Perfect Duluth Day

Morgan Park’s only coffee shop and eatery turns two

Lissa Maki Jul 28, 2016 1 Comment

Felisha Johnson and her father-in-law, Paul Johnson

When Morgan Park School closed in 2012, the neighborhood seemed to be in decline. Two prominent businesses, Advantage Emblem and Park State Bank, had already moved out. The grocery store and post office were long gone. Nothing new seemed on the horizon.

Paul Johnson and his son Brandon, owners of the Lakeview Store Building, felt the area needed a gathering place. In 2014 they opened Iron Mug Coffee House in the building’s southern end at 1096 88th Ave W. July marks the two-year anniversary of Iron Mug’s opening, while the historic building that served as one of the first indoor shopping malls in the United States recently celebrated its 100-year anniversary.

Principal Protestant Churches of Duluth

Paul Lundgren Jul 28, 2016 No Comments

First Presbyterian Church, St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, First M.E. Church, Pilgrim Congregational Church and United Protestant Church.

History Churches, Duluth Photo Engraving Company, Postcards

Slow TV: Basket Weeding at the Food Farm

Mike Scholtz Jul 27, 2016 1 Comment

Is this the most boring video ever shot at the Food Farm? Or the most mesmerizing?

You be the judge.

Videos Food Farm

When West Duluth Was Young

Paul Lundgren Jul 27, 2016 1 Comment

In the summer of 1994, a group of West Duluth kids met with a group of senior citizens from the neighborhood and wrote down their stories for a booklet. Here is the entirety of When West Duluth Was Young: An Intergenerational Writing Workshop, with thanks to Aunt Becky for passing it along.

History West Duluth

Bellyflop

PDD News Sieve Jul 26, 2016 2 Comments

Shot by Dave Zbaracki in the Congdon neighborhood. (Via Facebook.)

Photos Bears

Lake Superior Magazine’s interview with Paul Shaffer

PDD News Sieve Jul 26, 2016 No Comments

Thunder Bay native Paul Shaffer is bringing his “Late Show” band to perform in the Thunder Bay Community Auditorium on Oct. 7 to mark the concert hall’s 30th anniversary. Lake Superior Magazine’s Bob Berg scored an interview for the magazine’s Aug/Sept issue.

The audio embed is a slow loader, so it appears after the jump.

Music Lake Superior Magazine

Send in the Drones

TimK Jul 26, 2016 5 Comments

Sitting up in Woodland going on 128 hours with no electricity. Where is the cool aerial drone footage of the damage at Hartley Park (or anywhere else, for that matter)?

News and Current Affairs Woodland

Grill Wars 2016

Beezer Jul 26, 2016 2 Comments

Why no Grill Wars this year?

News and Current Affairs Queries

Moving sidewalk proposed in Duluth in 1908

Dave Lull Jul 26, 2016 No Comments

John Edward Roemer wanted to build a system of moving sidewalks up Duluth’s steepest hills. The power to run the system would come from storage batteries buried in chambers beneath Superior Street. Tunnels would be dug beneath cross streets so the sidewalks could pass under the streets. At the top of the hill where the moving sidewalk system terminated, Roemer proposed building a pavilion and an aerial rail line extending to Fond du Lac, with stops in the West End, West Duluth, New Duluth and Ironton.

Read more at the public library’s Reference@Duluth blog.

History Transportation

Changes in Bookstores in the Duluth Region and Nationally

David Beard Jul 25, 2016 No Comments

Local and national media are reflecting on the fate of the bookstore in Grand Rapids, Minn., about 70 miles from Duluth.

It’s small, smaller even than the Bookstore at Fitger’s, although it was crammed to the gills with books.

This Week: stunts, songs, socks and more

Tony Bennett Jul 25, 2016 No Comments

Untitled design
Here’s a bit of what you’ll find in this week’s PDD Calendar:

The Duluth Area Chamber of Commerce holds its 47th annual golf classic, juggler and aerialist Laura Ernst brings her stunt spectacular to the Duluth Public Library, the Duluth Huskies battle the Bullfrogs of Green Bay, the Trans+ support group holds their biweekly meeting, Beaner’s Central gives performers a chance to do their thing at their Wednesday Open Mic, the Superior Singers perform Disney songs at Barker’s Island and Charlie Parr plays his country-blues at Glensheen Mansion.

Renowned weird man David Liebe Hart stops at the Red Herring as a part of his latest tour, folks can learn about water safety and build sand castles out on Park Point, CASDA holds their Socks for Survivors Golf Scramble, the annual Northern Minnesota Swap Meet and Car Show is at the Itasca County Fairgrounds in Grand Rapids, the 13th annual Free Range Film Festival gives film buffs a chance to see flicks in a barn, Bold Choice Theatre presents an old-fashioned mystery set in a mansion, the 125th anniversary of Skyline Parkway is celebrated with a family picnic and the Goo Goo Dolls perform with Collective Soul at Bayfront Park.

Events

The Loop

Vikesrule Jul 24, 2016 2 Comments

Looking for an article about “The Loop.”

Recommendations Queries

Charlie Parr – “Remember Me If I Forget”

PDDTV Jul 24, 2016 2 Comments

This video is from a Skype session recorded during last summer’s Frendly Gathering festival in Vermont. In an interview at the end, Parr references the famous Proctor La-Z Boy DWI incident.

Upcoming gig: Parr plays on the pier at Glensheen Mansion on July 27.

Music, Videos Charlie Parr

Think of the Children!!

Jim Richardson (aka Lake Superior Aquaman) Jul 24, 2016 No Comments

The Duluth alligator menace continues unabated as this exclusive footage shows

Outdoors, Politics, Videos

Where in Duluth? #146

Paul Lundgren Jul 24, 2016 12 Comments

Time for another installment of Perfect Duluth Day’s ultra-thrilling photo-trivia sensation. Where in Duluth was this shot taken?

Photos Where in Duluth?