Free Bulletin Boards in Duluth???
I’m looking for some places in Duluth where I can post some Community Action Duluth posters promoting our free MNsure and SNAP assistance program where they can be seen by wide audiences. If you know of a good place where our poster won’t be immediately ripped down or apart, I’d love to hear of it. Thank you!
Selective Focus: Tranquil

Aaron Reichow, untitled
Oft sought, seldom found, more often induced. Still, when genuine… It might not be apparent, but our lead image this week by Aaron Reichow was shot at the circus. Amazing that amidst all of the tumult that this child managed to tune all else out. There’s something axiomatically spiritual in that, I think. (more…)
Was your great-aunt a milliner? Or grandmother? Or second cousin?
I’m working on an art and history project that tells the story of women milliners from our state’s past. Millinery was one of the only professions open to middle-class women for a very long time. I’m looking for your relative who made hats. Or rather, I’m looking for stories about your relative who made hats. Anytime from the 1890s until the 1950s. Please contact me if you’ve got a relative who was a milliner!
“… the second time as farce.”
Contra Karl Marx, history repeats itself, but both times as farce.
Apparently Duluth, Georgia is missing a giant plastic chicken. So the city named in homage to Proctor Knott’s big joke is stealing a page from Two Harbors.
Best Twin Ports Newstand?
Does anyone have a thought as to where I could find a wide variety of news-type magazines/newspapers for sale in town? Am I stuck having to hit Barnes & Noble on the dreaded Miller Hill or are there other options? Used magazines would be even better, as this is for a project I’m working on. The printed material will be effectively chopped apart as part of the process. Oh, Carlson’s … where are you when I need you???
Beware the gadfly’s sting
In your face, petty tyrants! The First Amendment rules!
Duluth News Tribune: Duluth School Board may opt against removing Johnston
Duluth Reader: Stop swatting the gadflies
Old Klearflax warehouse is a-comin’ down
As previously reported on PDD, Walker Display has moved its operations out of West Duluth, and its former location on Grand Avenue is being demolished to make way for a Kwik Trip convenience store. The demolition process has revealed the former exterior of the building’s west side — a reminder that it once served as a warehouse for Klearflax Linen Rugs Co. (more…)
Duluth Superior Film Festival seeks volunteers
It is time again for the Duluth Superior Film Festival’s call for volunteers. This is an international film festival, and June 3-7 will be the sixth year of bringing independent film, musical events, performances, parties and art to the Duluth area. To keep the fun running smoothly, we depend on the help of volunteers.
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Monster Mob – Human Centipede
Duluth punk band Monster Mob has announced it will accept donations for Safe Haven Shelter at all of its shows in 2015. Upcoming gigs are May 22 at Sclavi’s Italian Restaurant and May 30 at the Red Star Lounge.
The band released its debut EP in March.
Video Archive: Duckumentary
In this PDD classic from 2005, Duluthians visit Indianapolis to experience the wonders of duckpin bowling.
Peter Juhl rocks!
Minneapolis TV station KARE 11 last night aired a feature from the north shore of Lake Superior, where Peter Juhl balances rocks in ways that defy gravity. (Click the “read more” button to view the video; it starts playing automatically, so we can’t have it on the home page.)
Post some of your favorite rock balancing photos in the comments.
This Week: pickin’, politics, paintings and more

Here’s a bit of what you’ll find on this week’s PDD Calendar:
Guitar wizard Jimi Cooper hits the Brewhouse, the Chamber Campaign Camp aims to help potential political candidates find their footing, writers meet at Amazing Grace, Duluth’s Life House holds its second Night to Shine event, a new Cheng-Khee Chee show opens at the Tweed with a reception and Grammy-winner Pat Donahue lands at Sacred Heart.
The owner of the Duluth Huskies baseball team discusses the team’s history, the Duluth Art Institute celebrates three solo exhibitions, the latest Wise Fool Shakespeare production opens, the Duluth Playhouse holds its casino night fundraiser and Portrait of a Drowned Man releases its vinyl soundtrack to Mike Scholtz’ Wicker Kittens.
Dude, don’t do it! You’ve got something to live for!
Don’t worry, after contemplating his life at great length he eventually wandered off the railroad track.
Lovit Soft Drinks from Fitger’s
I read that Fitger’s made soft drinks during prohibition, but this wooden case I found doesn’t look all that old. Does anyone know when they stopped making soda?
Homegrown 2015 Slideshow Retrospective
View the full set of 124 images from Homegrown 2015 on Flickr. (more…)
Selective Focus: Homegrown

Starfire, untitled
I was warned what a wrecking ball of mirth this Homegrown fest can be, so I should count myself fortunate to have emerged merely psychologically disfigured. Hope you’ve all managed to retain some vestige of the life that pre-existed this marathon, and god willing we’ll see y’all next year. (more…)
Natural Discoveries: A Portrait of Travis Melin
Nature photographer Travis Melin died on Wednesday, May 6, after failing to recover from an April 21 heart attack. He was a 1991 graduate of Hermantown High School, a former resident of Washington Studios Artist Cooperative and lived his final years in Ely. The documentary above was produced by Mike Jandl in 2013.
A tremendous spirit and body of work lives on …
Northern Waters Smokehaus will open Woodland Avenue location
Northern Waters Smokehaus announced today a second location will open in the Mount Royal Shopping Center in Duluth’s Chester Park – UMD neighborhood, near the UMD campus. The space at 1608 Woodland Ave. was previously occupied by Bixby’s Café, which operated there from 1997 to the end of 2014.
Founded in 1998, Northern Waters specializes in smoked fish. Its tiny shop in the DeWitt-Seitz Marketplace has won numerous awards over the years, including PDD’s Perfect Lunch Restaurant. The new location at Mount Royal is expected to open in the fall.
Apparently the mayor was too focused on sharks
Last we heard, someone was dressed in a bear suit in front of City Hall, trying to coax this poor critter down from the tree.
Starling of Athens – “The Lord is Not My Real Dad”
This video by Brian Barber was part of the 2015 Homegrown Music Video Festival. Click that fancy link to view more videos from this year’s festival.
Options for Duluth Zoo?
Various recommendations have been made for the revamping of the Lake Superior Zoo. This was reported on in today’s DNT, but I was unable to include the link here. I am curious to hear about the opinions of the PDD community.
Duluth Concrete Contractor Recommendations
I need someone to bust up and remove some sidewalk and then pour a new sidewalk/patio. This isn’t a massive project, but I don’t have the stomach for a DIY. Who can I call to trust to do good, fast work here in our fair city?
























