Paul Lundgren
Miss West Duluth Pageant 2009
An annual tradition that goes along with the Miss West Duluth Pageant is my attempts to stir up controversy about it.
My initial objection came in 1987, when the first Miss West Duluth was a young lady from Morgan Park. It seemed to me that if the title was going to be “Miss West Duluth,” the contestants should all be from West Duluth.
I was told back then the criteria was that girls must live within the attendance boundary for Denfeld High School to be eligible. Although I thought “Miss Western Duluth” might be a more appropriate name, I was satisfied with this Denfeld rule, so I shut up about it for a few years.
Then, in 1996, a graduate of Hermantown High School was a contestant. I assumed she lived in the Denfeld area but chose to attend Hermantown, which would get around the rules enough to allow her to compete. In subsequent years I’ve noticed Proctor High School students in the list of contestants.
Give a contest an inch and it takes a mile. One of this year’s contestants is a senior at East High School, according to the Spirit Valleys Days insert in the Budgeteer News. (UPDATE: She lives in Morgan Park, according to comments to this post.)
Now, I don’t mean to fan the east/west flames here, so I’m just going to suggest we call this thing the Miss North America Pageant already and get it over with.
The Hillside Flyers
Remember that dazzling group of tumblers? They just randomly somersaulted into the nostalgia part of my brain this morning. I can’t remember anymore why the group disbanded. Did the coach move away or something?
MPR story from 2001: “Flying High In Duluth”
Baby’s Got Back
Conversation between two pre-teen boys jumping on a trampoline in West Duluth today:
Boy #1: Says something about some girl.
Boy #2: Dude, that chick is UGLY.
Boy #3: At least she’s got some ass.
Aw, they grow up so fast.
Wild berry season in Duluth
I saw this one on Monday — a rubus of some sort (raspberry? cloudberry?). A few weeks from now should be a tasty time for a hike.
Show and Tell
I have an old Bridgeman-Russell Company ruler. I don’t often think about how awesome it is, so I catch myself using it to do things like scrape gunk off a counter. For the sake of history, I’ll try to be more careful in the future. (more…)
Former Duluthian in “The Hagstone Demon”
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HKgWqGKtkeU
Michael Udovich, a Denfeld and UW-Superior alum, appears briefly in this trailer for The Hagstone Demon. He plays Detective Willis. Look for him at 1:18, opposite none other than indie film sensation Mark Borchardt (of American Movie fame).
From the Photo Archive: Bob Dylan and Paul Simon at Bayfront
Bob Dylan and Paul Simon played a very muddy concert at Bayfront Festival Park on July 3, 1999. For some reason, I decided to wear a new pair of white sneakers. This photo is of my friend Chris’ shoes, but one of mine is creeping in on the bottom.
It was a great concert, and totally worth the destruction of a pair of shoes.
Plan B meets Duluth School Board
Let Duluth Vote’s “Plan B” presentation to the Duluth School Board from Greenfield Communications on Vimeo.
It should be noted that this video is not a piece of independent journalism, but rather an informational video paid for by the Duluth School District. That being said, so you may take into account it was created with intent to persuade, I don’t believe it contains any misinformation. If I’m wrong, I’m sure we’ll all find out in the comments.
Voodoo Bus
There will be a chartered bus from Superior to Big Top Chautauqua in Bayfield for the July 11 Big Bad Voodoo Daddy concert. The round-trip costs $10 per person. It leaves at 5 p.m. from Wessman Arena on the UWS campus and will return that evening.
Seats can be reserved by calling the KUWS office at (715) 394-8530. Call on a Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday between 8 a.m. and 1 p.m. and ask for Kim Gustafson.
Happy sixth birthday to us
Perfect Duluth Day is six years old today! The photos above are from the first year.
Stop by the Wine Bar at Chester Creek Cafe tonight and raise a toast to PDD. We’ll be there from 9ish to 10ish. Door prize: Two tickets to Suzanne Vega at Big Top Chautauqua on Aug. 29.
Stewart Creek Railroad Bridge on DWP Trail in Duluth
What’s your favorite rickety old bridge in Duluth? Mine is called “Ass Bridge.” At least, that’s what I call it, for reasons that will become obvious if you read on. It’s an old railroad bridge over Stewart Creek in western Duluth. The northeastern side of the bridge is in the Riverside neighborhood, the southwestern side is in the Smithville neighborhood. (more…)
Snow in June
Dandelion snow or cottonwood seeds or willow dust or something.
From the Ripsaw Archive | June 1999
Ten years ago, cartoonist Israel Malachi poked fun at Duluth City Councilor Marcia Hales for pushing an ordinance that made it a ticketable offense to play a car stereo loud enough to be heard 50 feet away. (more…)
“Kiss Off” from the Free Range Film Festival Players
Directed by local hero Mike Scholtz for the Minneapolis 48 Hour Film Project. Featuring a cameo by Minnesota State Representative Roger Reinert.
Speaking of Anniversaries …
It’s been one year since Starfire’s 100 Pushup Challenge. Did anyone make it? I’m still stuck on week four of the workout. Six weeks? Yeah, right!
PDD Birthday Party | Monday, June 29
Perfect Duluth Day is turning 6 years old next Monday. Topic for discussion in the comments: Is there any less significant anniversary than the sixth?
Significant or not, we’ve decided to meet for cocktails and whatnot. So join us at Chester Creek Cafe’s Wine Bar next Monday, June 29, from 9 to 10 p.m.
Historical Link Action
First two PDD posts
PDD shows “The Big Lebowski” at Sailboat Park to mark its first b-day
“Happy Birthday” is sung on PDD’s second b-day
PDD turns 3; August turns 7
… and then we took a two-year break from tooting our own horn
… and now TOOT! TOOT!
Chris Raabe wins Grandma’s Marathon
Here’s Chris Raabe with a half-mile lead passing Ironic1’s house. He’s the first Minnesotan since Dick Beardsley to win Grandma’s Marathon! Yowza! It was a hot one out there.
Rolling Ruts: Inexpensive Golf Just Outside Duluth
If you aren’t particularly good at, or enthusiastic about, golf it’s hard to justify paying about $17 for nine holes, plus another $9 to rent clubs (especially if you’re paying for the whole family.)
Rolling Ruts offers the answer to casual golfers’ prayers. It’s basically free. (more…)
Duluth Party on Madeline Island 2009
Isolate the hole, people. Isolate the hole. (more…)
Where in Duluth?
… is this?
Caroline Smith & the Good Night Sleeps
Performing at Beaner’s Central on Friday, June 12, at 8 p.m.
Listen to songs from their debut album Backyard Tent Set at https://www.myspace.com/carolinesmithmusic.
(I particularly dig the track “Clinch My Teeth.”)
Last seen alive at 4 p.m.
The dog in the shadow somehow made it’s way onto I-35 in West Duluth today. I saw it when traffic stopped on the Grand Avenue onramp, where drivers waited patiently for it to merrily prance by.
I think some people wanted to get out and try to rescue the dog, but it seemed like a dangerous thing to attempt. The dog got to the bottom of the onramp safely and continued on its way. It could be anywhere by now. I’m sure whereever it is and whatever danger it’s in, it still has its tongue hanging out and its tail obliviously wagging as if so much fun has never been had.
(In case the owner is reading: If you’re still looking for Rover/Scrappy/ Whatever, I recommend the Irving area. Sorry I couldn’t get a better description or photo, my camera is slow and I had to watch traffic.)