Gifts for the Commuter

Do you know somebody that commutes far distances to work everyday?  Making that commute easier could be the best present they could ever ask for.  Here are some great presents for the person that sits in rush hour traffic most of their mornings and evenings.

1. Noise Silencing Earbuds: Not only to keep yourself entertained, but to drown out the unavoidable noises around you. These are great because the ear buds work like ear plugs, and they even come with an app to use with your smart phone that further silences noises. Etymotic hf5 earphones, $149.
2. Thermos: Coffee is key to being awake by the time I get to work. I've tried several travel mugs, and this one is hands down the best at keeping beverages piping hot for the winter and icy cold in the summer. Klean Kanteen Insulated, $25.95-29.95.
3. A Durable Bag: Because a canvas bag just isn't going to cut it on the floor of a wet train or bus, or outside in nasty weather. Look for a leather, nylon, or waxed canvas bag with a reinforced bottom, or even one with little feet to keep it elevated off the floor. 2Unfold Laptop Bag / Heritage by hard graft, £400.
4. Reusable Bags: I use these all the time for toting stuff back and forth from work. They stash away so easily in my desk drawer or bag, and actually expand to a fairly large capacity. Envirosax, $39.95/set of 5.
5. iPhone/iPad (or other mobile device): If I had to pick one thing that has made my commute more tolerable, it is the invention of mobile devices. I can talk to my mom, browse the web, check email, listen to a podcast, etc. And last year I was gifted an iPad, which even further improved my commute by providing an abundance of reading material without all the weight. iPhone & iPad, prices vary.
6. Touch Gloves: So that you can still use your mobile device without your hands freezing while you're waiting for the train or walking to work! Agloves, $19.99-29.99.
7. Bike Handle: Genius. This handle makes carrying a bike up and down stairs and onto a train so much easier. Bicycle Frame Handle, $38.
8. Boots: Because trudging through the rain and snow is one of the worst parts of commuting. I have a few different boots to wear depending on the weather, but if you're going to pick just one, Hunters are classic, and you can get boot socks to keep your feet warm in the winter. Hunter Boots, $135-225.
9. Lunchbox: This is the one thing I don't actually have, but should. I usually use one of my reusable bags, but they don't do anything to protect from spills, and they definitely don't keep food warm or cold. Something insulated and lightweight that folds up seems ideal. Lunch Tote by BUILT, $24.99.

For more information see Apartment Therapy.

Skate at Schenley Park

This Sunday you can have some holiday fun at Schenley Park.  Bring your kids, brothers, sisters, and everyone else in your family to skate with Santa. There will be music and refreshments at the event from 1:30-3:30pm.  There are also some other great public outdoor ice rinks throughout the Pittsburgh area such as PPG place.
 
Skate with Santa at Schenley Park

 

Event: Skate with Santa at Schenley Park
 
Location: Schenley Ice Skating Rink, 1 Overlook Drive, Pittsburgh, PA 15216 (Schenley Park – Oakland)
 
Date: Sunday, December 16, 2012
 
Time: 1:30pm until 3:30pm
 
Cost: Adult admission is $4.00, youth (17 and under) is $3.00, and seniors are $3.00. Skate rental is $2.50.
 
Description: Create memories while skating with Santa at Schenley Park Ice Rink. Enjoy great music & refreshments while you skate with the big guy himself! For more information, please visit the City of Pittsburgh website.

For more information see Living Pittsburgh.

Let's Go Panthers

The University of Pittsburgh Football Program has had a great season, and now they are prepping for the BBVA Compass Bowl.  The game is held at the historic Legion Field in Birmingham, Alabama.  The Panthers will take on Southern Methodist University, who are in the USA Conference.  The game will be broadcast on ESPN January 7th at 1pm.

The University of Pittsburgh football team has accepted an invitation to play in the BBVA Compass Bowl. The game, held at historic Legion Field in Birmingham, Ala., will be played on January 7, 2012 in front of a national ESPN television audience (1 p.m. ET).

The Panthers (6-6, 4-3 Big East) will face Southern Methodist University (7-5, 5-3 Conference USA). It will be just the sixth meeting ever between the two schools and the second in a bowl game. SMU defeated Pitt in the 1983 Cotton Bowl, 7-3. The all-time series is tied, 2-2-1.

"You play an entire season to earn the opportunity for one extra game -- a bowl game," Pitt coach Todd Graham said. "Our team is excited for the chance to put that Pitt helmet on one more time for the BBVA Compass Bowl. Birmingham is a great college football town. We're looking forward to our visit and playing SMU in front of a national ESPN television audience."

"On behalf of the University of Pittsburgh and our football program, I would like to thank the city of Birmingham, BBVA Compass Bowl committee and executive director Mark Meadows for the opportunity to play in this year's game," Pitt athletic director Steve Pederson said. "We know firsthand the great hospitality shown to the teams and fans, and we're looking forward to our visit in January."

The Panthers will be playing in their ninth bowl since 2000 (12 seasons) and fourth consecutive since 2008.

Pitt defeated Kentucky in last season's BBVA Compass Bowl, 27-10. The Panthers are 12-15 all-time in bowl games.

For tickets and travel package information, call the Panthers Ticket Office at (800) 643-PITT. The ticket office will be open from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. Tickets and travel packages can also be purchased online through Altour, the Official Travel Provider for Pitt Alumni and Fan Travel. Contact Altour for your customized travel package http://www.alumni.pitt.edu/event/2011bowl/. Go to "Bowl Central" at www.PittsburghPanthers.com for additional information.

For more information see Pitt.edu.

I Made It! Holiday Market

Make sure to check out this great Holiday Event at Bakery Square on November 30th and December 1st.  There will be a craft market held with Pittsburgh regional artists selling their work at the first floor space of Bakery Square.  Bakery Square will also be lit up red in honor of World Aids Day on Friday Night.  Make sure to check out all the details below.

I Made It! for the Holidays {our 6th annual holiday market}

Shop with us: Friday, Nov. 30 from 5 pm – 10 pm

&  Saturday, Dec.1 from 11 am – 6 pm

Inside the first floor space @ Bakery Square (map)
6425 Penn Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15206, FREE Indoor Parking

Visit our Facebook Event for updates!

I Made It! for the Holidays announces its sixth annual handmade arts marketplace to be held on Friday, November 30th from 5 pm – 10 pm and Saturday, December 1st from 11 am – 6 pm at Bakery Square. More than 90 Pittsburgh-regional artisans will offer handmade goods including children’s items, house wares, clothing, jewelry, plush, ceramics, sweets, photography, toys, bath & body products and much more. Saturday brings TAPPED Pop Up Beer Garden and Santa! To learn more about the artists or for event details, visit www.imadeitmarket.com.

