"LIVE" Blogging Sebak: Things That Are Still Here

Last time I sat down to watch a Rick Sebak doc, it was about things that no longer exist. This time, I sat down to watch one about things that are still around.

Here are the thoughts I had while watching. Enjoy!

- I'm excited to see things that are still here. I already can't wait to see them for myself. I am a nerd like that.

- Starting with dinos. OKAY! (This goes along perfectly with the PGH Book I am reading right now.) The dinosaur collection at the Carnegie is the best on the planet, and it's such a thrill to be able to go see them whenever I want. I can still remember being a kid and walking into the dinosaur hall and feeling so small and so in awe. Also: There used to be a LIGHT SHOW on the dino bones? Bring that back, ASAP. Nominee for best quote of doc: "Her office is in the 'Big Bone Room.'"

- Mmmmmm. Donuts. This is just cruel right now, Sebak. I love it when people say things like "I just have to take a box of Orem's donuts with me when I go out of town." (I'm going to have to make a Paddy Cake trip soon.)

- Nicholas Coffee & Tea is one of my favorite places Downtown, especially when it's cold out. There's something about a Nicholas latte on a really cold day.

- I need to go explore these coke ovens outside of Connellsville. They look pretty rad.

- Watching these clay jugs being made is honestly fascinating. HOLY CRAP. It looks like it is someone's job in the factory to smash the imperfect plates. I am envious. The Fiestaware plant might be my favorite segment of this documentary. It's really enjoyable. I absolutely love these people waiting to get into the factory sale. Heartwarming times a million.

- Officially putting the Braddock Carnegie Library on the list of things to see this summer. What an absolutely beautiful building.

- Ahh, Ligonier Beach. An interesting place, to say the least. A bar and a diving board in the same location? Perfection.

- Lots of interesting facts about the mobile hanging in the Pittsburgh International Airport. Can't wait to share those.

- Oh! The Belts! I love the belts. When I was learning how to drive to Oakland, I had to remember to turn at the one Blue Belt sign going up that hill. (How you know you're a Pittsburgh: you could never give directions with street names.) I love how no one knows what the belts are or what they do. It's seriously one of my favorite weird Pittsburgh things. "It's a unique system, and it works well." Another good nominee for best quote of doc.

(Someone please find a way to get an Orange Belt sign in to my possession. Thanks!)

Happy Valentine's Day: 14 Things I Love (re: Pittsburgh)

With just about four hours to go until Valentine's Day is over, and the really awesome holiday begins (check back tomorrow!), I thought I'd share 14 things I love about Pittsburgh, or have loved throughout the past year.

1. I love this man who lives on Penn Ave. I hope he stays there forever, but, if not, I'll enjoy him for as long as I can.

2. I love everything about this quote. It's a child describing how watching Mr. Roger's Neighborhood makes him feel.

3. I love how many different views of Pittsburgh there are, and how many I've been able to see since I've been back.

4. I love all the color. All of it.

5. I love my creative friends, without whom I would be lost.

6. I love that in this mural in East Liberty that there are crazy-looking wolves running around unleashed! East Liberty is scary! (Not really, but in this version, look out!)

7. I love Panther Hollow. Such a good place when you need to get away.

8. I love that we have a dino in our airport. For real, this makes me excited every time I come home.

9. I absolutely love that this photo exists.

10. I love how worn the stairs in the Carnegie Library in Oakland are. So much use by so many generations of Pittsburgh.

11. I love this quilt. Simply amazing.

12. I love the Bloomfield Halloween Parade. And I loved that this kid broke a board in front of where I was standing this year. How many days till Bloomfield Halloween Parade 2012??

13. I've really loved spending time with my dad.

14. And I loved saying goodbye to 2011, and saying hello to 2012 by taking a quick dip in the Mon, bright and early on New Year's Day.

Happy Valentine's Day.

This Republic of Letters: Touring the Carnegie Library, Vol. 2

Welcome to Vol. 2 of my tour of the Carnegie Library.

TODAY IS ELECTION DAY IN PITTSBURGH.
Support the Carnegie Library.

