Artists and designers — especially those with a special love for the outdoors or horses — are needed to help a new Duluth area trail-building group develop a logo. The Duluth Area Horse Trail Alliance is holding a logo contest that will be the centerpiece of its promotional campaigns.

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Thanks to photos from the Duluth Shipping News’ “bear cam” and an audio clip of Ryan Beamer, chief Aerial Lift Bridge operator, PDD now presents this delightful 12-second recap of yesterday’s events at the South Pier of the Duluth shipping canal.

Our third video in the PDD Shift series is an interview with Tara Lieberg from the Great Lakes Aquarium.

Music: “Improv” by Andy Immerman.

Also in the series:
Kenspeckle Letterpress

Mark Bartel / Frost River

We’re looking for someone who can hang two solid oak doors, including cutting out the hole for the handle and notching out for the hinges. We’re looking for someone with experience as with these doors they will definitely have to measure twice and cut once, because there will be no going back if cut wrong.

Anybody have a local mover they recommend? Furniture only…smallish job.

It’s back.

Next up in our series of people at work, Rick Allen and Janelle Miller of the Kenspeckle Letterpress.

We interviewed Rick and Janelle while they were working to get pieces ready for their current show at Sivi’s Gallery in Canal Park.

Music: “Gone from Minnesota” by Loup-Garou.

Also in the Series:
Mark Bartel / Frost River

It’s back. First day I’ve seen A and Dubs open this year.

I couldn’t find any reviews from burgerdogboy for some reason and he’s usually got Duluth hand food pretty well covered. However, I did find this little blurb on Jim Heffernan’s blog.

PDD reader-generated A & Dubs stories are most welcome in the comments.

Below, a selection of photos from Nerd Nite Road Trip Edition.
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For 25 years, one of the best bike rides in Duluth for those who like level, flat trails is the Munger Trail. But before you head out for a great ride up the old railroad track bed through the hills of far west Duluth, you might want to read my blog update about trail closures and delays this summer. There’s a total trail closure for bridge construction in the Riverside area until June 1 and major re-paving in the works for this summer.

The trillium and violets are blooming like crazy along the trail, though your best bet is to head for the parking lot off Becks Road for now.

I just wanted to drop those PDDers with a taste for local history a reminder that Zenith City Online is up and running at zenithcity.com. I’m hoping you stop by Zenith City after your morning check of PDD for your daily dose of Duluth history with “This Day in Duluth.” This month’s issue also features …
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This semester, UMD journalism student Jamie Merideth has been working at Perfect Duluth Day on a series of interviews with people at work. Monday through Thursday of this week, we’ll present four videos that profile five people and their jobs.

You’ll be seeing more of Jamie’s work around town, she’s employed at WDIO-TV now and will be managing editor of the UMD Statesman in the fall.

This first video is with Mark Bartel of Frost River. Filmed at Frost River’s store and manufacturing facility at 1910 West Superior Street, Duluth.

Music: 1922 Blues by Charlie Parr.

Thanks to all the people who took time to talk with us, and to the local musicians who gave permission to use their songs in these videos.

Also in the Series:
Rick Allen and Janelle Miller, Kenspeckle Letterpress

Here’s a sampling of what you have to look forward to this week on the PDD Calendar.

Today kicks off the free Monday showings of The Prisoner at the Zinema 2. It also kicks off Mondays with the Mayor. Coincidence? I think not. March into the mayor’s office and tell Don, “I am not a number!” I dare ya.

Speaking of numbers, ever wonder what that Donald and Daisy Duck salt and pepper set that’s been gathering dust in the back of your liquor cabinet was worth? Find out on Wednesday at the Antique Appraisal at the Depot. Also on that day the Wednesday Sailboat Races return to a great lake very near you!

On Thursday you can grab the Brewpub Bus and go to Tycoons, Thirsty Pagan and Carmody and taste three takes on the same ale recipe. And if you happen to see some people decked out in Victorian neofuturist garb, it’s not that you drank too much, it’s the Steampunk Expo at the Duluth Art Institute with the afterparty at the Rathskeller.

