Christmas
Selective Focus: Holiday Pop-ups
The Thanksgiving weekend blizzard wreaked havoc on Small Biz Saturday and some of the Pop-Ups in town, but we have tried to update this list with the rescheduled events.
These are the true “get ’em while you can” offerings, pop-up markets where a wide variety of art, food products, clothing products and more are on display. There are usually snacks, maybe some hot chocolate, and lots of other people milling about, so the atmosphere is a lot more fun that adding things to your online cart.
Some are small, some are huge. Each market has its own vibe, check the websites and event pages for special instructions on parking, hours etc.
Let us know what markets we’ve missed in the comments, or by sending an email.
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Video: Burntside Lake Christmas Ice Carousel
Joe Bianco and Cam Regan of Ely built a giant Christmas carousel on Burntside Lake, about 100 miles north of Duluth.
It’s Going to be a Merry Christmas
[This post originally contained an embedded video that is no longer available at its source.]
John Holden obtains a set of fancy speakers in the grocery store parking lot.
Ingeborg von Agassiz – “The Holly & the Ivy”
A short little Christmas tune from Duluth’s Ingeborg von Agassiz.
One more year for Marcia Hales’ holiday light display
Marcia Hales’ “Holiday Spirit in the Lights” display in Duluth’s Park Point neighborhood is returning for a final run. (more…)
Owls Club Big Band – “Carol of the Bells”
Certainly you’ve heard this tune based on a Ukranian folk song. This year we’re introducing a new Duluthian folk tale to go along with it. The music was performed at the Owls Club by the Owls Club Big Band; recorded and mixed by Darin Bergsven.
Reminder: Band registration for Homegrown is now open; the 21st annual festival will happen April 28 to May 5. Homegrown music mixes are available all year long through Bandcamp at duluthhomegrown.bandcamp.com.
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PDD Gift Guide 2018
Find something for everyone on your gift-giving list with PDD’s annual curated gift guide. It’s a bit different than most gift guides in that it’s not a list of stores that advertise with PDD — it’s a list of items created in our region, chosen simply because they are nifty. (more…)
Holiday Traditions next to Red Kettles
The Red Kettles are out, and the adorable man next to the adorable eagle is my friend.
The teddy bear on the left is Tim Broman; “Earnie” the eagle on the right is Cara Ellis. As you might guess from the fairly cheesy pun in “Earnie,” Cara is a mortgage specialist at Northern Communities Credit Union, where Tim is a customer service representative.
They are standing outside Cub Foods, where I bought some tasty sushi yesterday, inspired by the PDD post about Wasabi.
I didn’t realize that local businesses partnered with the Salvation Army in this way. I appreciate the generosity of NCCU, I shame my friend Tim for making the lady wear the costume (a gentleman would have worn the scratchy sweaty suit) and I wonder whether any other businesses and organizations partner in this way in the holidays. Post below if you will be ringing this season, please?
Video Archive: Christmas City of the North Parade 1998
Here it is, nearly two hours of KBJR-TV coverage of the Christmas City of the North Parade from Nov. 20, 1998. It was the first time the parade was routed onto Railroad Street in Canal Park, where KBJR was building its new studio.
See below for an index of parade entries if you want to find your favorite and not watch the whole broadcast. Also below, bonus footage: A portion of the KBJR newscast that preceded the parade. Both videos include most of the local commercials. National commercials were trimmed out, as were local commercials that repeated. (more…)
Merry Christmas from Congdon Park
Duluth Photo Engraving Company holiday postcard circa 1915.
The Little Black Books – “I Like Christmas”
Mark Lindquist puts brandy in his nog.
Video: Canadian Pacific Holiday Train in Plummer, Minn.
On Tuesday the 19th annual Canadian Pacific Holiday Train rolled through the city of Plummer, about 220 miles northwest of Duluth. Richard Hoeg was there and captured photos and video for his 365 Days of Birds blog. (more…)
PDD Quiz: Holiday Traditions
It’s that time of year again: the lights are twinkling, the tourists are flocking, and “Christmas City” plays on a seemingly endless loop. How well do you know your Twin Ports holiday traditions? Whip yourself up a Tom & Jerry and settle in for the quiz!
The next PDD Quiz, reviewing the events of 2017, will be published on Dec. 31. Please send question ideas to Alison Moffat at [email protected] by Dec. 28. (more…)
X-mas FAQ
The Christmas holiday is a joyous celebration commemorating the birth of Jesus Christ, observed through gift giving, wreath hanging, carol singing, tree decorating, card exchanging, egg nog drinking, fruitcake chewing, chestnut roasting and other questionable behavior. Not everyone believes in Jesus Christ, or fruitcake for that matter, but all decent human beings are expected to be just a little nicer than usual in December and tolerate all the crackpots.
For those who are unsure how to comply with society’s expectations, I’ve put together a few quick answers to some frequently asked Christmas questions.
Should my family put together a holiday photo card or just do the general Hallmark greeting card thing?
No matter how crappy a photo card is, a majority of recipients will save it their entire lives. Hallmark cards are completely pointless and will be in the recycling bin on Dec. 26 by noon. (more…)
More Bentleyville 2017
Video by Chris Bales.
Bentleyville 2017 Drone Video
Video by Kevin Wehmeyer of Drone 117.
PDD Gift Guide 2017
With an abundance of local craft fairs and new shops featuring local artists and products, supporting and buying local seems to be getting easier and easier in Duluth. With that in mind we bring you the annual PDD Gift Guide, a list of ideas with a local connection. As in previous years, we’ll kick it off with 15 suggestions. If you have your own ideas, or if you’re a local maker, feel free to add products and links in the comments.
(more…)Paul Metsa – “Christmas at Molly’s”
This video slideshow, produced by Andy Watson of ANDVD Media, was released just before Christmas. It features a song written by Paul Metsa in 1990 as a loving tribute to Molly O’Kash Muench Spaun, proprietor of Molly’s Bar in Superior. Spaun died in 2013 at the age of 99. Molly’s Bar closed in 2005 and became Tower Avenue Tavern.
Arrowhead Christmas by Knute Heldner
Impressionist painter Knute Heldner lived in Duluth during the early 1900s.
Ingeborg von Agassiz – “Jolly Old St. Nick”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TZ0ut8AIkSE
A reharmonization and altered melody for the traditional holiday classic “Jolly Old St. Nicholas” by Duluth’s Ingeborg von Agassiz.
Duluth Nordic Center Stop-motion Workshop Video
A compilation of stop-motion animations done by children at the Nordic Center on Nov. 20. Video by Falyn Oja.
Dance Attic – “Startin’ a Fire with You”
[arve url=”https://youtu.be/x-KIkeajnXs” thumbnail=”146333″]
Happy holidays! Jimi Cooper and Suzi Ludwig of Dance Attic bring the holiday cheer for this year’s PDD Christmas video. The song is from the band’s first album, tentatively scheduled for release in April.
A big thank you to the Homegrown Music Festival for sponsoring the video. Band registration is happening now, the Homegrown Winter Fiasco is Jan. 13, and the full-on eight-day extravaganza happens April 30 to May 7.
A big tip of the western hat also goes out to Darryn Wallace, who made Dance Attic’s snappy outfits.
Visit the PDD Holiday Video Showcase to view a collection of clips featuring the ghosts of Christmas’ past.