On the March 30 episode of Almanac on Twin Cities Public Television, the answer to a trivia question about Duluth was revealed.

You can watch the segment by clicking here.

As usual, recordings of callers with wrong answers were played before the correct answer was given. One of the wrong answers was a caller who thought Buffalo Bill Cody was the owner of the building in question, which was the Hayes Block (correct answer: Rutherford B. Hayes).

Program co-host Eric Eskola, a Duluth native by the way, noted: “We got several Buffalo Bill Cody calls. We’re not sure why.”

The reason why is that Buffalo Bill Cody financed the Duluth Press Building in the friendly West End. There also used to be a Cody Hotel in West Duluth named after Buffalo Bill, and he is the namesake behind Cody Street in West Duluth.
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I apologize for not being as vigilant with this as John Ramos has been with his countdown, but here’s the latest sad news on one of the most idiotic laws ever:

MPR: “Sunday liquor sales dies again at Capitol”

“Did you guys watch the Vikings last year? Three and 13. I think liquor is something that could solve the frustration on Sundays this year.” — Rep. John Kriesel, R-Cottage Grove

Video by David Cowardin, shot March 18.

I haven’t seen any ticks yet, but this popped up on my Facebook wall:

Songs performed: “Feel it, Superior,” “Maharisha,” “The Stone” and “Take Your Time.”

Retribution Gospel Choir has a new 7-inch EP coming out March 27. The Revolution EP can be downloaded here or the record can be pre-ordered here.

The Rathskeller, located in the sub-basement of the new Tycoons Alehouse and Eatery, opens Thursday, March 15.

This week is the official grand opening at Tycoons, which opened on New Year’s Eve. The Duluth Area Chamber of Commerce is performing an official Happy Hour Ribbon Cutting Ceremony on Thursday at 4 p.m., which will mark the opening of the Rathskeller. Tycoons is also introducing a new lunch menu this week. Check out Tycoons events on the PDD Calendar for grand opening hoopla and more.

Duluth high-school hockey players did better than ever this year, with the Marshall Hilltoppers taking first place as a team!
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Nicole Meyer came up with the creative project of making a logo for every lake in Minnesota. At one logo every day, she figures it will take her 27 years to finish.

In the spirit of that, it might be interesting to see what kind of logos Duluthians could come up with for places like Goat Hill or Casket Quarry.

So here’s an open invitation to consider your favorite people, places and things in Duluth that no one would ever consider commissioning a logo for, and make one. How about a logo for “The Path” – the place across the street from Morgan Park Middle School where kids go to smoke? For the zip code 55812? For Restormel Street? Pick your favorite noun and go for it. The more obscure the better. Upload them to the comments of this post.

This is not a competition, it is only an exhibition. Please refrain from using the word “branding” at any point. That word makes everyone sick.

New song by local musician Teague Alexy from his upcoming album, This Dance, available April 17.

Miss Abigail Schoenecker, editor of the PDD Calendar since September, is leaving at the end of March to pursue opportunities in the Twin Cities. The Perfect Duluth Day family wishes her well and will miss her talents — so much so that we will resist the urge to make disparaging comments about the Twin Cities to reinforce our Duluth exceptionalism.

Abby’s departure, of course, means there’s a job opening. If you are interested, follow the link and the instructions therein. Don’t fear the potential rejection; we’re pretty nice about it.

New video shot in Duluth.

Three Duluth-area high-school boys hockey teams are competing in the Minnesota state tournament in St. Paul this week. Hermantown and Marshall have games on Wednesday; East plays on Thursday. But there’s more to this town than hockey, in case you haven’t heard.

Charlie Parr is playing at Tycoons Alehouse with Devil’s Flying Machine twice this month. The first time is this Wednesday, the second is next Wednesday. (This is contrary to earlier reports that Charlie would be playing the Brewhouse on those dates.)

Also on Wednesday, Teatro Zuccone is screening the documentary film Pray the Devil Back to Hell, which documents a peace movement called Women of Liberia Mass Action for Peace.

Kelly Thompson opens her solo art exhibition at Washington Gallery on Friday, featuring charcoal drawings and paintings created using a variety of media.

The trio of Ross Sutter, Laura MacKenzie and Danielle Enblom — collectively known as Northern Gael — will perform traditional Irish and Scottish music at the Quaker Meeting House on Saturday.

And that’s just a tiny sampling of the hoopla you can find in the PDD Calendar. Rant and rave about these events and more in the comments. Let us know if we’re missing anything.

Should you happen to find a wedding ring on the ski trails at Piedmont … um … that would be mine. It most likely came off at the overlook when I took my gloves off, but I couldn’t find it on my return visit. I suppose it could be anywhere along the trail or parking lot. Please call the PDD headquarters at 624-6087 if you see it.

Lake Superior surfing video shot on Jan. 13, set to the song “Cry, Cry, Crow” by the Pines.

