The PlayList: Virginia City Limits
WDSE-TV’s The PlayList launched its seventh season last week with a special episode shot outside the 218 Taphouse in Virginia. The show features live music by the Christopher David Hanson Band and Rich Mattson & the Northstars.
This Week: sex, sunken ships, Shakespeare and more
Here’s a bit of what you’ll find on this week’s PDD Calendar:
One River, Many Stories gets underway at the DAI with photos and maps and music and more, kids can try a bunch of non-traditional sports at the Heritage Center, the 7th Annual Northland Job Fair returns to help people find work, the Duluth Public Library is the place to learn about Minnesota’s connections to the famously-doomed Titanic (and it’s a swell place for kids to play Minecraft, too) and Shakespeare’s First Folio is celebrated at The Underground.
Rock and Roll Hall of Famer John Mellencamp brings his bag of hits to the DECC, the latest chapter in the Star Wars saga screens for free in Superior, it’s time for clowning around at the DECC with the AAD Shrine Circus, Caroline Smith returns to Duluth to play a show at the Red Herring, the weekly PDD photo feature “Selective Focus” is celebrated, mad science is being dropped at UWS, it’s once again time to celebrate consensual sex with rock music and several local musicians play to fund a greenhouse in West Duluth.
Steamer Columbia on St. Louis River near Fond du Lac
This postcard, mailed in July 1914, depicts the steel excursion steamer Columbia cruising the St. Louis River. The best synopsis of the ol’ picnic cruise experience of yesteryear is perhaps the one on the back of the card, where “Aunt Carrie” writes to Miss Virginia Stanbridge of Westminster, Mass. If the message and penmanship seem a little too perfect, take a closer look. It’s a fill-in-the-blank card. (more…)
Duluth White Sox Team Photos
In a previous post on PDD it was speculated that photos of pitching great Hooks Dauss in a Duluth uniform are “seemingly nonexistent.” Well, there’s ol’ George wearing #4 in the 1909 team photo above. Search completed. (more…)
Price Check: Frigidaire Dishwasher
Are you sick of arguing with your spouse and children about whose turn it is to wash the dishes by hand? Do you despise the smell and texture of greasy, pruney phalanges? Perfect Duluth Day’s Price Check series has a solution for your loathing: The Frigidaire 24-inch Built-in Dishwasher in Stainless Steel.
This model # FFBD2411NS dishwasher features a spacious, removable silverware basket, a delay start option so it runs on your schedule, a removable, stainless steel filter, five wash cycle options, and a control lock option. (more…)
Dalles of the St. Louis River
The illustration above is from William Cullen Bryant‘s classic book Picturesque America, published by D. Appleton & Company of New York in 1872 and 1874. Bryant was editor of the book; the illustration is by Alfred R. Waud.
Taking it Outside
I’ve overbooked myself lately.
A common problem and in this case, it’s completely my fault — taking on more foolishness than hours in the day. So, like most of us, I cut corners by eliminating “extra” stuff, like exercise and staring into middle space.
My near daily walk in Chester Bowl or less frequent craning-of-neck views of the bluffs at Tischer Creek has been put on hiatus. (Even though I live near one park and drive past the other daily.) I’ll ’fess up to only one, maybe two visits to Canal Park and Park Point beach this winter. I mean, I’ll be back, you know, just after the due date passes, that class ends, oh – and, that other thing.
I’m embarrassed to say that recently I’ve seen more Duluth landscape on Perfect Duluth Day and Destination Duluth these days than actually experienced.
And I’m worse for it.
I need to take a Sharpie and write, “I’m happier when I play outside” backward, then slap it on my forehead so I can read it in the mirror in the morning. Plan accordingly. (more…)
Welcome to Our City (and the National Regatta of 1916)
The song “Welcome to Our City” appeared in the magazine section of the April 2, 1916, Duluth News Tribune. It was written by two Duluthians — Donald Wade and D.J. Michaud — as a “contribution to the city’s welcome to the visiting oarsmen who will come to the Head of the Lakes next August.”
Duluth hosted the 44th annual regatta of the National Association of Amateur Oarsmen on Aug. 11 and 12, 1916, winning nine of the 12 events entered.
(more…)The Best Case Scenario
[This post originally contained an embedded video that is no longer available at its source.]
Samuel T. Weston has a goal to shoot 20 short videos in 2016. Three down, 17 to go.
In this short, shot at the Zeitgeist Arts Center and edited by Josh Bolen, Weston does a little Trump bashing.
Swim Creative rebrands
Duluth-based marketing agency Swim Creative has at times been confused with swimwear companies and pool manufacturers, so today it changed its name and launched a rebranding effort. Check it out at DesignsByPatrice.net.
History Unearthed: The Du Luth Stone
A stone that bears the marking “Du Luth 1679” has been found in Pine County, one hour southwest of Duluth. A prominent geologist says the discovery could be one of the oldest carved artifacts ever found in Minnesota, potentially carved by the French explorer Daniel de Gresolon, the Sieur du Lhut.
