Only memories remain of Duluth's incline railways

Duluth has two incline railways in its past: The the Seventh Avenue Incline Railway, aka the Duluth Skyride, built in 1890 by Highland Improvement Company and the Duluth Belt Line Railway which ran in West Duluth from 1889 to 1916. Story features these two railways, with a brief history of passenger rail in the Twin Ports at the end.

• Ride the Skyride
• The Belt Line Incline
• Incline railway and hillside homes
• Incline trolley car

The Northland's week in review (Jan. 29-Feb.4, 2010)

A review of the week that was in the Northland and highlights of the coming weekend.

The reader’s companion to Ryan Van Slooten's ‘All But My Soul’

You may know Ryan Van Slooten from such Twin Ports outfits as Bone Appétit, the SuperTacks and Rock Brigade, but his solo stuff may not be as instantly recognizable.

• Ryan Van Slooten
• "All But My Soul"

5Q :: Chris Nollet on 19th century comic operas

Through Brian Matuszak’s Rubber Chicken outfit, Chris Nollet and Jill Hoffman have been busy entertaining Northland audiences with — and educating them about — the late-1800s comic stylings of Gilbert and Sullivan.

• "Trial by Jury"

Despite the hype, the Super Bowl is still just a game

Super Bowl coverage is overblown: Much like I don’t need to hear John Madden’s opinion on the economy, I don’t need to hear the president's thoughts on football.

5Q :: Shakopee writer chronicles his ‘Descent Into Madness’

Tim Lundmark’s “My Descent Into Madness” isn’t your average chapbook — it was originally intended to be his suicide note to the world.

• "My Descent Into Madness"
• Tim Lundmark

Latest results of caucus straw polls for governor

The latest results (still not complete) show Republican Marty Seifert with 50 percent of the votes. Democrats have two leaders with more than 20 percent: Margaret Anderson Kelliher and R.T. Ryback, but former U.S. senator Mark Dayton asked not to be included in the straw polls. The Independence Party candidate with the most votes so far is Tom Horner, with 48 percent.

Sending gifts and love to the troops

The Lake Superior Chapter of the Blue Star Mothers meets at 6:30 p.m. the third Thursday of each month at the American Legion, 5814 Grand Ave. in West Duluth.

• With love, from Mom
• Send hats

The Northland's week in review (Jan. 22-28, 2010)

A look back at the week that was in the Northland and beyond, and highlights from the coming weekend. Longer than print version.

5Q :: Five for Fighting makes third free disc for troops

In an exclusive interview with the Budgeteer, Five for Fighting frontman John Ondrasik talks about his "For the Troops" project.

• Ondrasik

Jenna Kase: An actress/superhero you’ll want to know

Jenna Kase is a superhero — for at least the next couple weekends, that is.

• Kase

Governor’s race draws a big crowd of candidates

Wednesday night’s forum was the final major candidate gathering before the caucuses on Tuesday. List of candidates after story.

Longville snowmobiler Levi LaVallee back at X Games

While most of the sporting world feverishly awaits Vancouver’s Olympics Games, there’s a certain rumble from out Aspen way that can’t be avoided: the 14th holding of the Winter X Games, which will be broadcast on ESPN stations Jan. 28-31.

• Levi LaVallee

5Q :: Catching up with the ‘real’ George Kaplan

Up-and-coming Saint Paul troubadour George Kaplan is back with a new EP, “Putting Nowhere on the Map,” and he’s here to talk about it. PLUS: A “reprint” of the Budgeteer’s conversation with Kaplan last January.

• Soren Larson = George Kaplan
• "Putting Nowhere on the Map"

Port Authority to develop portion of former U.S. Steel site

The Duluth Seaway Port Authority Board of Commissioners voted Wednesday, Jan. 27, to approve a purchase agreement with United States Steel Corporation to acquire a portion of the company’s former Duluth Works site in the city’s Morgan Park neighborhood.

• Map of site