Tony Bennett

Here’s a bit of what you’ll find on this week’s PDD Calendar:

The Nerds are having another Nite, there’s a TED Talk at the Teatro, people can get their antiques appraised at the Depot, a Nepal relief benefit is happening and bands and fans jam themselves onto a train.

The 2015 Northeastern Minnesota Book Awards take place, it’s Community Day at Glensheen Mansion, rock bands play an Italian restaurant, Blake Thomas continues his residency at the Zeitgeist Arts building and Bob Dylan gets even more adoration at Sacred Heart.

Here’s a bit of what you’ll find on this week’s PDD Calendar:

Guitar wizard Jimi Cooper hits the Brewhouse, the Chamber Campaign Camp aims to help potential political candidates find their footing, writers meet at Amazing Grace, Duluth’s Life House holds its second Night to Shine event, a new Cheng-Khee Chee show opens at the Tweed with a reception and Grammy-winner Pat Donahue lands at Sacred Heart.

The owner of the Duluth Huskies baseball team discusses the team’s history, the Duluth Art Institute celebrates three solo exhibitions, the latest Wise Fool Shakespeare production opens, the Duluth Playhouse holds its casino night fundraiser and Portrait of a Drowned Man releases its vinyl soundtrack to Mike Scholtz’ Wicker Kittens.

Here’s a bit of what you’ll find on this week’s PDD Calendar:

The 2015 Homegrown Festival is in the books, but that doesn’t mean there’s any shortage of post-fest activity in the Northland. UMD Dean of Fine Arts Bill Payne will defend a favorite film at the Zinema, the second-annual Veterans Expo is taking place in Superior, the 58th annual Lions Club Pancake Day is happening at the DECC, the Filmed by Bike Festival is at the Zinema, Grandma’s Sports Garden is throwing a party in honor of the end of the school year and Caroline Smith plays the Red Herring.

Mayor Ness hosts his final Bike Luncheon, the YWCA is having its Mother’s Day Walk/Run, the Cat in the Hat opens a month of shows for kids at the Underground, there’s stand-up comedy at Dubh Linn and kids can learn how to draw with Chris Monroe.

Here’s a bit of what you’ll find on this week’s PDD Calendar:

The Homegrown Music Festival is upon us, and that means that every single day is packed with music.

One could be forgiven to think that there’s nothing much else to point out, this week, but there is. For instance, there’s a ramp closure on the Blatnik Bridge coming up on Wednesday — locals are saying it’s going to be the ramp closing of the season. And, uh, that’s about it.

Just kidding. There’s author Tim Jollymore at UMD, a pow-wow dancers photo exhibit at the Depot, author Linda LeGarde Grover is speaking in Superior, the Kurt Weill opera Street Scene is at Marshall Performing Arts Center, the Zenith Social Media Marketing Conference is happening at Greysolon Plaza, unWINEd ’15 takes place at Duluth International Airport, there’s a Minnesota Ballet wine/cheese benefit at the Depot, May 1 is Law Day in Duluth and there’s stand-up comedy at Dubh Linn.

It’s a veritable smorgasbord for those who like giant music festivals, ramp closings and other things, too.

Here’s a bit of what you’ll find on this week’s PDD Calendar:

Twelve hours of music and live glassblowing are happening at Legacy Glassworks’ Spring Blowout, the latest episode of Take it With You is being taped live, Charlie Parr’s raising money for Harbor City International School (where Flora, the Red Menace is opening on Friday) and St. Scholastica’s Concert Band and Jazz Ensemble is playing great movie music.

The 23rd annual Labovitz Entrepreneurial Success Awards are on Wednesday, the beloved musical Annie is opening at Fregeau Auditorium, comedians are coming together to fight Alzheimer’s, loud rock is in the offing at the Red Herring, Wise Fool Shakespeare is throwing a benefit at Northland Country Club and the Hubble Space Telescope is 25.

And, oh, yeah: a little thing called the Homegrown Music Festival kicks off on Sunday.

Here’s a bit of what you’ll find on this week’s PDD Calendar:

Fans of internet cat videos are getting their own festival, Mike Scholtz will screen a film and then defend his selection, the Arrowhead Home and Builders Show gets underway, multi-instrumentalist David Lindley performs at Sacred Heart and people can sample local music and local beers at Mitchell Auditorium.

Minnesota rock legends Soul Asylum play the Sports Garden, underwater photography is exhibited at the Red Herring, science is celebrated at UWS, the 2015 Fitger’s 5k Run and Walk goes down on Saturday morning and the Gitchee Gumee Brewfest hits Wessman Arena.

