Events

Review: Kathy McTavish’s Høle in the Sky

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Is there a hole in sky? Art mesmerizes the Food Farm!

Media artist Kathy McTavish and the new-music ensemble Zeitgeist took over two windowless rooms of the Food Farm root cellar in Wrenshall this past Saturday to present the interactive exhibition Høle in the Sky to an audience of about 25 people. (more…)

This Week: fresh vinyl, basketball goofballs, rabbits and more

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Here’s a bit of what you’ll find on this week’s PDD Calendar:

It’s New Music Festival time at UMD’s Weber Music Hall, the Zinema is screening a documentary about an architect who’s building floating schools, the latest season of WDSE’s local arts show The Playlist is taping an episode with a live audience, basketball goofballs from Harlem trot into town for a bit of sports-comedy, the latest Design DLH gathering aims to address just how Lake Superior affects design in the area, hip hop takes a stand against heroin at the Red Herring and it’s once again Taste at Fitger’s time.

Reflectivore releases a new vinyl LP at a show with the Social Disaster and Chasm of Czar, Monster Mob assembles to rock with the Ball Slashers, Duluth’s first escape room has its final original-recipe room events before it opens a new experience, the Pinewood Derby is back at Carmody, three bands (Ego Death, Swimsuit Area and the Farsights) play an all-ages show at Beaner’s, there’s bound to be bloodshed at the 2016 Puzzle Derby and it’s time once again for a big rabbit to bring people eggs and chocolate for religious reasons.

Homegrown 2016 schedule announced; Wussow’s mix released

Homegrown Rawk and-or Roll 2016 - Jason Wussow's MixThe 2016 Homegrown Music Festival, Duluth’s annual 200ish-band showcase, runs May 1-8. The official schedule has been released, so it’s time to begin charting the adventure. The Chicken App, PDD’s smart-phone optimized version of the lineup, is also available.

This year’s schedule follows the same basic format as previous Homegrowns — opening ceremonies and new band showcase on Sunday, video festival and poetry showcase on Monday, Canal Park focus on Tuesday, western Duluth on Wednesday, Superior on Thursday, buttload o’ bands in Downtown Duluth on Friday and Saturday, and a few brunch shows on the final Sunday.

The two biggest weekday shows are again at Grandma’s Sports Garden and Clyde Iron Works. The Sports Garden lineup includes A Band Called Truman, Mary Bue & the Holy Bones, Space Carpet and the Social Disaster. Clyde will feature Teague Alexy and Friends, Low and Red Mountain. (more…)

This Week: green beer, glass slippers, quilts and more

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Here’s a bit of what you’ll find on this week’s PDD Calendar:

Minneapolis NAACP President Nakima Levy-Pounds speaks on the Black Lives Matter movement at UMD, Memorial Blood Centers is looking for your red stuff, the Zinema is showing a Sergei Eisenstein classic, the latest TED at the Teatro is all about belief and the lack of it, Duluth Mayor Emily Larson and City Councilor Zack Filipovich invite the public to a community listening session and The Underground gets loud about motherhood.

The green beer starts flowing on Thursday at Dubh Linn Irish Pub, former vice-presidential candidate Winona LaDuke speaks on ethics at UMD, the cover bands just keep on coming, the Minnesota Ballet closes out its season with some glass-slipper business, the multi-day DuLutsen North of North Music & Ski Festival is popping off from March 16 to 21, it’s Motorhead Madness at the DECC and quilter Kathy McTavish invites the public to her studio for a special day.

Kaleidoscope: Save the Date

Girl Scouts of Minnesota and Wisconsin Lakes and Pines present the third annual Kaleidoscope for girls and adults on April 30. (more…)

This Week: teenyboppers, slowcore merchants, cult members

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Here’s a bit of what you’ll find on this week’s PDD Calendar:

Former teenybopper and noted Trump booster Aaron Carter sings for his supper at the Red Herring for the second night in a row, the seventh annual Eat Downtown Restaurant Week kicks off at over 20 local establishments, suspense writer Brian Freeman releases the latest of his Duluth-set novels, a LOWcal band plays a gig, the best regional high-school hockey players show off their stuff at Amsoil Arena and Charlie Parr and Coyote fundraise for Spirit of the Lake Community School with a show at Karpeles Manuscript Museum.

It’s Bockfest 2016 in the Fitger’s Courtyard, Fame the Musical opens at the Duluth Playhouse, Moors & McCumber let their latest recording loose into the wild, those crazy kids Romeo and Juliet are lovin’ it up at Lincoln Park Middle School, Cloud Cult brings its act to Duluth, the Ides of March cover bands are upon us, the 2016 Duluth Women’s Expo features pampering aplenty and kids with special needs can get a chilled-out sesh with the Easter Bunny.

