PDD Quiz: History of Hunters Park

Test your knowledge of local history with this week’s quiz on Hunters Park, the second installment in a series of quizzes focusing on Twin Ports neighborhoods. The first was on the history of Morgan Park. Sound off in the comments on which neighborhoods you’d like to see featured in a future quiz.

Zenith City Press and the Northeast Minnesota Historical Collections of UMD’s Kathryn A. Martin Library were invaluable sources of content for this quiz. Many of the maps and images from the quiz were accessed through Minnesota Reflections; check it out for even more historical content.

The next PDD quiz, reviewing headlines and happenings from this month, will be published on Oct. 27. Please submit question suggestions to Alison Moffat at [email protected] by Oct. 24. (more…)

HistoryPDD Quiz

R.I.P. Amendola Building

Demolition work on the Amendola Building in Downtown Duluth. (Photo by Mike Creger)

The Amendola Building at 405 E. Superior St. was demolished today to make way for Essentia Health’s Vision Northland project.

Amendola Building, Google Maps, 2018

(more…)

History, News and Current Affairs, R.I.P.
Pier B Resort: Rise and Dine
Pizza Luce: Butternut Squash

Duluth Climate Mobilization Campaign Launch

Recorded Sept. 24 at Gichi-ode’ Akiing by Duluth Public Access Community Television.

Random, VideosDuluth Public Access Community Television, Weather and Climate

Quirky vintage store will replace iconic Carr’s Hobby Shop

Beth Petrowske, left, and Jack Carr pose inside Carr’s Hobby Shop in Lincoln Park. Petrowske is buying the hobby shop building and will convert it to Boathouse Treats & Treasures.

A new store featuring a quirky assortment of vintage clothes, rare collectibles and usable curios will replace one of the oldest and most storied businesses in Lincoln Park early next year. (more…)

News and Current AffairsLincoln Park Craft District, Lincoln Park Neighborhood / The Friendly West End
Pier B Resort: Rise and Dine

Selective Focus: Matthew Dressel

Matthew Dressel is a Duluth filmmaker, screenwriter and movie enthusiast. He has served as host and festival director to the Duluth Superior Film Festival, and like most movie makers, seems to always have something in the works. This week in Selective Focus, we hear about some current and past projects, and challenges of putting work out to a YouTube audience.

MD: For as long as I can remember I’ve primarily considered myself to be a screenwriter. The problem with screenwriting, however, is that you need to wait for people to see it. This can take years and, for some, may never happen at all. So it’s a lot of waiting with potentially no pay-off. So along the way, I try to make things when I’m able. Up until recently, this has meant making short films, but this past year I’ve gotten into creating my own web series called The Pilot is Dead.

(more…)

VideosMatthew Dressel, Selective Focus

Dan and Joanne Devine, Fall 1947

It’s Homecoming Weekend at the University of Minnesota Duluth, and in the spirit of that we roll out this relic from 1947, supplied by Kristy Roschke, managing director of the News Co/Lab at the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication at Arizona State University. The photo is of her grandparents, Dan and Joanne Devine, partaking in homecoming festivities at UMD. Joanne was homecoming queen; Dan was captain of the football and basketball teams. (more…)

History, SportsFootball, UMD
Glensheen Lantern Tours 2026
FDLTCC: Pumpin Run

Bob Boone and Leif Enger on CBS This Morning: Saturday

According to the West Theater Facebook page and a post on the neighborhood social networking website Nextdoor, CBS This Morning: Saturday shot a segment at the West Theater in Duluth that will air Oct. 12 during the 6 to 8 a.m. broadcast.

Apparently the show’s host, Jeff Glor, interviews West Theater owner Bob Boone and best-selling author Leif Enger. The Nextdoor post notes the West Theater will open at 7:30 a.m. on Saturday for a free screening of the broadcast. The West Theater Facebook page lists 8 a.m. as the time of the screening.

News and Current AffairsCBS, West and Alhambra Theaters

“Iron Will” movie video with Duluth annotations

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Rt0CSmUt4E

The adventure drama Iron Will premiered on Jan. 14, 1994. Much of the film was shot in Duluth and areas near Duluth from Jan. 11 to April 1, 1993. The annotations below are a guide to spotting familiar people and locations. (more…)

History, VideosReferences to Duluth in Film/TV or Other Media
Glensheen Lantern Tours 2026
Pizza Luce: Butternut Squash

Lake Superior Bakehouse closing coffee shop; baking continues

News and Current Affairs, RestaurantsBakeries, Coffee Shops

Gaelynn Lea – “The Long Way Around”

The official music video for Gaelynn Lea‘s new single, “The Long Way Around,” was shot, directed, edited and produced by Dave Mehling in Duluth, with assistance in the shooting by Rachael Stigsell and Paul Tressler.

The line drawings are by Lee Zimmerman. The actor is Vlad Messing. (more…)

Music, VideosDave Mehling, Gaelynn Lea
Pier B Resort: Rise and Dine
FDLTCC: Pumpin Run

Postcard from the SS America “Booth Line”

This postcard of the passenger and delivery ship America is from some point between 1902, when the Booth Steamship Line acquired the vessel, and 1928, when it sunk near Isle Royale.

More info about the vessel can be found in two other Perfect Duluth Day posts — “SS America, 1925” and “Remembering America and her life on the water.”