Here’s a bit of what you’ll find on this week’s PDD Calendar:

The Zodiac Trio hits Mitchell Auditorium, the Duluth Public Library is throwing a Lego party, Duluth MakerSpace wants to introduce you to the Electric Imp, Bigfoot may or may not be out there, the famous modern-country act Little Big Town is at the Amsoil and Love, Loss, and What I Wore opens at the Underground.

As if that wasn’t enough, Mason Jennings is at Sacred Heart, Sleeping Beauty is at the DECC, there are derbies of the roller and puzzle variety and Mentor Duluth is throwing a music festival.

Here’s a bit of what you’ll find on this week’s PDD Calendar:

Spring forward into the waning days of winter with a myriad of things to do: The Red Herring is screening the Oscar-winning (right?) White Men Can’t Jump, check out Board Game Night at Rogue Robot, celebrate International Women’s Day at UMD, hear Gaelynn Lea at Bulldog Pizza, make your own wine goblet at Lake Superior Art Glass and check out some experimental theater at the Dudley.

Fans of pugilism should hit up the Jack O’Brien Boxing Invitational, fans of one-night-only cover bands should check out the Ides of March Bacchanalia Festival, ‘zine boosters should hit up the Minerva party and fans of the Pines should, y’know, go to this Pines concert.

Here’s a bit of what you’ll find on this week’s PDD Calendar:

Mayor Ness’ final State of the City Address is taking place, wooden cars are pitted against each other in the latest Pinewood Derby, Restaurant Week gets underway with meals aplenty and the Zinema’s 2sDays series kicks into gear.

Grab some new jewelry at St. Luke’s, acquire Mary Bue’s latest album at her release show, see the classic musical Oliver!, take in some of the best jazz the area has to offer at the Head of the Lakes Jazz Festival and celebrate Mustache March.

Lots to do, and then some.

Here’s a bit of what you’ll find on this week’s PDD Calendar:

A two-artist exhibit opens at the Zeitgeist Arts Cafe, The Vagina Monologues is at UMD, hip-hop violinists are at St. Scholastica, the nerds are back in action at Teatro Zuccone and the Rose Ensemble is at Sacred Heart.

Learn about the art of local food at the Depot, catch Bill Staines at Amazing Grace and see a Trial by Jury at The Underground.

Add to this some rock and roll, the latest by the Minnesota Ballet and even a flytying workshop, and it’s a mighty full week.

Here’s a bit of what you’ll find on this week’s PDD Calendar:

There’s swing dancing at the Sports Garden, one of Jack Black’s former advisors is speaking, the North Shore Scenic Railroad is training conductors and the Duluth Boat, Sports, Travel and RV show gets underway.

That darn cat is still up on that hot roof at the Playhouse, there’s a lecture at Mitchell Auditorium on recovering traditional Dakota knowledge, a double art opening is taking place at the Depot and short films are being screened.

Add to this tons of live gigs, including one centered around beards, one at an Italian restaurant and one by a band whose name recently changed, and it’s a full docket of things to do and see.

(Ah, heck, let’s throw the Birkie and the Polar Plunge on the pile, too. Why not?)

Here’s a bit of what you’ll find on this week’s PDD Calendar:

A locally-made documentary is at the Zinema, a big job fair is at UWS, The Fractals are at Clyde Iron, Prof and special guests are at the Sports Garden and Darwin’s work is discussed in recognition of his birthday.

Saturday is Valentine’s Day, so there’s all sorts of lovey-dovey stuff to do on that day. Dubh Linn serving up a special dinner with its comedy bill, Beaner’s Central is throwing a 20’s-themed bash, the Red Herring is serving Bratwurst, four great local music acts are playing in support of PAVSA and lovers are encouraged, Ghost-style, to make goblets together.

Here’s a bit of what you’ll find on this week’s PDD Calendar:

Tons of new theater and dance is going up in this first week of February 2015. The kids’ show Go, Dog. Go! opens at Marshall Performing Arts Center, Murder Ballad gets underway at Teatro Zuccone, the Celebrity Dance Challenge returns, Beyond Ballroom hits Mitchell Auditorium and 1959 Pink Thunderbird is in the St. Scholastica Theatre.

As if that wasn’t enough, how about the Randy Lee Ensemble playing Getz/Gilberto, the latest of the Tweed Museum’s Tweevenings, Russian romantic guitar music at the Mitchell or the Duluth Dolls doing their thing at Sacred Heart?

Here’s a bit of what you’ll find on this week’s PDD Calendar:

WDSE’s The Playlist is taping musical performances at Lutsen (where The Pines and Dead Man Winter will also play later in the week), Go, Dog. Go! is at the Mount Royal Library, short films about water are being screened at UWS and The Turn of the Screw opens at the Duluth Playhouse.

