Countdown to spring
The ski hill at Chester Bowl is scheduled to stay open through this weekend, but it looks like Mother Nature may not be patient and cooperative. Already this weekend, the creek started flooding the bottom of the hill. So if you’re interested in taking or watching a waterskiing run at the Bowl, today might be your day. The lift is open from 4:30 – 8:30 tonight (Monday 3/8). The next scheduled day the lift is open will be Thursday, but that’s a long way away. Lift tickets are $5 at the concession stand. While you’re there, pick up a nifty Chester Bowl Hoodie or long-sleeve T-shirt at the concession stand.
Voices of the Lake Speaker Series
Full Circle: Hike Around the Greatest Lake
Presented By: Mike Link and Kate Crowley
Thursday, March 11, 5:30-6:30 p.m.
Great Lakes Aquarium Lobby
Free
Full Circle Superior is not just the first shoreline circumnavigation of Lake Superior by foot in recorded history – it is an incredible international bridge that brings together people, ideas and issues from areas as diverse as science, community, economy, education and the environment intricately into a web interlacing around and in the midst of this great lake. Join us as Mike Link, executive director of Audubon Center of the North Woods and Full Circle Superior hiker, describes the planning, preparation, and goals of this historic hike.
For more information call Sara Kubarek at 218-740-2013.
Colder gets older
Colder by the Lake‘s “Older by the Lake,” a comedy about aging, opens this Thursday night at Teatro Zuccone.
In the pic: Cathy Podeszwa, John Schmidt, Christa Schulz, Jack Setterlund and Gary Kruchowski. They guarantee the show will be “more fun than a barrel of reading glasses.”
This post is being published early on Sunday morning for a reason. The first person to write a comment on this wins two tickets to the opening night show (Thursday, March 11, 7:30 p.m.). It’s a reward for being up early on a Sunday and reading about oldness.
Oh, and don’t worry, the playbill is in large print.
Batteries – You’re So Excited
You can hear a track from this thing on MySpace.
Now available at the Electric Fetus and online at cdbaby.com/cd/batteries.
Or at the show tonight at Pizza Luce with Dead Man Winter. (Undesirables had to cancel, utmost apologies.)
Renegade Free Improv Weekend
Renegade Theater Company is proud to announce a free improv weekend on Friday, March 12 and Saturday, March 13. Tickets are on a first-come, first-served basis, and you must be present to claim your ticket. Tickets will be available beginning at 9:30 p.m on both nights. The improv performances are at 10:30 p.m on both Friday and Saturday at the Teatro Zuccone in downtown Duluth.
(more…)
Photo of Dusty Olson and Scott Jurek in April issue of Runner’s World Magazine!
Not only did Duluth help raise the lovely Olympian runner Kara Goucher for a short time at Duluth East, but ultramarathoner Scott Jurek calls it his hometown.
As I opened up this month’s issue to the article about Jurek, I had to giggle with shock at the photo of he and another D-town personality, Dusty Olson! Go buy the issue today! And, oh, start running, too.
Here it is! Lake Voice News
Some of you were in a discussion in February about what UMD Journalists should name their online news organization. Thank you for all of your suggestions!
We would like to announce our name and website. We called it “Lake Voice” after an old French newspaper in Duluth, “Voix du Lac.” We focus on community news.
Please check us out and feel free to give any feedback.
lakevoicenews.org
twitter.com/lakevoicenews
facebook.com/lakevoicenews
“The Process” and Nathan Ness
Duluth native Nathan Ness appears in the new film The Process, which premieres March 20 at the Suburban World Theatre in Minneapolis. (more…)
“Theives Like Us” – Duluth screenings
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=meTLvNpGDs0
“Thieves Like Us” is a feature-length action comedy (Jackie Chan style) made for about $3,200. There are two screenings at the Duluth Playground — March 5 and 6 at 7:30 pm.
The screenings will be followed by a Q&A with the director, Jarrod Crooks, and actor/producer Daniel Quaile of St. Paul-based Film Under 5, a production company with the goal of showing “that if you get creative, write a good story, and work your butt off, you can make a feature film for under $5,000.”
Photographers Kim Borst and Shannon Cousino Exhibit
Photographers Kim Borst and Shannon Cousino are unveiling new work in a collaborative exhibit, which opens Friday, March 5 from 6-9 at Washington Gallery. Both artists have a unique approach to photography that utilizes traditional black and white darkroom techniques. (more…)
Low reaches for ‘Heaven’ with dance
Duluth indie band Low is trying something very new about a very old subject as band members are collaborating with Minneapolis choreographer Morgan Thorson on “Heaven,” a dance exploring religious ritual. (more…)
Toast the Arts – Taste the Wine
“Toast the Arts – Taste the Wine” is a wine tasting, silent auction and live auction fund-raising event benefiting Choice Unlimited’s Arts Program. Choice Unlimited is a non-profit organization supporting individuals with disabilities in their pursuit of employment and community inclusion. Choice Unlimited’s Arts Program provides instruction in visual arts, dance, and acting classes. Bold-choice Theatre Company, part of the Arts Program, creates disability awareness productions providing unique performances for community and student audiences. (more…)
High Volt Rustler – “Spinning”
Duluth band High Volt Rustler performs “Spinning” live in studio at KUMD.
