A journey along the edges of the Land of Wonder
At the Duluth Art Institute, right now, exists a portal into other worlds and an alternate way of being. Head on over to Ed’s Big Adventure for a behind-the-scenes glimpse into artist Shawna Gilmore’s art studio, images from this show that appeals to children and adults alike, and more. Also included is Shawna’s painting that’s featured on Charlie Parr’s next album cover, due out on April 15.
Bent Paddle launches new seasonal: Hop Forest Double IPA
Bent Paddle Brewing adds another seasonal beer to its rotation this week. Hop Forest Double India Pale Ale, weighing it at 8.9 percent alcohol-by-volume, will be on tap at Bent Paddle on Wednesday, available in 750-milliliter bottles on Friday and later find its way into liquor stores in 4-pack cans.
Hop Harvest will also be available at Beaner’s Central in time for Friday’s first-of-three CD release parties for the latest One Week Live compilation.
The text on the can reads: “Standing in a hop field brings forth a sense of solitude and wonder one can find in a forest. Hop Forest Double IPA provides full hop coverage with a tremendous load of tropical citrus and piney hop aromatics. Malt sweetness intertwines with the American hop varieties to create a balanced shade of flavor that invites one to sit down and enjoy the view.”
This Week: Buddy, Broadway, gore and more
Here’s a bit of what you’ll find on this week’s PDD Calendar:
Duluth MakerSpace is holding a class on glass-etching, the Duluth Public Library is screening the kids’ film Inside Out, members of the public can get their antiques appraised at the Depot, the director of the cult film Microwave Massacre comes to town to talk about stuttering and the Duluth Playhouse opens the Neil Simon play Broadway Bound.
The Clean Water Gala 2016 is raising funds at Clyde Iron Works, the St. Scholastica theater department is putting on the bass-fishing-concerned Zara Spook and Other Lures, there’s free pleasure-skating at the Heritage Center, Beaner’s Central celebrates the release of its latest compilation album with three concerts and a long-running musical about Buddy Holly lands at the DECC.
PDD Quiz: Roses are red. Violets are blue.
Next week’s theme is “Presidents in Duluth” in honor of Presidents Day. Send your suggested quiz questions (and answers) to lawrence @ perfectduluthday.com by noon on Wednesday, Feb. 17.
Coming Home to Mother: Feb. 13, 1969
Safe at Home
Somewhere at sea: Two landing craft ease their way — side by side — through the wide opening at the stern of the USS Duluth. The craft employs almost all the room available on coming aboard. After the boats are tied down, the ballast tanks are emptied and the wall is drained.
(U.S. Navy photo via United Press International)
Bicycling the Hillside
The climb feels endless. Tattered concrete fills my field of vision — taunting and mocking my painfully slow bike ride up the hill. My legs ache and are starting to shake. My lungs burn and seem to collapse a bit more every time I turn the pedals over and try to suck in a great, heaving gulp of oxygen.
The front wheel wobbles for lack of momentum, forcing me to cross back. Now I’m shamefully zig-zagging across the steep avenue, which both relieves the burdensome pitch, but quadruples the length of the climb. There is a deep desire in me, immutable by logic or maturity, to ride the whole way, steep inclines notwithstanding.
Then the moment of kinetic equilibrium arrives in which the depleted energy of my legs can no longer overcome gravity’s backward force and for the briefest moment my bike and I are stuck in suspended animation. I dismount at the very moment gravity begins to prevail. With humility washing over me, bike and I switch roles as I become the vehicle delivering the two of us up the hillside. (more…)
WITC-Superior welding students create sculpture
Superior Business Improvement District, Wisconsin Arts Board, the National Endowment for the Arts and WITC-Superior welding students unveiled their public sculpture in the vacant lot adjacent to Sclavi’s Restaurant on Tower Ave. in Superior.
The Wishing Tree is a community art participation project. Thirteen welding students of WITC-Superior, under the direction of Aleasha Hladilek, were asked to create a 7-foot sculptural metal tree. These 13 students are enrolled in the full time technical structural welding course. (more…)
Selective Focus: Sweet
Sarah Jean, untitled
Given our theme, this week’s images could easily have veered into cloying territory. Thankfully I received many uniquely interpreted shots, and some that are even exceptionally moving. I’m grateful how this feature included our older loved ones; a population often disregarded in visual art. Let’s remedy that next week by dedicating a theme to our “elders.” (more…)
Mushroom Hunting in Duluth
Video by Squawk Productions — Sam Thompson and Caitlin Hargarten of Minneapolis.
