August 2012 Posts

This week: dragon boats, stilts and chicken hats

Aug 20, 2012 1 Comment

  

Here’s a sampling of what you have to look forward to this week on the PDD Calendar.

Perfect week for learning to walk on stilts, don’t you think? The members of the Magic Smelt Puppet Troupe think so. They are giving free stilt walking classes Wednesday, Thursday and Friday at the Central Hillside Community Center.

The Lake Superior Dragon Boat Festival runs Friday and Saturday at Barker’s Island in Superior. On the other side of the bay you can see cover bands galore at The Tribute Fest with tributes to Tom Petty, AC/DC, Ted Nugent and more this Friday and Saturday at Bayfront.

This Saturday you can see eight brand new short plays written and produced over a 24 hour period. Raw and often hilarious, see the Chicken Hat Plays at the Harbor City International School Theater.

This Sunday celebrate the Hillside neighborhood at HillFest with outdoor music, a climbing wall and a tofu toss! Because when I think Central Hillside, I think flying tofu.

So what are you doing this week? Can we tag along? Any upcoming events that you want to promote? Let us know!`


Events

Flood Video: Calling Extras to the Set

Aug 19, 2012 No Comments

LoLa Visuals is putting together a video for the city of Duluth to bring to the state legislature in attempts to attain state assistance for flood victims. We are filming the closing shot Aug. 19 at 5 p.m. in Canal Park by the pier and need as many people as possible to come join. The final shot will include Sarah Krueger singing “High Tide or Low Tide” with an expanse of Duluthians surrounding her swaying to the music; a final plea for the state to stand by us in both high times and low times.


Events, Music, Politics, Videos

Wildwoods Updates…

Aug 18, 2012 1 Comment

Wildwoods Updates…

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Random

Grocery Shopping

Aug 18, 2012 18 Comments

For some time I’ve been saying my grocery costs are high and seem to keep going higher. We’ve got two bottomless pits growing school-aged girls and two adults to feed. Recently I decided to comparison shop for prices. So hey, if you saw me wandering around the grocery store this week with my pad of paper, writing down prices, I really wasn’t crazy. I was on a mission. I blogged about it and I’m sharing because I thought you too might be intrigued at the results.

Also raising a question for you: are the prices at all of the Super One stores the same?  I claim yes, my neighbor claims no and thinks that the Lakeside one is more $$ than others.


Recommendations

Peanuts for business that wants to be green

Aug 17, 2012 9 Comments

Rogue Robot receives weekly shipments of games that come well-padded in styrofoam peanuts. The owner, Ryan, wants to know if there’s an environmentally friendly way to dispose of them: another business in downtown Duluth that wants them for their shipping purposes? Some other repurposing? Some safe disposal?

Rogue Robot is taking green seriously, going so far as to suggest I unwrap purchases in the store so the owner can bulk recycle the packaging.

Any suggestions for him?


Recommendations

St. George Serbian Orthodox Church in the August sunset

Aug 16, 2012 3 Comments

st-george-serbian-orthodox-church


Photos

Secret Forest Playschool outdoor program

Aug 16, 2012 No Comments

Secret Forest Playschool is a new outdoor-based learning program for children who are completely potty trained through age 5. It is located off of Arrowhead Road in the Eastridge Community Church. The Secret Forest Playschool has 30 acres of wooded trails and a very clean and modern classroom for children to explore, experience and grow.

The program starts in September, offering a small-group environment, never to exceed more than six children. Tuition is $25/day for mornings only (pick-up before noon) or $35/day full-day.


Outdoors

Don’t you want locally laid?

Aug 15, 2012 14 Comments

Do you like eggs? I do too. I eat a soft-boiled egg every day, and I buy them from the Whole Foods Co-op because I don’t know what shit they put into mass produced eggs and I want organic food in my body. But I hear pasture-raised eggs are even better than organic! Less fat, healthier, etc. So … two friends of mine have launched an egg production farm, called Locally Laid Eggs, where they are tending hens that are laying eggs! And they are selling those eggs! Yum.

