R.I.P. Posts

CUD: an album to benefit the family of Shawn Burr

May 02, 2016 No Comments

CUDcoverRecently, the Duluth music community lost a great guitarist and better person when Shawn Burr passed away after a battle with brain cancer. He was only 40, and was a father and a husband.

In 2004, Shawn was part of a short-lived band called “CUD,” who recorded an album at that time that went unreleased due to various technical issues. With Shawn’s diagnosis, it was decided that the album should be completed as a way of attracting monetary donations that will help his wife and two-year-old child in some small way. With the assistance of talented engineer Jake Larson, the CUD album was completed, and it is now available to purchase on Bandcamp. Fans of Ministry, the Melvins, and guitar harmonies might particularly enjoy the record.

Please visit cudduluth.bandcamp.com to purchase this album. (Streaming is free, but keep in mind that no money goes to the cause for streams.) 100% of the money donated will go to Shawn’s wife and child. The album is pay-what-you-can, and any amount is welcome. Thank you.


Music, R.I.P.

Norm’s Beer & Brats Demolition Video

Apr 28, 2016 1 Comment

The old Polish Club meets its demise. Video by Tony Rogers.


R.I.P. ,

R.I.P. Walt Pederson

Apr 25, 2016 1 Comment

Walter PedersonWalter H. Pederson, a Duluth native and member of the Plaisted Arctic expedition, died Friday in St. Cloud at the age of 88.

Pederson served as mechanic on Ralph Plaisted’s crew, which reached the North Pole by snowmobile in 1968. The subject gained new attention last month when the New York Times published an account of the expedition. In early April the Hollywood infotainment website Deadline reported Will Ferrell will star in film about the Plaisted expedition.

Pederson’s obituary in the St. Cloud Times notes he was a “sailor, cowboy, mechanic, racer, teacher, businessman, inventor, explorer, author, politician, entrepreneur, scientist, private eye, hero, friend, husband, father and grandfather.” Services will be held Friday in Milaca.


News and Current Affairs, R.I.P.

R.I.P. Prince

Apr 21, 2016 5 Comments

Prince - Liu Heung Shing AP 2015MPR: Minnesota music legend Prince dead at 57
Photos: The life and legacy of Prince

Read More


Music, News and Current Affairs, R.I.P.

Canal Park Timber Lodge Steakhouse won’t reopen

Apr 13, 2016 4 Comments

Canal Park Timber Lodge Steakhouse Timberlodge Steakhouse

After 20 years in business, the Timber Lodge Steakhouse in Canal Park is calling it quits. Bruce Taher, CEO of Timber Lodge’s parent company, Taher Inc., says he regrets having to make the decision. He hoped to close the restaurant for the winter and reopen it this spring, but a number of challenges precipitated the restaurant’s demise.

Read More


News and Current Affairs, R.I.P., Restaurants

Old Eighth Street Market building’s days are numbered

Feb 15, 2016 2 Comments

Eighth Street Market 2016

The former Eighth Street Market building at 5702 W. Eighth St. is slated for demolition.

Read More


History, News and Current Affairs, R.I.P. ,

Closed without a peep

Dec 11, 2015 3 Comments

Screen Shot 2015-12-10 at 9.57.54 AM

Somehow, I missed this. 


News and Current Affairs, R.I.P.

R.I.P. Nick Bockwinkel

Nov 15, 2015 1 Comment

Nick Bockwinkel 1987

Professional wrestling great Nick Bockwinkel died Nov. 14 at age 80. The image above is from what was probably his last appearance in Duluth, as special referee during a World Wrestling Federation card at the Duluth Arena in 1987. (WWF is now World Wrestling Entertainment; Duluth Arena is now the Duluth Entertainment Convention Center Arena.)

Read More


R.I.P., Sports

Jade Fountain closed; Gannucci’s expansion planned

Nov 11, 2015 10 Comments

Gannucci's Italian Market and Jade Fountain

Within six months of acquiring the Jade Fountain, Bill Kalligher locked the big red doors to the iconic Chinese restaurant. He reached the decision in September, fed up with a dirty kitchen he says he’s still trying to clean, alleged poor product quality from food suppliers and a box filled with bounced checks from customers.

