In the Heart of Voyageurs National Park: The Fisher Trail
This trail camera footage was shot in a remote location on the Kabetogama Peninsula, about 120 miles northwest of Duluth in Voyageurs National Park. The footage is from fall 2021 and features a variety of wildlife. The wolves in the video are the Cranberry Bay Pack.
The camera was set up by the Voyageurs Wolf Project, which is focused on understanding the summer ecology of wolves in the park.
PDD Quiz: Valentine’s Day 2023
From swing dancing to shot-glass making, there are options galore for celebrating love with your valentine, galentine, or palentine. This week’s quiz takes a deep dive into local Valentine’s Day offerings (many of which can be found on the PDD event calendar).
The next PDD quiz will review the month’s headlines and happenings; it will be published on Feb. 26. Submit question suggestions to Alison Moffat at [email protected] by Feb. 22. (more…)
Selective Focus: Friends of the Light
An animated projection project called Friends of the Light centers around visual art created by Emily Koch and Tara Austin. Their brush strokes were recorded, animated and enhanced by Daniel Benoit to be displayed at Bayfront Festival Park’s ice rink. The projection display, which skaters can view as they access the warming shelter for free, was organized with the support of the Duluth Public Arts Commission, and Duluth’s City Parks and Recreation Department. Below is an interview with Benoit, as well as photos of the process and first night of the event. (more…)
Aanjitoon
Whenever I am sipping cool water under this sign, I know I am going to have a good time. (more…)
UMD Student Profile: Alesha Ouren
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CtRqsYuqBZE
Alesha Ouren is a graduating senior at the University of Minnesota Duluth. She works at Glensheen Mansion and has a passion for history and its importance. She hopes to continue working in museums as she moves into her career.
Video: Sledding at the 2023 Laskiainen Finnish Festival
Videographer Adam Jagunich took his drone for a winter flight in the small Iron Range town of Palo, about 40 miles north of Duluth, to capture sledding scenes from the 85th annual Laskiainen Finnish Festival last weekend. (more…)
Duluth Mojo
Oral Histories of Poetry in Duluth
Bart Sutter has shared with me some of his important work as poet laureate. Below is a document from his collection, a partial transcript of a panel he organized. The panel set out to construct an oral history of poetry in Duluth.
I would love more info about the panel or about the clubs and organizations listed therein. (more…)
Duluth Mail Bag: Snow Removal, Budgets and Bag Fees
As a two-time Duluth city councilor, now in my final year of service, one of my goals is to make city government more accessible, or at least help citizens become more informed. I figure there are a lot of Duluthians who would like some simple answers to some simple questions. I learned in school that if there is something you don’t understand it’s likely there are many others who feel the same way. Hence the idea of the Duluth Mailbag column.
I won’t divulge who is asking the questions, but I’ll answer them in this format about once a month. Feel free to put a question in the comments for next month’s “Duluth Mailbag” or tweet me via @Hobbs_Duluth or email me at hobbsforduluth @ gmail.com.
Also, if you want to have a longer conversation, you can sign up for a 45-minute cup of coffee through my 100 Cups of Coffee project.
OK, here we go! (more…)
Management shift at WDSE “The North” brings change
Under new station manager Brian Rickman, 103.3 FM WDSE has moved to new music programming software and begun considering changes to its schedule, the Duluth News Tribune reports.
We are here. Hear us! An invitation to participate
This event looks pretty cool, and everyone is invited to tell their story. It grows out of the Green Card Voices project. (more…)
The Merry Kiss Cam Cinematic Universe
Kip Praslowicz is perhaps best known in Duluth as a photographer and on YouTube as a ranter, but did you know he’s also a championship bowler? A movie shot in Duluth in 2022 has the proof. In his latest video, Praslowicz delves into Merry Kiss Cam from a local’s perspective.
Obituary of Peter S. Svenson, Minnesota’s Rogue Historian
August 23rd 1947-January 24th(?) 2022. The historian Peter Sven Svenson died without heirs sometime last week according to his autopsy. He will be buried in Forest Hills cemetery in Duluth after the spring thaw. Speaking as one of his only friends, I have penned this obituary.
A document hoarder, Svenson was practically the state’s analog back-up brain for decades, and its conscience.
He was a popular history professor at UMD from 1973-2002. However, he tussled with the university over the legitimacy of his sources. Then they disavowed his work altogether when issues arose about his statistical analyses. Under pressure, he took early retirement, but sued the university for defamation. He lost.
Svenson went on to self-publish books, monographs, and articles, but struggled to find a paying audience. His most important work was produced during this period. Being his friend enabled my access to his research and unpublished manuscripts. (more…)
“What About the Legend of the Underwater Lake?”
This informative article refers to the “legend” of Lake Inferior, which originated here at Perfect Duluth Day with my 5/8/21 Saturday Essay, “Lake Inferior: the Underground Lake Beneath Lake Superior.” From a blog post to legend in less than two years — oh, internet! The informative article summarizes the “legend,” linking to the PDD Saturday Essay as the source, which is repeated in a second article seemingly plagiarizing the first: (more…)
Old Softball Field in Midway Township
On Midway/Becks Road, about a quarter mile south of Interstate 35 and just west of the former Nopeming Sanatorium, sits a softball — or perhaps youth baseball — field that doesn’t appear to have been played on in about 40 years. These photos are from November. (more…)
Northeastern Minnesota Book Awards 2023 Call for Nominations
Lake Superior Writers is seeking nominations for the 2023 Northeastern Minnesota Book Awards.
The categories have changed and are as follows: Nonfiction; Fiction; Children’s Literature; Middle Grade/Young Adult; Poetry; and Memoir. Art/Photography is now part of the Nonfiction category. A $40 entry fee is required for each nominated title. (more…)
Duluth Incline Magic Lantern Glass Slides from 1893
Car on the Seventh Ave Incline Duluth Minn. 1893
Images here of the Duluth Incline Railway are from three lantern slides, also known as “magic lanterns.” According to the website of the Magic Lantern Society of U.S. and Canada, the slides generally “consist of two sheets of glass, one of which has the image on one side of it and the other which covers the image, and bound all around by a black paper tape.” (more…)
The Story of Grace
Austin McConnell delves into the backstory of Grace, the official state photograph of Minnesota. Photographer Eric Enstrom shot the image in 1918 at his home in Bovey, about 60 miles northwest of Duluth.
My retirement fund in squished pennies
I told artist Moira Villard that she was my retirement plan, as I pressed six pennies at the Duluth Public Library on Saturday. Someday, when she’s even more famous, these pennies will be worth more than a cent! (more…)
List of Duluth Authors from Duluth Public Library Vertical File
It used to be, a library committed to local information had to keep it in a “clippings file” or “vertical file.” The local history room at the Duluth Public Library still has one and has a master entry on clippings about authors from/in Duluth. (more…)
West Duluth theater project moves forward, seeks city loan
The Alhambra Theater sits just to the east of the West Theatre on Central Avenue in West Duluth (Photos by Mark Nicklawske)
A long-lost vaudeville theater renovation gained ground this week when city officials authorized grant money to fund a business loan for the West Duluth entertainment district project.
The Duluth Economic Development Authority approved a $150,000 grant Jan. 25 to the city of Duluth 1200 Fund for restoration work at the Alhambra Theater, 321 N. Central Ave. The move allows the 1200 Fund to loan building owner Paladin Properties LLC a total of $200,000 for project completion. (more…)