Events

Sea creature proclaims smelt cometh

I saw a commercial being made for the upcoming Smelt Festival while walking in Canal Park today. The sea creature character was booming out a pretty funny pronouncement from the Smelt Queen promising puppetry, puppet making and smelt-y fun in exchange for funding.

It’s stuff like this that makes me love this town.

Behind the Scenes at Northland Competition

PDD Calendar intern Shannon Kinley takes us behind the scenes of Duluth events in this new series.

Over 800 figure skaters from across the United States and Canada met in Duluth this past weekend for the Northland Competition, one of the largest events of its kind in the Midwest. The 34th-annual gathering was organized by the Duluth Figure Skating Club.

“This year is by far the biggest we have had so far in terms of skaters,” said Kathy Jensen, co-chair of the competition. “We are very pleased with the turnout.”
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Duluth attempts world record this Saturday

I didn’t notice any mention of this so I thought I’d help spread the word. It looks like we need at least 9,000 people to attend to break the record for making the most snow angels. (I have no affiliation with the event; please see their website for more details.) Come make your mark by making a snow angel; proceeds go to a charity supporting clean water for those in need. All the info can be found on makeyourmarkduluth.com.

This week: stallion hearts, cariboo and the Blue Danube

  

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

February is a lot of things… Black History Month, the shortest month of the year, the month that makes you seriously reconsider your life choices. Add to the list a month for giving books to children. There is a book drive going on all month and a “beer for books” reading at Carmody next week.

Tuesday the Chamber of Commerce is having a lunch panel at Midi on using social media as a tool, which would be a refreshing change from using social media like a tool.

Two plays open this week. Renegade Theater‘s Coronado, a voyeuristic drama about conversations in a bar, opens Thursday at the Teatro Zuccone and runs three weekends. Cariboo Magi, about four Californians trying to make it to the promised land of Canada, opens Friday at the CSS Little Theater and runs two weekends.

Nerd Nite moves to the Play Ground this Friday with its sometimes monthly presentations on nerdy topics. This time around we hear about Arthurian women, the cuisine of Game of Thrones, and the Raspberry PI.

The DSSO performs a concert of dance music paired with movie clips on Saturday at the DECC. Expect scenes from “An American in Paris,” “Singin’ in the Rain,” and “2001: A Space Odyssey.” Also, the YMCA is now offering children’s activities and a meal while parents go to the symphony, including a 25% discount on symphony tickets.

Ever go to a comedy improv show and say, “Hell, I could do that?” Prove it. Auditions for Renegade Improv are this coming Sunday at the Teatro Zuccone.

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

This week: smoothies, skating, skiing and bad fashion

  

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

Today you can learn about making healthy smoothies at the library, of all places. This is part of their Cabin Fever Reliever series.

On Wednesday there’s free open skating at the Duluth Heritage Sports Center for those who want to be active indoors and a Headlamp Ski Tour at Hartley and a Night Ski Race at Spirit Mountain for those who want to be active outdoors.

The Northland Figure Skating Competition will be at the Amsoil Arena Thursday through Sunday with hundreds competing individually and in teams.

Awesome Fest (“You have to be awesome.”) is a weekend long celebration of outdoor winter sports, indoor winter drinking, bad fashion, good music, and more. It runs Friday through Sunday at Mont du Lac.

And on Sunday there’s this football game and I hear tell some people are having parties because of it.

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

This week: a parade, a long kayak trip and a journey down a rabbit hole

  

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

Today is Martin Luther King, Jr. Day and a parade is happening this morning downtown. Stay warm, paraders!

Lucas Will will talk about his 97 day kayaking trip around Lake Superior at Duluth Pack on Tuesday.

The Duluth Playhouse Children’s Theatre opens Alice in Wonderland at the Marshall School Auditorium on Thursday and it runs through Sunday.

There’s a variety show for the benefit of local theater legend Liz Larson in Lincoln Park on Saturday.

The Fusion Belly Dance Show on Saturday at Teatro Zuccone features a variety of styles – steampunk, Bollywood, gothic, tribal, and more.

Playwright John Patrick Shanely will be speaking at St. Scholastica on Sunday.

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

This week: cops, teens and dying sociology professors

  

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

You can have Coffee with a Cop this morning at Whole Foods Coop.

Teens from Woodland Hills have been working with local artists to produce a “documentary theater” piece called Gr8ful for Another Day which runs Wednesday and Thursday at Teatro Zuccone.

The Duluth Art Institue is having a big Gallery Celebration on Thursday with works by Carla Stetson, Cecilia Ramon and emerging photographers

Tuesdays with Morrie opens on Thursday and runs two weekends at the Play Ground. And, as an insider to this project, let me say that Kevin Walsh and Luke Moravec turn in not to be missed performances in this two man show.

On Friday you can see Low at Mitchell Auditorium and Homegrown Winter Fiasco featuring 8 bands at 3 venues.

The Chicken Hat Plays come back to the Harbor City Theater on Saturday premiering 8 short plays which don’t exist yet!

