Hi,
Four anti war college students were killed at Kent State in 1970, Rhode Island’s Independence Day (1776-obviously from Britain), the Haymarket Square Riot (1886), the Freedom Rider’s Anniversary (1961), the discovery of Jamaica by Christopher Columbus (1494) and who could forget Saturday will be Cinco de Mayo. 🙂
The city historic review approved my moving the handicapped ramp to the back of the parking lot (I needed their approval because the twelve inch high ramp will be somewhat visible from the street) yesterday. So as soon as I get the certificate of appropriateness, I’ll pull the permit and have Rich DiBucci finish my cementing projects.
And the Pittsburgh Marathon runs past The Parador Sunday, that’s always pretty exciting.
I was ready to throw my lap top into the trash last night. It’s a Toshiba and they apparently have an arrangement with Norton to push their anti virus software. I’ve used Norton often over the years, but didn’t buy the update because I get Norton protection through Comcast that has my high speed Internet. This insidious program noticed Norton was not active in my computer with a paid subscription and froze my computer with a notice that my computer was in imminent danger and the only way out of this was to buy a subscription to Norton. I was furious. I had worked ten hours yesterday and wanted to do my 15 welcome letters for this weekend last night and the registration forms and some other admin stuff. I got a hold of Norton, restrained my self from cursing or shouting and ended up having to give them access into my computer (which I absolutely hate as well) to get it fixed. I did get the Welcome letters done last night, the reg forms I did this morning. I don’t like those pop up ads that periodically come through web sites, or are installed in your computer or programs you buy. To freeze a computer forcing action just absolutely drives me nuts.
The Korean Central Church at 821 S Aiken Avenue in Shadyside will be holding it’s 17th annual food bazaar this coming Saturday from 10:30 am until 4 pm. This 31 year old church of around 500 members is expecting over 2,000 guests. They will be featuring examples of Korean martial arts like tae kwon do and other examples of Korean culture. The big attraction is the homemade food. They make 18,000 dumplings, 350 pounds of of Bulgogi (literal translation is fire meat-it is a marinated beef, chicken or pork that is grilled in a traditional Korean brazier), 11,000 pieces of chicken and 500 trays of seaweed rolls. It is a fund raiser, but what I read didn’t say if there was an admission at the door or you purchased the food. They don’t have a web site, nor a contact phone number for more information.
The West End just scored another coupe. Long time home to James Gallery and relatively new Artifacts is now home to Pittsburgh’s only Steinway Piano Gallery. Patty Neeper, president of Steinway Piano’s West End Gallery has the show room as well as a sixty seat rehearsal room. In 1850, Heinrich Steinwig and family moved to New York beause of the lack of opportunities in their native Germany and brought with them 15 years of experience building pianos. In 1853, Heinrich Steinway (he Americanized his name) started Steinway Piano manufacturing in Queens (where Steinways are still hand crafted) with a $6,000 start up. Dedicated to quality, the Steinway company has more than 120 patents.
The Three Rivers Arts Festival is repidly approaching. Such easy access now that the T is open from right down at Heinz Field and it’s free! Running June 1 through June 10, they’ve expanded the exhibited artists all the way out to Penn Avenue around the new Gateway T stop. Blue Grass Day will be June 9 and will feature Blue Grass music on the main stage as well as the side stage. Squonk Opera will be featuring a world premier of “GO Roadshow” June 8, 9 & 10.
The residents of Race Street in Homewood have had enough. They created a neighborhood watch group and have been cleaning up vacant lots and litter in their neighborhood regularly now for awhile. They just got a boost from Tree Vitalize and planted 21 new trees in their five block neighborhood. Apparently, some of the nearby streets are taking notice and working on Race Street’s initiative. You know, we can’t mandate improved neighborhoods. The locals have to start the initiative. I pick up litter out front every time I see it.
The May Markets are springing up (pun intended 🙂 ). Phipps Conservatory May Market from 9:30 am until 7 pm on May 11 and from 9:30 am until 5 pm on May 12 at the Conservatory in Shenley Park. Admission is free, more info at their web site or by calling 412.622.6914. The 47th Sewickley May Market on May 12 from 9 am until 1 pm on Broad Street. More info at their web site. The West Overton Garden Society (Scottsdale) will be having their May Mart plant sale on May 12 from 9 am until 1 pm at 109 West Overton Road (in the historic barn). More info at their web site or by calling 724.220.5251. The Indiana Garden Club’s 37th annual May Mart will be held May 18 & 19 at the White Township Recreation Complex at 495 East Pike. (Their web site was down when I did this post, hopefully it will be back up when you read this). More info at their web site or by calling 724.349.8763. Over in Butler, the Butler County Master Gardeners will join forces with the Butler County Chamber of Commerce for their Spring Garden Market and Home Show at it’s new location in Alameda Park on May 19. More info at their web site, or by calling 724.283.2222.
Photographs are great and often thought provoking and can linger with you for years. I still clearly remember a photograph of the terror in the eyes of a young Jewish boy being rounded up by the Nazis that I saw for the first time at Dachau Concentration Camp. (This link just takes you to Dachau’s web site, I have seen the picture of the boy since, but couldn’t find it for this blog). Anyway, the August Wilson Center is featuring a two part exhibit through June 30 comprised of the nationally touring Smithsonian “381 Days: The Montgomery Boycott Story and the locally focused Bridge Builders. I like to learn the behind the scenes of these pictorial exhibits and this one does that. I knew that Rosa Parks wasn’t just a tired worker on her way home when she was arrested for sitting in the “Whites Only” section of the bus. She was an activist and did that on purpose (and I’m fine with that). This exhibit goes behind the scene and talks about her activist husband and the young Reverend Martin Luther King as the president of the Montgomery Improvement Association. More info at their web site or by calling 412.258.2700.
Have a great day,
ed
