EvBetPGH 21 Questions: Andy Mulkerin

Hello! Welcome to EvBetPGH 21 Questions. Modeled off of New York Magazine's 21 Questions, this idea was suggested to me by my friend Allie. So, full credit to her for that. Enjoy!

Meet Andy Mulkerin.

Andy gave me very specific limitations on what kind of picture of him I could use.

Andy is a writer, editor, and drummer. I first encountered Andy on a trip back from Boston while watching a Pens playoff game in the apartment upstairs from Modern Formations. Since then, we've fallen into the same group of friends and have shared many downtown lunches. Sometimes I feel like Andy knows everyone in Pittsburgh, and now having read his answers and with being a lifer and all, I'm pretty sure that's true.

Q1: What is your name?

Andrew Regis Mulkerin

Q2: What is your nickname (/@twitter/instagram/etc.)?

@andybotpgh, everywhere. When I was probably 18 or so, a close friend had robot nicknames for all of her friends, and I was Andybot. It stuck, even though it doesn't really make sense.

Q3: What is your occupation?

I write about music, and edit other people's writing about music, for Pittsburgh City Paper.

Q4: How long have you lived in Pittsburgh?

I am a lifer. If you count the suburbs.

Q5: How did you end up in Pittsburgh?

As they say in one of my favorite Clash songs, "I wasn't born, so much as I fell out."

Q6: Who is your favorite Pittsburgher?

Oh geez. Is Rick Sebak too obvious a choice? I'm thinking living Pittsburghers here, since the question is "Who *is* your favorite Pittsburgher"...

Q7: What is the best meal in Pittsburgh?

The best meal I've ever had, ever, was at Bona Terra in Sharpsburg, which I *believe* closed recently. Douglas Dick, the chef there, was named best chef in Pittsburgh for a year or two during the Sousa Interregnum in the late '00s. I had my mind blown by a prix fixe there once -- innovative, interesting, amazingly delicious but not pretentious or overly hipsterish. That having been said...my go-to favorite thing to get for dinner is saag paneer at Taste of India.

Q8: What is your favorite yummy treat in Pittsburgh?

These questions are so open-ended. [Ed. note: What did you want, Andy? Multiple choice?!] I'm gonna interpret this as meaning "sweet." Um, growing up, I loved these things they made at Smith's Bakery in Wilkinsburg, called "covered wagons." They were basically like Ho-Hos. That place doesn't exist anymore, though, so I'm gonna go with some concoction from Oh Yeah! Ice Cream. I like putting Golden Grahams and/or pretzels in my ice cream.

Q9: What was your first job in Pittsburgh?

If we're counting the suburbs, working at Burger King. If we're talking about the city proper, working in interlibrary loan at Hillman Library at Pitt.

Q10: What is your favorite season in Pittsburgh? 

Fall. My birthday, perfect weather, beautiful leaves, Steelers football, Pirates post-season play.

Q11: What is your favorite Pittsburgh neighborhood?

Another cop-out, I guess, but I really do like my neighborhood, Regent Square, for a number of reasons. It's near a great park with amazing tennis courts; it's got trees and stuff but is still close enough to the city-city, it's got amazing hot dogs and beers at D's, and it's actually a neighborhood that's made up of multiple municipalities. I like exceptions.

Q12: You have to choose one - and just one: Steelers, Penguins, or Pirates?

While I generally make the utilitarian argument for football fandom over other sports fandom, because the relatively sparse schedule, I'm thinking a little harder on this one. I don't have a gut answer, so I might actually go with the Penguins, because hockey was the first sport I got *really* into as a kid, and there are so many games in a season, it's the most economical choice.

Q13: Where do you go to be alone in Pittsburgh?

To the suburbs. That's all I'm sayin'.

Q14: What makes someone a Pittsburgher?

I think there's a certain underdog spirit and DIY ethic that colors "real Pittsburghers." We're welcoming of newcomers, but at the same time a little suspicious. We're happy when our neighbors are successful, but we want to know that they worked hard and played the same game as the rest of us in order to achieve that success. And, to an extent, a real Pittsburgher takes Pittsburgh for granted.

