Obviously, I am pumped about Ghostbusters on Friday. One of my all time favorites. And I thought I might get clever with some of my favorite quotes and then I thought ... "better to hear YOUR favorites"
So please post away below.
Also for your consideration, the odd, and quirky but very funny and good - spirited movie that came out a few months ago Be Kind, Rewind which includes a hilarious little Ghostbusters homage. It's out on video now and we watched it. It is surprisingly touching with a great message about community preservation a la Eric Ringsred (warts and all style). If you are a "proud to be a wienie" adherant, I bet you will enjoy it. Here's a clip:
Hi Folks we will be at the 4th annual Rhubarb festival this Saturday.
Over the years it has quickly grown into quite the extravaganza from the little random bake sale that we started out with.... Most of our proceeds will benefit CHUM which benefits the broke and battered folks in our community so ... great, right?
I have been assured that, as usual, there will be a limited supply of RHUBARB relish for your wienie enjoyment. I also hope to drag out a keg or two of that award-winning High Bridge Root Beer from Lake Superior Brewery.
There will be a hamburger guy there, too and I guess a Chum Lemonade stand. But the big hit is actually the RHUBARB creations and rubbing elbows with the folks that made them. Lutheran Church Ladies from far and near are slaving away all week coming up with fantastic concoctions to sell and it is going to be a SCRUMPTIOUS day. Rain or shine.
In the past we have had local folkies like Jim Hall, Jamie Ness, and Sara Thomsen, they should be back. But this year they are closing off the street and setting up a stage for some even bigger performers, Ann Reed (of "Song for Minnesota" and "Heroes" fame) and Peter Ostroushko from "A Prairie Home Companion" and other places.
We are at the First Lutheran Church on London Road (within rock throwing distance of Leif Ericson's Statue - (but don't throw a rock anyone, please)). If I get around to it we might even have some "re-claimed t-shirts" for this event.
Even if you don't grab a wienie, please stop and say hi. See you there.
Speedy Winter ... Spring just around the corner ...
Hi folks,
I just logged on for the first time in a few months. I realized some of you have been coming to visit and leave notes and the like, sorry I haven't been around to recieve them. I'm at an undisclosed tropical location preparing for another wonderful season of love, wienies and excitement. Lol, actually I got a real job and that's why I've been so busy, but that's a good thing it will help to sustain Speedy and make it even better than ever I think. As you all know, we've always been more about fun and community and family and ALL sorts of things AHEAD of being about money ... so ... we're still gonna be about all of that. Seriously, though, we are looking good to live on and strong on 2008. That is always a question, but this year could be the best season ever with the way things are shaping up.
You never know what could happen but we will be updating the wienie wagon starting in a few weeks nad then getting stuff all cleaned up and shiny and ready to go hopefully by April or May, but FOR sure by June this year. I am considering some new menu items and i think that due to their popularity we will make some of the things we tried last year like bratwursts, "ogre toes" aka pickles on a stick, and reclaimed t-shirts a permanent fixture going forward. If you have any ideas I guess now is about the best time to get them in.
I love you all, and I'll try to check in a little more often from now on. Thanks for being our friend.
Man! Have I ever been light on blogs this summer. Do you miss my little film reviews? Here's one.
To get ready for this weeks movie the girls and I actually watched Young Guns I and II, then that Bon Jovi tune "blaze of glory" got us thinking about BLADES of Glory, so we saw that, too.
And when you think about it we are not far off with all of that ... There's the whole Ice thing vs Hockey in Mighty Ducks ... and we all those of us who are FIRMLY gen-exers got to know Emilio Estevez mostly BEFORE his brother Charlie as a member of the 80s BRAT pack. The first true standout spot for him was "The Breakfast Club" which movies in hte park ran during a LIGHTNING storm last year and it was the most awesome thing you have ever seen (but you'd have to have been there to beleive it). But anyway, by the mid-80s Emilio had unequivocally established his talent, and on top of that, he was also pretty cool. We also think maybe he lost some cool ... A LOT of cool, that is ... but firmly established himself as a superstar with those cowboy pics (Young Guns 1 and 2, the first of which stands up as a minor classic we think). And then CASHED IN on the fame and SQUANDERED the artistic cred with the Disney "Mighty Ducks" thing. But it doesn't change the fact that he was talented and famous ... it just taints it a little, that's all.
