August 2023 Posts

Oh. That Duluth.

The 2004 film The Life and Death of Peter Sellers contains a brief mention of Duluth. Geoffrey Rush plays the role of the famous actor/comedian Sellers, whose agent Dennis Selinger, played by Henry Goodman, encourages him to broaden his audience in the scene embedded above.

R.I.P. Rex Bar at Fitger’s

Patrons gathered at the Rex Bar Sunday for its last night in business. (Photo by Mike Creger)

Rex Bar at Fitger’s closed Sunday after nearly 15 years in business. It opened in 2008, following a brief period when the bar was called Lido. Prior to that the space operated as the Fitger’s Tap Room.

Kaylee Matuszak’s Duluth Dive Bar Guide

Duluth’s Kaylee Matuszak delves into Duluth dive bars in an article published today in the Twin Cities alternative news website the Racket.

Perfect Duluth Day seems to have not published a rundown on dive bars since the klunky Movable Type era, when Barrett Chase asked in 2007, “What are your top 5 Twin Ports dives?” The inclusion of Superior allowed the Anchor, Charlie Brown’s and Belknap Lounge to get mentions. Numerous bars that no longer exist were also part of the discussion, along with a few places in nearby townships.

Duluth Artificial Limb House

Long before Duluth had a House of Donuts it had a house of limbs. This ad is from the 1900 Duluth-Superior city directory.

Quarry Park: Let’s Have Sex

Though it is important to first point out that painting graffiti on rocks or any other thing in a city park is just plain wrong, we should also not let the medium distract from the message.

A Sea Change for Lake Superior: When the Ice Melts

Notoriously cold Lake Superior is among the fastest warming of the world’s large lakes. This excerpt from the upcoming public television documentary A Sea Change for Lake Superior documents research at the Large Lakes Observatory at University of Minnesota Duluth investigating how variations in winter ice-cover plays in that change.

The documentary is a coproduction of the Center for Global Environmental Education at Hamline University and WDSE-TV PBS North. It is scheduled for release in December.

PDD Quiz: Restaurant Roundup

This summer has seen lots of movement on the restaurant front: new restaurants are popping up and existing restaurants are moving or expanding to additional locations. Dig into this week’s quiz to test your knowledge of the local food scene.

The next PDD quiz comes your way on Aug. 27; it will review the month’s headlines and happenings. Submit question suggestions to Alison Moffat at [email protected] by Aug. 23.

Video Archive: Duluth cineplex announced in 2003

It was 20 years ago that Duluth Entertainment Convention Center officials announced plans to build an eight-screen movie theater next to the DECC’s Omnimax theater. Within a few weeks the plan expanded to 10 screens and had the name Canal Park 10. When it opened on Dec. 22, 2004, it bore the name Duluth 10 and was operated by Cinema Entertainment Corp.

Literary History: Duluth Manuscript Club

As I’m exhuming? excavating? exploring? the literary history of Duluth (largely by scooping up books from thrift stores and picking up connections with people wherever I can find them) I find the weirdest things, like books published by the Duluth Manuscript Club.

Dave Rave and the Governors – “Lear Jet”

Canadian rocker Dave Rave has been teaming up with Minnesota-based musicians for more than a decade, performing as Dave Rave and the Governors. Although the Minnesotans in the group are mostly from the Twin Cities, Duluthians will recognize Rich Mattson of Sparta playing guitar at far left in this music video.

“Lear Jet” is from the band’s new album, Seven, recorded at Mattson’s Sparta Sound studio. Video by Reggie Pype.

Postcard from the Alworth Building in 1913

This postcard of Duluth’s Alworth Building was mailed Aug. 11, 1913 — 110 years ago today. Someone named Mary sent it from Duluth to Miss Julia Heskin in Minneapolis.

Bali Asian Cuisine bringing Pan-Asian food to Duluth

Bali Asian Cuisine owner and chef Nevi Mariadi stands in front of her Lincoln Park restaurant bar.

A restaurant featuring Indonesian food and an array of other Asian fare will open in Lincoln Park as early as September. Bali Asian Cuisine will serve up fresh and flavorful food, according to chef and owner Nevi Mariadi.

Whither the Depot Foundation?

As there is such a tussle coming about the Depot, I wondered — what is the role of the Depot Foundation in keeping the Depot afloat?

Duluth 2023 Primary Election Results

With 34 of 34 precincts reporting, here are the unofficial results of Duluth’s municipal primary election.

Riding High on the Aerial Lift Bridge

This wacky postcard was mailed 55 years ago today — Aug. 8, 1968. The caption on the back reads: “Riding High on the Famous Aerial Lift Bridge, Duluth, Minnesota.”

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