David Beard
Planetarium
Join us at the planetarium to say farewell to the old planetarium.
Stonehenge will be on display
Free ice cream
Summer solstice shows on the half hour.
(more…)
Stand in Line Tonight; Sale Opens Tomorrow
The DPL Friends sale starts in just 24 hours; stand in line now if you want to be first. Or, maybe, just get their early tomorrow.
From the Friends: The 2011 Book Sale will be held June 14-17
The Friends of the Duluth Public Library annual used book sale is held this year in June. The first day of the sale is for Friends members only; anyone may join the Friends on that day by paying the membership dues ($10 annually for an individual) at the table in the Michigan Street Lobby.
Build your own home library and contribute to a good cause at the same time. The 2010 sale raised more than $30,000! These funds are given back to the Library to purchase special materials and to support specific programs.
The Book Sale is the Friends’ major fundraising activity. All proceeds from the sale are returned to the Library and are used to purchase new materials and to support programs and special activities.
Make Way for Ducklings: Vintage Duluth to Forest Hill Cemetery
Yesterday, Wildwoods volunteer Kate VTB was shopping with Clare and Katherine at Vintage Duluth downtown.
The owner was stroking her shoulder oddly. It seems a duckling had wandered in, found nothing in its size, and had lost track of its mom.
Kate leapt into action, calling the licensed rehabber for advice. She needs to be released into a pond, Kate was told. A hat-box was prepared with holes for air, tender goodbyes made, and we were off. (more…)
The Chronicle Premiere
Image from: Pioneer Productions
I was at the same opening that Ennyman (from whose blog I took these images last night) attended, for Chronicle, a multi-media show based on a comic book being produced by Eric Horn, Ben Fisher-Merritt and others.
(more…)
Squirrel begins life of hard labor … via Wildwoods Rehab
This is Delilah, our developmentally delayed grey squirrel. We normally don’t pet the animals in our care; we need to keep them as wild as possible. Delilah is a bit “special,” so we love her up. (more…)
University of Wisconsin-Superior and Labor
Academic staff at the University of Wisconsin-Superior voted today 89-5 to affiliate with the American Federation of Teachers-Wisconsin. The election turnout was 54 percent.
More at defendwisconsin.org: In a First for Wisconsin: UW-Superior Academic Staff Vote “Union Yes”
Tall Ships Return to Duluth
DNT: Three tall ships to visit Duluth for festival this summer, July 15-18
Duluth is an amazing place to be in the summer.
For last year’s events, see PDD here and here.
Image by Northern Images Photography – Dennis O’Hara
Wright Around Ya Leads Harbor City Rollerdames to Victory!
“Wright Around Ya,” the always smiling Jammer for the Harbor City Rollerdames,, led the team to a big victory tonight over Fargo. Part ballerina, part .44 caliber bullet as she rockets around the track in Pioneer Hall, “Wright Around Ya” worked her way through the crowds to score — a lot, as did Killer Cleta and Gypsy. All the team deserves a nod, but I’d love to see “Wright Around Ya” featured in an article in the DNT or on Fox 21.
[I missed Mic Wicked, who set the circle on fire the last time I watched the Dames. But the Norwegian Squirrel is doing alright.]
I have a question, though. The games seemed a much slower pace tonight — I realized that the pack was circling the track a lot slower, sometimes almost stopped. What is up with that kind of play? I’d love to hear from an expert. And I’d love an actual score — I forgot to write it down.
Free Comic Book Day 2011
About Free Comic Book Day:
Free Comic Book Day is a single day when participating comic book specialty shops across North America and around the world give away comic books absolutely free to anyone who comes into their shops. Free Comic Book Day is held the first Saturday in May each year.
(more…)
National Train Day
National Train Day is May 7, 2011.
The Event is sponsored nationally by Amtrak: https://www.nationaltrainday.com/
Locally, the North Shore Scenic Railroad and the Lake Superior Railroad Museum are partnering with Fitgers Brewhouse, The Midi Restaurant & Wine Bar, and Amtrak to celebrate!
All Aboard the train! There will be drawings, face paintings, NSSR merchandise, information on the brand new membership for kids: “The Casey Jones Club”, Amtrak information, fun, and of course the beautiful view of Lake Superior.
See you Saturday- “trackside” at Fitgers- 10:00am-2:00pm!
For more information on questions: call 722-1273 or email us at info@northshorescenicrailroad.org
Rollerdames Next Weekend
Harbor City Roller Dames
Sat. May 7
Fargo Moorhead Derby Girls
S. Pioneer Hall, DECC – Duluth
Tongues Tied: UMD Linguistics Retirement
Michael D. Linn, UMD Linguistics professor and friend, celebrated his retirement this week. Linn is most famous, perhaps, for work in the Linguistic Atlas of our region. Mike is the reason that we know that the unique mix of ethnic communities in the Range produced more than 30 identifiable dialects. Maybe equally importantly, he explained (to me, at least) the ways that labor in the mines was fragmented and weakened when work groups were mixed together of people who did not speak the same language. No common language, no ability to organize unions. [Today, it seems, we are separated by a common language that keeps us from organizing. That’s my opinion, not Mike’s.]
