Tour Duluth: One tired guy’s report
Did anyone else participate in Tour Duluth this weekend? Saturday was the last glorious day of the cross country ski season in Duluth, and the timing was excellent for the annual event sponsored by the Duluth Cross Country Ski Club.
Not to toot my own horn, but…here’s my little brag piece.
Reduced Parking Access to Lakewalk?
For the second time in as many weeks, I attempted to park near the Beacon Point Condos only to find parking severely restricted. Why do I feel like I’ve been taken in a give an inch, take a foot situation? It was bad enough the city permitted Beacon Point in the first place, but it was allowed under the premise that we’d all still have the same access to the area and so on. But I’m left feeling like an Apache who was told his reservation needs to be moved, and oh yeah, now it’s smaller too.
I’m not a native of Duluth. I moved here specifically for the availability of public land, parks, trails, etc. A piece of our freedom has been diminished, if anyone else cares. The big property taxes paid by the owners of Beacon Point appear to have swayed the local parking bureaucrats into closing the parking lot gate over the stormwater tank. Am I missing something here? Runners, walkers, and anyone else should have a fair opportunity to park in this area.
Local photojournalists film animal abuse in the South
Two local photojournalists are filming a documentary on animal cruelty in the South and the people working to change the culture there. David Cowardin and Joe Olivieri spent two weeks in the gritty areas of rural Alabama and are hoping to return for more footage and interviews. They launched a Kickstarter to raise funds for another tour South. You can donate here.
If their trip is funded, they would like to rescue a dog and find it a better home in Duluth. Anyone interested in adopting a pet can contact David at 320-290-0877 or cowar006 @ d.umn.edu. The adopter would only be responsible for the adoption fee.
This week: St. Patrick’s Day, Ides of March, Les Miserables, and more
Tuesday, March13
Nerd Nite is back at the Teatro with topics ranging from My Little Pony to calculating Easter.
Thursday, March 15
Les Miserables opens at the Duluth Playhouse and runs until the 25th. Some of the area’s best chefs are coming together to kill you at the Death by Chocolate event at Greysolon which will raise money for Arc Northland.
Friday, March 16
Luce gets taken over by local bands covering various other bands tonight and tomorrow with The Ides of March. Respect Your Old Man Poetry Slam will feature music, food, a silent auction, and poetry (obviously).
Saturday, March 17
Get your Irish on at one or more events going on around town tonight. R.T.’s is hosting a St. Paddy’s Day Meltdown with Cars & Trucks, the Acceleratii and Equal Xchange. Listen to traditional Irish music at Clyde with McInnis’ Kitchen and more. Duhb Linn Irish Pub has a plethora of Emerald Isle events including music, a buffet (today and tomorrow) featuring Irish cuisine, a mashed potato eating contest, green beer, and the unveiling of a new microbrew.
As always, keep checking the PDD Calendar for rad goings on around the Twin Ports area.
Mellow Iceberg Rides
The scene down at the lake these days.
Duck boat tours in Duluth
Does anyone think army duck-boat tours would make it in Duluth?. They can go on land and water. It’s a big success in Wisconsin Dells, Chicago, Boston and other cities. I’m looking for opinions and possible investors.
A Floating Rock in Lake Superior
I wish I’d gotten more footage for an even better view of this typically quirky Duluth sight. But I had to wade in to get this and I froze my ass off doing it, so this is what you get.
What’s the deal with those horns?
If you scroll through this slideshow displaying statues of Leif Erikson you will notice Duluth’s statue has something most of the other statues don’t have. Go ahead, I’ll wait …
So, did you notice? If you read the headline you already know what it is: horns. What’s more, if you read this article by UMD journalist Madiha Mirza, you will learn that Duluthian Stefan Guttormsson, president-elect of the Icelandic American Association of Minnesota, believes our statue should not have horns.
Of course, if that’s true, does it also mean the Minnesota Vikings’ logo is, um, wrong?
Homegrown 2012 Schedule
The link says it all: “For those that can’t contain their Homegrown excitement … here is a sneak peak at what Homegrown 2012 is looking like so far:”
Looking to pan out to be one helluva week. Get your vacation requests in now, folks!
Obscure Duluth Logomania
Nicole Meyer came up with the creative project of making a logo for every lake in Minnesota. At one logo every day, she figures it will take her 27 years to finish.
In the spirit of that, it might be interesting to see what kind of logos Duluthians could come up with for places like Goat Hill or Casket Quarry.
So here’s an open invitation to consider your favorite people, places and things in Duluth that no one would ever consider commissioning a logo for, and make one. How about a logo for “The Path” – the place across the street from Morgan Park Middle School where kids go to smoke? For the zip code 55812? For Restormel Street? Pick your favorite noun and go for it. The more obscure the better. Upload them to the comments of this post.
This is not a competition, it is only an exhibition. Please refrain from using the word “branding” at any point. That word makes everyone sick.
