Checking Out Two Loons Gallery & Boutique in the Craft District

As some of you know, Susie has been making some cool Christmas Tree Ornaments with goose eggs from our gaggle of geese. She also make quill pens from decorated goose feathers. Some of these can be found at Two Loons, an arts and crafts shop founded five years ago and run by Joel & Lori Baird.

I stopped in this afternoon to drop off more pens and took some photos here. There's really much, much more to see than what I am sharing here, so you really need to go visit the store before Christmas, just to get one more gift or stocking stuffer. The Bairds are a local business that supports local artisans. 

Be sure to check out their website, which I have listed below at the bottom of this page. 

You'll find Susie's Goose Egg Ornaments here under this lamp.

The Bridge to Nowhere

Two Loons. 2025 West Superior Street. 

Here's the website. CHECK IT OUT. There's lots to see.

www.TwoLoons.mn

Local Art Seen: We've Got Murals! Plus, Two Events To Check Out

Two weeks ago the Zenith Bookstore opened here in the Twin Ports, next door (or across the parking lot) from Beaners Central in the old Wild West building in Spirit Valley. The opening was fun, but as with any bookstore, the heroes are the books themselves, as well as the people who create the character of the store. You might call it Bob and Angel Dobrow's Big Adventure.

Last month when I was at the State Fairgrounds for the annual Back to the Fifties Car Show, I noticed that my two favorite bookstores that I used to visit when we lived in the Midway 35 years ago were still there in the Midway and in Dinkytown, though if you go the Dinkytown store has moved out of the basement to an upstairs location around the corner.

The Dobrows moved here from Northfield, where Bob taught math and statistics for two decades at Carleton College. A story at Perfect Duluth Day has photos inside the store and offers some backstory about the Dobrow's quest to find a building here and more. Be sure to follow the links at the end of the story for other related items of interested.

The aim of this post is to draw attention to the decorative entryway to Zenith's storefront, a mural of books by Proctor muralist Tom Napoli. Napoli's books are a great addition to the aesthetic lift he provided Ganucci's Italian Restaurant across the street and down the block. If you have never eaten there, you must go for lunch or dinner sometime and take in the interior design as well. The food is fab, pure Italy, and may be one of Duluth's best kept secrets that ought to be shouted to the world.

For what it's worth this is not the only book mural in town, though. Scott Murphy's mural of books graces the library downtown, and curiously he, too, hails from Proctor. It's great to see these exteriors getting dressed.

Stay current on upcoming events. Bookmark the ZenithBookstore.com.

GOING COASTAL BOOK LOVERS EVENT

Which bring me to the two events. First, on Tuesday evening Zenith Bookstore is Going Coastal. That is, there will be a book signing and reception for a new book of short stories by area writers titled Going Coastal. At least three of the nine authors will be part of a panel discussion, reading from the short stories they produced for this Lake Superior Writers anthology published by North Star Press. Phil Fitzpatrick, Judy Budreau and Max Reagan will each be reading and sharing. Beaners will be providing free cupcakes, though I suspect we'll all be there for other reasons.

If you have not yet checked out our newest bookstore in Duluth, then you can use this event as a prod to get you over here.

MURAL UNVEILING IN THE CRAFT DISTRICT

"Yes, we're going to a party, party." --Lennon/McCartney

From 3:00-4:00 this afternoon there will be a ribbon cutting and block party to celebrate the new Paul LaJeunesse mural on the Frost River building in the Craft District. LaJeunesse was the Duluth Art Institute's first Artist-In-Residence. The ceremony will be part of a celebration that includes music by Teague Alexy and an ice cream stand by Love Creamery (yummm) in the Pocket Park. More details here on their Facebook event page.

Sponsored by Bent Paddle Brewing Co. & Duluth LISC (Local Initiatives Support Corporation.)

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In case you haven't noticed, the Twin Ports arts scene is bursting with life. Get into it!

Ribbon Cutting Ceremonies: A New Mural in the Craft District and AICHO's Dr. Robert Powless Community Center

Local Art Seen
Two arts-related ribbon cutting ceremonies, one last week and the second this coming weekend, demonstrate again how vibrant the arts scene is here in the Twin Ports. In between there's a Plein Air Festival taking place in which 34 artists from around the country and the community are painting various scenes around town. Keep an eye out and you'll no doubt see a few artists set on capturing our beautiful city and its surroundings.

Here's a sneak peek at the new mural as it near completion on the Frost River Building at 1910 West Superior Street. The official unveiling will be celebrated Sunday, July 16 at 3:00 p.m. The mural by Paul LaJeunesse, the Duluth Art Institute’s first Artist-in-Residence in its new, Lincoln Park Craft District artist residency program, painted this mural celebrating local craft workers. The ribbon-cutting ceremony is open to the public.

AICHO's Fifth Anniversary A Special Occasion

The first ribbon cutting this month took place last Wednesday, July 5. Dr. Robert Powless, whose sacrifices helped make the center now bearing his name possible, held the scissors that cut the ribbon. A small crowd was on hand along with local media to watch the ceremony and to celebrate the occasion. A new gift shop has opened and the American Indian Community Housing Organization continues its services to the people.

My photos here give a feel for the moment, but Ivy Vainio's shot at KBJR6 was the money shot of the day. Nice!

Meantime, art goes on all around you. Get into it.