February 2016 Posts

North Shore 2016

Video by Chad Kirsebom.

Where in Duluth?

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Selective Focus: Sweet

Sarah Jean

Sarah Jean, untitled

Given our theme, this week’s images could easily have veered into cloying territory. Thankfully I received many uniquely interpreted shots, and some that are even exceptionally moving. I’m grateful how this feature included our older loved ones; a population often disregarded in visual art. Let’s remedy that next week by dedicating a theme to our “elders.”

Mushroom Hunting in Duluth

Video by Squawk Productions — Sam Thompson and Caitlin Hargarten of Minneapolis.

No Interest at the Speakeasy

Hardcore punk band No Interest, performing in a Duluth basement that was recently taken off the party market.

Updated concept plan for Lake Superior Zoo

Click the image to view a PDF of the full plan.

Click the image to view a PDF of the full plan.

The latest concept plan for improvements to Fairmount Park and the Lake Superior Zoo was presented by a consultant last night at the Duluth Parks Commission meeting. The concept envisions a renewed zoo in a roughly 10-acre footprint that includes ADA accessible pathways, renewed and repurposed exhibits damaged by the 2012 flood, enhanced visitor services, and converts a portion of the existing zoo into public park space. The plan is estimated at $15 million and has $2.7 million of half-and-half funding allotted to it.

Comments can be submitted to Duluth’s Parks and Recreation Division until Feb. 15 to allow the consultants to analyze them for the upcoming Feb. 22 presentation and public hearing at 5:15 p.m. in the Duluth City Council Chambers, to be followed by a Parks Commission public hearing in room 303.

Red Cowboy Hat (featuring Jim Hall) – “Duluth Blues”

Jim Hall recently brought his Red Cowboy Hat trio to the KUMD studios for a Live from Studio A session. They performed this tune, perfect for a sub-zero windchill day in Duluth. Audio of the full session with Jim and company is available at kumd.org.

Northern Waters restaurant open on Woodland Avenue

Northern Waters

Fans of all things cured and smoked will rejoice in knowing Northern Waters Smokehaus has opened its much-anticipated Woodland Avenue location in the Chester Park – UMD neighborhood. While the new restaurant offers some familiar lunch items from the Smokehaus, the menu is more expansive and includes alcoholic beverages.

Epicurean and Loll represent Duluth in The Atlantic

How America is Putting Itself Back Together
In the March issue of The Atlantic, James Fallows once more talks up Duluth while town-hopping across the country, this time as an example of “hopeless” places reinventing themselves (full article). Scroll down to the subheading “Despite the ‘Big Short,’ Talent Dispersal is Under Way,” where he uses Epicurean/Loll to illustrate the same kind of deliberate migration that Lucie Amundsen so elegantly described in her Saturday essay.

Perfect Indoor Concert Venue: Red Herring Lounge

PDDPerfectIndoorConcertVenueLogoWhen it comes to picking the best indoor concert venue, there are a lot of things to consider — seating, acoustics, general vibe, etc. There might be plenty of room for argument on just about any criteria, but in one facet Duluth has a clear winner. It would be tough to dispute that any local concert hall, club or coffee house has consistently brought more high-caliber talent to its stage in the past two years than the Red Herring Lounge. Among the top four in PDD’s poll, the Herring pulled out a clean win with 35 percent of the vote.

The Alan Sparhawk Project

Ten year’s ago, Duluth musician Alan Sparhawk had his name dropped in this little comic (specifically panel three):

Alan Sparhawk Project

Questionable Content is an internet comic strip by Jeph Jacques of Halifax, Nova Scotia. It started in August 2003 and is still in production. The publish date of the comic above is not known, but it was first posted to PDD on Feb. 9, 2006.

Camping Whiteface Reservoir, Summer 2015

Job openings at Hartley Nature Preschool

Hartley Nature PreschoolAre you looking for a job teaching young children outdoors in all seasons? Hartley Nature Preschool, a program of Hartley Nature Center, is expanding and hiring lead and assistant preschool teachers for full- and half-day preschool classes. A background in early childhood education and/or environmental education is preferred. Applications are due March 15. More information at hartleynaturepreschool.weebly.com/employment.

This Week: chocolate, rockets, orgasms, Buckwheat and more

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

Sample some chocolate from local chefs at Arc Northland’s Chocolate After Dark fundraiser, the Zinema is showing The Magic Flute live from Austria, folks can make bowls for the Empty Bowl fundraiser at the Duluth Art Institute, the Head of the Lakes Spring Job and Internship Fair is at UWS, there’s an adult Valentine-making party at Studio 15, Burrito Union is doing Rock and Roll Bingo and Renegade Theater Company opens The Rocket Man at Teatro Zuccone.

Music legend Buckwheat Zydeco performs at the Red Herring, the Minnesota Ballet holds its 10th annual Celebrity Dance Challenge, UMD is the place to learn about the female orgasm, Superior Public Library loves local artists, Dubh Linn is pairing Valentine’s Day with dinner and comedy and the latest Zenith City Cabaret show is at the Zeitgeist.

PDD Quiz: Are you ready for some football?

Malosky StadiumSince next week is Valentine’s Day, our theme will be “Love, Duluthian Style,” whatever that means to you. Send your suggested quiz questions (and answers) to lawrence @ perfectduluthday.com by noon on Wednesday, Feb. 10.