Traveling nature camps in Duluth/Superior
Here’s a chance to get 10-13 year olds out of the house this summer. Send them to Urban Wilderness Camp to explore the public forests and creeks of Duluth and Superior. Sign up for the location closest to you for drop off and pick up. This year, camps will be at Lester Park, Lower Chester Park, Fairmont Park and Billings Park. Find more information and register at hartleynature.org, or call 218-365-6537. Warning: kids may come home wet and dirty.
Women Musicians in Homegrown
Did anyone notice the low number of female performers at the Homegrown Music Festival this year? I did. There seemed to be about eight male performers for every one female. If you don’t want to count just look at the steering committee, it’s pretty representative of the entire festival. There are a few wonderful women and a bunch of men.
The ladies are around performing with a variety of styles unique to themselves and Homegrown! They may be harder to find in that giant Homegrown Field Guide, but if you looked closely you’d find some on Tuesday, Wednesday and Sunday, not peak days. Often these women have to be underground, persistent or be extra bad ass, which they are, to get noticed. They often try harder and get less recognition.
I don’t want to start a fight, maybe just a good discussion, I’m just saying we noticed.
Duluth-area Wedding Dress Tailor
I have a friend who lives out of town but is getting married in the area. She mentioned needing to get her dress tailored before the ceremony. I’m looking for someone who is reliable, fast turn around and decent rates. Any recommendations?
This week: duct tape, pagans and roller derby on celluloid
Hey there, homegrowners. You recovering?
Here’s a sampling of what you have to look forward to this week post-Homegrown on the PDD Calendar.
Tonight all you thirsty pagans can mark the sixth anniversary of a spot that has become an institution here in the Twin Ports in that short time. The Thirsty Pagan is celebrating with music, beer, and specials.
On Tuesday Red Green is bringing his north woodsy DIY humor to Mitchell Auditorium with his “Wit & Wisdom” tour.
On Wednesday you can head to Clyde Iron Works and take in a screening of Brutal Beauty, a documentary about the resurgent women’s roller derby phenomenon. Our own Harbor City Roller Dames are hosting. You can see a preview of the movie here.
So what are you doing this week? Can we tag along? Any upcoming events that you want to promote? Let us know!
Parking Lots and Trees
This article sums up something that’s been needling me about downtown Duluth. All of the parking lots the hospitals seem to think they need could be greatly improved with a smattering of trees.
MinnPost: “Needed to fix parking blight: Lots of trees“
Best Homegrown Surprise
Ultra Day at Amazing Grace. I didn’t know what to expect from a band with punk-rock roots at the Grace, but these guys were good! They matched their sound and volume to fit the venue, and even did a couple a cappella numbers.
Homegrown Art
As usual, the Homegrown Music Festival has generated huge quantities of buzz, and remains a real showcase for what’s happening in the Northland. I was especially interested in the Homegrown arts facet, caught every opening and even the Lake Superior College opening that was not part of Homegrown … and a little music as well. So much to see and not enough time to write about it all. I did sum up my Friday and Saturday evenings this morning on my blog at Ennyman’s Territory.
Kudos to all organizers, volunteers, bands, and artists who once again made this a very special week for the Twin Ports community.
Patron of the arts enjoying a set of images at Prove Gallery Saturday night.
Who won Homegrown 2012?
This poll is now closed. The results were:
Bratwurst – 13.6 percent
Gallus – 9.6 percent
Tangier 57 – 7.2 percent
The Blasphemists – 5.6 percent
The Surfactants – 3.8 percent
Big Wave Dave & the Ripples – 3.1 percent
The Keep Aways – 2.9 percent
Dead Guys – 2.9 percent
Sexhawk – 2.4 percent
Various other bands – 48.9 percent
Homegrown 2012 Memories
Huge thanks to Walt Dizzo, the steering committee, all the volunteers, and the artists for making the 2012 version of Homegrown one of the best. Now, for the sake of recording history, please post your favorite moments from the week – the best shows, the best overheard comments, the most memorable moments…
Teague Alexy – “Riding on a Ferris Wheel”
New video from Teague’s brand new album This Dance.
Kickball of the Living Dead
The 2012 Homegrown Kickball Classic has already been referred to as the “most pathetic in Homegrown history,” and if you were there you would know this as fact. There were beer bongs. There was a full-body chicken suit. There were children who may or may not have been scarred for life. Through it all, Saturday’s team came through with a 6-4 victory, but it wasn’t pretty.
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Chorus Line tix…if the price is right!
