Hi,
Tomorrow is the anniversary of the end of the world’s longest war, The Third Punic War (1985), the Family Leave Act was enacted (1993), it is Mexico’s Constitution Day and England’s Grimnaldi Memorial Service/Clown Church Service. Birth anniversaries include actor Alan Ladd (1947), actress Barbara Hershey (1948), actor John Carradine (1906), statesman Adlai Stevenson (100) and English statesman Robert Peel (1788).
I had a wonderful time in Florida, saw some good friends, enjoyed some great food and had wonderful weather. The drive down and back I actually find relaxing and the old grey matter actually gets some distraction free time to work. One of the ideas I came up with is how to sound proof the bathroom between Bird of Paradise’s bathroom and the guest room African Tulip. When the idea hit me, it was like Dah, why didn’t I think of this before. There’s one of the many interconnecting doors between those two rooms and because of the brick construction, there’s a lot of space between the door and the trim in Bird of Paradise’s side. I’m going to frame it out, put sound muffling Styrofoam and then drywall and just paint it blue like the rest of the bathroom. It will be obvious there’s a door behind, but who cares, it’s never used anyway. And if for some reason it needs to be re-opened it, it will be very easy to change. While in Florida I visited Lake Worth (West Palm Beach) where my first Inn was, went to the Keys and finally visited with my good friend Jeff that owns The Inn on The Mexican War Streets at his condo in Tampa. While in Lake Worth, I stayed at a very nice B & B, The Mano Inn, which was walking distance to the Lake Worth beach. Since I get up so early, I’d buy a cup of coffee, get the newspaper and walk over to the beach to watch the sunrise before breakfast:
Well, Dee was off for January and now Ty’s off for February, but getting (or got) some well deserved R & R.
Co-founder of City of Asylum Henry Reese has announced they are buying the old Masonic Hall on North Avenue after years of delay. Originally they were going to lease the first floor space for their Alphabet City coffee shop and performance center. Frustrated by the delays of the revolving door of various developers they’ve come to terms with the URA to purchase the building and develop it themselves. In case you are not aware of CoA’s mission, they provide safe housing for dissident authors, frequently of Asian backgrounds, where they can live and create. They own several houses on Sampsonia Way (one has a poem in Chinese written on the front outside of the home). Also in this artistic area of the Northside is The Mattress Factory and Randyland.
The Northside is becoming quite the entertainment venue, and I don’t mean those big box locations like Consol, Stage AE, etc. The Elk’s Club on Cedar had banjo Wednesdays and frequently host jazz nights on Thursdays. Right around the corner on East Ohio Street, the Park House has a blue grass night every Wednesday. And if you want to hear some of the best jazz in the city, you can’t beat James Street Gastropub on the corner of James Street and Foreland Avenue. They always have live jazz in their Speakeasy Fridays and Saturdays and sometimes surprise you with live jazz on other days. Insider tips, they charge a nominal fee for shows, but if you have dinner (and it’s very good), there’s no charge. Second insider tip, if you stay at The Parador Inn and present your copy of your registration, you get a free dessert. They also use there ballroom for dancing classes for various classic forms. Check their website for details.
When I went to PICA (Pennsylvania Institute of Culinary Arts), part of the program was a restaurant run by the students. The menu was created by the students and overseen by the teaching staff. Both front of the house and back of the house tasks were done by the students and was a very affordable and memorable lunch option. The Art Institute on the Blvd of the Allies has a similar program. It’s cyclical, depending on where the students are at the time, when they are open, it’s from 11:15 until 12:30 Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays. You can’t beat an average $8 lunch. There’s not much on their website, I recommend calling them to get details if you are thinking of having lunch there. 412-291-6532, reservations are recommended.
The featured artist at The Warhol through April 10 is Corita Kent. Corita was a Catholic nun that taught art at Immaculate Heart College in Los Angeles and was inspired by Andy Warhol’s pop style. She’s done many creative things like 1985 Love Stamp and Rainbow Swash, the largest copywrited work of art in the world located on a gas tank in Boston. Insider tip, stay at The Parador Inn and we have $9 admission tickets, instead of the normal $20. Second insider tip, if you’re a past guest of The Parador, just call first to be sure we’re here to get the tickets to you.
For their second installation of the Market Square Art Program, artist Jennifer Wen Ma will be creating a small forest that will change over time showing the coming of spring. The trees will be painted with black ink and she will periodically update them to signify the approach of spring. The exhibit opens February 19 and runs through the spring. I personally didn’t care for the multimedia installation they had last year, this will be fun to watch evolve.
Popular during the Victorian times and through the early 20th century, Garden Gazing Globes are making a come back. First noted in the 13th century Italy, predominately around Venice, they were used for decorations, to bring happiness,or ward off evil spirits and attackers. Mirrored globes are put on pedestals, hung from trees and other means of display, generally in the garden.
Are you interested in doing some minor home repairs, but intimidated by a lack of experience? CCAC is offering a class on Mondays from 6:30 to 9 pm at the Northside campus starting February 16 and the West Mifflin campus on Tuesdays starting February 24 (same hours). They will be covering basic electric like hanging a ceiling fan and changing out a light switch, basic plumbing like repairing a leak, basic carpentry, painting and drywall. They will talk about supplies, tools, even how to pick out a contractor for larger projects. The cost is $99. I didn’t find information on their website, but you could call their registration office and I’m sure someone could direct you to the right place 412-237-2700.
When I took RJ down to the dog park in the Commons yesterday, he met a new friend:
How appropriate, someone made a snowdawg in the dawg park. 🙂
Well, I’m all caught up from my travels, busy couple of days coming up because of the Groupon campaign. Lot’s of one night visits, lots of room turns Thursday, Friday and Saturday. Dee’s going to earn her stripes this weekend. 🙂
Take care and keep warm,
ed
