Paul Lundgren
The Louie Show: Intro and Theme
Here it is, the opening theme to The Louie Show. Thanks to Waferdog for passing along this essential archival VHS treasure from 1996.
There isn’t really any Duluth footage in the opening, other than the big “Duluth” sweatshirt Louie sports.
“Christmas City” 45 for sale on eBay to support Bentleyville Tour of Lights
Security Jewelers is auctioning off a mint condition 45 of Merv Griffin’s “Christmas City,” the song recorded 50 years ago to promote the Christmas City of the North Parade. Check it out on eBay. The proceeds are being donated to Duluth’s Bentleyville Tour of Lights — America’s largest free, walk-through Christmas lighting display.
Amy and Dave Freeman’s Big Adventure
Amy and Dave Freeman of Grand Marais are among ten finalists for National Geographic’s Adventurers of the Year. The couple paddled, dogsledded, and hiked 11,647 miles across North America from April 22, 2010 to April 4, 2013.
Perfect Burger Restaurant: Anchor Bar
There is no shortage of great burger joints in the Duluth area, but the undisputed king of them all for the past three decades has been the Anchor Bar. Among the other dozen nominees in Perfect Duluth Day’s poll, only the Fitger’s Brewhouse pulled a significant chunk of the vote. When the two went head to head, the Anchor took 61 percent, and the Brewhouse took 39.
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The Swinging Bridge at Jay Cooke
It’s back, as of Nov. 1.
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Miss Dorothy Crawford’s Duluth Adventure
There’s a fun piece on the Glensheen Blog called “No Outdoor Sports Until it Warms Up to Zero.” It’s a 101-year-old letter from a Vassar College student named Dorothy Crawford, who traveled to Duluth to visit her classmate, Helen Congdon, and stayed at the Congdon mansion. She writes about the comforts of Glensheen, going to the bonspiel, going to a show at the Orpheum (now the NorShor), eating caviar sandwiches at the Hotel Spaulding, skating on the lake, etc., and concludes with a tobogganing party at Chester Bowl.
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Chipotle and Qdoba coming to Duluth
Chipotle Mexican Grill | Qdoba Mexican Grill
Apparently it’s really happening.
- Chipotle will open at Miller Hill Mall.
- Qdoba has announced it’s coming, but not when or where.
Big Burrito will be locating in the BlueStone Lofts area by UMD, according to the Statesman.
Update: The UMD Statesman report seems to have been in error. Numerous other sources have reported it is Qdoba that is locating in Bluestone Commons. Both Qdoba and Chipolte are expected to open in summer 2014.
So here’s one more post where folks can comment about how having chain burrito joints come to Duluth either completely fulfills us as people and as a city, or how everyone who gets excited about it is some kind of rube. Get it all out of your system now, if you haven’t already on Facebook.
Duluth News Tribune: Chipotle, Qdoba restaurant chains plan to open locations in Duluth
Fox 21 News: Qdoba and Chipotle both coming to Duluth
Eyewitness News: “Two burrito chains coming to Duluth”
Northland’s NewsCenter: Chipotle to open at Miller Hill Mall in March of 2014
Perfect Asian Restaurant: Hanabi Japanese Cuisine
Duluth was a late adopter to sushi. Although sumptuous vinegared rice rolls showed up as a special menu item at a few places around town in prior decades, it wasn’t until 2006 that Zen House opened on the city’s border, technically in Hermantown, and became the first consistent, daily sushi source. Zen House added a second location in Downtown Duluth in 2009, but Hanabi Japanese Cuisine opened at the start of 2010, immediately becoming Duluth’s sushi king. It’s also the best Asian restaurant in town, having garnered 36.6 percent of the vote in Perfect Duluth Day’s poll.