The Homegrown Festival’s Winter Fiasco goes down at three local venues, the 1959 Winter Dance Party tour is celebrated at Sacred Heart (while the 1980s and ’90s get a tribute at the Red Star), Hippo Campus and Fever Dream kick it at the Red Herring and there’s stand-up comedy at Dubh Linn.

Any way you slice it, there’s plenty afoot in this last week of January.

Here’s a bit of what you’ll find on this week’s PDD Calendar:

Lots going on, in this third full week of January 2015. There’s the MLK March and Rally on Monday morning, a Library Luau for kids, an opportunity to find out if you own valuable antiques, a big photography show and a chilly Nerd Nite.

Roald Dahl’s Willy Wonka, Jr. opens this week, Cheech and Chong and War bring the funk and the cannabis humor to the DECC, pond hockey is happening all weekend and Adam Sippola releases an album with a Sacred Heart show.

Certainly, there’s plenty of trouble to get into, this week.

Here’s a bit of what you’ll find on this week’s PDD Calendar:

There’s no need to be bored, when you can board — check out Board Game Night at Rogue Robot. Go see TV’s beloved Alan Thicke, father of disgraced singer Robin Thicke, host a live dancing competition at the DECC. Jody Kujawa’s Ladies Night Karaoke is going down Wednesday, as per usual.

Dessa’s back in town on Friday, and she’s also at Lutsen on Saturday. Mayor Ness kicks off a weekend of Martin Luther King-centric events. Dwight Yoakam is doing his thing at Black Bear, and the Minnesota Fringe Fest is still fringing along.

Here’s a bit of what you’ll find on this week’s PDD Calendar:

The holidays are in the rear-view mirror, and so things are back to something resembling normal in the Twin Ports. For those looking to hit the ground running in 2015, there’s a lot out there to do. Take in an art opening at the Zeitgeist Arts Building, learn about MNsure and ARAC, see a locally-made film and head up to Lutsen for the Snowball Festival.

Over the weekend, check out some punk rock at the Red Star, learn about your Chakras, get a jazz fix from Maxi Childs and company, have a few ha-ha’s at Dubh Linn and celebrate those on the outskirts of things at the Fringe Festival.

Plenty to do, and, best of all, your chances of hearing a tinny version of “Jingle Bells” coming out of a speaker somewhere are virtually nil.

Here’s a bit of what you’ll find on this week’s PDD Calendar:

We’re in the home stretch of the holiday season. This week, there’s New Year’s Eve, and there’s everything else. First, the everything else — lots of concerts taking place: Dedric Clark and the Social Animals, Aurora Baer, Wolf Blood and Mary Cutrufello are all treading the boards at local venues.

Learn about the food you eat at the Zinema, see some Legos and play some Legos at the Library, skate on some open ice at the Heritage Center, get Fringe-y at Teatro Zuccone and enjoy some Ethiopian coffee and food at Jefferson People’s House.

Next, New Year’s Eve. Click right HERE to see the entire night’s menu of entertainment choices. Still growing at press time, there’s bound to be something for any reveler of any reveling style. From “subdued gathering” to “drunken blowout,” it’s all there.

Here’s a bit of what you’ll find on this week’s PDD Calendar:

It’s Christmas week, so it’s basically your final chance to get out and get a cheer infusion. The lights are still up at Bentleyville, Glensheen and Fairlawn, and Rubber Chicken’s holiday revue is still kicking.

Post-holiday, there’s lots to do. Check out Teague Alexy and Low Forms at the Red Star on different evenings, and see stand-up and improv comedy to laugh away the post-holiday blues.

But the real news of the week, of course, is that you can park for free downtown on Christmas Day. So why not ditch your family, drive downtown, and just aimlessly park your car in various places over and over? It’s gotta be better than listening to Uncle Jim talk about his political views, surely. Surely.

Here’s a bit of what you’ll find on this week’s PDD Calendar:

As Christmas is only ten days away, now’s the time to get out and gawk at the lights. Bentleyville, Glensheen, and Fairlawn are all up to full twinkle right about now, so peep the calendar to see when to schedule your visits.

Plenty of music on tap, this week — Sarah Krueger is releasing her latest album at the Red Herring, former Duluthian Haley Bonar is in town, and the Music Resource Center is holding an open-mic night for its students.

Add to this list a good amount of notable film events — there’s the Star Wars Holiday Special, an Iranian Vampire Western and a film where J.K. Simmons yells at a drummer until he cries — and you’ve got the makings of a pretty full pre-Christmas week.