David Beard
Twist of Noir
Local creative writing enthusiast and editor Chris Grant edits Twist of Noir, a website of noir-style mystery fiction.
Twist of Noir Logo by Walter Conley. Copyright 2011
Chris wants to see stories that are well-written, engaging and interesting crime and noir stories.
Duluth Blogs
I’ve just started following Ennyman’s blog.
He goes to a lot of art openings that I’m not cool enough to even know are happening until after they happen. (I’d walked past Ochre Ghost Gallery a hundred times and never thought to ask whether it had a mailing list.)
What other local blogs (beside this one) would you recommend following to get a taste of Duluth?
TrollHunter rocks
As I figured, eventually I started to take Zinema 2 for granted, and even to vaguely feel uncool enough for it.
Then, today, I saw TrollHunter.
“The TrollHunter” is the story of a group of Norwegian film students that set out to capture real-life trolls on camera after learning their existence has been covered up for years by a government conspiracy. A thrilling and wildly entertaining film, “The Trollhunter” delivers truly fantastic images of giant trolls wreaking havoc on the countryside, with darkly funny adherence to the original Norwegian folklore.
If you haven’t gone, this is the way to beat the heat!
Various Critters
Mink, or Marten -- I've been told both -- with a spinal injury
Summer’s long days are the busiest days at Wildwoods. Following on yesterday’s eagle, here is info on other species passing through. (more…)
Busy week …
I enjoyed Fourth Fest a lot — the carnival was a treat, and the local food vendors make the fireworks a filling, as well as visually appealing, spectacle.
Ahead, for me, this week:
Downtown Duluth hosts a street festival.
Teatro Zuccone hosts a burlesque.
And there is Taste of Greece.
Two Harbors also hosts a festival, I think.
What would you do? Have I missed the real gem?
Eagle recovers at Wildlife Rehab Center
Bill and Fran found this beautiful but emaciated mature eagle in the bushes. It had blood in its mouth. The eagle was brought to the Wildwoods rehab location for help with what appears to be lead poisoning. (more…)
7th Annual CHUM Rhubarb Festival
Is this going to be fun?
7th Annual CHUM Rhubarb Festival
June 25, 9 AM to 4:30 PM
11th Ave East and London Road, Duluth
Admission is free!
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The best breakfast downtown …
… I might have had this morning. At least, best per-dollar, with the awesomest staff: the Coney Island.
On April 10, 1921 Gus Saites, a Greek immigrant, had a few hundred dollars and an idea. He would head to Duluth from St. Paul and open a restaurant on East Superior Street in the bustling town of Duluth Minnesota. Nearly 90 years later this idea continues uninterrupted in the same location and under the same tin ceiling as on that spring day in ’21.
First Street Renaissance
Vietnamese Iced Coffee
My heart broke when the European Bakery closed (though I admit only shopping there once a month wasn’t much help in keeping it open). It relit today.
I had an awesome lunch at Saigon Cafe (114 W First St., Duluth, MN 55802). At $6.99 for all you can eat, the $2.99 for the Vietnamese coffee was an easy treat.
(Vietnamese Coffee is the reason I keep condensed milk at home: also known as ca phe sua da or cà phê sữa dá), it is made with dark roast coffee individually brewed with a small metal French drip filter into a cup containing sweetened condensed milk, stirred and poured over ice.) (more…)
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.
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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.
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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.
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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