February 2012 Posts

Home Sweet Home

I just got back from Canal Park, where it was too darn cold and too darn wet to take any photos of the waves crashing over the breakwater, or of the chunks of ice in the spray flying at our heads.

My three year old, who according to Garrison Keillor is truly a Duluthian, loved every minute of the wind whipping, the slush slushing and the hoots and hollers emitted by her non-Duluthian transplant parents. I was reminded of another night on the Lakewalk, six or seven months ago, when we walked with this same girl on a beautiful summer night and watched the full moon create sparkles on the lake. (Oddly, there was no ice flying at us–must have been the direction of the wind.) I remember thinking to myself that my family and I were so blessed to live in this city. And I felt that way again today, as we watched the Big Lake crash: We are so blessed to call this beautiful place home. And home it has become–Keillorian and unwritten codes of citizenship notwithstanding.

So, I ask you, transplants (and homers, if you like)–when did you know that Duluth was home?

Be a Bridge … M3

Saturday is OUR day, Duluth! People all over the city are hosting neighborhood potlucks, having family conversations, contributing to worthy causes, and plugging in to a bunch of great public events already in the works (Party at the Bridge, Peace Jam @ Amazing Grace, Feast of Nations@ UMD…). Let us know what you do to strengthen our diverse community.

Leap Day 2012 Snowmageddon Photos

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.

2012 Main Street Model Contest

Hey everyone, I’m Kaylee Rose. I was selected as an eligible entrant in the 2012 Main Street Model contest. Today through March 19 I need your votes everyday! It would be an absolute dream to be part the Maurices team and represent everything the brand stands for! Please check out the link below, read more and vote for me!

R.I.P. Charlotte Zacher of Charlotte’s Cafe

The Duluth News Tribune has a nice remembrance of Charlotte Zacher, of Charlotte’s Cafe fame in Carlton.

Cinnamon Roll is a loving cat

Let me start off by saying that I am already easily amused, and the sleep deprivation is not really helping in that matter.

So, I was reading the DNT’s Pets of the Week article, and found a picture of Cinnamon Roll the cat waiting to be adopted. Most of the time, these pictures are of animals looking super cute begging to be adopted, but Cinnamon Roll’s expression made me laugh. “Adopt me, or don’t. Whatever.”

Being easily amused (refer back to point A), I whipped up some simple edits that made me laugh – maybe they’ll make you laugh too (if not, try sleep deprivation).

Major Concerts at the DECC: 1966 to 2010

DECC-Don-Esse-art

This feature is an ongoing attempt to list all the major concerts at the DECC Arena and Symphony Hall from 1966 to 2010, which of course includes the era when they were known as the Duluth Arena and Duluth Auditorium.

Life House and New Scenic Café partner to help homeless kids

Life House will hold its second annual Hors D’Oeuvres that Open Doors event at the New Scenic Café on Tuesday, March 6, at 6 p.m.

Hors D’Oeuvres that Open Doors is a special event that raises awareness and funds for the vital services Life House provides for homeless and at-risk youth in the Duluth community.

Chastity Brown on KUWS Tuesday

In support of her forth-coming record Back-Road Highways, Minneapolis-based soul, roots and blues musician Chastity Brown will be on be on KUWS 91.3 FM at 7 p.m. tonight and will also be performing an in-studio with KUMD 103.3 FM on Thursday at 2 p.m. On Thursday night, she will be playing a show at Amazing Grace at 7 p.m., tickets are $10. See the Facebook event for more information.

FYI: Lakeside Presbyterian Preschool

The Big E and I sent our kids to Lakeside Presbyterian Preschool and we think its a pretty neat place. Our kids are alumni, but one of the teachers there asked me to post this flyer in a nutshell:

Open House Thursday, March 1 5:30-7pm. Preschool for 3-5 year olds.

LPNS Open House flier

That’s all the info I’ve got. Call them for more.

A Prairie Home Companion in Duluth

[This post originally contained an embedded video that is no longer available at its source.]

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.

Canoe from Jasper to Churchill

Three guys are looking for an experienced paddler to go on a 1,700-mile, 85-day canoe trip from the foot of the Rockies, in Alberta, to Churchill, Manitoba, in mid-May to mid-August. If you’re interested, contact Adam Maxwell at adammaxwell601 @ aol.com or Ryan Ritter at ritt0219 @ d.umn.edu.

This week: Mustaches, poetry and hockey, hockey and more hockey

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.

ARAC seeking new board members

The Arrowhead Regional Arts Council is currently accepting applications from individuals wishing to serve on its Board. ARAC offers grant support and technical assistance to individual artists and nonprofit arts organizations residing in the seven counties of the Arrowhead Region of Minnesota: Aitkin, Carlton, Cook, Itasca, Koochiching, Lake, and St. Louis.

It’s snowing!!!

I’m hoping by the end of the week there will be an abundance of snow in Duluth. This weekend I’m going to head north and do some snowshoeing. But I would also like to get out on a weeknight after work — can anyone tell me where there are snowshoe trails that are lit up at night? Does Lester Park have snowshoe trails or are they all ski trails? Any web sites or maps to tell which trails are which? Thanks!

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