Weekend Meals and Receptions

Arrange to meet up and dine together with others!

Friday happy hour! Enjoy appetizers and a hosted drink at Zeitgeist.

Friday dinner. This meal is not included in the registration fee. Reservations will be made at a handful of restaurants for LSDR attendees to have dinner together following the close of the Retreat. All food and beverages are the responsibility of those attending this meal. Spaces will be limited. Sign up will be available at the Retreat.

Saturday morning coffee and pastries. Enjoy coffee and pastries from Duluth’s Best Bread at Zeitgeist starting at 7:45 am (included with your registration fee).

Saturday lunch. A box lunch for an additional $25 is available on Saturday from 12:00 to 2:00 pm at Zeitgeist. Sign up for the boxed lunch during registration; boxed lunch registrations are due February 17. Lunch options include:

  • Italian club of salami, capicola, Italian ham, white cheddar, giardiniera aioli, lettuce, onion, tomato on a brioche bun with cookie, chips and pickles and a soda or soda water. (allergens: dairy, gluten, onion, nightshade) or…
  • Roasted red peppers and hummus on sour dough, olive tapenade, red onion, tomato, lettuce, olive oil, vegan aioli, cookie, chips and pickle and a soda or soda water (allergens: nightshade, garlic, gluten, onion, sesame)

Closing reception. Enjoy drinks just down the street at LUM Studio, sponsored by CF Design and LUM Studio.

Saturday dinner. Saturday dinner is not included in the registration fee. You can find a list of restaurants suggestions here to make dinner plans together or individually.

Dietary Requirements

Please contact Deanna Christiansen by Friday, February 17 if you have dietary requirements or preferences.

LSDR Photography & Collage Activity

As part of our optional Saturday afternoon activity (see below), all 2025 Retreat attendees are invited to take photos during the retreat of whatever catches your eye in the categories of: winter inspiration, design details, and connection—however you interpret them! Photos must be taken while you are in Duluth in attendance at the Retreat, but do not have to be taken in Zeitgeist.

Take up to one photo in each category during the Retreat and upload them for those participating in the optional Saturday afternoon collage activity to use (see below). More details will be provided at the start of the Retreat!

Optional Saturday Afternoon Activities

Choose to participate in one of these three optional activities during Saturday afternoon. These activities will be happening at the same time. The photo collage and tour require advance registration; the tour is an additional $20/person.

Optional Activity: LSDR Photo Collage

Work with a partner or in a small group to turn your fellow Retreat attendees’ photographs into a digital collage.

If you want to participate in this activity, please plan to bring a personal computer. We will be using Adobe Photoshop to create the collages. If you don’t have Photoshop on your computer, we will be able to give you access to Photoshop for the activity. If you aren’t familiar with using Photoshop, we’ll pair you up with someone who is—plus people will be there to help you out!

Sign up when you register for this optional activity taking place Saturday afternoon at Zeitgeist. Limited space available. This optional activity is free.

Optional Tour: University of Minnesota Duluth Natural Resources Research Institute $20 pp

Join us for a hosted tour of the UMD NRRI and learn more about an exciting array of projects underway, especially focused on deconstruction and reuse opportunities and biocarbon in materials development, coatings, etc.

Sign up when you register for this optional tour Saturday afternoon. Bus transportation will be available from Zeitgeist to the NRRI. Limited space available. Additional $20 fee required when you register.

Optional Film: View a new documentary short titled “How to Care” co-created and co-hosted by Dr. Jon Hallberg (2024 LSDR speaker)

In “How to Care,” meet Dan, a 75-year-old artist living with cerebral palsy, and the extraordinary team dedicated to his round-the-clock care. Delving into the joys, challenges, and uncertain future of direct care work, this short documentary highlights its critical importance for millions of Americans like Dan.

“How to Care” is a 23-minute documentary short that was funded with a grant from the Health Resources Services Administration (HRSA), the primary federal agency dedicated to improving health care for people who are geographically isolated and economically or medically vulnerable.  The University of Minnesota worked with HRSA to create a 5-year project called the Minnesota Geriatrics Workforce Enhancement Program (MNGWEP), whose purpose is to work in collaboration with community partners in educating and training the healthcare and supportive workforces to care for the older adults of Minnesota.

Also, with the $5B+ projected Minnesota State budget shortfall in 2028-29, being attributed to the increasing costs associated with caring for growing elderly and disabled populations, this film provides an important human story and context to those numbers.

No advanced registration required. This optional activity is free.