Best Small Cities In America: Why Duluth Should Be On Your Bucket List

"Firmament" by John Heino. We can't guarantee you'll see Northern Lights,
though I'll guarantee if you do you will not forget it.

The other day I ran across an article about what they claimed were The Best Small Cities in America to Visit for a Weekend.  If you live in a small city you may be curious how your town stacks up. I, naturally, scrolled through the article because I wondered if Duluth might be listed.

The first listed was Bozeman, Montana, which they say is "poised to be the next Boulder, Colorado. It's a town about half the size of Duluth, tucked into the mountains with "a college town vibe." Ah, youth!

Next listed was Ithaca, New York, another college town in a beautiful setting. The autumn colors in Upstate New York's Adirondacks are gorgeous enough to rival Duluth's North Shore in its peak.

Third, we discover Key West, Florida. Population 26,990. It's a party town. It's also the site of a bucket list item for me, the Hemingway home. 500 good words a day was the goal. Keep sharpening pencils till they come. Also noteworthy, Harry Truman had a house here. Duluth has its own Truman monument. Or rather, Truman once spoke here, at the Duluth Armory where young Bob Zimmerman saw Buddy Holly on his Winter Dance Party tour, a couple days before "the music died."

Other towns on the list include Portland (Maine), Santa Fe (New Mexico), South Lake Tahoe (California), Lancaster (Pennsylvania), McMinnville (Oregon) and a bunch of others including three in New England and one each in California, Idaho and Mississippi.

Nearly all weigh in as smaller than Duluth, though Santa Fe does rival our population heft. Nevertheless, they were mistaken not to include this Northland gem in the article. Here's a short list of reasons why Duluth is a great small city.

Duluth has one of only two aerial lift bridges in the world, the 2nd at Lisbon.

1. The Views
2. The Lake (Comes included in most of the views.)
3. The Arts.   Twin Ports Art scene is vibrant and expanding. It's no secret that something is happening here in the arts that will emerge in a more significant way.
4. The People.  It's Minnesota. Minnesota Nice is a way of life.
5. The Events. There are all kinds of events that people come from all over to see and be part of. Here's a short list:

Grandma's Marathon (Third week in June)
Duluth Dylan Fest (Always the week of Bob's birthday. Next year May 16-24)
Homegrown--An 8-day week of homegrown music. (Many of these performers have national, and even international, followers.)
Spirit Nationals Snocross (Thanksgiving weekend.)
John Beargrease Memorial Sled Dog Race (End of January)
DuSu Film Festival (First week in June)
Catalyst Content Festival (Mid-October)
North Shore
South Shore
Concerts in the Park (Too numerous to list.)
Bayfront Blues Festival (August 14-16)

Then there are the 29 parks, hiking trails, mountain biking trails, cross country skiing trails and the skiing at Spirit Mountain. Historic buildings, live jazz, state parks in the vicinity, public art, craft breweries, and much more. If you need more ideas, try VisitDuluth.com.

Painting by the author.

FOR DYLAN FANS who want to visit important historic Dylan-related places and spaces, Harvard professor Richard Thomas, author of Why Dylan Matters, says "Start your Dylan tour in Duluth." You can read Gary Stoller's June 11 Forbes.com article here: Traveling To Unmask Dylan As New Scorsese Movie Debuts.

Sure, it can be pretty cold here sometimes. That's not your problem though, if your only visiting for a long weekend. I suggest a week, though. It usually takes three days just to get settled when you travel, yes? Take off all that internal armor you wear on the job. Unwind. Let the atmosphere settle your nerves. And just "be."

* * * *

Getting to the Point

Lake pic courtesy John Heino

There will plenty of art to see this weekend in the Twin Ports. It's a-hoppin' here. Hopefully there will be a bit of kinder, gentler weather to accompany you in your weekend plans whatever they may be. Retired folks had the sunniest weather yesterday to take in the fall colors which weekend autumn-watchers missed due to overcast skies, wind and rain. But whatever the weather numerous galleries will have their doors open Friday evening to give you shelter from any storm. And Saturday... Let's get to the Point. That is, the Park Point "Awesome Art & Gift Fair" at Lafayette Park at 3026, Minnesota Avenue.

