DULUTH

Just got back from a fun business/pleasure trip.. and wanted to share the highlights of my trip to Duluth. We saw quite a bit of wilderness as well as quite a few restaurant interiors! The most memorable are listed below.

Amazing Grace cafe.. http://amazinggracebakery.com/

Great place. Full of personality and great food. May experience a long wait.. like we did. Good looking muffins with funky ingredients. Tofu scramble offered on the menu. Hippy-inspired people and attitude. A sure thing in Canal Park area. They have a sign on the wall saying, "Enjoy your odd experience." Claim it and be proud Amazing Grace! My brother even bought a coffee mug here with the cafe's name on it. Wanted to go hear their 'Cello Dreams' live music, but were out at Gooseberry Falls that night and missed the performance. Would definitely visit this gem again.

Gooseberry Falls.. http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/state_parks/gooseberry_falls/index.html

Have you been there? If not, you should definitely see it. I love that you're able to walk right down into the falls runoff, on the rocks, without being restricted. Hopefully, it stays natural in this way. There are plenty of other waterfalls and creeks in the area that would be equally pretty, though, this one is very accessible. Plenty of hiking trails surround the falls. Camping areas, and retreat buildings that can be rented out for events.

GunFlint Tavern in Grand Marais.. http://www.gunflinttavern.com/

Awesome awesome burger with jalapeno seasoned bacon. The interior of this place is really cool too. They have live music and a nice bar.. not to mention a great view of the harbor/boat area. Right on the main drag in Grand Marais. I'm thinking of taking an art class or two up there this summer. Wanna join me Z ?

Burrito Union.. owned by the owners of Fitgers brewery. http://www.burritounion.com/

Had some good burritos here. Liked the interior, with vibrant red faux finished walls. They serve only the local beers, brewed at the historic Fitgers brewery, just down the hill. Didn't have the beer, but the Tazo Mint tea cured my stomachache. Gotta love mint.

Sarah's Table.. http://www.astccc.net/

Very good, health-minded food. About 2 blocks from UMD. Great view of the lake from up the hill. Also has a wine bar on the other side of restaurant. Though their notice on the door was a little rude. They asked for anyone studying with a laptop, anyone with a child, and those underage to use the restaurant side. What if you want to study or use your laptop for actual work while enjoying a wine I ask ? Thought that was a little strange to be so snooty about the wine side. Both "Chester Creek Cafe" and "At Sara's Table" are emblazoned on the door; and the sign on the building says "Taran's Market Place." Whatever. If you are looking for high-quality, raised-consciousness meals in laid-back surroundings, here they are.

Sir Benedict's Tavern.. http://www.sirbenedicts.com/

A very cool local bar, just across from the lake - outdoor patio with great view. Saw some really, really great live music here. Sounded like Bob Dylan-esque music.. with acoustic guitar and harmonica. He writes his own music, but may have actually been doing all Dylan covers (I'm not all that familiar with Dylan's music). Awesome talent in this guy. His name? Teague Alexy. Even tempted me enough to go to the local Electric Fetus and buy 2 of his CDs. Those weren't quite as impressive, maybe because they included his band members. If you have a chance to see this native Duluth guy live.. DO Do DO!

The Saratoga.. http://www.clubsaratoga.com/

Famous for great live music, and dancing girls/women. Went to see some music, but got there too late. Draws an interesting crowd though for sure. Will try again next time I'm in Duluth.

The New Scenic View Cafe.. www.sceniccafe.com/

This cafe is just up the coast of the lake (is that the correct terminology?) from Duluth.. about 20 minutes out. Very good bacon and avocado sandwich. It was actually a BLT with avocado. Great great service. No espresso drinks, just coffee though.

The Suites.. http://www.thesuitesduluth.com/

Our hotel. Would definitely stay here again. Very roomy. Two seperate rooms, 1 queen bed each. 2 bathrooms, living room, sm. kitchen and table/desk area. 3 tvs in this baby too! (1 per bedroom and 1 in the living room). If you're a non-smoker, definitely you'll want a non-smoking room. Though, once you're inside you don't notice the smell after a few minutes. Good or bad, I don't know! Right in the heart of Canal Park. Just across the street from Hell's Kitchen (I thought it was fairly lame. Closed very early on Sunday night, forcing us to choose between Green Mill and Old Chicago. Though, I do like the Minneapolis Hell's Kitchen.)

