Abandoned Plans: Hope Center
This picture is hanging in the men’s room on the main floor of the Union Gospel Mission. And that’s amazing all in itself, bathroom decorating decisions. But there’s more … clearly it’s an architectural conception or rendering of a long forgotten plan for a place called “Hope Center.” Many of you will recognize the proposed site and the buildings involved. I used to work in one of them so I find this especially compelling and mysterious for that reason … also amusing, the happy strollers depicted for scale or mood, people in architectural drawings always just seem like life is going perfectly, don’t they?
Now, I did a google search on this project and came up with a goose egg, nothing on this. Which made me even more curious about all of this. My questions are: 1) When was this to have happened? The fashions and cars in the image got me thinking mid 80s, also that would measure up with my memories, because anytime after that I bet I would have remembered this. 2) Why didn’t it happen? And (for extra credit) 3) Are there other abandoned or not yet realized plans out there similar to this one? I mean clear plans like this one, not some wild dream sketched on the back of a cocktail napkin — I’ve got a few of those around myself.
Chester Bowl youth summer program
If you’ve got kids and need something for them to do this summer, there’s still open spots in the Chester Bowl summer program. They’re doing things like kayaking, hiking, field trips (Twins game, Valleyfair, park point sailing and swimming, and other places around town.) Scholarships are available. Details, fees, schedules and more can be found on the Chester Bowl Site.
Moving by Bicycle
In June of 2009 I made up my mind to move from one apartment to the other. I also made up my mind to make this move using only bicycles and bicycle trailers. After making up my mind to do this I did some research and found some great testimony to this from other individuals and groups having done this on the Internet.
Two days ago, after I’d decided to move I found out about a contest that Madsen Cycles was putting on. If you’re interested in helping me win, click this link to their site and check out their cool bicycles (it’ll open in a new tab/window). If not, read on and enjoy.
Glensheen Concerts by the Lake
Get out your dancing shoes- Glensheen’s Concerts by the Lake started this Wednesday, July 1!
Enjoy toe-tapping tunes from the Jim Melde Big Band on the shores of Lake Superior this week and every week in July: July 1, 8, 15, 22, and 29.
The concerts begin at 7:30 p.m. and are FREE this year. (Don’t forget your lawn chair!)
More information about Glensheen is available at: https://www.d.umn.edu/glen/
Lincoln Park Mountain Bike Challenge and Festival
The inaugural Lincoln Park Mountain Bike Challenge & Festival on Saturday, July 18th is going to be packed with people and full of excitement for the entire family. The event takes place from 9:00 am to 9:00 pm in Lincoln Park at the Pavilion and is open to the public.
Lincoln Park Mountain Bike Challenge & Festival features:
Children, Beginner, Intermediate, and Advanced classes
150-250 participants and 500-1,000 spectators are expected
Cash prizes for top placement in each class
First Advanced biker to reach trail-entry is the “King of the Hill” and wins $50
Paved and off-road sections of race for all levels of competition
Kids Bounce House
Awards ceremony on grandstand stage
“Party in the Park” with live-music performances
Grand Raffle Prize Drawing
Event Raffle Prize Drawings
Food Vendors and Retail Vendors
Beer Garden
Got a motorcycle?
come out and ride it. 20 riders last month..come down and add a few more!
Free coffee from the co-op.
Peace out, Duluth!
Maybe you’ve read this post from my Facebook note, but in case you haven’t succumbed to that monster …
As some of you already know, I will be moving out of town soon to be with the love of my life, the wonderful and lovely Rebecca Zaban, in St. Paul. (more…)
Stinky Hippies
Duluth’s Trampled By Turtles are playing an unannounced show at the Looch tonight. Mmmm patchouli and bluegrass.
Free Money … Workshop
To jazz up this copy, I was gonna post a video of my favorite song about money (James Taylor’s Money Machine) to embed here, but I couldn’t find one. I did find it referenced in some music quotes though here
Is there too much month left at the end of your Money? In this class learn how to budget for you and your family and how to make the most of what you make!
The first 20 participants that complete the class will receive an earned interest gift of $50.00, a desk set to organize and budget for your financial future, and tools to make your money work for you!
Meets in the large conference room at the Building for Women on Wednesday, July 8th from 10 am to 4 pm call Kristi 218.727.3352 to reserve your spot, or just roll the dice and show up, maybe we’ll still have a spot for you. Click the Link above to download a flier with all the details.
EVERYONE WELCOME
Sponsored by Boyz II Dadz. Funded, in part, by a grant from the University of Minnesota Extension and a lot of other great people and organizations that want you to hold on to your money!
What next?
From the DNT, at 3:48 p.m. June 30. (Wish I knew how to screen shot. Help?)
No matter your perspective on the school plan front, seems the district is getting mighty upitty by demanding a water feature:
“Let Duluth Vote members said they posted bond today required to keep their anti-red plan lawsuit alive.
The Duluth school district, however, said the group did not meet the state rules for posting a surety pond, and it is calling for the case to be dismissed.”
The real thing?
While walking downtown today I noticed this painted billboard. It’s on First Street, east of First Avenue East.
I don’t remember seeing it before; maybe that’s because it’s facing opposite of the one-way traffic on First Street. In any case, has it always been there? Is it authentic? Restored? A reproduction?
