Paul Lundgren
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 …
(more…)
Where in Duluth?
Time once again to play Perfect Duluth Day’s marvelous photo quiz game, “Where in Duluth?” Where is this burglar alarm?
The Ongoing Tom & Jerry Batter Issue
So, perhaps you have been following along with the recent comments on last year’s PDD Gift Guide regarding Connolly’s Tom And Jerry Batter. The news that came out there is that Upper Lakes Foods, which owns the Connolly family recipe, no longer has a manufacturer to produce it. The supply ran out shortly after Thanksgiving, leaving consumers with the choice of either buying inferior brands or making the batter themselves.
The folks at Heavy Table took up the topic today with a little history of the fine tradition of applying sugary frosting to one’s booze, along with a recommended recipe.
Hopefully Connolly’s will be back on shelves next year. (As Baci noted in the old post, perhaps a PDD army will have to step in and rent a kitchen to crank it out if need be.) It’s been a popular fixture in these parts for over 60 years, having originated at Connolly’s Bakery on Belknap Street in Superior. Other brands simply don’t compare.
Duluth and Iron Will are chopped liver on Explore Minnesota’s “Top 10 Minnesota Film Destinations”
If crappy Disney movies like Iron Will were exempt from the list, how did The Mighty Ducks get included?
Anyway, on the list are:
A Prairie Home Companion – Fitzgerald Theater, Mickey’s Diner
Grumpy Old Men – Lake Rebecca
North Country – The Iron Range
Purple Rain – First Avenue
The Good Son – Palisade Head
Beautiful Girls – Bryant Lake Bowl
Jingle All The Way – Mall of America
Sweet Land – Southwestern Minnesota
The Mighty Ducks – Rice Park
Fargo – Brainerd Lakes Area (more…)
Zumba at Stargate Nightclub
Her name is Melinda, and Zumba is her passion. She’s hosting a “Girls Night Out Zumba Workout Party” on Monday, Dec. 27 at Stargate Nightclub in Superior from 5:45 to 8 p.m. Details on the Zumba with Melinda website.
Free, all-ages holiday skating in Duluth
Bring your own skates.
DECC Skating Party 2010
Sunday, Dec. 26, 3-5pm
Duluth Entertainment Convention Center Arena
Music provided by Shelly’s Mobile Music Machine
Free door prizes and cookies for kids.
Bayfront Park Outdoor Skating
Through Dec. 26, 5-9pm | Dec. 27-31, 1-8pm | Closed Jan. 1
After Jan. 2, Mon-Fri, 4-8pm, Saturday 1-8pm, Sunday 1-5pm
Adjacent to Bentleyville Tour of Lights at Bayfront Park
Heritage Sports Center Indoor Pleasure Skating
Friday, Dec. 31, 1:30-3pm.
120 S. 30th Ave. W.
Skate or die!!!
UMD defeats Delta State, wins second NCAA Division 2 football championship!
Delta State of Mississippi ……………………. 7-7-0-3–7
University of Minnesota Duluth …….. 10-0-0-10–20
What a game!!!
(more…)
UMD Alumni Hockey at Amsoil Arena
So, about 10 seconds into the UMD Alumni Game at the new Amsoil Arena, a little kid behind me says, “Even I could beat these guys in a race.”
Yeah, the old timers weren’t nearly as quick as they were in their prime, but the sexy assist from Bill Watson on a Norm MacIver goal was awfully impressive and the new Bulldog digs are mighty sweet.
