs, root beer, and prizes. It’s unknown if any monkeys will be there.
Oh Hell Yeah!
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WjdyjL0dbG8&feature=player_embedded
Park Point here I come. I think we need to have a wearable towel pub crawl this summer, order yours now!
Pomp and (Impressive) Circumstance
I spend a lot of time on what I affectionately call “the dark underbelly of Duluth.” That is, around people in really rough circumstances with tough, long odds against them. As soon as I post this, I am headed up to the Arrowhead Juvenile Center, to spend some time with young dads up there, for example. But one thing that circumstances can’t extinguish is hope. It will live on even against the greatest odds, I’ve seen it happen over and over again and I’m convinced that it’s true.
Come Sail Away
…from the ordinary this summer!
Vintage Veil Wrap and Bellydance Class
Learn the beautiful art of vintage orientale bellydance from Brea Morgiane, recently the featured instructor on Royal Caribbean’s Freedom of the Seas!
Male and female students and all levels of experience accepted.
Tuesdays, begins first week of June
7 PM
$42 per month
Elite Dance Studio
(218) 723-1337
Mark your calendars
I’ve decided that this weekend will be the weekend to switch from manhattans to gin and tonics.
Public Restrooms
I used the women’s bathroom at ShopKo yesterday and it was the most disgusting experience I have had in a long time. Of all the stalls, there was only one that was both “clean” and lockable. There was neither soap nor towels at the sinks. Nasty. Which public restrooms do you avoid?
Duluth Papermaking
My fiance and I are looking to be married in August and are currently searching for recycled (hopefully seeded) paper for our invites. I have hunted around on the net, and got a few numbers, but I felt it would be good if we went with someone local. Does anyone around the area make paper or know someone who does? We have less than two weeks to come up with something before we’d like to have them printed, so the sooner the better. I actually tried making some paper last night, it worked out well, but I just don’t have enough time to get them all done. Let me know if you or anyone you know would be interested!
UMD Farmers Market Starts Next Week!
UMD Farmers Market Starts May 20!
May 20~September 30
EVERY WEDNESDAY 2:00-4:30
UMD Kirby Plaza Bus Hub
LOCAL Produce, Music and Artisans!
Contact:
Leah Nelson
218.940.2138
Ride the Bus or Park for FREE!
Campus Map: https://www.d.umn.edu/parking/lots.html
What you might find at the Market:
· Fruits and Berries
· Vegetables
· Flowers
· Maple syrup
· Baked goods
· Transplants
· Herbs and Spices
· Much more!
· ALL LOCAL!
Uses for the Honking Tree
Mayor Bolen of Two Harbors will be convening a public meeting tonight at 6 p.m. at the Two Harbor Community Center to discuss ideas for using the remains of the Honking Tree.
Suggestions?
$25 for priceless
Jay Cooke Park 5.03.09
Took the kiddies out to Jay Cooke Park yesterday. Including the newest gosling on his first ever trip to nature.