1970s pop culture quiz on Piedmont ski trail
The cross-country trail at Piedmont is in great shape … but in what shape is your 1970s pop culture mastery? Know your Lip Smackers from your Mayberry RFD? Test yourself against the punny wisdom of Piedmont’s wooden signs at my North Shore blog.
TBT Playing Coachella
Looks like 2011 is going to be another great year for Duluth bluegrass-rockers Trampled by Turtles as they join the lineup for this year’s Coachella Music Festival in Indio, California.
Get well soon, Craig Minowa
From Cloud Cult’s website:
Cloud Cult has announced the cancellation of the band’s upcoming performances at First Avenue (January 21) and Lutsen (February 5). On Thursday, Cloud Cult’s Craig Minowa was hospitalized with heart issues.
Although the condition necessitates a temporary hiatus from performances, doctors are suggesting a noninvasive heart surgery would likely be performed in the next few weeks to bring permanent remedy to the problem. We apologize for any complications, and we look forward to returning with more energy than ever in the coming months.
Nerd Nite a success
Congratulations to Nerd Nite, the excellent night out at Teatro Zuccone.
Talks about rock tumbling, Star Wars prop replicas, and astronomy marked the evening as what it could be, at its best: a showcase for the passions of individuals. [If the talk on Fan Fiction fell short, it only fell short because the speaker was talking about someone else’s passions, not her own.] I had no idea the energy and the technique involved in rock tumbling. I had no idea the complexity of recreating (replicating) the props used in the first Star Wars movies. And, well, a bedroom designed so that the Big Dipper can be viewed in 3 dimensions from various other stars in the Galaxy, well, wow.
I enjoyed myself, I met a new person, and I felt the passions of others. What more could I ask for $5 admission and $3 for a bottle of Minnesota-brewed soda pop?
Thanks to the organizers, to the Zuccone for hosting, and to the presenters for a great night out.
Get in where you fit in.
I was out enjoying the local snowmobile trails yesterday and came across a man walking his two dogs; a man with his child and dog walking; a man, child and two dogs XC skiing (not the dogs); a woman walking; and a man riding his mountain bike.
These are all great outdoor recreational activities to enjoy and I am not mad that they are participating, I am mad that they were all on the state snowmobile trail. If I were to ride down a ski trail, or the Lakewalk, or a regular sidewalk for that matter, people would be calling the police and hopping up and down in anger. So why is it OK to break the rules the other way?
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Duluth Art Institute Gallery Party
Free Reception, Wednesday, Jan. 19, 6:30 to 8pm
Duluth Art Institute Galleries in the Depot
506 W. Michigan St.
Sean Elmquist, Symbiosis
UMD Emerging Photographers
Duluth Art Institute Annual Membership Show 2011
Music by Healthy Band Music Club
The Duluth Art Institute will celebrate three exhibits with one awesome band this Wednesday from 6:30 to 8pm. Free food, free drink, free entertainment plus a whole heaping helping of the visual arts.
R.I.P. James Bothwell, 1986 Principal, Morgan Park School
James W. Bothwell died on Jan. 13. He had a long career as a teacher and principal in St. Paul, but in 1986 he had a stint in Duluth as Morgan Park Junior High School’s interim principal, following the mid-school-year retirement of longtime principal Milan S. Karich and preceding the launch of Jon Vomachka’s reign.
I was in seventh grade and not much of an outlaw during Bothwell’s brief term, so I don’t have any good stories to relate, but I remember him seeming to be quite a nice guy. Does anyone have more specific memories to share?
Zumba at Grandma’s Sports Garden
Eman will be having a Zumba party at Grandma’s Sports Garden on Monday, Jan. 24, and every Wednesday in February. Come join the Zumba party with merengue, salsa, hip hop, belly dance. The event is only $10. Call Eman at 218-724-2691 for more details or visit emansbellydancing.com to sign-up.
Which camera is right for you?
Are you looking to purchase another digital camera, or just want to know more about what is out there? The Duluth Photography Institute has a free (for members) workshop on Thursday, Jan 20, providing insights on all the different choices out there! Don from First Photo will also be there with cameras for you to try out! E-mail the DPI to register. Members only — you can easily become a member for as little as $20/year by visiting duluthphotographyinstitute.com.
Duluth Small-business Tax Preparers
My spouse and I work regular salary jobs, but also have a small retail side business (bigger than a hobby, but not big enough to support a family and pay insurance, etc.) I don’t think my small-time preparer is going to register under the new guidelines and I have been a little skeptical about recent year’s filings.
I’ve worked with big accounting houses in the past, but they’re way too expensive and conservative. I don’t want someone to get too clever, but also a preparer that doesn’t think every gray area automatically defaults to the government.
