PGH CHEAP: Spending Little to Stay Cool

My. It's been hot, huh? As has been the case in most places across the U.S., Pittsburgh has been riding a heat wave. I'm writing this on Sunday, and our high is only expected to be 89 degrees. As Eric said while we walked back toward our apartment building this morning, "I never thought I'd be excited about temps in the high 80s."

I try not to complain about the heat. But Saturday it was brutal. I spent as much time as I could tolerate in my apartment reading and writing, but eventually I needed to seek out ways to beat the heat. So I made a list of inexpensive ways to cool off around town and set off by bike to the Carnegie Museum.

If this heat keeps up throughout July and August, I think I'll be using my Museum membership more and more for quick spells in air conditioning. I only had an hour to kill before I was expected at the pool, so I decided to check out the coolest exhibits I could think of.

First I spent a good chunk of time walking around in the cool darkness of the Hillman Hall of Minerals and Gems.

Glow in the dark rocks!

As might be expected, the orange gems and minerals were my favorite.

Gemstone dino!

The second stop on my visit was the most obvious choice of all:

Yes. To beat the heat, I spent some time pretending I was in the Arctic. Genius, I know.

On a day when it feels like it's over 100 degrees outside, it was easy to feel incredible jealousy of this scene.

Just in case on one of my wintertime Canada journeys I need to know how to build a shelter out of snow, I watched this video about building snowhouses.

Jealous of how cool these dogs must be feeling in the snow.

After the museum I pedaled over to the Highland Park pool for a few hours of swimming and sunning. Entry also free; Pittsburgh pool passes are a beautiful thing. I passed out on my couch for a couple hours before meeting up with Ross to walk down to 36th and Butler for a pop-up beer garden, Tapped. We had a whiskey drink from Wigle Whiskey and an IPA from Full Pint. Cost $10. I had a hot dog from the Franktuary. Cost $3. It was all the money I'd spent all day, and I felt good about staying cool while keeping costs low. 

These pop-up beer gardens will be going on throughout the summer, and I will be making an effort to go to many of them. Such a nice (and relatively cheap) way to spend a hot summer night.

An Update of Sorts! Books, Pedaling, and Resolutions

The month of June was amazing, but it also kicked my butt. I started and ended the month in Washington, D.C. (once getting there by bike, and once getting there by bus - can you guess which was more enjoyable?) and spent one weekend in Boston at a wedding. It's been a while since I've hopped around so much in a short period of time, and I'm looking forward to both feet being firmly placed in Pittsburgh for a while (until Labor Day, at least).

Having been so busy in June, my plan for July is to take it a little easier and spend some time catching up with things. Like how I've neglected to enlightened you all about what I've been reading or how I've been doing with my resolutions. I haven't abandoned any of those projects! Which is great. I've just been too lazy (and too hot - OMG, it's hot!) to get around to it. Now, with a homemade iced coffee in hand (still trying not to spend so much money this month) and new mixes from friends as my soundtrack, here is a recap on things and stuff.

Resolution #1: Read more!
First, here's a list of what I've already read in 2012.
1. 21: The Story of Roberto Clemente 
2. Building a Better Robot
3. About Three Bricks Shy
4. Brothers and Keepers

Now, here's what I've been reading.

PGH Book #5: Me, and Earl, and the Dying Girl - Jesse Andrews

My friend Corey lent me this right after he read it. He thought it would be right up my alley, and because Jesse Andrews is from Pittsburgh and the story takes place in Pittsburgh, that it would fit the requirements of a PGH Book for 2012. He was right. On all accounts. This was one of the funniest, most touching, and possibly sharpest books I've ever read. One of those rare books that you do not want to finish because you want to story to keep going forever. It's a quick read and would be wonderful to enjoy by the pool this summer.