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The Louie Show
Minnesota-born comedian Louie Anderson starred in a CBS sitcom in 1996 that was set in Duluth. It didn’t last long. Six episodes were produced; five were aired. None of the episodes were shot in Duluth, but the opening theme featured Louie in a sweatshirt with “Duluth” across the chest and some transition footage was shot in Duluth. The show is not available on DVD or streaming on Netflix, but thanks to old VHS copies floating around town we’ve been able to pull together excerpts from four episodes (see below).
Perfect Vegetarian Menu: Duluth Grill
Duluth doesn’t have an exclusively vegetarian restaurant, but there are a number of places that go out of their way to cater to the non-carniverous. Among them, At Sara’s Table / Chester Creek Café and Duluth Grill stood out in Perfect Duluth Day’s polling, and in the head-to-head matchup Duluth Grill came out on top with 64.2 percent of the vote. It is Duluth’s best restaurant among vegetarians. (more…)
Duluth-Superior Harbor Circa 1975
This postcard image was published by Gallagher’s Studio of Photography. My great aunt Jennie mailed it to me in 1975, noting she had a “wonderful ride on a boat called the Vista Queen.” She specified that “there were 147 people on the boat” and “the trip took two hours.”
I was 3 years old at the time, and my family was living in Albuquerque, N.M., with plans to move back to Duluth. Jennie ended her message with, “Little Paul, can you count all the boats in the picture on this card?”
Well, I’m 40 years old now and I got the answer wrong. I counted 12 boats. How many do you see, little readers?
The printed info on the postcard reads: “Duluth-Superior Harbor: Foreign vessels are shown at the Arthur M. Clure Public Marine Terminal. The Duluth-Superior Harbor is the westerly terminus of the St. Lawrence Seaway.”
And that concludes today’s Show and Tell.
Duluth 2013 General Election Results
39 of 39 precincts reporting
Duluth At-large City Councilor
Top two candidates are elected
Zack Filipovich – 9,658 | 33%
Barb Russ – 9,364 | 32%
Ryan Stauber – 7,884 | 27%
Ray (Skip) Sandman – 2,490 | 8%
Write in – 115 | 0%
Duluth Second District City Councilor
Patrick Boyle – 2,195 | 97%
Write in – 61 | 3%
Duluth Fourth District City Councilor
Howie Hanson – 1,853 | 61%
Garry Krause – 1,153 | 38%
Write in – 44 | 1%
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Perfect Mexican Restaurant: Mexico Lindo
Duluthians complain about their Mexican restaurants almost as much as they complain about the weather. The cuisinal affective disorder is prevalent enough that Perfect Duluth Day was compelled to include a “none are worthy” option in its poll to determine the best Mexican restaurant. When the voting was complete, however, one enterprise was worthy: Mexico Lindo. (more…)
Duluth 2013 General Election Sample Ballot
Click to see it larger. Keep in mind some races will not appear on your ballot, depending on which part of town you reside in.
Perfect Italian Restaurant: Va Bene Caffé
Mary Kay and Jim Berarducci run a tiny Italian restaurant overlooking a massive lake. The combination of cozy atmosphere, magnificent view and delicious cuisine is no accident; “va bene” is Italian for “it goes well.” Readers of Perfect Duluth Day agree it does, indeed, go well. In a poll they chose Va Bene Caffé as Duluth’s best Italian restaurant.
The menu includes antipasta appetizers, pizza, panini, gnocchi, pasta, fish, steak, soups and salads. Many items, such as the sauces, dressings and breads, are made from scratch with imported Italian products.
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Stone-Arch Bridge and Haines Road open
The Stewart Creek Stone-Arch Bridge at Magney-Snively Natural Area (State Bridge Number L6007; built circa 1925) has been repaired from damage sustained during the Hideous Solstice Flood Calamity of 2012. The bridge had sustained significant flood damage and deterioration to the abutment walls, stone-arch underside, headwalls, wing walls, railing and guard stones. (We’re not sure when that sign was damaged or when it will be pulled upright.) (more…)
Pascal Dupuis pulls out two teeth
Former Minnesota Wild forward Pascal Dupuis, now with the Pittsburgh Penguins, catches a high stick from his teammate Kris Letang, then pulls out two teeth on the bench without missing a shift.