Serendipity.. http://local.yahoo.com/details?id=35984135A very cute, retro-style decor store. Bought some chenille pieces here.

A very narrow shoe isle. The makings of a great comedy bit.

Taken at Inspiration Point (a little-known spot) in Silver Bay, MN. Incredible 180º views.. and frickin'' windy!

A few other sites we ventured to included the Fitger's Brewery (www.fitgers.com) and hotel complex, a new "Green" church that my brother was interested in learning about, the UMD campus, and the Dewitt-Seitz building full of shops. (www.dewitt-seitz.com/)

I was surprised to find out how green-conscious Duluth is. The people I encountered seemed to be "conscious" in many ways. Conscious about composting, (I saw many areas where different compost projects were advertised), conscious about food sources and quality issues, conscious of Duluth's history (Many of the great old buildings and houses are still standing and some are being restored).. etc. Little fact I learned while there, - Did you know that Duluth had the highest turn-out for voters in the 2004 election? .. highest turn-out of ALL US cities!! Go Minnesota! What intelligent and involved people we raise here!

Duluth's a great town to visit this summer. The gas for the drive will cost you $56 round trip (saw this on the news the other night), which really isn't bad. Forego a longer road trip for a destination closer to home. Go Explore Minnesota this summer!

   Not to be one of those conspiracy theory people, but geez, didn't Simon
just totally set the audience up to give a sympathy vote for David Cook.
??  David Cook said himself earlier in the season that getting a
compliment from Simon is the "kiss of death".  Remember ?

My Mom, who totally wanted Archuletta to win, and thought he did better
on Tuesday night, voted for David Cook.. (not even one vote for
Archuletta) because she didn't want Cook to feel bad if he got low

votes.. and that he would be safe. David Archuletta was seen as 'safe' after his performance on Tuesday night. Now, how many of my mom's are there out there?  Probably plenty! 

Enough to throw the voting off?  It's happened before.. look at Carly Smithson and Chris Daughtry.  They left before their time because of being seen as safe.


Also, there's a rumor that Idol thinks it will be much easier to manage
David Cook and that Archuletta comes with a preset plan as to how he
should be managed (Freaky, controlling
father)

David Cook is good, but I think David Archuletta is pure genius with his
voice and emotions he can draw from the audience.  He got robbed with
the voting !

Great wrap-up to the season though!

What do you all think?

OK.. So I don't really find this very funny, but maybe YOU

will :) How do you answer the question, "Why did the chicken cross the road?"

My answer: "I don't know, but I do know he was able to cross that road because he was cage-free! And therefore, is a healthier bird that will taste much better and be healthier to eat than the caged, antibiotic-ized, hormone-fed birds!"

Q.: "Why did the chicken cross the road?"

BARACK OBAMA:
The chicken crossed the road because it was time for a CHANGE! The chicken wanted CHANGE!

HILLARY CLINTON:
When I was First Lady, I personally helped that little chicken to cross the road. This experience makes me uniquely qualified to ensure -- right from Day One! -- that every chicken in this country gets the chance it deserves to cross the road. But then, this really isn't about me...

JOHN MCCAIN:
My friends, that chicken crossed the road because he recognized the need to engage in cooperation and dialogue with all of the chickens on the other side of the road.

GEORGE W. BUSH:
We don't really care why the chicken crossed the road. We just want to
know if the chicken is on our side of the road, or not. The chicken is
either against us, or for us. There is no middle ground here.

DR. PHIL:
The problem we have here is that this chicken won't realize that he must
first deal with the problem on 'THIS' side of the road before it goes
after the problem on the 'OTHER SIDE' of the road. What we need to do is
help him realize how stupid he's acting by not taking on his 'CURRENT'
problems before adding 'NEW' problems.

