Motorcycle recommendations

I’m looking into buying a motorcycle after several years of not riding. I think that a bike between 650 and 1000cc would be big enough. I have been looking at cruisers such as Yamaha V Stars, Kawasaki Vulcan and Honda Shadows and other similar bikes. I have a budget of about 3000. Any recommendations on a reliable comfortable use bike? There are so many more styles and makes since I rode last, it’s overwhelming. Thanks

Recommendations

The Moon is Down – “This Machine” EP

The Automaton Records Media Conglomerate and the Moon is Down are both very proud to announce the release of a new EP. This Machine contains 7 songs and was recorded, mixed, mastered, and manufactured all over the past month in Lakeside. Bam! Duluth proud, y’all! (more…)

MusicAlbum ReleasesAutomaton Records Media ConglomerateThe Moon is Down
Fond-du-Luth Casino: Wednesday Top it Off
Downtown Duluth: Movies in the Park

Lutsen Mountain Meltdown

Where are all the avid Lutsen shredders at?  Upon moving to the Duluth area a few years ago I had my first Lutsen Mountain experience in 2009.  I was so disappointed that I had NEVER been there.  We are so fortunate to have snowboarding/skiing of that quality only a short drive away, especially because you get to look at the beautiful Lake Superior while doing so, which is also possible in Duluth, but up there you don’t have the industrial eye-sore.
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RecommendationsSportsSkiing and Snowboarding

Is this you? Then we want you on film!

I am making a mini-documentary about people who live in the Twin Ports but do not drive a car. The goal of this project is to tell the people’s story about the other side of transportation. If you rely on walking, bicycling, or taking the bus, I’d love to interview you! I’m particularly interested in interviewing seniors, parents with kids, students, and ethnic minorities who get by without an automobile. I would also like to do one interview with a professional in economics or geology to discuss the future of energy.

I’m free almost every afternoon, and my schedule is pretty flexible. Just email me when and where you’d like to be interviewed, and let your voice be heard! My email is: [email protected]

News and Current Affairs
Fond-du-Luth Casino: Wednesday Top it Off
Pier B Resort: Courtside Concerts

Let’s make AltaVista a verb

What if, in an effort to show the world that we are sore losers, everyone in Duluth stops using Google and instead starts using the search engine AltaVista? I was able to find AltaVista quickly by doing a Google search and was pleased to find it still exists. I remember using it after my modem finished dialing up.

I tested it out by typing in “perfect duluth day” and found this site was the first result… below something called Benjamin Franklin Plumbing.

In your face, Google! The mayor can change the name of his kid to AltaVista, though his friends will just call him “Alt.” And, yes, I did steal this idea from a crappy weeknight sit-com.

Random

Are you thirsty?

“Are you thirsty” for a performance by In the Heart of the Beast (HOTB)?

Great Lakes Aquarium will present puppet show performances of “Are you thirsty?” by Minneapolis-based HOTB’s puppet and mask theatre.  Celebrate Earth Day on April 22-23 with this performance, which explores  issues involving a glass of water.
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ArtEventsCHUMGreat Lakes Aquarium
Pier B Resort: Courtside Concerts

Record Store Day, yo!

Oh man, it’s almost here! Saturday, April 16, is Record Store Day, ya’ll! There will be some super sweet limited edition vinyl for sale, as well as snacks from Pizza Luce & live music from local rockers Dirty Horse at 1pm. Giveaways & drawings will also be happening throughout the day with all kinds of sweet prizes. Stop by & celebrate with your favorite local record store!

EventsMusic

Bike Swap this weekend

One final reminder that the 5th Annual United Way Bike Swap is this weekend, rain or shine or snow.  If you are selling a bike, bring it to Continental Ski & Bike (1305 E 1st St) tomorrow, April 15, between 9 a.m. and 7 p.m, or Saturday morning between 8 and 9:45 a.m..  The sale runs Saturday, April 16 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday, April 17 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.  The event is a fundraiser for United Way of Greater Duluth.  More details can be found on our Facebook page.  We hope to see you there!

