Pittsburgh, PA

Tonight at Belvedere’s is the fifth annual Galactic AssDragon Classic, a battle of electronic music with the winner coming out with a 7 inch single pressed by the No Room for Talent label. There will be a panel of judges judging a wide variety of electronic sounds, from the screeching to the heart stopping bass coming out of anything from labtops to microphones to anything else the entrants have thought up.

Speaking of which, this year’s performers include Deepwinter, Statas, Mike and Ike Jones, Vasculator, Cockmongler, Doverspike and more! Be prepared for crazy stints by Mike and Ike and dead baby props by Doverspike.

The event starts at 9 and only costs $3 for a whole night’s worth of crazy entertainment. This really is a one of its kind event; trust me I know from last year. One word of advice, you may want to bring ear plugs!

Belvedere’s is located at 4016 Butler Street in Lawrenceville.

Also, this weekend is the South Side’s Mid-Winter Soup Contest presented by Iron and Glass Bank. The event is Saturday from 12-3pm and is a wonderful way to sample local soups and provide food for the needy for months.

A $5 donation and a can of soup will get you a map of the South Side and all of the participating restaurants, where you can sample soups galore.

Participants will need to register at one of these three locations:
The Brashear Association, 2005 Sarah St
SouthSide Works, 2629 E. Carson St
91.3fm WYEP FM, 12th & Bingham Streets

For more information, visit WYEP’s website here.

I should also remind everyone that tonight is the 15th annual Guinness Toast, so all of you Guinness lovers should be excited about this one! There are too many participating bars to possibly list them all, but some of my favorites who will be toasting include, 1311 in the S. Side, Bloomfield Bridge Tavern, Buckhead Saloon in Station Square, Caseys, Fatheads and Smokin’ Joes also in the S. Side and the Do Drop Inn if you’re out in my hometown, Natrona Heights. If you’re interested, I suggest visiting your favorite bar’s website (if they have one) and see if they are participating and if not, drink your Guinness anyways. Who needs an event to do that?!

And last, but not least the Fun A Day show is this Saturday at the Spare Room and will showcase everyone’s hard work this past month. For more information on this event, visit my previous post and/or their website.

Spare Room is located at 3923 1/2 Mintwood Street in Lawrenceville.

It looks like I’ll be in Lawrenceville all weekend, hope everyone has a fun weekend!

Pittsburgh, Galactic AssDragon Classic, Belvedere’s, Lawrenceville, music, Mike and Ike Jones, Doverspike, Fun a Day, Spare Room, art, Guinness Toast

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

Sorry for the teeny, tiny picture but I just had to mention that this Saturday is the Scary I Made It, featuring Halloween themed arts and crafts! Does it get any better?!

The craft show is being held in Braddock at 416 Library Street, between 12-5pm. If you were at Flux when it was in Braddock, then you should be able to find it easily; if not, just googlemap it.

For more information, visit their Myspace here or visit my previous post here.

Now on to the festivities!

There’s way too many to list, so here’s a couple:

(Click on the images for full size)

Krobar & Sport Rock Cafe’s Heaven & Hell Costume Ball:

Grannies, Trannies, and Booty Meat at Margarita Mama’s:
I’m going to this one, although I haven’t decided what kind of booty meat I’m going as yet haha

Buckhead’s Night of the Living Dead Party:
I’m only going to say this once: take advantage of the $2 U Call its!

Privilege’s Sexy Halloween Bash:

Halloween Mansion Party at Deja Vu:
My future husband Deshea Townsend is supposed to be at this one. Damn having to work!

Oh, how I love Halloween! I wish I could go to all of these.

Don’t forget to scroll down to see what else is going on this weekend!

Pittsburgh, Halloween, Margarita Mamas, Deja Vu, Buckheads, Privilege, costume, ball, Krobar

Every Friday in July and August you can check out live bands, drink some beer and eat from 5-11pm at Station Square. It’s a good time even if some of the bands are not so great. Candlebox is playing tonight and they’re decent, so if anything go then. Cinder Road, Neverset and Strangeway are also playing.

During the Street Jam and afterwards, make sure you wander into one of the many participating bars that include Bar Louie, Buca di Beppo, Hard Rock Cafe, Houlihan’s, Joe’s Crab Shack, The Melting Pot, Red Star Tavern, Ref’s Sports Bar and Buckhead Saloon.

Or if you’re more interested in clubs, head to Matrix, Margarita Mama’s, Saddleridge and the Palm Bar. I’m partial to Margarita Mama’s myself.

Check out Station Square’s website for more details.

free music, Candlebox, Station Square, Street Jam, beer, Cinder Road, Strangeway, Neverset, Pittsburgh, summer

This weekend (June 9th -10th) at Station Square next to the Hard Rock Café, you will find a 32-foot Winnebago called the “Wheelmobile”. At the Wheelmobile there will be three auditions a day for a chance to be on Americas #1 game show. The contestants will be drawn at random from the pool of people that fill out an application, so you don’t have show up hours before hand. All you need to do it fill out an application, and they say everyone that shows up will get one.

Here is the information about the event:

When: Saturday & Sunday, June 9th & 10th from 1 PM – 5 PM
Where: Station Square*
100 West Station Square Drive
Pittsburgh, PA 15219
WPXI – website
Station Square – website

Even if you don’t make it on the show, this should be a good time. You never know, you might even end up with a good story. The auditions are over at five so that would be a good time to stick around Station Square and get a bite to eat. Just check out there website, you can find a list all the choices.

Wheelmobile, Station Square, Pittsburgh, Wheel of Fortune, Hard Rock Cafe, Winnebago