Lake Superior Aquaman Interview on DNT’s Pressroom Podcast
In which I field a bunch of excellent questions.
I have taken the liberty of transcribing this, below the fold.
Postcard from the Duluth Board of Trade Building
The postmark is smudged and appears to be from May 1913, but the message on the back of the card is dated May 12, 1912. It shows Duluth’s Board of Trade building, which still stands at 301-307 W. First St. It was built in 1894 to replace the original Board of Trade, which was destroyed by fire that year. Duluth architects Oliver G. Traphagen and Francis W. Fitzpatrick designed the new eight-story Romanesque structure. (more…)
Homeless in Duluth?
Have you walked past the Lakewalk entrance by the Electric Fetus on Lake Avenue and Superior Street lately?
Seems that it’s become the cool place to hang out — at least for Duluth’s homeless. In spite of the availability of nearby public restrooms, the smell of urine and feces is ubiquitous.
This is a public health issue. Sanitary issues at homeless encampments have lead to 16 deaths in a hepatitis outbreak in San Diego. (more…)
Minnesota Clothing Sales Tax Exemption Appreciation
I was almost, almost charged sales tax at a second-hand shop near the Miller Hill Mall a few weeks ago, on the purchase of socks. I was disappointed … because this is the law:
Clothing is exempt from Minnesota sales and use tax. Clothing means all human wearing apparel suitable for general use. The exemption for clothing does not apply to fur clothing, clothing accessories or equipment, sports or recreational equipment, and protective equipment, which are taxable.
(From Minnesota Department of Revenue Clothing Sales Tax Fact Sheet) (more…)
Charlie Parr interview for Issue magazine
In this interview for Issue magazine, Duluth musician Charlie Parr discusses his musical influences, his writing methods and his experience recording for the first time ever using a full band. Video by Jan-Willem Dikker.
Parr’s new album, Dog, is out now on Red House Records.
Duluth reference on “The Deuce”
According to Perfect Duluth Day’s highly reputable sources, the HBO series The Deuce recently made a reference to Duluth.
In episode #2 a prostitute named Lori, who is a new arrival in New York City via Minnesota, is about to be arrested when her pimp stabs the cop and explains the guy is not really a cop. He searches the guy and finds rope and other torture instruments, then says, “We ain’t in Duluth no more, Dorothy.”
Find a clip of the scene to win the internet for a day.
Climbing Ely’s Peak
A quick setup and single-run at Ely’s Peak on the western edge of Duluth.
Video: Duluth’s C.J. Ham scores first NFL regular season touchdown in Vikings loss to Steelers
Duluth native C.J. Ham took a handoff from backup quarterback Case Keenum and surged into the end zone for a 2-yard score against the Pittsburgh Steelers today. It was Ham’s first regular season touchdown in the National Football League, on his first carry. The Vikings lost the game 26-9. (more…)
Fish Cam: Meditation Mix
Nearly an hour of long underwater camera shots, with the natural water sounds which folks find so soothing about this footage. Fish occasionally swim through. Also a couple mergansers towards the end. Put this on, go make some tea, and chill.
Mystery Photo #53: Commonwealth Avenue?
This old photo of someone’s hot rod seems to be from the early 1970s and the scene is very likely Commonwealth Avenue in Gary-New Duluth. But if this is showing Commonwealth Avenue, where specifically? (more…)
My Fancy Foreign Car is a Symbol of My Idiocy
If you read my previous essay, you already know I bought a used-but-fancy foreign car and suddenly thought I was hot stuff. Now it’s time to acknowledge I’m an idiot. But before I relate my idiocy with relevance to the car, here’s a general description of the global conspiracy against me:
In my daily life I make approximately one really stupid mistake per waking hour. It is my sincere belief that half of those mistakes occur because my brain feeds me rational information for problem solving, which hinders my performance because there are maniacs out there designing products to work in ways that are contrary to human logic. The other half of those mistakes are cases in which someone tells me to do something and explains it in a nonsensical way or assumes I know something I don’t.
So, while I acknowledge I’m an idiot, I refuse to take responsibility for my idiocy. It’s society’s problem, not mine.
For example, when my wife asks me to zip up the back of her dress, and I zip it all the way up, and then she asks, “Did you get it all the way?” I say “Yes” and go about the rest of my day. Then, at the end of the day, when she takes off her dress and points out that I didn’t connect the hinge on the inside, well, I’m an idiot for not knowing there is a hidden hinge on someone else’s clothing.
But I digress. (more…)
PDD at Fall Fest
Despite a little drizzle, Fall Fest is happening today as scheduled, Saturday, Sept. 16, at Chester Bowl Park, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Join us in the PDD tent, located between the playground and the stage. You can hang with us in our photo booth and listen to Woodblind, Ingeborg von Agassiz and Mama’s Stolen Horses perform throughout the day. Keep up with happenings via #pddfallfest.

