Pittsburgh, PA

For those of you with nothing to do before the game this Sunday or are going to be hungover from Saturday, stop down to Affogato in Bellevue and eat at their pancake bar. You won’t be disappointed!

2 pancakes with 2 ingredients for $3.00
extra pancakes $1.00 & extra ingredients 50 cents each

sampler of ingredients:
apple
banana
chocolate
butterscotch
graham crackers
cinnamon
brown sugar
oats
raisins
peanut butter
espresso

samples of flavor shots that can be added:
caramel
cheesecake
irish cream
ginger spice
pumpkin spice
raspberry
vanilla

some pancake suggestions:
apple chai
smores
cinnamon peach
peanut butter chocolate chip
peach cobbler
chocolate mint

As you can see there are some really good combinations of pancakes you can order at the pancake bar. And for a limited time, they are offering pancakes made with pumpkin batter, which is delicious. Otherwise, you can choose between plain and wheat batter. My personal favorite is the brown sugar cinnamon pancakes, although I’m going to try the apple chai pancakes soon! MMmm.

Pancakes are served between 11am-1pm.

Affogato is located in Bellevue, PA a short drive from downtown and accessible by the 16B, 500, 17B, 18C, the Bellevue Flyer. They are located at 613 Lincoln Avenue.

Oh and Affogato is not only well known for their pancake bar; they have been AOL’s cityguide winners for both 2005 and 2006. Not to mention they have an impressive selection of coffee and paninis, soups, and other appetizers, as well as featuring live bands on Fridays and a BYOB bar on Saturday nights.

To check out their menu and other info, go to Affogato’s website.

Speaking of food, head over to the Earthly Cooking blog, which features some neat recipes and cooking tips.

Pittsburgh, Bellevue, Affogato, pancakes, breakfast, coffee, AOL cityguide

The Vaudeville Carnivale is this Saturday at the Kelly-Strayhorn Theater and looks like a very interesting event!

The Carnivale will have food and drinks, dance performances, gypsy vendors, old time photos and more!

Doors open at 7pm and the show starts at 8pm.
Tickets are $15 in advance and $18 at the door. $10 will get you a ticket if you’re a senior or a student and $5 if you’re a child under 10.
To buy tickets in advance, visit the Pro Arts Ticket website or call 412-394-3353.

The Kelly-Strayhorn Theater is located at 5941 Penn Avenue in East Liberty and for further information, visit their website.

In addition to hosting the Vaudeville Carnivale, Zafira Dance Company teaches classes on belly dancing and performs in the Pittsburgh area. According to their website their performances “are opulent vignettes that combine Bellydance with contemporary and ethnic dance forms. The result is an ornate performance that blurs the boundary between old and new; performer and audience, earthy and elegant.”

Also according to their website, “Zafira Dance Company members work together as a collective. Christine Andrews, Maria Hamer, Jennifer Imashev, Tamara Nelson and Olivia Kissel have been teaching and performing together since 1996. Their friendship and love of dance shines through in each performance. Each member is a contributing artist and brings something unique to the company. This collective approach allows Zafira to offer a unique and powerful dance experience like no other.

Zafira teaches and performs regularly in venues that range from intimate café settings to full-scale theater productions in Pittsburgh and at dance festivals around the country.”

For more information about Zafira Dance Company and the Vaudeville Carnivale visit their website.

If you can’t make it out to the Carnivale, check out Mosley’s post on exhibits going on at the Science Center instead.

Pittsburgh, Vaudeville Carnivale, gypsy, Zafira Dance Company, belly dancing, Kelly-Strayhorn Theater, East Liberty

It’s that time of year already…it’s Light Up Night! Aww and it’s snowing too…how appropriate!

The festivities are taking place in a variety of places, including downtown and Station Square.

Here’s some highlights for what’s going on tonight:

6 a.m. – 10 p.m. PPG Place Wintergarden and Two PPG Place
PPG Place Holiday Displays (open for the season through Jan. 7)
The “Spirits of Giving Around the World” display captures holiday traditions around the globe. The “5th Annual Gingerbread House and Train Display” feature delicious dwellings created by local students, chefs, organizations and individuals – all surrounded by a unique train display created by a local artist, Don Jones.

