Hi,
Tomorrow is the anniversary of the Battle of Philippine Sea (1944), the first running of the Belmont Stakes (1867), Rosenbergs were executed (1953) and Texas’ Emancipation Day (1865). Birth anniversaries include cartoon favorite Garfield (1978), justice Abe Fortas (1910), baseballer Lou Gehrig (1903), Three Stooges hard guy Moe Howard (1897) and American Author Elbert Hubbard (1856).
My little girls isn’t so little anymore. In just a week I need to put the bigger choker on her:
Look at that pose with her right foot extended, she’s a natural model. 🙂 In the week she’s been with us, she knows her name, knows the command “Come” (chooses to ignore it sometimes), has learned restrictions like she’s not allowed in the hot kitchen or in the Mansion without being invited (like when we walk to the front porch and have to go through the Mansion to get there). She sleeps A LOT, but when she wakes up, she is such a bundle of unbridled happiness and energy. She bounces all over the place tripping and falling in her exuberance. RJ has certainly taken a shine to her, watching them play is a real joy to watch.
DIY started their filming of Killbuck Lodge out in Oakdale last weekend. It’s a log cabin used by Boy Scout Troop 248 since the 1930’s (it was over 100 years old then). In case you missed my last post about it, Barnwood Builders, the DIY show came up here to evaluate the structure last weekend to see if it actually needs to be totally dismantled or if they can make repairs as it stands and they ended up dismantling it last weekend. There’s a number of logs that have rotted away and other structural issues. The Boy Scouts also want to update the mechanicals during this project. The guys from Barnwood Builders will coordinate the repairing or reconstruction of the walls and roof using donated matching materials from a cabin in Mt Pleasant, Westmoreland County. Then the scouts and volunteers will work on the interior. Most of the cost of the exterior works is being covered by DIY, which is saving the scouts some cash and giving them some nice exposure for their fundraising for the rest of the work.
The USS Requin down at the Science Center is featuring special “Tech Tours” June 28, July 12 & 26 and August 9 & 23. Tours are limited to 12 persons and you must be 15 or older and have no mobility challenges (you have to squeeze through some areas that can’t be made normal ADA accessible). One of the areas not accessible for the normal tour but will be available for these tours is the conning tour. The cost is $20 and reservations are required. More info on their website or by calling 412-237-1637.
In celebration for the Rolling Stones concert in this weekend, The Warhol is having s special exhibit featuring the Sticky Fingers controversial album cover that Andy Warhol designed. There’s a fair amount of back story on the album cover like Polaroids and acetate photos used in the design of the Grammy nominated album cover, a telegram sent by Atlantic Records to Warhol and two tables full of other memorabilia. It’s part of the regular admission to The Warhol and more info at their website or by calling 412-237-8300.
If you don’t have Stones tickets and want to do something else this weekend, there’s the Westmoreland Air Show which will have a new feature called Drone Zone. Run by Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University out of Daytona, FL, this 2,400 square foot netted area will have several drones you can operate under the supervision of instructors. Embry-Riddle will also have an exhibit trailer that will include a virtual crash lab, flight simulators, and info about the degrees available at the university, naturally. 🙂 Other highlights at the air show will include the US Navy’s Blue Angels and many other acts. Go to their website and click on the listing on the right hand side to see what all and when activities are taking place.
The Bantam Jeep Heritage Festival was last weekend up in Butler. It was their 75th anniversary! In celebration of the 75th year, the parade had one jeep representing each of the 75 years. Coming up to World War II, the army put out a request for specs to 135 companies to design a four-wheel-drive reconnaissance car. Only two companies responded, American Bantam Car Company in Butler and Willys-Overland. Willys couldn’t meet the deadline and so the Butler company won the contract and the ubiquitous jeep was developed right her in Western PA.
Pizza Hut has come out with a hot dog pizza, really? 🙂
There’s been a lot of stars running around Pittsburgh lately with all the films being shot. Want to see another kind of stars? About four hours north east of us, Cherry Springs State Park has been designated at the only Dark Sky Park in Pennsylvania by the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. It’s a great trip to the country. There’s weekly stargazing programs by the staff and volunteers through the park’s telescopes. You can see star clusters, double stars, nebula and distant galaxies. Because of local light pollution, outside the City you can see about 3,000 stars with you naked eye (even less in the City because of all the night lights on), at Cherry Springs you can see between 5,000 and 6,000! And since it’s as far as it is, drive up during the day and enjoy one of the three local bed and breakfasts, Frosty Hollow, Kettle Creek or North Bend. More info at their website or by calling 814-274-3365.
Want to star gaze but not travel so far? The Allegheny Observatory right up in Riverview Park above The Parador Inn has free two hour tours (reservations required) starting at 8 pm Thursdays and Fridays, it’s free but reservations are required. 412-321-2400. In case you missed one of my earlier blogs, that’s the observatory John Brashear had built. He was quite the innovator in optical lenses. The Carnegie Science Center has rooftop stargazing 10 – 11:30 Fridays and Saturdays through August 9 and then 9 – 10:30 pm through November, weather permitting. It costs $2 and you can check if they are doing it by calling 412-237-3327. Kunkle Park in Washington Township has star gazing parties June 27, August 8 and October 3 at dusk, 724-337-3327 You can get more info on many of these stare gazing activities at the Amateur Astronomers Association’s website. Mingo Creek Park Observatory out past Finleyville (where I grew up) has free star gazing parties planned for June 19 & 20, July 24 & 25 and August 14 & 15. They also have lunar eclipse, solar observing and other activities planned. More info at their website or by calling 724-348-6150. Raystown Lake has a Star Party planned August 1 at 9 pm, check out their website for details. Wagman Observatory at Deer Lakes Park in Frazer has star gazing parties planned June 19 & 20, July 24 & 25 and August 21 & 22. They also have other gazing activities planned, check the Amateur Astronomers Association’s website for more details or call 724-224-2510 for details.
L.A. resident, Pittsburgh native Jared Show has released Big Foot, the Movie with limited screenings and is available on Blue Ray, DVD or a free down load. I haven’t seen it yet, but what I’ve gathered, I’m thinking it may become a cult classic like Rocky Horror Picture Show. You can get more info on his website on the film, screenings and they even have a big foot gift shop. 🙂
Well, that’s it for now. Looks like it’s going to rain for the rest of our lives here in Pittsburgh. I think it’-s supposed to rain everyday for about a week. I hope the weather’s cooperative for the Stones concert this weekend.
ed
