PDD News Sieve Posts

Minnesota 2016 Caucus Results

Minnesota Republican Party
Marco Rubio – 41,397 | 36%
Ted Cruz – 33,181 | 29%
Donald J. Trump – 24,473 | 21%
Dr. Ben Carson – 8,422 | 7%
John R. Kasich – 6,565 | 6%
Write in – 207 | 0.18%

Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party
Bernie Sanders – 125,635 | 61%
Hillary Clinton – 78,317 | 38%
Uncommitted – 1,067 | 0.52%
Write in – 213 | .1%
Martin O’Malley – 153 | 0.07%
Rocque “Rocky” de la Fuente – 53 | 0.03%

Off-Broadway ice fishing

Nice-Fish-BrooklynNice Fish, Mark Rylance’s play based on the poetry of former Duluthian Louis Jenkins, made its off-Broadway debut at St. Ann’s Warehouse in Brooklyn on Feb. 14 and continues its run through March 13. An article in The New Yorker notes Jenkins’ poems, “which are syncopated reveries about bologna sandwiches, sea lions, and the meaning of life, are integral to the Nice Fish script.”

Rylance won an Oscar on Sunday for Best Supporting Actor for his role in the Steven Spielberg film Bridge of Spies.

Bent Paddle launches new seasonal: Hop Forest Double IPA

Bent Paddle Hop ForestBent Paddle Brewing adds another seasonal beer to its rotation this week. Hop Forest Double India Pale Ale, weighing it at 8.9 percent alcohol-by-volume, will be on tap at Bent Paddle on Wednesday, available in 750-milliliter bottles on Friday and later find its way into liquor stores in 4-pack cans.

Hop Harvest will also be available at Beaner’s Central in time for Friday’s first-of-three CD release parties for the latest One Week Live compilation.

The text on the can reads: “Standing in a hop field brings forth a sense of solitude and wonder one can find in a forest. Hop Forest Double IPA provides full hop coverage with a tremendous load of tropical citrus and piney hop aromatics. Malt sweetness intertwines with the American hop varieties to create a balanced shade of flavor that invites one to sit down and enjoy the view.”

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.

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.

Bent Paddle Double Black 750s will hit liquor stores soon

Double Shot Double Black

Bent Paddle Brewing announced Wednesday its Barrel-Aged Double Shot Double Black Ale will be released in 750-milliliter bottles “in a couple weeks.” The beer is a stronger version of the brewery’s Cold Press Black Ale, “aged in bourbon oak for nearly 15 months … with a ‘double shot’ of cold-press coffee and whole-bean Madagascar vanilla.”

Bringing it All Back to Duluth Does Dylan

A new Duluth Does Dylan album is in the works — the fourth in a series of compilations featuring Duluth bands covering Bob Dylan songs. Bringing it All Back to Duluth Does Dylan will feature 14 tracks recorded at Sacred Heart Studio by engineer Tom Fabjance. Fabjance is co-producing the album with executive producer Tim Nelson.

Short Shorts Film Festival seeking submissions

Short Shorts Film FestivalThe Short Shorts Film Festival showcases videos that are less than five minutes in duration, with cash prizes awarded to the top three productions. It is northern Minnesota’s only festival dedicated exclusively to short videos.

The festival is open to professional and amateur filmmakers from all over the world, and in all genres. A panel of judges will select the top 15 finalists, and a live audience will pick the prize winners. First place wins $300, second place $200 and third place $100.

The deadline for submissions is Feb. 19 at 4:30 p.m. There is a $15 entry fee. See the Short Shorts Film Festival Entry Form for complete submission details.

This year’s festival will be held on Feb. 27 at the Underground.

James Taylor, John Mellencamp to play Duluth shows

James Taylor John Mellencamp

Adult contemporary music stars John Mellencamp and James Taylor will perform separate concerts at the Duluth Entertainment Convention Center this spring. The DECC announced today Mellencamp will perform in Symphony Hall on April 7, with tickets going on sale on Friday, Jan. 29, at 10 a.m. via mellencamp.com and axs.com. Ticket prices range from $39.50 to $115. The opening act will be Carlene Carter, daughter of country music legends June Carter and Carl Smith, and stepdaughter of Johnny Cash.

James Taylor and his All-Star Band will perform on June 1 in Amsoil Arena. Tickets go on sale Friday, Feb. 5, at 10 a.m. via Ticketmaster. Ticket prices range from $65 to $85.

A.G. Thomson House named Best in the Nation, again

AGThompson

Duluth’s A.G. Thomson House has been named the Best Bed and Breakfast in the United States by Trip Advisor for 2016. The inn was also named one of the 10 best in the world.

The Thomson House placed #1 of over 17,000 B&Bs across America. It also received the first-place award in 2012.

Lake Superior Zoo Proposed Concepts

View and Comment

Duluth’s Parks and Recreation Division has invited the public to view and comment on three proposed concept plans for improvements to the Lake Superior Zoo and Fairmount Park. The plans were presented by a consultant at the Jan. 19 Duluth Parks Commission Open House.

The Current to launch broadcast relay station in Duluth

The Current logoMinnesota Public Radio announced in a news release today that Duluthians will soon be able to hear its album-oriented alternative music station, the Current, on 90.9 FM. A mix tape of music by artists from northern Minnesota began airing on the station today. At 9:09 a.m. on Feb. 1 the switch will flip to the Current’s live broadcast from the Twin Cities.

The low-power station will broadcast at about 99 watts, with an expected coverage area spanning from Hermantown to Superior. MPR purchased the 90.9 FM spot on the dial in 2015 from Family Stations, a national Christian network, which had aired programming as W215CG.

Kilgour wins NewSong Contest at Lincoln Center

Rachel-Kilgour-600-2Duluth’s Rachael Kilgour was named the grand prize winner of the 2015 NewSong Contest during a music showcase and competition held Jan. 7 at Lincoln Center’s David Rubenstein Atrium in New York City. She will receive a performance slot at the 2016 Sundance Film Festival’s ASCAP Music Café in Park City, Utah, later this month; an opportunity to perform at Lincoln Center later this year; and a recording session at Echo Mountain Recording Studios in Asheville, NC, produced by Gar Ragland, NewSong Music’s executive director, for an album to be released under the NewSong Recordings label.

Kilgour also was the winner of the 2015 LEAF Newsong Contest in North Carolina and a finalist in last year’s Telluride Troubadour Competition. Noted singer-songwriter Catie Curtis is producing Kilgour’s crowd-funded album, which is set for release later this year.

Ness will launch economic development business

Ness - DNT PhotoOutgoing Duluth Mayor Don Ness announced at a news conference today he will launch a new business called Hillside Ventures. The Duluth News Tribune reports Ness will offer his services to assist clients with economic development and “public-sector strategy work, working with other communities in the region, especially on the problem-solving and visioning piece.”

Remember the Fallen Heroes

American Troops killed in IraqTen years ago Duluth landed in the New York Times over a controversial sign in a campaign office window. Scott Cameron, a combat-wounded Vietnam War vet, made a sign tallying the dead and wounded in the Iraq war. While volunteering for Minnesota gubernatorial candidate Steve Kelley, Cameron placed the sign in the campaign office window, next to a U.S. Army recruiting office. The seven recruiters working there, six of whom had served in Iraq, found the sign disheartening and wanted it removed. Cameron said he did not wish to prevent recruits from signing up for the Army, but only wanted to honor those who made sacrifices.