David Beard, Author at Perfect Duluth Day

Happy Tet!

Feb 05, 2011 1 Comment

A good time was had by all at Saigon Cafe for Vietnamese New Year!

The dinner was served at long tables (a break from the norm), creating a long space in the middle of the restaurant and creating the opportunity to meet new people. And people had come from as far away as Hibbing and Grand Rapids for the feast. Dinner consisted of a wonderful shrimp dish made with fruit, a mixed seafood dish, a beef in a curry sauce, and one of the staples of Vietnamese food, a seasoned meatball (often made of shrimp and pork). Two tasty soups and a salad and a fruit rounded out an excellent buffet-style dinner.

Youngsters played Vietnamese games in the back, and a dragon dance in that newly created space in the middle of the restaurant.

I can’t imagine more fun, and I have a newfound respect for what this small, locally owned business does for our community.

Saigon Cafe Vietnamese Restaurant
114 W. First St.
Duluth, MN 55802
(218) 727-3987

Restaurants

Vietnamese New Year in Duluth

Feb 01, 2011 3 Comments

Am I right in thinking that there’s a Vietnamese New Year celebration in Duluth last week, this week or next week?

Random Queries

Nerd Nite a success

Jan 18, 2011 2 Comments

Congratulations to Nerd Nite, the excellent night out at Teatro Zuccone.

Talks about rock tumbling, Star Wars prop replicas, and astronomy marked the evening as what it could be, at its best: a showcase for the passions of individuals. [If the talk on Fan Fiction fell short, it only fell short because the speaker was talking about someone else’s passions, not her own.] I had no idea the energy and the technique involved in rock tumbling. I had no idea the complexity of recreating (replicating) the props used in the first Star Wars movies. And, well, a bedroom designed so that the Big Dipper can be viewed in 3 dimensions from various other stars in the Galaxy, well, wow.

I enjoyed myself, I met a new person, and I felt the passions of others. What more could I ask for $5 admission and $3 for a bottle of Minnesota-brewed soda pop?

Thanks to the organizers, to the Zuccone for hosting, and to the presenters for a great night out.

Random Geeky, Nerd Nite

DTA Applause

Jan 15, 2011 7 Comments

I just realized how awesome the New Year’s changes to the DTA are:

Changes that matter to me:

Route 6: 10:15 p.m. trip added from downtown. Previous schedule: Last bus leaving downtown was 9:15 p.m weekdays.

Route 6: 7:45 p.m., 8:45 p.m., and 9:45 p.m. trips added from downtown. Previous schedule: Last bus from downtown was 6:45 p.m on Saturdays.

Route 7: 8:05 p.m. trip added from downtown. Previous schedule: Last bus from downtown was 7 p.m on Saturdays.

The end result: I can stay at the mall later on the weekends and still get home; I can see a 7 p.m. movie at the DECC on Saturdays and still get home.

Hooray for me. How ’bout you? Check here.

Uncategorized DTA

New Year’s Eve Nerdliness

Dec 30, 2010 7 Comments

Dragon Port Games will have an overnighter to ring in the New Year. Games of all types are available to play for free, and experts will gladly show you how to play something new. They might even let you win.

Kids are welcome with their parents, too; soft drinks and snacks will be available for purchase.

Swing by.

Duluth Artist Paints Abroad

Dec 30, 2010 No Comments

You may recall Ken Marunowski, former UMD faculty member and local artist (who premiered his work locally in an unconventional venue, the gallery space at Chester Creek Books and Antiques, last Spring).

Ken has been painting abroad: France, then South Africa, then France again.

Duluth Meal Deals and Happy Hours

Dec 25, 2010 15 Comments

I took a lot of heat from friends for always going to Green Mill for Happy Hour. $5 apps that make me think of college, you know.

But it made me think about meal deals around town for happy hour. What do you got?

1. Green Mill, $5 apps
2. Midi: Is this right? Buy one, get one entrees?
3. Blackwater: $5 pizzas? How big are these pizzas?
4. Thai Krathong: All you can eat Pad Thai Tuesday? Does it include beef/shrimp/chicken?
5. Sammy’s Woodland: All you can eat pizza buffet Tuesdays?

and

1. Lunch at Saigon Cafe, buffet for $5.99?

What else can you add to this list? I want to eat out in new and exciting places this week!

Recommendations, Restaurants Food

Hmong New Year in Duluth

Dec 03, 2010 No Comments

The Duluth/Twin Ports Hmong New Year is free and open to the public. It features celebrations with programs showcasing Hmong traditions. On Saturday, Dec. 4, at the First United Methodist Church (“The Coppertop Church”), 230 E. Skyline Parkway, Duluth, doors open at 9 a.m., a program starts at 11 a.m., and will be followed by lunch at 12:30 p.m.

Events

You got your zombies in my movie theater

Dec 03, 2010 No Comments

The season finale of The Walking Dead is Sunday. Standing room only has been a problem for some of the weeks. Get there early (it’s free!), buy a beer and bring a little extra scratch to Dragonport Games, where you can buy more than 1000 pages of Walking Dead comics, books and more.

Random

Lady of the Lake Warhammer Tournament

Nov 21, 2010 1 Comment

I don’t play, but I know an opportunity for cool pictures when I see it. The Lady of the Lake Warhammer Tournament was held at Dragon Port Games and Comics Saturday.

Thanksgiving 2010

Nov 09, 2010 14 Comments

What is open in Duluth on Thanksgiving? We used to travel to the TC to go to Dunn Bros. for coffee (they were open until noon), reading the Black Friday ads, then down to a casino for a magnificent dinner buffet.

Where can I snag some coffee and dinner in Duluth on this most Thankful of Days?

Recommendations Queries, Thanksgiving

Day of Truth and Reconciliation

Nov 05, 2010 2 Comments

The Clayton Jackson McGhie Memorial folks and the various offices and commissions on diversity at UMD co-sponsored a day on “truth and reconciliation” on Nov. 4. The Griggs Center (a large multimedia-capable meet space seating 200, I’d guess) was filled with students, faculty and staff. Julia and Dick of CJMM walked the audience through the history of the lynching, the history of the memorial, and through some basic reflections on racism as personally experienced and as structurally defined.

The day included showing videos and a reading by Michael Fedo, as well as a tour of the Memorial.

https://events.d.umn.edu/008814

I’m grateful that this resource was available to the UMD community. The day was a success.

Random

Zombies again

Nov 05, 2010 3 Comments

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

Events Creepy

Walking Dead at Zinema2

Oct 26, 2010 16 Comments

Dragon Port Games and Comics will host the premiere of AMC’s The Walking Dead on Oct. 31, Halloween night, at the Zinema2 movie theater in Downtown Duluth.

Robert Kirman’s award-winning comic series focuses on the human condition in a post-apocalyptic world, making for a fantastic adventure into the popular genre of zombies and drama. Follow Rick Grimes in his adventures as he awakens, alone and confused, trying to make his way home to his wife, Lori and son, Carl — all the while meeting new folks along the way and trying to survive.

The pilot introduces us to several main characters directed by Frank Darabont (The Shawshank Redemption, Green Mile) that will come across as both dramatic and emotional.

Tickets are available at Dragon Port Games and Comics with the purchase of any Walking Dead-related item.

3 S. Fourth Ave. W., Duluth
Open 11am-9pm M-Sat 12am-7pm Sun.
Call 218-260-2646 | sirjeff @ dragonportgames.com

David Beard Posts