For more about the event and our sponsors, visit the I Made It! Market blog. Sponsors include: Assemble, Bakery Square, City Paper, Cotton Factory, Green Light Wireless, Indie Foundry, MailChimp, Outright, Play Unplugged, Port Authority, Quiet Storm, Square, Revive Marketing Group, SouthSide Works, 82 Concepts.

We are excited to announce that Friday night the Delta Foundation will be lighting Bakery Square in red in honor of World AIDS Day. On Saturday, Santa will be onsite for photos from 12 pm – 3 pm and Tapped brings a pop up beer garden from 12 pm – 5 pm. ABOUT BAKERY SQUARE: Bakery Square is a new mixed-use development located in the East End neighborhood of Pittsburgh, built out of the existing site of the historic Nabisco Factory. Offering an exciting lifestyle center environment while hosting numerous free events to connect with its neighbors and guests, Bakery Square is home to Google, UPMC, Anthropologie, Free People, Urban Active Fitness, Coffee Tree Roasters, Learning Express Toys, Jimmy Johns, Springhill Suites Marriott Hotel, Massage Heights, Boxwood, University of Pittsburgh, Veteran Administration and the newly opened Panera Bread.

For more information see I Made It.

Happy Thanksgiving!

We hope everyone has a safe and Happy Thanksgiving! Spend some time with your friends and family and remember everything in life that you are thankful for.

Pittsburgh Light Up Night

Pittsburgh Light Up Night is this Friday and Saturday downtown.  Fireworks, free activities, and events to get you in the mood for the Holiday Season.  Make sure to check it out with your family, and remember it is free.



 Event: 52nd Annual Light Up Night & First Holiday Saturday
 

Location: Various locations throughout Downtown Pittsburgh
 

Date: Friday, November 16 through Saturday, November 17, 2012
 

Time: 5-10pm Friday, noon-8pm Sunday
 

Cost: Free
 

Description: Free and open to the public, this is Pittsburgh’s official kick-off of the Holiday season. Light Up Night – Light Up Weekend! For up to the minute Light Up Night – Light Up Weekend goings-on, please visit the Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership’s website. Enjoy lots of live performances on multiple stages, the Bridge Party over the Allegheny River, the ceremonial lighting of six trees, an all new stage show – Celebrate Santa, and of course a grand fireworks finale.

For more information check out Living Pittsburgh.

Steelers Pull Out the Win

Everyone in the country is rooting for New York and New Jersey to help them overcome the tragedies of Hurricane Sandy.  However, that did not stop the Steelers from playing with all their heart against the New York Giants on Sunday.

The Pittsburgh Steelers needed a yard to convert a fourth-and-1 from the New York Giants' 3-yard line early in the fourth quarter, and coach Mike Tomlin decided against a run up the middle for a first down, a pass for a touchdown or even the easy field goal to tie the game in favor of the backward flip to kicker Shaun Suisham.

It didn't work. And Foote was livid.

With the execution, not the call itself.

"I'm more mad we didn't execute it because we've been running that play for about five years now! And in practice, Heath Miller comes off and blocks me every time!" Foote told USA TODAY Sports, though he yelled it for about half of the Steelers' locker room to hear after their 24-20 victory at MetLife Stadium.

"We finally ran it and didn't execute!"

In a more measured tone, Foote then added, "That's football."

Foote's reaction summed up the way the Steelers handled a difficult Sunday that certainly wasn't easy for anyone â?? the away team, the home team or the fans.

The Giants were dealing with the worst problems, of course. Some of their players are still without power and have suffered severe damage to their homes because of Hurricane Sandy. Some of the fans lost their houses but showed up at MetLife Stadium on Sunday hoping their team could provide a reason for them to smile at the end of a long, difficult week.

The Steelers had their own comparatively minor issues.

They had to overcome an extremely questionable call that gave the Giants a 70-yard touchdown return on a fumble that should've been ruled an incompletion. Their defense needed to force a stop after Tomlin's head-scratcher of a call resulted in Suisham's easily being tackled by the Giants' Michael Coe, who didn't rush hard off the edge as the Steelers had hoped.

And all of this came after the Steelers flew in the morning of the game instead of arriving a day early because the hotel they'd booked was without power.

Again, compared to what others have been dealt, it's petty stuff. But as it pertains to what happened between the lines, that was a tough, gritty performance by a team that has for years prided itself on being mentally and physically strong.

"It was one of the craziest things ever," quarterback Ben Roethlisberger said of the day-of-game travel, "but we might be doing that every week now, I don't know."

Said Foote, "I saw a lot of NFL superstar millionaires sleeping on the floor pregame in the hotel (lobby) with rolled-up shirts as pillows. But, hey, football's football. You put the ball down on the grass, and we'll play."

That's the kind of attitude a championship team needs to have. So when his team shows such a mentality, it's easy to see why Tomlin is encouraged.

"We combated a lot of adversity tonight, and were able to pull it out, particularly with a solid performance in the fourth quarter," Tomlin said, adding this of the failed fake field goal: "They overcame bad coaching sometimes, and that's on me."

But Tomlin's bad coaching might've had some solid reasoning.

You see, the Steelers' defense had just forced a three-and-out that ended with a sack of Eli Manning 
on a third-and-11. On the previous Giants' possession, Pittsburgh had held the Giants to a field goal despite Manning & Co.'s taking over at the Steelers' 33-yard line. Not since Andre Brown's 1-yard touchdown midway through the second quarter had the Giants crossed the goal line.

Tomlin, who was immediately clapping for his defense to get the ball back as soon as Coe tackled Suisham, must've had an inkling his defense would bail him out if his gamble didn't pay off.

"Making that call?" cornerback Ike Taylor said. "Yeah, of course."

Added nose tackle Casey Hampton, "To even do something like that in that situation when you can take the three (points) and tie it up, that lets you know he's got a lot of faith in this defense."

And why not? In their five victories, the Steelers have given up a total of 10 points in the fourth quarter. In their three consecutive wins, they've given up only a field goal in the final period.

They outscored the Giants, who tied an NFL record with seven fourth-quarter comebacks in their Super Bowl season last year, 14-0 in the fourth quarter on Sunday.

"They're one of the best teams in the fourth quarter, and we were probably one of the worst teams in the fourth quarter (early in) the year," linebacker LaMarr Woodley said, referring to the combined 40 points allowed in the fourth quarters of the losses to the Denver Broncos, Oakland Raiders and Tennessee Titans. "We weren't doing a great job closing out games and playing against one of the best fourth-quarter teams, we answered today."

A bad decision by Tomlin? Overcome. Adversity? Overcome. A 1-2 start? Overcome.
Now, here they come. The Steelers are title contenders once again.

"We're just getting back to playing sound football, we're getting back to closing in the fourth quarter," Taylor said. "The games we lost, we didn't find a way to finish, but we did today."

