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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Geeky

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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Random
Pizza Luce: Dililio
Downtown Duluth: Movies in the Park

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.

OutdoorsVideosDrone VideosPDD Drone

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.

MusicPolls
Pier B Resort: Rise and Dine
Fond-du-:Luth Casino: Thursday

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.

History

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?

Recommendations
Fond-du-:Luth Casino: Thursday
Pizza Luce: Dililio

Perfect Duluth Day’s Best Videos of 2013

PDD Best Videos 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…)

VideosBest Videos

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.

Music
Fond-du-:Luth Casino: Thursday

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…)

History

I’m aware of trafficking, now what?

January is considered “Trafficking Awareness Month” or so the many e-mails and invites to special events are telling me. As a social worker and previously as a domestic violence/sexual assault advocate I have been inundated with trafficking discussions, forums, conferences, and trainings. Don’t get me wrong, I think it’s great. However I feel as though now I am fully “aware” of trafficking and that the social-work community as a whole is very “aware” of trafficking in the Duluth area. My question is what do I now do with this awareness to help survivors of the industry and to prevent such things from happening to new victims? What is currently being done by local sexual assault groups such as PAVSA to combat trafficking and how can a social worker, or anyone for that matter, jump in and help?

Please don’t infer that I am in any way downing the efforts to inform people about trafficking — the more who know the better. But I do feel like there is a lack of discussion about action steps, and as a person whose clients and own family members have been affected by this issue I’d like to know less how to make people aware and more about how to do something about it.

News and Current AffairsQueries
Vision Pro: Clear Vision
Ashwabay Alliance / Big Top Chautauqua

Bobcats and Eagles

From Wildwoods, about recent admits. We get fewer in the Winter, but they are more interesting, as cases. (more…)

Outdoors

Minnesota concludes wolf hunting and trapping season

I feel some relief at this news, at the same time that I know, it’s the relief you get when your reprieve, you know, is temporary. No matter what you think about wolves, trapping is a terrible, unethical, destructive way to hunt.  –David
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News and Current AffairsWolves
Lake Superior Harvest Festival

Down on Raleigh Street

Slideshow by Roger Nesje with music by Steve Johnson, paying tribute to old Two Street in West Duluth.

HistoryMusicVideosWest Duluth

Poll: Best Local Album of 2013

Among the roughly four-dozen albums released by Duluth-area musicians in the past 12 months, 19 received mention in our call for nominations for Best Local Album of 2013. So now we attempt to identify the strongest in the field and ask you, dear reader …

[poll id=”60″]

This poll is now closed. These six albums advance to the final poll.

Cars & Trucks – Theatre Stardusk
Christoph Bruhn – Weekends on the Frontier
Tim Kaiser – Microphone Obscura
Low – The Invisible Way
Southwire – Southwire
Ryan Van Slooten – Victory March

MusicPolls
Downtown Duluth: Movies in the Park
Lake Superior Harvest Festival

2013 Demo Reel – Higher Base Media

Higher Base Media is a Duluth-based action sports media group that creates videos to promote local action sports in an attempt to get more people involved in these activities. We hope you all had a great year and enjoy our best footage from 2013!

SportsVideos

2013: The Year in Duluth Gig Posters

Click on any thumbnail to see the full-size image.
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ArtMusicGig Posters
Glensheen Lantern Tours 2026
Pier B Resort: Rise and Dine

The National Weather Service has issued an erect nipple advisory for northeastern Minnesota. Be careful out there.

Bitching

This week: auld lang syne… or something like that… I’ve forgotten

  

Here’s a sampling of what you have to look forward to this week on the PDD Calendar.

How are you ringing in the new year on Tuesday? Here are some options:

If you take a cab and leave your car downtown Tuesday night, don’t worry. It’s free parking on Wednesday.

The Bulldog Men’s Hockey team plays an exhibition game at Amsoil Arena on Friday.

Jason Schommer does a one man show about his encounters with celebrities in Starstruck at the Teatro Zuccone on Saturday.

So what are you doing this week? Can we tag along? Any upcoming events that you want to promote? Let us know.

Events
Grandma\'s YAF MN Mile

Best … er, any fried chicken in Duluth?

Where can you get a good fried-chicken dinner in Duluth and/or the surrounding area? I’m not referring to KFC, or any take-home places, but a sit-down restaurant that serves fried-chicken diner that’s fresh and hot and doesn’t get cold by taking it into the house from the car during our cold winters. I’ve been searching and I’ve come up with nothing, I even found a post here that’s from a month shy of a year ago:

Best Fried Chicken in Duluth

However, the closest thing listed, Sammy’s, only has wings now, (which are great), but is not a real fried (or broasted) chicken dinner, no matter how many you eat. Cassidy’s down in Hinckley had a decent one, but last time I was there they no longer serve it and vaguely said they might bring it back at times. It seemed more commonplace when I was a kid, but no one seems to have a good fried-chicken dinner anymore, at least around here, because I see them all the time on Diners, Drive-ins and Dives. Fresh batch of suggestions welcome!

RecommendationsRestaurants

Greysolon Plaza overhang collapses

Photo via Fox 21 News

At about 8:15 p.m. the front awning of the Greysolon Plaza collapsed, presumably from the weight of snow. There are no reports of injuries. (more…)

News and Current AffairsGreysolon Plaza
Lake Superior Harvest Festival

The Boomchucks – “When I’m Missing You”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jMuDZuQqR-U

New video for a song from their 2010 self-titled album.

MusicVideosThe Boomchucks

Vice Does Enbridge

Vice reports:

“It’s been three and a half years since Enbridge’s Line 6B pipeline ruptured in Marshall, Michigan, leaking more than 843,000 gallons of diluted tar sands bitumen into the Kalamazoo River. It was the largest on-land oil spill in the history of the USA, and remains, so far, as the largest spill of tar sands oil ever. Yet despite Enbridge’s immense, ongoing clean-up operation, which has spanned more than three years, cost over a billion dollars, and removed significantly more oil from the river than the company will admit it spilled, those living in Enbridge’s sacrifice zone have more questions than answers-even as most areas of the river have been re-opened for public use. High on the list of concerns is a chilling refrain: What are these chemicals that work crews have been dumping into the river in massive quantities, and are they dangerous?”

News and Current Affairs
Fond-du-:Luth Casino: Thursday
Pier B Resort: Rise and Dine

Minnesota Shoplifting Detain/Restrain Laws?

Does anyone know the laws regarding detaining/restraining suspected shoplifters? I walked out of the mall tonight and found three Younkers loss-prevention staff holding a woman face-down in the snow, with their knees on her back attempting to handcuff her while she was telling them she couldn’t breathe.
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BitchingCreepyQueries

Day after Christmas, I

On the town after Christmas. My car needed work, so I dropped it at 4th Street Auto (discussed on PDD here) and decided to walk downtown from there — always fun. (more…)

Random
Lake Superior Harvest Festival
Pier B Resort: Rise and Dine

Life of a Sailor: The Winter

Tip Telep’s video of life aboard the Interlake Steamship Co.’s flagship merchant vessel Paul R. Tregurtha — the longest ship on the Great Lakes. Music: “Whole Wide World” by Big Tree.

Videos