Duluth Blog

We're Back!

2008-09-25T08:35:00.000-07:00

Summer was wonderful in Duluth and kept us hopping. The Inn was the busiest ever with folks flocking to Duluth to enjoy the beautiful weather by the shores of Lake Superior. Many events brought people here by the thousands: Grandma's Marathon, The Tall Ships (record-breaking crowds) and Blues Fest, to name a few. Fall is not to be missed either with the changing of the leaves (peaking up the North Shore and a week away in Duluth), the large hawk and migratory bird migration at Hawk Ridge and cultural events picking up again. The Duluth Superior Symphony just performed it's opening concert of the season featuring an incredible violinist performing the Paganini Concerto. Tchaikowsky's Fifth Symph. and Copland's Fanfare for the Common Man sounded amazing with the new shell now in it's second year. The crowd did not go away disapointed. For upcoming concerts check out their website at www.DSSO.com . We can help out with getting tickets.

Fall has also brought the biggest and best apples we've ever had from our old, mystery apple tree. After a full day of apple pie filling and applesauce making we had quite a bin full of apple cores and peelings. It was quite the attraction for our current resident large, well-fed black bear whom we've named "Yogi." He seems harmless but sure can make a mess!

That's all from the Good Life in Duluth.

Joan and Jim

2008-02-10T11:38:00.000-08:00

Get your skis out and come up to Duluth where there's still good snow. We were skiing every day this week up on Skyline Drive at Hawk Ridge where Sven and Ivy (our Goldens) can romp along with us. The view is great and it's perfect for skate skiing. We only wish Ivy would keep up and not get so distracted by little critters and tasty things she finds in the woods. Groomed trails are also good despite our lack of fresh snow.

The Duluth-Superior Symphony put on a great show last night with the reknowned group, Riders In the Sky, famous for their music in Toy Story and Grammy Awards. Their performance brought out more than a few "Yeehaws!" from the western-attired audience and a bit of warmth to the plummeting temps outside. If you missed this one, there's another chance for a fun time with the symphony when celtic fiddler, Natalie Macmaster, comes to town on March 30th. Her energetic dancing fiddling style will amaze you. Check out the DECC or DSSO websites for ticket info.

I'm thoroughly engrossed in reading Greg Mortenson's Three Cups of Tea and highly recommend the book to anyone. It is his incredible story of building schools in Pakistan and Afghanistan and promoting peace in these misunderstood territories. We're very excited that he will be coming to Duluth on March 19 and we are still offering free tickets to our guests for the event. Give us a call or reserve on-line and mention that you would like tickets.

Our son Jonathan keeps us all busy with his orchestra and quartet concerts, swim meets and rock band gigs. I sometimes wonder if he has time for school. How will we fill up our time next year when he's off to college? Travel, gourmet cooking, new hobbies?

That's all from the good life in Duluth.

Jim and Joan

2008-01-31T12:40:00.000-08:00

It was a beautiful 30degree day for the start of the Beargrease Sled Dog Marathon very much appreciated by the spectators but a bit too warm for the dogs. We were delighted to discover a great spot to watch the teams come through the woods and descend into a turn after crossing Vermilion Road. Good photo opportunities, not many people and the dogs looked fresh and enthusiastic after just a half hour on the trail. Unfortunately, weather conditions were less than ideal as the too warm temperatures, light rain and then extreme cold and windchills caused more than half of the teams to drop out. The twelve finishers were warmly welcomed after 3 1/2 days on the trail.

If you've read Three Cups of Tea by Greg Mortenson (or are planning on reading it) there's an event in Duluth on March 19 you won't want to miss. He will be speaking at the Marshal School at 7:00pm on that Wednesday. We have tickets available for you free of charge if you stay with us (only 2 rooms left), so give us a call soon. For more information about the book and Greg Mortenson check out his website www.threecupsoftea.com . I'm off to buy the book now so he can autograph it as well.

The extremely cold temperatures and ice shut down the Duluth schools for 2 days this week and Jim and I were stuck at the cabin up near Biwabik. An extra day wasn't hard to take, but we finally had to come home as we were running out of coffee and videos! The boys weren't too disappointed either with a bit of down time.

That's all from the good life in Duluth!

Joan and Jim

2008-01-20T07:48:00.000-08:00

Bbbbrrrrr, it's cold outside, but toasty warm inside by the fireplace with a freshly made hot mocha latte in hand. The days are lengthening as well and we welcome the uplifting light of the sun. Cross country skiing has been fantastic this winter with our early snowstorms and there are many trails to choose from in and around Duluth. We're reluctant to go out when it is sub-zero, but will be swooshing down those trails again soon as temperatures rise.

