Which trails are usable right now?
Can anyone give me some tips on which trails are usable after our recent monsoons? I tried to run in Bagley Nature Area early last week and even after one day of heavy rain it was pretty soaked. I’m looking for somewhere on the east side of the city to take a run tonight. Hawk Ridge is my favorite, but I’m guessing it will be a complete mud pit for a while.
Cello needs friends!
I recently got custody of a cello. And happily, I’m not nearly as rusty as I thought I’d be. Seventeen years of piano teaching has helped quite a lot!
Now I want to find other people to play with! I’m at about an intermediate level. Would love to put together a quartet, but if anyone knew of some sort of orchestral option, that would thrill me beyond belief. But quartet I think could happen. Or trio. Violas are always sort of hard to find.
Which reminds me. I am also looking for a violist to play Rebecca Clarke’s viola sonata with me on the piano. It’s been something I’ve wanted to play for years but have never started because finding a violist isn’t exactly easy!
Any ideas? Anyone want to come over and play?
Park Point among USA Today’s “51 great American beaches”
USA Today took recommendations from “local experts” across the country to select one great beach in each state and the District of Columbia. Greg Breining, author of Paddle North: Canoeing the Boundary Waters-Quetico Wilderness, was Minnesota’s expert. He recommended Park Point.
Minnesota’s best beach lies on 6-mile-long Park Point, which shields Duluth’s harbor from the furious storms of Lake Superior. Though the water is rarely warm enough for swimming without a wetsuit, the beach is a great spot to watch incoming waves, giant saltwater freighters and Great Lakes ore carriers passing under Duluth’s signature Aerial Lift Bridge, and to spot birds that rest on the point during spring and fall migrations. The Park Point Nature Trail follows the beach and occasionally passes old-growth pine and tamarack.
Car Camping
We’ve been pretty avid car campers the past few years with our daughter. We’ve always used camping pads under our bags. Last year I essentially inherited my dad’s air mattress (insta-bed) because he never used it. It worked well as an on-the-carpet spare bed. Recently, I’ve repaired a couple holes, but this new one’s a bit too big to patch. Time for a new mattress. I really like that this one had a built-in battery-powered inflation system, but I’m really looking for something that’s heavy duty and will hold up to camping trips. I’m looking to hear from avid car campers that use an air mattress. Sooner the better, too, we’ve got a trip this weekend!
Music marketing rep needed in Duluth
Olympia Media Group is hiring three promotional representatives in the Duluth area to promote the nationwide Battle of the Bands contest.
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Brainerd on Film
May I please direct your attention to two quite excellent films playing this weekend at the Duluth-Superior Film Festival (previously known as Sound Unseen International Duluth) — Marvin Seth Stanley and The Hole Story. Both were filmed in the Brainerd area and both are quite funny. You’d be hard pressed to find a better regional double feature. (more…)
Parks and Rec flag football registration
Flag football is one of the fastest growing sports throughout the country and this season will mark the 11th year of Duluth’s league. Flag football is a non-contact sport, which teaches both boys and girls in grades 2 through 5 the fundamentals of football. But more importantly, it teaches kids sportsmanship and how to participate in sports while still having fun. Games will be played mostly on Tuesdays and Thursdays. The cost is $60 per player which includes a team jersey. All games held at the Wheeler Athletic Complex at 35th Ave. W. and Grand Ave. Registration deadline is June 7; games beginning in September. Go to duluthmn.gov/parks for a registration form or for more info: Jeff Anderson 218-730-4302 or jcanderson @ duluthmn.gov.
“It’s going to be a great year for swimming”
Jay Austin, a lake researcher at the University of Minnesota Duluth, says Lake Superior is running warm this spring after a warm winter and lack of ice cover. The lake’s summer “turnover,” in which the warm water from below replaces cooler surface water, may occur in early June instead of the customary early July.