Q15: What's your favorite building/bridge/landmark/statue/etc? 

Favorite bridge is Smithfield Street -- it's beautiful, and I had a prescient dream involving it once. I'll also use this somewhat generalized question to give a shout out to the view from the Parkway East around Oakland, coming inbound, especially at sundown. Underrated skyline view. (PS -- That's another thing that makes you a real Pittsburgher: calling it the "Parkway East/West/North.")

Q16: What's your favorite mural/street art thing/graffiti tag?

I have a sentimental affection for the tag Juicy and some other stencil art (little Cupids, etc.) that a friend of mine, who's living in another city for years now, did -- I love seeing them around randomly and thinking of him. Also a big fan of the Canada geese stenciled way at the top of the 10th Street Bridge.

Q17: Who is your favorite Pittsburgh mascot/costumed character?

Jalapeno Hannah.

Q18: What is your favorite Pittsburgh fact?

This isn't so much a fact as an anecdote, but I think it's pretty funny, so bear with me. In 1935, a Pittsburgh journalist was writing a piece on "What the World Thinks of Pittsburgh" (some things never change), and wrote to prominent Pittsburgh-related people worldwide for comment. Gertrude Stein, born on the North Side, wrote back (via partner and secretary Alice B. Toklas): "I only saw it from the air so what can I say except that I was born in Alleghany."

Q19: What do you love most about Pittsburgh?

I like that it's very in-betweeny. Yes, in ways it can be backwards. Yes, there are people here I don't love. But it's big enough that you can usually surround yourself with good people, without forgetting that there are not-so-good people out there. I also like what I mentioned earlier, about it being a generally grounded and sort of DIY culture.

Q20: What do you hate what to change most about Pittsburgh?

It can be provincial; it honestly can be pretty racist; it can be very...small sometimes.

Q21: Pittsburgh burns down. Where do you go?

Monroeville.

EvBetPGH 21 Questions: Michael Cunningham

Hello! Welcome to EvBetPGH 21 Questions. Modeled off of New York Magazine's 21 Questions, this idea was suggested to me by my friend Allie. So, full credit to her for that. Enjoy!

Meet Michael Cunningham.

Photo by Brian Taylor.

Mike is so many things. Lead singer of Neighbours, DJ extraordinaire. My cousin, my friend, and (more often than not) my confidante. I feel like Mike is known by just about everyone in Pittsburgh. He's one of those people who is undoubtedly making a mark on the city. So, for those of you that don't know him yet, here's your chance. For those of you who do, the very Mike Cunningham-like answers you're hoping for are on their way.

Cunningham and I sat down to chat one night about these questions. I've known Cunningham for many many years now, but his answers to these questions were mostly new (and hilarious) to me. I hope you enjoy them as much as I did.

Q1: What is your name?
Michael Cunningham

Q2: What is your nickname (/@twitter/instagram/etc.)?
"Cunningham" / @thepacketman / instagram: thepacketman

Q3: What is your occupation?
Senior Academic Coordinator for the Master of Arts Management Program at CMU

Q4: How long have you lived in Pittsburgh?
Total? Let me think about this for a second. [Ed. note: He literally assumes the "Thinking Man" pose. No joke.] 13 years. WAIT NO! 17 years.

Q5: How did you end up in Pittsburgh?
I was born and raised here and through a series of moves and a desire to eventually here, I came back approximately four years ago.

Q6: Who is your favorite Pittsburgher?
Ahmad Jamal. He is a jazz pianist. He does something that I really enjoy doing and consider my craft and I feel like he is a little under-appreciated. I've always gravitated toward him and looked up to him.

Q7: What is the best meal in Pittsburgh?
The N'yam at Quiet Storm is my favorite regular Pittsburgh meal. It's the one thing that I get regularly that is unique to Pittsburgh.

Q8: What is your favorite yummy treat in Pittsburgh?
The kettle corn they sell at PNC Park is fantastic. I'm a big fan.

