Video Archive: Christopher Halverson – “Yakety Yak”

Yet another clip captured by UWS Studio II at R.T. Quinlan’s Saloon during an open mic on Sept. 16, 1995.

MusicVideosChristopher HalversonR.T. Quinlan's SaloonVideo Archive

Lost cat in Chester Park area

Moses the CatMoses is a white cat with a grey patch on the top of his head. He is missing the tips of his ears.

He was last seen on Oct. 31 in the area of 20th Avenue East and Eighth Street, across from the Central Little League baseball fields. Moses is unfamiliar with this area and is likely hiding under a deck, shed, low-hanging hedge, wood pile or something similar.

If you find Moses, contact the owner at 763-458-3388 or email [email protected]. Do not attempt to catch him. He is shy and terrified of new people.

Reward: $500.

RandomLost and Found
Glensheen Lantern Tours 2026
Pizza Luce: Dililio

Selective Focus: Bliss

Tyler Johnson

Tyler Johnson, untitled

Bliss is seldom of an epiphanic nature; it often just slowly suffuses us, when after years or moments prior we’d barely thought it possible that matters could just placidly align. But a surfeit of joy can be just as intolerable as an abundance of grief. Neither can be sustained, and each will evanesce, then quietly, someday, return. (more…)

ArtPhotosSelective Focus

Jade Fountain closed; Gannucci’s expansion planned

Gannucci's Italian Market and Jade Fountain

Within six months of acquiring the Jade Fountain, Bill Kalligher locked the big red doors to the iconic Chinese restaurant. He reached the decision in September, fed up with a dirty kitchen he says he’s still trying to clean, alleged poor product quality from food suppliers and a box filled with bounced checks from customers. (more…)

News and Current AffairsR.I.P.RestaurantsGannucci's Italian MarketJade FountainWest Duluth
Downtown Duluth: Movies in the Park
Glensheen Lantern Tours 2026

Missing Person: Jonathan Beckman

Jonathan Kalep BeckmanUpdate: Jonathan Beckman and two other young males who ran from the Northwood Children’s Services West Campus last night were located and brought back to Northwoods by Duluth Police today.

News and Current AffairsMissing Persons

The Mystery of Chuck’s TV

CTV_PR

I have a mystery on my hands. About a year ago while driving over West Ninth Street, just before the intersection of North Eighth Avenue and East Orange Street, something caught my eye — what appeared to be an old car in the woods. After a couple passes, I could see that it was indeed an old car. Curious, once home I started some research. On the newly updated Google maps this past spring, I could see the car in question. Checking the DNR Historical Airphotos, I found that up to 1961 there are what appears to be two buildings, houses or perhaps a house and some other type of building on that very corner. Sometime between 1961 and 1972 they were torn down, as they no longer appear on the 1972 imagery.

(more…)

HistoryOutdoorsAbandoned CarsMysteries
Pier B Resort: Rise and Dine

The Fitz: 40 Years Later

Eyewitness News‘ Darren Danielson looks back at the fateful events of Nov. 10, 1975.

VideosSS Edmund Fitzgerald

Where in Duluth? #136

Where-oh-where

This might be the most difficult “Where in Duluth?” ever. Ask questions in the comments for clues. You’ll need them.

PhotosWhere in Duluth?
Ashwabay Alliance / Big Top Chautauqua
Weis Eye Center

Social Disaster: Dark Side of the Roller Rink

PDD Image

Ryan Nelson and Rachel Phoenix from the Social Disaster explain the magic behind the band’s debut Dark Side of the Roller Rink. The group kicks into high gear on Friday, Nov. 13, with a record release show at Rex Bar. Click on the image above to hear the podcast.

MusicAlbum ReleasesThe Social Disaster

This Week: the Edmund Fitzgerald at 40, Veterans Day, Orson Welles and more

Untitled design
Here’s a bit of what you’ll find on this week’s PDD Calendar:

Tuesday is the 40th anniversary of the loss of the Edmund Fitzgerald and there are several events to mark the occasion, a painter is remembered through a show of his work, the DSSO begins their Chamber Music Series, the last Union soldier to die (Albert Woolson, a Duluthian) is remembered, the crazy goofs in Putnam County are putting on their Spelling Bee and it’s time to Give to the Max.

