A People’s History of the People’s Free Skate
Hear the totally true story of the People’s Free Skate Rink from its creators: Lake Superior Aquaman and Robot Rickshaw interviewed by Ryan Welles on his podcast “True Stories and Other Damage.” Featuring the genesis of it, all the behind the scenes information, anecdotes, and a few extravagant claims, finishing up with the harrowing account of our iceberg ride.
Where in Duluth?: First Trailwalk of the Season
Is this too easy? I only get here a few times a year, so it seems alien landscape to me.
Can you tell I have a new phone?
The Stonemans – “Two Kids from Duluth Minnesota”
“Two Kids From Duluth Minnesota” by the Stonemans first appeared as a 45rpm single on RCA Records in 1969. The following year it was included on the band’s album Dawn of the Stonemans’ Age, which was later remastered and combined with the 1970 album In All Honesty and released under the title of the latter. (more…)
Selective Focus: Homegrown 2019: Brunch & Recovery
Select Instagram photos from day eight of the Homegrown Music Festival. (more…)
May the Fourth (Doctor) be with You on Free Comic Book Day
May Fourth was a great day for nerds around the Duluth area. Claimed by Star Wars fans with the slightest bit of imagination, only the slightest, the Fourth of May is Star Wars Day. I cringe, still, every time I hear someone say “May the Fourth be with You.” Except when William Shatner says it, because the irony I read into it is delicious. (more…)
Selective Focus: Homegrown 2019 Roll Night
Select Instagram photos from night seven of the Homegrown Music Festival. (more…)
Rawkers top Rollers 4-3 to even Homegrown kickball series
The Friday Rawkers bounced back from last year’s loss to the Saturday Rollers by winning 4-3 in the 20th Homegrown Kickball Classic. The series is tied at 10-10.
The 20th Homegrown Kickball Classic had the sides of the Friday Rawkers and the Saturday Rollers right back where they were two decades ago when the competition started, tied up. Friday mustered a comeback 4-3 win over Saturday to tie the overall series at 10 games apiece. Friday had ripped off three straight wins before losing in 2018, allowing Saturday the bragging rights for a year with a one-game series lead. (more…)
Frisco or Dust Shields?
What that scribbled message on the front of this postcard is all about will have to be left to speculation in the comments. The card was mailed 110 years ago — May 4, 1909. (more…)
Selective Focus: Homegrown 2019: Rawk Night
Select Instagram photos from night six of the Homegrown Music Festival. (more…)
Taco Arcada opens May 5 in Duluth’s Lincoln Park
Jeff Petcoff, Mike Atkinson (pinball mechanic/manager) and Tom Hanson – Photo by Lissa Maki
A new establishment opening Sunday in the Lincoln Park Craft District will cater to adults who like to eat and play. Taco Arcada features an array of classic pinball and video games and will serve up Mexican-style street tacos. (more…)
Jacob Mahon – “Butt Rock” (Live on the Homegrown Trolley)
Video footage by Kip Praslowicz from last night’s Homegrown Music Festival trolley in Superior. Jacob Mahon and a cast of friends perform “Butt Rock.”
Postcard from Thomson Dam Hydro Station
This card is postmarked May 3, 1909 — 110 years ago today. Edis Johnson sent it from Duluth to Mr. H.T. West of Toronto, Canada. (more…)
Selective Focus: Homegrown 2019 Soup Town Night
Select Instagram photos from the fifth night of the Homegrown Music Festival. (more…)
Monthly Grovel: So many events, so little time
In the past year — from May 2018 through April 2019 — the PDD Calendar published 7,925 Duluth-area events. Each one was edited by a human being before the “publish” button was pushed. We intend to keep up the good work, but (believe it or not) we could do better. There are still events we are missing. And we have a few assistants standing by who jump into action when donations roll in to pay for their future carpal tunnel surgeries.
So that’s why once a month we set our dignity aside and remind readers how much we appreciate their financial support. (more…)
Selective Focus: Homegrown 2019 Westside Wednesday
Photos from night four of the Homegrown Music Festival. (more…)
Duluth Broadcast Television Station Guide for 2019
Changes to broadcast television channel offerings used to be rare. From 1966 to 1999, Duluth had four channels. From 1999 to 2009, there were five. In the ten years since the switch from analog to digital channels, the total has climbed to 18. (more…)
R.I.P. Max Taubert, 1953 to 2019
Max A. Taubert, proprietor of Duluth Timber Company on Duluth’s waterfront and the historic Ehlers General Store in Cornucopia, died in his home on April 25 at the age of 66.
There will be a celebration of life event at Clyde Iron Works in Duluth on June 9 at 6 p.m.
Superior bakery brings donuts back to Duluth’s Lakeside
A Dozen Excuses owner Melissa Kingren serves up fresh sweet rolls at her Tower Avenue bakery in Superior.
Donuts are coming back to Lakeside. A Dozen Excuses bakery in Superior has leased space to open a satellite location at 4328 E. Superior St. in Duluth. Johnson’s Bakery closed its Lakeside outlet in March 2018 leaving the neighborhood without an independent donut shop for the first time since 1955. (more…)
Selective Focus: Homegrown 2019 Canal Park Night
Select Instagram images from day three of the Homegrown Music Festival. (more…)
Honking Tree case remains a mystery 10 years later
Left: July 2001 photo of the Honking Tree from the Two Harbors Forum website. Right: The modern remains of the Honking Tree stump between Larsmont Road and Isaacson Road southwest of Two Harbors. Photo by Mike Creger.
I asked Lake County Sheriff Carey Johnson this month if there was anything new in the now 10-year-old Honking Tree case.
“You mean the white pine murder investigation?” he said straightaway. (more…)
Selective Focus: Homegrown 2019 Craft District Night
Images from the second night of the Homegrown Music Festival. (more…)
Selective Focus: Homegrown 2019 Opening Ceremonies
Select Instagram photos from opening day of the Homegrown Music Festival. (more…)
Homegrown Music Festival 2019 Primer
Duluth’s 21st annual Homegrown Music Festival is upon us, spanning April 28 to May 5. There is a 100-page Homegrown Field Guide available at locations all over town with the details. Updates and peripheral tidbits can be found below. (more…)
PDD Quiz: April 2019 in Review
Photo by Jim Rosvold
Put your current affairs knowledge to the test with this edition of the PDD Quiz.
The next quiz, scheduled for May 12, will explore Duluth parks. Please email question suggestions to Alison Moffat at [email protected] by May 7. (more…)