Monday, May 11, 2009

What a Difference a Year Makes

Hey guess what! I found a copy of Duluth Superior Magazine from May 2008. Exactly one year ago! Allow me to share the highlights:

They spelled Paul Connelly's name incorrectly and apoligized. Awww.

Lots of art talk. A feature on Sterling Rathsack, and an article suggesting that the introduction of an "Art Block" area in town could revitalize Duluth's economy, including a soundbyte by Mayor Ness as to how he plans to take on this challenge.

Leatherheads Fever!!!!!!! OMG George and Renee are in town!!!!!!

A photo shoot at the Duluth's Women's Club showcasing ladies' hats and outfits from Catherine Imports and Chico's, among others.

An article on wall sconces.

An article on olives.

At least three articles on flowers and gardening.

"10 to Watch", showcasing 10 local up-and-coming local people making their mark on our community.

A charming article written by Bea Ojakangas (love her, if for no other reason than her plain, honest writing style. No pretensions on that Bea.), local restaurants forgotten and remembered. Should have been named, "Don't Name Your Restaurant 'The Flame' Unless You Want it to Burn Down Multiple Times".

4 pages of socialite shots.

I'm just not feeling the current overwhelming hideousness of our economic condition in this magazine. I scoff at the suggestion that I should treat myself to an evening at the ultra-chic Sheraton for $119. That's my groceries for the month. Diamond-encrusted baby slippers on a chain around Mom's neck for Mother's Day? I think she'd be happy to afford real shoes for the babies. An article entitled, "SPRING PANIC! Strategies to Lose the Winter Weight". No problem. I live on brown rice and work two jobs, losing weight is at the bottom of my PANIC list.

Not that these articles weren't appropriate a year ago, they probably were. Now I expect to see suggestions on free or cheap day trips, frugality, penny-pinching and stretching the paycheck. Art is just as important as ever, and there are plenty of opportunities to appreciate art on a budget, in fact I'd like to see DSM do a comprehensive article on that subject. I just don't see Don Ness spending a whole lot of sleepless nights worrying over the lack of decent local galleries in Duluth. Nor should he. Oh yes, what a difference a year makes.

Tuesday, May 5, 2009

What's a girl gotta do to get some lo mein in this town?

WOW what a weekend. Homegrown rocked. I wound up in a moshpit at 3 am Saturday morning, The Keep Aways rocked my face off. Slept till noon and still felt pretty damaged, considered actually considered going home after working at my second job Saturday night. Yes I have two jobs. It's the economy, man. So I slubbed off to RT's on Saturday night, caught Pennies for a Dime. Man that guy can sing, great guitar work by Mikey and Fay is a fantastic drummer. Good set. Then off to Carmody to catch Acceleratii, never disappoints. Fuck You Gomez et al. Then back down to Luce to catch Cars and Trucks. Drinking some fine Surly, surprised at how the crowd thinned out between sets, although I'm sure people were mostly exhausted after a week of rocking out.

I'm standing at the bar when Fred Tyson sidles up to my friend and I. Me: "Fred, heard you had a great set on Thursday! Sorry I missed it." Fred: "That's all right, that's all right." Me: "Your drummer is a friend of mine." Fred: "Are you in love?" Me: Speechless. Aw, that's just Fred Tyson, ought to have a handler with him at all times. He did rock that shit at The Main on Thursday, as did the Hadji's. I hope I don't have to wait another year to catch what sounded like one of the best shows of Homegrown. I also have it on good authority (oh yeah, from that drummer friend of mine who I most certainly am NOT in love with, and I'm not breaking any hearts here) that Glass Ceiling may be making the rounds soon, they had them screaming and begging for more at an early set on Saturday. This I gotta see. Of course I missed that set, because I was working at my second job.

Which brings me to my point. Monday night I worked my second job. After working all day at the first job. Exhausted after the weekend, and craving some lo mein, I leave work and drive over to Beijing at the Plaza. Making the decision to pick up Chinese food is akin to buying expensive clothes for me: You have a basic need, but do you need to spend that much money? And isn't it a little frivolous when you could make scrambled eggs? I would have to work an hour at that crappy job to afford that pint of lo mein, but dammit, I'm tired, and I want lo mein! Plus cooking sucks. So I drive over, planning on pairing that lo mein with a glass of the Gazela that I have chilling in the fridge, when I realize there's not one, not two, but THREE Duluth city cop cars parked on the street and in the parking lot. Which is otherwise packed. Oh well, I'm a street smart girl, I'm sure everything is fine, I think, as I pull into the only open spot. Walking towards the joint, I pass a shuffling couple who are also keeping an eye on the squad cars, and the chick says to him, "Looks like the Chinese food place is getting robbed." At that point another squad pulls up and two officers RUN behind the building. That's it for me. No lo mein is worth my life! I turn around, get back in my car, and get out of there. Still no word on whatever went down at Beijing last night, but the Boca burger I had with that Gazela was fantastic. The Gazela was nice too. It truly is a beer drinker's wine.