Cyclists love getting together and riding in absurdly large groups.  I believe we’re entertained by the idea of being a spectacle — children shout “Wow! Bicycles!”, people stand on stoops taking video with flip cameras, traffic patterns react to the bikes and not the other way around.  And, in my experience, cyclists LOVE beer.  Why else would Pittsburgh have a bicycle bar on the South Side and maybe the most popular cycling jersey in town is the Big Hop jersey.

East End Brewing has it’s finger on that pulse.  The 8th annual Pedal Pale keg ride sold out 600 registrations — after adding an extra hundred registration slots four days before ride.  Proceeds from registration fees went to ABOARD’s autism connection and BikePGH.   Someone even donated $250 to pull a keg!

Part of the magic of the Pedal keg ride is that the destination is kept a secret, right up until the kegs pull over.  Beginning at the brewery’s new location on Frankstown Avenue   The procession mostly meandered through the beautiful neighborhood of Highland Park, making a full loop around the reservoir.  Then, 600 cyclists descended upon Station Street Hot Dogs, tapped some tasty kegs and destroyed hot dogs like it was our job.

Check out more photos at BikePGH’s public Flickr group!

The Lawrenceville Spaghetti dinner is back for 2012 to raise funds to support the Bernard Dog Run, an off leash do g park to be constructed in Lawrenceville which is named after one of the founders of the Boys of Lawrenceville.

You can learn about the Bernard Dog Run and read the proposal here.  (I want to take a quick moment to point out that they have done an AMAZING job with this website – simple and easy to find the most important information you are looking for – if you are looking to set up a website for a community event – use this one as an example).

On Friday, March 2, 2012 – you can support the Bernard Dog Run by eatting some spaghetti – vegetarian sauce (meatballs optional), as well as fresh bread, salad, dessert, beer, and wine!

The 2012 spaghetti dinner will be held at the Teamster Temple, 4701 Butler Street, from 4:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m., and the evening will include entertainment, raffles and Italian music. Proceeds from the event will also benefit local nonprofit animal resource center, Animal Friends.

Advanced tickets are available at Eclipse Lounge, Espresso a Mano, Gallery on 43rd Street, Lawrenceville United and online for $11 per person. Tickets bought at the door will be $13 per person, and children under the age of 10 eat free.

Lawrenceville Spaghetti Dinner to Benefit Bernard Dog Run
Friday, March 2, 2012
4:30-9:30pm
Teamsters Temple 4701 Butler Street
Tickets available online here.

Fish Fry season has started.  Don’t forget the Carnegie Library in East Liberty is holding a Mac & Cheese Cook-Off on Saturday.  And it gets better – Mt. Lebanon is hosting a huge Chili Cook-off – The Fire and Icing Festival which includes a  Mt. Lebanon Fire Dept vs Mt. Lebanon Police Dept in a chili challenge

FIRE & ICING FESTIVAL – Chili Cook-off & Dessert Tour supporting Relay For Life of Mt. Lebanon

Saturday, February 25, from Noon – 5 pm
Clearview Common – Uptown Mt. Lebanon
Tickets – $10/advance or $15/at the event – purchase at www.mtlebanonpartnership.net or at Mt. Lebanon Municipal Building

Beer Available

Chili Cook-Off Contestants include

• A’Pizza Badamo
• Bado’s Pizza Grill and Ale House
• Bistro 19
• Bravo! Cucina Italiana
• Café Io
• Il Pizzaiolo
• Kous Kous Cafe
• Rania’s Catering
• Walnut Grove

The Heinz History center is kicking off a new series of events this weekend to help you learn about your family tree before the Facebook era.  The workshops this weekend are focused on researching African American and Jewish family histories.  It looks like they will be hosting additional workshops in the future.

Saturday, February 25, 2012 – African American Family Histories

On Sat., Feb. 25, from 1:00 – 4:00 p.m., noted genealogist Dr. Deborah Abbott will trace the ancestry of an African American family and provide insight to visitors on the best genealogical methods. Dr. Abbott will demonstrate how visitors can trace their family roots with limited facts and information, particularly those with ancestors who were enslaved and emancipated.

This History Center workshop is co-sponsored by the Afro-American Genealogical Society of Pittsburgh and supported by the Department of Education Underground Railroad Educational and Cultural Program.

Sunday, February 26, 2012 – Jewish Family Histories

On Sun., Feb. 26, from 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m., the Rauh Jewish Archives at the Detre Library & Archives will offer special demonstrations of Ancestry.com, Jewishgen.org, and a presentation on Jewish family research methods called “Finding Family in the Old Country.”

Following the demonstrations, the presenters and Detre Library & Archives staff will be available for genealogy-related questions during an open house session.

This Rauh Jewish Archives workshop was underwritten with the generous support of the William M. Lowenstein Genealogical Research Endowment Fund at the Jewish Community Foundation of the Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh.

ADMISSION: Admission is FREE for Genealogy Weekend participants and registration is encouraged. To pre-register, call Natalie DeRiso at 412-454-6373or e-mail nnderiso@heinzhistorycenter.org.

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.

Wedding held at the Children's Museum.

Are you newly engaged in the Burgh? Looking for a place to have your wedding that isn’t the usual bland hotel ballroom? Here are fifteen options all in the Pittsburgh area that are available to rent for the wedding of your dreams.

Springwood

1000 Indiana Road Verona, PA info@springwood.org 412-793-7453 About: Sixty acres of wooded Pennsylvania hills, walking trails and wildflower meadows with a glass atrium, gazebo, and walking trails.

