Upon Reflection
The best thing I witnessed today was a child in a big, green, probably homemade helmet shouting at his friends, “Hey! Somebody punch me!”
Beat that.
MNTV Short Film Competition – Win Cash!
MNTV 2009 OPEN CALL FOR SHORT FILMS
DEADLINE: June 11, 2009.
You made a short and WE WANT TO SEE IT!
MNTV is a festival of short films shown on Twin Cities Public Television, TPT. We are seeking films/videos that are 40 minutes or less, made by Minnesota residents. If your film is accepted, you win $500 – $1000! And there’s no entry fee.
For Guidelines and Application Form, go to https://www.ifpmn.org/mntv.html. Questions? Call Lu Lippold at 651-644-1912 x 106, [email protected].
Outdoor Movie Schedule Announced
From Twin Ports Nightlife:
2009 Movies In The Park Schedule
June 19th – Leatherheads (2008) – Rated PG-13
June 26th – Indiana Jones & The Last Crusade (1989) – Rated PG-13
July 3rd – Superman (1978) – Rated PG
July 10th – Kung Fu Panda (2008) – Rated PG
July 17th – Men In Black (1997) – Rated PG-13
July 24th – Journey To The Center Of The Earth-3D (2008) – Rated PG
July 31st – Iron Man (2008) – Rated PG-13
August 7th – Sixteen Candles (1984) – Rated R (original) PG (on appeal)
August 14th – Harry Potter: The Prisoner of Azkaban (2004) – Rated PG
August 21st – Lord Of The Rings: Return of the King (2003) – Rated PG-13
August 28th – Madagascar (2005) – Rated PG
Dink Tank is holding Auditions
Local sketch comedy team DINK TANK will be holding auditions this Tuesday, May 12th at 7pm at the Teatro Zuccone, 222 East Superior St downtown.
They are looking to expand their team of writers and performers for their September and December shows. You won’t need to prepare anything, as they’ll be asking people to do cold readings from existing sketches.
Tooth Terror
Anyone have a suggestion for an oral surgeon for a squeamish, terrified patient with a screwed up wisdom tooth? I’m talking about a doc who is a pro with pain management, read: will knock my butt out and send me home with adequate pillage.
A & Dubs
I am new to Duluth and live over here in West End…My son and I are concerned about A&Dubs. Does anyone know when it usually opens? Will it survive the new jr high school renovations? I tried to call the number and it is disconnected. I though maybe it opens like Memorial Day or something and folks who are more in the loop would just already know that.
How others see us

A travel article / narrative about Duluth was posted today on the Chicago Tribune website; it looks like it might be slated to run in Sunday’s paper.
The writer includes lots of local businesses and sights. There are some factual errors, but those aside it’s fun to see how others see us. Unfortunately, it appears there are no photos with the article (the picture with this post was taken by me from Enger Tower in late summer 2006).
‘Honking Tree’ on CBC Radio
The sad story of the “Honking Tree” got national media play in Canada last night on CBC Radio’s “As It Happens.” I’m not sure if the segment was included in the edited-down version of the show that airs on MPR.
The tree segment is a few minutes in; you have to wait through a couple of other segments.
Obligatory first tick(s) of the season post
It’s official, yesterday was the Perfect Duluth Day. The ticks are out today. I plucked off my first one at 4:35 p.m. and the second at 4:37 p.m.
And yes, I do post on PDD about ticks pretty much every spring. It’s what I do.
What Were You Watching?
Taviette Film Productions: Trailer 2008
Parts of this new movie were shot in Duluth.
The premiere is Saturday, May 9, 7 p.m., at the Suburban World Theatre, 3022 Hennepin Ave., Minneapolis. It’s free.
GOD ROCKED needs you!!
…and on the 7th day, God Rocked is competing online in the Independent Features Film Festival.
Top vote-getters will be shown in Tribeca in July. Click here to vote for GOD ROCKED
You can watch God Rocked and other films in their entirety FOR FREE on this site! Check it out!