9 a.m. – Midnight Bessemer Court, Station Square
The Fountain at Bessemer Court Holiday Shows
Hear the sounds of the season set to our spectacular waltzing water fountain show. Shows are every 20 minutes. This is the final day for the Fountain at Bessemer Court until Spring 2008.

10 a.m. – 7:30 p.m. YWCA, 305 Wood Street
YWCA of Greater Pittsburgh Presents “A Holiday Bazaar”
Find beautiful, unique handcrafted products and personalized services offered by local women-owned micro-businesses. Children’s activities, holiday music, gift-wrap services, and refreshments also available.

11 a.m. – Midnight PPG Plaza
The Rink at PPG Place Downtown Pittsburgh’s only outdoor skating rink opens for the season

Noon US Steel Plaza
The Pittsburgh Creche Dedication
This nativity scene is an actual replica of the one in St. Peter’s Square
in Rome, Italy. Be sure to visit Pittsburgh’s own symbol of Christmas.

4:30 – 9 p.m. Market Square, Heinz Hall Courtyard & Corner of Fifth Avenue & Smithfield Street
Unite for Diabetes Scavenger Hunt & Sweepstakes
Join the worldwide movement and Unite for Diabetes. This year, you can help the University of Pittsburgh Diabetes Institute and
America on the Move recognize the first-ever World Diabetes Day by participating in the Unite for Diabetes Scavenger Hunt & Sweepstakes. Navigate your way through the Light Up Night festivities by following the Unite for Diabetes Trail. Stop by any of
the Unite for Diabetes booths to pick up a scavenger hunt map and sweepstakes entry form. You can also participate in family-friendly activities including children’s crafts, a football toss and a Unite for Diabetes photo opportunity. To learn more about the Unite for Diabetes campaign, visit http://www.prideofpa.org

4:30 – 9 p.m. Market Square
Market Square Happenings
Sponsored by Duquesne Light and the Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership Stop by the Square for glow sticks at Duquesne Light’s booth, catch a glimpse of the Fifth Avenue Place Holly Trolley, record holiday greetings with Comcast, participate in a Unite for Diabetes scavenger hunt, purchase tickets to holiday shows at the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust booth and hear live music and entertainment on the Market Square stage. Also, visit booths sponsored by the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Flexcar, Pittsburgh 250, Geico and the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. Giveaways, prizes, children’s activities (face painting, games), food vendors (kettle korn, roasted nuts, funnel cakes, hot dogs) and much more.

5 – 8:30 p.m. Food Court, Two PPG Place
Harry & Hermie’s Dueling Pianos
Join the fun as Harry Levicky and Hermie Graniti perform your favorite hits in this hand-clapping, foot-stomping performance.
5 p.m. Bessemer Court, Station Square

NIGHT LIGHTS Light Up!
A holiday tradition, Station Square lights up an outdoor walk-through light display called NIGHT LIGHTS. More than 10,000 light bulbs create the new displays and feature several animated components. Begins on Light Up Night and will continue through Christmas Day.

7 p.m. Market Square
Duquesne Light Market Square Lighting of the Trees
Watch as this popular gathering spot is illuminated like never before! The winner of Duquesne Light’s “Light Up Night Sweepstakes”
will illuminate the square with Mayor Luke Ravenstahl and Morgan O’Brien, President and CEO of Duquesne Light. It’s a sight to see this Light Up Night. Don’t forget to stop by Duquesne Light’s booth for one of their popular glow sticks. To register your child for the sweepstakes, go to http://www.duquesnelight.com

8 p.m. Pittsburgh Public Theater, O’Reilly Theater
This Wonderful Life
Life truly is worth living in this one-man theatrical twist on the classic holiday film, It’s a Wonderful Life. http://www.ppt.org

9 p.m. Gateway Center Corridor
Macy’s Fireworks Finale
Join us for the evening’s finale as the sky bursts with color set to festive holiday music.

For a full schedule of events, visit the Downtown Partnership’s website.
PPG Place’s website.
Station Square’s website.

And since I’m supposed to link back to a previous post, check out the Bodies…Exhibition controversy with an additional editorial note from a surgeon in the comments section.

