Category Archives: Annual Events

What are the best local church bazaars?

Calvary Church Bazaar

One of my favorite events as a kid was attending the annual holiday bazaar at our church. While my parents shopped, I would sit in the Sunday School room crafting elaborate gingerbread houses, consuming just as much candy as I was attaching to my graham cracker abode. I have a vague memory of my dad telling me we need to leave and I was insistent that I finish my gumdrop landscaping project before my masterpiece was complete. If only I spent that much time today on the maintenance of my own home today.

The purpose of this post is three fold…

  1. To let the thrift shoppers of Pittsburgh about the church bazaar scene.  I know they are out there and very secretive about their favorite thrift shops. (I’ve tried to write a blog post about Pittsburgh thrift stores and a few people have begged me not to publish that list.)  A serious thrifter should not overlook the annual bazaar in their quest for furniture, housewares, books and in some cases, amazing vintage clothing.
  2. To remind you that the Calvary Church Bazaar is on Saturday, October 28, 2017. I know several of the volunteers and they have been hard at work to make sure this event is a success. If you have not yet been to Calvary Church, the building is worth a visit. The building was designed by architect Ralph Adams Cram and the stained glass was designed by Charles J. Connick.
  3. To ask for recommendations of other upcoming bazaars to shop this holiday season (and year round – I know that St. Aloysius Church hosts a rummage sale every month in their rummage house).

If you love thrift shopping… don’t over look the church bazaars

I have renewed interest in church bazaars and rummage sales. A few weeks ago, I received a text from a friend about some sort of fall festival in Fox Chapel. I forgot about the text until she called me from the middle of a gymnasium surrounded by vintage chairs. “You might want to come over here, it’s crazy,” she said, “they’ve just marked everything 50% off.” I was on my way home for a nap, and decided I could make a detour across the Highland Park Bridge. I was in need of a new lamp and I had a hunch that a thrift sale in Fox Chapel might lead me to something more aesthetically pleasing than a lamp from ye olde Ikea.

The Fox Chapel Presbyterian Church Harvest Fair, is much more than a fall festival. “Harvest Fair” is a bit of a misnomer for this event. It is in the fall, and it has the feel of a fair of joyous shoppers buying all kinds of things. The Harvest Fair has got to be one of the best places to buy furniture, artwork, lamps, housewares and more. It is one of the biggest church rummage sale events I have ever seen. My friend advised me to hurry, the sale ended in 30 minutes. I assumed I would be pulling into an empty parking lot and as I crossed the bridge I was questioning if I had just squandered my nap time for nothing.

I arrived there in time for the last 15 minutes of the sale. The parking lot was packed and there were plenty of people still shopping. My friend was guarding a wooden chair, she had already put the bench she had purchased in her car. I got caught up in all of the excitement of this festival too. In less than 15 minutes I bought a couch for $8 (which they delivered to my house the next day for $30) and a marble lamp for $8. Following on the heels of our success in Fox Chapel, my friend and I have made a few other church sale stops since.

Churches as event venues and community centers 

The church bazaar is a great example of how Pittsburgh is changing. The church I attended as a kid no longer has a holiday bazaar. At the same time there are many great handmade and vintage markets happening all over the city. The popup market is one of the reasons I’ve become interested in how to re-purpose old church buildings.

One of the most popular posts on this blog is the post about Pittsburgh wedding venues. One of the questions I am frequently asked is where is an affordable venue that can hold several hundred people. Many of these churches were built to serve as community centers, with have kids rooms and kitchens. To prepare and serve food to the public, you have to use a kitchen that has been certified by the Allegheny County Health Department. Many churches have an industrial kitchen that is inspected by the health department (and often under utilized).

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There have been some church reuse success stories for churches that have closed and some churches that are still active. The Union Project in Highland Park had been abandoned for years and thanks to some neighborhood volunteers it now functions as an event venue, office space and ceramics studio. East Liberty Presbyterian Church runs Hope Academy of Music and the Arts, which offers art and music lessons to kids from all over Pittsburgh at an affordable cost. I would love to see some popup restaurant events take place in local churches.

