Looking for good handyperson
Have you ever had a section of ceiling fall into your guest bedroom due to water leaking around the bathroom toilet flange and into the subflooring? The Ramos family has! Last night! As the picture shows, I have already fixed the problem. Nevertheless, certain members of the household are insisting on something more.
As such, we are looking for a good, bonded, insured carpenter or handyperson to make the necessary repairs. Price is important, but honesty and dependability are more so. Does anybody have any suggestions?
This week: Jeremy Messersmith, an airplane show, the 4onthefloor, and more
Wednesday, March 21
Celebrate the Equinox at Chester Creek Cafe with a set vegetarian meal and music by Nikki and the Ruemates. Support a good cause and listen to some talented women at the same time at the Twin Ports Female Acoustic Show.
Friday, March 23
Minneapolis musician Jeremy Messersmith plays at Tycoon’s. Dink Tank at the Movies takes on The Happening Friday and Saturday. Rabble rousers, the 4onthefloor and Big Wave Dave and the Ripples take the stage at R.T.’s.
Saturday, March 24
Folk singer Dar Williams plays at Sacred Heart. The Duluth Radio Controlled Club will host a Radio Controlled Airplane Show and answer questions in the Miller Hill Mall. Eight writers create eight one-act plays overnight and premiere them at The One Day Chicken Hat Plays at Harbor City International School.
Keep checking the PDD Calendar for all your Duluth event needs.
Millinery Classes? Learn to make hats?
I’m gauging interest in the notion (ha!*) of teaching some small classes in millinery — that is, traditional hat-making. Not so traditional that you knit and then felt, but rather the kind that leads to possibly a fedora, but with many other shapes and options.
If I find that there is interest, I will go forth and find an appropriately sized space. You can see my work at moesewco.com, which I just mentioned in another post on a mostly unrelated subject, so please bear with me.
* A notion is a sewing item that is not fabric or thread — like buttons or scissors.
Question for Local History Buffs
On behalf of four 8th grade boys that I am assisting with National History Day projects I am seeking assistance from anyone who could point them in the right direction. Two boys are making a short ten-minute documentary about the Civilian Conservation Corps in this area and the other two boys are making an exhibit about the Duluth Canal. They are looking for additional pictures for their projects and anyone who may be available for an interview or to answer questions. Please reply here if you can offer any help and I will pass your e-mail information along to the students. If you have any tips for them I could pass on it would also be appreciated as well. They are very motivated and competing to represent our area at the national competition in Washington DC this June.
fountainheadmn @ yahoo.com
Connolly’s Tom & Jerry Batter returns!
Coming soon to a store near you fall 2012! New manufacturer: Connolly’s, LLC.
Fierce loyalty, initial aloofness.
This article reminded me of several posts on PDD over the years about newcomers having a difficult time establishing social circles in Duluth…
Minnesota Nice, explained
A lot of it hit close to home for me (even though I grew up & live across the border in Wisconsin, so I guess I’m not technically “Minnesota nice”), like the following:
In a nutshell, the state’s settlers from northern or central Europe — primarily Germany and Scandinavia — had a profound impact on how the social culture here developed, McKnight contends.
“The traditional culture of Norway/Sweden was for centuries based on the concept of One People, One Language, One Religion,” McKnight writes. “Swedes’ lifelong friends were chosen from among people they went to school with and their kinship group. An individual made friends slowly, but they were friends for life — in the true sense of the term ‘for life.'”
Anyone who has lived in Scandinavia, as McKnight did for years, knows that “it’s somewhat hard to get an ‘in’ there,” he said. But once the friendship is established, “all barriers to communication break down and there results a torrent of friendship, expressions of sincerity, and even personal confidences.”
The article’s part of an MPR series which you can read over here.
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Eat Downtown!
Kate and I have been Eating Downtown lately, part of the annual promotion of downtown restaurants. (more…)
A plea
Donald Pridemore, Wisconsin Legislator, Says Single Parenting Leads To Abuse
I am starting to lie when people ask me where I grew up because of shit like this. If you aren’t aware, Wisconsin State Senator Glenn Grotham, along with Wisconsin State Representative Donald Pridemore, both Republicans, sponsored a bill in the Wisconsin Legislature that would mandate the state Child Abuse Prevention Board conduct public awareness campaigns emphasizing that single parenthood is a leading cause of child abuse.
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The Rathskeller at Tycoons Alehouse
The Rathskeller, located in the sub-basement of the new Tycoons Alehouse and Eatery, opens Thursday, March 15.
This week is the official grand opening at Tycoons, which opened on New Year’s Eve. The Duluth Area Chamber of Commerce is performing an official Happy Hour Ribbon Cutting Ceremony on Thursday at 4 p.m., which will mark the opening of the Rathskeller. Tycoons is also introducing a new lunch menu this week. Check out Tycoons events on the PDD Calendar for grand opening hoopla and more.
Minnesota All Hockey-Hair Team 2012
Duluth high-school hockey players did better than ever this year, with the Marshall Hilltoppers taking first place as a team!
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Learning to Sew
My wife is looking for the best way to learn to sew — nothing in the community ed calendar for this semester, but maybe for the future?
What other ideas might you suggest?
Tour Duluth: One tired guy’s report
Did anyone else participate in Tour Duluth this weekend? Saturday was the last glorious day of the cross country ski season in Duluth, and the timing was excellent for the annual event sponsored by the Duluth Cross Country Ski Club.