The Twin Ports Gallery Hop Friday night will be featuring art openings on both sides of the High Bridge. First, the Superior side. All four of the following will be taking place in the historic Trade and Commerce Marketplace at the corner of Hammond and Broadway. If you live on the Duluth side and have never been over to an art opening on the Superior side, I am going to insist on this one. It's so easy to find you really can't miss.

Instructions for Duluthians: get on Highway 35 going East, heading to Superior. When you get over the bridge, stay on the road you are on and keep going straight eight blocks or so. You will see a traffic light ahead. The Trade and Commerce Marketplace is on your left at that light, just across the railroad tracks.

Here's what you can expect to see there at 1323 Broadway Street Friday.

North End Arts Gallery, Superior Council for the Arts: Working Through, 11 - 7 / special reception 5-7.

Mud Sisters : 5-7pm.

Duluth Potter: Superior Division: Karin Kraemer's studio (1323 Broadway St): 5-7pm.

Terri Milliken is also opening her studio from  5-7pm.

Absent from the Hop is Goin' Postal, in part due to the Tower Avenue construction project which has limited access to their space. Instead, they will be celebrating their own art opening with post-party on October 25. Details here.

The Duluth side of the bridge will be especially lively as well. Here are some of the gallery sights you can expect to experience.

Lizzards Art Gallery (11 West Superior St): Three American Modernists: 10am - 6pm

Zeitgeist Arts Building (22 East Superior St): 10am - 11pm

Tweed Museum of Art (1201 Ordean Court): Blood Memoirs: 9am - 4:30pm with guided tours from 3 - 4:30pm  (This show, curated by Amber-Dawn Bear Robe, is having its official opening on the 22nd and 23rd. Mark your calendars now.)

Duluth Art Institute (506 West Michigan St): Canvas of Flesh, Possession and Forgotten Tales: 4 - 6pm

Pineapple Arts (The "working man's art supply space" at 124 West 1st St): 10am - 6pm

DPI: Duluth Photography Institute (405 East Superior St) 5 - 8pm

Washington Studios (315 N Lake Ave): 6-10pm

Gimaajii (A wonderful new space for arts and culture at 202 W 2nd St): Radio PlutØ: 6-10pm

PrØve Gallery (21 North Lake Avenue): Radio PlutØ: 7-11pm

Lake Superior Art Glass (202 East Superior St): Live Torch-working Glass Demos: 11am-9pm

Saturday let's Get to the Point
I just received word that Saturday from 10 - 3 p.m., at the Lafayette Community Building, 3026 Minnesota Avenue there will be artists and artisans sharing and selling their work. One of these will be Esther Piszczek, whose z e n t a n g l e®-inspired art I wrote about last month when she had her opening at Amazing Grace. It's not too early to start thinking of Christmas presents. In addition to framed art, original artwork on 5"x5" canvases, note cards, puzzles, playing cards, she'll have tee shirts for sale. She's also going to be teaching a 4-week z e n t a n g l e® Pattern Drawing class starting Monday, October 21, 5:30 - 7:30 p.m., at the Ordean East Middle School, 2900 East Fourth Street, through Duluth Community Education. I mention these details simply to direct your attention to this event, which will feature the work of many others.

To reach this event, you will also have to cross a bridge.... Duluth's Aerial Lift Bridge, another local treasure and itself a work of art. Get over it. :-)



ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Friday's Gallery Hop has been assembled with oversight and assistance of Anne Dugan of the Duluth Art Institute. The Duluth Art Institute's programs and services are made possible through the support of contributing members of the Duluth Art Institute, A. H. Zeppa Family Foundation, Bush Foundation, City of Duluth, Depot Foundation, Duluth-Superior Area Community Foundation, 506 Campaign, Jerome Foundation, McKnight Foundation, the Minnesota State Arts Board through an appropriation by the State Legislature from the Minnesota arts and cultural heritage fund with money from the vote of the people of Minnesota on November 4, 2008, and a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts, River Road Foundation Fund, St. Louis County, and Wildey H. Mitchell Family Foundation.

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