Weird
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.
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.
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…)
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.
Duluth Fireworks Disaster of 1988
A dud shell fell into a pile of unspent shells, and ka-pow! There were six minor injuries and zero fatalities. (more…)
Balloons
One of those enormous strings of balloons that arch across the street at the finish line for grandmas got loose and headed off into the heavens. Last seen flying high over Lake Superior headed south … I wonder where they’ll land or if they’ll ever be found … I wonder if there are tell tale marks on the balloons that will lead a finder to know they’re from Duluth. Hopefully they won’t end up in any bird or varmint bellies, that’s deadly. Any way to track them? Anyone else care but me? Anyone else get a better picture than this?
Solution for Iron Range economy
I’m no expert, but I came across this and I would guess that $20/gallon taconite pellets would turn the Iron Range economy around in a hurry? I haven’t done the math but I’m pretty sure this deal looks like a winner!
Oldschool.
Bain News Service photo c. 1913
Pretty sporty. Reminiscent of Soviet combat snowmobiles in basic concept.
Where in Duluth?
… is this?
Go Sit on a Wall photo contest winner
Congratulations to Beverly Godfrey, who submitted this winning photo of her children in PDD’s “Go Sit on a Wall” contest. Thanks to all who participated.
Rubber Chicken Theater‘s production of “Humpty Dumpty” opens tonight.
Do You Remember O’Keefe?
According to this website, the Duluth Public Library had a library cat named “O’Keefe” from 1982 to 1996.
I moved here in 1994 and have never seen nor heard anything about O’Keefe. Any of you long-timers know more? Why don’t we have a current library cat? I’d love to peruse the sci-fi section and come across a napping tabby.
(This isn’t an actual photo of O’Keefe – I just thought it was a cute pic)
Exp. Tues. @ The Venue
8-11 pm
be there or…
be at Sacred Heart or Blue Crab.
Tuesday night should have our own kickball team–Dada approach. TimK, could you build a backpack van de graaff generator with blinky lights and a vaccum attachment by noon on Saturday? We’ll need it for the game (Buenos Aries, 1941).
Sacred Heart Experimental Tuesday
* 7 p.m. – Tim Kaiser
* 8 p.m. – Rivulets
* 9 p.m. – Sight Like December
HOMEGROWN HOMEGROWN HOMEGROWN HOMEGROWN
For the Little People: The mysterious miniature village on Madeline Island
I used to always hear stories about a mysterious fairy village on Madeline Island. Supposedly someone built an entire little village out in the woods somewhere. Every time I’m on the island, I bike down a fire lane or back road I’ve never been on before hoping to take a peek, but I’ve never found it.
Has anyone actually seen it and can attest to its existence?
Growler Review
It’s no secret that Fitger’s Brewhouse beers are outstanding, but what happens when you mix a bunch of them together?
Having recently had 11 different Brewhouse beers available at an event, I was faced at the end of the night with many growlers that had less than an inch of beer left. So a consolidation into one growler seemed like the best idea.
The answer to the question at hand is this: If Wildfire Lager is one of the beers involved in the mix, the mix will taste like Wildfire Lager.
Chem-Trails over Duluth. Show the kids!
Here we have a small jet crossing back and forth over the central hillside/downtown area. The trails behind this jet are not to be mistaken as “Con-trails”!
Con-trails in warm weather will dissipate immediately if they are even visible at all. Who knows, maybe it is just white flour to excite the chattering class … bring out the weirdos, know what I mean. Perhaps entertainment or to mess up our eyes as we repeatedly look toward the sun. Do you suppose they are disabling our pineal glands, disrupting our inherent clairvoyant abilities? Will I wake up tomorrow with an arm growing out of my ass? I hope not, but in a strange way, I do. View an essay.
Lake Superior Brewing T-shirt design contest
are you good with design? would you like to see your design on a brewery t-shirt? well here is your chance. open call for lake superior brewing t-shirt designs. grand prize is two cases of the beer of your choice and the accolades and appreciation of an adoring public. (if we find a winner). we want to integrate the duluth/north shore scene into our shirts. use your imagination and get a couple of cases of beer for your trouble! cheers! 2187234000 / info@lakesuperiorbrewing.com
levi
Vintage Guns and Roses t-shirt, 5 bucks
Rummage Sale at Ness Headquarters, 909 east 9th street 9-5 today
Attention Jr. Nerds
UWS has an annual Science Night, and tonight is the night. We’ve gone the last couple years, and it’s a good time – for kids especially, but for adults too. Glowing goo, bugs, explosions, liquid nitrogen … yeah.
6-9 PM, UWS Barstow Hall
Look at this kitchen table filled with fabulous prizes
Congratulations to Mary on her victory in the Whacko Yard Art Photo Scavenger Hunt. As promised, Mary will recieve a Geek Prom T-shirt and Space Patrol walkie talkies. I’m also throwing in a used copy of Cinderella’s 1988 hit album Long Cold Winter, since the contest ended on the first day of spring.