PDD News Sieve
Duluth sidewalk collapses under weight of boom lift
A building maintenance worker on a telescoping boom lift was pinned to the exterior of the Winthrop Building at 325 W. First St. in Downtown Duluth today. The brick sidewalk in front of the building collapsed under two of the boom lift’s four tires, causing the boom to shift, pinning the worker to the building under the weight of the boom. The lift tipped into a vault that extends under the sidewalk. (more…)
Duluth 2023 General Election Sample Ballot
Duluth’s Municipal General Election is on Tuesday, Nov. 7. The sample ballot above includes races in Aurora and the Town of White, along with school district races in Mountain Iron-Buhl (ISD #712) and Nett Lake (ISD #707). Duluthians won’t see those races on their ballots, and the city council and school board races on Duluth ballots vary by precinct. (more…)
Apartment complex planned for West Duluth
The Duluth News Tribune reports an 80-unit apartment complex called the Residence is being planned on the former Holiday Stationstore location at 3401 Grand Ave. The 1.9-acre site is between the Wheeler Athletic Complex and the ore docks in West Duluth. Merge Urban Development Group, headquartered in Cedar Falls, Iowa, purchased the land from the Duluth Economic Development Authority in 2022.
Twain’s coldest winter revisited
Dave Wilton at wordorigins.org delves into a famous-though-probably-inaccurate Mark Twain quote in his latest article. “The coldest winter I ever spent was a summer in San Francisco,” has of course also been spun as “The coldest winter I ever spent was a summer in Duluth.” Wilton covers it all in detail, as did Tony Dierckins some years ago on zenithcity.com. Lake Superior Magazine also covered the subject in 2003. (more…)
Oasis del Norte restaurant opening soon
The brick-and-mortar Oasis del Norte restaurant in Duluth’s Lincoln Park Craft District finally has an opening date. The Duluth News Tribune reports that Eduardo Sandoval Luna will open the taqueria-style Mexican eatery at 2401 W. Superior St. on Sept. 29, pending inspection from the Minnesota Health Department.
Sandoval Luna has operated the Oasis del Norte taco food trailer since 2015.
Duluth 2023 General Election Primer
Duluth’s municipal and school board general election is Nov. 7. Items on the ballot vary depending on which precinct voters live. Below is a rundown of all races in the city. (more…)
R.I.P. Rex Bar at Fitger’s
Patrons gathered at the Rex Bar Sunday for its last night in business. (Photo by Mike Creger)
Rex Bar at Fitger’s closed Sunday after nearly 15 years in business. It opened in 2008, following a brief period when the bar was called Lido. Prior to that the space operated as the Fitger’s Tap Room. (more…)
Duluth 2023 Primary Election Results
With 34 of 34 precincts reporting, here are the unofficial results of Duluth’s municipal primary election. (more…)
Duluth 2023 Primary Election Sample Ballot
Duluth’s Municipal Primary Election is on Tuesday, Aug. 8. The first two races on this sample ballot — mayor and at-large city council — appear on ballots citywide. The fourth-district council race is pertinent to the Lincoln Park, Piedmont Heights and Duluth Heights neighborhoods. The third-district school board race is pertinent to Duluth Heights, Piedmont Heights, Central Hillside, Central Business District and Park Point. (more…)
Rob Harvilla gets “heavy into Low”
Though the July 26 episode of the podcast 60 Songs that Explain the ’90s is about the Mazzy Star track “Fade Into You,” music critic Rob Harvilla spends the first 20 minutes of the show gushing over another song and band entirely.
“My new favorite song is ‘Cue the Strings’ by the Duluth, Minn. band Low from their 2005 album The Great Destroyer,” he states at the start of the show, before launching into a deep dive into the music of Alan Sparhawk and the late Mimi Parker. (more…)
Northeastern Minnesota Book Awards 2023 Nominees
Lake Superior Writers has announced the titles of the 24 books nominated for 2023 Northeastern Minnesota Book Awards. For the past three decades, the awards have recognized books that substantially represent the history, culture, heritage and lifestyle of northeastern Minnesota. (more…)
The Social House in Canal Park is open
The Social House, a casual restaurant in Duluth’s Canal Park district, held a soft opening over the weekend and officially opened this morning. The location is the former Famous Dave’s at 355 S. Lake Ave. (more…)
Kirsten Aune puts kaleidoscopic spin on textile folk art
Kirsten Aune is preparing work for a group art show she co-organized with her sister for the Nordic Center for FinnFest. “Inspiraatioita: Finnish Art and Design in Minnesota” will be on display July 27-30. Read more about it from MPR News.
Lake Superior Writers 2023 writing contest winners announced
Lake Superior Writers has announced the winners of its 2023 writing contest. There were nearly 200 entries focused on this year’s theme of “Connections.” First place winners in each category received $200 and their works can be read online at lakesuperiorwriters.org. (more…)
Duluth 2023 Primary Election Primer
The filing period for Duluth city and school board offices runs from May 16-30. Below is a rundown of candidates who filed before the deadline. (more…)
Snoopy thinks Woodstock’s mom could be in Duluth
This weekend’s syndicated Classic Peanuts comic includes a mention of Duluth. The strip was chosen for Mother’s Day weekend because Snoopy speculates on the location of Woodstock’s mother, who “could be in Anchorage, or in the Caribbean or Duluth for all you know.” (more…)
Ursa Minor takes gold at 2023 World Beer Cup
Ursa Minor Brewing in Duluth won a gold medal at the World Beer Cup on May 10. It’s the sixth medal for Duluth-area breweries at the annual competition.
Ursa Minor’s win was in the Irish-style red ale category for its beer Equanimity. (more…)
Interpretive signs will mark former Incline Railway sidewalk
The Duluth News Tribune reports the sidewalk and stairway that marks the location of the former Incline Railway at Seventh Avenue West, designated as a recreational hiking trail, will soon have interpretive signage.
Mn Artists Conversation with Moira Villiard
Mn Artists, an arts-news platform of the Walker Art Center, has a feature on Duluth artist Moira Villiard, the 2022/23 Minneapolis College of Art and Design Jerome Fellow.
Record Breaker: Winter 2022-23 is snowiest in Duluth history
The Duluth News Tribune reports that the 2 inches of snow that fell overnight was enough to make the winter of 2022-23 the snowiest since records starting being kept in 1870. The season snowfall total as of 6 a.m. today sat at 137.1 inches.
R.I.P. Diona Johnson / Di Jay / AfroGeode
Diona Johnson, leader of the Duluth band AfroGeode and the Gemstones, died on Monday at age 35. The Duluth News Tribune reports that the cause of the sudden death remains unknown pending the results of an autopsy. (more…)
Renovation of Androy Hotel ballroom in Hibbing underway
The Duluth News Tribune reports that BoomTown Brewery & Woodfire has partnered with Androy Hotel owner Trellis Co. to retrofit the 1920s ballroom of the historic Androy Hotel in Hibbing into an event space, expanding catering abilities with a new commissary kitchen.
New harbor commission seeks to buy Madeline Island Ferry Line
Minnesota Public Radio reports the town of LaPointe has formed a harbor commission is negotiating with the owners of the Madeline Island Ferry Line to purchase the business and transfer its assets to public ownership.
London Road roundabout plan riles residents
Minnesota Public Radio reports that the Minnesota Department of Transportation is moving forward with a plan to install a roundabout at 60th Avenue East and London Road despite objections from residents.