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.
Ask for a restaurant recommendation in New York and get ready to start Google mapping locations. People in the city love to tell you their favorite haunts from brunch to borough for specific cultural dishes. They will tell you what to order, what to expect and what time to go. It’s quite impressive. My trip down south had many similarities to this NYC approach.
The Nashville Farmers’ Market is a melting pot of shops, restaurants, and merchants that offer local and international food and crafts. Open every day of the year, NFM is perfect for taking a quick lunch break or spending the afternoon touring the historic area. One of the many Rent-A-Bike stations throughout the city is outside the market, and a great option for those that want to expand their exploration of Nashville.
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.
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.
In a world of tattoos, you have a steady flow of ink, and a plethora of designs from which to choose. Atlanta gives you a wide horizon of talented artists who showcase and brand their work in the most well known tattoo studios! Take a peek at a few suggested studios to visit if you’re thinking of adding a little art to your body.
Typically in any family there is sibling rivalry at every turn but sometimes something magical happens. This would be the case with sisters Charlene and Liann Kaye who combined their talents for a lethal recipe. Charlene had the musical bug at a young age as Liann was touched by the angel of art. Their first attempt at meshing their work was when Charlene was jamming with local bands in Michigan. Liann, in her sophomore year took up a film class and gained some key pointers.
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.
I decided to head down south to the city of Charleston, South Carolina. Flight times come in just under 2 hours (2 hours out and 1.5 hours back!) Having never been to Charleston, I chose to stay downtown in the historic district to be close to landmark locations on my list of places to see.
I learned a few things on my trip to the Palmetto City. First and foremost, Charleston is a city that forces you to make a lot of decisions. Shall I get another order of Shrimp and Grits? I already tried She Crab Soup, but should I get another bowl. Do I spend a day on a boat in the harbor or walking around taking pictures and visiting historical landmarks around town? An afternoon on the beach or marshland? Fishing or Kayaking?
As Nashville finally welcomes the spring weather, we now have an excuse to venture outside for picnics at the park and weekend strolls down 12South. And as the temperatures skyrocket, I’ve already started to crave cool treats to replace my winter staples of steaming lattes and hot slices of pie.
It just so happens that Nashville is home to a number of excellent dessert shops, any of which will exceed your expectations for warm weather goodies. Take a look at the list below, and if you don’t see your favorite, share your recommendation in the comments section below!