Today's tour starts off with one of the oddest vending machines I've ever come across. Need a post-it? Gotcha covered. Need some scotch tape? Not a problem.

The frescos on the walls of the library were mostly once covered up by walls. During subsequent renovations, they were rediscovered and restored and are now back on display.

A shot of the stacks in the music department. On the left are musical scores and sheet music. When I saw these, I had one of those "DUH" moments where I realized that OF COURSE the library would have something like this. If only I still had a working violin or any knowledge of how to play the piano.

Apparently there is a library employee who resembles the man in this bust.

The stairs in the library. Notice the wear and tear?

Think of how many people have walked down those stairs to have made such a noticeable mark in stone. How many times have you walked up or down them? To ensure that generations to come will be able to add to the warping, please go out and VOTE TODAY for the library.

This Republic of Letters: Touring the Carnegie Library, Vol. 1

Tomorrow, November 8, is election day in Pittsburgh. One of the most important things you can vote for is a referendum question to support the Carnegie Library. From the Carnegie Library website:

If approved by a majority of voters, the measure would provide for a 0.25 mill special tax on all taxable real estate in the City of Pittsburgh to be allocated and used only for the maintenance and operation of Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh.

This is the equivalent of $25 per year or $2.09 per month on $100,000 of assessed value.

If passed, this referendum will help provide Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh with the diverse and sustainable funding it needs to continue to be strong and provide critical services for the community including early learning programs for children and families, job search assistance and computer and Internet access.

Today and tomorrow I'll be taking you on an insider's tour through the Carnegie Library's main branch in Oakland. My good friend Corey is a librarian there, and he took me around the library to point out some things that you might not notice just casually observing.

These books above are not just colorful and pretty, but they are also still shelved using the Dewey Decimal System. The rest, and majority, of the library departments shelve using the Library of Congress numbers now, but these books remain, you just need a librarian to help get them for you.

Th

Only in Pittsburgh would dinosaurs be a sight to see in the library. From the stacks, you can see the Carnegie Museum's dinosaur exhibit. You can also sit on a bench by this window and read. Hanging out with the dinos all day, getting smart.

The glass floors in the stacks are thick (you won't fall through them!) and they were made from material run-off from the steel mills. Which makes them kinda awesome.

View of the Pitt Quadrangle from high up in the library stacks.

Map of the zip codes throughout Pittsburgh.

The microfiche machines. I don't think I have used one of these ever (or maybe since elementary school). But! They are there if I ever want to give it a try. This room held one of the coolest discoveries Corey introduced me to on this visit:

These cards are actually photos of Pittsburgh way back when. They are categorized by place or event and they are awesome. It's like a time machine, pulling out a card and recognizing the streets or buildings but seeing how it looked so long ago. You can order prints of the photos in various sizes. With the holidays coming up, it's a great gift option for someone who adores Pittsburgh.

If you're up for a challenge: try using the card catalog system - the old school way.

Tomorrow will be more pictures from my tour of the library. Tomorrow is also voting day! Go out and vote!

I Wish I Could Draw: PIX - The Pittsburgh Indy Comics Expo

One thing I've been getting into since moving back to Pittsburgh is graphic novels/indie comics. Every couple months I pick up a few things from the library or am lent some indie comics from my friends Eric and Corey. I've really enjoyed delving into this world; although it has increased my jealously of anyone who is capable of putting pen to paper and coming up with something other than the mess of scribbles I usually come up with when I try.

PIX: The Pittsburgh Indy Comics Expo is a yearly event presented by the Toonseum and sponsored by Copacetic Comics. This was my second year perusing the labors of loves of comic artists, and I came away with a few awesome finds that I'm excited to dig into on the next cold, blustery fall night that comes around.


I picked up a couple things from Virginia Shields, including the "Words and Phrases for Getting Around Pittsburgh" (I'm a sucker for any comic that centers around Pittsburgh as two of my other purchases would have this theme as well.) She also had handmade puzzles for sale, so I got the "Orange Dude" puzzle (because of course - second to Pittsburgh things, orange things are another frequent purchase of mine).



