Brian Klawiter taught an energetic class on the geology of our region at Denfeld High School last night. We learned about two dozen new terms for “rock” but more importantly, we came to understand the geologic processes that created the rocks around here… (more…)

Last night, Kate and I attended our second cooking class with Miaki Habuka through Duluth Community Education. (more…)

The Newspaper Lady has died. When I moved here, I stubbornly continued to red MSP papers for a year. At every street festival, at every new student weekend on campus at UMD and LSC, she was there, giving out papers and tempting me with deals. After about four free papers and four smooth pitches, I became a DNT subscriber and never looked back.

Thank you, Newspaper Lady. You helped make Duluth home.

See: “Man held on suspicion of drunken driving in Duluth crash that kills woman, injures grandson” for details.

The Blockbuster store on Central Entrance is closing; what video shops remain? See DNT.

How long until I won’t be able to own my media any more?

This looks like fun. Some friends of mine are going. Deadline is on the horizon! –db (more…)

A public lecture by Dave Benson (executive director of the Damiano Center) happened to a standing-room only crowd at 5pm in the UMD Library Rotunda. I had to sit in the next room and listen intently. (more…)

The Arrowhead Regional Arts Council approved on October 20, 2011, grant applications totaling $22,220 to be awarded in Arts and Cultural Heritage Community Arts Learning Grants. (more…)

The Arrowhead Regional Arts Council approved at its November 17, 2011, meeting grant applications totaling $20,650 to be awarded in Rural and Community Arts Grants. (more…)

A few weeks ago, I posted that I wished that businesses in need of help to make it through a rough patch would tell us, so we could eat there more often or buy more goods. Today, I got this message. -db

Dragon Port Games & Comics LLC
We would like to thank the wonderful gaming & comic community for another year serving all of you in Downtown Duluth. However as 2011 has been a tough year sales wise and the store is in a bit of a bind. Now as when we got started, Dragon Port needs to make an appeal to the community to give us a hand. (more…)

Saturday was the Asian & Pacific American Culture Show at UMD.
“How We Came to Be Here” was hosted by UMD’s Asian Pacific American Student Association. Kate and I enjoyed a night of Asian arts, cultural performance, and delicious Asian cuisine catered by Sala Thai. (more…)

Below, just a few photos from Nerd Nite at Teatro Zuccone in Downtown Duluth, November 2011.
Nerds, can you chime in with your best memories? (more…)

The informal gallery opening Thursday night at Prøve Gallery, in the Sons of Norway building across Lake Avenue from the Technology Village, was the most exciting night I’ve experienced in Art in Duluth in some time. (more…)

It was standing room only tonight at the Duane L. Cady lecture co-sponsored by the Center for Ethics and Public Policy, the Alworth Center, and the College of Liberal Arts.
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The best Vietnamese restaurant in the City of Duluth is gone. (Thank goodness we still have Lan Chi’s in Superior.) (more…)

The Arrowhead Regional Arts Council recently approved grant applications totaling $21,195 to be awarded in ARAC Career Development Grants. These arts activities are made possible with funding provided by the Minnesota Arts and Cultural Heritage fund as appropriated by the Minnesota State Legislature with money from the vote of the people of Minnesota on November 4, 2008, and by The McKnight Foundation. The artists and activities funded are as follows:
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Ennyman’s Blog explains local artists Emily Herb and Tonya Borgeson, who will exhibit works in the category of “surfacing” this week at Pizza Luce. I learn about art every time I check this blog.

Duluthian Donny Krosch presents an interview with Margaret Weis, Author and Gaming Icon.

Margaret Weis is one of the best known and a frequent best seller author for her long list of wonderful novels. Some of the most popular include the Dragon Lance Chronicles, Death Gate Cycle, and her work on early products for Dungeons and Dragons. Margaret Weis Productions has also started to release a number of Role-Playing Products such as the Leverage RPG and a new game based on Marvel’s Comic Universe.