SPREAD THE WORD!
thanks
Spaghetti dinner & silent auction benefit
When: Friday, May 8th
Time: 5-7pm
Where: Mr D’s 5622 Grand Ave. Duluth
What: fundraiser for the Kari Hart family
Many of you know the Hart family. They are such a blessing to so many people and have always been willing to help others in need.
Kari was diagnosed with Gall Bladder Cancer and so far medical bills have exceeded $400,000. Terry has missed half his workdays to care for Kari since January 2008.
There will be a Spaghetti Dinner Fundraiser at Mr. D’s along with a silent auction. There are 100’s of items to bid on in the auction including a Cirrus Disign scenic flight for three! Suggested donation for the dinner is $10. I hope you can come!
just a few other gifts and certificates:
Healing Hands Massage, Superior
Burger King
Beaner’s
The Shack Supper Club
Duluth Grill
Athlete’s Foot
Alicia Ligman Pampered Chef
Carlson’s Floor Center
The Reader
Keyport Liquor
Grandma’s Saloon & Grill
and so many more!
For more information or to donate call:
Robin: 218-391-3077
Donations may be sent to:
Kari Hart Medical Fund
MCCU
215 N. 40th Ave. W.
Duluth, MN 55807
Do You Remember O’Keefe?
According to this website, the Duluth Public Library had a library cat named “O’Keefe” from 1982 to 1996.
I moved here in 1994 and have never seen nor heard anything about O’Keefe. Any of you long-timers know more? Why don’t we have a current library cat? I’d love to peruse the sci-fi section and come across a napping tabby.
(This isn’t an actual photo of O’Keefe – I just thought it was a cute pic)
$25 for priceless
Took the kiddies out to Jay Cooke Park yesterday. Including the newest gosling on his first ever trip to nature.
Ashland Folk Festival
Come on out and see some great folk music on May 14th to the 16th at the Ashland Folk Festival in Ashland, WI.
the line-up includes:
Tracy Grammer, Bingham and Thorne, the Roe Family Singers
The Floor Birds, Whistle Pigs, Old Knifey and the Cutthroats, and Tenzin Ngawang with dance group.
Come check it out!
ashlandfolkfestival.org
Arrowhead Journey – Erik Simula – 1000 mile canoe journey

Arrowhead Journey 1000 Mile Canoe Journey
While on a hike this afternoon with my dog near Grand Marais I met Erik Simula on a unique canoeing journey. Erik is a Duluth native and he is in the midst of a 1000 mile Minnesota canoe journey spread of the next 3 months. The journey started in Grand Portage on earth day April 22nd and Erik will paddle and portage his way from Grand Portage to Duluth to Grand Rapids to International Falls and back to Grand Portage in time for the 2009 annual rendezvous on August 7th. O’yea….BTW… All in a canoe he made by hand and with his paddling partner dog Kitigan. Click Here for the details of his trip on Erik Simua’s blog. Good Luck Erik!
See a couple more pictures I took during my brief conversation with him on the shores of Lake Superior as he landed on shore to camp due to the poor wind conditions and rough seas for paddling. Hopefully he will be in Duluth within the next week or so!! Here is the url to his web site: https://arrowheadjourney.wordpress.com/
Your chance to say thank you
Another great Homegrown Music Festival – it’s absolutely amazing to see the talent that we have in town.
Homegrown would not be possible without the efforts of a lot of people working throughout the year, behind the scenes, to make it happen. Paul Connolly, who has been festival director over the past two years has done a great job. Paul Lundgren, Adam Guggemos, and all of the volunteers who contributed deserve our thanks. And of course happy birthday and thanks to Starfire for giving life to the festival. Remember to frequent the venues who support original live music throughout the year.
If you had a good time this week, take a moment to write a note of thanks for those who made it possible.
Homegrown 2009 Photo Retrospective
View the full set of 495 images from Homegrown 2009 on Flickr. (more…)




