Q9: What was your first job in Pittsburgh?
I was a freelance sports writer for Gateway Star Publications, which formerly published a bunch of weekly East End suburb newspapers. It's since been absorbed by the Pittsburgh Tribune Review. I did that my freshman year of college.

Q10: What is your favorite season in Pittsburgh? 
FALL. Hands down. Autumn if you're snotty.

Q11: What is your favorite Pittsburgh neighborhood?
That's a really good question. I'll represent my neighborhood. Regent Square/Wilkinsburg. Nice area, isolated enough to where you feel like you're in a neighborhood, but close enough to everything that it's easy enough to get around everywhere. I'd give an honorable mention to the North Side too. I've really grown a love for the North Side since I moved back here four years ago.

Q12: You have to choose one - and just one: Steelers, Penguins, or Pirates?
I'd be lying to you if I said anything but the Steelers. I love all those teams. I have a special place in my heart for the Buccos, because I really liked baseball most of all when I was a kid. My strongest sports-related memories from my childhood revolve around the Pirates. But, the Steelers are really a family legacy; they're the only team my dad, my brother, my mom, and I all support together. So there's a familial element to my support of the Steelers that doesn't exist with the other two teams. I am extremely concerned about the direction in which the NFL is heading, and from a philosophical standpoint that makes me want to support professional football less than I have in the past. But I know that once the fall rolls around, I know I'll be obsessing over the Steelers for three hours a day like an idiot like I always have. [Ed. note: That last sentence is the most true statement that has been and will ever be said about Michael Cunningham.]


Q13: Where do you go to be alone in Pittsburgh?
I'm never really alone, am I? Really I think my shower is the only alone time I get, if I was being honest with you. I enjoy being around people and I spent a lot of time with my girlfriend. Mostly if I'm alone I'm watching tennis with my cat in my apartment.

Q14: What makes someone a Pittsburgher?
If you live in Pittsburgh and you love Pittsburgh, you're a Pittsburgher. It doesn't matter if you were born here or you moved here in your adulthood, and it doesn't matter if you've lived here for thirty years or a year and a half. If you claim Pittsburgh as your home and you embrace its traditions and cultural concepts and opportunities to be involved in the community, then you're a Pittsburgher. As someone who has lived in a couple different places, I can tell you that Pittsburghers are very open to embracing people who are willing to embrace Pittsburgh regardless of their background or where they're from. It's a very inviting community.

Q15: What's your favorite building/bridge/landmark/statue/etc? 
This is kind of a safe pick, but I see the Cathedral of Learning from work every day. I'm a Pitt alum; I had a lot of classes there. To me it's one of the more striking buildings that I think of whenever I think of Pittsburgh.

Q16: What's your favorite mural/street art thing/graffiti tag?
I like that mural of all the old Pirates under the bridge... I don't know what street it's on exactly... I've always though that was a really cool nod to the past. [Ed. note: That's under the Boulevard of the Allies downtown.]


Q17: Who is your favorite Pittsburgh mascot/costumed character?
Pirate Parrot. The original Pittsburgh mascot. I love that bird. [Ed. note: At this point I ask Mike what his favorite Pirate Parrot move is.] He does the thing where he slaps his belly back and forth. I'm really into that.

Q18: What is your favorite Pittsburgh fact?
Pittsburgh was the original Gateway to the West during colonial times. So, any innovation or event that happened in Pittsburgh was always the first of its kind west of the Alleghenies. You don't think of southwestern Pennsylvania as frontier territory, but before the English moved west at all, it was pretty much the western-most large market in America. That seems lame, but I always thought it was cool. [Ed. note: Mike was a history major at Pitt.]


Q19: What do you love most about Pittsburgh?
I like the sense of community that one can get here while simultaneously feeling like he or she is living in a major metropolitan area. The fact that there are neighborhoods within Pittsburgh that are so clearly defined and really feel like neighborhoods is something that is really unique to Pittsburgh when compared to other major cities.

Q20: What do you hate what to change most about Pittsburgh?
The roads. The roads suck. They're made of crap. And every winter there's potholes the size of swimming pools and they're impossible to avoid. And they take too long to fill them up. It's a nightmare.

