Best New Restaurant Nominees
Two weeks ago, we announced Duluth Grill won our poll for Perfect Breakfast Restaurant. Now we’re wondering which restaurant among the newbies you like best.
Before we open the voting, of course, we have to establish a list of nominees. What qualifies as a new restaurant? Well, these are all fairly new:
Shorty’s Pizza and Smoked Meat (Superior; Aug. 2013)
Citys 58th Street Diner (Superior; June 2013)
Canal Park Brewing Co. (Nov. 2012)
7 West Tap House (Oct. 2012)
LeeAnn Chin (Oct. 2012)
Noodles & Company (Sept. 2012)
Pak’s Green Corner (Aug. 2012)
Grizzly’s Wood-fired Grill (Canal Park location; May 2012)
Giant Panda (Feb. 2012)
Oriental House II (Jan. 2012)
Tycoons Alehouse & Eatery (Dec. 2011)
Azteca’s Mexican Grill (Dec. 2011)
Vitta Pizza (June 2011)
What territory are we talking about? Anything in Duluth or 10 miles of its border — so new restaurants in Superior, Hermantown, Proctor and the various bordering townships all qualify; Two Harbors and Cloquet are out of bounds.
So, the only question we’re really asking here: Are there any good nominees we didn’t think to include in the list above?
Graduate Study in the Twin Ports
I am lucky enough to have been declared the director of graduate studies in the Master of Liberal Studies degree at UMD.
It made me think that a guide to local grad programs would be helpful. So I built one. Which programs listed below are you an alumnus from? And what advice might you have for new students?
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DNR moves to formalize changes to Threatened, Endangered and Special Concern lists
The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources is moving to formalize proposed changes to the list of endangered, threatened and concerned species which was last updated in 1996. A media release was sent out today:
Twenty-nine species, including the bald eagle, wolf and snapping turtle, were removed from the list; 180 species of plants and animals were added; 91 species had their status either upgraded or downgraded while remaining on the list. The changes were based on large amounts of new information gathered by DNR and other researchers.
The “bald eagle, wolf, and snapping turtle” reads like a “who’s who” list of beings that are considered sacred to local Native American people. Although I am not aware of any plans for a turtle (Mikinak) hunt the DNR did authorize a highly controversial eastern grey wolf (Maiingan) hunt in 2012. A bald eagle (Migizi) hunt seems unthinkable, but many people would have said the same about a wolf hunt 15 years ago.
Someone at the DNR also thought maybe that it would be a good idea to frame the discussion of endangered species from the perspective of European explorers in the 17th and 18th centuries, rather than focusing on the healthy hunting and land-use practices of the Dakota and Ojibwe people who managed the lands for centuries before the Europeans arrived. You can look it over here while I knock this chip off my shoulder. (Screen grab below)
Source: Updating MN list of endangered, threatened, special concern species
Cultural faux pas aside, I think that some of the most significant changes to the listings are the inclusion of moose, and a large number of fish, plants, and insects to the state’s protected lists. For example, after eyeballing the charts accompanying the release, listings for dragonflies, mosses, lichens and plant-life have increased maybe ten-fold or more since 1996. I’m no biologist by any means, but I think that there may be both good and bad news in this report for environmentalists, hunters, loggers, farmers, and miners. Not that a person couldn’t be more than one (or all) of those things concurrently. But the enormous increase in threatened/endangered/special concern species overall is somewhat alarming to me.
The entire list is here (it is an enormous pdf). A shorter summary is here
This week: scarecrows, metal bands and folk dancing
Here’s a sampling of what you have to look forward to this week on the PDD Calendar.
Monday means International Folk Dancing at Temple Israel. Get your multicultural dance on!
It’s mid-August so why not get started on Halloween? There’s a scarecrow making workshop at Engwall’s this Tuesday. No brains required.
Taste of Duluth-Superior is a fundraiser for the Children’s Museum featuring food from the New Scenic Café, Duluth Grill, Restaurant 301 and other tasty local eateries. It’s at the Northland Country Club on Wednesday.
