This past week, I went to see Gao Hong, Sarah Deer and Ed Downs give public talks, each a kind of rethinking for me.

Last night, I went to the TED at the Teatro. This regular event (on the third Wednesday of every month) has both a Facebook Page and a Youtube Channel. It’s the second time I attended, and it’s an event I’d like to return to, even if it had some complexities.

The event is structured with a chatty welcome, last night including an uncomfortable handshake (getting us to meet the people around us, like the handshake in a church). There is a Raymond Carver essay in which Carver reflects on something Tobias Wolff told him when Carver invited Wolff to an event, to meet some people. “I don’t want any new friends. I can’t do right by the ones I have now,” or something more or less like that. If, unlike me, you are into meeting strangers, sure, this was fun.

There was music from Medical Underground. Others, more into local pop/rock music, might chime in on their quality. I found them pleasant. One of the refrains of one of their songs appeared to be something like “We will be okay,” which maybe is reassuring.

Here’s a bit of what you’ll find in this week’s PDD Calendar:

Celebrate Labor Day at the AFL-CIO Labor Day Picnic, artists are invited to take advantage of open studio time at the Depot, St. Luke’s opens an art show with items by cancer survivors, adventurer Lonnie DuPre gives a presentation on what he’s learned during his various trips, the grounds of Glensheen Mansion become a classroom where folks can use fresh vegetables from their garden during lessons, Green Day’s rock opera is staged at The Underground and Twin Cities band Rogue Valley performs at Sacred Heart Music Center.

Hip-hop crew Doomtree performs during the End of the Summer Block Party outside Dubh Linn, the biggest slip-and-slide to ever hit Duluth asphalt gets unrolled, the 2016 Lake Superior Harvest Festival takes place on Saturday, the monthly Nice Girls of the North arts and crafts show happens at Lakeside Lester Park Community Center, kitties and bunnies are looking for homes, the Harbor City Roller Dames are back in action and Rachael Kilgour releases her latest LP.

Here’s a bit of what you’ll find in this week’s PDD Calendar:

August is ending, and many ongoing summer events are winding down. The Hermantown and Downtown farmers’ markets are closing up shop in the upcoming weeks, the last Doggy Happy Hour at the Fitger’s Brewery complex happens on Tuesday, the Shark-Watching Society meets for the final time in 2016 and Teague Alexy performs during the last installment of the Chester Creek Concert Series.

Also: Woodland is ground zero for BBQ on Tuesday, Mayor Emily Larson and City Councilor Elissa Hansen invite the public to City Hall in the City, the 2016 Pride Celebration kicks off with the mayor’s reception and includes the Bayfront Pride Festival, the dark history of American assassins is explored in musical form, the classic football rivalry between East and Denfeld continues at Public Schools Stadium on Friday and a gaggle of musicians play the Super Big Block Party.

Here’s a bit of what you’ll find in this week’s PDD Calendar:

The Miller Auction Service holds its weekly auction on Monday, people can play mini-golf in Superior to benefit the Old Firehouse and Police Museum, the Head of the Lakes Fair runs from Tuesday through Sunday, the public can attend an open house on the Superior Street reconstruction project, the Lake Superior Zoo is showing its Wild Side and Ladies’ Night Karaoke is going down at R.T. Quinlan’s on Wednesday.

The Silk Shieks bring the instrumental thunder to the Red Herring, little tykes can join up with the River Rovers Nature Playgroup, Sour Fest 2016 is the place for people who like their beers to make them pucker up, Jack Sparrow stars in the final Movies in the Park of the year, the Lake Superior Dragon Boat Festival is back, there’s a block party going down on Jefferson Street, the fifth Superior Man Triathlon will host over 400 athletes and the 125th anniversary of Minnesota’s state parks and trails is celebrated.