Beware the gadfly’s sting
Duluth News Tribune photo by Clint Austin
In your face, petty tyrants! The First Amendment rules!
Duluth News Tribune: Duluth School Board may opt against removing Johnston
Duluth Reader: Stop swatting the gadflies
Old Klearflax warehouse is a-comin’ down
As previously reported on PDD, Walker Display has moved its operations out of West Duluth, and its former location on Grand Avenue is being demolished to make way for a Kwik Trip convenience store. The demolition process has revealed the former exterior of the building’s west side — a reminder that it once served as a warehouse for Klearflax Linen Rugs Co. (more…)
Duluth Superior Film Festival seeks volunteers
It is time again for the Duluth Superior Film Festival’s call for volunteers. This is an international film festival, and June 3-7 will be the sixth year of bringing independent film, musical events, performances, parties and art to the Duluth area. To keep the fun running smoothly, we depend on the help of volunteers.
(more…)
Monster Mob – Human Centipede
Duluth punk band Monster Mob has announced it will accept donations for Safe Haven Shelter at all of its shows in 2015. Upcoming gigs are May 22 at Sclavi’s Italian Restaurant and May 30 at the Red Star Lounge.
The band released its debut EP in March.
Video Archive: Duckumentary
In this PDD classic from 2005, Duluthians visit Indianapolis to experience the wonders of duckpin bowling.
Peter Juhl rocks!
Minneapolis TV station KARE 11 last night aired a feature from the north shore of Lake Superior, where Peter Juhl balances rocks in ways that defy gravity. (Click the “read more” button to view the video; it starts playing automatically, so we can’t have it on the home page.)
Post some of your favorite rock balancing photos in the comments.
This Week: pickin’, politics, paintings and more
Here’s a bit of what you’ll find on this week’s PDD Calendar:
Guitar wizard Jimi Cooper hits the Brewhouse, the Chamber Campaign Camp aims to help potential political candidates find their footing, writers meet at Amazing Grace, Duluth’s Life House holds its second Night to Shine event, a new Cheng-Khee Chee show opens at the Tweed with a reception and Grammy-winner Pat Donahue lands at Sacred Heart.
The owner of the Duluth Huskies baseball team discusses the team’s history, the Duluth Art Institute celebrates three solo exhibitions, the latest Wise Fool Shakespeare production opens, the Duluth Playhouse holds its casino night fundraiser and Portrait of a Drowned Man releases its vinyl soundtrack to Mike Scholtz’ Wicker Kittens.
Dude, don’t do it! You’ve got something to live for!
Don’t worry, after contemplating his life at great length he eventually wandered off the railroad track.
Lovit Soft Drinks from Fitger’s
I read that Fitger’s made soft drinks during prohibition, but this wooden case I found doesn’t look all that old. Does anyone know when they stopped making soda?
Homegrown 2015 Slideshow Retrospective
View the full set of 124 images from Homegrown 2015 on Flickr. (more…)
Selective Focus: Homegrown
Starfire, untitled
I was warned what a wrecking ball of mirth this Homegrown fest can be, so I should count myself fortunate to have emerged merely psychologically disfigured. Hope you’ve all managed to retain some vestige of the life that pre-existed this marathon, and god willing we’ll see y’all next year. (more…)
Natural Discoveries: A Portrait of Travis Melin
Nature photographer Travis Melin died on Wednesday, May 6, after failing to recover from an April 21 heart attack. He was a 1991 graduate of Hermantown High School, a former resident of Washington Studios Artist Cooperative and lived his final years in Ely. The documentary above was produced by Mike Jandl in 2013.
A tremendous spirit and body of work lives on …
Northern Waters Smokehaus will open Woodland Avenue location
Northern Waters Smokehaus announced today a second location will open in the Mount Royal Shopping Center in Duluth’s Chester Park – UMD neighborhood, near the UMD campus. The space at 1608 Woodland Ave. was previously occupied by Bixby’s Café, which operated there from 1997 to the end of 2014.
Founded in 1998, Northern Waters specializes in smoked fish. Its tiny shop in the DeWitt-Seitz Marketplace has won numerous awards over the years, including PDD’s Perfect Lunch Restaurant. The new location at Mount Royal is expected to open in the fall.
Cute Baby Chicks Fighting Over a Worm to “Dueling Banjos” (UPDATED)
Hillside Duluth.
(UPDATE: Now with slomo technopop remix.)
Apparently the mayor was too focused on sharks
Photo by Ken Greshowak
Last we heard, someone was dressed in a bear suit in front of City Hall, trying to coax this poor critter down from the tree.
Starling of Athens – “The Lord is Not My Real Dad”
This video by Brian Barber was part of the 2015 Homegrown Music Video Festival. Click that fancy link to view more videos from this year’s festival.
Options for Duluth Zoo?
Various recommendations have been made for the revamping of the Lake Superior Zoo. This was reported on in today’s DNT, but I was unable to include the link here. I am curious to hear about the opinions of the PDD community.
Duluth Concrete Contractor Recommendations
I need someone to bust up and remove some sidewalk and then pour a new sidewalk/patio. This isn’t a massive project, but I don’t have the stomach for a DIY. Who can I call to trust to do good, fast work here in our fair city?
The Rosewood Wonder
Photos by Jamie Merideth
The view from the fourth floor of DeWitt-Seitz Marketplace is amazing. Outside the windows are the icons of Duluth: Lake Superior and the Aerial Lift Bridge. On the inside sits Mike Furo, quietly bringing new life to old musical instruments as the owner of Rosewood Music. (more…)
Duluth up for bike park grant in latest online voting gimmick
Bell Helmets is awarding $100,000 to fund a trail-building project in one of nine U.S. cities in the latest online voting contest involving Duluth. Two cities have already been eliminated in the West Coast voting. Duluth is in the lead in the Central Region, which closes voting on Sunday, May 10. East Coast voting runs May 11-24. Voting in the finals will begin on May 25.
Cyclists of Gitchee Gumee Shores is the nonprofit organization leading the effort to improve trails at Spirit Mountain.
Graffiti Graveyard: Let us in!!!
As a graffiti artist, I feel the city should open up that desolate spot under the bridge again, so artists like myself don’t have to be in constant fear of our police department. I also believe that Duluth should have designated legal graffiti areas, like many other cities around the world. The reason we do what we do is because galleries won’t accept our work as “art.” They never even glance at the little guy. All we’re trying to do is make our mark on the world.
This Week: pancakes, bikes, parties and more
Here’s a bit of what you’ll find on this week’s PDD Calendar:
The 2015 Homegrown Festival is in the books, but that doesn’t mean there’s any shortage of post-fest activity in the Northland. UMD Dean of Fine Arts Bill Payne will defend a favorite film at the Zinema, the second-annual Veterans Expo is taking place in Superior, the 58th annual Lions Club Pancake Day is happening at the DECC, the Filmed by Bike Festival is at the Zinema, Grandma’s Sports Garden is throwing a party in honor of the end of the school year and Caroline Smith plays the Red Herring.
Mayor Ness hosts his final Bike Luncheon, the YWCA is having its Mother’s Day Walk/Run, the Cat in the Hat opens a month of shows for kids at the Underground, there’s stand-up comedy at Dubh Linn and kids can learn how to draw with Chris Monroe.
Trampled by Turtles – Live at First Avenue
Listen to the Turtles Saturday night show (5/2/15) at First Ave.
01. New Orleans
02. Codeine
(more…)