minnesota: Passed the 100,000-point mark in TWO states, thanks to my friends on ActiveRain
- 05/30/08 08:30 PM
It took me nearly a year to reach this point, but the time was well spent.
This evening, both my real estate companies (Wayzata Lakes Realty in Minneapolis, Minnesota and Madeline Island Realty in La Pointe, Wisconsin) passed the 100,000 point mark on ActiveRain!
Friends deserve much of the credit.
Karen Anne Stone mentored me and gave me great advice.
Charles McDonald offered his friendship and his guidance. Charles was the first AR member to write me and introduce himself.
Ruthmarie Hicks has been a source of inspiration and optimism.
Joey Aszterbaum was kind enough to provide encouragement on more than one occasion.
Kathy McGraw served as an example of what it means to be a … (55 comments)
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minnesota: Friday Before Memorial Day Was Unusually Quiet on the Freeway Heading North
- 05/24/08 05:11 PM
The effects of the recent sharp rise in gasoline prices were readily apparent yesterday.
On Interstate 35 headed north out of the Twin Cities, traffic was unusually light for the kickoff of Memorial Day weekend. Other than a fair amount of late afternoon congestion close to I-694 in the Lino Lakes area, it was obvious that at least some are staying home this weekend.
On past Memorial Day weekends, traffic has been much more congested heading towards Duluth and the Boundary Waters area. This year, things were eerily different.
Perhaps it has something to do with the late start of spring across … (13 comments)
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minnesota: COPA (Cirrus Owners & Pilots Association) To Host Sixth Annual "Fly-in" July 10-13 in Duluth, Minnesota
- 05/19/08 04:47 PM
The annual COPA (Cirrus Owners & Pilots Association) Migration is the most-attended event of the year for those who own and operate Cirrus aircraft.
This year's Migration "Fly-in" will be held in Duluth, Minnesota at the Duluth airport. And best of all, you don't have to be a Cirrus owner to attend!
The event will feature factory tours, seminars with featured speakers and trade show exhibits. For pilots who register early, there will be free "rust removal" flights (space available on a first come, first served basis). This program pairs Cirrus instructors with pilots and provides the opportunity to practice … (4 comments)
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minnesota: Cirrus Aircraft Manufacturing Facility in Duluth is a Minnesota Success Story
- 05/19/08 03:57 PM
Duluth, Minnesota is the home of Cirrus Design, a corporation that manufactures the popular Cirrus SR Series of private aviation aircraft.
The Cirrus aircraft is best known for its CAPS (Cirrus Aircraft Parachute System), which is a ballistic parachute system that is capable of returning the aircraft safely to the ground in an emergency situation. Cirrus pioneered the system in the mid-1980s.
In addition to its unique parachute system, Cirrus aircraft offer other innovative features not found elsewhere. The Cirrus uses no retractable landing gear system, unlike other similar aircraft. Retractable landing gear failures are common and the Cirrus has eliminated that … (2 comments)
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minnesota: Minnesota School District Exploring Four-Day School Week
- 05/14/08 08:01 AM
A school district in west central Minnesota is discussing the idea of switching to a four-day school week in order to save money. The idea was apparently triggered by recent surges in the price of oil and the effect that has had upon transportation expenses.
The district, which serves the communities of Maynard, Clara City and Raymond, has decided to consider a four-day week in response to sharp increases in fuel prices for school bus transportation. Nearby South Dakota permits several rural school districts to operate four days per week.
The idea of a compressed school week has become increasingly popular in rural … (18 comments)
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minnesota: "Minnesota Bound" Website Offers Live Webcam With Loon's Nest View!
- 05/13/08 06:48 PM
If you're interested in wildlife or bird watching, you might find it fun (and educational) to be able to watch a live webcam from the nest of a Common Loon on a Minnesota lake.
KARE-11 television station in the Minneapolis and Saint Paul area hosts Ron Schara's "Minnesota Bound" program on Saturday and Sunday evenings each week. The program also airs in Duluth, Rochester and in the Fargo - Moorhead area along the North Dakota border.
The "Loon Cam" on Schara's Minnesota Bound website offers a live view of mom & dad Loon taking turns guarding their nest. Right now there are … (13 comments)
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minnesota: Spring is Arriving Late in Minnesota, Which May Be Helping Our Real Estate Market
- 05/10/08 12:57 PM
It's nearly mid-May and spring is nearly a month behind the calendar in the Minneapolis and Saint Paul area.
Graduation time is less than a month away and usually trees are budding, people are putting in gardens and mowing lawns. But this year, the Twin Cities area has been plagued by a longer than average winter, with recent snowfalls and cool, rainy weather. Even mosquito season is behind schedule!
Minnesotans are, for the most part, stoics who tend to ignore less than perfect weather. But in the upper Midwest, folks are understandably impatient to see spring arrive.
