Free Rent for a Year in Duluth: Go Downtown, Grow Downtown

Go Downtown. Grow Downtown

The Greater Downtown Duluth Council and a bunch of other organizations are offering free rent for a year plus free advertising, business planning and technical support for two businesses in Downtown Duluth. Click the picture for contest details.

One of my obsessive Duluth-oriented twitter feeds led me to this on the Star Tribune website. I couldn’t find mention of it in the online Duluth News Tribune, but they are a sponsor so I’m sure it will get in there sometime, (unless maybe they’re hoping to bring in outside ideas first).

Free rent for a year? And who said this town wasn’t business friendly. I’m all for revitalization in Downtown Duluth. I hope it works.

business, Contests, Media, Revitalization

Home Sweet Home

[This post originally contained an embedded video that is no longer available at its source.]

A short film by local high-school student Will Francois III. Impressive for the materials and education allotted.

Art, VideosWeird
Pier B Resort: Rise and Dine
Pizza Luce: Butternut Squash

Valentine’s Day Swing with Dean Martin, Frank Sinatra and Elvis Presley

Hot Toddy at Horseshoe Billiards in Duluth, Valentine's Day 2011

Hot Toddy is swinging back from Los Angeles to do several shows in February. He’ll also be at Clyde Iron with The Fractals and Aces in Superior with John Seguin.

Events

ISO: Homegrown 2010 Photos

Seeking 2010 Homegrown photos for the 2011 Field Guide. Photos need t0 be high-rez JPGs (no watermarks, please); there’s no need for RAWs. You can send me a link to the photos online, or contact me if they’re on a CD/DVD: adam [at] transistormag [dot] com. Thanks!

EventsHomegrown Music Festival
Vision Pro: Year End 2026
FDLTCC: Pumpin Run

Bawdy Burns Night

Events

Amy Klobuchar’s Hot Dish Recipe

Amy Klobuchar’s Taconite Tater Tot Hot Dish recipe is now available for all who remember when tater tots were not the enemy of school lunches that Michelle Obama has made them out to be in her campaign to bring health lunches to schools. Anyone else notice the irony of this “situation?”

News and Current AffairsCooking, Recipe
Weis Eye Center
Ashwabay Alliance / Big Top Chautauqua

February is I Love to Read Month!

Celebrate I Love to Read Month this February with Cozy Pajama Story Time at the Duluth Public Library every Thursday evening in February 6:30-7:15pm! 

Feb 3, 10 and 24 in the Green Room
Feb 17 in the Gold Room

Children ages 0-8 and their families are welcome to come in their pajamas and enjoy a fun story! Story time is a great way to encourage a love of reading and learning! We hope you will celebrate reading with us!

-Your Friends at United Way of Greater Duluth Success By 6

Eventschildren, Early Childhood, Literacy, Reading

Nate Lindstrom Photo Exhibit

Featured photographer Nate Lindstrom’s photography will be exhibited at the Duluth Photography Institute, 405 E. Superior St. in Duluth through February. There is a free public reception at the DPI facility on Saturday, Jan. 29, from 5 to 8 p.m. (more…)

Art, Events
Pizza Luce: Butternut Squash

Early Bird Music at Chester Creek Cafe

Random

G. Love & Special Sauce at Clyde Iron Works on April 27

G Love & Specials SauceFirst Ave. is announcing G. Love and Special Sauce with special guests The Belle Brigade will be performing at Clyde Iron in Duluth on Wednesday, April 27, 2011. Tickets on sale this Saturday, January 29 at 10:00am.  I am assuming via Ticket Master but I do not see that show listed as of yet on ticketmaster.com.

“G. Love’s new album, Fixin’ To Die, is set for release on February 22nd on Brushfire Records. Recorded at Echo Mountain Studios in Asheville, NC, and produced by Scott and Seth Avett (The Avett Brothers), this new body of work is arguably G. Love’s most sincere and candid work to date.”

Read More at www.first-avenue.com

Music, News and Current AffairsClyde Iron Works
Weis Eye Center

Why I love Duluth

At about 1:25 pm today, I rushed down 27th Avenue West and onto the highway, speeding toward the dentist appointment I was going to be late for. As soon as I pulled into traffic, everything slowed to a standstill. Even more confusing, I could see that all lanes were stopped, but forward of 15 cars ahead of me the road was wide open. I tried to look ahead to see what was causing the delay (and bitching that I was going to have an upset dentist waiting for me). I was looking for signs of a car accident, but didn’t see any cars out of place. A quick moving shadow drew my attention – there was a black lab running around on the highway!
(more…)

25 Influential Minnesotans in Washington

I just heard an interesting interview on MPR with Michael S. Berman, the UMD graduate who founded the Duberstein Group, a DC campaign consulting organization.

25 Influential Minnesotans in Washington

Politics
Pizza Luce: Butternut Squash
FDLTCC: Pumpin Run

Walk? Bike? Bus? Don’t own a car at all? We want to hear from you!

I’m making a short video about alternative transportation in the Twin Ports, and I’m looking for people who would be interested in being interviewed. The goal of this project is to show different reasons why people don’t drive, and why it’s important to support alternative transportation (buses, sidewalks, bike routes, etc). I am looking to interview people from all walks of life, including, but not limited to…

– People who walk, bike, or bus by choice
– People who walk, bike, or bus out of necessity
– The youth
– The elderly
– The physically disabled
– People who don’t drive much and have kids
– People who live walking distance to everything they need
– The guy who clears the sidewalks for the City
– Anyone else who might be interesting for this project

If you have something to say and think you would be a good interviewee, or know someone who might fit the bill, please email me at lesem002 @ umn.edu. Interviews will be held between February and May.

