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A quite minute on the dogsled trails out with Wintergreen Dogsled Lodge today.

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Snowmobiling Around Tower

We had a fabulous day on the trails with snowmobiles! We got to Lake Vermillion Houseboats right at 9a to get our snowmobiles and helmets. We were on the trail in no time. We hadn’t had breakfast so we stopped in Tower after a short ride across Pike Bay at Good Ol’ Days Cafe for a “greasy spoon” breakfast. It also served as a quick gear test and we realized the folks were going to need some help with warm hands. We picked up a bunch of hand warmers at the gas station and then we hit the trail for pretty good loop.

Snowmobile trail map near Tower Minnesota showing a highlighted loop route passing through Sudan, Eagles Nest, and Wahlsten areas.

I’m not sure on the total distance but we were out on the trail for a bit over 3 hours after breakfast. The hand warmers were a big help and we had a great time. I thought the distance was just right but mostly everyone else thought we could have ended an hour earlier. 🙂 I also wasn’t that cold when we got done and everyone else felt pretty cold. 🥶

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Downtown Ely. Nice to see the theatre open again!

Snow-covered main street of Ely Minnesota in winter with the Ely water tower visible and Frandsen Bank and Trust on the leftState Theatre marquee in downtown Ely showing Uncharted and Marry Me with tickets $5, surrounded by snow.Snow-covered sidewalk in downtown Ely Minnesota with storefronts including Roth Chiropractic and an American flag visible in winter

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Snow sculptures in Whiteside Park in Ely, MN.

Large snow sculpture of a fish with detailed carved scales and fins, displayed outdoors in Whiteside Park in Ely MN in winter.Snow sculpture of a womans face with fish and feathers carved into her hair, displayed in a snowy park in Ely MNLarge snow sculpture of a bald eagle head with detailed feathers, displayed outdoors in a snowy park with bare winter trees behind it.Snow sculpture of a pelican holding a fish in its beak, with more animal snow sculptures and bare winter trees behind it, Ely MNTwo large snow sculptures in a snowy park, one resembling a stone building and another a decorative circular design, with trees and a house behind them.

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Highway MN 169 heading into Ely.

Icy two-lane highway MN 169 lined with snow and evergreens, with a Breitlung Monument Park sign on the right.Snow-covered Highway MN 169 lined with tall pines on both sides stretching toward a brown road sign and foggy horizon near Ely Minnesota.Snow-covered Highway MN 169 curving into fog, flanked by pine trees and utility poles on a grey winter day.

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Given the state of US politics, wouldn’t now be an ideal time for the creation and launch of a new political party? The two “products” on offer seem to leave a wide space for a new entrant into the market. 🤔

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Tina Schlieske at The Dakota

Tammy and I saw Tina Schlieske doing her Sinatra to Simone show at The Dakota and it was incredible. She puts so much passion and energy into it that you cannot help but be moved. She was also joined by her sister Laura who did a number of songs and then they teamed up for several duets. It was a fabulous night of live music. Also our first time back to the Dakota since the pandemic! 🎶🎉

Jazz band performing on stage at The Dakota jazz club, with balloons, neon sign, and an audience seated at candlelit tables.Three performers on stage at Dakota jazz club, two singers with microphones and one playing upright bass, pink balloons and neon sign behind them

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POAP 4105433 at NFT Innovation Digest - Victoria L.

Wire mesh sculpture of a human head and torso with yellow and black layered strands, set against a blurred green and blue outdoor background.
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Mike Birbiglia at Pantages Theatre

Tammy and I went to Mike Birbiglia’s newest show at the Pantages and it was so great. We’ve seen him before and like previous times the entire show was strung together through one story diving off into various tangents. There were moments of incredible laughter intermixed with occasional touching and heartfelt points.

Two people wearing face masks take a selfie outside a theater marquee reading HTT Presents Mike Birbiglia 2/17-19 at nightComedian in a floral shirt and light jeans holds a microphone on a wood stage with a stool nearby, lit by a warm spotlight

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Giant wall of pizza boxes waiting to be filled at Hello Pizza.

Hundreds of red pizza boxes stacked in a large wall on tables inside Hello Pizza restaurant.