Q21: Pittsburgh burns down. Where do you go?
I'm going to answer this on the basis of places I've actually been to, and thus not include fantasy destinations. Like someplace in Europe or, you know, Rio or something like that. With that in mind, I would have to pick Atlanta, because I couldn't live any place smaller than Pittsburgh or colder than Pittsburgh. Atlanta is a large, extreme diverse city that offers a lot culturally and artistically in terms of things that I'm interested in. I would still root for the Steelers, Penguins and Pirates through. [Ed. note: I'm pretty certain the teams would cease to exist if the city burned down, but that's what makes Mike a true fan.]

EvBetPGH 21 Questions: J. Pitts

Hello! Welcome to EvBetPGH 21 Questions. Modeled off of New York Magazine's 21 Questions, this idea was suggested to me by my friend Allie. So, full credit to her for that. Enjoy!

Meet J. Pitts. (He's on the left.)

J. Pitts hosts a podcast called the J. Pitts Show with his friend and roommate (at least, I believe they're still roomies) DJ Nice Rec (he's on the right). We met (just like Eric Lidji and I did) at WPTS-FM while at Pitt. Unlike Eric or me, J. Pitts stayed put in Pittsburgh after graduation, solidifying his footing in our excellent town. I've had the opportunity and pleasure of attending a J. Pitts Show podcast recording and recommend the podcast to anyone, even non-fans of hip hop. J. Pitts and DJ Nice Rec are hilarious and fun, and they're adding a great bit of flair to Pittsburgh.

Q1: What is your name?
Justin James William Pitts


Q2: What is your nickname (/@twitter/instagram/etc.)?
Everyone calls me J. Pitts. Some people think that I am being clever because I live in Pittsburgh, but that is really my last name! My twitter is JdotPitts.


Q3: What is your occupation?
I am an Analyst in Reporting and Analysis at EDMC. I create reports that show people whether they are doing their job effective or not.


Q4: How long have you lived in Pittsburgh?

11 years in August.

Q5: How did you end up in Pittsburgh?

I went to the University and stuck around. It's funny, because the vast majority of the people that came from outside of Pittsburgh packed up and went home after college. I guess I am weird like that. I am originally from New York City, but moved around a lot in my childhood.

Q6: Who is your favorite Pittsburgher?

I thought long and hard about this question and can't really come up with any. Well, Rick Sebak because I enjoy his films.

Q7: What is the best meal in Pittsburgh?

The Tandoori Chicken Dinner at Salem's. I also really like the Lamb Shawarma dinner. I usually go to the one in the Strip, but that's because it is closer. The one in Oakland is cool, too.

Q8: What is your favorite yummy treat in Pittsburgh?

I don't like sweets, so I can't really answer this question. 

Q9: What was your first job in Pittsburgh?

In college, I worked in the computer labs. I would sit there and try to look busy while I surfed the internet until my shift was over. It was the best job ever. My first "real" job post-college was working at a place called Environmental Safety Solutions in Robinson Township. ESS built and installed machines that removed asbestos in postal facilities. My job was basically to take notes at meetings. I also spent the vast majority of the surfing of the internet at the job. The commute sucked, though. That place is now out of business. Go figure.

Q10: What is your favorite season in Pittsburgh? 

It really depends. I mean, if winter is going to be WINTER and there is snow to go with the uncomfortable cold, then I'll take winter. Some of my fondest memories were the first few days of Snowmageddon. This is an unpopular choice, I know! Otherwise, I like the fall, I love the leaves falling on the ground.

Q11: What is your favorite Pittsburgh neighborhood?

Lawrenceville all day! It just keeps getting better and better!

Q12: You have to choose one - and just one: Steelers, Penguins, or Pirates?

The Steelers. Man, it's hard being a Pirates fan. Growing up in New York and being a fan of mostly New York sports until recently, I am not accustomed to the amount of disappointment the Buccos fans have to endure. I am not too big of a fan of hockey.

Q13: Where do you go to be alone in Pittsburgh?