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

This week: arty art art, little green army guys, cybermen and puttin’ on the ritz

  

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

There are several art exhibition openings this week:

and there are all the ice sculptures on exhibit (while weather permits) outside Little Angie’s in Canal Park.

Eight week skating classes for beginners start up at the Mars Lakeview Arena with Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday class options.

The Greek Mythology Olympiaganza runs Thursday through Saturday at the Teatro Zuccone. I’m not sure what that is, but it involves dance, little green army men, and Nerf guns, so why not?

Mark Russell brings his musical take on political humor to UMD on Friday.

Young Frankenstein gets the Rubber Chicken treatment in a live reading of the script at Fitger’s Spirit of the North Theater on Saturday.

And if you were at last night’s Doctor Who 101 premier you know to get to the Zinema 2 early for this Sunday’s screening of Tomb of the Cybermen featuring the Second Doctor, Patrick Troughton.

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

World Book Night is April 23

The second annual U.S./World Book Night is taking place on, appropriately enough, William Shakespeare’s birthday. On World Book Night, volunteers across the country give out free copies of a book they’ve selected from a list to complete strangers. It’s all part of an effort to promote literacy and book lust.

I participated in WBN last year, and gave away free copies of A Reliable Wife (set in northern Wisconsin) by Robert Goolrick to strangers imbibing at Thirsty Pagan Brewing and at the Anchor Bar. It was a lot of fun, and I urge anyone who loves books and loves to talk about books to apply.

The books are supplied by the participating publishers and if you are selected as a book giver, the books will be shipped to a local pick-up point for you to pick up that day. Each giver gets 20 books. Last year’s local pick-up point was Fitger’s Bookstore.

The list of books for this year’s World Book Night is on worldbooknight.org, as is the application form. The deadline to apply to be a book giver is Jan. 23. UPDATE: The deadline to apply to be a book giver is January 25, 2013.

I’m giving away copies of Population:485 by Michael Perry this year, and intend to, once again, hit bars in Supetown to give away Perry’s memoir about living and working in a small Wisconsin town.

New Year’s Eve Concert

Did anyone catch the Duluth Superior Symphony Orchestra concert at Amsoil Arena on New Year’s Eve? What did you think?

This week: resolutions, giant harps and the greatest adventure is what lies ahead

  

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

Happy New Year! There are a lot of New Year’s Eve gatherings today including:

And lots, lots more. What are you doing tonight?

On Friday you can catch a basketball game between UMD and Minot State at Romano Gymnasium or a hockey game between St. Scholastica and Augsburg at Mars Lakeview Arena.

On Saturday Zinema 2 starts its series of family films with the Hobbit! No, not that one, the 1977 Rankin Bass animated movie. Oh, yeah!

Also on Saturday Breanne Marie has a release party for her new CD at Beaner’s.

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

New Year Brunch

Most of you will probably be nursing a hangover, but my favorite way to celebrate the New Year is with food. Does anyone know of an actual brunch being put on anywhere? It’s easy when it lands on a Sunday, but this year is on a Tuesday.

Out-of-towners who like to party want to know …

Where is the best New Year’s bash at (besides your house)?  We are a group that are here on a long-term training assignment for “the man” (it’s corporate and will bore you).  We only get New Year’s Day off and so are looking for the perfect place to celebrate/welcome 2013.  We are a rainbow of colors/sexuality.  Duluthians, please help … where should we ring in the new year?  Forget dinner — it’s all about the cocktails and midnight.

This week: lights, skis and dolls

  

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

Merry Christmas! As we enter the 12 days of Christmas there are lots of merry gatherings to be had.

KUMD will be rebroadcasting the theatrical UMD radio production of “It’s a Wonderful Life” today, which, if you didn’t catch it on the stage, you really should tune in.

You only have a few days left to tour Bentleyville which closes on Wednesday.

Marshall School will be holding a 3 day ski camp Wednesday through Friday.

This is the last weekend for the Rubber Chicken Holiday Revue Show – “A Flood of Christmas Cheer, or, What Seal Is This?” at Fitger’s with a special show on New Year’s Eve.

The Duluth Dolls will be nice and naughty at their burlesque show Saturday at the Teatro Zuccone.

The BRRRRDathon Marathon starts on Saturday, a birding photography fundraiser extravaganza to perserve land in the Sax-Zim Bog. The name alone deserves preservation.

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

This week: bonfires, taxes and nerdery

  

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

We’ve got lots of Christmas related events on the calendar right now conveniently located under one tag for your viewing pleasure.

Nerd Nite hits the stage at the Teatro Zuccone this Wednesday with presentations on the “Star Wars Holiday Special,” Hyman Minsky, and vampires that sparkle.

You can learn and discuss how your commercial property taxes are determined at the Play Ground on Thursday in a forum hosted by the Chamber of Commerce.

