Month: February 2013
Duluth Art Institute seeking volunteers
If you love art and want to get involved in your community, why not become a Duluth Art Institute volunteer? The DAI is currently seeking individuals to assist in its galleries and to help out with its docent program. Visit the website to learn how you can help out.
Another chance to win $100 by appeasing the PDD marketing weasel
Every other year or so, Perfect Duluth Day conducts a survey of its readers in an effort to figure out who they are and what their deal is. To make up for the privacy invasion, we offer the chance to win $100 in a drawing, which convinces everyone to proceed without reservation or contempt.
To participate in the survey, you do not need to be logged in or have an account with PDD at all; you just have to be a human being with the ability to click things on the Internet.
This survey has closed; thanks to everyone who participated.
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Claire Stewart – “Duluth, My Home Town”
A nifty animation by Dave and Jean Kirwan set to a 1961 jingle about our fair city. This took first place in the 2013 Playground Short Shorts Film Festival this weekend.
This week: bouncing, brewing and wedding
Here’s a sampling of what you have to look forward to this week on the PDD Calendar.
It’s Presidents Day today! So celebrate with the traditional inflatable bouncy house at the Depot, because nothing says Presidents Day like an inflatable bouncy house.
This week is Winter Break for Duluth Public Schools and the Duluth Heritage Sports Center is opening its doors for free open ice skating Monday through Friday.
Every Wednesday night is bluegrass night at Sir Ben’s with the Stitch & Bitch club, presumably stitching and bitching.
Folk legend Bill Staines plays Amazing Grace on Thursday and funky eclectic Red Baraat plays Mitchell Auditorium on Friday.
The Twin Ports Brewfest is at Black Bear Casino this Saturday featuring over 150 beers and wines and the Dropkick Murphys providing live music. Free shuttles from downtown Duluth.
The annual Zenith City Indie Wedding Show is at Clyde Iron this Sunday with vendors and live music.
So what are you doing this week? Can we tag along? Any upcoming events that you want to promote? Let us know
Behind the scenes at Salsa Night
Instructor Katie Kero demonstrates to the group the basic step of salsa.
When many people think of Valentine’s Day they think of a box of chocolates, flowers, dinner and maybe a movie. However, some people choose to do other things around the community such as learn to salsa.
Avalon Educational Institute located on W. Superior Street hosted Valentine’s Day salsa night.
“It might make one person’s Valentine’s Day and that is worth it,” said Executive Director and founder of the institute, Justin Markus. (more…)
Boreal Owl Irruption
Video by Sparky Stensaas
R.I.P. John Munsell
University of Wisconsin-Superior professor John Munsell died on Tuesday. He taught at UWS from 1967 to 2001 and was one heck of a character.
Speaking of his characters, one of them in April 1997 was Willy Loman in Death of a Salesman, shown above.
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Duluth Product Photographers
Does anybody out there in intraweb land know a good product photographer in Duluth? I have some small parts I need shot for a catalog, nothing too fancy. Compensation is negotiable. Athankyou!
Loup-Garou — “Empathy Song”
Local boys Loup-Garou are back in town. They’re playing new music. They’ve got a new lineup. They’re writing big ol’ ballads, rocker’rollers, heavy muddlers. Listen to “Empathy Song” and download music for free here at loup-garou.bandcamp.com.
PDD Commercial
Did I see the first ever PDD commercial last night after The Playlist aired on WDSE-TV? Let the balloons and confetti explode!
Open House
Umm.
Ask the City of Duluth to use eminent domain to claim vacant houses for our affordable housing stock.
An official Magic Smelt transmission
Last week, Neptune was spotted by a PDD contributor making various proclomations. If you were wondering what was up, it’s this video. The Magic Smelt Puppet Troupe has launched a Kickstarter campaign to raise money to put on free workshops for people to build puppets, masks and costumes for the Smelt Parade on April 21st.
New album/single from the 4onthefloor
The 4onthefloor, the stompin’ blues and roots rock quartet from Minneapolis, will release their new record, Spirit of Minneapolis, on April 9. This will be the band’s second full-length record and fifth release since its formation in 2009. The album was recorded at Sacred Heart in Duluth, Creation Audio in Minneapolis, and April Base in Eau Claire.