The big upcoming event is the 25th running of the John Beargrease Sled Dog Marathon. This Saturday, January 26, is the opening gala dinner with speaker Sam Cook at the Inn on Lake Superior. Another event not to be missed on Saturday from noon to 2:00pm is the Cutest Puppy Contest at the Fitgers Brewery Complex. Go early before the puppies tire and the crowds are overwhelming. The exciting start of the marathon takes place on Sunday (11am - 3pm) at Ordean Middle School and is a free event. You can catch the excitement of the dogs as they await their turn to charge off down the trail and their gleeful yipping as they take off. After traversing nearly 400 miles up the North Shore and back, they will arrive at the finish line at Billy's on January 30. More information about the race can be found at www.beargrease.com.

The Ellery House has just posted two specials for the months of February and March. We're promoting the celebration of Valentine's Day all month long and will include our special handmade Belgian chocolate truffles and roses with any two-night stay in February. March is a great month to relax and rejuvenate, so we're offering half-price on the 3rd night of a three night stay! Give us a call if you want to take advantage of these specials (1-800-355-3794).

Thats all for the good life in Duluth!

Joan and Jim

2007-11-29T07:17:00.000-08:00

The inn is all aglow with hundreds of tiny lights illuminating decorated trees, old-fashioned snow villages, fireplaces, fresh poinsettias, wreaths and the entrance to the house itself. Our spirits are lifted as this extra light cheers up the ever-darkening days of midwinter. The smells of almond shortbread baking and melting chocolate tantalize our tastebuds in anticipation of sampling our treat offerings for the Holiday Tour this Sunday, December 2.
The family is gearing up for an afternoon of string quartets featuring some of our favorite Christmas carols, Baroque selections and Pachelbel's Canon. Our son, Jonathan will be playing both violin and viola (when Grandpa Bill's fingers tire). Grandma Marlis will also play both instruments (not at the same time!) and I'll stick with the violin. The elder son, Peter, is our much needed cellist and we're delighted that he is able to join us this year. As a special treat, Tom Wegren, piano professor from UMD will delight guests with his exceedingly entertaining piano renditions of holiday tunes and whatever else he chooses. One year he really had a group from the Red Hat Society going.
This all sounds like so much fun! I can't wait. Don't miss out on a great afternoon at Duluth's Historic Bed and Breakfast Inns. Give us a call or e-mail for info and tickets.
218-724-7639/800-355-3794/218-428-1310 or info@elleryhouse.com

That's all from the good life in Duluth!

Joan and Jim

Bed & Breakfast Holdiay Tour

2007-11-25T06:10:00.000-08:00

The annual Duluth Bed & Breakfast Holiday Tour (featuring all 8 Inns) is almost here and we are busy preparing. The kitchen is full of the wonderful baking aromas of Scandinavian Almond Shortbread and Belgian Chocolate-Dipped Peanut Butter Balls--2 delightful treats the Ellery House will be serving to all who come through our doors on December 2. The sounds of our family string quartet will follow you as you wander through the festively decorated rooms. Don't linger too long as there are 7 other great inns to see. Tickets (only $20) for this wonderful event may be purchased by calling us at 1-800-355-3794 or 218-724-7639.

Speaking of family quartets, my mother is a professional violinist and teacher and has just moved to Duluth, along with my Dad the sometimes violist. They will join our two sons and myself in our family musicale the day of the Tour. The time and effort involved in moving them here (from Iowa) was tremendous, but they love their beautiful apartment at the newly built Lakeshore Living right on Lake Superior. They moved here for the lake view, not to mention spending more time with the grandchildren. Thanksgiving Dinner never looked so good with a backdrop of the sun shining off blue Lake Superior waters.

That's all from the good life in Duluth.

2007-10-18T07:48:00.000-07:00

Indeed the port city of Duluth is experiencing gale force winds, rain and fog, not unlike the weather that sunk the Edmund Fitzgerald in 1975. It was sung about by Gordon Lightfoot who just recently performed in Duluth and will be commemorated at Split Rock Lighthouse in a special two day event November 10 and 11. The lighthouse will be open from noon to 6pm with a dramatic tolling of the bells to remember the crew members who perished and the once a year lighting of the beacon. The Minnesota Historical Society website (www.mnhs.org) has more info.

Surprisingly, fall leaf colors and beautiful roses at the Leif Erickson Park Rose Gardens are still with us as we have not experienced a killing frost yet. One thing we know about the weather in Duluth is that it can change very quickly. We'll have more nice fall days yet!

Indoor activities and events abound and coming up on the music scene is the Duluth Superior Symphony Orchestra concert featuring soprano Christine Goerke. The date and time is October 27th at 8:00pm. I missed out on playing for Big Bad VooDoo Daddy last weekend as I was out of town taking Jonathan on college visits and helping my parents sort and pack up 50+ years of accumulated stuff in preparation for their upcoming move to Duluth. Oh my! Definitely a lesson to be learned here. Meanwhile, our son had a great time staying on the college campuses, eating the gourmet food and staying up til all hours. Of course, he's been up til all hours since he got home trying to catch up on school work so he can get into those wonderful colleges!

