Nominations close Feb. 1 for Northeastern Minnesota Book Awards
Celebrating books about northeastern Minnesota published in 2013. Send one book plus $25 nomination fee to UMD Kathryn A. Martin Library. Winners will be announced May 22.
Mayor Ness named Person of the Year by Twin Cities Business magazine
Twin Cities Business magazine has named Duluth Mayor Don Ness the 2013 Person of the Year. Editor-in-Chief Dale Kurschner wrote in a statement that Ness “stood out for outstanding leadership that has strengthened our state’s economy, business opportunities and culture.”
2013 Person Of The Year: Duluth Mayor Don Ness
This is the first year Twin Cities Business has designated a Person of the Year.
Someone wrote a headline like this once and it was shared on Facebook. Then something amazing happened …
Do you miss the days on Facebook when all the clickbait headlines your friends shared were numbered lists?
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Perfect Album of 2013: Ryan Van Slooten’s Victory March
With at least 50 albums released by Duluth-area musicians in 2013 — including Low, Retribution Gospel Choir, Trampled by Turtles and Charlie Parr — Ryan Van Slooten’s third solo work had to be considered a long shot in a poll to choose the best local album of the year.
Well, Van Slooten can begin his Victory March; the upset is complete.
Rock your ice beards in Ibanuary: Six wicked ice beards
Move over Movember and make way for the Ibanuary (Ice Beard January). January is definitely ice beard season and this year is certainly no exception. With the full-on Polar Vortex there is no better time to show off your ice beard awesomeness. Above are six wicked ice beards … well five, and one pretty weak ice beard of mine.
Post your best ice beards in the comments!
Couple of “streaming” videos from the cold
This second video is much less lovely and mildly NSFW.
Poll: Best Album of 2013 (Final Ballot)
According to previous PDD polls, the top three Duluth-related albums of 2013 are: Christoph Bruhn’s Weekends on the Frontier, Southwire’s self-titled debut and Ryan Van Slooten’s Victory March. The voting so far has been close, so we’ve set up this final showdown. Follow the text links above to listen to the albums on Bandcamp, then make your choice below.
[poll id=”62″]
This poll is now closed. The results were:
Ryan Van Slooten’s Victory March – 45 percent
Southwire’s self-titled debut – 31.9 percent
Christoph Bruhn’s Weekends on the Frontier – 23.1 percent
Networks of art, history, laughter
The weekend was full of immersion in networks of art, history and laughter.
On Friday, I went to the MacRostie Art Center in Grand Rapids for the “Bridge” exhibit.
The exhibit is remarkable, and negotiations are under way to bring it to Duluth. From the text, the exhibit is “the result of two years spent documenting the stories of people affected by 2007′s I-35 bridge collapse by photographer Vance Gellert. (more…)
This week: a singer talks about singing, a painter talks about painting and two politicians talk
Here’s a sampling of what you have to look forward to this week on the PDD Calendar.
It’s kinda cold out today. Cold enough that some events are being cancelled, so double check your event to make sure it’s happening. Also, if you were planning on going to school today, Gov. Dayton has given you the day off. Because, you know, it’s cold.
Don’t know who to vote for in the upcoming special election for county commissioner? Jim Stauber and Patrick Boyle will be having a forum at Valentini’s on Tuesday sponsored by the Chamber of Commerce.
Scott Murphy, best known as the artist who created the outdoor library mural, will be doing an artist talk at the Duluth Art Institute in the Depot on Thursday.
The Underground continues its Song Interrupted series (highlighting musical artists and the stories behind their songs) with Mark Lindquist on Friday.
Getting married and have at least one bride involved in said wedding? The Duluth Bridal Show hits the DECC this Saturday. They also have a “man cave” where men can drink and watch sports because, apparently, that’s what men do.
So what are you doing this week? Can we tag along? Any upcoming events that you want to promote? Let us know.
Matilda says: “Duluth is to Ticket to Ride what Madagascar is to Pandemic.”
I’m assuming this has something to do with the tabletop games, but I’ve never played either. Just another addition to the random Duluth mention files…
Hey, it’s -13 degrees! Let’s head to Stoney Point! Surf’s up!
Hey, the water is a balmy 38 degrees, so you’d be stupid not to do this, really.
Video shot Dec. 29 by Erik Wilkie. Music by Evanescence.
