Nerdigras

It was a duel for the ages, but eventually, my light sabre sliced off Steve Farnham’s metaphorical hand in the Spelling Bee at Nerd Nite Duluth, at the Zuccone.

The view down at the lake a couple days ago.

Lot of hoo-haw fer nuthin

No change in Minnesota’s 8th Congressional District, except that it now includes more of Betrami County.

Twin Ports Illuminated Signs

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I’m sad to see that the Big L sign has gone dark. It’s definitely my favorite illuminated sign in the area. Here’s a gallery of a few more of my favorites. I’m sure there are others that I’ve missed, so if you have some photos you’d like to share, please do so in the comments.

Duluth needs a monster of its own

Earlier today I was reading about the Red Dwarf of Detroit, a harbinger of doom that’s been haunting the Detroit area for hundreds of years. It’s described as “a small child-like creature with red or black fur boots” that has “blazing red eyes and rotten teeth.”

Other communities have monsters that are unique to their location. Point Pleasant, WV has the Mothman. Southern New Jersey has the Jersey Devil. Botetourt County, VA and Mattoon, IL have the Mad Gasser, who was more of a serial killer really but I’m still including it here.

Mayor Ness wants to get the population back up to 90,000. Maybe some good old-fashioned mass hysteria is what we need to put this town back on the map.

If Duluth had a monster of its own, what would it be like? When would would it appear? Where would it appear? What would it be called?

Giant Panda reopens downtown

Want a filling meal on your lunch break, but don’t want to break the bank? This lady will serve you right up. Qihui Li and Yi Zhong moved out of their West Duluth space and re-opened downtown just one week ago in the old Saigon Cafe location. They own and operate this restaurant, which almost has a fast-food feel. The food was served quickly, relatively cheap, and surprisingly good.

Lights out at the ‘Big L’

I just noticed the Spirit Bottle Shoppe at 5801 Grand Ave. in West Duluth is closed and the building is for sale. I will miss the big red light and friendly service.

(Tiny photo circa 2004 by Barrett Chase.)

Congdon Park Elementary Rinks

I’m a journalism student at UMD and I am writing about the history of the Congdon Park Elementary rinks. Today I talked to Bob Mars about the rinks and he mentioned a man that helped a lot there when he was a kid in the 1930s. He said the man’s name was Mr. Swan, but unfortunately could not remember his first name! Does anyone know anything about him? And, hopefully, do you know his first name? Furthermore, does anyone have any old pictures of the rinks with the old warming house?

Fresh Filmmakers + Script-to-Screen Combo Grant

IFP Minnesota has teamed up with MCTC and the Screenwriters’ Workshop to offer an updated Fresh Filmmakers Production Grant.

Marooned in Pack Ice Off Deception Island

Loll Designs is hiring

Loll Designs is hiring for a full-time customer service/administrative assistant position. Please visit MNworks.org for more info. All resumes should be e-mailed to sales @ lolldesigns.com by Friday, Feb. 24. Please do not stop in or call.

Raven & Associates, Inc. looking for another warm body

Here we go again, all you PDD people! Raven & Associates, Inc., a promotional products company right here in Duluth, is looking for another talented, skilled, and charming individual to act as a office assistant to our customer service team. We are a growing company, a great place to work, and very odd.

Here’s the basic info on the job: Full-time office assistant job.  Hourly wage beginning at +$10 per hour, flexible scheduling, retirement benefits and partial health insurance. Previous experience working in an office environment (you know, with computers), background in art, and interest in outdoors preferred.

For more info, call Dave at 740-2769 or drop me an email at raven @ duluthmn.com.

This week: Atmosphere, A Prairie Home Companion, Nerdigras, and more

Tuesday, Feb. 21
Celebrate Fat Tuesday with fellow nerds at Nerdigras.

Thursday, Feb. 23
Atmosphere returns to Duluth for his second annual Welcome to Minnesota Tour.

Friday, Feb. 24
North End Arts Gallery presents an exhibition of work by emerging artists called Culture ZooCommunist Daughter plays Luce with The Keep Aways.

Saturday, Feb. 25
Trampled by Turtles and the Grand Rapids High School Jazz Ensemble join Garrison Keillor in a live broadcast of A Prairie Home Companion. Wear your best ’80s ski apparel for Spirit Mountain’s Bad Fashion Ski Party 5: Ultimate ’80s Flashback.

As always, keep checking the PDD Calendar for all your night out needs.

Target / Market Pantry Milk

My 1-year-old son has thrown up three times in his life (not spit up, but completely emptying the contents of his stomach).  I am wondering if it is related to market pantry milk.  We normally buy Kemps or Arrowhead from Super One, but this week my wife bought it from Target because she was already there.

I read some things on Google related to “Market Pantry Taste” and may just be paranoid, so I figured I would ask. Does anyone else think the market pantry brand of milk has an abnormal aftertaste?

Looking for a good HVAC contractor

Bonus time is almost here and this new Duluth resident would like to add air conditioning to the upper floor of the house I bought last August. (With our current weather, it seems like summer is just around the corner.) Home uses hot water to heat, so no ducts! Can anyone recommend someone?

Do NOT follow this link or you will be banned from the site!