Image by Wadzy via Flickr

If curling on ice isn’t your thing, then join the folks from Obscure Games for an indoor curling tournament that will be using humans and office chairs.

Human Curling Tournament
Sunday, February 28, 2010 – 10:30am-1:30pm
West Penn Recreation Center, 470 30th Street, Polish Hill
http://obscuregamespgh.com/?p=251

Human Curling: Human Curling is a new sport invented by Obscure Games director Adam Nelson. Played in a gymnasium, teams take turns pushing players in swivel chairs across the gym floor, scoring points for accuracy and distance. Teams position players strategically in order to pull off complicated ricochets and other high-scoring plays, while simultaneously trying to tag-out members of the opposing team. And though the US Olympic Curling Teams have not fared well, in this weekend’s tournament, teams will bring honor back to the US and to Pittsburgh by competing to be named “Human Curling Champions” of the world. More information and rules for Human Curling can be found on the Obscure Games Rulebook, at http://obscuregamespgh.com/wiki/index.php?title=The_Rule_Book

Obscure Games: Formed in August 2009, Obscure Games is a group of young Pittsburghers dedicated to creating and playing new and strange games. We’re out to play for the fun of it, because play is good. It revitalizes your body and re-energizes your mind, and it’s not just for children any more. We play our games, we play other people’s games, we play games pulled from antiquity, we change rules as we see fit, and usually forget to keep score. Right now, games are geared toward men and women 18 and older. Athleticism helps, but there are no fitness standards, and anyone age 18 and over is welcome to join us at our weekly Obscure Games events.

More Games? Save the date for the Steel City Games Festival – August 27-29, 2010

Like the Come Out and Play Festival in New York City and the Igfest in Bristol, UK, Steel City Games is a celebration of the impact of creative play on individuals and communities, men and women, adults and children. Game submissions are open to anyone, and local community and artistic groups are encouraged to submit a game for the festival.

• Franktuary is going green with the help of their CORO Fellows! – Our favorite local hot dog shop has been working hard on their sustainability practices – read what they have been up to and check out some of the other great posts about local food on their brand new website.
• Call for Artists: Poster Contest – Three Rivers Arts Festival – Pittsburgh, PA – A division of The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust – The Three Rivers Arts Festival and the City Paper are holding a poster contest. The grand prize winning design will be used to help promote the 2010 Three Rivers Arts Festival throughout the Pittsburgh region. Four winning designs will be produced as posters.
• Beer Hear! – Should I Drink That in Pittsburgh Magazine – Great article about Doug and Brad and their podcast about beer "Should I Drink That" in the March 2010 Pittsburgh magazine. Should I Drink That and IheartPGH have been friends since we first met at the first Pittsburgh Podcamp. They know their beer and are super nice guys to hand out with at blog and/or beer related events.

Follow IheartPGH on Twitter – we share more links there almost daily!

If we are going to survive the never ending snow this Febraury we are going to need to find some way to enjoy all of this fluffy white stuff.  If snowshoeing and cross country skiing aren’t your thing, then this might do the trick – a big snowball fight.

We can’t let Washington, DC have all of the fun (check out this video from the Washington Post of the snowball fight at Dupont Square).

From the great folks who have organized Santarchy and the Pittsburgh Pillow Fight Club is an invitation for a snowball fight with silly hats:

Snowmagedeon!!! Snow Ball Battle!

What: Snowmagedeon!!! Snow Ball Battle! + Silly Hats!

Image by zokuga via Flickr

When: Saturday, February 27, 2010 12:00 PM

Where: Schenley Park,at Flagstaff Hill,Pittsburgh, PA 15213

COST: FREE!!! One minor non-obligation: Wear a silly/funny hat!

Facebook Event – please feel free to invite your friends to attend too!

A Cacaophony Society Event (same people who brought you Santarchy, Pillow Fight and Clown Bus!)

