Image by AlxTheRed via Flickr

History lovers, hold on to your hats and pack up your wagons (station wagons) and head out route 30 east to the laurel highlands this weekend – it is a double header of cultural festivals.  We are often asked about what are the must-do events around Pittsburgh.  Both of these festivals are on our list of favorites.  And they happen to be on the same weekend so you can catch a double header of history celebration just outside of Pittsburgh this weekend.

First stop – break out your bag pipes and kilt for the Ligonier Highland Games – a day long celebration of Scottish hertiage.  There will be athletic events such as tossing the caber (throwing a big tree trunk) and the Scottish hammer throw.

Then  steer your wagon (or mini van) down 711 south to Stahlstown – time to celebrate the important fiber of flax.  Flax is what linen fabric is made out of.  The Stahlstown Flax Scutching Festival is the 2nd oldest Scutching festival in the United States.  They have been celebrating the scutching every year since 1907.  Yep, 1907 – so join them for the 105th annual Flax Scutching festival to learn about how the flax plant is turned into linen cloth and snack on some buckweat pancakes too.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Ligonier Highland Games – Saturday, September 10, 2011 @ Idelwild Park

Flax Scutching Festival – Saturday & Sunday, September 10 & 11, 2011 @ Stahlstown Flax Scutching Festival Fairgrounds

Here is a map that includes both festivals and 2 other places that you should consider stopping – Joe’s Bar in Ligonier has the largest collection of taxidermy in North America and the Pie Shoppe in Laughlintown has good sandwiches and pumpkin cookies. The Google location for the Pie Shoppe is not correct – the Pie Shoppe is right on Route 30 – directly across from the Ligonier Country Inn.

Image via Wikipedia

Just across the river from Lawrenceville, Millvale has got a ton of cool stuff going on:

• New Sun Rising – a non profit organization that is supporting and funding more community projects in Millvale
• The Saxifrage School – an innovative project that is getting started in a Millvale storefront to rethink college educations
• Millvale Community Library – Millvale doesn’t have a library so the community is working to set one up.

You can drink beer and support Millvale this weeked at their annual Brew Fest.  The Millvale Brew Fest celebrates their 5th annual festival Saturday, August 13, 2011.  The Millvale brewfest is almost as old as IheartPGH and we can’t believe it has been 5 years since we blogged about the first festival.  We have attended some of the past festivals and it is a lovely way to spend an August afternoon.  One of the great things about this festival is that many members of the community come out to volunteer to make sure it is a success.  In the past the atmosphere of this festival has been super laid back, lots of nice people supporting Millvale.

In honor of the 5th anniversay here are 5 reasons why we think this is a great way to spend your Saturday:

1. Waterfront Refreshment

This is the only beer fest we know about that is held right next to the river.  The Millvale Brew Fest takes place at the Millvale riverfront park

2. Affordable Beer Festival Fun

Tickets for the Millvale Brew Fest are just $30 and available online here.  Designated Driver tickets are $12.  $30 is a steal compared to the price of some other popular Pittsburgh fall beer festivals.

3. Awesome Brew Festival Poster

We are about to hunt down one of these for the wall.  Designed by Millvale resident Tom Walker (who is also known as the guy who kayaks to his office in the Strip District).  Tom has been designing the brew fest posters for a few years.

4. It’s for a Good Cause.

The proceeds from the Millvale Brew Fest go to support the Nonprofit Millvale Borough Development Corporation and Millvale Main Street stabilize, revitalize and rejuvenate Millvale’s neighborhoods, through the development of housing, and businesses (and support the awesome projects listed above too).

5. Local Beer

While there are ton of breweries who will be at the fest or will have their beers served by a local distributor.  There are also a number of local brewers who will be there too – East End Brewing, Church Brew Works, Full Pint Brewing are just a few  of the confirmed breweries.