Mike taught intro linguistics, topics in linguistics, and applied linguistics for teachers. I’m sure many teachers in Duluth learned their trade from Mike. He also taught writing. If you have any memories of Mike you’d like to share, comment below.
More info about Mike, including some indication of how he will spend retirement, can be found here
Annual Asian Cultural Show: ImaginAsian
Annual Asian Cultural Show: ImaginAsian Hosted by UMD’s Asian Pacific American Student Association. Join us in a night of Asian arts, cultural performance, and delicious Asian cuisine. Admission: $10 (admission includes dinner and a show). For more information, please contact Hli Vang at 218-726-6335 or at vangh@d.umn.edu
UMD Kirby Ballroom
Saturday, April 30th
6:00 p.m.
Superior Public Library book sale
The Superior Public Library book sale runs 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Friday and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday.
More info
Empty Bowl, good feeling inside
17th annual Empty Bowl
Tuesday, April 26 – 10 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.
The Depot, 506 West Michigan Street, Duluth
Empty Bowl benefits Second Harvest Northern Lakes Food Bank, providing food for more than 3 million meals annually to people in need throughout northeastern Minnesota and northwestern Wisconsin. $15 includes a handmade bowl and a simple, delicious soup meal.
Game Night at Collector’s Connection
Collector’s Connection used to be cramped, a place to stall while my wife wandered the mall. No longer! It’s become a destination. Last night, my wife and I played two games with a charming young couple of students and the Host, who did an excellent job of teaching us how to lose gracefully. The evening was free, though I bought a comic on the way out! (more…)
Slumber party report needed
Action at Yarn Harbor -- Not Slumber Party
Did anyone attend the “Slumber Party” at Yarn Harbor?
The next one will be May 13th. More info about Yarn Harbor is here.
Duluth Sub Sandwich Shops
Charley’s Subs is opened in the Mall. I always appreciate a new business, even if it’s a franchise. Where is the best sub sandwich in town?
Chicago?
What’s the word among PDD’ers about the Duluth Playhouse’s production of Chicago?
Brewhouse Prix Fixe
I always feel odd enjoying the Fitger’s Brewhouse. Nearly everyone under 30 I’ve ever known in Duluth, and some older, has worked for the Brewhouse empire. And empire is not a carelessly chosen word; the success of the Brewhouse, Red Star, Burrito Union and the new expansion into City Hall may be local in origin, but functions in much the same way Wal-Mart does: by grinding through an ample supply of tourism-economy low-wage no-benefit employees. I feel good about eating local; I wish that I felt better about the economic impact of that particular local choice.
That said, there’s a newspaper circulating in the free racks around town talking about how the Brewhouse supports local agriculture, and so I thought I’d give them a chance, again, in prix fixe, as part of the Greater Downtown Council’s Eat Downtown event. I was not disappointed.
The burger was hearty and filling, the fries and onion rings are almost a meal to themselves, and the German chocolate stout cupcake will bring Kate and me back in the future.
Really, really awesome. Whoever designed this Prix Fixe (and gave me a window into the local agriculure connection at the Brewhouse in that newspaper) has brought me back to their table.
Now, if I could buy that cake to bring to work …
R.I.P., Le Bistro
Le Bistro restaurant in the former City/County Complex in Superior will close April 16, a victim of the sluggish economy.
The [Food] Game is Fixed
You have one more week to enjoy Eat Downtown! The Greater Downtown Council-sponsored event, with 19 participating restaurants, is back this year.
The DNT describes the program here.
Kate and I at ate J J Astor — an amazing dinner, including blackberry salad, for me a pressed chicken, for her walleye with grapefruit and bleu cheese salad, for me a chocolate pudding for dessert, for her an orange olive oil cake. Amazing. Also of note: the happy-hour specials at the Astor are at least competitive with other local happy hours. We had never seen the bar added in the remodel before; it (and the whole space) is awesome.
Bellisio’s was awesome both for the company (M., S., and L.) as for the very filling mix of a caprese salad (the highlight of my meal), various pasta dishes, and tasty gelato.
Being a tourist in your own town is sometimes one of the best ways to rediscover your love for it. Try a local restaurant today. And note: some of the restaurants with more modest aims have a “two for twenty” menu in the evenings.
Rollerdames
It’s Saturday. My wife has a cold, and I get “the look” when I suggest that I might go out and leave her shivering under blankets.
So I’m not at the bout between the Harbor City Rollerdames and whomever they are playing tonight. [It doesn’t matter whom — they will be crushed.]
If you have results, please post here. Go Rollerdames!
Wildwoods Rehabilitation
Drum roll!!! Trumpets!!! Wildwoods Rehabilitation is now an official nonprofit organization!!! (Applause!)
About Wildwoods
Wildwoods, a Minnesota nonprofit, is a group of wildlife rehabilitators and volunteers in Duluth. We work to help injured and orphaned animals return to their natural lives. Though we are currently based out of the homes of our individual wildlife rehabilitators, we plan to open a free-standing center in the Duluth area in the next 6-12 months.
We invite you to browse the pictures and stories of the wild animals on YouTube on pffarr’s channel. We are very fortunate to live in such a wild, wonderful corner of the world. Enjoy!
Email
* duluthrehabber @ yahoo.com
Facebook
* https://www.facebook.com/#!/profile.php?id=100001386579814