PGH Book #6: The Paris of Appalachia - Brian O'Neill

Brian O'Neill came to speak in one of my writing courses at Pitt. I don't remember much from his talk, except for how I thought he didn't look anything like the little photo that accompanies his columns in the Post Gazette. But after reading this, I will always remember him for his unique and very wise perspective on Pittsburgh. The essays in this book are spot-on Pittsburgh. Even the ones that detail some of the city's downfalls (I'll be the first to admit that Pittsburgh is not perfect, but for me it's pretty damn close) capture the city's resilient spirit. 

I've slowed my pace on the reading, which I expected would happen. (That's why I front-loaded my list with quick reads...) But I'm about to finish my seventh book over the weekend (a book that has done nothing to quell the overwhelming wanderlust that's itching at the back of my head) and am halfway through an eighth (which is a behemoth of a book, so much so that the library refused to let me renew it for a fourth time, so I had to take a break). 

As for the other resolutions: Some progress is being made, some progress is not being made. Now that we're halfway through the year, it's time to kick into a higher gear, especially with volunteering. I can't even remember how much I've actually volunteered so far this year, but let's put that figure around two hours. Out of fifty. But! I've just registered with Corey and Carrie to volunteer with GrowPGH on July 21 at their urban farm in Braddock. 

I'm sure I've been better at trying new things. Of course, I haven't kept a list or anything, but I'm getting better at being less afraid to try a new thing - be it a food, an activity, or habit. One major one that sticks out in my mind is whitewater rafting, which I was able to do for an amazing reasonable price ($4) because my friend Brian's brother Ben is a rafting guide at Ohiopyle. Coincidentally, whitewater rafting was on the 30 Before 30 list, so I've officially crossed an item of the (still unfinished) list.

And finally, my baby, Pedal for Pennies. As of today I have biked 2,012 miles. 2012! So far in 2012! I really can't believe I'm already under the 1,000-mile mark for miles left to log. It feels like I was just celebrating hitting 1,000 miles yesterday. I'm not only on target to hit 3,000 miles, but I should crush that and wind up around 3,500 (crossing fingers for another mild winter...). To date from pledges and donations, Pedal for Pennies has raised $1,400 for Gilda's Club of Western Pennsylvania. Wanna get in the game and make a pledge? Click this link: http://pedalforpennies.blogspot.com/

Thanks for reading! Stay cool, and enjoy the Pittsburgh summer. 

Take Me Out to the Last Baseball Game of 2011

I lived in Boston for five years. I think I went to three Red Sox games total. Two of which were rained out. This summer I went to like five baseball games! Five! Me - at Pirates games! Like five times! Sorry. I'm being a little sarcastic because we all know the Pirates are pretty horrible, but we can all still love them for what they are. To me, they're a cheap way to spend a day or evening in the summer with your friends. Sitting in the cheap seats. Getting little hats full of ice cream. Drinking beers and constantly reminding everyone to put on sunscreen.

A few Fridays ago was my last visit to PNC Park for the year to celebrate friend Andy's birthday. Things seem to be going much better for the Pirates this year, because at Andy's birthday baseball game celebration last year we witnessed the 100th loss. This year I think they were only just dipping into the 90s.

It looked like it was going to rain all day and all night (to the point where I think we all breathed a sigh of relief that we didn't buy tickets in advance in the event it started to pour), but around 5 p.m. the clouds started to part and it actually turned into a beautiful night.

Toward the end of the game, Eric and I took a walk around the park. We went all the way to the last row of the stadium for a new point of view.

Looking beautiful, as always.

The Pirates won in the bottom of the ninth! We all went home happy and tired and full of ice cream, french fries, and pierogi BBQ sammiches. No better way to spend one of the last nights of summer.

