PDD News Sieve
Duluth 2022 Primary Election Sample Ballot
Above is what the partisan side of the primary ballot looks like for Duluthians on the western side of the city. Those on the eastern side will see candidates for Minnesota State Representative for District 8B instead of 8A. The dividing line of the district is at First Avenue East and also runs north/south along Kenwood Avenue. (more…)
To Fight for Ukraine’s Freedom, He Went Back Into the Closet
The July 7 episode of the New York Times’ new podcast, First Person, was produced by Duluth’s Courtney Stein. Titled “To Fight for Ukraine’s Freedom, He Went Back Into the Closet,” the episode features Stein talking to a gay Ekrainian soldier during the first months of the Russian invasion.
“I got to know him through the voice memos he sent me in between shifts on guard duty,” Stein wrote in the Times’ Opinion Today newsletter. “He told me that it had been difficult to decide to enlist, not only because he feared fighting the Russians, but also because he was afraid that his fellow Ukrainian soldiers wouldn’t accept him.”
Lake Superior Brewing to open soon; no beer until Labor Day
Lake Superior Brewing opening soon - WDIO.com
Lake Superior Brewing will open soon in Duluth's Lakeside neighborhood. It will be a restaurant, bar, and brewery.
wdio.com
A specific date hasn’t been set, but WDIO-TV reports that Lake Superior Brewing will open soon. It will initially be just a restaurant and bar, however. The brewery’s beer won’t be ready until September. “Hopefully by Labor Day,” co-owner Sarah Maxim told WDIO. (more…)
Corktown Deli and Brews moving to 27th Avenue West
Fox 21 reports that Corktown Deli and Brews will change its location in early 2023. The business opened in 2018 at 1906 W. Superior St. Co-owner Jeff Petcoff told Fox 21 more space is needed, so Corktown will move about three quarters of a mile southwest to 102 S. 27th Ave. W.
Parent company Arrowstar Hospitality Partners purchased the former Duluth Stove and Fireplace building in May. It is adjacent to the Duluth Grill, another restaurant under Arrowstar’s umbrella.
So long, Country Lanes North
Country Lanes North, the bowling alley with outdoor volleyball courts at 2327 Mountain Shadow Drive near Miller Hill Mall, is closing and will be torn down. It was built in 1976.
Planet Fitness plans to open an exercise center there in 2023. (more…)
Duluth 2022 Primary Election Primer
The filing period for Minnesota state and county offices closed on May 31. Below is a tally of candidates who filed for races pertinent to Duluth-area ballots. Names that appear in red are hyperlinked to the candidates’ websites. (more…)
Twin Ports breweries nab three medals at World Beer Cup