Not to toot my own horn, but…here’s my little brag piece.
Reduced Parking Access to Lakewalk?
For the second time in as many weeks, I attempted to park near the Beacon Point Condos only to find parking severely restricted. Why do I feel like I’ve been taken in a give an inch, take a foot situation? It was bad enough the city permitted Beacon Point in the first place, but it was allowed under the premise that we’d all still have the same access to the area and so on. But I’m left feeling like an Apache who was told his reservation needs to be moved, and oh yeah, now it’s smaller too.
I’m not a native of Duluth. I moved here specifically for the availability of public land, parks, trails, etc. A piece of our freedom has been diminished, if anyone else cares. The big property taxes paid by the owners of Beacon Point appear to have swayed the local parking bureaucrats into closing the parking lot gate over the stormwater tank. Am I missing something here? Runners, walkers, and anyone else should have a fair opportunity to park in this area.
Local photojournalists film animal abuse in the South
Two local photojournalists are filming a documentary on animal cruelty in the South and the people working to change the culture there. David Cowardin and Joe Olivieri spent two weeks in the gritty areas of rural Alabama and are hoping to return for more footage and interviews. They launched a Kickstarter to raise funds for another tour South. You can donate here.
If their trip is funded, they would like to rescue a dog and find it a better home in Duluth. Anyone interested in adopting a pet can contact David at 320-290-0877 or cowar006 @ d.umn.edu. The adopter would only be responsible for the adoption fee.
This week: St. Patrick’s Day, Ides of March, Les Miserables, and more
Tuesday, March13
Nerd Nite is back at the Teatro with topics ranging from My Little Pony to calculating Easter.
Thursday, March 15
Les Miserables opens at the Duluth Playhouse and runs until the 25th. Some of the area’s best chefs are coming together to kill you at the Death by Chocolate event at Greysolon which will raise money for Arc Northland.
Friday, March 16
Luce gets taken over by local bands covering various other bands tonight and tomorrow with The Ides of March. Respect Your Old Man Poetry Slam will feature music, food, a silent auction, and poetry (obviously).
Saturday, March 17
Get your Irish on at one or more events going on around town tonight. R.T.’s is hosting a St. Paddy’s Day Meltdown with Cars & Trucks, the Acceleratii and Equal Xchange. Listen to traditional Irish music at Clyde with McInnis’ Kitchen and more. Duhb Linn Irish Pub has a plethora of Emerald Isle events including music, a buffet (today and tomorrow) featuring Irish cuisine, a mashed potato eating contest, green beer, and the unveiling of a new microbrew.
As always, keep checking the PDD Calendar for rad goings on around the Twin Ports area.
Duck boat tours in Duluth
Does anyone think army duck-boat tours would make it in Duluth?. They can go on land and water. It’s a big success in Wisconsin Dells, Chicago, Boston and other cities. I’m looking for opinions and possible investors.
A Floating Rock in Lake Superior
I wish I’d gotten more footage for an even better view of this typically quirky Duluth sight. But I had to wade in to get this and I froze my ass off doing it, so this is what you get.
What’s the deal with those horns?
If you scroll through this slideshow displaying statues of Leif Erikson you will notice Duluth’s statue has something most of the other statues don’t have. Go ahead, I’ll wait …
So, did you notice? If you read the headline you already know what it is: horns. What’s more, if you read this article by UMD journalist Madiha Mirza, you will learn that Duluthian Stefan Guttormsson, president-elect of the Icelandic American Association of Minnesota, believes our statue should not have horns.
Of course, if that’s true, does it also mean the Minnesota Vikings’ logo is, um, wrong?
Homegrown 2012 Schedule
The link says it all: “For those that can’t contain their Homegrown excitement … here is a sneak peak at what Homegrown 2012 is looking like so far:”
Looking to pan out to be one helluva week. Get your vacation requests in now, folks!
Obscure Duluth Logomania
Nicole Meyer came up with the creative project of making a logo for every lake in Minnesota. At one logo every day, she figures it will take her 27 years to finish.
In the spirit of that, it might be interesting to see what kind of logos Duluthians could come up with for places like Goat Hill or Casket Quarry.
So here’s an open invitation to consider your favorite people, places and things in Duluth that no one would ever consider commissioning a logo for, and make one. How about a logo for “The Path” – the place across the street from Morgan Park Middle School where kids go to smoke? For the zip code 55812? For Restormel Street? Pick your favorite noun and go for it. The more obscure the better. Upload them to the comments of this post.
This is not a competition, it is only an exhibition. Please refrain from using the word “branding” at any point. That word makes everyone sick.
2012 Minnesota State High School Hockey Tournament Schedule Brackets
The Minnesota State High School Hockey tournament is starting today. The Duluth area has three teams competing this year — Duluth East Greyhounds in class AA, Hermantown Hawks and Marshall Hilltoppers in class A. Below is the schedules for both brackets. Good luck boys!
Does anyone have any good Minnesota State High School Hockey Tourney stories? From what I “remember” it was pretty crazy when I went.
MN State Hockey Class AA Live Bracket Click Here
MN State Hockey Class A Live Bracket Click Here
“The Raggedy Hat of John Henry”
New song by local musician Teague Alexy from his upcoming album, This Dance, available April 17.