Camera crews, form a semi-circle. It’s time to remove the Last Place on Earth sign.
Among the throng of photographers and videographers, Lane Ellis captured this 17-minute don’t-miss-a-moment-of-the-action version of the Last Place on Earth sign being removed by city workers.
First Tick of the Year — 2014 Edition
It was actually last week — Friday, May 23 — when the first tick of 2014 crawled up my neck after a short hike near Kingsbury Creek. Although this time of year is prime time, ticks aren’t expected to be worse than usual in 2014. Mike McLean, spokesperson for the Metropolitan Mosquito Control District, told KSTP-TV, there was a “depression in their numbers” in 2013 because of late-season snow, and that could carry into 2014.
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Film Festival Night 1: Clyde Iron
Full schedule here.
Aquaman vs. Brian
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0GvriusFDW4
OK Brian the Slackline Master won but I risked more.
I Found Myself Stuck in an Experimental Film
Vincent Gargiulo here with a short film I shot in Duluth and Superior in June 2013 when I was in town for the Duluth is Horrible premiere. It’s part of my bigger film, Fantastic, but also works as a stand-alone piece. Enjoy. Rated R for Really Artsy.
Good place in Duluth to catch World Cup?
Does anyone know of a bar that will definitely be showing World Cup soccer matches?
The more things change …
A 1972 cartoon featured in the book “Minnesota in the 70s.”
Greetings from Duluth, GA!
This photo is of me last April. I was driving through the Atlanta area on a road trip and had to visit our little colony of the south. It was a strange place. Has any other Duluthian ever been there?
So long, Stadium Lanes
Stadium Lanes and the Clubhouse Bar have been wrapping up operations over the past two weeks. The building at 132 N. 34th Ave. W., between Wade Stadium and the ore docks, is being gutted and sold. There will be no more bowling in West Duluth … except for lawn bowling. Word is the new owner will divide the building up into some type of business center or mall, with mini storage units.
Stadium Lanes opened in 1960, owned then by Dick Karon and Jerry Singer. Randy Hill has owned it since 2004, later changing the name of the bar to Clubhouse. Before that it was Mary’s Place.
I cleared the harbor of ice singlehandedly. You’re welcome!
Here’s how I did it.
What the heck!?
This little gem was spotted while driving up 18th Avenue East. What is happening? Does anybody have any inside information?
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This week: trains, moors and jigsaw puzzles
Here’s a sampling of what you have to look forward to this week on the PDD Calendar.
Today is Memorial Day so go out and pay your respects to the dead before or after you fire up the grill. There’s a parade in West Duluth this afternoon without so many Veterans for Peace.
Zinema 2 will be showing a restored version of Orson Welles’ Othello on Tuesday for their Explorers Club series.
The Duluth Superior Film Festival opens on Wednesday and runs through Sunday with films in a variety of venues and, this year, the showings are all free.
Blood on the Tracks won’t get so much blood on so many tracks this Thursday, as construction is limiting the run, but you can still rock the train all the way from the Depot to Lakeside.
Other Desert Cities opens at the Duluth Playhouse on Thursday and runs two weeks. Inside tip: I’ve heard nothing but superlatives about this production.
You’ve seen them in Wicker Kittens, now you can jigsaw puzzle your way to fame and fortune in the first ever Duluth Puzzle Derby at the Depot on Saturday.
So what are you doing this week? Can we tag along? Any upcoming events that you want to promote? Let us know.
Wildwoods, Woodchucks, and More
Friday we got a call from Samantha, Annabelle, and Lorelei. While these girls were out walking, they found a woodchuck who was stuck in a storm drain. They couldn’t turn away from an animal in trouble, so they called Animal Allies. Animal Allies gave them our number.
Dragon boating — it’s not just one weekend a year
20 paddlers. One person steering. One calling commands. One long, Chinese-design canoe. Add these all up and you get a great workout on the water with great people.
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What is Toasty’s on Ninth Street?
Formerly Chet’s (corner store), formally 8th Street Video on 9th (Steve’s), formally 8th Street Video on 9th (mainstream), formally Mean Beans Espresso & Creams is now looking to be something called Toasty’s. Does anyone know what this new venture will reveal itself to be? Will it be a toast joint? It’s a thing I guess.
Giant Water Bug, Outer Harbor by Lakewalk
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LlzmqfAOWCI
The Giant Water Bug is among the largest insects in North America. Size was at least 3 inches long. They live around the edges of lakes where they trap air under their wings and dive for small fish and frogs. This mature adult probably overwintered in the mud.
Openings for direct support professionals
Residential Services, Inc., is a nonprofit organization that provides support to adults and children with disabilities, founded in 1978 on the belief that all people can live successfully in a community-based setting, given the adequate support.
RSI has openings for full-time and part-time direct support professionals. For more information or to apply online, visit residentialservices.org.
A Visit to the Dollhouse Store
Thanks to Bev at Teeny Weeny Miniature Cottage for letting me shoot this video in her store (2031 W. Superior St., Duluth).
Ummm … seriously? Arby’s is airing a 13-hour Duluth-only commercial?
So, according to this Slate article, not only is Arby’s showing a 13-hour commercial, but it’s only airing in Duluth.
Arby’s is airing 13 straight hours of smoked brisket on television
I checked the date, and it’s not April 1, and I don’t think the NSA has gone so low as to manipulate my poor MacBook Air to fool me.
“Such a delightful time”
July 1909 — Seven billion gallons of water falls on the Duluth area in two days. Grass, trees, timbers, paving blocks, mud and debris are washed down the city’s hillside during the torrential rainfall. Two children drown after being swept out of their mother’s arms.
Within two weeks a postcard is made, and the mood on the back doesn’t quite seem to fit the mood on the front.
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After 20 years …
Go see my friends at Lake Superior Brewing this weekend. As part of their 20th anniversary celebration, they have finally opened up a Tap Room at their West End location (corner of Superior Street and 27th Avenue West, behind Subway).
Abandoned places to see
Does anyone happen to know where these abandoned, yet beautiful, spots are? If you have some of your own, feel free to share pictures and locations so everyone can enjoy. There is a lot of little secrets along the North Shore like these.
(Photos are by Christian Dalbec)