The Slice: Tischer Creek in Spring

In its series The Slice, WDSE-TV presents short “slices of life” that capture the events and experiences that bring people together and speak to what it means to live up north.

Outdoors, VideosThe Slice, Tischer Creek, WDSE-TV - PBS North

Dance Attic – “Livin’ with a Bear”

The Homegrown Music Video Showcase was released today. It includes this video by Dave Mehling for the Dance Attic song “Livin’ with a Bear,” from the forthcoming album Livin’ for Today.

Check out all of the Homegrown Music Video Showcase at perfectduluthday/com/hg2020. (more…)

Music, VideosDance Attic, Dave Mehling, Homegrown Music Festival
Pizza Luce: Butternut Squash
Ashwabay Alliance / Big Top Chautauqua

R.I.P. Dr. Robert Powless

Dr. Robert Powless (Photo by Ivy Vainio)

Dr. Robert Powless, former director of the American Indian Studies Program at the University of Minnesota Duluth, died on April 25. (more…)

News and Current Affairs, R.I.P.

This Week in Social Distancing: April 28

Episode six in Perfect Duluth Day’s series featuring people reaching out while keeping their distance.

VideosSocial Distancing
Ashwabay Alliance / Big Top Chautauqua
Glensheen Lantern Tours 2026

Video: Homegrown Poetry Showcase 2020

StayHomegrown continues with the annual poetry showcase, this year from safe distances. The poets are Tina Higgins Wussow, Jayson Iwen, Crystal Detelfsen, Sonofmel, Scott Knight Kite, Liz Minette, Shelley Getten, Laura Sellner, John Herold, Lucas Dietsche and Brooke Zarn.

VideosHomegrown Music Festival, Poetry

One Less Guest – “Suitcase for Two”

Duluth band One Less Guest has released its debut album, Monochrome. In the video above, guitarist Nick Muska and violinist Ren Cooper get into a jam with a suitcase. (more…)

Music, VideosOne Less Guest
Pizza Luce: Butternut Squash
Weis Eye Center

Duluth Chapbooks: Poetry, Fiction, Comics, etc.

From laureates to total hacks, writers and other artists have compiled their works into inexpensive little booklets for hundreds of years. The history of street literature in Duluth has perhaps not yet been explored in depth.

Gathered in this post is by no means a comprehensive collection of chapbooks produced in Duluth, but rather just a smattering of publications that happened to be gathering dust in the Perfect Duluth Day library.

Got one to add? Mention it in the comments and/or email the cover art if you have it to: paul @ perfectduluthday.com. (more…)

ArtBooks, Comics and Cartoons, Guides and Lists, Poetry

Duluth You & Me: Canal Park Marine Museum

Use the link below for a printable PDF for your drawing and coloring pleasure.
Duluth You & Me: Canal Park Marine Museum

Follow the Duluth You & Me subject tag to see additional pages. For background on the book see the original post on the topic.

ArtCanal Park, Duluth You & Me
Weis Eye Center
Pier B Resort: Rise and Dine

Homegrown Photo Banners

Happy StayHomegrown. This week, as in past years, we will be displaying banner photos related to Homegrown at the top of the page. (Those of you looking at PDD on a smartphone, by the way, will not see photo banners at the top of pages. They clutter things up too much on the tiny screens.) (more…)

PhotosHomegrown Music Festival

Homegrown Music Festival 2020 Primer

Duluth’s 22nd annual Homegrown Music Festival is basically cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but not really. Call it Virtual Homegrown. Fake Homegrown. StayHomegrown. There are no public events, but the beat goes on via the internet and other media. (more…)

MusicHomegrown Music Festival
Glensheen Lantern Tours 2026
Pizza Luce: Butternut Squash

PDD Quiz: April 2020 in Review

Another month is nearly at an end as Duluth inches toward summer. Put your memory in gear for this month’s quiz, which reviews April headlines!

The next PDD quiz will test your ability to identify area buildings based on architectural details; it will be published on May 17. Submit question suggestions to Alison Moffat at [email protected] by May 12. (more…)

News and Current AffairsPDD Quiz

Minnpost: Fight brews over Duluth utility

News and Current AffairsEnergy, Minnesota Power, Weather and Climate
Glensheen Lantern Tours 2026
Weis Eye Center

Postcard from a Foreign Vessel at the Aerial Lift Bridge

This undated postcard from Gallagher’s Studio of Photography depicts a “foreign vessel going under famous Aerial Lift Bridge,” according to the caption on the back.

History, PhotosAerial Lift Bridge, Gallagher's Studio of Photography, Great Lakes Ships and Shipping Industry, Postcards

Duluth You & Me: Seagulls at Canal Park

Use the link below for a printable PDF for your drawing and coloring pleasure.
Duluth You & Me: Seagulls at Canal Park

Follow the Duluth You & Me subject tag to see additional pages. For background on the book see the original post on the topic.