OPRAH:
Well, I understand that the chicken is having problems, which is why he
wants to cross this road so bad. So instead of having the chicken learn
from his mistakes and take falls, which is a part of life, I'm going to
give this chicken a car so that he can just drive across the road and
not live his life like the rest of the chickens.

COLIN POWELL:
Now to the left of the screen, you can clearly see the satellite image
of the chicken crossing the road...

PAT BUCHANAN:
That damn chicken crossed the road to steal the job of a decent, hardworking American!

BILL GATES:
I have just released eChicken2008, which will not only cross roads, but
will lay eggs, file your important documents, and balance your check
book. Internet Explorer is an integral part of the Chicken. This new
platform is much more stable and will never cra...#@&&^(C% .........
reboot.

MARTHA STEWART:
No one called me to warn me which way that chicken was going. I had a
standing order at the Farmer's Market to sell my eggs when the price
dropped to a certain level. No little bird gave me any insider
information.

BARBARA WALTERS:
Isn't that interesting? In a few moments, we will be listening to the
chicken tell, for the first time, the heart warming story of how it
experienced a serious case of molting, and went on to accomplish its
life long dream of crossing the road.

ARISTOTLE:
It is the nature of chickens to cross the road.

JOHN LENNON:
Imagine all the chickens...

ALBERT EINSTEIN :
Did the chicken really cross the road, or did the road move beneath the
chicken? (the key is to remember there really is no spoon...)

COLONEL SANDERS:
Did I miss one?

**** CHENEY:
Where's my gun?

AL SHARPTON:
Why are all the chickens white? We need some black chickens.

ERNEST HEMINGWAY:
To die in the rain. Alone.

GRANDPA:
In my day we didn't ask why the chicken crossed the road. Somebody told
us the chicken crossed the road, and that was good enough.

DR SEUSS:
Did the chicken cross the road? Did he cross it with a toad? Yes, the
chicken crossed the road, but why it crossed I've not been told.

How many garage sales could you hold in a year?

How many would you want to hold in a year?

To me it's a huge pain the arse.  Will that be censored? Let's test it!

What sane person would want to have more than 1 or mayyyybeeee 2 per year?

Did you read the article in the Star Trib about limits being set for garage sales?!  It's strange that our city governments need to deal with this issue/non-issue.

I think definitely for most regular, non-retired people, a garage sale is seen as more a hassle than a money-making means. For the others, who have sales weekly ( I know of one in my old neighborhood, who would just open up their garage every weekend and put the signs out), there should probably be limits.. or counseling or something.  Find a hobby. Or start making crafts and traveling to craft fairs, then it's really a business.  My sister's Ex-Father-In-Law (ha!) used to collect things during the week and say, "oh people would like this!!" very excitedly, and then mark it up and put it out in his garage sale.  Crazy, this phenomenon called garage sale.  Too bad the retirees can't have more than 2 per year depending on where they live.. that's their tax-free milk money!

On that note, I must go get ready for my garage/yard sale this weekend!  Saturday's the day!

Wish me lots of business and sunny weather!

http://www.startribune.com/templates/Print_This_Story?sid=18844974

"

Minnetonka considers limits on garage sales

By LAURIE BLAKE, Star Tribune

May 13, 2008

How many garage sales is too many?

Minnetonka is preparing to join the circle of cities that set a limit.

Edina holds homeowners to one per year. Minneapolis, Maplewood and St. Louis Park allow two per household. Richfield, three. Maple Grove and Bloomington permit their residents four per year."

After a hotly contested book vote - I decided we should go for something lighter like some members suggested.. (Lisa_Aka.. here's your sexy trashy novel!)

It's the first in a series of 12 books by Janet Evanovich about a NJ gal with a ton of attitude! It'll be a fun read.. my aunt has read the whole series and passed it on to my other aunts to read! Sure to bring up lively conversation too. Get started all of you :) and if you fini**** fast, by all means, go onto the next in the series "Two for the Dough".

Jump to the group page for more on this book, and also to respond about which date works best for you to meet. The 25th (Sun) or the 26th (Mon).

Thanks all!