Duluth Historical Society Blog

Preserving our history, recording the present and reaching for the future

Duluth alcohol plan headed to city council

DULUTH — A daily jaunt through the Town Green with wine in a plastic cup is less likely after Duluth’s Alcohol Review Board balked at the idea.

The board decided against recommending a Savannah-inspired idea to allow people to stroll through shops while finishing a drink.

Instead, members recommended extending the benefit of leaving a restaurant with a glass to enjoy a special event at the Town Green. If the City Council follows the unanimous recommendation, any restaurant in the historic district would be allowed to sell to patrons going to the park, instead of only those that back up to the Town Green.

The option would open up to Chocolate Perks, which is located along Main Street, and any other restaurant that opens in the area. Steverino’s and Cafe Park already have the privilege, said Economic Development Manager Chris McGahee.

“They (review board members) wanted to restrict it to just the times the city has already sanctioned events where alcohol can be on Town Green,” he said. (Event-goers are also allowed to bring alcohol from home on those days.) “They made the determination that at this time Duluth was not ready, and did not need that option (every day).”

Duluth to seek info on theater project

The Duluth City Council agreed Monday to authorize the Duluth Downtown Development Authority to seek architectural drawings for replacing part of the Red Clay Theater downtown.

The proposed building includes a large lobby for gatherings, a box office, restrooms, and an administrative office. The sketches, created by the Duluth architectural firm of Hill Foley Rossi & Associates, were labeled “Duluth City Playhouse.”

See rest of report here.

Fine tuning: Violin maker calls Duluth home

DULUTH — Ok Kyum Kim’s face is staid as he drags the bow across the viola’s strings.
A viola hums in a small downtown Duluth store. Inside Huthmaker Violins, a bespectacled, short Korean man with wavy, dark hair is playing.

Ok Kyum Kim - Huthmaker Violin Guy

Staff Photo: Jason Braverman
Ok Kyum Kim went to the top violin making school in the world in Italy and recently placed third in the international viola making competition, his first time entering. Kim, based in Duluth, also restores and repairs violins and works at Huthmaker.

Huthmaker is located on Main Street in Downtown Duluth.

Read the full story HERE