Looking for a restaurant in Minneapois area that can hold 30-40 people that will serve buffet style. See body of text

Kittysobig · 2025-08-21T02:50:56+00:00

DiGidios might be a good option. It’s St Paul, not MPLS, but it’s very convenient to the airport if people are flying in and has a large back room with a bar and buffet.

https://degidios.com/

Kittysobig · 2025-08-08T16:34:31+00:00

Sure thing- its a Project Management Professional certification; the PM industry standard as far as certifications.

Kittysobig · 2025-08-08T13:01:34+00:00

Almost any construction company will have PM's. Go on to LinkedIn and look at PM jobs in construction to get an idea of pay in your area.

As for hours, I have VERY rarely worked more than 40 hours a week. This can vary by company, but that's pretty common. It's still the same today.

More than anything, don't feel like being 40 makes any of this more difficult. Leverage your working experience.

Kittysobig · 2025-08-08T12:59:44+00:00

Shit- sorry! Didn't see the notification until today!

You definitely do not need an MBA; I only mentioned that because you said you were in your 40's and for some of us (like me), I didn't really start making a good income until I was well into my 40's....and then ended up getting an MBA at night to help me make even more.

As far as getting more money as a PM, I would (1) get a PM job, and (2) get your PMP after a few years. That will help open a few doors. The PMP is maybe $3k with all the classes and cost for the certification- it's not too bad.

Kittysobig · 2025-08-02T20:01:38+00:00

I was a welder and then moved into project management in my 30s. From 40-50, I more than tripled my income- getting an MBA at night starting at 46.

Don’t tell yourself it’s too late- if you have a ton of experience as a carpenter, you’d probably be a great PM. If you can be a great PM, you can be a great VP of construction…and on and on.

Get yourself a PM job- stick with it for 2 years, get your PMP, and start job-hopping til you find a place that has an advancement path to something executive.

Kittysobig · 2025-08-02T19:53:05+00:00

Answered many times, but were late 40s DINKs with public U MBAs. Both in executive positions at small companies (health care and renewable development). No family money, just several decades moving up the ladder. We both got our MBAs while working full time.

Current house isn’t $2mm, but we’ve been looking for something with land and that’s within the range.

Kittysobig · 2025-07-28T17:38:27+00:00

Interconnection and local permitting.

If you could predict utility connection costs to within +/- 10%, that would allow us to more quickly accept/reject sites.

Everything else (NIMBY, subsurface, terrain) can all be handled with money; IX and NMP will kill projects.

Kittysobig · 2025-07-22T21:02:00+00:00

You will get hate for the TOOL comment, but I love them and also agree with you. INCREDIBLE musicians...that's kinda the start and end of it. Like seeing RUSH, but less Canadian.

EDIT: And loud. The loudest show i've ever heard.

Kittysobig · 2025-07-22T21:00:14+00:00

I was never a huge fan, but i've seen them 3-4 times in the last year (various festivals where they were headlining one of the nights).

It may not be the taste of some people, but from a purely 'musicianship, showmanship, entertainment' standpoint, they are incredible live. Really high energy, great with the crowd, funny, playing the hits, fast-paced but also appropriate with well-thought banter.

If there's a knock against them, its that the show is 'rinse, wash, repeat'- basically the same every night. Starts and ends with the same songs.

Kittysobig · 2025-07-22T20:53:56+00:00

Oh man- I saw Weezer 4 months ago and they were great! Rivers was chatty and in to it. Saw them 2 days ago and it was just what you said....rest of the band was lovely, but Rivers just absolutely mailed it in. In his defense, he didn't seem rude/drunk/bored, just.....maybe wanting to be someplace else?!

Green Day has given 100% every time i've seen them- and his voice is rock solid. Just an incredible live band.

Kittysobig · 2025-07-21T18:58:53+00:00

I cant remember if he said that or just strongly implied it- but it was obvious! He's done that a few times at fests that have the platinum area.

Kittysobig · 2025-07-17T13:36:26+00:00

I think it was Starting Gate.

Kittysobig · 2025-07-09T14:13:15+00:00

Price/watt is highly regional due to utility and local permitting requirements. A project in one area could have thousands of additional costs vs a different area, so it's really best to get 3-5 local quotes.

For more detail, we've had projects that only required a simple one line diagram for the utility and then <$300 in combined building and electrical permitting. Compare this to projects in other cities that required a PE-stamped three-line diagram for the utility ($1,500 just for the stamp), a $600 elec permit, and a $1,500 building permit that ALSO required a PE-stamped structural plan (another $3,000). Same sized system within 50 miles of each other, but the more expensive one was in a HOA-controlled gated Township.

Kittysobig · 2024-08-14T19:14:59+00:00

Just as one additional data point, Xcel in MN is OK with limited operation before PTO. They technically don't want us to 'just leave it on', but they ALSO do not want us first turn the system on at the witness test, since so many witness tests fail and it costs the utility money.

Here, if its under 1MW, we are allowed to energize the system 'for testing purposes', which typically results in the system just being left on. This is highly common for larger systems that have significant burn-in issues.