Know of other holiday bazaars or church rummage sales? Please share upcoming events in the comments below. I would love to learn about other examples of how older community buildings are being reused in Pittsburgh.

A few more events you might be interested in…

Explore the 1st US Highway at the 44th Annual National Road Heritage Festival

As city lover, I never thought I would ever find room in my heart for highways. But after driving cross country and learning about the history of Route 66, I will admit I have made space in my heart for the open road.

This weekend is the 44th Annual National Road Festival. Just when I thought I had heard of every possibly historic festival in Western, PA, Facebook suggests an event and I’ve spent hours learning about all kinds of new history and places. Route 66 is about celebrating the car culture of America, the National Road Festival goes back even further to when we traveled west by wagons.

If you are interested in exploring or looking for a little road trip, then the Nation Road Festival offers plenty of events and activities along the way.

What is the National Road? Does it run through Pittsburgh?

The National Road which was know by several other names during its early days, was the first federal highway. The road is 620 miles long and stretches from Vandalia, Illinois to Cumberland, Maryland.

While the National Road does not go directly through Pittsburgh, all of the Pennsylvania locations are an easy day trip from Pittsburgh. The National Road travels through the counties of Somerset, Fayette and Washington.

The only website I can find for the National Road is NationalRoadPA.org, I am not sure if this is just for the National Road in Pennsylvania or if the nonprofit organization happens to be located in Pennsylvania but covers all of the National Road.

The 44th Annual National Road Festival Events in PA

The Facebook Event for the 44th Annual National Road Festival includes a schedule of all of the events happening in Somerset, Fayette and Washington Counties. It is unclear to me if there are National Road Festival events taking place in other states this weekend as well. The entire schedule is available online here.

Here ares some of the highlights of National Road Festival events happening this weekend, I have tried to find a website/more info for each of these locations, if you are planning to visit for a specific event, I would use the number listed in the festival schedule and call to confirm times before going.

What is a Wagon Train?

2014 – The wagon train passing down Main Street during the National Road Festival in Uniontown. Photo credit: Uniontown Concerned Citizens.

You will see several events which mention the “Wagon Train” which is an actual train of wagons that travels the National Road for the festival. From the Herald Standard’s recent article about the National Road Festival:

If there’s a thread that holds the festival together is the two wagon trains that travel through towns and pass by area landmarks.

The National Pike Wagon Train Association travels west, led by wagon master Doc Sherry and assistant wagon master Don Myers. They gathered for encampment yesterday in Grantsville, Maryland, and head out today for Addison, Somserset County. On Friday, the wagon train continues into Fayette County and the Farmington Volunteer Fire Department with a stop at A.J. McMullen School, part of the Uniontown Area School District, for lunch and to allow the children to visit. On Saturday, the wagon train heads down the Summit with a stop for lunch in Hopwood before heading through Uniontown and onto Mount St. Macrina, just west of Uniontown, where they will rest and have dinner before the wagon train breaks up and the participants head home.

The Wagonier’s Wagon Train travels east across Washington County, led by wagon master J.D. Ridenour. The wagon train gathers Friday morning in Claysville, Washington County, and camps overnight at Washington Park. The wagon train arrives in Scenery Hill at 2 p.m. Saturday for super and an overnight camp. It departs Sunday, heading to the Waleski Farm for lunch around noon and then on to the National Pike Steam, Gas and Horse Association around 2 p.m. The wagon train breaks up about 4 p.m.

Participants in the wagon train dress in period costume to portray pioneers who traveled west on the National Road in the early 19th century, showcasing the American spirit.

