Events

Boston Marathon Tribute Run

The board of directors of the North Shore Striders will dedicate our next group run to those affected by the bombings at the Boston Marathon. We encourage runners and non-runners alike to come out in support for those injured on Monday.  There will be a free-will offering collected at the run that will be sent to the One Fund Boston, Inc. to help those afflicted by the attack. Everyone is encouraged to wear a race shirt or blue and yellow as a visual show of support.

The Run will meet at the Rose Garden parking lot at 6 p.m. on Monday,  April 22, and be approximately 5k.

This week: smelt, bowls and vinyl

  

Here’s a sampling of what you have to look forward to this week on the PDD Calendar.

This week is Eat Downtown Week with $10 and $20 prix fixe menus in participating downtown restaurants.

The annual Empty Bowl fundraiser for Second Harvest Food Bank is Tuesday with a silent auction today at the Depot.

The Duluth Public Library is unloading all of its vinyl on Tuesday and Wednesday.

Godspell, a modern musical based on the stories and teachings of Jesus, goes up at the Duluth Playhouse on Thursday and runs for three weekends. It will be performed in the round.

Wise Fool Shakespeare presents James DeVita performing In Acting Shakespeare at the Fitger’s Spirit of the North Theater on Thursday and Saturday.

You have a choice of Vagina Monologues on Friday at AICHO and UMD.

You can sing along with the Sound of Music at CSS on Saturday.

Saturday is Bat Appreciation Day at Gooseberry Falls.

The second annual Run Smelt Run Parade is Sunday starting at the Lift Bridge in Canal Park.

So what are you doing this week? Can we tag along? Any upcoming events that you want to promote? Let us know.

More on the Publishing Conference that Wasn’t

Mitch Ogden had arranged for an army of undergrads from UW-Stout’s Journalism and Digital Humanities programs to attend the UMD Conference on Publishing. At 6 a.m. we called the bus dispatcher to tell them to turn around. But the dispatcher crossed wires with the bus, and so three hours later, the students were here.
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Twin Ports Bridge Festival Pre-Sale for Accessibility

httpv://youtu.be/4OwfrgMrDf0

The Twin Ports Bridge Festival is hoping to meet a goal of selling 2,000 tickets at a reduced rate by May 31 to allow free access to area organizations and their constituents who could benefit from the inspiring messages and events at the festival, but would otherwise not be able to attend. These groups may include, but certainly won’t be limited to, those that help folks with mental illness, disabilities, and/or underserved youth. With this year’s date only two days after Independence Day, we are also hoping to be able to allow free access to all veterans.

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Geek Prom 2013: Talk Nerdy to Me

Geek Prom 2013

[Some images in the slideshow are by Shannon Kinley; others were gathered from Geek Prom’s Facebook group page.]

This past Saturday, April 6, adults were given the chance to blast into their pasts and attend prom. This was no regular prom though. Instead of people being dressed up in expensive gowns and tuxes they got to wear costumes such as Han Solo, Princess Leia or Dr. Zoidberg. (more…)

This week: kayaking, skating and stained glass

  

Here’s a sampling of what you have to look forward to this week on the PDD Calendar.

There are many One Book, One Community activities this week and next week the author of “Clara and Mr. Tiffany,” Susan Vreeland, speaks at Lincoln Park Middle School.

Public schools are on spring break this week and the Duluth Heritage Sports Center has free open skating in the afternoons Monday through Friday.

The 1940s Radio Hour opens at UWS this Thursday and runs two weekends and Seussical opens at St. Scholastica this Friday and runs three weekends.

The circus comes to town this weekend and plays at the DECC Friday through Sunday.

Whitewater kayak racing comes to Lester River this Saturday.

So what are you doing this week? Can we tag along? Any upcoming events that you want to promote? Let us know.

This week: turtles, violence and geeks

  

Here’s a sampling of what you have to look forward to this week on the PDD Calendar.

Tickets go on sale today at 10 a.m. for this summer’s Tall Ships Festival.