Looking for used or cheap lumber/plywood
We are looking to put up a chicken coop in our yard and would like to do so as cheaply as possible. Is there a reuse center in Duluth or other place to get cheap wood?
Nokomis in Wall Street Journal
Nokomis, the restaurant on the North Shore between the French and Knife rivers, gets play in the Wall Street Journal:
Dinner Deep in Walleye Territory
The premise of the piece? “There’s good eats in places other than New York and L.A.” What do we learn from it? “Walleye is a very big deal hereabouts.” In any case, congrats to Nokomis for the (IMO, deserved) recognition.
The Fractals. Beer. Pizza. Prizes. Tomorrow.
Weather doesn’t look great, but it’s sure to be better than last year’s miserable conditions — and that was a blast. (more…)
Road tripping this summer?
Why not take a tour of some of the weirdest and most fascinating places out there? A recently started website, Atlas Obscura, is collecting and mapping the weird and wonderful places in the world. MN only has a few so far. I’m a fan of Weird WI but I really like that this is a ongoing wiki to collect the odd and unusual places of the world. I’m guessing that PDD folks know of all the best places here in MN and WI so add some stuff. Then when the kids ask “Are we going to Valley Fair?” you can tell them “No, even better. We’re headed to Dutch Corners Phillips, WI to see Fred Smith’s Wisconsin Concrete Park.”
So which state has the weirdest stuff? MN or WI? I’m leaning toward WI.
Happy sixth birthday to us
Perfect Duluth Day is six years old today! The photos above are from the first year.
Stop by the Wine Bar at Chester Creek Cafe tonight and raise a toast to PDD. We’ll be there from 9ish to 10ish. Door prize: Two tickets to Suzanne Vega at Big Top Chautauqua on Aug. 29.
Meat Puppets and Retribution Gospel Choir
ALSO: This Friday, July 3 – Retribution Gospel Choir, Burly Burlesque + Kevin Craig – $5 – 11PM – All ages.
Free Movie Monday
Monday, June 29th
6:30 Duluth Art Institute Gallery Tour
7:30 Star Trek II: The Wrath of Kahn
FREE
For three Mondays this summer the Duluth Art Institute is screening space related movies in honor of the visiting Smithsonian Show: “Beyond: Visions of Planetary Landscapes”. The first is THIS Monday. Enjoy a free tour of the galleries before taking in the OTHER best Star Trek Film ever made – Star Trek II: Wrath of Kahn. Don’t believe us? See for yourself and chow on free snacks courtesy of Ken Buehler and the Lake Superior Scenic Railroad. The screenings will take place in the ‘Zelda’ theater in the Train Museum.
Jeopardy!
I got a kick out of a Jeopardy! contestant’s response when describing where White Bear Lake was located. She said that it’s north of the Twin Cities and that, after Duluth, “… there’s Canada.”
The Chicken Hat Plays, July 10 & 11 in Proctor
The Chicken Hat Plays July 10 & 11 at Proctor Area Community Center – 7PM Both Shows
Rubber Chicken Theater presents 16 world premiere plays, all created in one weekend….It’s The Chicken Hat Plays, sponsored in part by Pizza Luce. (more…)
Rhubarb Festival
I suggested the Chum’s Rhubarb Festival to Bob Collins for his News Cut Blog as something fantastically Minnesotan happening to cover this weekend for his blog. He said send him some pictures. No idea how to do that exactly as I don’t have his email, and not sure if he was even serious, but I had lots of fun taking pictures with a Speedy Wienie-eye view today. I also tweeted a bit between customers mostly about weather and music, you can read them by following @jprennquist. (more…)
“On a Mission from God”
The effects of the state budget deficit will be felt by many, but one example I’ve been talking about is the potential loss of Hibbing Community College Theater. (Disclosure: I work for HCC as a communication instructor).
HCC has developed a top notch two-year theater program and community theater series. For years it has demonstrated to the blue collar Iron Range the importance and possibility represented by the fine arts. Unfortunately, the program is now on the chopping block. But the community isn’t taking this lying down. A deal was struck that if some money could be raised externally the program could continue in some form.
For one night only, a big show will be held that could save a precious community treasure from budget cuts. Yes, that is exactly like the plot of the 1980 musical “The Blues Brothers.” Which is why the cast of HCC’s 2004 production of the Blues Brothers is reuniting for the show. The HCC Blues Brothers and Blues Brothers band is top notch, as good or better than any of the other revivals you might see touring the country and is predominantly stocked with Minnesotans.
We need to fill this massive, historic hall to save theater at HCC. Consider a road trip to Hibbing to send a message in support of the arts.
HCC Theater Support Gala
7:30 p.m.
Thursday, July 2
Hibbing High School Auditorium
(easily the most impressive high school auditorium in the country, and Dylan played there before he was Dylan)
First, enjoy the hilarious promotional video featuring Elwood Blues (Hibbing’s Jaime Tintor, an actor in L.A.). This is well worth the click.
HCC Theater Support Gala featuring the Blues Brothers: July 2 in Hibbing
Send this out. Tell your friends. Tweet and Retweet. Blog and Share. Every town has something to fight for in this unfortunately political battle, but this one is awfully important to the towns of the Iron Range, knocked down by the economy and in need of the healing power of the arts. Tell the people: “We’re getting the band back together.”
Follow some hilarious updates all next week at my blog MinnesotaBrown.com