Month: January 2021
PDD Quiz: January 2021 in Review
The first month of 2021 is in the books! See how much of it you remember with this week’s current events quiz!
The theme of the next quiz, which will be published on Feb. 14, is “I Like it in Duluth.” Submit question suggestions to Alison Moffat at [email protected] by Feb. 10. (more…)
Postcard from the Masonic Temple in Duluth
This illustrated postcard of Duluth’s Masonic Temple was mailed 110 years ago today — Jan. 31, 1911. Mrs. Baylis of Cedar Rapids, Iowa was the recipient. The card was sent by one of her children, who was staying at the McKay Hotel. (more…)
The Slice: Birding at Sax-Zim Bog
Alexis Powell talks about seeking out northern boreal birds at Sax-Zim Bog, about 30 miles northwest of Duluth.
In its series The Slice, WDSE-TV presents short “slices of life” that capture the events and experiences that bring people together and speak to what it means to live up north.
Selective Focus: Full Wolf Moon
The January full moon is referred to as the Wolf Moon. Here are some local views of last night’s show. (more…)
Two new movie packages join Banff Mountain Film Festival
Two new Banff Mountain Film Festival movie packages hit the internet on Feb. 4 as part of the virtual world tour. Ruby and Sapphire movie bundles are joining the Amber and Onyx movie packages that are already online. The Duluth Cross-country Ski Club receives part of the proceeds when viewers use the link on duluthxc.com to get to the BMFF content. (more…)
Morgan Park: Remembering Our Past
Retired Duluth Fire Chief John Strongitharm put together this half-hour photo slideshow depicting the history of Duluth’s Morgan Park neighborhood. It’s been 50 years since United States Steel announced it would begin phasing out its Duluth Mill operations, but much of the Model Community it created in the early 20th century remains. (more…)
National Geographic: Saving the Great Lakes
Duluth and Lake Superior were featured in the cover story of the December issue of National Geographic magazine. (No, that’s not Duluth on the cover image; it’s the Empire Bluff Trail in Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore in Michigan. Yes, the article has been out for two months; we’re behind on our reading.)
The article delves into a variety of environmental stressors threatening the Great Lakes, including invasive species, toxic chemicals, agricultural pollutants and coastal development. The full article is available on nationalgeographic.com, but it’s behind a paywall, so get your subscription dollars ready. (more…)
Mystery Photo: Going Some
Going some? Huh? What is that supposed to mean? Seems like a weird name for a fake boat.
The back of this postcard photo indicates it was shot at the Owl Studio, 10 E. Superior. St., next to Duluth’s Empress Theatre. Estimated year: 1912.
Lake Superior Magazine 2021 Photo Contest Winners
Duluth’s Timothy J. Beaulier took first place in the Maritime category of Lake Superior Magazine‘s 26th Annual Photo Contest. (more…)
Postcard from Duluth’s Downtown Motel
This undated postcard from Gallagher’s Studio of Photography offers a view of the Downtown Motel at 131 W. Second St. in Duluth. Built in 1959, the motel later became known as the Best Western Downtown and is still in operation, now as the Downtown Duluth Inn, owned by ZMC Hotels. (more…)
Making it Up North: Steve Solkela
Meet Steve Solkela. With his music career crushed by COVID-19 cancellations, he built up a robust YouTube following with his music videos, tandem-bike interviews and random stunts.
WDSE-TV‘s Making it Up North explores stories of creative artists, artisans and entrepreneurs engaged in honing their skills, following their passion and realizing their dreams.
Luke Zimmerman – “Duluth”
Roughly 15 years ago, Minneapolis singer/songwriter Luke Zimmerman released his solo debut album Twilight Waltz, featuring this track called “Duluth.” Various release dates from 2005 to 2007 are listed on the internet, but allmusic.com reports Jan. 24, 2006.
