Superior Posts

Under the Bridge

First-North-and-Banks

I have always loved these buildings, but I never knew so much about them before.

Twohy and Osborn Blocks: Superior’s (Almost) Lost Mercantile Blocks

2016 Lake Superior Ice Sculpture Finale

New owner takes over Superior’s Cedar Lounge

The Cedar Lounge is located just off Tower Avenue at Third Street in Superior's north end.

The Cedar Lounge is located just off Tower Avenue at Third Street in Superior’s North End. The new owner has not announced plans for the property.

The wife of former Fitger’s Brewhouse co-owner Tim Nelson has her name on the recently transferred liquor license of a decades-old Superior tavern.

The Superior City Council granted Cedar Forest LLC a Class B liquor and beer license for the Cedar Lounge, 1715 N. Third St., at its Dec. 15 meeting. The license application lists the sole member of Cedar Forest as Naomi C. Nelson, wife of Duluth micro-brew trailblazer Tim Nelson.

Merry Christmas from Superior Mayor Bruce Hagen

Obama Humbug

Sorry. Couldn’t resist.

Superior mayor stands by comments, says he won’t resign
Superior mayor won’t back down
In wake of protest, Superior mayor plans to return to address controversy over remarks
Hagen agrees to meet at mosque
Hagen apologizes for Facebook comment

Superior exploring possible “exposition district”

Superior Exposition DistrictBusiness North reports an economic development group called Better City Superior intends to seek state permission to create an “exposition district” to attract new developments, such as a 150-room hotel, 20,000-square-foot convention center, 50,000-square-foot water park, a sports field house, a movie theater and a corporate campus.

Business North: “Better City Superior announces growth vision

Shorty’s Pizza & Smoked Meat on Diners, Drive-ins and Dives

See the video on foodnetwork.com.

Guy Fieri buzzed through Duluth and Superior in July 2014 to shoot four segments for Diners, Drive-ins and Dives. In this clip — from season 21, episode 3, “Cross-Country Classics” — he visits Shorty’s Pizza & Smoked Meat in Superior.

Still curious?

Curious Goods in Superior

What’s the deal with Curious Goods in Superior?

If you’ve driven by 1717-1/2 Winter St. and wondered if the store ever opens, well, it doesn’t … but in a way it’s always open, on the Internet. For the past decade or so Curious Goods has basically been a warehouse for eBay items from the seller Curious-g.

Visit Uptown Superior … or Downtown Superior or the North End

Visit Uptown SuperiorThis past summer a new marketing effort was launched in Superior to attract people back to the downtown area, which struggled through a long Tower Avenue reconstruction project in 2013. The strip has seen a number of new businesses spring up on the fancy new avenue, but also still has numerous vacant buildings. It’s a work in progress. The joint effort of “collected businesses promoting each other” to “highlight the diamonds in the proverbial rough” is called Visit Uptown Superior.

Why is the downtown now the uptown? Isn’t “uptown” a word to describe a residential area? Well, this part of Superior is the North End, and people tend to think of north as up … and maybe these businesses intend to “Uptown funk you up.” Let’s not overthink it. Below is the back of a promotional postcard highlighting the collective businesses in said Uptown.

Visit Uptown Superior postcard

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

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.

Goin’ Postal 2014 Fall Art Show

David Lynch by Becky BuchananI was going to write about the Goin’ Postal show in Superior. (Goin’ Postal is one of the major hubs of the art community in Superior.) But Ed Newman does it better, with pictures.

Water Film Fest at UWS – send in an entry

We will be having a Water Film Fest – films about water, life in water, importance of water, etc. Any season (winter through summer topics) would be fine. There will be local films, national, and international. We’d like the films to be under 10 minutes. The event will run from 6-8:30 p.m. on Feb. 13 at Swenson Hall Room 1012 (next to Yellowjacket Union). It’s free. If you’d like to submit an entry email grethenw @ ci.superior.wi.us. The film fest is sponsored by the City of Superior Environmental Services and the Lake Superior Research Institute. We love clean and healthy water.

Battery of a police officer or excessive force arrest? Here we go again.

Natasha Lancour was arrested in the parking lot of the Keyport Lounge on Jan. 5 for allegedly striking Superior Police Officer George Gothner. Above is the unedited dashboard-cam video; below is a report from WDIO-TV.

Ugly Stick Saloon

IMG_4512 (800x533)

A splash of Coyote Ugly is in the city of Superior, just minutes off of the Bong Bridge on Belknap Street, in the former dining area of the Shack.

City’s 58th Street Diner in South Superior

City’s 58th Street Diner is bringing the 1950s back to South Superior. With its classic malt-shop feel and reasonable prices, it’s like taking a step back in time.

Save the Old Globe Elevator

When I feel like some couch surfing, I watch Ax Men. When I’m smart, I listen to Wisconsin Public Radio. The two came together for me yesterday when I found out that the Old Globe Elevator in Superior is in trouble:

Save the Globe

I love the shipping history of Duluth/Superior, I love Ax Men, and I love the environment. That’s a triple threat that caused me to contribute. How about you? Is it worth it? Go to oldglobewood.com for more information.