There isn't anywhere I go to be "alone" per se; no Fortress of Solitude for me. Well, outside of my room. But if I want to get out of the house, I am a big fan of having a drink at Hambones alone occasionally.

Q14: What makes someone a Pittsburgher?

I think you just have to have an effection for this city and want to be here. This city isn't the biggest or most "happening" place on the planet, but it has its own unique charm. I don't think being a Pittsburgher has anything to with being a Steelers fan or saying "dahn" instead of "down" or anything like that.

Q15: What's your favorite building/bridge/landmark/statue/etc? 

There is that Virgin Mary Shrine in deep South Oakland. When I was in college, I used to get intoxicated and go to that place all of the time. Wow, that is not a PC answer, is it? [Ed. note: Don't worry, J. Pitts, I used to do this fairly frequently myself. It's just that kind of place.]

Q16: What's your favorite mural/street art thing/graffiti tag?

I am woefully ignorant of writing in this city. I will say that I have been a big fan of Saer/Sayer.

Q17: Who is your favorite Pittsburgh mascot/costumed character?

Steely McBeam all day and forever! The Steelers were CRAZY for doing away with him! Haha!

Q18: What is your favorite Pittsburgh fact?

Hmm... I'll go with Jonas Salk and how he discovered and developed the polio vaccine right here at Pitt. After that, I like that we were the ones to come up with the "Pittsburgh Salad" which is so ironic to me because we found out a way to actually make a salad unhealthy.

Q19: What do you love most about Pittsburgh?

The close-knit group of friends/community. I never really had that growing up. I guess that's why I have stuck around so long.

Q20: What do you hate what to change most about Pittsburgh?

The public transportation. It's crazy that fares keep getting jacked up and then things like the T don't serve much of a purpose.

Q21: Pittsburgh burns down. Where do you go?

Back to New York City. I think about going back every so often and having a "New York Year"... But life is so comfortable here! Plus, I don't want to live in poverty!

EvBetPGH 21 Questions: Eric Lidji

Hello! Welcome to EvBetPGH 21 Questions. Modeled off of New York Magazine's 21 Questions, this idea was suggested to me by my friend Allie. So, full credit to her for that. Enjoy!

Meet Eric Lidji.

Eric is a writer, cartoonist, adventurer, and all-around awesome dude. We first met at WPTS-FM in college. I trained him to be a radio DJ superstar. I always remember he played Grandaddy and Yeah Yeah Yeahs a lot. Eric is one of my favorite people to adventure around the city with. And he documents his adventures and thoughts and words on The Ongoing History of Pittsburgh. He's currently releasing a serialized novel through his site. So make sure to catch up on the first few already released chapters and enjoy some excellent writing throughout your Pittsburgh summer.

Q1: What is your name?

Eric Lidji

Q2: What is your nickname (/@twitter/instagram/etc.)?

Eric Lidji / The Ongoing History of Pittsburgh

Q3: What is your occupation?

I'm a writer.

Q4: How long have you lived in Pittsburgh?

For 13 years, discontinuously. 

Q5: How did you end up in Pittsburgh?

In middle school, I was given the choice of going to a boarding school in Houston or a boarding school in Pittsburgh. That night, I dreamt about a swimming pool in Houston filled with moldy leaves. So I chose Pittsburgh.

Q6: Who is your favorite Pittsburgher?

As far as notable names go, my favorite living Pittsburgher is probably WPXI anchorman David Johnson and my favorite deceased Pittsburgher is painter and Carnegie Tech teacher Samuel Rosenberg.

Q7: What is the best meal in Pittsburgh?

My favorite at the moment is red curry at Thai Cuisine with a side of fresh spring rolls.

Q8: What is your favorite yummy treat in Pittsburgh?

Sweet: Chocolate soft serve at Twister's in Bloomfield. Savory: dollar samosas at Kohli's in Oakland. Baked: the apricot pastry at La Gourmandine in Lawrencecille. Drink: Natrona Bottling Co. ginger beer.

Q9: What was your first job in Pittsburgh?
I ran the front desk at the Schenley Park Golf Course (now Bob O'Connor Golf Course).