The Important Details:

Millvale Brew Fest
Saturday, August 13, 2011
1-4pm $30 Advance/$35
5-8pm SOLD OUT
http://www.millvalepa.com/BrewFest.aspx

This week is PAPA 14 World Pinball Championships – pinball players from around the world are heading to Pittsburgh to compete for over $40,000 in prizes.

We have blogged about PAPA events before – but this is definitely worth another mention as the PAPA  event is free to attend and something that is pretty unique here in Pittsburgh.

The tournament is free to watch and it looks like anyone can enter to compete.  Complete competition details are available here. Online registration has ended but you can still sign up at the tournament.

Check out this nifty video from artist and CMU professor Douglas Cooper and CMU’s PigPen Theater in which the city of Pittsburgh becomes a pinball game.  (h/t pair Networks blog for the video)

Click here to view the embedded video.

PAPA 14 World Pinball Championships
August 11-14, 2011
PAPA HQ, Scott Township – directions are available here.
Facebook Event – http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=121552544586672

This Saturday is your chance to check out Ambridge with the folks of Urban Hike.  Urban Hike is a group that plans out hikes around different urban areas.  The organizers do a great job of mapping out the hike ahead of time and planning out interesting stops along the way.  Usually local experts join along to share history and info about each area.  There was a great group of hikers for the last Urban Hike in Oakland.  A great way to explore a new area with a nice group of folks.  There is no charge to participate in the hike – just make sure to thank the organizers.

Urban Hike Ambridge

• When: Saturday, July 16th at 10am
• Where: Circle K at 1599 Duss Ave, 15003 – Map
• What: Urban Hike Path to the Past
• Who: Come one and all, and bring friends
• How to get there: drive, take the bus – the 14 bus goes from Downtown to Ambridge, or contact info@urbanhike.org about carpooling.

Harmony Community Day – Saturday, June 18, 2011
11am-6pm
website for more info – http://historicharmony.com/communityday.html

• Car Cruise
• Kids Stuff
• Music
• Food
• Visit the Harmony Musueum for just $1
• Hot Dog Eating Contest – 3pm

A Very Brief History of Harmony

Harmony, PA was home to the Harmonities Society – which was founded in 1804 by Father Rapp.  The Harmonites were in Harmony for about 10 years, then they moved to Indiana and eventually setted in what is now Ambridge.  There isn’t much more to the story of the HArmonities – they were a celebate group so that eventually put an end to their group. But the town exists with lots of well preserved buildings. We have included some links to places to visit below.

The Carnegie Library in Braddock was founded in 1889 and expanded in 1893.  This building was not just for books and includes a music hall, gymnasium and swimming pool. This was the FIRST Carnegie Library in the United States.

Image via Wikipedia

The Braddock Carnegie Arts Program is a more recent addition to the Library – the old bathhouse area has been transformed into a ceramics studio that is used for classes and open studio.  Classes are offered for free or for a nominal fee and the studio has been supported by many volunteer hours as well.

Check out this great post from the blog Western PA Potters for photos and more detailed info about the studio.

Which brings us to the Chili Cook Off – for the fifth year – there will be a Chili Cook Off in Braddock to benefit the arts program.

Braddock Carnegie Arts Program
5th Annual Chili Cook Off
Saturday April 9, 2011 1-4pm
Braddock Elks Lodge, 424 Library St. Pittsburgh PA 15104 (which is directly across the street from the library)
$10 for Adults, $5 for Kids 12 and under

Looking for more info on Braddock? Check out www.15104.cc – the website has been updates and has a lot of information about the history or Braddock and things that are happening there now.

We have some good ideas happening here in Pittsburgh – for example – The Union Project has transformed an abandoned church is to a thriving community center while teaching others how to restore stained glass windows.  And there are some good ideas happening around the country that maybe we should try here in Pittsburgh too.

The great thing about blogging is that it is a great way to share ideas and improve.  I hope we can have more conversations and more sharing here on IheartPGH or we can even start a new blog if that is need for getting more good ideas going here in Pittsburgh.

