Today, Tuesday, November 4, 2014 is Election Day. The big race on the ballot is for the Governor of PA. The polls are open until 8pm.
Share your voting stories with the #votePGH hashtag.
Links to polling place locators, voter guide and more are included below.
https://storify.com/iheartpgh/election-day-2014-pittsburgh-voter-resources
I was just planning on putting up a blog post that highlights some of the best photos and tweets about Halloween from around town (you can find all of that stuff below). I have spent this week writing about Halloween parties and I have spent this afternoon writing about Halloween apps over here. All fun and fluffy stuff. I clicked over the the Pittsburgh Bloggers Facebook group to add my links to the Friday link share post and I stopped to read what some of the other bloggers have shared this week.
While tricks and treats are fun, these bloggers have written some incredibly thoughtful posts about Halloween, giving, kindness and just being good people. I think all of these posts are worth a read. I really like the idea of thinking about Halloween and giving. I sort of think of Halloween as the unofficial end of fall and beginning of the holiday season. I’ve included a small quote from each of these three posts, but I would encourage you to click through and visit each of these blog posts and learn more about these writers and Pittsburghers. In the middle of all of the candy fueled craziness, it is nice to be reminded about some things that really matter.
The Spirit of Giving: Light the Sky by Chelle Stein @Chelle_stein – be sure to check out the video she made of her journal, part of the Journal52 project.
Today is Halloween, and for me, this day is not so much about ghosts and those kinds of spirits as much as it is about the spirit of giving.
It begins a time of year when we are on the brink of our darkest days with no sunshine, yet the spirit of giving lights the way all through now until the end of the year.
Pittsburgh Plays It Forward With Holiday Toy Project by The Pittsburgh Lesbian Correspondents @PghLesbian24 – a great post offing an in-depth look at Play It Forward Pittsburgh, local nonprofit that I did not know about. I think Sue’s idea to share this on Halloween is brilliant – another great idea at the beginning of the holiday season.
I’m publishing this on Halloween because I know a lot of families set aside costumes as playthings so you might consider doing that this year and sharing those items with neighbors.
A Real Mensch by Rabble Raiser @FunkyDung – this real Pittsburgh dad share a story about how his son has shown friendship to one of his preschool classmates.
That small gesture, that might have meant a lot to that little girl, is just the kind of thing he does. He’ll play with anyone. He can make friends with anyone. He’s not a loud, boisterous personality, though. He’s a quiet, silly, bouncy kid that is as comfortable doing his own thing in class or on the playground as he is cooperating and playing with a big crowd.
On several occasions, Joel has said, “I love everyone in the whole world”. I think I believe him.
I know that I included the Hitchcock! A Halloween Party at the Carrie Furnace on the big list of Pittsburgh Halloween Parties, but the folks who are working to make this a fabulous party and this location both deserve a more than the few bullet points that were included on that list.
The hosts of this upcoming soiree have been sending some amazing updates about the party, more on that in a minute. First the party details…
Hitcock! A Halloween Party
If you are new to Pittsburgh, or maybe you grew up here when the Waterfront had already been turned into a shopping plaza, you might not know what in the heck people are talking about when they say furnace.
Carrie Furnace No. 7, U.S. Steel Homestead Works, Blast Furnace Plant, Along Monongahela River, Homestead (Allegheny County, Pennsylvania) (cropped) (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
The Carrie Furnace is actually the Carrie Furnaces, former blast furnaces that were part of a steel manufacturing plant. As you may know, most of the steel manufacturing left the Pittsburgh area in the 1970s and 1980s. The Carrie Furnaces were built in 1907 for the Homestead Works. The Rivers of Steel National Heritage Area is working on making these furnaces one of the focal points for a proposed Homestead Works National Park.
The Carrie Furnace and the whole Rivers of Steel area are an often overlooked, but very important part of local and national history. The steel industry a key story line in the development of Pittsburgh as a major international city but the Homestead Strike of 1892 was a significant historical event in the countries labor history.
And that is just a tiny bit of the history behind the Carrie Furnace. You can learn more about the site from the Rivers of Steel website here.
This party is being put together by three businesses that are all relatively new to Pittsburgh, but whose owners have a passion for supporting the local community, local businesses and local history. I know that I, as well as many others in Pittsburgh, have written much about each of these businesses before (and I am sure the other bloggers are better writers than me). But all of these fine folks should be on your radar…
Pete, who is one of the owners of The Independent Brewing Company as been writing some impressive essays, I mean updates about the party. Here are a few of the highlights, you can read all of the party updates here.
On what to wear…
1. Wear “outdoor” shoes. Most of the party is indoors, but even indoors, the terrain can be a bit rough. So wear something that will prevent you from twisting ankles or skinning toes. You can rock that sexy 60s cocktail dress just as well (and a heck of a lot more comfortably and safely) in a cute pair of sturdy flats. as you would in 6 inch stilettos.
