Category: Pittsburgh

Local activities in Pittsburgh

Raccoon State Park Fall Adventures

By on • ( Leave a comment )

It’s mid October and the air has begun its inevitable plummet into the cold of winter.  However, first we get to experience the beauty of fall when nature dawns her gown of golds, oranges, yellows, reds and browns.  As she dances through the chilling days she paints the trees with a picturesque luster to steal your breath.  Being locked in the city, however, can leave you separated from this unfolding glory.  And yet, a short 30 minute drive can deliver you to Raccoon State Park.  I can think of no better time of the year to enjoy this state park than the fall season

Rickert and Beagle Books Pittsburgh

By on • ( Leave a comment )

Do you enjoy a great book?  How many of us recall searching through a bookstore with rack after rack of colorful novels?  A long time ago our cities were filled with independent book sellers.  These book stores were a part of the community.  Sadly, most such places have faded into the dust of history.  In their stead we have the endless results of Google, the extreme pricing of Barnes and Noble, the careless displays of Books A Million, the behemoth of Amazon, and we have the proverbial cloud of Kindle.

Mckeesport Little Theater: Bloody Hell

By on • ( Leave a comment )

Pittsburgh, a night at the theater, and the genius of the playwright are not a group of words we would often fit together.  Perhaps, however, a few of us walk to the beat of a different drummer and we know how synonymous these words actually are.  In fact, on any given weekend evening all across the city there are small theaters filled with devoted  and talented actors performing the works of Playwrights from all over.  So many of us would be surprised by the level of talent our city commands.  I spent a large portion of 2015 attending show after show as I had been tasked with reviewing a great many of said shows.  Of all of the plays I had seen one troupe of actors and a particular playwright stood out as something spectacular.  I recently had the chance to see these artists once more as they brought their talents yet again to the stage as they performed an original play created by one of Pittsburgh’s soon to be favorite sons, James Michael Shoberg.

Raspberry Bostock At Five Points Artisan Bakeshop

By on • ( Leave a comment )

A bostock is the pastry you didn’t know you needed in your life. Another genius approach to day-old bread and an alternative to an eggy French toast, a traditional bostock is a slice of brioche topped with frangipane and almonds. It’s good for breakfast. Or dessert. Or instead of pretty much any of your more sensible meals.

Saint Anthony’s Chapel: The Life’s Work of Father Suitbert Godfrey Mollinger

By on • ( Leave a comment )

So many of us think we know Pittsburgh?  We know its historical reputation as the steelmaking mecca that helped build America, and all of us know Pittsburgh as the city of champions with our great sports teams.  Yet, the city has treasures that are lost to the average citizen.  There are secreted places known around the world and yet few Pittsburghers have ever heard of them.

Elizabeth Raymer Griffin’s Studio

By on • ( Leave a comment )

Elizabeth Raymer Griffin doesn’t usually let other people into her studio. It’s her workspace, her secret hideout, a virtual reproduction of her college studio apartment. But I’m lucky, because Liz is my friend, so when I ask if I can profile her, she just says “Yes, ma’am!” and invites me right over to her Braddock Avenue studio “for visuals” even though I know that she’ll only look at the pictures I take of her through her fingers.

Yes, that’s right, my friend the self-portraitist hates being photographed.

Randyland in Pittsburgh: This isn’t Chutes and Ladders, Monopoly, or CandyLand

By on • ( Leave a comment )

Welcome to RANDYLAND, a place nestled in the depths of the residential North Shore of Pittsburgh in the midst of the famed Mexican War Streets.  The North Shore?  I know it as the North Side and to most Pittsburghers what else could it be.  After all, Three Rivers Stadium once stood here and its memory shimmers in pure glory. 

Michael McGovern in Pittsburgh

By on • ( Leave a comment )

Pittsburgh, a city at once enigmatic, bold, beautiful and filled with promise.  So many of her sons and daughters have gone on to achieve fame and fortune.  Her children have had tremendous impact upon American culture.  Many of these stories we know, and still others have yet to be written, and still more have yet to unfold.  That being said, I wanted to introduce many of you to the unfolding tale of the local talent, Michael McGovern. 

%d bloggers like this: