Outdoors
Grand Opening of Playfront Park
The Junior League of Duluth will host the Grand Opening of the new Playfront Park this Friday, June 4, from 4 to 6 p.m. Mayor Don Ness and representatives from the Duluth Chamber of Commerce will join members of the Junior League of Duluth for the official ribbon cutting at 5 p.m.
(more…)
Movies in the Park 2010
After initially deciding to take a year off, Trent and Brita Edgerton, the amazing local couple that has produced MITP since 2006, sent me an email today telling me that the event is BACK on with a new sponsor, the Greater Downtown Council. Information about sponsorship opportunities and a TENTATIVE schedule is here.
That’s all I know.
Forest tent caterpillars in southern Minnesota — March to Duluth begins!
I came across several of these disgusting silken mats of forest tent caterpillars on Sunday in the Minnesota Valley State Recreation Area, about 160 miles south of Duluth. I’m sure there’s some larvae busting from egg masses somewhere in the northern part of the state, too, but I haven’t seen any yet.
I think next summer is when things should start to get really gross around here, with a peak in 2012 … although I haven’t heard any official predictions yet. Anyway, it probably wouldn’t hurt to get stocked up on tin foil and dish soap, or whatever is supposed to keep the ravenous little beasts from chewing your trees bald. Perhaps someone can fill us in on good dish soap substitutes that are better for the environment but still make the “army” retreat. (It’s smart the way they invade every 10 years … just long enough for us to forget all their weaknesses.)
Name That Trail: The gravel one that goes from 63rd Avenue West, behind the zoo and under Ely’s Peak, out to I-35
Have you walked, biked, snowmobiled or whatevered this trail? It starts/ends just off of North 63rd Avenue West and Greene Street (though technically there are random sections of it that pop up further east) and goes west out to Beck’s Road and I-35, where it gradually disappears.
(more…)
Homegrown Kickball Classic 2010
Ryan from theduluthscene.org presents an 8-second montage from the infamous Friday Rawkers vs. Saturday Rollers Kickball game.
Playback issues? Turn off HD playback.
Snow!? Plan ahead…
Friday’s snow and today’s run reminded me that we — Positive Energy Outdoor (ed)Ventures — are looking for dog enthusiasts to help with training, care, and projects connected to our friendly team of Alaskan Huskies. Options range from just helping with care to four-wheeler training, cart and scooter training, sled runs, event help, guiding local day trips, overnights, and a two-week arctic trip next March. We look for volunteers, paid staff, and even the option where you pay us (trips, tours, lease a team for the winter). Learn more about us at outdooredventures.org or call 218-428-5990. All our adult adventure offerings help us serve local youth.
Paddles Up!
The Duluth Boat Club’s Dragon Boat Team, the Invincible Dragons, is looking for a few good men and women. We need to round out our team with some power and style. A dragon boat requires 20 paddlers, a steersperson and a drummer (like a coxswain in rowing) and we have space on our roster.
The team will race in the Lake Superior Dragon Boat Festival on Aug. 28 as well as two other festivals in the area. We are a friendly group of paddlers and athletes, new and seasoned, that take our competition seriously and take our fun even more seriously. Skill, fitness, sportsmanship, and friendship are some of our key values on the team. We meet roughly once a week for practice and usually will kill any beneficial workout with a couple of beers following. Anybody is welcome and we’ll teach you how to paddle the dragon boat stroke.
For more info send an email to megankress at gmail dot com.
The Moon is Down – “My Amazing Kite”
This must be posted for your adoration. Great video featuring Abe Curran and Braxton Baker. Way to go!
Last Chance Bikers: Show Us Your Routes!
Monday, May 3, and Tuesday, May 4, are your last opportunities to show us how bicycling can be improved in your area! Fit City Duluth and the Metropolitan Interstate Council are working together to learn about the habits of bikers in Duluth. At these meetings you will be asked where you currently bike, where you would bike if it was easier, where bike racks should go, and other biking issues, and you will learn why this information is important for Duluth.
Food will be provided! Both meetings start at 6pm:
- May 3 – Central Hillside Community Center (12 E 4th St)
- May 4 – Portman Community Center (4601 McCulloch St)
Everybody Outside! at Morgan Park on Saturday, May 1
If you’re looking for a pre- or post-Leif Erickson destination, or you’re looking for an alternate event for the day, bring the kids to the west side this Saturday between noon and 5 p.m. for Everybody Outside at Morgan Park.
A class group from UMD is putting this event on to offer outdoor recreation opportunities to kids from the whole Twin Ports area but kids in West Duluth specifically. We’ll have camping skills activities, birding by Lake Superior Zoo, disc golf, fishing skills with MinnAqua, skateboarding demos by Damage Boardshop, and slacklining and a bouldering wall to get kids active and outdoors. All activities are free and we’ll be having raffles and food concessions (with proceeds going to the Morgan Park Playground Fund). See you Saturday!
Last-minute Reminder for Bicyclers
Fit City Duluth is hosting public meetings to survey bicycle riders in Duluth. Information gathered from these meetings will be used in a recommendation to the city and various other agencies who are interested in bicycle route development. The five remaining meetings will be held at 6pm at the following locations (and good food will be provided):
- Monday, April 26th at the Piedmont Community Center
- Tuesday, April 27 at City Center West
- Thursday, April 29 at the UMD Garden Room
- Monday, May 3 at the Central Hillside Community Center
- Tuesday, May 4 at the Portman Community Center
Please visit fitcityduluth.com/bike for more information!