Oak Lodge

693 Donegal Lake Road Stahlstown, PA info@oaklodgepa.com 724-593-2913 About: Have an entire three-day wedding weekend at the Oak Lodge. There’s indoor seating at the chapel for up to 120 guests, tables and chairs provided for 150 people, and tiki torches. Main Lodge accommodations for bridal party up to 15 and a luxurious bridal suite with a Jacuzzi, fireplace, views, and a waterfall.

The Mansion at Maple Heights

5516 Maple Heights Road Pittsburgh, PA nicole@mansionmapleheights.com 412-427-2877 About: The Mansion can accommodate up to 150 guests and the package price includes: rental of entire mansion, outdoor tent, chairs, tables, plates, silverware, glasses, valet parking and security, and a wedding planner.

Jay Verno Studios

3030 Jane Street Pittsburgh, PA jvsevents@earthlink.net 412-381-5350 About: Open studio space that you can completely personalize according to your own taste availble to rent in the South Side.

Lingrow Farm

188 Forks Church Road Leechburg, PA info@lingrowfarm.com 724-472-1305 About: A two-story, fully renovated, 1850′s barn, complete with two oversized, covered decks, situated on 40 peaceful acres. The barn is heated and air-conditioned and if you book an April wedding, you will receive 30% off venue cost.

Morning Glory Inn

2119 Sarah Street Pittsburgh, PA (412) 431-1707 About: This South Side bed and breakfast is a unique place to hold your wedding for an indoor/outdoor reception with a candlelit garden courtyard.

Engine House 25

339 Penn Avenue Pittsburgh, PA info@enginehouse25.com 412-621-1268 About: Fees depend upon how long and how many people are invited, and the capacity for a sit-down dinner is 75. Rental fee includes event staff and planning, tables, chairs, and linens. Wine services are available.

Heinz History Center

1212 Smallman Street Pittsburgh, PA mlminteer@heinzhistory.org 412-454-6435 About: Have you wedding at the historic Heinz History Center for an unforgettable Pittsburgh wedding. Common Plea Catering is the exclusive food and beverage service that also supplies linens.

Twelve Oaks Mansion

160 Scharberry Lane Mars, PA info@twelveoaksmansion.com 724-625-2343 About: Five hour reception includes: a private bridal suite, ballroom with outdoor patio, table linens and napkins. In wedding months (May to October), Twelve Oaks has a minimum expense balance of $12K.

The Barn at Fallingwater

1491 Mill Run Road Mill Run, PA kandyjohn@paconserve.org 724-329-7802 About: With four different spaces to choose from, The Barn at Falling Water will make for an unforgettable wedding.

Children’s Museum

10 Children’s Way, Allegheny Square Pittsburgh, PA events@pittsburghkids.org (412) 322-5058, ext. 235 About: Rent the studio that includes the backyard, the Big Red Room, or the entire museum for four hours with the help of their staff who will help you create the wedding day of your dreams.

New Hazlett Theater

6 Allegheny Square East Pittsburgh, PA 412-320-4610 About: Limitless design options are available at the New Hazlett Theater. There’s no required caterer complete custom bar service and event planning options, professional event staffing and it is a totally unique space to throw your wedding.

The Frick

7227 Reynolds Street Pittsburgh, PA sehler@TheFrickPIttsburgh.org 412-371-0600, ext. 658 About: The Frick has to be one of the most beautiful places to hold a wedding in Pittsburgh. From an outdoor ceremony with a tent on the lawns, to Clayton, the Art Museum, and the Greenhouse, The Frick is sure to be an unforgettable wedding destination.

The Willow Room

800 Plaza Drive Belle Vernon, PA sales@thewillowroom.com 724-379-5666 About: The Willow Room has a marble entrance way, exquisite chandeliers, panoramic views and open terrace. And you get the service of your own Bridal Butler for your big day

The University Club

123 University Place Pittsburgh, PA uclub@pitt.edu 412-648-8213 About: Complimentary wedding night accommodations for the bride and groom, linens and napkins, candlelit mirror centerpieces, personalized service from their event planner.

View 15 Creative Places to Have Your Wedding in Pittsburgh in a larger map

The Release Party is this Thursday (tomorrow), December 15th from 6 – 10pm at Commonplace Coffeehouse in Squirrel Hill.  Tickets are $22 and get you a taster of the Porter, as well as a  gift bottle to take home and a half-pound bag of Commonplace’s Sumatra coffee. Tickets can be purchased at the door.

For more information, please visit:

East End Brewing: http://eastendbrewing.com/

Commonplace Coffeehouse: http://www.commonplacecoffee.com/

Well, if you found that as disturbing as I did, you might be looking for a few good local sources to buy your honey from now on.  Here are a few ideas, and there are loads of other farms and resources out there.

Buy local honey from Steffes Wood Apiary (Aliquippa, PA) right now at Gallery on 43rd Street in Lawrenceville.  Why not stop down from December 1 through 4th when you can also enjoy the Joy of Cookies Cookie Tour?  That’s right, the Art of Bees is at Gallery on 43rd Street.  There is a selection of Spring, Summer and Fall Honey and if you pair that with a honey pot by Plum potter Karen McKee, you have the perfectly sustainable local gift! Open 7 days a week through December.

Support Wild Purveyors‘ new shop in Lawrenceville!  Although Wild Purveyors have reached their Kickstarter goal (congrats!) to open the Pennsylvania Specialty Foods Market at 5308 Butler Street, you can still support the campaign and be rewarded in fantastic store vouchers.  Or just plan to buy your honey (and more) there when they open their doors.

And there is always the great resource Burgh Bees, where if buying your honey isn’t local enough for you you can sign up for one of their apiary classes and produce your own.