David Beard

Baby cottontail rabbits at Wildwoods

Baby Bunnies at Wildwoods

Baby Bunnies at Wildwoods

We got seven baby cottontails from two different places in Proctor today. (more…)

Arrowhead Regional Arts Council Grants

The Arrowhead Regional Arts Council recently approved grant applications totaling $43,440 to be awarded in ARAC Art Project Grants. (more…)

ARAC Arts Awards

Two Arrowhead Regional Arts Council news releases below.

The Arrowhead Regional Arts Council at its March 17, 2011, meeting approved grant applications totaling $13,500 to be awarded in Small Capital Grants. (more…)

Unspeakable Horrors at Collector’s Connection; Warfare at DragonPort

I spent Friday night playing Munchkin Cthulhu at Collector’s Connection near the Mall. (more…)

Mesaba Animal Hospital and Wildlife Rehab

Via Wildwoods Rehabilitation: If you live up on the Range and love wildlife, great news! Mesaba Animal Hospital in Hibbing is interested in supporting wildlife rehab! This is wonderful, because for the longest time, there’s been nobody up there for people to bring wounded wildlife they find. Their two great vets, Dr. Kalinowski and Dr. Kellar, as well as their clinic manager, Tammy, are committed to helping wild animals in need.

New ARAC Grant Application Deadlines

The Arrowhead Regional Arts Council’s upcoming deadlines and workshop dates:

August 26, 4:30 p.m. | Career Development and A&CHF Community Art Learning Grant Deadline (A postmark by 4:30 p.m. on this date is also acceptable.)

Guidelines and application forms are available at aracouncil.org. If you prefer hard copy, contact the ARAC office at 1301 Rice Lake Road, Suite 120, Duluth, MN 55811; call 218-722-0952 or 1-800-569-8134 or email info @ aracouncil.org.

Funding for these grant programs is made possible by an appropriation from the Minnesota State Legislature, the McKnight Foundation, and with money from the Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund as appropriated by the Minnesota State Legislature with money from the vote of the people of Minnesota on November 4, 2008.

Arts Wisconsin’s Rural Arts Management Institute

From: Sam Black of ARAC Duluth and Anne Katz of Arts Wisconsin

The 5th season of Arts Wisconsin’s Rural Arts Management Institute 2011-2012 begins in October 2011. The resources, networking, and contacts gained from this experience are outstanding and invaluable, according to past participants. There are very few programs like this available for rural arts leaders — comprehensive learning communities that provide a foundation of knowledge and an enduring network of peers, friends and colleagues.
(more…)

Cookie Temptations

Today, after exiting the lunch buffet at Sala Thai, I stopped in Cookie Temptations.

Think bakery + florist. CT creates sugar cookies that are designed in chocolate, baked in Duluth.

Besides custom cookie orders (that’s the “florist” part as I see it), they sell individually wrapped cookies. One cookie a month is a “benefit” cookie, proceeds to a charity or needy cause.

The young lady behind the counter was awesome, informative, and helpful; the cookie we bought rocked.

Recommendations for non-profit help

Hi, Wildwoods Rehabilitation is interested in a booth at the Harvest Festival. We have a few questions and wonder whether the PDD community might have some answers.

1. Would an agency who has already exhibited at Harvest Fest be willing to share rough numbers (how many t-shirts, brochures, etc. to bring, how many volunteers to staff the booth)?
2. We’re looking for good rates to produce t-shirts locally. Any recommendations?
3. We’re looking for good rates to produce buttons, magnets, and bumper stickers locally. Suggestions?

We’re also looking for other suggestions of ways to get our organization out into the community. Thanks as always, PDD& community, for giving us a forum to get the word out.

“Why yes, that’s an Eagle in our back seat”

Blue Jays are hungry

Today, we delivered three blue jays, a woodpecker, a raven, and a juvenile bald eagle from Wildwoods Rehabilitation to the Twin Cities.
(more…)

FYI.

My wife found this info at four news sources:
1
2
3
4

PARSONS, Tenn. (WVLT) — U.S. Marshals arrested a convicted sex offender in Minnesota wanted for questioning in connection with the Holly Bobo’s disappearance. Marshals found 43-year-old [name excluded just to be safe — innocent until proven guilty, etc.] in Duluth, Minnesota Thursday at his girlfriend’s house.

…

We can’t find any reference at DNT or local TV websites? FYI, in any case.

Twist of Noir

Local creative writing enthusiast and editor Chris Grant edits Twist of Noir, a website of noir-style mystery fiction.

Twist of Noir Logo is by the multi-talented Walter Conley. Copyright 2011

Twist of Noir Logo by Walter Conley. Copyright 2011

Chris wants to see stories that are well-written, engaging and interesting crime and noir stories.

Duluth Blogs

I’ve just started following Ennyman’s blog.