At Bayfront on Friday and Saturday you can see not KISS, not AC/DC, not Metallica, not Led Zeppelin and a lot of not other bands at Tribute Fest.
The Islamic Center of the Twin Ports is serving up a Middle Eastern Dinner at the UU Church on Saturday.
Hillfest is a big ol’ street party in the heart of the Hillside with live music, games, and local crafts this Sunday.
So what are you doing this week? Can we tag along? Any upcoming events that you want to promote? Let us know.
Dream Dinner
One of my personal favorite things to do in the summer is eat breakfast out on my back porch. There is something primal yet decadent about eating my gardens bounty while listening to the birds talking, watching the random and often unedible berries turn red, gasping as the dragonflies rush past my head on the way to their meal all while perched on my comfortable Menards patio set.
This summer I get to give other people the opportunity to experience my dream dinner. Not in my backyard but at the Food Farm and Birch Point Gardens. Imagine walking around Big gardens and seeing the lush plants and flowers then turning a corner to find a beautiful long white table set with flowers and surreal music playing in the distance. Now here comes my part. I cook you a fabulous meal of four courses, with wine pairings. Each one focusing on the fresh veggies that come from 50 feet behind you. They are creative and often new playful recipes, meant to intrigue you while still tasting the freshness.
We did this last year and they were some on the most magical nights of my summer, and I was actually working! If you are at all interested, let me know. 724-6811
Gluten-free Beer Growlers in Duluth
Can someone clue me in to which of our many local breweries offer anything gluten free? My out of town sister wants to bring a growler or two up north.
Networking, Wine and Cheese
Last night, Kate and I went, as representatives of Wildwoods to the Minnesota Council of Non-Profits Member Appreciation event. (more…)
What does this sign mean?
I realize this might be a dried-up glue-like substance that held some actual sign in place, but I don’t know, maybe this symbol means something to snowmobilers. If not, we might as well make up a meaning for it.
Home cleaning services in Duluth
I’m looking for recommendations for a cleaning person/service in the Chester Park area. I’m leaving for Air Force basic military and technical training in October and will be gone through February. I’d like to make things as easy on my family as possible while I’m gone. Do you use these services or know someone who does? Who do they use and what do they like about them? What kind of household chores are best for them? Would it be laundry, dishes, litterbox, sweeping and mopping? You tell me. Any input would be great!
I’m also looking for someone to clean the carpets before I leave.
Three Bigfoot Boogie passes
I’ve got three tickets to the Bigfoot Boogie that I’m wanting to sell. They are $25 in advance and $30 at the door, and I’m willing to sell them for $20 each. Contact me at adam @ moesewco.com if you’re interested, and we can set something up.
Port City Supply
Duluth’s Cody Paulson has a new photo blog called Port City Supply, which aims to explore Duluth’s curious aesthetic, which Paulson says “falls somewhere between industry and nature.”
Port City Supply on Instagram
Port City Supply on Tumblr
It’s like 50 “Where in Duluth?” posts at once, with some scattered familiar scenery interspersed.
Duluth Stucco Repair
I’m looking for someone to repair stucco cracks on the exterior of my 1924 house. It seems surprising to me that there aren’t more specialists here in Duluth, considering the number of stucco houses. Can anyone recommend a stucco repair person who does quality work?
R.I.P. Westminster Presbyterian Church in West Duluth
Westminster Presbyterian Church demolition is underway at 4441 Grand Avenue in West Duluth. The church was a victim of the Historic Summer Solstice Flood Disaster of 2012, when a culvert beneath the building worked its way into the basement and wrecked the place. The city of Duluth bought it as part of its Hazard Mitigation Assistance Program. The church was built in 1961.
Update: In 2015 Westminster’s congregation moved to a new home at 9030 Beaudry St. in Duluth’s lower Smithville neighborhood.