I was just reading this article on NPR about Common Ground – an organization in New York City that has been working to end homelessness – they turned an abandoned hotel in Times Square into a shelter with services and have tackled cronic homelessnes in Time Square.

A few years ago I was in Chicago for a conference hosted by the League of Young Voters – and we happened to have breakfast at the Inspiration Cafe.  It turns out that not only was this an amazing place to have breakfast but this cafe was part of a large project to end homelessness in Chicago.  It looks like the model there has changed a bit since I was there and I am not sure if they still serve meals to the public – but their work to end homelessness has not changed.  Inspiration cafe operates a cafe and offers services to those who are homeless – including things like voicemail and job training by working in the cafe and in their training kitchen.

• You can read the NPR story here.
• Website for Common Ground – http://www.commonground.org/
• Website for Inspiration Corporation and Inspiration Cafe – http://www.inspirationcorp.org/programs/cafe/cafe.html

Do you know of other innovative organizations working on homelessness here in Pittsburgh or around the country?  What else could be added to this list and what should we be trying here in Pittsburgh?

I was thinking surely there has to be a few posts in the Pittsburgh blogosphere about Fort Ligonier Days – but nothing.  I think this is one of the biggest and most spectacular community history celebrations in Western PA (and any where else I have been I try to stop at the local festivals when I am away from the burgh.  I can tell you the the Venice, FL Sharks Tooth Festival is nice but it is no Fort Ligonier Days.

All of the festival details are available here: http://www.ligonier.com/fld.html

5 Reasons to attend Fort Ligonier Days:

Image via Wikipedia

1. Parade – this is a serious parade – it is a few hours long and there are tons of marching bands and elaborate floats as well as the Shriners in their hats and shoes and funny clown cars.  If you are smart you will put out your chairs along the parade route on Friday night – don’t worry no one will steal them.  If not you can still sneak in and find a spot to sit along the parade route.

2. Fall – if you want to see leaves and Western Pa in all of its perfect fall splendor – Ligonier is really the place.  Take the turnpike to the Donegal exit and drive into Ligonier along rolling hills, split rail fences, and autumn leaves.

3. Food – Fort Ligonier days takes the cake when it comes to festival food – the town center known as the “Diamond” is filled with local nonprofits from garden clubs to boy scouts – each serving up an amazing array of delicious tasty foods.  If you thought the arts festival had good food then you really need to check out the food at Fort Ligonier Days.

Image via Wikipedia

4. History - Yes, there are live reenactments of the battle of Fort Ligonier.  The fort (or a reconstruction of the fort) is open for tours and the battle of Fort Ligonier will be reenacted at 2 & 4 pm Saturday and Sunday.

5. Handmade Heaven – this is like the arts festival on crack – there are hundreds of vendors from fine arts to hand made goods.  You can find everything from fine art work to steelers bathroom accessories that no home should be with out.

4th Annual Dormont Street Fair and Music Festival

LOCATION: Potomac Avenue, between Belrose & West Liberty Avenues

The family-friendly event promotes Dormont’s many amazing local businesses and will feature more than 30 local vendors, artisans, independent businesses, and food merchants.

Join friends, neighbors and surrounding South Hills community members, visit local Dormont businesses, boutiques, artists, and organizations, dance along to featured entertainment, support the town’s vibrant commercial district, and rock the night away with local legend Joe Grushecky!

On the stage—and back by popular demand—is Dormont’s own Joe Grushecky and the Houserockers. The legendary Pittsburgh group will be headlining an exciting lineup of local acts including The Wheels, The Composure, and The I Drive. Live performances also by Dance Pittsburgh, Sterling Yoga, and the Eagles Twirling Corps.

