Selective Focus: Empathy
Marie Zhuikov, “Buddy, Winter 2012”
Should I infer from the lack of submissions this week that there is a lack of empathy in our world at the moment, or merely accept that the concept is a difficult one to represent? Being prone to hyperbole, I’m going with the former assumption, while hoping that a more general theme next week will boost contributions. Let’s go with “holidays.” (more…)
The mystery of a gift not given: Where is it now?
In promotion of his recently released book, Hillsider, Duluth Mayor Don Ness has repeatedly shared his story of “a gift not given.” It’s from pages 155-156, under the title “Clooney & Zellweger.” The abridged version of the story goes like this:
George Clooney and Renee Zellweger made a trip to Duluth in 2008 to promote the movie Leatherheads, the plot of which is loosely based on the Duluth Eskimos football team. Ness was in his first month as mayor, and obviously wanted to impress the celebrities and do Duluth proud in front of the national media. He assigned his staff to put together an appropriate welcome gift for Clooney and Zellweger. The process of hunting down an old leatherhead helmet for an impressive plaque turned daunting, however, and on the morning of the visit the mayor discovered the gift ended up being a rather pathetic-looking miniature leatherhead resting on a small wooden pedestal. Ness made the executive decision to present the customary mayoral proclamation instead. He concludes his story with the punchline: “Over the years I’ve reconsidered a lot of choices. This isn’t one of ’em.”
Ness told the story last night at the DECC, which reminded me that after he told the story a few weeks ago at the Red Herring Lounge I asked him what happened to the silly little leatherhead-on-a-stick. He said he had no idea. It’s not in his office, and he hasn’t really asked around about it.
Did it land in the trash? Is it on a city employee’s mantle? Inquiring minds want to know.
The Boomchucks – “It’s Good to be a Rolling Stone”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q2j7HCufuTc
New music video from Duluth band the Boomchucks. The ‘Chucks play the free party in the DECC’s Palucci Hall tonight at 9 p.m., after the big mayoral farewell concert.
The Current: Duluth’s musical all-stars to play Don Ness goodbye concert
Succulent
A new Duluth skateboard video by Cody Paulson, shot entirely on an iPhone and Death Lens. Featuring Stephen Pestalozzi and Colton Maddy with Justice Cameron Simmons, John Schneider, Carter Nguyen, Nicholas Tanski, Andy Pearson and Nate Hynum.
Slow TV! Coming Soon from the Food Farm
Have you ever wondered how the Food Farm in Wrenshall grows such delicious and wholesome food? In 2016, you’ll get to feast on a bumper crop of incredibly-detailed-but-somehow-mesmerizing-behind-the-scenes videos shot at the farm in the style of Norwegian public television’s Slow TV documentaries. Here’s a small taste.
PDD Videolab: 8mm Dance Party
A box of 8mm home movies discovered at a Piedmont Heights estate sale provides the content for this video mash-up. (more…)
Video Archive: President Clinton and Donny Ness
President Bill Clinton was in Duluth on Nov. 4, 1994. Eyewitness News’ Colleen Mahoney interviewed three Duluth gawkers who were hanging out across the street from the Downtown Holiday Inn, where the president spent the night. One of the two unnamed UMD students interviewed was future Duluth Mayor Don Ness. (more…)
“Holy Night”
As Duluth weighs the pros and cons of allowing people to keep small farm animals within city limits, I thought it would be appropriate to share this recording. Just think … you could wake up some frosty winter night and be serenaded by your neighbor’s singing goats.
Mary Bue – “Veal”
This weekend, Mary Bue held a premiere party for her latest video, “Veal” from her album, Holy Bones. Video by Jon Hain.
Toasty’s Downtown Duluth location open
The Duluth News Tribune reports Tom and Rachael Hagen opened their second Toasty’s Grilled Cheese Shop on Dec. 11. The new location at 220 W. Superior St. is best known as the former home of Mr. Nick’s Famous Charburger and the short-term location of seven different failed restaurants since 2002. The Downtown Toasty’s will be open weekdays from 11 a.m. to 5 pm., offering a similar menu to the Hillside location — sandwiches, soups and salads.
