Ten Minutes with Caitlin Robertson

Singer/songwriter Caitlin Robertson’s first album will be released in December. She will be performing Dec. 9 in Duluth at Fitger’s. She was interviewed for Ennyman’s Territory this past week and it is posted there today.

MusicEnnyman

Let’s Get TBT on Prairie Home

OK first, this is a first. Me writing to suggest we organize an effort to get someone on the stage of A Prairie Home Companion when the show comes to Duluth in February. It’s not quite like calling a local radio station to request a song, but not all that far off either.

It reminds me of the time I called Sirius XM ’60s on 6 host Phlash Phelps when Duluth was the mystery city of the day. I actually sent him about a dozen quick facts which he used throughout the morning. Patty was not amused.

I like Trampled by Turtles (listening now while I pour through data for a report) and believe they’d be a natural for the PHC audience. So, I’ve posted on the PHC Facebook page suggesting they contact the group to see if they’re available. Maybe you’ll consider a similar post.

MusicA Prairie Home CompanionTrampled by Turtles
Fond-du-Luth Casino: Wednesday Top it Off

This week: Hairball, Thanksgiving buffet, the New Standards and more

Tuesday, Nov. 22
The Harbor City International School hosts a night of cultural experiences.

Wednesday, Nov. 23
Aftershock is playing at a Pre-Thanksgiving party at the Gopher Restaurant and Lounge. Gallus, Old Knifey and Snobarn play a show at Luce.

Thursday, Nov. 24
The DECC is hosting its 21st annual free Thanksgiving Buffet.

Friday, Nov 25
Find some great snowmobile action at the Duluth National Snocross at Spirit Mountain. There will be two nights of rock at Clyde Iron with Hairball performing Friday and Saturday. The What Four opens on Firday. Hypnotist Gabriel Holmes brings his act to Teatro Zuccone.

Saturday, Nov. 26
Hairball night two with opening act Menace. The jazz trio from Minneapolis, The New Standards, plays at the Mitchell Auditorium. Local group, Excuse Me, Princess plays a CD release show at Beaners.

Check the PDD Calendar for more events!

Events

PDD Gift Guide 2011

Here it is, the annual gallery of local goods, submitted for your holiday shopping approval. If you’re going to get all material this Christmas, it might as well be local material, right?

In most cases you can acquire these items in retail stores or shop online. Click on the images for more information and links.
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RecommendationsGift GuidesMade in Duluth
Pizza Luce: The Bulgogi
Dubh Linn Irish Pub: Pro Comedy Tour

Asian & Pacific American Student Culture Show at UMD

Saturday was the Asian & Pacific American Culture Show at UMD.
“How We Came to Be Here” was hosted by UMD’s Asian Pacific American Student Association. Kate and I enjoyed a night of Asian arts, cultural performance, and delicious Asian cuisine catered by Sala Thai. (more…)

ArtEvents

UMD Alumni Fine Arts Panel

Are you:

  • An alum of the School of Fine Arts at UMD?
  • Still living in the Twin Ports area?
  • Currently making a portion of your income through creation of your art (music, visual arts, theater)?

A student group through UMD’s School of Fine Arts is looking to organize an alumni panel event and discussion in the Spring of 2012 for students of the SFA. Our mission is to provide our students the opportunity to a.) hear from those in the area who have succeeded in creating their art for a living and b.) ask questions about the ins and outs of doing so.

If you are an alum of UMD’s School of Fine Arts and are interested in helping to provide an important educational experience for our students, please email ellis477 @ d.umn.edu with the subject: SFA Alumni Panel.

Look forward to hearing from you talented people!

ArtEvents
Fond-du-Luth Casino: Wednesday Top it Off
Dubh Linn Irish Pub: Pro Comedy Tour

Developer has new student housing/retail plan for Woodland Middle School site

The DNT ran a story today detailing a new mixed-use residential/commercial plan for the site of the former Woodland Middle School. The developer bought the site from the school district in September. You may be familiar with the developer’s other projects like Boulder Ridge and Campus Park. (more…)

PoliticsRestaurantsBitchingHousing

Minnesota Property Tax

If you are trying to make sense of the “Proposed Property Tax for 2012” statement you got in the mail last week, check out the following link on the Minnesota Dept. of Revenue website. I found it helpful in explaining the changes related to the axed Homestead Tax Credit: “Understanding Recent Changes in Homestead Benefits
For Property Tax Purposes.”

News and Current Affairs
Pizza Luce: The Bulgogi
Fond-du-Luth Casino: Wednesday Top it Off

Duluth head shot photographer

Does anyone have any recommendations of where to get a simple professional head shot taken?  I am just looking for a photographer perhaps in downtown Duluth that would do a good job for a fair price.

Recommendations

What happened to DJ Mouse?

The past few Sundays we’ve noticed that our favorite Caribbean Roots/DJ Mouse programming on KUMD seems to be lacking DJ Mouse. Does anyone know what happened?

Music
Pizza Luce: The Bulgogi
Dubh Linn Irish Pub: Pro Comedy Tour

Flavor of Nerd Nite, November 2011

Below, just a few photos from Nerd Nite at Teatro Zuccone in Downtown Duluth, November 2011.
Nerds, can you chime in with your best memories? (more…)

ArtEventsNerd Nite

Excuse Me, Princess releasing an album

Excuse Me, Princess is releasing a record on Minneapolis label So-TM, and now the whole thing is streaming on Bandcamp with two free songs.