So, long story super short: I have five tickets for the SOLD OUT matinee of “A Chorus Line” at the Playhouse, tomorrow afternoon at 2. Three are together, the other two are singles. The coolest part is: you name your price…and I decide whether or not it’s worth my time to meet you down there for said price! Just give a shout. 2one8.3four1.07nine3
Homegrown 2012 Photo Retrospective
View the full set of 226 images from Homegrown 2012 on Flickr. (more…)
Homegrown Origin Mythology (part 1 of 3)
Our story begins in the year of our Lord, nineteen hundred and ninety eight, A.D. in a city built upon a hill, overlooking the greatest of the Great Lakes, the Zenith City of the Unsalted Seas – Duluth!
For those too young to recall, these were dark days in our fair city. The musical landscape was largely barren – a virtual wasteland of yellow beer and cover bands. A dark cloud hung perpetually heavy upon the arts community. A fog of pessimism and oppression obscured the vision of what this city could offer and whispered a sinister, “move to Minneapolis.”
In this darkest hour, a small group of rebels were desperately fighting to establish a foothold for original live music and authentic culture. One dark and dreary night they gathered at Enger Tower. Among the rag-tag group of rebels – Bacigalupo, Monroe, Lindquist, Brewhouse Boys, The SparHawk, and Rick Boo.
New outdoors website launches in Duluth
The goal of Duluth Outdoors is to be an online network for the outdoors community in the Arrowhead region of Lake Superior. Our indexed information is meant to provide visitors with recreational opportunities. Duluth is known for its outdoor recreation and now visitors and local outdoor enthusiasts can access those opportunities through one inclusive site.
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Cheap/free place to keep a sailboat
I am currently looking for a reasonably priced, or even better yet free, place to keep a sailboat this summer. The boat is a Phil Bolger designed Long Micro, coming in at just under 20 feet long. It draws only about 16 inches and would be easily tied to a small dock or the like. If I was able to find a party that would be interested in helping me out, I would gladly let them use the boat in trade for access. I am looking to be up the river somewhat if possible, just for protection and I am currently living on that side of town. If you or anyone you know has access to a unused dock and wouldn’t mind a beautiful boat lashed to it, please let me know! Thanks! Included are some photos of a Long Micro, very similar to the boat in question.
Haavik @ Chester Creek
I listened to Emily Haavik from a window on the parking lot at the Chester Creek Cafe / Sara’s Table / Whatever They Call It. It was standing room only, all the way out the back of the wine bar, so Paul Lundgren and I went outside, where the windows were popped open, creating a straight line of sight, a warm breeze from the inside, and an opportunity to hear someone whose voice was really just a shortcut to her heart.
Retribution Gospel Choir – “Maharisha”
New Retribution Gospel Choir video by Dan Dresser.
Handy person needed for rental home
I own the non-typical rental home. I am the non-typical landlord. I have a gorgeous 100-year-old craftsman in the east end. It’s my dream home. I’m supposed to be, currently, raising my precious kids there. Unfortunately, there was no job to be had by my husband in the region when we lived there. In an effort to come back someday, we have kept it and are trying to strategically place tenants in there who care for it.
Anyway, I digress … I need to find a reliable, available (on-call for random and unusual “emergencies”), honest, quality and affordable handy person. I want to support a local person. (Read: not a big property management company. Been down that road, got burned hard. Now keepin’ my money local!)
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Homegrown at Clyde Iron Works Log
11:15 a.m. – Contrary to rumors, there is no sign of campers at Clyde. (Via: Christa Lawler @DNTAnE) (more…)
Concrete work in Superior
I’m looking to have an old sidewalk pulled out, and a nice new one poured early this spring/summer if at all possible. I’m also considering adding a textured/colored concrete patio to my back yard. Can anyone recommend a good contractor in the area that I could call for a bid?
Bill Meier — “Katelyn”
Video by Tomas Soderberg, with Erin McConnell, Max Moen, Talia and Morgan Martens and Doug Odlevak.
Homegrown Music Fest Twitter Feed #hgmf12
Post your top Homegrown (#hgmf12) tweets in the comments below!
Butt Litter @ Homegrown
So, at Sacred Heart for Homegrown, and outside the doors, right next the a cigarette disposable receptacle, this guy (with a large beard) clearly flicks his still burning cigarette out on the ground, at the church no less. Now, I’m a smoker too, but is it really that hard to not litter the place with cigarette butts? Gosh, I guess I thought at least people going to Homegrown could care just a ‘wee’ bit better than this … end of rant.