HistoryPostcards, SS America, Two Harbors

Twins done; Trampled by Turtles’ National Anthem video lives

The Minnesota Twins ended an historic season by bowing to the New York Yankees in three straight playoff games. But Duluth band Trampled by Turtles was able to sing “The Star-Spangled Banner” before it was all over. Video via Jumbotron above.

Music, Sports, VideosMinnesota Twins, Trampled by Turtles
Glensheen Lantern Tours 2026
Pizza Luce: Butternut Squash

Duluth Coffee Pale Ale wins GABF gold medal

Earth Rider Brewery was awarded a gold medal at the 2019 Great American Beer Festival, the world’s largest commercial beer competition. The Superior brewery was recognized in the Coffee Beer category for its Duluth Coffee Pale Ale, a mildly hopped pale crafted using single-farm sourced beans roasted by Duluth Coffee Company.

Ursa Minor Brewing of Duluth also brought home a medal. Its Thistle Dew won the bronze medal in the Scottish-Style Ale category. (more…)

News and Current AffairsBeer and Breweries, Earth Rider Brewing, Great American Beer Festival

Duluth 2019 General Election Sample Ballot

General Election polls open Nov. 5 at 7 a.m. and close at 8 p.m. (more…)

PoliticsElection Information
Vision Pro: Year End 2026
Pizza Luce: Butternut Squash

Duluth Trivia Deck Sampler #23

Here’s another in the series of Duluth Trivia cards, from a board game found at Savers. (more…)

History

Luke Redfield – “Ides of May”

In the song “Ides of May,” Luke Redfield lyrically implores, “If I’m the one for you, baby, meet me in Duluth.” (more…)

MusicDuluth Songs
Weis Eye Center

Mystery Photo #100: Early Settler

This photo is labeled “Early Settler Duluth MN.” And that’s all we know. Who is this dude? (more…)

History, PhotosMystery Photos

The Richardson Bros. Podcast: New Episodes

After a hiatus, we return with regular releases. This week’s episodes: “Menno Zwonk, Amish Outlaw: The Death of Professor Marrow.” This explicitly violent short fiction features a shootout in a house on Chester Creek. Also: “Diaper Island,” in which the Robinson Crusoe of Diaper Island tells his terrible tale. Warning: gross. And another Zwonk story, “The Tale of Crusty McGee,” about Zwonk’s yeast rancher in Superior. Also gross.

ArtCreepy, Lake Superior Aquaman, Podcasts, Weird
Glensheen Lantern Tours 2026
Pizza Luce: Butternut Squash

Postcard from Lyceum Theatre and Spalding Hotel

It’s not known who scrawled a date on this postcard, when it was scrawled, or what the date is supposed to represent. But the date is one century ago today — Oct. 5, 1919.

It could represent the date the photo was shot, but that seems unlikely. The date was probably written by someone who bought the postcard and wanted to remember the date of a visit to that spot.

HistoryLyceum Theatre, Postcards, Spalding Hotel

Blue Rock Coffee and Wine Cafe planned for Miller Hill

News and Current AffairsBars / Drinking Establishments, Coffee Shops, Miller Hill
FDLTCC: Pumpin Run
Weis Eye Center

Jessica Lange’s shout-out to Duluth

From Rolling Stone magazine:

What’s your favorite city and why?
Oh God, there are different ones from different times in my life. In my 20s, it was Paris — it’s 1970, I’m living by myself for the first time, everything is alive and crazy. Being that city back then … it was like another love affair! New Orleans, because it’s a separate universe down there, with different cultures co-existing in a way you don’t see other places. And Duluth, Minnesota, because it’s home. Shout-out to Duluth!

RandomJessica Lange, Rolling Stone

Trampled by Turtles to sing “The Star-Spangled Banner” Monday

Duluth band Trampled by Turtles will sing the National Anthem when the Minnesota Twins host the New York Yankees at Target Field in Minneapolis on Monday. The best-of-five American League playoff series begins tonight. TBT’s version of “The Star-Spangled Banner” will happen prior to Game 3 on Monday, Oct. 7, at 7:40 p.m.

Music, News and Current Affairs, SportsMinnesota Twins, Trampled by Turtles
Pier B Resort: Rise and Dine

Great Lakes Gear Exchange opening store in Central Hillside

Great Lakes Gear Exchange is opening a storefront 510 E. Fourth St. in Duluth’s Central Hillside neighborhood. The outdoor gear consignment business has existed since January and has hosted monthly pop-up shops at the Duluth Folk School and other locations over the past six months. (more…)

News and Current AffairsCentral Hillside, Crowdfunding, Great Lakes Gear Exchange

Selective Focus: Benjamin Olson

Benjamin Olson has a show of his photography opening tonight (Friday, Oct. 4) at Tettegouche State Park. It’s a perfect setting for his images that focus on wildlife and nature. His photos make you feel like you’re witnessing a spectacular, brief moment that takes patience and persistence to find.

BO: I am a photographer, specializing in nature and conservation. It was through my background in both science and art that I was able to bridge the gap between two separate fields to help communicate environmental issues at hand. (more…)

Outdoors, PhotosBenjamin Olson, Selective Focus
Vision Pro: Year End 2026
Pier B Resort: Rise and Dine

John Ramos ramps up his edgy journalism with Duluth Monitor

John Ramos strolls with his son, Walter, on the fishing dock that was once part of the Duluth/Superior Interstate Bridge. (Submitted photo)

A longtime Duluth journalist known for his combative style and sharp wit has created a new outlet for his work. John Ramos launched the Duluth Monitor website in June. (more…)

News and Current AffairsDuluth Monitor, Media