Paul Lundgren
First Tick of the Year — 2012 Edition
I haven’t seen any ticks yet, but this popped up on my Facebook wall:
Retribution Gospel Choir on the Current
Listen at thecurrent.org. Songs performed: “Feel it, Superior,” “Maharisha,” “The Stone” and “Take Your Time.”
Retribution Gospel Choir has a new 7-inch EP coming out March 27. The Revolution EP can be downloaded at subpop.com.
The Rathskeller at Tycoons Alehouse
The Rathskeller, located in the sub-basement of the new Tycoons Alehouse and Eatery, opens Thursday, March 15.
This week is the official grand opening at Tycoons, which opened on New Year’s Eve. The Duluth Area Chamber of Commerce is performing an official Happy Hour Ribbon Cutting Ceremony on Thursday at 4 p.m., which will mark the opening of the Rathskeller. Tycoons is also introducing a new lunch menu this week. Check out Tycoons events on the PDD Calendar for grand opening hoopla and more.
Minnesota All Hockey-Hair Team 2012
Duluth high-school hockey players did better than ever this year, with the Marshall Hilltoppers taking first place as a team!
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Obscure Duluth Logomania
Nicole Meyer came up with the creative project of making a logo for every lake in Minnesota. At one logo every day, she figures it will take her 27 years to finish.
In the spirit of that, it might be interesting to see what kind of logos Duluthians could come up with for places like Goat Hill or Casket Quarry.
So here’s an open invitation to consider your favorite people, places and things in Duluth that no one would ever consider commissioning a logo for, and make one. How about a logo for “The Path” – the place across the street from Morgan Park Middle School where kids go to smoke? For the zip code 55812? For Restormel Street? Pick your favorite noun and go for it. The more obscure the better. Upload them to the comments of this post.
This is not a competition, it is only an exhibition. Please refrain from using the word “branding” at any point. That word makes everyone sick.
“The Raggedy Hat of John Henry”
New song by local musician Teague Alexy from his upcoming album, This Dance, available April 17.
PDD Calendar Editor Version 2.0 Wanted
Miss Abigail Schoenecker, editor of the PDD Calendar since September, is leaving at the end of March to pursue opportunities in the Twin Cities. The Perfect Duluth Day family wishes her well and will miss her talents — so much so that we will resist the urge to make disparaging comments about the Twin Cities to reinforce our Duluth exceptionalism.
Abby’s departure, of course, means there’s a job opening. If you are interested, follow the link and the instructions therein. Don’t fear the potential rejection; we’re pretty nice about it.
This week: Irish and Scottish music, midweek blues, hockey and charcoal art
Three Duluth-area high-school boys hockey teams are competing in the Minnesota state tournament in St. Paul this week. Hermantown and Marshall have games on Wednesday; East plays on Thursday. But there’s more to this town than hockey, in case you haven’t heard.
Charlie Parr is playing at Tycoons Alehouse with Devil’s Flying Machine twice this month. The first time is this Wednesday, the second is next Wednesday. (This is contrary to earlier reports that Charlie would be playing the Brewhouse on those dates.)
Also on Wednesday, Teatro Zuccone is screening the documentary film Pray the Devil Back to Hell, which documents a peace movement called Women of Liberia Mass Action for Peace.
Kelly Thompson opens her solo art exhibition at Washington Gallery on Friday, featuring charcoal drawings and paintings created using a variety of media.
The trio of Ross Sutter, Laura MacKenzie and Danielle Enblom — collectively known as Northern Gael — will perform traditional Irish and Scottish music at the Quaker Meeting House on Saturday.
And that’s just a tiny sampling of the hoopla you can find in the PDD Calendar. Rant and rave about these events and more in the comments. Let us know if we’re missing anything.
Lost Wedding Ring at Piedmont
Should you happen to find a wedding ring on the ski trails at Piedmont … um … that would be mine. It most likely came off at the overlook when I took my gloves off, but I couldn’t find it on my return visit. I suppose it could be anywhere along the trail or parking lot. Please call the PDD headquarters at 624-6087 if you see it.
Duluth cross-country ski trails open
Here’s the much anticipated news release from the city:
Parks and Recreation has announced four of the six cross-country ski trails are groomed and ready for skiing.
