Tag Archives: Lawrenceville

Thunderbirds and Armadillos

For my first post as your new events blogger, I’d like to take the chance to visit one little slice of life. The place was The Thunderbird Cafe in Lawrenceville, the time was Friday, November 16th at about 9:20. I’d never been to Thunderbird before, but I did know that I was there to see a folk band from Butler. Such a show would certainly attract a particular type of fan, right?

I walked in to a somewhat normal-looking, unassuming Butler St bar. Past the front bar, past the pool table, which sat there balls-out and sticks on table while others lined the walls of the room and chatted with each other. As if to allow room for a game of pool, but nobody was interested in playing. I walked up a set of stairs to the music venue. Now this is where the magic happens. I’m now surrounded by people wearing bowties and suspenders. No, they weren’t with the band. I had also happened to wear a bowtie this particular evening, but I didn’t put it on thinking that others would also have them.

The walls behind the stage are illuminated murals painted to look like one were standing right in the middle of Butler St, watching an outdoor show on a summer afternoon. It’s only a few minutes before the opening act takes the stage: Leann Grimes. He’s a one-man act with an electric guitar and a laptop plugged into the speakers, but the sounds that float out for those first 30 minutes are as carefully planned and lovely as any singer/songwriter’s.

the thunderbird

the thunderbird (Photo credit: peterp)

I migrated upstairs after Leann Grimes to get a drink and mingle with my friends. It’s at this point that we realize there are kazoos sitting on the tables. As in — every table has a kazoo, please take one. Don’t mind if I do!

By the time The Armadillos took the stage, I was already having a ridiculously fun time playing my kazoo and chatting with who I assume was the only other die-hard metalhead in the bar, that I had to be reminded of what I was there for in the first place.

As expected, The Armadillos put on a lovely, energetic, magnetizing performance. A little old, a little new, and all over as wonderful a performance as I’ve ever seen. The merch table was well-stocked and the band were ready in the wings to chat with the night’s guests. I’m hoping that everyone else who attended the show felt like I did when they saw the new album on that merch table for only $10. Handed to me with a smile from the band’s frontman, Austin. I love to throw my support behind local acts, but The Armadillos deserve more than just my approval. Their music would be right at home on SiriusXM or cranked out your car window while you drive down Center Ave.

Check them out yourself at: http://www.reverbnation.com/pittsburgharmadillos

For more on the Thunderbird Cafe in Lawrenceville: http://www.thunderbirdcafe.net/

Sauerkraut Supper on Saturday

pork and sauerkraut - kum esse!

pork and sauerkraut - kum esse! (Photo credit: yumievriwan)

With baseball season behind us – maybe your missing Sauerkraut Saul, or a hot dog with sauerkraut from the ball game.  We can’t bring back the pierogi race until the spring – but for $8 you can enjoy a traditional German Sauerkraut dinner on Saturday.  All of the proceeds from this event benefit the Lawrenceville United Summer Youth Programs.

Click here for details on the Traditional German Sauerkraut Supper

Lawrenceville United works to improve the quality of life in Lawrenceville through resident advocacy, neighborhood planning and grass roots organizing.

A Merry May Weekend – Festivals for/about Kids, the Outdoors, Cars and Dracula

 

Happy Friday! It’s looking like another amazing weekend in Pittsburgh.  Here are the weekend events we talked about on WDVE this morning.  Per Randy’s request – we have dug up some info on Dracula-Con as well. If anyone has been to DraculaCon please let us know!  Scroll down for our listing of events around Pittsburgh this weekend.

If you are are looking for a darker festival in Windber, PA

The Grand Midway Hotel

Dracula-Con IV, Saurday, May 19, 2012

  • The Grand Midway Hotel
  • $6 at the door
  • Bands include: Devilz in the Detailz (coming in from Pittsburgh), Damien Youth (coming in from New Orleans),The Cadillac Creeps (coming in from Florida)
  • There will be Tarot Card Readings and Go Go Dancing Cage Girls as well

 

Wed May 16 – Sun May 20 Pittsburgh Internation Children’s Festival

  • Schenley Plaza and Pitt theaters
  • Lots of free events for kids of all ages
 Fri May 18 BikePGH Celebrates National Bike to Work Day

  • 14 Hydration Stations set up around Pittsburgh
  • Free Swag bag full of goodies for all who bike to work
  • Happy hours
Sat May 1911am-6pm Venture Outdoors Festival

