Author, artist and entrepreneur Richard Comely spoke at UMD
I’m tired.
I woke early on Wednesday to Zoom briefly with the Arrowhead Regional Development Commission on a an exciting upcoming project (this is a teaser sentence for a future post) and then to meet Richard Comely at Perk Place Coffeehouse. (more…)
Duluth-area Theater Primer 2025-2026
The time of year for giant lawn skeletons, crunchy leaves and the theatrical arts is upon us. Though plays are put up year-round, the fall is when most theatrical organizations fire up a new season of productions. This primer lists upcoming shows from a bunch of Duluth-area theater entities, but first gives an overview of other theater options in the region. (more…)
Minnesota Historia: Minnesota’s Deep Connection to Bigfoot
From the Seven Grandfathers Teachings to the She-Squatchers, Minnesota’s love for Bigfoot runs deep.
Minnesota Historia is a PBS North web series dedicated to Minnesota’s quirky past. It is hosted by Hailey Eidenschink-Ziebol and produced/edited/written by Mike Scholtz.
Where is the DECC Statue of Liberty?
Yes, it was a bit cheesy, but my kid loved to visit her down at the Duluth Entertainment Convention Center. After all, the supposed distant relative of the sculptor of the original Lady Liberty donated the replica to Duluth in honor of its children.
This is what I know … (more…)
Duluth Deep Dive #8: The Duluth Herald, Sept. 7, 1925
A classified ad from the Duluth Herald on Sept. 7, 1925. It’s not clear if anyone took up the offer on the grocery store.
Perfect Duluth Day often features individual stories from historical newspapers. This Duluth Deep Dive looks at the whole paper, adding context where necessary to the notable stories from a single edition of the Duluth Herald published one hundred years ago today, including a massive Klan rally in southern Minnesota, arrests by the Duluth Purity Squad, and highlights from the film, sports and classifieds listings. (more…)
The Secret Life of Data Centers
Agate reports that cities around Minnesota — including Farmington and Hermantown — have signed non-disclosure agreements with developers for projects that might be data centers. The article notes the Hermantown facility is “multiple buildings totaling nearly two million square feet” and the description of the project is “so vague that the Minnesota DNR objects that citizens would have trouble offering any comments because it’s unclear what the proposal is.”
Agate is an online magazine covering nature, science and conservation.
Minnesota State All Fair Hair Team 2025
John King and Pulltab Sports present the annual collection of the best deep-fried mullets and salads-on-a-stick from the Minnesota State Fair.
Minnesota Historia: Bronko Nagurski
Bronko Nagurski is celebrated in International Falls with his own museum and a giant statue. He’s considered one of the greatest football players who ever lived. And the Car Talk guys mentioned his mellifluous name every chance they got. But what did he think about all this attention?
Minnesota Historia is a PBS North web series dedicated to Minnesota’s quirky past. It is hosted by Hailey Eidenschink and produced/edited/written by Mike Scholtz.
Minnesota Poets — but who are the Duluthians?
I’ve been going through public library discards, looking for Duluth authors in the mix. (I teach a course in Minnesota authors that leans hard into Duluth authors.) (more…)
PDD Quiz: August 2025
Close out summer with this edition of the PDD Quiz, which reviews the month’s headlines and happenings.
A quiz about repurposed school buildings comes your way on Sept. 14. Please submit question suggestions to Alison Moffat at [email protected] by Sept. 10. (more…)
Adrift in the Duluth Triangle
[Author’s note: This originally ran in the 2024 Boubville zine. My title does not refer to the “Bar-muda Triangle” promotions of the West Duluth bar scene. This story was intended to be the start of a novella, a roman-à-clef about a barfly surviving depression. Each chapter was going to take place in a different establishment and be based on actual events, a “hero’s journey” bar crawl through the underworld one night. But after writing this first chapter, it seemed complete in itself as a short story, so I am calling it done. Borges wrote, “It is a laborious madness and an impoverishing one, the madness of composing vast books — setting out in 500 pages an idea that can be perfectly related in five minutes.” That said, this story of life before Covid could be a prequel to this essay about when Covid hit.]
