April 2014 Posts

Duluth Depot

Duluth Mystery Photo #13: Aunt Ella Jackman

The woman seated in this photo is identified on the back as “Aunt Ella Jackman.” So, of course, inquiring minds want to know: Who was this Ella Jackman and what about the woman standing over her?

Video Archive: How many geeks can you fit into a Kia Rio?

The third iteration of Geek Prom was held in 2004 at the Great Lakes Aquarium. As a publicity stunt, the prom committee decided to find out how many geeks could be crammed into a Kia Rio. Answer: 21. The more important question, however, was: Would the sight of it make WDIO-TV Eyewitness News anchor Dennis Anderson lose his composure? Answer: Yes.

Neighborhood book burner strikes Little Free Library

“Well I never!” What a way to start the day. Here at Loaves & Fishes on Jefferson Street, someone decided to set our Little Free Book Library on fire this morning! An officer happened to be driving by and she noticed flames emanating from the library so she stopped, grabbed her fire extinguisher, and extinguished the flames. Who thinks it’s a good idea to burn free books? Seriously.

Public lecture season…

Universities in our region rarely schedule as many public lectures in the dead of winter the way they schedule them in the spring. Driving is safer for regional guests, while longer daylight means more community members will brave the parking hazards of campuses.

As a result, then, I’ve been to too many public lectures lately.

From the PDD Archive: Leave a Message at the Beep — Jan and Wes Edition

Ten years ago Starfire amassed a collection of tapes from answering machines that ended up in local thrift stores. This is post number two of two featuring the old audio clips. The previous post featured the messages of the Twice But Nice store. Today we resurrect the audio files from the answering machine of Jan and Wes.

Jan

Bowlers

Have fun

Woods

Duluth Band Profile: Saint Anyway

Saint Anyway delivers driving stompgrass. Tony Petersen talks about how the band is in the process of changing its sound. Click on the image above to hear the interview.

Trampled by Turtles – Wild Animals – Drops July 15

Trampled by Turtles are releasing their new album, Wild Animals, on July 15. The album was produced by Duluth’s own Alan Sparhawk of Low and recorded at Pachyderm Studios in Cannon Falls. Check out the first single, “Are You Behind the Shining Star?,” below. TBT will be missed at Homegrown this year.

Help in identifying a Duluth location

I believe this is Garfield Avenue and Superior Street. A relative once had a grocery store directly to the left of Garfield in the photo. I’m pretty sure it is the store with the canopy or the one to the right (west) of that one. Charles Atol was the “original?” owner then later Jimmy Atol. Any information would be appreciated.

Abominable Snowman Costume

Does anyone know where I could get ahold of an abominable snowman costume? Any leads would be greatly appreciated.

Leave a Message at the Beep — Twice But Nice Edition

In 2004, Scott “Starfire” Lunt amassed a collection of tapes from answering machines that ended up in thrift stores.

“These are spectacular glimpses into people’s lives and I can’t believe they get so casually discarded,” Starfire wrote at the time.

Today we resurrect the audio files from the answering machine of the old Twice But Nice store.

Outgoing message

Lamps

Disgusted

Las Vegas

Missy

Bettie Mae

The streak is over! A level III predatory offender has been released to a Duluth neighborhood that isn’t the West End

The Duluth Police Dept. announced on Tuesday a level III predatory offender has been released and is living on the 700 block of Boundary Avenue in Duluth’s Bayview Heights neighborhood, on the Duluth/Proctor border. It marks the end of a streak in which eight consecutive sex offenders released in Duluth chose to live in the West End neighborhood. This was over a span of exactly one year, going by the dates of DPD news releases — April 8, 2013 to April 8, 2014.

R.I.P. Memorial Community Center

The community center building at Memorial Park in West Duluth is no more. The PDD Drone did a fly through on Sunday for posterity.

Where not in Duluth?

In a twist on our usual game of “Where in Duluth?” we note this time the image was not shot in Duluth, yet the flag references Duluth’s Enger Park. Ready? Set? Describe the location where this photo was shot.

Duluth Band Profile: Maddy Siiter

Maddy Sitter adds a youthful approach to song writing. She explains how music has aided her in addressing issues that few young adults address. Click on the image above to hear her interview.