This week: Why do we live here?
Here’s a sampling of what you have to look forward to this week on the PDD Calendar.
I’ve heard a lot of people asking this past week, “Why, again, do we live here?” Today you can hear Joanne Sher give an historical explanation as to why people immigrated to this area at the library presented by the Twin Ports Genealogical Society.
You can, then, figure out how to get people here at the Explore Minnesota Tourism Conference on Tuesday and Wednesday at the DECC.
Feel like winter never ends? I recently read speculation that in Groundhog’s Day Bill Murray relives the same day 12,395 times (almost 34 years). See if you agree with that count at Zinema 2 on Wednesday for their monthly date night.
The Odd Couple opens on Thursday at the Duluth Playhouse with the actors playing Felix and Oscar switching roles every night, which means I’m going to have to go and see it twice because, frankly, Jason Scorich and Jody Kujawa are amazing actors.
Sara Thomsen releases her 5th solo album, Somewhere to Begin, at Sacred Heart on Saturday.
So what are you doing this week? Can we tag along? Any upcoming events that you want to promote? Let us know.
DSSO’s Bright Approach: First Minnesota orchestra to use interest-based bargaining process
As a kid, I took it for granted that my tiny hometown high school had an orchestra program and lots of community support. So it is not hard to agree with Duluth Mayor Don Ness when he says that “the Duluth Superior Symphony Orchestra continues to brighten the arts landscape of the Twin Ports.” A healthy community orchestra is a great thing!
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R.I.P. Philip Seymour Hoffman
He was, by far, our best actor working. I am so saddened by the loss.
Duluth Mystery Photo #3: 1938 Neighborhood Hockey Game
It happened in Duluth in 1938. That’s all we know. What rink? Who are these kids?
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Guy Lombardo in Duluth
Did Guy Lombardo and His Royal Canadians ever perform in Duluth … and if so when?
Presenters wanted for Browncoat Mondays
I’m lining up short (10 minute) presentations on Joss Whedon’s Firefly for Browncoat Mondays at the Zinema 2 starting at the end of this month. These presentations can be on any topic related to the series or the movie.
Trampled by Turtles’ song deserves Oscar
There I was, sitting in a cavernous multiplex theater at Duluth 10. The movie, The Way Way Back, is one that I had actually chosen by accident. Or chosen erroneously, I mean. The Mrs. and I were on an impromptu date night and picked The Way Way Back thinking that it was actually another movie I had heard about.
A good 30 minutes in I realized both my error, and that the film was not what I had hoped for, a fluffy summertime coming-of-age story, and that it was instead a sort of dark, introspective coming-of-age story that just happened to be placed in a summer setting. At points during the movie I could actually viscerally feel my own awkward teenage summer loneliness flaring up in some deep, dark buried place in my gut. So the film makers nailed that part.
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Thinking about warm weather or summer yet? How about tennis?
It may be winter, but the tennis season is just around the corner. If you live in, or near the Lakeside neighborhood and enjoy playing tennis, then you know how difficult it is to find a place to play nearby. Many do not know of the plans that were in the works to meet this need. The Washington Square Master Plan was passed just over a year ago by the Duluth City Council for the Lakeside park. The plan includes 4-6 holes of disc golf and, you guessed it, tennis courts!
Here is the official text from the Duluth City Council:
“Resolved, that the city council hereby approves the Washington Square Mini-Master Plan and authorizes implementation of the plan as funding becomes available.”
The only things stopping the court(s) from being built are funding and neighborhood support. If you like the idea of having a neighborhood tennis court and disc golf course, then please spread the word! You can view the complete set of documents for Washington Square by clicking here. For more information, or if you would like to help, email [email protected].
Duluth knows how to do snow removal, but where does it all go?
I was very impressed to happen upon this epic snow removal operation on Second Street on Thursday at about 11 a.m.
You might be able to see in the photo that this clean-up convoy of sorts includes numerous heavy construction vehicles stretching from where this was taken at about Second Avenue East, all the way back to Fourth Avenue West.
Minnesota Wine Exchange closing?
Did Minnesota Wine Exchange go out of business? Or is it just changing locations? I bought a half-price gift certificate and went to use it, but it looked like they were packing up.
I really need to stop buying these gift certificates. I think it’s a curse to the business. I bought three for Thai Krathong and never got to use them. Sad to see these unique businesses go.
Paul Robeson in Duluth
What is Paul Robeson’s connection to Duluth? For some reason I’ve never wondered about this before. Today someone asked me.
Paul Robeson was a singer, actor and football player who was involved in the Civil Rights Movement. You can read about him on Wikipedia and numerous other places on the Internet.