BUT ... we think that ANOTHER look will reveal that Mighty Ducks stands on its own creatively in retrospect. And although it definitely a perfect fit for the (deep breath): bad-selfish-rich-white guy-finds-himself (and the babe) -helping-underpriveleged-kids-from the inner city formula, it is made more attractive when you consider that this is the film that ESTABLISHED that cliche and set the mold for the whole genre. PLUS, it spawned a huge pack of sequels AND a major league hockey team so ... it definitely stands out. One revolutionary thing is the inclusion of the girl hockey player which will seem sexist in today's view perhaps, but it was actually TRULY revolutionary fifteen years ago and this whole image of the girl who can skate and hit the puck hard enough to knock your teeth out was definitely historic. It changed some lives and open a thousand ice arena doors across this country by portraying to the establishment what girls have known all along, you can wear pig tails and play some serious hockey. Nuff said there?
Also enjoyable are the shots at the national ice center in St. Cloud, the twin cities area street scenes and the MN hockey nostalgia (including North Stars appearances) ...
So we say go. If the wind isn't too strong, that is. Too cold? NEVER. In fact, the dropping temp makes us MORE interested in a hockey film tonight, doesn't it? Bring and extra blanket and a pack of enderprivileged kids to snuggle up with.
I sent this out as a bulletin today but I thought some of you might get a kick out of reading EACH other's comments (which are always excellent and fun to read). So here it is in blog format, too. ; ) Speedy!
Have you ever noticed the random folks who dress up "in theme" for the movies that Trent and his amazing team does on Friday nights? Speedy would love to see MORE of that kind of creativity, fun and ... well .... "Proud to be a Wienie" spirit.
On Friday June 29th "Movies in the Park" is showing "Star Wars." For a few of the movies this year Speedy Wienie is dong a costume contest and that will be the first one. I have no idea what the prizes are yet, but they will definitely be cool because ... that's how we roll. But anyway, the idea is to come with a GROUP or FAMILY dressed in movie themed attire - individuals are fine, too but that's not what the contest is about. For me it's just a little more fun when you all work together. For example, I just watched this very clever "fan" video. I thought it might give some of you an idea to work on with your own lil' posse.
I'll blog about the contest a bit more later, but consider this your initial "heads up." The other movies we will do this for are "Wizard of Oz" "Lord of the Rings" and ... I can't remember which other one. But I'm sure it'll come to me ... no doubt AFTER I hit post ... lol
Anyway, with or WITHOUT a "contest" we DEFINITELY want to see more folks dressing up and getting into the spirit of the films. This week is Indiana Jones again ... and that should be a great one to cut your teeth on if you haven't tried it yet. But enough of that for now. I'm gonna enjoy the rest of my father's day with the lil' wienies ... yeah ... sometimes I'm HAPPY when it rains ;)
Hi everyone. Here is the DEFINITIVE schedule of Movies in the Park this Season. Please note that we have included the schedule for Two Harbors as well, but Speedy won't be there ... not yet anyway ... and we aren't exactly planning on it, but the schedule there looks AWESOME, too so ... anything could happen, I guess!
