Author Archives: Maya

Accordion Pool Party in Lawrenceville

: Image by gadgetgirl via Flickr

On Saturday, September 12 from 3-7PM, Leslie Park swimming pool at 4700 Butler St. in Lawrenceville will thrum with activity-and not a drop of water. The site will host Accordion Pool Party, an ethnic music and dance festival and quirky spectacle of culture and community pride. The one-day event is a also a catalyst for a more lasting civic endeavor, Pool Planning Workshops to involve residents in shaping the future of the Leslie Park Pool site.

Accordion Pool Party involves about 20 seasoned Pittsburgh accordionists and 30 costumed folk dancers performing in the empty pool a mix of genres including Cajun, tango, polka, French, Israeli and Balkan music. Special guest Guinea West African Drum and Dance Ensemble will open the program. The event will be emceed by Michael “Zombo” Devine.

The event will also feature refreshments courtesy of the Estelle S. Campbell Boys and Girls Club (neighbors to Leslie Park Pool), and light fare by Lawrenceville’s eclectic cafés and restaurants. Several eateries will also host busking accordionists on the day of the event. There is a $5 suggested donation for the event. Visit http://www.accordionpoolparty.org/ for more information.

Visionary Arts Festival in Schenley Plaza

eye_open_left Pittsburgh neighborhoods are abound with arts festivals this summer, but the first Pittsburgh Visionary Arts Festival promises to be a bringing together more than 50 local visionary artists and art innovators into a single venue. For three full days, these artists will share their work, vision and unique ideas in a friendly outdoors festival setting. The VAF will feature a rich diversity of minds, covering the full spectrum of art mediums: from painting to mixed media, from digital media to sound art, through recycled and self-taught art… and beyond! This festival is intended primarily as a visual and sensitory experience of art. While much of the work presented will be available for purchase, a large portion of the work will not be for sale. Experience a slice of Pittsburgh’s greatest visionary art, in a festival that hopes to decorate your soul rather than your living room! Free and open to the public. August 7, 8 and 9, from 12pm to 9pm. Schenley Plaza, (directly in front of the Cathedral of Learning, in the heart of Oakland.) Visit http://www.pghvisionaryartsfestival.com/ for more information on the artists and the event.

Art All Night in Lawrenceville

Attending Art All Night in Lawrenceville this weekend is a must … but have you ever thought of volunteering? The group has, in my opinion, one of the most user friendly volunteer sign-ups(http://www.artallnight.org/vols.html). There are a whole slew of options with varying commitment time periods.

Here is the Post-Gazette write-up:
“Art All Night Lawrenceville” returns for its 12th annual no-holds barred event, from 6 p.m. Saturday to 2 p.m. Sunday at the brand new Red Warehouse, 3510 Smallman St. Professional and amateur artists may exhibit and sell any work of art, or sign up to perform, at artallnight.org. No fee, no jury, no censorship; but, this year, the art must not be wet and cannot leave a mark on the freshly rehabbed building.”

While this author is disappointed she cannot submit her slime ball installation, she supposes it is a small price to pay for 20 hours of art, music, performance, food, drink, and friends.

Also, featured this week in Pop City!

Lawrenceville Blossom Tour

Lawrenceville businesses will open their doors for the fourth annual Lawrenceville Blossom Tour, a free event to be held April 17-19, 2009. Twenty-five of Lawrenceville’s most interesting merchants will pass out a variety of flower and herb seeds to all visitors (while supplies last). Each merchant will offer a different packet of seeds, so visitors can collect all 25 and plant them for a beautiful garden!

The Blossom Tour begins on Friday, April 17 and continues through Sunday, April 19. Business hours vary by location. On Saturday April 18th, there will be many activities taking place throughout the neighborhood. Visitors can visit two marketplaces at either end of Butler Street where they can view gardening demonstrations and gather green resource information. Visitors can even hop on a Green Gears Pedicab, a bicycle that pulls a two-seated cab to travel throughout the district. Ditch your car and pick one up at either of the marketplace locations.

The following participating businesses along Butler Street, Penn Avenue, 43rd Street, and 44th Street will provide a map of the Blossom Tour and a free packet of seeds: Fresh Heirlooms (5218 Butler Street), Luke & Eloy Gallery (5169 Butler Street), Who New? Retro-Mod Décor (5156 Butler Street), Slaughterhouse Gallery (5136 Butler Street), Jay Design Soaps & Gifts (4603 Butler Street), Crystal Bead Bazaar (4521 Butler Street), City Café (4502 Butler Street), Moneysmart Agency (4415 Butler Street), Perk Me Up Coffee House (4407 Butler Street), Technicuts Hair Design (4400 Butler Street), Arsenal Bowl (412 44th Street), Purple Rose Tearoom (4316 Penn Avenue), Salon 22 (4322 Butler Street), Wagner Quality Shoes (4313 Butler Street), Outlet Connection (4305 Butler), Teddy Bear Hospital of Pittsburgh (4304 Butler), Gallery on 43rd Street (187 43rd Street), Your Inner Vagabond Coffeehouse & World Lounge (4130 Butler Street), Everyone An Artist (4128 Butler Street), Elements (3819 Butler Street), Dandelions (4108 Butler Street), Divertido (3701 Butler Street), Allison McGeary Floral and Event Design (3625 Butler Street), T’s Upholstery (3611 Butler Street), and Dozen Bake Shop (3511 Butler Street).

Download the Blossom Tour Map here.

Marketplaces will “spring” up in the 3500 and 5100 blocks of Butler Street on Saturday. Confirmed participants include Bottled Up Pittsburgh, Fossil Free Fuels, Green Lawrenceville Bulb Exchange, Grow Pittsburgh, Chef Claudio Masci of Isidore Foods, Chef Rachel Lori of Kretschmann Organic Farm, Pittsburgh Garden Experiment, and Steel City Soils.

For more information, contact Mary Coleman at the Gallery on 43rd Street at 412.683.6488 or galleryon43rdst@msn.com or Maya Haptas at the Lawrenceville Corporation at 412.782.5100 x 103 or maya@lawrencevillecorp.com.

Yuenglearrings

Lindsay posted about cool Steelers gear … so I thought I would post a link to my Etsy site where I sell my handmade Steelers bottle cap earrings. A friend of mine helped out and so now we have expanded to include Hines Ward, Sexy Troy, Action Troy, and Deshea Townsend. I can do custom ones on request. These were inspired by a pair of Virgin of Guadeloupe earrings I got in Veracruz a few years ago.

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=20406782