October 2019 Posts

Postcard from Lyceum Theatre and Spalding Hotel

It’s not known who scrawled a date on this postcard, when it was scrawled, or what the date is supposed to represent. But the date is one century ago today — Oct. 5, 1919.

It could represent the date the photo was shot, but that seems unlikely. The date was probably written by someone who bought the postcard and wanted to remember the date of a visit to that spot.

Blue Rock Coffee and Wine Cafe planned for Miller Hill

Jessica Lange’s shout-out to Duluth

From Rolling Stone magazine:

What’s your favorite city and why?
Oh God, there are different ones from different times in my life. In my 20s, it was Paris — it’s 1970, I’m living by myself for the first time, everything is alive and crazy. Being that city back then … it was like another love affair! New Orleans, because it’s a separate universe down there, with different cultures co-existing in a way you don’t see other places. And Duluth, Minnesota, because it’s home. Shout-out to Duluth!

Trampled by Turtles to sing “The Star-Spangled Banner” Monday

Duluth band Trampled by Turtles will sing the National Anthem when the Minnesota Twins host the New York Yankees at Target Field in Minneapolis on Monday. The best-of-five American League playoff series begins tonight. TBT’s version of “The Star-Spangled Banner” will happen prior to Game 3 on Monday, Oct. 7, at 7:40 p.m.

Great Lakes Gear Exchange opening store in Central Hillside

Great Lakes Gear Exchange is opening a storefront 510 E. Fourth St. in Duluth’s Central Hillside neighborhood. The outdoor gear consignment business has existed since January and has hosted monthly pop-up shops at the Duluth Folk School and other locations over the past six months.

Selective Focus: Benjamin Olson

Benjamin Olson has a show of his photography opening tonight (Friday, Oct. 4) at Tettegouche State Park. It’s a perfect setting for his images that focus on wildlife and nature. His photos make you feel like you’re witnessing a spectacular, brief moment that takes patience and persistence to find.

BO: I am a photographer, specializing in nature and conservation. It was through my background in both science and art that I was able to bridge the gap between two separate fields to help communicate environmental issues at hand.

John Ramos ramps up his edgy journalism with Duluth Monitor

John Ramos strolls with his son, Walter, on the fishing dock that was once part of the Duluth/Superior Interstate Bridge. (Submitted photo)

A longtime Duluth journalist known for his combative style and sharp wit has created a new outlet for his work. John Ramos launched the Duluth Monitor website in June.

The Slice: Wrenshall’s Art Barn

The Free Range Film Barn in Wrenshall opens for occasional art exhibits. In this video, curator Annie Dugan shows off works by artists Catherine Meier and Kristina Estell.

In its series The Slice, WDSE-TV presents short “slices of life” that capture the events and experiences that bring people together and speak to what it means to live up north.

Monthly Grovel: October 2019 Edition

(Enter the amount of your choice.)

In the past year — from October 2018 through September 2019 — the PDD Calendar published 7,971 Duluth-area events. Each one was edited by a human being before the “publish” button was pushed.

It’s a tremendous amount of work to keep up with all the submissions from the more than 1,000 organizations that have sent us info about their concerts, plays, cake walks and bunco tournaments. That’s why once a month we set our dignity aside and remind readers how much we appreciate their financial support.

What Goes ‘Round in Bayfield sold; now Honest Dog Books

The former What Goes ‘Round bookstore at 38 S. Second St. in Bayfield recently changed ownership and is now called Honest Dog Books.

Duluth Stories in the Babylon Bee

An Oct. 1 headline in The Babylon Bee brings to light two things:

1) There is a satirical news website called The Babylon Bee, similar to The Onion. The differentiator being that The Babylon Bee refers to itself as “Your Trusted Source for Christian News Satire.”

2) It’s been around since 2016 and has referenced Duluth a few times, like The Onion has.

Duluth-area Theater Primer 2019-2020

PDD Theater Primer Logo

It’s the Halloween season, which of course means it’s time for witches and ghouls, but it’s also the time of year when the region’s theater companies get down to business. Here again is the PDD Theater Primer, where we hip you to all the haps on local stages for the next year.

Duluth Trivia Deck Sampler #22: Bernick’s Edition



The trivia cards featured in this series were purchased at a local thrift store. Accuracy might be off. Note, for example, the spelling of Bernick’s on the header on the card below. Bernick’s, of course, has been the Duluth-area distributor of Pepsi and other beverage products since the 1970s.