Valentine’s Day doesn’t always look like red hearts and flowers! We selected some of our favorite things to give our loved ones this year.


Valentine’s Day doesn’t always look like red hearts and flowers! We selected some of our favorite things to give our loved ones this year.

We are so excited…
Local artisan brewery, Blacklist, announced on Sunday it will be opening a taproom downtown. They expect to be open by Summer 2016 in the old Last Place on Earth space at 120 E Superior St. We’ve been patiently waiting during the Downtown area’s revival to see who will take on the vacant space where Last Place on Earth once resided.

There are so many great shops to go to on Small Business Saturday! To help you find the best places we compiled this list! If you know of something happening that we missed please email us at hello(at)duluthloveslocal.com

With the holiday season soon approaching we thought it was time to share our local Duluth favorites with you! Show us where you like to shop local by using #duluthloveslocal

The event was a Pop-Up Launch with a Craft Business Owner Panel where we met Lincoln Park’s dynamic entrepreneurs that are working to promoting its Craft District. The participating businesses were Aerostich, Bent Paddle, Duluth’s Best Bread, Birchaus Market, Duluth Coffee, Duluth Grill, Frost River, Hemlocks Leatherworks, Zenith Bread Project and Love Creamery.

Taking advantage of the great weather in Duluth we went out with Jodi, owner of E3 Twin Ports, to explore Kingsbury Creek up to the Superior Hiking Trail! Jodi took us to a location none of us had been to in West Duluth and guided us through the hike. Once we were ready for a break Jodi had us stand in a circle to go over things we can do in our daily life to have happier and healthier lives. This included actions inspired by TED talks like snaps, hugs and cheering that left us feeling refreshed. Scroll down to learn more about Jodi and E3 Twin Ports.

This week’s entrepreneur sure stays busy. Between creating custom furniture at Duluth Barrel Works and producing some of the best honey (ever), Jon Otis has a positive impact on our local community. Both Jon and his wife, Erin, are business owners, so we’ve interviewed them independently to get their own perspective on our fair city.

We have joined with Mentor Duluth as they try to reach their goal of 31 mentors in 31 days for March into Mentoring! They are over halfway there as we near the end of the month, to learn more visit mentorduluth.org.

There’s nothing like the smell of fresh roasted coffee. That’s why there’s nothing quite like Duluth Coffee Company, a cozy coffeehouse and roaster on Superior Street that’s committed to making good coffee.

Meet Bent Paddle
Or maybe, you’ve already met. Bent Paddle has quickly established itself as one of Minnesota’s best breweries. Most recently, this Lincoln Park-based brewery made Vita.MN’s 2014 Best of Craft Beer Six-Pack.

You know when you’re scrolling through Facebook and are taken aback by an adorable baby or wedding photo captured at just the right moment? You might have Jes Hayes of Mad Chicken Studio to thank for that.

ICYMI: Duluth’s beer scene is nothing to mess with. The Growler just released the 2014 Kind-of-a-Big-Deal Award winners, and we think you might recognize a few names.

Who better to trust with designing your home than a family-run business? Cynthia and Michael Bradley started Floor to Ceiling Interior Design Showroom 32 years ago. Since then, their sons Sean and Patrick have entered the business and the Bradley family continues to work together.

Duluthians are drawn to the lake. We want to walk along it, stare at it, dip our toes in it. It’s no surprise, then, that we love Va Bene Caffe and its spectacular lake views. Va Bene’s guests can watch boats come into the harbor, walkers and runners on the Lakewalk below and sailboats as they float by on warm Wednesday nights.

Yarn Harbor has been a locally owned community staple for 15 years. In February, Yarn Harbor will move into a new, larger home in Lakeside so be sure to check it out! Until then, read all about this great business and its owner, Kathy Thomas, and stop by her Mount Royal location to see it for yourself.