Paul Lundgren
Paul Lundgren Happy Hour
No, I haven’t formed an angry heavy-metal band, although this photo might suggest otherwise.
I’m hosting three happy hour events at Teatro Zuccone. Each show features a special guest performer (or member of my angry band).
All three shows are on Wednesdays. They all start at 6 p.m. and will be over by 7 p.m. so you can socialize at the Zeitgeist Arts Cafe afterward and still be home well before bedtime.
Admission is free. Don’t thank me, thank ARAC.
The first show will be Feb. 10 and will feature musician Rachael Kilgour. The Feb. 17 show will feature actress Christa Schulz and the Feb. 24 show will feature poet Ryan Vine.
Did I mention I have a book now? It’s called The Spowl Ribbon. You can purchase it at any of my various performances, or rip me off and read the PDF for free.
My name is Paul Lundgren; I’m here for your amusement.
NorShor Centennial
A post from Feb. 3 about the Ripsaw’s history featured some comments about the NorShor Theatre’s history, which led to an interesting point:
The NorShor Theater turns 100 this year.
And so I put this question to PDD’s history detectives: What is the exact date the NorShor–then the Orpheum Theatre–first opened its doors?
UPDATE: As Gea reports, the magic date is Aug. 22, 1910.
Adams School in Duluth’s West End
School faculty must have thought this was a major pain, but I think in the long run it proves worthwhile to drag an entire student body out to pose for a photo in front of the building.
Adams School was built in 1885 at 1721 W. Superior St., serving children in Duluth’s West End neighborhood. Architects of the building were McMillen and Stebbins.
The school closed in 1951, and was demolished in 1960.
Uptown Boys at Pizza Luce Feb. 5
Uptown Boys * The Acceleratii * Anthony Bennett
Humanoid (Solonoid) and DJ Horsefist
Friday, Feb. 5, 10 p.m.
Pizza Luce, $5
Proceeds benefit Clubhouse Studios
Remembering the Ripsaw’s Transition
It’s been 10 years since the Ripsaw published the last of its monthly scandal sheets and converted to an “alternative newsweekly” format. Here’s a look back at the old monthly editions of Duluth’s most infamous rag.
(more…)
Duluth KCWV-TV Channel 27
Have any of you noticed Duluth has a new broadcast TV station? Is anyone able to get decent reception of it?
The station runs programming from the My Family TV network, which features “programming to entertain, educate and edify,” including “uplifting spiritual” shows. In other words, a bunch of preaching and paid programming with some Andy Griffith and Bonanza mixed in.
Moon Over Old Central
Not that my photo (from Tuesday) is special at all, but the moon has been kind of impressive this week, hasn’t it? Must be how clear the skies have been. Full moon action is tomorrow. Get your werewolf on.
Andrew Hudgins at St. Scholastica
The College of St. Scholastica’s Warner Reading Series presents:
Andrew Hudgins
Friday, Feb. 5, 7:30 p.m. – Free
Somers Lounge, College of St. Scholastica
Author of six collections of poetry, including the National Book Award finalist The Never Ending: New Poems and the Pulitzer Prize nominated Saints and Strangers, Andrew Hudgins is an indispensable voice in contemporary American letters. His awards and honors include the Witter Bynner Award for Poetry, the Hanes Poetry Prize, fellowships from the Bread Loaf Writers’ Conference, the Ingram Merrill Foundation, and the National Endowment for the Arts. Hudgins holds an M.F.A. from the Iowa Writer’s Workshop and teaches at Ohio State University.
Funding made possible by the Lee and Rose Warner Foundation.
Minnesota video producer’s contest-winning commercial won’t air during the Super Bowl
Despite being re-cut CBS ruled the spot, featuring a couple cubical clowns breaking wind, broke the barrier of good taste.
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QvRQ_9J_GDg&feature=player_embedded
Old Francis is sticking to his guns
“I didn’t like it then — he’s a Green Bay Packer — and I don’t like it now.”
Skijoring the Munger Trail
Last winter I must have went jogging on the Munger Trail 70 times and never once saw anyone skijoring.
Today I went jogging on the Munger Trail for the first time this winter and saw two different people skijoring.
