R.I.P. Joe Gomer
Joe Gomer, Minnesota’s last surviving member of the Tuskegee Airmen, has died at 93.
Statement from Mayor Ness:
Duluth lost a national hero with the passing of Joe Gomer, one of the few remaining Tuskegee Airmen who served in WWII. Joe and his family moved to Duluth in 1963 and have been an integral part of our community ever since. While we mourn, we can also take comfort in knowing that he received the recognition he rightly deserved. Joe was able to witness the unveiling of a life-sized statue at the Duluth International Airport. The Joe Gomer Monument will forever serve as a reminder of Joe’s vast contributions to our community and country.
Duluth News Tribune: Legendary Tuskegee Airman Joe Gomer of Duluth dies
Best Duluth Lunch Poll
Earlier this week, PDD asked where the best lunch is in Duluth. We got 31 different answers. Now it’s time to see which of those answers hold weight. It’s time to roll out the fancy polling tool.
[poll id=”46″]
This poll is now closed. Four restaurants move on to the finals:
How Sweet it is Cakes
Northern Waters Smokehaus
Red Mug Coffeehouse and Bake Shop
Sir Benedict’s Tavern on the Lake
Fauna of Lake Superior
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=llg8rejFJ44
All the random animals that have crossed my path over 3-4 years of summer lake videography, familiar for the most part to regional residents. There were others that didn’t make it on video including river otter, sturgeon, various birds incl. loon seen threading between underwater boulders.
“This is where the talent wants to live”
In the article “A New Type of Growing City,” The Atlantic quotes “the mayor of a city that has similarities to Sioux Falls and Burlington” who “sent this extremely interesting note.”
Who could that have been?
I was particularly interested in your recent story about Burlington. I believe there is a new class of city emerging across the country which are positioned to succeed in the coming decade – a class of city that has not yet been identified on a national scale.
This city is a small/mid-sized regional center. The population range I have been studying are cites between 50-125k. These cities are defined by natural beauty, outdoor recreation, strong and supportive arts community, entrepreneurial spirit, progressive outlook, and a strong sense of place and ethos connected to the place people choose to live. Cities like Burlington, Asheville, Flagstaff, Bend, Missoula, Santa Fe, Provo, and Duluth.
These cities are all at least a couple hours outside of the major metro in their area, which affords them their own character and identity. They are popular destinations for the metro – primarily tourism, but increasingly companies are coming to realize they can locate in these small cities and find the talent they need to find. Because this is where the talent wants to live.
Getting Lost in the Valley of Silence
Yesterday I had a rare 90-minutes to myself and after some meandering I ended up behind St. Scholastica looking for the sunset. I never really did find it, but I did see some other stuff.
Found Black Bunny
There’s a black bunny that looks pretty cute and domestic, but has been living it up in the wild for the past month in our alley. If his owner was looking for him, he’s not hard to find, we have a bunny sighting almost daily. He’s been doing well so far, but with the cold coming, I think he might want to go back into a hutch. If you want a tough little bunny, go look in the alley downhill of 13th Street and Diamond.
Rollerdames!
Saturday was Rollerdame action — at least for the last half of the game. The Harbor City Roller Dames A/B teams were divided, one team to represent Superior and one to represent Duluth. For the first half, the game was played in increments, as each skater would score 4 points, then call off the “jam.” So the game progressed in inches until about the half.
Best Restaurant for Lunch
Next up in the series of polls for the <PDD Awards Index>PDD Awards, we will determine the best lunch restaurant in the Duluth area. We’re taking nominations in the comments to this post, then a poll will follow, as usual.
For some of you, the ideal lunch is the place that kicks out the fastest, cheapest grub. Others might prefer a slow-pace escape from the daily grind. Either notion is fine, but the majority vote will decide what is best.
Once again, we define our territory: Any restaurant in Duluth or 10 miles of its border is eligible. So establishments in Superior, Hermantown, Proctor and the various bordering townships all qualify; Two Harbors, Cloquet and farther away municipalities are out of bounds.
Looking for a specialist in preserving antique needlework
We inherited an old piece of needlework. It is probably about 50 years old, maybe older. It could be as much as 100 years old. We have it, but in a move the glass broke and we need it to be re-framed/matted — whatever you do to keep a piece like this looking good. Who do I call, where do I go to begin tracking down this?
Jim Carlson – Guilty
From the Minneapolis Star Tribune: Headshop owner guilty of selling illegal synthetic drugs
A Duluth headshop owner was found guilty of selling banned synthetic drugs Monday afternoon in a case likely to have major impact on the handling of artificial hallucinogens.
Jim Carlson, 56, owner of the Last Place on Earth, was found guilty on 51 of 55 felony counts. His girlfriend, Lava Marie Haugen, 33, was convicted on all four counts against her, including conspiracy. Carlson’s son, Joseph James Gellerman, 35, was convicted of two of four counts against him, but not guilty of conspiracy.
The trial lasted two weeks, and the seven-woman, five-man jury deliberated for about two days over the 55 felony counts.
Duluth News Tribune: “Jury finds Last Place on Earth owner Jim Carlson guilty on most counts”
WDIO: Carlson guilty on 51 counts
Northland’s NewsCenter: “Jury upholds 51 counts against Jim Carlson in federal court“
Duluth Parks Blog
If you are interested in Duluth city parks you might be interested in my parks blog:
Portable Amateur Radio from All Duluth Parks
kd0etc.blogspot.com
This week: bikes and philosophy
Here’s a sampling of what you have to look forward to this week on the PDD Calendar.