“Last Summer at Bluefish Cove” takes its encore before regional festival
UMD Theater’s production of Last Summer at Bluefish Cove is one of only five productions selected to compete in the six-state Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival regional competition in Lincoln, Neb. from Jan. 19 to 25.
To help defray traveling costs, UMD is hosting an encore performance of this highly acclaimed show at the Marshall Performing Arts Center on Jan. 16.
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The 4ontheFloor – Enough
Shot at Target Field and featuring Miss Sarah Krueger.
This clip is from next week’s episode of MNOriginal, which airs Monday night at 7 p.m. in the Duluth market on the Minnesota Channel 8.1. Also in the episode: Artaria String Quartet preserves and performs classical chamber repertoire, Robert Bly shares three of his poems and Judy Onofrio creates sculptures from animal bones.
North Coast iOS Developers!
Krekeltronics, a small Minnesota-based firm, is looking for iOS developers! We’d like to talk to independent experienced folks looking for a bit of stability, burnt out corporate subjects seeking a simpler lifestyle, or even skilled recent grads looking to pair with someone.
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Cold Weather = Danger for Homeless
In recent weeks, several Duluthians experiencing homelessness have suffered severe frostbite that may require amputation. With more people homeless than any time in recent memory, and another brutal cold snap on the way, please help the Duluth Street Outreach Team keep folks safe.
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Split Rock Lighthouse – Aerial Flyover
This is the first PDD Drone video, shot at Split Rock Lighthouse on Christmas Day. It was only the fourth flight in the drone’s young career, and we are still in the practice mode of getting smooth flyovers and panning when shooting video. We are improving with each flight and I personally think it is a huge accomplishment that the PDD Drone is not sitting at the bottom of Lake Superior … yet. So enjoy this unique perspective of Split Rock Lighthouse and let us know what you think.
The PDD Drone is a DJI Phantom 2 Vision.
Poll: Best Album of 2013 (The Final Six)
The people have spoken, and now it’s time for them to speak again. According to our previous poll, the top six Duluth-related albums of 2013 are: Cars & Trucks’ Theatre Stardusk, Christoph Bruhn’s Weekends on the Frontier, Tim Kaiser’s Microphone Obscura, Low’s The Invisible Way, Southwire’s self-titled debut and Ryan Van Slooten’s Victory March. Now it’s time to pick the winner, so again we ask …
[poll id=”61″]
This poll is now closed. Christoph Bruhn, Southwire and Ryan Van Slooten have advanced to the final poll.
Fellowships for Historical Research
PDD is host to a number of independent historical researchers. FYI.
The Minnesota Historical Society is pleased to announce the Legacy Research Fellowships. Eligibility for these Fellowships is open to any post-collegiate Minnesota scholar who is engaged in Minnesota-related research/scholarship that draws on the Gale Library resources and that intends to add to the body of knowledge and interpretation of Minnesota’s history (pre- and post-statehood). Independent Scholars and scholars, including graduate students, not eligible for funding through employment at academic institutions are especially encouraged to apply.
Best Place to Install a Car Starter in Duluth
I am a former Duluthian who has made the move back! I am very happy to be in Duluth, but of course I did not choose the warmest winter for my return. I was lucky enough to be the recipient of a car starter for Christmas to help with the tundra-like weather. Now I just need to figure out the best place to have it installed.
I am hoping that my fellow Duluthians can help me out. What recommendations do you all have for the best place to have my car starter installed at?
Perfect Duluth Day’s Best Videos of 2013
It’s time once again to celebrate the New Year’s holiday by sitting on your ass reliving the past. Here they are, the always dubious “best video” selections. (more…)
The Best of Live from Studio A
On New Year’s Day KUMD 103.3 will be airing the Best of Live from Studio A from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. It features portions of the more than 70 in-studio sessions we did in 2013 with artists including Southwire, Cars & Trucks, Lucy Michelle and the Velvet Lapelles, Father Hennepin, Jeremy Messersmith, Freedy Johnston, and many more.
If there really was a lull in the flowing of the poppy juice, it did not occur until long after the hour set by law
From the Jan. 1, 1914, Duluth News Tribune
Revelers laugh at law calling for early close
In two hotels the price brings liquid refreshment after hours with no questions asked and no evidence of police as delirium marks new year.
“Five dollars for a table and a bottle of wine,” the going quotation at Holland – “It’s after hours; can’t be served,” greeted with wild laughter. (more…)