The flip side of this … (4 comments)
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minnesota: Remembering Marvin McCoy
- 05/10/08 09:30 AM
I attended a friend's funeral this past week.
Marvin McCoy died in Minneapolis on April 30th. He was a longtime musician colleage, a top-drawer brass instrument repairman and a friend of mine for over thirty years.
Marvin was passionate about the French horn, the natural horn ("hunting horn") and the Alphorn. He worked as a freelance professional hornist for many years and was arguably one of the best-known and most respected brass instrument repair experts in the United States.
Marvin was also an avid member of the International Horn Society. The IHS is "dedicated to performance, teaching, composition, research, and the preservation and … (0 comments)
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minnesota: Forming an ActiveRain Woodwind Quintet - Clarinetist, Oboist and Bassoonist Needed!
- 05/10/08 06:07 AM
Maybe I should be asking Patricia Kennedy before I post this..
I'm thinking we should form an ActiveRain woodwind quintet. Pat Kennedy is a pro and she has the flute part covered.
Flutist Pat Kennedy performing with her trio in the Washington, DC area
I'll be glad to play French horn, of course!
Hornist Eric Kodner performing with the Music Saint Croix ensemble in Stillwater, Minnesota
Okay, that leaves just three spots left to fill, which would be clarinet, oboe and bassoon.
Does anybody here on ActiveRain actually play those instruments? I should add that you probably … (2 comments)
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minnesota: "We're Not Opening the Family Cabin This Summer Because We Can't Afford To" - Are You Hearing This From Clients or Customers?
- 05/03/08 02:57 PM
I was at a suburban grocery store just west of Minneapolis about three days ago, in the checkout line.
The lady behind me was chatting with a neighbor in the adjacent line. I couldnt' help overhearing her commenting, "We aren't going to use our cabin this summer. We just can't swing it this year". Her teenage son started to protest. She lost her temper and said "Your father and I decided we can't handle the expense, so forget it. If it's a choice between keeping our house and taking trips, we're not opening the cabin this year. We can't afford the damn gasoline"!
A … (15 comments)
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minnesota: Live Jazz at Crave Restaurant in Edina Every Friday Night
- 05/03/08 02:15 PM
Crave Restaurant in Edina, Minnesota is featuring live Jazz every Friday evening, at 8:30 p.m.
You'll see Jazz pianist Laura Caviani, with guest artists like Debbie Duncan, Patty Peterson and Dorothy Doring performing live at the popular Edina nightclub.
The Laura Caviani Trio has maintained a weekly presence at Crave since the beginning of the year. In February, I saw the Trio (Laura Caviani on keyboard, Tom Lewis on bass and Phil Hey on drums) at Crave with blues stylist Debbie Duncan. Debbie and the Trio delivered their usual powerhouse performance of jazz and blues tunes, including "Blame it on My Youth", "Blue Skies", "Our Love is Here to Stay", "I'm Beginning to … (0 comments)
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minnesota: "Minnesota Sesquicentennial Show" Coming to Minneapolis Pantages Theater May 10-11
- 04/23/08 07:13 AM
Midwest composer/producer/songwriter and historian Warren Nelson (of Big Top Chautauqua fame) has written a musical theater production about pioneer life in Minnesota, to be presented at the Pantages Theater in Minneapolis, May 10 and 11.
"Old Minnesota: Song of the North Star" is Nelson's musical and historical tour of life in the Gopher State. The show features large screen still photographs of life in the early days of Minnesota statehood.
The performances at Minneapolis' Pantages Theater are part of a Big Top Midwest Tour of Minnesota and Western Wisconsin, with appearances in Glenwood (April 25), Stillwater (May 3rd), Elk River (May 13) and downtown Minneapolis. Wisconsin stops on the … (2 comments)
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minnesota: How Easy Is It to Become a Luxury Homes Agent?
- 04/18/08 03:09 AM
I read a post a couple weeks ago by one of our members who wants to change the focus of his real estate business. He's recently decided that the low-end market in his area is dead. And now he plans to become a luxury homes agent.
Just like that.
Marketing and selling upper-bracket properties looks easy to some agents!
But how easy is it really to become a luxury properties agent overnight? I understand the part about looking for business in other markets. However, I'm a bit more skeptical about the idea that you can just throw a switch and immediately morph from selling … (37 comments)
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minnesota: Old Log Theater Presents "Sounds for Summer" in Excelsior, Minnesota
- 04/17/08 03:25 PM
Excelsior's Old Log Theater has put together its own summer concert series!
The Old Log's "Sounds for Summer" concerts begin June 2nd, with an appearance by the Russ Peterson Big Band. On concert evenings, dinner is available in the theater's dining room. All concerts in the summer series begin at 8 p.m.
