Image by ccs-pics via Flickr

We have recieved numerous emails asking what to do after the St. Patrick’s Day Parade.  As you may know, Market Square is under construction (check out these articles on the impact of the construction on the Market Square businesses – Post-Gazette 2/5/2010 and Tribune Review 2/26/2010).  We are very sad to see another local business close and there are many Pittsburghers who are sad about the lack of a place to celebrate after the parade.

Often times museum employees “are artists who dedicate their days promoting the artwork of others and their nights & weekends creating artwork of their own.” Curators Laura Mustio and Nicole Rosato celebrate this fact with a new show, Behind Our Scenes, opening Friday night from 6-9PM at SPACE (812 Liberty Ave. in Downtown). Rosato herself is the Visitor Services and Volunteer Coordinator at The Mattress Factory, and the artists are all employees of some of the most well-known Pittsburgh cultural institutions: The Carnegie Museum of Art, Oakland; The Mattress Factory, North Side; The Andy Warhol Museum, North Side; Fe Gallery, Lawrenceville; Future Tenant, Downtown; Wood Street Galleries, Downtown. The show runs through February 13, 2010. Read a guest post by curator Nicole Rosato over at The Mattress Factory’s blog!

Image by now picnic via Flickr

The Cultural District has been organizing these gallery crawls for the past few years – I have made it down town for a few of these friday evening events and it is always a great and interesting time.  All of the Gallerys along and near Penn Avenue open their doors and put out a spread of snacks.  Since it is July and warm enough to be outside I think that tomorrow’s Gallery Crawl will be extra fun with lots of outdoor activities too.

Gallery Crawl in the Cultural District
Friday, July 17, 2009
5:30-9pm

Check out the entire huge list of gallery crawl events here.

Looking for something to do afer 9pm? check out Cosmopolitian Pittsburgh – a benefit for the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust (h/t to Chris Lugo for including this in his July Events List)

Image by Barack Obama via FlickrIheartPGH hearts Franktuary and I know this place is only open for lunch, but for light up night, November 21, 2008. Tim and Megan will be staying up late to serve hot dogs and hot chocolate.  Live music by Martha Jane.

Know of other light up night activities?  Please share!

I know we have blogged about this in the past but I think that the Summer Gallery Crawl is worth a stop this Friday.  Galleries, shops and more will stay open until 9pm on Friday.  Everything is free – no admission necessary.

See what other bloggers have said about past Gallery Crawls:

• ArtInPittsburgh – January 2008
• Pictures of Pittsburgh – April 2008
  
• Outside Perspective – April 2008

There are a ton of great things to do this weekend. But I am most excited about watching the Tour of PA. The Tour of PA is like the Tour de France, a huge professional bike race across the state of PA, part of this is in celebration of Pittsburgh’s 250. There are going to be 3 great opportunities to watch the racers enter the finish line and there are a ton of events to go along with the race.

I am including the race specifics – where to watch the start and finish below. Here is the short version with other activities included. Also check out the Trib’s Spectator Guide -which has lots of helpful info like what each color jersey means (via BikePGH).

• Friday, June 27 – Bedford to Latrobe
  • While you are in Latrobe you might want to take a drive out to Ligonier – the library has an exhibit of Antique Bike Paraphernalia up until July 12, 2008.
• Saturday, June 28 – Ligonier to Pittsburgh
  • Noon – 6pm South Side Celebrates 250
    • Arts Festival, Sidewalk Sales and More
• Sunday, June 29 – Downtown Pittsburgh Criterium
  • Free Bike Valet – Bike PGH will safely watch your bikes while you watch the race.  Park at one of the trail lots and bike downtown for the finish.

Friday, June 27 – Bedford to Latrobe
Start: Bedford, Penn and South Juliana Street
Finish: Latrobe, Ligonier and Alexandria Street
Estimated Finish Time: 1:00 – 2:00 PM Followed by Awards Ceremony

Highmark Healthy High Five Finish Line Festival: 1:00 PM – 6:00 PM
Lot on Ligonier Street near Alexandria Street

Saturday, June 28 – Ligonier to Pittsburgh
Start: Ligonier, Market Street just off Route 30
Finish: Pittsburgh Southside, Sidney Street right before Hot Metal Street
Official Start Time: Noon Opening Ceremonies: 11:30 AM
Miles: 91 Kilometers: 146
Estimated Finish Time: 2:55 – 3:30 PM Followed by Awards Ceremony at American Eagle Outfitters HQ on Sidney Street right before Hot Metal Street

Highmark Healthy High Five Finish Line Festival: 2:00PM – 9:00PM
28th and Sidney Street in Pittsburgh Southside

Sunday, June 29 – Downtown Pittsburgh Criterium
Start/Finish Line: Blvd of the Allies and Stanwix Street
Official Start Time: 5 PM, Opening Ceremonies: 4:00 PM
Miles: 50 Kilometers: 80.5 (33 laps on a 1.5 mile/2.4km circuit)
Approximate Finish Time: 6:50 PM, Awards Ceremony to follow

Highmark Healthy High 5 Finish Line Festival: 2:00PM – 9:00PM
Blvd of the Allies and Stanwix Street

More Blog Coverage:

• Giro di Keir – this is the blog of one of the cyclists on Team Race Pro – he writes about arriving in Philly.
  
• Urban Velo