2012 Minnesota State High School Hockey Tournament Schedule Brackets
The Minnesota State High School Hockey tournament is starting today. The Duluth area has three teams competing this year — Duluth East Greyhounds in class AA, Hermantown Hawks and Marshall Hilltoppers in class A. Below is the schedules for both brackets. Good luck boys!
Does anyone have any good Minnesota State High School Hockey Tourney stories? From what I “remember” it was pretty crazy when I went.
MN State Hockey Class AA Live Bracket Click Here
MN State Hockey Class A Live Bracket Click Here
“The Raggedy Hat of John Henry”
New song by local musician Teague Alexy from his upcoming album, This Dance, available April 17.
PDD Calendar Editor Version 2.0 Wanted
Miss Abigail Schoenecker, editor of the PDD Calendar since September, is leaving at the end of March to pursue opportunities in the Twin Cities. The Perfect Duluth Day family wishes her well and will miss her talents — so much so that we will resist the urge to make disparaging comments about the Twin Cities to reinforce our Duluth exceptionalism.
Abby’s departure, of course, means there’s a job opening. If you are interested, follow the link and the instructions therein. Don’t fear the potential rejection; we’re pretty nice about it.
Art Scene: Something’s Happening Here
Friday night there are three art openings within walking distance of one another: The Prove, Washington Galleries and Ochre Ghost. This morning my post at Ennyman’s Territory shared other happenings here. The Twin Ports arts scene is moving.
Intectural Inc. is hiring
Intectural Inc. is hiring for a part-time customer service/administrative assistant. Please visit mnworks.org for more info. All resumes should be e-mailed to sales @ intectural.com by Monday, March 12, 2012. Please do not stop in or call.
Caitlin Robertson — “Like Pure Snow”
New video shot in Duluth.
Signs of Time Project
Amber Ooley, a LakeVoice News editor, started a project about the signs found throughout Duluth. These signs can be anything from a billboard to an illuminated store sign or even a sign that may represent something else.
You can find examples on the LakeVoice News Tumblr page. We have already linked two posts from PDD: Duluth’s Old Street Signs and Illuminated Signs of Duluth.
You can keep this conversation alive by submitting your thoughts, photos, or videos about the signs of Duluth. Directions for submissions are located in the first post at the bottom of the Tumblr page. If you would prefer to share your sign on PDD, we can link your post to our page.
If you have questions or comments, please email: lakevoicenews @ gmail.com.
This week: Irish and Scottish music, midweek blues, hockey and charcoal art
Three Duluth-area high-school boys hockey teams are competing in the Minnesota state tournament in St. Paul this week. Hermantown and Marshall have games on Wednesday; East plays on Thursday. But there’s more to this town than hockey, in case you haven’t heard.
Charlie Parr is playing at Tycoons Alehouse with Devil’s Flying Machine twice this month. The first time is this Wednesday, the second is next Wednesday. (This is contrary to earlier reports that Charlie would be playing the Brewhouse on those dates.)
Also on Wednesday, Teatro Zuccone is screening the documentary film Pray the Devil Back to Hell, which documents a peace movement called Women of Liberia Mass Action for Peace.
Kelly Thompson opens her solo art exhibition at Washington Gallery on Friday, featuring charcoal drawings and paintings created using a variety of media.
The trio of Ross Sutter, Laura MacKenzie and Danielle Enblom — collectively known as Northern Gael — will perform traditional Irish and Scottish music at the Quaker Meeting House on Saturday.
And that’s just a tiny sampling of the hoopla you can find in the PDD Calendar. Rant and rave about these events and more in the comments. Let us know if we’re missing anything.
Small Engine Repair Recommendation
My snow blower conked out and I need to find somewhere to take it for repair. I remember a thread like this not long ago but can’t find it searching here on PDD or through Google. If anyone can find the link and repost in the comments that would be great. Any other recommendations of places to go or to avoid would be appreciated. Any place that will pick up equipment would be most helpful because I don’t have a truck.
History detectives: Who was Lester?
UMD journalism student Julie Krienke wrote this great article for LakeVoiceNews.org. Maybe it’s just because I live on Leicester, but I think this article and Mark Atkinson’s search are a perfect candidate for the PBS series, The History Detectives. Maybe if everyone tells them we’d like them to join the search? It worked for TBT on Prairie Home Companion. (more…)
Lost Wedding Ring at Piedmont
Should you happen to find a wedding ring on the ski trails at Piedmont … um … that would be mine. It most likely came off at the overlook when I took my gloves off, but I couldn’t find it on my return visit. I suppose it could be anywhere along the trail or parking lot. Please call the PDD headquarters at 624-6087 if you see it.
Super Frozen – Lake Superior Surf Short
Lake Superior surfing video shot on Jan. 13, set to the song “Cry, Cry, Crow” by the Pines.
Name that Goo
After digging out my car yesterday, I saw this yellow stuff that had dripped off of it into the snow. I also saw it in almost every spot in the street after cars drove away. I can’t imagine all the cars on our block are leaking antifreeze, or that tiny dogs snuck under each car to pee.
Anybody else see it or know what it is? Let the conspiracy theories begin.