Author Archives: Natalia

WRCT

wrct

Ever since I posted about WYEP being a great public radio station, I felt guilty. Why? Because I listen to WRCT 88.3 probably just as much as I do WYEP. Why? Because where else can you hear Democracy Now, Japanese experimental music, the Saturday Light Brigade, yiddish hip hop, and excrutiatingly geeky analysis of R&B lyrics?

WRCT is the radio station of Carnegie Mellon University. It is located in the basement of the CMU University Center and broadcasts from Warner Hall. The station run as free format radio which means that all programming decisions are left to the descretions of DJs and their programs. This means that I can actually drive to work listening to some pumping house music and leave listening to Nina Simone. But there is some convergence: wanna know what the kids are listenin’ to these days? Check out their Top 70 list. (Glad to see local band Modey Lemon sneak in there at #10!) Never heard any of these bands? Well then listen to WRTC! And if you … hate music, then just listen for the promos (which are pretty weird – and funny.)

Like all good radio stations though, ‘RCT offers online streaming, has a handy dandy list of recently played songs and takes requests at 412-CMU-WRCT (268-9728). iTunes users can add it to their playlist as streaming radio. (Just look under Radio/Public/WRCT.)

I remember when I was in high school in the hills of the the ‘Burgh, I had my uber cool band posters, my flannels and my Docs, and I tried to act like I listened to real, live college stations. But the only place I could get it was in one corner of my basement. Luckily for us, the station has come a long way since then! Apparently they’ve expanded (to 1750 “glorious watts”). And get this – the other day, I could hear it all the way out to the airport. So go and program WRCT on your car radio now. And turn it on when you’re stuck in traffic. You might even catch the Brazilian Radio Hour.

CCAC Community Education

CCAC – the Community College of Allegheny County – has some really cool non-credit courses coming up in the spring. I just looked at their web site for Community Education (click on the PDF schedule of classes) and I found neat options like:

Wine Appreciation With Henry Block
Learn about and savor the wonderful French reds and whites of the Burgundy region with wine enthusiast Henry Block. You will gain an appreciation for the subtleties and complexities of fine European wines and develop an understanding of their relationship to New World wines. Cost includes wine tasting samples. Prerequisite: Introductory wine appreciation course or equivalent. ($145)

Asian Wraps
Learn how to make and serve delicious steamed, braised, fresh and deep-fried Asian wraps that will be perfect for first courses or party finger food. We will make and enjoy the following wraps: Peking-style duck pancake, moo shu pork, spring rolls, egg rolls, bok choy rolls, herb and chicken spring rolls, tropical fruit rolls, vegetarian spring rolls, and braised beef roll. ($69)

Basic Repairs for the Helpless Homeowner
Forced to spend hard-earned dollars on professional services or to live with inconvenient, unpleasant, or even dangerous situations in your home because you lack the skills, knowledge, and most importantly, the confidence to tackle even the most basic home repair? This course will equip the homeowner with everything you need in order to complete repair jobs easily, inexpensively, and safely. Fix a lamp, unclog a sink, replace a light switch-tasks that you will accomplish. The course includes hands-on exercises and do-it-yourself homework assignments. ($89)

There are even classes on “Controlling Paper Clutter at Home” ($39), “Beginning Freshwater Fishing” ($99), “Accounting for Small Businesses” ($149), and of course …. Basketweaving ($49).

Classes are usually offered in the evening at CCACs various locations or at local neighborhood centers from Homewood to Bethel Park. You can register and pay for courses online. Check out the web site and register today.

I think some of these sessions would make cool Christmas gifts. What’s better than the gift of learning? : )

Those Asphalt Tiles Downtown

You know those asphalt tiles along Smithfield Avenue in downtown Pittsburgh? These ones?

tile

Ever wonder who did that? And how they’re made?

Well, we can’t answer the first question. But we can answer the second!

Some DIY folks have posted a neat little article with their story of how they stumbled across the Pittsburgh tiles, how the artist made them, and how you can too. (Originally from Recipies for Disaster: the anarchists cookbook.)

And it’s one of the most popular articles on the site.

SANTARCHY!

santa

So. Before you go you go curling or see Mamaspell this Saturday, Dec. 10, you need to check out the first annual Pittsburgh SANTARCHY. This Santastic event has been held everywhere from Tokyo to San Francisco. The evidence at left is from McMurdo Station in Antarctica. Good Lord, I never thought I’d see the day where Pittsburgh was playing catch-up to Antarctica on a cultural trend. But anyway. We got it, finally.

From the organizer’s post at craigslist:

What is it? Santarchy is a nonpolitical, non-religious, not-for-profit (i.e. free), demented Santa Claus convention — a mass gathering of Santa Clauses that will spread a little disruptive, holiday cheer to everyone we encounter. It’s part pub crawl, part culture jam, and part prank.

Meeting place: Southside, Beehive Coffee House, corner of 14th and Carson.
When: 3:00 p.m., this Saturday
Until: ??? (But plan on a long day.)

The itinerary will be kept secret until the actual day, but expect the following:
— It will start and end in the Southside.
— Lots of walking
— Use of public transportation system
— Visits to Station Square and Downtown.
— Pub hopping
— Lots of funny looks

This event is free and open to all Santas, however, the drinks and food along the way will not be.

In order to participate you MUST dress like Santa Clause. Here is some advice from Pittsburgh Cacophony Society:

“Santa apparel is mandatory. A Santa hat is not enough. Get a Santa suit. Make a Santa suit. Steal a Santa suit. Buy a Santa suit. If you don’t have any money, be creative. If you don’t have any creativity, slap yourself three times and ask your mom to help you. Glue cotton balls to red long johns. Make it purple. Make it pink. Already have a Santa suit? Make a spare so Santa can assimilate strangers. Past examples: pimp Santa/Santa garcia/Santa’s naughty little helper/misfit toy/elf/reindeer. Traditional suits can be bought at local party stores or ordered online for $12 and up.”

I am looking forward to the insantaty.

Loova

In college, I studied abroad in London. And I spent too much money I didn’t have. Too much of this money was spent on soap. Yes, soap. You see, in London, there is a wonderful boutique chain called Lush. Lush specializes in fresh, hand-made, all natural, super-good smelling soap and beauty products. Their products are ridiculously expensive, yet addictive.

Thanks to Lush, I returned to Pittsburgh a soap addict. But Bath and Body Works did not fulfill my needs. The Body Shop was too far away. I wanted my soap and beauty products with expiration dates. I wanted to see my bath scrubs made and packaged right in front my eyes, made with fresh ingredients.

So imagine my surprise when I entered LOOVA, located in Station Square in the South Side. Could I believe my eyes? It was exactly like Lush – but (slightly more) affordable! And more importantly, local!

Soap by the slice? Check!
yum

Soap kebabs? Check!
soapy soap soap

Home-made bath cup cakes? Check!
tub cakes

Creatively packaged bath fizzies? CHECK!
fizz fizz

You can also buy Loova products online (orders of $50 get a 15% discount.) And … if you can’t afford the soap, I highly recommend visiting the store. The smells are free. (But don’t be surprised if you walk out wondering why you just bought a dozen bath fizzies.)