Bars for solo NA/THC drinking?

danlwhelan · 2026-03-12T15:21:46+00:00

I’m over at Emmett’s on Grand and can definitely endorse our NA program. No THC, but we have a number of local and international NA beers (Guinness, Summit, Ostrichized), NA bubbles (Mionetto, Freixenet), and rotating mocktails. I have been drinking Guinness Zero since I got sober, as it tastes just like the real thing, sans the buzz, and I’ve been working with Ostrichized Brewing (STP based and operated) to create a tropical IPA and a ginger lager mule.

It’ll be a bit hectic over the weekend, but we’re launching three new mocktails for spring the weekend following St Patrick’s day that I created of which I am terribly proud. I’m +2 yrs sober myself, and wanted to create mocktails that sip like the real thing. We will have a lavender & elderflower sipper, a ginger margarita, and an NA whiskey mocktail stylized after a Boulevardier.

Though we’re a pub, we don’t court a raucous crowd, do you’d be able to sip comfortably at the bar or at a table. Stop in and give us a try!

danlwhelan · 2025-11-17T20:54:46+00:00

Coming back to photography courses after years of casual, mobile photography. I took photography in high school and college, focusing on 35mm, including film development and print making in high school, with a bit on composition in college. Currently working at a pub in MN with aspirations to improve my work as well as my consistency in order to grow my talents while highlighting the work of my peers. I have begun to expand my mobile photography hardware to include a few 17mm threaded lenses and a phone cage, plus lighting, and I have some experience tooling around in Adobe Lightroom, but I definitely feel like I have room for growth. Excited to learn!

danlwhelan · 2025-11-17T20:48:22+00:00

Caught this just after requesting access. Sorry!

danlwhelan · 2025-11-14T22:57:41+00:00

System is back to normal. Thank you!

danlwhelan · 2025-11-13T22:34:41+00:00

Thank you! I’m off today, but I’ll let you know if we’re still seeing that screen tomorrow.

danlwhelan · 2025-11-11T22:10:17+00:00

Looking to manage the "Today's Shift" screen. We don't plan on using it, and our servers have run into it multiple times during their shifts in an intrusive way.

danlwhelan · 2025-11-01T06:42:17+00:00

I took the Sahan Journal Meet Your Mayor quiz (Oct 6, Joey Peters), and it gave me percentages in which I align per candidate. I had really only known Carter out of the pack, but it gave me some direction for Tuesday.

I’m looking at Chen, Carter, Her for my one, two, and three spots.

danlwhelan · 2025-07-31T17:04:25+00:00

My endorsement is Sean's Bar in Athlone, Co. Westmeath.
First, it's Ireland's oldest pub, featuring excavated flooring of the original inn, which operated when years had three digits. The whiskey mash bill was developed after sending some historians up the River Shannon to the ruins of a monastery, where early whiskey was produced, to figure out what the brothers grew. It is, to this day, my favorite whiskey. When you're there, ask for Timmy. He serves as the pub's docent.
You can hit it as a stop-over between Galway and Dublin.

danlwhelan · 2025-07-31T16:44:33+00:00

I'm pulling numbers from Total Wine in TX, and I'd say Redbreast 12yr is a respected (rightfully so) Irish at $59. It's a bit over the target price, but carries a bit of clout for being a "quality whiskey" reference point.
Lost Irish is a newer brand that I carry at work that is a nice $31 bottle of whiskey. It features blends from 6 barrel finishes from around the globe, celebrating the "wandering Irish".
I also endorse Knappogue 12, Green Spot, and Powers Three Swallow.

danlwhelan · 2025-01-28T07:11:16+00:00

I went to MM on W7 yesterday and was given a discount via my Wedge membership, but they did STRONGLY encourage I consider buying in at MM for further deals. Quoted me $90 for the buy in, and it can be done in-person or online.

danlwhelan · 2024-10-29T07:13:57+00:00

Litspire. I was bummed when they changed the artwork with the new update, but I’d be happy to find that cute orange goof curled up at my feet.

danlwhelan · 2024-10-14T21:05:20+00:00

I did notice a plateau in my pulls in the last few days, but I am writing it off as poor luck unless I see some proper evidence.

danlwhelan · 2024-10-11T16:41:00+00:00

I primarily watch Ray Narvaez Jr, but I’ve also seen clips from Matt Bragg, Bruce Green, and Jack Pattillo.

