Lissa Maki, Author at Perfect Duluth Day - Page 2 of 154

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Lissa Maki Posts

My Partner is Starting a Cult

Feb 29, 2020 3 Comments

There’s a church revival going on in Lincoln Park, but it’s inspired by art, not God. My partner of nearly 25 years is one of the instigators of a self-proclaimed “cult.”

I guess you could say I drank the Kool-Aid a long time ago because I can’t say I was shocked when he announced his plans.

Life with Troy Rogers, aka Robot Rickshaw, is never dull. He builds musical robots so that he can cart them around Canal Park and the Lakewalk for pop-up performances while wearing a hazmat suit and gas mask with a teddy bear strapped to his chest.

“What have you been up to lately?” Troy’s aunt asked recently, trying to make conversation at a family event. “I’m starting a cult,” he deadpanned.

There were no follow up questions or small talk. Just a perplexed expression from the pious Catholic and an uncharacteristically quick end to the conversation as she escaped to the next room.

Art, Events Saturday Essay, The Embassy

Ursa Minor offers Duluth’s first non-alcoholic craft beer

Feb 08, 2020 No Comments

Ben Hugus with Ursa Minor's new NA beer

Ben Hugus with Ursa Minor’s new NA beer – Photo by Lissa Maki

Ursa Minor Brewing quietly became the first Duluth-area craft brewery to offer a non-alcoholic beer option back in December. The brewery’s Constellation Cream Ale, is now available sans intoxicants.

News and Current Affairs Beer and Breweries, Sober Duluth, Ursa Minor Brewing

Mexican cuisine options expanding in Duluth area

Jul 23, 2019 3 Comments

Margaritas, chips & salsa at Bucktales - Photo by Lissa Maki

Margaritas, chips and salsa at Bucktales – Photo by Lissa Maki

The Twin Ports of Duluth and Superior have never been known for Mexican food, but options for taco lovers have been expanding and improving in recent years. It’s been a long time since Hacienda del Sol, Zona Rosa and Chi-Chi’s were the hot spots.

News and Current Affairs, Restaurants Bucktales Cantina and Grill, Corktown Deli and Brews, La Tequila, Mexican food, Oasis del Norte, Taco Arcada, tacos

Duluth Coffee Company Canal Park satellite opens June 1

May 31, 2019 No Comments

Maggie Gustafson and Eric Faust - Photo by Lissa Maki

Maggie Gustafson and Eric Faust – Photo by Lissa Maki

A trio of craft beverage purveyors will be sharing space in Canal Park starting Saturday. Duluth Coffee Company is opening a satellite coffee shop in the Ripple Bar on Lake Superior, which is adjacent to Hoops Brewing in the Waterfront Plaza at 325 S. Lake Ave.

News and Current Affairs Bars / Drinking Establishments, Coffee Roasters, Coffee Shops, Duluth Coffee Co., Hoops Brewing, The Ripple Bar

Thirsty Pagan transitions to new location; grand opening June 8

May 22, 2019 No Comments

Photo by Lissa Maki

Photo by Lissa Maki

Thirsty Pagan Brewing entered its 14th year of business on May 1. There was no fanfare, simply because owner Steve Knauss was so busy he forgot. Knauss and his staff have been working around the clock to ready the brewpub’s new spot at 1615 Winter St. for opening.

News and Current Affairs Bars / Drinking Establishments, Beer and Breweries, Thirsty Pagan Brewing

Taco Arcada opens May 5 in Duluth’s Lincoln Park

May 03, 2019 1 Comment

Jeff Petcoff, Mike Atkinson (pinball mechanic/manager) and Tom Hanson - Photo by Lissa Maki

Jeff Petcoff, Mike Atkinson (pinball mechanic/manager) and Tom Hanson – Photo by Lissa Maki

A new establishment opening Sunday in the Lincoln Park Craft District will cater to adults who like to eat and play. Taco Arcada features an array of classic pinball and video games and will serve up Mexican-style street tacos.

News and Current Affairs, Restaurants Lincoln Park Craft District, Lincoln Park Neighborhood / The Friendly West End, Taco Arcada

Duluth-area beer production nearly tripled from 2014 to 2018

Apr 26, 2019 No Comments

A bevy of craft breweries and brewpubs have found the Arrowhead region of northeastern Minnesota and northwest Wisconsin to be fertile ground for growth. Five years ago, area craft breweries produced almost 20,000 barrels of beer. By 2018 that number nearly tripled to roughly 57,000 barrels.