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Leap Day 2012 Snowmageddon Photos
At left is Rich Narum’s shot of Superior Street; at right the view from Anna Montgomery’s side door. Has anyone had the guts to wreck a camera and try shooting outside instead of through glass? Not me!
Anyway, add your best attempts in the comments.
Major Concerts at the DECC: 1966 to 2010
This feature is an ongoing attempt to list all the major concerts at the DECC Arena and Symphony Hall from 1966 to 2010, which of course includes the era when they were known as the Duluth Arena and Duluth Auditorium. (more…)
This week: Mustaches, poetry and hockey, hockey and more hockey
March Madness is nearly upon us, as the East Greyhounds, Marshall Hilltoppers and Hermantown Hawks boys hockey teams all battle this week for trips to the state tournament. Marshall plays Hibbing-Chisholm on Wednesday, East plays Andover on Thursday, and Hermantown plays Rogers on Friday.
In college women’s hockey, the UMD Bulldogs are in the WCHA Final Face-off at Amsoil Arena. They face the Wisconsin Badgers on Friday for the chance to play in the WCHA National Championship Game on Saturday.
In a weirder athletic endeavor, the Mustache March Run happens on Saturday. If you don’t know what that means, well, it’s really no more complicated than a bunch of people with mustaches (real and artificial) running on the Lakewalk. There will also be an after-race party at Pizza Luce featuring the Black-eyed Snakes.
Also Saturday, the Spirit Lake Poetry Series brings Todd Boss and Matt Rasmussen to Somers Lounge at the College of St. Scholastica. Rescheduled for March 24.
There are over 400 events in the PDD Calendar, and we fully expect you to take part in at least 350 of them, so study up.
What’s the matter with Duluth girls?
This clip didn’t make it to my inbox until after Valentine’s Day, but hey, it’s 100 years old anyway, so what’s a few more days? It’s from the Feb. 4, 1912, Duluth News Tribune. A more readable version of the text appears below.
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Duluth’s Old Street Signs
Mundane fact of the day: Before Duluth’s street signs were white on green they were black on white. For a while after the switch the old signs were piled up at the spot where Upper and Lower Michigan Street meet. I spent a few minutes browsing them on Jan. 30, 1999, but didn’t take any home as a souvenir.
A Nerd Nite Boss’ Guide to Duluth
Beloved Duluth nerd Crystal Pelkey has an article in the debut issue of Nerd Nite magazine profiling the nerdiness of Duluth. The nationwide magazine is published out of Brooklyn, NY. (more…)
Lights out at the ‘Big L’
I just noticed the Spirit Bottle Shoppe at 5801 Grand Ave. in West Duluth is closed and the building is for sale. I will miss the big red light and friendly service.
(Tiny photo circa 2004 by Barrett Chase.)
Images from Diorama-rama 5
Well, somebody had to.
Tiny Art Show – Online Version
In honor of “The Tiny Art Show” at Prøve Gallery, I thought I’d throw things open to people who are either too lazy to submit their tiny art to a show, or are pretty sure it’s not good enough to be in a show.
PDD’s comments now have an easy image-upload tool, so go ahead and share a weird photo or other piece of art or pseudo art.
Minnesota Republicans love Santorum
Considering the definition of “santorum,” there are a lot of opportunities for headline writers tonight. Your suggestions are welcome in the comments.
R.I.P. Jim’s Hamburgers
The paper over the windows at this classic restaurant on the ground floor of the Seaway Hotel, 2005 W. Superior St. in Duluth’s friendly West End, reveals it is out of business. (Jim’s Hamburgers was included in the “Breakfast in Duluth” post just 10 months ago.)
This was the last of four Jim’s Hamburger locations in Duluth. Jim Overlie was the founder, opening the first one in 1937. I think the West End location opened in the 1940s. Overlie sold in 1985 to Dick and Mary Christensen. Dick died in 2000 and Mary died in 2006. Their son Denny took over ownership.
Other Jim’s Hamburger locations were at:
502 E. Fourth St. (closed in 2005)
414 W. Superior (closed in 1995)
502 E. First St. (closed in 1982)
Christmas & New Year’s 2012
Entries into the guest books at lodges tend to be kind of boring, but I like how this group made a comic out of their stay at Heston’s Lodge on Gunflint Lake a month ago. Flipping through the stack of archives reveals this group has been making the trip for at least a dozen years, and they always leave a comic behind.
