Duluth Mystery Photo #13: Aunt Ella Jackman
The woman seated in this photo is identified on the back as “Aunt Ella Jackman.” So, of course, inquiring minds want to know: Who was this Ella Jackman and what about the woman standing over her?
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Video Archive: How many geeks can you fit into a Kia Rio?
The third iteration of Geek Prom was held in 2004 at the Great Lakes Aquarium. As a publicity stunt, the prom committee decided to find out how many geeks could be crammed into a Kia Rio. Answer: 21. The more important question, however, was: Would the sight of it make WDIO-TV Eyewitness News anchor Dennis Anderson lose his composure? Answer: Yes.
Neighborhood book burner strikes Little Free Library
“Well I never!” What a way to start the day. Here at Loaves & Fishes on Jefferson Street, someone decided to set our Little Free Book Library on fire this morning! An officer happened to be driving by and she noticed flames emanating from the library so she stopped, grabbed her fire extinguisher, and extinguished the flames. Who thinks it’s a good idea to burn free books? Seriously. (more…)
Public lecture season…
Universities in our region rarely schedule as many public lectures in the dead of winter the way they schedule them in the spring. Driving is safer for regional guests, while longer daylight means more community members will brave the parking hazards of campuses.
As a result, then, I’ve been to too many public lectures lately. (more…)
From the PDD Archive: Leave a Message at the Beep — Jan and Wes Edition
Ten years ago Starfire amassed a collection of tapes from answering machines that ended up in local thrift stores. This is post number two of two featuring the old audio clips. The previous post featured the messages of the Twice But Nice store. Today we resurrect the audio files from the answering machine of Jan and Wes.
Duluth Band Profile: Saint Anyway
Saint Anyway delivers driving stompgrass. Tony Petersen talks about how the band is in the process of changing its sound. Click on the image above to hear the interview.
Trampled by Turtles – Wild Animals – Drops July 15
Trampled by Turtles are releasing their new album, Wild Animals, on July 15. The album was produced by Duluth’s own Alan Sparhawk of Low and recorded at Pachyderm Studios in Cannon Falls. Check out the first single, “Are You Behind the Shining Star?,” below. TBT will be missed at Homegrown this year.
Help in identifying a Duluth location
I believe this is Garfield Avenue and Superior Street. A relative once had a grocery store directly to the left of Garfield in the photo. I’m pretty sure it is the store with the canopy or the one to the right (west) of that one. Charles Atol was the “original?” owner then later Jimmy Atol. Any information would be appreciated.
Abominable Snowman Costume
Does anyone know where I could get ahold of an abominable snowman costume? Any leads would be greatly appreciated.
Leave a Message at the Beep — Twice But Nice Edition
In 2004, Scott “Starfire” Lunt amassed a collection of tapes from answering machines that ended up in thrift stores.
“These are spectacular glimpses into people’s lives and I can’t believe they get so casually discarded,” Starfire wrote at the time.
Today we resurrect the audio files from the answering machine of the old Twice But Nice store.
The streak is over! A level III predatory offender has been released to a Duluth neighborhood that isn’t the West End
The Duluth Police Dept. announced on Tuesday a level III predatory offender has been released and is living on the 700 block of Boundary Avenue in Duluth’s Bayview Heights neighborhood, on the Duluth/Proctor border. It marks the end of a streak in which eight consecutive sex offenders released in Duluth chose to live in the West End neighborhood. This was over a span of exactly one year, going by the dates of DPD news releases — April 8, 2013 to April 8, 2014.
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R.I.P. Memorial Community Center
The community center building at Memorial Park in West Duluth is no more. The PDD Drone did a fly through on Sunday for posterity.
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Where not in Duluth?
In a twist on our usual game of “Where in Duluth?” we note this time the image was not shot in Duluth, yet the flag references Duluth’s Enger Park. Ready? Set? Describe the location where this photo was shot.
Duluth Band Profile: Maddy Siiter
Maddy Sitter adds a youthful approach to song writing. She explains how music has aided her in addressing issues that few young adults address. Click on the image above to hear her interview.
Duluth Denfeld Sing-along Drone Video
Footage by Liftoff Aerials.
The Halls of Denfeld (alma mater)
Oh, we love the halls of Denfeld
That surround us here today.
And we will not forget,
Though we be near or far away. (more…)
My Duluth: Short film about saying goodbye
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DnhhwBA4cys
If you enjoyed it, please help me out and vote for this short film at rodemic.com. The grand prize is a bunch of really great film equipment, which would help me make more short films in the area and another feature! Thank you for your time. I hope you enjoy it!
Usual pot hole complaint: What’s the deal?
Is there a schedule that I’m not aware of for pot hole filling? I feel like the weather has been warm enough lately for filling, but I have yet to see a single crew out. Are they waiting for all the snow to melt? Do they fear another snow storm and the plows it will bring? Have we decided to simply switch to gravel roads because they would be smoother?
My already fragile and poorly designed suspension is crying.
This week: Don Ness vs. Jim Carlson
Here’s a sampling of what you have to look forward to this week on the PDD Calendar.
The public schools are on “spring break” this week and there’s open ice skating, kickball, lacrosse and more at the Duluth Heritage Sports Center and movies (including Catching Fire and 47 Ronin) at the Public Library this week.
Eat Downtown Week, with its prix fixe lunch and dinner menus at participating restaurants, ends this Friday.
Hero/Villain/Savior/Scoundrel is an exhibition of portraits featuring Don Ness and Jim Carlson by various local artists. It opens at the Zeitgeist on Thursday.
Think of it as a catered yoga sing-along. There will be a Kirtan at Beaner’s Central on Friday.
“Inuksuit” is an environmental musical piece in which 66 musicians will be spread over the grounds of Glensheen Mansion and the audience wanders through the piece. This happens on Saturday.
Daniel Tobin performs “An Iliad: A One-Man Odyssey” at Mitchell Auditorium on Sunday.
So what are you doing this week? Can we tag along? Any upcoming events that you want to promote? Let us know.
Enger Tower inside and out
The PDD Drone takes an up-close and faraway look at a Duluth icon.
Duluth Mystery Photo #12: Holt Caterpillar
This week’s mystery photo is an illustration, really, but the small print indicates it’s a “drawing from photograph.” The text of this 1922 advertisement in the Saturday Evening Post refers to Duluth, which leads one to assume the illustration is based on a photo shot in Duluth. Is it? Does anyone recognize this location 92 years later?
Icebox Radio Theater: Acting Internships
The Icebox Radio Theater is searching for performers for a two-week tour of public libraries in Northern Minnesota from June 2 to 13. We are in need of talented individuals willing to learn about a new form of theater while performing for kids and adults in a series of small shows in public libraries from Grand Rapids to Grand Marais. Must have own transportation to general area of events and for long weekend of rehearsals in International Falls. Per-show stipend plus lodging and mileage paid.
2014 Duluth Homegrown Field Guide
Read the 2014 Duluth Homegrown Field Guide online as a flip-through magazine. Band profiles, full schedule and lots of choice Homegrown deets.
2014 Duluth Homegrown Field Guide
Homegrown Field Guide 2014 is out!
The Homegrown Music Festival Field Guide 2014 is lukewarm off the presses. Most of them are in stacks of boxes at the Chicken Shack, 207 E. Superior St., and will be distributed around town in the coming days. As of 2:30 p.m. Friday there was one box at the Electric Fetus, so you might be able to grab a copy there at this very moment.