WDSE-TV Documentary: Lost 50s
This WDSE-TV documentary showcases the era when drive-ins were all the rage, when the Arrowhead region met a major mining challenge and the region played a strategic role in the Cold War. Local milestones included the passing of the last Civil War veteran Albert Woolson and the opening of the St. Lawrence Seaway. (more…)
Sclavi’s is on the ropes again
Sclavi’s Italian Restaurant in Superior is threatening to close for what would be the third time.
“We are in need of your patronage, immediately,” the restaurant’s Facebook page noted yesterday. “We are close to closing our doors permanently. This is rock bottom.” (more…)
Class Trip to Duluth and Superior
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0jKGA-o11x8
Adam Vossen put together this video of his class trip last month. All the footage in the montage was shot with an iPhone 6.
Jefferson People’s House closing July 12
Jefferson People’s House will close July 12, according to an announcement on the Facebook page of the worker-owned cafe, bookstore and social-justice community spot that specialized in coffee and toast.
It’s the fourth piece of coffee-shop related news in recent weeks. Jitter’s has changed ownership and become Lake Superior Bakehouse, Vietnamese Lotus Inn has reopened as VN Coffee House and Cookie Temptations has opened a coffee shop in the Fitger’s Brewery Complex.
Jefferson People’s House is located in a storefront just below Anytime Fitness on the corner of 15th Avenue East and Jefferson Street in Duluth’s Endion neighborhood.
Below is the Facebook message to customers:
Dear Cherished Community,
June 1st, 2014, we started a venture that has involved love, affection, fierce dedication, and cooperative exuberance. Jefferson People’s House has seen a year of delicious toasts and community growth. We rode this train until the tracks ran out. Our team has simultaneously discovered new opportunities and have decided as a collective to dissolve Jefferson People’s House to put our energies into new, exciting projects. We have loved our time together, and it is bittersweet that we leave this adventure. Our official closing date is July 12. In the meantime, we will be open regular hours (barring July 3-5.) Keep an eye out for our closing weekend events, July 10th and 11th. Our Flowers and Coffee CSA will continue as planned through October.
Much love and solidarity, Jefferson People’s House
Baseball at Karpeles Manuscript Library Museum
On display at Karpeles Manuscript Library Museum in Duluth through Aug. 31 is a stunning array of baseball history. At left: A 1866 baseball card featuring “The Old Man,” Dave Birdsall — considered to be the very first baseball card. At right: Babe Ruth’s 1922 contract with the New York Yankees. (more…)
A tale of three organic farms defying the odds, and one on the way
I am enjoying a short stint as an author-in-residence at the Food Farm. What fascinates me most about my stay here is that there are several young couples in their 30s choosing organic farming as a legitimate career and lifestyle, though they endure long odds and poverty wages. Learn more about a cross-section of this remarkable community that provides the Duluth area with great food here. Today I was amazed during a short visit at Northern Harvest Farm, and also at Stone’s Throw Farm just across the street. The perseverance of these people is unbelievable. There are lessons here for all of us in choosing our lifestyle rather than letting one choose us.
New coffee shop in Fitger’s complex
Cookie Temptations & Coffee House has done a soft open in the Fitger’s Complex. The sign indicates it will open on July 1, but customers were being served on Monday. The small coffee shop has no seating and is, more or less, situated in the hallway of the ground floor of the Fitger’s Brewery Complex. (more…)
Mountain Biking in Duluth When it’s Wet
Cyclists of the Gitchee Gumee Shores do a great job of keeping trail status up to date after a rainfall. I always abide by their recommendation to stay off trails when wet. Are there any trails that are rideable when wet or damp? Maybe some snowmobile trails or something similar?
Lost cat in Miller Hill area
Cat lost early on the morning of June 28 in Duluth at Miller Creek Townhomes on Miller Creek Drive. Name: Snickers, female, spayed, 6 years old, large, fully clawed, no microchip or collar. Short hair, tortoiseshell. Escaped through caretaker’s screen door during pet sitting, so Snickers is unfamiliar with area. Mostly indoor cat, friendly.
This Week: it’s PDD’s birthday and America’s, too
Here’s a bit of what you’ll find on this week’s PDD Calendar:
Like birthday parties? Come to ours. Perfect Duluth Day turns 12, today. Free donuts, y’all!
Other stuff going on that may or may not include totally awesome free donuts: there’s a new Nerd Nite going down at Teatro Zuccone, the Tom Cruise classic Top Gun gets riffed in the Zinema by Renegade at the Movies, Southwire’s playing Glensheen, Tim and Eric company player David Liebe Hart brings his spacey puppetry and music to the Red Herring, there are Magic: the Gathering tourneys all over town, Hairball coughs up another performance, a 20-person Japanese delegation arrives to celebrate 25 years of sister-cityhood and the 4th of July is already here, which means Bayfront’s annual Fourth Fest is, too.
Happy dozenth birthday to us
Perfect Duluth Day is twelve years old today – Monday, June 29, 2015. The official celebration is at the Red Herring Lounge tonight at 8 p.m. Because it’s our dozenth birthday, there will be complimentary doughnuts from A Dozen Excuses Donuts. Serving as video DJ will be Lake Superior Aquaman. And there will be prizes and merriment as usual.
