I Made You Say Underwear

I still own all the underwear I’ve ever bought, probably. Like, 85 percent of it. But why? you might legitimately ask yourself. The answer is simple. Underwear is inexplicably expensive. And it takes a long time to wear out, since I don’t do very many things that would cause excessive wear-and-tear, like, say, a lot of butt-scooting on the carpet or skivvy-only horseback riding. I know I’m not alone in this, because over the years I’ve shared this fact and discovered that pretty much everyone is stockpiling ancient underwear.

As a result, I own underwear that is so old that it’s vintage — essentially archaeological artifacts. I’ve got garden-variety skivvies, of course, but I also have floppy and faded high-cut bikinis from 9th grade, lady boxers whose elastic waistbands announce their brand affiliation, and transparent lacy stretch briefs that make my ass look like a low-rent bank-robber. What I don’t have is g-strings. Not anymore.

Ahhh, the g-string. The g-string came to popularity in the late 1990s, first on strippers, then on twenty-somethings, and then, finally, on Donna, the 60-year-old cashier at ShopKo who is suprisingly racy and not interested in what you think about her undergarment selection, thank you very much and have yourself a lovely day minding your own fucking business.

Looking ahead to winter: Snow-Fort City

Looking ahead to winter

It was a good summer. The lake was warm enough to swim for a span of several weeks. I took full advantage of the aqua-recreational opportunities, which I chronicled here. I have no natural love of fall, but this year I am looking at it as what it is: the long, slow, beginning of winter. And since I feel fortified against the coming colder weather, snowfall, and ice conditions, I am making plans.

Beyondbliss – “Rhyme Alaskan”

Duluth’s David Kittelson, aka Beyondbliss, raps while kayaking in Alaska.

Third KD’s restaurant open in Superior

Penny for your thoughts, $25 for your political endorsement

Lester River Fish Hatchery circa 1900

The state fish hatchery at 6008 London Road, near the mouth of Lester River in Duluth, was constructed in 1888 and operated until 1946. The photo above, from Detroit Publishing Company, is dated by the Library of Congress as “between 1900 and 1910.”

Hamlet could be Wise Fool Theater’s last show

Postcards from the Sunrise Motel

The undated postcard above, published by Elton H. Gujer Company of Duluth, depicts the Sunrise Motel in Hermantown.

The Slice: Creative Crosswalks in Duluth

In this edition of The Slice, Mackenzie and friends discover the intention behind Creative Crosswalks in Duluth. Artist Moira Villiard coordinates the neighborhood project through Zeitgeist Community, painting murals at intersections to attract attention and promote pedestrian and bicycle safety by slowing traffic.

In its series The Slice, WDSE-TV presents short “slices of life” that capture the events and experiences that bring people together and speak to what it means to live up north.

Duluth Trivia Deck Sampler #19

Here’s another card from the Duluth Trivia game.

Adas Israel Congregation synagogue destroyed by fire

The Duluth Fire Department responded at 2:23 a.m. to a report of a structure fire at Adas Israel Congregation, a Jewish synagogue at 302 E. Third St.

Peter, Paul & Mary – “Love City (Postcards to Duluth)”

The famed folk trio of tenor Peter Yarrow, baritone Noel Paul Stookey and contralto Mary Travers parenthetically referenced Duluth with the 1968 single “Love City.”

Mystery Photos #97 and #98: Howorth Photography

These two cabinet cards presumably feature two different women, although they look a touch similar. The mystery isn’t just who they are, but also what the deal was with Howorth.

Selective Focus: Duluth Then & Now

Even if you’re not a history nerd, you’ve got to admire the effort put into finding and recreating these photos and the point of view. The images are from John McLoughlin’s @duluth_then_and_now account on Instagram.

Video: Pinkbike in Duluth and Lebanon Hills

The cycling website Pinkbike recently visited Duluth (first half of the video) and Lebanon Falls (about 170 miles south of Duluth; second half of video).

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