Tag: Duluth

A Beer to “Crush” All Other Summer Beers!

Thankfully on the way home from work Friday I stopped in at the local “Tavern.” This was a special Friday apparently since there was a rep from Castle Danger roaming around. Now I am no stranger to a local craft beer, but normally I try to keep my crafts within the city limits. Thankfully Rich came around giving me a sample of the Castle Danger’s Summer Crush!

I have a new favorite summer brew! I was hesitant in trying this brew in the past since I’m not a bit fan of fruity beers. This is not a beer made with fruit. It is made with the same 4 ingredients as (normally) all other beers. Water, barley, hops and yeast. The kicker is the hops were picked to resemble lemon and the barley (or malt) was chosen to simulate tartness. This giving it just the hint of a lemon flavor.

This 4.0 ABV beer is one that you can have a few of on a hot summer day. (Or many if that’s your choice! It would be easy to do!)

To me this is the perfect summer beer. Crisp, refreshing and delicious! One you can have multiples of and none of the gut rot from all the sweetness!

Cheers to you Castle Danger! And Thank You!

Lake Walk Galley Opens

Crabby Bill’s got a little bit of an overhaul and is now “billed” as the Lakewalk Galley. Today was the christening for the ol’vessel that resides at the beginning of the Lakewalk. The Lakewalk Galley opened in true shipping style with the Mayor breaking a bottle of champagne over the bow.



Justin Steinbach, who is no stranger to great food on a boat (the Vista), together with Derek Snyder of the Lake Avenue Café, have created a great mini restaurant. A lot of the fare will be the same as Crabby Bill’s (mini doughnuts!!!). That said, there are going to be some great additions to the menu; if it’s anything like Lake Ave, I’m sure it won’t disappoint (fish sandwich!!!). You won’t want to feed the birds with this – and besides, that’s illegal, please don’t feed the birds! This will be a great escape for a Friday lunch! The perfect distance from downtown to enjoy a good walk and a great lunch. See you there!

Our Lakewalk Friend

We were out for a quick Grandmas Marathon training run the other day and came across a (not so little) friend near the Lakewalk. We were just east of the 32nd Ave East and Tischer Creek when a fellow Duluthian flagged us down. “Hey, just so you know. There’s a bear about 100 yards up the path.” Well this is going to be interesting.

Thankfully, at this time, he was off the path quite a ways. He still looked pretty lethargic and was laying down basking in the sunshine (just like the rest of Duluth!). We watched him for a few seconds, snapped this bad picture, and went on our way.

On the way back he was still laying in the same spot, still soaking up the rays. We have heard of this bear around but have never seen him. From the sounds of it, he’s a regular in the Congdon neighborhood. Not sure if this is the famous Bert that was cooling in a kiddie pool a few years ago but it appears that they warm weather has woken up our furry woodland friends, so be sure to keep your furry family members on leash. The last thing you want is a run-in with Bert!

Get Ready to Park Duluth!

You have seen the new signs downtown. You’ve wondered what it’s all about. Then, you forget your quarters and now you have to figure out this new “pay for parking with your phone!”

Let us be the first to tell you. . . This is awesome! We used to have a saying, “a quarter will save you $20.” Since the parking enforcement is always on top of their game, a few minutes late earns you a ticket. Well (hopefully) not anymore!

Just yesterday we had forgotten our quarters so we were finally forced to figure out this app. We are so glad that we did! The app is super easy to use and only took a few seconds to download (we should have timed it, but by the time the idea came up it was already completed). And the coolest part? The app will give you a timer so you know when your meter is up! No more, “Hey Siri! Set a timer for an hour twenty.”

Let’s walk you through how easy this is! First you will have to download the app, it’s super easy to find, just search “Park Duluth.”

It only took maybe 20 second to download. Which is nice when you have a meeting to get to!

Once you open it up you will have to create your account, which is basically just putting in your cell number. Super easy. Then we opted for “text me my code” and as soon as we hit send we got the text.

Then it’s as simple as putting in the zone. Which you find on the meter.