PDDXII Facebook invite (consider yourself invited)
Thanks to all of you for helping to keep Perfect Duluth Day perfect!
Vietnamese Lotus Inn is back … as VN Coffeehouse
On Feb. 2, 2013, the Vietnamese Lotus Inn planned to close its doors for good. A little over two years later, owners Steve and Cuc Allen have reopened with a new name, VN Coffeehouse. (more…)
Lollygagger Pale Ale: Bent Paddle and Loll Designs collaborate on new beer to support local bikers
Loll Designs and Bent Paddle Brewing Company are teaming up to release Lollygagger Pale Ale in the coming weeks. It states on the can that 5 percent of sales will be donated to Cyclists of the Gitchee Gumee Shores, a group with the mission to improve cycling opportunities in the Twin Ports. The contribution will be split between Loll and Bent Paddle. The new can design was a collaboration between Bent Paddle owners and Loll graphic designers. Cheers to drinking beer for a great cause. The beer should hit liquor stores by mid July.
Selective Focus: Open Theme
Eric Dubnicka, “Slop Bucket”
Glad that I called a random theme because it let me catch up with recent doings I’ve missed. Emily finished a marathon, Ed had a great opening (and buffet), Zach made it to Grand Marais, Aaron’s son finished 1st grade, and Richard snuck in a ‘lifty.’ Follow the links for more happenings, like the progress of Annie’s root cellar, or Brian’s contributuions to “Made Here” in the cities (which could flourish in the Twin Ports too). (more…)
Iron Pour Scratch Tiles at Park Point Art Fair
On Saturday Common Language will be firing up the artisanal foundry at the 45th annual Park Point Art Fair. Watch the little furnace spit out 100 pounds of iron every 12 minutes or so, and make an iron tile to take home. Instruction and tools will be provided. 10 a.m. until they last. $20.
Mystery Photos #22 – #32: UMD
The University of Minnesota Duluth’s Alumni Association sent out an email featuring eleven old photos. The organization is collecting UMD memories for the upcoming Bridge magazine and is requesting help identifying memories and people from these heritage photographs. (more…)
Low song “No Comprende” from upcoming album Ones and Sixes
Ones and Sixes, the new album by Duluth band Low, is scheduled for worldwide release on Sept. 11.
Stereogum previews the album:
A Low Profile: Alan Sparhawk & Mimi Parker on their new album Ones And Sixes (more…)
Razors Tapes – Duluth Edition
Shane McClay and Jeph Howard of Razor Skate perform roller-blading stunts across Duluth, soaking up a bit of culture along the way.
Catering Recommendation in the Twin Cities
Daily I am reminded of the charmed life I once lived in Duluth. The most recent pain comes in needing to identify a few restaurants or catering companies I could collaborate with on a fundraising event my employer is sponsoring in September.
Back in Duluth, this would have been a wonderful experience as I would simply visit with some friends or mutual acquaintances to find the right partner. Not so with this endeavor. So with that, I am reaching out to the “best of the best” here on PDD: if any of you have a CATERING recommendation for me [ST PAUL, MSP] and could provide a soft introduction, that would be very helpful. I’m not holding out for free food, I’m just interested in creating a partnership and want to engage an honest, service-minded owner. Feel free to email me directly: bbertsch at crchealth dot com.
Photos of Last Night’s Northern Lights in Duluth
By Brian Barber
It’s fairly rare that the aurora borealis is this visible in Duluth. Solar eruptions triggered a severe geomagnetic storm over the weekend, causing brilliant colors last night that kept photographers and sky gazers up into the morning. Gathered here are a few images from the PDD Facebook page and other social media. (more…)
Nerd Culture: Games at Rogue Robot, Comics at the DAI, Nerd Nite at the Zuccone
Exhausted. Weeks of nerdery behind and ahead.
Last Thursday, I went out to dinner with authors who grew up on the range — Roy C. Booth and Cynthia Booth. Roy will be at CONvergence in a few weeks celebrating his new book, Orphans.
Sunday, I went out to dinner with Tim, a central fixture in Minnesota comics life, at the Buffet at the Bear. OMG, I love that buffet — and on Sunday, Lutefisk.
Monday night was game night — we met first for dinner at 7 West Taphouse. It’s a diverse, fun crowd, including one of the back stage masterminds from Game Show at the Underground and the owner of 8 Bit Classic Collection. See this play. Shop this shop. (more…)
Goodbye Jitters, hello Bakehouse
Jitters Lake Superior Coffee & Tea House is no more. New sister-brother owners Katina and Pauly Petsoulis took over in February and launched a name change last weekend. The new Lake Superior Bakehouse at 102 W. Superior St. promises “small-batch baked goods all from scratch and small-batch house-roasted coffees.”
Although the look of the space is changing and the variety of baked goods and other foods expanding, Katina notes one thing will stay the same.
“A lot of Jitters regulars were loyal to the coffee,” she said. “We have the same roaster, Jesse Bamford.” (more…)