On Tuesday you can attend a panel discussion on Community Perspectives on Violence in America at UMD.

Trampled by Turtles plays the DECC on Thursday.

Tim Eriksen plays Beaner’s on Friday and then leads a shape note singing workshop on Saturday at the Duluth Friends Meetinghouse.

Get your geek on at the Geek Prom on Saturday at the newest venue in Duluth, the Underground at the Depot.

So what are you doing this week? Can we tag along? Any upcoming events that you want to promote? Let us know.

Game of Thrones Season 3 Premier

Where can a person go to watch the premier of the new season? Any bars in the Twin Ports with HBO? It’d be great if Zinema 2 could pick this up and have weekly screenings!

This week: eggs, glass and podcasting

  

Here’s a sampling of what you have to look forward to this week on the PDD Calendar.

First of all, if you haven’t checked out our new video links on the calendar, do. It’s a nice upgrade to the calendar.

As part of the One Book, One Community program, there’s a glass art demonstration at Lake Superior Art Glass today.

Nerd Nite XXII has presentations on the NASA Gemini program, podcasting, and Daylight Savings Time at the Play Ground on Tuesday. (Speaking of which, I need to start working in earnest on my presentation.)

There’s a Waldorf Education discussion group at Amazing Grace on Wednesday, the first of a series, sponsored by the Spirit of the Lake Community School.

If you are a web professional there’s a meet up of area web pros at Co.Lab on Thursday.

Friday is Good Friday and there is a “walk for justice” based on the stations of the cross starting at the County Courthouse.

On Saturday there’s an Easter Eggstravaganza at the zoo and an Easter Egg Hunt at Pilgrim Church.

So what are you doing this week? Can we tag along? Any upcoming events that you want to promote? Let us know

Calendar Videos

The mad scientists in the Perfect Duluth Day Calendar Labs are continually applying their impressive craniums to just one question, “How can we make our calendar that much cooler?”

Well, pop up videos, that’s how! Starting now, if there’s a video linked to the event, just click on the “Watch Video” link and it will pop up in your browser window. Movie trailers, music videos, game tutorials and more are just a click away! Then you can click away the video and keep browsing events.

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Merch Madness

Kate and I walked downtown for Merch Madness and we found some friendly shopkeepers, some great deals, and some yummy food. (more…)

Duluth Preservation Alliance Centennial Homes Recognition

At its annual awards ceremony in May the Duluth Preservation Alliance is recognizing Duluth homes that are turning 100 years old. The DPA is looking for applicants whose homes are turning 100 years old this year and that have retained their historic character.

If you would like to apply, or know someone who might qualify, you can download an application at duluthpreservation.org under the “Centennial Homes Recognition” tab. Applications are due April 18.

If you have any questions, please contact Bob Berg at 218-341-6143 or robert.berg @ duluth.k12.mn.ust.

Homegrown 2013 Schedule

Just released on duluthhomegrown.com.

* Roughly 186 bands.
* Big Wave Dave at Mr. D’s on Tuesday
* Stellar lineup at Grandma’s Sports Garden on Wednesday
* Too much everything after that

MBOTMA Bluegrass Cabin Fever — site change due to Radisson flooding

Important news if you are considering attending the Cabin Fever Festival in Duluth this weekend. Unfortunately the Radisson Hotel has experienced an unforeseeable incident that has forced us to move the event.

A water main broke in downtown Duluth a couple days ago and flooded the basement and electrical service to the Radisson Hotel where the festival was to take place. The hotel will not be able to restore electrical power for several weeks and has completely shut down.

The good news is an alternate space at the Inn on Lake Superior in Canal Park has been secured.

This week: zombies, ballet, bluegrass and custom cars

  

Here’s a sampling of what you have to look forward to this week on the PDD Calendar.

Storyteller Kevin Kling returns to Duluth tomorrow with Dan Chouinard to perform at Mitchell Auditorium.