44th Annual National Road Festival Highlighted Events Near Pittsburgh

Town Location Events
Richeyville, PA Waleski Horse Farm
38 Emery Road
Saturday –Blue Grass Music
Sunday at noon the Wagon Train will make a stop for lunch.
Brownsville, PA Nemacolin Castle History Tours: Friday -noon –5:00pm Saturday –10:00am-5:00pm Sunday-11:00am-5:00pm Ghost Tours: Friday & Saturday-6:00PM-10:00PM (*Tours-$10-adults; $4.00 12 & under)
Scenery Hill, PA Saturday:
10:00am – Opening ceremony
10:30am – B& B Performing Arts
12:00 noon – Spirit & Grace
1:30pm –WAGON TRAIN ARRIVES
2:00pm– Keith Wilson
3:00pm– Scotty SpharSunday:
9:00am – Community Church Service
11:30am-Kenny & Chip
12:00 noon—Kenny & Chip
1:00pm – Tap n’ Toes Dance Studio
2:15pm – Deborah’s School of Dance
3:30pm—”The Rain Dogs” (acoustic)
Washington, PA Main St Pavilion Saturday, May 20th -8am – 5pm
National Road Antiques Fair –20 vendors offering antiques from 18th, 19th & 20th centuries.Historic walking tours –meet at 1pm at Main St Pavilion with Sandy Mansmann for walking tour of historic downtown Main St buildingsFrancis LeMoyne House –take a tour of this Underground railroad site& visit the Military Heritage Museum (Sat & Sun 11am-3pm)

David Bradford House –Living history demos and activities. Museum open for self guided tours with docents in period attire (Sat&Sun 11am–3pm)

Smock, PA Abel Colley Tavern Noon until 5pm The Abel Colley Tavern & Museum will host an exhibit of newly acquired Native American Artifacts; children’s activities; a 19th century operating telegraph; illustrated story of Ephram Walters, who was captured by Native Americans and Traditional National Road Era menu items and Book Sale. Admission $5.00
Uniontown, PA Searight Toll House Saturday – 11am – 4pm Guided Tours Sunday, Noon – 4pm Guided tours Admission both days : Adults – $2.00; $1.00 /student -Children 12 & under Free;
Uniontown, PA Mount Saint Macrina Saturday 3:00pm –Approximate arrival of Wagon Train. 1:00-3:00pm – Mansion Tours by Laurel Highlands High school history students in period costumes. Music performed by a pianist. Adults -$12.00; Children (6-12) $5.00
Farmington, PA Mt Washington Tavern

Sat-Sun –10am-4pm

Ft Necessity National Battlefield and Mount Washington Tavern will be open daily from 10am to 4pm. Park staff and volunteers will staff the buildings to answer questions. Entrance fee is free and all activities and pro

Facebook Event

Ohiopyle, PA Ohiopyle Stewart Community Center

Saturday, 12pm—7:00pm – 3rd Annual Wine and Arts Festival, hosted by Spirit of the River —The town of Ohiopyle and surrounding community will be hosting a Wine, Arts and Music Festival. No charge for admission— ticket sales for Spirit Tasting only – and must be 21 with valid ID. Local Crafts, local music and art. Tickets are $25, you donations is used to raise funds for support of the boro of Ohiopyle.

Spirit of the River: Ohiopyle Wine and Arts Festival Facebook Event

Addison, PA  Addison, PA Saturday, May 20

  • 9am –noon –Bicentennial Stamp Cancellation at Addison Post Office
  • 10am –1:00pm-1860’s baseball played at ball field behind the Cemetery (Addison, Rockwood & Pittsburgh teams to play)
  • 10am-4:00pm- Food by Country Lane LambsCrafts & Wool Products (Lutheran Church parking lot)
  • 10am-5:00pm-Vendors on the green space beside Lutheran church
  • 12 noon –4:00pm –Toll House & Addison Museum open
  • 7:00pm – A Play at Addison United Methodist Church entitled “ Who Lived Here?” Admission is free.

