News and Current Affairs
Missing Person: Todd Sarkala
Update: The Duluth Police Department reports Todd Sarkela has been located and is safe.
The Duluth Police Department is seeking the public’s help in locating Todd Sarkela. He is a 55-year-old white male described as 5-foot 9-inches tall, 120 lbs., with hazel eyes and sandy hair. He was reported missing on Nov. 19. His family last had contact with him on Nov. 16.
Bob Monahan launches Downtown Duluth hostel project
Red Herring Lounge owner Bob Monahan stands outside the former Garon Brothers jewelry store at 217 W. First St. Monahan plans to renovate the building and open a 46-bed hostel.
Visitors to Duluth can soon add a hostel to the growing number of lodging options available in the Twin Ports. Nightclub owner Bob Monahan and an undisclosed partner purchased the former Garon Brothers Jewelry store at 217 W. First St. and plan to open a 46-bed hostel in the space next spring. (more…)
Duluth’s Hailey Sault on Outside’s “Best Places to Work” list
Outside Magazine’s list of the 100 best places to work included Duluth Marketing Agency Hailey Sault at the #15 spot. The agency is located in the recently renovated top floor of the Dewitt Seitz building in Canal Park.
Perks mentioned include: Jigsaw puzzle area, dogs, beer and bingo.
According to the stats, PR and Marketing firms made up nearly a quarter of the list, and common traits of companies on the list were “letting Fido sleep under your desk, having plenty of games, and having offices that are close to plenty of adventure.”
Wunderbar: a new place to eat, stay and play in Grand Marais
In late October, as many businesses in the remote community of Grand Marais were shuttering for the season, Wunderbar Eatery and Glampground was quietly making its debut.
Wunderbar occupies the former Harbor Light supper club, which has been closed for about five years. The building at 1615 Highway 61 W. dates back to 1930. (more…)
Restaurant named Sound will replace the Blind Pig
Chef Patrick Scott Moore is the front person behind a new restaurant in Duluth called Sound, which will open during the first week of January. The location is 132 E. Superior St. in the former Duluth City Hall, a spot previously occupied by the Blind Pig gastro pub and ale house. The space is being leased from Just Take Action, the entity that developed the Blind Pig and its predecessor, Tycoons Alehouse. (more…)
Duluth 2017 General Election Results
With 34 of 34 precincts reporting.
Duluth At-large City Councilor
Top two candidates are elected
Zack Filipovich – 8,749 | 31.48%
Barbara Russ – 6,568 | 23.63%
Janet Kennedy – 6,053 | 21.78%
Rich Updegrove – 5,899 | 21.13%
Write in – 522 | 1.88% (more…)
Regional book industry shifts as Book World stores close
If you live or vacation in Ashland or Marquette you know Book World. Or, perhaps the proper phrasing is that you will have known it. The whole chain of stores is closing in a few weeks.
The Book World chain was always amazing to me — a hybrid of gift shop, humidor, and book/magazine store, in small towns, creating access to book culture where it might not otherwise be available. Literary magazines unavailable on the shelf in Duluth could be found in Ashland, Bemidji and other places.
I understand this website is Perfect Duluth Day, not “Perfect Lake Superior Region Day,” but if nothing else, think about this. Book World owned 45 storefronts and was the third-largest book chain in the country. Book culture is precarious, and we should do all we can to support it in Duluth.
UW-Superior drops Halloween axe on 25 academic programs
The University of Wisconsin-Superior issued a news release this morning announcing it has “suspended several academic programs in an effort to positively affect student success and position itself to continue to remain responsive to regional needs.”
The news release mentioned no program by name. The Duluth News Tribune reports the programs to be dropped include “journalism, multiple science majors, theatre, art history and more — meaning no new students will be admitted into multiple majors, minors and one graduate program.” (more…)
R.I.P. How Sweet it is Cakes
Eileen and Bob Brown are closing How Sweet it is Cakes on Wednesday after more than 20 years in business.