La Leche League meets for discussion every third Wednesday of the month at the Coppertop.

Zombie madness meets Elizabethan England in Renegade Theater Company‘s William Shakespeare’s Land of the Dead at the Teatro Zuccone starting Thursday and running for three weekends.

The Minnesota Ballet presents its production of Firebird on Friday and Saturday at the DECC Auditorium.

The Cabin Fever Bluegrass Festival melts the winter blues away at the Inn on Lake Superior in Canal Park this weekend, Friday through Sunday.

And if that weren’t enough, this weekend World of Wheels: Motorhead Madness comes to the DECC with custom cars, bikes, four-by-fours and other wheeled wonders.

So what are you doing this week? Can we tag along? Any upcoming events that you want to promote? Let us know.

Magic Smelt Workshops

Hear Ye! Hear Ye! The smelt are coming!

The Magic Smelt Puppet Troupe is pleased to announce the opening of our 2013 Smelt Run Puppet Parade workshop, at 134 W. 1st St, between Pineapple Arts and Bella Flora! (more…)

This week: fonts, cats and ides

  

Here’s a sampling of what you have to look forward to this week on the PDD Calendar.

Today Sarah Brokke opens a new exhibit at Zeitgeist Arts or you could go to a gallery discussion at the Duluth Arts Institute.

On Tuesday you can get all sans serif at the Zinema 2 with a screening of Helvetica, the last movie in their Gary Hustwit design trilogy.

What should we do with Rockridge Elementary? You can chime in with your ideas on Wednesday in an open meeting at Portman Community Center.

Cats opens at the Duluth Playhouse on Thursday and runs for two weekends. Also opening that night is How I Learned to Drive at UMD and it runs through the end of the month.

Friday is the Ides of March and in Duluth that means a series of concerts where bands pay tribute to their musical influences. The series starts on Friday at Lake Avenue Café and heads to R. T.’s on Saturday and concludes next Friday at Pizza Lucé.

Sunday is St. Patrick’s Day and there are plenty of opportunities to celebrate, including:

So what are you doing this week? Can we tag along? Any upcoming events that you want to promote? Let us know.

This week: umlauts, empathy and robots

  

Here’s a sampling of what you have to look forward to this week on the PDD Calendar.

Mayor Ness will deliver the State of the City via video tonight. People are gathering to view the virtual mayor at Clyde Iron. Rumors of the mayor doing the Harlem Shake during the State of the City are unconfirmed.

Osmo Vänskä has little else to do being shut out of his orchestra, so he’s bringing his clarinet and umlauts to Mitchell Auditorium on Tuesday.

You can cultivate a little empathy at UMD on Wednesday and learn about diversity from two white women. Clearly I need to take this workshop.

I, for one, plan to welcome our new robotic overlords at the FIRST Robotics Regional Competition, running Thursday through Saturday at the DECC.

Text, a text based art exhibition, opens at the Prøve on Friday.

So what are you doing this week? Can we tag along? Any upcoming events that you want to promote? Let us know.

Behind the scenes at Sheila’s belly dance class

Students warm up their hips and arms, and stretch out their bodies to get ready for belly dancing.

This past Tuesday night women gathered in the Lotus Center to practice one of their passions, belly dancing. The Lotus Center is on the second floor of Global Village on West Superior Street.

The event began with instructor Sheila Matthews leading the women in a warm up to get their hips moving and muscles stretched. Mathews then practiced the basic moves with them, both with and without music. She then had the girls run through a couple of routines that she had choreographed to music. The event ended with a cool down in which every one could practice whatever they wanted to a Shakira song. (more…)

This week: expos, lies and love poems

  

Here’s a sampling of what you have to look forward to this week on the PDD Calendar.

If summer is the season for fests, winter must be the season for expos. The Duluth Energy Design Conference & Expo is at the DECC today through Wednesday and the Duluth Women’s Expo is at the DECC on Saturday.

