PDDTV
Sleepless in Duluth, N.D.
The romantic comedy Sleepless in Seattle premiered in theaters 30 years ago today — June 25, 1993. The film includes a scene in which the character Annie Reed, played by Meg Ryan, tells her fiancé Walter Jackson, played by Bill Pullman, about a guy on a radio show who lived in Duluth … which is in North Dakota according to Walter.
Grandma’s Marathon 2022 Double: I Wanna Be Sedated
One year ago Eric Strand completed his ninth Grandma’s Marathon Double — starting at the finish line, running to the starting line, then running the official marathon. The 2022 video was finally released just before the 2023 marathon. Strand uses the 52.4-mile Grandma’s Marathon Double as a training run for the Leadville 100 Trail Run.
Strand has been running the Grandma’s Marathon since 2000 and has done the “double” since 2012, except for the pandemic year of 2020.
Rachael Kilgour – “Dad Worked Hard”
Duluth native Rachael Kilgour has a new album, My Father Loved Me, scheduled for release in September. The video for the first single, “Dad Worked Hard,” is a live performance shot by Brian Lazarus in a damp basement workshop in New York City.
Hyper Glaze
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3LSl2g5N4PU
John Holden and Matt Norby warn that their latest video contains hyper-glazed data poisoning. “Do not upload it to sites that train modules on user submissions,” the YouTube video description notes. “It will degrade the overall system and cause generated output to be less stable and less accurate. You don’t want to be the one to ruin AI content for everybody.”
Beyondbliss with Lyla Abukhodair – “Dance Without Somebody”
Born Deaf, the new album from Beyondbliss, is scheduled for release June 30. The second single, “Dance Without Somebody,” features Lyla Abukhodair. The video was created by an artificial intelligence art program.
Iron Range Outlaw Brigade – “The Ballad of Jimmy the Outlaw”
Iron Range Outlaw Brigade is working on a new EP, but singer/guitarist Kirk Kjenaas has compiled the nostalgic video embedded above, which features a smattering of band photos from the past 15 years.
The song is from the band’s 2011 debut album Shootin’ Shells & Raisin’ Hell, but this version was recorded live in 2014 by Andrew Lambert at Yo’r Mudders Place, which is now the Ore House, in Gilbert.
EmbalmingEva – “RBMK”
Duluth synth act EmbalmingEva‘s debut video is directed and edited by Marcel Hones with creative direction and styling by Catherine Karakas.
MN Moder – “Love Letter”
The new video from Duluth-based hip-hop artist Zachary Moder, aka MN Moder, is a love letter to music with visuals by Montclair Media.
MN Moder performs at Wussow’s Concert Cafe on June 7 as part of the weeklong Pete Fest.
Minnesota Historia: Boomtown!
The history of Minnesota’s Iron Range is full of boomtowns. That word usually refers to any town that grows rapidly due to economic prosperity. But in the case of Eveleth, “boomtown” took on a more literal definition. Twice.
Minnesota Historia is a PBS North web series dedicated to Minnesota’s quirky past. It is hosted by Hailey Eidenschink and produced/edited/written by Mike Scholtz.
Duluth kids use miniature nuclear reactor for stickball backstop
Duluth is name-dropped in the new Netflix action/comedy series FUBAR, starring Arnold Schwarzenegger, which premiered last week. In episode 4, titled “Armed & Dane-gerous,” the regional Central Intelligence Agency director informs a team of operatives that a medical glass manufacturer in Duluth went bankrupt and left a miniature nuclear reactor in the basement, where kids used it as a backstop for their stickball game.
The 2023 Half-Moon Pack of Wolf Pups
The 2023 Half-Moon wolf pack has seven pups and all appear to be in good shape.
The Voyageurs Wolf Project is focused on understanding the summer ecology of wolves in Voyageurs National Park, about 100 miles north of Duluth. Donations to its annual fundraiser help study how many of these pups survive to adulthood and pays for the equipment that captures footage like this. Donations can be made via crowdfund.umn.edu.
Minnesota Historia: The Magic of Smelting
Explore Minnesota’s love affair with smelt, the shimmering silver fish that’s easy to catch and fun to eat. Now that Lake Superior’s smelt population is in decline, an annual parade in downtown Duluth keeps that love alive.
Minnesota Historia is a PBS North web series dedicated to Minnesota’s quirky past. It is hosted by Hailey Eidenschink and produced/edited/written by Mike Scholtz.
