Paul Lundgren
Buskers Wanted for Sidewalk Days
Downtown Duluth’s annual Sidewalk Days Festival will be held July 6-8 on Superior Street between Lake Avenue and Fourth Avenue West.
The Greater Downtown Council is encouraging all buskers to open a case wherever it’s convenient — except, of course, where merchants and vendors have assigned spaces. (The GDC holds the permit for the street closure and with that can invite anyone to busk, so you don’t need a fancy busking permit.)
Contact Darlene if you have any questions — 218-428-2258 or dmarshall @ downtownduluth.com.
Duluth’s Providence Building, Wangenstein & Baillie projects
The Providence Building opened in 1895 on the corner of Superior Street and Fourth Avenue West in Downtown Duluth. Originally it was a more ornate five-story building. A Northern Pacific Railroad office was located on the first floor.
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Where the hell’s Cooper?
This article was originally published in the June 2006 issue of Minnesota Monthly magazine.
A corner of the Squirrel Cage Bar in Willow River still pays tribute to the town’s most infamous citizen. At the top of a collection of framed newspaper clippings is a computer printout asking a question that once appeared on hundreds of bumper stickers in the area: “Where the hell’s Cooper?”
U. S. Marshals are still trying to answer that question. (more…)
Final Trip Through Original Laura MacArthur Elementary School
An open house was held at MacArthur Elementary School yesterday as the last day of classes was wrapping up. I brought my camera on a final tour before the place is demolished and turned into a field. A new MacArthur is being built across the street from the original. (more…)
Hello, West Duluth. Is it Lionel Ritchie you’re looking for?
This poster was hanging on the pillar outside Insty-Prints at the Spirit Valley Shopping Center in West Duluth on Tuesday. Everyone at Insty denied involvement and seemed unaware of it. The tear-offs at the bottom are lyrics from the song. (more…)
Duluth FourthFest 2011 at Bayfront Park
Monday, July 4, 2011 | Bayfront Festival Park
Is it still free?
Yes, just like our country.
What bands are playing?
Shaunna Heckman, Sarah Krueger, Dirty Horse, 4onthefloor and Charlie Parr. Plus, the Duluth Superior Symphony Orchestra, with its full company of 60 musicians, will perform an Independence Day program in the tradition of the Boston Pops and John Philip Sousa.
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“A Major Aurora Event”?
According to Science Buzz, astronomers are predicting some sexy Northern Lights tonight:
A major eruption on the Sun on June 7 sent high-energy particles spewing into space. They are expected to reach Earth on the night of Wednesday, June 8 (Minnesota time). Astronomers are predicting a major aurora event, with the Northern Lights visible overhead as far south as Milwaukee, and possibly visible on the northern horizon as far south a southern Indiana and Washington DC!
The most recent case of awesome Northern Lights in Duluth I remember was seven years ago. Tomasz Majewski captured the image above for Perfect Duluth Day from his home in the Piedmont neighborhood on Nov. 7, 2004.
Big Top Songwriting Competition 2011
The deadline is approaching for Big Top Chautauqua’s fourth annual songwriting competition. Interested local musicians have until June 17 to submit two original songs. Up to twelve finalists will be selected to perform in the competition finals on the Big Top stage August 19 for a chance at a cash prize of $100, a slot performing two songs as the opener for the Jessie Winchester/Johnsmith performance, and a chance to appear on the nationally broadcast Tent Show Radio program. Details here.
(Also, Big Top is celebrating its 25 years by giving away 25 prizes in 25 days. If you like Big Top Chautauqua on Facebook before July 5 you could win show tickets.)
Duluth’s Enger Tower, refurbished
Enger Tower reopened yesterday after three months of concrete patching, roof repairing, repainting, fancy new light installing, etc.
It looks great.
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PDD Disinfected. Resume blogging.
Sorry about the little Malware problem earlier today.
I’d tell you what happened, but then I’d have to ask the tech guy and he’d have to explain it to me and, well … it’s a nice day and the problem is solved.
Another Side of Duluth Does Dylan
The third Duluth Does Dylan album will be released on Friday, May 27. The release party is at Rex Bar.
