Million-dollar Wound
This is a small town. So, we’ll probably meet and shake hands. You’re going to come away from it thinking, What the hell was that?
I’ll see it on your face. So, I’ll say, “It’s Dupuytren’s contractures.”
And you’ll say, “Doopa what?”
“My hand is screwed up. I’m not some perv going ‘deedle-deedle’ into your palm with my middle-finger. It’s an ailment.”
“Oh, I see. Sure, man,” you’ll say as you slowly back away. “Sure.”
So, I’m sorry for that. This is an open letter of apology.
It’s a real thing, though. Dupuytren’s contractures. Collagen collects in the fascia of my hands. It forms ropes and cords that slowly pull my fingers inward toward my palm. It started twenty years ago with the middle finger of my right hand. Then my left thumb got in the game. Not wanting to be left out, the ring finger of my left hand joined in. Somewhere along the line, hands weren’t enough so it started up along the bottom of my feet behind each of my big toes. Most recently, my right ring finger curled up next to my right middle finger. I guess he missed his neighbor. Now, I’ve got a fresh rope pulling my left middle finger inward. The good (maybe bad?) news is I can’t flip anybody the bird anymore. (more…)
Postcard from a parade on Superior Street in 1909
This postcard was mailed 110 years ago today — Nov. 23, 1909. It depicts a scene on the 300 block of West Superior Street in Downtown Duluth that appears to be a Fourth of July parade. (more…)
Five Years of Selective Focus
Five years ago, on Nov. 21, 2014, Selective Focus was launched on Perfect Duluth Day as a weekly photo-submission series. Tim White coordinated and curated the series, announcing a word or theme, then he posted submitted photos related to the theme. The first post was sparked by the word “Randomness.”
Below are some other highlights from the first iteration of Selective Focus. (more…)
Moments and Truth: Hobo Nephews of Uncle Frank
Joshua Priestley’s 2009 documentary Moments And Truths follows the Duluth band Hobo Nephews of Uncle Frank on a nationwide tour and into Brooklyn, N.Y. for the Traveling Show recording sessions.
Featuring Teague Alexy, Ian Alexy, Paul Grill and Marco Benevento.
Alexandera Houchin: Where the Water Ends
Cloquet native Alexandera Houchin is best known as the 2018 and 2019 women’s Tour Divide winner. The annual self-supported bicycle race follows the Great Divide Mountain Bike Route, which crisscrosses the Continental Divide from Banff, Alberta, Canada to Antelope Wells, N.M.
In this video, produced by the University of Minnesota Duluth, Houchin tells her story of growing up never seeing a Native American dentist or doctor, and deciding to counter that with plans to practice dentistry on her reservation.
Trampled by Turtles – “Our Town”
Another new song from the upcoming Trampled by Turtles EP Sigourney Fever, available Dec 6. The album features five cover songs; “Our Town” is an Iris DeMent cover.
Video by Mitch Peterson; photos by Banjo Dave Carroll.
Duluth Trivia Deck Sampler #28: KBJR Edition
Another trivia card from a board game purchased at Savers. (more…)
Dylan Thomas – “Duluth Street”
It’s not easy to find reliable information online about musician Dylan Thomas, since he shares the name of a famous Welsh poet. But what seems to be the case is that in 2007 Thomas released the album Pieces of an Overhead View, featuring a song with Duluth in the title and the lyrics. (more…)
A Day in the Temperance River Watershed
The cold weather arriving makes me long for an August day camping and hiking the Superior Hiking Trail. Here’s a video I made this past summer of such a day.
Hillside Grievers
This is an epilogue to a previous Saturday Essay, published in 2018.
Poppy the Mini-Rex rabbit doe never had babies. She pulled out her fur and made nests for nothing. It wasn’t her fault: the buck we tried to breed her with was past his prime. His owner called to apologize.
“I am sorry I didn’t notice that Frodo’s man-parts shriveled up. But good news: he has a son!”
Whenever I thought about calling the number on the sticky note labeled “Buck,” I remembered we had something to do in thirty days when the kits would be born. Then came winter and another summer. Now it’s too late.
In the middle months, that time people in other places call “Spring,” we adopted a puppy.