One Match: Biking and Camping on the GAP

Initially, I had grand plans for a July 4 long weekend journey through some remote parts of Ontario (Canada is my second favorite place in the world after Pittsburgh). When those plans fell through, I jokingly told people I was going to ride my bike to Maryland. I'd heard of the trail that connects Pittsburgh and DC, but had never done any research or inquiring about it. The more I said I was going to ride and camp all the way to Cumberland, Maryland, the more I thought - "well, maybe I can actually give this a shot." And so, on July 1, my friend Corey dropped me off at a trailhead parking lot outside of McKeesport and I hopped on my bike loaded up with camping gear and supplies for a four-day ride. I'd never attempted any kind of long ride like this, nor had I ever camped on my own, so I was noticeably nervous. After the first leg of the trip and after getting my campsite set up for the first time and starting a fire without setting the whole forest aflame, I was in love with what I was doing. Thank goodness the trail isn't yet complete all the way through to Pittsburgh (it's expected that all the gaps will be filled by 2012), because no one would ever see me on the weekends. I'd always be biking and camping.

Carrie and I ended up with a free weekend at the end of August, so we planned a mini biking/camping trip on the GAP to celebrate the end of summer.

A happy sight: my bike loaded up and ready to make a quick 'lil journey.

We started off at the same trailhead, and biked just about five miles to the Dravo Cemetery campground. We debated taking another bike ride after dropping off our stuff, but instead we set up our tent and explored the woods and the river, climbed a tree, and wandered around the cemetery. It came time to build a fire, and using just one match - ONE MATCH! - we started a fire that lasted all night and was still smoking the next morning when we woke up, allowing us to throw some kindling in to get it going again. ONE MATCH!

This fire: one match!

We made rice, tomatoes and beans for dinner and then ate s'mores into the night. There was a wedding reception happening across the river from the campsite, so we were treated to some background music along the lines of "The Electric Slide" and "Margaritaville." Not my first choice for campfire tunes, but oddly enjoyable as the night went on.

The next morning we woke up early and jumped on our bikes for a six-mile ride up and down the trail. It was absolutely peaceful and fun, zipping along the trail through backyards and along the Youghiogheny River. Back at camp we made egg and cheese sammiches for breakfast and devoured more s'mores before packing up and biking the five miles back to the Boston trailhead.


When the GAP is completed all the way through to downtown Pittsburgh, it's going to be incredibly difficult to not abscond away every weekend with my tent, my new axe (!!!), and s'mores supplies. It's getting easier and easier to get out of the city without having to rely on a car, which means more weekend adventures to come, I'm sure.

Best Summer Camp Ever: Summer Dreamers Explore Downtown Pittsburgh

When I was a young 'lil yinzer growing up in the South Hills, my parents sent me to a few day camps in the summer. Mostly we made crappy tie-dye t-shirts and took stale bread to the Game Preserve in South Park to feed the ducks and check out the bison. For the most part, these memories have faded and it feels like that time was spent just idling away the days of summer. (Except for I still have the fascination with the bison at the Game Preserve, and I try to visit them at least once or twice a year.)

So reading this Pop City article about the Summer Dreamers made me extremely extremely extremely jealous.

Basically, these kids got to explore downtown Pittsburgh through a series of scavenger hunts set up for them by their summer camp organizers. They learned about the history of downtown, saw some of the most colorful and interesting murals and sculptures, and walked the streets figuring out clues to keep their discoveries coming.

Like I said, extremely extremely extremely jealous.

I've only recently - as a 28-year-old - started to discover downtown Pittsburgh, which is mainly a result of a job in the Oliver Building and being required to show up for work five days a week. Downtown is ripe for exploring; it's a shame there's no summer camp for adults like Summer Dreamers. I'd be first in line for such a venture.

This Used to Be Our Playground: South Oakland on Summer Night

I had a horrible day at work. My computer was completely busted, and it was taking me four times longer to do everything as a result. I had already taken a day off that week, so feeling behind and feeling extremely frustrated, I basically fell apart and had the worst day. As I packed up my stuff for the ride home, I asked myself, "What would make me feel better?" After batting away the many thoughts of different ice cream places I could go to, I decided to return to Oakland, where I had biked past some pretty nifty murals, street art, and graffiti earlier in the week on my way to my doctor's office.