For more information see News Press.
The Camelot

Daylight Savings Time Ends This Weekend

Do not show up an hour early for class on Monday.  This Saturday night to Sunday make sure to set your clocks back an hour for fall back time.  Enjoy your extra hour of sleep this weekend.

It's time once again for the annual ritual of resetting our clocks for a return to standard time. In fall, we turn daylight saving* time off, which means moving clocks back one hour at 2 a.m. on Sunday morning, November 4, 2012. This return to "normal" time (Pacific Standard Time) moves sunset back an hour with the corresponding effect of an earlier sunrise.
 
Unless you plan on being awake and functional at 2 a.m. Sunday morning, set your clocks back one hour before retiring on Saturday night. You'll then be on time for Sunday activities and refreshed from getting an extra hour of sleep. 

For more information see About.com
The Camelot

Thursday Night Affordable Date

Thursday nights in downtown can include dinner, movies, and entertainment for an affordable price.  Here is a great Thursday evening plan that won't cost more than 25 dollars a person.  This plan includes a movie, dinner, and a comedy show with drinks.

Once again, we are here to show you that Downtown Pittsburgh doesn’t have to be an expensive place to play. Here’s how TWO people can enjoy an entire evening Downtown every Thursday for around $40 to $50 including parking and tips. That’s just $20-$25 per person, and this gets you A LOT!

If you’re not already Downtown, you can park your car in one of the local garages after 4 pm for only $5.00. The closest to your destinations will be the Theatre Square Garage, the one at 9th Street and Penn Avenue, or the one at 9th Street and Liberty Avenue.

The first thing to do, now that you’re in the Penn-Liberty Historic District, is to head straight to the Harris Theater. On Thursdays, you can catch a movie for just 5 bucks for KQV-AM’s  5:30 Thursday. Think of it as a special “after-work matinee”.

If you didn’t have time to grab a bite before the movie, by now you’re probably famished! Well, you’re in luck, because at the corner of 9th Street and Liberty Avenue, you’ll find Sammy’s. Sammy’s is famous for their Corned Beef Special. The sandwich is HUGE: a beyond-healthy portion of corned beef topped with the traditional Swiss cheese, Russian dressing and cole slaw on rye, served with a pickle, for $5.99.

When you’re done eating, stroll on over to the Cabaret at Theater Square for their Pittsburgh Improv Jam! For only $3.00 you can enjoy improv comics from all over the ‘Burgh, or even participate if you dare! Late night happy hour begins at 9:00 at The Backstage Bar with $2.50 craft brews and $3.50 select wines, so grab a drink before you head in to have a seat. The comedy show starts at 9:30.

The complete total for your hours-long excursion? $40 to $50 for two people, including parking, movie, food, live comedy, a couple adult beverages, and tips! Enjoy!

Better yet, don’t worry about driving or parking – take the bus! There’s more routes than we can mention that put you right in the heart of the Cultural District.  Use Port Authority’s Trip Planner to get a quick, customized route. Getting there couldn’t be easier! 

For more information check out Living Pittsburgh.

Famous Haunted Houses in Pittsburgh.

 Scarehouse has been receiving tons of attention the past few years.  However, there are many haunted houses in Pittsburgh that will be sure to send you running scared.  From creepy santa's and cannibals to zombies and murder there is something that will make everyone scream.

Creepo is not a clown you want hosting your son's 7th birthday party. The disgruntled ex-entertainer, who resides in The ScareHouse attraction in Etna, is out for blood.

This year, Creepo will don a red Santa hat and warn children, "I know if you've been bad or good, but I'll kill you anyway."

While it's barely October, the Halloween season has long been under way for owners and managers of haunted house attractions. Many spend the entire year preparing for October, when it's finally time to 
put their terrors to the test.

When patrons walk through Creepo's Christmas in 3-D, The ScareHouse's newest theme, they can experience "a little bit of twisted humor," said Scott Simmons, creative director and one of three owners, who also include his wife and father.

The new section of The ScareHouse will be strung with Christmas lights, best viewed through 3-D glasses for a "trippy, surreal spin." This is where Creepo abides, seething over the premature holiday decorations.

Inspiration for this seasonal syncretism came when Mr. Simmons went shopping this month and had to walk past Christmas decorations to reach the Halloween section.

"We thought, you know, this is a little annoying to us because Halloween is our time," Mr. Simmons said.

There is a fine line between humor and fear at The ScareHouse. Whether it's a clown dressed as Santa, a bunny carrying an ax or a living doll who giggles and flirts with patrons, the goal is to combine creepy with cute to defy expectations.

This confusion of the psyche lowers one's guard, which translates into a higher level of fear, said Mr. Simmons.

In addition to the new Creepo's Christmas section, changes have been made to the two other attractions, The Forsaken and Pittsburgh Zombies -- the latter of which will be "much darker, scarier and with many more zombies," Mr. Simmons said.
•
At Terror Town in the Strip District, the fright factor involves a few monsters but also real spirits said to be hovering in every corner. Preparing to open for its second year, the all-indoor basement-level attraction is "one of the most paranormal-active locations in Pennsylvania," said manager Chris Firman.

"You'll be walking through one portion and it's a normal temperature, and you turn a corner and it's freezing cold," Mr. Firman said of the unusual activity in the building, which was constructed in 1921 and used by Standard American Cable.

The 35-minute tour of post-apocalyptic Terror Town -- which sank underground and became inhabited by cannibals and other bloodcurdling creatures -- includes a walk through an abandoned bus, a funeral home and the kitchen of a family who wants to feed visitors severed appendages and entrails.
•
While the owners of many haunted houses have an affinity for the gruesome and gory, Castle Blood owner Ricky Dick takes a different approach. The Gothic theatrical attraction in Westmoreland County is suitable for children and adults alike.

"The 'blood' in Castle Blood doesn't mean carnage; it means that we're owned by vampires," Mr. Dick said. "Vampires don't need chain saws, they don't need Michael Myers and they don't need killer clowns."

Formerly based in Beallsville, then Bentleyville, the 20th anniversary of Castle Blood will be celebrated in a new location in Monessen this year.

City planners approached Mr. Dick and asked if he would move Castle Blood to Monessen to promote business and the town's revitalization efforts. He agreed, seeing the benefit of an all-indoor location that would enable Castle Blood to stay open on select dates year-round.

Plans are already in the mix for a spooky Christmas affair and a "terrifyingly bloody" Valentine's Day event.

Castle Blood is set up like a game for Halloween, and this year patrons will need to appease a phantom to reach the exit safely. "Phoenix Rising" will involve transformation, rebirth and resurrection of vampires -- a fitting theme for an anniversary celebration in a new location.

"After 19 years, a fresh start is good for the 20th," Mr. Dick said.