2016 Lake Superior Ice Sculpture Finale

This Week: Rhinos, Robots, Cats and Caucuses

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Politics and civics grab the headlines this week with caucus after caucus after caucus after caucus after caucus taking place throughout Minnesota on Tuesday. In the realm of literature, Lucie Amundsen talks about all things poultry at her Locally Laid book launch on Wednesday. At the same time, the Walker Art Center’s Internet Cat Video Festival screens at Zinema 2. Chickens or cats, take your pick. If that’s not enough variety, more than 100 robotics teams from across the region compete at the DECC Arena on Saturday.

Two new theater productions open on Thursday. UMD’s Dudley Experimental Theater stages a drama about rhinoceroses taking over a French town, while the Underground presents a comic opera by Gilbert and Sullivan that follows a band of immortal fairies.

In the realm of music, the Duluth Superior Symphony Orchestra pays homage to the mythical god Wotan on Saturday, then its three youth orchestras roll out the lollipops on Sunday. The Red Herring Lounge counters those shows with Minneapolis’ Bad Bad Hats on Saturday and 1990’s teen sensation Aaron Carter on Sunday.

This Week: Climbing, jamming, skiing and stick handling

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This week is a big one for sports enthusiasts. Hermantown faces off against Hibbing-Chisholm on Wednesday for the Section 7A boys hockey title, and Duluth East battles Grand Rapids on Thursday for the Section 7AA championship. The Duluth Climbers Coalition celebrates West Duluth’s newest parcel of parkland — Quarry Park — with three events: the kickoff is at Bent Paddle on Friday, the actual ice climbing is on Saturday at Quarry Park, and evening programs at Clyde Iron Works wrap it all up. Also on Saturday are the Tour du Luth cross-country ski event and the Harbor City Roller Dames Winter Wonder Jam Double Header.

In the realm of music, the Dotys perform a Matinee Musicale concert at the Depot on Tuesday, Bill Staines plays his annual Amazing Grace show on Friday, Frank Turner & the Sleeping Souls play the Grand Minnesota Taste-Together in Hinckley on Saturday, and that show’s opener, 16-year-old singer Madi Davis, performs at Mitchell Auditorium on Sunday.

There are also numerous literary events this week, and a slew of seminars about everything from the textile community in Telemark, Norway, to the Northern Lights Express.

This Week: Buddy, Broadway, gore and more

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Here’s a bit of what you’ll find on this week’s PDD Calendar:

Duluth MakerSpace is holding a class on glass-etching, the Duluth Public Library is screening the kids’ film Inside Out, members of the public can get their antiques appraised at the Depot, the director of the cult film Microwave Massacre comes to town to talk about stuttering and the Duluth Playhouse opens the Neil Simon play Broadway Bound.

The Clean Water Gala 2016 is raising funds at Clyde Iron Works, the St. Scholastica theater department is putting on the bass-fishing-concerned Zara Spook and Other Lures, there’s free pleasure-skating at the Heritage Center, Beaner’s Central celebrates the release of its latest compilation album with three concerts and a long-running musical about Buddy Holly lands at the DECC.

This Week: chocolate, rockets, orgasms, Buckwheat and more

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Here’s a bit of what you’ll find on this week’s PDD Calendar:

Sample some chocolate from local chefs at Arc Northland’s Chocolate After Dark fundraiser, the Zinema is showing The Magic Flute live from Austria, folks can make bowls for the Empty Bowl fundraiser at the Duluth Art Institute, the Head of the Lakes Spring Job and Internship Fair is at UWS, there’s an adult Valentine-making party at Studio 15, Burrito Union is doing Rock and Roll Bingo and Renegade Theater Company opens The Rocket Man at Teatro Zuccone.

Music legend Buckwheat Zydeco performs at the Red Herring, the Minnesota Ballet holds its 10th annual Celebrity Dance Challenge, UMD is the place to learn about the female orgasm, Superior Public Library loves local artists, Dubh Linn is pairing Valentine’s Day with dinner and comedy and the latest Zenith City Cabaret show is at the Zeitgeist.

This Week: The Bad Plus, Cloud Cult, Hippo Campus and other things that aren’t bands

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Here’s a bit of what you’ll find on this week’s PDD Calendar:

There’s a community forum on racism at the Superior Public Library, newbies to clay can make bowls for Empty Bowl 2016, Harbor City International School becomes a German village, the DAI is teaching the fundamentals of watercolor, folks can make their own wine goblets at Lake Superior Art Glass and Twin Cities-spawned jazz masters The Bad Plus land at the Red Herring.

The Duluth Transportation Center has its grand opening, Shakespeare’s All’s Well That Ends Well opens at Marshall Performing Arts Center, Minnesota buzz band Hippo Campus plays Clyde Iron, Cloud Cult travels to Papa Charlie’s for a gig, it’s Hockey Day in Minnesota and local band Space Carpet hooks up with the DSSO for some Amore! at the DECC

Spirit Mountain Winter Downhill Fatbiking

Last weekend Spirit Mountain became (as far as we know) the first ski resort in North America to offer lift access fat-tire biking. Break out the fatbikes this Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and come ride with us!

