Superior Siren – “Rosemar”
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The Superior Siren trio performs the song Rosemar aboard the William A. Irvin in this video shot for the 2016 NPR Tiny Desk Contest.
Negative Voting
It’s been 16 years since I first announced in print my idea to change the American electoral process. Since then, my negative voting movement has gained absolutely no momentum, while election results have only affirmed my position.
In the summer of 2000, anyone could see the country was headed down the crapper. George W. Bush and Albert A. Gore — two of the country’s most hated men — were the favorites to become president. No one else stood a chance. I didn’t know the outcome of that election would be as controversial as it was, but obviously the result wasn’t going to be popular whether it was Bush or Gore ascending to the White House. It was clear our voting process was backward. It was time for negative voting.
When I launched the negative voting movement in June of 2000, it was already too late to save that fall’s election, and today it’s too late to fix the 2016 campaign. The timing is perfect, however, to get on the right path for 2020. So allow me to explain the simple change that would fix our broken democracy. (more…)
Boku Frequency – “Satisfied”
WDSE-TV’s The PlayList captures Boku Frequency performing “Satisfied” at Tycoons Alehouse during the 2015 Homegrown Music Festival.
The Farsights – “Saturdays”
WDSE-TV’s The PlayList captures the Farsights performing “Saturdays” at Tycoons Alehouse during the 2015 Homegrown Music Festival.
Selective Focus: Sasha Howell
With Selective Focus, we plan to highlight a variety of visual artists, giving some exposure to people working in disciplines that don’t immediately come to mind. This week, we have one of those people. Sasha Howell tells us about her corner of the design world.
SH: I am a costume designer! I work with local theatre and film groups in designing and implementing a costume design – usually my own. I also dabble in my own fashion design and anything to do with clothing and textile – shoes, accessories, hair, etc. I originally started student life at UMD with a Studio Art major and quickly realized it wasn’t exactly what I was looking to do – creatively. So I switched to a Studio Art MINOR and gravitated towards the Theatre department because, to me, that was a much more practical and exciting use of my talents and interests. I became quick friends with all the right people and worked closely with the costume shop there. I instantly fell in love with costumes because with EVERY new show there was opportunity to learn new techniques, new history, and to try something new! I quickly became known in town for costumes and demand started to increase. On average, I’m working on at LEAST 2 overlapping shows, but always tossing around ideas on several shows at once. On the side, I also paint abstract series and enjoy making jewelry. (more…)
Duluth-area Coffee Roasters in 2015
The coffee industry has undergone significant changes in the past couple of decades, as an increasing number of specialty roasters enter the market. The Duluth area is now experiencing what some call the “third wave” of coffee. The first wave of coffee was about convenience and mass production (think instant coffee, like Folgers). The second wave of coffee involved the rise of chains like Starbucks, where consumers were introduced to fresher and better quality beans and the experience of drinking in coffee shops.
MinneFLOWta Trailer – ESPN E60 Feature
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ESPN’s E:60 premieres its Minnesota State High School Hockey Tournament feature during its May 10 episode. Producer Mike Farrell and hockey analyst Barry Melrose were in St. Paul for the tournament in March capturing footage for the feature, and the E:60 crew spent time in Hermantown leading up to the tournament, focusing on the Hawks’ pursuit of the class A championship.
St. Louis River Story: Stephan Witherspoon
People in the St. Louis River watershed shared their connection to the river with WDSE-TV during the opening reception for The St. Louis River: Diverse Connections at the Duluth Art Institute. In this installment, Stephan Witherspoon talks about his family catching “a big garbage bag full of catfish” on the St. Louis River.
Finding Minnesota: Smelt Fishing on Lake Superior
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WCCO-TV‘s Rachel Slavik reports from the mouth of the Amnicon River on Lake Superior during the 2016 smelt run. Apologies for whatever commercial precedes the video.
Postcards from the Sky Room Restaurant at Buena Vista Motel
A panorama view from high atop Skyline Drive overlooking Duluth. The Buena Vista Motel and its lounge and restaurant opened in 1962. Mr. & Mrs. Jerome J. LaPlante were the original owners. Bob Magie, Bob Nylen and Jerry Strum bought it in 1986 and oversaw a remodel in 1995. They operated the business for nearly 20 years before selling in 2005 to developer Tim Wiklund, who demolished the structure to create the 45-unit Superior Vista condominium complex. (more…)
One Night in the Tipi at Fond du Lac Indian Reservation
Frank Sander spends his first night in a tipi.
CUD: an album to benefit the family of Shawn Burr
Recently, the Duluth music community lost a great guitarist and better person when Shawn Burr passed away after a battle with brain cancer. He was only 40, and was a father and a husband. (more…)
The Boomchucks Home Movie
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A little old-school Homegrown music
Homegrown uses music to bring the community together … and so I bring to you one of your homegrown forebears: Ann Colby Albright, who directed hundreds of Duluth ladies and gents back in the 1930s-1950s to sing it out!