100 Giant Colossal Statues of Bob Dylan
The Committee for Giant Colossal Statues of Bob Dylan, Duluth’s premier Bob Dylan monuments organization, remains hard at work designing giant colossal statues of Bob Dylan.
Video Archive: Trinity Lutheran Church circa 1943
This roughly 80-year-old film features scenes at Trinity Lutheran Church, 1108 E. Eighth St. in Duluth’s East Hillside neighborhood. Also in the film are a nearby market, the Kenwood Community Club and a building under construction. (more…)
UMD Bulldog Hockey: Amsoil Arena Fly-through
Take a tour of Amsoil Arena, home of UMD Bulldogs hockey, via drone footage by Ethan Schultz of ShotxSchultz.
Minnesota Historia: Mr. Magoo the Mongoose
In 1962, a mongoose at the Duluth Zoo was sentenced to death by the federal government, but he’s not the only animal in Minnesota who finds himself at the wrong place at the wrong time.
Minnesota Historia is a PBS North web series dedicated to Minnesota’s quirky past. It is hosted by Hailey Eidenschink and produced/edited/written by Mike Scholtz.
One Less Guest – “The Fruit”
The jazz/rock outfit One Less Guest has a new album on the way and a new music video. The song “The Fruit” appears on Viewfinder, scheduled for release June 9. The video was shot and edited by Patrick Parkhill and Jay Reiss.
The band formed in Duluth in 2018 and moved to Anaheim, Calif., in 2021, but returns home every summer for a show. This year’s gig at at Earth Rider Brewery is July 22.
Minnesota Historia: Minnesota’s Tourist Traps
Travelers in Minnesota who want to experience the golden age of the tourist trap are a few decades late, but a handful of the kitschy roadside attractions still remain. This short documentary takes viewers on the open road in search of adventure, cheap souvenirs and a room full of chainsaws.
Minnesota Historia is a PBS North web series dedicated to Minnesota’s quirky past. It is hosted by Hailey Eidenschink and produced/edited/written by Mike Scholtz.
Minnesota Historia: The Legend of John Beargrease
One of the fastest, coolest, most beloved mail carriers who ever lived was Minnesota’s own John Beargrease. Hear the story of how he delivered mail in northeastern Minnesota before there were roads, and learn why there’s a sled dog marathon named after him.
Minnesota Historia is a PBS North web series dedicated to Minnesota’s quirky past. It is hosted by Hailey Eidenschink and produced/edited/written by Mike Scholtz.
Berserk Blondes! – “Hips Don’t Lie”
Live at Bent Paddle Brewing during the 2023 Homegrown Music Festival, Steve Solkela and Kaylee Matuszak perform their take on the 2006 hit song “Hips Don’t Lie,” written and originally performed by Shakira and Wyclef Jean.
MN Moder – “Indecisive”
The new music video from Duluth-based hip-hop artist Zachary Moder, aka MN Moder features several familiar local scenes. Joining in on the track are Cole Oksa, aka NorthWood, and Scott Vezina, aka NonFic.
MN Moder performs May 5, 8:15 p.m., at Legacy Glassworks as part of the Homegrown Music Festival.
Beyondbliss – “Goodbye My Friend”
The new music video by Superior-based rapper David Kittelson, aka Beyondbliss, was made from a collection of old VHS tapes of performances. The song is the first single from the upcoming Beyondbliss release, which Kittelson has referred to as his final album.
Beyondbliss performs at Wild State Cider on May 1 at 7 p.m. as part of the Homegrown Music Festival.
Ill Fortune – “Third Eye Open” (w/ Lane Newman and Dane MD)
Grand Rapids hip-hop artist Hunter Fortune, aka Ill Fortune, has a new album — Ill Ol’ Me. The video for “Third Eye Open” features Lane Newman and Dane MD, and was shot by Olivia Newman and John Persons.
Ill Fortune performs at Pizza Lucé in Duluth on May 6 at 10 p.m. as part of the Homegrown Music Festival.
Video Archive: Duluth inventor Bill Kielczewski, 1983
https://www.pbs.org/video/-Inventors-and-Inventions-30351/
Forty years ago today — April 21, 1983 — Twin Cities Public Television aired a profile of Duluth inventor Bill Kielczewski on its program Nighttimes Magazine. (more…)