Paul Lundgren
Hey brewers of the Midwest, we like what you are doing. Keep up the good work.
Surly Abrasive Ale
Double Oat IPA
8.8 percent alcohol by volume
On tap at Beaner’s Central and maybe other places
Bell’s Hopslam Ale
American Double/Imperial I.P.A.
10 percent alcohol by volume
Available in bottles at Beaner’s Central, Zeitgeist Arts Cafe and maybe other places
And congratulations to the amazing Dave Hoops and the folks at Fitger’s Brewhouse. Their Bourbon Barrel Edmund Imperial Stout took first place in the Strong Porter/Stout category at the eighth annual Festival of Wood and Barrel-Aged Beer in Chicago in November.
What are you drinkin’?
Derailed train cars fall from bridge by Duluth’s ore docks
A Canadian National train carrying 17 empty cars derailed while approaching a limestone storage area on a trestle bridge near the Duluth, Missabe and Iron Range Railway Ore Docks this morning.
Two cars fell; one landed upside down, the other landed against a support for the ore docks and sat standing on its end. No one was hurt.
Duluth National Bank
Duluth National Bank, now the West End branch of U.S. Bank, was the subject of a “Where in Duluth?” post a month ago, focusing on its burglar alarm. Note that today’s burglar alarm is apparently not the original. It’s rounded at the top, while the one above is flat at the top.
The photo above appears to be circa 1922, which is when the building was built. The bank was founded in 1910, but was located across the avenue from this location.
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Blue Laws are Stupid, Post #3
The Duluth News Tribune is reporting that State Senator Roger Reinert has introduced legislation that would allow Minnesota liquor stores to open on Sundays.
Story link: “Liquor on Sunday?”
And we haven’t even bitched about blue laws on PDD since September. Too busy drinking to fight for our rights, I guess.
Laura MacArthur Elementary School A/V Cadets, 1979 to 1984
Do the kids pose with Blu-ray players these days?
For those of you without a roster: Sean Bigler (1979); Tony Brown, Tom Bunkers and Steve Elsmore (1980); Scott Rous, Dominic Jakubek, Jim Gannucci and Patric Doherty (1981); Richie Hennes (1982); Patti Puglisi and Amber Netzel (1983); Chris Vaydich, Matt Pfister and Jason Mahle (1984).
Ventura vs. DHS & TSA
Jesse Ventura is suing the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and the Transportation Security Administration for violating his rights.
The former governor was patted down by a TSA agent in November and he says his “basic rights to privacy and dignity, and his right to be free from unreasonable searches and seizures” were violated.
Minnesota Cold: Shooting a Super Soaker
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B0tBFYmMCTM
Nathan Ziegler, principal at Hope Academy in Minneapolis, shares his fun cold experiments.
UMD professor in Antartica
UMD Geological Sciences Professor John Goodge traveled to Antarctica to collect and analyze rocks to build a better picture of the continent hidden beneath the polar ice cap.
Check out the New York Times slide show Rocks, Ice and Science in Antarctica and the Scientist at Work blog to get your geek on.
Kessler leaving Northland’s NewsCenter — third notable Duluth TV departure of 2011
The Duluth News Tribune is reporting that Northland’s NewsCenter meteorologist George Kessler is leaving Duluth for the state of Virginia.
This follows the previously announced career change of Eyewitness News‘ Sandy Drag and retirement of Dennis Anderson.
The icons fly from us.
How to Use a Condom / Owner’s Instructions for Rainshow’r Model RS-502
As published in Duluth’s Ripsaw newspaper, Jan. 17, 2001.
Get well soon, Craig Minowa
From Cloud Cult’s website:
Cloud Cult has announced the cancellation of the band’s upcoming performances at First Avenue (January 21) and Lutsen (February 5). On Thursday, Cloud Cult’s Craig Minowa was hospitalized with heart issues.
Although the condition necessitates a temporary hiatus from performances, doctors are suggesting a noninvasive heart surgery would likely be performed in the next few weeks to bring permanent remedy to the problem. We apologize for any complications, and we look forward to returning with more energy than ever in the coming months.
