January in Duluth, Coming Together
I arrived in Duluth on Sunday night and I’ll be living in town for the next 31 days, trying to learn/produce as much as possible about Duluth through a project named January in Duluth. As a central part of this, I’ve started a blog at januaryinduluth.wordpress.com where I’ll be collecting thoughts, photos, audio pieces, etc. Also, you can expect a steady string of posts/questions from me on PDD until the end of the month. (more…)
Community Action Duluth needs volunteers!

Did you make a resolution to volunteer more and get active in the community? Well, lucky you, you can start on that right away by volunteering at Community Action Duluth’s Free Tax Site! (more…)
This week: Snowball Festival, movie matinee, Revolution 5 and more
Wednesday, Jan. 4
Lutsen Mountain’s Snowball Festival kicks off today and lasts through Saturday. This year’s festival features Dead Man Winter, Roster McCabe, Wookiefoot and more.
Friday, Jan. 6
Zstudio’s Grand Opening will host free classes throughout the day with a master class in the evening. The Fractals play at Player’s Sports Bar.
Saturday, Jan. 7
Zinema 2 kicks off its Family Saturday Movie Matinee series with The Muppet Movie. Minnesota’s premiere Beatles tribute band, The Revolution 5, plays at the Teatro tonight and Sunday.
Sunday, Jan 8.
Yoga North will have free classes and more at their annual winter open house.
Keep checking the calendar for more awesome area events.
A Few of Duluth’s 1911 Achievements
To read the story, click here for the PDF.
Where in Duluth can I find a … ?
I moved here a few months ago and love the area. My wife is looking for two types of stores: A Hobby Lobby type of store, and a good baker’s supply store. Can anyone help me out here?
Duluth wedding reception ideas
I’m getting married next summer and we are looking for a venue for our reception. I’m hoping to be able to either choose a caterer or do our own food and hold 250-300 people. I saw the post from last year and looked into several of those suggestions but I thought I’d see if anyone had any new ideas.
Weird light!!!
There was a scintillating pure white light on the south shore of Lake Superior from around 3 to 3:15 a.m. It looked big but binoculars did not make it much clearer. It shone all the way across the lake onto my bedroom wall! I have seen it before but don’t recall when. Does anyone know what this was?
Duluth’s Limerick, 2012 Version
There was an old man from Duluth
Who wept when he thought of the truth,
Remembering the chances with lots of refinances
and once while at Fon-Du-Luth.
(apologies, as I’m not really a good poet…)
Here is the original:
There once was an old maid from Duluth
Who wept when she thought of her youth
of all the missed chances at her school dances
and once in a telephone booth.
A Recent Gathering
Good Luck to Paul and Steph!

Dancing @ Norway Hall, Duluth, MN – 30 Dec 2011
More similar photos here.
Beaner’s Central New Year’s Eve Bash
Twenty-four original bands starting at 7 a.m. on Saturday, Dec. 31. See the schedule on the PDD Calendar or at the Beaner’s Central website.
Snow cover?
Doe anyone got deets on snow cover outside Finland? I’m heading into the woods for the day on Sunday. Yak Trax, snowshoes or both?
PDD Sightings
This summer I took the folks out west to visit family and began what I hope may become a growing gallery on PDD. Shots of the PDD sticker/logo and where it has traveled (or been spotted). (more…)
R.I.P. Mike Colalillo
Minnesota’s only living Congressional Medal of Honor recipient, Duluth’s Mike Colalillo, died last night.
Clawfoot tub refinishing
My wife and I have been throwing around the idea of a bathroom remodel. I’ve been on the hunt for a clawfoot tub that won’t break the bank and I think I’ve found one. Of course, I’ll need to inspect it personally with my “keen” sense of quality, but if all goes well, I may very well buy it. The photo and description indicate a need for refinishing. I’m wondering if anyone around Duluth has tackled this on their own and has some advice on a budget friendly solution or if anyone has had a local company refinish one for them (prices?). Any other advice or warnings would be great as well. Thanks!
Winter Fiasco + Art
Greetings from the Homegrown Music Festival steering committee! The Winter Fiasco kicks off 2012’s Homegrown: The Apocalypse band registration, which runs Jan. 15 to Feb. 15. Band registration is online only (unless you’re Jim Hall). Also, Prøve Gallery is hosting a Duluth / Superior rawk poster art show during the Fiasco. If you have art you would like to display, please contact Richard Hansen: richard [at] soundunseen [dot] com. Spanks!
Share a Little of Your (Secret) Duluth?
January in Duluth is fast approaching (a refresher on what that project will be)! As always, twenty-four short hours at a time. During the month, I’ll be posting on PDD regularly to ask for suggestions/recommendations/answers, as this seems like the exact right place for Duluth-related ideas. In fact, I’d like to start the project with your input. (more…)
Explorations Abroad: China
This looks like fun. Some friends of mine are going. Deadline is on the horizon! –db (more…)
Drunk in the Midwest
From the Star Tribune: “Why are we more boozy?”
“Many residents in the Upper Midwest are descendants of northern Europeans, and that’s an area of heavy alcohol consumption,” said Peter Nathan, a professor at the University of Iowa who has been studying alcohol use patterns and effects for more than 40 years. “The long, cold winters keep people inside more than in other parts of the country, so that contributes, as well.”
Tycoons Alehouse open Dec. 31 … and other restaurant notes
- The sign is up at Tycoons Alehouse and Eatery and a New Year’s Eve opening is planned with Cry on Cue playing. (more…)
Ear Worms in the Northland
I woke up this morning with a jingle in my head from a certain collision center on Haines Road. Infectiously annoying, toe-tappingly fun to sing along in the car or shower type of song… So can anyone with musical inclinations or a better understanding of the animal nature of the brain tell me why the Arrowhead Autobody song is so ear wormy?
“Don’t just call anybody!”
Homegrown Photos Wanted
The Homegrown Music Festival seeks 2011 festival photos for the 2012 Field Guide. For more information and where to send CDs, email: adam [at] transistormag [dot] com. No watermarks, please. Thank you!








A number of local artists were featured in interviews over the course of 2011 at Ennyman’s Territory. Links to each can be found 




