Richard Lee Armstrong – “Landlord of Duluth”
Ten years ago today — Dec. 30, 2009 — Richard Lee Armstrong released the album Pretty Dream Woman, featuring the track “Landlord of Duluth.” The song tells the story of Armstrong’s claim that he technically owns part of Downtown Duluth. (more…)
PDD Quiz: 2019 in Review
Test your memory of 2019 headlines and happenings with PDD’s year-in-review quiz!
The next PDD quiz, previewing 2020’s coming attractions, will be published on Jan. 12. Please submit question suggestions to Alison Moffat at aklawite@d.umn.edu by Jan. 9. (more…)
Saturday Essay: Select gems from 2019
Last week we highlighted the five most-read pieces from the fourth year of Perfect Duluth Day’s “Saturday Essay” series. This week we ignore the numbers and look back at a few select essays of similar quality that might have been missed by non-compulsive followers.
In the past four years PDD has published 185 essays showcasing the work of 29 different writers, and we’re always looking to expand that roster. Anyone who has an original piece of literary excellence that seems to fit (or appropriately defy) the established format should email paul @ perfectduluthday.com to get involved.
And now, links to a few select gems from season four … (more…)
Selective Focus: Sid Boyum
Sid Boyum was born in Duluth in 1914, and lived most of his life in Madison, WI. He was an industrial photographer, graphic artist, folk artist, and sculptor. (more…)
Fargo Duluth Montage
The first season of the comedic crime-drama television series Fargo is peppered with references to Duluth, a few of which are collected in the montage above. No part of the series was shot in Duluth, though one scene has the Aerial Lift Bridge inserted into it and has a sort of Garfield Avenue feel. (more…)
Duluth’s Christmas of 1889 was finer than ever
This Christmas card from Duluth jeweler Andrew Jackson promotes a special holiday sale 130 years ago, featuring “greatly reduced prices.” (more…)
Duluth Trivia Deck Sampler #33
Another trivia card from a board game purchased at Savers. (more…)
Video: Grace Holden dances with Lizzo on SNL
The second song by Minneapolis-based pop star Lizzo on Saturday Night Live, “Good as Hell,” featured Grace Holden of Duluth/Bemidji. Among the four dancers on the floor, she is third from the left in the opening minute, before the rotation.
Another rare find at the CSS Book Sale
I have invited Michael Fedo to talk to my classes several times. He is in some ways an old-fashioned freelancer, following the story where the market will take him. He is, in some ways, an old fashioned humorist. (more…)
Mystery Photo: Three Dudes in Fake Car
A recurring source of confusion in the Mystery Photo series is whether particular images that share the stamp of the Post Card Shop in Minneapolis and the Penny Arcade in Duluth were shot in Minneapolis or Duluth. Here is another such image. (more…)
Parking Structure, Michigan Avenue, US Bank
What did I miss? Why is the US Bank-labeled parking structure on Michigan Avenue in Duluth closed?
The Most Read Saturday Essays of 2019
It’s an annual tradition at Perfect Duluth Day to wrap up each year of the “Saturday Essay” series with lazy top-five lists instead of arduously prepared compositions. Here we go again.
This week is part one, highlighting the essays that were read the most times according to Google Analytics. Next week is less of a popularity contest; we’ll showcase five underappreciated gems. (more…)
Grace Holden will dance with Lizzo on Saturday Night Live
Former Bemidjian Grace Holden to dance with Lizzo on 'Saturday Night Live' - The Bemidji Pioneer is your #1 source for news, weather, and sports around Bemidji and throughout Minnesota.
Eddie Murphy will host Saturday night's broadcast of “Saturday Night Live,” which airs at 10:30 p.m. on NBC
bemidjipioneer.com
Grace Holden, a Bemidji native and longtime trumpeter and dancer for Duluth band Red Mountain, has also been dancing with Minneapolis-based pop star Lizzo for nearly five years. The Bemidji Pioneer reports Holden will be part of the act when Lizzo appears as musical guest on the Dec. 21 episode of Saturday Night Live.
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Selective Focus: Santa Claus
Instagram
19 likes, 0 comments - cascadevacationrentals on November 29, 2019: "An impending snowstorm didn’t stop Santa from arriving in Lutsen for #lightuplutsen this afternoon! The Christmas season kicks off in both #lutsen and #grandmarais with Oh Ole Night today!".
instagram.com
Select Instagram images of jolly old St. Nick. (more…)
Climate>Duluth: Bill Mittlefehldt
Host Tone Lanzillo interviews Bill Mittlefehldt of Cross Currents, LLC. This is show #5 in the Climate>Duluth series recorded at Duluth Public Access Community Television’s studio in City Hall.
Christmas Greetings from Aunt Lois and Uncle Hermie
Aunt Lois and Uncle Hermie send Christmas greetings from Duluth to their niece in Beverly Hills.
St. Lutgarde of Aywières at the CSS Book Sale
Annually, the College of St. Scholastica sells books, records, and other media — in part, it looks like, to clear shelves of material that does not circulate, and in part, I think, to offload donations.
I managed to snag a few items worth thinking about. The first was a biography of St. Lutgarde by Thomas Merton. (more…)
Bird’s-eye View of Duluth-Superior, 1908
This postcard features a drawing of Duluth, Superior and the St. Louis River, and was copyrighted by Thomas W. Wahl of Wahl Realty Co. in 1908. (more…)
Duluth Trivia Deck Sampler #32
Another trivia card from a board game purchased at Savers. (more…)
Brianna Lane – “Duluth”
Minneapolis-based singer/songwriter Brianna Lane released her song “Duluth” on the 2002 album On Rooftops. (more…)
PDD Quiz: Winter Celebrations
Now that winter is here, can winter shenanigans be far behind? Test your knowledge of local wintry festivals with this week’s quiz!
The next PDD quiz, reviewing the events that made headlines 2019, will be published on Dec. 29. Please submit question suggestions to Alison Moffat at aklawite@d.umn.edu by Dec. 23. (more…)