Rick LeBlanc of Hermantown surpassed tradition by biting the head off not just his first smelt, but about two dozen others, too, at the Lester River on May 5, 1983. (Duluth News-Tribune file photo)
At this time of year, 20 or 30+ years ago, the hot topic in Duluth and Superior would have been the status of the smelt run.
Duluth’s mostly-vanished smelting tradition has been discussed on Perfect Duluth Day at least once before. It’s been a frequently requested item for the News Tribune Attic to cover.
So, by popular demand, the latest post in the News Tribune Attic includes a bunch of photos and a couple contemporary accounts of smelting in Duluth in the early 1980s. Enjoy!
These snippets are from the 1924 edition of The Zenith, Central’s yearbook. If you wish to read the text and find it too small, click on any image to see it bigger.
Please help us raise money for Rachel Sandell, a Duluth East High School student, undergoing expensive treatments for liver cancer. Jillian Holmen and Stacy Holden will be leading a women’s yoga circle at Yoga North (4628 Pitt Street, Duluth, MN) from 10a-12p on Saturday, April 23.
Mamas, daughters, sisters, aunties, grandmas, friends…of all experience and acquaintance welcome. We will move and sing, chant and pray — individually, as partners, and in group poses. Maybe cry, probably laugh, and definitely send lots and lots of love (and some money!) Rachel Sandell‘s way.
All proceeds will go in support of funding Rachel’s healing. Suggested donation of $50 per pair or pay what makes you happy. Cash, check & credit cards accepted.
This Friday night you can catch a fantastic show out at the Thirsty Pagan in Superior. Sunny Era just had a CD release last weekend and are coming hot off its coat-tails.
8pm // 21+ // $5 suggested cover but FREE if you so choose
Monday, April 25:
An Evening with DeAnna Cummings: Arts for Social Change in MN, 6pm, UMD Kirby Rafters
Free, Open to the Public, Refreshments Provided. (more…)
Artwork by Jeredt Runions. Live music by Marc Gartman, Hattie Peterson, Ashley Northey and Shaunna Heckman. Fire dancing from the Spin Collective, hors d’oeuvres from Lave Avenue Café.
I Google-mapped Duluth East High School today for various reasons and found that the corner of E. Eighth St. and N. 26th Ave. E. is “Minnesota’s oldest concrete pavement.”
Is that the cobblestone-y stuff back there, and is it seriously the oldest?
LakeVoice News is a weekly online publication produced by UMD journalism students. The stories are reported on and written by students, but the content is for the community. If you have a story idea or would like to submit photos you can email us at lakevoicenews@gmail.com.
I had a chance to take a pack of kids out to a working orchard near Wrenshall, MN (pictured above) and it was just a fantastic experience, I’d never seen anything like it before, except in books. There used to be groves like this, and “wild” groves used by people and critters for sustenance all around our region, but there aren’t many left anymore according to the experts at UMD.
Imagine an apple production and consumption culture within a thriving orchardist community, small orchards dotting the landscape, filled with heritage varieties locally adapted to our region. This was the reality of the area around Duluth, Minn., during the first half of the 20th century. But the advent of the industrial food system divested this community of its heritage, although those abandoned orchards beckon our call back to a more sustainable way of life.
Last fall, I read about a new orchard coming in near 6th Ave E in Duluth’s Hillside. Today I found out about this chance to win an orchard for the Duluth Area from Edy’s Fruit Bars. Here’s a link to sign in and vote, vote early and often.
As of today Duluth was placed 3rd in the nation: Not too shabby. Hopefully if people can stay on this we can come out on top. Almost forgot: Duluth community members and organizations will get the fruit. If this is successful expect a surge in NICE homegrown Duluth pies & cobblers in the next 5-10-15 years.
Make a music video and win a free pass to homegrown!
We’re looking for filmmakers, aspiring filmmakers, and anyone who has ever wanted to put pictures to music.
Kick off is April 19 at 7pm at the Homegrown Chicken Shack: 202 E. Superior St. — the same night as the Homegrown volunteer training. Filmmakers, etc, will draw songs at random and have until May 1 to create a video from the song (we can draw for you if you can’t make it tomorrow). We’ll play the finished work at Zinema 2 the Monday of Homegrown week. Everyone who turns in a video gets a free pass.
Let me know if you are interested or want me to draw a song for you.
annie at freerangefilm.com
I propose that the City only issue event licenses under the condition that tickets must be purchasable locally. For example, do I really have to pay Ticketmaster $11.37 in handling fees for a $35 concert ticket at Bayfront Festival Park this summer? A 32% markup paid to a California company? I would much rather pay any ticket markup to a local record store or nonprofit. Or, directly to the City for that matter. Anything to keep the money in our community, not exporting it to a corporation in California. Maybe I am missing something?
