Pittsburgh, PA

Earth Day is designated as a day and sometimes even an ongoing month, as a time when you think about your impact on the environment and what you can do to preserve the world for generations to come. If everyone did something more environmentally conscious just one day a year, there is the hope that people will continue their good deeds throughout the rest of the year and if not, at least they contributed on that one day.

There are many events going on around the city of Pittsburgh to celebrate this environmentally-friendly day, but I’m not going to list them, since they can be easily researched. Instead, I’d like to remind people what they can do to celebrate this day and to make a lasting impact on their lives.

First off, I think that most people choose not to be consciously aware of what they’re doing to the environment, because it’s inconvenient to think of or they just have too many other things on their mind. So instead of listing big changes, I’d like to suggest a couple of little things you can do that can really make a big impact on the environment. And really, if you care at all about your living conditions, at one point in your life you may consciously think about the world around you and the destruction that is occurring to it everyday that will negatively affect your life, if not today some day in the future.

I’m not even going to get into global warming, because really, people should care about taking care of their environment regardless of being threatened by hot weather and melting ice caps.

1. Stop buying water in plastic bottles and instead bottle water from your house to carry with you. Local water is under much higher scrutiny than bottled water, but just in case you’re leery of your tap water you can always install a filter of some sort.

2. Take the bus, car pool, walk or ride the bus to work, school, whatever if at all possible. The bus actually costs me the same amount of money, if not more than I’d spend on gas money for my car, yet money is not what concerns me; it’s all the pollution and traffic congestion that driving during rush hour produces. I’ve even started walking the two miles home from work, which is way healthier for me and the environment.

3. If you’re in the market for a new car and can afford a hybrid, I would highly suggest buying one. Sales on hybrids are up 40% just this year due to people getting fed up by high gas prices. Don’t become a victim of a struggling system and outrageous oil profits; think about alternatives to gas before you have no other choice but to use a huge chunk of your paycheck just to commute to work in your car.

4. Appreciate and enjoy nature like you did when you were a kid. Grow a plant, take a hike in the woods, walk along the river…do anything to immerse yourself in your real environment, not just the walls you build up around it in the shape of buildings and highways.

5. And lastly, use the backs of discarded paper. I have found this is the easiest way to save money on writing and printing paper, as well as helping to lessen the huge amount of paper that goes to waste. Encourage paper recycling at work as well!

You don’t have to listen to these tips and you can live in ignorance if you so choose, but today is about being aware of environmental issues, not ignoring them, so in all earnestness, please have a nice, environmentally conscious day!

Check out my previous post on Rachel Carson to read more about this local environmentalist, who is always recognized for her achievements around this time of year.

Pittsburgh, Earth Day

Just wanted to let everybody know that the Wee Beasties exhibit at Zombo is closing this Saturday. Nathan Mazur’s exhibit features over three dozen miniature paintings of various insects, worms and creepy (I say cute), bugs. What makes this event even more fun is the discounted pricing of the remaining beasties after 8pm. There’s also going to be music by the Jim Dandies so definitely check this out!

The closing reception begins at 6pm, with music at 8pm. The Wee Beasties exhibit is located in Lawrenceville at the Zombo Gallery, 4900 Hatfield Street.

If you’re not able to make the event, make sure you check out Mazur’s website to view the bugs anyways.

To read the press release on this exhibit, visit my previous post here.

I also wanted to let everyone know who didn’t, that the Brillobox has Drink and Draw drawing sessions every other Tuesday, with one occurring tomorrow.

Drink and Draw is a live model drawing session, which meets on the second floor of Brillobox at 6pm and runs until 9pm. There is a $10 session fee, but it’s worth it with the various themes the models dress in for the session. According to their Myspace, Drink and Draw is a relaxed, inspiring atmosphere and I’m pretty sure you don’t have to be an expert artist to attend.

And for those of you who may get hungry during the session, downstairs has their Starving Artist Tuesdays with grilled cheese and tomato soup for only $2. Yum. If I didn’t work, I’d go just for that!

Future sessions land on April 1, 15, and the 29th. For more information, visit their Myspace or email Susan at brilloboxdrinkanddraw@yahoo.com.

I have been driving for about 9 years and found that there are many different types of annoying drivers. Here is a list of the first nine I could think of, if you think I missed an important one feel free to comment. If you are one or more of these drivers, please try to change your bad driving habits.

Instant Beepers are drivers that as soon as the light turns green they beep at you. NOTE: If you encounter one of these drivers, drive through the intersection as slow as you can.

Ambiguous Lane Choosers are drivers that drive right down the middle of two lanes or dance from lane to lane without using turn signals. What really makes me mad is when there people are driving under the speed limit, you can get around them.

Floor Pickers are drivers that are not looking at the road, but instead are looking at the floor trying to pick something up. Whatever you have just drop cannot be that important, so why don’t you just wait until you stop driving.

