Hi,
I posted this last night from my old computer and it didn’t seem to go out right, so I’m resending from the new computer.
Tomorrow the anniversary of the first electric lighting by Thomas Edison in lower Manhattan (1882), the founding of Los Angelos (1781) and Captain America premiered on TV (1954). Birth anniversaries include architect & city planner Daniel Burnham (1846), French poet Francois Chateaubriand (1768), first lady Sarah Polk (1803) and broadcaster Paul Harvey (1918).
Did you know bacteria accounts about 2% of our body mass? Yet they outnumber our human cells by 10 to 1. The reason for this is their small size. They are critical for our survival doing such things as aiding in digestion and fighting off disease. There’s enough bacteria in our bodies that could fill a 1/2 gallon milk jug. Scientists have studied how personal bacteria is to us, although we all have bacteria, we all have our own personal group living in/with us. The scientists have been able to determine who lives in which house by matching their unique set of bacteria with those found in their house. Almost like a DNA signature. These people that are obsessed with antibacterial soaps, lotions, and the such are off the mark. Bacteria is so important for our health, that one of the frequent side effects of using an antibacterial regiment to fight an illness frequently get diarrhea and other side affects. It’s in our own bacteria’s self interest to fight of new bacteria, that’s why they are so important to our immune systems. It’s OK to clean up your kitchen and sanitize it, just don’t be overly zealous with this, we need our microscopic buddies. 🙂
The hotel industry is learning from the airline industry. Though hotels have always had their overt fees (like minibars) and hidden fees (like you can’t park your car in their parking facility, you have to pay their valet), like the airlines, they are taking it to new levels. Your flight doesn’t leave until 6 pm, check-out is by 11 am. Some hotels are now charging to store your luggage. Some hotels charge you $2.50 per night for in-room safes, whether you use it or not. On top of the $5 they charge you for that can of soda out of the minibar, there can be up to an 18% restocking fee. Some hotels charge up to $25 to store your stuff in the minibar. Some hotels are taking the playbook right out of the airlines, what express check-in? There’s a fee for that. Want an early or late check-in, check-out, there’s a fee for that as well. When booking, if you want anything specific on the room (farther from the elevator, view, bed size, etc), yep there’s a fee for that as well. This is one of the reasons I left the corporate hotel scene and opened my own Inn. What to avoid the hidden fee game, come and visit The Parador. 🙂
West View residents are starting their own food pantry at Ridgewood Church with a Performing Arts Festival at their Bronx Field on Center Avenue. They have nine acts lined up to perform from noon to 8 pm next Saturday. They have a wide variety of musical styles from soloists, rap, hip-hop alternative and the closing act will be Johnny Angel and the Halos. Johnny Angel (aka Jack Hunt) is from nearby Brighteon Heights and has his own store there Ginchy. They also will have food, games and art. Admission is canned or at least shelf stable food to stock their pantry. More info at 412-931-1313.
Also next weekend, A Fair in the Park will be back in Mellon Park in Shadyside. Friday from 1 – 7 pm, Saturday from 10 am – 7 pm and Sunday from 10 am – 5 pm. They will again have over 100 booths featuring jewelry, ceramics, glass, wood, metal, fiber, paper, leather, mixed media and more. Live music, kids activities and food will also be there. A lot of cool stuff for pursuing and maybe buying. Besides a list of local sponsors, they even have the New York Times as one of their sponsors.
The Harvest Home Dinner will be celebrating it’s 125th year as a fund raiser for St Alphonsus Church in Pine September 6 from 1 – 6:30 pm. Fresh produce from Shenot Farm, Soergel Orchards, Eichner Farm and Wexford Farms all donate fresh produce for the event. Last year 600 volunteers prepared 1,061 dinners, they hope to surpass that. Dinners are just $13 for adults ($15 for carry out) and $7 for children ($8 for carry out). More info at 724-935-1151.
Another church fundraising food fest with a Lebanese twist will be held at Our Lady of Victory Maronite Catholic Church in Scott. The Lebanese Food Festival will run from 11 am – 10 pm September 12 & 13 and from noon – 6 pm September 14. 200 volunteers created meals for 5,000 guests at last year’s event. Things you can expect will be kibbee, roasted chicken, lamb kabob, tabbouleh, grape leaves and much more. This fund raiser has been going on since 1979. More info at their website or by calling 412-278-0841.
On Sunday, September 14, it’s the 50 year anniversary of the Beatles first and only concert in Pittsburgh. Tickets were $5.50! 🙂 There’s several events scheduled, the largest will be Beatlemania Now at the Benedum Center at 8 pm on September 13. Tickets are $36.95 and $48.95. Beatles tribute band The American Tour 64 will headline other tribute bands that influenced the Beatles. The include tribute bands of Buddy Holly, Little Richard, Jerry Lee Lewis, Fats Domino, Chuck Berry and Elvis Presley. Long time Pittsburgh concert promoter Pat DiCesare (who brought the Beatles to Pittsburgh and many other concerts) will be signing his book Hard Days, Hard Nights: From the Beatles, to the Doors, to the Stones, Insider Stories Fram a Legendary Concert Promoter (quite the long title). 🙂 Greensburg’s Palace Theater will be having a Beatles tribute band on September 17 starting at 8 pm. Their tickets are $40 – $65. From 11 am – 8 pm this Friday and from 11am – 6 pm on Sunday there will be a Beatles Rock Art Show and Sale in the lobby of the Renaissance Hotel. Ron Campbell will be on hand. Ron is an artist and animator of the Beatles Yellow Submarine movie.
Kyle Holbrook founded Moving Lives of Kids Art Center (nicknamed MLK) in 2002. He pairs youth with artists and together they create murals throughout the city to beautify neighborhoods and teach kids art skills and discipline. Kyle also introduce youths to careers they may not have considered like graphic design or working behind the scenes of movie and theater production. This year, 87 youths have created 15 murals around the city (one right up the street from me by the intersection of Brighton and California which is where the Pittsburgh Conservancy’s garden that The Parador sponsors.) The kids work four to six weeks creating each mural and earn a stipend for their efforts. Kyle has taken his program overseas to such locations like Uganda and Portugal. A great program for kids and the adults that guide them.
Tomorrow, the Travel Channel’s filming at The Parador! They have that series The Dead Files about paranormal. They are investigating an old mansion in Homewood and the location is fine for the paranormal, but not real pretty. So they’re doing the “exit interviews” with the paranormal, historian, etc in our Parlor. This could be HUGE!
Business is still unbelievable, take care and enjoy,
ed
