Travel Advice: San Diego

In a few weeks, I’m going to be in the San Diego area for work [i.e. standing in front of a marketing display slapping backs and shaking hands]. The Prioress is going to meet me at the tail end for a few days. (more…)

RecommendationsAdvice, san diego, travel

This week: public painting, outdoor concerts and fireworks

  

Here’s a sampling of what you have to look forward to this week on the PDD Calendar.

This month AJ Atwater will be doing a 30″ by 30″ painting in public starting today in a storefront window at Perry Framing, downtown Duluth.

Tuesday at the Zinema 2 the Explorers Club presents a film shot in northern Minnesota – “Pollywogs.”

This summer Glensheen Mansion is hosting a series of free Concerts by the Lake starting this Wednesday with Sentimental Journey.

This Fourth of July there’s a lot going on before the fireworks. You can go to Bayfront for a free concert, check out the free Folk Music Festival in the Fitger’s Courtyard (which runs through Saturday), or see a Huskies baseball game at the Wade.

The Twin Ports Bridge Festival at Bayfront this Saturday includes Cloud Cult, Snöbarn, Mason Jennings and more.

And, we haven’t mentioned it lately, but every Sunday is Fencing with Kris at the Lotus Center taught by Duluth’s own preternaturally young Legolas lookalike, Kris “Lithis” Nelson.

So what are you doing this week? Can we tag along? Any upcoming events that you want to promote? Let us know.

PS – I’m going to be incommunicado as I will be on monastic retreat for the next two weeks so the very cool and capable Emily Haavik will be doing the Monday morning communiques in my absence. Have fun, Emily!

Events
Ashwabay Alliance / Big Top Chautauqua
YAF Grandma\'s Marathon Nightmare 5k 2026

Grandma’s Marathon 2013 Double: Embrace the Suck

Eric Strand embarks on his second annual 52.4-mile journey from the finish line to the starting line to the finish line of Grandma’s Marathon.

Sports, VideosEric Strand, Grandma's Marathon, Weird

Video Archive: Duluth Kiss Concert

Yes, it’s the TV ad promoting the Kiss concert at the DECC Arena in 1990, a topic also covered in a post from six years ago.

Music, VideosKiss, Video Archive
YAF Grandma\'s Marathon Nightmare 5k 2026
Glensheen Lantern Tours 2026

Duluth Shark Infestation

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LybCL-F4kWk

Broken campaign promise by Mayor Ness exposed! End the cover-up!!

VideosSharks, Weird

Post-PDDX Banners

Back in April we announced that we’d be retiring all of the old banners. Well, the day has come, happy birthday to us, and sayonara to the old banners. Welcome the new, fresh banners. The old banners have been archived on Google Plus. (more…)

Art, PhotosPDD Shop Talk
Glensheen Lantern Tours 2026

Proclamation (official and certified)

Whereas, the only logical way to make an official proclamation regarding PDD is to post it on the PDD site, and

Whereas, there is ten years worth of history that is both well-documented and too boring to include in an already too boring proclamation, and (more…)

RandomPDD Shop Talk

To the OG PDDers

On this 10th anniversary of the first PDD post, I would like to thank the original members of Perfect Duluth Day who were there at the start, helping to transform this site from a mere idea to what it’s become today: (more…)

RandomPDD Shop Talk, Sappy
Pizza Luce: Butternut Squash
Ashwabay Alliance / Big Top Chautauqua

Happy tenth birthday to us

august-harry-potter barrett-chase beverly (more…)

PhotosPDD Shop Talk

Where in Duluth?

20130627-192023.jpg

This one seems to have the Where in Duluth? Facebook group stumped. I’ve been kind of stingy with hints, though. I’ll tell you what I told them: 1) It’s outside. 2) It’s farther west than Kemps Dairy in the West End.

Ok … go!

Where in Duluth?
Pier B Resort: Rise and Dine
Weis Eye Center

Ground Zero: Duluth’s Battle Against Synthetic Drugs

I wanted to share this documentary with anyone who is interested in viewing it. The film is 25 minutes and takes an objective look at the synthetic drug problem in town. I have put it together over the past year and a half, and while the situation is still ongoing, I think it does a good job of educating the viewers on the toll this issue has had on the different people involved with the issue.

News and Current Affairs, VideosLast Place on Earth, Synthetic Drugs

The Economics of Sulfide Mining: Benefits and Costs

This address was given by Dr. Tom Power, Professor Emeritus at the University of Montana about a week ago in Duluth. (more…)

History, VideosMedia, Mining
YAF Grandma\'s Marathon Nightmare 5k 2026
Weis Eye Center

Ye Olde Corner Grocery

The latest posting at the Duluth Public Library’s Reference@Duluth blog is a look at a few of the lost corner grocery stores of Duluth.

HistoryGrocery Stores

Actual Wolf – “Kerosene and Spark”

[This post originally contained an embedded video that is no longer available at its source.]

Video by Nicholas Sunsdahl.

Music, VideosActual Wolf, Nicholas Sunsdahl
YAF Grandma\'s Marathon Nightmare 5k 2026
FDLTCC: Pumpin Run

Derelict Houses

We’ve got two derelict houses (on one lot) next door. According to our landlord, they are owned by the city. They have some interesting tenants: a flock of pigeons, a family of raccoons and the largest skunk I have ever seen. When that bad boy goes walking past my bedroom window … oof.