Batteries – “Evening Birds”
WDSE-TV’s The PlayList captures Batteries performing “Evening Birds” at Tycoons Alehouse during the 2015 Homegrown Music Festival.
This Week: some music festival or something is happening
Here’s a bit of what you’ll find on this week’s PDD Calendar:
Also, the Homegrown Festival kicks off the month of May with an entire week of music madness that is sure to shock, titillate and delight.
The third annual Veterans’ Expo takes place at UWS, Tucker the Turtle makes a stop at the Superior Public Library to help kids learn to cope with life’s frustrations, the annual Taste of the North fundraiser happens at Superior Shores, the scientist who coined the term “dark energy” gives a virtual presentation at Alworth Planetarium, the Denfeld Alumni Association holds its 4th annual beer and wine tasting, a Community Baby Shower takes place at WITC, there’s stand-up comedy at Dubh Linn Irish Pub and Fairlawn Mansion is offering half-price tours for Mother’s Day on Sunday.
Homegrown Music Festival 2016 Primer
If this isn’t your 18th time attending the Homegrown Music Festival, here are some links that might be helpful:
Homegrown website
Event schedule on Homegrown website
PDD Homegrown Chicken App (schedule optimized for smartphones)
Homegrown Facebook page
Homegrown Twitter page
Seasons 1, 2 and 3 of Seth Langreck’s Duluth Band Profiles
PDD Quiz: April 2016
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So, it’s May Day and April is now in the history books. How much do you remember? Let’s find out
The next quiz will be on May 15 and it will be a Dylan-themed quiz. Send your suggested questions (and answers) to lawrence @ perfectduluthday.com by noon on Wednesday, April 27.
Commerce on the River: Superior Packaging Company
Tom Franta started Superior Packaging Company in 1994 in his hometown of Minnetonka. Eventually he moved the business to Superior, where he was able to get his foot in the door with many companies by cold calling. The company’s product, called dunnage, or damage prevention, consists of materials that are placed in domestic and international shipping containers or boxcars to prevent damage to inventory by restraining any excess space.
SPC supplies companies such as Kikkoman, Del Monte and Seneca foods. Franta recalls his humble roots in his then-partner’s parents’ garage with no heat, using the alleyway to roll paper tubes to make packaging supplies and gluing them to cardboard to make pallets by hand. Today, Superior Packaging Company uses machines to do what he once did by hand. The company moved to its present location in West Duluth 15 years ago, when a larger facility was needed. This location is convenient for SPC as most shipping is done using common carriers on the highway. (more…)
Video: Jay Cooke Park Swinging Gate Bridge in 1939
Quoth the Minnesota State Parks and Trails Facebook page: “The spring ritual of visiting the Swinging Bridge at Jay Cooke State Park during high water has been around since the bridge was built in 1924. This rare 1939 video shows a family bravely crossing the river before the bridge is damaged by high water. Since it was built, the bridge has been raised seven and a half feet to try to stay above the floods. Unfortunately, mother nature doesn’t always cooperate. Today’s visitors are crossing Swinging Bridge number five!”
For the history of the swinging bridge, visit dnr.state.mn.us.
Postcards from the many beauty spots on the St. Louis River
As the One River, Many Stories project draws to a close, PDD presents the remaining St. Louis River postcards from the dusty digital archive. See the recommended links at the end of this post to check out more St. Louis River postcards. (more…)
Thirsty Pagan opens new beer garden
Kelsey Picek and Allyson Rolph in the Thirsty Pagan beer garden
Beginning this weekend, Twin Ports beer lovers have another option for outdoor imbibing. Thirsty Pagan Brewing’s new beer garden held its soft opening on Friday. The brewpub at 1623 Broadway in Superior is known for its tasty brews and delectable deep-dish pizzas.
The beer garden occupies a space behind the building that is fully fenced and can be accessed via the parking lot. It features several oversized picnic tables and can seat about 25 people with standing room for about 25 more. (more…)
Improved habitat boosts lake sturgeon recovery in St. Louis River
Jeramy Pinkerton and Anna Varian of DNR fisheries hold the largest sturgeon ever sampled in the St Louis River. The sturgeon, 65 inches long and about 53 pounds, was captured April 20, implanted with an acoustic transmitter and PIT tag and released.
Following years of clean water improvements and habitat projects, the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources reports that lake sturgeon are returning to the St. Louis River in larger numbers. DNR fisheries staff are embarking on a new research project to study the growing numbers and learn more about how these long-lived, native species use the river and Lake Superior throughout the year. (more…)