UMD Makeouts
Yes, there is a Twitter page dedicated to posting photos of University of Minnesota Duluth students making out. It’s called UMD Makeouts, sporting the hashtag @UMD_makeouts.
Predictably, most of the photos are poorly shot. Some of them highlight cute little lovebirds, but more of them fall into the raunchy, drunken or questionably consensual categories.
Activity on UMD Makeouts seems to have dramatically slowed since mid June, either because of summer break or because good taste sometimes prevails over trends.
Cindy Vu wrote a commentary in March about this subject for the Statesman. PDD apologizes for not latching onto this saucy tidbit until five months after it was hot.
State Fair: New excitement, musty history
It’s almost time for the Minnesota State Fair. Idaho Nachos, Deep Fried Olives … Synthetic Ice Rinks … all awesome! Duluthians look at me like I’m nuts when I say I secure a hotel room every year and spend 3-4 days at the fair every year. I used to spend 4-6 days, when I lived in St. Paul. I love the fried food, I love Lililan Colton’s crop art.
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This just in: Red Mountain and Christine Hoberg are into teasing
Above: Teaser for the upcoming Red Mountain album Scowl Lightly.
Below: Teaser for the upcoming Christine Hoberg album World Within.
Both videos are from Duluth-based Lakefront Films.
This week: midways, hikes and twins
Here’s a sampling of what you have to look forward to this week on the PDD Calendar.
Hey! The Huskies made the playoffs! Which means you have one more chance to see them at Wade Stadium tonight!
The Head of the Lakes Fair opens Tuesday at the Head of the Lakes Fairgrounds in Superior and runs through Saturday.
The Bigfoot Boogie music festival is in Lake Nebagamon this weekend, starting on Thursday evening and winding up Sunday with a free pancake breakfast.
A kid friendly adaptation of Shakespeare’s “Comedy of Errors” opens at The Underground Thursday and runs two weekends.
Every Friday in August is Food Truck Friday on Michigan between the Library and the Depot.
Take a hike! There’s a guided 7.4 mile hike on part of the Superior Hiking Trail through Duluth on Saturday.
So what are you doing this week? Can we tag along? Any upcoming events that you want to promote? Let us know.
R.I.P. Gangsta/Ghetto Spur
Well, that was the word that I heard From my brother in a fur hanging out at the Gangsta Spur He said, “it always begins behind The Twins they trade a bottle a gin for night full of sin.” -Giljunko
Tonight is your last chance to patronize the infamous Gangsta/Ghetto Spur. It will soon be razed and a new SA will be built farther back toward the alley.
The GS joins its fallen brethren Johnny Ray’s Pizza, House of Donuts, Members Cooperative Credit Union and others I’m probably forgetting. Share your memories in the comments.
Twin Ports Youth Talent Show
There are a whole lot of talented young people in our community and the upcoming Twin Ports Youth Talent Show is a great way for kids to get involved while friends and family enjoy an evening of live entertainment.
Neighborhood Youth Services and the Music Resource Center are presenting the Twin Ports Youth Talent Show on Monday, Aug. 19. Youth up to age 18 can still register to compete in any of the three categories: preteen, teen or mixed (preteen and teen in same act). Both individual and group performances are allowed. Prizes will be awarded for each category. Limited to first 20 acts. Acts must register by Wednesday, Aug. 14.
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Lake Superior Gator Attack
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hsLk7dArmpU
Many people don’t realize Lake Superior is infested with fearsome man-eating alligators.
Roller Derby Results
Last night, at Hodgins Berardo Arena in Coleraine, on the Iron Range, there was roller derby action.
Grand Rapids, which like Duluth now fields two derby teams (the Attackonites and the Iron Range Maidens), struggled valiantly against the dual powerhouses of Harbor City Roller Dames’ Shipwreckers and Nautikills. Last time, I got tagged by the Dames for talking too much trash (c’mon, I grew up watching wrassling, cut me some slack), and I didn’t even see this bout, so I’ll let someone else do color commentary in the comments. Little help, please?