This is the part of summer that brings out garden pests in droves. While there are many active right now, two are particularly significant, according to the University of Minnesota Extension.

In the fruit garden

It’s tiny but it’s devastating. The spotted wing Drosophila (SWD) (Drosophila suzukii) can devastate certain summer fruit crops, including floricane raspberries, June bearing strawberries and blueberries.

The spotted wing Drosophila is tiny and resembles the common fruit fly you’ll see hovering above over-ripe fruit. The experts at UM Extensions suggest that you can identify the males easier than the females by their distinctive wings. Look for clear wings with a black dot near the tip of the wing.

SWD larvae eat their way through

You might have seen the beer brand called Bent Paddle Brewing Company when you are having a pint at the local bars with your group of friends. However, have you ever wondered what are they and where are they from?

Bent Paddle Brewing Company is actually a 30-barrel production craft brewery strategically situated in the lovely Great Lakes port town of Duluth, Minnesota. The company has a taproom right beside the brewery that offers freshly brewed, thirst quenching beers on tap. Bent Paddle Brewing Company promises perfectly fresh beer in the taproom as the brewery is just a stone’s throw away and customers will be guaranteed a satisfied experience. 

What makes Bent Paddle Brewing Company so special?

Bent Paddle Brewing Company does not just

That’s a question that is always right there on the top of our heads. We love our Duluth weekends so we’re constantly poring over the news to find out what’s coming up. Today, we share three pretty awesome events with you.

One Heck of a Ride

We’re about one month away from Duluth’s brand new summer event: “Slide the City.” It’s going to be an amazingly fun time for the entire family and one we hope will become a Duluth tradition.

The City of Duluth will be setting up a 1,000-foot long, 27-foot wide water slide on 12th Avenue that will run from 2nd Street to the Rose Garden. That distance measures more than three football fields, by the way.

The slide is padded so don’t worry about your hiney getting scraped up along the way. In fact, the

Va Bene Caffe is an Italian restaurant founded by Jim and Mary Kay Berarducci that takes pride in serving fresh Italian food using quality ingredients. All the dressings, sauces, gnocchi and breads in the restaurant are made from scratch. To ensure authenticity, they import selected Italian products including Prosciutto di Parma, olive oil and balsamic vinegar from Italy.

Featuring Duluth’s best lake views, Va Bene Caffe overlooks the beautiful Lake Superior. At Va Bene Caffe you can enjoy a casual, lively ambiance inside the restaurant or out.

The enclosed solarium and open air grotto both offer spectacular lake views and are perfect for special celebrations. The indoor dining room has a warm artsy Italian ambiance with a fireplace and seats up

Typically, the team here at the Lindahl Real Estate Group gets together at this time of the month to discuss great deals on real estate we’ve seen in and around Duluth. Then we put together a blog post on the best one. This month, we’ve decided to break the deals down into categories and we think it works a lot better. Take a look.

Lots and Land for Sale in Duluth

Build your dream home on this tree-studded lot on a dead-end street in the Spirit Valley-Denfeld-Norton Park area of Duluth. The listing agent promises a river view if you build that dream home to include two stories.

Utilities are already at the site due to an old homestead once located here. This lot is 0.21 acres in size and priced at $14,900.

Duluth Condo Bargain

If it’s

The New Scenic Café is Duluth’s favorite place to eat for a serene dining experience. It’s easy to reach if you drive along the North Shore of Lake Superior between Duluth and Two Harbors. The café is nestled behind a garden that is growing vegetables and herbs along with fragrant flowers.

It opened in 1999 and the Scott Graden’s New Scenic Café has continued to grow with customers hearing about the serene dining experience with unique menu options and excellent service. if you want to experience this awesome restaurant concept, check out the New Scenic Café in Duluth.

What to Expect

The restaurant is located at 5461 North Shore Drive in Duluth where chef and proprietor Scott Graden works to create the unique cuisine. If you’re coming from

The Judy Garland Museum is the home of the largest collection of Judy Garland and Wizard of Oz memorabilia in the world. It’s located right here in Grand Rapids, Minnesota where the public can be whisked away to the land of the Wizard of Oz. The birthplace of one of the greatest performers of all time, along with the Land of Oz, is celebrated at the Judy Garland Museum.

The museum is actually the restored childhood home of Judy Garland which now showcases over 300 memorabilia collection with items from the film and of Judy’s. Here is a look at what you’ll find at the museum.

Visiting the Museum

The museum is located at 2727 US Hwy 169 South in Grand Rapids. It’s open from 10am to 5pm Monday through Saturday with openings only during October

SmartAsset.com recently released their list of “America's Healthiest Housing Markets,” and lo and behold, Duluth comes in third, right behind Moorhead, in Clay County (up north) and Detroit Lakes, in Becker County.

So what, in the site’s editors’ estimation constitutes a healthy real estate market? They considered four factors:

• Affordability – Home costs as a percent of income. This criterion is weighted the most heavily in their report (40 percent, as opposed to 20 percent each for the others).
• Risk of Loss – The percentage of homes sold short (at a loss).
• Stability – The number of years homeowners remain in their homes and the percentage of them who are underwater on their mortgages.
• Fluidity – The editors used the average days a

If you love smoked meat and fish, SmokeHaus is the place for you. This gourmet specialty market and eatery provides plenty of great choices and many are sourced locally. The meats and fish come from sustainably-raised sources. The shop carries plenty of smoked fish, artisan salumi, deli sandwiches, handcrafted smoked meats and many other gourmet choices. With a location right on Lake Superior, Northern Waters SmokeHaus is one of the top spots in the Duluth area.

The Sandwiches

Northern Waters offers many different sandwiches and they even deliver. You can order any quantity of sandwiches, sides and beverages for delivery from 11am to 3pm, Monday through Friday. Of course, it has to be within the delivery area since all orders are delivered by

If you're looking for one of the best ways to enjoy the waterways, the Madeline Island Ferry is a good choice. It's found at the gateway to the Apostle Islands in Northern Wisconsin. The ferry provides cars, passengers and bicycles with transportation from LaPonte to Bayfield. It's a 25-minue trip with excellent views of the 22 Apostle Islands and Lake Superior.

The Madeline Island Information Station

Start your journey by visiting the Madeline Island Information Station. It's found across from the Bayfield ferry landing area. The information station provides plenty of information about the many businesses and attractions throughout the area. You will also find information about museums, parks, shops, restaurants, artistry and lodging. This is a