DULUTH.com May/June 2019

CITIZENS ON PATROL IN LAKESIDE-LESTER PARK

NEW LIFE FOR THE 4TH STREET MARKET

PATIO DINING FOR YOU AND YOUR DOG

MUST-SEE ACTS AT HOMEGROWN MUSIC FESTIVAL

Activists of the next generation

NAACP hosts

“Social Justice Social”

PG. 16

to our readers

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EXECUTIVE EDITOR

Rick Lubbers

ADVERTISING DIRECTOR

Megan Wedel

ADVERTISING MANAGER

Kathleen Pennington

FEATURES EDITOR

Beverly Godfrey

ADVERTISING EXECUTIVES

Ali Comnick

ali@duluth.com

(218) 428-2929

Barbie Into binto@thewomantoday.com

(218) 391-6057

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Kayla Ronngren

CONTRIBUTORS

Tony Bennett

Andrea Busche

David Ballard Photography

Christa Lawler

Kathleen Murphy

Mark Nicklawske

Kasha Stoll

Michelle Truax

Ivy Vainio

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Volume 5, Issue 3MAY – JUNE 2019

DULUTH.com is published bi-monthly by the Duluth News Tribune

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DULUTH.com424 West First Street, Duluth, MN 55802

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©2019 Forum Communications Company

Terresa Moses is the committee chair of the Young Adult Committee of the local chapter of the NAACP. She is pictured at a recent “Social Justice Social” event the NAACP sponsored at Duluth Cider.

BEINGREADYWHENYOUARE.

mortgages*forthoseonthemove.

4 THE TO-DO LIST: Events, top picks, what’s going on 12 Q&A: Sarah Krueger of The Ochre Stone shops vintage 16 NAACP reaches out to the next generation of activists 20 Hillside market seeks direction with indigenous foods 24 NEIGHBORHOODS: Lakeside-Lester Park citizens patrol 28 RELICS: High school yearbooks in the digital age 32 Dungeon’s End in West Duluth welcomes all gamers 36 FOOD: The many choices to go dining with your dog 38 PEOPLE: Rich Mattson and his latest album 41 CHRISTA LAWLER: Looking ahead to Grandma’s Marathon 42 THE CLIQUE: Top picks from Duluthc.com

TABLE

FUN THE TO-DO LIST

Homegrown Music Festival

April 28-May 5

Venues in Duluth and Superior

Homegrown Music Festival started as, simply, a music-driven birthday party for a local musician and fun-maker, Scott “Starfire” Lunt of Father Hennepin. And then the blasted thing just exploded into eight days of music, art, vids, poetry, kickball and pop-up frivolity. Among the bigger shows on the schedule this year: electro-pop boy band Alamode, the fierce and emotive Mary Bue & The Monarchy and the soul-ripped-apart-with-teeth foursome Superior Siren on May 1 at Clyde Iron Works. There will be almost 200 bands playing at dozens of venues in Duluth in Superior. In addition to scheduled events, keep your eyes on Twitter for surprise concerts and after-parties. Wristbands start at $10 for a single weeknight. duluthhomegrown.org

Kelsea Ballerini

May 9

Amsoil Arena

Kelsea Ballerini, a straight-up country woman with a smooth pop-twang, brings her “Unapologetically Tour” to Amsoil Arena. The Grammy Award-nominee has earned kudos ranging from a Forbes’ 30 under 30, to a Grand Ole Opry induction, to a Barbie doll in her likeness. Among Ballerini’s newer releases is a catchy get-it, grrrl song that compares prerelationship woman with post-stifling relationship woman and determines: “I thought I’d miss you, but I miss me more.” Also playing: Brett Young and Brandon Ratcliff. decc.org

2015 File / Duluth News Tribune

Photo from kelseaballerini.com

THE TO-DO LIST

Run, Smelt, Run

May 12

Aerial Lift Bridge, Zeitgeist Arts Cafe

Things you might see at Magic Smelt Troupe’s annual Run, Smelt, Run parade: stilt-walkers wrapped in foil, a Prince likeness if Prince was a small silvery fish, streamers and crowns and a green headed King Neptune. The parade, which has become a rite of spring, starts near the Aerial Lift Bridge with a celebration of smelt royalty, then curves along the Lakewalk — with music by Brass Messengers — to Zeitgeist Arts Cafe for an optional smelt fry. It can take up to 50 pounds of fried fish to feed these wonderful weirdos. Some of the players involved with the parade have roots in the Minneapolis-based In The Heart of the Beast. Go big for the smelt: dress in silver, create bright red fish lips, then cut loose. Free.

Magicsmelt.com

Duluth Dylan Fest

May 18-26

Venues in Duluth

There is a small, unassuming duplex smack dab in Duluth’s Central Hillside neighborhood with big history: Bob Dylan lived there for the first six years of his life. In the past decade, owner and Dylan memorabilia collector Bill Pagel has worked to restore the home at 519 N. Third Ave. E. to what it might have looked like when childZimmerman looked out that piano window, clicked those push-button light switches, soaked in the claw-foot tub.

The house is among the draws for Dylan heads who descend on Duluth for its annual Dylan Fest — a more than week-long celebration of all things Dylan. There will be music, lectures, exhibitions, poetry readings and more.

The festival shifts to Dylan’s childhood home on May 24, the artist’s 78th birthday, where Greg Tiburzi will perform Dylan tunes from his front porch fans can mingle, geek out and wish the big wish that just this once, Dylan might drop by. Ticket prices vary according to event. Bobdylanway.com

2013 File / Duluth News Tribune

THE TO-DO LIST

“From Here to Eternity”

June 9

This historic NorShor Theatre

This historic NorShor Theatre, which is just more than a year into its newly rehabilitated life, plays up the historic part with monthly screenings of classic films, followed by a discussion with local film-heads and stage regulars Justin Peck, Jody Kujawa and Jason Scorich. (Never fear, introverts, you don’t have to stick around for the chitter-chat). This month’s pick is “From Here To Eternity,” a 1953 film starring Burt Lancaster, Montgomery Clift, Deborah Kerr and Frank Sinatra. Directed by Fred Zinnemann, it’s set in Honolulu, pre-Pearl Harbor attack. Lancaster’s character begins an affair with his commanding officer’s wife. Tickets: $12. norshoretheatre.com

“L’elisir d’amore (The Elixir of Love)”

June 14 & June 16

Marshall Performing Arts Center

Lyric Opera of the North considers the power of the love potion in Donizetti’s “The Elixir of Love,” a comic tale of how a retelling of “Tristan and Isolade” inspires sweet Nemorino to spend all his cash to test a similar magic on Adina, his love interest. Chaos ensues. The stage director is Bradley Greenwald, a Twin Cities actor, makes his directorial debut with the local opera company. He’s done a lot of everything — including, this past winter, two holiday shows at almost the same time. Dirk Meyer of the Duluth Superior Symphony Orchestra, is the music director. Principles include Sarah Lawrence, Gennard Lombardozzi, Lee Gregory and Rod Nelman. Tickets: Start at $37. Loonopera.org

Columbia Pictures

Gennard Lombardozzi is Nemorino, Sarah Lawrence is Adina in LOON\’s production of “Elixir of Love.”

Photos courtesy of LOON

HOMEGROWN HACKED

A QUICK-AND-DIRTY GUIDE TO DULUTH’S BIGGEST MUSIC PARTY

BY CHRISTA LAWLER

Twenty-one years ago, before Homegrown Music Festival was the beast it is now, it was merely the whimsy of a man with a band and a birthday.

Scott “Starfire” Lunt rented out the Lafayette Community Center on Park Point, invited some musicians, lit some candles and tapped some kegs. It was a mellow night that has, since then, turned into a mega thing-thing. It’s an eight-day, dozens-of-venues, art-genre-crossing fest that, at its core, features about 200 bands in 45 minute increments. Consider it part

BORN TOO LATE

intro to the local music scene, part reunion, part reason to take a week of vacation in the spring.

You will probably see someone dressed as a fashionforward chicken, but no one has seen the glitter gun for years. If you are limited in fun-hours, here are just a few of the must-see acts to ensure the Duluthiest of Homegrown Music Festivals.

