Spirit Lake Poetry Series reading coming up

On November 13, Jude Nutter and Thomas R. Smith will read at Somers Lounge, CSS, for free.  7:30 pm.  

Jude won last year’s MN Book Award in poetry with a terrific book called I Wish I Had a Heart Like Yours, Walt Whitman. She was raised on the grounds of the Bergen-Belsen concentration camp in Germany, and the poems in this book concern some of that experience.  

Also reading is Thomas R. Smith, who has a brand new book from Red Dragonfly Press called The Foot of the Rainbow.  Don’t miss this reading — it’ll be great.  Oh, and Spirit Lake now has a website: spiritlakepoetry.wordpress.com.

Sample Ballot for Duluth, St. Louis County, Minnesota 2010 General Election

This sample ballot is for House District 7B, so, depending on where you live, it might include some stuff you won’t get to vote on (like State Rep for 7B or State Senator for 7) and might not include some stuff you will get to vote on (like State Rep for 7A or 6B, or the big race for District 1 County Commissioner). So heads up on that.
(more…)

Sample Ballot for Superior, Douglas County, Wisconsin 2010 General Election

Here it is, a sample ballot so all the folks in Douglas County can practice at home.
(more…)

Howl-o-Ween at Hartley Nature Center

Independence of Duluth News Tribune Political Endorsements

The recent DNT endorsement of Chip Cravaack, a conservative Republican who enjoys a lot of Tea Party support, made me want to tap the PDD community for information and discussion of the DNT endorsements over the years. The Fargo-based, private company Forum Communications became owner of the DNT in 2006. Since then, the DNT and the many other Forum newspapers overwhelmingly tend to endorse conservatives and Republicans as a bloc.
(more…)

The Return of Glass Elevator

Glass Elevator plays around midnight. DJ sets by DJ Focus and David Stromdahl all night 9-2. No Cover!

Loup-Garou & Excuse Me, Princess at Amazing Grace

show flier for Oct 29

This Friday the 29th, treat yourself to some home-cooked and tasty tunes at the Amazing Grace Bakery and Cafe!

Loup-Garou and Excuse Me, Princess will be taking stage at 8pm to jam the jams you know and love as well as the ditties that will get stuck in your head once you hear them. Best part of it all – it’s completely FREE!

So if you didn’t get a ticket to Mumford and Sons but still want to feel like you’re doing something productive on a Friday night, come have a sandwich, coffee, tea, or some delectable cake while watching two of Duluth’s music-making conglomerates.

Duluth Lakewalk extension open

The newest Lakewalk section — between 47th and 60th avenues east — is open. Any reviews?

“Tradition”: Fiddler on the Roof, Jr. at the Duluth Playhouse

I had the opportunity to attend a performance of this charming production on opening night.  A talented group of young actors and a kid-friendly run time (just over an hour) truly make this an event for the entire family (not to mention a great way to introduce a younger generation to a well-loved musical!).

Hail of bullets:

  • What: Fiddler on the Roof, Jr.
  • Where: The Duluth Playhouse
  • When: October 22-31 (Thursdays and Fridays at 7 p.m., Saturdays at 1 and 4 p.m., Sundays at 2 p.m).

Duluth in the 1970s

There’s now a Facebook page for 1970s-era Duluth nostalgia.

I know it’s not the Twins but …

At least it’s not the Yankees. I’ve waited 39 years for this. Dad would be proud.

Monahan Brothers Make it to D.C.!!

Remember back in May!?!?! Well, 3,100 miles later, the old guys made it! This photo was taken at the Lincoln Memorial on Wednesday, where organizers from movetoamend.org unfurled a ginormous (20×100 ft.) preamble to the Constitution for people to sign. It was quite a display, both visually and emotionally (I’m pretty proud of my pops). The crowd was receptive and security was … cooperative. Pics from the action made it into USA Today and the Washington Post. Anyway, what a day! If this is inspiring at all, consider signing the motion at movetoamend.org. If you’re curious, here are the rest of the pics from my epic political activism adventure:

SmugMug: Monahan Brothers in DC 10-2010

Duluth’s “Union Block” and its Tenants

UnionBlock

The two buildings on the corner of First Avenue West and Fourth Street are known as the “Union Block,” though that name probably hasn’t been used much in the past 50 years.
(more…)

Vladimir Lobanov Demonstration

The Duluth Sister Cities program is hosting a delegation from Petrozavodsk, Russia this month, including a watercolor artist named Vladimir Lobanov. The Lake Superior Watercolor Society is sponsoring a free demo by Vladimir on Oct. 28 at the DAI Lincoln Building – social time from 6-6:30 p.m. followed by the demo. The event is free and open to the public.

Looking for Hobby Wood Species

So I’ve got a couple of winter projects that I’d like to begin tackling soon. I’m looking to build an entertainment center and a hutch. I’ve been to Home Depot and Menard’s, and the only species I’ve found for hobby projects are pine and red oak. This leads me to a couple questions.