Story link: Toasty’s opens new downtown Duluth location
This Week: holiday madness, ghoul-rock, Ness peaces-out and more
Here’s a bit of what you’ll find on this week’s PDD Calendar:
It’s the week before Christmas, so there’s plenty of holiday-themed stuff mixed in with the usual madness. Nerds somehow find time to talk about something other than Star Wars, singing along with the orchestra is encouraged, Don Ness drops the mic with a big ole bash, kids can skate with Santa and Rudolph, TED at Teatro brings the braininess, Poor old George Bailey fights the forces of heartlessness and greed and the Rose Ensemble plays Sacred Heart Music Center.
Sara Thomsen and pals play a winter concert, Duluth’s holiday-themed escape room still needs escaping, Monster Mob releases an album, Rachael Kilgour throws a holiday shindig, Glensheen lets visitors run wild(-ish) and Jim Hall shows ’em how it’s done.
A Bentleyville Story
Video by UMD student Heidi French, produced as her college writing final.
Video Archive: Jim Wilferling – “Don’t Let it Bring You Down”
Jim Wilferling covers Neil Young’s “Don’t Let it Bring You Down” during open mic night at R.T. Quinlan’s Saloon on Sept. 16, 1995.
Duluth Retiree Health Care Unfunded Liability: 2005 to 2015
Ten years ago today the New York Times ran a story titled “The Next Retirement Time Bomb,” which focused heavily on Duluth. The story opened by noting Duluth’s estimated unfunded healthcare liability in 2002 was $178 million. It concluded by stating the figure had ballooned to $280 million in 2005. Worse yet, though not mentioned by the NYT, the liability was projected to hit $417 million by 2015.
Where does Duluth stand one decade later? A state auditor’s report released last summer shows the liability has dropped to an estimated $129 million.
“The support of city staff, city unions, city councilors, community leaders and the Minnesota Supreme Court were critical to this success,” Duluth Mayor Don Ness said in a June news release. “But the foundation of the effort was a core group of five citizen volunteers serving on a task force (created when I was on the city council) that provided a 15-point road map to solving what was thought to be an unsolvable problem. That volunteer effort is the basis for the significant $288-million reduction in our liability today.”
Low on World Cafe
NPR’s World Cafe has been doing a “Sense of Place Minneapolis” series. Duluth band Low was featured yesterday, Dec. 10.
Selective Focus: Air
Mary K. Tennis, “Steve, Cranes”
It’s easy to take pristine air for granted while living in this Arcadian spot, but an alarming study of phytoplankton from the University of Leicester posited this week that rising carbon emissions could deplete the planet of breathable air. This brought starkly to mind the homophone err, and deepened my belief that true change can only occur from the ground, up — or in this case, from the micro-organismic. (more…)
Morning session at Christina B Photography
Normally we would avoid sharing business promo videos on PDD, but this one is just too precious.
Produced by Vinyl & Thread Films for Christina B Photography.
Hobo Nephews of Uncle Frank – “Over And Back Again”
Video edited by Ian Alexy from footage shot by Dusty “Rhodes” Keliin, Truvio Del Sol and Ian Alexy.
Postcards from Duluth Central High School
Among man-made icons in Duluth, the most venerable of the them all is Historic Old Central High School, which opened in 1892 at Lake Avenue and East Second Street. (more…)
Jaw Knee Vee – “Holiday Romp!”
One-man trash-blues explosion Jaw Knee Vee blasts out this year’s holiday greeting from PDD. Check out more of his lo-fi hijinks at the Jaw Knee Vee Facebook page and Bandcamp page.
A big thank you to the Homegrown Music Festival for sponsoring this video. Music fans hark this: The Homegrown Winter Fiasco will be staged at three West Duluth venues on Jan. 22. Musicians hark this: Homegrown band registration begins Christmas Day and ends Jan. 31.
Also, thanks to real estate developer Aaron Schweiger for letting us into the former Morgan Park School auditorium to shoot this special performance before a capacity crowd.
For more festive PDD video wholesomeness, check out the PDD Holiday Video Showcase.
The Lowertown Line: Cloud Cult
Twin Cities Public Television’s live-performance music show, The Lowertown Line, features Cloud Cult performing on the Minneapolis Convention Center Plaza for the opening of the 2015 Northern Spark art festival. The band’s new album, The Seeker, is scheduled for a Feb. 12 release.
Video Archive: Christopher Halverson – “Come Back Down” / “Walk on the Wild Side”
Christopher Halverson rolls out a medley of Toad the Wet Sprocket and Lou Reed at R.T. Quinlan’s Saloon during an open mic on Sept. 16, 1995.