Author Archives: Natalia

Pitt Telefact

Wow. I learn new things every day. The other day, someone told me about Telefact, a service provided by the students at the University of Pittsburgh. Apparently, it’s like google from your phone. These students can provide any piece of information, from who originally sang your favorite cover songs, or obscure sports facts from the 1960s. A couple of friends tried it, and whaddya know, it works.

Just call 412 624 FACT for your trivia and others requests.

I don’t know if this service is specifically for the university community or for Pittsburgh at large. Does anyone know anything about this?

Wild Turkeys

breathtaking majesty.

Some days on my way to school, I am lucky enough to see a bunch of turkeys bopping around on the side of the road. They are very cute and make me smile. Take that, Manhattan!

I was curious as to what a “flock” of turkeys is called, and so I found this handy dandy website:

“Benjamin Franklin wanted wild turkeys to be our national symbol instead of the bald eagle. He felt that the stately, majestic qualities of the wild turkey would make it a fine symbol for the new country.

“Most people are familiar with the term “flock of pigeons” and even “gaggle of geese,” but did you know that a group of turkeys is called a “rafter”? And baby turkeys are called poults.”

You can see a happy, safe rafter of turkeys at the South Park Nature Center in South Park, PA (about a 20 minute drive outside the city). The Nature Preserve also has pheasants, ruffled grouses (our state bird!), peacocks (which make the weirdest noises ever) deer, and … buffalo! That’s right, buffalo. You can attempt to feed the animals grass and seed without getting your hands pecked or bitten off. It’s pretty fun. The Center also has nature programs incorporating the trails, streams, and other resources of the park.

Check out other nature programs at Parks in Allegheny County here:
http://www.county.allegheny.pa.us/parks/2005/ncenter.asp

Hmm. I still haven’t found out why I only see turkeys in the fall. What are they doing during the rest of the year? Hiding? Mating? Sleeping? Any turkey experts in the audience?

Directions to the Center:
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Esther’s Sweet Shop

Esther’s Sweet Shop is housed in a 3 story building on Brownsville Road in Carrick.* It’s been a fixture in the neighborhood for as long as I can remember. As kids, we sold Esther’s truffles, eggs, hard candy, gummies and assortments for the marching band and sports clubs.

It is good stuff. (Better than some other name-brand candies you find at drug stores and other fundraising campaigns. ) The ladies that work behind the counter are the nicest people in the world, and if you’re lucky, you may be able to peek at their chocolate-making operation in the back.

So if you’re considering a fundraiser, or just need pounds of chocolate or hard candies whatever reason – check out Esther’s. Their website is pretty awesome – now you can even buy their candy online:

http://www.esthershomemadecandy.com/

* “Where’s Carrick?!,” you may ask. It’s a city neighborhood that lies beyond South Side, Arlington and Mt. Oliver, of course! (For you PAT bus riders, the 51C’ll take you right there. ) Here’s a map!
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Trip Planner

Finally our friend PAT (Port Authority Transit, of course), has introduced an ONLINE TRIP PLANNER. Imagine that!

The link:
http://ridegold.com/ATIS/pgATIS.aspx

The trip planner tells you specific bus routes, stops, departure times, and arrival times you need to get from Point A to Point B anywhere in the Port Authority area.

I played around with it and here is a tip:

Enter only intersections. When I tried to enter an address, the system said, “trip not possible.” That’s annoying. So yes, only intersections!

So now you can get around without asking everyone in your office or your old lady neighbor who’s lived on that same block for 76 years. Yay!

Night at the Byham

Tonight I went to see Alonzo King’s LINES Ballet at the Byham Theatre (the company does not reside Pittsburgh, but I’ll let it go.) There were numerous heart moments, so I shall consolidate:

1) The doorman with the neat moustache and facial hair greeted me. He rocks it.
2) I think I sat next to someone whom I knew in middle school. (If you are reading this, Person, forgive me for not saying anything. It’s just like, been a while.)
3) The performance was inspiring, and Pittsburghers asked really great questions at the ‘talk back’ session with Mr. King afterwards.
4) Downtown was hoppin’ after the show! The Pirates game had let out at the same time, there was a delightful throng of college kids with the cheap seats and old money crowding the streets.
5) Later in the evening, I attended a friend’s birthday (downtown*, of course) and saw more faces I haven’t seen in over 2 years, and made some wonderful new acquaintances. Who needs Friendster when you have Pittsburgh?**
6) I drove home listening to some wicked drum’n’bass on the late night public radio tip. (I forgot to mention in my WYEP that the music gets much more interesting after midnight.)

* Downtown: the new Lawrenceville. Or the new Garfield. I don’t know, I can’t keep it straight.

** That said, I Heart PGH has a Friendster profile – you know you wanna get up in the action. Myspace and all that jazz coming soon.