Duluth in Winter on a Fixie
This YouTube video has gotten a decent amount of traffic recently. Check out the icy hills of Duluth from the saddle of a fixed-gear bicycle.
Earth Hour 2010
Designed: Chelsey L
Earth Hour will be coming back to the Duluth area this March! From 8:30 to 9:30 p.m. on March 27 the World Wildlife Fund asks individuals and businesses to turn off their lights for the hour. Nearly one billion people from 87 countries participated in Earth Hour last year! (more…)
Anyone Can Participate
Sarah Heimer wanted me to pass along a reminder that the 4th Diorama-Rama is this Saturday at 7pm. Sacred Heart Music Center. All-ages. Info: caradiabolica [at] hotmail [dot] com.
Shorter Days for All of Us?
Maybe this isn’t really a local enough topic for PDD, but given the earlier post on whether we’re vulnerable here to earthquakes, a Yahoo news story today seems interesting and relevant. The Chile quake apparently may have shifted earth’s axis, and made earth days slightly shorter. And this has happened before with big quakes, too.
Reminds me, too, of a Harper’s article from 2000 about dam building. There’s a quotation in that article that says: 
“The planet accommodates 40,000 large dams–dams more than four stories high–and some 800,000 small ones. They have shifted so much weight that geophysicists believe they have slightly altered the speed of the earth’s rotation, the tilt of its axis, and the shape of its gravitational field. Together they blot out a terrain bigger than California.”
So, any thoughts–think we’re headed towards shorter Perfect Duluth Days due to earthquakes and dam building?
Duluth native Rya Ehle releases first EP – Table No. 9
Duluth native Rya Elhe who now lives in Nashville recently released her first EP titled “Table No. 9”.
Growing up in Duluth, Minnesota, Rya Ehle never got used to the 40-below wind chills that blew in off of Lake Superior each winter. It was there that her 18 years of classical piano training began at the young age of 4. At age 6, her passion for songwriting surfaced in compositions titled “Curious Frogs” and “Death of the Bees.” “I remember wanting to be just like Beethoven,” Rya recalls, “and when I found out he’d started writing at age 4, I remember thinking I’m already 6, I need to catch up!”
Listen here: https://www.myspace.com/ryaehle
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ryaehlemusic
Apologies in Advance for Opening Such a Shit-Storm of Nerdom
Thursday, March 18 · Triple Rock Social Club
Leslie and the LYs with Christopher the Conquered
Cross City Trail: The Proposed Middle Segment
In a Feb. 18 post the maps for the proposed Cross City Trail — which will connect the Munger Trail to the Lakewalk — were laid out. In the comments I included photos of the various route options for the westernmost section.
The middle section of the trail — from Ramsey Street to Clyde Park — has only one option, so there’s not a lot to seek feedback on, but I thought I’d shoot some photos anyway.
This bridge is actually NOT part of the proposed trail; I just like that a tree is growing through it.
And if all of PDD said it, they’d call it a movement … the real cream movement!
I have discovered something wonderful! Cedar Summit Farm cream. It’s the real old fashioned deal from a family run sustainable farm near New Prague, Minnesota. Shake it vigorously and it becomes the most awesome butter. Whip it good and it becomes the best whipped cream I’ve ever tasted.
Problem is, I have to drive to the Whole Foods Co-Op in Grand Marais to stock up. Of course, being available in Grand Marais, the delivery truck drives right through Duluth. Indeed, the Whole Foods Co-Op in Duluth stocks Cedar Summit Farm milk but not the cream.
So, please take my word and join me in emailing, calling or otherwise communicating to the Whole Foods Co-Op in Duluth that they must stock Cedar Summit Farm Cream! Contact info at wholefoods.coop.
And no, I’m not affiliated with Cedar Summit Farm in any way other than being a Cedar Summit Farm cream devotee! For more see cedarsummit.com.
They even have happy cows! Let the movement begin!
Mexico Lindo sign is up at Fitger’s
I noticed last week that the sign is up outside the Fitger’s Brewery Complex for the Mexico Lindo restaurant. Any word on an opening date? Anyone?
In other Mexico Lindo related news, don’t go to the Cloquet location on Friday. I’m predicting the place will be packed like never before. Denfeld plays Hermantown for the Section 5A hockey championship at the Cloquet Area Recreation Center at 7 p.m. I’m sure I’m not the only one planning a pregame meal.