Q10: What is your favorite season in Pittsburgh? 
Autumn. That's when the city is most beautiful and most comfortable.

Q11: What is your favorite Pittsburgh neighborhood?
Usually whichever one I've explored most recently. I've spent the most time in Squirrel Hill though.

Q12: You have to choose one - and just one: Steelers, Penguins, or Pirates?
Probably the Penguins. I didn't know anything about hockey when I moved here. I learned the game by listening to it on the radio. This was the year Mario Lemieux returned.

Q13: Where do you go to be alone in Pittsburgh?
Well I can't very well give THAT information out, now can I? So I'll just say that Riverview Park is high recommended for East Enders looking fo an anonymous stroll.

Q14: What makes someone a Pittsburgher?
According to the unwritten community bylaws, I believe you have to have lived here longer than both next-door neighbors to be considered a local. Psychographically, it's caring deeply about relatively modest ambitions.

Q15: What's your favorite building/bridge/landmark/statue/etc? 
The Highland Building/The 16th Street Bridge/any World War I monument.

Q16: What's your favorite mural/street art thing/graffiti tag?
Currently: the cross stitching stapled onto telephone poles in Bloomfield. Historically: the protractors.

Q17: Who is your favorite Pittsburgh mascot/costumed character?
The anthropomorphized library card that shows up at Carnegie Library functions. Or Sauerkraut Saul.

Q18: What is your favorite Pittsburgh fact?
That there used to be a movie theatre and taxpayer-funded night club at the airport.

Q19: What do you love most about Pittsburgh?
That it contains as many surprises as a much larger city.

Q20: What do you hate what to change most about Pittsburgh?
The racial inequality and the lack of good public transportation.

Q21: Pittsburgh burns down. Where do you go?
I pitch my tent on the ashy remains. Or Anchorage. 

You Only Turn 29 Once, Pt. 2

The second half of my awesome Saturday birthday adventures was an incline ride and steak dinner atop Mount Washington.

We used a Groupon for our dinner, which kind of made it feel like it was free. Which was awesome.

But even more awesome was our table by the window. I mean, like right next to the window. Our reservation was for 8 p.m., which allowed a lovely view of the skyline during and early summer sunset. Pretty perfect way to eat a meal. (Especially one made of steak and potato.)

After dinner we convened with friends in their backyard for a fire, whiskey, and smores. At midnight, I was given high fives. I told the stories of my mom going into labor with me at Lacky's (or so I've been told) and about why my name is Allison Elisabeth. It was a fine way to end the night, and a finer way to ring in number 29.

I'm off to Boston for the weekend. In fact, I'm probably sitting at the gate for my flight right now, being all ridiculously early. (That's just how I do; I'd go crazy with anxiety otherwise.) The weekend after this I'm back to D.C. It's hard with weekends like these to accomplish as much Pittsburgh adventuring as I'd like, but next week I'll be starting a new little series that corresponds with one of my 30 Before 30 list items. So spend your weekend getting excited for that, while I spend mine celebrating the marriage of one of my first friends in Boston. Congrats, Erin and Dave!

You Only Turn 29 Once, Pt. 1

As happens every June 17, I turned one year older. As mentioned in my previous post, I'm not shy about celebrating this fact. This year, I took the opportunity to celebrate in a couple major and a few minor (but still completely excellent) ways. Let's recap the first half. Shall we?

First, a big THANK YOU to everyone who came out to CONFETTI at Brillobox on Thursday. A seriously awesome time was had by me, and from what I can recollect, was had by many on the floor. Next CONFETTI is in August; stay tuned to EvBetPGH for more details on that.

After a sluggish Friday, Carrie and I spent the day at Idlewild Park on Saturday. Yup. Idlewild Park. Voted Best Kid's Amusement Park in the World by...someone. Carrie read the sign and might still remember. Anyways. Being that it has that very distinct distinction, two late-twenty-somethings unaccompanied by any minors was a little odd-seeming. We didn't care tough; it was my birthday - my 29th! - and I wanted to feel like a kid. (I'd say "a kid again," but I sort of always feel kid-like.)

