Happy Holidays from Rubber Chicken and Perfect Duluth Day

Brian Barber Dec 02, 2013 3 Comments

Here’s a little ditty from this year’s Rubber Chicken Theater holiday comedy revue — How the Grinch Shut Down Christmas, or, I Saw Rudolph Twerking Santa Claus — featuring Greg J. Anderson, Sharon Dixon Obst and Anders Hultstrom.

Thanks to Dean Vogtman at Happy Tree Productions for the use of his studio, and the fine folks at Beaner’s Central who had to shimmy around our cameras to get across the room.

All outdoor scenes were actually shot outdoors.


Music, Videos ,

This week: double headers, global warming and a boy who wouldn’t grow up

Lawrence Lee Dec 02, 2013 4 Comments

  

Here’s a sampling of what you have to look forward to this week on the PDD Calendar.

Monday, Monday, Monday at Duluth City Hall! It’s a city planning double header with public meetings to discuss revising zoning regulations and street improvement back to back! Get your civics on! Update: The street improvement meeting has been postponed due to snow.

And, speaking of double headers, the Harbor City Roller Dames are hosting a double header on Saturday at the DECC.

“Dear Mr. Watterson,” a film documentary about Calvin & Hobbes and its creator, Bill Watterson, is showing on Tuesday at Zinema 2 as part of the Explorers Club series.

Four plays open on Thursday: “Peter Pan” opens at the Duluth Playhouse and runs three weekends, “Compleat Female Stage Beauty” opens at UMD and runs two weekends, and “The Odyssey” opens at Harbor City Theater and “Yes, Virginia” opens at Denfeld, both running just this weekend.

And, as we enter into the holiday season, you can track Christmas events right here.

So what are you doing this week? Can we tag along? Any upcoming events that you want to promote? Let us know.


Events

Old Seven Bridges Road sled hill

donny2guns Dec 01, 2013 4 Comments

I remember fondly tubing down a hill on Seven Bridges Road. You used to be able to rent tubes from the chalet. They have a nice lighted trail system for cross-country skiing at Lester Park. What would be needed to get the sled hill going again?


Sports , , ,

Information Overload – Need a virtual tutor

duluth_bishop Dec 01, 2013 5 Comments

Spent a few minutes with Google looking for a decent app or website we can direct our kids to for working on the skills and concepts being introduced in the classroom. We are open to a subscription service, but don’t want to commit without some endorsement or referral from a trusted PDDer. Sure, there is plenty out there for free, but weeding through advertisements and such makes it complicated and cumbersome at times – we’d also like to track progress. Any of you using anything you can recommend? Specifically looking for math, spelling and phonics for the K-5 audience.


Recommendations , , ,

Trampled by Turtles – “Pipe Knot”

Paul Lundgren Nov 30, 2013 No Comments

Video by Daniel McCord, shot live at the Georgia Theatre on Nov. 14. Next local TBT gig: Dec. 21 at Papa Charlies in Lutsen.


Music, Videos

Fond du Lac Park’s Winter Sports Center: The Lake Placid of the Northwest

Paul Lundgren Nov 29, 2013 1 Comment

The subject of Fond du Lac’s old Winter Sports Center came up on PDD once before, about a year ago. Earlier this week, I came across this Feb. 4, 1940, Duluth News Tribune clipping at the Duluth Public Library, reporting on construction of the ski jumping hill and amenities.

The floods of 1972 marked the end of this western Duluth attraction, when the ski jump was removed due to erosion.

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History, Sports

Thankful in Duluth — 2013 Edition

Paul Lundgren Nov 27, 2013 11 Comments

It’s an annual tradition at PDD to take a moment and reflect on what we are thankful for. How unique, right?

For starters, we’re thankful for the new old Nordic ski trails at Spirit Mountain, Sax-Zim Bog, wicked North Shore icicles, artisan bread at the Red Mug, lift-accessed mountain biking at Spirit Mountain, animated music videos, Boreal owl irruptions, Magic Smelt Puppet Troupe and a lot of other things I’m thankful I don’t have time to link to because it’s time to make the Thanksgiving glogg.