Homegrown Music Festival runs April 28May 5 at venues in Duluth and Superior. Go to duluthhomegrown.org

This band of rocker teens got a ton of chatter after last year’s Homegrown Music Festival debut — and kept the momentum going through Tribute Fest, Dylan Fest and a Buddy Holly Tribute Show. Born Too Late — singer Rokkyn Kavajecz and drummer Traxx Kavajecz, bass player Taylor Shykes and guitarist Bella Hanson — cover classic rock, country tunes and fan favorites. There are two chances to check out the band, including the kiddoaimed Children’s Music Showcase and then again late in the fest.

Born Too Late plays at 3:30 p.m. April 28 at the Lake Superior Zoo, 7210 Fremont St. All ages. Free. They also play 7 p.m. May 3 at Beaner’s Central, 324 N. Central Ave. All ages. Wristband required.

MAMA’S STOLEN HORSES

If you’ve ever fallen madly for the idea of a life less tethered to lawn maintenance, this is the band for you. Abby Jo and Kristoffer Robin spent a decade touring as glassblowers on the Renaissance Festival circuit and picked up music gigs along the way. The folk duo lives here now, but that wherever-the-wind-blows aesthetic lives on in the band’s sound: banjos, twang and the kind of dust-cutting lyrics born under a big sky.

Mama’s Stolen Horses plays at 7:30 p.m. April 30 at Amazing Grace Bakery & Cafe, 394 S. Lake Ave. All ages. Free.

INGEBORG VON AGASSIZ

Ingeborg von Agassiz’s “O Giver of Dreams,” her 2018 debut, is a true Duluth-y accomplishment. The entire electric folk album was a DIY project for the musician from writing to its artwork. Her style is both a literal homage to the view from her window (see also: “Oh, the Hillside”) and a sonic tribute: it’s pretty, it’s windy, its both colorful and cold. It swirls and it swears. Ingeborg von Agassiz tends to say yes to life, whether she is playing brunch at Pizza Luce, a fundraiser, or a pop-up show on a frozen Lake Superior on a night when the moon came up like a big, red supernatural being. Ingeborg von Agassiz plays at 9:45 p.m. April 30 at The Sports Garden, 425 S. Lake Ave. 21+. Wristband required.

Photo courtesy of Mama’s Stolen Horses

Photo from Ingeborg von Agassiz

BLACK-EYED SNAKES

Prepare for a blurry Thursday. Black-eyed Snakes, a blues rock band most likely to just grind away, maybe toss in a harmonica, cut the heck loose, until frontman Alan Sparhawk has crowd-surfed to the far-reaches of the joint, plays the late show on Wednesday night — thus ensuring that no one is leaving Mr. D’s without sweating through a T-shirt. This band is among the long-time Homegrowners and is always a thrill.

Black-eyed Snakes play after midnight May 1 at Mr. D’s Bar & Grill, 5622 Grand Ave. 21+. Wristband required.

FATHER HENNEPIN

Literally the reason for the season. This alt-country band features HG-creator Scott Lunt on guitar and vocals, in addition to Ted Anderson (guitar, vocals), Jimi Cooper (guitar), Suzi Ludwig (accordion, keyboards), Brad Nelson (drums) and Bob Olson (bass). Fat Hens, as the band is known to its friends, played the first fest and, among its greatest hits, is a charming take on the Moose Wallow Ramblers’ “I Like It in Duluth.” Expect a bunch of charm. Father Hennepin plays at 9 p.m. May 2 at Cedar Lounge, 1715 N. Third St. Duluth.

THE LATELYS

It has been a couple years since Jenna Harting unleashed that great big beautiful bluesy voice on Homegrowners for the first time and it was whoa. The trio also includes CJ Hanson, a pianist, and Rachel Riefenberg, drummer, and in addition to original tunes, can bust out a pretty wicked Janis Joplin.

Christa Lawler is the Duluth News Tribune’s A&E reporter. Hang around Homegrown enough, and you’ll probably catch sight of her.

Photo courtesy of Scott Lunt

Photo by Kaila Hanson

2018 file/ News Tribune

PICK-A-POEM

If Duluth’s poet laureate has his way, the Free Poetry Project will gain traction — like a variation on Little Free Libraries. Gary Boelhower is a self-described romantic, after all.

“It’s really a simple idea, and it doesn’t cost much money,” he said. “But to have free poetry available from local poets seems to be such a wonderful thing, to add to the culture of our community. So I’m thinking really big.”

About two months ago, Boelhower and friends began distributing original poems by local writers around coffee shops, bookstores, restaurants and meeting spots — placing dozens of double-sided sheets of cardstock paper into acrylic holders labeled “local free poetry.” Eleven poets — including Boelhower, Deborah Cooper, Sheila Packa,

WHAT: Free Poetry Project

Marie Zhuikov and Cal Benson — have contributed a total of 41 poems. The initial printing was 1,500 cards. There are 12 poem holders currently out in the world — at places like the Duluth Folk School, Amity Coffee, and Yellow Bike Coffee in Hermantown — and there are more scheduled to drop. During a recent visit to the Zeitgeist Arts Building, there was a holder with works by Boelhower (“Nesting,” from his most recent book) and Deborah Rasmussen (“On Performing ‘The Moldau’ by Bedrich Smetana,” previously published in “The Thunderbird Review.”) Each card offers the author’s brief bio and directs readers to the Duluth Poet Laureate Facebook page, where reflections are solicited.

MORE INFO

WHO: 11 local poets have contributed 41 poems

WHERE (SO FAR): Zenith Bookstore, Amity Coffee, Beaner’s Central, Duluth Folk School, Yellow Bike Coffee, Perk Place, Zeitgeist Arts Building, Snooty Fox Tea Shop, Chester Creek Cafe

WHAT TO DO WITH IT: Take it; it’s free. “I imagine someone having a cup of coffee by themself, and picking it up and reading it and being companioned and having emotional resonance with what they’re reading,” poet Deborah Cooper said.

ONLINE: Duluth Poet Laureate Project on Facebook

Local free poems on display at Zenith Bookstore in Duluth.

News Tribune file photo

WHO’S THAT DJ?

Atweeter-in-the-know whose feed is filled with upcoming concerts, sip-nstitches, trivia and more has been named by The Current as the new host of the Duluth Local show.

Brittany Lind, who has thousands of followers as Ellipsis and EllipsisMN, is on-air at 8 p.m. Sunday on 104.3 FM and 94.1 FM. The show is available for streaming at 2 p.m. Monday.

“I’m so excited,” she said. “I’ve wanted this job for three years, and I finally got it.”

Lind, a co-founder of Femn Fest who is also involved with Lake Avenue Live and Duluth Superior Film Festival, has long been a northern resource for the radio station’s staff.

Program director Jim McGuinn said in a news release that they’ve been impressed with her passion and enthusiasm for the music scene.

“Her work in the local community to lift up the profile of local artists will continue and be amplified in this new role as Duluth Local Show host. We can’t wait to hear what she discovers and shares with listeners in Duluth and beyond.”

Lind said she applied for this job when it was first listed a few years ago and made it to the finals. The job went to Mike Novitski, who had worked at KUMD-FM.

Her plan: “I’m going to try and make sure female artists are featured, which is on-brand with me,” she said. “I’m going to play not only new artists, but dig back into Duluth’s music history and find the fan favorites. I’m doing throwbacks.”

Among her favorite bands right now: Big Wave Dave & The Ripples, Nude Colors, Ingeborg von Agassiz, Sarah Krueger, Rick McLean and more.

LISTEN UP

ON AIR: 8 p.m. Sunday on 104.3 FM and 94.1 FM

STREAMING: Available for streaming at 2 p.m. Monday

ONLINE: Follow Lind on Twitter @ellipsismn

Brittany Lind is the host of the Duluth Local Show on The Current. Image courtesy of Lind

Q A&

SARAH

OF THE OCHRE STONE

KRUEGER

Sarah Krueger of The Ochre Stone said she likes to see old pieces get a new life.