Anyway back on the home front, the movies start THIS Friday. Start planning NOW ... parking will be simply INSANE, but walking in through the Rose Garden or along the lakewalk with your favorite cast of friends and family memebers will be pure, raw, joy so don't even worry about it. Blankets, bug spray and perhaps a tarp are always wise choices. Porta potties are usually an issue so consider that along the way too, lol ;) And on a RELATED note no need to pack in any snacks this year, in the unliekly event that Speedy DOES NOT have what you are looking for we have many new sponsors that have come on board this year to shower joy and excitement on all of your diverse palletes. The vendors have all made a commitment to support this amazing FREE series so ... please do your part by supporting us, too. And if you do decide to pack in a snack that is TOTALLY ok, but remember that ABSOLUTELY NO COOLERS are allowed. And to be more specific, if you are hoping to catch a buzz or smoke some bud and stare at the stars during the movie ... just stay home and do it in your own back yard, there is no place for drugs or alcohol at this community oriented, family friendly series of events! PLUS, it would be overkill anyway because the whole experience is a huge rush from start to finish ... if you've been there you know exactly what I'm talking about if you HAVEN'T then you simply MUST come down and experience it for yourselves.
I'll likely be VERY busy on Friday's but try to say hi if you stop by anyway ... Truk will be there most weeks, too and he always appreciates a little lovin himself ... especially in the tip jar ;)
One more thing, if you have not done so already Please please please please add Twin Ports Outdoor Movies Myspace page to your friends list and encourage your other (local) friends to do the same.
This is a repost from my lovely (and talented) friend Christine Got any of your own to add at the end? Let me know.
Speedy! ;)
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If you've ever lived in Duluth (or Superior), this is for you.
YOU KNOW YOURE FROM DULUTH WHEN......
You know what P.S.S. stands for and have been there.
You hate East, Hermantown, and Proctor even though you may have gone there.
You talk about how good Duluth's water really is.
You know what DECC stands for and have been there.
You think going to Superior is a long drive.
You constantly make fun of people from Iowa.
You have more than one vehicle that does not run properly.
You keep a shovel in the back of your vehicle just in case.
You know how to get to the mall with your eyes closed.
You get mad when you get stopped by the lift bridge.
You have never run in Grandma's marathon, but stand by the finish line.
You have gone sledding on more than one golf course.
Schools close because of the extreme cold.
You get mad because it only snowed 6 in and not 12.
You know more than 1 person that has killed a deer without using a gun.
You where I-35 starts.
You own a snowmobile.
You have licked frozen metal.
You have walked on water in March.
You think Perkins is a good place to meet friends.
You have gone to the Wade.
You avoid Canal Park in the Summer.
You still drive over the speed limit even though you can't see 10 feet past the dense fog or snow that's blinding your vision.
You know that Mesaba isn't a marsupial.
A main road gets paved twice, when it doesn't need it, before another main road, that has pot holes the size of compact cars, gets paved once.
You get the most liberal newspaper in the world: The Duluth News Tribune.
You still drive over the speed limit in a blizzard.
You are saddened by the lack of good restaurants such as Chipotle, Panera, etc.
You describe your car color as "Dirt mixed with salt".
The road you live on has more potholes than canal park has tourists!
You make fun of people from Superior because of their per capita of bars, not realizing of course that Duluth has more, just more spread out.
The things you recognize as you are driving on I-35 are Sugar Daddy's and the Casinos.
You have a vehicle with a block heater.
You have a four wheel drive vehicle.
You have every gone swimming in a lake in October.
You give people directions and you tell them to go up the hill and then realize how insane you sound when they give you blank stares... which hill?
You make fun of two harbors because their mascot is the "agates" even when your's is the "rails."
You know where there's a stoplight.... on the freeway.
Your car alarm has been set off by the 4th of July fireworks.
You know 5 people with the last name Anderson and none of them are even remotely related.
Sometime in your life, you have worn gloves inside the house for warmth.
You complain about the cold, but don't turn up the thermostat because you don't want to get hot.
You have been double bridged.
You have ever bottomed out your car on a city road due to a large pot hole and taken the oil pan off.
You know what crusin' the loop is and you laugh at the dorks who do it.
There is no snow on the ground and a day later there is over 3 feet.
You've gotten hypothermia after being outside for ten long minutes, wear 3 layers of clothes on a "warm" Duluthian day.
You have shoveled out your car a couple hundred times in your lifetime.
"When driving in Duluth, you give the directions "go up here" and "go down here" instead of "take a right" or "take a left" due to the fact that all turns are made on an incline.