If you own a small business and have a bit of advice or a recommendation, I would appreciate it. If you’re a tax preparer, I’d rather hear from your customers directly.
Renegade Improv at Teatro Zuccone
Hey you. Yes, the guy sitting at his computer in his underwear “working from home.” Need an excuse to put some clothes on and do something? Renegade Theater Company has live improv comedy every Friday and Saturday night at 10:30 at Teatro Zuccone. It only costs $5. Details at renegadetheatercompany.org.
Dismal Duluth Dating?
A recent conversation with some friends brought up the question…what’s up with the Duluth dating scene? The main consensus was that it was pretty dull. Does the sometimes inclement weather force us to stay home rather than go out and socialize? Is everyone already taken? Am I too quick to judge? I am curious to know what the readers of PPD think about the Duluth’s dating scene. Successes/failures? Tips and tricks? As a fairly new inhabitant of Duluth, I would like to know… where are all the single people at?
Short Circuit at Teatro – Saturday
An evening of experimental electronic music featuring Tim Kaiser, Low Gain and Talking Computron. Ethereal sonic landscapes, 8-bit Game Boy mayhem and circuit-bent mash ups for all ages. Tell your nerdy neighbor!
Google is already in Duluth
Installing a typical home TiSP system is a quick, easy and largely sanitary process — provided you follow these step-by-step instructions very, very carefully.
Dr. Martin Luther King Through Kindergarten Eyes
I meant to post this last year, but I forgot. This is a picture that my daughter made in kindergarten. I found it in with some papers when I was cleaning her room and it just struck me right between the eyes. First, I thought it was all wrong: “What is that school teaching my daughter about Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr? I mean, she took away his whole essence, she’s stripped away his race, she’s missed the whole point …”
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Greysolon Plaza elevator death in 1979 — fact or urban legend?
A woman I know from my hometown is an alumnus of UMD, and said that while she was in school UMD had the same overcrowding problem that it has now. Instead of housing students at Edgewater, they housed them at the Greysolon Plaza. She also said that there was an elevator accident in which some UMD students were killed. I can’t find this information anywhere online, can anyone confirm that this actually happened?
Dolly Parton’s 65th Birthday Party at World of Wheels
Next Wednesday, Jan. 19 is Dolly’s birthday deliciousness. We’ll be roller skating at World of Wheels on the actual holy day. Yip!Yip!
Adult skate from 7:30 until 10pm. $6 admission plus skate rental.
They’ll be playing her music just for us.
Come wearing the Dolly that speaks to you — whether it’s flamboyant shimmer shammer or shreads of fabric all stitched up and sung about.
Spread the world — the more the merrier.
Doomtree vs. Martin Sexton
Clyde Iron Works announced Thursday that Rhymesayers hip-hip group Doomtree will be playing at the Duluth venue on at 9pm on Jan. 29. Tickets go on sale Monday for $16. This is the Minneapolis group’s second Duluth performance in four months; it played UMD this past September.
Also playing Duluth on Jan. 29, is singer-songwriter Martin Sexton. Sexton was originally booked to play Clyde Iron but the concert was moved to St. Scholastica’s Mitchell Auditorium a few weeks ago. Joanna Mosca is opening the show and tickets are currently on sale for $20.
Which are you going to see?
Photo exhibit anyone can enter
And it will test your creativity! The Duluth Photography Institute calls it “4x: A Print Exhibit” and the rules are simple and few: submissions must be photographic prints with one side being 4 inches and perimeters (distance all the way around) 60 inches or less. Deadline is Jan. 31 and the exhibit will be held in mid Feb. For all the other details and for questions, go to the DPI website at duluthphotographyinstitute.com.
DTA Applause
I just realized how awesome the New Year’s changes to the DTA are:
Changes that matter to me:
Route 6: 10:15 p.m. trip added from downtown. Previous schedule: Last bus leaving downtown was 9:15 p.m weekdays.
Route 6: 7:45 p.m., 8:45 p.m., and 9:45 p.m. trips added from downtown. Previous schedule: Last bus from downtown was 6:45 p.m on Saturdays.
Route 7: 8:05 p.m. trip added from downtown. Previous schedule: Last bus from downtown was 7 p.m on Saturdays.
The end result: I can stay at the mall later on the weekends and still get home; I can see a 7 p.m. movie at the DECC on Saturdays and still get home.
Hooray for me. How ’bout you? Check here.
Northern Brewing Company in Superior
I work at what was the old Northern Brewing Company building in Superior, now Balcum Appliance, Inc. Some people stop in and tell me stories about when it was the brewery. I was just doing some research about the building and not much comes up. I was just curious if anyone had a little knowledge about the Northern Brewing Company or stories to share regarding it. I would really love to see pictures of it also. I hear that there was another section of the building which has been torn down. Any information is greatly appreciated.