One weird town

SLO-BOB · 12-24-2008, 07:26 AM

wtf?

Note the "Guns Welcome" sign below "pipes". And what exactly is "urine cleaner"?

Here on business. It has a lot of nice, tourist type things going for it, shops, restaurants, etc. But, under a veneer of Starbucks and antique shops lies a somewhat less savory element of blood banks, covens, pan handlers and head shops. Last visit a client and I walked into a bar through the alley entrance (cutting through). The door was open - lots of music and "fun" noises drew us in. Immediately upon entering we felt as if all eyes were on us. The music was loud and people were dancing. Nothing overtly unusual, but there was a lot of eye contact - from everybody. Words can't describe the feeling we both got, but it's probably similar to what cattle feel when they're led through the gates at the rendering plant. We made a bee-line to the front door and, thankfully, exited.

If vampires do exist, they live here.

The ride home was far more serene-

Any guesses?

svandamme · svandamme's Garage

Urine Cleaner!??

Is it a NASA supply shop or something?

86911cab · 12-24-2008, 07:33 AM

I dont think you were in HE!!, but I'm sure it was most likely the next town over. Just looking at the pictures scare me.

stomachmonkey · 12-24-2008, 07:35 AM

Duluth!

That's Superior St.

I'd tell you how I know but this is a family friendly place.

Dave L · 12-24-2008, 07:36 AM

why its Ashland Road of course

LakeCleElum · 12-24-2008, 07:40 AM

Electric Fetus
Duluth Store
12 E Superior St.
Duluth, MN 55802
(218) 722-9970

(I cheated - Googled "Electric Fetus - I has pictures of their 3 stores)

stomachmonkey · 12-24-2008, 07:53 AM

Fetus is on the corner of Lake and Superior.

Last Place on Earth is, IIRC, a couple of blocks up on Superior, same side of the street.

willtel · 12-24-2008, 08:08 AM

Urine cleaner is used to pass drug tests for pre-employment screening or court appointed drug tests. Google whizzinator for a good laugh.

MRM · 12-24-2008, 08:24 AM

You guys are good. I was going to say it had to be Duluth, but your description sounds more like Superior. Except I don't think there's been any business to travel for in Superior for a long time. There's a lot of poverty along the north shore, as there is in most rural areas where there isn't much commerce. The nights are long, there isn't a lot of money and not much to do. It gets pretty drepressed by mid winter.

Any out of towner gets the same treatment. The stares aren't meant to be hostile, although they seem that way. They're curious and checking you out but aren't aggressive. Not unlike fellow cows greating newcomers at the rendering plant.

The Electric Fetus is locally infamous. It's been a thorn in the side of municiaplities since the early 70s. Your basic head shop/record store. The leading cases in Minnesota deciding what businesses can and can't do before the city shuts them down involve them. A more recent case builds on that body of law: State v Holmberg, 529 NW2d 100 (Minn. Ct. App. 1995). I thought the prosecutor in that case did a particularly nice job. I'm glad to see they've branched out to adult toys. It makes a good product mix for them. By the way, uirine cleaners aren't for cattle. Presumably they provide "clean" urine samples for drug tests.

SLO-BOB · 11:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stomachmonkey

Duluth!

That's Superior St.

I'd tell you how I know but this is a family friendly place.

Correct sir. I knew someone would get it right away.

I like Duluth. Very scenic, hiking and biking, and great restaurants. Quite a lively nightlife too. I arrived Monday night and the place was jumping. I ate at the bar and watched the Packer game. The TV was positioned right over a couple seated below. The guy - must have been 100 years old - with a 20something hanging all over hime. Hmmmm. Little something (or someone) for everyone there I think.

I plan on bringing my wife and kids up there sometiime. However, we'll avoid the "urine cleaner" and hookers......and vampires!

SLO-BOB · 11:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MRM

....sounds more like Superior. Except I don't think there's been any business to travel for in Superior for a long time.

I work anywhere that has a hospital - booming or depressed, people still get sick. But, Superior does look like it's hurting.

Any out of towner gets the same treatment. The stares aren't meant to be hostile...

This was a club by the waterfront. Lots of Touri there so they probably wouldn't know local from visitor, but we didn't take it as hostile, more like "check out the new meat" in a "Eyes Wide Shut" kind of way. I think it was a private "club" of some kind that we simply wandered in via back door. Brrrrr!

The Electric Fetus is locally infamous. It's been a thorn in the side of municiaplities since the early 70s. Your basic head shop/record store. The leading cases in Minnesota deciding what businesses can and can't do before the city shuts them down involve them....

The "munincipalities" have bigger fish to fry me thinks. That whole street is peppered with weirdness - "Gentlemen's" club in an old theater, Plasma clinics, Methadone clinics.....etc. Lots of young, skinny people covered in ink and piercings.The local rags have announcements for "coven" gatherings, but as mentioned, that might have been across the bridge at Superior.

Don't get me wrong - again - I like Duluth. I'll bet it's a pretty safe town with maybe some "B&E" issues to support drug habits. Working in hospitals I see things that average travelers do not. I also just happen to notice stuff like that. Most people probably see the 90% part of Duluth which is college town, tourist destination, and quite nice. They have a huge, excellent Blues festival there in the summer.

MRM · 12-24-2008, 03:43 PM

Yes, Duluth is kind of a Jekyll/Hyde sort of town. The flora and fauna are intersting, but mostly harmless. Make sure you come back in the summer. When the days are 14 hours long and the water is warm enough to wade in, the North Shore is magical. At times Duluth seems like the tall ship capital of the world. Well worth the effort. One of my best days of work came one year when I had to do an afternoon small claims court appearance in Grand Marais, which is 100 miles or so north of Duluth. So I got to, I mean had to, drive all morning to Duluth (an easy 1-2 hour trip) and then wind my way up the North Shore to Grand Marais to get there in time for lunch before the 1 o'clock appearance. The scenary in spring almost makes the winter worthwhile. Winter is fun if you embrace winter sports. I try not to. We did just by snow mobiles, though, and we're planning to use them for the first time this weekend.

Municipalities do have bigger fish to fry. Interestingly, the "gentlemen's" clubs that line the streets were made possible by the Electric Fetus' cases. That makes the prosecutor's success in the Holmberg decision all the more remarkable.