More Wild Ice
Skating Duluth’s inner harbor at “the slip.” Photo gallery below. (more…)
Shredded aluminum cans found on Park Point beach
The city of Duluth and the U.S Army Corps of Engineers are urging caution for anyone using Park Point beach between the shipping canal on the lakeside to 13th Street South as pieces of shredded aluminum cans have been found. The cans are believed to have been inadvertently deposited when dredge materials were placed on the far north beach section this past fall. Dredge material was placed on the beach after the Park Point Community Club and Park Point residents approached the city and other partners with shoreline erosion concerns exacerbated by high water levels. (more…)
Avant-Garde Women: Sophie Taeuber, Founding Dadaist
The multitalented Swiss artist Sophie Taeuber was one of the original Dadaists in 1916. Working in many media at the cutting edge of modern art, she went on to Surrealism and more. She remained lesser-known for sexist reasons even while many art historians considered her a crucial and pioneering figure. Her work was overshadowed by male contemporaries, and even though art history tended to minimize her, if anything the situation has all but reversed itself now: her star has brightened while others have dimmed. Decades after her death in 1943, Taeuber continues to emerge from the shadows of the avant-garde.
A note on spellings etc.
Different sources below refer to Dada either as “dada,” “Dada,” “DADA,” “Zurich Dada,” or “Zurich-dada.” All are synonymous for our purposes. The Zurich branch of Dadaism that Sophie Taeuber helped create in 1916 was the founding branch of the movement, propagating to other cities after she moved on. Indifference to standardized capitalization was a Dada hallmark. (more…)
Homegrown Winter Fiasco 2021
The Homegrown Music Festival’s annual Winter Fiasco is digital this year. The four hourlong videos feature performances, interviews and archival footage of more than 30 local artists. Episode one features music by Mary Bue, Shadows of Me, the Slamming Doors, Dog Talk, Moriah Skye, Boogeymen, WNDY, and Isolation Band. It also includes words from festival director Melissa La Tour and an interview with Kala Moira about her unofficial 2020 Homegrown Scavenger Hunt. (more…)
NHL teams will spend five months in Duluth bubble
Not really. It’s a wrong answer on the New York Times weekly quiz. (more…)
Selective Focus: Put a Bernie on it
Bernie at Miller Hill Mall
Lanue – “What I Love the Most”
Duluthian Sarah Krueger’s new music project is called Lanue. The album is available for pre-order on Bandcamp.
The video for the track “What I Love the Most” was filmed and directed by Zoe Prinds-Flash and edited by Lauren Josephine.
First Presbyterian Church of Duluth circa 1870
Duluth’s First Presbyterian Church was built at 231 E. Second St. in 1870. It was replaced by a larger building in 1891, across the street at 300 E. Second St., which still stands. The original church was used by other congregations until it was demolished in 1971. The area is now part of the Rainbow Senior Center property. (more…)
Breaking Ice to Bring in Freighters on the 20th of January
This postcard, published by the Hugh C. Leighton Company, was never mailed and has no year marked on it, but the caption on the front would indicate the illustration is based on a photo shot on Jan. 20 of some year in the early 1900s.
Whether the artist drew people standing on the edge of the ice as a creative choice or whether they were really standing there is not known, unless the photo exists somewhere. Either way, file the act of walking out to ice breakers in the “no, don’t do that” category.
Matchbooks from Duluth Restaurants and Bars
Perfect Duluth Day published its first gallery of Duluth-area matchbooks in 2015. Since then, the collection has grown significantly. This new post features only matchbooks from bars and restaurants in Duluth. Some of them have been pulled out of the original post and placed in this new post; others are appearing for the first time.
Enjoy the nostalgia and, whatever you do, for the love of humanity, please close cover before striking. (more…)
Haroula Rose – “Duluth”
Ten years ago today — Jan. 18, 2011 — Los Angeles-based musician Haroula Rose released her debut album These Open Roads, which includes a cover of the Mason Jennings song “Duluth.”