Pittsburgh, Light Up Night, Christmas, PPG Place, Station Square, holiday, Downtown Partnership

After Emily’s post about the controversy at the Science Center I decide to cover some positive news about the place. I was reading in that Post how it took Patty Rogers a year to build a scale model of the Forbes Field. What makes this amazing is that she did it without any help. Now that’s what I call dedication. Read the story to get all the details I left out.

The ballpark is going to be part of the miniature railroad which opens November 23 at the Carnegie Science Center, 1 Allegheny Ave., North Side. Information: www.CarnegieScienceCenter.org or 412-237-3400.

Since Forbes Field was before my time and I am sure it is for a lot of the readers of this blog I looked for some facts about it on Google. I found two website (one, two) that have some detailed information about Forbes field. One that jumped out at me was how it was the first steel constructed ballparks ending the era of wood construction. I can’t imagine a stadium being made of wood. Check out the two links for more fun facts and pictures.

Also at the Carnegie Science Center Theater:

Dinosaurs ALIVE! IMAX® - This is about Dinosaurs and it made by the same animator of the awesome Discovery Channel shows. If I had the money I would go to this, I don’t think guys ever outgrow their love of dinosaurs.

SEA Monsters IMAX® - This takes viewers millions of years into the past and thousands of feet below the surface to explore sea-going dinosaurs. Wow I changed my mind, if I had the money I would see both of these movies!

Pittsburgh, Carnegie Science Center, dinosaurs, sea monsters, North Shore, exhibit, Forbes Field

…that is the question facing many Pittsburghers, as well as concerned patrons of museums worldwide.

Bodies…The Exhibition is a showcase of real human bodies, that have been dissected and preserved for your viewing pleasure! According to the Science Center, the exhibit will “enlighten, empower and inspire,” obviously directed to the visitor and not to the dead bodies being displayed.

According to the Science Center’s press release: Visitors in-and-around the Pittsburgh region will have a unique opportunity to come face-to-face with approximately 15 polymer-preserved human bodies, and 200 additional organs and partial specimens in a way they never have before. These meticulously dissected bodies are preserved through an innovative process called polymer preservation and are respectfully presented. Visitors will have the opportunity to view the beauty and complexity of their own organs and systems. This up-close look inside the skeletal, muscular, respiratory, and circulatory systems clearly shows how lifestyle choices directly affect our health.

However, there has been major controversy surrounding the way the bodies have been acquired and the question has been raised whether these bodies have been obtained in a conscientious and legal manner.

The controversy has prompted more than questions, in fact Elaine Catz, an eleven year employee of the Science Center has resigned over the issue. She says:

“We don’t know how these people died or why they died, and I don’t think Premier knows, either,” she said, referring to the company, Premier Exhibitions of Atlanta, that is presenting the show. “Before we put our stamp of approval on it, there should be a high burden of proof on Premier.”

I will rarely quote the Catholic Diocese, but I think they have a point here:

The cadavers come from China, a country with an atrocious record on human rights. Though the exhibition’s organizers have stated otherwise, it is difficult to determine satisfactorily whether the bodies are the result of human rights abuses.

Even if the cadavers were not victims of political repression, they would more than likely be from China’s poor. The right to dignity in the treatment of a deceased body is not waived because of poverty.

The exhibition has a website, which further discusses the exhibit, but not the controversy surrounding it.

Another one of the blogs in the 451 press commented on this exhibit as well, so check it out here.

And lastly, I honestly don’t know whether I’ll be visiting this exhibit or not. My fascination with anatomy and understanding things may outweigh the social and moral concerns surrounding the exhibit, but I don’t know. It’s going to be a tough call.

I just think it’s really sad how these bodies ended up on display for a bunch of people who never understood their lives or what they possibly had to go through to be in the place they’re in right now. I understand that they’re dead and it’s too late for them, but is there no dignity left for the imprisoned, the sick and abused even in death?

Ok I’ve made up my mind with that last thought. Unless I could know for sure whether these people consented to being put on display, I’m going to have to pass on going. It’s not worth understanding human anatomy in this way, no matter how mind-blowing the techniques may be. Although we try to understand human life through science, we shouldn’t hold that aim higher than holding our fellow human beings with respect.

But that’s just my opinion.

