Munger Trail field report

For 25 years, one of the best bike rides in Duluth for those who like level, flat trails is the Munger Trail. But before you head out for a great ride up the old railroad track bed through the hills of far west Duluth, you might want to read my blog update about trail closures and delays this summer. There’s a total trail closure for bridge construction in the Riverside area until June 1 and major re-paving in the works for this summer.

The trillium and violets are blooming like crazy along the trail, though your best bet is to head for the parking lot off Becks Road for now.

Zenith City Online is … online !

I just wanted to drop those PDDers with a taste for local history a reminder that Zenith City Online is up and running at zenithcity.com. I’m hoping you stop by Zenith City after your morning check of PDD for your daily dose of Duluth history with “This Day in Duluth.” This month’s issue also features … (more…)

PDD Shift: Mark Bartel, Frost River

This semester, UMD journalism student Jamie Merideth has been working at Perfect Duluth Day on a series of interviews with people at work. Monday through Thursday of this week, we’ll present four videos that profile five people and their jobs. (more…)

This week: steampunk, a cult TV classic, ale and sailboats

Here’s a sampling of what you have to look forward to this week on the PDD Calendar.

Today kicks off the free Monday showings of The Prisoner at the Zinema 2. It also kicks off Mondays with the Mayor. Coincidence? I think not. March into the mayor’s office and tell Don, “I am not a number!” I dare ya.

Speaking of numbers, ever wonder what that Donald and Daisy Duck salt and pepper set that’s been gathering dust in the back of your liquor cabinet was worth? Find out on Wednesday at the Antique Appraisal at the Depot. Also on that day the Wednesday Sailboat Races return to a great lake very near you!

On Thursday you can grab the Brewpub Bus and go to Tycoons, Thirsty Pagan and Carmody and taste three takes on the same ale recipe. And if you happen to see some people decked out in Victorian neofuturist garb, it’s not that you drank too much, it’s the Steampunk Expo at the Duluth Art Institute with the afterparty at the Rathskeller.

Saturday you can help clean up the St. Louis River and then watch our Roller Dames clean up in their match against the Bemidji Babe City Rollers. See what I did there?

So what are you doing this week? Can we tag along? Any upcoming events that you want to promote? Let us know!

“Bernie the bobcat” released

Bernie the Bobcat was released today.

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The Next New Thing

Am I the only one who has this feeling that Duluth might be the next new thing?

First we have Trampled on Letterman, and then on CNN. Now Tycoons is making the NYT’s restaurant section. We’re slowly getting bigger and better quirky acts to Bayfront (oh, Steve Martin, how I love thee). And I feel like I’m missing some other stuff.

Are we really on the road to becoming TwinPortlandia?

Art the eye can touch at Prøve Collective

The Materialistic Intentions show at Prøve Collective opened tonight. Prøve is at a critical juncture. (more…)

Work Where You Blow Your Paycheck

Global Village is accepting casual resumes (list work experience and references) for summer help. Must be: 18+, proficient in basic math, motivated to be useful in exchange for money. Fellas will be considered, but given the volume of women’s clothing we sell through the summer, ladies may be better suited for the position. This is a very sweet summer job, but it is no rainbow gathering. This little, gypsy enterprise requires just as much work as any other business. Resumes delivered between 11-5 on weekdays, and mentioning PDD will have an edge on the rest.

Homegrown Origin Myth (2 of 3)

(When we last saw our heroes…)

Suddenly, the light was upon them!  Surrounded by flames 20 feet high!  The rebels cowered in fear and shielded their eyes.  A thundering voice boomed, “I AM STARFIRE!!!”

Then the light dimmed.  When they dared to look up, they expected to see a God-like creature.  But such a creature was not to be found.

Instead, there stood a pleasant looking young man in a flannel shirt. (more…)

Duluth Skateboarding – Spring 2012

This is how we spent our time in the beautiful Spring weather of 2012.

Upset Duluth, May 2012 Edition

May I humbly nominate this photo of Ms. Sramek, featured in today’s DNT.

Related posts:
Upset Duluth
Upset Duluth: In case you missed it
Upset Duluth (Continued)
Upset Duluth?

Lake Superior Rock Study

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dDsBCWEFTJA

The north face of Richardson Island through winter and back again.

Lake Recreation

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nkIo2pDLx-g

Training Day

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qtne7avwhyM

This will be so great to see gone

Long-neglected house to be razed as Duluth ramps up fight on blight

I saw the above headline on the DNT website and thought, “I hope it’s that house on Mesaba.” Turns out, it is the house I was thinking of. Glory be!