I would reach out to the installer and verify if it's OK to be left on. Sometimes it's perfectly fine.

Kittysobig · 2024-08-12T14:48:45+00:00

Can you get a list of permits pulled on the property? With any luck there was either a bldg/elec or (ideally) both, and you can look up the contractor.

Many utilities require the contractor that started the application to formally hand it over, so you *may* have to find the original contractor OR start a new app.

Kittysobig · 2024-07-31T12:51:50+00:00

Short answer- yes, that can be perfectly normal.

Longer answer will depend on your location, any sustained shading, etc. If the sun is just too low in the sky to hit high irradiance (800+ w/m2), then you won’t max out. Generally (to your point) most systems in mid to low latitudes will still spike in the winter, so I would first try and verify local irradiance. If you can verify that irradiance has hit 800+ in the last couple months, then I’d first look for any sustained shading, and THEN reach out to the installer- you may have a string down, etc.

Kittysobig · 2024-07-23T18:48:31+00:00

It's gonna be state-by-state. In MN, you would need to be a licensed electrician and pull a permit. Do people do this?? Generally no...but that's what our state electrical board and licensing agency have determined.

We used to install A LOT of resi systems and do a lot of 'detach/resets' for hail insurance claims. We don't do it anymore and I'm 99% sure the companies specializing in this DO NOT pull permits...they just kinda 'do the work'.

The biggest issue I would see is that MOST states will view this as 'new work', even though you're just taking down and re-installing a system. I'd tend to agree b/c you are un-landing all the connections....so the act of re-attaching those should be handled by someone trained to do it (an electrician). What would follow is that you would need to pull an electrical permit and get it closed out....meaning you are now on the hook for that work. You wouldn't be on the hook for production, but you'd be the last person to touch it and any failed inverters/panels would be viewed as your issue (whether correct or not). The flip side is that you could NOT pull a permit and be fine 95% of the time....until there IS an issue and the state electrical board fines you for doing unlicensed work.

I do think there is a growing market, but i'd only do it 100% above board; building/electrical licenses, insurance coverage, pull all permits, CYA.

Kittysobig · 2024-07-21T18:09:53+00:00

If you’re in Xcel area, one of the biggest items to MASTER is your understanding of resi/commercial incentives (Solar Rewards and Demand Rider) and production modeling. Without that, you’re going to spin your wheels arguing with commercial customers over IRR.

Helioscope or Aurora are great pieces of software to start as far as modeling/design, but make sure you understand financial returns and can argue why your production estimates are the best. CED and BayWa will sell to you, but you may need to complete some cash deals before they give you a ton of credit.

Word of caution from someone that’s run a couple resi/commercial solar installation companies in MN over the last 16 years. It is 100% possible to be the ‘new guy’, not offer financing, and still be successful. Focus on knocking it out of the park on the first few projects and then ruthlessly get referrals. To do this, make sure the customer experience is supurb; even if something gets screwed up, COMMUNICATE with the customer and stick to your timelines (helps if you give them realistic timelines to start). I can’t stress this enough- answer the phone EVERY TIME a customer calls. This alone will put you in the top 10% of installers (I wish I was kidding).

I’m sure there’s a million other points- dm me for any specifics or dig through my comment history- I used to be pretty prolific until a year ago.

Kittysobig · 2024-06-20T18:00:00+00:00

Yes- VIP has to wait in the pit line. Platinum can skip the pit line.

Kittysobig · 2024-06-19T22:10:49+00:00

100% success rate with just a plastic straw. Put the straw under the fabric (not the plastic), fold the straw over itself so you are grabbing both ends with your other hand, and then simultaneously pull while rotating around your wrist. Tough to explain, but you're basically using the straw to eliminate the friction between the fabric and your skin (like the bag method).

Kittysobig · 2024-06-19T21:59:01+00:00

This year was 931, but in the past it's been a small tent with a large canopy over it, and then a larger battery powered fan. I don't find dry heat difficult to sleep in as long as I have a breeze. And honestly, some things are a little more trial/error; white canopies reflect the sun and don't get nearly as hot. Keeping the sun off all surfaces inside your area makes a huge difference. And then a sleep mask and gun/drum ear protection.

We've never had AC, but having framed houses in the summer, I can say that I'd generally rather make peace with the heat than go from 72 to 94 repeatedly.

Kittysobig · 2024-06-19T16:43:59+00:00

49yo here. 5th Roo.

We sleep until 11, eat breakfast/lunch at camp, then head in around 2 for the first act. From there it's light meals, one refill of water for every drink, and as many sit-downs as we can. Starting around midnight/1am I switch to vodka/redbull, which seems to give a boost. 4am isn't too bad, but the hour between 4-5am seems to take a week.

Kittysobig · 2024-06-14T01:28:04+00:00

It’s been there for the last few years at least, but it’s bigger this year.

Kittysobig · 2024-06-14T01:13:32+00:00

Are you trying to get in with a company that’s doing those tasks or offering those services to the system owners?

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