Hi,
Tomorrow is the anniversary of baseball’s First Perfect Game (no opposing team was able to get even to first base) in 1880 was Worcester against Cleveland, the first man-powered flight across the English Channel (1979), Anne Frank Frank’s birth anniversary (1929) and Prez Ronald Reagan’s “Tear Down this Wall” speech (1987).
An art show, without art. How novel is that. The Through the Looking Glass Project is being presented at the Artform & Tatoo at 2603 Leechburg Road in Lower Burrell. Go into the gallery co-owned by Chris Churchfield and Seth Leibowitz and you will find frames with matrix bar codes arranged in a square pattern that can be read with many apps to smarty pants phones. These QR (Quick Response) codes will read the information and download the images to your smart phone.
We have a number of bridges built around the turn of the 19th century for The Commons Park (frequently referred to as West Park). The pedestrian bridge between my side of the park and Lake Elizabeth (where da boiz swim) has been closed for years. Ridge Avenue bridge also has been closed for years and is slated for demolition. The West Ohio Street bridge is in fairly serious disrepair and they are talking about options. One option is to rebuild it as it stands, but the railroad company is adamantly against that option. The PUC has a height requirement for trains to be able to double stack the cars. So the railroad wants the bridge raised four feet, which would destroy the original intent and design of the park. The City took our Commons market building out for that monstrosity once called Allegheny Center Mall. If they agree with the railroad option, they would have to regrade up to the bridge and destroy two dozen mature London Plane trees and the overall topography of the park. The other option would be to lower the tracks so it meets the four foot requirement. The cost of lowering the rail bed would fall on the railroad company. The cost of raising the bridge and adversely effecting the park would fall on us. There’s a meeting Tuesday night at the New Hazlett Theater
Did you know the film just released Super 8 was almost entirely filmed in Weirton, WV? They decided to film there instead of here because WV has a more favorable tax incentive than PA does. So they’re doing all the sets their, but using our film crews because WV doesn’t have any skilled film people.
There’s a film finishing up here about Janet Vogel’s life, she was with the Skyliners, one of the biggest doowop bands from the late 50’s early 60’s. This film was just produced in da burg for around $275,000 and was written by local Gavin Rapp of Aspinwall (Janet’s son). Rapp co-directed this film with Ron Hankison, the two founded Winter Morning Pictures. the Skyliners had several big breaks with a performance at Apollow Theater in Harlem and a stint on Bandstand. Janet had a troubled life and ended up taking her own. Jimmy Beaumont is still performing.
Wanta be famous? The Batman movie being filmed here is looking for extras. June 18 9 a.m. until 1 p.m. and 2 p.m. until 5 p.m. and then on June 19 from 10 a.m. until 1 p.m. until 6 p.m. at the William Penn Ballroom. I do need to warn you, the last casting call had people lined up for blocks down around the Wm Penn.
Want to buy a mountain or two? Austria is offering two 6,500 foot mountain peaks (Grosse Kinigat and Rosskoph) for just $175,800 FOR THE PAIR! They are accepting bids through July 8, if you want your own mountains, you better get on it soon. 🙂
I think this is about it for today, have a great week,
ed