Representatives of Bent Paddle (left) and Earth Rider (right) accepted medals at the 2022 World Beer Cup.
Bent Paddle in Duluth and Earth Rider in Superior each won gold medals at the World Beer Cup on May 5. It’s the first time more than one medal was won by the region’s breweries at the competition. Bent Paddle also took home a bronze medal. (more…)
A look at the two-level infill house in West Duluth
A New Prototype for Building Affordable Houses on Narrow Lots in Duluth — ENTER
FEATURE A New Prototype for Building Affordable Houses on Narrow Lots in Duluth
entermn.com
Enter, a digital biweekly publication from the creators of Architecture MN magazine, takes a look at “a new prototype for building affordable houses on narrow lots in Duluth.”
Sacred Heart releases album recorded during lockdown
Sacred Heart Music Center is releasing an album recorded during empty-building, pandemic-lockdown concerts live streamed over its YouTube channel in 2020 and 2021.
A listening party for Live from the Heart: The Sacred Heart Music Center Quarantine Sessions will be held from 4-7 p.m. Sunday, March 20 at Ursa Minor Brewing, 2415 W. Superior St. in Duluth. The free event will feature the first public airing of the album, CDs for sale, drink specials, pizza and more. (more…)
Trampled by Turtles announce grant and Bayfront concert
Bluegrass band Trampled by Turtles has announced its return to Bayfront Festival Park. The Duluth-formed group will perform July 9 with special guest Jenny Lewis.
The band also announced it is partnering with the Homegrown Music Festival on a grant to “battle against artistic mediocrity.” The $5,000 Palomino Grant is available to musicians in, or within 20 miles of, Duluth and Superior and can be used for things like recording, gear and touring. Applications are being taken through Google Forms, which must be submitted by the first day of Homegrown, May 1. The grant winner will play the opening slot of the Bayfront concert.
Duluth curler among stray Olympians in Beijing streets
Beijing Streets Overrun By Hundreds Of Stray Olympians After End Of Games
John Landsteiner of Duluth, at right in the image, was among “hundreds of stray Olympians” who “had been left behind after the 2022 Winter Games,” according to the satirical news website the Onion. With Landsteiner in the photo is his curling teammate Matt Hamilton of McFarland, Wis.
Trapp family in Esko tallest in the world
Averaging 6 feet, 8.03 inches, the members of the Trapp family in Esko are the tallest in the world. Pine Knot News reports that Guinness World Records has declared it official. In the article the heights of each family member are broken down: “Adam Trapp 7-foot, 3.7 inches; Savanna 6-foot, 8.5 inches; dad Scott Trapp 6-foot, 8.2 inches; Molly (Trapp) Steede 6-foot, 5.8 inches and mom Krissy 6-foot, 3.5 inches.”
R.I.P. Esmond Building
Lincoln Park's Esmond Building demolished - Duluth News Tribune | News, weather, and sports from Duluth, Minnesota
The former Seaway Hotel was destroyed by fire Jan. 10.
duluthnewstribune.com
The Duluth News Tribune reports the former Seaway Hotel, also known as the Esmond Building, was demolished on Wednesday. The building had been gutted by a fire on Jan. 10. (more…)
Final Jeopardy Duluth clue a real stumper
The episode of Jeopardy! that aired on Valentine’s Day ended with this clue: “At about 90,000 it’s the most populous U.S. city on North America’s biggest lake.” All three contestants failed to answer Duluth. Two answered Green Bay and one answered Minneapolis. (more…)
R.I.P. Herb Bergson
Herb Bergson, former mayor of Duluth, Superior, dead at 65 - Duluth News Tribune | News, weather, and sports from Duluth, Minnesota
The police officer turned politician was known for his support of the LGBTQ community.
duluthnewstribune.com
Herb Bergson, mayor of Duluth from 2004 to 2008, and mayor of Superior from 1987 to 1995, died Feb. 10 of sepsis, a complication from a cancer surgery. He was 65. (more…)
Chester Creek Concert Series 2022 band applications sought
The 39th season of the Chester Creek Concert Series will run Tuesday nights from June 14 to Aug. 16 at Chester Park. Bands interested in playing a 90-minute set on one of those Tuesday can apply with Duluth Parks and Recreation.
As a part of the application process, bands are asked to provide a bio, contact information, up to three sound samples and other information.
MNDOT names eight more plows for 2022

After tallying 60,000 votes, MNDOT has named eight more plows in the fleet. They join Plowy McPlowface and Duck Duck Orange Truck from last year’s naming contest. In Duluth, you can be on the lookout for No More Mr. Ice Guy to be clearing the roads. (more…)
America’s Curling Heroes in Parade Magazine
“A humble Midwestern team” that “made curling cool” is on the cover of this week’s Parade magazine.
The U.S. men’s Olympic curling team members pictured are, left to right: John Landsteiner, Duluth; Chris Plys, Duluth; John Shuster, Superior; John Landsteiner, Duluth; Colin Hufman, Minneapolis; and Matt Hamilton, McFarland.
Alan Sparhawk and Nat Harvie in Talkhouse
Alan Sparhawk (Low) and Nat Harvie Were Shaped by Duluth
The Minnesotan artists talk their shared hometown and more.
talkhouse.com
Musicians Alan Sparhawk and Nat Harvie talk about how Duluth informs both their music and their outlook on the website Talkhouse, a media outlet where artists share firsthand perspectives and offer insight into their creative work.
DECC COVID-19 testing tips
In the midst of the Omicron-variant surge the Duluth Entertainment Convention Center has published an “Insider’s Guide to COVID Testing.” Best walk-in hours? From 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. Parking? Free in the DECC lot if you tell the attendant that’s what you’re there for.
R.I.P. Louie Anderson, sitcom Duluthian
Comedian Louie Anderson died today at age 68. Part of his credentials in the entertainment industry is a CBS sitcom set in Duluth. Six episodes were produced; five were aired in 1996. (more…)
Condemned Esmond building gutted by fire

The Duluth Fire Department tweeted this photo at 7:55 a.m. noting a heavy fire on the second floor of the Esmond building.
The former Seaway Hotel, more recently known as the Esmond building, burned for seven hours today while fire fighters struggled in sub-arctic temperatures to extinguish it. The condemned structure at 2001 W. Superior St. in Duluth’s Lincoln Park neighborhood has been vacant since 2020 with future plans for demolition and redevelopment. (more…)











