Image by pghmtb via Flickr

Real Geeks Ride

• Meet Carlos and Joe who are on a cross country bike ride to encourage more people to ride their bike to work
• Friday, May 29 – 2:30pm @Pittsburgh Technology Council Offices on 2nd Avenue

Happy 50th Birthday to the Westmoreland Museum of Art

• On Friday – stop by for free cake from the famous Charm City Cakes (aka Food Network’s Ace of Cakes)
• On Sunday – free family fun activities

Beyond Bikes Celebration

• Saturday, May 30 Noon-3, @The Kingley Association
• Free Family Bike Celebration for Beginning Cyclists

The Burg Stands for Victory

• Larry McGee cut this record in 1976
• YouTube video includes

Free Community Preview of the NEW August Wilson Center

• All day Saturday – stop by to visit the new center
• Saturday, May 30, 2009

Pitt Point Launch Party – You Report the News

• New citizen journalism project
• Launch Party and Workshop
• Tuesday, June 2 6-8pm at the Union Project

Back in February I read this blog post on The Blog Herald about 2 guys who were planning a bike ride across the country to encourage more geeks to ride bikes to work.  When I looked at the map and saw they weren’t planning a stop in a geek friendly, bike friendly city like Pittsburgh – I sent Joe and Carlos an email about making a stop in Pittsburgh.  

Last week Joe and Carlos started their bike ride and tomorrow, May 28 they will be making a stop here in Pittsburgh.  They have been updating their blog daily and you can read about their adventures and check out some great pictures at RealGeeksRide.com or follow along on twitter @realgeeksride

Meet Real Geeks Ride
Friday May 29, 2009, 2:30pm
Pittsburgh Technology Council Office, 2nd Ave 

More info at BikePGH and Techburger

Image via Wikipedia

Saturday,  May 30 is Beyond Bikes Day – a family friendly bicycle celenbration for beginners – I wan’t to make sure to point out that this is beginner friendly – I know we have posted lots of bike information but I am a bike begginner myself and I know that it can be intimidating.  

Beyond Bikes Day is organized by Venture Outdoors and the Major Taylor Cycling Club
The event will be held Saturday, May 30, at the Kingsley Association Community Center at 6435 Frankstown Avenue from noon to 3 p.m. This particular event will encourage biking as a family-friendly activity, as well as showcase some of the bike lanes in Pittsburgh, particularly the bike lane along East Liberty Boulevard. Riders are encouraged to bring their own bikes and helmets. A limited number of loaner bikes will be available. Raffle prizes will be given away throughout the day, including kids’ bikes and biking gear.
I had seen a reference to the Major Taylor Club before but I didn’t know much about it.  The Pittsburgh Chapter is a project of Pitt’s Center for Minority Health.  
Do you know Major Taylor? 

In the late 1890’s bicycle races drew crowds that filled Madison Square Garden; the biggest draw of all was Marshall W. Major Taylor. Having become the undisputed black champion of America, Taylor overcame racial segregation and intolerance to become the one-mile sprint world champion in 1899, and by the end of 1898 held seven world cycling records! 

Why is this important? 

The University of Pittsburgh’s Center for Minority Health and Adventure Cycling Association share the goal of encouraging people from all walks of life and cultural backgrounds, including African Americans, to explore the landscapes and history of America by bicycle. That is why these two organizations are committed to creating an Underground Railroad Bicycle Route. Throughout history black people have used bicycles as a mode of transportation. Both Major Taylor and the Underground Railroad represent the struggle to freedom from slavery and the challenge to eliminate racial and ethnic health disparities.  
More info on the Pittsburgh Major Taylor Cycling Club is availble here.  Also the blogger Pittsburgh Guy has a great post about the Major Taylor Club and their ride to show support for the families of the police officers that will killed in April.

Image by whatnot via Flickr

Mt. Washington Artists Marketplace

• This Sat and every Saturday through the summer
• Artist market, live music and more
• Shilo Street in Mt. Washington

Golf for the Non-Golfer…

• Putt for the Gut
  • Family Mini-Golf Tournament to benefit the Chrones and Colitis Foundation of America
  • Saturday, May 23, 2009
  • Cool Springs Golf and Recreation Center in Bethel Park
• Pittsburgh Flying Disc Society – aka Frisbee Golf
  • Western PA has 8 disc golf courses
  • Weekly and monthly disc golf events
  • Saturday, May 23, 2009 – 10 am at Moraine State Park

Pittsburgh Prom

• Saturday, May 23 8pm-Midnight
• Break out your old prom and bridesmaid dresses
• Benefits the Union Project
• Snacks, Punch, Dance Lessons and Promo Photos included

Burgh Bits and Bites Food Tours

• Pittsburgh History meets Pittsburgh food
• Weekly walking and eating tours of the strip district and bloomfield
• Info and registration at www.burghfoodtour.com

Beer for Books – Bar Crawl to Benefit the Millvale Library

• Thursday, May 28, 2009 5-9pm
• Millvale PA
• All of the proceeds benefit the renovations of the Millvale Library

Here are some links/articles/blog posts that are worth a look:

• the “other” Hank’s in New Brighton | Dave and Dave’s Excellent Blog – For all of the Glen's Frozen Custard Fans out there – here is another custard shop. Check out the Daves blog for a video clip too.
• Only In Pittsburgh » Blog Archive » Mary Mondays! – Great picture from Big Jim's in the Run – Steelers Flag and Virgin Mary.
• Pittsburgh's Kobold reaches Mt. Everest summit – Michael Kobold, a watchmaker from Robinson, and Sir Ranulph Fiennes have scaled Mount Everest, reaching the summit last night.
• Post Gazette Video – Chemexin and Pressin Coffee – Amy and Drew – Tazza D’Oro – Post-Gazette talks coffee with some of the top coffee shops in town

Click here to see more links we like.

Last month I made it to the end of Viper Soul Club at the Shadow Lounge and one of the last songs of the evening was about Pittsburgh but I wasn’t able to get all of the details from DJ Juddy about this Pittsburgh song.

Well this video popped up on YouTube today – with the entire song and a great slide show of phoos from Vipers Soul Club in January.  The lyrics seem quite fitting for today too.

The song is “The Burg” by Larry McGee was origionally released in 1976 by the label Boogie Band Records and was reissued in 2005 by Licorice Soul Records.  You can purchase an origional copy of this record for $200 here.

You can check out Larry McGee’s MySpace page here.

Check out our other posts on Vipers Soul Club here.