The exhibit is open daily from 10am-9pm.

The Carnegie Science Center is located at 1 Allegheny Ave, Pittsburgh PA 15212. Their hours and ticket information can be found here.

Pittsburgh, Carnegie Science Center, Bodies: The Exhibition, North Shore, controversy, health, bodies

The 26th Annual Three Rivers Film Festival began this past Wednesday and is a great event that should not be missed! For those of you who are unfamiliar to the festival, it’s a film festival that shows independent, experimental and foreign films, documentaries, as well as some of the classics like Manhattan.

So here’s the schedule:

Friday Nov. 9
5:30 PF/PCA Member Show
Gallery opening includes a member screening. Melwood
7:00 The Nines
Editor Douglas Crise is scheduled to attend. Regent Square
7:00 The Rocket Harris
9:30 The Island Regent Square
9:30 Beauty In Trouble Harris
9:30 Double Feature, pt 1: Murder Party Melwood
11:00 Double Feature, pt 2: Blood Car Melwood

Sat. Nov. 10
2:00 Manual of Love Regent Square
2:00 The Rocket Harris
2:00 Rough Streets
reception at Melwood immediately following. Melwood
4:15 The Nines
Editor Douglas Crise is scheduled to attend. Regent Square
4:30 Times and Winds Harris
4:30 The Blue Eyed Six
Director Brian W. Kreider is scheduled to attend. Melwood
6:45 The Walker Regent Square
7:00 Kalkadoon Man with William Barton live
Reception at SPACE Gallery, immediately following.
Tickets – $10 available online. Harris
7:00 Mark McElhatten: Contemporary Cinema
Presented by the NYFF curator in person. Melwood
9:15 Persepolis Regent Square
9:15 Chronicle of an Escape Harris
9:30 Double Feature, pt 1Blood Car Melwood
11:00 Double Feature, pt 1Murder Party Melwood

Sunday Nov. 11
2:00 Chronicle of an Escape Harris
2:30 The Island Regent Square
3:00 Mark McElhatten: LaPore Tribute
Presented by the NYFF curator in person. Melwood
4:00 Times and Winds Harris
5:00 American Zombie Regent Square
5:00 The Blue Eyed Six
Director Brian W. Kreider is scheduled to attend. Melwood
6:30 Delirious Harris
7:00 Short Films Program A
Prizes announced and awarded. Melwood
7:30 The Band’s Visit Regent Square

Mon. Nov. 12
7:00 Manual of Love Regent Square
7:00 Chronicle of an Escape Harris
7:00 Guest curator: Adam Abrams Melwood
9:00 The Way I Spent the End of the World Regent Square
9:00 The Rocket Harris
9:15 Trigger Man Melwood

Tues. Nov. 13
7:00 The Way I Spent the End of the World Regent Square
7:00 Delirious Harris
8:00 Film Kitchen: Trailer Trash
Director Don Ramirez is scheduled to attend.
Reception at 7:00pm Melwood
9:00 Irina Palm Regent Square
9:00 Times and Winds Harris

Wed. Nov. 14
7:00 Irina Palm Regent Square
7:00 Trigger Man Melwood
7:30 Manhattan
reception immediately following. Harris
8:45 Short Films Program B
Prizes announced and awarded. Harris
9:00 American Zombie Regent Square

Thurs. Nov. 15
8:00 An Evening With Kenneth Anger
reception at Concept Art Gallery immediately following.
Tickets – $12 available online. Regent Square

The festival is put on by Pittsburgh Filmmakers and to see previous film festivals hosted by the organization, go to my post on the Janus Film Festival here.

For more information on movie descriptions, check out this weeks City Paper or visit the Film Festival’s website here.

Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh Filmmakers, Three Rivers Film Festival, film, movies, independent, documentaries, Woody Allen, Harris Theater, Melwood Screening Room, Regent Square

Eat ‘n Park has enacted a system-wide non-smoking policy in May 2007. Many local organizations and leaders are praising them for this action.

Kevin O’Connell, the senior VP said that he is humbled by the attention. He says the main motive of the decision was to protect the health of his workers and guests.

“We simply did what we thought was right,” says Kevin.