Pedal Pushers are drivers that rev their engines at any stop sign or light. I really hate it when it’s not even a bad ass muscle car, but instead some POS Civic.

Bass Boomers are drivers that play their music way to loud. Most of the time the bass is so loud, it sounds like it’s going to vibrate the car apart. I often wonder how there hearing is after driving around town.

Butt Flickers are divers that flick there cigarette butts out the window. I guess they don’t realize that it’s littering. My favorite is when I see someone do this, and it just blows right back in there back window.

Brake Slammers are divers that for no reason slam on there brakes in the middle of open road. I think most of the time these people are just lost and panic. Still they should really try stopping at a gas station, not the middle of the road.

Slow Pokes are drives that insist on drive 5 to 10 miles per hour under the speed limit. You will find that most of these types of drives are over the age of 65.

Cat Callers are drivers that feel it’s necessary to beep at every girl they see on the side of the road. Do they really thing anything good is going to come from this? I have never seen a girl go, “Oh Baby, Take me home!”, after a guy beeps at them.

Photo by DanieVDM

Also I was checking out other blog on 451press and found out about a Comedy festival in South Beach. I wish Pittsburgh had something like this.

As of October 9th you can walk the streets of Pittsburgh and surrounding areas without ever leaving your home. It’s called Google Street View, and it’s a service that offers photo views of city streets that you can navigate. The interface is intuitive and if you’re familiar with the classic game Myst you should feel right at home.

An article in the Pittsburgh Post Gazette explains the service well. They go in to detail about how it works and how you can handle many privacy issues that may come up. For instants if you recognize yourself in a photo you can notify them and they will remove the photo and replace it with another.

I really don’t know how useful this service is or when I would use it. It may be helpful when you are going to a new place and you can at least know what the front of it looks like. Other then that I don’t think I will get much use out of it.

Maybe after reading this review of the Iguana Grill you can use it to check out what the outside of the place looks like before you go.

Patsy Cline hasn’t always been one of my favorite singers, but she is now, which is why I want to go see Always…Patsy Cline in the very near future at the Theater Square Cabaret.

According to the CLO’s website, Always…Patsy Cline is

based on the true story of Patsy Cline’s friendship with Houston housewife and avid fan Louise Seger, Always… Patsy Cline is an extraordinary “behind-the-scenes” look at the life and music of a true music legend. After a chance meeting in 1961, the two women became fast friends and pen pals, igniting a friendship that would last until Cline’s untimely death at age 30. The letters, each one signed “Love Always, Patsy Cline,” became the inspiration for this moving tribute, which features over 20 of Cline’s greatest hits, including “I Fall to Pieces,” “Your Cheatin’ Heart,” “Walkin’ After Midnight” and “Crazy.”

The show is written and directed by Ted Swindley and is ongoing until September 30th. Tickets can be purchased on the Cultural District’s website or at the theater’s box office.

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I know I hate to get surprised about this, so I am trying to tell as many people as I can.

“The outbound lanes of the Parkway East and four ramps are to be closed from 8 p.m. Friday until no later than 6 a.m. Monday between Bates Street and the Swissvale-Edgewood interchanges.” – Post Gazette

It never fails when you’re in a hurry andthen all of a sudden you see red brake lights. You quickly realize you forgot about the construction this weekend.

If you get stuck here are five tips to help you get though it:

1. Turn up your jams and start singing to every 90’s song.
2. Call someone you haven’t talked to in a while.
3. Find two pencils or pens and use your cars dashboard and steering wheel as a drum kit.
4. Scan the radio dial for new stations to listen to (give 88.3 a try).
5. Try to figure out what fast food restaurant the french-fry from under your seat came from.

Well I hope my tips help you pass the time as you sit and wait in traffic. If you have your own tips please share them.

Parkway East, traffic, Construction, Pittsburgh, 90’s music, drum kit, french-fry, fast food

Since everyone likes lists, I thought of another one. What is your favorite place to get a hamburger in/around Pittsburgh? I find that not everyone can get this right. To have a good hamburger it must be cooked to order, be made from good meat, and have just the right seasoning. Here are my top three burgers:

1. Rocky’s II (Mckees Rocks) – This place has amazing food and great service. Get the double cheeseburger with bacon at your own risk. It puts Wendy’s Baconator to shame.
2. Fat Head’s (South Side) – I know it sounds like I am obsessed with this place but I can’t help it. I have been never been disappointed when I go here. You can’t go wrong with good beer and a burger.
3. The Sharp Edge (Crafton and East Liberty) – Belgium Beer and a Bacon Cheese Burger is what heaven is like for me. I usually get the “Sharp Burger” since it’s cheap and comes with crispy bacon.

Like last time, let me know your top three and why you like them. I enjoy reading about new places.

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