Events
Downtown Duluth: Movies in the Park
Barrel Room Smokehouse

Fukushima’s Potential Fallout for North America

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aGonec787ME&feature=player_embedded

This is from the Norwegian Institute for Air Research for April 14 through 18. You can adjust the model to run for radioactive Iodine, Cessium, etc. Here. There is no “safe” dose of radiation, according to Dr. Helen Caldicott

News and Current Affairs

April 20 at Legacy Glassworks

Live music all day, free, all ages.

11 AM: The Crunchy Bunch
12 PM: DJ AfterDeath
1 PM: Remote Viewfinder
2 PM: J. Peach
3 PM: Kenesis
4 PM: The Tico Three
5 PM: DJ Epistêmê
6 PM: The Good Colonels
7 PM: Pennies for a Dime
8 PM: House of Doughnuts

EventsMusic
Weis Eye Center
Grandma\'s YAF Wednesday Races

New Park Point Sand Bar

Has anyone noticed the new Park Point Sand Bar? (as I am calling it.) It was created by the the strong 50-60 mph winds a few weeks ago on The Lake side of PP. Very interesting. It will be interesting to see if it becomes a permanent or is a temporary fixture.

RandomLake Superior Park Point Sand Bar

First Tick Post of the Year – 2011 Edition

I found one by my dog’s ear yesterday. Here we go again!

Past first tick of the year posts:
March 29, 2010
May 8, 2009
June 8, 2008
May 11, 2007
June 6, 2005

OutdoorsBitchingCreepyTicks
Barrel Room Smokehouse
Downtown Duluth: Movies in the Park

Cool Irish anti-bullying ad

Videos

Earth Day Arts Festival on April 16 at Washington Studios

Washington Studios Artists’ Co-op is hosting an Earth Day themed Arts Festival, which will feature an entire day’s worth of local entertainment and a member’s exhibit in the Washington Gallery. Handmade art and crafts varying from hand blown glass and jewelry to crocheted hats will be for sale from 11 am – 5 pm. The event coincides with Duluth’s 21st Annual Art for Earth Day Gallery Hop, which offers a free trolley service running between thirteen Duluth galleries.
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ArtEventsMusic
Ashwabay Alliance / Big Top Chautauqua
Weis Eye Center

Not so sweet

To bank tellers, store clerks and post-office-counter workers:

Don’t ask my children if they want candy. And while you’re at it, and even though it’s far more appropriate, don’t ask me, in front of the children, whether they may have candy.

If it were 1931 and candy were a rare treat I couldn’t afford, it might be cool to get free candy. But candy is cheap, and my children don’t need more.

My children are not deprived of sweets. We have baskets full of Easter candy, stockings full at Christmas, Valentine’s candy, birthday treats, and fat pillowcases at Halloween. I realize that another lollipop isn’t going to tip the scales. But the 13 grams of sugar and Red No. 40 aren’t the only issues; it’s also about the message it sends.

When my 6-year-old daughter slammed the minivan door on her fingers, and I took her to urgent care, I thanked the receptionist who asked me whether she could have a lollipop, and I gladly accepted. But when the children’s only accomplishment is standing in line to watch their mother buy stamps, they don’t need a treat for that. I don’t want them thinking that candy is something you eat all the time. I don’t want them eating treats that, seconds ago, they were fine without, but now that it has fallen in their laps, they suddenly want.

Candy-givers, I know you mean well. But you risk taking well-behaved, happy children and turning them into crabby children on a sugar rush, or discontented children who feel like they’re missing out because mom said no to the free sugar.

The ubiquitous candy bowls and offers of treats are wearing on me. Please, make it stop.

Bitching

Fox Farm > Lake County Demo Forest

I’m trying to trail it this weekend. There are a couple of sections between here and Two Harbors that I want to tackle. My usual crew has other obligations. Looking for a #2 to cruise up Friday afternoon (4-4:30ish) and come back early Sunday afternoon.

I’m completely self sufficient, pretty serious about it type backpacker. I like to get out and bang out a few miles to get the blood going.