Read More


News and Current Affairs, R.I.P., Restaurants , ,

R.I.P. Mr. Richard H. Gastler

Oct 16, 2015 4 Comments

Richard Gastler

Longtime Denfeld High School economics teacher Dick Gastler died on Thursday, Oct. 15, at the age of 79. Among many great teachers at Denfeld, Mr. Gastler would have to be considered the most famous of his era. He was a ham. He broke into song all the time. He frequently digressed into stories about growing up in Chaska. He wore cheesy leisure suits, famously sporting the same one every day during a stretch of 1984 when he was raising money to fight hunger — a stunt that landed him on Good Morning America. The suit was burned when Mr. Gastler reached his fundraising goal. The ashes are still in a trophy case at the school.

Read More


R.I.P.

R.I.P. Norm’s Beer & Brats, Cedar Lounge as it once was and the Loading Zone in all it’s glory

Sep 14, 2015 4 Comments

Norm's Beer & Brats

A few notes on Superior bars:

Norm’s Beer & Brats held a “Final Bash” over the weekend. According to its Facebook page, the bar will be moving early next week. “The old building will still be open for business tomorrow for tacos (since last week got all kinds of messed up with the power outage), and all week including Friday and Saturday,” reads a post published today. “Our new home is currently known as the Cedar Lounge. Be sure to check it out!”

Update: It seems the Norm’s / Cedar Lounge deal fell through.

Read More


News and Current Affairs, R.I.P. ,

R.I.P. Edgewood Joshua Smith

Jul 20, 2015 13 Comments
Photo by Paul Van Antwerp

Photo by Paul Van Antwerp

We are crushed at Perfect Duluth Day to learn our great friend Edgewood Smith died on July 15.

Read More


R.I.P.

Jefferson People’s House closing July 12

Jul 01, 2015 No Comments

Jefferson People's HouseJefferson People’s House will close July 12, according to an announcement on the Facebook page of the worker-owned cafe, bookstore and social-justice community spot that specialized in coffee and toast.

It’s the fourth piece of coffee-shop related news in recent weeks. Jitter’s has changed ownership and become Lake Superior Bakehouse, Vietnamese Lotus Inn has reopened as VN Coffee House and Cookie Temptations has opened a coffee shop in the Fitger’s Brewery Complex.

Jefferson People’s House is located in a storefront just below Anytime Fitness on the corner of 15th Avenue East and Jefferson Street in Duluth’s Endion neighborhood.

Below is the Facebook message to customers:

Dear Cherished Community,

June 1st, 2014, we started a venture that has involved love, affection, fierce dedication, and cooperative exuberance. Jefferson People’s House has seen a year of delicious toasts and community growth. We rode this train until the tracks ran out. Our team has simultaneously discovered new opportunities and have decided as a collective to dissolve Jefferson People’s House to put our energies into new, exciting projects. We have loved our time together, and it is bittersweet that we leave this adventure. Our official closing date is July 12. In the meantime, we will be open regular hours (barring July 3-5.) Keep an eye out for our closing weekend events, July 10th and 11th. Our Flowers and Coffee CSA will continue as planned through October.

Much love and solidarity, Jefferson People’s House


R.I.P., Restaurants ,

Goodbye Jitters, hello Bakehouse

Jun 22, 2015 1 Comment

Lake Superior Bakehouse

Lake Superior Bakehouse Bakery and Coffee HouseJitters Lake Superior Coffee & Tea House is no more. New sister-brother owners Katina and Pauly Petsoulis took over in February and launched a name change last weekend. The new Lake Superior Bakehouse at 102 W. Superior St. promises “small-batch baked goods all from scratch and small-batch house-roasted coffees.”

Although the look of the space is changing and the variety of baked goods and other foods expanding, Katina notes one thing will stay the same.

“A lot of Jitters regulars were loyal to the coffee,” she said. “We have the same roaster, Jesse Bamford.”

Read More


R.I.P., Restaurants ,

Old Klearflax warehouse is a-comin’ down

May 13, 2015 14 Comments

Klearflax 2015

As previously reported on PDD, Walker Display has moved its operations out of West Duluth, and its former location on Grand Avenue is being demolished to make way for a Kwik Trip convenience store. The demolition process has revealed the former exterior of the building’s west side — a reminder that it once served as a warehouse for Klearflax Linen Rugs Co.

Read More


News and Current Affairs, R.I.P.