The Swamp Sisters of Saginaw
About a half-hour drive northwest of Duluth, in the unincorporated community of Saginaw, Swamp Sisters summer restaurant kicks out breakfast and lunch grub to fleets of mostly white-haired patrons who fill the gravel driveway with their cars and assisted-living-community shuttle vans. It’s open for about two months each year, on Fridays and Saturdays only, from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., on the swampy old Armstrong farmstead. And all of that, of course, makes this place awesome.
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Heat Warning: Please do not leave your dogs in your car!
Yes, even though it’s Duluth, summer is way too hot to leave your dog inside a car, windows cracked or not! Yesterday, I encountered a women at Home Depot who was a few minutes from having her windows smashed to rescue her dog.
Even if you don’t have dogs (or are a responsible owner and already know that you shouldn’t leave your dog in the car), please be aware of other cars in parking lots. If you see a dog in distress, you can call the police/animal control, or contact the store to have the vehicle owner paged. Please do not assume the owner will be out in time – death can occur within minutes!
And true, the thoughtful dog owner may thank you for your concern for their animal by denying the danger of hot cars and flicking you off, but at least you may have helped the save the dog’s life by getting their ungrateful asshole owner called out of the store. 🙂
A celebration of nerd culture: Comicon promos, games, Nerd Nites and tea duelling
I post here a lot about arts and wildlife, but much of my passion is really for nerd culture. It’s been something I have felt a lot of this summer. (more…)
This week: Festival season in full force
Pretty much everything happening this time of year is part of a festival or concert series, so as we highlight items this week from the PDD Calendar, we’ll just pretend everything is part of a festival, even if it isn’t.
The Bayside Sounds concert series continues on Wednesday with
North Shore Sounds and Superior Singers performing at Billings Park in Superior. Earlier in the day, the Brothers Burn Mountain play a lunchtime gig as part of Lake Place Summer Sounds in Duluth. The Wednesday Night at the Races events for the kiddos begin on Wednesday as well.
On Friday there’s the Free Range Film Festival, Movies in the Park, the Current broadcasting live from the opening of Endion Station Public House and hosting a concert featuring Low at the Red Herring Lounge as part of CurrentFest, and the bars on North Tower Avenue host a Grand Reopening Celebration as part of the Superior’s Downtown Strip Isn’t Under Construction Anymore Festival.
Saturday events include the All Pints North Summer Brew Fest, the Board Across the Bay Race and Festival, Carlton Daze and the Mudman Race as part of Extreme Obstacle Course Daze.
And calendar editor Lawrence Lee should be back on the job at any moment, beginning PDD’s Back to Normal Fest.
Weird noise
I have been hearing a low, humming rumble come from the downtown area for the past half hour at least — it’s 1:18 a.m. I am in Lakeside near the lake around 54th Avenue East. Is anyone else hearing this? Could it be boat sounds carrying over the water? No boat visible.
Remembering duluthtourism.com
It’s probably not worth remembering this, but an image from it resides in PDD’s archives and the controversy surrounding it occurred ten years ago this month, so we’ll give it passing mention.
There once was a satirical website at duluthtourism.com that was far more sophomoric than funny, but famously raised the ire of Duluth’s then-mayor Herb Bergson, who asked the city attorney to look into the legal means to have the site shut down.
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Coyotes on the Plane; Releases in the Wild
Wildwoods Critters
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Our fresh water makes radioactive waste transport and dumping too dangerous here
The Duluth News Tribune‘s Jan. 5, 2012, editorial (re-published July 10, 2014) blithely considered the grave issue of high-level radioactive waste storage, asking with its headline, “Nuclear waste here? Actually, why not?”