Here's this summer's concert schedule:
June 2 Russ Peterson Big Band June 9 Cliff Brunzell and his Minnesota All Stars, with vocalist Charmin Michelle June 16 Monroe Crossing June 23 Barbary Coast Dixieland Band July 7 Medicine Show Music Company July 14 Sopranorama, with Janis Hardy, Maria Jette and Molly Sue McDonald July 21 Upper Mississippi Jazz Band July … (2 comments)
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minnesota: Mobiledia Offers Handy Information Including Cell Phone "Dead Spots" In Your State
- 04/11/08 05:09 PM
Mobiledia describes itself as "dedicated to providing cell phone reviews, news, and comprehensive information on all things mobile". But the handiest part of the site I've found is the section dedicated to identifying cell phone "dead spots" in your state or locality.
From the site's Home page, go to
Cell Phone Carriers > Dead Spots
for a map of the United States. Click on your state and you'll find consumer-contributed comments about alleged cellphone dead spots. Each comment includes carrier and rating information, location and date contributed. For example, a Minnesota commenter might comment on weak reception in Marine-on-Saint-Croix or Silver … (14 comments)
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minnesota: Duluth Pounded By Spring Storm With Twelve-Foot Waves on Lake Superior!
- 04/11/08 01:47 PM
The Duluth, Minnesota area got blasted by some heavy-duty stormy spring weather today.
Local news stations reported sixty-plus mile per hour winds in Duluth harbor, with twelve-foot waves striking the shore. Duluth didn't receive as much snow as expected so far, but winds have been unexpectedly strong.
People were advised to stay indoors. Large pieces of ice were picked up by the gale-force winds and did damage to cars and building windows. The wet, heavy snow has made driving difficult and visibility was minimal in some areas.
The bad weather stretches across Carlton County and into Superior, Wisconsin, across the south shore and into the … (10 comments)
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minnesota: Nickelodeon Universe Theme Park Now Open at Mall of America in Bloomington, Minnesota
- 04/02/08 07:31 AM
Nickelodeon has created the first Nick theme park for families and kids at the Mall of America in Bloomington, Minnesota. The newly-opened Nickelodeon Universe is the nation's largest indoor theme park!
The Universe website rates rides from "mild to wild" with a RideGuide that helps parents determine if a particular ride is appropriate for their children. Some of the flashy ride names include the Avatar Air Bender, Danny Phantom Ghost Zone, Pepsi Orange Streak, Splat-o-Sphere and El Circulo del Cielo.
April 1-13 features an opportunity to meet your favorite Nickelodeon characters. SpongeBob, Patrick, Dora, Diego and the rest of the gang will make regular appearances … (8 comments)
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minnesota: "Blues In The Night" Appearing at the Ordway Center in Saint Paul Through May 18
- 04/02/08 06:38 AM
The Ordway's McKnight Theatre in downtown Saint Paul, Minnesota has a real winner onstage with "Blues In The Night", a celebration of Blues and Jazz music.
Blues In The Night features a dynamite cast, including my friend Debbie Duncan, who has made recent Twin Cities appearances at Crave in Edina and at the Dakota Jazz Club in downtown Minneapolis. Other featured cast members include Jamecia Bennett, Julius C. Collins III and Regina Marie Williams. The musicians are led by Raymond Berg on keyboards, with Joe Pulice on drums, Jay Young on bass and Mark Lenander on guitar.
This blues celebration in the McKnight comes on the heels of the Ordway's very … (2 comments)
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minnesota: Monterey Bay Aquarium's Seafood Watch Website Helps You Make Seafood Choices That Are Good for the Environment!
- 03/31/08 05:38 PM
Seafood Watch is an online consumer's guide to seafood options which are sustainable and good for you at the same time. The organization makes recommendations to the public about which seafood choices are best for ocean fisheries and fish farms from an environmental standpoint.
The group publishes a 2008 "Central US Seafood Guide" (I got my free copy at the Como Park Zoo & Conservatory in Saint Paul, Minnesota) which divides seafood items into three categories: "Best Choices", "Good Alternatives" and "Avoid". For example, the Guide names Monkfish, Shark, Red Snapper, imported wild Sturgeon Caviar and Bluefin tuna as species which "are caught or … (8 comments)
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minnesota: "Building Green" Is a Feature of the 2008 Twin Cities Parade of Homes
- 02/10/08 05:13 AM
A highlight of this year's Parade Of Homes in the Minneapolis and Saint Paul metropolitan area is the "Building Green" tour of homes and products.
The Spring '08 Parade of Homes booklet features a section on Building Green, including a Mini-Tour of fourteen Green Homes across the Twin Cities area. Participating communities with Green Homes in the Parade include Otsego, Mound, Excelsior, Shakopee, Blaine, Minneapolis, Arden Hills, Vadnais Heights, Rosemount, Red Wing, Woodbury, Hudson and Stillwater.
Despite the fact that this year's Parade of Homes has 40% fewer participating homes, the Green Tour is a bright spot! Prices for these Green Homes … (12 comments)
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It took me nearly a year to reach this point, but the time was well spent.
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