November 2010 Posts

Coffee with a Lakeview

Lakeview Coffee House viewI have been thinking lately about how much I miss Lakeview Coffee House in Fitgers. It was an awesome spot to spend an hour on a cold, blustery day watching the lake with a cup of coffee or hot chocolate. It was pleasant and unrushed.

So, where is a good place to go now with a decent view of the lake where you can get a warm beverage and wile away a couple hours? I’ve tried Va Bene, but it’s a heckuvalot more expensive and they aren’t keen on you lingering. Dunn Bros. lost its lake view after the construction of Edgewater. Thoughts?

Zombies again

The Zombies were out in force last week. They will be out in force again this weekend, and every weekend until Zinema 2 gives notice!

Watch Walking Dead, again, at Zinema, free at 9pm Sunday. Support the local cinema and support Dragon Port comics and games, its partner.

Zinema 2

Northern Lights Express Passenger Rail: Stimulus or Boondoggle?

There have been a number of posts on PDD in the past regarding the Northern Lights Express passenger rail project, which would create a 155-mile train corridor connecting Duluth to Minneapolis. With Congressman Jim Oberstar’s loss to Chip Cravaack in Tuesday’s election, and Cravaack’s stated lack of support for the project, the subject of the NLX seems worth revisiting.

However, I’d like to provide some special guidelines for commenting on this post, because we’ve seen in the past that there are some pretty passionate supporters and opponents of this project, and its pros and cons tend to get lost in personal attacks and partisan silliness.

So, let’s try a little experiment. What I’d like to see is three different types of comments.

1) Simple links to news and information related to this subject, without any commentary whatsoever.

2) Comments labeled “Pro” at the beginning, which list one good thing about the project.

3) Comments labeled “Con” at the beginning, which list one negative thing about the project.

Keep it brief, resist the urge to respond to other people’s comments, resist the urge to make multiple pro or con comments, resist the urge to bash Cravaack or Oberstar, resist the urge to comment about these guidelines.

Ready. Set. Go.

Buck battle in St. Paul

Shot by Craig Kuberski on Monday through his basement window.

New Brewfest coming to Black Bear!

The Great Twin Ports Taste-Together Brewfest & Wine Tasting is scheduled for Saturday, Feb. 19, at Black Bear Casino. I know one of the brewers coming (Northwoods out of Eau Claire) and they make awesome beer (the Floppin’ Crappie is the best).  Find out more info about this at twinportsbrewfest.com.

Apple Pressing at Hartley Nature Center!

Families with preschool-aged children are invited to come to Hartley Nature Center this Saturday, Nov. 6, from 10am to noon for a program on apples and apple pressing. The program is for adults and preschool age children and the cost is $7 for non-members participants or $4 for Hartley members participants.  Class size is limited to 30 people. Please call 724-6735 to register.

More information on other monthly Saturday Sprites programming can be found at hartleynature.org.

Grey Surf Rebels – Luce, Nov. 13

poster

Grey Matador
The Surfactants
American Rebels

So much rock! This is one that’ll melt your face clean off. Not for the faint of heart! Start hydrating now.

Fazebuke E-Vant

Food shelf benefit

It’s time for the 4th Annual Fine Spirits, Cheese & Chocolate
Food Shelf Benefit.

Date: Saturday, Nov. 6, 2010
Place: Garden House Green House
11517 S. Cemetery Road, Solon Springs
Time: 2pm – 7pm
Cost: $15 + food shelf donation

Say it ain’t so, Denny

WDIO news anchor Dennis Anderson plans to retire in the next six months, after 50 years in broadcasting.

A Winter Downpour Nov. 5 at Lucé

A Winter Downpour w/ Red Label // 11.05.10 at Pizza Luce

Rock music Nov. 5 at Pizza Lucé with Duluth’s A Winter Downpour and Minneapolis’ Red Label.

Whack a buck, then head to the Clyde Saturday: GB Leighton with Breaking Glass

If you aren’t at your deer shack in the woods this Saturday, The Clyde continues to impress with another quality show.

Minnesota Deer Hunting Opener 1907

nimrods1907

Good luck this weekend, nimrods!

Get Messy with Dirty Horse

Dirty Horse Poster

Kicking off the Fall music series at Sara’s Table/Chester Creek Cafe is Dirty Horse. Check out our new Happy Hour appetizer menu and receive $2 dollars off all beer and wine from 4-6:30 Thursday, Friday, and Saturday each week. Yee haw!!

Straw Poll: Who Shocked the World More?

I woke up today with an otherworldly, twilight zone-like feeling similar to the one I had in November of 1998, like where I had to check multiple news sources to see if I was understanding the election results correctly and then check back again to make sure. Shocked I tell you. Shocked.

My question to the PDD brain trust: What was more shocking Jesse’s win or Chip’s? And you can do a “where were you” personal memory or two if you want for color and flavor.

Love, Wild Goose

Public art install at the DECC (plus special bonus footage of Oberstar-Cravaack supporters leaving the scene!)