Duck’s feet and bird’s nest soup in Duluth
Duluth News Tribune — Oct. 16, 1916:
Duluth monkeys on ABC’s World News Now
Lake Superior Zoo has named its baby Angolan colobus monkeys. “Kermit” has been chosen for the male monkey (born June 26). He likes to hop around like a frog. “Kaya” has been chosen for the female monkey (born July 16). She is named after a city in central Africa.
The zoo asked for the community’s help in naming the monkeys and guests attending Boo at the Zoo were given the opportunity to cast votes for their favorite names and make a cash donation toward wild colobus conservation efforts. A contribution of $500 from the baby-naming voting process and other visitor donations received at Boo at the Zoo will be sent to Colobus Conservation, located in Kenya.
Duluth Demon Demonized?
Four weeks ago a post on Perfect Duluth Day introduced the “Duluth Demon,” a masked character who apparently jumps out from behind trees in the Bagley Nature Area and scares the dickens out of UMD students. Whether it was a publicity stunt, all in good fun or a dangerous individual threatening public safety, the topic didn’t generate a lot of attention here.
Now that Halloween is upon us, however, we should have seen a twist in the story coming.
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Hello, my name is October 2003
A search through the PDD Archives for October 2003 reveals a wild month. Rick Boo closed the NorShor Theatre (causing much reminiscing on PDD), Bone Appetit was supposed to open for Ratt at the Third Rock Bar until Ratt cancelled at the last minute, people on PDD started posting short introductions about themselves and telling ghost stories, Starfire got his jaw jacked, Jamie Ness was voted Hottest Ness Brother, a cake/fist fight broke out at Slim Goodbuzz’s book-release party, Elliot Smith died and Shaky Ray Records hosted some kind of party.
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Vote for the best pizza, burger, Asian, vegetarian, Mexican and Italian restaurants
In the top four categories below, an elimination round was held to determine the finalists. In the last two, the number of nominees was short enough to skip an elimination round.
[poll id=”53″]
This poll is closed. The results were:
Thirsty Pagan Brewing — 45.9 percent
Pizza Lucé — 24.7 percent
Sammy”s Pizza — 17.6 percent
Vintage Italian Pizza — 11.8 percent
[poll id=”54″]
This poll is closed. The results were:
Anchor Bar — 61.3 percent
Fitger’s Brewhouse — 38.7 percent
[poll id=”55″]
This poll is closed. The results were:
Hanabi Japanese Cuisine — 36.6 percent
Pak’s Green Corner — 25.4 percent
Taste of Saigon — 22.5 percent
Sala Thai Restaurant — 15.5 percent
[poll id=”56″]
This poll is closed. The results were:
Duluth Grill — 64.3 percent
At Sara’s Table / Chester Creek Café — 35.7 percent
[poll id=”57″]
This poll is closed. The results were:
Mexico Lindo — 29.5 percent
None are worthy — 25.6 percent
Azteca’s Mexican Grill — 19.2 percent
Guadalajara Mexican Restaurant — 14.1 percent
Little Angie’s Cantina and Grill — 6.4 percent
Maya Family Mexican Restaurant — 5.1 percent
[poll id=”58″]
This poll is closed. The results were:
Va Bene Caffé — 40 percent
Bellisio’s Italian Restaurant and Wine Bar — 18.8 percent
Valentini’s Vicino Lago — 18.8 percent
Gannucci’s Italian Market — 17.6 percent
Green Mill — 4.7 percent
Probably the last Superior Hiking Trail post of 2013 … but we’ll see
I’m not sure if this is called Fox Farm Pond or Paisley Pond or both, but it’s funky as hell.
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R.I.P. Lou Reed
His death is locally relevant, since he wrote Perfect Duluth Day’s unofficial theme song.