Might as well have some fun with all this snow. Show up at Schenley Park on Flagstaff Hill by the Gazebo (across from Phipps Conservatory). And at High Noon start blasting snowballs at each other!

Lets see how many people we can get for this!!!

At HIGH NOON, you’ll hear a whistle and just start throwing snow!

Then after we’re all exhausted we can build a giant snow man or do what every you want (sledding, snow sculpture or anything else). Dress Warm, good gloves and if you can wear a silly but warm hat .

Adult and kid friendly EVENT! Have fun! Be Safe and Enjoy!

This series of painting is "One A Day: 365 Views of the Cathedral of Learning, 1997-1999"

One of the first things I noticed when I arrived at Pitt’s Alumni Hall today was this wall of paintings – each with very recognizable locations from or near Oakland. I spent some time looking at the dates below each canvas – dates are in order but the year varies between 1998 and 1999.

These scenes are painted but from just a few steps back they look like photographs of the neighborhood. What I didn’t realize until I read the description is that each of these is a different view of the Cathedral of Learning.

As I was sitting here waiting to hear the winners on this round of the film factory contest and thinking about the book in my bag "Crush It" by Gary Vaynerchuck – which is about using social media to tell the story about something you are passionate about. I was just wondering what blogs were out there for people who are passionate about filmmaking. I was thinking of how I want to profile more blogs about very specific topics – I am fascinated by people who are using blogs to document specific things – check out blogs like "cake wrecks" or Scanwiches.

Before I opened my book to get back to reading, I wandered over to read about these little paintings – coincedental timing that I stumbled upon a hand painted verson of what would also make a great blog about views of the Cathedral of Learning.

Each of these was painted by Felix de la Concha, a spanish artist who came to Pittsburgh to visit his girl friend who was studying at Pitt. He started the paintings but didn’t have a visa to stay in the US for a whole year so he completed the series over a couple of years.

The series was origonally displayed at the Carnegie Museum of Art in 1999.

I think one of the amazing thing about Pittsburgh that probably doesn’t get talked about enough is that Pittsburgh offers all kinds of amazing opportunities in every sort of thing for people to try, learn about and get involved. When you see the bios of some of the panelists and advisors and their Pittsburgh roots and it is greatto see how all of this talent comes from and back to town.
I am writing this on my blackberry (please excuse spelling) in the auditorium on the seventh floor of Alumni hall. I am here because the Steel Town Entertainment Proejct is championed by Carl Kurlander – who is super passionate about Pittsburgh. I am also here to learn more about story telling and story selling. Writing posts for IheartPgh has made me realize the power of story telling – while I have spent much of my time learning about using online media to tell a story – I am eager to learn more about writing and video as another vehicle for story telling.
Carl is the executive producer of this organization that is all about connecting and promoting the Hollywood Pittsburgh connection – and there is a huge Hollywood Pittsburgh connection. Check out www.steeltownfilmfactory.org for more.
This year they have launched the Film Factory competition – writers are participating in a year long competition. I where 3 films will share $25000 to produce their 4-12 min films which tell a Pittsburgh story.
Today – the 5 writers are pitching their scripts to a panel of directors. The directors on today’s panel all have Pittsburgh roots.
Here is a brief bio on each:
- James Widdows – "Hoover" from Animal House, Charles in Charge and director of over 300 tv episodes
- Lisa Smith – Project Greenlight 2
- Heide Waldbaum – Visual Production Manager on "Avatar"

Calling all zip car drivers and zip car wanna be drivers.  The folks from Zip Cary have organized a little zippity happy hour of sorts.

What is ZipCar?

ZipCar is a car sharing company.  You sign up and become a member, they send you a membership card with a microchip.  There are ZipCars in designated ZipCar parking spots around Pittsburgh.  When you want to use a car – you visit ZipCar.com and reserve the car you would like – the website lets you see which cars are available.  Then you walk to the car and hold your membership card over the windshield.  The doors unlock and the keys are in the car.  You pay an hourly rate that is about $10 an hour (more or less depending on which car you drive). The hourly rate includes gas and insurance.