Was it a coincidence that I saw two today and none before, or does it mean something — like the activity is growing in popularity or maybe there’s an event people are preparing for?
Benefit shows for Haiti earthquake relief January 26 and 27 at the Looch
On Tuesday, Jan. 26, and Wednesday, Jan. 27, Pizza Luce will host a two-night benefit show to raise money for Haiti earthquake relief efforts. Music starts at 10 p.m.; cover is $5.
Tuesday’s bluegrass lineup
Two Many Banjos
Hobo Nephews of Uncle Frank
Rich Mattson
Wednesday’s hip-hop/reggae lineup
Crew Jones
2 one 8
Prince Paul
Miss Mae
DJ Horse Fist
Both Tuesday and Wednesday nights will begin with a silent art auction, featuring local paintings, photographs and jewelry. There will also be a raffle each night for gift certificates to over twenty local businesses, such as Electric Fetus, Jitter’s, New Scenic Cafe and more. Raffle tickets are $5 each.
All money raised will go to Wyclef Jean’s Yele Haiti organization, a grassroots organization providing relief aid to Haiti. UPDATE: Due to the recent allegations against Wyclef Jean’s organization, referenced in the comments to this post, the organizers of this event have decided to instead donate 75% of proceeds to Oxfam and 25% to the Kako Foundation.
From the Photo Archive: One Man Gang wrestling in Duluth on Oct. 8, 1987
This photo by Barrett Chase is from a World Wrestling Federation card at the Duluth Arena. The badass in the foreground is George Gray, wrestling that night as the One Man Gang. In the match he defeated Koko B. Ware via count-out.
The show is clearly being stolen here by the guy in the Pabst hat and the middle-finger sign in the background. And that’s what makes professional wrestling so special.
More Duluth wrestling photos can be seen in the post: “Duluth Arena Pro Wrestling Photos from the 1980s – Killer Khan and so on.”
Below is a shot of the One Man Gang as he enters the ring. Later in his career, by the way, Gray changed his gimmick and became Akeem the African Dream.
MidgetPalooza 2009 World Tour in Duluth — *Micro Wrestling Federation @ NorShor* — Hot Meatball Action
I have my tickets; now I just have to work on my sign.
Welcome to St. Cloud, yo
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=we6R3GGkTW8
Minnesota State of Mind
This Jay-Z parody was created by three 17-year-olds from St. Cloud: Matt Aalbers, Jordan Neu and Jack Ashcroft. They’re making a cameo at First Avenue’s Best New Bands of 2009 night on Jan. 15.
Cooking on the Car — On the Road segment
Duluth’s Jason Wussow and Dan Dresser are featured in this “On the Road” segment from KSTP-TV.
Video no longer available
Duluth’s New Restaurants in 2009
What is going on with all the new food joints in Duluth? (more…)
Speaking of Winter Coats
What do you do with your winter coat if you go to a crowded bar to celebrate the New Year? Pile it onto the coat rack that’s built to hold six coats but is loaded up with twenty and ready to fall at any moment? Throw it on the floor in the corner and hope for the best? Keep it on and sweat like crazy? Leave it in the car and suffer through the walk?
MPR Remembers Bill Holm
Minnesota poet, essayist, memoirist and musician Bill Holm died earlier this year. (See PDD post from Feb. 26.) This MPR program features highlights from a tribute held at the Fitzgerald Theater on April 14, with Robert Bly, Emilie Buchwald, Barton and Ross Sutter and so on. Also, many clips of the man himself.
Boxing Day 2009 Sledding Conditions: Horrible!
Today’s report is from Lincoln Park. It was well packed down yesterday, and frozen rock-hard today. So, the speed on the way down is totally out of control, and the ride is full of solid bumps that threaten to permanently damage one’s sphincter ani externus muscle. (more…)
Yoda hockey Christmas booze snow goon
Merry Christmas. Let’s have a contest. The person who posts the best snow goon before midnight Sunday wins two tickets to Wilco at the DECC on Feb. 19.
UPDATE: Or maybe the slushy snow will all freeze after this is posted, making it impossible to build a snow goon and forcing this contest to be scrapped.