News and Current Affairs Beer and Breweries, Guides and Lists

Wild State Cider opening April 16

Apr 05, 2019 No Comments

Andrew Price and Adam Ruhland - Photo by Lissa Maki

Andrew Price and Adam Ruhland – Photo by Lissa Maki

Cider seekers will soon have another Duluth option to swoon over. Owners of Wild State Cider say opening day will be April 16. A grand opening event is planned for the weekend of April 26-27.

News and Current Affairs Bars / Drinking Establishments, Cider, Duluth Cider, Lincoln Park Craft District, Wild State Cider

Perfect Fish Fry: The Breeze Inn

Mar 28, 2019 No Comments

Competition to name the Perfect Duluth fish fry was fierce but the The Breeze Inn managed to angle ahead of the others to claim the title with 36 percent of the vote among the final three.

Do country-bar fish fries fare better? It’s notable that the three top-ranked fish fries are all just outside of Duluth city limits. Breeze Inn is in Rice Lake Township while Billy’s in Lakewood Township was the runner up with 33 percent of the vote. Wabegon in Superior Township came in third with a respectable 31 percent. Among establishments within Duluth city limits, Bridgeman’s had the most votes.

Restaurants Fish and Fishing, PDD Awards

Taqueria El Oasis Del Norte open in Superior pub

Mar 22, 2019 No Comments

Eduardo Sandoval - Photo by Lissa maki

Eduardo Sandoval – Photo by Lissa Maki

Everyday options for authentic Mexican food in the Twin Ports have vastly improved. Earlier this month, El Oasis Del Norte food truck started serving up items like tacos, burritos and tortas at Average Joe’s Pub in Superior.

News and Current Affairs, Restaurants Average Joe's Pub, Food Trucks, Oasis del Norte, Superior

Poll: What Duluth-area restaurant has the best fish fry?

Mar 17, 2019 No Comments

Who is serving up the Perfect Duluth-area fish fry? In our latest poll, we’re counting on our readers to help suss out the answer to this important question.

Polls, Restaurants Fish and Fishing

Nominees for Perfect Fish Fry Poll

Mar 13, 2019 3 Comments

It’s Lent, the official season to dine on fried fish and chips with a side of slaw, which leads us to Perfect Duluth Day’s latest poll. What local eatery has the best fish fry?

Polls, Restaurants

New Scenic Café celebrates 20 years

Mar 04, 2019 No Comments

Photo by Lissa Maki

New Scenic Café will mark its 20-year anniversary on April 1. Although Chef Scott Graden has carefully refined his approach over the years, the acclaimed destination eatery on Lake Superior’s North Shore continues to emphasize quality and culinary artisanship.

News and Current Affairs, Restaurants New Scenic Cafe, North Shore of Lake Superior

Perfect New Restaurant: Corktown Deli & Brews

Feb 05, 2019 No Comments

A Lincoln Park sandwich shop emerged as the hero in Perfect Duluth Day’s 2019 poll to discern the area’s best new restaurant. Corktown Deli & Brews won 43 percent of the runoff vote in a pool of three finalists that was narrowed down from a list of 25 nominees. Pak’s Green Corner and Martha’s Daughter were runners up with 33 percent and 24 percent of the votes, respectively.

Corktown Deli & Brews opened in June. Jeff Petcoff, the fast-casual restaurant’s general manager, was thrilled to hear the poll results. “That’s one of the biggest compliments you can get,” he says, “because readers and people vote on it; it’s a vote of confidence from everyone. It’s humbling and will help keep us going.”

News and Current Affairs, Polls, Restaurants Corktown Deli and Brews, Lincoln Park Craft District, PDD Awards

The Hopper Shuttle: Catering to Craft Beverage Fans

Jan 31, 2019 No Comments

A new complimentary shuttle service will provide a link between Duluth’s craft beverage purveyors. Starting Feb. 8 the Hopper, a 15-passenger van, will run between Canal Park, Lincoln Park and Downtown every Friday and Saturday night.

News and Current Affairs Bars / Drinking Establishments, Beer and Breweries, The Hopper, Transportation