I usually feel a little guilty eating factory farmed meat shaped into mass-produced meals, but when they have Simpsons toys as the kid’s meal (or mid-thirty-year-old-man’s meal) toy, I am there.

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Kate and I are taking introduction to outdoor photography at Woodland School through Duluth Community Education.

David Kohne

I have three thoughts as I read the below.

1. Aargh to the idea that arts funds would go to this cause.
2. Aargh to the robohelp aspect of the way they want you to contact your legislator, even if you don’t know who they are.
3. Aargh, just in general.

How about you? –db (more…)

Nerd Nite is an informal gathering at which nerds get together for nerdery of all sorts (well, mostly presentations and drinking). Nerds and non-nerds alike gather to meet, drink and learn something new. The general, national nerd-nite website is here.
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NYM Poster

NYM is 90 miles west of Brainerd. Follow RT 210W and then RT 10W, which branches off 210 to the right. NYM is on RT 10. Signs direct travelers to New York Mills Regional Cultural Center, which is where the show is located. Three groupings of paintings by country are included in the show: South Africa, France, & USA.

Director of the Center for Ethics and Public Policy
Shane Courtland, 2001 UMD alum and assistant professor of the Department of Philosophy, has been appointed director of the Center for Ethics and Public Policy. He is a member of the Bio-medical Ethics Committees at St. Luke’s and at SMDC Health System.

The Center’s next event is: Intersections of Racism, Sexism, and Warism, Nov. 10 at 4 p.m. (UMD Library Rotunda).
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I went to the Zinema 2 last night to watch the Walking Dead.

Zombie Theology, July 2011

This event was sparked by the Comic Book Guy at DragonPort Games and Comics last year. As I understand it, he contacted the Zinema and co-promoted the event. The house was stuffed to the gills, SRO.
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The Arrowhead Regional Arts Council recently approved grant applications totaling $63,075 to be awarded in ARAC Art Project Grants. (more…)

From Robert DeArmond
Executive Director
October 28, 2011 Deadline

In this new fiscal year, the Arrowhead Regional Arts Council announces that the Two-year Administrative Support Grant Program application deadline will be Friday, Oct. 28. The ARAC Board will review these grants on Thursday, Jan. 19, and funds will be available by Feb. 1.
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I have but one concession to my St. Paul Life (1995-2005) as I live in Duluth for my sixth year: I love Green Mill. Happy Hour apps are $5.99, instead of $5, and the Alamo Nachos is off the list, again, but Green Mill remains a Happy Hour First Choice for me … which explains why, despite that Minneapolis/St. Paul nostalgia, I had a great time tonight rooting for the Harbor City Rollerdames.
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I happily attended Oktoberfest this weekend.

It’s a vast improvement over last year. Last year, tents were huddled behind orange fencing, penning the whole event into a tiny space as if to say: it’s too cold to enjoy the outdoors. This year, the whole event is more spacious, with a central walkway between a food tent, a beer tent, a kettle corn tent, a tent for the MPR Current (can we get that up here yet?), an area for bean bag games and feats of strength and, of course, the dance tent.
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Ennyman’s Blog is hot this week with arts reviews and news.

There is the Red Interactive Project.

Red Interactive is inviting the public to an art opening the evening of Sept. 22 from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. at 1410 Tower Avenue in Superior (the New York Building). The project is an experimental art initiative conceived by Ed Newman and John Heino as part of Phantom Galleries Superior.

Utilizing social media, Red Interactive has received virtual and physical submissions from six continents, a dozen countries and a dozen states over the past few months since its inception in May. This opening is the first tangible event presenting a sample of what has been happening in virtual space. Admission is free. Attendees are strongly encouraged to wear red.

And there is the Ochre Ghost

Jessica L has done a fabulous job of putting Ochre Ghost on the map with original works by risk-taking artists. Last night I attended the opening of Risk of Dying is Greater in the Northland: new work by Avery Cassar plus the CD release of Danecdote’s new album: Mise en Place. The small space at 22 Second Ave. E. was fairly alive with energy from the music and the enthusiasm of the artist.

Check them out!