Perfect Duluth Day

Duluth’s Point of Rocks

Paul Lundgren Dec 28, 2010 46 Comments

The main personality split in Duluth occurs about where an interfering spine of rocks comes down from the hill to Superior Street just a few blocks west of midtown. West of this point of rocks Duluth is politically left, east of it it is politically right. But there is a certain uniting force in cold weather, of which Duluth has its share.

–From “Duluth,” an essay by Arthur W. Baum
in the April 16, 1949, Saturday Evening Post

The Peerless Auto Body Fire post on PDD sparked some discussion of the former Peerless location near Point of Rocks, which led to some interest in the history of Point of Rocks.

So, here we go …

History, Photos Point of Rocks

Where in Duluth?

Paul Lundgren Dec 28, 2010 4 Comments

Time once again to play Perfect Duluth Day’s marvelous photo quiz game, “Where in Duluth?” Where is this burglar alarm?

Photos Where in Duluth?

Am I the only one who sees this coming?

Codie Dec 27, 2010 22 Comments

I have been reading a lot about peak oil and peak natural gas production lately. To me, these seem like they will be the biggest issues of the 21st century. We need oil and natural gas to drive our cars, heat our homes, grow our food, transport our goods, etc. Our whole economy relies on cheap, non-renewable fossil-fuel energy, so why is nobody talking about this?! I honestly feel that most of our national problems (the war in the Middle East, the economic recession, etc.) are largely due to a declining production of energy.

I know that some people are aware of this issue, but it seems most folks either don’t understand the full implications or simply just don’t care. It just grinds my gears when people assume that we will always be able to run our economy the way we’re running it now. What do you all think about this? Should we start preparing Duluth for a post-oil world, or do we just ignore it and see what happens?

News and Current Affairs

Peerless Auto Body Fire

banjo tom Dec 27, 2010 41 Comments

I woke up at 4 a.m. to pee and saw a blaze out my window. It was so huge, we thought it might be Prax-Air. As of 8 a.m., it’s still burning.

News and Current Affairs Fire, Point of Rocks

Maria Bamford is officially a freak

Brian Barber Dec 27, 2010 2 Comments

Former Duluthian Maria Bamford and her series of Target ads made AdWeek’s 30 freakiest ads of 2010.

Art, Videos Maria Bamford, Media, Weird

For What it’s Worth, part deux

marcgart Dec 26, 2010 8 Comments

Two Many Banjos – Fatwa

A coupla folks have said some kind things about the Gartband CD Fatwa, so here it is for free for a week or so.

Merry chrimbus!

Music

2011 Community Potluck & Open House

PittStreetYogis Dec 26, 2010 No Comments

Yoga North invites the public to a Community Potluck & Open House on Sunday, Jan. 2, 2-5pm. This is our annual kick-off to our Winter session of classes.

Ann Maxwell RYT 500

Enjoy free half-hour demo yoga classes, discounts on everything (including class registration, workshops, props, mats, posture and philosophy books, clothing, etc.), as well as community time with instructors and fellow students.

Bring a dish to share along with a plate and utensils for yourself. Yoga North is located in the Lakeside neighborhood of Duluth in St. Michael’s Elementary School at 4628 Pitt St. in Duluth. Enter at the far east Pitt Street door.

This is a great time to start yoga. Our Winter session of classes begins Monday, Jan. 3, including over 20 weekly classes in Hatha, Vinyasa, Ashtanga, Kundalini, Yin and Restorative yoga. New classes include “Your Body” yoga, “Yamas & Niyamas on the Mat,” “Boundless Yoga,” and additional Hatha yoga classes added to the schedule, helping to make yoga available to everyone despite their schedules.

Come to the open house to learn more! New and returning students welcome.

Events

Duluth Meal Deals and Happy Hours

David Beard Dec 25, 2010 15 Comments

I took a lot of heat from friends for always going to Green Mill for Happy Hour. $5 apps that make me think of college, you know.

But it made me think about meal deals around town for happy hour. What do you got?