Photos by Krueger

Sarah Krueger’s business Instagram is a collection of old pieces that can be new to you. With The Ochre Stone — which started online and now shares storefront space with Hemlocks Leatherworks in Lincoln Park — Krueger shows off the vintage clothing she finds in regional thrift stores. One day it’s a neutral-tone kimono decorated in bold blocks, another it’s a velvet button tunic in leopard print. Among the chore coats, high-waisted jeans and shiny blouses is her own handmade jewelry.

Krueger, a singer-songwriter who started the site in January 2018, models most of the pieces against a clean, light-colored wall, takes the photographs and handles the sales.

Q: Where does The Ochre Stone name come from?

A: I wanted a visual name that fit with my brand — the earthy tones of ochre and classic and minimal lines of an organic entity as simple as a stone. I was on a hike through the woods by my house and brainstorming names and this one kept coming back into my mind.

Q: How did you get into shopping for vintage fashions?

A: I’ve always been really drawn to clothing that has a story to tell. In my early 20s, I met a close friend who was really into collecting cool vintage pieces, still is, and taught me what to look for in terms of quality and style. I was really influenced by the idea that there are treasures out there that still have a lot of life left; you just have to hunt for them. A few years later, I’d make frequent stops down at this vintage shop (First Street and First Avenue) in Duluth. It’s closed now, but was filled with old collectibles and vintage blankets, homegoods, etc. I met a man named Doug there who has since passed, but we’d spend days rummaging through boxes filled with vintage clothing that he’d stored over the years in old warehouses around the Twin Ports. He used to outfit movie sets and did costuming, and (we) would talk about setting up a system where I’d help him sell his clothing on the internet and start to help him downsize his collection. Trouble was, Doug had a hard time letting go of anything — each piece had an interesting story, and he was too sentimental to part with most of his pieces. During this whole process, Doug sadly passed away, but my love for vintage clothing was stoked by my brief time with him, and I continued to hold this idea of selling vintage clothing online in the back of my mind for years until the time was right.

Q: How do you decide what to keep, what to sell?

A: I’ve learned to let go of pieces that I don’t think I’ll reach for and instead choose to pass them on to someone else. For my own wardrobe, I’m often looking only for very particular pieces when I shop, so when I source vintage, I have gotten better at detaching myself from the majority of pieces I find.

Q: Do you take requests? Do people ever ask you to look for a certain item?

A: Yes, often people let me know when they are looking for a particular item, and I can keep an eye out for those pieces when I’m on sourcing trips. I love looking for special gems that I know will already have a home.

Q: How would you describe your style?

A: Hmm, ’90s Cindy Crawford meets a subtle western movie with some muted colors and modern lines.

Sarah Krueger of The Ochre Stone models the vintage clothing she sells via Instagram and at Hemlocks Leatherworks.

Q: When you grab a piece off a rack, what are you looking for?

A: Typically I’m looking for a few things. For starters, is the material made of natural fibers (cotton, silk, linen, wool)? If not, does it have an aesthetic that aligns with The Ochre Stone brand? Of course I’ll look at the condition and consider how much life is left in the garment, and if I’ll have to spend time mending the garment. Furthermore, does the piece have effortless styling options and wearability? I want each piece to be special, but also to be durable and versatile so it can be worn again and again. Often when people hear the word “vintage,” they think of retro, polyester, cinched waists and uncomfortable cuts. The truth is, something can be considered vintage if it is 20 years old or more. Some of my favorite finds are neutral silk blouses from the ’90s or oversized denim chore coats from the ’80s. Vintage has a whole new meaning these days, and it is important to remember that part of my mission in this project is to give new life to pieces that have been forgotten. So many vintage dealers focus so hard on what’s called “true” vintage, but I want to focus on each piece and consider how it can re-enter a wardrobe in an effortless way so that it looks and feels like it has a fresh life.

Q:

Tell me a success story about something you’ve found.

A: I sold of pair of vintage coveralls that I sourced from a thrift store in farm country middle America to a woman who lives in California. She messaged me a couple weeks back saying she’s worn them nearly every day to her job, and they make her feel like a true badass! I love thinking that these were a pair of coveralls that possibly belonged to someone’s mechanic grandfather and maybe he wore them until he thought he needed a fresh, new pair. Maybe they sat in his closet for years and eventually went in the donation pile, and now they’re being rocked by a woman who works at a co-op in California. I love that this garment is not sitting in a landfill somewhere, but has been given another chance and is making its new wearer feel great.

Q: What’s the difference between selling online and selling in-store at Hemlocks

A: Selling vintage online can be a bit tricky because often, modern sizing is quite different than vintage sizing. I stress to buyers to really pay attention to measurements to be sure that a garment will fit correctly. There is also a whole lot of extra work that comes along with selling online — each piece needs to be styled, photographed, measured, posted, packaged, shipped, and then some. In person at Hemlock’s, it’s so lovely to see customers have the chance to try items on before they buy them. It makes me feel really great knowing that the item is already a great fit and not something that will be passed on because it wasn’t quite right when it arrived via mail.

Q: Where is your favorite place to shop, or is that a secret?

A: Middle America thrift stores.

Q: What have you learned about fashion and people from this?

A: I’ve learned quite a bit about the wastefulness and environmental impact that fast fashion has on our world. Second to big oil, the clothing and textile industry is the biggest source of pollution affecting our planet. People have become accustomed to buying cheap and wasting often. Although it’s not pleasant to admit, we love that instant gratification that we get from buying and consuming. The beauty of choosing to buy something vintage or secondhand is that you still get that instant gratification, but your footprint is much smaller, and you’re choosing to consume in a manner that’s much less harmful. Even better, if you’re buying from a shop like The Ochre Stone, you’re also choosing to support a small business rather than a large corporation, which goes a long way in a community like Duluth. This also means that you end up with wardrobe pieces that are unique to you, that most likely no one else will be wearing, and that speak to your values and personal identity in a way that is quite satisfying.

ONLINE:

instagram.com/the_ochre_stone

OFFLINE:

Hemlocks Leatherworks, 1923 W. Superior St.

THE NAACP REACHES OUT TO THE NEXT GENERATION OF ACTIVISTS

SOCIAL JUSTICE SOCIAL BRINGS YOUNG ADULTS, DULUTH ORGANIZATIONS TOGETHER

BY MARK NICKLAWSKE

It’s not always easy to get young adults involved in socials justice causes.

Millennials are busy starting careers, families and independent lives. Finding time to speak out against racism, sexism, homophobia and other discriminatory practices is difficult — especially for those unfamiliar with political activism.

But highlight multiple social justice causes and offer free food in a hip Duluth ciderworks, and young people might make room on their calendar.

The “Social Justice Social” is one way Twin Ports organizations are working to reach more young people. A recent gathering organized by the Duluth NAACP filled the Duluth Cider tap room in Lincoln Park as leaders delivered speeches, organizations introduced

their work, and groups talked over food and drink. The place buzzed with conversation, energy and a senses of purpose.

Duluth NAACP Executive Board Second Vice President and Young Adult Committee Chair Terresa Moses said the organization has prioritized new membership among people ages 21-40. Moses said many in this age group have a hard time engaging with long established and successful institutions like the NAACP.

“A lot of times, they don’t feel like they have a voice. They don’t feel like they see themselves there or they don’t feel nurtured to use whatever gifts they have in an effective way,” she said.

Moses said finding a place in a prominent national

Alayna Johnson, Jessica Rossing, Julia Rumley, Johnanna Katroscik, and Pastor Bridget Jones (back to camera) visit during a “Social Justice Social” at Duluth Cider. The event was sponsored by the Young Adult Committee of the local NAACP.

Photos by David Ballard Photography

organization can be intimidating. “I think it’s more about folks not wanting to compete with the historical progress that’s already been made,” she said.

The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People was founded in 1909 in Springfield, Ill., with a mission to advocate for civil rights, equal opportunity and voter participation. The NAACP played an important role in national desegregation efforts and approval of the United States Civil Rights Act of 1964.

According to its website, the Duluth branch was established in 1920 after a mob broke into the city jail and lynched three black circus workers accused of an alleged rape. The Clayton Jackson McGhie Memorial was dedicated in 2003 on East First Street and stands to remember the incident.

Today, the Duluth branch of the NAACP has approximately 275 members, an Executive Board

headed by Stephan Witherspoon and 12 active committees. Fewer than half its membership is between ages 21-40.