Comedian Justin Caesar returns to Duluth to do some stand-up and show some films, Sage Francis lands at the Red Herring, the Social Disaster releases its first album with a Rex blowout, the latest contender for “best worst movie” opens at the Zinema, godlike genius Orson Welles is celebrated, skateboard decks are sold to raise money for skateboard parks and Gramma’s Boyfriend is in town.

Events
Downtown Duluth: Movies in the Park
Ashwabay Alliance / Big Top Chautauqua

Guide to Duluth-related Blogs in 2015

Bloggers

The craft of writing personal blogs probably hit its stride in Duluth around 2005 and started dying out around 2010. It’s been a long time since the days PDD carried a feed of local blogs, which became unnecessary once subscription news-aggregator applications became available. There is still a strong set of Duluth-area writers and photographers dedicated to kicking out text on a regular basis, however, and we profile them here so you can check them out and add them to your feeds as you wish. (more…)

RecommendationsGuides and Lists

Minnesota Deer Hunting Opener 2015

From the stand

No luck yet for me, hunting in Kelsey, but a couple fresh rubs nearby. Anyone else having luck?

You know the feeling. You just sat down on your bucket in your stand, it’s at little after 6 a.m. It’s still dark but you can see a sliver of light starting to climb in the southeastern horizon. Your heart is beating from your walk in and you feel so warm your thinking there is no way it is 28 degrees.
(more…)

OutdoorsHunting
Weis Eye Center

Glen’s Neighbor – “Help Me”

New video from Duluth band Glen’s Neighbor for the second single from the album Behind the Door. The video was directed by Shane Nelson and shot during the recording process at Winterland Studios in New Hope.

MusicVideosGlen's Neighbor

The big, fat EIS

NorthMet Mining Project and Land Exchange Final EIS 2015The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and U.S. Forest Service have released the final environmental analysis of Minnesota’s first proposed copper-nickel mine. It’s 3,576 pages long. Click here for an overview on the DNR website and to find links to download the full 263 MB of wholesome review process. A 30-day public review period begins Nov. 13 and ends Dec. 14. Update: Deadline for submitting comments has been extended to Dec. 21.

PolyMet proposes to develop an open-pit mine and processing facilities for the extraction of copper, nickel and platinum elements, with an estimated 20-year lifespan for mine operations. The proposed mine would be located in the St. Louis River watershed on the eastern edge of the Mesabi Iron Range, about 6 miles south of Babbitt and about 1 mile south of the existing iron-ore Northshore Mine. Processing of the ore would take place at a former industrial site, the LTV steel plant in Hoyt Lakes. (more…)

News and Current AffairsMining
Glensheen Lantern Tours 2026

Selective Focus: November

Hugh Reitan

Hugh Reitan, untitled

Limbs (of trees) stripped near to bare, firewood cribbed, quilts at hand, larders stocked. This is the month that Maslow’s hierarchy seems tangibly real, unless you’re an artist and thus inclined to invert the pyramid. Many diverse takes this week, despite my dread that a theme so prospectively barren would go unchallenged. Credit a strain of Scandanavian fatalism? Anyhow, thanks. (more…)

ArtPhotosSelective Focus

Anchor Bar & Grill on Diners, Drive-ins and Dives

The Food Network’s Diners, Drive-ins and Dives featured five Duluth-area restaurants in segments shot during the spring and summer of 2010. The clip from the Anchor Bar & Grill in Superior was shot on July 1, 2010 and aired on Jan. 31, 2011. It should be noted that Guy Fieri did not actually make an appearance at the Anchor; this segment was for a “Viewer’s Choice” episode. The segment can be viewed at foodnetwork.com.

