Al Franken at State Fair

This is Senator Al Franken drawing a map of the US from memory at the State Fair. Doggone it he IS smart enough.

Duluth Pack – Backpacker Magazine “Get Out More” Event

Backpacker Magazine Get Out More

Backpacker Magazine Get Out More

Sept. 9 | 6-8 p.m.Backpacker Magazine visits the Duluth Pack retail store in Duluth as a part of its “Get Out More” events.  Free outdoor gear give-a-ways, slideshow and more. getoutmore2009.com | duluthpack.com

Duluth Pack is one of about 50 places Backpacker Magazine will visit in the USA.

References to Duluth in Popular Literature

Mark Twain’s Following the Equator
“A few ships rode at anchor in it — one of them a sailing vessel flying the American flag; and they said she came from Duluth! There’s a journey! Duluth is several thousand miles from the sea, and yet she is entitled to the proud name of Mistress of the Commercial Marine of the United States of America. There is only one free, independent, unsubsidized American ship sailing the foreign seas, and Duluth owns it. All by itself that ship is the American fleet. … For what Duluth has done, in building, equipping, and maintaining at her sole expense the American Foreign Commercial Fleet … we owe her a debt of gratitude which our hearts shall confess with quickened beats whenever her name is named henceforth. … Health and prosperity to Thee, O Duluth, American Queen of the Alien Seas!”

Ernest Hemmingway - The Torrents of SpringErnest Hemingway’s The Torrents of Spring
“The foreman was a short, iron-jawed man. He had once made a trip as far as Duluth. Duluth was far across the blue waters of the lake in the hills of Minnesota. A wonderful thing had happened to him there.”

F Scott Fitzgerald - The Great GatsbyF. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby
“A few days later he took him to Duluth and bought him a blue coat, six pair of white duck trousers, and a yachting cap.”

Dalton Trumbo LettersDalton Trumbo’s letter to Guy Endore
“I’ve seen their faces in a miners’ union hall in Duluth on a night when the wind off the lake blew the snow so killingly and so deep that cars couldn’t be used and everybody walked to the meeting.”

Willa Cather - The Song of the LarkWilla Cather’s The Song of the Lark
“I must go now. I had to give my lesson hour this morning to a Duluth woman who has come on to coach, and I must go and play ‘On Mighty Pens’ for her. Please tell Mr. Harsanyi that I think oratorio is a great chance for bluffers.”

Free The Hikers: The 59th Day benefit, freethehikers.org

Shane Bauer, Josh Fattal and Sarah Shourd have been detained in Iran since July 31, 2009, when news reports say they accidentally crossed an unmarked border during a hiking trip in the mountains of Iraqi Kurdistan. They were in a peaceful region of Iraq that is increasingly popular with Western tourists.

The three young Americans, all graduates of the University of California at Berkeley, are believed to be held in the Iranian capital, Tehran. They have not been charged with any crime, have had no contact with their families, and have not been granted their right to consular access.

Shane, Josh and Sarah care greatly about the world. They admire and respect different cultures and religions and share a love of travel that has taken them to many countries. That’s why they went to Kurdistan, not because they wanted to enter Iran.

Shane Bauer grew up in Onamia, Minnesota.  His sister and brother-in-law live in Duluth.  We are holding a fundraiser for them on Sept. 27 to raise money and support the effort to bring them home as soon as possible.

Please consider supporting any way you can!  All proceeds will go to the families to help defray the costs of travel,  awareness, etc. that are adding up daily.

Fundraiser Sept. 27

5 p.m. Hiking Meditation in honor of the hikers.  By donation.  All proceeds go toward Free the Hikers. Details to follow!
6-9 p.m. Silent Auction and live music at the Spiritual Deli

Donations needed for the silent auction!

Please contact us if you have something to offer!  All donations greatly appreciated!  218.722.9378 or [email protected]

Learn more, be informed. Visit www.FreeTheHikers.org. The families and friends of the three hikers created this site to tell the story of Shane, Josh and Sarah and keep the world informed about their situation.

Dink Tank returns!

Renegade Comedy Theatre is proud to announce the return of Dink Tank with its all-new sketch comedy show, “Dink Tank: After School Special.”

Superior Choice Credit Union Cookout FREE

Free Food & Prizes!

Join us at 4161 Haines Road for a cookout!

Hermantown Branch of Superior Choice Credit Union.

Hotdogs, chips, punch and cookies available.

Prize drawings!

Email [email protected] if you have questions. Hope to see you there!

Duluth Woman’s Songwriting Festival

Get This Engine Running … or at least out of my garage

I have a car engine in my garage that I need to get rid of. It belonged to my ex husband and I don’t know anything about it. It may be good, it may be bad. I believe it went into a Honda Civic.

Is there anyway to donate this to a school that could use it to teach kids about auto repair? Or do something with it other than dump it?

I have a chain fall in my garage right above it to help move it and the chain fall came come with it to aid moving it wherever it might go.

Any ideas?

An Evening With Low

low-090924

Thursday Sept. 24, 8 pm
Sacred Heart Music Center
$10 advance / $15 door
Tickets online at sacredheartmusic.org or at the Electric Fetus

Where in Duluth?

TreeFort43857

A special holiday edition of PDD’s photo geographical identification competition sensation thing or something.

As usual with “Where in Duluth?” there is no prize for being the first to identify the location of this photo, other than bragging rights.

Magic Mama – Duluth performance

Magic Mama will be performing at Beaner’s Central in Duluth on Saturday, October 3rd at 7 PM. The Concert will feature music from her CD’s Rodeo deGaia and Wild Birds. Magic Mama performs organic hip hop and world beats for the whole family. Family-friendly set starts at 7 PM and a more adult-oriented set begins at 8:30. Tickets at the door $5 adults $3 kids. more info available at www.magicmamamusic.com and www.beanerscentral.com

Sauna Suit

What is a Sauna Suit?

Pipeline to Superior

Duluth/Superior is mentioned in this article about the pipeline which will bring Tar Sands Oil through town. Go here.

Happy Duluthiversary to Me

map

Me + Duluth = true love

This is everywhere I’ve lived in Duluth for the past 10 years.

Looner playing TPB Sept. 11

Now would someone kindly explain to me what a tamagotchee is? Not knowing is making me want to wang chung all over Sussudio.

Looner
Thirsty Pagan Brewing
Friday, Sept. 11 | 9 p.m.