We would like to ask the city to raze the buildings and put in community garden space, but I’m really not sure who I should call to get this going. Any ideas?

RandomLawn and Garden, Queries, skunk

A Night of Awesome in Duluth

Monday was awesome.
(more…)

Art
Glensheen Lantern Tours 2026

Duluth sanitary sewer repair estimate

So we received a while back information telling us that we would need to repair our existing sewer line because of inflow and infiltration along with other neighbors. The city of Duluth does provide a grant for these projects (80 percent of $4,000 to $5,000). We were looking at lining the sewer line rather than excavating it.

However, we called the same company (they were the lowest bidder for the project) as our neighbors did and got an estimate that was nearly $2,500 more than the estimate they gave them!!!

I’m sure others in Duluth have dealt with this, or are dealing with the same situation as myself. Ideally I would like to get a ballpark figure of the expense and the company any of you chose for this project. Needless to say we will be calling around.

Bitching

This week: shindigs, hoedowns, hootenannies and cake!

  

Here’s a sampling of what you have to look forward to this week on the PDD Calendar.

It’s been a year and we’re still sorting out the mess. A public hearing of the Flood Recovery Grant Amendment is tonight at City Hall.

You can see three real life and really live newlywed couples compete for fabulous prizes at the Underground‘s reboot of the Newlywed Game on Tuesday.

Wednesday is United Way‘s Day of Caring, matching up volunteers with community needs.

The Chamber of Commerce hosts a Newer to Town Vista Cruise on Thursday.

This Friday is the Northland Frisbee Invitational in Cloquet.

Get your hoe down at the Barn Dance Weekend at the Brule River Barn Friday through Sunday.

This weekend is the Park Point Art Fair on Saturday and Sunday.

Happy birthday to us! Perfect Duluth Day turns 10 this Saturday and you are invited to a big free shindig at the Underground before the Trampled by Turtles and Atmosphere Concert at Bayfront so you can hit both.

So what are you doing this week? Can we tag along? Any upcoming events that you want to promote? Let us know.

Events
Weis Eye Center
Pier B Resort: Rise and Dine

Video Archive: Homegrown 2003

Here’s a sloppy VHS version of KDLH-TV’s coverage of the 2003 Homegrown Music Festival, including clips from the only Homegrown Kickball Classic ever held at the Wade softball fields — and the only time a TV news personality was invited to participate in the game.

Starfire’s fabulous mohawk appears near the end, although the quality of the video doesn’t do it justice.

History, Music, VideosHomegrown Music Festival, Video Archive

Vietnamese Lantern Review

I know this a Duluth blog, but I wanted to get the word out about the Vietnamese Lantern in Two Harbors. I ate there last night and it blew my socks off. The food was amazing!
(more…)

Recommendations, Restaurants
YAF Grandma\'s Marathon Nightmare 5k 2026
Vision Pro: Year End 2026

Like shopping? Fixing things? Hanging out in the hardware aisle?

Combine your passions into a volunteer position at the Twin Ports ReStore! The Twin Ports ReStore is a retail outlet specializing in new and gently used building materials donated by our community and offered for sale at a deep discount. All proceeds help to build and repair homes for families in need right here in the Twin Ports. Volunteers are needed to do everything from running the cash register to accepting, sorting and pricing donations to making minor repairs to donated materials.

Intrigued? E-mail Susan at volunteer @ twinportshabitat.org or call 218-722-3875 or visit our website at twinportshabitat.org to find out more.

RandomHelp Wanted

Minnesota Wine Exchange Review

I spent last Friday evening at the Minnesota Wine Exchange for the first time.  It is a fantastic place to enjoy Minnesota wines and beers right in the center of Downtown Duluth (Lake Ave & Superior St.).  If you’re interested in sampling wines, you can purchase a “flight” consisting of three glasses, each filled 1/3 full with a different wine for the reasonable price of $5. 

If you’re hungry, there are appetizers and sandwiches which I plan on trying some day soon when I go there for lunch. If you want to relax and enjoy conversation with friends, this is the place to go. Background music for listening with local art exhibited on two levels for viewing. The  paintings of the late John Peyton are currently being displayed.

This is a locally owned business selling Minnesota products which is a win-win situation. If you haven’t been there, I would encourage you to try it. The day I went there was a perfect Duluth day indeed!

Recommendations, Restaurants
FDLTCC: Pumpin Run

Beaver Relocation in Downtown Duluth

This beaver was in the downtown Duluth area, near the on-ramp for the adjacent freeway. Farzad from Wildwoods captures it. It is later released outside of town by a creek. Video courtesy of Duluth PD Officer Jayme Carlson.

VideosBeaver, Wildwoods Rehabilitation

Zoo News

From Lake Superior Zoo: We are very sad to announce that one of our wolves has died. “Cohen,” who was on loan, along with his brothers “Capone” and “Dillinger” from the Wildlife Science Center in Columbus, MN was euthanized after emergency exploratory surgery on Tuesday, June 18.
(more…)

News and Current Affairs, R.I.P.
Weis Eye Center
FDLTCC: Pumpin Run

Does anyone have any info on the Craft Brew Village in September?

On the Bayfront Festival Park website it lists one of the 2013 events as Craft Brew Village, Sept. 20-22. The Hot Air Ballon Festival is also going on at the same time. Just curious if anyone has any more information. That weekend coincides with the official start of Oktoberfest in Munich, so I’m wondering if this maybe is Fitger’s Oktoberfest.

EventsQueries