With the Winter Solstice happening Friday at 5:12 a.m. CST there are several solstice related events this week, including:

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

Bands wanted for Midwest Music Fest Winona, April 18-20

Duluth musicians have until Dec. 31 to apply for entry in the Midwest Music Festival in Winona, April 18-20. This is the festival’s fourth year and is a great time for musicians and fans alike in this city-wide party much like Homegrown Music Festival in Duluth. (more…)

Show your support for Bentleyville

This is probably bad form to cross-post from facebook back to PDD… sorry about that.   But it’s for a good cause.

I’ve created a post that’s serving as somewhat of an informal petition in support of Bentleyville in Duluth – in less than a day, over 1400 people have “liked” the statement and 250 people have written supportive statements.

Essentially, it’s just a simple thank you to Nathan and all of the volunteers who make this event possible.  There are times when the little annoyances can be frustrating and feel larger than they are.  Hopefully this will help keep the focus where it should be, the hundreds of thousands of people who enjoy this event and would like to see it continue.

Here’s the link to add your support – Support Bentleyville

This week: magi, poetry and candles

  

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

We’ve got lots of Christmas related events on the calendar right now conveniently located under one tag for your viewing pleasure.

There’s a call for models for the Zenith City Indie Wedding Show today at Clyde Iron.

You can give your input on the restoration of Chester Park at a public meeting on Tuesday.

Kyle Elden has a release party and reading for Grace Intoxicated, her new book of poetry, at Lake Avenue Café on Wednesday.

There’s a timely free DIY winterization workshop on Thursday.

LOON does an encore performance of Amahl and the Night Visitors this weekend only, Friday through Sunday, at the Scottish Rite Auditorium.

Sara Thomsen and Paula Pedersen have a release party and concert for their new CD, Winter Wanderings, at Sacred Heart on Saturday.

Pineapple Arts is having a one day candle making workshop on Sunday which would be handy for home or presents!

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

This week: nutcracker, nutcracker and nutcracker

  

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

Today you can hit two art openings (Tom Rauschenfels and the Duluth Entrepreneur Fund) at the Zeitgeist.

If you type in “Nutcracker” into the PDD Calendar search engine you are going to get three different events. The traditional seasonal ballet is being performed this weekend by the Minnesota Ballet at the DECC and by the Reif Dancers at the Myles Reif Center in Grand Rapids. Further, Renegade Theater Company is producing a theatrical production of the story featuring battle over ballet.

Katie McMahon returns to Mitchell Auditorium with her Celtic Christmas show on Friday.

Rubber Chicken Theater offers up its annual sketch comedy revue A Flood of Christmas Cheer, or, What Seal is This? at the Fitger’s Spirit of the North Theater starting Friday and running through New Year’s Eve.

The 10th Annual Rock and Roll Kamikaze, in which bands are formed randomly and each get a 15 minute set, returns to the Pizza Lucé stage on Saturday.

Step back in time with the 1943 USO Canteen Show at the Douglas County Historical Society this Saturday and Sunday.

And don’t forget our Christmas tag which you can click on to find all such happenings on the calendar.

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

This week: Cloud Cult, roller derby and Zuzu’s petals!

  

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

Tuesday you can meet the architect of the new Vikings Stadium, Bryan Trubey, at the Holiday Inn.

On the theater front:

Murder of Crows opens for Cloud Cult this Friday at Clyde Iron.

The Harbor City Roller Dames take on the Minnesota Roller Girls Rockits at the DECC 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: tinsel and turkey, wine and winter sports

  

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

Tonight you can get into the synthesized Christmas mood with Mannheim Steamroller at the DECC.

Pair some wines for Thanksgiving at Chester Creek Café on Tuesday.

On Thursday, there’s a big Thanksgiving Buffet organized by the College of St. Scholastica for those in need at the DECC. Most volunteer shifts are filled already, but you can sign up or contribute online.

The 21st Annual Duluth National Snocross runs Friday through Sunday at Spirit Mountain with all sorts of motorized snowy fun.

Jeff Dunham brings his army of puppets to Amsoil Arena on Sunday.

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

Christmas City of the North Parade Stream

Hi folks. Especially the folks who are far away Duluthians, this could be good news for you.

I just got word in this nice little video from Kevin Jacobsen and LeAnn Wallace that the Christmas City of the North Parade will be streaming live at the Northland’s Newscenter website.

The twitter hashtag is #christmascityparade

Winter weekly events

Hey, howdy! I’m working on putting together the weekly events for December through February for the PDD Calendar.

If you have or know of a weekly event that you’d like to publicize on the calendar for that period, please let me know and send me a picture related to that event. Mention in the description how long the event should run.

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50 years of being “nice-icle”

Merv Griffin recorded this precious little ditty in 1962. Happy Christmas City of the North Parade everyone!

Prøve Gallery Call for Art Under $100

Prøve Gallery, Duluth’s newest space for emerging and contemporary art, is seeking to give emerging artists the opportunity to gain experience and exposure and further Duluth’s community involvement and interest in the arts.

Call for Art Under $100

All work should be priced under $100. There are no theme or media restrictions. Works can be hung on the wall, free standing, laying on the floor, suspended, etc.
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