Moses, 33, moved to Duluth after accepting an associate professor position in graphic design at the University of Minnesota Duluth. She attended an NAACP meeting during her first week in town.

“I wanted to make sure I could offer my talents and skills in an effective way in something that was going to be community building,” she said. “I’m interested in making sure what I do is for the good of our community. So because I’m passionate about that, I kind of wedged my way in.”

Moses said the Duluth branch of the NAACP wants to welcome young people and sustain the organization.

“I think there’s always going to be this fight between older generation and newer generation, but both folks need to see the value that each other bring to the movement,” she said. “That’s what I’ve been tasked to

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Monday-Friday 9am-7pm, Saturday 9am-6pm, Sunday 11am-5pm

Terresa Moses walks through a crowd gathered at Duluth Cider as part of a “social justice social” held by the local chapter of the NAACP.

Courtney Clark shares a laugh with Tasha Jokela at a recent “social justice social” held at Duluth Cider. The event was sponsored by the local NAACP.

do, to make sure we have that younger generation to fall back on when people get tired, people get worn out, or need to leave or retire.”

More than a dozen activist groups joined the NAACP in sponsoring the Social Justice Social, including the Feminist Action Collective, the Clayton Jackson McGhie Memorial, The American Indian Community Housing Organization and Loaves and Fishes. Moses said the quarterly gathering gives young adults options for community participation.

“A lot of them are like, ‘I hate racism. I hate sexism. I hate homophobia. But I don’t know where, or what organizations to get involved in and what kind of spaces that will value my voice,’” she said.

NAACP treasurer Emily Drevlow said the Social Justice Social gives young adults options and expands their community.

“I think it’s tricky when you’re young in Duluth to meet people at all if you’re not from the area and also meet people you have things in common with,” she said.

Drevlow works in the University of Minnesota Duluth

Office of Diversity and Inclusion and said she saw a need to improve community race relations.

“I’m a white person living in Duluth,” she said. “I’ve seen the need for more awareness about racial issues and just how different life is if you’re a person of color in Duluth versus being a white person in Duluth. So it felt like a nice chance to make a difference.”

NAACP Executive Board member Sandra Oyinloye is involved in other social justice groups but said the fight against racism will always be high on her list.

“The NAACP seeks to eliminate racism and also eliminate barriers to people of color,” she said. “Because we live in a predominantly white community, services like that — and just having community around people who are willing to fight injustices and make sure that a community is held accountable — is really important to me.”

Oyinloye said creating spaces for young adults to work together, thrive and be heard will increase their participation and success. There also needs to be some time to chill out.

Terresa Moses, Young Adult Committee Chair for the local NAACP, welcomes people to a recent “social justice social” at Duluth Cider.

A lot of times, they don’t feel like they have a voice. They don’t feel like they see themselves there or they don’t feel nurtured to use whatever gifts they have in an effective way.

“The movement also needs spaces where we can be creative and spaces where we can relax,” she said. “Because this work can be quite burdensome, and it takes a lot out of you sometimes. So creating spaces like this for young folks to be engaged but also have a sense of relief from all the stress is key.”

Courtney Clark and Tasha Jokela said they attended the Social Justice Social to make connections and look for places to help. People of color in Duluth face unfair housing and education issues that need to be confronted, they said.

“Having connections to different organizations is key when you are working with young people,” said Jokela, who works with disadvantaged youth at Life House Duluth. “Just being able to connect with other people

in the community and know what’s happening and how I can help with any organization that’s fighting the good fight.”

Clark said it’s important for young adults to get involved now.

“We’re looking to our elders for their wisdom and strength and knowledge but at the end of the day we’re going to have to fight that fight because it will be on us to not only help ourselves but help the next generation as well,” she said. “It’s exciting. It’s good to see that people are here and they are networking and mobilizing for something that’s positive for our community.”

Sandra Oyinloye and Ivy Vainio talk during a recent “Social Justice Social” held at Duluth Cider. The event was sponsored by the Young Adult Committee of the local NAACP.

Mark Nicklawske is a Duluth freelance journalist and arts critic for the Duluth News Tribune.

Gabby Parker and Jenise Clement-Posey color pictures and chat at a recent “social justice social” event held at Duluth Cider. The event was sponsored by the Young Adult Committee of the local NAACP.

HILLSIDE MARKET SEEKS DIRECTION

POP-UP EVENTS EDUCATE ABOUT INDIGENOUS FOODS, COLLECTS COMMUNITY INPUT

BY KATHLEEN MURPHY

It is fair to say residents of Duluth’s Central Hillside neighborhood were disappointed at the 2017 closing of the 4th Street Market corner grocery store. Though centrally located in the city, the neighborhood is far removed from any of the larger grocery store chains.

The news that the American Indian Community Housing Organization (AICHO) purchased the

building and intends to operate it as a grocery was greeted with relief. “We so badly need a corner grocery store in that area,” said LeAnn Littlewolf, Economic Development Director for AICHO. “Residents relied on it.”

The new market — named the Niiwin Indigenous Foods Market — will offer more than just groceries. With a focus on indigenous foods, culture and

The 4th St. Market and Deli in Duluth will become the Niiwin Indigenous Foods Market. Clint Austin / Duluth News Tribune

community, the market will serve not only as a place where Hillside residents can pick up a quick gallon of milk or a loaf of bread, but also as a place to buy healthy, traditional indigenous foods. The store will house a deli, a coffee house (with facilities to roast its own beans), and a retail and gallery space for indigenous artwork and merchandise. “We want to encourage local entrepreneurship,” Littlewolf said.

Since the projected opening of the market is still a ways off — by most estimates, it won’t open until 2020 — AICHO is holding monthly pop-up events to showcase what residents can expect to find at the market, and to emphasize issues that are important to

the local Native community.

In February the pop-up focused on hominy corn and traditional methods of growing, cultivating and processing hominy as a food source. Hominy is genetically different than sweet corn, and is made through a process in which the kernels are dried then soaked in an alkaline solution that softens the corn. Hominy soup was available to sample, as well as bread made from wild rice flour. “Corn is our relative,” Littlewolf said. “We want to use the market as a place to offer a different perspective on how to interact with the foods we eat.”

January’s pop-up focused on the nutritional, cultural

Hominy

and spiritual connections that the Native community has with water. A Fond du Lac Ojibwe tribal member, accompanied by Anishinaabe youth, sang traditional “water honor songs” to open the event. “It was a beautiful and honoring way to start that event,” said Ivy Vainio, the Art, Climate and Culture Program Coordinator for AICHO. The food item showcased at that event was infused water. Attendees were given a new glass water jar and encouraged to infuse their water with different flavors. Several options were healthy fruits, herbs and foraged items such as balsam tips and wintergreen.

There will be a theme and demonstration at every pop-up, but table vendors will also be available, such as indigenous food producers, businesses, programs and organizations, and community members selling their products.

“Young entrepreneurs such as the Fond du Lac Ojibwe Reservation’s Journey Gardens and Gimaajii Youth Market have been represented,” Vainio said. By encouraging youths to participate, they hope to increase their indigenous foods knowledge, as well as help to hone their marketing skills.

The topics of upcoming pop-ups from May to August have not yet been established, but they will be held on the last Thursday of each month. In September, an Indigenous Foods Expo will be held at the market and nearby Central Hillside Park. This free community event will feature indigenous food producers and sellers, cooking and food processing demonstrations, retail vendors, music, art and games such as three-on-three basketball and lacrosse. Check the Niiwin Indigenous Foods Market Facebook page for information on future pop-ups and the expo.

Though the market will fill many needs within the Central Hillside community, Littlewolf emphasized

how important it will be for the indigenous community to have a place where they can not only purchase healthy, affordable indigenous food items, but also have a place to connect as a community.

She envisions a space where indigenous food practices can be not only honored, but brought back into the public eye. “Our goal is to highlight the journey of our foods and how they historically came to our table.” Non-indigenous community members are encouraged to come and learn about the local indigenous culture, as well as use the market as a destination spot for people looking for that knowledge. And also to buy that gallon of milk, if needed. It will still be a corner grocery in a neighborhood that sorely needs one.

