January 2016 - Page 4 of 66 - Perfect Duluth Day

This Week: Cannons, Cowbell and more

Jan 11, 2016 No Comments

Here’s a bit of what you’ll find on this week’s PDD Calendar:

The 38th Atmore Memorial Ski Race is happening at Spirit Mountain, Dance Attic is at Papa Charlie’s at Lutsen, the Northern Lights Foundation raises money by asking for More Cowbell, the All Black Zine is having a release show at Prove Gallery and a bunch of noisy rock bands are playing to benefit a future festival.

The Duluth Playhouse Children’s Theatre brings James and his giant peach to the stage, Loose Cannons are still loose after all these years, Bayfront Park is the place for fire, hot chocolate and skating, it’s art for and by musicians at Studio 15, rapper Dem Atlas slings the verses at the Red Herring and Guerilla Girls bring their gorilla-masked selves to town.

Events

PDD Quiz: Mayors of Duluth

Jan 10, 2016 No Comments

As we transition from the Don Ness era to the Emily Larson era, this edition of the PDD Quiz focuses on Duluth mayoral history.

Thanks to Jake La Jeunesse and Paul Lundgren for contributing to this week’s quiz.

Next week’s theme, as we move into what is typically the coldest time of the year, will be “Cold enough for ya?” Send your suggested quiz questions (and answers) to lawrence @ perfectduluthday.com by noon on Wednesday, Jan. 13.

History PDD Quiz

Video Archive: Megadeth in the DECC Auditorium, June 21, 1998

Jan 09, 2016 No Comments

This post originally contained an hour and a half of grainy video of Megadeth in Duluth, shot by Ronaldo Rodrigues Paravani. At some point the video was removed from YouTube.

Music, Videos DECC, Megadeth

Selective Focus: Cabin Fever

Jan 08, 2016 5 Comments

Aaron Reichow, untitled

While it has been too warm to be stuck inside contracting the negative strain of cabin fever (Winter will no doubt find us), this week we can emphasize the phrase’s positive connotations. Such retreats represent our desires to simplify, to get away from the dissonance and clutter of what we ordinarily deem important. They foreground necessity and diminish the superfluous, and manifest our plainest requirements for dwelling; heat, light, a water source, a welcoming entry, maybe a window to gaze from or peer into.

Art, Photos Selective Focus

Video: Duluth Inauguration 2016

Jan 07, 2016 No Comments

01:00 – Duluth’s Chief Administrative Officer David Montgomery recognizes outgoing city councilors Sharla Gardner, Jennifer Julsrud and Linda Krug.
04:09 – Sixth District Judge Leslie E. Beiers swears in newly elected councilors Joel Sipress, Gary Anderson, Em Westerlund, Elissa Hansen and Noah Hobbs.
07:40 – Former Duluth Poet Laureate Deborah Cooper reads “We All Wake to the Same Sun.”
11:08 – Outgoing Duluth Mayor Don Ness’ exit speech.
18:22 – Mayor Emily Larson recites the oath of office.
21:35 – Mayor Larson’s speech.

Politics, Videos Emily Larson

OMC Smokehouse anticipates November opening

Jan 06, 2016 2 Comments

Duluth Grill owner Tom Hanson stands in the gutted 1886 structure that will house his next restaurant venture.

If all goes as planned, the nascent commercial stretch of the Lincoln Park neighborhood — home to Bent Paddle Brewing, Damage Boardshop and Frost River Trading — will gain a distinctive new restaurant before the end of 2016.

OMC Smokehouse is Duluth Grill owner Tom Hanson’s latest project. OMC stands for oink, moo, cluck. The aptly named eatery will cater to carnivores with its smoked meats and cured sausages, but Hanson promises there will be menu items aimed at vegetarians, too.

News and Current Affairs, Restaurants Duluth Grill Family of Restaurants, Lincoln Park Neighborhood / The Friendly West End, OMC Smokehouse

Perfect Duluth Day at the Dump

Jan 06, 2016 1 Comment

Video by Frank Sander.

Art, Videos

Perfect Album of 2015: Low’s Ones and Sixes

Jan 05, 2016 2 Comments

The latest evidence of the ubiquity of Alan Sparhawk: Not only did his band Low gain the most votes in PDD’s poll to determine the best local album of 2015 for its release Ones and Sixes, Sparhawk also produced the Social Disaster album Dark Side of the Roller Rink, which finished a close second in the voting.

