Who wins the Giant Foam Finger of Greatness?
A group of journalism students at UMD have created their own online journalism projects. The assignment asked them to conceive of a website that focused on a specific media “niche” and to produce content that appealed to that group by drawing on as many online media tools as possible.
The projects range from a Duluth-area beer-review page to a site that links volunteers with community needs in the Twin Ports.
Tomorrow we will have a very informal awards ceremony in which the page that has the most “likes” on our Facebook page will receive the Giant Foam Finger of Greatness Award (it’s a long story).
So, visit the page, check out a few of the projects, vote for your favorite and give the student journalists some feedback. Who knows, perhaps the best of them will actually develop into permanent pieces of the Duluth media landscape.
“Duluth is Horrible” Kickstarter
This February (maybe), filmmaker Vincent Gargiulo will be coming to Duluth to film a short movie titled Duluth is Horrible. Chip into the Kickstarter here, and/or follow the news on their blog.
Chester Bowl opening Dec. 20, 4:30 p.m.
Originally scheduled to open this Saturday, Dec. 15, the ski hill will now open Dec. 20 at 4:30 p.m.. The snow makers lost eight days due to the warm weather the last couple weeks.
We got one!
Our Charlie Brown tree came from the Superior Forest. My wife made it pretty.
This week: magi, poetry and candles
Here’s a sampling of what you have to look forward to this week on the PDD Calendar.
We’ve got lots of Christmas related events on the calendar right now conveniently located under one tag for your viewing pleasure.
There’s a call for models for the Zenith City Indie Wedding Show today at Clyde Iron.
You can give your input on the restoration of Chester Park at a public meeting on Tuesday.
Kyle Elden has a release party and reading for Grace Intoxicated, her new book of poetry, at Lake Avenue Café on Wednesday.
There’s a timely free DIY winterization workshop on Thursday.
LOON does an encore performance of Amahl and the Night Visitors this weekend only, Friday through Sunday, at the Scottish Rite Auditorium.
Sara Thomsen and Paula Pedersen have a release party and concert for their new CD, Winter Wanderings, at Sacred Heart on Saturday.
Pineapple Arts is having a one day candle making workshop on Sunday which would be handy for home or presents!
So what are you doing this week? Can we tag along? Any upcoming events that you want to promote? Let us know!
Cloud Cult – All the Things We Couldn’t See
Cloud Cult has a new album, Love, coming out on March 5. The track “All the Things We Couldn’t See” is already available to those who preorder the album at cloudcult.com.
The video was produced by Jeff D. Johnson with help filming from Cody York.
New Education Rabbit at Audubon Center for the Northwoods
We at Wildwoods are good partners with the education mission of Audubon Center for the Northwoods in Sandstone, MN. The staff there are warm, welcoming, and supportive, and have occasionally taken an unreleasable wild animal and given it a meaningful life as an education animal. Like this gal:
Five month old doe Netherland Dwarf and Lop mix. She will be representing a Eastern Cottontail rabbit since they do not tolerate captivity. She will be making appearances in MN Mammals, Animal Signs, and the Minnesota Wildlife evening program.
You have until end of day December 11th to submit a name for their new education rabbit. Visit their FB page for more info: https://www.facebook.com/AudubonCenter
Prøve Gallery open call for art
Prøve Gallery is seeking artwork for its “Fragility” exhibition, opening Jan. 11. The show is focusing on the beauty, uncertainty and fragility of winter.
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Medium Control Renovation in Canal Park
The Medium Control has an Indiegogo Campaign to help fund the renovation of a new store.
We made an old-school Super8 video so you can learn who and what the Medium Control is and more about the new store renovation in the second floor of a Canal Park building that sat empty for 20 years. We’re so excited to share this with Duluth.
Tommy+Kristy
The Medium Control
Lake Superior Security Force: Ice Rescue
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gqUjP6DEmoY
Z’s Deli
I am hearing that Z’s Deli is going to reopen in the location that was vacated by Jalapeno Express. Anyone else hear that?
What About Us?
Norway?! Heck man, they don’t know cold!
From DNT: Bentleyville days may be numbered?
Someone always has to try to ruin a good thing…
Asking for two pieces of advice
Two questions:
First: I am working with a journalism student on a news article and in it, the student mentions that a person used to work at a sporting goods store named CZ Wilson. Does that ring any bells?
Second: My daughter is an artist and has created watercolor paintings on seasonal cards (this is not an ad, don’t worry). Now, she would like to take those cards and have them printed on nice stock paper or whatever I really mean to say. Are there good local printers who do that work that people would recommend?
Thank you.
How I Met Your Mother’s PDD
Saw this ad on TV tonight.
New Minnesota Cookbook
Does anyone remember Joe Huie’s Cafe and his incredible fried shrimp? I’m finding more and more interest in Joe and the Huie family history, and over the years I’ve searched for his “secret recipe” that I remember as a kid (so many claimed to have it, but of course no one did). Just today in searching yet again for any recipe that may be similar I came across this book from an article in the Duluth Herald.
It just came out in October and there are a large number of great reviews about it, but best it includes Joe Huie’s famous fried shrimp recipe, another family member’s recipe(s) (I haven’t ordered it yet so I’m not sure how many) and a lot of other well-known Asian restaurant recipes from over the years, plus a history of how the Asian influence changed Minnesota. I can’t wait to get it!