The new owners are making a point of asking community members what they would like to see in the market. So far, people have voiced a need for affordable, healthy food access for the Central Hillside community, as well as access to indigenous foods and a continuation of community programming such as indigenous cooking classes and art sessions. If you have other thoughts on what you would like to see the market provide, attend an upcoming pop-up, or get in touch with the market via its Facebook page.

The opening of the market will bring a new and unique food experience to the Northland, as well as offer a neighborhood grocery for common food items. It will, however, offer a greater message and opportunity for our local indigenous culture. “Our community has had a longstanding lack of resources,” Littlewolf said. “We want to change our story, and we want to do it through community.”

Kathleen Murphy is a freelance writer who lives and writes in Duluth.

Indigenous Foods vendors share resources and information about their gardening program.

Photo by Ivy Vainio

Children infuse water with flavors that keep a drink’s sugar content low.

Photo by Ivy Vainio

There was a youth art activity during the Niiwin Indigenous Foods Market Open House where children could color AICHO water protector mural coloring sheets.

Photo by Ivy Vainio

Community members sign the survey chalk column pillar with chalk on what they would like to see done with the Market.

Photo by Ivy Vainio

LAKESIDE-LESTER PARK CITIZEN PATROL

EXTRA EYES AND EARS WORKING TO PROTECT THE COMMUNITY

BY ANDREA BUSCHE

If you see something, say something.” The odds are good that you’ve heard this phrase, which has become a sort of unofficial mantra for post 9/11 America. And, for good reason.

Many crimes have been thwarted and criminals caught due to an individual simply noticing that something seemed “off.” And there is no one better suited to noticing subtle differences in a particular neighborhood than a resident. After all, locals are typically driving the same route and visiting the same establishments regularly.

One way that residents and neighbors are stepping up to prevent crime in their communities is through joining

their local Citizen Patrol. This group, in partnership with the Duluth Police Department, establishes relationships with police officers, monitors areas where crimes have been reported, and most importantly, speaks up when something just doesn’t look right.

There are many active Citizen Patrol groups in Duluth, including Lincoln Park, Woodland and Morgan Park. The Lakeside-Lester Park branch, led by retired educator Jim Anderson, is active and engaged, with regular monthly meetings and a dedicated group of volunteers.

Anderson shared that the Lakeside-Lester Park Citizen Patrol was started in 1997 by resident Frank

Ethan Roe, East Area Community Officer for the Duluth Police Deptartment, talks with Gene Grembowski, Sandy Grembowski, Rick Frost, Jim Anderson and Gary Glass about crime in Lakeside during a recent meeting of the Lakeside Citizen Patrol

Photos by David Ballard Photography

Hoder and police officer Pete Stauber (who today represents Minnesota’s 8th District in the U.S. House of Representatives). Anderson joined the group in 2000.

Today’s Lakeside-Lester Park Citizen Patrol has about eight active, core members. This is down from a high of 28 members in 2002.

Anderson seems to be the natural choice to lead the group. He has lived in the Lakeside community for 75 years, and he and his wife, Peggy, raised their two adult children there. “I’ve always been interested in the safety of my community,” Anderson said.

Anderson said the point of the Citizen Patrol is to provide extra sets of eyes and ears for the well-being of the community. While some members are designated “watchers,” who may simply monitor activity on their own block, other members are actively out on patrol, driving around the community to observe. The group has a well-founded relationship with the Duluth Police Department, and Citizen Patrol members report anything that looks suspicious.

Duluth police officer Ethan Roe is the city’s East Area Community Officer. He attends Lakeside-Lester Park Citizen Patrol meetings as often as possible. Roe has been an officer for 10 years, all of them with the Duluth

Police Department.

He said, “I have been in my current position as East Area Community Officer for a little over a year now. My position is a little different than the officers people see out on patrol; I generally do not respond to 911 calls, but focus on long-term problem solving and community engagement for the eastern half of Duluth. This is essentially everything East of Mesaba Avenue, except for Canal Park and the business district portion of downtown, which is covered by another officer.”

Roe shared his perspective on the importance of the Citizen Patrol. “We rely on the partnership we have with our citizens to help us be our eyes and ears in each of Duluth’s individually unique neighborhoods. When a citizen or group of citizens witnesses something, or don’t feel safe, we rely on them to report suspicious activity by calling 911. Whether someone joins a community organization like the Citizen Patrol or not, the most important thing residents can do to feel safe in their neighborhoods is to get out and get to know their neighbors and be each other’s eyes and ears.”

Officer Roe said Lakeside and Lester Park are no different than the rest of Duluth, in that the majority of issues officers deal with are nonviolent crimes.

Jim Anderson, a member of the Lakeside Citizen Patrol, makes a point while discussing recent crimes in Lakeside during a meeting of the group. Listening are Patty Opoien and Gary Glass.

Participation in the Citizen Patrol is done on a volunteer basis. Members must live in the community, be at least 18 years old and pass a criminal background check. Each member is issued an ID badge, lanyard and lime-green vest they can use to identify themselves when out on patrol. They are not issued weapons or police cars. Members use their own vehicles when they are driving around the community. There are no dues or fees to join the group.

Citizen Patrol membership is fairly loose; members do not have a quota of volunteer hours to meet, and can be as active as they choose to be. Members are expected to attend their group’s meetings, however, to stay informed on current events. For the Lakeside-Lester Park group, meetings are at 7 p.m. at the Lakeside Presbyterian Church on the second Tuesday of each month. During meetings, the group shares concerns and can ask questions. They also plan ahead for future events. For instance, the Lakeside-Lester Park Citizen Patrol has provided security for neighborhood events such as the Lester River Rendezvous. Vendors are often required to set up the night before, and they take comfort in the fact that Citizen Patrol members are monitoring their site around-the-clock. The group also attends a variety

of gatherings, such as National Night Out, to make their presence known in the community. In addition to police officers, city councilors also have an open invitation to attend Citizen Patrol meetings.

Anderson said the Lakeside-Lester Park Citizen Patrol has helped catch its share of “bad guys” over the years. He proudly shared a few highlights.

“A few years ago, a group of us noticed some suspicious activity in the area of 58th to 60th Avenues East and Superior Street, and we brought it to the attention of the police. They asked the Citizen Patrol to hang out in the Super One parking lot late at night, so we did; we got more information, such as descriptions of cars and license plate numbers. Ultimately, this reporting broke up some drug activity in the area.”

Another time, Anderson and some other Citizen Patrol members had noticed that a group of young people were having some unauthorized fun with the golf carts at the Lester Park Golf Course. “They got four or five of them started, and one of them was dumped in the Lester River,” he said. “We reported this, and a K-9 officer was able to locate the thieves.”

Anderson is proud of his years spent in service to the Citizen Patrol. He said the group is always looking for

Lakeside resident Laura Johnson makes a point to Ethan Roe of the Duluth Police Department during a recent meeting of the Lakeside Citizen Patrol.

new members, and would love for more young people to participate. “It’s a great way to volunteer for your community and help make it a better place,” he said.

And, while it can be difficult to compare the different Citizen Patrol groups across Duluth due to the differences in each neighborhood, Officer Roe said, “The

members of the Lakeside-Lester Park Citizen Patrol are very dedicated, and a great asset for the community.”

Andrea Busche is a Duluth freelance writer who will be digging into Duluth’s unique neighborhoods in every issue of Duluth.com.

Ethan Roe, East Area Community Officer, talks about recent crimes in the Lakeside Area while he attended a recent meeting of the Lakeside Citizen Patrol.

PAGES STRAIGHT OUT OF HISTORY

DULUTH’S HIGH SCHOOLS CONTINUE YEARBOOK TRADITION INTO THE DIGITAL AGE

STORY AND PHOTOS BY KATHLEEN MURPHY

Graduation season lies right around the corner, which means area seniors will soon bid a final goodbye to their high school, friends and teachers. It’s a big day, looked forward to by some, dreaded by others. Many students commemorate those last few days with the time-honored tradition of signing yearbooks.

Our society is turning more digital every day, with paper publications decreasing and social media doing more to chronicle our memories. Will the yearbook fall to this trend?