Our first stop was to Mr. Rogers' Neighborhood. 

King Friday wanted us to invite everyone in the Neighborhood to the Castle Hug and Song. Yes. It sounds as awesome as you're thinking. We rode a trolley and met all the familiar faces and in unison we repeated "Come along, come along, to the Castle Hug and Song!" This is a prime example of why it was a little out of the ordinary for Carrie and me to be at Idlewild.

After leaving the Neighborhood, Carrie and I decided it was time for rides. Of which we rode two. The second is pictured below. It was an inverted Rotor (my favorite fallen Kennywood ride) and it was terrifyingly fun.

Our next stop was Storybook Forest.

If you've never been to Idlewild and experienced Storybook Forest for yourself, it is basically a collection of Mother Goose stories brought to life in a little village-like setting. You wander around a path (stay off the grass, people - they're serious about that; there's a silly "stay off the grass" sign every four or five feet) visiting all the story character's houses. Here are some of the highlights:

That's not Grandma!

Ouch.

As a kid, Humpty Dumpty scared the crap out of me.

Piggy! (Do we all understand that this is a Tyler Kennedy reference by now?)

In Storybook Forest, I made a chicken friend.

We also went to SoakZone, but not one needs to see photos of that. Trust me. I'm doing you a favor. But going down a few waterslides at the end of the afternoon was very enjoyable.

We drove back to the city blasting Weezer Blue with the windows down. But our day wasn't over yet.

30 Before 30

Yesterday, I turned 29 years old. I've never been one for shying away form celebrating my birthday, as I feel so many people in my life are, or are becoming. I hope I never lose my birthday enthusiasm, no matter how old I get. I wouldn't say I'm particularly excited about turning 29; it's not a year that warrants any extra enthusiasm. But, really, there is a reason to be excited. This is my LAST YEAR of my twenties. Which is kind of cool. My twenties have been a strange bit of time. They were Boston bookended by Pittsburgh. I made a ton of very awesome and very terrible decisions in both cities along the way, but ultimately, ending my twenties in Pittsburgh feels perfectly appropriate. I'm ready to start looking into some adult-ish things, mainly buying a home, and I'm starting to feel like my life is calming down a little. (Not in the stupid-fun kind of way, but the frantically worry about what I'm doing with my life kind of way. I'm still planning on doing ridiculous things all the time.)

This is all a longwinded way of saying that I've made (rather, am making - it's not complete yet) a list of 30 Things To Do Before 30. I plan on spending my last year of my twenties doing things I've never done before, have always wanted to do, haven't done in a long time, etc. I've been brainstorming with friends, so I expect the list will be complete soon, and when it is, I will re-share it with you. If you have any suggestions, please leave a comment! Here's the list as it stands now.

30 Things To Do Before 30

1. Walk the Panther Hollow Hidden Path

2. Take in a Laser Show at Carnegie Science Center

3. Finish Pedal for Pennies

4. Take the Carrie Furnace Tour

5. Have a picnic at four different skyline viewpoints

6. Take a Pittsburgh Duck Boat Tour

7. Take a class in film or art at a Pittsburgh facility

8. Finish neighborhoods stitchings project

9. Visit the Frick Art Museum

10. Go to the Pittsburgh Zoo

11. Go to the Symphony

12. Get to 400 posts on EvBetPGH

13. Start the sidewalk chalk project

14. Go to Banjo Night

15. 21 questions project

16. Cut my hair, kinda short

17. Go white water rafting

18. Redesign my poster wall

19. Go to the casino

20. Field a softball team of friends

21. Take a limo ride

22. Go to Sandcastle

23.

24.

25.

26.

27.

28.

29.

30.

Later this week, I'll fill you in on what I did to celebrate. But here's a quick preview:

An Official "Unofficial" Start to Summer: Pirates Beat Kansas City b/w Boyz II Men in the Steel City

A few times this week, I've been walking with someone and felt that wonderful feeling in the air that says "summer is here!" and I've repeated the silent announcement aloud. I've been met, more than once, with the argument of "well, technically it's not summer yet." Yes. I know. I know the technical start date for summer is June 21. But if we take that as an unbreakable rule, my birthday would fall in the spring, and I am a definite and undeniable summer kid. 