For more information see the Post Gazette.

Free Events in Pittsburgh

A day out in Pittsburgh with the family can be expensive for anyone.  Here are some great events throughout the week that you can do with your family for free.

There are more free admission days this weekend than you can shake a stick at! For kids, adults, and everyone in between, there’s no excuse not to do something fabulously fun and FREE this weekend!  RADical Days is a thank you to the public for its support of our regional assets, such libraries, parks, museums, cultural organizations, regional facilities and municipal services, through the RAD sales tax.

 Saturday, October 13

Pittsburgh Cultural Trust Sketch Crawl
Free Tours of WQED – FM 89.3
Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra
South Park Hay Day
Pittsburgh Opera Brown Bag Concert

For more information see Living Pittsburgh.

STREB: Forces

Streb: Forces is a show with a little bit of everything.  Dancing, stunts, and acrobatics are just some of the performances included in this massive show.   Elizabeth Streb's choreography is called "Pop Action" as it combines circus arts with dance and stunt work.  This provides the audience with an amazing show that everyone should see at least once.

Elizabeth Streb is a mad scientist. 

How else would you describe a woman who devises diabolically dangerous-looking scenarios for her group of "action heroes" (a.k.a. "action engineers"), who dodge swinging cinder blocks, fall flat to the ground from multiple-story heights and run for their lives inside a monster-sized hamster wheel — all in the name of entertainment? 

In truth, Streb is an award-winning choreographer who has developed a unique movement form she calls "Pop Action." It combines science and human daring with elements of dance, the circus arts and Hollywood stuntwork. 

After a long absence, Streb and her self-named New York-based company return to Pittsburgh and the Byham Theater Sept. 28 and 29. Their latest "Action" spectacular, STREB: Forces, is the season-opener for the Pittsburgh Dance Council. 

The company is fresh off a stint at London's Cultural Olympiad, part of the festivities surrounding the London Olympics. There, STREB performed action events at seven London landmarks, including the Millennium Bridge and Trafalgar Square. Now, STREB brings to Pittsburgh perhaps its most theatrical multimedia production to date. 

For the all-ages STREB: Forces, the company is trucking in 15 tons of equipment, including machines designed to create artificial gravity and the illusion of flight for the performers.
Jam-packed with thrilling works and action events with names like "Crush," "Fall," "Invisible Forces" and "Roboto," STREB: Forces marries the scientific principles of motion with the adrenaline rush of a super coaster ride. 

Some elements of the show may be similar to past productions. For instance, there's "Spatial Rifts," a revamped version of Streb's popular vertical-wall piece "Run Up Walls," in which performers crash into, climb onto and throw themselves against a transparent wall. This time around, Streb says, the performers will be attached to one another in pairs to create a counterweight system: When one goes down, the other goes up. And much of show is new, including an action event that simulates moonwalking using a 30-feet-by-30-feet frictionless floor. 

 "These things burst into reality from playing around with new pieces of equipment at our Action Lab," says Streb by the phone from New York City, where the Lab is located. "They are the mad trajectories of what brings joy and action to people's lives."

For more information see The City Paper.

The Pittsburgh Great Race

The Pittsburgh Great Race is just around the corner and events will kick off this Sunday.  1000 kids will participate in the Dollar Bank Junior Great Race.  There will be face painting, activities, and a variety of races for the kids to participate in with their families.

With fall just around the corner, runners around the area are gearing up for the Great Race.

To kick off “Great Race Week” roughly 1,000 kids will participate in the 17th running of the Dollar Bank Junior Great Race on Sunday, Sept. 23.

“The Dollar Bank Junior Great Race is undeniably one of the most entertaining, non-competitive races for Pittsburgh’s kids,” Great Race Director Mike Radley said in a statement. “It’s a perfect family activity that combines health, fitness and fun.”

Events of the day are as follows:

10:30 a.m. – Packet pick up. Face painting and other activities will be available for the kids as well.
Noon – One-Mile Family Fun Run at Point State Park, 50-Yard Tot Trot & Diaper Dash

Registration for the Junior Great Race is $8 if done in advance and $10 on the day of the event.
Applications are online at www.RunGreatRace.com and you can also call Dollar Bank at (412)-255-2493.

A goodie bag containing a Junior Great Race and medal will be handed out to all registered kids.

For more information see CBS Local.

New Baby Rhino at the Zoo

 There is a new baby at the Pittsbugh Zoo, but at 70lbs it is not a very tiny baby.  Azizi the Rhino gave birth to a new baby last week at the Zoo.  It was her first baby in 45 years.  This baby will be a small step in the re-population of rhinos, as there are only a little less than 5000 left in the world.


Weighing in at nearly 70 pounds, the Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium's newest addition is sure to be the city's biggest baby of the year.

• 

  At nearly 70 pounds, Azizi's new calf is sure to be Pittsburgh's biggest baby of the year.
  

Channel 4 Action News visited the zoo Thursday to get a look at the female calf that was born to Azizi.




“We are so excited to welcome a big, beautiful, bouncing, female rhino,” zoo president and CEO Dr. Barbara Baker said in a news release.

Zoo officials said keepers noticed Azizi pacing and appearing uncomfortable last week before she gave birth to the first baby rhino in the city in more than 45 years.

Keepers are continually feeding Azizi and making sure she keeps her strength up, because the yet-unnamed baby nurses every hour.

Visitors can check the zoo's website for information about when the baby will be introduced to the public.

Only 4,800 black rhinoceroses remain in the wild, dropping by 96 percent between 1970 and 1992, according to a news release from the zoo.

“The birth of a black rhino is significant because they are critically endangered and Azizi’s calf will introduce new blood lines into the zoo population,” said Baker.

Read more at WTAE.

Pittsburgh Irish Festival

 Celebrate your Irish heritage this weekend at the Pittsburgh Irish Festival.  This is the festival's 21st year, and it expected to be bigger than ever.   Food, drinks, music, and dancing all await at the festival that opens tomorrow at the Waterfront.

The Pittsburgh Irish Festival is back, and proudly celebrating its 21st year! Thanks to the rich Irish heritage that is an integral part of our city, this festival enjoys enormous popularity, and this year the entertainment promises to satisfy the crowds of ‘Burghers who have made it a family tradition. The organizers, the Irish Partnership, dedicate themselves to “preserving and presenting Irish culture and heritage in the area”, and the festival is the yearly feather in their tweed cap. It can boast being the largest Irish festival in the state, and is the only Irish festival in Pittsburgh and the surrounding region. The PA tourism office designated the event a “Pennsylvania Preferred Festival.”

Children can enjoy special performances and activities, including sing-a-longs and storytelling. One of our favorite attractions is the Irish Dog tent, where you can encounter the regal (and gigantic) Irish Wolfhound. A special Gaelic Mass will also be held on Sunday, September 11th at 10am.