The chain has also won awards for having a clean air environment from The American Lung Association of Pennsylvania, American Cancer Society, Westmoreland County Tobacco Coalition, and Teens Against Tobacco Use. For more information, visit www.eatnpark.com.

This goes to show you that you don’t always need government regulation to change things. This private business decided on its own to become smoke-free. And that’s what the free market does. If there is a market for smoke free bars and restaurants a business will fill that market. This gives people a choice and choices are what give us freedom. If you want to know more about my views on smoking bans just read this post.

In closing I will leave you with some facts about the Eat ‘n Park Restaurants. They were founded in 1949 as a family carhop. The chain now has 77 locations in Pennsylvania, Ohio and West Virginia. They also own Park Classic Diner, a retro-eatery reminiscent of the company’s roots and Six Penn Kitchen, an upscale American Bistro. I have never been to either of the other two or knew they were owned by the same Company. You really do learn something new every day.

Eat ‘n Park, Six Penn Kitchen, Pittsburgh, Monroeville, diners, Park Classic, smoking ban

Art Against Genocide is debuting November 9th at 8pm at Carnegie Mellon University’s The Frame art gallery!

Art Against Genocide is an ongoing art collaboration in which individual artists use everything from visual to written to musical arts to explore the ideas surrounding genocide and genocide-like actions. Most people know about the genocide in Darfur, but how many imagine what it would be like to live through genocide? Moreover, genocide-like events are happening in Zimbabwe, Iraq, North Korea, China, and Burma too. The art gives a background on the different situations, promotes hope of reconciliation, and suggests what normal people can do by showing what is being done already.

Dinner will be provided opening night by the Neville Co-op. Opening night will feature live performances by For Greater Consciousness, Annika Rosenvinge, Adam Rauf, and Robert Wallace, as well as readings of written works. Recordings will be made and played back on other days. Video, visual arts and written pieces will also be present. The show will close November 12th at 5pm. Future displays are pending.

The Frame is located at the corner of Forbes Ave and Margaret Morrison St in Pittsburgh, PA.

For more info, or to submit a piece for the art collaboration, contact Benjamin Saalbach-Walsh at bemisawa(AT)gmail(DOT)com.

This looks this is going to be an event I will have to check out. Music, food, and art…I don’t think I could ask for anything more. If I am allowed to take pictures I will and should post them soon after. I am still waiting on some pictures from Halloween event but they should be up soon too.

Pittsburgh, Carnegie Mellon University, Art Against Genocide, For Greater Consciousness, Annika Rosenvinge, Adam Rauf, Robert Wallace, art, music, genocide

(courtesy of kdka.com)

I just want to start out by saying that I’m not even going to attempt to write this post in an objective manner; this blog is meant to contain information with a personal slant and a subjective voice, so please keep this in mind, especially after I say: HAHAHAHA!

Luke Ravenstahl (D): 43,257 votes, 63%
Mark DeSantis (R): 23,884 votes, 35%

Sure Democrats outnumber Republicans 5-1, but if people really wanted to elect DeSantis mayor, they would have. Contrary to popular belief, not all of Pittsburghers are zombies, in fact if anything, this election more than most in the past, have woken up some due to the controversial age of the current mayor, as well as the hoopla surrounding a Republican trying to gain so much popularity in such a little amount of time. Not to mention, their previous favorite just up and died, so more than usual attention was paid to the mayoral slot.

So before I get into what other people think, I’m going to say that I knew he was going to win in the beginning. No one wants a businessman to run this city, no matter what our budget problems may be; not enough people trust them. There’s a certain inhumane stigma associated with this creature, that despite not always being accurate, is there nonetheless. My opinion on DeSantis’s outcome in this race, was cinched when he showed up to my school for the debates. He looked like a scared chicken, too afraid to smile or really warm up to any of the students or faculty. Whether this was due to nerves or not, you better fake it if you want to convince people you’re the down to earth candidate they want in this city. Remember, it may be a city, but it’s a small one.

Also, despite Luke’s mistakes in the past, what better way to say to the country that young people should stay here, then to have a young mayor. It’s a great step in the right direction for the kind of image we need to portray here. I mean for gods sakes, he’s been all over national television and written about in national media. Isn’t that proof enough that Pittsburgh has really turned over a new leaf and is trying to get rid of its old ways, because of the attention being paid to us? The attention is not merely due to his age! I’m not sure how many of you know the previously negative image that Pittsburgh used to send off, but if you’ve ever lived out of state, you’ll know what I’m talking about.