Video by Max Fierek.

This Week: Bernie Sanders, Beargrease and more

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Here’s a bit of what you’ll find on this week’s PDD Calendar:

Presidential candidate Bernie Sanders comes to town, Fairlawn Mansion is holding a garden talk, UMD is having a night for nerds, the Holocaust is remembered, the musical The Last Five Years is up at The Underground and the Red Herring is the place for post-rock from Portrait of a Drowned Man and guests.

Gndwire Records is throwing a party at Lutsen, Fitger’s raises money for Animal Allies, the 1959 Winter Dance Party gets an update, people can make and race art sleds for Northwood Children’s Services, there’s a skating party at the DECC, the Nordic Spirit Ski Race is on at Spirit Mountain and the John Beargrease Sled Dog Marathon has its 32nd running.

This Week: MLK, Mike Mictlan, pond hockey and more

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Here’s a bit of what you’ll find in this week’s PDD Calendar:

Martin Luther King Day is celebrated with a community breakfast and a march to the DECC, local photogs talk shop, the WorkForce Center Job Fair gets underway, the DSSO is having an After Hours event at Black Water Lounge and there’s a public meeting to talk Lake Superior Zoo and Fairmont Park.

The public is invited to find out how much their antiques are worth, TED Talk-ers are talkin’ at the Teatro, the Duluth Art Institute is holding their 2016 Membership Exhibition, there’s a mini-Homegrown going down on Friday, Mike Mictlan is rapping at the Red Herring and it’s pond hockey all weekend in Superior.

This Week: Cannons, Cowbell and more

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Here’s a bit of what you’ll find on this week’s PDD Calendar:

The 38th Atmore Memorial Ski Race is happening at Spirit Mountain, Dance Attic is at Papa Charlie’s at Lutsen, the Northern Lights Foundation raises money by asking for More Cowbell, the All Black Zine is having a release show at Prove Gallery and a bunch of noisy rock bands are playing to benefit a future festival.

The Duluth Playhouse Children’s Theatre brings James and his giant peach to the stage, Loose Cannons are still loose after all these years, Bayfront Park is the place for fire, hot chocolate and skating, it’s art for and by musicians at Studio 15, rapper Dem Atlas slings the verses at the Red Herring and Guerilla Girls bring their gorilla-masked selves to town.

This Week: inaugurations, exhibitions, festivals and more

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Here’s a bit of what you’ll find on this week’s PDD Calendar:

Mayor-elect Emily Larson becomes Mayor Emily Larson, DJ Walt Dizzo defends his taste in film, Charlie Parr begins his Red Herring residency, Duluth Yoga officially opens its doors and the art of Andrew John Swanson is exhibited.

The Lake Effect Music and Ski Festival goes down at Papa Charlie’s at Lutsen, the multimedia event Cellar Door happens at the Red Herring, Bayfront Park is the place for hot chocolate and a bonfire, the 28th annual Duluth Wedding Show is at the DECC, Floyd J. Phillips brings the funny to Dubh Linn and Crankshaft joins Mary Bue and Vivielle for a gig.

This Week: 2015 bites the dust and more

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Here’s a bit of what you’ll find in this week’s PDD Calendar:

Learn why resolutions don’t work at Tycoons, bring the kids to see the Monkey Mind Pirates, Marc Gartman plays his Ween, the DSSO tackles Sinatra, Beaner’s Central throws a daylong New Year’s bash and the Red Herring has bands and DJs.

Zeitgeist Arts is throwing a laid-back New Year’s party, the Barrel Room has DJs, masked revelers converge on Barker’s Island, pianos are set to duel at Dubh Linn, Superior Ballroom Dance Studio holds a dance-floor party and the first day of 2016 is marked with a nine-location hike.

This Week: holiday madness and more

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Here’s a bit of what you’ll find on this week’s PDD Calendar:

Spend Monday with Mayor Don Ness while you still can, Classic Christmas specials make it to the big screen, get a look at Fairlawn Mansion’s holiday decorations, the Red Herring throws a holiday bash and Yoga North is offering candlelight yoga.

Park downtown for free on Christmas Day proper, Ellipsis marks two years in operation with a three-band bill co-hosted by Don Ness, there’s stand-up comedy at Dubh Linn, Glensheen Mansion offers its Christmas tour even after Christmas, folkies ring out the holiday and the DECC holds a skating party.