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Random ,

Lefse-perate

jessige Nov 27, 2013 4 Comments

Too much?

I’m looking for gluten-free lefse. Has anyone seen any around?


Uncategorized

Could Duluth lose Christmas City status?

Paul Lundgren Nov 26, 2013 24 Comments

This story is four days old, but I just heard about it and it’s pretty much the biggest controversy in the history of Duluth, so it needs some space on PDD.

Apparently the commentators of the Christmas City of the North Parade telecast — Michelle Lee, Kevin Jacobsen and Barbara Reyelts — did their announcing in front of a green screen inside the Northland’s NewsCenter studio. And they still wore jackets.

This revelation, of course, has me fearing that Santa Claus might strip Duluth of its Christmas City of the North status and perhaps bestow it on Superior or Thunder Bay.


Random ,

Motorcycle Trials at Spirit Mountain

wileskws Nov 25, 2013 No Comments

August 23-25 of 2013 marked the weekend of the American Motorcyclist Association NATC Motorcycle Trials Rounds 9 and 10, which were held at Spirit Mountain.  This is a short video recap of some of the riding that took place that weekend.  The event was quite amazing to watch.  These riders have unbelievable skill and balance and have definitely honed their craft.  If you ever have the chance to see this type of competition in person I highly recommend it!


Recommendations, Sports, Videos

PDD Gift Guide 2013

Brian Barber Nov 25, 2013 15 Comments

Get your commerce on. Here is PDD’s annual reminder that the real purpose of Christmas is to obtain material things … as long as they are locally made.

This being the fifth year of the PDD Gift Guide, most of you know the drill by now, but for uninitiated newbies the concept is simple: The folks behind the curtain at PDD select 15 locally-based holiday gift ideas. The community at large is free to add other suggestions and links in the comment section below, with some effort to not be too redundant and repeat items from the Gift Guides of Christmases Past.

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Recommendations ,

This week: motorized snow sports, turkey and the Russians are coming! The Russians are coming!

Lawrence Lee Nov 25, 2013 3 Comments

  

Here’s a sampling of what you have to look forward to this week on the PDD Calendar.

Want to make the old Nettleton School into a paintball course? A Buddhist temple? A cereal museum? Let the Duluth City Planning Commission know at the public meeting tonight at Old Central High.

The UMD Women’s Hockey Team takes on the Russian National Team at Amsoil Arena on Tuesday.

Thursday is Thanksgiving with free dinners being served at the DECC and at Faith UMC in Superior.

The Duluth National Snocross starts Friday and runs through Sunday at Spirit Mountain.

So what are you doing this week? Can we tag along? Any upcoming events that you want to promote? Let us know.


Events

Call for Vendors

FloWrencia Nov 24, 2013 No Comments

Hardworking craftspersons and working artists looking to share their creations and make some extra cash during the holidays are invited to participate in Washington Studio Artist Co-op‘s upcoming Holiday Arts & Crafts Festival.

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Art

Paved Trails at Hartley

bluenewt Nov 24, 2013 35 Comments

I was out at Hartley Park this morning and saw that someone had posted signs letting visitors know that the city is considering paving a bunch of trails there. I looked up the mini master plan for Hartley that SRF Consulting Group prepared, and it does indeed call for paved trails running through the park to provide access for bikers, wheelchairs, and parents with strollers. I’m curious about what other PDDers think of this proposal.


News and Current Affairs, Outdoors ,

… and now for the jury of public opinion

Paul Lundgren Nov 23, 2013 7 Comments

Duluth police officer Jouppi found not guilty of assault

What do you think?

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This poll is now closed. The results are:

This is total bullshit — 90.6 percent
Jouppi was defending himself and the jury’s decision was wise — 9.4 percent


News and Current Affairs, Polls
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