Listen. It's summer. Deal with it.

And a great way to kick off the official "unofficial" start to summer? Watching a Pirates game on a cloudless evening and then sticking around afterward for a special performance by Boyz II Men.

Yes. That's right. Boyz II Men. 

No ballpark, no matter where, has as beautiful a view as PNC Park.

My dad and I spent the majority of the game in the standing room section behind homeplate. We actually ended up with a coupe of our hockey game acquaintances, which was a nice surprise. Also a nice surprise was being a section removed from the craft beer stand, where I purchased many Bitter America cans.

I'm so mad that I missed the June 8 t-shirt. Someone make a time machine, please!

The Pirates scored their five runs in a single inning, which was exciting and concentrated and much enjoyed by all. I love Pirate games for the familiarity. No matter how long it's been since my last visit to PNC, it always feels exciting to see the Pierogies race, watch the ridiculous lewdness of the Pirate Parrot, and sit and stare at the skyline (especially during a night game when you get to watch the sunset too) and wonder how somewhere could be so perfect. (Okay, well maybe that last one is just me, but I suspect there are a number of other skyline-admirers/ponderers out there.)

After the game ended, the field was readied for what many believed (myself included, to be honest) was the real entertainment for the night:

Yes. Boyz II Men. My dad and I went back up to our assigned seats and joined two friends of mine for the rest of the night. Boyz II Men played the hits, and, of course, saved Motown Philly for last, so we all went out on a high note of dancing and singing.

Roses were tossed out into the crowd for "I'll Make Love to You."

The next day, I met up with Allie on the South Side for our first softball game. It was a scrimmage. And we (the whole team) was laughably terrible. Which means we should have a good fun time playing ball and drinking beers throughout the summer. Normally our games will be on the North Side, but today's scrimmage was played atop Mt. Washington. I can now check an item off my Pittsburgh to-do list, that I didn't even know existed as a desire until I was right there doing it.

CONFETTI IS TONIGHT

Hey, kids! Mr. Michael Cunningham and I (aka, Cousins) are once again taking over the upstairs at Brillobox for a pretty awesome dance party. This is somewhat (ok, it is!) a birthday celebration for me and my dear friend Zack, who has had much to do with my DJing experience in those early, awkward college years. Zack will also be DJing, and I'll bet he'll say some dirty things on the mic.

So! Come out to Brillobox. Tonight. 10ish. $3.

It's summer. Dance.

PGH T-Shirt Collection: June 2012

T010: WPTS CathedralDesigner: WPTS
Where Bought: 2002ish, I think I paid for it, but I might have just gotten it for free, being the Program Director and all...

T011: PGH City of ZombiesDesigner: Unknown
Where Bought: Monroeville Zombies, Monroeville Mal 

T012: Steelers Training CampDesigner: Unknown
Where Bought: When I sold textbooks up in Boston, the bookstore manager I called on at St. Vincent sent me this. 

Expect more to come. I just ordered four new PGH tees and they've been trickling in this week...

PGH Beautiful: Dinos, June 2012

In the weeks leading up to my bike trip, I went on bunches of little rides around town. One evening, Corey and I went dino-hunting by bike. I'm always keeping a mental list of the dinos I need to document, and to check these three off was a nice activity for a nice night.

Piggybank Dino, corner of Penn and South Braddock.

Backyard Dino, in someone's backyard. (Hence the crappy picture.)

Fred Rogers dino! Outside of the WQED building in Oakland on Fifth.

Now, last time we checked out dinos on EverythingBetterPGH, a graffitied one sent to me by my friend Andy was featured. As a thank you, I put together a "dino-finder"treat, which you can check out below.

Now, if you find a dino around town and want to share it on EverythingBetterPGH, send me the photo and details about where you found it to everythingbetterpgh @ gmail . com. As a thank you, you'll receive a "dino-finder" treat of your own. I only have eleven dino heads left, so act fast if you want one of these awesome treasures.