The recent post about the 1917 Ripsaw article regarding booze and filth in Superior, Wisconsin got me thinking about this quote from one of Anthony Bukoski’s short stories. I posted it here on PDD back in August of 2003, but I think enough time has passed for us to revisit it.
“The entire city of Superior, my neighborhood included, is a classroom for the study of failure. The curriculum for the Study and Analysis of Heartache comes from our citizenry’s heavy drinking. We’re Scandinavians, Slavs, and Indians of all makes and models. The curriculum is also tied to our living on the shore of the largest freshwater lake in the world. Lake Superior alters our weather for the worst, makes us ugly. Step out the door, see old newspapers blow down the streets in a lake wind, wipe dust from your eyes, go to the Palace Bar, Isle of Capri, Captain Cliff’s Night Club, Lost in the ’50s, Al’s Waterfront Tavern. Find the locals lined up for an eye-opener at eight in the morning, and that, to a sensitive former academic like me, is Hard Knocks. When you can’t find work and need to get yourself more depressed, listen in the hallway of your run-down flat for the neighbor guy to strike his wife or she him. Add gray skies. Add fog, and in winter and into late spring, throw in bitter cold, and that’s how it is in Superior, Wisconsin, at the Head of the Lakes. Every day I take a refresher course in how to be a loser.”
The Northland Anti-War Coalition is collecting donations of tools and building materials for Cuba as part of a nationwide challenge to the 50-year US blockade. The aid will help ongoing efforts to rebuild some 500,000 homes damaged during the 2008 hurricane season; and send a collective statement against Washington’s cruel and failed Cuba policy.
Provided our aid isn’t seized by US border agents, it will be received and distributed by a non-governmental council of Cuban religious leaders.
Pastors for Peace, the group sponsoring the blockade challenge, will visit Duluth on July 6. Between now and then, you can leave donations at the Duluth Labor Temple (2002 London Road) or Peace Church (1111 N 11th Ave E). We can use almost any new or gently used carpentry, plumbing, electrical, and masonry tools/supplies, as well as new safety equipment (dust masks, etc). You can check out a complete needs list and details here.
Superior isn’t the only city that enjoys its suds. This photo was bought at an auction several years ago. On the frame, it is titled “Duke of Duluth.” I know it is not the Duke of Duluth I am thinking of. Notice the great detail of flies on the beer mug. Does anyone one have a clue as to who this guy was? The framed photo served as a traveling photo for a long list of jolly fellows. The name written on the cardboard backing is Gust. Munding, Rush City Minnesota. Was this part of a beer campaign?
This headline and illustration are from the August 18, 1917 issue of the Duluth Rip Saw. The story is without a byline, but was no doubt written by the paper’s publisher, John L. Morrison. (more…)
Have you heard? Table tennis is on the rise in Duluth!
Black Woods and the Duluth TT club are holding a 4-star international tournament at the DECC in late July — 50 tables, pro players from around the country and even the world! Don’t worry, there are events for all levels of skill.
And this Thursday, June 17, a promotional tourney is being held at Mr. D’s. First place gets $100 cash and paid entry fees for the big tourney in July. Also second place takes $50 and third, fourth and fifth get snazzy T-shirts. Think you got what it takes?
The path is now clear for the historic NorShor Theater to again become a focal point for Duluth arts and entertainment activities with the Duluth Economic Development Authority’s completed purchase of the NorShor Theater, Temple Opera building, and Norshor Annex.
Today, Mayor Don Ness announced that DEDA closed on the purchase of the buildings from Eric Ringsred and said plans are already underway to reestablish the NorShor Theater as an important part of the downtown waterfront district. (more…)
Duluth’s newest (and rowdiest) rock outfit, Dirty Horse, will take Superior by storm this Friday night. They will be joined by friendly Old Knifey and his trusty Cutthroats as well as the Cancer Romancer himself. I highly recommend the Burntwood Black Stout!
Friday, June 18, at 10 p.m. :: Thirsty Pagan Brewery
*Also, a little birdy told me that Dirty Horse will be playing a rooftop show somewhere along London Road during the marathon on Saturday … so look out for that!
Minneapolis band ‘Communist Daughter’ will be playing live at the Electric Fetus this Friday at 7pm before their show at Beaner’s! Come check out some great music for free!
While you’re here, flip through our ever changing used vinyl and CD selections, as well as our new stock of summer clothing! See you Friday!
Last Saturday, skaters from MNRG, NSRG, FMDG, the TC Terrors and Milwaukee Schlitzkrieg all got together for an exhibition bout at Wessman Arena. Pirates vs. Ninjas was a success!
Congrats to DSRD on their first event!
IF you are interested in participating, you can find information on each of the teams’ respective web sites. Potential skaters, refs and volunteers are encouraged to come. All skill levels are welcome – they can teach you!
The sport is growing fast! With this kind of action, a full bar and great local music during halftime, it’s no wonder!
It was always a joke that the only places you could move after living in Duluth were: Back to the cities, Bozeman MT, Colorado Springs CO, Seattle WA, or Portland OR. Add Los Angeles CA, Las Vegas NV, and Tempe AZ and that was 2008.
A few (unedited) night shots of the I-35 construction in West Duluth. Or is it Mars? Yeah, it might be Mars.
