August 2018 Posts

Thirsty Pagan Brewing moving to Soo Line Depot

The Superior Telegram reports Thirsty Pagan Brewing will move to the Soo Line Depot at 1615 Winter St. in January.

“The move marks a step into the brick-and-mortar phase — owning a building instead of leasing,” the story notes. “The depot also offers more private seating options for meetings, events and parties, although the total number of seats will remain roughly the same. … Groups already meet regularly at Thirsty Pagan, but the current configuration isn’t ideal for privacy. At about 7,500 square feet, the depot will provide more space to spread into.”

Selective Focus: Zoey Cohen Leege

Next Thursday at Red Herring Lounge, Zoey Cohen Leege has an opening reception for her paintings related to Lake Superior. She has a background in art and art history, but only over the past year has begun painting regularly.

ZCL: My paintings are acrylic on masonite. I like having a smooth surface to paint on; canvas feels too rough. Also, masonite is affordable. Each painting is based on a photo I took of Lake Superior over the last year, combined with something I find interesting, beautiful or just strange. I have an undergraduate degree in art history, so elements from ancient art and architecture are a common theme. I also love antiques, archeology and am fascinated by secret societies.

An 8K 360 Video Tour Through Chester Park

Video: Bear swimming near Madeline Island

Video by Tina Green.

Funding agreement in place for St. Louis River cleanup

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and U.S. Steel Corp. announced an agreement yesterday to undertake a $75 million cleanup and restoration project at the former Duluth Works site on the St. Louis River at Spirit Lake in Duluth. This is part of a larger effort to restore the St. Louis River Area of Concern through the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative.

Craft cider coming soon to Duluth

Duluth will soon have its first, and second, hard cideries. Duluth Cider is planning for a mid-to-late September opening date, while Wild State Cider expects to open before the year’s end.

Postcard from West Superior Street in 1908

This postcard depicts a scene looking east from the 500 block of West Superior Street, where the Radisson Hotel and Duluth Public Library stand today. It was mailed 110 years ago — Aug. 29, 1908.

Duluth planning for passenger cruise ship stops

The Duluth City Council and Duluth Economic Development Authority have approved funding to help establish a temporary customs facility to allow Great Lakes cruise ship passengers to disembark in Duluth.

As Minnesota Public Radio reports, “Duluth is not expecting massive oceangoing cruise ships the size of small cities to drop anchor in its harbor,” but instead is looking for smaller adventure cruises “that can accommodate up to about 200 passengers, plus another 100-plus crewmembers.”

MPR: Duluth as a cruise stop? With City Council vote, it’s one step closer

Exploring Cave of the Waves at Crystal Bay

YouTube user “MNduro USA” took his scuba gear to Crystal Bay, about 50 miles northeast of Duluth, to explore the Cave of the Waves and check out some old dock cribs.

Abort Scene – “Born Pinned to the Duluth Wheel”

Perhaps the least-known Duluth song is by the Champaign, Ill.-based band Abort Scene. “Born Pinned to the Duluth Wheel” was released on the album Seeds of the Real Alternative (Waterloo Records, June 3, 2008). The track also appeared on the band’s 2013 compilation Rational Hardcore.

Free Range Trials of Cecilia Ramon and Kathy McTavish

 

“In farming terms, field trials are an opportunity to determine effectiveness of experimental techniques in agriculture.” 

On Sunday I went to the Free Range Trials at the Food Farm in Wrenshall. Free Range Trials is a lab for artistic process and creative experimentation through the exhibition of work by Kathy McTavish and Cecila Ramon. The lab will be open daily between 2 and 5 p.m. through Sept. 3. To learn about Ramon, you can listen to KUMD here.

Remembering Don LaFontaine, king of movie trailers

Yesterday was the 78th birthday of the “Voice of God,” Don LaFontaine. The famed movie-trailer voice-over star was born in Duluth on Aug. 26, 1940. He died on Sept. 1, 2008.

CBS Sunday Morning ran a tribute to LaFontaine yesterday; click on the GIF above to watch the video, which starts after a commercial.

Log Rolling Contest in Cloquet

Year unknown.

PDD Quiz: August 2018 in Review

Sister Mary Jo Sobieck

Which headlines caught your eye this month? Which escaped your attention? Mourn the waning summer and the inexorable march of time with this month’s PDD Quiz!

The next quiz, on bygone community events and festivals, will be published on Sept. 16. Please email question suggestions to Alison Moffat at [email protected] by Sept. 12.

23-27 W. First St. Building History

What is now Joseph Nease Gallery started as Max Bloom Furniture in 1916 until the 1930s, was the Covenant Club 1960 to about 1964, was a Norge Industrial Laundry about 1967, became Arthur’s Formal Wear and Horton’s Boxing until 2008, then was the infamous 50 Below IT firm until about 2013. I am trying to fill in some of the blanks and find any existing photos from the various time periods if anyone has any suggestions. Thanks!

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