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Friday, March 15, 2013

Valentini's Restaurant

The Photo Twin Ports group got into Valentini's restaurant recently for a shoot. Here is what I captured. One of the owners, Carol, and her neice Alix, graciously volunteered to model for us, and, yes, the primavera dish was fantastic!

Photos by H. Brian Rauvola



Thursday, March 14, 2013

Art in the Alley Home

Art in the Alley Home

Photos and text by Deb Carroll

Congratulations goes to Tami LaPole Edmunds and Dan Edmunds on the opening of a second store in downtown Duluth!


Upcycled and handcrafted furniture, art, and other one-of-a-kind home accessories are featured at Art in the Alley HomE.  The space is also Dan's workshop where he creates pottery and furniture.  Other items to be found there include a large variety of unique wall art, lamps, rugs, pillows, and tabletop decor.  Products follow the same fun, energetic, and somewhat "funky" style of the original Art in the Alley store located across the street.

Dogs, Skis and Sleds at the Snowflake Skijor/Sprint Classic

Photos and Text by Matthew E. Moses

March 2nd and 3rd is the annual Snowflake Skijor and Sprint Classic held at the Snowflake Nordic Ski Center in Duluth, MN.  It's a two day dog powered event organized by the Midwest Skijorers.  Each team is racing against the clock with the times from each of their runs on Saturday and Sunday added together to determine the final outcome.  Here is a few photos from the Saturday racing.







Wednesday, March 13, 2013

Love at the Snoodles V

Snoodles Ceramics Studio

A vase that was made by a local artist and it was not fired yet as Tonya asked her guests to  add to the design!

Love was the theme for this art exhibit. These are a couple of pieces of artwork that local artists created for the event.
There was also fire dancers and an opportunity to paint ceramic hearts and have them fired and sent to you. 

Love at the Snoodles V

Pictures by Tammy Udd


Stained Glass by Collette

Stained Glass by Collette

Photos and text by Deb Carroll

Artists and crafters Jim, Barb, and Leah Collette fabricate a variety of unique works of art in their home-based Duluth glass studio. 

They offer items such as panels, lamps, and fused art in addition to teaching classes to individuals and groups.  Their custom design service helps insure that personal visions become creative masterpieces.
Barb is also a member of Nice Girls of the North Second Saturday Marketplace where people look forward to her many varieties of Lake Superior fused fish!


Monday, March 11, 2013

Rock Solid Robotics: Rookie Team Going to the World Competition!

Photos and text by H. Brian Rauvola

The rookie team impressed the judges and competing teams enough not only to be picked on an alliance for the regional finals, but also chosen as the region's rookie team representative at the First Robotics World competition in St. Louis April 24-27.


Above, members and mentors of the Rock Solid Robotics team from Two Harbors High School finish up preparations of their robot for the next qualifying round. Below, the robot (named Sarah) is placed in its starting position before the beginning of a match.


Repair work needed to be done as a belt came undone and a wheel broken during the previous matches. The design of the robot impressed the judges since it could be taken apart in less than 3 minutes.


In the finals, the Rock Solid robot was chosen due to its speed and agility as a defensive robot to thwart opponents plans.; Below, Sara spars with the potent Prior Lake's King Tec robot in an attempt to block it from accessing a feeder station to fill up with flying discs shot into slots for points. The King Tec team ended up with the match and won the Region with its alliance. The two teams may meet again in St. Louis.

Congrats to Bernick's Duluth!

Photos and Text by Ashley Lindsey

On March 1, 2013 Bernick's Duluth celebrated their win for the highest sales in 2012. This friendly competition started in 2010 and is for all 6 locations of Bernick's. This is the 2nd year the Duluth offices have won.



Saturday, March 2, 2013

Interstate Bridge

Photos and Text by John D. D'Auria

The sign that introduces you to the Interstate Bridge that is now the Public Fishing Pier.

In 1897 a toll bridge known as the Interstate Bridge was stretched across the water of Lake Superior from Rice's Point in Duluth MN to Conner's Point in Superior, WI., with a cost of 21 million dollars. Up until this point the only way to get from these two Points was by ferry. This bridge that was designed by A.P. Boller  would span 1,094 feet and weigh 3, 230 tons. It would open April 23rd, 1897 to pedestrians, horse-drawn vehicles and had access for two trains and a streetcar. The toll was set at five cents for pedestrians and bicycles, fifteen for wagons, and a dime for each head of cattle. In 1906 the steamship Troy, captained by Robert Murray hit the bridge, due to the bridge not being opened on time by the operator due to the fact that he had fallen asleep. This catnap would cost a large amount of structural damage to the bridge but minor damage to the Troy. 33 ships were reported to be trapped in the upper harbor after this and it would cost them $1,000 per day per vessel and the clean up would take several weeks. It took nearly two years to fully restore the bridge. Over time the bridge would be refitted for automobiles, the streetcar line would be removed and there would only be one railway in use.

The Interstate Bridge 2012

In 1961 the Duluth-Superior High Bridge was built to replace the Interstate Bridge so longer ore carriers could move through the harbor easier. The Interstate Bridge was dismantled in 1971. In 1981 the Burlington Northern sold the bridge to the Port Authority of Duluth for $1. In 1983, Rep. Willard Munger suggested turning the bridge into a fishing pier, which got the City of Duluth, the Legislators and the DNR to put a combined 211,000 dollars toward this project. The plan was to construct a two-tier recreational platform-the lower for fishermen and the upper part for harbor watchers and picnickers but to date only the lower part has been completed for the fishermen.

The Interstate Bridge (Public Fishing Pier) and the bridge that replaced it The High Bridge (Later named The Blatnik Bridge).