Another great feature of ZipCar is that your membership works in any ZipCar city – when I was in Los Angeles last year I was able to use the ZipCars there just by reserving them online.

Thinking of signing up for ZipCar? Use this link and you will get $50 in  Free Driving. Join Zipcar and get $50 in free driving!

ZipCar Party
Friday, February 26, 2010 5-7pm
Easy Street Saloon, One Oxford Center

We’ll still be providing two complimentary drinks and plenty of apps for every Zipster who makes it out. And we’ll also have our prize wheel on hand, so you can spin for driving credit or Zipcar gear.

If your friend or friends can make it next week, bring ‘em by. If they sign up for Zipcar, we’ll give you both $75 in driving credit once they’re approved*.

Send a note to rsvppitt@zipcar.com to let us know if you’re planning to make it out on February 26 and tell us how many soon-to-be Zipsters you’re bringing so we can be sure to order enough food.

Read more about ZipCar:

• A Car When You Want It (andrewsullivan.theatlantic.com)
• Car Sharing Program A Success, but Plans to Expand are Tentative (laist.com)
• Zipcar iPhone App Makes Car-Sharing Even Better (as Long as You Don’t Abuse Remote Honking) (treehugger.com)
• Zipcar Launches iPhone App With Magical Car Unlocking Powers [Zipcar] (consumerist.com)
• Zipcar Halts Rentals Of Recalled Toyotas (TM) (benzinga.com)

The roads are still extremely dangerous – if you do not have to drive – please stay home.  Be extra careful if you are out walking in the streets and move far away from cars when they come down the road – the cars are sliding all over the place and drivers could easily slide in to you.  Share road condition info: A Google Group has been created to share information about Pittsburgh road conditions – http://groups.google.com/group/pittsburgh-roads

======Snow Emergency Contact Info======
From the City of Pittsburgh website - If it is an emergency or you are not sure if it is an emergency CALL 911.  For any other help the city 311 lines are now open 24 hours a day.  The National Guard is available to assist – if you need help – need to get to medical care, medications, heat issues or anything else – CALL 311.

Visit http://www.pittsburghpa.gov/ for updates and additional information.

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TUE Open

• East End Brewing – just in time to release our Chocolate Covered Cherry Stout for Valentines Day (week)

TUE Closed

• Schools
  • Pittsburgh Public Schools
  • Duquesne University
  • CCAC
  • Carlow
  • Carnegie Mellon
  • Pitt
    
• Carnegie Science Center
  

TUE Canceled

• Garbage and recycling pickup has been suspended until further notice.
• Drinking Liberally Pittsburgh – Meeting Canceled, Next Meeting 2/23

Wednesday and Beyond

• PUMP – How to Run for Committee Workshop – Scheduled for Wed. 2/10 has been rescheduled for 2/17
• California University of PA is closed all week

J'eet at 4200 Penn Avenue

You may have read an article or two about how fabulous the new J’eet Cafe in Lawrenceville is.  Well, I heart that they are now open Saturdays for brunch!  For all the poor working stiffs who can’t make it to try out their extensive menu of crepes, sandwiches and salads, this is the solution.  My favorites are the Crepito (egg, swiss, bacon, and caramelized onions folded into a crepe) and Le Breton (a sandwich of spicy sopressata, brie, cornichon, garlic aioli, and mixed greens).  J’eet also has great coffee, free WiFi, and features a prix fixe meal at Brunch.

Just a short one hour drive from Pittsburgh and you can be in Somerset, PA for the 15th Annual Fire & Ice Festival – a weekend filled with family festivities, wood carving, tasty treats and ice carving demonstrations too.  Check out the shedule here.

Fire and Ice Festival, Somerset, PA
January 15-17, 2009