The HoDo Lounge Cubby, #1

If you've never been to our lounge, you have never seen the little cubby in the Adam Kemp mural. Heck, there are some who have been to our lounge dozens of times and never seen it. Here's a photo:


I think the big "BLOOD" sticker is encouraging us all to donate blood. So, give blood!

As you can see, people leave little notes and various etcetera items in there. It acts as a kind of living time capsule. Cleverly, some leave their business card for viral marketing purposes. There's also a fair amount of trash. And, why not? It all tells a story.

Here's a select inventory:

*A note to Fargo artist Modern Man from New Year's Eve. Modern Man has yet to reply.
*A business card for Haney's Photography in Moorhead
*Two pieces of gum
*An apt fortune:
*Losing lotto tickets (maybe they should have gotten their lucky numbers from the fortune)
*A tiny Webster's dictionary; really handy for bar discussions dealing with semantics
*Orange Tootsie Pop
*A business card for Dundee Dell in Omaha, NE. Check out the Great Wall of Scotch!
*A Little Red Dress keychain
*A slightly inappropriate small print of a naked fairy holding a torch
*Broken Marlboro Light
*Some napkin origami
*And, this cool wooden token:


I recommend stopping by to check out the cubby for yourself (if you can) and, if you'd like, put a little something in there yourself. Have a great day!

The Simon Rowe Trio tonight!

It's Friday! Finally! And, of course, that means that we're serving up another hot session with the Simon Rowe Trio for our Night Club After 9. Tonight, the Trio is joined by special guests Russ Peterson and Tom Strait. Cover is just $7.50.

Take advantage of this warm (?) weather and come have some fun!

Flatlands tonight!

Thursday today, huh? The sun is shining, it's a balmy 10 above ... what to do? What to do?

How about some smooth acoustic rock? Sound good? Great!

We've got Flatlands in the HoDo Lounge tonight, starting at 8:30 p.m. There's no cover, either. Stop on by and check it out. We'd love to have you!

New HoDo Restaurant Show

We're pleased to announce a brand new show now hanging in the HoDo Restaurant's gallery space. This time around, we're featuring artists whose work hangs in our hotel rooms. This includes: Ali LaRock, Deane Colin Faye, Brian Paulson, Susan Haas Morrissey, Carl Oltvedt, Marley Kaul, Leo Kim, Walter Piehl, Jr., Jay Pfeifer, Mike Marth, Dan Jones, Jon Offutt, Charles Beck and Richard Bresnahan.

We've gotten a lot of inquiries about the artists that are featured in our rooms, so this show was a way for us to put them all together and show them off. All of the pieces are for sale, too.

So, stop on by, have some dinner and check out the new show. You'll be glad you did!

Let's Eat!

The Guest Services team (front desk) all got together for a meal in the HoDo Restaurant both as a get together and as a way to taste our wonderful food. A wonderful time was had by all. Cheers!

Night Club after 9!

Reminder: The Simon Rowe Trio will be easing you into your weekend this Friday night at 9 o'clock. If you haven't heard, the Trio has a new CD and DVD out called "Live at the HoDo" (hey, that's us!). Come on out and see what the fuss is all about! $7.50 cover.

Make friends with the HoDo on Facebook

The Hotel Donaldson now has a profile on Facebook, everyone's favorite social networking site. You'll be able to leave comments, have discussions with other guests or upload your own (tasteful) photos. If you're a Facebook user, check us out and become a fan. If you're not a Facebook user, go here to become one, then check us out, then become a fan. Fun and easy!

Tapas night tomorrow!

Tomorrow night is Tapas night at the HoDo Restaurant! Swing by to share small plates with your friends.

Tapas dining is fun, eclectic and a wonderful social experience. If you haven't tried it yet, don't you think it's about time? If you're not in an adventurous mood, our regular menu is also available.

This special menu is part of our ongoing third Wednesday series of special menu nights. If you can't make it to this one, be sure to check it out in the future!

Funky hotels, #1

The hospitality industry has a long history. As long as there have been cities and travelers, there have been hotels. In these modern times, hotel markets are well-structured and long-established but, like ourselves, there are plenty of places where innovation and fresh ideas win out over the familiar.

Here's a great case in point (via Hotel Blogs). Das Parkhotel in Schloss, Germany, uses recycled concrete tubes in the center of a green space. That's what you sleep in. Check it out:


All services are in existing buildings in the immediate area. Rates go by the "pay as you will" model, which makes Das Parkhotel a cool option for backpackers. It looks a little more secure than a hostel and you can't beat what you see when you walk out of your room: green grass. And, what a great use of existing materials. Leave it to those clever Germans!

Hi! It's a new year and a perfect time to try new, exciting things. In this spirit, we're pleased to announce the new Hotel Donaldson weblog, the HoDo Dispatch! This blog will be a great way hear news about all of the interesting stuff going on at the HoDo. You'll see previews of upcoming Happenings, learn about upcoming offers and peak into the quirky corner of the world occupied by the Hotel Donaldson. You'll also see photos and videos. Most exciting: you'll have a chance to have your voice heard through additional feedback channels and comments. We're not just making it easier for us to talk to you; we want to make it easier to talk to us, too. In turn, we hope to provide you with even better service and convenience. All that from this one little blog? What a world we live in. So, bookmark us, sign up for email, or add us to your RSS aggregator. We look forward to providing you with more memorable experiences through the HoDo Dispatch!