Every year I spend the days leading up to the weekend before Halloween adding more costume ideas to my Pinterest account. A few years ago, I made an award winning mail order bride costume, I spent a few hours constructing a dress out of Priority Mail envelopes. I have learned that I love the process of making the Halloween costume more than I even like wearing the costume.
I spent hours looking for the perfect Pittsburgh costume to craft for this year and came up with nothing. I was debating making a Stanley Cup costume out of duct tape, but after reviewing the tutorials from the duct tape artists who make their prom dresses out of duct tape, I decided it was a project that could take years. I was a little disappointed that the internet didn’t offer up an other Pittsburgh costume ideas. If you are unable to see the video, click here to view this on Instagram.
Best Pittsburgh Halloween Costume
But then I saw this costume posted on Instagram. Maggie has created what might be the most delightful Pittsburgh Halloween costume based off of the famous, well Pittsburgh famous, Eat N’Park holiday commercial.
Anyone who grew up in Pittsburgh in the 80’s will recognize this costume. For those of you who have not yet had the joy of watching this holiday ad, here is the commercial:
If you are interested in learning more about the Eat N’Park star commercial, check out our post from 2007 on the commercial here and there is a history of the star commercial on Eat N’Park blog here.
21+ Night! @ TechShopPGH is a Spooktacular Costume Partybenefiting Attack Theatre, a contemporary dance company celebrating their 21st season, whose performances and education programs foster engagement with science, technology and the arts! Oooh, what to wear?!
Hands-on Activities, Local Brews and Bites, and Live Music by DJ Brad Truman! Learn something new and take it home with you!
All guests are entered to win a 1-Year TechShop Membership!
TICKETS:
$21 Online (USE CODE “IHEARTPGH” to save $7 on tickets )
$25 Cash Only at the Door.
Must be 21 or older with valid ID.
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.
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.
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…
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.
The Hosts: The Brew Gentlemen, The Independent Brewing Company & Bar Marco
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…
The Trailer: Yes, this party has its own video trailer
The Other Details…
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.
In addition to pumpkin pickin and hay rides, there are lots of other ways to get into the Halloween spirit around Pittsburgh this week. While the Pittsburgh Glass Center’s blown glass pumpkin workshop has already sold out, there is still plenty of space left in the other workshops. I know the glass workshops are popular and we’re already working on a post about ornament workshops for the holiday season.
Friday. 10/24 – Make-It-Now Workshops @ Pittsburgh Glass Center
Come to the library to do crazy science with your friends. This month’s experiment – Halloween goo. Is it a liquid? Is it a solid? Does it bounce? Come find out!
All are welcome, but this program is especially recommended for ages 7-11.
Location: 708-710 Brookline Blvd., Pittsburgh, PA 15226
I know that I included the Hitchcock! A Halloween Party at the 
Friday. 10/24 – Make-It-Now Workshops @ Pittsburgh Glass Center
Monday, 10/27 – Date Night: Laser Etched Pumpkins @ TechShop