Of course, the centerpiece every year is the music, and the lineup that is planned is sure to not disappoint. National artists including Makem and Spain Brothers and Gaelic Storm will be sharing the stages with local Pittsburgh favorites like Corned Beef and Curry and Red Hand Paddy. Irish dance is always a popular attraction at the festival, and this year performing companies include Bell School of Irish Dance, Shovlin Academy of Irish Dance and the Ballet Academy of Pittsburgh. There is enough entertainment to send you reeling. To keep everything straight, check out the schedule here.

Tickets are $10 in advance for adults and $12 at the gate. Senior and students (with ID) are $8. Active and Retired Military Officers, and Public Safety Officers (with ID) are $5. Children under 12 are free. You can purchase tickets in advance by visiting the website.

Insider Tip: Special admission prices are featured on Friday from 4-6pm, when those 13 and over are admitted for $3. Also on Friday from 6-8pm, students (with ID) receive discounted admission of $5.

For more information see CBS Pittsburgh.

Internship Opportunities for All Incoming Freshman

The University of Pittsburgh is starting a new project to guarantee that every undergraduate student has an internship opportunity.  This program will help give undergraduates the edge when they enter the competitive world after they graduate.   All freshman students are eligible to participate in the Internship Preparation Program, which is the first step in obtaining that crucial internship.

In an effort to help University of Pittsburgh students obtain a competitive edge and prepare for life after graduation, the University’s Office of Career Development and Placement Assistance (CDPA) is unveiling an initiative that guarantees every undergraduate the opportunity of an internship. 

Starting this fall, any registered Pitt undergraduate on the Pittsburgh campus is eligible to participate in the Internship Preparation Program (IPP), which is the first step in a student obtaining an internship placement.

“We are pleased to offer this opportunity to all of our undergraduates. Internships, like undergraduate research and study abroad, provide students with opportunities to deepen their understanding of what they have learned in their classes and are an important component of ensuring that Pitt graduates make wise career choices and are adequately prepared for the next phase of their lives,” said Pitt Provost and Senior Vice Chancellor Patricia E. Beeson.

 “The University’s Office of Career Development and Placement Assistance has developed a thorough preparation program for students wanting to obtain an internship placement. Pitt’s internship guarantee is one of the University’s many offerings intended to meet students’ academic and career needs,” Beeson added.

 As one of the nation’s leading public research universities, Pitt places a high priority on having its students engaged in experiential learning, said Cheryl Finlay, director of the CDPA, whether that means conducting research with world-class faculty members or performing internships designed to build on what students learn in the classroom.  

“Employers are looking to hire new graduates with experience, so we are working diligently with employers to make more internships available and accessible to our students,” said Finlay. “At the same time, we want our students to understand the importance and value of completing successful internships.” 

The IPP will include a series of six sessions that can be completed during walk-in appointments made at a student’s convenience. Each session addresses a different aspect of preparing for an internship: résumé formatting and content, résumé review and internship focus, preparation for an internship interview, networking skills, and internship search, as well as a session focused on succeeding in the internship. 

Once students complete the IPP, they meet individually with CDPA staff for personal résumé reviews, mock interviews, and support in identifying strong matching opportunities for internships. Finlay said the guaranteed internship opportunities will begin for students in the spring and summer semesters of 2013.

Alyson Kavalukas, CDPA internship coordinator, said the internship guarantee program could be the first of its kind. 

“To the best of our knowledge, after researching this issue, benchmarking at other schools, and through outreach at national conferences, we believe the University of Pittsburgh is unique in guaranteeing experiential learning for all undergraduates who complete a preparation program,” said Kavalukas.

CDPA, which was recently ranked as one of the best career services departments at a college or university in the 2013 edition of The Princeton Review’s annual college guide, will encourage students who haven’t yet determined their career paths to use internships as a chance to explore potential career fields, their

individual strengths, and work dynamics.

Finlay said the effort to help students gain experience-based learning helps the University reach its goal of 95 percent employment placement for new graduates. She said the closer her office is to attaining that goal, the better Pitt is able to recruit and retain top students and to maintain an engaged alumni population. 

“Experiential learning provides students with skill sets and professional savvy that they will use in their careers, and these experiences are highly desired by employers,” said Finlay. “It also helps students identify their true passions and strengths in order to make smart academic decisions and choose the right career paths.”

For more information check out the University of Pittsburgh.

Happy 100th Birthday to a University of Pittsburgh legend!

 Today would have been Gene Kelly's 100th birthday.  He is a dancing, singing, and acting legend from Pittsburgh.  He has strong roots here through family, and also is the legacy of the Gene Kelly Awards.  Many people know him from his movie Singing in the Rain, but he also revolutionized the way dance and theater is filmed on camera.  University of Pitt students are celebrating his legacy today along with the University's 225th anniversary.

The University of Pittsburgh is observing its own 225th anniversary and the 100th anniversary of the birth in Pittsburgh of special Academy Award-honored dancer, director, choreographer, actor, singer, and Pitt alumnus Gene Kelly with two events:

• From 3 to 4 p.m. Aug. 23, Kelly’s actual birth date, some 3,000 incoming University of Pittsburgh freshmen are slated to hold umbrellas while taking part in a choreographed dance on the lawn adjacent to Pitt’s Petersen Events Center.

• From 8 to 9:30 p.m. Oct. 25, Patricia Ward Kelly, Gene Kelly’s widow and the author of a forthcoming memoir about him, will host “Pitt’s Gene Kelly Centennial Celebration,” an evening of Kelly on film with Pittsburgh- and Pitt-centered commentary on Kelly’s life and career. The leading authority on the cinema and stage legend, Mrs. Kelly has recently given sold-out presentations on Gene Kelly at the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences in Los Angeles and Lincoln Center in New York City.Patricia Ward kelly

Part of Pitt’s New Student Orientation 2012, the Aug. 23 event will attempt to shatter the Guinness World Record for the “Greatest Number of People Simultaneously Performing an Umbrella Dance at a Single Venue.” The current record, set in September 2011 in Bucharest, Romania, involved 1,461 participants.

Holding aloft the umbrellas, which will be handed to them as they enter the Petersen Events Center’s lawn area, the Pitt students taking part in this attempt will dance the Cupid Shuffle, a popular line dance. Witnesses, head-counters, and videographers will document the event and send the information to the Guinness authorities for their verification of the new world record.

The dance event honoring Kelly, one of Pitt’s most renowned alumni, has been designed to remind spectators and participants alike of Kelly’s iconic dance sequence from the classic 1952 film musical Singin’ in the Rain, in which he dances up and down a rain-drenched street twirling an umbrella and splashing in puddles. This sequence is considered by many to be the most memorable dance performance on film. Kelly is credited with bringing an energetically athletic, authentically American dancing style to Hollywood musicals, and for changing the look of dance on film through his revolutionary innovations with the camera, choreography, and animation.