Star Tribune: “Warmup could bring Superior swimming“
National Trails Day
National Trails Day is this upcoming Saturday, June 2. Projects are happening all over town. Disc golfers (Zenith City Flyers) are planning work at Miller Creek Disc Golf Course. Mountain bikers (COGGS) are planning work in Hartley Park. Skiers (Duluth Cross Country Ski Club), are planning work at Spirit Mountain. The Wheels on Trails folks advocating for Universal Accessibility will be at Hartley Nature Center. The Duluth Area Horse Trail Alliance will be at the top of Gogebic Street and the DWP, brushing trails. For more info, contact Judy at 218-269-4712 or jgibbs @ duluthmn.gov.
Duluth Album Releases in 2005
Low
The Great Destroyer
Sub Pop Records (Jan. 24)
Available at Sub Pop’s Mega Mart
Boy Girl Boy Girl
Sugar Skull Maker
(March 28)
Available on Amazon
Trampled by Turtles
Blue Sky and the Devil
(April 20)
Available on Amazon
The Hobo Nephews of Uncle Frank
Self titled
Consider it Correspondence (July 1)
Available on Amazon
This week: parades, polka, belly dancers, baseball and Khaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaan!
Here’s a sampling of what you have to look forward to this week on the PDD Calendar.
Today is Memorial Day and that means cookouts and a big, old fashioned parade.
The Huskies have their home opener at the Wade on Wednesday! And if you can’t make that, they play the St. Could Rox again on Thursday.
The Duluth Superior Film Festival opens on Wednesday as well and runs until Sunday playing at various venues.
The Royal Family opens at the Duluth Playhouse on Thursday and runs for two weekends.
And you can polka until you can’t polka no more at the Chmielewski International Polka Fest running Friday through Sunday at Black Bear Casino.
To round out the week on Saturday Rubber Chicken Theater is celebrating the 30th anniversary of Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan with a live reading of the script at the Fitger’s theater featuring such luminaries as Mayor Don Ness, George Kessler, John Munson, Lawrance Bernabo and Brian Matuszak as James Tiberius Kirk himself.
Or, if you prefer, belly dancing. Desert Journeys is a showcase of belly dancing this Saturday at the Harbor City International School Theater.
So what are you doing this week? Can we tag along? Any upcoming events that you want to promote? Let us know!
Rally for Max Pelofske in Proctor
A young gay man was assaulted in New Independence Township on Saturday evening after being confronted about his sexual identity at a party characterized as a send-off for graduating Proctor High School seniors. He sustained injuries from the beating that landed him in the hospital after being attacked by as many as 15 party attendees. We are meeting in Proctor on Monday, May 28, 4 p.m., at the train on Hwy 2 to stand against hatred, to hold a healing space for Max and his family, and to provide support for all members of the GLBTAQI community throughout the Twin Ports. We would love to invite you all and your friends and families to join us as we peacefully demonstrate against hate crimes in our area.
Kitten Found on 15th Ave. E. & Third St.
I found an all-black kitten I would guess was about 3-4 months old. It was very friendly and meowed a lot. Seemed used to people since it ran up to me and followed me home. Knocked on about 17 doors nearby and couldn’t find an owner. Couldn’t bring it home to my own cats (risk of FeLV, worms, fleas, etc). I brought it to animal control where it is being housed. I spoke with Animal Allies who said that I needed to go through animal control rather than bringing it directly to a shelter. I am hoping that the kitty makes it there or someone on here sees this and claims the sweet little guy (or girl). If this is your cat, please post or call animal control on 27th Avenue West.
Poet Dara Wier – “Not That Lake”
Here’s a video of a poem concerning our lake. Video by Bianca Stone, Emily Pettit, Heather Christle, Guy Pettit and Ben Pease; poem by Dara Wier.
Sump Pit, No Pump?