That's all for now from the good life in Duluth.

Joan and Jim

2007-10-04T09:24:00.000-07:00

Fall leaves, bird migrations, anniversaries and intermittent beautiful weather continues to attract folks to Duluth and the B&B. We've been busier than ever, but managed a 2-hour hike on the beautiful sand beaches of Park Point yesterday as the temperatures reached 70 degrees. Our golden retrievers, Sven and Ivy, were especially grateful as they exuberantly fetched tennis balls from the lake.

Speaking of the dogs, they enjoyed their trip up to Hawk Ridge last week and befriended some nice hawk watchers from Illinois. We spent a pleasant hour in the warm sunshine keeping an eye for hawks and chatting, mostly about lodging. They apparently weren't terrifically thrilled with their accomodations at a local hotel. So, of course I mentioned that we happened to own a bed and breakfast inn and that they would be so much happier with us! We even cater to bird watchers with special take along breakfasts, birding guides and maps, and binoculars. Maybe we'll see them next year.

Opening night at the Symphony was a great success with a nearly full house of enthusiastic concert goers. Oddly enough it was the first time we on stage actually heard the audience singing the National Anthem, not because of louder singing but because of the improved acoustics. My feeling, along with fellow string players, was that the string sound was somewhat muffled. The professional acoustician claims that further adjustments need to be made and will probably continue throughout the year. Coming up next is a "swinging" pops concert with Big Bad VooDoo Daddy on October 13th. As I will be taking my son on college visits I'll be sitting this one out.

We continue to worry about the future of our high school senior son, Jonathan, as he was featured in his school newspaper this week. The article opened quoting him as saying in AP English class that he needed to get a job so he could raise money to start a squirrel ranch. Stay tuned.

That's all for now from the good life in Duluth.

Joan and Jim

2007-09-26T07:25:00.000-07:00

We had delightful guests staying with us this past weekend who were here for the Mason Jennings concert, including Mason Jennings himself! The concert hall at St. Scholastica was packed. We really enjoyed the music and getting to know Mason over the breakfast table. There are many such great musical events in Duluth and we've recently discovered the local website http://www.twinportsnightlife.com/ for finding out about what's happening here.

The Duluth Superior Symphony Orchestra definitely has a new sound! The first rehearsal with the new shell was incredible with an amazing sound filling the hall. The violins were actually told to play softer so as not to cover up the winds. Much tuning and adjustments of the large 3 ton acoustice panels will need to be made before the sound is just right. Not only does it improve our sound, but it looks beautiful. I'm looking forward to our first concert this Saturday night and the reaction of the audience.

The boys, Jim and Peter, are taking advantage of the gorgeous fall day to take one of their last sails of the year on Lake Superior. I'm heading up to Hawk Ridge (sailing is not my thing) with the dogs to check out the hawk migration. Yesterday was one of the best days of the month so I hope to see some kettles today. Check out http://www.hawkcount.org/ for migratory counts all over the country, including Hawk Ridge. From the looks of it, Duluth is one of the top spots in the country for viewing hawks.

As our teenage son, Jonathan, went off to school today dressed in his bathrobe and pajamas (it's dress your "Dream Job" day for Homecoming) we wondered if he wants to sleep the rest of his life, be a mattress tester or have lots of dreams. No wonder he's having trouble deciding on a college!

That's all for now from the good life in Duluth.

Joan and Jim

2007-09-21T11:58:00.000-07:00

We're excited about letting all our friends in on the wonderful things we enjoy in Duluth. Our intent is to get some news up here at least once a week. We're dipping our toes into the blogging world, we'll see how it goes.

The leaves are just starting to turn and looks like we're in for another gorgeous fall. With the recent rains, the waterfalls up the North Shore are spectacular.

The bird count is going on at Hawk Ridge and on a good day you might see thousands of hawks, eagles, osprey, etc. Birding experts are generally available on the Ridge to answer questions. It's a great way to spend the afternoon, if only for the Superior view.

Hard to believe that we're already planning the Holiday Tour on Dec. 2nd. It's the first time all the eight Historic Inns of Duluth will be on tour together, decked out in their holiday finery. The Ellery House family string quartet will be playing at our inn. Check out our website for more information: www.elleryhouse.com

Joan plays first violin in the Duluth-Superior Symphony Orchestra and is busy preparing for the upcoming concert Sept. 29. They've remodeled the stage and the shell for optimal acoustics. This will be the first time for the new sound and Joan's excited and hopeful that for the first time you might be able to hear the violins over the horns. www.dsso.com for more information.

That's all for now on the good life in Duluth,

Joan and Jim