“This has been the most difficult and painful decisions of our lives. Words cannot express our pain and sorrow,” Eileen Brown wrote on the How Sweet it is Cakes Facebook page today.
“There are a number of circumstances that have led up to this decision including but not limited to a significant decline in sales since we’ve moved to our new location, increased cost of product and labor, my and my husband’s health as well as numerous factors that we won’t detail here.” (more…)
Castle Danger Brewery expands with new packaging hall
Since opening in 2011, Castle Danger Brewery has grown to become the ninth-largest brewery by production in the state. Next month, a new 8,400-square-foot packaging hall will expand its capacity to deliver customers even more “Dangerously Good Ales.” (more…)
PDD Quiz: October 2017
Winter returned in earnest this month. How much do you remember of those halcyon days before the snow returned? Take the quiz and test your smarts!
The next PDD Quiz, on the topic of local shipwrecks, will be published on Sunday, Nov. 12. Send question suggestions to Alison Moffat at aklawite@d.umn.edu by Nov. 9. (more…)
Duluth’s Frozen Wiener Storm of 2017
Photo by Shawn Thompson
The city of Duluth is advising the public that locations in Canal Park may not be accessible due to windy conditions and high waves causing water to flood some areas. The Marine Iron Parking lot located closest to the canal, some segments of Canal Park Drive and Harbor Drive have standing water. The city has put up barricades where the areas are not passable. (more…)
High Bridge Comedy expands Duluth-area stand-up offerings
From left: Chad Gallo, Joe Mosier, Danielle Thralow, Alex Meyers and Scott Zank
Stand-up comedy is not one of the more glamorous forms of entertainment in Duluth. A group of comedians called High Bridge Comedy is trying to change that. (more…)
Earth Rider beer on tap at Cedar Lounge
For the first time in 50 years, suds are flowing at a production brewery in Superior. The inaugural beer by Earth Rider Brewing — a pale ale — went on tap Oct. 20 at its nearby taproom, the Cedar Lounge. Take-home 32 oz. crowlers are also for sale. (more…)
Bent Paddle 14° ESB grabs gold at Great American Beer Festival
Bent Paddle Brewing won Duluth’s first Great American Beer Festival gold medal two weeks ago. It was the third time 14° ESB won a medal in the Extra Special Bitter category. It took the silver medal in 2015 and the bronze in 2014. (more…)
Welcome back to Duluth, Denny Hecker
Former Twin Cities automobile mogul Denny Hecker, now seven years into a 10-year sentence for fraud, has been relocated to Duluth’s low-security Federal Prison Camp. Toward the front end of his sentence he spent nearly a year in Duluth, a period spanning March 2011 to February 2012.
Hecker once owned a network of car dealerships in the Twin Cities. He pleaded guilty in 2010 to hiding assets in bankruptcy and defrauding lenders.
Duluth Pottery is back in Duluth; grand opening Oct. 21
Remodeling of the former P&J Paint building is complete and Karin Kraemer is ready to launch her new Duluth Pottery studio at 1924 W. Superior St.
The shop opens at 2 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 21. A grand opening reception starts at 5 p.m. with Kraemer’s art on display along with works by Luke Krisak and other friends of Duluth Pottery. Live music by Cousin Dad begins at 8 p.m. (more…)
R.I.P. Sneakers Sports Bar & Grill
Sneakers Sports Bar & Grill announced on Facebook today it has closed after 32 years in business. The bar will become part of the new Lyric Kitchen and Bar, which is also replacing Porter’s restaurant as part of a series of renovation projects at Duluth’s Holiday Center.
A news release by Holiday Inn & Suites-Duluth and Lion Hotel Group notes the Lyric will open for business on Oct. 30 and will feature “a full bar and light-hearted dining experience that celebrates all things Duluth.” The menu will include burgers, pizzas and steaks. Breakfast will be served seven days a week.