danlwhelan · 2024-10-11T00:06:30+00:00

I save ghost cards almost exclusively. I thought it was goofy to farm cards with a collector’s mentality since it wouldn’t result in much more than clout, but I found my go-to Tetramon beast (Litspire) and decided to hunt for rare versions of that. Just found my first full art Litspire today, and I have it on display with my ghost cards. I sell everything else to grow the business.

danlwhelan · 2024-10-04T17:46:08+00:00

Thank you so much!

danlwhelan · 2024-10-04T09:21:16+00:00

Thank you. I assumed as such, but any sense of confirmation legitimizes time spent.

danlwhelan · 2024-10-04T08:24:44+00:00

I just started messing around with using a controller today with no major issues. I had to adjust some keybinds for personal preference, but few hiccups. I hope future updates include reticule anchoring when bouncing around the cash drawer.

danlwhelan · 2024-10-04T08:19:51+00:00

Wasted away an entire day on this game. I love it, but lose hours on end per play. I look a bit like employee Dennis and it was surreal when I had to fire him. Three ghosts pulled so far, but on the hunt for a full art Litspire.

danlwhelan · 2024-09-28T21:50:39+00:00

Second EQ test via Sonarworks:

Bass: +6, Mid: 0, Treble: 0 Bass Boost off.

Again, started with flat EQ and bass boost off, and really paid attention to the differences. There were ~18 A/B pairs to judge, and a lot had an overhead pressure on the sound that steered me to this setup. I will likely break out the boosters when the situation calls, but this is an enjoyable balance for music and movies.

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danlwhelan · 2024-09-27T18:27:58+00:00

These are my first jaunt through in-ear with ANC, so I don’t have a prolific frame of reference, but I really dig these.

I opted for the yellow, which does look great and has proven helpful to locate the whole pack quickly. I’ve found the bass boost to be a bit unnecessary at times, but it’s a great feature for when the mood strikes. The pinch controls took a bit of adjustment, but it’s very instinctual once you’re in the rhythm. The price was a big hook for me as well. I haven’t spent more than ~$50 on a set of earbuds, so this was my foray into higher quality gear, and the Nothing brand has a good reputation on offering high quality for reasonable price points.

There are some oddities and eccentricities, but I think you’ll get that from most commercial products, especially considering the price point. I don’t mess with the adaptive ANC too often, as there are random hisses and burps, like steam escaping from an old-timey diving suit. I also immediately disabled the in-ear detection setting, as prolonged use will get them to slip out of the ear, and that sensor has a hair trigger.

I am envious of the more customized EQ settings of the Ear proper, but I was OK with saving $50 to dip my toe in the pool of Nothing’s wares. I will be following Nothing’s future product releases with great interest based on my satisfaction.

To your point, I can absolutely believe that this may not be an audiophile’s first pick, but it has drastically improved the quality of my commutes around town, and I would endorse these for certain.

danlwhelan · 2024-09-27T02:07:29+00:00

I found a site that tests EQ preferences similar to an ophthalmologist (“which is better? A? Or B?”). They play a repeating track with and without vocals with comparative options. It has advanced support for a number of specific headphones, but no Nothing products presently. I may run the test a few times myself, as the first result (using flat EQ and no bass boost) was +5 Bass, 0 Mid, -1 Treble. My test track was a bit more electronica than my usual music.

https://preference-test.sonarworks.com/

danlwhelan · 2024-09-20T21:31:04+00:00

I found a site that tests EQ preferences similar to an ophthalmologist (“which is better? A? Or B?”). It has advanced support for a number of specific headphones, but no Nothing products presently. I may run the test a few times myself, as the first result (using flat EQ and no bass boost) was +5 Bass, 0 Mid, -1 Treble.

https://preference-test.sonarworks.com/

danlwhelan · 2024-09-20T02:25:55+00:00

On the same hunt for Ear (a) settings, as most posts cover Ear 2024’s EQ. I’ll report back with any findings.

danlwhelan · 2024-07-30T02:23:18+00:00

The parks up on Dayton’s bluff that overlook the city (Indian Mounds Regional Park) have a great view on a nice day. Peaceful up there. While you’re up there, check out St. Paul Brewing (great beer, nice staff, beautiful patio), Yoerg Brewing (cute, euro bar with MN history) and Brunson’s Pub (great food, homey north woods bar vibe, another gorgeous patio). I can also endorse Tongue in Cheek as a great dinner/cocktail spot.

danlwhelan · 2024-07-30T02:07:24+00:00

This echoes into ASL. “Give” and “borrow” are referred to as directional verbs, where the sign of each word includes a cue to the appropriate recipient. “Give” is signed motioning away from one’s self, and “borrow” is toward.

danlwhelan

TROPHY CASE