This Week: holiday madness, ghoul-rock, Ness peaces-out and more

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Here’s a bit of what you’ll find on this week’s PDD Calendar:

It’s the week before Christmas, so there’s plenty of holiday-themed stuff mixed in with the usual madness. Nerds somehow find time to talk about something other than Star Wars, singing along with the orchestra is encouraged, Don Ness drops the mic with a big ole bash, kids can skate with Santa and Rudolph, TED at Teatro brings the braininess, Poor old George Bailey fights the forces of heartlessness and greed and the Rose Ensemble plays Sacred Heart Music Center.

Sara Thomsen and pals play a winter concert, Duluth’s holiday-themed escape room still needs escaping, Monster Mob releases an album, Rachael Kilgour throws a holiday shindig, Glensheen lets visitors run wild(-ish) and Jim Hall shows ’em how it’s done.

This Week: fishing, beer, Krayzie Bone and more

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Here’s a bit of what you’ll find on this week’s PDD Calendar:

Amber Burns has an art show at the Zeitgeist building, there’s help available for people wanting more info on MNsure, UWS holds its 18th annual Choral Concert, Fairlawn Mansion is a-twinklin’, Zenith City Cabaret puts on its December show and Santa is making a stop at Mr. D’s.

Krayzie Bone from Bone Thugs-n-Harmony (not that other Krayzie Bone you’re thinking of) is playing the Red Herring, there’s a Men as Peacemakers fundraiser featuring several performers, Warm Up to the Brews 2015 is going down (also with bands attached), fans of ice fishing, snowmobiles and holidays should make some time to hit the DECC, the Minnesota Ballet is crackin’ nuts, Rubber Chicken Theater makes with the local holiday yuk-yuks, guitarist Lonnie Knight is in town and the Fractals play a holiday fundraiser for kids.

Cornucopia 2015: A Remarkable Harvest!

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A week ago we hosted an outstanding event at the Red Herring Lounge: Cornucopia 2015. The evening featured some of the best live music our area has to offer, both Emily Larson and Don Ness, live painting, tap dance, local brews, and more. Unbridled joy, like running with wild horses, marked the evening. A goal was to showcase and celebrate the abundant talent our area produced in 2015. This year’s harvest, if you will. Additionally, we wanted everyone to experience just how accessible these local “celebrities” really are. There are no little people. You can read more about this one-of-a-kind evening, the busiest Tuesday ever at the Red Herring Lounge, at Ed’s Big Adventure.

This Week: lots o’ music, whiskey, comedy and more

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Here’s a bit of what you’ll find on this week’s PDD Calendar:

Rockapella 2015 is in the house: Home Free stops at the DECC for some vocal-only action, people can taste a bunch of whiskeys at the Kitch to benefit the DSSO, Superior Siren plays the Red Herring with Coyote and Black Diary, Mary Poppins flies into Duluth, pop-country guy Chris Young comes to the Amsoil and Chris Monroe shows her latest stuff.

Kate Isles releases her first solo album, Rubber Chicken presents its latest Duluth-centric holiday production, Mozart’s opera The Magic Flute comes to Weber Music Hall, Charles Dickens serves up some ghostly justice to the ultimate one-percenter, a bunch of bands comprised of people who didn’t ask to be stuck together perform and Sacred Heart is holding a holiday fundraiser.

This Week: turkey time, Small Business Saturday, rooms that need escaping and more

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Here’s a bit of what you’ll find on this week’s PDD Calendar:

It’s Thanksgiving week, so of course there’s a lot of turkey business going on in addition to the usual tomfoolery. Minnesota Congressman Rick Nolan comes to town on Monday for a forum, tap dancers, mayors and musicians come together in what’s being called a “lavish feast of local talent,” a locally-made Christmas coffee-table book is released, a man who spent two decades in prison speaks and comedian Josh Blue performs in Canal Park.

The Twin Ports Thanksgiving Buffet takes place, there’s a Thanksgiving Day Walk/Run in Lake Nebagamon, self-guided Christmas tours get underway at Glensheen Mansion, there’s a Funked-Up Dance Party at R.T. Quinlan’s, UMD Women’s Hockey gets discounted, Small Business Saturday is in effect with a multi-entrepreneur pop-up shop and the Northland’s first live-action-adventure escape room opens.

Painting Charlie Parr’s guitar, and who the heck is Dave Hundrieser?

Charlie Parr's Guitar

My wife, Shawna Gilmore, has an interesting job. Today, for example, she painted the back of Charlie Parr’s amazing guitar. The instrument is a phenomenal work of art, both front and back. Next Tuesday is a great opportunity to come out and hear Charlie make music with it alongside his good buddy, Dave Hundrieser. Read more about Charlie and Dave, and see the garage they recorded in together previously, at Ed’s Big Adventure.

By the way, Teague Alexy, Tin Can Gin, Don Ness, Emily Larson, a stunning tap dancer, and I, will also be participating in Cornucopia at the Red Herring Lounge. Check out this amazing event on Facebook/a> and the PDD Calendar.