Month: May 2010
Emergency Protest against Flotilla Murders 5pm Tuesday
On Tuesday, June 1, at 5 p.m., peace and justice activists in Duluth will gather at the Federal Building to denounce the Israeli government’s assault on the Gaza Freedom Convoy and call for an end to U.S. aid for Israel. (more…)
A Winter Downpour + Atlas Mts. + Hotel Coral Essex Saturday!
A Winter Downpour made its Duluth debut this past May at “New Band Night” during the Homegrown Music Festival. Now we take the second step in becoming a certified Twin Ports band by crossing the bridge for our second show and playing at Thirsty Pagan. Hope to see you there. This is a free show. Plus our friends Atlas Mts. and The Hotel Coral Essex are joining us.
Sat. June 5th @ Thirsty Pagan
10pm | 21+ | Free
A Winter Downpour | Atlas Mts. | Hotel Coral Essex
The Hold Steady in Hayward July 2
We’re so excited, we’re doing back flips here! Of course, this is leading to serious injuries and skyrocketing group insurance rates, but here’s the skinny:
Community radio station WOJB is presenting The Hold Steady with special guests The Whigs from Athens GA and Milwaukee’s best kept secret, Jaill in concert July 2 at the Lac Courte Oreilles Convention Center, four miles east of Hayward at the junction of County Highways B & K.
And only 20 bucks in advance! Tickets are available at www.wojb.org or by Visa/MC over the phone at 800-776-3689.
Bill and Ted’s Oil Drilling Adventure
Stupid stupid stupid oil industry! If you thought all this crap was bad today, it was equally bad in 1979 (“equally bad” as in “the exact same fucking problem”).
Historic Duluth Armory photos
Historic Duluth Armory featured Paul Metsa and Danny Fox, the 2008 winner of the Hibbing Dylan Days singer/songwriter contest for the May 30 open house.
Rubber #@$! Chicken presents David #$@%! Mamet’s “American $#&*!@# Buffalo”
May was a great time for homegrown music. June is shaping up to be the month for homegrown theater.
Rubber Chicken Theater presents
“American Buffalo” by David Mamet
June 3-5, 10-12, 17-19
7pm at The Venue at Mohaupt Block.
Directed by Minden Anderson
Featuring Tony Barrett, Brian Matuszak and Tate Haglund-Pagel
218-213-2780, rubberchickentheater.com
Beating a very dead horse
Confederate grave, Holly Springs, Mississippi, June 2007.
The News-Tribune had a nice editorial Sunday encouraging people to take time out to remember that Memorial Day was intended to include an element of solemnity, paying homage to those who have died in the service of the United States. I’m no jingo, but I generally embrace those sentiments. The editorial board erred in citing the nonprofit usmemorialday.org’s characterization of the origins of the tradition, however: “That inaugural Decoration Day, on May 30, 1868, drew some 5,000 Americans who helped place flowers and flags on the graves of more than 20,000 Union and Confederate soldiers at Arlington National Cemetery,” the group claims, imagining a scene of national reconciliation. (more…)
Things to Do Memorial Day Weekend
Big weekend ahead. Got plans? Here are some suggestions, assuming that you’re not heading off to hibernate at your cabin on the lake … though if you are reading this now, you really should be outside. (more…)
WTF?!? (Puppy Edition)
A warning to all dog owners out there: some asshole is going around Duluth’s Lakeside neighborhood poisoning dogs (DPD, DNT, Strib, Fox21, MPR). Unlike the dog-napper rumors, this appears to be real.
Watch your doggies, bring them to the vet if you notice symptoms, and keep an eye out for suspicious people giving your pets “treats.”
Humor on Campus
I saw this on a UMD bulletin board among all the “House for Rent” and “For Sale” fliers. It made me laugh.
Are you talkin’ it off or walkin’ it off?
So, I’m walking down East Third Street, minding my own business, and a middle-aged man with a goofy smile on his face asks me: “Are you talkin’ it off or walkin’ it off?”
Is that some kind of expression? What could it possibly mean? Did I hear him right?
I’ve found that it’s best in these situations to just say something quickly and politely while continuing to walk, so I just said, “Walking it off,” and kept going.
But now that interaction is bugging me. The only implication I can think of is that maybe I’m supposed to be walking off a hangover, which I guess sort of makes sense. But how would somebody talk off a hangover? And since I wasn’t talking, shouldn’t it have been obvious I was walking it off?