There’s a release show at Beaner’s on Nov. 26 (more info here.)

EventsMusicAlbum ReleasesExcuse MePrincess
Glensheen

Seen this before?

I was at Mt. Royal Foods this morning surveying the doughnut rack with my daughter and I did a double take when I saw a long-john with a slab of fried bacon laid down the middle, on top of the delicious maple frosting. I did not have my camera to take a picture. Is this a “standard build” in the doughnut industry, or is it a custom creation from the bake staff? My wife gave me strict orders to not buy sweets this morning, otherwise I’d probably be posting this on Yelp.

Lost and Found

Video Archive: 14-year-old Paula Shires of Bovey tears it up on Chemielewski Fun Time

It’s ladies’ night and the feeling is right.

HistoryVideosVideo Archive
Glensheen
Pizza Luce: The Bulgogi

Out-of-town anarchist identified!

Out-of-town element and notorious volunteer, Diane Emerson, reacts to Duluth Police Chief Gordon Ramsay’s reference to her at yesterday’s press conference about Occupy Duluth. She was so stunned she almost spilled her herbal tea on her Nonviolent Communication handbook! (more…)

News and Current AffairsPolitics

Prøve Gallery

The informal gallery opening Thursday night at Prøve Gallery, in the Sons of Norway building across Lake Avenue from the Technology Village, was the most exciting night I’ve experienced in Art in Duluth in some time. (more…)

ArtEvents
Ashwabay Alliance / Big Top Chautauqua
Glensheen

Barack Obama vs. Dennis Kucinich and Michael Moore on Libya

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vetZKGrDYeI

This dramatizes the pie fight on the left that erupted over Libya.

If you view it on its YouTube page here, the brief title sequence plays too but you get the idea.

News and Current AffairsPoliticsVideos

She Gets Things Done

On Tuesday, November 15, after a long day of working on my unfinished, but indisputably kick-ass, novel, I cracked an adult beverage and logged onto the Internet to make my usual rounds.

On Perfect Duluth Day, I found a post by City Councilor-elect Jennifer Julsrud, titled “Duluth’s Plumbing Needs Big Fix,” regarding Duluth’s aging water infrastructure. Accompanied by a short YouTube video (serious people talking seriously about water, serious music playing in the background), the post listed a series of upcoming community meetings that were to be held on the subject.

Naturally, this irritated me greatly. As far as I was concerned, this was just the latest example of Duluth’s tendency to be serious one minute about issues that actually need attention, and the next minute to stampede giddily off in pursuit of unneeded, but very expensive, luxuries that we want RIGHT NOW-as if the money we spend on the luxuries has no relation at all to the money we need for necessities.

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PoliticsBitching
Pizza Luce: The Bulgogi
Vision Pro: Clear Vision

Hacienda del Sol closed?

Seeing the House of Donuts post makes me wonder … what’s going on with the Hacienda del Sol?

RestaurantsQueries

House of Donuts

duluth-house-of-donuts

I recently recovered this photo from my attic. It’s dated July 18, 1992. That’s me on the left in my Minnesota Twins championship T-shirt, proudly raising a bag full of what have got to be bear claws. PDD co-founder Barrett Chase is on the right. In the middle, grabbing his junk, is Bob Schulte.

For most of its existence, and at the time of the photo above, House of Donuts was located just east of where the Whole Foods Co-op is now, at 624 E. Fourth St. Ronald and Michele Carter were the owners.
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HistoryPhotosCentral HillsideHouse of Donuts
Weis Eye Center

Chris Monroe in Minneapolis Star Tribune

Artist with a tool belt
Cartoonist and author Chris Monroe found inspiration for her picture books while toiling in a hardware store. Now she’s working with Kevin Kling on a tale about sibling rivalry and love.

ArtChris Monroe

Mac repair in Duluth

I know there was a conversation about this in August of 2010, but I have been unable to contact anyone from those posts. One doesn’t return my e-mail and for some reason the Mac Doctor doesn’t answer the phone or return messages. Does anyone have any advice on where I can find an honest Mac repair person that doesn’t charge Best Buy prices?

RandomComputer Repair
Dubh Linn Irish Pub: Pro Comedy Tour
Weis Eye Center

Fight poverty by volunteering with Community Action Duluth

Tax Site logo

Would you like to help put $2,000 into the pockets of a low income family? Community Action Duluth is seeking passionate, dedicated volunteers for its 2012 Free Tax Site. (more…)

Random

Community Meetings: Duluth’s Plumbing Needs Big Fix

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Cul30R0z-A&feature=player_embedded

Water is a basic need. Access to clean water and a well functioning system are responsible for good public health, public safety, basic sanitation, and economic prosperity. The strength of our economy is directly connected to the strength of our infrastructure.

Learn about the current state of our drinking water infrastructure; our water treatment plant, pumping stations, and over 400 miles of water mains. These are our common assets and we need to ensure they work for us.
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Videos
FDLTCC: Hot Summer Nights with Corey Medina
Fond-du-Luth Casino: Wednesday Top it Off

Making an apartment a home

I remember when I was first looking at Duluth as a place to move for college. Being tired of my job and wanting something new I decided to go back to school, and remembering how much I loved Duluth; I started checking out colleges. Having found a program and school, my next task was to find a place to live. I was not prepared for the daunting task that would ensue.
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RandomHousing