Forensic geologist Scott Wolter, developer of archaeopetrography, a scientific process used to date the origins of stone artifacts, says the stone is “absolutely authentic.”
History texts indicate Gresolon landed his canoe on Minnesota Point on June 27, 1679, with the mission to meet with natives and persuade them to trade fur with the French instead of the British. Five days later he took possession, in the name of the King of France, of the Dakota territories at the village of Izatys, attaching the coat of arms of King Louis XIV to a tree on the shore of Mille Lacs Lake, just west of Pine County. (more…)
Selective Focus: The St. Louis River, Contemplative Space
Sharon Mollerus, “Water Lillies”
I was fortunate to spend my first Arrowhead New Years Eve in a cabin in Jay Cooke State Park; bird watching, snow-shoeing, and far from the inebriates (though I did bring a flask). Even photographed a ghost buck (pictured below), warmed by a cedar and oak fire as a soft snow fell to welcome 2016. It was a grand introduction to the St. Louis River.
For the next two weeks Selective Focus will take part in the “One River, Many Stories” project which asks for tales of your relationship to this unique watershed. This week we’re concentrating on the river’s abundant natural beauty; a place for restive contemplation, and awe. Be sure to see the Duluth Art Institute’s kick-off the project on Monday, April 4, with a photo essay by Ivy Vainio, Tom Hollenhorst’s interactive maps, live drumming, and a video booth with PBS’s Karen Sunderman who’ll record your stories. (more…)
Marshall-Wells Paint
It’s unclear whether someone brought this sign to the Western Waterfront Trail and propped it up for public display for some reason or if it was dredged out of the St. Louis River.
Epic Beach Game of Foot Stomp
Starts with a long hug, ends with a brutal footstomp for my definitive win against a 7-year old. I am new to footstomp but it seems traditional in this family (my fiancee, her daughter, and her niece). This is one long clip of this game, which contains many different acts and little dramas, on the shore of Lake Superior.
Michael Novitzki will host The Duluth Local Show on the Current
The Current announced in a news release today that Michael Novitzki will host its revamped version of The Duluth Local Show, which will launch May 1 on the low-power 90.9 FM and air every Sunday at 8 p.m. Also announced in the release: Cecilia Johnson has been named Local Current blogger. (more…)
An Epic Voyage to Whiteside (Clough) Island
This is my contribution to the One River, Many Stories project, and is epic as ever. Right here, on this fascinating island within the St. Louis River estuary, a millionaire built a large vacation home and an impressive farm that may have been the largest in the area. Here they harvested 3,500 bushels of wheat in a season, kept pigs, trained numerous racing horses, tended a herd of black angus cows, kept 40 brown swiss milking cows at one time, had 500 sheep, cared for an enormous vegetable garden, and much much more.
This was a quest to uncover remnants of the past and be immersed into an incredible story. What I discovered on kayak, on foot, and by personally meeting the author of the only book on the subject, was most surprising. See more at Ed’s Big Adventure, and perhaps be inspired to see this place for yourself.
Duluth Band Profile: Illyrik
Brandon Gordon came into hip-hop when Outkast and other Atlanta powerhouses ruled the airwaves. When he came into his own as Illyrik, he discovered his voice. Click on image above to hear the interview.
Duluth on HBO’s Vinyl
The new HBO series Vinyl references Duluth in season 1, episode 7. Richie and one of his lackies are in Las Vegas and pick up a couple of women. One says she’s from “St. Paul … Duluth, actually … trying to be fancy.” Richie cracks some joke about flying over Duluth.
Beauty Within the Torrent
With the One River, Many Stories project poised to fully launch in April, we present this new video shot by Dudley Edmondson on the St. Louis River.
Perfect Duluth Stargazing Spots
Can anyone recommend good spots for stargazing in and around Duluth? I’m sure there are many places out of town along the shore, but which spots do you recommend and why? Thank you.
Kraig James – “Back in the Day”
Kraig James & the Campfire Stars are releasing a new song each month in 2016 for a project called Campfire Americana: Volume 1. This is the third track, available for download at kraigjames.com/music. Portions of the video were shot at the Aerie Lake Crappie Challenge on March 12.
Duluth Band Profile: Tallulah
Tallulah has been in development for over three years. Band members explain how the song “A Blue Painting” gave them a reason to venture onto the stage. Click on image above to hear the interview.
Dusty Heart – “Cigarettes & Matches”
Barbara Jean and Molly Dean perform “Cigarettes & Matches” in a gondola at Lutsen Mountains on March 7.
Duluth Puzzle Derby 2016
Let’s face it: competitive jigsaw puzzling is never going to be particularly exciting to watch. Unless you speed it up! Here’s some time-lapse GoPro footage from last Saturday’s third annual Duluth Puzzle Derby at Clyde Iron Works.
Music is “Held My Breath” by Portrait of a Drowned Man, which was composed for Wicker Kittens, a feature-length documentary about competitive jigsaw puzzling.