But that’s kind of what we expect from the icon of Duluth’s music scene.

For Low’s 11th studio album — its fourth on the Seattle-based Sub Pop Records label — the band teamed with producer BJ Burton and recorded at April Base Studios in Eau Claire. As usual, Sparhawk handles the guitar work and shares vocals with his wife, drummer Mimi Parker. It’s their third album with bassist Steve Garrington.

Ones and Sixes is perhaps the band’s most spiritual-sounding music yet, though not in a denominational sort of way. The songs are filled with soul and strain. Like every Low album, critics have labeled it a departure, while at the same time noting it’s unmistakably Low. Perhaps therein lies the soul and strain. When music critics have a tough time putting a finger on it, it’s usually a great thing that’s happening in the headphones.

Music Low, PDD Awards

The story of Duluth’s Best Bread: Sourdough in lieu of a PhD

Jan 05, 2016 No Comments

I recently spent a day trying out the role of assistant baker for Duluth’s Best Bread. The amount of time and effort that goes into their scrumptious goodness defies belief. Furthermore, the simple ingredients that go into a traditional sourdough are completely unimpressive. The real feat is accomplished by the wild yeast and lactobacilli that run wild in a symbiotic relationship through Michael Lillegard’s time-tested method of cold fermentation.

Restaurants Bakeries, Duluth's Best Bread

Jerry Vandiver – “In Grand Marais”

Jan 05, 2016 No Comments

Nashville recording artist Jerry Vandiver has a special affinity with Grand Marais, which he expressed in this love song from his 2014 album Every Scratch Tells a Story. The recently released video features images by Grand Marais photographer Paul Sundberg.

Music, Videos Grand Marais, North Shore of Lake Superior

New owner takes over Superior’s Cedar Lounge

Jan 04, 2016 4 Comments

The Cedar Lounge is located just off Tower Avenue at Third Street in Superior’s North End. The new owner has not announced plans for the property.

The wife of former Fitger’s Brewhouse co-owner Tim Nelson has her name on the recently transferred liquor license of a decades-old Superior tavern.

The Superior City Council granted Cedar Forest LLC a Class B liquor and beer license for the Cedar Lounge, 1715 N. Third St., at its Dec. 15 meeting. The license application lists the sole member of Cedar Forest as Naomi C. Nelson, wife of Duluth micro-brew trailblazer Tim Nelson.

Restaurants Bars / Drinking Establishments, Beer and Breweries, Cedar Lounge, Fitger's Brewhouse, Superior

Where in Duluth? Bathroom Edition

Jan 04, 2016 9 Comments

How many of these five Duluth establishments can you identify just from their restroom signs? Hint: all but one are from restaurants or bars. Click the thumbnails for a closer view.

Random Where in Duluth?

This Week: inaugurations, exhibitions, festivals and more

Jan 04, 2016 No Comments

Here’s a bit of what you’ll find on this week’s PDD Calendar:

Mayor-elect Emily Larson becomes Mayor Emily Larson, DJ Walt Dizzo defends his taste in film, Charlie Parr begins his Red Herring residency, Duluth Yoga officially opens its doors and the art of Andrew John Swanson is exhibited.

The Lake Effect Music and Ski Festival goes down at Papa Charlie’s at Lutsen, the multimedia event Cellar Door happens at the Red Herring, Bayfront Park is the place for hot chocolate and a bonfire, the 28th annual Duluth Wedding Show is at the DECC, Floyd J. Phillips brings the funny to Dubh Linn and Crankshaft joins Mary Bue and Vivielle for a gig.

Events

Fish Bowl of 1952: The time Duluth beat the Packers … sort of

Jan 03, 2016 No Comments

For three seasons, the Green Bay Packers divided up their team for inter-squad scrimmage games in Duluth. The first-group players, or “starters,” played for the Packers, and the second group players, or “benchwarmers,” took the name of the Duluth Eskimos. Of course, there was an actual Duluth Eskimos NFL team from 1923 to ’27, but the games referred to in this post were from 1951 to ’53.

The scrimmages were known as “The Fish Bowl,” and attracted crowds of about 8,000. The Packers won two of the three games, both by small margins, but in 1952 the backup players, under the name Duluth Eskimos, defeated the Green Bay starters by a score of 34-7.

History, Sports Football

PDD Quiz: 2015 Year in Review