Kelly received the Bachelor of Arts degree in economics from Pitt in 1933. While at Pitt, he became involved with the University’s Cap and Gown Club, serving as its director from 1934 to 1938, and taught dance at his family’s dance studio in Pittsburgh’s Squirrel Hill neighborhood; he would also choreograph musicals at the Pittsburgh Playhouse and Nixon Theater. Kelly enrolled in Pitt’s School of Law but left after a couple of months to concentrate on teaching dance.

Kelly’s younger brother Fred, also a Pitt alumnus, was honored in 2004 when the lobby of Pitt’s Stephen Foster Memorial—home to Pitt’s Charity Randall Theatre and Henry Heymann Theatre—was renamed the Fred Kelly Lobby.

Pitt students set new Guinness World Records at the last two New Student Orientations, for the “World’s Largest Torch-lit Logo” in 2010 and the “World’s Largest Glow Stick Design” in 2011.

For more information please see the University of Pittsburgh.

Pittsburgh Restaurant Week

Eating out all the time can become expensive.  However, thanks to Pittsburgh's Restaurant Week, trying new restaurants can be affordable.  Pittsburgh has a variety of restaurants from Thai to American all throughout the city.  Pittsburgh restaurant week allowed patrons to try out different restaurants with a set affordable price.  These restaurants have different specials and deals throughout the week. 
 
Event: Pittsburgh Restaurant Week
 
Location: Various locations around Pittsburgh
 
Date: August 13-19, 2012
 
Time: Various times (depending on restaurants hours)
 
Cost: Around $25-30 for fixed price 3-4 course dinners (some as low as $15!)
 
Description: Pittsburgh Restaurant Week embraces the melting pot of restaurants in our great city in a week-long celebration of dining and food. For the week of August 13-19, 2012, the Pittsburgh community is invited to celebrate the wealth of options in the dining scene by enjoying a wonderful meal at a participating restaurant at a discounted price.  In return, Pittsburgh’s restaurants are celebrating their food, cuisine and livelihood.  Their participation in Pittsburgh Restaurant Week demonstrates their dedication to and appreciation of the Pittsburgh community – a community that has supported their passion for food and dining.

Visit pittsburghrestaurantweek.com for the official listing of participating restaurants. Restaurants are encouraged to visit this site and register their restaurants to take advantage of this opportunity to reinforce their bonds with the community and celebrate the burgeoning food culture in Pittsburgh.
The mission of Pittsburgh Restaurant Week is to highlight the wide-ranging dining options that Pittsburgh has to offer and bring individuals from surrounding boroughs or suburbs to the city to walk the streets and enjoy a dinner at a special discounted price.

For more information please see Living Pittsburgh.

Steeler Camp is Underway

The NFL Season is quickly approaching, and the Steeler fans are starting to get ready.  Terrible Towels are starting to be displayed, jerseys are starting to be worn, and people are starting to make their way to Training Camp.  Training camp in Latrobe is a time honored tradition of most Steeler fans. Practices are held during the afternoon, and most are open to the public.  It is a great way to witness the six-time champions before the season, and you might even get a chance to meet some players.

Pittsburgh Steelers Training Camp kicked off last week for its 47th consecutive season at St. Vincent College in Latrobe. Given a nod as the best training camp in the NFL by Peter King of CNN, Steelers training camp features plenty of action, the opportunity to get player autographs, and a chance to watch first-hand as the players battle for key positions. 

Among those who reported to camp was first-round draft pick David DeCastro, who signed a four-year contract, and is expected to start for the Steelers at right guard this year. Veteran Max Starks was also re-signed and will be battling rookie Mike Adams for the job at left tackle. However, the biggest news was the absence of restricted free-agent wide receiver Mike Wallace from training camp. The Pro Bowl receiver has declined to sign the one-year, $2.7 million tender offer, and the Steelers have now suspended negotiations on a long-term contract until Mike Wallace reports to camp. Also notably absent for only the second time in 15 years is recently retired Steelers wide receiver Hines Ward. 

Training camp will be fun as always for fans, but also not the same without Hines, James Farrior, Aaron Smith, Chris Hoke, Bryant McFadden, William Gay, and Daniel Sepulveda. The 2012 Steelers training camp runs from Wednesday, July 25, when the players first report to camp, through Friday, August 17th, and most afternoon practices are open to the public. The first public practice for Steelers Training Camp 2012 is Friday, July 27th.

For more information see The Steeler Guide.

The Guitar Exhibit is Rocking in Pittsburgh

 Guitars are something that have shaped American music for the past century.   The new exhibit down at the Carnegie Science Center is complete with history, fun activities, and performances all summer long.   The exhibit features over 70 guitars and 17 interactive stations that are great for all ages.

A new set of guitar heroes may step forward as a first-of-its-kind exhibit opens a summer-long run Saturday at the Carnegie Science Center.

The world’s most popular and iconic instrument is being celebrated in myriad educational and entertaining ways in “Guitar: The Instrument That Rocked The World,” through Sept. 30.

The National Guitar Museum, billed as the first museum in the U.S. dedicated to the history, evolution and cultural impact of the guitar, created it. The exhibit is touring in advance of the National Guitar Museum finding a permanent home.

“We have not had an exhibit that merged topics in the way that this one does, the science, the art and the history (of the guitar),” says Dennis Bateman, the science center’s director of exhibit experience. “It’s an experiment for us, and we’re eager to see if the community responds to this new approach. It was something that looked like a sure-fire winner.”

 

Music, he says, is very much a science topic “and an excellent way of showing the merging of the arts and the sciences.”

The 5,000-foot traveling display, launched a year ago, explores all aspects of the instrument over the past 400 years, including its role in popular culture and the science of creating sound with wood and steel. It also references the origins of the guitar, descending from instruments that have been around for more than 5,000 years, such as the oud, tanbur and nyatiti.

“It will be great to open people’s eyes to the range of instruments that fall under the simple moniker ‘guitar,’ ” Bateman says.

The collection features more than 70 guitars, from the early sitars of the Middle Ages to modern electric guitars.

“We’ll have guitars from 16th-century Spain and 19th-century Germany; the classics from Martin and Gibson; into the electric age with the Rickenbacker Lapsteel, the Fender Stratocaster, and into the electronic gaming age, with ‘Guitar Hero,’ ” he says.

Johnny Winter, Adrian Belew, Steve Vai and Joe Bonamassa are among real guitar heroes who have loaned instruments for viewing.