Last year in searching I came across a Joe Huie’s Cafe menu on eBay, in brand new condition. The seller lives in California and I live in Vermont, but we are both originally from Duluth. What a small world, and it was so cool to “talk” about the old days. Joe Huie’s is one of those iconic memories that brings me back to when I was a kid on Lake Superior. Great times.
Updated, move-in-ready home for sale
Updated, move-in ready 1,500+ sq. ft. home for sale by owner, located on a tree-lined street less than a block away from beautiful Miller Creek. Features include: Original woodwork and natural maple hardwood floors throughout; built-in hutches; large newly remodeled kitchen with breakfast bar; formal dining room; three bedrooms all with walk-in closets; updated full bathroom with heated floor; secure fenced yard; and alley access to 1 car garage with additional off-street parking spot. More pictures and full description on Craigslist To take a look call Patrick at 218-722-2205 or email patrickandlaura2006 @ yahoo.com. Serious inquiries only please.
Berlin’s Bon Voyage
At the Lake Superior Zoo, we know that the news of Berlin’s move to Kansas City is undoubtedly a shock to our friends and supporters. We understand that this development is difficult, concerning and confusing. We know that you all love and cherish Berlin as a symbol of our community and our zoo, and we know that you want her back. Trust us; we do too. But we hope that you also understand that the decision to move Berlin is completely and totally in her best interest. (more…)
Casting call for Duluth film
Minneapolis-based director/producer Michael Forstein and his production crew will be in Duluth from Dec. 7-10 to shoot a film written by Duluth East alum Colin Thomsen.
The principle cast is comprised of actors based out of the Twin Cities and Los Angeles, but there is a casting call for Duluthians interested in playing roles that fit the following descriptions:
Very old lady
Mom and small child
Boy age 6-13
Teenage girl
Man age 40-60 with mustache
Middle-aged man
Bartender
Older woman with two small children
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Kids Bicycles and Parts
My rapidly growing daughters have outgrown numerous bicycles and I am wondering what to do with the collection of bikes cluttering up our yard.
Any better suggestions than donating to Goodwill etc? Wasn’t there a bike shop in the Hillside at one point that might take this stuff? Or anyone know how these could go to bikeless kids?
Matt O., Brian P. and Brad N.
I used to think comedian Brian Posehn (center) would be the perfect actor to play the role of local musician/tattoo artist Matt Osterlund (left), but now I’m seeing a resemblance to local musician/restaurant propagandist Brad Nelson (right).
922 percent tax increase? Really?
I moved to Duluth 18 months ago to take a great job with a great company and raise my family in a great city. I bought a modest house that sits on three very small lots within the city limits of Duluth. (My three lots would equal one “Hermantown” sized lot).
Well, the city raised the property tax on the two vacant lots by 922.2 percent! I now have to come up with an extra $752.26 per year in taxes.
Now I know why everyone kept telling me not to buy within the city limits of Duluth! Between the insane tax increase and the bizarre school redistricting red plan nonsense, I would have been better off in one of the surrounding suburbs.
Thanks. Rant over.
Duluth Pipe-smoking Trend
While my data collection process might be flawed (data gained mostly by conformation bias) there sure seems to be a recent uptick in Duluth pipe smokers.
I am talking about the briar pipe, burley and latakia type of pipe smoker not the glass and green type. While pipes are a distant third to cigs and cigars, I have run into 6-8 pipe smokers just in the past two months and many more over the past year. Usually 35-45 types, all who appear to have penises.
While this might be borderline PDD topic material I am interested if anyone else noticed or is paying attention. Duluth in general has been a pretty bare place for pipe tobacco since the shop on First Avenue West shut down. Buttes in West Duluth is the only shop that sorta has real pipe tobacco that I know of. Maybe add it to your business plan to make a buck or two.
Any smokers the way of the briar out there in PDD land?
This week: nutcracker, nutcracker and nutcracker
Here’s a sampling of what you have to look forward to this week on the PDD Calendar.
Today you can hit two art openings (Tom Rauschenfels and the Duluth Entrepreneur Fund) at the Zeitgeist.
If you type in “Nutcracker” into the PDD Calendar search engine you are going to get three different events. The traditional seasonal ballet is being performed this weekend by the Minnesota Ballet at the DECC and by the Reif Dancers at the Myles Reif Center in Grand Rapids. Further, Renegade Theater Company is producing a theatrical production of the story featuring battle over ballet.
Katie McMahon returns to Mitchell Auditorium with her Celtic Christmas show on Friday.
Rubber Chicken Theater offers up its annual sketch comedy revue A Flood of Christmas Cheer, or, What Seal is This? at the Fitger’s Spirit of the North Theater starting Friday and running through New Year’s Eve.
The 10th Annual Rock and Roll Kamikaze, in which bands are formed randomly and each get a 15 minute set, returns to the Pizza Lucé stage on Saturday.
Step back in time with the 1943 USO Canteen Show at the Douglas County Historical Society this Saturday and Sunday.
And don’t forget our Christmas tag which you can click on to find all such happenings on the calendar.
So what are you doing this week? Can we tag along? Any upcoming events that you want to promote? Let us know!