The Children’s Hour opens at the Play Ground on Thursday and this will be the last show in that space. The Playhouse is opening a new second stage in the Depot called the Underground. The Children’s Hour runs two weekends.

Bigtree Bonsai, American Revival and Black River Revue play R. T. Quinlan’s on Friday.

On Saturday Al Hunter reads from his new book, “Beautiful Razor: Love Poems and Other Lies,” at Trepanier Hall with music provided by Kathy McTavish, Michael “Waabi” Furo, Jake Vainio, and Larissa Desrosier.

So what are you doing this week? Can we tag along? Any upcoming events that you want to promote? Let us know.

Doug Moen, R.I.P.

Doug Moen, RIP. Photo courtesy of Todd Eckart

Doug Moen portrait by Kip Praslowicz

Doug Moen passed away yesterday following a tragic fall. (more…)

This week: bouncing, brewing and wedding

  

Here’s a sampling of what you have to look forward to this week on the PDD Calendar.

It’s Presidents Day today! So celebrate with the traditional inflatable bouncy house at the Depot, because nothing says Presidents Day like an inflatable bouncy house.

This week is Winter Break for Duluth Public Schools and the Duluth Heritage Sports Center is opening its doors for free open ice skating Monday through Friday.

Every Wednesday night is bluegrass night at Sir Ben’s with the Stitch & Bitch club, presumably stitching and bitching.

Folk legend Bill Staines plays Amazing Grace on Thursday and funky eclectic Red Baraat plays Mitchell Auditorium on Friday.

The Twin Ports Brewfest is at Black Bear Casino this Saturday featuring over 150 beers and wines and the Dropkick Murphys providing live music. Free shuttles from downtown Duluth.

The annual Zenith City Indie Wedding Show is at Clyde Iron this Sunday with vendors and live music.

So what are you doing this week? Can we tag along? Any upcoming events that you want to promote? Let us know

Behind the scenes at Salsa Night

Instructor Katie Kero demonstrates to the group the basic step of salsa.

When many people think of Valentine’s Day they think of a box of chocolates, flowers, dinner and maybe a movie. However, some people choose to do other things around the community such as learn to salsa.

Avalon Educational Institute located on W. Superior Street hosted Valentine’s Day salsa night.

“It might make one person’s Valentine’s Day and that is worth it,” said Executive Director and founder of the institute, Justin Markus. (more…)

An official Magic Smelt transmission

Just a moment... kickstarter.com

Last week, Neptune was spotted by a PDD contributor making various proclomations. If you were wondering what was up, it’s this video. The Magic Smelt Puppet Troupe has launched a Kickstarter campaign to raise money to put on free workshops for people to build puppets, masks and costumes for the Smelt Parade on April 21st.

Here’s the Kickstarter link.

This week: zumba, salsa and taking a plunge

  

Here’s a sampling of what you have to look forward to this week on the PDD Calendar.

There’s a new Zumba class meeting at Pilgrim on Mondays.

Been day dreaming about that summer outing? Do some window shopping for that day dream at the Duluth Boat, Sports, Travel and RV Show at the DECC. It runs Wednesday through Sunday.

Valentines Day has lots of events for your romantic outing. Here’s a sampling:

Also on Thursday, Almost, Maine opens at the Playhouse and Tales from the Bad Years opens at UMD. Both run for two weekends.

A couple Black History Month events to note this week. Tuskegee Airman Lt. Col. (Ret.) Hiram Mann will talk about his experiences during UMD’s Profiles in Courage event on Friday at Weber Hall. Sue Sojourner and Cheryl Reitan launch their book Thunder of Freedom: Black Leadership and the Transformation of 1960s Mississippi Sunday at At Sara’s Table.

Watch people jump into Lake Superior on purpose at the annual Polar Bear Plunge on Saturday. Sign up is at Grandma’s Sports Garden.

Or if you’d rather stay inside and watch movies, there’s a Short Films Festival at the Play Ground on Saturday.

So what are you doing this week? Can we tag along? Any upcoming events that you want to promote? Let us know!