December 2014 Posts

Artificial trailer and Indiegogo campaign

Dec 23, 2014 2 Comments

My name is Lance Karasti and my team and I are working on a new project that will be filmed in Duluth over the next year. Artificial is about a young photographer who meets a mysterious visionary with plans to create a sentient program. We’ve already shot the prologue of the movie which features the photographer traveling around town and capturing some of the Duluth’s most iconic scenes.

For $10 you can get a copy of the film and your name in the end credits. Please consider supporting local filmmaking by donating and sharing the link. Thank you for your past and current support.


Videos

One Chill Ride

Dec 22, 2014 4 Comments

Keegan Burckhard compares various transportation modes for his commute to the University of Minnesota Duluth.


Videos ,

Do the School Board Twist

Dec 22, 2014 14 Comments

It’s been a while since Perfect Duluth Day held any rousing debates on the Duluth School Board and its ensuing antics as Loren Martel has issued one scathing indictment after another, illustrating in great detail the buffoonery he believes gurgles forth from this wily group of characters.

I’d like to field some of your fair and balanced opinions on what you think of this current chapter of someday Duluth history. How do you feel about the school board heading into 2015? The narrator will refrain from comment.


News and Current Affairs

This Week: Christmas, Christmas, Christmas and more

Dec 22, 2014 No Comments

Untitled design
Here’s a bit of what you’ll find on this week’s PDD Calendar:

It’s Christmas week, so it’s basically your final chance to get out and get a cheer infusion. The lights are still up at Bentleyville, Glensheen and Fairlawn, and Rubber Chicken’s holiday revue is still kicking.

Post-holiday, there’s lots to do. Check out Teague Alexy and Low Forms at the Red Star on different evenings, and see stand-up and improv comedy to laugh away the post-holiday blues.

But the real news of the week, of course, is that you can park for free downtown on Christmas Day. So why not ditch your family, drive downtown, and just aimlessly park your car in various places over and over? It’s gotta be better than listening to Uncle Jim talk about his political views, surely. Surely.


Events

Holidays and Such

Dec 21, 2014 1 Comment

I saw the Wise Fool Shakespeare production of A Christmas Carol this afternoon with Lucie Amundsen.

Lucie wrote:

Didn’t make it to the Wise Fool Shakespeare ‘s Christmas Carol? Dude, you missed out. Goosebumps, guffaws and a little case of the verklempts. Thanks cast for giving up your autumn to make my Solstice.

It’s true — community theater is hundreds of hours to produce a work as awesome as this one. I am grateful, as Lucie was, for all their efforts. Jodi Kujawa stole the show, for me, as the Ghost of Christmas Present doing a little fourth-wall breaking, too. But the whole afternoon was awesome, twice as awesome because Sunday was “pay what you can,” so the crowd was even more energetic than you might expect.

Kujawa wise

I ended today shopping at the Mall, where I saw Brian Rauvola shopping, too. Brian has done as much as any one man can to sustain a culture of photography in Duluth, and it’s good to see him take a breather from that work. I still miss the Duluth Photography Institute, which was his baby.


Random

Ladyslipper at the Red Herring; Arte de Moira

Dec 19, 2014 No Comments

I have a lot of art experiences to relate this week, but I thought I should set aside two today, and a few more this weekend, when blog traffic is admittedly lower, I bet.

moira 2 ladyslipper2

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Random

The Zamboni Explosion and Peterson Arena Fire of 2004

Dec 19, 2014 3 Comments

peterson arenaPeterson Arena on Grand Avenue in West Duluth was gutted by fire on Dec. 19, 2004. The image of the wreckage at left is a Bob King photo for the Duluth News Tribune, boosted from USA Today‘s story about the unfortunate and scary, yet still undeniably comical, Zamboni explosion. The fire marked the end of Peterson Arena, which served as the only indoor ice rink in western Duluth from 1971 to 2004. It was replaced by the Duluth Heritage Sports Center at Clyde Park, which opened in 2008.


History, Sports ,

Duluth Grill looking for more local food suppliers

Dec 19, 2014 2 Comments

Duluth Grill is looking to expand its local suppliers and is specifically interested in a place to find lamb … as well as other good local products. The restaurant spent over $399,000 with local farms and businesses last year, and is looking to expand.

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Restaurants

Selective Focus: Getting Around

Dec 19, 2014 1 Comment
Kip Praslowicz

Kip Praslowicz, untitled

This week’s entries covered a wide spectrum, though I had hoped someone might have submitted that jet outside the American Legion Post 71, or even a shot of illicit substances (I mentioned conveyances of any sort, yes?). Bear in mind, our themes are open to your broadest possible interpretation. The ironic, the cheeky, and the challenging… all are welcome here (except perhaps the snarky).

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Photos

Hey, filmmakers! Come to Duluth!

Dec 18, 2014 9 Comments

I’ve thought for a long time that Duluth is great on film. I think this does a good job selling our many assets. What did they miss?


Videos

Red Mountain – “Forestasia”

Dec 18, 2014 5 Comments

Perfect Duluth Day rendezvoused with Red Mountain on Goat Hill, and put together a little something special to get you in the spirit of hanging with friends and family this holiday season. Thanks to the Homegrown Music Festival for support in putting this together.

Find this video and other short clips of antics celebrating the season by clicking on this highlighted red text to view “A Perfect Duluth Christmas: PDD’s Holiday Video Showcase.”


Music, Videos ,

Cooking on the Car: Fish House Tacos

Dec 17, 2014 1 Comment

Okay we’re finally going to get back to this “Cooking on the Car” thing. Here’s the first segment of our West Coast trip that we took a few years back. We have a ton of footage from that trip so there will be many more episodes to document this awesome road trip. Thanks for your patience. Peace.


Videos ,

Larson announces she’ll run for mayor

Dec 17, 2014 12 Comments

Larson for Duluth Mayor

City Council President Emily Larson has announced she will run to replace Duluth Mayor Don Ness, who has said he will not seek a third term.

“I’m running for mayor because the next chapter for Duluth is critical,” Larson wrote on her Facebook page. “I’m running because our community’s continued progress will require new ideas, and because I want to ensure we write Duluth’s next chapter together.”

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News and Current Affairs, Politics

Southwire on WCCO’s list of up-and-coming Minnesota bands

Dec 17, 2014 No Comments

Duluth band Southwire topped WCCO’s list of the five “Best Up-And-Coming Minnesota Bands of 2014.” The trio performs at the Red Herring Lounge on Friday as part of Sarah Krueger’s album release party.

Southwire up-and-coming

Southwire debuted eight years ago, so the term “up-and-coming” seems a little odd, but the band’s debut album is not yet three years old and its popularity indeed seems to still be on the rise.


Music

Hit by Snowballs in Slo-Mo

Dec 16, 2014 No Comments

Outdoors, Videos