  • Free outdoors festival at Point State Park
  • Climbing walls, kayaking, fishing and more
  • Suggested Parking – Mon Warf $5/Car
  • Facebook Event
Sat May 1911:30am – 3:30pm Taste of Oakland

  • $5 gets you discounts and samples at a ton of Oakland restaurants
  • you also get
  • Facebook Event
Sat May 192pm-5pm We Do (Take Too) Pop Up Pittsburgh

  • This year’s PopUp Pittsburgh heads to upper Lawrenceville for a wedding celebration (Lawrenceville Goodwill Parking Lot, 52nd Street)
  • Vow Renewal Ceremony
  • Rumor has it there will be a cookie table
  • Concert by Slim Forsythe and his New Payday Loners
Sat May 198pm – 12am Dirty Ball

  • Annual benefit for Attack Theater
  • Food, Music, Dancing and performances
  • 2401 Penn Ave in the Strip District
Sun May 201pm – 5pm Bellevue Classic Car Cruise

  • Classic, Vintage, Muscle Cars, Show Bikes welcome
  • Cars will be lined up along Lincoln Ave
 Sun May 20 Pittsburgh Dumpling Experiment 

  • Mr. Smalls
  • Pierogi Cook-off
  • You can sign up to compete or you can attend to watch the competition

Looking for more events in May? Click here to see our list of May events.

Eat Spaghetti and Support the Lawrenceville Dog Park – Friday March 2

Lawrenceville has long had a tradition of spaghetti dinners.  A group called the Boys of Lawrenceville started holding these dinners back in 2004 as a way to bring the community together.  The Post-Gazette has an article about the 2007 Spaghetti dinner here which offers a little bit more into the history of the group.

The Lawrenceville Spaghetti dinner is back for 2012 to raise funds to support the Bernard Dog Run, an off leash do g park to be constructed in Lawrenceville which is named after one of the founders of the Boys of Lawrenceville.

You can learn about the Bernard Dog Run and read the proposal here.  (I want to take a quick moment to point out that they have done an AMAZING job with this website – simple and easy to find the most important information you are looking for – if you are looking to set up a website for a community event – use this one as an example).

On Friday, March 2, 2012 – you can support the Bernard Dog Run by eatting some spaghetti – vegetarian sauce (meatballs optional), as well as fresh bread, salad, dessert, beer, and wine!

The 2012 spaghetti dinner will be held at the Teamster Temple4701 Butler Street, from 4:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m., and the evening will include entertainment, raffles and Italian music. Proceeds from the event will also benefit local nonprofit animal resource center, Animal Friends.

Advanced tickets are available at Eclipse LoungeEspresso a ManoGallery on 43rd StreetLawrenceville United and online for $11 per person. Tickets bought at the door will be $13 per person, and children under the age of 10 eat free.

Lawrenceville Spaghetti Dinner to Benefit Bernard Dog Run
Friday, March 2, 2012
4:30-9:30pm
Teamsters Temple 4701 Butler Street
Tickets available online here.

 

 

Super S****s and Wild Stuff

Two things not to miss in Lawrenceville this weekend:

Super S****s: Art from the Staff of the Andy Warhol Museum opens tomorrow (Friday, January 13 from 6-9pm) at WildCard.  Andy Warhol’s Superstars were an elite clique of personalities that gained notoriety and fame through their association with the infamous artist. They were heavily featured in Warhol’s early works and their lives were immersed in the New York City art scene.

The staff of the Andy Warhol Museum are similarly immersed in the Pittsburgh art community. The artists featured in this show all have two things in common: they have worked as caretakers of Warhol’s art by day and as fine artists by night. Super****s opens on Friday January 13th and runs until February 19.

Then on Saturday from 11am – 7pm visit Wild Stuff, a collaborative, pop up vintage sale on Butler Street. Three of the great names in Lawrenceville (Wildcard, Botero Development, and Zombo Gallery) are teaming up for one great event: a Pop-Up Vintage sale featuring some of the bets finds in Pittsburgh. With items for sale ranging from visual art to bathtubs, ladies winter coats to tiki glasses, typewriters to CDs, there’s something for everyone at Wild Stuff!

Starting on Saturday, January 14 and running through Saturday March 31, the ground floor at 4300 Butler St will be full of retro fashion finds, scavenged building materials, furniture, and accessories.