For answers, editors suggested we listen to scientists. This was sound advice, but it raised a question: Which scientists? It was scientific analysis that led to the cancellation of the Yucca Mountain, Nev., dump site plan – that and the staggering 2008 cost estimate of $90 billion, which was up from $58 billion in 2001, according to the New York Times. Yucca Mountain was chosen by Congress in 1987 and was vigorously pursued to the tune of $9 billion for decades. But then a long string of scientific show stoppers proved the site unsuitable, and the Obama White House and Energy Department gave it the ax.
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A Dozen Excuses Donuts on Tower Avenue
A Dozen Excuses opened on Wednesday, serving donuts, coffee, sandwiches, coney dogs, etc. at 1112 Tower Ave., in the Still-point Building next to the Palace Bar in Superior. It’s the former location of Northwoods Guitar.
- Open 6 a.m. to 2 p.m., Monday through Saturday;
8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sunday - Phone: 218-409-2525
- Owners: Melissa Hyatt and Cliff Lindberg
- Baker: Joe Dougherty
Formation of River Corridor Coalition
“It is our mission to generate and facilitate conversation to monitor and advance positive development of the St. Louis River corridor communities with the overall goal of benefiting the city of Duluth as a whole.”
The genesis of this group was to bundle the active Community Clubs in the western Duluth neighborhoods, and give them an active voice in the mayor’s vision for enhancing the St. Louis River Corridor. If you have an idea for enhancements for the neighborhoods come on out — RCC is still forming subcommittees so people are able to work on neighborhood issues they are passionate about, and have an active voice. The group has been meeting since February and meets every third Wednesday of the month — social time is at 6 p.m. with official business beginning at 6:30.
We feel that it is important that the ideas about the development of the Saint Louis River Corridor come from community members themselves. This coalition has members whose residency in the area ranges from just a year to over 30 years. Each neighborhood has representation, either from currently functioning community clubs, or citizens living in a neighborhood — from Lincoln Park to Fond du Lac. We have business interests represented and other area leaders. It is clear within this group that our members have a strong passion for this area and a commitment to improve it. All are welcome to attend and participate.
Like us on the River Corridor Coalition Facebook page to keep up to date.
Alaska Brooks Falls – Bear and Salmon Cam
Great nature cam setup in Katmai National Park in Alaska to watch Brown bear feed themselves on Sockeye Salmon. More than a hundred Brown Bears stalk a mile stretch of the Brooks River to snack on the world’s largest Sockeye Salmon run.
Almanac North – July 11 edition
On this edition of WDSE-TV’s Almanac North:
1:30 – Tony Barrett, professor of economics at the College of St. Scholastica, and Ron Brochu, Business North publisher, discuss the latest unemployment figures in northeastern Minnesota and what industries are creating jobs.
13:00 – Twenty-five years ago this week: Independent Air, an international charter airline, brings business to the Duluth International Airport with its stops to refuel and change crews.
14:50 – Lisa Luokkala and Russell Habermann of the Healthy Duluth Area Coalition discuss the new signs that help visitors and locals walk their way to local attractions and better health.
24:50 – The week’s business news.
27:05 – Footage of World War II airplanes visiting Superior as part of the Wings of Freedom Tour.
Trampled by Turtles – “Are You Behind the Shining Star” (Live video from the Late Show with David Letterman)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bghbg79rFZU
Caricature artist needed!
I am planning a Renaissance-themed wedding for Aug. 9 and looking for someone who can do caricatures. The artist we had is unable to come now. I know it is short notice, but if there is anyone who is able to do it we would greatly appreciate it. The reception is in Lake Nebagamon. We want to set up a “Ye Olde Photo” booth, where the guests can get a quick sketch done. If you can do quick sketches of people instead of caricatures, that is OK too.
Jasmin
218-576-5124
Dave on Dave: TBT’s Carroll comments on band’s previous Letterman appearance
On the occasion of Duluth band Trampled by Turtles making a second appearance on The Late Show with David Letterman — tonight at 10:35 p.m. on KDLH-TV channel 3.1 — I looked back at notes from an interview with Banjo Dave Carroll from spring 2013. He told stories about being on the Letterman and Craig Ferguson shows that didn’t make it into the story I was working on at the time.