I’m relatively new to Duluth, and I’m a first-time home debtor. Where I come from we don’t have basements (or winter). I’ve been in my house for a year, and haven’t had water issues in my basement. There is a sump pit down there. (I’m not sure if “sump pit” is the correct term; it’s a manhole-like pit with one large horizontal rusty metal pipe that comes from one side and ends near the middle and several smaller clay pipes around the edge.) We do not have a sump pump. I doubt it is a simple gravity drain, because there is no location on our lot that is lower than the pit. The house passed an I&I inspection shortly before we moved in. (more…)
Lost guitar pedals (Found!!)
UPDATE: Thanks to perfectduluthday.com, the sound guy at the Rex emailed me and said he found my pedals! Sure enough, one of the bands I share a practice space with accidentally grabbed it.
Instead of deleting this post, I will use it to illustrate how important PerfectDuluthDay is to our community. Thanks Paul & the gang!
Antique Motorcycle Welding Help
I’m looking for preferably an English/antique motorcycle enthusiast who might be able to help me weld a couple of small front engine mounts as I transfer a small engine into another frame. I can’t afford too much, prefer barter, like some home brew or something for the effort. Thanks.
Second chance to enter Grandma’s
To raise money to help complete the Joe Gomer statue at the new Duluth International Airport, Security Jewelers is auctioning an entry to the Garry Bjorklund/Grandma’s Half Marathon. This is a totally sold out event and 100 percent of proceeds will go to help honor this true American hero who was a member of the Tuskegee Air force. Please forward this message on to make all who missed out on an entry aware.
Duluth Landscaper Recommendations
I know we all tend to be DIYers when it comes to the yard, but I am in need of some vision and major revision. Tile, dirt, no-grass front lawn, shoring up the fence. Any suggestions on a good all-around scaper in the area? Thanks.
Lost Dog in Lakeside
Found a little lost dog in Lakeside near 52nd Avenue East and Dodge Street this morning. It has a purple collar but no tags. It has an injured right, rear leg and seems like it was out for a while (very hungry and matted, but just had chicken and water!). I will bring her to the Duluth Animal Shelter.
Indian Country Today: Girls and Women in Duluth Sexually Exploited for Generations
Earlier this month Indian Country Today, a national daily newspaper, featured an historical analysis of the sexual exploitation of Native American girls and women. The story, and the pattern, is chilling enough as it is, but the story is framed in and around Duluth, making it all the more compelling. This is an excellent piece of advocacy journalism by Mary Annette Pember. (more…)
Travel Time to the Twin Cities – first hand accounts?
I have an early appointment in the Big Cities on Friday. Have any of you made a run to St. Paul within the past week? If so — how much more time should I budget in with construction being what it is? I’m sure the drive back up late Friday afternoon will be lovely. Serenity now!
Perfect Duluth Day Outdoor Summer Concert Primer 2012
Well, the snows have receded, so that means road construction and outdoor concerts. Here are a few highlights of the upcoming season.
June 15 | Trampled by Turtles
June 27 | Emmylou Harris
June 30 | Glen Campbell
July 1 | Wilco
July 7 | Twin Ports Bridge Festival (with the Jayhawks)
July 14 | Bayfront Reggae and World Music Festival
July 21 | Steve Earle & the Dukes
July 21 | Respect Your Mother Earth Festival
Aug. 3 | Bradfest
Aug. 5 | Bayfront Jam Music Festival (with Steve Martin)
Aug. 5 | Greg Brown
Aug. 10-12 | Bayfront Blues Festival
Aug. 31 | Cloud Cult with That 1 Guy
What outdoor concerts are on your radar this summer?
Any tips on choosing a Duluth lawyer?
We are having a rough time with Minnesota Care, and we need to appeal a decision they’ve made. It’s a big decision — a decision that has set a pretty bad precedent concerning Minnesota Care and PCIP — and we’d feel better making our argument with a lawyer on our side. Long story short, does anyone know a good lawyer who might have some experience dealing with medical insurance?