Lola showed us that the rabbits were just a warm-up. So were our own babies, for that matter. Once again, Jeremy and I took turns waking through the night and keeping track of bowel movements. Soon we found ourselves having those ridiculous, sleep-deprived “I’m doing all I can!” arguments of yore. (more…)
Selective Focus: “Everyday Mayhem” by Kip Praslowicz
Photographer Kip Praslowicz has a show opening Thursday, November 21 at the Kruk Gallery on the campus of the University of Wisconsin-Superior. Much of his work has a very matter-of-fact feeling to it, a straightforward documentation of places, people and scenes. But there is a dry sense of humor in his work, especially when taken in as a larger collection. This week we get a preview of the show, and hear how the pieces for the show were chosen.
Was there a criteria for the images selected for this show?
1) The exposure made sometime between 2010 and 2019
2) The exposure was made on color, medium format film. 6x6cm or 6x9cm (more…)
Zenith News has gone dark
Another alternative publication in Duluth appears to have fallen to the wayside. Zenith News has not published an issue since April. (more…)
FeMN Fest scaling down before ramping up
Last year’s FeMN Fest organization team was made up of Diona Johnson, Jesse Dykhuis, Abigail Mlinar, Brittany Lind, McKenzie Howe and Melissa La Tour. Photo by Jes at Mad Chicken Studio.
Since 2017 “a team of womxn-identified bosses” have brought “an unapologetically feminist festival” to Duluth. In its first two years FeMN Fest featured womxn-lead music, art, workshops and vendors. The third annual event on Friday, Nov. 15, at Pizza Lucé is a scaled-down version featuring three musical acts: Me-N-Her, One Less Guest and Wild Flower. (more…)
Duluth’s Emerson School: 1892 to 1982
A post on the Duluth Public Library’s Vintage Duluth blog looks at the “Early History of Duluth’s Emerson School.”
Video Archive: Average Sun – “Good Night”
A 1997 video from Duluth band Average Sun for a track from the album Light and Shadow. Band members included Andrew and Scott Hauswirth, Bill Nelson and Griffin Vittone. The group was formed around 1994.
Vittone and Scott Hauswirth continued on into the next millennium with a revamped version of the band that included keyboardist Tim Shepard. By 2003 the group consisted of Hauswirth as the lone original member, joined by guitarist Corwin Pederson, bassist Ethan Thompson and drummer Chad Hulter.
Jim Hall chases time after five decades on stage
Jim Hall played a Halloween party at the Duluth Owls Club last month. On Saturday, he’s playing at Sacred Heart Music Center, a celebration of his 50 years on stage in the region.
Those familiar with the music of Jim Hall over the years would be right to do a double take when they hear one of his sets these days. The already basso troubadour has kicked his voice into even lower gear, and with a growl. That’s how Hall has been fighting an alarming and mysterious change in his vocal chords earlier this year. Even his talking voice changed. (more…)
The Slice: Ceremonial Flag for Veterans
Duluth VFW Post 137 Honor Guard Captain John Marshall and Second Lieutenant Dan Streu talk about the strict protocol they follow in preparing and presenting the flag and offering support to families upon the death of veterans who serve their country.
In its series The Slice, WDSE-TV presents short “slices of life” that capture the events and experiences that bring people together and speak to what it means to live up north.
The Undefeated Minnesota Gophers Football Squad
The 2019 Golden Gophers football team is undefeated and ranked No. 7 by the Associated Press. It’s the highest the team has been ranked since it was No. 5 on Nov. 19, 1962. Dating back to last season, the Gophers have won 11 straight games, tied for the third-longest winning streak in the nation. The 9-0 record this season is the team’s best record since the 1904 squad went 13-0. (more…)
Duluth All Souls Poetry Celebration
I went to the Day of the Dead / All Souls event at the Depot Underground on Friday. The theme of the reading was remembering ancestors who have played important roles in our lives and community. Featured readers, of whom I took pictures, were Zomi Bloom, Brady Kamphenkel, Sheila Packa, Ellie Schoenfeld and Gary Boelhower. An open mic followed; I got a pic of Eric Chandler reading. Richie Townsend played electric guitar.
Warriors hockey offers recreation, resources for local veterans
In a region where hockey rules among recreational sports, one team takes to the ice to help fellow veterans readjust to life after service. The 31-player Duluth Warriors hockey team boasts members of varying ages from all five branches of service. (more…)
Climate>Duluth: Jamie Harvey
Host Tone Lanzillo interviews Bag it Duluth Coordinator Jamie Harvie at the PACT-TV Studio in Duluth.
Beijing Restaurant could reopen before end of 2019
Owner: Beijing Restaurant Close To Reopening After 2018 Fire
Fox 21 News reports Beijing Restaurant at 1918 London Road is close to reopening after a 2018 fire forced its closure.