‘Tis the season for ghosts and goblins and you can check out all things Halloween on the calendar. Already this week you can go to the Haunted Ship and the Silver Brook Corn Maze, see Nosferatu at the Scottish Rite, bring your kids to Boo at the Zoo at the Lake Superior Zoo, and meet at Pineapple Arts to help prep for All Souls Night. And there’s much more to come in the weeks ahead.
Tonight you can celebrate the Weber Music Hall at the Weber Music Hall with music… in the hall. Maybe they’ll fire up some Webers outside.
Need to work on your bike? The Bike Cave is a free cooperative bike shop where people can come in and work on their bikes or build new bikes. It’s open Thursday evenings and Saturday afternoons. And on your bike you can Bike with a Cop on Saturday starting at Leif Erikson Park.
On Friday you can get your think on at Adeline’s with Prof. Jason Ford of UMD (aka our reigning Geek Prom King, all hail) in a Philosophical Salon.
So what are you doing this week? Can we tag along? Any upcoming events that you want to promote? Let us know.
Ugly Stick Saloon
A splash of Coyote Ugly is in the city of Superior, just minutes off of the Bong Bridge on Belknap Street, in the former dining area of the Shack.
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Video Archive: KBJR Topline News and the Cheers party at the Western Tavern in 1993
This is the complete Topline News broadcast from May 20, 1993. You’ll notice it’s pretty short; that’s because from 1992 to 1998 KBJR experimented with an abbreviated 10 p.m. news program that ran about six minutes, not counting commercials, followed by a re-run of Roseanne with sports scores at bottom screen.
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Credit card found in Chester Park
Found a credit card in the parking lot at Chester Park on October 4. If it’s yours, post a comment here to contact me (your return email is sent to me automatically when you comment).
Perfect Restaurant: New Scenic Café
You have to leave Duluth to get to its best restaurant. The New Scenic Café is located about three miles beyond the city’s northeastern border, in Duluth Township — roughly a 20-minute drive from the center of the Zenith City. It’s a drive Duluthians and tourists alike have been happy to take repeatedly during the 14 years since chef Scott Graden and his aunt Rita Bergstedt opened their contemporary American restaurant.
Above: New Scenic Owner Scott Graden
The location on the scenic North Shore Drive is a big part of the allure, but what’s so new about this 14-year-old café? The menu, that’s what. It’s always new, changing with the seasons. Today one might try the seared duck breast or ratatouille lasagna, while six months ago the lamb meatloaf was the temptation of the moment.
Sure, it’s the kind of place ham-and-eggers will make fun of, scoffing at the prices and snickering at the notion of an “heirloom” tomato, but it’s hard to be the best restaurant in the area without a hint of snootiness. At least it’s a North Shore brand of foodie snootiness, where your flannel shirt and/or socks with sandals will fit in just fine.
Props must go out to the runners up in this poll, because the voting was close. New Scenic edged out Zeitgeist Arts Café by two percentage points, and Zeitgeist edged out Duluth Grill by three percentage points. A bit behind the top three, but still pulling nearly 15 percent of the vote, was Lake Avenue Restaurant & Bar.
Duluth Demon
Just in time for Halloween the Duluth Demon emerges and has been seen lurking around UMD. It seems he was last seen terrorizing people in Bagley Park and has not broken character yet. An article from the UMD Statesman explains his presence. The demon can also be found on Facebook.
Jerry Polinsky tries his luck in Atlantic City
Related to Minnesota Woolen Mills posts on Perfect Duluth Day is this December 1978 Corporate Report article.
Jerry Polinsky Tries His Luck in Atlantic City
Considered ‘insolvent’ in Duluth, the former Minnesota Woolens executive is laying heavy bets along the Boardwalk …
By Charles I. Mundale
In early summer 1977, a new hotel corporation was formed in Atlantic City, N.J.
In late summer 1977, an old retailing company bellied up in Duluth, Minn. (more…)
Outside Duluth
PDD local hero Brian Barber designed the cover of my new book. I think he did a good job. It makes me look like I know what I’m doing. You can buy a copy of Outside Duluth online via most major book retailers at my webpage.
Best Twin Ports Dining Deal Rooms
Can the PDD faithful help me find some private dining “deal room” options in the Twin Ports?
I’m tapped out on my short list of places to broker deals with customers and vendors. I often need to have a quiet area for two to six people to conduct business over a working lunch.
Some deals are very casual and low key, some not as much. Some are software demos and require a screen and projector — these are not very high-brow affairs, so …
Serve me up some critiques on food, atmosphere, memorable experience and privacy please.
Fashion Wagon – Minnesota Woolen
A vintage flannel caught my eye this afternoon while taking a break from work and strolling into the Wise Buys thrift store in Bellingham, Wash. I was shocked to see “Duluth, Minnesota” on the tag. Does anyone know where this was located? I have never heard of it before.
A quick Google search shows the trademark was registered around 1960 and expired in 1987.
My arms are still itching from trying the shirt on.
A Case of Kid Cussedness from 1901
A Letter to the Editor at the Duluth News-Tribune on November 11, 1901:
I would respectively [sic] call the attention of the chief of police to an example of “Hoodlumism” on a street car in your city as I have never witnessed anywhere.
Surely the “kids” are under the surveillance of the police authorities, if the bums cannot be controlled.
Business relative to a burned building called me to Duluth Heights. When I returned to the city, just getting dark, half a dozen passengers came on the car; while passing a store, seven “kids” climbed aboard, and clear down to the incline gave such a specimen of cussedness that would never be tolerated on the Bowery.
Wrestling, scrapping, kicking and yelling, annoying all the passengers, even to insulting two women passengers by throwing one another’s dirty cans into the faces of the women!
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