1. Green Mill, $5 apps
2. Midi: Is this right? Buy one, get one entrees?
3. Blackwater: $5 pizzas? How big are these pizzas?
4. Thai Krathong: All you can eat Pad Thai Tuesday? Does it include beef/shrimp/chicken?
5. Sammy’s Woodland: All you can eat pizza buffet Tuesdays?

and

1. Lunch at Saigon Cafe, buffet for $5.99?

What else can you add to this list? I want to eat out in new and exciting places this week!

Recommendations, Restaurants Food

Rolling papers

lojasmo Dec 25, 2010 19 Comments

Simple question: What gas station has rolling papers, close to Fitger’s?

Random

The Ongoing Tom & Jerry Batter Issue

Paul Lundgren Dec 24, 2010 11 Comments

So, perhaps you have been following along with the recent comments on last year’s PDD Gift Guide regarding Connolly’s Tom And Jerry Batter. The news that came out there is that Upper Lakes Foods, which owns the Connolly family recipe, no longer has a manufacturer to produce it. The supply ran out shortly after Thanksgiving, leaving consumers with the choice of either buying inferior brands or making the batter themselves.

The folks at Heavy Table took up the topic today with a little history of the fine tradition of applying sugary frosting to one’s booze, along with a recommended recipe.

Hopefully Connolly’s will be back on shelves next year. (As Baci noted in the old post, perhaps a PDD army will have to step in and rent a kitchen to crank it out if need be.) It’s been a popular fixture in these parts for over 60 years, having originated at Connolly’s Bakery on Belknap Street in Superior. Other brands simply don’t compare.

Recommendations Tom & Jerry Batter

Low – “Witches”

PDDTV Dec 24, 2010 2 Comments

Live from the Larimer Lounge in Denver, Colo., Dec. 18, 2010. Video by Manuel Aragon.

Music, Videos Low

Mt. Bohemia Anyone?

Helmut Flaag Dec 23, 2010 19 Comments

Has anyone skied Mt. Bohemia in the U.P.? They’re calling it “one of the top ten undiscovered ski resorts in the world” which seems a tall order. Matching cheap Porky pass… The trees at the cliff bases look dangerous, plus the five-hour drive, but their promo video is classic. Somebody must know something?

Outdoors

Chester Bowl ski lift fixed

Brian Barber Dec 23, 2010 No Comments

People with kids may have been following the progress of the chairlift repair at Chester Bowl this week. Monday night, hydraulic fluid was shooting out of the top motor and the hill was closed. There was some concern about fixing the equipment and getting parts which dated back to 1974 or earlier.

Just in time for winter break, the announcement was made by Thom Storm that the lift has been fixed.

“As of this afternoon, the new chairlift clutch is installed, & the lift will be open again on Dec. 26th at 11am. A huge thank you to the city of Duluth Fleet Services & Park Maintenance staff, and Tom Kasper, for their extra efforts in getting the lift running for Christmas vacation.”

Outdoors, Recommendations, Sports

Duluth and Iron Will are chopped liver on Explore Minnesota’s “Top 10 Minnesota Film Destinations”

Paul Lundgren Dec 23, 2010 24 Comments

If crappy Disney movies like Iron Will were exempt from the list, how did The Mighty Ducks get included?

Anyway, on the list are:

A Prairie Home Companion – Fitzgerald Theater, Mickey’s Diner
Grumpy Old Men – Lake Rebecca
North Country – The Iron Range
Purple Rain – First Avenue
The Good Son – Palisade Head
Beautiful Girls – Bryant Lake Bowl
Jingle All The Way – Mall of America
Sweet Land – Southwestern Minnesota
The Mighty Ducks – Rice Park
Fargo – Brainerd Lakes Area

Random Bitching

Top 10 Duluth Albums of 2010

Uncle Dave Dec 23, 2010 18 Comments

What might you all consider the top 10 local albums of the year???

I’ve got a couple I can toss out there:

1. Trampled by Turtles – Palamino
2. The Tisdales – Out With The New
3. Matt Ray & Those Damn Horses – Then and Now
4. Hobo Nephews of Uncle Frank – Travelin’ Show (although this might have been released in 2009)
5. Charlie Parr – When The Devil Goes Blind
6. Sara Softich – Highway to the Sun
7. The Half Hearts – After the Flood
8. Marc Gartman – Fatwa
9. The Boomchucks
10. Dead Man Winter – Wolves