“I hope people will have a new understanding of the guitar, and a greater appreciation for what it takes to build one, as well as how the guitar works and how it has evolved,” says HP Newquist, founder and executive director of the National Guitar Museum. He is a musician and former editor-in-chief of Guitar magazine. He also wrote the screenplay for the award-winning documentary, 

“Going Home,” featuring guitarist Robbie Robertson, and wrote and directed “A Portrait,” a documentary featuring John Denver.

“I hope this exhibit inspires people to play. There really is something unique about playing the guitar that can be part of you throughout your entire life,” Newquist says.

The exhibit includes 17 interactive stations, where kids and adults can learn about vibration, pitch, soundwaves and engineering.

“It will allow them to spin, pluck, touch and experience different components of the guitar,” Newquist says.

Touchscreens are built into guitar amplifiers inviting visitors to test their memories using guitar riffs and to learn about decibel levels. “An amplified electric guitar is one of the loudest things ever created,” Newquist says.

From time to time, the science center will demonstrate “Reuben’s Tube,” a way to visually see sound waves using gas flames. “It’s basically like hooking your Stratocaster up to your gas grill,” Bateman says.

There also are “some crazy things,” he says, like the Rock Ock, an eight-neck guitar with 51 strings, playable with eight of your very close friends. Bateman likens it to “Twister for guitar.”

Not to be missed is the “world’s largest playable electric guitar,” certified by the Guinness Book of World Records, more than 43 feet long, with aircraft cable for strings.

“Everyone has something different they’ve told us they like about the exhibit,” Newquist says.

At least an hour is recommended to tour the exhibit.

Special programming through the summer hopefully will encourage repeat visits, Bateman says.

In addition to acoustic concerts by noted local artists, there will be a range of events, including on-site group guitar lessons, and an expert evaluating the collector guitars. 

For more information on the exhibit go to TribLive.

Pitt Panthers Receive A Small Taste of the Olympics

Opening ceremonies for the Olympics are set to take place next Friday.  Everyone is gearing up for their favorite events such as basketball, gymnastics, and swimming.  Three Pitt Panther athletes got a small taste of the Olympics when they were selected to compete in the Olympic Trials a few weeks ago. 


Three University of Pittsburgh swimmers: Luke Nosbisch, Jon Lierley and Austin Caldwell have qualified to compete at the U.S. Olympic Trials in Omaha, Neb. from June 25-July 2 at the CenturyLink Center. 

The top two finishers in every individual event at the U.S. Olympic Trials will advance to the to the 2012 London Olympic Games as a member of the USA Olympic team.

A local product from Monroeville, Pa., Nosbisch qualified for the Olympic Trials in both the 100M and 200M breaststroke events. Last summer, he recorded a 2:20.15 finish at the Erik Namesnik Senior Circuit meet in the 200M breast. He also earned a time of 1:04.25 in the 100M breast at the 

USA Speedo Championship Series/Eastern Zone South Regional this March. During his rookie season, Nosbisch advanced to the consolation finals at the Big East Championships in the 100M breast (13th) and the 200M breast (10th). He narrowly missed the consolation finals in the 500M free at the conference meet.

Lierley first qualified for the Olympic Trials when he won the 200M butterfly with a time of 2:01.81 at Senior Sectionals in Athens, Ga. Voted the squad’s co-MVP, the Mount Pleasant, S.C. native swam the team's fastest time in the 200M fly this season. He recorded a fourth-place and NCAA B cut in the 200M fly (1:46.40) at the Big East Championship. That time eclipsed the previous school record (1:46.72) and the freshman standard. Lierley also placed seventh in the 100M fly and 11th in the 200M IM at the Big East Championship.

A freestyler from Loveland, Ohio, Caldwell qualified for the Trials in the 50M free during the USA Swimming Sectionals held at Busbey Natatorium last July. Caldwell won the event and was the only swimmer to touch the wall in less than 24 seconds during the prelims of the 50M free. This past season, Caldwell recorded the team’s fastest time in the 50M free (20.63). He advanced to the consolation finals of the 50M free at the Big East Championship and placed 11th overall. Caldwell also finished eighth in the 100 fly and narrowly missed the finals for the 100M free. He served as the lead leg of the 200M free relay and anchored of the 400M free relay at the conference meet. Both teams finished fourth.

In addition to the three U.S qualifiers, Kourosh Ahani (Richmond Hill, Toronto) earned an alternate seed at the 2012 Olympic Games in London. An All-Big East performer, Ahani placed second in the 100M fly (54.08) during the Canadian Olympic Trials in late March and will compete in several international meets as a member of the Canadian National Team.

The Three Pitt Athletes did not qualify for the Olympics this year, but we look forward to them competing in the next Olympic Trials in 2016.   For more information please go to the University of Pittsburgh Athletics Website.

A Great New Pittsburgh Event!

Another reason for Pittsburghers to make their way downtown!  Market Square will host a Night Market featuring music, vendors and various types of food.  The Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership is sponsoring the event to showcase Liberty Avenue and all it has to offer.

For the first time in recent memory, an unused lot in Downtown Pittsburgh is being transformed into a one-night-only Night Market, giving city residents one more reason to venture to (or stay in) the Golden Triangle after work.  The Night Market, which takes places this Friday from 8 p.m. to 1 a.m. will feature music by DJ Soy Sos, independent vendors of jewelry, art, and crafts, and food from a variety of local eateries.

Jeremy Waldrup, president of the Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership, says his organization created this event in order to showcase this particular stretch of Liberty Avenue as a block filled with activity, including a variety of bars and restaurants, and the August Wilson Center.

“By providing individuals with another reason to come to this street we hope to encourage more folks to mill around downtown and see what opportunities there are to experience,” Waldrup says. 

At Friday’s market (located at 917-919 Liberty Avenue), the restaurant Meat & Potatoes will offer a preview of food from its new concept, Pork & Beans, which is expected to open later this fall.  And Conflict Kitchen, which is set to open Downtown in the coming months, will also be serving food.

Among the 15 independent vendors will be Tugboat Printshop and Devorah Naturals.  And café tables and chairs will be set up at the Night Market to encourage guests to linger in the space.

This Friday is also the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust’s Gallery Crawl, which begins at 5:30 p.m.

“It should fit very well into the [Gallery Crawl] with people exploring that area,” says Ida D’Errico, of PDP.

D'Errico says this is the only Night Market currently planned, but based on the event’s success there could be more in the future.

“Pittsburgh enjoys various markets and our outdoor plazas, and so potentially this could expand into another location at some future point in time,” she says.

The Night Market is the latest endeavor to come from the Project Pop Up Program, a partnership between Mayor Ravenstahl, the URA, City Planning, and the PDP.


For more information on the Night Market please see PopCity.

Let's Go Bucs!

Right now the Pirates are the team that the city has wanted for the past 20 years.  Currently the team is in first place in their division, and the whole city is scrambling down to the stadium to see the Pirates in action.  The team that takes pictures doing the Zoltan is getting ready for the second half of the season, and they hope to be the team that Pittsburgh has been waiting for. 

