The PlayList features Tim Kaiser, Coyote and Homegrown!

Check it out Thursday at 9 on WDSE/WRPT, local PBS. Tim’s instruments are amazing! And, there’s theplaylistonline.org to watch the show at your convenience.

Benefit Rummage Sale at YMCA

May 1, 9am-2pm at the Duluth YMCA

We’re getting rid of a year’s worth of lost and found, plus donations from the community.

Proceeds benefit our Strong Kids Campaign which raises money for all of our financial assistance programs. Did you even know the Y offers financial assistance? We do! For memberships, programs and summer camp. Things like this rummage sale, along with private donations, are our funding sources.

Vision Pro-Envision

Dead Man’s Cell Phone closing night

DMCP PosterJoin Renegade Theater Company, Lori Pietsch State Farm, and the cast and crew of Dead Man’s Cell Phone for a closing night celebration with Blackwater!

The party, which will take place on Saturday, May 1, from 6-8 pm in the back section of Blackwater, will feature hors d’oeuvres provided by the Blackwater Lounge. There will be a cash bar and a chance to mingle with the cast before seeing them perform!

For every Renegade event you attend this week, you will get the chance for one entry into our prize drawings. That includes Dead Man’s Cell Phone (Thursday, Friday and Saturday at 8 pm) and Renegade Improv (Friday and Saturday at 10:30 pm). Prizes include tickets for upcoming Renegade Mainstage shows and tickets to this years Dink Tank sketch comedy show … and more! You must be present at the party to win.

Join us for the party, for the show, or for both! We look forward to seeing you there!

Council says yes to purchase of NorShor

Predictably, it was a 6-3 vote. The easy part is over. Now the work begins. This ought to be interesting.

Challenge #1: Actually close the sale.

Challenge #2: If the strip club agrees to move out, will it open somewhere else? Wherever “somewhere else” might be, that’ll be a fun little controversy.

Challenges #3 through #209: Figure out how to fix the place up, get someone running it who can make it work, and everything that comes up along the way.

Film: Searching For Angela Shelton

Wednesday, April 28, noon at UMD in Kirby Student Center 273 B
Free Admission

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2-zRe2voQoo

Filmmaker Angela Shelton drives around the United States surveying other Angela Sheltons. She discovers that 24 out of the 40 Angela Sheltons she speaks to are survivors of rape, childhood sexual abuse and/or domestic violence.

Kid’s Paper Making – Reuse & Recycle

We will take a group walk through neighborhood parks to gather flowers & leaves. We will use those along with reused paper to create unique, new paper. Each child will be actively involved in creating their own paper to take home!

WHERE: Pineapple Art Center & Supplies      
124 W. First St., Duluth  | 218-722-2919    
*call to reserve spot by Sat 4pm

WHEN: Sunday, May 2, 2010, 2-4pm

Vision Pro-Envision

Chicken Spur

I first became aware two years ago that people refer to the Spur convenience store at the foot of the Blatnik Bridge in Superior as the “Chicken Spur.”

I found that out in the comments of a somewhat-related PDD post: “I’m old and I don’t understand anything, part one.”
(more…)

New York Times: Theater of the Variegated

Map of Downtown from "36 Hours in Duluth" New York Times 8.05.05

“36 Hours in Duluth, Minn”
New York Times, Aug. 5, 2005

9) Theater of the Variegated

You never know what to expect at the Historic NorShor Theater (211 East Superior Street, 218-733-0072), an oasis of culture in a scruffy section of downtown. Opened as the Orpheum in 1910 and later remodeled in Art Deco style, the timeworn Norshor is part movie theater, part concert hall, part performance space, part art exhibit hall and part whatever whim strikes the management. One July weekend featured a showcase of local and Twin Cities bands; the next included all-day showings of “Dr. Strangelove.”

(more…)

Vision Pro-Envision

Bike Safety Tips from Dr. Dog

One band that I really love and beg to come to Duluth made a great video for bike safety.  FYI Critical Mass and tourists coming to Canal Park.

Last-minute Reminder for Bicyclers

Fit City Duluth is hosting public meetings to survey bicycle riders in Duluth. Information gathered from these meetings will be used in a recommendation to the city and various other agencies who are interested in bicycle route development. The five remaining meetings will be held at 6pm at the following locations (and good food will be provided):

  • Monday, April 26th at the Piedmont Community Center
  • Tuesday, April 27 at City Center West
  • Thursday, April 29 at the UMD Garden Room
  • Monday, May 3 at the Central Hillside Community Center
  • Tuesday, May 4 at the Portman Community Center

Please visit fitcityduluth.com/bike for more information!

Made in Minnesota Thriller “Four Boxes” Coming to Zinema 2 for World Theatrical Debut

Four Boxes, a made-in-Minnesota thriller described as Rear Window on the Internet” and starring Justin Kirk (Showtime’s Weeds), will make its World Theatrical Premiere in Duluth at the Zinema 2 Theater May 21 to 27, 2010.

Written, produced and directed by Minneapolis filmmaking husband-and-wife team Wyatt McDill and Megan Huber, Four Boxes had its World Premiere at last year’s South-by-Southwest Film Festival in Austin, Texas. The film will tour nationally in the Fall to coincide with a Halloween release of the DVD, but Duluth will be the first place in America – outside of a festival – to get a peek at the film variously described as “The Blair Witch Project meets YouTube,” and “The Sex, Lies and Videotape of our time.” Visit fourboxesthemovie.com to see the trailer and find out more!

