TechShop Knows How to Hack a Party – Event on August 28 to Benefit Big Brothers Big Sisters

If you haven’t had a chance to check out TechShop Pittsburgh yet – you are in luck! On August 28, they are closing down the shop for a party of epic proportions. This is a great party and a great deal – a day pass to TechShop is $50. Tickets for Party@TechShop are $15, use the code TSlovesIheartPGH to save $5 off the ticket price. So for $10 you get access to the shop and whole lot of food and drink from some of the best local spots in town.

Party@TechShop – Thursday, August 28

When: Thursday, August 28, 2014 – 7-10pm
Where: TechShop Pittsburgh, Bakery Square, Pittsburgh, PA 15206
Cost: $15/person ($5 from each ticket is donated to Big Brothers Big Sisters)
Click here to order tickets – use the code TSlovesIheartPGH to save $5
Facebook Event Page

Party@TechShop is a chance to check out the space, learn more about TechShop and to make some cool stuff. In addition to TechShop activities, The Pittsburgh Glass Center and the Carnegie Science Center will be running some demos as well.

TechShop will be having some great giveaways – including a chance to win tickets to the Thrival Music Festival

Food and Drink provided from some of the best local spots in Pittsburgh:

Wigle Whiskey @WigleWhiskey
Social @eatsocial1
Bar Marco @BarMarcoPGH
Roundabout Brewing Company @RoundaboutBrew
Eleventh Hour Brewing Company @11thHourBrewing
Local Homebrew Clubs: TRASH and TRUB
Pittsburgh Juice Company @PGH_Juice
Bigham Tavern @BinhamTavern
52nd St. Market @52nsStMrkt
Whitehorse Brewing

The President Talks Manufacturing and Innovation at TechShop Pittsburgh (whitehouse.gov)
Bakery Square’s tech woos Obama (triblive.com)
Obama to visit TechShop Pittsburgh for economy speech (wtae.com)
Learn To Make Unique Keepsakes At TechShop Exhibition (pittsburgh.cbslocal.com)

Race on Water – Standup Paddleboard Race at the Lake Arthur Regatta

Ian Smith of SurfSUP Adventures & Micalla Mikus of Freeport Paddleboarding getting ready to race (Photo Credit: Mike Briggs)

A few years ago when my sister was in law school, she spent a summer working in Hawaii. She returned to the east coast with some legal knowledge, a tan and a love of surfboard sports.

I have become a huge fan of kayaking around Pittsburgh – if you haven’t seen Downtown Pittsburgh from a kayak, you are missing out. And I am now an even bigger fan of standup paddleboarding on the three rivers.

Fortunately for me, there are some great people in Pittsburgh who are helping to get more people on the river and I am no longer the only person who drives around town with a surfboard on their car. Over the past year, I’ve spent a bunch of time paddling on the river and lakes of Western PA with Ian Smith of SurfSUP Adventures.

Last summer I was talking with Micalla Mikus, who is the owner of Freeport Paddleboarding Company. Micalla had just returned from competing in a SUP race in Maryland. I’m not a huge fan of running 5ks, but a paddle board race peaked my interest.

Two weeks ago – I participated in my first race at the Brady’s Run Gear and Cheer Festival. Thanks to Micalla and Ian my first race was a success and a ton of fun.

It was a 1 mile race and it took me 16 minutes to paddle the mile, the winner finishing in 9 minutes. If I can paddle a mile, I promise you pretty much anyone can do this. I would love to see more people try paddle boarding and I think this race will be a ton of fun. If you have questions about standup paddleboarding or the race this weekend. Please leave a comment below.

First Annual SUP Race at the Lake Arthur Regatta at Moraine State Park

This weekend is the annual Lake Arthur Regatta – Surfsup Adventures and Freeport Paddleboard Company are hosting a Stand Up Paddleboard race that promises to be a fun time. You don’t need to have a board or any experience to compete.

Lake Arthur SUP Race

Saturday, August 2, 2014
Registration – 3pm
Location: Lake Arthur, Moraine State Park, 225 Pleasant Valley Road
Entry: $20 – Register online here

If you need a board – register online and send an email to info@surfsupadventures.com. I know there will be plenty of boards available.

Organizers seek to make Lake Arthur Regatta a showcase for Moraine State Park (triblive.com)
How to enjoy Pittsburgh’s three rivers: count the ways (post-gazette.com)
There’s plenty of wet and wild fun in the area (triblive.com)

Unique Yoga Classes in Pittsburgh (Yoga w/Beer, Brunch, Boards & More)

Yinz are really getting into to the yoga here in the steel city. What an incredible crowd of people at the OpenStreetsPGH event last week. So many people you couldn’t squeeze another yoga mat into market square.

If you are looking for some other places to break out your yoga mats around town … check out these unique yoga classes and events.

https://storify.com/iheartpgh/unique-yoga-classes-in-pittsburgh

Urban Hike Heads to Millvale – Macaroons, Murals and More

Maxo Vanka Murals, Millvale – 1 (Photo credit: the justified sinner)

Urban Hike is one of the best ways to check out the city and meet some new folks. The Urban Hike organizers have mapped out a route, found the best places to eat and lined up some local experts to share some local history. This hike to Millvale will make a stop to see one of the best kept secrets in Western PA – the Maxo Vanka Murals.

