Pittsburgh, PA

Starting with today, I suggest everyone check out the Alternative Transportation Festival!

According to the festival’s website:

The Alternative Transportation Festival (ATF) is an event to raise public awareness of alternative means of transportation and advocate for the increased use of public transportation, car-sharing, alternative fuels, fuel efficient, hybrid and advanced vehicles, boats, bikes and other human-powered technologies.

Driven by locally-led innovation and a growing community of activists and operators, Pittsburgh has become a leader in the development of alternative transportation solutions to pressing national and international issues that arise from America’s fossil fuel dependence, including rising fuel costs, air pollution and global warming, economic and National security concerns.

The festival is being organized by Pittsburgh Region Clean Cities with support from Steel City Biofuels, Bike Pittsburgh, Restorative Events and Nakturnal.

If you’ve ridden the bus lately, you should have seen the flyer for this event, but just in case you didn’t, here’s some more info.

The event is taking place in three locations: Market Square, Schenley Plaza and South Side Works. Each location will feature live music and entertainment, as well as information on alternative transportation options and a chance to meet with other like minded individuals.

Schenley Plaza:
11am-1:30pm & 3-8pm
Music of Coz Serrapere, DJ Omar Abdul and the Zany Umbrella Circus

Market Square:
11am-1:30pm & 3-5pm
Music of DJ Zimmie

South Side Works:
11am-1:30pm & 3-8pm
Music by The Metropolitans

I am all for increasing public awareness on this issue. I think it’s nice that we participate in the National Dump the Pump Day and that more and more people are riding their bikes to work and despite most of them doing it to save gas money, it is still saving the environment and this is a step in the right direction.

I’m not sure Pittsburgh will ever be as non-reliant on cars as other cities, just because of how the city is laid out and the suburbs, but a step in this direction makes me happy. And since there’s no way we’re going to eliminate commuting to work via cars, I hope in the future there is at least a trend towards the usage of energy efficient cars.

And as for Saturday…

The Tom Museum is celebrating its one year anniversary!!

The event will be split into two halves; the first being a pre-event fundraiser for the Tom Museum with special guest Mayor Luke Ravenstahl, which will take place from 6 – 7 PM and will be in the lobby of the New Hazlett Theater. (Allegheny Square East)
Admission to this part of the event/fundraiser is $65.00.

After the fundraiser at 7:30pm, there will be a contest that sounds like a lot of fun!

From the Tom Museum’s website:
The New Hazlett Theater will host three teams of artists who will compete to build winning sculptures out of secret materials (read: junk to be unveiled at the event). The only supplies that the teams may bring with them to the challenge are the contents of one suitcase. Adding to the suspense of the evening is the arrival of Team West Virginia, led by WVU sculpture professor and artist Douglas Loewen. Tickets are $10.00 and will be available at the door.

Tom Sarver, Mike Cuccaro, Liz Hammond and Buddy Nutt will host the event. Music will be provided by DJ Mary Mack and Mr. & Mrs. Funky of Unfinished Symphonies. Judges for the event will include Heather Pesanti, Assistant Curator at The Carnegie Museum of Art; Mickey McManus, CEO of MAYA Design; Artist Thommy Conroy; and Karen Hartman from the Brew House Association.

For more information, visit the Tom Museum website.

Have a nice weekend everyone and enjoy the nice weather! I’ll be up at Clarion for their Autumn Leaf Festival, which is always a lot of fun!

And as always, go Steelers!!

Pittsburgh, public transportation, buses, alternative fuels, Tom Museum, art, Olympic Theater, Market Square, Schenley Park, South Side Works