Sunday, May 21st

  • 9am –10:15am—Church on the Green with Blessing of Pets, Addison UMC (Main St)
  • 10:00am-5:00pm – Food by Country Lane Lambs; Crafts & Woolen products
  • 11:00am-5:00pm – Vendors on green space beside St. John’s Luthern Church
  • 11:15am-3:00pm– Antique/Classic Car Show (Main St –Luthern Church Park lot—music by JohnEB Good.
  • 11:00am-1:00pm– Fireman’s Chicken Barbecue at Fire Hall on Route 40
  • 1:00pm-4:00pm– Addison Museum Frederick Augustine History House Welcome ctr open, Humbertson School Student art display at school –open
  • 1:00pm-4:00pm – Petersburg Toll House open

Facebook Page for Old Petersburg-Addison Historical Society

 

Spectators Guide to the 2016 Dirty Dozen Bike Race

Update 10/24/19: The 2019 Dirty Dozen will be held on October 26, 2019. Read more about the race and where to watch here

The Saturday after Thanksgiving is the annual Dirty Dozen Bike Race. What started as a group of friends pedaling up the steepest hills in Pittsburgh, now has several hundred riders.

The race was started by Danny Chew, a Pittsburgh cyclist who is on a mission to ride 1,000,000 miles in his lifetime. Earlier this year, Danny was injured in a cycling accident and is currently in Chicago for rehab. Thanks to the magic of technology he will be giving race commentary via Skype.

The website for the 2016 Dirty Dozen race is mostly information for riders,  here are a few things that might be helpful if you want to watch the race. You should still click over to the website, lots of links to articles about Danny and the history of the race.

Dirty Dozen Live Video Feed

A livestream of the race is being broadcasts via Facebook here. The link has been a little unreliable, so you may have to refresh or visit the Cycling Fusion Facebook page to see if they have posted a new link.

Where to watch the race in Pittsburgh

Here is a map of the race: https://www.strava.com/routes/7068026

So this is a little tricky, the most important thing if you are going to try to watch is to stay out of the way of the cyclists. There is usually not much parking near some of the hills.

From previous races, I would recommend, looking at the livestream, see which hill the cyclists are on and then go ahead 2-3 hills, so you have plenty of time to get there and park before the cyclists start.

At 10 am, the lead group had just completed hill #2.

List of hills:

  1. Centre Ave, Aspinwall
  2. Ravine Street, Sharpsburg
  3. Christopher Street, Lawrenceville (New for 2016)
  4. High Street / Steavy Road, Etna
  5. Logan Street, Millvale
  6. Rialto Street, Troy Hill
  7. Suffolk / Hazelton / Burgess, North Side
  8. Sycamore Street, Mount Washington
  9. Canton Ave, Beechview
  10. Boustead Street, Beechview
  11. ?
  12. Barry / Holt / Elanor, Southside

Spectator Events

 

2016 Pittsburgh Marathon Map & Hashtags

Sunday May 1, 2016 is a busy day in the City of Pittsburgh. Today is the Pittsburgh Marathon and graduation at University of Pittsburgh.

Here is a .jpg of the Pittsburgh Marathon Map. You can download a larger .pdf of the map here: 2016 Pittsburgh Marathon Course Map.

2016-pittsburgh-marathon-map

Pittsburgh Marathon Hashtags & Twitter Accounts to Follow

If you are following the race on social media, here are some hashtags to follow…

Follow these folks on Twitter for Pittsburgh Marathon updates:

I’ve added all of these accounts to this PghMarathon Twitter list.

Tweet and UPMC is Giving the Neighborhood with the Most Spirit A Green Makeover

Check out UPMC’s Steel City Spirit contest and use these hashtags. The neighborhood with the most tweets wins. (Kudos to the UPMC team for designing a really great website for this contest.)

 

The 33rd Annual Dirty Dozen Bicycle Race is Saturday

Some consider this a formal affair. 2014 Dirty Dozen.

Some consider this a formal affair. 2014 Dirty Dozen.

Update 10/24/19: The 2019 Dirty Dozen will be held on October 26, 2019. Read more about the race and where to watch here

Just a quick reminder that the annual Dirty Dozen bike race is Saturday, November 28, 2015.  Cyclists pedal around the city and tackle 13 of the steepest hills. It is an exciting race to watch.

If you go, please be very careful and stay out of the way of cyclists and support vehicles. It is best to go to a hill way ahead of the pack, park out of the way and wait. I wouldn’t plan on trying to drive to all of the hills. Pick one to start and then skip the next few and head to another hill.