Another band with Duluth roots is appearing on a National Public Radio-distributed show. Trampled by Turtles will be featured in the first hour of The Mountain Stage this Saturday, Dec. 18. The program airs from 8-10am on 103.3FM KUMD.

"Fill the Slot with Reverence" by Sean Elmquist

New work by Sean Elmquist is on view now at the Duluth Art Institute located on the 4th floor of the Depot. It will probably blow your mind.

Admittance is free if you are coming just for the art.

Depot hours:
Monday – Saturday, 10AM – 5PM
Sunday, 1PM – 5PM

Just a quick note to let those who care know. The actual make up of the administration’s proposed rental regulations which will bring some measure of intentionality and sanity to the neighborhoods surrounding the colleges is under attack by the rental companies and organized landlords. The final wording of the ordinance, which will be voted on this upcoming Monday, is being decided just prior to the vote ( I heard 2 hours before ). The main piece of it which will help bring some form of reason to the onslaught of profit-before-community house grabbers is parking.

To be very clear: An approved off street parking spot for all but one house resident must be a part of the solution or I do not support the removal of the 300′ rule.

All the other regulations are also reasoned and will bring about positive improvements for the residents, from home owners to student renters, who actually live in the area, not just make money off the area. What can you do? Contact the city councilors just like the money interests have been doing.

Don’t let the people who stand to profit on the backs of our infrastructure fool you, this is not about resident versus student or town versus gown, they try paint that picture all the time and will again in the future, this is about being intentional about how a community grows versus making money hand over fist at the expense of a neighborhood.

Topeka made a lot of news renaming itself (honorarily) to Google, and even got a nod back on April 1. Duluth promised to name its first-born children after Google. They are big on advertising so it’s a tough call which is worth more. (Though if you consider the cost of switching a city’s name, compared to the free and ever growing number of offspring…)

Honors and proposals aside, I hope Google compares its own search results for each city, especially the images. Granted there’s a lot more to consider than merely which of us is prettier, but we got soul power, and that should count for something.

Plus, free hugs. Just sayin.

I got one for the Duluth History Detectives. Where was the J.J. Summers Agency located?

I just received an art book of the famous photographer Stephen Shore, and it was the following photo.

Caption reads: J.J. Summers Agency, First Street, Duluth, Minnesota, July 11, 1973.

I enjoy the rare opportunity to track down the locations of old famous photographs in the area to rephotograph and want to find this one. A quick cruise through Google Street view show a could of store fronts which still looks similar (Glenwood Signs) that I’ll go inspect, but any first hand accounts of the location, or records of an actual address would be great. Visual identification may be hopeless if it has been tore down or remodeled in the past 37 years.

Fortunately, Duluth-Superior put together a great bid for Google Fiber in the Spring as Google Twin Ports. We generated tons of buzz nationwide, and even worldwide and mobilized thousands of community members in support of the project. I was a tiny (miniscule, really) cog in the wheel that was the ad-hoc Google Twin Ports steering committee in the first part of this year. And just like everyone else, I have been anxiously waiting for the end of the year for the community (ies) that will get Google Fiber to be announced.

Unfortunately, as noted in another PDD post, Google has said they can’t decide yet and they’ve kicked the announcement date down into 2011.

Fortunately, that aforementioned PDD post from Brian B was on the coveted first page of “links” on the most recent official Google Fiber blog post!

This could mean anything or not much so try not to call me too naive here. But one thing is certain: They haven’t forgotten us. I say that means we are still in the hunt folks, and I think we’re a front runner when I consider all the factors I can think of, climate, community support, integration, availability of “dark” fiber, competing delivery systems (WiMax, 3G, Cable, DSL, even Superior Broadband’s nifty radio thing) attractiveness of the community and the list goes one. And I’ll just add in one more huge asset we have: Perfect Duluth Day. And that there screenshot proves they know that, too.

Regular folks getting drunk used to be front page news. Ah, the good ol’ days.

From the first issue of the Duluth Herald, April 9, 1883:

James Clark got drunk yesterday and was run in by Officer Turcotte. He was taxed $8.50 this morning by Justice Martin.

A. Lonquest was drunk and disorderly at Rice’s Point last night and Officer Peloski found considerable difficulty in arresting him. He had an infernal machine called a self cocking revolver on his person besides a dangerous looking knife. He contributed $10 to the city treasury this morning.

P. Peck was a plain drunk who was picked up by Tom McLaughlin yesterday. He paid the customary $8.50 this morning.

Mary McGraw got beastly drunk yesterday and fell into the clutches of the police. This morning she woke up financially embarrassed and the result was she was sentenced to ten days confinement in the county jail.

These are our people; this is our heritage.

UPDATE: Tridgell was found on Jan. 5, 2011.

Duluth Police Dept. news release:

Scott Michael Tridgell, age 26, of Duluth was reported missing by his family on Dec. 14. Family members said Tridgell left his residence in Duluth on the morning of Dec. 13, leaving a note that he was going to a job interview. He has not been seen or heard from since.

Tridgell suffers from a form of amnesia which limits his ability to recall important details regarding his personal life, such as where he lives or where he has been. In 2007, Tridgell was listed as a missing person by the Edina, Minnesota Police Dept. after he failed to show up at his residence there. He was located three weeks later by police at a rest stop in Menominee, Wis. He had no ties to that city.
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Jewelry trunk show with Alicia Randazzo and Rachael Schultz of Oreb Lram from Ashland, WI. Saturday, December 18, 10am-6pm.
Sivertson Gallery
361 Canal Park Drive
duluth@sivertson.com
723-7877

Google is still deciding which city will receive Google Fiber. They were originally going to announce the decision by the end of the year, but now they say to look for an announcement in early 2011.

