R.I.P. Frankie’s Tavern
The Tower Avenue bar known for karaoke and bloody Mary’s is winding down operations. Owner Frank Rozowski Jr. is retiring and selling the building. (more…)
PhTSD
So I’m on the way home two weeks ago and sitting at the traffic light in on Central and Grand thinking I’m having some strange wish sandwich, déjà vu flashback episode. I know the post-traumatic Pizza Hut syndrome can be resurgent, but I swear they took the sign down months ago. Am I crazy?
6.5-million Bottles of Beer on the Wall: A tally of annual craft brew production in the Duluth area
The Arrowhead region of northeastern Minnesota and northwest Wisconsin boasts 15 craft breweries and brewpubs, producing nearly 20,000 barrels of convivial suds annually. For perspective, that’s about 600,000 gallons or 40,000 kegs or 5 million pints or 6.5 million 12-ounce bottles and cans. (more…)
Mickey Smith – Harboured
[This post originally contained an embedded video that is no longer available at its source.]
Duluth native Mickey Smith discusses her art exhibit, Harboured, which was on display in February at the Enjoy Public Art Gallery in Wellington, New Zealand. (more…)
Selective Focus: Sanctuary
Kip Praslowicz, “Basement- Silver City”
I would have found this week’s theme of sanctuary difficult, because to me the idea involves something more comprehensive. How do you take an image of an intangible concept like a community, comprised of myriad people and places where you feel secure and able to be your best self, and supported even when you occasionally fall shy of that measure? (more…)
Duluth Band Profile: Feeding LeRoy
Feeding LeRoy mixes the songwriting and vocal abilities of Lee Martin and Sonja Bjordal. They explain how traveling across the country lays the foundation for the song “Desert Air” and their future plans. Click on the image above to hear the interview.
Superior Siren – “Leone”
The new video from Superior Siren is produced by Killy Kay. The track “Leone” appears on the 2014 EP Lotus in the Muck.
Jeff Galloway run/walk/run training group in Duluth
If you’re looking at running Grandma’s and/or Whistlestop half or full marathons this year, there’s a new training program available for both races. It’s a group using the Jeff Galloway method of run/walk/run. This is a great method for beginning runners as well as people who are injury prone but want to continue to run the longer races. Visit active.com to register and find more information and details. (more…)
What happened to that poster from R.T. Quinlan’s men’s room?
Having spent several hours at R.T. Quinlan’s Saloon on Sunday, I was reminded of the framed poster that used to hang outside the toilet stall in the men’s room, next to the urinal. I thought there was a good chance an image of it might be available on the Internet somewhere, but my searches for “classic bathtubs, breasts” yielded only distractions. (more…)
Tenancy Questions: Pets, etc.
A friend of mine is in a state of post-graduation flux. He’s been asked to renew his lease. He has days to decide. He might be relocating, so renewing is committing before he knows what his job prospects are.
1. He may know within a few weeks. How does one sweet-talk a landlord into extending a lease for a few months? (more…)
Duluth Band Profile: Superior Siren
Laura Sellner works under the alias Superior Siren. In this interview she opens up about the story behind her song “Leone” and her plans to take Superior Siren into bolder directions. Click on the image above to hear the interview.
The hunt for a wireless provider in Duluth
We’re ready to ditch Dish and are looking to go wireless-only at our house (no cable package). Are there any good companies providing wireless (besides Clearwire) in Duluth these days?
This Week: Bigfoot, Little Big Town and more
Here’s a bit of what you’ll find on this week’s PDD Calendar:
The Zodiac Trio hits Mitchell Auditorium, the Duluth Public Library is throwing a Lego party, Duluth MakerSpace wants to introduce you to the Electric Imp, Bigfoot may or may not be out there, the famous modern-country act Little Big Town is at the Amsoil and Love, Loss, and What I Wore opens at the Underground.
As if that wasn’t enough, Mason Jennings is at Sacred Heart, Sleeping Beauty is at the DECC, there are derbies of the roller and puzzle variety and Mentor Duluth is throwing a music festival.
2015 NCAA Men’s Hockey Championship
The UMD Bulldogs drew the Minnesota Gophers in the first round of the NCAA National Hockey Championship Playoffs. The ‘Dogs have faced the Gophers four times this season, winning three and losing one. They play 4:30 p.m. Friday, March 27, at Verizon Wireless Arena in Manchester, N.H., on ESPNU/WatchESPN. Go Bulldogs! (more…)
The Boomchucks – “Antidote”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=868D_e4nCw0
Presenting the title track from the new album by Duluth band the Boomchucks, set for release later in 2015.
“I thought I got this at a wrestling convention in Duluth”
The Duluth reference here is likely intended to be Duluth, Ga., since the Chris Stevens character on Northern Exposure is a native of Wheeling, W.Va., and any wrestling convention he attended would probably have been during his years at Wheeling Central Catholic High School. (Assuming “convention” means “tournament” — it could also mean a gathering of popular wrestlers signing autographs or some other thing.) The distance from Wheeling is great in either direction, however — 650 miles to Duluth, Ga., and 950 miles to Duluth, Minn.
Duluth ranks among “Best College Towns to Live in Forever”
College Ranker has sorted the nation’s college towns based on how “things like community, neighborhoods, schools” and other aspects create a place that is “attractive in retaining students who graduate from local colleges.” Duluth came in at #22. For some reason, UMD is the only one of the handful of colleges in the area that receives a mention in the text.
Anthony Bennett – “Natural Disaster” (live on The PlayList)
Anthony Bennett performs “Natural Disaster” from his album Hello Cruel World on the March 19 episode of WDSE-TV’s The PlayList.
A little spring frolic on the North Shore
Video shot and produced by Buchholz Media.
Selective Focus: Spring
Aaron Reichow, untitled
Well that was abrupt. Two weeks ago I was freezing in Two Harbors, knee-deep in snow. This week there is an impromptu river running down 3rd West, and I sunned like a seal on the rocks of Observation Hill. Truthfully, it has made me immoderately crazy; grateful, but yes, kinda unhinged (bonus points this week to Aaron, whose image featured above includes a meta-Narum). (more…)
Banner Photo Info: Where’s the Party?
I found the graphic of all the banner photos, which was great fun to look at. But I want to know: what’s going on in this photo? Obviously a somber gathering, but what are the details? Of course, apologies if I just didn’t search well enough.
Northern Lights!
The aurora borealis started off early last night as soon as the sun had set. I captured this image just outside of the Duluth city limits. Enjoy!
Northern Lights at Caribou Lake
The aurora was amazing last night! I stitched stills from last night into a video. Taken at Caribou Lake, north of Duluth.