R.I.P. James Bothwell, 1986 Principal, Morgan Park School
James W. Bothwell died on Jan. 13. He had a long career as a teacher and principal in St. Paul, but in 1986 he had a stint in Duluth as Morgan Park Junior High School’s interim principal, following the mid-school-year retirement of longtime principal Milan S. Karich and preceding the launch of Jon Vomachka’s reign.
I was in seventh grade and not much of an outlaw during Bothwell’s brief term, so I don’t have any good stories to relate, but I remember him seeming to be quite a nice guy. Does anyone have more specific memories to share?
Ensculptic — Minnetrista, Minnesota
The name of this house is “Ensculptic,” which is short for “environmental sculpture in plastic.” Most people prefer to call it the “Mushroom House,” “Flintstone House,” “Hobbit House” or simply “That Weird House in Minnetrista.”
The place is now known as “The Foam House” on Houselogic’s “7 Crazy Houses” list.
Tim Pawlenty on The Daily Show
[This post originally contained an embedded video that is no longer available at its source.]
The complete, unedited interview from last night.
Second Annual Duluth Renters Summit
More info on the Home Line website.
Mike and Kurt’s Kiteboarding Session in Mahtomedi, Minnesota
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bQT2Jf8Qi5Y
Ski Hut Cross-country Ski Weekend
January 14 and 15
Lessons in classic and skate techniques. World Cup skate ski, boot and pole demos. Details at Duluth XC Ski Club website.
Giant Panda becoming China King Buffet
The Giant Panda restaurant at 215 N. Central Avenue in West Duluth has closed.
No, Amsoil isn’t moving its corporate headquarters into the Spirit Valley Shopping Center. A woman unloading the truck said a new Chinese restaurant, under different ownership, is moving in. She said it will be called China King Buffet and be open in a few days.
Duluth Lakewalk East Extension
The city of Duluth and the Short Elliott Hendrickson engineering firm are holding a design charette for phases 4 and 5 of the Lakewalk East Extension on Tuesday, Jan. 4, at 9:30 a.m. in the Duluth Radisson Hotel’s Great Hall.
The extension will be from 60th Avenue East to Brighton Beach. Construction is scheduled to begin in 2012. Federal, DNR and local funding has been secured.
The charette will discuss possible routes and trail design. RSVP Matt Bolf (mbolf @ sehinc.com) if you plan to attend.
A Guy in an Orange Jacket Climbing the Ice at Casket Quarry in West Duluth
I should note that this guy is using climbing equipment, and he’d he dead if he wasn’t, because he fell about three minutes after this photo was taken.
PDD’s little upgrade and the glitch with the Smart Unread Comments plugin
If you’re one of those compulsive people who likes to read every single comment on Perfect Duluth Day, the past few days have been a challenge for you.
The “Comments” column on the left is supposed to show which posts have new comments you haven’t read, but it hasn’t been working since PDD upgraded to WordPress 3.0.4 on Dec. 31.
In the meantime, if you’re noticing anything else not functioning properly since the upgrade, let us know. The comment thing is the only thing we’ve noticed.
UPDATE: The problem was fixed on Jan. 3, so there should be no more issues.
Live music all day at Beaner’s
23 bands at Beaner’s for New Year’s Eve!
Who’s running for mayor in Superior?
Dave Ross is out after two terms as Superior mayor. He’s taking a job as secretary of the Wisconsin Department of Regulation and Licensing.
Candidates must file the required number of signatures by 5 p.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 4 to get on the ballot for mayor in Superior. (more…)
Duluth’s Point of Rocks
The main personality split in Duluth occurs about where an interfering spine of rocks comes down from the hill to Superior Street just a few blocks west of midtown. West of this point of rocks Duluth is politically left, east of it it is politically right. But there is a certain uniting force in cold weather, of which Duluth has its share.
–From “Duluth,” an essay by Arthur W. Baum
in the April 16, 1949, Saturday Evening Post
The Peerless Auto Body Fire post on PDD sparked some discussion of the former Peerless location near Point of Rocks, which led to some interest in the history of Point of Rocks.
So, here we go …
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Where in Duluth?
Time once again to play Perfect Duluth Day’s marvelous photo quiz game, “Where in Duluth?” Where is this burglar alarm?