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Recommendations

Looking for Wool Scraps From Your Unfinished Craft Projects

Aug 15, 2012 2 Comments

Have a bag of scraps from your old wool sweater crafting projects? Or a bunch of old wool sweaters from the project you never got to?

The wool sweater scrap mice are reproducing exponentially these days.

We can negotiate a price if you have what I can use.


Art

Any spider experts out there?

Aug 15, 2012 4 Comments

I was hiking Tischer Creek when I ran into a spider web and found this guy crawling around. Does anyone know what kind of spider it is?

More pictures and the story from my hike.


Outdoors, Photos ,

Duluth 2012 Primary Election Results

Aug 14, 2012 No Comments

Here’s the statewide numbers for races relevant to Duluth.

United States Senator, Independence Party
Stephen Williams – 3,068 | 60%
Glen R. Anderson Menze – 2,074 | 40%

United States Senator, Republican Party
Kurt Bills – 63,380 | 51%
David Carlson – 43,850 | 35%
Bob Carney Jr. – 16,755 | 14%

United States Senator, Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party
Amy Klobuchar – 183,702 | 91%
“Dick” Franson – 6,831 | 3%
Jack Edward Shepard – 6,638 | 3%
Darryl Stanton – 5,161 | 3%

United States Representative for Minnesota District 8, Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party
Richard Nolan – 20,839 | 38%
Tarryl L. Clark – 17,540 | 32%
Jeff Anderson – 15,978 | 29%

Minnesota House District 7A, DFL Party
Thomas Huntley – 3,337 | 82%
Brandon Clokey – 756 | 18%

St. Louis County Commissioner, District 3
Chris Dahlberg – 1,658 | 55%
Debbie Isabell-Nelson – 1,188 | 40%
Dennis Szymialis – 160 | 5%

Minnesota Supreme Court Chief Justice:
Lorie Skjerven Gildea – 145,004 | 50%
Dan Griffith – 85,828 | 29%
Jill Clark – 61,242 | 21%

Minnesota Supreme Court Associate Justice 4:
David R. Stras – 139,197 | 49%
Tim Tingelstad – 83,942 | 29%
Alan Nelson – 61,908 | 22%


News and Current Affairs, Politics

Sanitary Sewer Easement

Aug 14, 2012 3 Comments

Has anyone had experience granting an easement across their property for sewer installation? I may be forced to (in a situation where several close neighbors are being asked to decide whose properties the easement should go on) and am wondering if there are negative repercussions as far as property value, etc. I have read some things online about this issue, and am interested in personal experiences.


Recommendations

Dog sitter needed

Aug 14, 2012 4 Comments

I am in need of a little help. I need someone to come to my home and let my golden retriever Ivan out on the days my roommate works. It wouldn’t be every day as my roommate works three days a week and I work a 21-days-on and 21-days-off schedule. Will figure out the money. Ivan is a big part of my daughter’s and my life so any dog haters or someone who doesn’t give a shit need not apply. Cheers all.


Random

Duluth artist invades Great Plains

Aug 14, 2012 No Comments

Congratulations, Catherine Meier, on “Open Richness,” August 3 – September 23, 2012

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Random

Operating levy for Duluth schools in November? Well, actually no.

Aug 13, 2012 3 Comments

Superintendent Bill Gronseth’s remarks at the August 13 School Board Business Committee meeting:

As you know, I’ve served as Superintendent for about six months. In that time, I have spoken with many groups, organizations, families and citizens.

Recently, I had the opportunity to have a cup of coffee with one of our alums. He told me that he has been a long-time supporter of the schools, but during last year’s operating levy he didn’t feel he could vote “yes.” I asked him why. He explained that it was a loss of trust – he didn’t really understand what the money was for and was confused about the facilities plan and how that might be tied to money for programs.

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News and Current Affairs