Thanks to Mayor Ness and anyone else involved in getting this property cleaned up. If Duluth were some kind of Sims game, I’d say my happiness rating goes down just a little every time I drive by this house.

Arrowhead Auto Body or ABRA Auto Body?

After a car accident, I need to get the car repaired. My insurance has a “Circle of Providers” that it prefers (although I can go to anyone I choose and they will still pay) but using the “Circle of Provider” guarantees the work for the life of the car by the insurance company.

It’s mainly cosmetic damage. I am not out any money for this accident (not my fault) so cost isn’t a concern for me. The two providers they have in this area are Arrowhead Auto Body (home of the catchy jingle!) and ABRA Auto Body.

Any thoughts? Recommendations? Don’t go theres?

Nerds make turn to charity

Adam Brisk, Crystal Pelkey, and Jeremy Nilson are among the engines that make Duluth a more interesting place. As founders of Duluth Nerd Nite, they serve up entertainment on a regular basis that also helps sustain one of our most important resources, the Teatro Zuccone. And they have been invited to consult in Minneapolis, a town that has yet to experience awesomeness that is Nerd Nite.

At the next event, Saturday at 7:30, they are bringing a new dimension to Nerd Nite: (more…)

Even trippier than Pink Floyd, “Comfortably Trematoda” wins Animal Diversity Idol

A couple of UMD Students won Animal Diversity Idol with this video. OK, it turns out that Animal Diversity Idol is not a “real” contest, although when I got started down this rabbit hole I thought maybe it was. It is something that a professor at UMD dreamed up to get students more interested in a variety of weird life forms. In this case the creatures are liver flukes. The video is one-part homage to Pink Floyd and two-parts CDC-style public service announcement.

Miller Creek Estuary Cages

Good day! I took the high bridge over to Superior the other day and noticed a pair of cages placed in the creek estuary (or estuary-like spot with the water so low). Does anyone have any idea what they are?

See “more” on PDD Calendar

When you are scrolling down the Perfect Duluth Day Calendar and you see the “more” prompt there can often be a lot more to see. We’ve started adding videos to a lot of events, especially for bands and movies, to give you a better idea of what it’s about. Here are a few things that are coming up in the next week…

Brutal Beauty screening at Clyde Iron tonight

httpv://youtu.be/zhNNMvvmHaU

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Kickstart Mary Bue’s Art

I’m in the middle of recording my 4.5th record “Apple in the Ocean” at Sacred Heart Music Center. Moving back to Duluth from Seattle, this was one of my goals of returning to town — to record in that stunning cathedral and work with my talented musician/sound engineer friends and play that gorgeous grand piano. I’m proposing to you to help support my project — and I’m over halfway there! You can pre-order the record and get some other goodies too at my Kickstarter page.

Thank you so much for your support and it has been pretty awesome to be back here and reconnect with so many of you. Wonderful musical, artistic and community things are happening, just as I remember it!

Missing Person: Andrew Wagner

Andrew Wagner, age 47, has been missing from Cherry, Minn. since Thursday at approximately 8 a.m. He is believed to be at risk of self harm.

Wagner is Caucasian, approximately 6-ft. tall and 220 lbs., and has short salt-and-pepper hair and dark-rimmed glasses.

He is driving a distinctive red 1964 Volvo 122s, Minnesota license plate NX110, and was last seen at the Greenwood Cemetery in Virginia at 2:00 on the day he went missing. Anyone with information is asked to contact the St. Louis County Sheriff’s Office at 218-479-6010.

Reflecting on Coolio in Duluth

Ten days before Homegrown 2012, Coolio came to Duluth. I find myself looking back and wondering how the hell I ended up at that show, standing in the back next to Jellybean Johnson, listening to a mid-1990s rap star talk about eating sushi at Black Water and how “Duluth bitches are all dimes.”

Trampled by Turtles @ Big Top not sold out

FYI — the Trampled by Turtles show at Big Top Chautauqua on June 15 is not sold out. I’ve heard a number of rumors that there are no more tickets left, but grounds passes — ‘rain or shine’ — are still available.

Vast, mysterious, and oddly impenetrable

From the Current / Minnesota Public Radio:

Duluth Homegrown 2012: Highlights from the 14th annual Twin Ports festival

Happy Homegrown! Duluth’s annual music festival showcases a talented, tight-knit community