Red Plan versus Let Duluth Vote?

For those us who are new here, having only lived in Duluth for a decade or less, can any of you proud professional Duluthians add any clarity to this murky and mysterious topic?

I’m sure it goes deep, and emotions run high, and minds are made up, but I can’t seem to find any unbiased sources that describe what has exactly happened here. The available info, that which surfaces when one Googles the keywords seem somewhat scrambled and wishy washy, or Bud Lightish, considering the impact and money involved. So, who are the good guys? Who is right? What’s the deal with Johnson Controls? And did the deal have anything to do with Duluth’s irascible money woes back when taxes spiked when the JCI took control? Also, seeing as how I heard a couple of old timers complaining about this too, is the recent sewage water runoff charge mega increase on city utilities somehow all tied to this, or the casino? Is it starting to read like a Tarantino script? Help the undereducated non-native tax-paying simpletons like myself get up to speed on this complex matter. Thanks.

Mean Beans Espresso & Creams

I just moved into the Chester Area and have noticed that Mean Beans hasn’t been open for the past couple of days. Does anyone know if they have closed the doors for good?

Duluth Primary 2013 Final Arguments

In one of the most off, off, off election years of recent memory we can really focus our grey matter on pretty much hyper-local politics. In a year like this we get a little more mainstream media coverage of the smaller races, but even still, there are a few candidates who I haven’t met or really heard much about. I’d hate to base my decisions on who to vote for in the primary on who has the most yard signs out, or worse, how I feel about the people who have the yard signs in their yards. So, PDD …

"I Voted" photo, shamelessly cribbed from Tim Kaiser's FB Page

"I Voted" photo, shamelessly cribbed from Tim Kaiser's FB Page

So I am asking, who are you voting for this Primary Day and why?

In the interest of moderation and well-reasoned discussion maybe try to support your feelings and instincts with actual, you know, facts and evidence. Bonus points for spouting your own opinions and not those that have been fed to you by interest groups or ideologues. I haven’t voted yet, and I’ll be reading through the comments before I do, so here is your chance to sway my decision. Polls close at 8 pm. I live in the Duluth Hillside but you can talk about any Duluth-ish race, because, you never know, maybe you can sway someone else’s vote, too.

Advice on Duluth Garage Builder

Anyone have recommendations on who to use for a garage build? Thanks in advance.

Trapping Incident: An Opinion Piece from Wildwoods

Two officers from Duluth Animal Control brought Wildwoods a juvenile skunk from near an apartment complex in central Duluth. The following is from Wildwoods Staff:

Duluth banker brings home “what probably are the first amateur motion pictures in color of native and animal life in Africa”

An interesting item from the New York Times, July 07, 1937:

Amateur films jungle in colors: Duluth banker sails today from Paris with rare movies of natives and animals

Laurence O. Anderson of the Northern National Bank of Duluth, Minn., after a month’s holiday in the Belgian Congo, will sail for the United States tomorrow on the Normandle with what probably are the first amateur motion pictures in color of native and animal life in Africa.

Minnesota State Arts Board Grantees II

Continuing my posting of FY 2013 grantees with implications for Duluth.

Partners in Arts Participation
Project grants to nonprofit or public human service organizations to give underserved individuals or groups opportunities to experience the arts.

Number of grants awarded as of May 1, 2013: 37
Total dollars awarded as of May 1, 2013: $523,000

Grand Rapids

Too far to be a suburb, too close to be another major metropolitan area? I spent Saturday visiting the MacRostie Art Center, Infinite Games, this tasty Chinese Buffet across from the Village Bookstore, their Riverwalk… what a pleasant community.

This week: spam, spam, spam, spam, spam, inline skates and spam

  

Here’s a sampling of what you have to look forward to this week on the PDD Calendar.

Tuesday is a Primary Election here in Duluth and after you get your vote on you can head down to The Underground for Portrait of a Drowned Man and Toby Thomas Churchill being recorded for a future airing of The Playlist.

Time is running out for farmers markets. The UMD Market Day is every Wednesday until the end of September outside Kirby Center. The Lincoln Park Farmers Market is every Thursday through the middle of October at the Harrison Community Center.

The very very very exceedingly silly musical, Spamalot, opens at the Duluth Playhouse on Thursday and runs for five (no, three, sir) three weekends.

Transplants is a new exhibition opening at the Prøve on Friday featuring artists who have moved to Duluth.

The 18th annual Inline Skate Marathon is this Saturday following the well worn course from Two Harbors to Canal Park.

So what are you doing this week? Can we tag along? Any upcoming events that you want to promote? Let us know.

Real Shorts — Ray and the Bees

Ray Lopez is a beekeeper. And he’d probably be willing to help you keep bees, too.

Part of the Real Shorts series telling true stories in under two minutes.

realshorts.wordpress.com

RJ’s Coffee Den in West Duluth

RJ's Coffee Den

RJ’s Coffee Den reopened at a new location, 330 N. 57th Ave. W., just shy of a month ago. The Den was formerly located in Proctor, and closed in October 2011. The new owner, Renea Johnson, has hopes to keep the business alive having remodeled the former Erbert & Gerbert’s sandwich shop next to the Kom-on-Inn Bar.

Video Archive: David Lee Roth 1987 Duluth Concert Promo

There’s already a post on PDD about the two Van Halen shows in Duluth, so here’s some love for ol’ Diamond Dave … or as the TV spot says “Dynamite.”

Mr. Nice in: We Have to Roll Together

NSFW weekly episode. Mr. Nice gives back to the community.

How are you liking the Lakewalk extension?

It’s not a long extension, but it’s a vital one, connecting Lakeside to Brighton Beach. It officially opened with a ribbon-cutting ceremony today at noon at the 61st Avenue East and bridge section.

Here is a Duluth group doing jujutsu and judo since the 1980s

Do NOT follow this link or you will be banned from the site!