Ensculptic — Minnetrista, Minnesota
The name of this house is “Ensculptic,” which is short for “environmental sculpture in plastic.” Most people prefer to call it the “Mushroom House,” “Flintstone House,” “Hobbit House” or simply “That Weird House in Minnetrista.”
The place is now known as “The Foam House” on Houselogic’s “7 Crazy Houses” list.
S.Carey with Sarah Krueger @ UMD
Sean Carey of Bon Iver is coming to UMD with his band in support of his album, “All We Grow” on Tuesday, January 25th. Local favorite, Sarah Krueger, will be opening the night with a full band set.
9pm in the Kirby Ballroom
Free to UMD Students / $5 Others
Saturday night at Chester Creek Wine Bar
Heat up the cold night of Saturday, Jan. 15, with the African folk beats of Hank Turnquist. If it warms up a bit too much, grab a pint of Surly Furious or Bells 2 Hearted and get $2 off each pint from 4-7. Appetizer specials offered all evening!
Major Gifts Consultant
Safe Haven Shelter for Battered Women Position Summary:
Responsible for implementing all major gifts fundraising in coordination with the executive director, Sustainable Funding Committee, and the Board of Directors.
Essential Functions:
– Play an active role in identifying, cultivating and asking for major gifts.
– Support the Executive Director and key volunteers in major gifts solicitations.
– Maintain stewardship contacts with donors; adhere to the highest ethical standards; demonstrate empathetic disposition, and perseverance; reflect optimistic and positive attitude and convey sensitivity to needs of the donors.
– Maintain constituent reports for every donor contact.
– Set and achieve agreed-up performance goals.
– Utilize and supervise entry of progress in donor software.
For a complete listing of the job description and contact information please go to the Safe Haven Shelter website.
Micha Mellang’s Favorite XC Ski Places
[This post originally contained an embedded video that is no longer available at its source.]
Tim Pawlenty on The Daily Show
[This post originally contained an embedded video that is no longer available at its source.]
The complete, unedited interview from last night.
Atmosphere coming to Duluth!
Minnesota’s favorite rap duo is embarking on a Welcome To Minnesota Tour this February with stops in Mankato (22), Bemidji (23), St. Cloud (24), Rochester (25) and Duluth (26).
The Duluth show will take place in UMD’s Romano Gymnasium. Besides Atmosphere, the tour also includes Prof, Los Nativos, and DJ Abilities.
Duluth TV Recycling
I finally upgraded the last of our TVs into the flat-screen age. Does anyone know where to recycle this old “boat anchor” that we have left? I suppose there’s a disposal fee. Any idea how much this is? Thanks for the help. Will likely be going to analog TV heaven this weekend.
Duluth Snowshoe-buying Advice
I’ve become a true Minnesotan — I went snowshoeing for the first time this past weekend. We checked out Lester Park and Park Point. I enjoyed snowshoeing so much I’ve decided to buy a pair with some gift money my generous in-laws gave me. Does anyone have any recommendations on where to buy snowshoes in Duluth? Any recommendations regarding brands also?
Duluth’s London Road Motel Row
Back in the 1950s and later on London Road was called Motel Row. Can anybody recall the names of the motels? I can only recall the Viking Motel and the Lake Aire Motel. What were the others? Does anybody have some old postcards to post? I have only the Viking Motel postcard and matches. I wish to recall the others! Chime in please!
Favorite Jungle Places?
Nothing throws salt in the eye of minus temperatures more than a week long furlough to some remote jungle destination. Are there any favorite south of the border places sans condos you’ve discovered? I know a Duluth native who drove through Mexico once and discovered a cooler full of beer and ice on the road in the middle of nowhere, they grabbed it and drove off. Stories/Favorite Unknown Palapas?!?! I was partial to Barra De Navidad in the the State of Colima, and heard nice things about Ecuador.