The Paul Robeson Ballroom is part of the Kozy Apartments complex, which has been shuttered since 2010 due to three arson fires. (Photo above by Daniel Kerkhoff.)
There is a one-man show, The Tallest Tree in the Forest, running at Arena Stage in Washington D.C. through Feb. 16, that mentions Robeson was in Duluth in 1947. (The show is probably based, at least in part, on the 1977 documentary film The Tallest Tree in Our Forest.)
That’s all we’ve got. Help fill in the blanks.
Five Perfect Duluth Years on WordPress
A minor anniversary for Perfect Duluth Day: Five years ago today we stayed up late on a Friday night and switched to the WordPress publishing platform. From September 2005 to January 2009 PDD used Moveable Type and looked like this:
PDD Shovel Cam
While Cory has been traveling to exotic locations and honing his skills with the PDD Drone, I’ve been perfecting the PDD Shovel Cam.
From Gaylord to Mookie: The Best Names in the 1982 Topps Baseball Card Set
How this could possibly be relevant to the Perfect Duluth Day website will be explained at the end, but up top we present the 30 best names of the 1981 Major League Baseball season, as preserved for history in 1982 Topps cards.
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NorShor: Duluth’s big bet on Old Downtown
“Ghosts and spirits make the place. So when you sit down and play a place like the NorShor, not only do you have a group of people sitting around you, but you have another community of history sitting around you, too.” — Charlie Parr
Minneapolis Star Tribune: “Stage set for restoration of NorShor Theatre in Duluth“
Save the robots! Volunteers needed.
On March 6-8 there are two major regional For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology robotics events scheduled at the Duluth Entertainment Convention Center. High School teams from all over Minnesota and beyond will participate in these events.
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Call for Photo Submissions: 4x V3.0
The Duluth Photography Institute’s 4x exhibit is back (pronounced “Four-by” as in 4×6, 4×8, etc.) We are hoping to get over 200 submissions this year!
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Chester Bowl on MPR’s “Minnesota Sounds and Voices”
Dan Olsen from MPR did a story on Chester Bowl that aired today. Fantastic photos by Derek Montgomery too.
2014 John Beargrease Aerial Drone Video
The PDD Drone was back in the skies yesterday capturing the start of the 30th annual John Beargrease Sled Dog Marathon. The weather was great and the winds held off just long enough to get in some air time above the race starting line at Duluth East High School.
Music courtesy of the4onthefloor (www.4otf.com)
This week: Liars, Cloud Cult and a fest of awesomeness
Here’s a sampling of what you have to look forward to this week on the PDD Calendar.
Doomtree: Team the Best Team, a music documentary about the Minneapolis hip hop group, plays at Zinema 2 on Tuesday.
The Underground continues its Song Interrupted series with Rich Mattson singing and talking about what he’s singing and why on Wednesday.
Chester Chat is a series of TED talk-like presentations at Glensheen. This Thursday the focus is on regional arts with presentations by Sarah Brokke, Anne Dugan and Jennifer Webb.
Cloud Cult returns to Duluth to play Clyde Iron on Friday.
The Liar, a play by Pierre Corneille and translated by David Ives opens, opens at St. Scholastica on Friday and runs two weekends.
Awesome Fest, a fest of awesomeness, runs Friday through Sunday at Mont du Lac with outdoor winter sports, indoor winter drinking, music, a costume contest and more.
The DECC will be a great place for people watching on Saturday as the refined DSSO crowd going to their concert of Bach, Barber and Brahms at Symphony Hall meets up with the Justin Moore fans going to Amsoil Arena. Post pics.
So what are you doing this week? Can we tag along? Any upcoming events that you want to promote? Let us know.
Lake Superior: Ice in Motion
Video by Dawn M. LaPointe, shot at Brighton Beach in Duluth.
Bobcats and Trapping and a Happy Ending
Five weeks ago, a couple in northern Minnesota noticed that a bobcat on their property seemed to have part of a snare around his neck. They wanted to help, but weren’t sure what to do.
Duluth Mystery Photo #2: Family Outing
This photo is for sale on eBay under the headline “Vintage 1905 Cabinet Photo Duluth Minnesota Family Outing Woods Photograph 1052.” So what family is this? Where are they?
Wicked Divas
So I walked, as apparently hundreds do, across the skywalk over I35 from Downtown Duluth to see the DSSO tonight. The “Wicked Divas” program featured Julie Reiber and Laura Woyasz, two vocalists who have performed in “Wicked” on Broadway, along with selections from Carmen and from Gloria Estefan, for example, by the Orchestra sans vocalists.
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