“Truthfully, I don’t think yearbooks will exist in the same form,” said Adair Ballavance, adviser to the Denfeld High School Oracle for 20 years. “Yearbooks

will stick around, but they’ll be different.” She points out that Denfeld’s yearbook has grown smaller over the years, with fewer pages “extras” to help keep the cost down. “I think today’s students are more in the present, and yearbooks will change to reflect that.”

The general appearance of Denfeld’s collection remains fairly consistent. Bookshelves in the yearbook room are lined with copies of every yearbook ever published at Denfeld High School, including some from the high school buildings that proceeded Denfeld’s opening in 1926. The earliest yearbooks are significantly smaller than today’s version, most with soft covers. If yearbooks do continue on with the trend of “smaller and simpler,” they wouldn’t be without precedent.

Tom Gavitt, a 1979 graduate of the now-closed Duluth Central High School, isn’t too worried about the possibility of change. “Yearbooks are all relevant to their time. They’ve always been changing.” Gavitt belongs to a group of Central alumni that meet monthly in the 1890s Classroom Museum found in Historic Central High School (perhaps the grandest Duluth relic of them all).

The museum is open only once a month, but is worth the wait time. It holds not only several relics from Central’s long history, but also a full collection of Central yearbooks, from the first edition in 1893-94 to its final year in 2010-11. The Class of 2011 yearbook features a Central Zenith cover on one side and Denfeld Oracle cover on the flip side, a cover Ballavance admires. “We had to figure out a way to honor both schools and their traditions through this yearbook.”

That was the year students from both schools attended Central-on-the-hill for the year while Denfeld was in the midst of renovations. Inside the yearbook (the copy now in the museum’s possession had once belonged to a sophomore student), handwritten messages focus on getting to know new friends — friends who would not have met had that combined year not occurred.

The entire yearbook, really, is devoted to the “year the schools came together.”

“They all have a theme like that,” Gavitt said as he pulled yearbooks and leafed through them. “The books from World War II years center around the soldiers going to war. They hold some really deep stuff.” A 1987 yearbook cover that would only have been acceptable in 1987 boasts bright, bold geometric shapes, bringing to mind Zubaz pants and tall bangs. Several signatures inside read “Seniors rule!” A later trip to view Denfeld’s collection reveals their 1987 yearbook was just as bright.

Duluth East High School moved locations in 2011, of course, but its yearbook history is still strong. The yearbook staff at East has almost a full collection of Birch Log yearbooks beginning in 1940, including some from its early beginnings as a junior high school. Several of the more unique yearbooks from East featured covers that were hand-drawn by students, a trend that seemed to be popular from 1960-1995.

Yearbook distribution is still a popular tradition at East. “Seniors get their yearbooks first at a senior picnic,” said Kirstin Peterson, the Birch Log adviser for the past eight years. The rest of the students get out of school an hour early on yearbook distribution day, but

Uniforms and other memorabilia from Duluth Central are on display in the 1890s Classroom Museum in Historic Central High School at 215 N. 1st Ave. E. in downtown Duluth.

most stick around the school and sign yearbooks.

End-of-year traditions aren’t limited to the humble yearbook, of course. Students have a way of creating their own memories. “As far as I know, graduating Central kids have been climbing the bell tower and writing their names on its walls since day one,” said Gavitt. During the years “New Central” was in operation (1972-2011), the graduating class took a tour of “Old Central,” where students added their names next to the names of graduates from over a century ago.

The graduating senior tours stopped in 2011, when Central ceased to exist as a high school. The Central alumni group still opens the museum and bell tower for class reunions. “I don’t think people will ever get tired of climbing that bell tower and searching for their signature,” Gavitt said.

Both Denfeld and Central have full sets of yearbooks, as well as collections of random books from other area schools. There was a question at both locations as to what became of the yearbooks from Morgan Park High School, which was Duluth’s only other major public high school. It closed in 1982, its students transferring to Denfeld. Marshall School, a private high school with a long history in Duluth, also has a strong yearbook tradition, as does Harbor City International School, a charter high school located downtown.

Changes in the iconic yearbook might happen, but as these yearbook collections prove, change isn’t always bad. Indeed, they help define the era. Congratulations to our 2019 graduating seniors!

Kathleen Murphy is a freelance journalist who lives and writes in Duluth.

Adair Ballavance, the Denfeld Oracle yearbook adviser for 20 years, holds three of her favorite editions on March 11. Behind her is the Denfeld yearbook collection, beginning in 1913.

Signatures from past seniors cover every room of the bell tower at Old Historic Central High School. The tradition stopped in 2011 when Central closed for good.

Yearbooks are on display at the 1890s Classroom Museum for every year Central High School was open, beginning with the 1894-95 school year and ending with the year the school closed, 2010-11. The Chronicle Yearbook was published for 117 years.

A copy of Central’s first yearbook in 1894, and its last, in 2011. The 2011 yearbook features the Denfeld logo on the opposite side to honor both schools, which shared a building that year.

GAMERS’ PARADISE

DUNGEON’S END IN WEST DULUTH PROVIDES A SPECIAL PLACE FOR PEOPLE TO PLAY

STORY AND PHOTOS BY DAVID BALLARD

On any night of the week at Dungeon’s End in West Duluth, there are people gathered together laughing, cheering, clapping each other on the back. No, they are not watching a sporting event or a movie or a play. They are gathered around tables playing board games at the game store at 325 N. Central Ave.

On display at the front of the store, which is much larger on the inside than it appears from the outside, are a large variety of board games for sale. Mason Froberg, who owns the store with his wife, Alta Wickham, estimated they have several hundred board games, at least 10 role-playing games, puzzles, traditional games such as chess and checkers, hobby games, paintable miniatures and game accessories.

But it is the back of the store where the heart of Dungeon’s End beats.

A half-dozen rooms house plastic tables and chairs to fill the 3,000 square feet of the store, where all comers can play games. And every night, you will find anywhere from six to 40 or more people engaged in a game. And like a pair of maitre d’s, Froberg and Wickham watch over the action and sometimes play, too.

Interacting with customers is a big part why Froberg and Wickham are found in the store seven days a week. “Being able to have fun watching people playing games is the biggest plus of this adventure,” Mason said.

Jess Hietala of Cloquet browses through board games at the front of Dungeon’s End game store in West Duluth.

“We have seen people grow up here,” said Wickham, who relayed the story of one young boy who was brought to the store by his mom. He was having trouble reading, but loved the game Pokemon. She started buying him Pokemon cards, hoping his love of the game would encourage and strengthen his reading. “A year later, he came back in and was reading much better,” Wickham said.

Adult gaming has seen a resurgence in popularity in recent years, and Dungeon’s End is a Duluth hot spot for people interested in gathering to play. “People want face-to-face gatherings” Froberg said. “There has been kind of a Renaissance in board games over the last 10 years.”

Froberg explained that gaming has evolved from Monopoly and Sorry to much more complex games. “Board games have really grown over the years as far as the different strategies and complexities of them,” Wickham added. “There’s a lot more strategy and educational benefits, and I think a lot people are recognizing that.”

These changes have fed the growing interest of people

wanting to leave behind screen time and online gaming to play with others in person. “I think people over the years of playing online games and electronic games, have moved back to a more face-to-face experience. That is what people are looking for,” Froberg said.

That interest plays right into the mission of Dungeon’s End, open since November 2011. When discussing the store, Froberg and Wickham will make sure to tell you it is more than just a place to buy games. “We celebrate the social aspect of coming together and enjoying the company of friends,” Froberg said.

Behind the counter are a pair of shelves housing nearly 200 demonstration board games people can use without charge to play in-store. It’s one way for people to sample new games when they visit. The most popular among them are Catan, Ticket to Ride, Pandemic, and Splendor.

Selling and hosting games is only one aspect of the vision of Dungeon’s End. The store often sponsors various community outreach programs that attract a lot of families, Wickham said.

An employee takes a couple plastic totes full of games

Dungeon’s End store owners Alta Wickman and Mason Froberg.

to other locations and, with the help of the staff, sets them up for demonstrations. The hope is to help encourage families to play games together. They have been to schools, the Valley Youth Center and University of Minnesota Duluth. They also have been to breweries such as Hoops Brewing, Bent Paddle and Duluth Cider.