North shore photographer finds permanent home downtown
Ryan Tischer, whose work can be compared to noted photographers Jim Brandenburg and Craig Blacklock, will open a gallery at 5 W. Superior St. next month.
A new art gallery showcasing the natural beauty of the region has found a permanent home just off the busiest corner in Downtown Duluth.
Photographer Ryan Tischer and his wife Aimee secured a lease at 5 W. Superior St. and will open a gallery and workshop in the space Nov. 16. Tischer works full time as a photographer based in Duluth’s Smithville neighborhood. In the past 10 years he has built a portfolio centered on iconic Lake Superior landscapes. (more…)
Duluth Nerd Nite organizer opens game store in St. Paul
Grand Opening at Gaming Goat St. Paul.
The Gaming Goat in St. Paul is operated by Jeremy, who is one of the founding members of Nerd Nite Duluth. He still returns to Duluth for nearly every Nerd Nite to host, so in my mind, he’s still part of Duluth, and so his shop is worth a visit the next time you are in St. Paul. (more…)
CN Duluth Intermodal Terminal: Opening new markets
Last week an official ribbon cutting was held at the CN Duluth Intermodal Terminal. Politicians and transportation business leaders gathered to tout the partnership between Canadian National Railway Company and Duluth Cargo Connect, which created the first rail-served intermodal container ramp in the Twin Ports, positioning the region for direct transportation of containerized imports and exports to East, West and Gulf Coast ports via Duluth.
Duluth Cargo Connect is a working partnership of the Duluth Seaway Port Authority and Lake Superior Warehousing. The rail-served facility is located at Clure Public Marine Terminal on Rice’s Point.
Why is a full-service, multimodal hub for domestic and international trade so important? Lake Superior Magazine explains in an article published Sept. 20: Going Intermodal.
Lake Superior Aquaman Interview on DNT’s Pressroom Podcast
In which I field a bunch of excellent questions.
Pressroom Podcast: Lake Superior Aquaman - Duluth News Tribune | News, weather, and sports from Duluth, Minnesota
You may have seen his videos on Perfect Duluth Day or perhaps you've seen him in the act diving into the big lake with his scaly-orange T-shirt. Amateur freediver and video enthusiast Jim Richardson, aka Lake Superior Aquaman, shares his origin s...
duluthnewstribune.com
I have taken the liberty of transcribing this, below the fold.
Homeless in Duluth?
Have you walked past the Lakewalk entrance by the Electric Fetus on Lake Avenue and Superior Street lately?
Seems that it’s become the cool place to hang out — at least for Duluth’s homeless. In spite of the availability of nearby public restrooms, the smell of urine and feces is ubiquitous.
This is a public health issue. Sanitary issues at homeless encampments have lead to 16 deaths in a hepatitis outbreak in San Diego. (more…)
Newspaper name change: UMD Statesman becomes the Bark
The Statesman is changing... Here's why — The Statesman
For 70 years, the Statesman has been the Statesman. In 1947, the campus newspaper officially changed its name from the Fortnightly Chronicle to the Duluth Statesman (which later evolved to the UMD Statesman).
theumdstatesman.com
Why The Bark? Here's what our new name means to us — The Bark
After 131 student, faculty and alumni submissions and hours of conversation with students and faculty in different departments on campus this summer, we have chosen the new name for our student news organization — The Bark. We wanted something fresh and modern that would keep up with the ever-evolv
thebarkumd.com
Coming soon to Lincoln Park: ice cream and pastrami
Two new businesses are setting up in Lincoln Park’s burgeoning craft district. Love Creamery and Corktown Deli and Brews will occupy 1908 and 1906 W. Superior St., respectively.
The building, which now features an adjoining space, is undergoing renovations to separate the businesses. Tom Hanson hopes to open Corktown Deli and Brews by January, while Love Creamery owner Nicole Wilde anticipates a May opening. (more…)