I really wanted to shoot these on a foggy night, but the one night I had time, it was relatively clear. I’ll have to go back again soon. The way I understand it, the construction will go on for a *wee* bit longer, as will the damp weather.
A Winter Downpour is very excited to be hosting some excellent bands from Minneapolis on Friday over at Beaner’s Central. Dave Mehling and The Fontanelles will be sharing the stage with us and the Duluth debut of Minneapolis favorites Communist Daughter. Hope to see you there.
Various Citizens and Others
will read their favorite pissages from James Joyce’s Ulysses
out loud to their Friends and Others
within the licensed primroses
of the beloved Carmody Irish Pub
Upon the holy day of June 16, that being the day of all events occurring between the covers of aforesaid book by our Jim
(and the event that happened outside the covers between our Jim and Nora his Barnacle)
Commencin around 8 pm and ending up a couple hours later or when we run out of the good stuff
All comers will have their chance to face off with that famous character James Joyce and read at will of their favorite bits.
Carmody is at 308 E Superior St. in Duluth, (218) 740-4747
Twin Cities Public Television put together an excellent, short documentary about the lynchings in Duluth and the process of creating a memorial. It’s on YouTube, but embedding is disabled, so you’ll have to follow this link to check it out.
Ninty years ago, on June 14, 1920, six black circus workers were wrongly accused of raping a white woman. The following day, Elias Clayton, Elmer Jackson and Isaac McGhie were beaten, dragged through town and lynched by a mob of thousands.
“The lynching of those unfortunate colored boys was the crowning tragedy of a generation. The plot was conceived in a lawless report, carried out by hoodlums, and permitted by a weak and incompetent police department.”
–Duluth Rip-Saw, June 26, 1920
“Duluth has suffered a disgrace, a horrible blot upon its name that it can never outlive.”
Original paintings by Ed Newman will be on display at Beaner’s Central in West Duluth during the month of July. The public is invited to an art opening July 1 from 6 to 9 p.m. The title of the event will be “The Many Faces of Ennyman.”
The opening will include live music by Perfectini, a jazz duet comprised of Robert Linnemann on sax with Darin Bergsven, electric guitar, their soothing sounds offering hints of Miles and Wes Montgomery or Billy Bernard.
An original film showing the Act of Creation will also be shown during the opening with portions of the soundtrack being original contributions from John Heino of Centerville All Stars fame.
To see examples of Ed’s work, The Many Faces of Ennyman blog can be found at ed-newman.blogspot.com where a new picture is posted each morning.
For more information: ennyman @ northlc.com
Ed Newman
Duluth, MN 55810
I have been hearing about Vibram fivefingers (R) shoes for about five months from Tim, one of my co-workers. He has worn his in the middle of winter, outside on news shoots and all around the station. Today I decided to go to Duluth Running and find a pair of my own. (more…)
What is your favorite Anglicisation? I think we can settle on “Leif” for the first name. The patronym seems to most often be either “Erickson,” “Ericson,” or “Erikson.” Duluth needs a referendum on this.
What: Chamber music festival
Where: UMD’s Weber Hall
When: Friday, June 11; Saturday, June 12; Tuesday, June 15; Thursday, June 17 – 7pm.
Adults – $20, seniors – $18, Child/Student – $10
Laurie Hertzel’s memoir, News to Me: Adventures of an Accidental Journalist, is scheduled for release in September by University of Minnesota Press. Hertzel is books editor for the Minneapolis Star Tribune and a former Duluth News Tribune editor and reporter.
I’ve got a Novation K-Station with a bad key. It’s pressure sensitive and only works when you slam down on it, and even then it’s a bit quiet. Is there any place/one in town that can fix it?
G.B. Schneider Co. opened on Tuesday in the Denfeld Retail Center. It’s in the space formerly occupied by Grandma’s Grand Ave. Cafe. The focus is on comfort foods: ravioli, pot roast, meatloaf, etc. (more…)
Northlanders for Corporate Accountability is a new group for folks committed to applying pressure to reckless/unethical companies like BP Oil and Goldman Sachs. To quote Noam Chomsky, many corporations engage in “massive rip-offs of the public.” And “under one guise or another, the public pays the costs and takes the risks, while profit is privatized.” The NCA is committed to changing the status quo in the only way possible – on the local level. (more…)
OK, last year I went to the Olde World Renaissance Faire in Twig and had a blast! One of the really fun acts I saw was this crazy Germanic Early Music Minstrel group called Wolgemut. They play drums and oboes and weird looking German bagpipes called a “sacbutt” or something … and then do some covers of rock tunes (along with real early music). They sounded like Led Zeppelin meets Brave Sir Robin’s band from the Holy Grail … and I thought “Hey, they’d be cool to see in a club context.” So crazy Baci decides to book them the night before Ren Fest at Carmody. My insanity is your lucky day. Playing along with them is Bob Monahan’s experimental ensemble of local super freaks called Total Freedom Rock. So plan to come down and get your neo-post-modern freak on.
Tomorrow night with Total Freedom Rock!
Carmody Irish Pub!
Wolgemut 9p-11p | TFR 11pm - 1am
No cover!
We are looking for a few more artists interested in participating in Glensheen’s 16th Annual Festival of Fine Art and Craft on August 15 and 16. An abundance of jewelers have already applied for the show, so non-jewelers are especially appreciated. Details and an application are available on Glensheen’s website — glensheen.org — or feel free to call 726-8921.