The store also hosts up to 90 events a month, Wickham said, from game demos, tournaments, game pre-releases and specific game nights. “You’ll always find plenty of ways to have fun,” Wickham said.

Among the most popular events are the five sessions a week of Dungeons and Dragons, which can draw up to 40-50 people a week. Saturdays are the most busy, when you’ll see 25-30 children playing Pokemon, a dozen players playing a tournament of some sort, and people using the tables to play a variety of board games. “We have a good mix of customers. We get a lot of families who come in to play, we get a lot of little kids, a lot of adults too,” Wickham said.

The adult gaming community is a close-knit group. Froberg and Wickham know most customers by name and what their gaming preferences are. Matt Baert and Jeremy Baert are among those gaming regulars. They recently spent an hour talking about games while looking through Dungeons and Dragons books. “This is our second time in here today,” Jeremy said. “It’s a good place to hang out, and it’s the go-to place for adult

games.”

Also hanging out in the store were Derek and Jess Hietala. The couple live in Cloquet and often make trips to Duluth to buy and play games at the store. “It’s a good community, and its unique,” Jess said.

They were searching through hundreds of trading cards from a game called “Magic The Gathering.” “We also come for the tabletop games, dice games and roleplaying games,” Derek said. “One of the great things of this store is that if they do not have a game, they can order it.”

That can be a tall order. Froberg estimates there are more than 10,000 games in existence and new titles being released on a weekly basis. But Froberg and Wickham are up to the task. They are real gamers at heart. “We often play games and do puzzles at home,” Froberg said, chuckling. “We like games.”

David Ballard is a Duluth freelancer writer and photographer.

Vincent Kolenda, Zander Wickham, Shawn Roy, and Forrest Hippa talk about current games while hanging out at Dungeon’s End game store in Duluth.

One of the biggest selling items at Dungeon’s End are cards for the game Magic-The Gathering. The popular game is a custom deck building game. Derek Hietala of Cloquet was looking over the selection.

Payton Van-Beck and Matt Rahaim play Pandemic. They were playing the game for the first time and used one of the game demos at Dungeon’s End.

DINING WITH DOGS

AREA RESTAURANTS AND BUSINESSES CREATE OPPORTUNITIES FOR PET OWNERS

BY KASHA STOLL

Hunter wags his tail as he is petted by Alexis Walker on the patio of what is now the Boat Club Restaurant & Bar. Walker and Sam Braseth were at the restaurant to enjoy happy hour with Hunter.

News Tribune file photo

Dogs are absolutely welcome in food establishments, as long as...

Many Duluth area restaurants and businesses are filling in that blank to accommodate a growing trend in pet ownership. According to a 2016 survey by the Harris Poll, 95 percent of pet owners consider their pets part of the family. And more and more, those four-legged family members are accompanying their owners to local businesses and eateries.

Josh Stotts, owner of Sir Benedict’s Tavern on the Lake, 805 E. Superior St., said the restaurant receives frequent phone calls in warmer months from people who want to know if dogs are allowed on the patio.

“People are looking to be able to bring their dog with them when they go out,” he said. “We love having dogs on our patio. We look at it as a good way for people to socialize dogs, especially when they are puppies.”

Stotts said all breeds are welcome, as long as the dogs are well behaved.

“We’ve had Jack Russell terriers, pit bulls, rottweilers and great Danes here, and we’ve never had a problem,” he said. “We just don’t want them running all over the patio, mainly for the safety of our team carrying food.”

Dogs are also welcomed at the Amazing Grace Bakery and Cafe, 394 S. Lake Ave.

“If the dog is well behaved, why not take it (to the restaurant),” said manager Alicia Bastian. “It is definitely a trending change. I think one time this past summer I came in, and every single table had a dog.”

While Bastion said they have never had a problem with unruly dogs, they do occasionally have issues with pet owners who want to sit with their dogs inside the building.

“We have to ask people to leave if they bring their dog in and it is not a service animal. It happens almost every day” during the summer, she said.

Service animals are protected under the Americans with Disabilities Act. They have received specialized training to perform tasks that are directly related to a person’s disability, and they are considered working animals and not pets.

According to the Minnesota Department of Human Rights, businesses that serve the public must allow people with disabilities to enter with their service animal and to

proceed into any area of the facility where customers are normally allowed to go.

Animals that are not service animals are typically not allowed inside food establishments.

Bastion said most diners are aware of and support those rules. She said people who are inside the restaurant tend to get annoyed when pet owners bring their dogs inside. However, people who are dining on the patio don’t seem to mind and, in fact, often enjoy seeing dogs at nearby tables.

The Boat Club and A Place for Fido work together to offer Doggie Yappy Hour on Tuesday afternoons between Memorial Day and Labor Day. Diners and their dogs can sit outside at the Fitger’s Brewery Complex courtyard and enjoy food, drinks and a great view of the lake.

Again, the only stipulations are that the dogs are leashed and well-behaved.

“The whole Fitger’s complex works together as a team to try and make the complex a destination for fun, shopping and eating,” said Jamie Parent, co-owner of A Place for Fido.

Many area restaurants allow well-behaved dogs on their outdoor patios during the warmer months. Just call ahead to confirm that the restaurant of your choice is open to dogs.

Dogs are allowed year-round in Matilda’s Dog Bakery and Boutique, 4521 E Superior St., provided they meet certain criteria.

“We will allow dogs if they are on a leash and have pottied beforehand,” said owner Joanne Elliot. “They must be well-behaved.”

Elliot said she sometimes limits the number of dogs in the store, particularly if they are big. If there are a couple of dogs already inside, she might ask a customer to wait outside for a few minutes.

“This is a confined area with food,” Elliot said. “It’s kind of a recipe for disaster.”

Even so, Elliot said most of the dogs she sees are well behaved. And when there is a problem, she often has a hard time getting upset at the dog.

“Ninety percent of the problems we have are not the dog’s fault,” she said. “Often it is because the pet owners are not paying attention.”

MAKING A LIST

Lyanne Valdez at CBS 3 in Duluth has compiled a guide for dining with dogs, which quickly made the rounds on social media after it was posted on March 26. She invites people to add to the list by emailing her at Lvaldez@cbs3duluth.com.

• Famous Dave’s

• Green Mill

• Canal Park Brewing

• Little Angie’s Cantina and Grill

• Amazing Grace Bakery and Cafe

• Northern Waters Smokehaus

• At Sara’s Table Chester Creek Cafe

• Vita Pizza

• Bellisio’s Italian Restaurant & Wine Bar

• Mexico Lindo Restaurant

• Sir Benedict’s Tavern on the Lake

• OMC Smokehouse

• Pickwick Restaurant & Pub

• Bent Paddle

• Lake Ave Restaurant & Bar (small dogs that can be lifted onto the patio)

• Va Bene Caffe (front of the restaurant only)

• The Other Place Bar and Grill (must go through outside doors)

• Boat Club Restaurant (Yappy Hour on Tuesdays after Memorial Day)

• Brewhouse

• Ursa Minor Brewing

• Letica’s Iron Mug

• Earth Rider Brewery’s Cedar Lounge taproom

MINNESOTA ROCK MUSICIAN RICH MATTSON REFLECTS ON CAREER, LATEST ALBUM ‘TOTEM’

BY TONY BENNETT

For many musicians, there are moments in childhood in which music opens a metaphorical door, where it reaches into their souls and sets them on a path that they’ll walk their whole lives. It’s usually just a simple occurrence where a song lands just right and triggers new emotions in one way or another. For Rich Mattson, he was about 5 or 6 when his big, magical music moment hit.

“My first memory was singing in the back seat of the car when our family was on vacation, and I sang along to the Eagles’ ‘Take It to the Limit,’ and when I hit the Randy Meisner part at the end, everybody went nuts,” Mattson said. Later on, he “got bit by the rock and roll bug” and spent time obsessing over Van Halen and Ted Nugent albums from the now-defunct Columbia House mail-order record and tape club. Before long, he was playing guitar, bass and drums along to the records. And then he started writing his own songs, something he’s still doing today.

Mattson’s latest album with his band the Northstars is “Totem,” a tight collection of meat-and-potatoes rock music that is another brick in the wall of art he’s been building for decades.