All profit from Friday’s door at the Rex will be donated to the Norshor Theatre renovation, and CD profits will go to the Bob Dylan Way Cultural Pathway effort. Show tickets are available at the Electric Fetus and the Fitger’s Beer Store — $8 in advance, $10 at the door.
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The View from the View Restaurant
This is the final week to have lunch at the View Restaurant in Duluth’s Secondary Technical Center. The photo above is the view from my table last week. The View has kind of been one of Duluth’s little semi-secret treasures — the food is great, the prices are very affordable and the view is similar to the old Buena Vista Restaurant … but slightly to the west. (more…)
Out with the Mayan, in with the Oriental
I’ve heard the Maya Mexican Restaurant at 220 W. Superior St. has been closed for a few weeks. It was indeed locked up today during the lunch hours.
One block up and one block over, the former Chef Yee’s location has a sign promising a new Oriental restaurant.
Duluth Master Bread & Arco Billboards
Back in December, the subject of the old Master Bread billboard came up in the thread about the Peerless Auto Body fire.
I’m guessing that’s the reason this showed up in my e-mail:
Does anyone know where the Master Bread billboard with the moving slices of bread coming out of the package ended up? Or, the Arco Coffee billboard with the steaming coffee being poured into the pot?
The e-mail is from former Duluthian Wayne L. Anderson.
Is anyone out there holding on to these collector’s items, or can someone confirm they were destroyed?
Where in Duluth?
I will admit, this one is tricky.
Duluth Movies in the Park 2011 Schedule
Leif Erikson Park – Duluth
Friday nights at sunset
July 15 | 9 p.m.
Independence Day
July 22 | 8:50 p.m.
The Great Outdoors
July 29 | 8:40 p.m.
Edward Scissorhands
Aug. 5 | 8:30 p.m.
Finding Nemo
Aug. 12 | 8:20 p.m.
Casablanca
Aug. 19 | 8:10 pm
Bad News Bears
Aug. 26 | 8 p.m.
Twilight
Sept. 9 | 7:30 pm
Toy Story 3
Cloud Cult – “The Exploding People”
Video created by the One Light Collective
Directed by Andrew Melby
Visual Effects by John Griese
Colorist Victor Rukavina
Cloud Cult plays Bayfront Park in Duluth on July 9 during the Twin Ports Bridge Festival.
Sex Trafficking in Duluth
This post originally contained a video from WCCO-TV that is no longer available.
Homegrown 2011 Photo Retrospective
View the full set of 180 images from Homegrown 2011 on Flickr. (more…)
Puddle Wonderful
(Lousy photo, but it’s the only one I have — Puddle Wonderful at Norm’s Beer & Brats, 1996.)
A few random facts about the band:
* The name Puddle Wonderful comes from an E. E. Cummings poem describing springtime as “mudlucious” and “puddle wonderful.”
* First gig was at the Recyclabell in Duluth in the summer of 1993.
* Last gig was at the North Star Liquor Lounge in Superior in the summer of 1998.
* Reunion show at R.T. Quinlan’s Saloon during the Homegrown Music Festival — May 7, 2011. (more…)
Jesse Ventura for Chicago-Lake Liquor
A classic from 1984.
Hollywood Undead and Brandi Carlile at Clyde Iron Works
Wednesday, July 13, 5 p.m. — Hollywood Undead
General admission tickets are $27.50 in advance; day-of-show tickets cost $30. Applicable fees may apply. Tickets go on sale Friday, May 13, at 10 a.m., and can be purchased at Clyde Iron Works, the Electric Fetus or via phone at 1-800-514-3849 or online at JadePresents.com. Doors open at 4 p.m.; this is an all-ages performance and will be held outdoors rain or shine.
Sunday, August 14, 8 p.m. — Brandi Carlile
Tickets are general admission and cost $27.50 in advance and $30 day of show. Applicable fees may apply; a $1 charitable donation is included. Tickets go on sale Friday, May 6, at 10 a.m., and can be purchased via phone at 800-514-3849 or online at JadePresents.com. Doors open at 7 p.m.; this is an all-ages performance.