He goes to a lot of art openings that I’m not cool enough to even know are happening until after they happen. (I’d walked past Ochre Ghost Gallery a hundred times and never thought to ask whether it had a mailing list.)

What other local blogs (beside this one) would you recommend following to get a taste of Duluth?

TrollHunter rocks

As I figured, eventually I started to take Zinema 2 for granted, and even to vaguely feel uncool enough for it.

Then, today, I saw TrollHunter.

Trollhunter poster

“The TrollHunter” is the story of a group of Norwegian film students that set out to capture real-life trolls on camera after learning their existence has been covered up for years by a government conspiracy. A thrilling and wildly entertaining film, “The Trollhunter” delivers truly fantastic images of giant trolls wreaking havoc on the countryside, with darkly funny adherence to the original Norwegian folklore.

If you haven’t gone, this is the way to beat the heat!

Various Critters

Mink, or Marten -- I've been told both -- with a spinal injury

Mink, or Marten -- I've been told both -- with a spinal injury

Summer’s long days are the busiest days at Wildwoods. Following on yesterday’s eagle, here is info on other species passing through. (more…)

Busy week …

I enjoyed Fourth Fest a lot — the carnival was a treat, and the local food vendors make the fireworks a filling, as well as visually appealing, spectacle.

Ahead, for me, this week:

Downtown Duluth hosts a street festival.
Teatro Zuccone hosts a burlesque.
And there is Taste of Greece.
Two Harbors also hosts a festival, I think.

What would you do? Have I missed the real gem?

Eagle recovers at Wildlife Rehab Center

Eagle, injured

Bill and Fran found this beautiful but emaciated mature eagle in the bushes. It had blood in its mouth. The eagle was brought to the Wildwoods rehab location for help with what appears to be lead poisoning. (more…)

7th Annual CHUM Rhubarb Festival

Is this going to be fun?

Rhubarb Logo

7th Annual CHUM Rhubarb Festival

June 25, 9 AM to 4:30 PM
11th Ave East and London Road, Duluth
Admission is free!
(more…)

The best breakfast downtown …

… I might have had this morning. At least, best per-dollar, with the awesomest staff: the Coney Island.

On April 10, 1921 Gus Saites, a Greek immigrant, had a few hundred dollars and an idea. He would head to Duluth from St. Paul and open a restaurant on East Superior Street in the bustling town of Duluth Minnesota. Nearly 90 years later this idea continues uninterrupted in the same location and under the same tin ceiling as on that spring day in ’21.

(more…)

Art Fair

Isn’t there some kind of Art Fair this weekend?

I’ve never been; advice?

First Street Renaissance

Vietnamese Iced Coffee

Vietnamese Iced Coffee

My heart broke when the European Bakery closed (though I admit only shopping there once a month wasn’t much help in keeping it open). It relit today.

I had an awesome lunch at Saigon Cafe (114 W First St., Duluth, MN 55802). At $6.99 for all you can eat, the $2.99 for the Vietnamese coffee was an easy treat.

(Vietnamese Coffee is the reason I keep condensed milk at home: also known as ca phe sua da or cà phê sữa dá), it is made with dark roast coffee individually brewed with a small metal French drip filter into a cup containing sweetened condensed milk, stirred and poured over ice.) (more…)

Planetarium

File name: Summer Solstice Celebration 2011

Join us at the planetarium to say farewell to the old planetarium.

Stonehenge will be on display
Free ice cream
Summer solstice shows on the half hour.
(more…)

Stand in Line Tonight; Sale Opens Tomorrow

The DPL Friends sale starts in just 24 hours; stand in line now if you want to be first. Or, maybe, just get their early tomorrow.

Video of 2009 Friends Sale

From the Friends: The 2011 Book Sale will be held June 14-17

The Friends of the Duluth Public Library annual used book sale is held this year in June. The first day of the sale is for Friends members only; anyone may join the Friends on that day by paying the membership dues ($10 annually for an individual) at the table in the Michigan Street Lobby.

Build your own home library and contribute to a good cause at the same time. The 2010 sale raised more than $30,000! These funds are given back to the Library to purchase special materials and to support specific programs.

The Book Sale is the Friends’ major fundraising activity. All proceeds from the sale are returned to the Library and are used to purchase new materials and to support programs and special activities.

Make Way for Ducklings: Vintage Duluth to Forest Hill Cemetery

Yesterday, Wildwoods volunteer Kate VTB was shopping with Clare and Katherine at Vintage Duluth downtown.

The owner was stroking her shoulder oddly. It seems a duckling had wandered in, found nothing in its size, and had lost track of its mom.

Kate leapt into action, calling the licensed rehabber for advice. She needs to be released into a pond, Kate was told. A hat-box was prepared with holes for air, tender goodbyes made, and we were off. (more…)

Ashland Advice

I’m looking to spend a weekend in Ashland. This is what I know to do so far:

1. Stare at the beautiful bay. (more…)