RandomTransportation

8th Street Video on 9th Street is for sale

I’ve noticed a for sale sign on the 8th Street Video on 9th Street store.  Does anyone know why the owners are selling and what the owner’s plans are?

Also does anyone know the history of how 8th Street Video on 9th Street got its name?

What are the biggest sellers here: movies, ice cream or candy?

History, Photos, Videos
Pier B Resort: Rise and Dine
Glensheen Lantern Tours 2026

PAVSA’s I Love Consensual Sex Party

Join us for a night of music, food and awareness raising!

Music by:
Hattie Peterson
Charile Parr
Cars & Trucks
Coal Car Caboose

Drink special with the purchase of an event T-shirt!

New this year! This an 18+ event from 8-11 p.m. Underagers are invited to join in on the fun from so bring your friends and get ready for a great night!

All proceeds to benefit Program for Aid to Victims of Sexual Assault.

Special thanks to local Duluthian Sam Luoma for T-shirt and poster designs!

Events

Another new Lava Lake mix online now!

Here, for your listening enjoyment, is another brand new Lava Lake mix!

Head on over to KKXYB, click digital download, and then leave some feedback at Lava Lake’s Facebook page.

Thanks a bunch!

(P.S. Minecraft cover art, ooooh yeeeaaah. )

Musicelectronic, Lava Lake
Vision Pro: Year End 2026
Ashwabay Alliance / Big Top Chautauqua

WOJB Presents Kelli Scarr Live Feb 19

Brooklyn singer-songwriter Kelli Scarr spent much of 2009-2010 recording and touring with Moby, including a collaboration for NPR Music’s Project Song. Scarr is currently touring in support of her new album, Piece, and she’s making an exclusive Northern Midwest appearance Feb 19 at the Park Theater, 15791 U.S. Highway 63 in Hayward.

Show time is 7:30PM – Molly Otis & the Danger Band open.

$18/$20 – purchase tickets at wojb.org or 800-776-3689.

Events, MusicConcerts, Hayward, Kelli Scarr, Moby, Park Theater, Piece, WOJB

Roller Dames “Heartbreakers Brawl”

Hello there friends and fans! Harbor City Roller Dames are inviting you to an evening of tough love on Feb. 19 at World of Wheels Skate Center in Superior. We will be hosting our Heartbreakers Brawl, a roller derby mash-up of Valentine’s Day and classic 1980s heavy metal. For the first time ever, it’s HCRD against HCRD as we split up into two teams for the night: Motley Cupids vs. Stuns N’ Roses!
(more…)

Events, SportsRoller Derby
Glensheen Lantern Tours 2026
Ashwabay Alliance / Big Top Chautauqua

Tim Pawlenty: President of the United States of Apocalypse

News and Current Affairs, PoliticsCreepy, Tim Pawlenty

Center of the Universe

A physicist explains why parallel universes may exist

These guys stole my idea circa 1997, probably while they were cruising the astral plane, that our universe may be one among many, perhaps overlapping. Not to draw on the big picture here, but any thoughts? Verify your veracious vicissitudes and I will venerate you.

Geeky
Vision Pro: Year End 2026
Weis Eye Center

Art Needs You!

The Arrowhead Regional Arts Council is currently accepting applications from individuals wishing to serve on its Board of Directors.  There are currently openings for the following two Board positions:  an At-Large representative and a Student Ad-Hoc representative.
(more…)

Art, Music, Recommendations

New Ayurveda 30-day Challenge

What do you know about Ayurveda? No matter your experience level, this 30-day challenge will deepen your knowledge in a practical way that you can incorporate into your life.

Starts this Sunday, Jan. 30. Meets once a week from 6-7:15pm until Feb. 27.
(more…)

Events
Pier B Resort: Rise and Dine
Glensheen Lantern Tours 2026

Laura MacArthur Elementary School A/V Cadets, 1979 to 1984

1979SeanBigler 1980BrownBunkersElsmore 1881RousJakubekGannucciDoherty 1982Hennes 1983PuglisiNetzel 1984VaydichPfisterMahle

Do the kids pose with Blu-ray players these days?

For those of you without a roster: Sean Bigler (1979); Tony Brown, Tom Bunkers and Steve Elsmore (1980); Scott Rous, Dominic Jakubek, Jim Gannucci and Patric Doherty (1981); Richie Hennes (1982); Patti Puglisi and Amber Netzel (1983); Chris Vaydich, Matt Pfister and Jason Mahle (1984).

History, PhotosMacArthur Elementary School

Should we be proud?

This was on Northland’s NewsCenter a few days ago: 

Duluth is now listed as one of the five safest cities in the nation for homeless pets.

A friend of mine says that her neighbor always has dozens of cats that she feeds on her porch. I had a neighbor growing up that was the same way.

Videos
FDLTCC: Pumpin Run
Glensheen Lantern Tours 2026

Ventura vs. DHS & TSA

Jesse Ventura is suing the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and the Transportation Security Administration for violating his rights.

The former governor was patted down by a TSA agent in November and he says his “basic rights to privacy and dignity, and his right to be free from unreasonable searches and seizures” were violated.

Read the whole complaint.

News and Current AffairsJesse "The Body" Ventura