Paul Lundgren
Timothy Martin & the New Norm – “Canada”
Low cover by Timothy Martin Nelson in honor of tonight’s Duluth Does Low show.
Song engineered and mixed by Tom Fabjance at Playpen Studio. The New Norm features Russell Sackett on bass and backing vocals, Walter Wedin on drums, Peter Knutson on lead guitar, and T. Bruce Bowers on space fiddle.
Is there a term for those jagged ice formations on Duluth streets?
It’s probably the worst on Grand Avenue in West Duluth, but above is a shot on Fourth Street in the Central Hillside. You know what it is and obviously it pisses you off, but what is it called? Duluth has probably never experienced it before to an extent worth coming up with a name for it.
A news release today from the city of Duluth refers to it as “caked-on ice.” Is that good enough, or does someone have a better term?
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Fresh Duluth
This 2008 Pro Video documentary, produced and directed by Tom Livingston and Jack Lind, disappeared from the internet for a while, but now it is back.
Winter Waterspouts Over Lake Superior
Video by Jordan Deters
Hartley Arch
So what is going to be the established tradition for the Hartley arch? Is it a place to stop and smooch, or take a hit from your flask? I say both.
PDD Calendar mobile version … you know, for your phone, so you can read it better
Perhaps it’s strange to pick a day when most events are cancelled to make this announcement, but … well, we do things when we get around to them so here it goes: The PDD Calendar now has a mobile version. We actually launched it on Sunday, so maybe you’ve already noticed.
If you view the calendar on a phone, you should automatically see the mobile version. (more…)
Trampled by Turtles – “Pipe Knot”
Video by Daniel McCord, shot live at the Georgia Theatre on Nov. 14. Next local TBT gig: Dec. 21 at Papa Charlies in Lutsen.
Fond du Lac Park’s Winter Sports Center: The Lake Placid of the Northwest
The subject of Fond du Lac’s old Winter Sports Center came up on PDD once before, about a year ago. Earlier this week, I came across this Feb. 4, 1940, Duluth News Tribune clipping at the Duluth Public Library, reporting on construction of the ski jumping hill and amenities.
The floods of 1972 marked the end of this western Duluth attraction, when the ski jump was removed due to erosion.
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Thankful in Duluth — 2013 Edition
It’s an annual tradition at PDD to take a moment and reflect on what we are thankful for. How unique, right?
For starters, we’re thankful for the new old Nordic ski trails at Spirit Mountain, Sax-Zim Bog, wicked North Shore icicles, artisan bread at the Red Mug, lift-accessed mountain biking at Spirit Mountain, animated music videos, Boreal owl irruptions, Magic Smelt Puppet Troupe and a lot of other things I’m thankful I don’t have time to link to because it’s time to make the Thanksgiving glogg.
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Could Duluth lose Christmas City status?
This story is four days old, but I just heard about it and it’s pretty much the biggest controversy in the history of Duluth, so it needs some space on PDD.
Apparently the commentators of the Christmas City of the North Parade telecast — Michelle Lee, Kevin Jacobsen and Barbara Reyelts — did their announcing in front of a green screen inside the Northland’s NewsCenter studio. And they still wore jackets.
This revelation, of course, has me fearing that Santa Claus might strip Duluth of its Christmas City of the North status and perhaps bestow it on Superior or Thunder Bay.
… and now for the jury of public opinion
Duluth police officer Jouppi found not guilty of assault
[poll id=”59″]
This poll is now closed. The results are:
This is total bullshit — 90.6 percent
Jouppi was defending himself and the jury’s decision was wise — 9.4 percent
A few images from the Woodland Middle School auction
Amid the chaos of the auction, I managed to snap a few shots for posterity. I was only there for an hour, but I wouldn’t be surprised to hear this auction went on from 4 p.m. to midnight. There was a lot of stuff, a lot of bidders, and things weren’t going cheaply. Wanna buy an auditorium? A pool?
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Perfect Pizza Restaurant: Thirsty Pagan
For half a century, Sammy’s Pizza dominated the local Italian pie scene with its trademark thin crust and tasty sauce. Pizza Lucé came along in 2001 and shook things up with unusual toppings and a funky vibe. These days, however, Thirsty Pagan Brewing has won over pizza connoisseurs in the Twin Ports with its deep-dish pies, loaded with Wisconsin cheese. The TPB was the clear winner in PDD’s best pizza restaurant poll.