No Interest at the Speakeasy
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=610EROe-jmY
Hardcore punk band No Interest, performing in a Duluth basement that was recently taken off the party market.
Updated concept plan for Lake Superior Zoo
Click the image to view a PDF of the full plan.
The latest concept plan for improvements to Fairmount Park and the Lake Superior Zoo was presented by a consultant last night at the Duluth Parks Commission meeting. The concept envisions a renewed zoo in a roughly 10-acre footprint that includes ADA accessible pathways, renewed and repurposed exhibits damaged by the 2012 flood, enhanced visitor services, and converts a portion of the existing zoo into public park space. The plan is estimated at $15 million and has $2.7 million of half-and-half funding allotted to it.
Comments can be submitted to Duluth’s Parks and Recreation Division until Feb. 15 to allow the consultants to analyze them for the upcoming Feb. 22 presentation and public hearing at 5:15 p.m. in the Duluth City Council Chambers, to be followed by a Parks Commission public hearing in room 303.
Red Cowboy Hat (featuring Jim Hall) – “Duluth Blues”
Jim Hall recently brought his Red Cowboy Hat trio to the KUMD studios for a Live from Studio A session. They performed this tune, perfect for a sub-zero windchill day in Duluth. Audio of the full session with Jim and company is available at kumd.org.
Northern Waters restaurant open on Woodland Avenue
Fans of all things cured and smoked will rejoice in knowing Northern Waters Smokehaus has opened its much-anticipated Woodland Avenue location in the Chester Park – UMD neighborhood. While the new restaurant offers some familiar lunch items from the Smokehaus, the menu is more expansive and includes alcoholic beverages. (more…)
Epicurean and Loll represent Duluth in The Atlantic
In the March issue of The Atlantic, James Fallows once more talks up Duluth while town-hopping across the country, this time as an example of “hopeless” places reinventing themselves (full article). Scroll down to the subheading “Despite the ‘Big Short,’ Talent Dispersal is Under Way,” where he uses Epicurean/Loll to illustrate the same kind of deliberate migration that Lucie Amundsen so elegantly described in her Saturday essay.
Perfect Indoor Concert Venue: Red Herring Lounge
When it comes to picking the best indoor concert venue, there are a lot of things to consider — seating, acoustics, general vibe, etc. There might be plenty of room for argument on just about any criteria, but in one facet Duluth has a clear winner. It would be tough to dispute that any local concert hall, club or coffee house has consistently brought more high-caliber talent to its stage in the past two years than the Red Herring Lounge. Among the top four in PDD’s poll, the Herring pulled out a clean win with 35 percent of the vote. (more…)
The Alan Sparhawk Project
Ten year’s ago, Duluth musician Alan Sparhawk had his name dropped in this little comic (specifically panel three):
Questionable Content is an internet comic strip by Jeph Jacques of Halifax, Nova Scotia. It started in August 2003 and is still in production. The publish date of the comic above is not known, but it was first posted to PDD on Feb. 9, 2006.
Job openings at Hartley Nature Preschool
Are you looking for a job teaching young children outdoors in all seasons? Hartley Nature Preschool, a program of Hartley Nature Center, is expanding and hiring lead and assistant preschool teachers for full- and half-day preschool classes. A background in early childhood education and/or environmental education is preferred. Applications are due March 15. More information at hartleynaturepreschool.weebly.com/employment.
This Week: chocolate, rockets, orgasms, Buckwheat and more
Here’s a bit of what you’ll find on this week’s PDD Calendar:
Sample some chocolate from local chefs at Arc Northland’s Chocolate After Dark fundraiser, the Zinema is showing The Magic Flute live from Austria, folks can make bowls for the Empty Bowl fundraiser at the Duluth Art Institute, the Head of the Lakes Spring Job and Internship Fair is at UWS, there’s an adult Valentine-making party at Studio 15, Burrito Union is doing Rock and Roll Bingo and Renegade Theater Company opens The Rocket Man at Teatro Zuccone.
Music legend Buckwheat Zydeco performs at the Red Herring, the Minnesota Ballet holds its 10th annual Celebrity Dance Challenge, UMD is the place to learn about the female orgasm, Superior Public Library loves local artists, Dubh Linn is pairing Valentine’s Day with dinner and comedy and the latest Zenith City Cabaret show is at the Zeitgeist.
PDD Quiz: Are you ready for some football?
Since next week is Valentine’s Day, our theme will be “Love, Duluthian Style,” whatever that means to you. Send your suggested quiz questions (and answers) to lawrence @ perfectduluthday.com by noon on Wednesday, Feb. 10.