ArtBirds, Canal Park, Duluth You & Me
Ashwabay Alliance / Big Top Chautauqua
Glensheen Lantern Tours 2026

It’s a Beautiful Day in the Northland Neighborhood

WDSE-TV compiled this video of eleven local musicians singing “It’s a Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood,” Mister Rogers’ classic theme song. Participating artists are Irving Steinberg, Jessica Leibfried, Charlie Leibfried, Jean Leibfried, Samuel Miltich, Alexander Sandor, Jillian Rae, John Staine, Lyz Jaakola, Bret Amundson and Gaelynn Lea Tressler.

The station invites people to share the video and make their own versions with #northlandneighbor or send the video to the station. The studio might create another mashup. Visit wdse.org for details and to submit.

VideosWDSE-TV - PBS North

Duluth You & Me: Great Lakes Shipwreck

Use the link below for a printable PDF for your drawing and coloring pleasure.
Duluth You & Me: Great Lakes Shipwreck

Follow the Duluth You & Me subject tag to see additional pages. For background on the book see the original post on the topic.

ArtDuluth You & Me, Shipwrecks
Ashwabay Alliance / Big Top Chautauqua
Pier B Resort: Rise and Dine

Chico Bon Bon Netflix Trailer

Netflix has released a trailer for the new show based on Duluthian Chris Monroe’s Chico Bon Bon series of books.

Random

Selective Focus: Carolyn Olson

Carolyn Olson (featured previously in Selective Focus) has been redirecting her work a bit. Still focused on everyday scenes, she has been making drawings in a series she’s calling Essential Workers. These scenes are in grocery stores, public transit, street scenes and in medical facilities. This week, Carolyn talks about honoring these people who keep things going in unprecedented circumstances.

CO: Having recently retired from teaching school this year began differently anyway. I began last summer creating projects – challenges I called them – for myself, such as creating a series of images that tell a story, in hopes of illustrating books. When the “Stay at Home” order came I was accustomed to staying home and working in the studio regularly. Talking with our adult kids in the Cities brought home the realities facing the essential workers.
(more…)

ArtCarolyn Olson, COVID-19, Selective Focus
Pizza Luce: Butternut Squash
FDLTCC: Pumpin Run

Soaring with Pelicans on the St. Louis River

Adam Jagunich’s drone soars with the pelicans in this video shot in the Chamber’s Grove Park area of Duluth’s Fond du Lac neighborhood. (more…)

VideosAdam Jagunich, Birds, Drone Videos, Fond du Lac, St. Louis River

Chester Park Walk: 360 Reframe

Shot in Chester Park with a GoPro Max 360 using the Reframe effect.

Outdoors, VideosChester Park
Pier B Resort: Rise and Dine
Pizza Luce: Butternut Squash

Duluth You & Me: Vista Fleet

Use the link below for a printable PDF for your drawing and coloring pleasure.
Duluth You & Me: Vista Fleet

Follow the Duluth You & Me subject tag to see additional pages. For background on the book see the original post on the topic.

ArtDuluth You & Me, Vista Fleet

PDD Video Lab: Starbelle and the Aerial Lift Bridge

In this edition of the PDD Video Lab we watch the bulk carrier Starbelle pass through the Duluth Ship Canal and under the Aerial Lift Bridge via footage from Richter Home Movies. The final 15 seconds features a nice look at Canal Park circa the early 1960s. (more…)

History, VideosAerial Lift Bridge, Canal Park, Great Lakes Ships and Shipping Industry, Video Archive, Video Lab
Glensheen Lantern Tours 2026
Vision Pro: Year End 2026

A Few Northern Minnesota Books for Your Pandemic Pleasure

Spring in Duluth is a perfect time for reading. It’s that awkward period between ice fishing and regular fishing when outdoor options are limited because trails are too muddy. Add into the mix the lack of events during the COVID-19 pandemic and it seems like books should have a real moment right now. (more…)

ArtBooks

Duluth You & Me: Aerial Lift Bridge

Use the link below for a printable PDF for your drawing and coloring pleasure.
Duluth You & Me: Aerial Lift Bridge

Follow the Duluth You & Me subject tag to see additional pages. For background on the book see the original post on the topic.

ArtAerial Lift Bridge, Duluth You & Me
Glensheen Lantern Tours 2026
Weis Eye Center

Guide to Duluth-area Craft Alcohol During the Pandemic

Ursa Minor Brewing has offered curbside beer and pizza pickup via a drive-by canopy since April 8.

Small businesses have been struggling to stay afloat during the COVID-19 outbreak. Local craft beer, cider and spirits purveyors are finding ways to persist by distributing products through a variety of takeout, curbside pickup and delivery options. (more…)

News and Current AffairsBeer and Breweries, COVID-19, Guides and Lists