One more week to apply for PDD sales position
Don’t forget, the deadline for the Perfect Duluth Day sales position is Friday, June 4th.
See the job description here.
Wonderbuzz Records @ TPB
Show w/ the Branditos, the Fontanelles & the Western Ridge + a limited amount of hand screened music compilations (done by Glen Maloney) featuring 14 songs (by Jordan Taylor, Sara Softich, the Branditos, and me) and some noise and stuff.
See ya!
Roscoe’s Pioneer Bar
This post originally contained a video about Roscoe’s Pioneer Bar on Blip.TV. The video was eventually removed from the source.
Sound Unseen opening night approaching!
We can hardly believe our festival will begin a week from today! Eeep! We are buzzing with nervousness and excitement — we truly hope to see all of you out and about! If you haven’t visited our website yet, please do as our full schedule is up and you can download a PDF of our program and a quick music and film schedule to put right in your pocket!
(more…)
Fractals Contact?
Who has contact info. for the Fractals? I’d like to get a hold of them about a potential gig. Thanks!
Three years of road rage (and wide open left lanes)?
Since we have to endure this “mega-project” for so long, we better all get on the same page.
I’m one of those who follows the signs that say USE BOTH LANES when backed up and TAKE TURNS AT THE MERGE, which means take turns at the merge to me. I’m pretty sure these signs, their positioning, and the whole setup have been thought out and planned to make the situation as easy as possible for everyone.
Despite those instructions, it seems a majority of people decide to fall in line to the right, maybe assuming they’re eventually going to have to merge anyway. This creates a very long backup in the right lane and a wide open left lane up to the merge, which leads to angry drivers in the right lane who see others cruising by them in the left lane. If a majority of us would actually drive through this the way I think it was intended, I think it would be a lot smoother, similar to the second merge going west from downtown, where traffic spreads out a little and left laners can seamlessly get right without anyone having to slow down at all.
I bring this up after seeing the attempts by some to take up both lanes and actually getting swerved at yesterday for using the wide open left lane. Thank goodness the kids weren’t in the car. Seriously who “fake swerves” their vehicle at another moving vehicle?
Am I wrong here? And if not, how do we get everyone through this as intended? I’ve seen letters to the DNT addressing this and basically saying the same thing I am, obviously without impact.
Experimental Music Fest and Workshop
Who is interested in attending a short experimental music fest in Duluth? I’ve got interested performers and workshop presenters. I could probably wrangle some funding, too. I’m looking at some time in the fall for a Friday-Saturday kind of thing. Still need a venue, a couple of interested volunteers and a potential crowd of workshop participants and performance attendees. Express your desires here or contact me directly through my web site.
Clyde Park Historical Timeline
The Clyde Iron Works restaurant and event center at Clyde Park is now open at 29th Ave. W. & Michigan St. in Duluth’s Friendly West End. Here’s a little Clyde historical timeline. (more…)
Graffiti Artists Wanted
Looking for local graffiti artists for hire. If your work involves tagging and original art (not Disney characters or something silly like that) please give me a shoutola.
kramfriederichs @ gmail
Lost Weekend Presented by Turbo Rathvon
Turbo Rathvon presents “The Lost Weekend” May 28-29. Joining Turbo Rathvon on stage both nights will be local underground heroes the Real McCoys and the Twin Cities pop-punk circus Unexpected Guests. Friday night’s show starts at 9 p.m. at Hell Burgers in Canal Park, Saturday’s show starts at 10 p.m. at Norm’s in Superior. No Cover.
Movies in the Park 2010
After initially deciding to take a year off, Trent and Brita Edgerton, the amazing local couple that has produced MITP since 2006, sent me an email today telling me that the event is BACK on with a new sponsor, the Greater Downtown Council. Information about sponsorship opportunities and a TENTATIVE schedule is here.
That’s all I know.
Duluth Does the Opry tickets still available
Wednesday is the last day to buy advance tickets online.
Thursday, May 27, 2010, 7 p.m.
Sacred Heart Music Center (more…)
Uptown Boys at Teatro Zuccone
The Twin Ports’ only Billy Joel tribute band plays Teatro Zuccone on Friday, May 28, at 9 p.m. Stick around for Renegade Theater Co. Improv at 10:30 p.m. Cover charge: Five bucks.