RestaurantsVideosAnchor BarDiners Drive-ins and Dives
Pier B Resort: Rise and Dine
Downtown Duluth: Movies in the Park

PDD Video Lab: Experimental Animation – Film to 3-D

In this silent video Adam Dargan, an animator from Duluth who now lives in Minneapolis, takes the physical exploration of film and re-imagines it in a 3-D environment.

If the silence is too much to take, we’ve selected some possible soundtracks for you. Start the video above, then press play on a soundtrack below.

ArtVideosAdam DarganVideo Lab

Pak’s Green Corner on Diners, Drive-ins and Dives

Guy Fieri buzzed through Duluth and Superior in July 2014 to shoot four segments for Diners, Drive-ins and Dives. In this clip he visits Pak’s Green Corner in West Duluth. Pak’s closed shortly after the segment aired. The building was sold and demolished to make way for a new Superior Choice Credit Union location. (A 15-second commercial precedes the segment.)

RestaurantsVideosDiners Drive-ins and DivesPak's Green Corner
Glensheen Lantern Tours 2026

Duluth’s first escape room opening for trial run

Duluth Escape Room Group Adventure Game

Solve EntertainmentThree Duluthians have formed a business partnership to open a downtown storefront during the holiday season for a physical adventure game in which participants use elements of the room to solve a series of puzzles, find clues and escape.

Silent Night: A Live-Action Adventure will open Nov. 28 in the Stanley Center, 408 W. Superior St. It’s the work of a new immersive event company, Solve Entertainment, aka SolveEnt. The partnership is comprised of Andy Bennett, Richard Hansen and Matthew Wagner. (more…)

EventsEscape RoomsGreater Downtown Council

Cirrus parachute deployed in Arkansas

Note: CBS News has removed its video of this report, therefore PDD has removed the embed. There is a different, non-embeddable video at cbsnews.com.

Former Walmart CEO Bill Simon was piloting a Duluth-manufactured Cirrus SR22T heading from Bentonville, Ark., to Waco, Texas, when he ran into engine trouble shortly after takeoff. As CBS News reports in the clip above, the airplane began to lose altitude and Simon made a split-second decision to deploy the safety parachute. He glided to the ground and landed on a stretch of road, the entire aircraft still visibly intact.

News and Current AffairsVideosCirrus Aircraft
Downtown Duluth: Movies in the Park
Fond-du-Luth Casino: Friday

Duluth 2015 General Election Results

Duluth Election 2015 Emily Larson Chuck Horton

Emily Larson cruises to victory in the mayoral race. Elissa Hansen, Noah Hobbs, Gary Anderson and Em Westerlund are new city councilors. Alanna Oswald, David Kirby and Nora Sandstad join the school board.

With all 34 precincts reporting …

Duluth Mayor
Emily Larson – 15,352 | 72%
Chuck Horton – 5,862 | 27%
Write in – 125 | 1% (more…)

News and Current AffairsPoliticsElection Information

Kounty Quarthouse on Diners, Drive-ins and Dives

Guy Fieri buzzed through Duluth and Superior in July 2014 to shoot four segments for Diners, Drive-ins and Dives. In this clip he visits the Kounty Quarthouse, a “five-star dive bar” in South Range. (A 30-second commercial precedes the segment.)

RestaurantsVideosDiners Drive-ins and DivesKounty Quarthouse
Pier B Resort: Rise and Dine

The Hobo Nephews of Uncle Frank – “Down the Line”

Video directed by Joshua Priestley, shot at Bayfront Festival Park on July 11.

MusicVideosHobo Nephews of Uncle Frank

Video Archive: Gary Doty wins second term

For your Election Day amusement we take a trip to 1995.

Twenty years ago, Gary Doty defeated challenger Herb Bergson to earn his second term as Duluth mayor. Doty served a total of three terms, holding office from 1992 to 2004. He did not seek a fourth term. Bergson became mayor in 2004, defeating Charlie Bell.

HistoryPoliticsVideosGary DotyHerb BergsonVideo Archive
Vision Pro: Clear Vision

Where in Duluth?

old-chimney-where-in-duluth

Another easy one.

OutdoorsWhere in Duluth?