Here’s the much anticipated news release from the city:

Parks and Recreation has announced four of the six cross-country ski trails are groomed and ready for skiing.
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At left is Rich Narum’s shot of Superior Street; at right the view from Anna Montgomery’s side door. Has anyone had the guts to wreck a camera and try shooting outside instead of through glass? Not me!

Anyway, add your best attempts in the comments.

Since the subject has come up a few times, most recently on the “Duluth Rock Facts” post, I figured it was time to start a definitive list of major concerts at the DECC Arena and Auditorium, which of course includes the era when they were the Duluth Arena and Duluth Auditorium. (The auditorium is called Symphony Hall these days).

As usual with lists on PDD, it starts with whatever springs to mind (and in this case whatever ticket stubs are laying around) and grows from there. (With a tip of the hat to the News Tribune Attic for tracking down some of the 1980s/90s stuff after my Metallica post on PDD in 2009.)

Recommend additions in the comments, or point out if you have missing dates or opening acts.

The Beach Boys — August 13, 1966
The Supremes — 1967
Paul Revere and the Raiders — 1967
Three Dog Night
Johnny Cash
Linda Ronstadt
Grand Funk Railroad
Rare Earth
Chicago
Lawrence Welk
Shawn Phillips
Blue Oyster Cult, Foghat and Black Oak Arkansas
Blue Oyster Cult, Rush and Ozone Grater & the Moon Rock Band –May 23, 1966
Credence Clearwater Revival — May 7, 1972
Elvis Presley — Oct. 16, 1976
Kiss and Uriah Heep — Jan. 18, 1977
Elvis Presley — April 29, 1977
Harry Chapin — Oct 1, 1977
Emerson Lake and Palmer — Nov. 7, 1977
Black Sabbath and Van Halen — March 29, 1978
Van Halen and REO Speedwagon — April 29, 1978
Kiss and John Cougar — Oct. 1978
Harry Chapin — May 11, 1979
Edgar Winter Group and Montrose
Cheap Trick and the Romantics — July 19, 1979
Van Halen — Sept. 25, 1979 (w/ Journey and Montrose?)
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Here’s the complete broadcast from Feb. 25 at the DECC Symphony Hall, featuring the Grand Rapids High School Jazz Ensemble and Trampled by Turtles.

March Madness is nearly upon us, as the East Greyhounds, Marshall Hilltoppers and Hermantown Hawks boys hockey teams all battle this week for trips to the state tournament. Marshall plays Hibbing-Chisholm on Wednesday, East plays Andover on Thursday, and Hermantown plays Rogers on Friday.

In college women’s hockey, the UMD Bulldogs are in the WCHA Final Face-off at Amsoil Arena. They face the Wisconsin Badgers on Friday for the chance to play in the WCHA National Championship Game on Saturday.

In a weirder athletic endeavor, the Mustache March Run happens on Saturday. If you don’t know what that means, well, it’s really no more complicated than a bunch of people with mustaches (real and artificial) running on the Lakewalk. There will also be an after-race party at Pizza Luce featuring the Black-eyed Snakes.

Also Saturday, the Spirit Lake Poetry Series brings Todd Boss and Matt Rasmussen to Somers Lounge at the College of St. Scholastica. Rescheduled for March 24.

There are over 400 events in the PDD Calendar, and we fully expect you to take part in at least 350 of them, so study up.

Video of Garrison Keillor in Duluth at the DECC Symphony Hall performing for A Prairie Home Companion.

This clip didn’t make it to my inbox until after Valentine’s Day, but hey, it’s 100 years old anyway, so what’s a few more days? It’s from the Feb. 4, 1912, Duluth news Tribune. A more readable version of the text appears below.
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Mundane fact of the day: Before Duluth’s street signs were white on green they were black on white. For a while after the switch the old signs were piled up at the spot where Upper and Lower Michigan Street meet. I spent a few minutes browsing them on Jan. 30, 1999, but didn’t take any home as a souvenir.

Beloved Duluth nerd Crystal Pelkey has an article in the debut issue of Nerd Nite magazine profiling the nerdiness of Duluth. The nationwide magazine is published out of Brooklyn, NY. As of last night, there was a stack of complimentary copies outside the Zeitgeist Arts Cafe.

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I just noticed the Spirit Bottle Shoppe at 5801 Grand Ave. in West Duluth is closed and the building is for sale. I will miss the big red light and friendly service.

(Tiny photo at left circa 2004, by Barrett Chase.)

Video from Adam Carr’s “January in Duluth” blog.
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Well, somebody had to.

In honor of “The Tiny Art Show” at Prøve Gallery, I thought I’d throw things open to people who are either too lazy to submit their tiny art to a show, or are pretty sure it’s not good enough to be in a show.

PDD’s comments now have an easy image-upload tool, so go ahead and share a weird photo or other piece of art or pseudo art.