‘Splorin
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=en5iP6lDD8U
Although they don’t exhibit the profusion of life of ocean reefs, Lake Superior’s basaltic rock formations naturally evoke a sense of sunken, megalithic cities. That is why I wear the raiment of the King of Atlantis.
Homegrown 300
Thank you to all of the performers who registered for the 2014 Homegrown Music Festival. Even with the earlier registration window, it was a banner year, reaching 317 total submissions. Band selection starts this weekend, and scheduling begins next week (and will take 20+ versions and the entire month of February). Hold tight. More details when we have ’em. Happy Homegrown!
Duluth Album Releases in 2014
Charlie Parr
Hollandale
Chaperone Records (Jan. 25)
Dave Simonett
Razor Pony
(Jan. 29)
Available on Bandcamp
Dirty Knobs
I Want to Live Inside the Sun
Xero Music (Jan. 29)
Available on Bandcamp
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Dylan Super Bowl Commercial
I was probably one of the few who enjoyed seeing Dylan in the Super Bowl commercial last weekend. That being said, I was a little confused about the song choice, “Things Have Changed.” For an advertisement that was supposed to spark renewed faith in the American auto industry, Chrysler picked a song that is clearly about not giving a sh*t anymore. Also, last night the Northland’s NewsCenter mis-reported that this commercial was set to “I Want You,” which was actually featured in a yogurt commercial in 1996, not the Super Bowl commercial.
Winter Wasp Woes
I have wasp problems. At least, I think they’re wasps … could be hornets, I hope not. Anyway I know I have nests in the porch ceiling pretty bad, but it’s possible they are also in the walls too. How bad? I’m afraid to know, but the real problem started last year on New Year’s Day, a couple hours into 2013.
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This week: Why do we live here?
Here’s a sampling of what you have to look forward to this week on the PDD Calendar.
I’ve heard a lot of people asking this past week, “Why, again, do we live here?” Today you can hear Joanne Sher give an historical explanation as to why people immigrated to this area at the library presented by the Twin Ports Genealogical Society.
You can, then, figure out how to get people here at the Explore Minnesota Tourism Conference on Tuesday and Wednesday at the DECC.
Feel like winter never ends? I recently read speculation that in Groundhog’s Day Bill Murray relives the same day 12,395 times (almost 34 years). See if you agree with that count at Zinema 2 on Wednesday for their monthly date night.
The Odd Couple opens on Thursday at the Duluth Playhouse with the actors playing Felix and Oscar switching roles every night, which means I’m going to have to go and see it twice because, frankly, Jason Scorich and Jody Kujawa are amazing actors.
Sara Thomsen releases her 5th solo album, Somewhere to Begin, at Sacred Heart on Saturday.
So what are you doing this week? Can we tag along? Any upcoming events that you want to promote? Let us know.
DSSO’s Bright Approach: First Minnesota orchestra to use interest-based bargaining process
As a kid, I took it for granted that my tiny hometown high school had an orchestra program and lots of community support. So it is not hard to agree with Duluth Mayor Don Ness when he says that “the Duluth Superior Symphony Orchestra continues to brighten the arts landscape of the Twin Ports.” A healthy community orchestra is a great thing!
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R.I.P. Philip Seymour Hoffman
He was, by far, our best actor working. I am so saddened by the loss.
Duluth Mystery Photo: 1938 Neighborhood Hockey Game
It happened in Duluth in 1938. That’s all we know. What rink? Who are these kids?
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Guy Lombardo in Duluth
Did Guy Lombardo and His Royal Canadians ever perform in Duluth … and if so when?
Presenters wanted for Browncoat Mondays
I’m lining up short (10 minute) presentations on Joss Whedon’s Firefly for Browncoat Mondays at the Zinema 2 starting at the end of this month. These presentations can be on any topic related to the series or the movie.
Trampled by Turtles’ song deserves Oscar
There I was, sitting in a cavernous multiplex theater at Duluth 10. The movie, The Way Way Back, is one that I had actually chosen by accident. Or chosen erroneously, I mean. The Mrs. and I were on an impromptu date night and picked The Way Way Back thinking that it was actually another movie I had heard about.
A good 30 minutes in I realized both my error, and that the film was not what I had hoped for, a fluffy summertime coming-of-age story, and that it was instead a sort of dark, introspective coming-of-age story that just happened to be placed in a summer setting. At points during the movie I could actually viscerally feel my own awkward teenage summer loneliness flaring up in some deep, dark buried place in my gut. So the film makers nailed that part.