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Bob Dylan – “Like a Rolling Stone” (2013 Interactive Video)
It can’t be embedded on PDD, because it’s a crazy interactive weirdo thing. Go to bobdylan.com to check it out. If you have slow internet, don’t bother.
As you watch the video, you can use the up-and-down arrows on your keyboard to switch between 16 different “channels” to see 16 different versions. None of the versions are particularly great, but collectively … well … it’s something different anyway.
Red Mountain — “Put Me Through”
Here’s the new video featuring Duluth band Red Mountain. The group’s album Scowl Lightly, will be released by Chaperone Records on Dec. 6.
The dancers are Erin Tope, Maeggie Licht and Grace Holden. The video was produced by Lakefront Films.
Local owl lands in national bird magazine
The new issue of Birds & Blooms (cover date: Dec/Jan) features this image of a blue moon boreal owl shot by Duluth’s Ken Greshowak.
The Louie Show: Intro and Theme
Here it is, the opening theme to The Louie Show. Thanks to Waferdog for passing along this essential archival VHS treasure from 1996.
There isn’t really any Duluth footage in the opening, other than the big “Duluth” sweatshirt Louie sports.
“Christmas City” 45 for sale on eBay to support Bentleyville Tour of Lights
Security Jewelers is auctioning off a mint condition 45 of Merv Griffin’s “Christmas City,” the song recorded 50 years ago to promote the Christmas City of the North Parade. Check it out on eBay. The proceeds are being donated to Duluth’s Bentleyville Tour of Lights — America’s largest free, walk-through Christmas lighting display.
Amy and Dave Freeman’s Big Adventure
Amy and Dave Freeman of Grand Marais are among ten finalists for National Geographic’s Adventurers of the Year. The couple paddled, dogsledded, and hiked 11,647 miles across North America from April 22, 2010 to April 4, 2013.
Perfect Burger Restaurant: Anchor Bar
There is no shortage of great burger joints in the Duluth area, but the undisputed king of them all for the past three decades has been the Anchor Bar. Among the other dozen nominees in Perfect Duluth Day’s poll, only the Fitger’s Brewhouse pulled a significant chunk of the vote. When the two went head to head, the Anchor took 61 percent, and the Brewhouse took 39.
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The Swinging Bridge at Jay Cooke
It’s back, as of Nov. 1.
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Miss Dorothy Crawford’s Duluth Adventure
There’s a fun piece on the Glensheen Blog called “No Outdoor Sports Until it Warms Up to Zero.” It’s a 101-year-old letter from a Vassar College student named Dorothy Crawford, who traveled to Duluth to visit her classmate, Helen Congdon, and stayed at the Congdon mansion. She writes about the comforts of Glensheen, going to the bonspiel, going to a show at the Orpheum (now the NorShor), eating caviar sandwiches at the Hotel Spaulding, skating on the lake, etc., and concludes with a tobogganing party at Chester Bowl.
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Chipotle and Qdoba coming to Duluth
Chipotle Mexican Grill | Qdoba Mexican Grill
Apparently it’s really happening.
- Chipotle will open at Miller Hill Mall.
- Qdoba has announced it’s coming, but not when or where.
Big Burrito will be locating in the BlueStone Lofts area by UMD, according to the Statesman.
Update: The UMD Statesman report seems to have been in error. Numerous other sources have reported it is Qdoba that is locating in Bluestone Commons. Both Qdoba and Chipolte are expected to open in summer 2014.
So here’s one more post where folks can comment about how having chain burrito joints come to Duluth either completely fulfills us as people and as a city, or how everyone who gets excited about it is some kind of rube. Get it all out of your system now, if you haven’t already on Facebook.
Duluth News Tribune: Chipotle, Qdoba restaurant chains plan to open locations in Duluth
Fox 21 News: Qdoba and Chipotle both coming to Duluth
Eyewitness News: “Two burrito chains coming to Duluth”
Northland’s NewsCenter: Chipotle to open at Miller Hill Mall in March of 2014