1. Where can I find a variety of wood species at a reasonable price?

2. I’ve considered using cherry for these projects (I haven’t found any…) mainly because I’ve seen it used in other projects and have liked the grain. Does anybody have experience with cherry? Would you recommend it or would you recommend another species for said projects?

Da Houze of Flavor

DaHouzeOfFlavor

I guess I have a knack for walking past this building whenever a new sign is going up. (Like in 2006, when the Hip Hop Candy Shop opened; this is the same building, different storefront.)

Anyway, someone standing in the doorway told me Da Houze will be a record store and will open in a few weeks. So there’s the scoop. It’s on Fourth Street and First Avenue West.

The question that occurs to me now is, if it’s “Da Houze,” shouldn’t it be of “Flavah”? Is it just me, or should houses be of flavor, and houzes be of flavah?

Bulldog & WCHA Hockey on WDSE-WRPT

Get a front row seat for WCHA action, right in your living room! Live from the new Bemidji Regional Event Center, WDSE-WRPT will broadcast WCHA Hockey games on the Minnesota Channel (8.4/31.4) this fall.
(more…)

Feed Me Blood & Rocks

Lion or Gazelle’s debut EP, Feed Me Blood & Rocks, is now available for free on its Bandcamp page. Enjoy.

CSS Stockfest Presents Cloud Cult!

The College of St. Scholastica will be bringing Cloud Cult to the Mitchell Auditorium on Nov. 20. Doors open at 7:30 and the concert starts at 8. Tickets are $15 and can be purchased either on the CSS campus or at css.edu.

Trunk or Treat @ Eastridge Church

Saturday, Oct. 23, 3-6 pm
Eastridge Community Church
3727 W. Arrowhead Road, Duluth
(more…)

Rowdy crowd at Oberstar/Cravaack forum

It was an emotional crowd at the Congressman Jim Oberstar and challenger Chip Cravaack forum on Tuesday, Oct. 19. A crowd filled the main level of the DECC Auditorium and didn’t heed the requests of forum moderators Dave Orman or Chuck Frederick to keep the event civil.

At the beginning Orman told the crowd that there had been a fist fight in the Skywalk (which this blogger thought was a joke, but apparently not). See more photos and the whole Hillsider blog post here.

Guitarist Laura Young at Weber Hall

Friday, Oct. 22, 7:30pm
Weber Music Hall
Adults $10 | Seniors $8 | Students Free

More info at www.mnguitar.org or www.d.umn.edu/music/events/

Baby Brain?

The perception that pregnant moms and moms who have recently given birth have difficulty remembering things has recently been debunked. However, as a woman with twin four-year-olds and a six week old infant, I have to wonder.

When I was pregnant, I attended Stacy Holden’s prenatal yoga classes at the Coppertop Church on Monday nights. Stacy does a great service to pregnant moms by offering this class. She will often say, ‘Try to remember this pose when you have given birth as it is good for stretching out muscles that tense up while you are nursing’. I for one, am not good at remembering such poses. So, I encouraged Stacy to publish a booklet/pamphlet or something for pregnant and new moms to continue the lessons we’ve learned in her class. She was one step ahead of me. Stacy would like to produce a CD with spoken word instructions on poses that would have an accompanying poster with photographs of the poses. She has worked with Chelsea E. Morgan and Magic Box photography and has a collection of photos she’d like to use.

So, why am I posting this? She’d like some help with recommendations for a process to produce the CD. Should she contact a recording studio to produce the CD? If so, anyone have any recommendations?

I’d really like to see her achieve this goal, so I’m working as a middleman in the process. Thanks for your feedback!

Candy Wrappers

Personalized over wraps for candy bars are becoming very popular because it provides a treasured memento of the special occasion, which can be cherished for many years to come. I can provide elegant and creative over wraps for events such as weddings, birthdays, baptisms, birth announcements or invitations of any kind for ANY occasion.

Any quantity!

I can wrap mini candy bars or full size…your choice.

Reply for pricing, it’s more reasonable than you might think.
duluthcandywrapper@yahoo.com

“Let’s Do the Time Warp Again!” Rocky Horror Picture Show at Duluth Playhouse

The Duluth Playhouse will be presenting The Rocky Horror Picture Show on Oct. 29 and 30 at 9:30.  The event will include:

  • Audience participation and costumes (but of course!)
  • “Scarioke” (Halloween-themed karaoke)
  • Prop bags (request a prop bag when reserving tickets, as supplies are limited). The bag o’ tricks will include glow sticks, newspaper, water gun, noisemakers, etc.
  • Players re-enacting the film in front of the screen
  • Costume contest, including prizes for “Sweetest Transvestite”, “Best Transylvanian”, and “Best Team/Group”
  • A chance to learn the choreography for “The Time Warp”



This “Floor Show” is rated R, so leave the kiddies at home. The seats in the Playhouse will be covered, to maximize mayhem.

So … who’s planning on kicking off their Halloween weekend in style with The Rocky Horror Picture Show? What transsexual Transylvanian costumes are you considering?