The event was held on the top floor of the Guardian Storage Facility on Liberty Ave. in the Strip. It provided a great view of the Strip and Troy Hill in the background.

My other purchases of the day were both from Paulette Poullet and I'm really, really excited to sit down and read them soon. At first glance, they appear to be a collection of stories with Pittsburgh as the backdrop. The cover of one is the Cathedral of Learning. The cover of the other has a kid with a t-shirt that has a stegosaurus on a skateboard on it. I was beyond sold on both.


I'll end this with a quick plug for my friend Corey's comics discussion group held at the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh: Out of the Gutter. Here's an article written by Daniel McCloskey of Cyberpunk Apocalypse about Out of the Gutter. Enjoy the picture of the back of my head that accompanies the article (I'm on the right!).

So, until my wishes are granted and I magically wake up one morning with the ability to draw, I will continue to explore indie comics and graphic novels. Especially any with a Pittsburgh theme - of course.

Give to Pittsburgh: Day of Giving 2011

One of my favorite things about living in Pittsburgh is that the people you meet here who have also decided to call this wonderful city home are here for a reason. And that reason tends to be that they are here because they genuinely love Pittsburgh and find a sense of community here that may have alluded them elsewhere. At least, that's how I feel. Even on first cold fall morning, walking to Espresso a Mano for much needed caffeine served hot, I was greeted on the streets by people I've never met, but we all said hello and waved good morning, even as we saw our breath for the first time since much earlier in the year.

Today, October 4, 2011, is the Day of Giving. Through midnight tonight, your donations to specific nonprofit organizations of your choice made through PittsburghGives will be matched, giving even more support to people striving to make a difference throughout the city.

I plan on making donations to the following organizations today:

BikePGH
Because just about each and every day I find myself zipping through the city on two wheels. It's my main mode of transportation, and throughout the past year I've seen more and more people going by bike. Sure, Pittsburgh has tons of hills that kick your butt as you pedal up them, but it's an amazing form of exercise, which has kept me in shape and out of the gym for some time now. Also, I believe you can purchase a membership to BikePGH today and that counts as a donation. Something I've been meaning to do for a while.

Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh
Because libraries are an invaluable resource. Because my friends work there. Because when just about nothing these days is free, you can still go to the library and take out as many books as you want in any number of topics.

Animal Rescue League
Because I live with two crazy black cats and their weirdo behavior hasn't made me any less of an animal lover. In fact, it makes me more of one every day.

Friends of the Riverfont
Because riding the trails on the rivers has been a big part of my life throughout the past year. They helped me get ready for the long haul down to Cumberland. They help me clear my head and calm me down when I'm stressed. They're beautiful and fun and I hope they continue extending up and down the rivers, so rides can be longer and more adventuresome.

Donations must be made through the PittsburghGives website. And they're only matched through midnight tonight. Today is the day to help others who are striving to make Pittsburgh the best possible place to live (even though, in my opinion, it already is).

Support PGH: Two Awesome Carnegie Library Events

In a few weeks, it will be October. My favorite month.

And this October, in addition to all the excellent Halloween things coming our way (Bloomfield Halloween Parade: I'm looking at you!!), there are two awesome events happening in support of the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh, one of the city's best public resources.

First is an event I found out about from the BikePGH blog. Lou Testoni is both the Chair of the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh Board of Trustees and a lover of cycling. To combine these two seemingly separate parts of his life, he has set out to raise $15,000 in September to benefit the library. If the money is raised, Lou will lead a 50-mile (!!!) "Cycle for CLP" ride that will visit each branch of the CLP system. Read more and find a donation link here.

The second event is one my friend Corey, who is a librarian at the main CLP location in Oakland, told me about. It's called Read to the People, and it promises to be 24 hours of nonstop reading aloud on the steps of the main building. The event is a rallying cry for the community to support the library on the November 8 ballot. This is definitely an event on my calendar that I'll be taking in. And - who knows - maybe I'll find myself on those steps reading something to the people.