I posted about the project because the video is awesome (check out the video here) AND he is bringing the tour to Pittsburgh.  The first Kickstarter project didn’t reach funding – but he has relaunched the project on Kickstarter here.  A few changes to the route – his first stop is Pittsburgh!

Check out his video update here.

Related articles

• Solar Sewing Tour 2012 (makezine.com)

I am sharing this project because it has a really nice little video and I think it is a neat little project.  While I don’t do much of it myself, I like sewing and quilting and I like to think that quilts – which were used to tell stories are sort of a precursor to the modern day blog.

Paul Nosa is an artist who creates drawings with a sewing machine.  He powers the sewing machine with solar power.  He is trying to raise money to take his solar powered sewing machine on a cross country tour this summer.  One of the stops is already planned for Pittsburgh.

Here is one of the patches he created with his sewing machine titled Bicycle Over City

Check out his video and maybe lend some support to his tour.

Super S****s: Art from the Staff of the Andy Warhol Museum opens tomorrow (Friday, January 13 from 6-9pm) at WildCard.  Andy Warhol’s Superstars were an elite clique of personalities that gained notoriety and fame through their association with the infamous artist. They were heavily featured in Warhol’s early works and their lives were immersed in the New York City art scene.

The staff of the Andy Warhol Museum are similarly immersed in the Pittsburgh art community. The artists featured in this show all have two things in common: they have worked as caretakers of Warhol’s art by day and as fine artists by night. Super****s opens on Friday January 13th and runs until February 19.

Then on Saturday from 11am – 7pm visit Wild Stuff, a collaborative, pop up vintage sale on Butler Street. Three of the great names in Lawrenceville (Wildcard, Botero Development, and Zombo Gallery) are teaming up for one great event: a Pop-Up Vintage sale featuring some of the bets finds in Pittsburgh. With items for sale ranging from visual art to bathtubs, ladies winter coats to tiki glasses, typewriters to CDs, there’s something for everyone at Wild Stuff!

Starting on Saturday, January 14 and running through Saturday March 31, the ground floor at 4300 Butler St will be full of retro fashion finds, scavenged building materials, furniture, and accessories.

Fat Beckett: (Pittsburgh now– Luxembourg soon.)  By Gab Cody in collaboration with Rita Reis. Directed by Sam Turich. The show runs through December 18. It’s a beautiful hilarious piece.  Reviews:   Pittsburgh Tatler,  Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, Pittsburgh Post Gazette The show is sold out for several nights, but tonight is open and there are still tickets available for closing weekend! Buy tickets here.  Student and artist rate available at the door: Buy Fat Beckett Tickets

Progression: Progression is a feature-length narrative film project, set in Lawrenceville, shot in Lawrenceville and about a real-life Lawrenceville institution: the 27-year-old progressive dinner, which began with about 15 friends and has become a community event with more than 150 participants. Written and to-be-directed by Gab Cody and Sam Turich.  We need your help! Any amount helps! Visit here to watch a teaser trailer and contribute: Visit Progression on Kickstarter

Tenacity: The Sprout Fund’s 10-year anniversary gala promises to be an incredible event! $25 Balcony Seating now available. Limited seats remain on the main floor. Doors open 7pm; curtain at 8pm. For complete information on performances and event supporters, visit tenacity.sproutfund.org. And– they’re showing Mombies, which is a treat to watch with a big crowd!

Especially because it is the featured album in this weeks iTunes email:

Thanks to Mac Miller for putting Pittsburgh and this park on the map.  While we were excited to see Blue Slide Park gain such national attention – a quick search of google revealed that there isn’t much online about the actual Blue Slide Park. For those of you who are new to the area or haven’t heard of the place – Blue Slide Park is a real park and any kid that grew up in the Sq. Hill area will tell you this is THE BEST playground around.

While Pittsburgh has lots of great parks and playgrounds – I think most people who have been there will agree that Blue Slide Park is the best.  Yes, there is a giant, blue concrete slide that is built into the hillside.  Ok, to an adult, giant might be an exaggeration but it looks giant to kids and yes the slide is blue.

