July 2012 Posts

Duluth’s Best Guitar Slingers

Jul 25, 2012 15 Comments

The Chaperone Records post (congrats on that – great to see here) reminded me of a conversation at Bayfront regarding the area’s best guitarists.

IMHO, the Twin Ports Bridge Festival featured three of the area’s top ten, maybe even five. Charlie Parr, who seems to have become a master of his genre. Jimi Cooper of the Fractals, who I have seen do many styles effortlessly. Barry Pirkola, also of the Fractals, who exhibits a similar smoothness to Jimi and works the steel as well.

We’re lucky to have so many great artists right here in our community (Twin Ports area – I titled w/Duluth because this is PDD). I’m curious and would enjoy hearing who others think are the area’s top five or ten if you feel like going deeper.


Music, Recommendations

Chaperone Records … unveiled!

Jul 25, 2012 3 Comments

Chaperone Records is Duluth’s newest, true-bluest, local-centric record label!

Founded in May of 2012, Chaperone Records is devoted to the promotion and enfranchisement of northern Minnesota’s musically progressive community. In a world of cheap, plastic gadgetry, a product’s finest aesthetic can only be achieved through passion, insight and an honest commitment to quality. This is the foundation of Chaperone Records’ philosophy and the impetus behind its inception.


Art, Events, Music, Videos

The Flame Nightclub, Duluth version

Jul 25, 2012 9 Comments

The new Flame Nightclub at 26 N. First Ave. W. in Downtown Duluth opens on July 29.


News and Current Affairs

I can hear the grass growing …

Jul 25, 2012 4 Comments

My faithful electric lawn mower of 14 years has died and they don’t make a replacement battery anymore. I am seeking a push mower that will last at least a couple more years for $75 or under.  Does anyone have a mower to sell?


Random

Photo Archive

Jul 25, 2012 10 Comments

I’m looking for a simple solution to “cloud type” photo storage.  Currently we attempt to consolidate all our photos on one computer via thumb drive and other work arounds.  My wife and I each have a smart phone, we have multiple digital cameras, and multiple computers to which photo’s end up being downloaded – so it gets to be a mess when we “organize” pictures.

It seems that it would make more sense for me to directly upload pictures to a remote site we all could access for viewing.  Editing would be constrained to one computer.  A nice option would be to have some sort of “syncing” tool similar to the iTunes and Google Drive solution suggested here by my earlier post.

My wife likes to edit photos and put together photo books while we are driving and therefore needs to be able to access the photos offline. So ideally, as photos were edited – these would also be reflected online post sync. There would not be a need to keep all photos locally – just the ones of interest. The syncing would only need to be with one computer; but uploads would be from various sources.


Recommendations

Experimental Cinema

Jul 24, 2012 No Comments

Lawrence Bernabo previewed my documentary Wild Bill’s Run on KUMD. Meanwhile, I had a bunch of mesmerizing raw footage left over from editing the film. I thought it might be a good idea to throw these two things together, sorta randomly, without thinking about it too much.


Videos ,

Seeking Commerical Kitchen to Rent

Jul 24, 2012 5 Comments

We’re looking for a commercial kitchen available to rent ASAP. Ideally, it would not be a shared space, but we’re open to all suggestions. Thanks, PDD community, we could really use your help on this.


Recommendations

Trampled by Hippies

Jul 24, 2012 1 Comment

Bruce Woodman had the fanciest shirt in West Duluth this morning.


Music

Sad Summer

Jul 24, 2012 23 Comments

So there we are last night, my hubby and I, enjoying the warm Summer night driving east down Superior Street. I would say it is about 9ish or so. And there I see the saddest little child, looking tired and laying his head on his dad’s (I presume) shoulder. This child was dressed only in a diaper and was about 1 year old.

So what is the big deal you ask? Because this child was in front of the Last Place on Earth. Is it just me or is this way fucked up??? I know, I know the law is being changed and there is only so much the cops can do. But my God people think about your kids for one minute and don’t expose them to what I saw standing there last night on that sidewalk.

What a dark turn this particular area of Duluth has taken. If you don’t believe me, take a drive down Superior Street some evening and see for yourself. I hope you don’t see the same tired, sad little child I did, but it wouldn’t surprise me if you did.


Random ,

Thanks Duluth School Board

Jul 24, 2012 19 Comments

I just found out that 3 out of the 4 professionals that have helped my autistic child so much last year have been released. I don’t know how we are going to cope.

I hope everyone enjoys the new buildings; they cost more than you can imagine.


Uncategorized

Duluth Flood Skateboarding

Jul 23, 2012 6 Comments

Post-flood skateboarding with Colton Maddy, Steve, John Schneider and Taylor Verva. Shot by Travis and Cody. Edited by Travis Doyle.


Videos ,

Henry Brick

Jul 23, 2012 3 Comments

Since the subject of Henry Brick came up in the “Bring back the bricks!” post, I thought I’d offer some background by way of a retrospective article I wrote 15 years ago for the Budgeteer News.

The man who saved downtown
By Paul Lundgren
Budgeteer News
June 1, 1997

The bricking of Downtown Duluth’s First Street in 1984 created traffic problems, parking hassles and unpleasant noise and dust. Retail shoppers took their money elsewhere. Superior Street was next on the bricking list in the summer of ’85, and business owners feared the effect on business would be similarly disastrous.

Then came Mr. Henry R. Brick, clad in overalls, flannel shirt, black bowtie, hard hat and horn-rimmed glasses. He starred in 38 television commercials that summer, encouraging shoppers to “come on down and jaywalk” through torn up Superior Street. They did.

Henry Brick quickly became one of the most highly recognized people in Duluth. When the construction was finally completed and the future of downtown secure, he disappeared – like any superhero would.

Read More


History

Sofa on the beach

Jul 23, 2012 12 Comments

One of my favorite things about Duluth beaches are that they are, all things considered, remarkably clean, and I make a point of picking up trash on beaches should I find some. However, I’ve met my match. There is a sofa on the beach just below the 26th Avenue East entrance to the Lakewalk. It’s already a pretty grim sight, and is only going to get worse. Two quick questions:

1. Is anyone willing to help haul it up off the beach?
2. Any ideas of how to dispose of it once we do?


Recommendations

This week: barn, beets, Barber

Jul 23, 2012 6 Comments

   

Here’s a sampling of what you have to look forward to this week on the PDD Calendar.

Basketball and Art Camps open today, but if you are just figuring this out, you are probably too late.

The Explorers Club series of films starts at the Zinema 2 this Tuesday with Restless City.

On Wednesday the Duluth Community Garden Project is offering a class at the Damiano Center on cooking beets from the garden and other gardening and cooking tips.

This week is your last to see Hair and Side Show and both are getting great reviews.

The Lake Superior Chamber Orchestra featuring Paul Bagley and Jonas Benson plays this Thursday at Weber Music Hall.

Want to see independent films in a big barn? Well the Free Range Film Fest runs Friday and Saturday with a bushel basketful of farm fresh films.

So what are you doing this week? Can we tag along? Any upcoming events that you want to promote? Let us know!`


Events

Swimming Lake Superior July 21st

Jul 22, 2012 No Comments

Warm as amniotic brine.


Outdoors, Recommendations, Videos