And then the space. Which, again, is right on the meter.

Once those are entered, you have to choose how long you would like to stay. Just like quarters, you can choose in 20 minute increments, or skip to the $1.20 max.

Then all you have to do is put in your card information, and you are just about done.
Yeah… That part we’re not willing to share 😉

Still with us here? Good. Because personally we think this is the best part! Once you have paid, it gives you not only the ability to email a receipt (not the best part), but it will give you a timer! So you know exactly how munch time you have left on your meter!

If you go back and look at the screen shots that we took, you will notice this only took us 3-4 minutes to complete. It is literally that simple. Of course, now that you have been walked through it quickly, we would be willing to bet that it won’t take you that long. We did all this through our iPhone, if anyone has completed this on an Android let us know how the usability is.

It’s the simple things in life that make us excited, and one of those things is not always having to have a pocket full of quarters, or simply having the convenience of paying for a parking meter with your phone.

Cold Front Hits Canal Park

Cold Front Hits Canal Park

There's a lot going on this weekend in Duluth. Thursday marked the start of Cold Front Duluth. There was Duluth's largest coffee break Thursday morning which had everything you'd expect for a Duluth outdoor coffee break in February. Coffee from my favorite Duluth Coffee Co, doughnuts from The Greenery, and few fire pits to help fight that actually cold front that moved in with -3. Which, with the wind felt more like -10.

Major Larson was there to kick the festivities off with a proclamation. Proclaiming that "February 2018 is cold front February month in the City of Duluth."

After we all went back to work Grandma's Sports Garden had a great Happy Hour starting at 4pm.

Friday the fun starts back up at 4pm in the parking lot between The Inn on Lake Superior and the Comfort Suites. If you have been dying to try out a fat tire bike, this is your weekend. Since there will be Demos thanks to Day Tripper. There's going to a DJ spinning for us for some tunes. We may have to dance a bit to stay warm. Or there is (for those who are old enough to partake) the Grandma's Beer Tent! Which is also heated by the way!

Above is what this lot normally looks like, and you probably have driven by it a bunch of times and not noticed it. This weekend, you will notice! There's also going to be a curling sheet, and a "luge chute" for those who would like to slide. My favorite has to be the ice skate track along the Lakewalk! I haven't ice skated in years, but I really want to do this. And don't worry if you don't fit into your old pair, the City's Park Department will have a bunch of extra skates for you to use if you'd like.

Saturday has a full list of events as well. For the full list of events check out their web site Cold Front Duluth Events

So if you are finally done with that show you've been binge watching, head down to Canal Park. Toss a rock, ride a fat bike, have some s'mores and hang out the Duluth way! It's going to be a blast!

It’s been a good season

It's Been a Good Season

Hey Duluthians!

It's been a while since we've posted about anything. Since our last one, it's been a good season! Whether it's been the shipping season, or holiday season. It's always a good one here in Duluth.

Over the last year we have seen an increase in shipping traffic. More of our trails are getting finished. Some great businesses came to town, a few of left. We have started on changing the steam plant to a closed circuit, which would help it be more sustainable and energy efficient. There have been so many things that are happening in Duluth. Too many to name all.

Over 2017 what was something that stuck out to you? We'd like to hear about it.

In the mean time, enjoy this quick video I shot of one of the last Lakers making it's way to port. Until next time, Cheers Duluth!

Hockey Day Minnesota in Duluth

What a blast! I heard one of the commentators on  KFAN say, "You could not have scripted a better, more scenic venue as Bayfront." I completely agree. The weather was great, the games were good (minus East's loss to Lakeville North) and the fans were great. Unfortunately for the ice, the sun came out for a little while. Just enough to make things sloppy and slushy. You could tell that the ice conditions were affecting the game play. By the end of the East game there were visible holes in the ice.

A big thanks to all the volunteers who made this day a huge success!

Getting Vertical!

All right, let’s face it, even though we live in the “Greatest Outdoor Town in the US” we don’t always want to be outside. For instance, when it’s -15 out, going out for a quick jog doesn’t sound that appealing to most.