Howlin’ Andy Hound @ R Bar
Tuesday, Jan. 11
Andy Hound: “The Charlie Parr of the R Bar”
21 N. Fourth Ave. W., Duluth, MN
Free
Haiti Earthquake Victims Remembrance at First Lutheran
First Lutheran Church Duluth invites all to a day of prayer and remembrance of Ben Larson, his family and all the victims of the Haiti earthquake on the one year anniversary of this disaster. Organized Prayer times in the church sanctuary will be 8:00-9:00 a.m., 12:00-12:30 p.m., 3:45-4:45 p.m. and 7:00-7:30 p.m. Bells will be rung at 3:53 pm the time of the earthquake in support of “Bells for Haiti.” Free will offerings will be accepted for ELCA World Relief efforts in Haiti. The Sanctuary will be open all day for people to come and pray as their schedule allows. (more…)
XC Skiing at Hartley Park
Fresh snow is falling- which makes tomorrow a great time to get to Hartley Park and Nature Center for some cross-country skiing. Tomorrow night, Jan. 12, from 7-8:30 pm, join members of the Duluth XC Ski Club for an evening headlamp ski on Hartley’s trails. Warm beverages will be provided in the Nature Center. Families are invited!
Dirty Horse: Tartan EP Release Party
Dirty Horse will be hosting a party in celebration of its first studio endeavor: Tartan E.P. The party will open at 9:30 with an acoustic set by Jason Schooler, followed by a groovy set by Big Wave Dave and the Ripples around 10, and last will be an extra rowdy rock set by Dirty Horse.
Bring a wig for head-banging (if you don’t already have long hair), comfortable shoes for jumping, and an appetite for second-hand merchandise! Rowdy!
Mike and Kurt’s Kiteboarding Session in Mahtomedi, Minnesota
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bQT2Jf8Qi5Y
Breaking News from American Library Association
Heart of a Samurai (Amulet) by Margi Preus, a Duluth resident, has been named a Newbery Honor Book at the ALA’s midwinter meeting in San Diego. Dark Emperor (Houghton Mifflin) by Joyce Sidman of Minneapolis, illustrated by Rick Allen of Duluth’s Kenspeckle LetterPress, has also been named a Newbery Honor Book. They are two of four Newbery Honor Books — basically they were the four runners-up to the book, Moon Over Manifest, that won the Newbery Medal this year.
The Newbery Medal is given each year to the author of that year’s most distinguished contribution to American children’s literature.
This is a very big deal, congratulations to Margi and to Rick!
New Lava Lake mix available for download!
There is a new set available for download from my friend James Larson’s new electronic project, Lava Lake, combined with an overhaul of my website, and a new page for his music.
Minnesota woman’s pregnancy survives
falling cow, tornado
And the dish ran away with the spoon!
From the Star Tribune.
A Minnesota woman who was pregnant when a tornado dropped a cow on her last summer has given birth to the baby.
Do words, language and images matter?
I grew up with a father and friends who were hunters. Hunting is a way of staying connected to the land and procuring food, at least that’s what it was when I was growing up. My father rented a meat locker, we ate venison, and Mom and I each got a leather coat, gloves and matching purses. Mine was a buckskin fringe jacket, the envy of my Minneapolis cousins. I wore it for five years, then my brother wore it for another five years. One thing we did not do: Joke about guns or shooting someone.
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Nerd Nite #7
The nerds are at it again. Come on out for accidental learning and intentional awkwardness.
Shawn Thompson Photography Exhibit
Featured photographer Shawn Thompson’s natural landscape photography will be exhibited at the Duluth Photography Institute, 405 E. Superior St. in Duluth through mid-February. There is a free public reception at the DPI facility on Friday, Jan. 14, from 5-8pm.
Shawn will be available to discuss his work and refreshments will be served. RSVPs are encouraged, but not necessary — e-mail dpi @ duluthphotographyinstitute.com, go to the DPI website at duluthphotographyinstitute.com, or look for the DPI on Facebook. For more information on Shawn and his work, go to shawnthompsonphotography.com.