Tag Archives: Downtown

Tour of Pennsylvania Rolls Into Town

There are a ton of great things to do this weekend. But I am most excited about watching the Tour of PA. The Tour of PA is like the Tour de France, a huge professional bike race across the state of PA, part of this is in celebration of Pittsburgh’s 250. There are going to be 3 great opportunities to watch the racers enter the finish line and there are a ton of events to go along with the race.

I am including the race specifics – where to watch the start and finish below. Here is the short version with other activities included. Also check out the Trib’s Spectator Guide -which has lots of helpful info like what each color jersey means (via BikePGH).

  • Friday, June 27 – Bedford to Latrobe
    • While you are in Latrobe you might want to take a drive out to Ligonier – the library has an exhibit of Antique Bike Paraphernalia up until July 12, 2008.
  • Saturday, June 28 – Ligonier to Pittsburgh
  • Sunday, June 29 – Downtown Pittsburgh Criterium
    • Free Bike Valet – Bike PGH will safely watch your bikes while you watch the race.  Park at one of the trail lots and bike downtown for the finish.

Friday, June 27 – Bedford to Latrobe
Start: Bedford, Penn and South Juliana Street
Finish: Latrobe, Ligonier and Alexandria Street
Estimated Finish Time: 1:00 – 2:00 PM Followed by Awards Ceremony

Highmark Healthy High Five Finish Line Festival: 1:00 PM – 6:00 PM
Lot on Ligonier Street near Alexandria Street

Saturday, June 28 – Ligonier to Pittsburgh
Start: Ligonier, Market Street just off Route 30
Finish: Pittsburgh Southside, Sidney Street right before Hot Metal Street
Official Start Time: Noon Opening Ceremonies: 11:30 AM
Miles: 91 Kilometers: 146
Estimated Finish Time: 2:55 – 3:30 PM Followed by Awards Ceremony at American Eagle Outfitters HQ on Sidney Street right before Hot Metal Street

Highmark Healthy High Five Finish Line Festival: 2:00PM – 9:00PM
28th and Sidney Street in Pittsburgh Southside

Sunday, June 29 – Downtown Pittsburgh Criterium
Start/Finish Line: Blvd of the Allies and Stanwix Street
Official Start Time: 5 PM, Opening Ceremonies: 4:00 PM
Miles: 50 Kilometers: 80.5 (33 laps on a 1.5 mile/2.4km circuit)
Approximate Finish Time: 6:50 PM, Awards Ceremony to follow

Highmark Healthy High 5 Finish Line Festival: 2:00PM – 9:00PM
Blvd of the Allies and Stanwix Street

More Blog Coverage:

  • Giro di Keir – this is the blog of one of the cyclists on Team Race Pro – he writes about arriving in Philly.
  • Urban Velo

Arts Festival Pick- Art Olympics: The Iron Chef of Art

Art Olympics, Saturday, June 21, 6:30 pm, Market Square

This event looks like it is going to be a great time. Artists will be competing against the clock and with limited materials to create sculpture. I think it will be interestesting to see how the different teams tackle the creative process. The final products will be judged by a panel of experts.

I also think this event is worth checking out because it is a creation of Tom Sarver of the Tom Museum who is someone I would really like to meet. The Tom Museum hosted the show about mix tapes and I was sorry I wasn’t able to attend. I just leared from the Tom’s blog that the Tom Museum closed on May 31st. Tom Sarver’s blog has some great clips of projects around Pittbsurgh and beyond. Check out this one on cardboard gears.

You can see the schedule of events here. There is even a halftime show too. The audience is encouraged to get up close and talk with the teams. Check out the website for the event here. Beer from Penn Brewery and Music from Opek. Read John Morris’s write up of the event on The Digging Pitt blog here.

Here is a clip of the Art Olympics from last fall at the New Hazlette Theater. (Video courtesy of Larry Ripple)

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HW00uCb6X-o[/youtube]

A zany blend of reality television, racing and art, the Art Olympics are coming to Market Square. The creation of puppeteer, painter and sculptor Tom Sarver, the Art Olympics pits teams of artists against each other to create a sculpture using surprise materials and curious constraints. A panel of judges – a la Iron Chef – then judges the creations and announces a winner. Three teams, each team representing a different Pittsburgh neighborhood, will have two hours to build a winning sculpture from materials that are unveiled at the competition. The result is an interactive audience experience that’s part performance, part construction, part rodeo and all party. From sports fans to reality tv buffs, gallery-goers to process-driven post-docs, the Art Olympics make art accessible to everyone – and it’s a darn good time

Party in Market Square – Stay and Play Every Friday

Many years ago back in the days before digital photography (check out the comment on this message board from 1999) there was a weekly party in Market Square – “M-Squared” and I am told, it was good. Well the good times are back. PUMP (the group for anyone young and young thinking in Pittsburgh) has been hard at work to bring the party back to Market Square. Stay & Play Fridays are designed to get you to stay downtown and play, every Friday evening in Market Square. Every Friday, May 23rd – August 1st, 5:00pm – 9:00pm

This Friday:

5:00pm-6:30pm – CK9 and the Old E Allstars
6:30pm-7:30pm – Strangeway
7:30pm-9:00pm – The Takeover UK

Click here for more info and a complete schedule of bands and events.

"Stitchers" sew with style at Future Tenant

“Stichers” is a one night event highlighting the creative work of five local sewing artists at Future Tenant gallery. Come investigate the artistic process of Sewing from the vantage point of Vontinka (Jennifer Bailey), Jessica Bailey, Joseph Martin, Suz Pisano, and Generator (Garret Chaney). Enjoy refreshments, music, and a boutique with items for sale by the artists. There will also be sewing machines on site for anyone to try their hand at sewing.

Friday, May 23rd at 6 pm
Future Tenant Gallery, 819 Penn Avenue
www.futuretenant.org

Pittsburgh Future Tenant is a multidisciplinary artspace located in Pittsburgh’s Downtown Cultural District at 819 Penn Avenue (recently relocated from 801 Liberty).  Future Tenant supports the creative expression of emerging artists from the Pittsburgh region and beyond.