Saturday you can help clean up the St. Louis River and then watch our Roller Dames clean up in their match against the Bemidji Babe City Rollers. See what I did there?

So what are you doing this week? Can we tag along? Any upcoming events that you want to promote? Let us know!

Bernie the Bobcat was released today.

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Am I the only one who has this feeling that Duluth might be the next new thing?

First we have Trampled on Letterman, and then on CNN. Now Tycoons is making the NYT’s restaurant section. We’re slowly getting bigger and better quirky acts to Bayfront (oh, Steve Martin, how I love thee). And I feel like I’m missing some other stuff.

Are we really on the road to becoming TwinPortlandia?

The Materialistic Intentions show at Prøve Collective opened tonight. Prøve is at a critical juncture.
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Global Village is accepting casual resumes (list work experience and references) for summer help. Must be: 18+, proficient in basic math, motivated to be useful in exchange for money. Fellas will be considered, but given the volume of women’s clothing we sell through the summer, ladies may be better suited for the position. This is a very sweet summer job, but it is no rainbow gathering. This little, gypsy enterprise requires just as much work as any other business. Resumes delivered between 11-5 on weekdays, and mentioning PDD will have an edge on the rest.

(When we last saw our heroes…)

Suddenly, the light was upon them!  Surrounded by flames 20 feet high!  The rebels cowered in fear and shielded their eyes.  A thundering voice boomed, “I AM STARFIRE!!!”

Then the light dimmed.  When they dared to look up, they expected to see a God-like creature.  But such a creature was not to be found.

Instead, there stood a pleasant looking young man in a flannel shirt.
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This is how we spent our time in the beautiful Spring weather of 2012.

May I humbly nominate this photo of Ms. Sramek, featured in today’s DNT.

Related posts:
Upset Duluth
Upset Duluth: In case you missed it
Upset Duluth (Continued)
Upset Duluth?

The north face of Richardson Island through winter and back again.

Long-neglected house to be razed as Duluth ramps up fight on blight

I saw the above headline on the DNT website and thought, “I hope it’s that house on Mesaba.” Turns out, it is the house I was thinking of. Glory be!

Thanks to Mayor Ness and anyone else involved in getting this property cleaned up. If Duluth were some kind of Sims game, I’d say my happiness rating goes down just a little every time I drive by this house.

After a car accident, I need to get the car repaired. My insurance has a “Circle of Providers” that it prefers (although I can go to anyone I choose and they will still pay) but using the “Circle of Provider” guarantees the work for the life of the car by the insurance company.

It’s mainly cosmetic damage. I am not out any money for this accident (not my fault) so cost isn’t a concern for me. The two providers they have in this area are Arrowhead Auto Body (home of the catchy jingle!) and ABRA Auto Body.

Any thoughts? Recommendations? Don’t go theres?

Adam Brisk, Crystal Pelkey, and Jeremy Nilson are among the engines that make Duluth a more interesting place. As founders of Duluth Nerd Nite, they serve up entertainment on a regular basis that also helps sustain one of our most important resources, the Teatro Zuccone. And they have been invited to consult in Minneapolis, a town that has yet to experience awesomeness that is Nerd Nite.

At the next event, Saturday at 7:30, they are bringing a new dimension to Nerd Nite:
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A couple of UMD Students won Animal Diversity Idol with this video. OK, it turns out that Animal Diversity Idol is not a “real” contest, although when I got started down this rabbit hole I thought maybe it was. It is something that a professor at UMD dreamed up to get students more interested in a variety of weird life forms. I this case the creatures are liver flukes. The video is one-part homage to Pink Floyd and two-parts CDC style public service announcement. Here’s the video:

Comfortably Trematoda by Locksteer

Good day! I took the high bridge over to Superior the other day and noticed a pair of cages placed in the creek estuary (or estuary-like spot with the water so low). Does anyone have any idea what they are?

When you are scrolling down the Perfect Duluth Day Calendar and you see the “more” prompt there can often be a lot more to see. We’ve started adding videos to a lot of events, especially for bands and movies, to give you a better idea of what it’s about. Here are a few things that are coming up in the next week…

Brutal Beauty screening at Clyde Iron tonight

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