JJ Astor Liked by MNMO blogger & goodie Dara Moskowitz Grumdahl

Go Ryan!

Minnesota Monthly review of Duluth’s JJ Astor restaurant:
Room with a View

Lost Dog in West Duluth – Sugar

Contact Tom @ 218-349-0514 if you have any info on the whereabouts of Sugar.

Lost Dog - Dec 1st - Sugar

Challenged Ballots in Minnesota

Here’s an afternoon killer: Take a look at the challenged ballots in the Minnesota governor’s race recount.

(The three above are from Aitkin County.)

Cities Never Sleep CD Release Party!

Thursday, Dec. 2, Cities Never Sleep releases its new full-length album at Grandma’s Sports Garden! Other bands are featured and house DJs the Crunchy Bunch. Come rock and roll!

Great new shopping experience!

Went to the rollout of the new Art in the Alley gallery in Superior last night. Wonderful shopping experience with the original art of beader Tami LaPole and over-the-top potter Dan Edmunds. It’s in the old city hall. Enter off Broadway Street. It is the most unique shop on both sides of the bridge and will make Superior a shopping destination with terrific gift items, original art from area artist. Can’t say enough good about it. Definitely worth the trip over, and a welcome new addition to the Twin Ports shopping scene.

Northern Lights Books & Gifts closing?

In my email today:

Dear Loyal Customers,

Sometime in the near future the Duluth News Tribune will be running a story about Northern Lights Books & Gifts being for sale. It is true. Since August I have been contacting our top customers and local book colleagues to let them know I was looking for a buyer. Our lease will be up the end of February and I do not plan to renew.

I have decided to scale back my professional responsibilities so I can be available to travel in order to care for elderly parents in northern Illinois. Over the past year I have been gone nine weeks. I am very grateful to my staff for their professionalism and for their loyal efforts on behalf of the bookstore.

There have also been significant changes in traditional bookselling. I believe we are at a “Guttenberg” moment in publishing with the impact of electronic media. A new fresh approach is required for continued success in bookselling at the brick and mortar level. My heart and head are distracted with other priorities and I do not have the energy to figure out what comes next for profitible bookselling.

It has truly been an honor and a dream come true to serve the community of book lovers who have shopped with us for the past seventeen years. In the meantime we are operating full steam ahead through the holiday season.

Gratefully,
Anita Zager
Northern Lights Books & Gifts

BN Book Fair for Friends of the Library

Book fair to benefit Friends of the Library, 9 a.m.-10 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 4 at Barnes & Noble.

9:30-11 a.m. Music by Terence Smith and friends,
1-4 p.m. Crafts for kids – stamp and scrap cards, snowflakes, gift tags from recycled cards & wrap, write letters to troops.
4 p.m. Story Hour with Mary Linda Sather

Use the vouchers available at the store and your purchase will benefit the Friends of and the Duluth Public Library. If you can’t come to the store, go online anytime from Dec. 4-9 to bn.com/bookfairs. At the end of your order, enter the book fair number: 10288355

Duluth Photography Institute Opening!

Food. Drink. Prizes. Entertainment. Great photography. Free. Can it get any better than this? Come to the Grand Opening of the DPI on this Saturday, Dec. 4, from 4-8pm. Local photographers including featured artists Larry and Linday Dunlap will exhibit work in the gallery. 405 E Superior St. Suite 140. Prizes offered by SimplyColorLab.com, First Photo, and more! For more info, call Brian at 393.2468 or go to duluthphotographyinstitute.com.

Chester Creek Cafe Kamikaze Kick Off

Panel Discussion on Art Biennials

Monster, by Chris Monroe, featured in the 2010 Arrowhead Regional Biennial

Thursday, Dec. 2, 6pm, Duluth Art Institute

R.I.P. Nellie Bird, owner of Les Bird’s Bar

Nellie Bird, longtime owner of Les Bird’s Bar in South Superior, died Nov. 27. She was 90.

Nellie felt that everyone who came into her bar was a friend. The feeling was mutual.

Profile from the Superior Telegram:
Wisconsin bar celebrates 50 years

Minnesota Night Sky Time-lapse Video

Shot last month in central St. Louis County by Brian Peterson.

Ian Thomas Alexy CD Release Show!

@ Beaner’s Central
Saturday, Dec. 11, 8pm, $7
Lance Benson and Caitlin Robertson also performing

McCain praises Feingold

“I can’t do justice in these remarks to all of Russ’ many qualities or express completely how much I think this institution benefited from his service here and how much I benefited from knowing him. I lack the eloquence. I don’t think he is replaceable. We would all do well to keep his example in our minds as we serve our constituents and country and convictions.”

“Trail uses” this week’s theme at Hartley Nature Center

Ease back into your week … swing by Hartley Nature Center. There is fresh snow on the XC trails, and at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 1, an Adult Night Out presentation on Minnesota’s Hiking and Running Trails by Kate Havelin, who has written two books on hiking and running trails of Minnesota.

Do NOT follow this link or you will be banned from the site!