“I don’t feel like I’ve evolved a whole lot, really,” Mattson said. “Not to say I haven’t. I always try to come from my own place, my own style, and not copy anybody or do the same chord progressions. I tend to tailor my songwriting to who I’m playing with. Right now, I am writing with harmonies in mind, and I love it.”

Mattson’s partner in life and in his band is Germaine Gemberling, whose harmonies are crucial to the group’s sound. “I’ve always been a big fan of harmony singing but until I started making music with Germaine, I didn’t have someone who wanted to work on singing that much,” Mattson said. “With the Glenrustles, I had to think ‘caveman beats,’ ‘cause that’s what my brother Glen, the drummer, was best at. Ol’ Yeller was more of

Germaine Gemberling and Rich Mattson share a song in his home studio in Eveleth on April 4.

David Ballard Photography

an Americana feel. The Tisdales was garage rock.”

Those bands, while each having their own sonic hallmarks, are all of a piece. Just like Neil Young still sounds like Neil Young whether he’s making grunge or playing solo acoustic, Rich Mattson always sounds like Rich Mattson. And that’s sort of reflective of his work. He’s not looking to break into EDM.

“My goals as a songwriter are mostly to just keep on doing it,” he said. “There is nothing more therapeutic for me than finishing a song, recording a cool demo of it, and hearing it back the way it was in my head. Then, playing it to my friends in the band and having them learn it and add their flourishes and tasty bits and performing it live — in my world, there is nothing better.”

“The new album, ‘Totem,’ I feel, is a continuation of my story,” Mattson said. “I’m really happy with it because it seemed to come together so easily. The songs were fully realized before we recorded them, and to get [them] where they needed to be wasn’t a huge chore. It was fun the whole time. One thing about releasing so many albums over the years — and this is probably why I do it — I can remember the little things surrounding where I was at the time, when any of them came out. They’re all like little journals. There are lots of hidden messages to myself where I can remember events and things that happened.”

This is kinda the key to Mattson’s work. It invokes memories and feelings and moods, but it’s not just a

one-way street. The things he talks about are easily relatable. His emotions are easy to empathize with, to recognize. A lot of people might call him a “blue-collar storyteller,” but it’s not that simple.

“The thing about songwriting is relating your stories to other people, sometimes becoming a character, and making them interesting in ways (where) maybe the

Rich Mattson poses for a portrait in his home studio in Eveleth on April 4.

listener can say, ‘Yeah, I get that, I know where this guy is coming from,’” Mattson said. “It’s the commonality of being human. I’m reaching out to see if anybody else thinks like me or wonders about the same things. I get a lot of comfort from music in general — not just playing it.”

At this point in his life, Mattson’s content with playing gigs all over Minnesota and recording bands at his Sparta, Minn., home studio. It’s the existence that he always wanted, and he’s just trying to live in the moment and enjoy it. No grand plans.

“The thing I worry about the most is my ears,” he said. “I don’t know a lot of people with retirement plans or

savings. My goal is to get this place paid off, then maybe I can slow down a little bit, maybe I can sock away a few bucks for a rainy day. I don’t make a lot of money, but I don’t measure wealth like that. I don’t want to think about retiring. I like my job too much.”

“I do picture myself gigging until I can’t do it anymore,” Mattson said. “My guess is that we’ll evolve, we’ll play where we’re wanted, and if that winds up being old folks’ homes, that’s cool. I know a lot of golden oldies.”

Tony Bennett is a Duluth freelancer writer and music critic. His album reviews can be found every Thursday in the Duluth News Tribune’s A&E section.

CATCH RICH MATTSON

May 4: Rich Mattson & The Northstars play as part of Homegrown Music Festival, 9 p.m. at RT Quinlan’s Saloon, 220 W. Superior St., Duluth

May 22: Rich Mattson & The Northstars all Dylan Show as part of Duluth Dylan Fest, 8 p.m. at Cedar Lounge, 1715 N. Third St., Superior

June 7: Rich Mattson and the Northstars as part of Minneapolis Music and Movies in the Park at 7 p.m. at Minnehaha Falls, 4801 Minnehaha Ave., Minneapolis

Rich Mattson sits in his home studio in Eveleth on April 4.

COLUMN

A LIFE LESSON FROM THE GARRY BJORKLUND

HALF-MARATHON: MAYBE JUST, I DON’T KNOW, TRY?

and then we got a percentile ranking — how we compared to kids our age around the country.

I nailed it. Every. Single. Time. I was the greasy-haired freckle-face to beat. And I nailed it in a pair of dirty white Keds that probably didn’t even have shoelaces and with a kneelength plaid skirt whapping at my thighs as I cruised across the finish line.

And then I went off to college and found out that I was just OK at running — bigger pond, er, track and all. It no longer mattered that I could sprint around the church parking lot 2.5 times faster than any other Catholic preteen with an address in northwestern Rochester.

Another year I woke up at 5 a.m. on race day and decided I wasn’t in the mood to run.

I wish I could pinpoint what changed and why. How I went from “meh” to that growl one makes when monitoring muscle tone in the mirror. I’m sure it would make a very meaningful montage, but the truth is, I just wanted to see what happened if I trained.

So I followed a training schedule. I made a pretty great playlist. I put a specific amount of carbohydrates into my body on a designated day.

BY CHRISTA LAWLER

Ihave a long history of having zero interest in doing things I am not good at: saxophone, golf, wearing a white T-shirt. I just don’t do them. Mimes wiping hands clean. If my introduction to said-new-thing doesn’t end with a wide-eyed, “why she’s a natural,” forget it.

A long, long time ago, I was good at running. A bonafide natural. Enough years have passed that I can throw out “fastest in the school, probably,” and it’s not an important enough stat for a single alum of St. Pius X in Rochester, Minn., to give a rip about whether it’s true.

Do the words Presidential Fitness Test still hold any currency? The gist: everyone in the school did a bunch of sports stuff, including irrelevant things like shuttle run and flexed arm hang (just for girls; boys used their big muscles to do actual chin-ups),

As a college freshman, I could run rapidly and wouldn’t finish in last place. My teammates, though? What a bunch of winners. They were a Purple Pack of Tommies, lean and speedy. They concerned themselves with things like conference titles and national meets. I’m guessing they never filled a St. Thomas travel mug with Dr. Pepper and Southern Comfort and laid around eating Slim Jims while they watched Satan Marlena on “Days of Our Lives.”

They were in training. They were trying. What a bunch of squares. Me, it was natural talent or nothing. Watch Marlena’s eyes glow demonic.

And so it went for years: a runner with no commitment to better running. My resume: In that time, I came in sixth-to-last place in the Twin Cities Marathon — a race to the finish line against an almost 80-year-old man and a bro in a very high-tech knee brace. “Train, shrain,” I’d thought in the months leading up to the race between Minneapolis and St. Paul. “I’m the four-time conqueror of the Presidential Fitness Test.”

One year, I stopped and waited in a lengthy line to use a portable potty along the Garry Bjorklund HalfMarathon route. How very Gen-X to shrug off the 40 minute addition to my finish time.

I had a stomach ache on the day of Grandma’s Marathon. The bus dropped us off near the starting line of the half-marathon, and I weighed my discomfort. It was unfamiliar. Probably a rare stomach disorder. Then, boom.

It was nerves. I was nervous.

“What if I committed to months of training for this thing and I finish with a porta-potty time?” I wondered, triggering more waves of discomfort.

I pulled my hat low over my eyes and cringed. “Oh. This is what it feels like to care,” I realized, unmasking this irregular sequence of twinges.

I finished less than a minute faster that my goal that year, just the kind of thing that makes a runner pelt her foil finish line cape with a hot, satisfied tears. For all the waves of starting line nausea, caring seemed worth it. This was my movie moment. I was “Rudy.”

Never fear, friends. I’ve since returned to mediocrity. I’ve started the race with a limp and last year I had an entire existential crises — why do we even do this — that lasted the length of downtown Duluth. But the point is that one time I cared enough to try, and it worked.

Christa Lawler is a features reporter for the Duluth News Tribune. Grandma’s Marathon will be run down the North Shore, ending in Duluth’s Canal Park, on June 22, 2019.

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