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Thinking about warm weather or summer yet? How about tennis?
It may be winter, but the tennis season is just around the corner. If you live in, or near the Lakeside neighborhood and enjoy playing tennis, then you know how difficult it is to find a place to play nearby. Many do not know of the plans that were in the works to meet this need. The Washington Square Master Plan was passed just over a year ago by the Duluth City Council for the Lakeside park. The plan includes 4-6 holes of disc golf and, you guessed it, tennis courts!
Here is the official text from the Duluth City Council:
“Resolved, that the city council hereby approves the Washington Square Mini-Master Plan and authorizes implementation of the plan as funding becomes available.”
The only things stopping the court(s) from being built are funding and neighborhood support. If you like the idea of having a neighborhood tennis court and disc golf course, then please spread the word! You can view the complete set of documents for Washington Square by clicking here. For more information, or if you would like to help, email lakesidecourts@gmail.com.
Duluth knows how to do snow removal, but where does it all go?
I was very impressed to happen upon this epic snow removal operation on Second Street on Thursday at about 11 a.m.
You might be able to see in the photo that this clean-up convoy of sorts includes numerous heavy construction vehicles stretching from where this was taken at about Second Avenue East, all the way back to Fourth Avenue West.
Minnesota Wine Exchange closing?
Did Minnesota Wine Exchange go out of business? Or is it just changing locations? I bought a half-price gift certificate and went to use it, but it looked like they were packing up.
I really need to stop buying these gift certificates. I think it’s a curse to the business. I bought three for Thai Krathong and never got to use them. Sad to see these unique businesses go.
Paul Robeson in Duluth
What is Paul Robeson’s connection to Duluth? For some reason I’ve never wondered about this before. Today someone asked me.
Paul Robeson was a singer, actor and football player who was involved in the Civil Rights Movement. You can read about him on Wikipedia and numerous other places on the Internet.
The Paul Robeson Ballroom is part of the Kozy Apartments complex, which has been shuttered since 2010 due to three arson fires. (Photo above by Daniel Kerkhoff.)
There is a one-man show, The Tallest Tree in the Forest, running at Arena Stage in Washington D.C. through Feb. 16, that mentions Robeson was in Duluth in 1947. (The show is probably based, at least in part, on the 1977 documentary film The Tallest Tree in Our Forest.)
That’s all we’ve got. Help fill in the blanks.
Five Perfect Duluth Years on WordPress
A minor anniversary for Perfect Duluth Day: Five years ago today we stayed up late on a Friday night and switched to the WordPress publishing platform. From September 2005 to January 2009 PDD used Moveable Type and looked like this:
PDD Shovel Cam
While Cory has been traveling to exotic locations and honing his skills with the PDD Drone, I’ve been perfecting the PDD Shovel Cam.
From Gaylord to Mookie: The Best Names in the 1982 Topps Baseball Card Set
How this could possibly be relevant to the Perfect Duluth Day website will be explained at the end, but up top we present the 30 best names of the 1981 Major League Baseball season, as preserved for history in 1982 Topps cards.
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NorShor: Duluth’s big bet on Old Downtown
“Ghosts and spirits make the place. So when you sit down and play a place like the NorShor, not only do you have a group of people sitting around you, but you have another community of history sitting around you, too.” — Charlie Parr
Minneapolis Star Tribune: “Stage set for restoration of NorShor Theatre in Duluth“
Save the robots! Volunteers needed.
On March 6-8 there are two major regional For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology robotics events scheduled at the Duluth Entertainment Convention Center. High School teams from all over Minnesota and beyond will participate in these events.
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Call for Photo Submissions: 4x V3.0
The Duluth Photography Institute’s 4x exhibit is back (pronounced “Four-by” as in 4×6, 4×8, etc.) We are hoping to get over 200 submissions this year!
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Ennyman interviews Adam Swanson
The Ennyman interviews artist Adam Swanson here. Good read.
Chester Bowl on MPR’s “Minnesota Sounds and Voices”
Dan Olsen from MPR did a story on Chester Bowl that aired today. Fantastic photos by Derek Montgomery too.
2014 John Beargrease Aerial Drone Video
The PDD Drone was back in the skies yesterday capturing the start of the 30th annual John Beargrease Sled Dog Marathon. The weather was great and the winds held off just long enough to get in some air time above the race starting line at Duluth East High School.
Music courtesy of the4onthefloor (www.4otf.com)