2019. From Sir Benedict’s Tavern on the Lake, to Vikre Distillery, to the Pizza Lucé bar, then back to Sir Ben’s: This is the Duluth Triangle. Stranded in its vortex for five years, between myself and my hillside home lies a gauntlet of the finest distilleries, tap rooms, and bars in the world. It is a puzzle solved differently every night. Like the doctor in Nightwood said to Djuna Barnes: “The night is not premeditated.” (more…)
Postcard from the North Shore Motel and Restaurant
The North Shore Motel and Restaurant was located at 2621 London Road, and was part of Duluth’s “Motel Row.” It later became the Flamette Motel and Restaurant. It’s now the location of a Circle K convenience store and a city-owned parking lot providing Duluth Lakewalk access. (more…)
Looking for info on 1960s motorcycle dealer
I’m looking for the name of the motorcycle dealer that had a shop at the intersections of West Superior Street, Garfield Avenue and Piedmont Avenue in Duluth in the 1960s.
I think his first name was Bill. He used to race motorcycles at Proctor back then.
Buckthorn Jersey
An obvious challenge when hauling buckthorn branches is that they are pokey. The word “thorn” is right there in the name. Protecting your flesh with a thick canvas jacket is a wise tactic, but what if the temperature demands a more breathable garment? One option is wearing an old hockey jersey, which provides moderate thorn protection while being considerably cooler than a work coat.
Matching the jersey colors to the wildflowers is a potential happy accident.
Ripped at the North Pole Bar in 2000
[Editor’s note: For this week’s essay we’ve once again pulled out a relic from the archive of Slim Goodbuzz, who served as Duluth’s “booze connoisseur” from 1999 to 2009. Twenty-five years ago the Sultan of Sot paid a visit to the North Pole Bar in West Duluth, and composed this article for the Aug. 23, 2000 edition of the Ripsaw newspaper. The North Pole Bar went out of business in 2014.]
Reeking of Kentucky bourbon and tuna-fish sandwiches, Walter stepped out of the fog and into my life. “I’ve been drinking since 4:30,” he told me. “My old lady passed out already, but I’m still goin’ strong. I’m heading to the North Pole.”
“So am I,” I said.
I had not heard of the North Pole Bar until I got an email tip from the commander of the West Duluth VFW. “I don’t know if you’ve ever been down on Raleigh Street,” he wrote, “but my main hang out is the North Pole Bar.” When the commander of the West Duluth VFW talks, I listen. (more…)
Postcard from a Duluth House in 1910
This postcard was mailed on Aug. 22, 1910 — 115 years ago today. The photo on the front shows a house that presumably was located in Duluth and might still be standing. (more…)
Video: Great Republic arriving in Duluth, unloading in Superior
The 634-foot Great Republic thundered out a salute as it passed under the Aerial Lift Bridge on Aug. 12. This aerial video follows the self-unloading bulk carrier to Graymont Dock in Superior, where it unloads limestone via a 250-foot boom.
Postcard from a Giant Freighter Entering Duluth-Superior Harbor
This postcard was mailed 70 years ago today — Aug. 20, 1955. The caption on the card refers to the image as a “picture,” which likely means the illustration is based on a photograph. (more…)
Honey Pie
Some deliciously in-your-face humor from Duluth’s Jean Kirwan, featuring music by The Beatles and scenes from classic films.
PDD Quiz: Soccer
Test your soccer smarts with this edition of the PDD Quiz.
The next PDD quiz, reviewing the month’s headlines, will be published on Aug. 31. Please submit question suggestions to Alison Moffat at [email protected] by Aug. 26. (more…)
Postcard from the Scenery at Fond du Lac
This postcard shows scenes from the Duluth neighborhood of Fond du Lac, along the St. Louis River.
PDD Shop Talk: Failure
Perfect Duluth Day attempted to launch an update to its WordPress theme this week. It failed. So we are continuing with the old theme and attempting to regroup. (more…)