I especially liked what Luke said upon winning last night, which was something to the effect that Pittsburghers need to start believing in themselves and this great city. It’s time to start acting like the city we are. Hear ye, to that one! We’re making major advances in this city and it’s time to start celebrating these achievements and striving for more. This really isn’t the Pittsburgh of the past, thank goodness.

Luke has a lot of mistakes he needs to fix, but hey he’s human and new to this position. He now has two years to redeem his past mistakes and to continue on with his current policy, so it would serve everyone better to focus on his future actions, rather than the past so we can all make this a better city.

And for all those in the camp of saying the old people ruined the election for DeSantis, especially the ones that posted on the website, Democrats for DeSantis, I want to quote Chris Potter from the City Paper:

I do have one piece of advice for disappointed DeSantis supporters in the blogosphere and elsewhere: If you want to lead a city, it might be wise not to dismiss its residents as a bunch of decrepit yinzer morons.

And lastly, WTAE just showed a clip of last night with DeSantis saying:

“The people have spoken; they want change.” Well then, Mr. DeSantis, if you were the obvious change, why didn’t you win?!

Let the excuses roll in, like I’m sure they will.

In the meantime, I hope you are all able to make it out to the South Side tonight to raise money for the lighting up of East Carson businesses, as well as helping out the South Side Food Pantry and the Salvation Army with food donations.

See Mosley’s post for more details here.

Pittsburgh, mayoral race, Luke Ravenstahl, Mark DeSantis, politics, democrat, republican

I have only been to Diesel once, but the time that I was there I thought it was nice. It reminded me of an 80’s dance club with its giant lighted wall. So I guess Diesel wants its lights to spill out onto the street this holiday season.

Diesel Club Lounge with the support of the South Side Chamber of Commerce and other local South Side Businesses will hold its first Annual “Light up Carson” Event on Wednesday, November 7th from 7pm-9pm. Due to this year’s lack of funds, Diesel Club Lounge has pledged to donate the $5,000.00 balance of the $7,000.00 total cost to install the holiday lights on East Carson Street this year. Diesel has also pledged that all sales and door donations during the event will be used to set up a fund for a Holiday Light installation every year.

The event will also serve as the kick-off night for the South Side’s “Cans & Coats” Charity Drive benefiting the South Side Food Pantry and the Salvation Army. Patrons and residents can bring gently used coats and canned good items to Diesel throughout the Holiday Season to benefit the needy.

“Light Up Carson” will feature performances by a local artist, a Chinese Auction featuring donations from local businesses, as well as hors d’douevres served by South Side Restaurants.

For more information call 412-431-8800 or email info@dieselpgh.com

Wednesday the 7th of November 2007 7:00pm to 9:00pm - dieselpgh.com

Note: I will be posting pictures from the Halloween Event by the end of this week.

Pittsburgh, Diesel Club, Light Up Night, Salvation Army, South Side Food Pantry, charity, holiday, South Side Chamber of Commerce

Just like Frankenstein the Pittsburgh blog has gotten a jolt of electricity. This means you’re going to start seeing a lot more posting going on. I know this week I have been slacking, but I have been really busy with my day job.

To kick off this new jolt of life I am going to head out to the Creative Treehouse at 517 Lincoln Ave., 2nd floor in Bellevue, for one last reason to wear my Halloween Costume. Here is a quick rundown of the Hounted Treehouse event. It starts at 7:30pm Saturday, Nov. 3rd. It will include a pumpkin carving competition, with giveaways for the most creative pumpkin, in addition to a Halloween-themed art gallery. Costumes are encouraged, with a cover charge of $3 with costume, or $5 without. Treats and nonalcoholic beverages will be provided. BYOB is welcomed by anyone 21 and over. There will also be live music. Just check out this post or creativetreehousepgh.com for more information.

Next week I am going to have Election coverage and hopefully some photos from the Haunted Treehouse event.

Pittsburgh, Haunted TreeHouse, Bellevue, Creative TreeHouse