I’m looking into buying a motorcycle after several years of not riding. I think that a bike between 650 and 1000cc would be big enough. I have been looking at cruisers such as Yamaha V Stars, Kawasaki Vulcan and Honda Shadows and other similar bikes. I have a budget of about 3000. Any recommendations on a reliable comfortable use bike? There are so many more styles and makes since I rode last, it’s overwhelming. Thanks
The Automaton Records Media Conglomerate and the Moon is Down are both very proud to announce the release of a new EP. This Machine contains 7 songs and was recorded, mixed, mastered, and manufactured all over the past month in Lakeside. Bam! Duluth proud, y’all!
Where are all the avid Lutsen shredders at? Upon moving to the Duluth area a few years ago I had my first Lutsen Mountain experience in 2009. I was so disappointed that I had NEVER been there. We are so fortunate to have snowboarding/skiing of that quality only a short drive away, especially because you get to look at the beautiful Lake Superior while doing so, which is also possible in Duluth, but up there you don’t have the industrial eye-sore. (more…)
I am making a mini-documentary about people who live in the Twin Ports but do not drive a car. The goal of this project is to tell the people’s story about the other side of transportation. If you rely on walking, bicycling, or taking the bus, I’d love to interview you! I’m particularly interested in interviewing seniors, parents with kids, students, and ethnic minorities who get by without an automobile. I would also like to do one interview with a professional in economics or geology to discuss the future of energy.
I’m free almost every afternoon, and my schedule is pretty flexible. Just email me when and where you’d like to be interviewed, and let your voice be heard! My email is: lesem002@umn.edu
What if, in an effort to show the world that we are sore losers, everyone in Duluth stops using Google and instead starts using the search engine AltaVista? I was able to find AltaVista quickly by doing a Google search and was pleased to find it still exists. I remember using it after my modem finished dialing up.
I tested it out by typing in “perfect duluth day” and found this site was the first result… below something called Benjamin Franklin Plumbing.
In your face, Google! The mayor can change the name of his kid to AltaVista, though his friends will just call him “Alt.” And, yes, I did steal this idea from a crappy weeknight sit-com.
“Are you thirsty” for a performance by In the Heart of the Beast (HOTB)?
Great Lakes Aquarium will present puppet show performances of “Are you thirsty?” by Minneapolis-based HOTB’s puppet and mask theatre. Celebrate Earth Day on April 22-23 with this performance, which explores issues involving a glass of water. (more…)
Oh man, it’s almost here! Saturday, April 16, is Record Store Day, ya’ll! There will be some super sweet limited edition vinyl for sale, as well as snacks from Pizza Luce & live music from local rockers Dirty Horse at 1pm. Giveaways & drawings will also be happening throughout the day with all kinds of sweet prizes. Stop by & celebrate with your favorite local record store!
One final reminder that the 5th Annual United Way Bike Swap is this weekend, rain or shine or snow. If you are selling a bike, bring it to Continental Ski & Bike (1305 E 1st St) tomorrow, April 15, between 9 a.m. and 7 p.m, or Saturday morning between 8 and 9:45 a.m.. The sale runs Saturday, April 16 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday, April 17 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. The event is a fundraiser for United Way of Greater Duluth. More details can be found on our Facebook page. We hope to see you there!
This is from the Norwegian Institute for Air Research for April 14 through 18. You can adjust the model to run for radioactive Iodine, Cessium, etc. Here. There is no “safe” dose of radiation, according to Dr. Helen Caldicott
11 AM: Crunchy Bunch
12 PM: DJ AfterDeath
1 PM: Remote Viewfinder
2 PM: J. Peach
3 PM: Kenesis
4 PM: The Tico Three
5 PM: DJ Epistêmê
6 PM: The Good Colonels
7 PM: Pennies for a Dime
8 PM: House of Doughnuts (more…)
Has anyone noticed the new Park Point Sand Bar? (as I am calling it.) It was created by the the strong 50-60 mph winds a few weeks ago on The Lake side of PP. Very interesting. It will be interesting to see if it becomes a permanent or is a temporary fixture.
I propose that the City only issue event licenses under the condition that tickets must be purchasable locally. For example, do I really have to pay Ticketmaster $11.37 in handling fees for a $35 concert ticket at Bayfront Festival Park this summer? A 32% markup paid to a California company? I would much rather pay any ticket markup to a local record store or nonprofit. Or, directly to the City for that matter. Anything to keep the money in our community, not exporting it to a corporation in California. Maybe I am missing something?