Last year, it was the Fort, Michael McKenry, with the play of the year for the 2011 Buccos.  This year, it was also McKenry with his hit off of Aroldis Chapman to beat the Reds earlier this year.
Until last night.

Drew Sutton last night was able to wrest the title of play of the year (so far, anyway) from McKenry for the 2012 title with his dramatic, completely unexpected but somehow not surprising, game winning walk off home run in the bottom of the 9th to beat the (hapless) Houston Astros.  That home run, Sutton first in the bigs since the 2010, put the Pirates into a 1st place tie with the Reds, who later last night lost to the Dodgers 3-1.

I’ll spare all of the talk about the PIrates being 8 games over .500 for the first time since the last day of the 1992 season, because to be honest, .500 no longer really matters.  Heck, finishing 82-80 and ending ’the streak’ this year seems like it would be a bit of a disappointment at this point in the season.

There just seems to be too much right for this team right now.  Things are clicking in a way that says that last year was last year, and this year is the first of many more in a good way.  They’ve got the Zoltan Z going on, like the Brewers’ beast mode claw from last year’s playoff run.  One of those things that when your opponent does it, you hate it.  But when it’s your team, it connects you with them in a way like no other.  Note: the image and subsequent link to the page where these shirts are sold are of no affiliation to me in any way whatsoever.  I just thought they were cool (though could be improved) and it would be great if a percentage of each sale went to Pirates Charities, but that’s not up to me… just saying).

Anyway, we have a potential National League MVP in Andrew McCutchen earning his way to an All Star game that he will be playing to win.  Because it *might* actually mean something to his team in October.

We have a closer who has blown two saves all year long, and an offense that picked him up by coming back to win both of those games.

We have guys who we acquired, traded the same day, and picked up off of waivers after he was cut by the team we traded him to coming in an hitting game winning walk off home runs.

We have a big time prospect pounding at the door in Indianapolis to come and join the party in Starling Marte, along with enough pitchers to solidly staff an 11 man rotation if we needed to.
We are 9 days away from the deadline to sign drafted players, and there is an incredible indifference regarding whether or not 1st round pick Mark Appel actually signs with the Pirates or not (He’d be insane not to sign, by the way. No more money coming his way, plus a chance to be part of a… yep, I’ll say it… dynasty in the years to come.  The only person who is hurt here is Scott Boras, since he’s already cost his client millions of dollars).

We have the best offense in baseball since June 1.  Incredible, considering the articles written here and everywhere else about how historically bad the offense was in April and May.
It’s a lot of fun right now, and it’s cool to be a Pirates fan.  I was wearing my Bucco gear every day in Milwaukee last week, and I was stopped over a dozen times by strangers wanting to talk Bucco baseball.   Not to mention, it is cool to go to Pirates games now.   Bandwagon fans or not, it’s a lot more fun to have those folks’ butts in seats.  Plus, the ticket sales justify everything we’ve been saying all along.  You win and they will come.  Well, the Pirates are winning, and the fans are showing up as well.

As Drew Sutton said after his incredible hit last night…  “every once in a while, you get a moment. You’d better enjoy it.”  I think truer words have never been spoken about anything in life.  And as baseball fans, the sport is all about life lessons as well, that we can teach our kids, and that we can learn from ourselves.  As those of us that thought that is might be “our year” every year since 1992, we all know disappointment and perseverance.

But this year, even if it turns out not to be “our year” when all is said and done, right now, we are all living in one of those moments that you get every once in a while.

You’d better enjoy it.

For more information go to gobuccos.com.

Great Spot to Watch the Pittsburgh Fireworks

Ever want to know where the best seats are to watch the Pittsburgh Fireworks?  The best seats are at the Carnegie Science Center.


Discover the science behind the fireworks and view the spectacular celebration from the best spot in the city!

Discover the science behind fireworks and beat the heat with four floors of hands-on exhibits, Highmark SportsWorks®, an Omnimax movie, and a laser show! One special price gets you into our July 4th Fireworks Blowout, plus one popcorn and soda per person for you to enjoy during the evening. Additional food items available for purchase.

Cost for lawn seating is $39 per person, parking is included. Rooftop viewing is SOLD OUT!

Reserve your spot today online or call 412.237.3400, and then press 7.

Carnegie Science Center will be open at 10 am on July 4th. Feel free to come early and play! The special event starts at 6 pm.

Check out the Carnegie Science Center website for more information.

Consol Energy Center will Hold the NHL Draft

Will you be heading to Consol to watch the NHL Draft?  There will be fan activities all day including open fan skate on the synthetic ice rink near American Eagle's gate.  Other community activities are planned including a special batting practice during the Pirates and Twins game.  So, whether you are heading to Consol to enjoy the activities or you are watching the draft at home, it is sure to be a fun weekend for everyone.

A weekend of drama and intrigue returns to Pittsburgh when rising young hockey stars from around the world learn where they’ll be playing professionally. The National Hockey League draft comes to the CONSOL Energy Center Friday and Saturday, and while tickets have already been distributed, Pittsburgh fans can take in a variety of festive public events outside of the arena and around the region.

Pittsburgh last hosted the draft in 1997, and hockey has only grown more popular. Between the 140 players, 2,000+ family members and supporters, executives from the 30 NHL clubs and thousands of fans, this nationally televised event is expected to bring in $9.1 million in direct spending to the Pittsburgh region.
On Wednesday, several leading NHL prospects faced off on the Roberto Clemente Bridge against members of Pittsburgh ICE – a program that teaches hockey to economically disadvantaged students throughout the region. More community activities are planned for Thursday, including a special batting practice during the Pirates-Twins game.

The draft begins Friday night, but the whole day is packed with activities. From noon until 5:30 p.m., free skating is available on a synthetic ice rink near CONSOL’s  American Eagle Gate at Fifth Avenue and Washington Place. The first 200 guests can rent skates for free. (Regular ice skates can’t be used.) To learn more about the innovative material that allows year-round “ice” skating, check out this Our Region’s Business interview with Bob Gierl, the distributer of UltraSkate.

From 4 p.m. to 10:30 p.m., you can watch the nationally televised draft alongside other fans on the big screen at the public outdoor draft party at the South Parking Lot (across Centre Avenue from CONSOL). There will be live music from Lovebettie, barbecue and beer, interactive games and more. And if you’re able to make it over to the Trib Total Media Gate, you can catch a glimpse of the top prospects as they walk the red carpet at 6:15 p.m. before the first-round draft begins at 7 p.m.
Rounds 2-7 will be held Saturday, starting at 10 a.m. The outdoor “ice” rink will be open again, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

For more information on the draft or activities go to Imagine Pittsburgh.