I heard the Laughing Hearts are playing at the Thirsty Pagan in Superior on Sat. Jan 23. They’re an awesome, highly entertaining Celtic renaissance pub band. Go join in Pirate Night fun at the Pagan. I’ll be there for sure!

Come Walk in this World

FREE ARTIST’S WAY GROUP
Starting January 30, 2010
2:30-4:30 pm
at Jitters
102 W. Superior St. (more…)

Is anyone else tired enough of this ad to throw in a few bucks and pay the proprietors to get rid of it?

“First ever Geek Prom set for Tango’s Ballroom”

http://centralwisconsinhub.wausaudailyherald.com/article/20100115/WDH0501/1140390

http://myspace.com/excusemeprincessband

Very new Duluthian high school indie rock band Excuse Me Princess has released a video for their song entitled “Some Time to Kill”! It’s pretty radical, I’d say.

If you live in the Two Harbors area, come on down to Dunnigans and listen to Aurora Baer on Friday, Jan. 15. 9-12.

Jazz and blues with a little pop

At Sara's Table Wine Bar Event

You can see the listing at www.duluth.lib.mn.us
Country Teacher will be shown on Sat, Jan 16.

Speaking of wrestling and signs …

This shot is from a World Wrestling Federation card at the Duluth Arena about 20 years ago. The badass in the foreground is George Gray, wrestling that night as the One Man Gang. (Later in his career he would become Akeem the African Dream.)

But the show is clearly being stolen here by the guy in the Pabst hat and the middle-finger sign in the background. And that’s what makes professional wrestling so special.

Here’s another shot of the Gang as he enters the ring …

I have my tickets; now I just have to work on my sign.

The video for Retribution Gospel Choir’s single “Hide It Away” on their upcoming album release “2″ came out recently and it clearly shows them burying a treasure on Park Point. I task you, people of Duluth to search out and find (or discredit the existence of) said treasure!

The video can be found along with more Low and Retribution Gospel Choir information at the “Black Eyed Snakes” blog:

http://www.walloftvs.org/music/theblackeyedsnakes/2010/01/14/low-show-cancellation-retribution-tour-hide-it-away-video-ballet/

What happens when an improv cello musician, a creative genius, and a yogi get together?  Join Kathy McTavish, Kim Luedtke, and Jodi Christensen for Creative Cello Flow~The Web of Life at the Spiritual Deli, Friday the 15th, 6-8pm.  Listen to beautiful, improvisational cello music as we glimpse, reacquaint ourselves with, reaffirm, embrace, or savor our oneness with all living things by creating a collective piece of art.

Spiritual Deli, 6-8pm, $15

So, 13 years ago my band, The Gimme5′s (also know as The Fromundas) recorded an epic masterpiece … and promptly broke up .I know most of you have been there too….anyway we’re all older and grey and hard of hearing although we aint deaf yet..like some of you .. so we dusted off the ADATs and dumped them into PRoTOols and we can once again re-live the fuzzy days of mid 90′s duluth rock….and it was good…see below… Now, we’re looking for any related postering, photos, used underwear or other assorted mementos for digitizing and use in a possible release .. here’s a taste and thanks in advance …Long Live the Ed Fitz!
Downtown

I have found the most wonderful work distraction.  Not that it’s wonderful to be distracted from work, but I can’t take my eyes off of this webcam. 

Lily the Black Bear at the North American Bear Center in Ely is just days away from having her cubs.
She is in hibernation and you can watch it all unfold on the den cam. 

For the most part she’s just snoozing away … zzzzzzzzzz

I’m also addicted to other Ely, MN cams like:  Fall Lake and Birch Lake 

Susan Askelin, passed away Jan. 1, 2010 of esophageal cancer.

Susan was born Nov. 13, 1949 in Duluth, to Harold and Jessie Askelin.

She grew up in Bagley and Savage and graduated from Burnsville high school in 1967. She was married to Richard Schmoller, and later to Michael Paymar. She moved to Duluth where she attended the College of St. Scholastica and graduated Suma Cum Laude with a Masters in business management. While in Duluth she played a critical role in the creation of several co-operatives including Whole Foods Warehouse, and Co-op and Builders & Laborers Commonwealth. She was the director of the weatherization program at Community Action Program, and later became the Director of the Program to Aid to Victims of Sexual Assault. She later moved to St. Paul and worked at Project Fast Forward in Dakota County. Later, she moved to Texas to bask in the sun and worked in several non-profit housing development organizations.

Susan will be remembered for her giving spirit, compassion, and integrity. She was smart, beautiful and strong willed. Her contributions to the world were profound. She loved traveling to Mexico and the Boundary Waters and especially loved the family cabin at Prairie Lake. In her last days her strength and compassion for others were inspirational, she passed away in Montana with sister Sharel beside her.

Susan was preceded in death by her sister, Lindy; brother, Shaun; paternal grandparents, Florence and Einar Askelin, and maternal grandparents, Winifred and Charles Jones.

She is survived by her son, Jason (Laura); grandson, Morgan and daughter, Nicole Harris (Dan); her parents, Jessie and Harold (Helen); aunts, Nancy Jones, Joyce Utter (Arnie); uncle, Ed Askelin(Joan); sisters, Michelle LeBeau (Kent) and Sharel Uphus (Mike); brother, Kurt Askelin (Ruenee); sister, Jodi Christianson (Don); sister-in-law, Beth Askelin; and many nieces and nephews.

