☀️ Your summer guide to Duluth

Du-ing Duluth Like a Local

You’ve been to Duluth, but do you know it? It’s a city that makes its own fun regardless of the weather, and the hometown of some of our best comedians, artists, and bands. Today’s episode gets you out of the big box experience to see Duluth fully. [🎧 City Cast Twin Cities]

• Get in on the ground floor: Kristi Olson, audio engineer and the creator of the zine On The Record, said the Twin Ports are just “bubbling with artistry.” Follow Twin Ports Artist Collective, the organizing force behind projects bringing the city to the fore. Next year, make room in your schedule for the Homegrown Music Festival. And if you really want to get quirky, check out the Magic Smelt Parade, which celebrates the small fish with puppets and silver adornments. Take it from Olson: “ I would bet money that in the next two to three years, Duluth is gonna become a mecca for the arts.”
• Local icon: Folk musician and disability advocate Gaelynn Lea is out with her new memoir “ It Wasn't Meant to Be Perfect.” She credits Access Theater for giving her opportunities to shine as a child. “ Countless times, my disability has shown me that it is truly possible to build a life that is enriching, creative, joyful, and authentic, no matter what my body or mind is going through,” Lea writes in her book. Her favorite venue to play at is Sacred Heart, a towering, former Catholic cathedral.

Remembering Philando: Yesterday marked a decade since Philando Castile was fatally shot by a police officer in Falcon Heights, pulled over for a broken taillight. The case marked the first time a Minnesota officer was charged for shooting a civilian on the job. Ramsey County Attorney John Choi said the shooting changed his career; he’s since directed law enforcement away from making pretextual traffic stops. Today, you’re more likely to get a letter in the mail for a broken taillight or expired tabs than get pulled over. Castile’s family still hosts a vigil every year to remember him. [MPR News / 🎧 City Cast Twin Cities]

Frontline fatigue: EMS providers have borne the brunt of the Twin Cities’ emergencies in recent years, and it’s taking a toll, MinnPost’s Maddie Robinson reports. The state faces a decline in these frontline workers, especially paramedics. This spring, nearly all members of HCAPE – the union representing Hennepin County paramedics and EMTs – voted "no confidence" in the county's EMS chief, citing chronic understaffing and thin mental health support. Union leaders describe a vicious cycle where shortages drive burnout, burnout drives mental health leaves, and those absences deepen the shortage. Contract talks with Hennepin Healthcare continue this month. [MinnPost]

Roti legend: Restaurateur Harry Singh has reportedly passed away, according to a post made by local comedian Fancy Ray McCloney. Count yourself lucky if you ever got to dine at Harry Singh’s Original Restaurant; I was never able to make it between its 2022 closure, reopening, and then closure again. The space is now Wishi Co (an apparent rebrand of 8 Street Nourish), a sober bar/coffee shop which I’d describe as a picturesque brunch spot. [Facebook]

Next sip: I’ve been keeping an anxious eye on the beleaguered corner of Lyndale Ave. and W. Lake St. since Iron Door Pub closed. Good news! New tenant Haraz Coffee House, specializing in Yemeni coffee, opened last week. The spacious gold-accented cafe feels luxurious, and so do the drinks and pastries. A bite of their mousse pastry yields a satisfying hard-shell crunch mixed with fruit purée. I recommend their matcha cloud drinks without a straw, so you can inhale the fluffy cream and milk together.

Quiz time: I really enjoy Sahan Journal’s quizzes that guide you through election candidates; call it meaningful Buzzfeed. Our friends at Sahan put together one for the Hennepin County Attorney race, bobble heads and all. Under Mary Moriarty, the office has become hyper-visible to the public through its criminal justice reform policies. Early voting is already open ahead of the Aug. 11 primary. [Sahan Journal]

Tuesday, July 7

• 🆓 Lake Harriet Buckthorn Slaying | West side of Lake Harriet
• 🎼 Thomas Sticha | White Squirrel Bar
• 🆓 Red Planet | MetroNOME Brewery
• 🎷 Moore By Forty! | Dakota
• 🍽️ Pizza Workshop | Cooks of Crocus Hill
• 🎸 Unfinished Products | PILLLAR
• 🎵 Lent, hangouts. (WI), & Larrikins | Zhora Darling

Wednesday, July 8

• 🎸 Father John Misty | Palace Theatre
• 📚 Chuck Tingle presents Fabulous Bodies | The Parkway Theater
• 🎛️ The Jon Brumm Musical Experience | PILLLAR
• 🆓 Sharing the Spirit of America: Nationwide Reading of the Declaration of Independence | Minnesota State Capitol
• 🆓 Summer Nights in Rice: International Reggae All Stars | Rice Park
• 🤘 Attack Dog (PA), Planer, Pyrrhic Victories, & TV for Dogs | Zhora Darling
• 🥕 Brooklyn Park Farmers Market | North Hennepin Community College

• Editor, Visuals - MPR News at American Public Media Group | $39.42 – $47.30 per hour
• Director of Marketing at History Theatre | $60k – $70k per year
• Wish Coordinator at Make-A-Wish Minnesota | $42k – $45k per year
• Attorney at Paisley Park | $75k – $85k per year
• Development Director at MinnPost | $100k – $115k per year