Malkamania: Penguins 8, Tampa Bay 1

On Saturday, I joined my dad at the Consol Energy Center for an afternoon Pens game against the Tampa Bay Lightning. My dad has season tickets to the Pens; right in the very last row of Section 227. We love it - a great view, we can stand the whole time, and direct access to the upper concourse. It's the kind of place where a small community can form, and that is exactly what has happened. We don't just stand there alone during the game. We have "hockey friends" come and go throughout the game. Sometimes they stay for just the intermission. Other times they join us for whole periods; in some cases they've stayed for entire games. Our beer guy - the same beer vendor who has been selling my dad beer at Steelers and Pens games since my dad was MY AGE - knows us by name, calls at us from halfway around the arena, and has even once given me a beer on credit and another time left his case with me while he ran a quick errand. I've learned a lot about hockey from listening to my dad talk to these "hockey friends," to the point where I can even hang in there a little myself in those conversations. This is all to say that going to Pens games frequently because of these season tickets, has made a hockey game less of an event, and more of a gathering for me.

But every now and then you see an explosively awesome game. And it is once again an event. That's what Saturday's game was like. Explosively awesome. It wasn't dramatic or suspenseful; the Pens were never in the hole against Carolina and the final score was 8-1. Malkin scored three goals - A HAT TRICK! - in stunning displays of hockey ability. Staal got a short-hander and a power play goal. This was a fun game to watch, and I'm really glad that on one of the only crappy winter days we've had in this city, I was up there in the last row of the arena, cheering with my dad and our "hockey friends."

Awesome Sign: Hat Trick!

Awesome Building; Sad Sight: The deconstruction of the Igloo.
(We sat in the last row of that building, too.)

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.

Halloween Miracle #2: STEELERS BEAT THE PATRIOTS

Having lived in Boston for five years, sporting events that pit The Burgh against Boston are high-stress situations for me. My dad thinks it's funny to keep giving me tickets to these events, which last year led me to witness two demoralizing Pens losses to the Bruins and one completely devastating Steelers loss to the Pats. The offer was on the table again to see the Pats play in Pittsburgh, and - against everything my brain was screaming at me - I decided to go.

What a good decision.

Leading up to the game, I had plans to meet my dad at Wingharts, but they were closed (sadface) so we tried out Diamond Market Bar & Grill. I had a burger. It was OK. It wasn't Wingharts. Walking up to the stadium, we encountered this guy:

It was an absolutely beautiful day in Pittsburgh. A little cold, but not uncomfortable. I screamed and yelled and cheered and panicked and basically enjoyed myself. Right down to the last two minutes of the game when I was pretty sure the stupid Pats and stupid Tom Brady were going to find a way to get a touchdown and win by one lousy point. But! They didn't! The end of the game was awesome! I was as happy as I've been all year.

My dad and me at the game.

It was definitely a high-stress afternoon, but the reward was well worth all the worrying. And watching the sad Pats fans leaving the stadium? Priceless. A Halloween miracle and the best possible ending to a fantastic Halloween weekend.

The Roar of the Crowd: Midnight Radio's The Incredible Audio World of Pittsburgh Sports

Since my mom passed away in July, I've had the realization many times that I only have one parent now. Many of my personality traits and interests come from my dad. He was the one who instilled in me a love of Pittsburgh sports, and we've had many bonding moments - especially throughout the past year after I moved back to Pittsburgh - sitting at Heinz Field for a Steelers game or standing behind our seats in the last row of the Consol Energy Center for Pens games.

So when I read about Briolage's Midnight Radio episode about Pittsburgh sports, I knew it was something I had to go to with my dad. We made a night of it: burgers and beers at Winghart's in Market Square (seriously cannot effectively communicate how much I love love love Winghart's) and then a stroll through downtown to the Bricolage theater on Liberty for Midnight Radio Episode 3: The Incredible Audio World of Pittsburgh Sports.


Before the show, the audience enjoyed snacks and free beer in a tailgate-like setting. As we were standing around waiting for the theater to open up, someone tapped my dad on the shoulder. It was one of his old softball buddies from way back in the day - when my dad was playing softball in his 30s in and around Pittsburgh. They hadn't seen each other in years, so it was fun to watch my dad and his friend Randy catch up and laugh and act like they probably acted when they were around my age.




I had never been to a Bricolage Midnight Radio production before, but I will certainly go back after this experience. It was laid back, audience participation was encouraged, and full of great moments. At times I would close my eyes and just listen - afterall, it is a radio broadcast, but performed right before on stage.


Every part of the show was great - from the reenactment of the greatest Pirates, Steelers, and Penguins moments, to the fake news updates (including the tear-inducing hilarity of a yinzer wine review), to the on-stage musical performance of the Steelers polka. I honestly enjoyed every minute of this show. And so did my dad. When the lights went up at the end, he was grinning and already asking me when the next one was, so we could come again and bring my brother with us next time.

Sadly, by the time this posts, Episode 3 will be over, but there are two episodes left for this series. One of which is about ZOMBIES and that is incredibly exciting to me. Will definitely be taking that in come Halloweentime (aka, the best time).

On an odd last note, part of the performance included an audience-inspired MadLibs reading. Before the show, audience members filled out adjectives, nouns, etc. on a large blackboard. One of those words caught my eye, because it is a term I came up with during preseason last year! "Roethlisburgish" was my word, and here someone wrote down "Roethlisburgerish," which amused me to no end.

Here's proof of my word, as drawn by Eric Lidji.

This hangs on my fridge, because it is a work of art that should be admired by all.

The night was a grand success on all levels. The burgers and beer were amazing. The show was incredibly fun. It was good to laugh with my dad again, especially after weeks of being sad and adjusting to our new way of life. Pittsburgh sports have brought us together on more than one occasion, and I'm sure they will forever be a tie that binds.