2. Dress as light as you’d like, but be SURE to bring something warm to throw on — Current weather predictions are sunny (yay!) but a low of 39 degrees (boo!). Don’t worry — we’re not animals — we’ll have fire barrels in the courtyard and also space heaters in the A/C Powerhouse (which will likely warm up from human heat pretty well too). But, plan to have a couple of layers. No one is going to stop you from coming naked and wrapped in a bloody shower curtain, but be sure to bring a blanket to wrap yourself in when you go into the courtyard.
On why this party matters…
But, I hope (and, after today, I think that I know) that, at this party, you’ll have a sense that what you’re doing is being part of something special, for the furnaces and the region. And I hope that you can connect back to that same feeling that we’ve had as we continue to build our set: namely, that not long ago, there were hard working people in this very same place making iron that built not just our city, but our whole nation. We can’t compare to the achievements of those workers. But we can help keep their memory alive by throwing one hell of a party and bringing that sacred place alive for one more evening (and hopefully, many more days and evenings to come in the future).
If you get the chance, sign up the for the Independent Brewing Company’s Email list (I have no idea where or how you sign up for this) but I promise you that Pete’s weekly updates are not something that you will want to click unsubscribe.
Have you always wanted to start a business or do you have an idea that you think might make a great business, but you aren’t sure where to start? Then you should apply to Thrill Mill for the 2015 class. Thrill Mill is an incubator located on Broad St. in East Liberty. They are now accepting applications for their third class of companies.
I was part of the first Thrill Mill class and the Thrill Mill incubator has only improved. Even though I am still not as far as I would like to be with my business, it was a great experience to learn about the startup ecosystem in Pittsburgh. The most valuable part of the Thrill Mill program for me was getting to know some of the other entrepreneurs, many who have become close friends. If you are interested in starting a business, or think you want to start a business – I can’t say enough about how important it is to be a part of a “tribe” of like minded people. Also, it was through Thrill Mill that I was introduced to C-leveled, a business consulting firm in Bloomfield, where I currently work helping C-leveled’s clients with social media. (If you need help with social media, marketing or a website for your business – I’d be happy to buy you a cup of coffee and chat – drop me an email lpatross-at-c-leveled.com).
Up to 20 startups will be accepted for a full year of first-class office space, funding, a depth of hands-on programming, mentorship, investors, and growth-focused partnerships.
The application is simple – just two questions – describe your idea and introduce your team. Click here to apply. Applications must be submitted by October 29, 2014 at 11:59pm.
You can read more about the Thrill Mill application process and some of the current companies here. Babs Carryer @BabsCarryer who writes the blog The New Venturist is also a teacher/mentor at Thrill Mill wrote a post about her work at Thrill Mill which you can read here.
Here are some of the companies that have been a part of the Thrill Mill incubator. Keep an eye out for these businesses around town.
Have an awesome costume that you are looking to show off? Looking for an excuse to get out of the house? Pittsburgh is notorius for Halloween parties (The infamous Evaline Halloween Party which ended its 15 year run last year was featured in Spin Magazine). Check out one or several of these upcoming Halloween parties around Pittsburgh. Some are free and some are a little more expensive but benefit a good cause.
Even if parties aren’t you thing, be sure to check out some of the posters and artwork for these events – there are a few impressive posters and flyers for some of these events. Check out our Pinterest board of Pittsburgh Posters here.
Celebrate Safely! Use the bus, have a designated driver, grab a cab, take Lyft or Uber (for a free Lyft ride use code LIPA4 and for a free Uber ride use code IheartPGH).
House of Mirors Dance Party to benefit Arthritis Foundation // Friday, October 24, 2014
Jam on Walnut Halloween // Saturday, October 25, 2014
Rocky Horror Picture Show // Monday, October 27, 2014
Terror Island Tiki Party @ Brillobox //Tuesday, October 28, 2014
Adventure Bingo @ Harvard & Highland // Wednesday, October 29, 2014
Halloween Bash & b-movie @ Belvederes // Wednesday, October 29, 2014
Point Breezeway Costume Party Featuring Lil’ Rev // Friday, October 31, 2014
21+ Spirits and Spirits at Carnegie Science Center // Friday, October 31, 2014
Devil’s Night w/ Brenmar, Bamboo, and Edgar Um // Friday, October 31, 2014
Jergels 3rd Annual Halloween and Costume Party with Totally 80s // Friday, October 31, 2014
GAPP Halloween Party // Saturday, November 1, 2014
Bacchanalia // Saturday, November 1, 2014
HITCHCOCK! A Halloween Party at the Carrie Furnace // Saturday, November 1, 2014
Dia de los Muertos: A Celebration of Life Supporting Global Links // Saturday, November 1, 2014
No Mames: Day of the Dead at Round Corner Cantina // Saturday, November 1, 2014
Wicked Good Time Gala // Saturday, November 14, 2014