Here is Carroll sharing an anecdote about taking a break outside the Ed Sullivan Theater before the Letterman gig:
They have these barriers on the sidewalks that are kind of gated off for photographers to hang out and allow them to get a picture of celebrities — whoever’s coming in. … It happened to be Amy Phoeler. We were hanging out there, and there were all these photographers. Her black town car or whatever pulls up, the photographer looks at us and says, ‘hey are you guys in the band?’ We kind of looked at each other and said ‘yeah, yeah we’re in the band.’ And they just said, ‘hey, get out of the way!'” Amy Poehler was coming across the street and they didn’t want us to be in the background with her.
Guy Fieri in West Duluth and Superior
Guy Fieri is back in town shooting for future episodes of the Food Network’s Diners, Drive-ins, and Dives. So far he’s been to Gannucci’s Italian Market and Pak’s Green Corner in West Duluth, and Shorty’s Pizza & Smoked Meats and the Kounty Quarthouse in Superior.
Become a sexual assault volunteer with PAVSA
The Program for Aid to Victims of Sexual Assault’s fall training dates are set and the organization is looking for people of all ages and from all walks of life to become sexual assault advocates. Advocates work on the crisis line and advocate for sexual assault survivors at area hospitals during their forensic exams. Dates for the 40-hour training and volunteer applications can be obtained at pavsa.org. Call Christy with questions at 218-726-1442.
This week: TBT on TV, Fractals on a soccer field and Todd Eckart in a parking lot
A system of unseasonably cool air is expected to roll in today, but the various summer festivals will be every bit as fun while you are wearing jackets and long pants. Here come the highlights from the PDD Calendar.
The week starts as every week should — with a hardcore heavy metal concert at a Christian indoor skate park. Colossus, Conveyer, Strengthen What Remains, Lessons and Heart’s Bane all perform at the Encounter on Monday. You can choose instead to hang out in a wood shop and make beds for the needy, so there are at least two places to wear a sleeveless shirt this week.
Tuesday night the Chester Creek Concert Series continues with a performance by the Formal Age. Later in the evening, at Tycoons Alehouse, the Adam Booker Group will be playing jazz versions of Trampled by Turtles songs. Why? For fun, that’s why. But also because the hometown heroes are releasing a new album and appearing on The Late Show with David Letterman again.
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Mystery Photo: Residence of Luther Mendenhall
Did those asbestos shingles last a century? Is the Luther Mendenhall residence still standing? Where is it, or where was it?
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Open Position at the Cable Natural History Museum: Exhibit Design Assistant
Cable Natural History Museum
Position: Exhibit Design Assistant
Timing: 25-40 hours per week, Jan. 6, through May 8, 2015, plus one-per-month meetings in September-December 2014.
Compensation: $4,000 stipend, plus free housing (including utilities) at the museum’s staff house
Reports to: Naturalist/Educator
Application Deadline: Position is open until filled.
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A Day of Art
I spent most of today meeting with students, but when I wasn’t with young people, I was working in art.
The Way North: Duluth
In a series for the New York Times, Damien Cave and Todd Heisler travel up Interstate 35, from Laredo, Tex., to Duluth, chronicling how the middle of America is being changed by immigration. They spend day 37 in Duluth.
Hiring: Chester Bowl Program / Operations Manager
The Chester Bowl Improvement Club is seeking a full-time Program/Operations Manager, responsible for management, planning and operational oversight for CBIC programming and park operations under the direction of the Executive Director and Board of Directors, Specifically, the Program/Operations Manager will manage and provide oversight of CBIC’s programming and events, including supervising seasonal hourly staff, Incredible Exchange youth, and volunteers. Full posting and job description is at chesterbowl.org.
Changes in the Arts Community (and Your Opportunities within It)
A local arts organization is changing its board and its staff, and you can be part of it! (more…)