EvBetPGH Instagram: January 2013

January is cruel. At least weather-wise. Last weekend it was amazingly mild. This weekend we're dealing with howling cold winds and temperatures ready to drop into the single digits. I look back on these photos from the end of last week and can only look forward to the upcoming months when the weather begins a permanent improvement.

From the Hot Metal Bridge at the beginning of a long bike ride.

On the Eliza Furnace Trail, under the FIrst Avenue trolley station.

Along the South Side trail, soon the sign will be hidden by new green leaves.

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.

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.

The Only Fear You Have to Overcome Is Getting the Nerve to Do It

2012:

My oh my. I am so excited for you.

When I went to bed on New Years Eve (somewhere in the neighborhood of 4 a.m., as text messages prove I was still functioning at that time), I had drank enough and danced enough and climbed over one fence enough to forget that my plans in the very quickly approaching morning were to jump in the Mon. At 8:30 a.m.

(Yikes.)

Honestly, when my alarm went off at 7:50 a.m., I had really forgotten why I had set an alarm for so early. It wasn't till I looked at my phone and read the "alarm reminder" I had set (amazingly, this was a task I was able to complete before passing out), and it said: RIVER!!!!!

So I stumbled out of bed, found some acceptable river-jumping clothes, and met up with my fellow river-jumpers outside on Gross Street.

We got down to the Mon Wharf and parked. It was a BEAUTIFUL Pittsburgh morning. Sunny, clear, warm. We found a spot and recapped our evenings, as we had all spent New Years Eve at separate parties and gatherings.

The river-jumpers: Yigit, Eric, Georgiana, Corey, Me, and Carrie

Seriously, the morning could not have been more beautiful.

But that nice weather changed to gray skies and then a slight drizzle started, and then, minutes before the jump, it basically started to pour. We shook it off and started disrobing. We took our spots on the edge of the river. We counted down from ten.

10, 9, 8...

7, 6, 5, 4...

3, 2, 1!

JUMP!

This was my second New Years Day river-jump. I started off 2011 by doing the same idiotically fun activity. When my body hit the icy water this year, I remember having the same immediate feeling of confusion. The water is so cold and, at that point in the year, being submerged in water is not something you've been doing a lot of. My mind kind of went blank until I realized what I had just done and started figuring out my next move: getting out of the river.

Last year, I struggled to lift myself out from the water. Someone on the wharf pulled me up and out. This year was different. I pulled myself up and out.

2011 was an insanely difficult year for me. It will always be marred by losing my mom, which threw me into a real spell of sadness and gloominess. With the help of friends and family, I made it to the end of 2011 intact (even after getting hit by a car on the last Tuesday of the year while riding home from work...). I'm ready for the challenges I know I'll face this year (her birthday, my birthday, the one-year anniversary of her death), but I'm also ready for a fresh start.

A lot of years I make resolutions in order to become "a better version of me." This year, I want to just continue being the person I have become. I want to stay hungry for adventure. I want to stay foolish and keep discovering. I'm so excited for 2012.

IN OTHER NEWS:

For more photos, check out the *new* EverythingBetterPGH Picasa page.

Hot Metal Bras: American Eagle's Display for Breast Cancer Awareness

At the beginning of October, I was riding my bike to Big Dog Coffee to meet a friend. My normal route takes me across the Hot Metal Bridge, which - for the month of October - has been adorned with thousands of bras. October. Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Bras. Makes sense. The bras were hung by American Eagle, a company that's headquarters are at the end of the Hot Metal Bridge on the South Side. Since they've been up I've heard some varying opinions about them. Someone remarked that they had to shield their kid's eyes while going across the bridge. (Really? Come on. They are just bras.) But I like them. I like them better than when members of the Steelers have to wear hot pink shoes or sweatbands or hats. At the end of the month American Eagle is going wash and donate all of the bras. Here's a link to a WTAE story about the bras.

And, for good measure, here is a link to the Susan G. Komen Foundation in Pittsburgh. Although my mom did not have breast cancer, she did pass away while battling bladder cancer. Cancer sucks. Plain and simple. Here's hoping that some day no more moms will leave their sons and daughters way way way too early.

Hidden PGH: Panther Hollow

One of the things that charms me most about Pittsburgh are the hidden places that are easy to get to, lovely to visit, and beautiful to explore. In college I used to wander down into Panther Hollow at night (somewhat unwisely, I'm sure) and take in the quiet around me while cars sped across the Panther Hollow Bridge above me. Panther Hollow is one of my favorite hidden Pittsburgh places - one that I wanted to share with my friend Carrie, so we took a bike ride from Bloomfield to Oakland and ventured down the steps through the woods to get into the Hollows below.

The Panther Hollow Bridge and Panther Hollow Lake.

Reflection of the Panther Hollow Bridge in the murky, swampy lake below.

Why, if it isn't a quaggle of ducks!

As much as the hills can be killer around the city, they do make for some great hidden spots like Panther Hollow. What are some of your favorite hidden Pittsburgh gems?

Paddling Pittsburgh: Kayaking the Allegheny and the Ohio

For the past two or three summers, one of the items at the top of my to-do list has been kayaking on the rivers downtown. My intentions were always there, I just never made it happen. But, when presented with a visitor, who was making their SECOND trip to Pittsburgh in 2011, I had to come up with something awesome to do. I had to show off my city in an even grander way than I had just a few months prior. What better way to see Pittsburgh than gliding on top of one of its three rivers?

Corey, Carrie and I picked up my visitor Marlana from the airport and drove straight to the North Shore. She went right from the plane to the kayak. She is, indeed, a trooper.

We made our way under the Clemente Bridge and signed up for kayaks with Kayak Pittsburgh. It was $15/hour for a single kayak, which seemed fairly reasonable, and once we got into the water and began paddling around, it was worth every penny.

Corey and Carrie have synchronized strokes.

I was a little surprised at the lack of instruction given to us before embarking on our short little journey on the river. But, we were given lifejackets, paddles, and a kayak and shoved into the water. We were on our own and could explore as much as we pleased within the 60-minute timeframe. We decided to kayak down to the point to give Marlana the best view of downtown.

From plane to kayak in just under an hour!

Corey had more fun than this photo suggests.

Here's a thing: I have no desire to own a car. Pretty much ever. Don't see a need for one. However, I could totally foresee buying a boat some years down the road - er, river. Sitting in the kayak on the top of the water was such a relaxing experience. If I had a boat, I would be on it every single nice day in the summer. Will probably definitely have to buy a boat when I'm rich. (I'm never gonna be rich - this is a pipe dream.)

Carrie in her kayak, scoping out the Science Center's submarine.

Corey on the river.

Marlana on the river.

Is there a day in my life when I am not going under or over a bridge in some capacity? Pittsburgh: I adore you for this.

Dorky self-portrait - had to be done! (Even though I totally look photoshopped...)

By the end of our hour on the river(s) we were tired, kinda sunburnt, and hungry.

The solution to our problems: beers and burgers at the always-getting-more-awesomer Winghart's in Market Square. Seriously: the best burger in Pittsburgh. Love this place so so so much.

Ill have to ask Marlana to be sure, but I'm fairly certain landing in Pittsburgh and experiencing kayaking on the rivers and a Winghart's burger was something akin to a religious experience.