It ended up being a wise decision.

I invited Corey with me, so we took our bikes and rode through Bloomfield and North Oakland and through the Carnegie Museum's parking lot (so much fun to zoom around with no cars in the lot). We locked up in Sennot Square and started our walk. When I say it was the most perfect summer night, I am not exaggerating.

Corey says Warhol looks like a '90s female talk show host. No one in particular. Just your run-of-the-mill '90s female talk show host.

I went to college here. I spent four years walking these streets. I'm sure this was there then. How did I miss it? Now, it's the first thing I see. What a difference five or six years makes.

What I love about Pittsburgh (because I'm almost always a pedestrian): Louisa Street in Oakland turns into a stairway halfway through.

Groceria Mercante. Everything about this sign is great. The font of "MEATBALLS" might entertain me for days.

This is a rocket, but I also see a butt.

Rocketeer with a paintcan on a dumpster.

Kind of grammatically awkward and incorrect, but at least it's pleasant.

Ghost Bikes make me incredibly sad.

Another reason I love Pittsburgh: murals in unexpected places. I wouldn't exactly pin the wall of Gene's Place off of Louisa Street in South Oakland as the prime spot for this display. But it works, so well.

I've only been in Gene's Place a couple times, but walking by made me want to plan a night of South Oakland bar crawling, before the students get back, of course.

I dont think it's meant to look like this pig with wings and a crown(?) is pooping, but that speck is sure in a great place to assume that is what's happening.

The bike ride, the walk, the sights, and the company were enough to rid me of the bad mood that hovered over me all day. I was feeling so good by the time we'd biked back to Bloomfield, that I decided to make chocolate chip pancakes for dinner.

It ended up being a wise decision.

Polish Hill Day - Arts Fest, Pool, Gooskis

Last Sunday we celebrated Polish Hill Day! Not an actual day of celebration, but it may have well as been, because we did all the Polish Hill things. All the best Polish Hill things. Here is the day, in reverse order. (Because, why not?)

Our day ended at Gooski's with a couple rounds of pool, cold cold beers, and yummy bites to eat. I failed beyond miserably at pool. Beyond sad.

Walking to Gooski's from the pool, I saw some excellent graffiti on the abandoned school. Polish Hill is definitely the best spot for graffiti in the city. It's like walking through a subversive art museum. And I love it. One day this summer (maybe fall) I want to walk down every street in Polish Hill, taking pictures of all the great graffiti and street art.

The pool! It only took until mid-July for me to buy a pool pass. Now that I have it, I hope to find myself at the Pittsburgh City Pools much more often. Like, tomorrow after work. My apartment is a disaster, but biking directly to a pool and jumping in sounds like a much better option.

Summer.

The Polish Hill Arts fest. Didn't end up buying anything, but it also seemed smaller than last year. Still though, always nice to be a part of a solid community event. (Who knows, if things pan out, maybe I could be sitting at a table there next year!)

We stopped to do some quick browsing/shopping beforehand and Copacetic Comics and Mind Cure Records. I'd never been to either, so it was nice to finally make the trip. At Copacetic I picked up a Jeffrey Brown book. At Mind Cure I found an awesome record for a friend's upcoming birthday! We got some cold drinks from Lili's (lemon ginger ice tea for me!), and made our way to the Arts Fest and pool from there.

Before meeting up with Corey and Carrie, I biked down Gold Way into Polish Hill because I wanted to get a shot of the POLISH HILL sign under the Bloomfield Bridge. Of course, this did leave me with a bloody and bruised knee when I misjudged my agility and ability to hop over a guardrail. I'm graceful! There was some other great graffiti/street art under the bridge on Gold Way. This is just a small sampling.

I don't think I could ever live in Polish Hill; the distance from a major grocery store and insanely steep climbs would keep that from happening. But it's a great neighborhood, and I should try and spend more time there.