Paper Tiger
I’ve been trying to write this fucking essay for three weeks, but my brain won’t stay allegiant to my body. I feel like the inside of my head is a giant scribble, like Charles Schultz’ confusion thought bubbles or Rowling’s Obscuris.
I keep rolling the word around in my head, like that will somehow make it dissolve: pandemic. We’re in the midst of a pandemic. We’re having a pandemic.
The problem, I think, is that I have no frame of reference. It’s like trying to imagine a new color. And sitting down to write, the world is so loud that it’s hard to hear my own thoughts. I feel this ball of energy gathering — this terrible welling of grief and fear, tragedy and panic. I know this is crazy, or fantastically pessimistic, but it feels like we’ve been careening toward this for years. Maybe it’s an artifact of all of the government preparation for the inevitable disaster we received. As a Generation X kid, I spent so much time preparing myself for Soviet invasion or nuclear war that it’s bound to have permeated my subconscious in some insidious way. (more…)
Carolyn Olson on Essential Workers
Carolyn Olson on Essential Workers
Duluth artist Carolyn Olson has completed two works in a series on “Essential Workers.” Visit her site at carolynolson.net. (more…)
Richardson Bros. Ghost Story “The Haunted Groom”
“The Haunted Groom” is a supernatural adventure story set largely in the Duluth bar scene. It explores PTSD, addiction, abusive relationships, and the coronavirus lockdown. Full story below.
Part 1: I Married a Ghost. Part 2: Trapdoor to Hell. Part 3: The Demonizer.
Duluth’s story told by one of its greatest chroniclers
Tony Dierckins is among Duluth’s greatest resources. Few have given so much of their time and energy to telling the story of the city. As a small publisher, perhaps few have taken as many personal risks hoping the stories of Duluth will find their audiences. (more…)
Daily Menu: Cedar Lounge
As we continue staying safe with our social distancing practices, Perfect Duluth Day is back with another episode of the “Daily Menu.” Each day, we showcase another local take-out option.
Cedar Lounge is open from noon to 6 p.m. daily for takeout of Earth Rider Brewery six packs, crowlers, kegs, merchandise and snacks. The bartender services customers from across a six-foot table with self-serve payment. The touch screen is sanitized after every use. In addition to continuing to serve beer and snacks, Cedar Lounge is holding virtual music performances and events on its Facebook Page. For more information or to arrange a pick-up order, call 715-394-7391. (more…)
Selective Focus: Kari Halker-Saathoff
Scheduled to open at the Duluth Art Institute, but postponed to a date to be determined later, is the work of Kari Halker-Saathoff. She combines methods such as ceramics and graphite drawings to reinterpret stories from the point of view of lesser-known characters. In the DAI show, she explores Penelope, Odysseus’ wife, her situation in The Odyssey, and connections to modern-day events.
KHS: I am a multidisciplinary artist and educator. My teaching role requires me to be well versed in all of the core artistic mediums so I will often combine drawing with ceramics, drawing with sculpture, metalwork with ceramics and so forth.
I’m very inspired by stories, although reading was always a struggle for me. I have dyslexia that went undiagnosed until I was in college. After being diagnosed, the literary world opened up to me. Stories became my drug and — as an artist — my mind went wild illustrating the stories in my head. I soon discovered that the heroes of narratives were not always the most interesting characters and that I was more interested in “minor” characters — often female ones. Those were the characters who spoke to me and to my struggles.
(more…)
Knife River Aerial Video
Adam Jagunich explores the mouth of Knife River, Knife Island and Lake Superior by drone.
Wooing Antics on the St. Louis River
“April is a great time to sit and watch the incredible courtship displays of ducks,” writes Sparky Stensaas on the YouTube description for this recently posted video with footage shot in 2011. The segments show the wooing antics of common mergansers, common goldeneyes, bufflehead and hooded mergansers.
“Here in northern Minnesota, the ice is just going out on the lakes and early returning male ducks are trying to impress the ladies,” notes Stensaas.
Daily Menu: Grandma’s Saloon & Grill on Miller Hill
As we continue staying safe with our social distancing practices, Perfect Duluth Day is back with another episode of the “Daily Menu.” Each day, we showcase another local take-out option.
Grandma’s Saloon & Grill is available for pickup and delivery from 11 a.m. until 7 p.m. daily online or by calling 218-722-9313. Special Easter dinner options are also available when ordered before 3 p.m. Saturday, April 11. Information about their Easter dinners can be found on the restaurant’s Facebook page. (more…)
PDD Video Lab: Old Grand Marais Footage
In this edition of the PDD Video Lab we blend old film footage of Grand Marais from Richter Home Movies with “Easy Ride,” a song from the Doors’ 1969 release The Soft Parade.
Daily Menu: Great Harvest Bread Co.
As we continue staying safe with our social distancing practices, Perfect Duluth Day is back with another episode of the “Daily Menu.” Each day, we showcase another local take-out option.