SERVICE: is planned for late spring according to Susan’s wishes. A memorial fund is set up in Susan’s name at Wells Fargo Bank.

Has anybody done the math on what Superior and Duluth bars are geographically closest to each other? I’m thinking Schultz’s and Quinlans. Am I right?

I was reading comments to convince my girlfriend, and saw one reader post that Duluth is sooo dog friendly.

We have just moved from the Twin Cities and I have struggled finding dog-friendly places. Where we lived in the Cities, there were huge dog parks with hiking trails where we could safely let our dog off-leash (and get exercise ourselves), dog-friendly businesses to visit, dog day cares, cafes you could bring your dog, and a lot of special events. (It probably helped that there are publications like Sidewalk Dog to point you in the right direction).

The one tiny dog park in Duluth is inadequate to say the least (we won’t visit again), and while I’ve heard about the Superior Hiking Trail, in many places in Duluth it seems too close to roads to feel comfortable letting my dog off leash (also am not sure how easy it would be to hike it in the winter).

So, dog owners — what are your tips for great places to bring your dog? Where can you let your dog off-leash? I work in Duluth and am staying in Cloquet until we find a permanent place to settle, so am curious about any Cloquet/Esko tips as well.

Thanks!

The Rez will be playing with the North Shore Trio at the Twins Bar this Saturday (Jan. 16) from 10 PM – 2 PM.  Free show.  Bring your friends =)

Come and get down with the funky jam music.  Dance all night long baby, alright! =)

Light and Love and Healing to you,
-The Rez

Okay, it’s a Smithsonian blog but nonetheless…

Superior dinosaur

(click Image for MLK Duluth Website)
The run down, courtesy of The Hillsider Newspaper

On Monday, Jan. 18 there is a free breakfast at 7 a.m. at Holy Family Catholic Church, 2430 W. Third St., followed by a march, which starts at the Washington Center at Lake Avenue and Fourth Street at 11 a.m. The march goes through downtown and the skywalk to arrive at the rally at the DECC at 11:45 a.m. The featured speaker will be Rep. Jeff Hayden. (more…)

Stand strong Conan.

OK!  Line-up change for this        Saturday’s show.  Birds of Virginia  (MPLS) opening, Atlas Mts.  playing second and a special, last  minute headling set by Equal  Xchange!

All ages, 8pm, $5

Dynomite!

but if anyone could make a perfect day in Superior, the Animal Rescue’s van has cashed in its chips… can anyone help? Per Facebook:

OUR VAN IS KAPOOT…PLEASE HELP!!! ARF”s Van is kapoot…if anybody could please help us out by donating either a van or a truck with a topper to help us bring the animals to and from necessary veterinarian appointments, it would be GREATLY APPRECIATED!!! Please call Bill at (218)525-7382

Bigtree Bonsai Will Be Performing at the REX bar this Saturday!  (1-16-10)  ”The Breeze” will be starting off the night.

“Lewis and Clark and the Indian Country,” a national traveling exhibition, is on display in the UMD Library fourth floor rotunda reading room. The public is invited to a traditional Ojibwe opening ceremony in UMD’s Weber Music Hall at 6 p.m. on Friday, January 15. The ceremony will include drumming, prayer, and welcome statements at the Weber, followed by a reception and viewing of the exhibit on the fourth floor of the UMD Library. Refreshments will be provided by Friends of the Duluth Public Library. Call 218-726-8130 for more information.

The exhibit, which tells the story of the explorers’ historic 1804–1806 expedition from the point of view of the Indians who lived along the route, is available for viewing during all hours when the UMD Library is open. You can learn more about the exhibit and check the library hours by going to the UMD Library web site:

http://libguides.d.umn.edu/lewisandclark

A cast of 47 children takes over the Duluth Playhouse for two weekends in “Robin Hood.”

Friday, Jan. 15 at 7 p.m.
Saturday, Jan. 16 at 1 & 4 p.m.
Sunday, Jan. 17 at 2 p.m.
Thursday, Jan. 21 at 7 p.m.
Friday, Jan. 22 at 7 p.m.
Saturday, Jan. 23 at 1 & 4 p.m.
Sunday, Jan. 24 at 2 p.m.

Tickets bought at the office or by calling are $9 for adults, $7 for ages 17 and younger.
506 W. Michigan St., Duluth
(218) 733-7555
Tickets bought online are all $9 plus a $1.50 fee per ticket.
www.duluthplayhouse.org
The show runs about 1 hour and 15 minutes.

Help me convince my girlfriend that we should move to Duluth. Why do you love living in Duluth?

Plug those glue guns in and start looking for the perfect box. The time has come again for the Diorama-rama! This year’s festivities will be held at Sacred Heart on Saturday, March 6. The Diorama-rama is a community art show of dioramas and is open to whoever wants to participate. Music and merriment will abound. The event will be 21+ If you have any questions/comments you can e-mail Sarah Heimer at caradiabolica @ hotmail.com

Where’s a good Laundromat in Duluth? I live in the Central Hillside, but am willing to travel a bit. I was using the one next to Burrito Union, but my clothes seem to smell after washing them there. The new Maytag place on 4th Street is nice, although spendy (and usually busy). What do you suggest?