Snow Removal Advice
A friend in Lakeside needs advice on snow removal. (more…)
Perfect New Restaurant: The Spirit Room
Sometimes less is more.
The Spirit Room, a 1,000-square-foot drinking establishment with a tapas menu featuring just a dozen items, came out on top in Perfect Duluth Day’s poll to name the area’s best new restaurant. Tavern on the Hill, a full-menu eatery with literally 10 times the square footage of the Spirit Room, placed a distant second.
Video: Charlie Parr Live at the Paramount Theatre in Austin
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D6kFgXnT4ew
KSMQ, the public television station for southern Minnesota and northern Iowa, captured Duluth musician Charlie Parr performing a concert in his hometown of Austin, Minn. last month. Next Thursday Parr performs in Duluth with Alan Sparhawk at Sacred Heart Music Center.
Art, Friends, Food, Drink
I spent tonight walking from art to art, from food to food, from friend to friend — the midpoint of an art week. (more…)
Walking the dog in Duluth, Cali style
Video by John Jenkins.
The Daily Show’s take on Pointergate
This post originally contained an embedded video that is no longer available at its source.
Give to the Max Day 2014
Today is Give to the Max Day. If you would like Duluthians to be aware of your Give to the Max campaign, maybe post something in the comments?
Duluth Homegrown: Classical Music Registration
Now opening submissions for the newest showcase of Duluth Homegrown: Classical Music! Open to all classical musicians, from Bach to Bartók, soloist to chamber group. Do you sing an aria from your favorite opera, or have this quartet piece you’ve been dying to perform? We want to hear from you! You have until Dec. 15 to submit your information. Performance time for this showcase is Saturday, May 2 from 4 to 6:30 p.m. at Sacred Heart. Any questions, please contact us at classical@duluthhomegrown.org. For submissions, go to duluthhomegrown.org/classical-registration.
Duluth Rocks: Famous boulders and outcroppings across the city
Perhaps Duluth’s most famous rock is Elephant Rock in Lincoln Park. It looks a bit like a giant, half-buried elephant, hence the name. (more…)
Poll: Best New Restaurant (Final Round)
Sixteen eateries went up against each other in the elimination round of Perfect Duluth Day’s poll to name the area’s best new restaurant. The top three have made it to the final round: Shorty’s Pizza and Smoked Meat, Spirit Room Tapas Bar & Restaurant and Tavern on the Hill. So once again we ask …
[poll id=”74″]
This poll is closed. The results were:
The Spirit Room – 52.6 percent
Tavern on the Hill – 26.9 percent
Shorty’s Pizza and Smoked Meat – 20.5 percent
Duluth snubbed again as next Star Wars readies to film in London
I love the image, but I feel like I’m missing something.
Onion A.V. Club: Duluth snubbed yet again as the next Star Wars readies to film in London
Pinewood CEO Ivan Dunleavy made the announcement at the annual Confederation of Business Industry conference, boasting, “The seventh Star Wars movie just finished shooting at Pinewood. And I’m delighted to be able to tell you that a new Star Wars movie is already booked in.” His words were considered a direct affront to the fine people of Duluth, who have patiently waited decades for England to quit hogging all the Star Wars.
The Hollywood Reporter confirmed that Dunleavy was referring to the first Star Wars spinoff, to be directed by Gareth Edwards, and not the follow-up to J.J. Abrams’ Star Wars: The Force Awakens, But Not In Duluth, Because Fuck That Place.
This Week: Sun Kil Moon, Santa on a Sleep Number, Skiing and more
Here’s a bit of what you’ll find on this week’s PDD Calendar:
There’s a big gig happening at an odd location, as Sun Kil Moon takes the stage at Karpeles Manuscript Museum with Low as openers on Thursday night. Across town, the Little River Band plays the Clyde. On Wednesday, The Arrowhead Story releases an album, Dan Israel plays Fitger’s Brewhouse on Friday and the DSSO teams up with Lyric Opera of the North to stage Carmen on Saturday.
‘Tis the season: skiers already know that Opening Day happens at Lutsen Mountains on Saturday and Santa tries out a Sleep Number bed up at the mall on Friday.
Pugilism boosters should hit the Friday Night Fights at Grandma’s, ice skaters should hit the Heritage Center and skateboarders might want to check out the “Plys With Purpose” exhibition.
Add in a PAVSA art auction, some stand-up comedy and Super Mario, and it’s a full week. Learn more by visiting the PDD Calendar.
Perfect Weekend Morning Exploring the Boulders
No great discoveries here, just a perfect weekend morning exploring a field of submerged boulders, summer 2014. Water clarity was great. Water temp wasn’t too bad, but the wetsuit definitely kept me in longer. Shallow freediving in 8-15 feet of water, maybe a little deeper towards the end.
ARAC Technology/Equipment Grant Recipients
Arrowhead Regional Arts Council granted technology/equipment funding to the following individual artists on Oct. 16. For past program recipients, please contact the office by e-mailing info @ aracouncil.org.
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Dad’s Acid – “We Fucking Love You”
New video by Duluth band Dad’s Acid, featuring TV Land footage of all the heroes and villains of Gotham.
Mr. Nice: Running for Mayor Again?
Perennial candidate Mr. Nice at Duluth’s Red Herring Lounge on Oct. 12, hosting “There Will Certainly Be Sangria – Sunday Sermon,” shortly after Mayor Don Ness announced he will decline to run again.
Poll: Best New Restaurant (Elimination Round)
The vital task of naming the best new restaurant in the Duluth area begins with this elimination round of voting. Choose your favorite among the 16 options below; the top vote getters will move on to the final round.
[poll id=”73″]
This poll is now closed. Three restaurants will advance to the final ballot:
Shorty’s Pizza and Smoked Meat
Spirit Room Tapas Bar & Restaurant
Tavern on the Hill
Exploring Up Chester Creek with Balancing Antics and Goofery
My continuing playful love affair with Duluth’s Chester Creek.
Duluth 2014 General Election Results
With 4,106 of 4,106 precincts reporting, it’s a DFL sweep. Here are the statewide results for races relevant to Duluth.
FEDERAL OFFICES
United States Senator
Al Franken (Democratic-Farmer-Labor) – 1,053,156 | 53.14%
Mike McFadden (Republican) – 850,504 | 42.92%
Steve Carlson (Independence) – 47,544 | 2.40%
Heather Johnson (Libertarian) – 29,698 | 1.50%
United States Representative, Minnesota District 8
Rick Nolan (Democratic-Farmer-Labor) – 128,860 | 48.50%
Stewart Mills (Republican) – 125,201 | 47.12%
Ray “Skip” Sandman (Green) – 11,437 | 4.30%
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Will Duluth see more mansions on the hill?
It’s been five years since William Agenter built his high-profile home on Skyline Parkway. Although the mansion on Duluth’s western hillside was built legally on private land, some saw it as an intrusion on an otherwise woodsy section of the scenic drive perceived to belong to the public.
That controversy has come and gone, but another could be looming. Across Skyline from Agenter’s property sits 43.7 acres of wooded hillside, adjacent to popular hiking and biking trails, marked with Lynn Beechler Realty signs. Sale of that land to someone eager to develop more housing with expansive views of the city could happen any day, though the buyer would face challenges. (more…)
French River Swim
A swim in the French River, Summer 2014.