Great Harvest continues to make sandwiches with fresh-baked bread for takeout. Orders can be placed by calling 218-728-9510. Delivery may be available for larger sandwich orders. The daily bread schedule can be found here, and their sandwich menu is below. (more…)
Postcard from Duluth’s Waterfront
This undated postcard, published by Zenith Interstate Company of Duluth, with Plastichrome by Colourpicture Publishers of Boston, appears to be circa the early 1960s.
The caption on the back reads:
A Panoramic View of Duluth, Minnesota
The Harbor at Duluth-Superior is the second largest harbor in the world in total tonnage handled annually. More than 10,000 ships arrive and depart annually from the Duluth-Superior Harbor.
Daily Menu: Empire Coffee
As we continue staying safe with our social distancing practices, Perfect Duluth Day is back with another episode of the “Daily Menu.” Each day, we showcase another local takeout option.
Empire Coffee is making its hot beverages and sandwiches to go through its online ordering system. Those on the hunt for coffee can also reach out by phone at 715-718-0926.
Lake Superior Aquaman: My 100% True Adventures
#visitduluth #thx2transistor
Excerpts from my journals, which tell of my 100% true adventures and discoveries.
Contents
Part 1: The Nightmare Fish
Part 2: The Insane Reptiles
Part 3: It Came from Lake Inferior (more…)
Daily Menu: Black Woods Grill & Bar
As we continue staying safe with our social distancing practices, Perfect Duluth Day is back with another episode of the “Daily Menu.” Each day, we showcase another local take-out option.
Black Woods Grill & Bar is available for curbside pickup and delivery from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily at its Duluth location. Orders can be made by calling 218-724-1612. For those looking ahead for Easter options, Black Woods is offering a traditional Easter entree on Sunday April 12 for $15.
The menu can be viewed at blackwoods.com. (more…)
How to Juggle Longboards
From the Iron Range city of Palo comes Steve Solkela with this important lesson in riding two longboards at once.
Betty Grable & Dick Haymes – “The Back Bay Polka”
From the 1946 film The Shocking Miss Pilgram, Betty Grable and Dick Haymes sing “The Back Bay Polka,” written by George and Ira Gershwin. A reference to Duluth is around the 50-second mark. (more…)
Daily Menu: Burrito Union
As we continue staying safe with our social distancing practices, Perfect Duluth Day is back with another episode of the “Daily Menu.” Each day, we showcase another local take-out option.
Burrito Union is open daily for 11 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. for curbside pickup by calling 218-728-4414 or delivery from Food Dudes. Use the code “April2020” to wave the delivery fees through the month of April. Along with four other local food businesses, Burrito Union is helping to provide free lunches to school-aged kids. Information about this program can be found on this GoFundMe page. (more…)
Mystery Photo #104: Mustached Dude with Fat Tie
Who is this handsome Duluthian? Was he actually a Duluthian at all or just passing through and feeling photogenic? (more…)
Gaelynn Lea – “Rebuild”
Duluth musician Gaelynn Lea has released a new track titled “Rebuild.” It is available on Spotify and Bandcamp. (more…)
Daily Menu: Vitta Pizza
As we continue staying safe with our social distancing practices, Perfect Duluth Day is back with another episode of the “Daily Menu.” Each day, we showcase another local take-out option.
Vitta Pizza is open daily from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Curbside pickup is available by calling 218-727-2226 and delivery can be ordered through Food Dudes. Use the code “April2020” to wave the delivery fee through the month of April. (more…)
Even Good Dogs are Still Dogs
A tan, 120-pound mastiff growled through the crack in the door, barely held back by a 12-year old boy. I was knocking at the door of this rural home to let the residents know I’d be working in the stream nearby. Even if the stream bed is technically public, nobody likes being surprised by a stranger in their backyard. As a 27-year-old female graduate student, I didn’t feel very intimidating, but the13-year-old boy was creeped out by me knocking. I told him I’d be taking some measurements in the stream and handed him a flyer about my research to give his parents. He said OK and slunked behind the door, but not before first letting his huge growling dog squeeze outside. As I turned to go, the mastiff immediately lunged and chomped down on the flesh of my ass. I yelped in pain and I looked back at the silent closed front door for help. But the boy was gone, and the dog seemed satisfied with his bite and also retreated, still growling. I walked quickly back to the car on the road where my field assistant was waiting, my heart pounding wildly.
By that time in my life, I was a full-fledged dog lover with two dogs of my own, Rooster and Arlo. I had adopted Rooster from a shelter, and he was the absolute best dog ever. Perhaps you’ve heard this before, but listen, this is the real thing. (more…)
Local Poet on Social Distancing: “Viral Two-Step”
Julie Gard’s prose poem on social distancing, “Viral Two-Step,” appears in issue 25 of the online poetry journal Unbroken. You should read it.