Where is Blue Slide Park? Blue Slide Park is park of Frick Park, located on Beechwood Blvd right by the entrance to the Off-Leash Exercise Area

Here is an image of the Blue Slide from Google Street View:

Please share your stories (and photos) of Blue Slide Park in the comments below.

You can listen to Mac Miller’s song Blue Slide Park on YouTube here – so far no music video for this track yet.

But if you are looking for more Pittsburgh scenery – check out Mac Miller’s video for the song Frick Park Market, which was filmed at the actual Frick Park Market – which is located on the other side of Frick Park from Blue Slide Park.   Th

Like Blue Slide Park, the Frick Park Market is an actual place – check out the reviews on Yelp here.  If you are looking for a sandwich or to pick up some milk – you should definitely stop by the Frick Park Market on Reynolds in Point Breeze.

You can read more about Mac Miller and his Blue Slide Park …

• Mac Miller Talks Being Independent, Wiz Khalifa, ‘Blue Slide Park’ Album [Video] (hiphopwired.com)
• Mac Miller Rallies Hip-Hop Cognoscenti for Blue Slide Park (blogs.villagevoice.com)
• Mac Miller Breaks Down ‘Frick Park Market’ Video (mtv.com)

Yes, this weekend you can bask in the 80s with a celebration of Prince (or if you prefer the artist formerly know as Prince).  The Hollywood Theater in Dormont is hosting a Purple Rain Party.  Dress as your favorite rock star and head over to the theater for music, prizes and Purple Rain on the big screen.

Purple Rain Party
Where: Hollywood Theater, Dormont
When: Saturday, August 6, 2011 6-9p,
Facebook Event: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=231103883567491

(via PopCity Media)

The Return of James Brown
Saturday, July 9, 2011
7-10pm
August Wilson Center
Tickets are $25, VIP $50 – click here to purchase tickets online

Click here to view the embedded video.

Roger Humphries Big Band will kick off the first Hurricane Lounge event on July 10, 2011 from4-6pm

“Hurricane Lounge” featuring Roger Humphries Big Band

• Where: Hill House Kaufman Center
  
• When: July 10, 2011 | 4 – 6PM
• Tickets: $15 Cabaret Seating (Reservation Required) | $5 General Seating  For tickets, visit www.hillhouse.org or call 1.800.838.3006.

Roger Humphries Big Band

Click here to view the embedded video.

I just returned home after a visit to the Carnegie Museum of Art for the Culture Club. As much as I love blogging about museums here in Pittsburgh – I had not been to the Carnegie in at least a year.  It was great to see the new exhibit – Biennial.  And another great thing about tonight’s Culture Club – is that the museum was open for free.

Pittsburgh has great cultural ammenities like museums – and thankfully they are open to everyone for free for different events through out the year.

Which brings me to the Mattress Factory.  Another amazing cultural amenity is the Mattress Factory which is a contemporary art museum on the northside.  Each year the Mattress Factory hosts an annual fundraiser called the Urban Garden Party – which is rumored to be one of the best fundraisers in town.  More on that below.

But in addition to a fancy fundraiser, the MattressFactory always opens the museum to the public for a free community day too – The Community Garden Party.  A free day, filled with extra fun activities for kids of all ages.

I stumbled upon the Community Garden Party a few years ago (maybe more than a few years ago because I think it was before I had started IheartPGH).  We has a lovely afternoon enjoying the museum and I came across one of my favorite art pieces at the museum – “Bob-ettes Feast” by Bob Sendell – you can see photos of the feast here.

The line up for the 2011 Community Garden Party:

• Sunday, June 19, 2011 Noon-5
• Art making activites
• Steel Drum performances from local steel drum masters North Side Urban Pathways Sounds of Steel
• Evolve Productions will be dancing up a storm

The details on the 2011 Urban Garden Party:

• Friday, June 17, 2011 7pm-11pm
• Theme – From Hollywood to Paradise
• Tickets are $90 ($200 for VIP) – available online here
• headlining music performers — AndrewAndrew! ( iPad DJ duo from New York City) and Pittsburgh’s own Dr. Zoot.

Here is a little trailer for the party with photos from last years event

Click here to view the embedded video.

Read more about the party on the Mattress Factory blog here.