Expressions of Peace: Duluth’s Vision of Peace Community Art Show

Saturday, May 1, 2010
10am-4pm
Duluth Art Institute – Lincoln Park Site
2229 W. Second St., Duluth

An art show displaying the Duluth community’s idea of peace through various mediums of art. Community members are invited to submit works such as paintings, sculptures, drawings, poetry, prose, songs and small performances. We would like contributors from all age groups to participate!
(more…)

Vision Pro-Envision

Local poet Connie Wanek in New York Times book review

Local poet Connie Wanek’s most recent collection, On Speaking Terms is reviewed in today’s “Poetry Chronicle,” in the New York Times book review.

The end of the review says, “Nobody will call Wanek overly difficult. The most attentive readers will call her wise.”

Here’s to local wisdom without pretensions saying poetry needs to be difficult to be meaningful. I look forward to reading the new collection — you should too!

Where in Duluth?

Is this?

Vision Pro-Envision

Downtown Ace Hardware closing

Losing Daugherty Hardware was bad enough. Now Ace Hardware downtown is closing. The big-box stores cannot compare, and downtown takes another hit. Poop!

Ashes to ashes, dust to dust

This didn’t make a lot of news, and that’s a shame. Thanks Rep. Laine.

NEWS RELEASE
New Law Gives Minnesotans a Natural Choice for Care of Deceased

Saint Paul, Minnesota – Governor Pawlenty has signed into law changes that will give Minnesotans a more natural choice in how they care for their deceased loved ones. Under current law, a body must be embalmed if there is a public viewing, but State Rep. Carolyn Laine (DFL – Columbia Heights), who authored the bill, said this practice is largely unneeded. The new law permits dry ice to be used for public viewing of a deceased body within private property, such as a home, church or funeral parlor.
(more…)

Armory Public Meeting

Wondering what the crazy “Dylan fetishists” are up to with the Armory? Interested in hearing more about the plans for one of the best addresses and buildings in Duluth? Just curious to finally see the inside of the Armory? (more…)

Farmers Market Earth Day Festival

The Farmers Market is starting off the season with it’s annual Earth Day Festival.  Lots of different vendors, live music and earth friendly info.

Saturday, April 24, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. Corner of  14th Ave. E. and 3rd St.  in the big red barn.  Help support your local small businesses!

Vision Pro-Envision

Rowdy, Rowdy Rock Show!

4ONTHEFLOOR VS. PALOMINO

The 4 on the Floor vs. Dirty Horse Palomino
April 23, 10 p.m., Rex Bar at Fitger’s

oh so Critical Mass!!

Alright kids, the sun is out, the birds are chirpin and vitamin D is flowing through our veins again! Put on a dirty pair of undies cause its time to get physical. Yep you guessed it the season for riding together en flock is upon us. mixed with the whimsical whirr of our mighty bicycle machines i hear whispers of a Critical Mass forming this month, apr. 30th 5:30 at the Lief Erickson statue (12th E. and London). Ride in solidarity with our sisters and brothers around the world. See you out there.

Vision Pro-Envision

Hannah House (Loaves and Fishes) Fundraiser

The Hannah House Women’s Hospitality Collective is hosting a fun(d) raiser May 7 & 8 from 5:30-7:30pm ($11 single $20 couple kids under 10 free) at St. Paul’s church (Superior and 17th ave. E.). There will also be a silent auction of hand crafts made by folks in the Loaves & Fishes community on Jefferson St. in addition to live music. Proceeds will go toward house improvements in preparation for opening our doors to women who would otherwise be homeless. In addition to hospitality Hannah House will be a community space for women’s resources, events, workshops, and our dreams. We need solidarity and mutual aid much more than money so please come out and meet us!

Literary events at St. Scholastica

Margaret Hasse and Norita Dittberner-Jax
Saturday, April 24 – 7:30 p.m.
Somer’s Lounge, College of St. Scholastica

Marilynne Robinson
Saturday, May 1 – 7 p.m.
Mitchell Auditorium, College of St. Scholastica

Both events are free.
(more…)

Twin Ports Young Activist Summit

UMD Students for Peace and CSS Center for Just Living Present:

2nd Annual Young Activist Summit
Saturday, April 24, 10am-4pm
UMD Garden Room

Keynote Address: Brian Hokanson of the RNC 8 Defense Committee
Workshops Presented by: Dr. Emily Gaarder, Donna Howard and Celia Kutz of Training for Change

For more information contact:
Margie Nelson
mnelson4 @ css.edu
760-518-6758
Facebook: Second Annual Young Activists Summit!

Tisdales CD Release @ Pizza Luce

Vision Pro-Envision

First Thursday Motorcycle Ride returns!

You know the drill, right?
Get on your motorcycle, ride it to the co-op, have a cup of coffee, BS for a few minutes, then go for a ride with a bunch of random people, who knows? Maybe people you know. Whatever. Maybe we’ll even have a beer when we’re done. So get there, unless it’s pouring rain we do this. All bikes and all riders welcome. Tell your friends, find it on the Facebook … Twin Ports First Thursdays. See you there!