In the interest of full disclosure, I admit that I suffer from almost pathological nostalgia, a condition that only becomes more acute during the holiday season. Out come boxes of familiar, musty Christmas ornaments that probably should be replaced and mountains of Scandinavian desserts from a tradition now many generations removed from my own. And the annual viewing (okay, multiple viewings) of favorite holiday films: Holiday Inn, It’s a Wonderful Life, Christmas in Connecticut, and, of course, White Christmas.
Given the inviolability of established holiday traditions, it was with a bit of trepidation that I attended a preview show of White Christmas at the Duluth Playhouse. Happily, the production did not disappoint, sailing along with plenty of glitz and good cheer. The set, framed like a vintage Christmas card, the familiar Irving Berlin tunes, vibrant mid-century costumes all invoked an amber-tinted yesteryear. Continue Reading
Please do not repeal the 300′ rule until there is an alternative in place.
To do so will undermine any motivating pressure to create, adopt and enforce an intentional response to management of the current situation. Repealing the 300′ rule without the proposed rules in place is underhanded attempt to deliver a final blow to a diverse community and underscores the profit-before-community approach which motivates rental companies and out of town landlords.
I have been a vocal advocate for smart municipal management of the neighborhoods effected by the growth of an important sector of the local economy and I agree that the proposed regulations, if enforced, concerning rentals will have a positive effect, especially regulations concerning parking. I will happily support the repeal of the 300′ rule the second the proposed regulations are in effect.
Thursday, Dec. 2, Cities Never Sleep releases its new full-length album at Grandma’s Sports Garden! Other bands are featured and house DJs the Crunchy Bunch. Come rock and roll!
Went to the rollout of the new Art in the Alley gallery in Superior last night. Wonderful shopping experience with the original art of beader Tami LaPole and over-the-top potter Dan Edmunds. It’s in the old city hall. Enter off Broadway Street. It is the most unique shop on both sides of the bridge and will make Superior a shopping destination with terrific gift items, original art from area artist. Can’t say enough good about it. Definitely worth the trip over, and a welcome new addition to the Twin Ports shopping scene.
Sometime in the near future the Duluth News Tribune will be running a story about Northern Lights Books & Gifts being for sale. It is true. Since August I have been contacting our top customers and local book colleagues to let them know I was looking for a buyer. Our lease will be up the end of February and I do not plan to renew.
I have decided to scale back my professional responsibilities so I can be available to travel in order to care for elderly parents in northern Illinois. Over the past year I have been gone nine weeks. I am very grateful to my staff for their professionalism and for their loyal efforts on behalf of the bookstore.
There have also been significant changes in traditional bookselling. I believe we are at a “Guttenberg” moment in publishing with the impact of electronic media. A new fresh approach is required for continued success in bookselling at the brick and mortar level. My heart and head are distracted with other priorities and I do not have the energy to figure out what comes next for profitible bookselling.
It has truly been an honor and a dream come true to serve the community of book lovers who have shopped with us for the past seventeen years. In the meantime we are operating full steam ahead through the holiday season.
Book fair to benefit Friends of the Library, 9 a.m.-10 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 4 at Barnes & Noble.
9:30-11 a.m. Music by Terence Smith and friends,
1-4 p.m. Crafts for kids – stamp and scrap cards, snowflakes, gift tags from recycled cards & wrap, write letters to troops.
4 p.m. Story Hour with Mary Linda Sather
Use the vouchers available at the store and your purchase will benefit the Friends of and the Duluth Public Library. If you can’t come to the store, go online anytime from Dec. 4-9 to bn.com/bookfairs. At the end of your order, enter the book fair number: 10288355
Food. Drink. Prizes. Entertainment. Great photography. Free. Can it get any better than this? Come to the Grand Opening of the DPI on this Saturday, Dec. 4, from 4-8pm. Local photographers including featured artists Larry and Linday Dunlap will exhibit work in the gallery. 405 E Superior St. Suite 140. Prizes offered by SimplyColorLab.com, First Photo, and more! For more info, call Brian at 393.2468 or go to duluthphotographyinstitute.com.
“I can’t do justice in these remarks to all of Russ’ many qualities or express completely how much I think this institution benefited from his service here and how much I benefited from knowing him. I lack the eloquence. I don’t think he is replaceable. We would all do well to keep his example in our minds as we serve our constituents and country and convictions.”
Ease back into your week … swing by Hartley Nature Center. There is fresh snow on the XC trails, and at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 1, an Adult Night Out presentation on Minnesota’s Hiking and Running Trails by Kate Havelin, who has written two books on hiking and running trails of Minnesota.
A culmination of efforts in painting supported by the Arrowhead Regional Arts Council Artist’s Grant at Lizzard’s Gallery in historic Downtown Duluth. Opening Reception Thursday, Dec. 2, 6-8pm featuring Kathy McTavish on cello.
With the DEA’s emergency ban on the synthetic marijuana compounds used in K2 and other brands, is the local battle between the Duluth City Council and the Last Place on Earth and others over? Should it ever have started?
It was torture to have the City Council’s attention and efforts focused on what was clearly a federal or state issue. With all the money we dump into federal regulatory agencies, we can be certain that if there is something to regulate, they will get around to it. Synthetic reefer had no real special interest or political support. So what were the local yocals we elected spending all their crusade power on? Did they really need to focus their efforts on what chemicals to ban? The last time I checked (about an hour ago) we still had a high rate of unemployment and many people in need. Didn’t we elect council members to improve our local economy and quality of life.
The DEA ban goes into full effect on the Dec. 24. All I want for Christmas is local government that does some real work to make Duluth more perfecter.