Anyone want to hit it with me? The weather looks iffy, but that’s why we have Merino wool and Gore-Tex, right?

Outdoors
Pier B Resort: Courtside Concerts
Downtown Duluth: Movies in the Park

So geeky … yet so cool.

One day, Duluth’s Alan Sparhawk and Mimi Parker of Low are at Geek Prom; four days later they are doing about the coolest thing imaginable, hanging out with Led Zeppelin’s Robert Plant. Perhaps the line between geeky and cool has now been blurred beyond all recognition.

MusicGeek PromGeeky

The Minnesota Pint Law – HF 703

Fiteger BrewhouseToday the House Commerce committee endorsed HF 703 (aka The Minnesota Pint Law …or Surly bill, if you prefer), the bill allowing Minnesota breweries to sell pints of their own beer. There is still a ways to go before it becomes law, but the bill will continue through the legislative process. Surly Brewing says, “Thanks to the committee members for their support, and also to all of you for getting behind this bill and moving it forward.”

More Info Here: https://mnpintlaw.com/

News and Current AffairsBeer and BreweriesMedia
Fond-du-Luth Casino: Wednesday Top it Off
Pier B Resort: Courtside Concerts

Record Store Day in Duluth

This Saturday marks the third annual National Record Store Day. New and old releases from bands such as AC/DC, the Akron Family, Blitzen Trapper, Built to Spill, Eric Clapton, the Decemberists, Fleetwood Mac, Mumford and Sons, Roy Orbison and many many others will be available (mostly on vinyl).

The Electric Fetus will host the all day event here in Duluth, and will have refreshments from Pizza Luce as well as other beverages and snacks while supplies last. A live music set from Dirty Horse will begin around 1 p.m. See you at the record store!

MusicRecord Stores

Resume Critique at WorkForce Center

On Tuesday, April 19, from 1:30-3 there will be a workshop featuring three local Human Resources professionals in addition to WorkForce Center staff available to critique resumes for job seekers and to answer questions about interviewing. The class is free and open to anyone interested in attending. The WorkForce Center is located on the second floor of the Government Services Building, 320 W. Second St., Duluth. The class will be held in room 208 and you can sign up by calling the front desk at 218-723-4730.

EventsEmploymentjobs
Pier B Resort: Courtside Concerts

Submit your NCAA Championship Photos!

We know where the UMD Mens Hockey team was when they won the NCAA Championship title but where were you? Submit your photos and stories to [email protected] to be published tomorrow Thursday, April 13 on www.lakevoicenews.org.

LakeVoice News is a weekly online publication produced by UMD journalism students. The stories are reported on and written by students, but the content is for the community. If you have a story idea or would like to submit photos you can email us at [email protected].

PhotosRandomSportsBulldogsHockeyLake Voice NewsNCAAUMD

Twin Ports Take Back the Night 2011

Join us April 21 at the Washington Center (310 N. First Ave. W.) in Duluth for a rally and march in support of ending violence against women!

Pre-march rally begins at 5pm. Enjoy food, entertainment and get information and resources!

March begins at 7pm … Speak out for survivors to follow.

EventsSexual Assault Awareness Month
Vision Pro: Clear Vision

Dropping Today!

Homegrown Field Guides drop today. If you’re interested in helping distribute, contact Kyle at: volunteer [dot] homegrown [at] gmail [dot] com.

EventsMusic

Breakfast in Duluth: Comparing the diners

There are many great places to have breakfast in Duluth, but only a handful fall into the true breakfast diner category. Barrett Chase and Paul Lundgren set out to compare them all and report their findings on Perfect Duluth Day, so readers can admire their astute observations and compliment them publicly, without the briefest passing thought of contradicting any of the information presented.
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RestaurantsBreakfast in DuluthJim's Hamburgers
Barrel Room Smokehouse
Fond-du-Luth Casino: Wednesday Top it Off

Low – “Try to Sleep” featuring John Stamos

[Previously on PDD: Low and Uncle Jesse?]

MusicVideosLow