The first single off the record, “King of the Jungle,” is available for streaming and as a free download on 4otf.com and at the top of this PDD post.
For more music, videos, photos and information on the 4onthefloor, visit the band’s Facebook or Twitter pages.
App Recomendations
I know there are websites, public access TV shows, blogs, YouTube channels, radio shows and perhaps 1-900-services dedicated to all things iPad\phone\pod\touch – but I don’t have the time or interest in sorting through all of it. I need a few iPad app recommendations for the following: 4th grade Math Tutoring; Kindergarten sight word development and basic piano skill development. We justified getting an iPad as an “educational tool”; but have frankly been overwhelmed at the prospect of loading decent apps. At present, it’s a $500 machine for playing “Temple Run” and watching Netflix. A well vetted resource for finding this information would also be valuable.
UMD Harlem Shake Video
The internet meme of 2013 hits the University of Minnesota Duluth.
The Kidnappers Foil: 1938 Duluth Footage
Starting in the 1930s, Melton Barker traveled across the United States filming The Kidnappers Foil for the next 40 years. No, he did not take this long to film one movie, instead he filmed the same movie in every town that he visited, perhaps hundreds of times. I’m not sure if this was part of a “home movie” business plan, or if he was ripping people off with promises of fame, but nonetheless, it’s now part of movie history.
In 1938, he stopped by Duluth to film, and though the main film is missing, there are two scenes featuring Duluthians. Maybe you have a famous grandparent and never knew it? (more…)
David Bowen exhibit at the Minneapolis Institute of Arts
Duluth mixed-media artist and associate professor at UMD David Bowen has his “Underwater 2013” exhibit on display at the Minneapolis Institute of Arts. (more…)
Homegrown Band Publicity Photo Showdown: Charlie Parr vs. Actual Wolf
Charlie Parr (photo by Peter Lee)
Actual Wolf (photo by Robyn Schindeldecker)
With the Homegrown Music Festival coming up PDD launched a series of polls last week, tournament style, to determine which Duluth-area band has the sweetest pic. Last week Southwire defeated Sexhawk. This week we ask …
[poll id=”23″]
This poll is now closed. The results were:
Charlie Parr — 85.7 percent
Actual Wolf — 14.3 percent
Note: Only people who are logged in to their Perfect Duluth Day blogging account are allowed to vote (to prevent people from voting multiple times). To create an account, click here. If you need help figuring it out, click here.
Minion. We need another minion. Are you minion material?
We need a another minion! They keep disappearing into the basement. Raven & Associates, Inc., a promotional products company (we sell stuff with your name on it) right here in Duluth, is looking for another talented, skilled, and charming individual to be part of our customer service team. We are a growing company, a great place to work, and very odd.
Here’s the basic info on the job: Full-time customer service. Hourly wage beginning at +$10 per hour, flexible scheduling, retirement benefits and partial health insurance. Previous experience working in an office environment (you know, with computers), background in art, and interest in outdoors preferred.
For more info, call Dave at 740-2769 or drop me an email at dave @ goravengo.com. We are now located in a creepy old theater at 319 N. Central Ave.
Retribution Gospel Choir – “Seven”
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pCKrRoDXPL0
Jammie Thomas-Rasset Seeks Supreme Court Review
From Ars Technica:
Jammie Thomas-Rasset has been fighting a recording industry lawsuit accusing her of sharing music using the now-defunct peer-to-peer network Kazaa for the better part of a decade. In 2007, a jury found Thomas-Rasset liable to the tune of $222,000 for sharing 24 songs. She appealed the verdict, resulting in two more trials that each produced even larger jury awards. These higher figures were thrown out by the courts, but last year, the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals upheld the $222,000 award.
Rocket Bar Renovation
The ragged building at 208 E. First St. in Downtown Duluth is being gutted of debris in preparation for renovation. Bob Monahan and his father, Robert H. R. Monahan, plan to open an “artist friendly” cafe/lounge on the main floor later this year, with a recording studio in the basement level. They have already replaced the roof on the 127-year-old building, which they are in the process of acquiring from Jack Arnold through a contract-for-deed agreement.
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