May 2015 Posts

Duluth up for bike park grant in latest online voting gimmick

May 04, 2015 No Comments

Red Rock - Cedar Creek - Spirit Mountain

Bell Helmets is awarding $100,000 to fund a trail-building project in one of nine U.S. cities in the latest online voting contest involving Duluth. Two cities have already been eliminated in the West Coast voting. Duluth is in the lead in the Central Region, which closes voting on Sunday, May 10. East Coast voting runs May 11-24. Voting in the finals will begin on May 25.

Cyclists of Gitchee Gumee Shores is the nonprofit organization leading the effort to improve trails at Spirit Mountain.


Outdoors

Graffiti Graveyard: Let us in!!!

May 04, 2015 8 Comments

As a graffiti artist, I feel the city should open up that desolate spot under the bridge again, so artists like myself don’t have to be in constant fear of our police department. I also believe that Duluth should have designated legal graffiti areas, like many other cities around the world. The reason we do what we do is because galleries won’t accept our work as “art.” They never even glance at the little guy. All we’re trying to do is make our mark on the world.


Random ,

This Week: pancakes, bikes, parties and more

May 04, 2015 No Comments

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

The 2015 Homegrown Festival is in the books, but that doesn’t mean there’s any shortage of post-fest activity in the Northland. UMD Dean of Fine Arts Bill Payne will defend a favorite film at the Zinema, the second-annual Veterans Expo is taking place in Superior, the 58th annual Lions Club Pancake Day is happening at the DECC, the Filmed by Bike Festival is at the Zinema, Grandma’s Sports Garden is throwing a party in honor of the end of the school year and Caroline Smith plays the Red Herring.

Mayor Ness hosts his final Bike Luncheon, the YWCA is having its Mother’s Day Walk/Run, the Cat in the Hat opens a month of shows for kids at the Underground, there’s stand-up comedy at Dubh Linn and kids can learn how to draw with Chris Monroe.


Events

Trampled by Turtles – Live at First Avenue

May 03, 2015 No Comments

Listen to the Turtles Saturday night show (5/2/15) at First Ave.

01. New Orleans

02. Codeine

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Music

Who won Homegrown 2015?

May 03, 2015 1 Comment
Photo by Melissa La Tour

Photo by Melissa La Tour

Which band altered the most souls, inspired the most hedonism and deserves to wear the championship belt this year?

The poll is now closed. Here are the results:

Bratwurst – 12.7 percent
The Blasphemists – 10.2 percent
The Electric Witch – 6.8 percent
Sweat Equity – 5.1 percent
Various other bands – 65.3 percent

Is it the music, the artistry or the stinky meat? Duluth music fans continue to love Bratwurst … despite, or perhaps more so because of, this year’s controversy. (The band denies any involvement in the Pig Head on Statue Incident. Duluth police and the humane society are apparently investigating.)

Photo by Cory Fechner

Photo by Cory Fechner

Photo by Judy Weber

Photo by Judy Weber

This is the third time in four years that Bratwurst has won Homegrown. It is also the third time in a row that the Blasphemists have finished second in the voting.


Music, Polls

Homegrown Kickball Classic 2015

May 02, 2015 No Comments

Duluth Homegrown Kickball Game

After sloppy conditions forced the two previous kickball games over to Observation Hill, the 2015 Homegrown Kickball Classic made a triumphant return to its rightful venue on the fields of Chester Bowl Park.

It was a fantastic day for kickball, and the only thing hotter than the midday sun were the zingers lobbed by Friday Rawkers pitcher Chad Lyons in between plays. There was nothing the Saturday Rollers could do to get players across home plate as the Rawkers shut them out by a score of 2-0.

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Events ,

Danecdote (featuring Brian Ring) – “I’m Gonna Say You Will”

May 02, 2015 No Comments

This video by Garrett Tiedemann was part of the 2015 Homegrown Music Video Festival. Click that fancy link to view more videos from this year’s festival.


Music, Videos ,

The Hobo Nephews of Uncle Frank – “Old Number Four”

May 01, 2015 1 Comment

The Hobo Nephews of Uncle Frank‘s new album, American Shuffle features the song “Old Number Four,” an ode to retired Packers/Jets/Vikings quarterback Brett Favre. As of this morning, the YouTube upload of the song (embedded above) had reached nearly 30,000 listens.

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Music ,

Business Analyst Position at St. Scholastica

May 01, 2015 No Comments

The College of St. Scholastica has an opening for a technical professional who will provide support and development to projects and process improvement initiatives. The business analyst, technical will join the college’s Business Technologies team of business analysts, project managers and developers that supports administrative, customer relationship management and web systems.


Random ,

Selective Focus: Last Week

May 01, 2015 No Comments
Cheryl Reitan

Cheryl Reitan, “Oddio”

Both of this week’s (only) submissions are from Cheryl Reitan; so glad to have met Oddio with her, Hugh Reitan, and Oddio’s brother Dean on Sunday for a genial studio visit. Then on Tuesday  I was also there for Tim Kaiser’s Monday Red Herring appearance. I’m fortunate to to have apparently seen all there was to be seen this week in Duluth.

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Photos