Accent in Duluth
I’m aware the “Minnesota accent” varies as you move north through the state, but apparently it also varies west-to-east in Duluth. But don’t take my word for it. I’m a transplant, twice.
Arts fellowships and grants awarded to Duluth artists and regional organizations
The Arrowhead Regional Arts Council awarded the following grants and fellowships to the following applicants, many from Duluth. If you see these artists, congratulate them. (more…)
Northern Pike Swims By
A brief encounter with a Northern Pike in several feet of water. It looks injured as if by a propeller across its back.
St. Louis River photos from National Geographic
On April 7, National Geographic published a photo gallery featuring images of the St. Louis River. The intro to the piece notes the St. Louis is “the eighth most endangered river in the U.S.,” according to a ranking by the advocacy group American Rivers. (more…)
ARAC Call for Community Volunteers to Evaluate Grants
I volunteer with the Arrowhead Regional Arts Council, and I can say surely and with enthusiasm that some of the best people I have met in Duluth I have met through ARAC, including grants manager Ashley Kulka, executive director Bob DeArmond, local artists and arts organizers across the seven-county Arrowhead region. If you have a desire to support the arts, doing this work is immensely awesome.
The Arrowhead Regional Arts Council is recruiting community members to be a part of ARAC’s Rural and Community Art Project and Career Development grant review panels. Each program has two panel meetings a year that require members to read between 15 and 30 applications per meeting. If you are interested in serving on either of these panels, contact the office at 218-722-0952, 800-569-8134, or info @ aracouncil.org. This is a great way to learn more about our regional arts community; the council and its programs; and the grant review process.
Explore Duluth/Superior LocalWiki
Chris Handsone and Esther Derby have launched a LocalWiki for Duluth and Superior. Similar to Wikipedia in general, the LocalWiki effort is intended to “collect, share and open the world’s local knowledge” by allowing anyone to create and edit information about where they live — “their local government, the history of their neighborhoods, streets, social movements, noteworthy local figures, social services, schools — every facet of life in their community.” Check out the Explore Duluth/Superior LocalWiki at localwiki.org/duluth/_explore.
This Week: Movies in the Park, Rick Springfield, Trampled by Turtles and more
Here’s a bit of what you’ll find on this week’s PDD Calendar:
It’s a busy week of summertastic events large and small. Make a clay animal at Duluth Makerspace, watch the Huskies battle the MoonDogs, Lawrence Lee defends a favorite film of his at the Zinema, there’s comedic magic for kids at the Library, the South St. Louis County Fair kicks off in Proctor and downtown Duluth’s Sidewalk Days get underway.
At Teatro Zuccone, the New Works Festival brings the freshness, the heat can be beaten at the Heritage Center’s weekly open-skate, the still-envious-of-Jesse Rick Springfield hits Bayfront Park (as do Trampled by Turtles with several guests) and Emilio Estevez’ enduring classic The Mighty Ducks ushers in the Movies in the Park season.
Interesting Duluth Restroom Graffiti
Which public lavatories in the Duluth area have the most interesting graffiti?
Selective Focus: The Human Comedy
Jeremiah Brown, “Heiko”
Mirthful man that he was, Nietzsche wrote “it is man alone who laughs; he alone suffers so deeply that he had to invent laughter.” There’s a recognition there that being human is a difficult endeavor, and that taking ourselves too seriously is one of the ways we compound the difficulty. Thanks to all who braved letting down their stoic fronts this week. (more…)
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…)