Flying with Dean and Donna Over Superior
In this feature, pilot Bill Bryson III takes Dean and Donna on a flight along the southern edge of Lake Superior. It’s pretty long for an internet video, clocking in at more than a half hour, but it’s a multi-camera shoot with background music and audio from the headsets … so it’s kind of a quirky thing to open in a small window on the side of your monitor and loosely follow along with while working or otherwise browsing the web.
For those who aren’t into “Slow TV,” the sexiest footage starts at 29:20.
Coming soon to Lincoln Park: ice cream and pastrami
Two new businesses are setting up in Lincoln Park’s burgeoning craft district. Love Creamery and Corktown Deli and Brews will occupy 1908 and 1906 W. Superior St., respectively.
The building, which now features an adjoining space, is undergoing renovations to separate the businesses. Tom Hanson hopes to open Corktown Deli and Brews by January, while Love Creamery owner Nicole Wilde anticipates a May opening. (more…)
Minnesota North Shore Fall Colors Report 2017
It is that time of year again when mother natures displays her colorful awesomeness throughout Minnesota. Duluth and the North Shore of Lake Superior always seem to paint a perfect backdrop for her fall colors display over the next month. As of today, we are starting to see some leaves changing and we are at about 0 to 10 percent peak in the area. (more…)
“Gleahan and the Knaves of Industry” now crowdfunding
Local filmmaker Samuel T. Weston is no stranger to filmmaking here in Duluth. Last year he made three short films here in town, and another one premiered on the Duluth CW’s “Night at the Movies.”
Now he needs your help with his next big project: a feature film called Gleahan and the Knaves of Industry. Sam has once again partnered with the team that’s growing at the Duluth Film Collective. They call Gleahan an Adventure Comedy where “an opportunistic asshole joins the quest of a delusional man who thinks he lives in a fantasy world.” (more…)
A Farewell to Summer 2017
Fall is a time for reflection. This montage by Pete Garsow of Approach Productions features shots gathered around Duluth over the summer on his Canon t6i.
Duluth 2017 Primary Election Results
With 34 of 34 precincts reporting, here are the unofficial results.
Duluth At-large City Councilor
Top four candidates advance to General Election
Zack Filipovich – 3,859 | 27.97%
Barbara Russ – 2,797 | 20.27%
Janet Kennedy – 2,462 | 17.85%
Rich Updegrove – 2,456 | 17.80%
Jan Swanson – 1,222 | 98.86%
Brandon Sorvik – 604 | 4.38%
Richard L. Williams – 369 | 2.87%
Duluth Fourth District City Councilor
Top two candidates advance to General Election
Renee K. Van Nett – 622 | 44.94%
Howie Hanson – 468 | 33.82%
Tom Furman – 294 | 21.24%
Duluth At-large School Board Member
Top four candidates advance to General Election; two are elected
Sally Trnka – 3,929 | 30.00%
Josh Gorham – 3,558 | 27.17%
Harry Welty – 2,406 | 18.37%
Bogdana (Dana) Krivogorsky – 1,642 | 12.54%
Loren Martell – 1,560 | 11.91%
A Visit to the North Shore with Maya Angelou
Mike Kenyanya produced this short video of a trip along Lake Superior’s North Shore, with music by Kavuela and the Maya Angelou poem “Life Doesn’t Frighten Me at All” as the backdrop.
Endion Station will remain open this winter
As most seasonal eateries wind down for the winter, Endion Station Public House is planning some changes to embrace the off season.
The pub and cider house at 200 Lake Place Drive opened in the summer of 2014. It weathered that first winter in its Canal Park location but has closed for the winter each year since.
This winter, Endion Station will be open every day at 4 p.m. Closing time is to be determined, but will be later on weekends. (more…)
Laura Mae Sellner – “Awareness”
New video produced by Killy Kay, shot at various Duluth locations in 2016. It features poetry written and performed by Laura Mae Sellner for the Homegrown Music Festival.
KUWS Final Edition episode on the CJMM Memorial
I found the CD that Mike Simonson gave me and uploaded it to SoundCloud. It’s a half-hour segment titled “Teaching History, Literacy and Tolerance: The Clayton Jackson McGhie Memorial in Our Schools.” Panelists are Henry Banks, Catherine Nachbar, David Beard, Gail Schoenfelder and Perry Kennedy. Moderators are Jennifer and Mike Simonson.
Labor Day Weekend on the North Shore
Josiah Bondy of Minneapolis put together a few clips from his Labor Day weekend trip to Duluth.















