September 2013 Posts

The Nonchalant Jaunt and other 2003 stuff

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The Perfect Duluth Day Archives for September 2003 feature a number of posts about the Nonchalant Jaunt, an event in which seven hearty PDDers walked the length of Duluth, from the Wabegon Supper Club in the Superior Township to the Lakeview Castle in the Duluth Township.

Where in Duluth?

This is probably a gimmie this time of year, but it was so gorgeous I wanted to share it.

A “Noteworthy” call for poetry submissions

The Duluth Poet Laureate Committee is seeking submissions of poetry for a collaborative project entitled Noteworthy. Twelve area composers/songwriters will each select a poem to serve as the inspiration for an original piece of music. There will be a performance of the readings and the music in May 2014.

This week: north shore artists, south shore apples

  

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

Crossing Borders is a tour of North Shore artist’s studios that runs through Sunday. Print off a map and go visit local artists in their studios. You can also wander the South Shore by heading over to the 52nd annual Bayfield Apple Festival Friday through Sunday.

Lyric Opera of the North (LOON) presents two “bite-sized” operas at the Underground. The Face on the Barroom Floor and Bon Appetit! run Thursday through Saturday.

Chefs compete. You win. At the Lake Superior Fish Classic 10 chefs from Wisconsin and Minnesota are cooking up fish in a judged competition at the Depot on Friday.

Bradtober Fest on Saturday celebrates running, music, beer… it’s like a fest with attention deficit disorder. And if you wander downstairs from the Bradtober Fest Afterparty at Tycoons, you can have a bawdy time in the Rathskeller with Duluth’s only burlesque troupe, the Duluth Dolls.

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

Three reminders of Duluth along the Delmar Loop in Missouri

Playing at the Tivoli Theatre: In a World…, based on Duluth native Don LaFontaine.

Shoddy construction

Before I begin my condemnation of BlueStone Lofts and the Park Point Marina Inn, I just want to preface my position with this. I don’t mean to vilify anyone personally. I do not begrudge anyone for trying his level best to make an honest living. I just feel there has to be a voice of reason where there is none and that happens to be me on this occasion.

I’m far from perfect and I’m not a know-it-all. I simply hate this throw-away practice of our modern, disposable society. And for some reason, I still want the very best for Duluth even though I haven’t lived there for decades.

There are some good people there doing great things. In architecture and house building, it’s David Salmela and the Bruckelmyers. Builders’ Commonwealth is up with the best, too.

It is the armchair urban planner, the aesthete, the eco-warrior, the idealist and the public advocate that is writing this. That said, here is my tirade.

Duluth School District Ballot Questions

Lake Superior Aquaman Highlight Reel

Summer 2013 at various Lake Superior beaches and Lester River swimming holes.

Here’s a link to all the original videos if you missed any.

Traps, again

Via Wildwoods Founders:

Yesterday evening, friends called about a red squirrel caught in a leghold trap set on the edge of a city park. We don’t know how long the squirrel had been trapped there. See the brown discoloration on the fur by his mouth? He’d been trying to chew his way out of the trap.

Bonding Bill

Someone please read this:
…and please explain to me why this is a good idea:
Spirit Mountain wants $3.4 million in state money for a new water-pumping system to use St. Louis River water instead of treated Duluth city water to make snow.

Best Duluth Restaurant Poll

In a previous poll, PDD readers made it clear there are four restaurants in the Duluth area worthy of consideration for the distinction of “Best Restaurant.” They are: Duluth Grill, Lake Avenue Restaurant and Bar, New Scenic Café and Zeitgeist Arts Café. So now it’s time to pick a winner.

What is the best restaurant in the Duluth area?

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This poll is now closed. The results were:

New Scenic Café — 30.7 percent
Zeitgeist Arts Café — 28.7 percent
Duluth Grill — 25.7 percent
Lake Avenue Restaurant — 14.9 percent

Nerd Nite

An account from Tim Broman:

NERD NITE: Had a fine dining experience friends, followed by Nerd Nite.

Rachel Maddow talks EPA MED in Duluth

For those of you who don’t know, we have a branch of the EPA in Duluth called the Mid Continent Ecology Division. Last night, Rachel Maddow used an example of some of the work that is done at MED to demonstrate what could happen during the government shutdown at the EPA. She also uses it as a lead in to an interview with the EPA administrator. And finally, she uses it to demonstrate how old EPA training videos look.

Minnesota North Shore Fall Colors Report 2013

The leaves are starting to fall and colors are starting to change in Duluth and along the North Shore. Let us know where you are in the Northland and if you are seeing any great fall colors yet.

Four main groups of biochemicals are responsible for the various yellows, oranges, reds and browns that we see in the fall — chlorophyll, carotenoids, anthocyanins and tannins. Each has its own color and chemistry. Varying amounts of these chemicals will give subtle variations in color from one leaf to the next or even from tree to tree.

Media Night Owls, Early Birds, and Loners

I’ve been having trouble sleeping lately, and so at late hours, I hop online. The vexing part of Facebook is the way that it tells you who else is online. But are they really online, or did they fall asleep with Facebook open?