First Thursday Motorcycle Ride returns!
You know the drill, right?
Get on your motorcycle, ride it to the co-op, have a cup of coffee, BS for a few minutes, then go for a ride with a bunch of random people, who knows? Maybe people you know. Whatever. Maybe we’ll even have a beer when we’re done. So get there, unless it’s pouring rain we do this. All bikes and all riders welcome. Tell your friends, find it on the Facebook … Twin Ports First Thursdays. See you there!
B-Cycles: Why own when you can share?!?!
We need this is D-Town. Decrease our carbon footprint down to nothing and, let’s face it, it’d just be plain fun!
Boundary Waters? Nah, this year, let’s paddle Nebraska.
When I was growing up in Nebraska, “tanking” was not … um … a thing.
I went tubing several times, but never tanking.
And I guess I got tanked.
I hope Nebraska doesn’t steal all of our tourists away.
UMD Spring Sustainability Fair – Thursday, April 22nd – 9am-2pm – UMD Kirby Student Center
This semester the theme of the UMD Sustainability Fair is Art and Design. What can you do at the fair? Attend an engaging conversation with community experts! Architect David Salmela, FAIA, will discuss architecture and sustainability. Pastor David Carlson of Duluth’s Gloria Dei Lutheran Church will talk about his experience with the Early Adopter’s training and how the Natural Step Framework as affected the congregation. Susan Meyers, graduate of UMD’s Masters of Liberal Arts program, will talk about her project, Creating a Journey into Healing with Art. Ryan Jordan, UMD Admissions Diversity Counselor, will present on Music and Social Change. You’ll have the opportunity to learn more about sustainability efforts in the Twin Ports by visiting over 20 community and campus organization’s informational and interactive booths! Also, check out UMD and Duluth elementary student art on display at UMD Stores Express and around campus! Sustain Fair Poster Spring 2010
UMD Parking Q’s: www.d.umn.edu/parking
Check out UMD’s Sustainability website: www.d.umn.edu/sustain
Anyone around here see this last night?
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J1vaRHF30xQ
Video from an Iowa sheriff’s deputy’s dashboard camera, about 10 p.m. Wednesday.
Public Input Needed for Bicycle Routes
If you ride your bicycle in Duluth, here is your chance to help improve the existing bike route network! On March 8, the Duluth City Council unanimously approved a Complete Streets resolution that would help instruct city engineers on how to design roadways for all users, instead of just for automobiles.
(more…)
The ticks are here
Dear Duluthians,
I went to Jay Cooke for a (muddy) hike yesterday, and returned home to find a little tiny adult male deer tick upon my pant leg.
Let this be your first seasonal warning. Sorry, Paul, but I am still looking forward to your first tick-o-rama, as well.
Where to hike in Duluth when it’s muddy
Where are your favorite places to walk during the sloppy season? (Other than the obvious: Lakewalk, Munger Trail, Skyline Parkway and Western Waterfront Trail.)
Happy early Spring on the North Shore — Things are breakin’ up out there
Check out a few river shots from this past weekend.
(more…)
Google Bike
Google biking. Very rad.
Cross City Trail — A photo tour of the proposed section from Clyde Park to the Lakewalk
In a Feb. 18 post the maps for the proposed Cross City Trail – which will connect the Munger Trail to the Lakewalk – were laid out, with photos showing the various route options for the westernmost section shown in the comments. A Feb. 28 post showed a photo tour of the middle section of the proposed trail.
In this post, the route options for connecting Clyde Park to the Duluth Lakewalk are shown. Here are the maps to follow along with:
29th Avenue West to 18th Avenue West
18th Avenue West to Mesaba Avenue
Mesaba Avenue to the Lakewalk
Countdown to spring
The ski hill at Chester Bowl is scheduled to stay open through this weekend, but it looks like Mother Nature may not be patient and cooperative. Already this weekend, the creek started flooding the bottom of the hill. So if you’re interested in taking or watching a waterskiing run at the Bowl, today might be your day. The lift is open from 4:30 – 8:30 tonight (Monday 3/8). The next scheduled day the lift is open will be Thursday, but that’s a long way away. Lift tickets are $5 at the concession stand. While you’re there, pick up a nifty Chester Bowl Hoodie or long-sleeve T-shirt at the concession stand.
Voices of the Lake Speaker Series
Full Circle: Hike Around the Greatest Lake
Presented By: Mike Link and Kate Crowley
Thursday, March 11, 5:30-6:30 p.m.
Great Lakes Aquarium Lobby
Free
Full Circle Superior is not just the first shoreline circumnavigation of Lake Superior by foot in recorded history – it is an incredible international bridge that brings together people, ideas and issues from areas as diverse as science, community, economy, education and the environment intricately into a web interlacing around and in the midst of this great lake. Join us as Mike Link, executive director of Audubon Center of the North Woods and Full Circle Superior hiker, describes the planning, preparation, and goals of this historic hike.
For more information call Sara Kubarek at 218-740-2013.