BEST BETS Duluth’s in the coming months

By Christa Lawler clawler@duluthnews.com

► September Welcome to Duluth. Now get back in the car. Trampled By Turtles, which we could maybe consider among Duluth’s favorite bands, returns to the area for an outdoor concert at Big Top Chautauqua. This venue near Bayfield, Wis., is at the base of a ski hill, and everything that happens there is extra magic. Now throw in Ryan Young’s fiddle. Trampled By Turtles plays at 7 p.m. Sept. 14 at Big Top Chautauqua. Tickets: $44 in advance at bigtop. org, $49 at the gate.

► October

Among the cultural rites of passage: a viewing of “The Rocky Horror Picture Show,” complete with all the things: newspapers, fishnet, call-backs.

About this time every year, The Underground hosts a staged event. Actors perform alongside the screening during the event that insists upon audience participation. Also: This is among the small, off-campus theaters serving up think-y, feel-y content. “The Rocky Horror Picture Show” plays Oct. 30-Nov. 2 at The Underground, 506 W. Michigan St. Tickets: duluthplayhouse.org

► November Duluth does holiday lights, like, really well. There is this not-solittle thing called Bentleyville Tour of Lights that extends across Bayfront Festival Park, and it’s as festive as is humanly possible. There are light displays, photo opportunities, and the laps of Christmas royalty. Also: marshmallows for roasting, warm drinks for sipping. Since you live here, go on a weeknight.

Bentleyville Tour of Lights runs

Nov. 23-Dec. 28 at Bayfront Festival Park. Free, open to the public. Dress warm.

► December

The first big show at Amsoil Arena, for the new-to-towners, will be the are-they-the-best, are-they-the-worst or are-theyhilarious metal act Five Finger Death Punch with Three Days Grace, Bad Wolves and Fire From the Gods opening. The Vegas-based band’s most recent album is “And Justice for None,” which was released in 2018. Five Finger Death Punch plays at 6:30 p.m. Dec. 12 at Amsoil Arena. Tickets at ticketmaster outlets including the DECC box office.

► And, beyond

One of the biggest and best things this city does is Homegrown Music Festival, an eight-day, nearly 200band fest in Duluth and Superior. Rules for performers: acts must have a connection to this area.

So, whether you want to bump a tambourine with your roommates, or you want to watch an unending flow of local musicians share their souls, this is for you. There are also other art events associated with the fest, including a poetry reading, an art show and vids. The one must-know bit of trivia: The event was originally created as a birthday party for local funmaker Scott “Starfire” Lunt. His band, Father Hennepin, is a delight. Homegrown Music Festival is April 26-May 3.

By Christa Lawler clawler@duluthnews.com

In the past six months, Duluth has added a cool new pop-up music venue, an old school movie theater and has doubled its commitment to Thai ice cream. Here are some hot, fresh, new things about the city that you might have missed over summer vacation.

Brewer’s Garage

205 E. Michigan St.

There are a lot of places to see live music, ranging from the Duluth Folk School to Blacklist to the NorShor Theatre to Amsoil Arena. Points for coolness, though, go to a pop-up shop on Michigan St. The Brewer’s Garage, with its ties to Fitger’s Brewhouse, opens to the public only occasionally. Bad Bad Hats played there this summer, and Har Mar Superstar played there in April. Next chance to check out this secret-seeming warehouse space:

Actual Wolf and Silverback Colony play there Sept. 12.

T-Icy Roll

202 E. Superior St.

If you’ve never watched the art that goes into creating Thai ice cream, you’ve missed one of the most visually appealing experiences. A mix of cream is spread across a cold steel surface, then a tool like a paint scraper is used to push the ice cream into pretty (and delicious) rolls. Add toppings: Fruity Pebbles, Nilla Wafers, Pocky, fruit, Oreos, gummy things. The keepers of the West Duluth shop opened a second one downtown in March.

Taco Arcada

1902 W. Superior St.

By the people who brought you Duluth Grill, OMC Smokehouse and Corktown Deli: a place for taco eating and pinball playing.

Taco Arcada, on the hot Lincoln Park block, opened in early May. The menu has chips and guacamole for snackers and street tacos for the supersnackers in addition to, say, Ms. Pacman or Big Buck Hunter.

West Theater

317 N. Central Ave.

There is a new (old) movie theater in town. West Theater, in West Duluth, has been renovated with an eye toward the aesthetic of the space’s past life. Think art deco. It seats more than 200 and has vintage touches — including the marquee. So far there has been a mix of old films like “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood” and new films like “The Lion King.” According to its

Facebook page, “It 2” opens in September.

Wild State Cider

2515 W. Superior St. Duluth’s second cidery opened — not far from Duluth Cider, the first — in April. Wild State Cider is modern and wide-open with living walls and a loft. Expect food trucks, trivia, music, maybe even a plant sale or yoga alongside flights of cider brewed on site.

Wussow’s Concert Cafe

Before you were born, probably, a guy with a certain punk-rock lean opened a coffee shop-slash-venue in West Duluth. And over the years, musicians-upon-musicians have played its not-huge stage — whether it’s an open mic, a CD release show or, like, a regular Thursday night in an underrated neighborhood. Jason Wussow celebrated the spot’s 20th anniversary with a name change this past summer. Goodbye, Beaner’s Central; Hello Wussow’s Concert Cafe.