Urban Hike Millvale

Saturday, July 19, 2014

10am – meet at Jean-March Chatellier’s French Bakery, 212 North Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15209

Facebook Event – https://www.facebook.com/events/1439057913021684/

Join us for a 4-mile walk in Millvale this Saturday, July 19th. The hike begins at 10:00 a.m., but we suggest you arrive early to grab a treat from the highly-regarded Jean-Marc Chatellier’s French Bakery. As we hike, we’ll catch a couple of highlights in the business district, peak in on the Max Vanko murals, speak to some Franciscan nuns about their peaceful and eco-friendly Millvale home, and, as always, walk on residential streets to get the real feel of the neighborhood.

This hike is a bit flatter than most, but it’s still Pittsburgh, so there will be some hills and city steps. Come prepared with your walking shoes, a bottle of water and, if needed, an umbrella. We hike rain or shine.

Don’t let the parking meters on North and Grant Avenues fool you, they are free on weekends. Park wherever you can find a spot near the bakery.

If you have time after the hike, stick around for lunch at Sidelines Bar and Grill with the Urban Hike crew or brunch on your own at the original Pamela’s — the P&G Diner — which is within a block of our starting spot at Jean-Marc’s.

We look forward to seeing you on Saturday!

[fb_embed_post href=”https://www.facebook.com/events/1439057913021684//” width=”550″/]

View of Millvale (Photo Credit: Millvale Bogough Facebook Page)

Urban Hike Links

Urban Hike Heads to Garfield (iheartpgh.com)
Urban Hike Scavenger Hunt – Be There or Be Square (iheartpgh.com)
Urban Hike Heads to Ambridge (iheartpgh.com)
Local Photo: This is Fineview (bloglocal.net)

Clean Your Closet – Shred Your Threads Clothing Swap & Cash for Clothes

Looking to update your wardrobe on the cheap? Here is a great excuse to clean out your closet. Check out this AWESOME event at TechShop on Sunday or some of the other ways you can exchange you can upgrade your wardrobe on the cheap.

Shred Your Threads Clothing Swap at TechShop

This Sunday, June 29, 2014 – TechShop Pittsburgh is hosting an epic clothing swap and workshop event.

This is a great deal too – $12 if you aren’t a TechShop Pittsburgh member and gets you access to the swap, to TechShop Pittsburgh (a day pass is usually $50) and a day of workshops on basic sewing, laser cutting, screen printing and other ways to upcycle your clothing.

You can come for all or part of the day. The workshops are designed to build upon skills – so if you are intersted in learning it is suggested you plan to come for the whole day.

I know that TechShop has lined up some of the craftiest folks around Pittsburgh to help with this event. I was talking with a felllow Pittsburgh blogger and fashion stylist about the laser cutting demo (I’ve heard rumors that they might try to laser cut a leather jacket) and was informed that laser cutting is quite the trend right now.

The event will begin with Day One, June 28th, for a Call for Clothes (people can drop off their unwanted items to our swap room). We will accept your donations, whether you are planning to attend day two or not!

Then return on Day Two, June 29th, for a Swap Meet and UpCycling Sessions. Tickets for Day Two can be purchased through EventBrite. Tickets include training, instruction, and networking with local artists, seamstresses, and professional instructors as well as light refreshments and all equipment and materials.

The timeline for Day Two includes:

9:00AM – 12:00PM: Clothing Donations accepted
10:00-12:00PM: SWAP!
11:00AM: Basic Sewing Class
12:00PM: Lunch Break
1:00-5:00PM: Equipment demonstrations, hands-on workshops, take-it-home activities

Demonstration Stations including:

Laser-Cutting fabric
CNC Embroidery
Vinyl-Cutting Techniques

More details about the Shred Your Threads event and registration information is available here.

Sell Your Clothes for Cash in Pittsburgh and Online

If you can’t make it to the clothing swap this weekend, there are lots of other ways you can trade your old clothes for new ones.

In Pittsburgh, these stores will offer you cash or store credit for your clothes. You bring in your unwanted clothes and they will offer you a dollar amount for the items they want to buy. I believe that both offer 30% of the item value in cash or 45% of the item value in credit to buy something else from the shop. So if you bring in a shirt that they would sell for $10 – you would get $3 in cash or $4.50 in store credit.

Both stores offer a range of new, used, vintage and designer clothing for men and women.

Avalon Exchange, Forbes Ave, Sq. Hill @AvalonExchange
Clothes Minded, Liberty Ave, Bloomfield

They won’t take everything and often only buy for the current and upcoming season – so don’t go in expecting to walk out with empty bags.

ThredUp Sell Bag [Photo Credit: Amy’s Savings Tips]

If you have more clothes to get rid of, especially items that are out of season, you might try one of these online resale websites. I have used both Twice and ThredUp and had a great experience. Both Twice and ThreadUp will send you a free bag, that comes with a prepaid postage label. Fill up the bag and send it back. You will receive an email with an offer for you clothing. Unwanted items will be donated to Goodwill or you can pay a little extra to have the items shipped back to you. Twice will give you an additional 25% bonus if you select store credit as your payout. (From now until 7/31/2014 – Twice is offering a 30% bonus for store credit payouts).

Twice – only takes certain brands of women’s clothing and handbags @twice
ThredUp – accepts women’s clothing, shoes and handbags and kids clothes for boys and girls @thredup

Do you have any tips or suggestions for closet clean outs? Are there consignment shops that you would recommend for selling clothes in Pittsburgh? Share your experience in the comments below.