You've ever lost your boot in the snow and had to step around barefoot looking for it.
You only start and let the car run if it's below zero.
You laugh at the people who go running to see a ship come through the lift bridge and when they marvel at the size of a 1000 footer.
You call Minneapolis and St.Paul "Da Cities."
You know someone who's been stuck at work for over 24 hours due to snow.
You experience a snow storm so massive, that afterwards, there are doctors on the news warning people not to have HEART ATTACKS trying to shovel all of it.
You keep your plow on your truck all year long.
You can spot a tourist just because they're feeding a seagull.
You can't find a decent job?
You laugh at the kid who breaks out the shorts at 40 degrees.
You've been to a Dukes game.
Pretended to drive off the edge on Skyline.
Think the aquarium is the ugliest building you've ever seen.
You have ever shoveled off the roof of your house so you could jump off it and used your little brother as test pilot.
You laugh at all the tourists daring each other to jump into the lake.
You refer to Lake Superior as "The Lake."
The Christmas City of the North Parade is before Thanksgiving.
You know there is a weather difference between the bottom of the hill and the top of the hill.
All the Local News is the same.
You know what winter smells like before any snow has even begun to fall.
Sand volleyball is played in 2 places... the beach and behind bowling alleys.
You wear flip-flops in the middle of winter and nobody questions your sanity.
You know what Bong and Blatnik are and which one is which.
You are the kid who wears shorts when it is 40 degrees...
You have 5 different coats for all the different seasons and the seasons in between the seasons that only Duluthians can sense, and know what it means to wear a "fleece."
You've ever driven up to hawk's ridge at night in the summer and honked at people in parked cars.
You've driven up Woodland Ave a thousand times, and every time, seemingly worse than the time prior, that right lane makes your car feel like it is going to fall apart.
You know what an Anchor Burger is.
You call "Park Point" the beach even though its not by the ocean.
My youngest daughter Maria (age 4) heard me say the whole "opening up a can of whoop --- " phrase a few days ago. So I might have to stop using it now. She knows she can't say the last word, and she might not even know what it means, but she knows she can't say it herself so I'm safe for awhile, but I'm gonna have to stop.
The thing is ... SOMETIMES its just the perfect phrase. Like now for example. This weekend Speedy Wienie TOTALLY opened up a can of ... well, know ;)
It was our most successful opening weekend ever. And even though I had hoped it would come about six weeks earlier ... all of that sour sensation has pretty much faded now BECAUSE ... we are back in the saddle again! Thank you all for your help and just the VIBES you sent out even if you didn't actually make it out to the stand yourself. Friday Saturday we BLEW the doors off the Park Point Rummage sale and today we mostly chilled and relaxed but moved PLENTY of meat at our very favorite home park, Leif Ericson. We'll be back there probably Wednesday, but for sure by Friday, FYI. So ... see you all again REAL soon. And thanks again for all of your love, support and positive vibes.
OK .... just got back from the 22nd floor of the Duluth Bureaucracy and Recreation department ... and I come bearing shiny objects ...
One of the very very very very very very MANY changes that the city made to my permit this year is that they laminated it ... and its wallet-sized so I can keep it with me at all times .... No one has actually ever asked to SEE it in three years, but I guess you never know when they might start, lol.
It's only good for another 12 days, but that's ANOTHER story, lol.
The important thing is that I actually HAVE a permit now after 3 weeks of delays. It's actually a "temporary" temporary permit that's only good for another 12 days, but that's ANOTHER story, lol. I can't wait to tell you all of the fascinating details of my upcoming meetings with the parks and rec" powers that be ... Meanwhile the Zoo has losts its accreditation, Enger Tower is crumbling and we still don't know exactly how much revnue comes in from the Blues Fest ... but hey at least that renegade Wienie wagon is getting plenty of oversight. But I jest ...
NOW ... to the bat cave ... A few more minor adjustments to the wagon, need to swing by the store and pick up some supplies and then I hope to see ya all REAL soon ... Watch this space for details ...