Next week, my daughters and I are going to be heading out on a week-long trip via Amtrak out of St. Paul. Having spoken to someone at the station who suggested that the parking lot there might be full so close to Christmas, I’m wondering if anyone has recommendations for long-term parking options in the general vicinity of the station. No one we know in the Cities is going to be available to ferry us, and both timing and cost considerations militate against the bus or shuttle. Has anybody done this successfully?

Facebook Event Page

Cloud Cult (featuring former Duluthian Craig Minowa) will be performing on National Public Radio’s World Café on Wednesday, Dec. 15. The show is broadcast on 103.3FM KUMD in Duluth from 3-5 p.m.

(If you missed the broadcast, you can listen at your leisure using this link.)

Get blown away by the sounds of TJ Trio, Terrol, Jane, and Kyle Keegan on Saturday, Dec. 18, at 6 p.m. Take advantage of $2 off all wine and beer from 5-7 including on tap favorites, Bells Two-Hearted and Surly Furious. Happy Hour appetizer specials all night in the Chester Creek Wine Bar.

Wednesday night, Dec. 15, 7 pm, at Hartley Nature Center (3001 Woodland Ave.) will be the last presentation of the fall series on aquatic invasive species — Ballast Water, the myth and truth about the role ballast water plays in the spread of AIS by Marte Kitson, MN Sea Grant program.  More information at www.hartleynature.org

Two great holiday shows this week at Sacred Heart

The Rose Ensemble presents: La Nochebuena: A Spanish Renaissance Christmas

Thursday, Dec. 16, 7:30pm, $23 at door

Advance tickets $23 available by calling The Rose Ensemble 651-225-4340 or at roseensemble.org (Special student at-the-door pricing $10 with proper ID)
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The Brewhouse and Burrito Union have generously decided to donate $1 from every pint sold over the week beginning this Wednesday, Dec. 15, through next Wednesday, Dec. 22, to the Cyclists of the Gitchee Gumee Shores. In addition, Bernicks Beverages has donated all of the soft drinks to the Burrito Union for that week and all soda proceeds will also be donated to COGGS.
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A night of roots music at Pizza Luce! Matt Ray and Those Damn Horses celebrate the release of their double album “Then and Now” with friends the Bitter Spills and the Breeze! Come out and support local music and get your feet stompin’!!!

Kind of like the Viking’s season this year!

So wrong on so many levels.

Among the random things to show up in my e-mail today (thanks Jake and Wendy) is this photo of an old (and awesome) ashtray from the Merry Inn Tavern. The address, 917 W. Michigan St., would have been roughly where Mesaba Avenue meets I-35 today.

The Merry Inn Tavern and Michelizzi’s Italian Food grocery store were part of the Terminal Hotel throughout the 1960s. The whole works was operated by Michael Michelizzi until about 1973, which is probably when the building was torn down.

The name “Terminal Hotel” goes back at least as far as 1930, although city directories in the 1930s and ’40s often refer to the property simply as “furnished rooms.”

Michelizzi’s reign at the Terminal seems to have begun in the early 1930s. In the 1920s there is a listing for two blocks away, 1131 W. Michigan St., for Mike Michelizzi & Co., a store handling “Fancy and Staple groceries cigars tobaccos and fancy Italian imported goods Macamoni and Soft Drinks.” I’m not sure if there’s a fancy, little-known Italian item called “Macamoni” or if that’s supposed to be macaroni.

In the early 1900s, the Cholette Hotel was at 917 W. Michigan St. During Prohibition, it had a “soft drink parlor” at which, obviously, bootlegging took place. For some of the sordid details regarding that, read the comments to this post.

Nine-year-old female husky with two blue eyes and wearing a black collar named Sasha has been missing since Monday, Dec. 6, at approximately 6:30 p.m. She was found in Kohl’s parking lot, but then broke loose from animal control at the Duluth Animal Shelter on 27th West. That is where she was last seen. She is very small for a husky (only about 45-50 lbs) and may appear to be younger than she is, but she has a special diet and will get sick if off it too long. If you have any information, please contact me at 218-391-8149 or call the Duluth Police Department/Animal Shelter. Please help!!! There are kids really missing her.

Duluthians should find the first issue of City of Duluth Quarterly in their mailboxes today, Dec. 10. It’s part of Mayor Don Ness’ plan to improve city communications. The magazine is produced by city staff and New Ventures Publishing Corp.

New Ventures is owned by former Duluth News Tribune publisher Marti Buscaglia and also publishes Duluth-Superior Magazine.

For one Saturday each holiday season, the artists of Washington Studios Co-op come alive, showcasing their artistic talents and opening up their home to the community. Everything from paintings and photography to jewelry and homemade dog biscuits will be available for viewing and purchase.
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At age 63, Mark Dayton is the oldest person to be elected governor of Minnesota. A few weeks after he’s sworn in, he’ll be 64.

From the Minnesota Legislative Reference Library:

I particularly enjoy walking through freeway underpasses with headphones on and being surprised by a snow plow scorching above me, issuing a whitewashing similar to a Uinta Mountain avalanche.

Photo by William Mittendorff

A Perfect Duluth Day post titled “Park Point Cabin abducted!” recently reported that the Pine Knot Cabin on Minnesota Point has been removed. An older post, “Park Point Park cabin?” previously sparked a discussion of the cabin’s history.

The “abduction” raised a lot of questions, a lot of speculation and a bit of panic, so hopefully this post will straighten all that out.
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