PERFORMANCE SCHEDULE:

4:00 pm Dance Pittsburgh http://www.dancepgh.com/

4:15 pm Sterling Yoga – featuring belly dancing troupes Munequitas & Amethyst http://www.sterlingyoga.com/

5:00 pm The Eagles Twirling Corps

5:15pm The Wheels http://www.myspace.com/thewheelspittsburgh

6:30pm The Composure http://www.myspace.com/thecomposurerock

7:45 pm The I Drive http://www.myspace.com/theinternationaldrive

9:00 pm Joe Grushecky and the Houserockers – http://www.joegrushecky.ca/

Children’s Area 4-7 pm between Glenmore and West Liberty Avenues where you’ll find lots of fun activities for the kids including games, crafts, magicians, jugglers, and much more. Hop aboard a fire truck and meet brave fire fighters in The Dormont Volunteer Fire Department area. Visit the Met Life sponsored Child Safety ID booth where you’ll be able to have a personalized ID and safety kit made just for your child.

• Games, crafts, strolling jugglers, magicians, child safety IDs sponsored by Met
• Life, Smiley Cookies sponsored by Eat n’ Park,
• Fire Truck sponsored by Dormont Volunteer Fire Department

Visit The Dormont Street Fair and Music Festival on Facebook! http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=1559304&fbid=1540203779843&id=1077365160#!/event.php?eid=111693162222171&index=1

Join Dormont on Facebook! http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1077365160#!/pages/Dormont-PA/Dormont-Borough/115024791872876?ref=ts

ABOUT JOE GRUSHECKY A multi-talented musician, singer-songwriter, producer, recording artist, and teacher. Joe Pittsburgh native Grushecky has continued to produce albums, both with the Houserockers and as a solo artist, that reflect a range of diverse musical influences, including blues, roots rock, hard rock, pop, and even a hint of Americana country.

Groesbeck’s impressive discography and 30-year career include his debut 1979 album, Love’s So Tough, which was released by MCA to widespread critical acclaim, including receiving a “debut record of the year” nod by Rolling Stone magazine.

His “Code of Silence,” co-written with the legendary Bruce Springsteen, whom Grushecky met in 1980 in New York City in 1980, received a coveted Grammy Award for Best Solo Rock Vocal Performance

Grushecky recruited his longtime friend and collaborator Springsteen for “Flood Aid,” a benefit concert that helped Western Pennsylvanians who were devastated by the destruction of Hurricane Ivan.

Holding a degree in Special Education, Grushecky has been teaching developmentally disabled, physically disabled and emotionally disturbed kids for more than 25 years.

Sponsors of the 4th Annual Dormont Street Fair and Music Festival are: PNC Bank, J. Deron Gabriel, Esq., Armstrong Development/CVS, Campbell Durrant Beatty Palombo & Miller, PC, Gateway Engineers, and Konica Minolta. Contributors to the 4th Annual Dormont Street Fair and Music Festival are BIU, Inc., Gierl Augustine and Associates, Pittsburgh Reporting Services, Congressman Murphy, The HDH Group, Inc., Wayne Wade, New England Financial/MetLife, Legacy Remodeling, and Allied Waste.

GETTING TO DORMONT A walkable community, Dormont is easily accessible by four “T” stops—Stevenson, Potomac, Kelton and Dormont Junction, as well as by several bus lines. There is ample public parking available in Dormont, in lots located on Potomac Avenue, Glenmore Avenue and in metered spaces along Potomac Avenue. Free parking is also available along West Liberty Avenue after 6 p.m.

The first floor of the building houses a shop with art and handmade items of all shapes, sizes and prices.  There is also a separate gallery space – currently showing the works of Luke Homitsky until April 11, 2010.

This friday, March 19 – stop by the Bottlebrush Gallery for Jazz and Poetry Night.

Jazz and Poetry @ The Bottlebrush
Friday, March 19, 2010 5:30-9:30pm
5:30-7:45 Jazz performance by Ronnie and Al
8-9:30 Ziggy Edwards & Timons Esaias will be reading poetry
RSVP on Facebook