We have limited options: 1. binge watch the latest installment of whatever new series is on Netflix; or 2. search around for something active to do while staying warm and toasty indoors. One unique activity for option 2 would be Vertical Endeavors! It’s located in the back of the Adventure Zone in Canal Park. They have everything you need to scale the tallest peak (around 4 stories!). Their climbing walls are fantastic and it doesn’t matter what your experience level (or lack thereof). They have options for intermediate to expert, with options for the kids as well! Want a really unique challenge? Check out the awesome bouldering cave! Shorter walls where the intent is to move horizontally and around obstacles as well as vertically!

The staff there is also wonderful! They are extremely knowledgeable and you can tell they just love climbing and want to share their excitement of the thrill of the climb. They will help with your rentals, give you pointers, and belay as you climb. (Belaying is the person that assists ropes up with you so you have a safe climb.) There are also auto-belay courses as well.

Take it from someone who can be a little scared of heights; reaching the top of one of the walls is exhilarating! It’s challenging, rewarding, and a BLAST!

So while the Duluth City Council is debating on creating an outside climbing park, rope up and get some practice!

How Sweet (and Savory!) It Is!

How Sweet It Is has moved into their new location in the Holiday Center/Skywalk. Making it much easier for quite a few of us who wader the skywalk for lunch, which can be much more convenient compared to their old location in the Medical Arts Building.

If you haven’t had one of their sandwiches yet, you have not had the pleasure of experiencing these amazing hand crafted mast pieces. Course, if you are one that does not like options, or are very indecisive, you will need to allow yourself a little extra time to decide. Do plan your lunch break accordingly. Why? On a typical day they have six different kinds of breads from the plain grain to the wild, Cranberry wild rice to the deliciously hot “inferno” bread. Then you have to pick your meat, cheese, and veggies. It’s a lot like Subway but way way better. Actually, I take that back. The only way it’s like Subway is they both have options for your sandwich! How Sweet only sources their ingredients from local places (when possible) which means fresh ingredients, and supporting local farmers.
Today, I had a turkey-bacon (oh yea!) on freshly sliced Cranberry wild rice bread with pepper jack cheese and cucumbers, spinach and their amazing garlic spread. Great, great sandwich. The heat of the cheese and garlic balance well with the sweetness of the cranberry’s, that simply reminds you that desert is waiting. This was just my combo today. The best part is with all the varieties, you could make a different sandwich and not have the same one for 5,824 days. (That's 15 years!)

The best part, (besides the cupcake, cakes, cookies, macaroons….) is it’s very reasonably priced. With my regular sandwich, chips, pickle, beverage, and Pumpkin Spice Rumchata cupcake (oh yea, It’s a thing!), all of which only came to $13.15. Not bad since Chipotle or Subway can put you back closer to $14.00 and you can't get a Pumpkin Spice Rumchata at Chipotle!

So eat Great. Eat Local. And save a little in the process. Everybody wins!

What are we doing?

When you are driving downtown, or on top of the hill one thing you notice is there is a lot going on in our “Shinning city on the hill.” (thank you David Ross). We have come a long way since the 80’s and 90’s, when most of the time you would turn on the news and hear about some old business leaving or whatnot. That is not the Duluth we have today, but we all knew that. The fact that there is over a Billion dollars worth of improvements/construction going on in our city clearly proves that fact.

That still doesn’t answer the main question: “What are we doing with a site called We Are Duluth?” Well, that’s an excellent question. To which I have too many ideas, and/or answers. Therefore the plan is to be an evolving place for Duluthians to visit and celebrate everything that our great city has to offer. (How’s that for being vague!) So far, what I foresee is a bit of everything, food, drink, play, and clubs/groups (which will be a place to showcase our great social clubs/groups such as COGGS, Rotary(s), Junior League etc.) And yes, there will be photography. (So also check us out on Instagram)

Only time will tell what this site and city will evolve into, either way we are going to have a lot of fun! Because, (to quote our new Mayor Emily Larson), “We across this city. We are hope. We are progress. We are resilience. And We Are Duluth.”