For the Competitors

The tour is trying to find the best amateur chefs from around the nation and they will be making a stop in Pittsburgh on Sunday May 20th. Chefs will be judged on their best dumpling dish: “From pierogies, raviolis and pork dumplings to even a chocolate dessert dumpling”

The grand prize winner will win a trip to Brooklyn NY to compete in the National finals. Other prizes include cookware and bakeware and good old fashioned CASH money.

All competing chefs will receive a $50 gift certificate to a local grocery store to help with costs of ingredients.

Word on the street is that they still have a handful of slots open for chefs to compete!

For the Attendees

If you like to sample new and exciting foods and/or you like craft beer, then you might want to stop out at the event.

Attendees will be able to sample around 20 of the dumpling dishes and also get one free beer from Brooklyn Brewery. Tickets are only 10 buck!

When and Where

The whole thing is going down on May 20th at Mr Smalls in Millvale from 2pm to 5pm. I’ve been there in the past to see a few concerts. It’s a really nice venue.

Check out their event page for more details and info on tickets.

I have a few posts in the pipe (visit to BRGR, a trip to the Strip District, and a few other events and places that people have asked for mentions on the blog), so look for those coming in the next week.

The last 3 weeks of the farm share have been great.  There’s been a lot of variety and I’ve gotten to try a lot of foods that I’d probably not normally try if I were just walking around the local Shop N Save or Bottom Dollar.

Here are the items that I’ve received in the past 3 weeks:

CSA Week 3

• 1/2dozen eggs, Orchard View Farm or Buterbaugh’s Farm
• Boltonfeta, Hidden Hills Dairy
• 1/4 lb wild foraged ramps, Nu Way Farm
• green garlic, Clubhouse Gardens
• 3 lb white potatoes, Blue Goose Farm
• 1 lb crimini mushrooms, Wild Purveyors
• lettuce head, Clarion River Organics, OG
• 12 ounces honey, Bedillion’s Farm

CSA Week 4

• fresh garlic parsley rotini from Fontana Pasta
• 1 lb popcorn, Troyer Farm
• 1 red & one green butterhead lettuce head, Clarion River Organics, OG
• 1 small wheatberry loaf, Clarion River Organics, OG
• 2 lb French fingerling potatoes, Clarion River Organics, OG
• 1/2 lb young kale, Clarion River Organics, OG
• Rosemary, Goose Creek Garden’s, CNG
• 1/4 lb goat milk feta cheese, River View Dairy

CSA Week 5

• 1 lb rhubarb, Nu Way Farm
• 1/3 lb green onions, Nu Way Farm
• 1/2 gallon apple cider, Kistaco Farm
• 1/2 lb asparagus, Schramm’s Farm
• 1/2 lb young kale, Clarion River Organics, OG
• mixed lettuce or butterhead or bibb, Goose Creek Garden, CNG, Clarion River Organics, OG, Grow Pgh, OG,Milestone
• 2 lb cornmeal, Clarion River Organics, OG
• honey puffed corn or spelt, Clarion River Organics, OG

Lots of great variety, including vegetables, eggs, cheese, juice, honey, popcorn (kernels), and more.

The fresh pasta in week 3 might have been one of my favorite items.  I used a can of tomatoes and ground turkey, along with some of the kale to make a sauce for the pasta – and topped it with some crumbled feta cheese. I used the fresh greens to make a salad.

The popcorn kernels were also cool. I’d never think to buy plain kernels and pop them on the stove.  I was able to pop up a huge bowl of popcorn using about a tablespoon of olive oil.  I dried some kale and crumbled it and mixed it in with the popcorn, along with some feta.

The potatoes are also great. I’ve eaten enough mashed potatoes to last me until Thanksgiving.

Three more weeks to go for our 8 week share.  I’m looking forward to finding a CSA to join once I get to Utah.

If you are interested in supporting local farmers, there is a pretty cool event coming up in a couple of weeks.  For $10 you get to check out a screening of the documentary American Meat.  Proceeds benefit the Pennsylvania Association for Sustainable Agriculture.  Food and beer are included with your $10 ticket.  Follow the link above for more info.

I ate this before I even got home

The Marathon is not the only event happening. Festivities start on Friday May 4th with the GNC Well Pittsburgh Health and Fitness Expo at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center. Doors open at 11:00 AM. The Expo continues on Saturday May 5th with the doors opening at 9:00 AM.

The Expo is an exhibition by venders, open to the public and FREE. Centered on everything healthy and family friendly this is the hub of the Marathon. All participants will be given their participant packet at the Expo. This packet contains all of the material needed by the runners to run a healthy and safe race. There will be a runner’s service booth for the runners to get last minute questions asked and for relay runners no yet assigned to a team to be assigned. Bring your plastic the venders will be in a selling mode.

Saturday two races start. At 8:00 AM the UPMC Medicine/UPMC Health Plan Pittsburgh 5K run kicks off. Then it is the Toyota of Pittsburgh Kids Marathon starting at 10:00 AM. The starting and finishing line for the Kids Race are the same: Blvd of the Allies between Stanwix and Commonwealth Place. The 5K starts at Stanwix near Forbes. The finish line is at the Boulevard of the Allies between Stanwix Street and Commonwealth Place.

Saturday afternoon with seating times starting at 1:00 PM is the pasta party. The party will be hosted at The Spaghetti Warehouse, located at 2601 Smallman St.

Sunday, Race Day. The day starts at 4:30 AM for a Race Day Breakfast. The Wyndam Grand Pittsburgh Downtown Courtyard plays host. Several events start today. From the starting line at Liberty Ave. between sixth and seventh streets the remaining races start. The Pittsburgh Marathon starts at 7:30 AM. The wheelchair division starts at 7:20 AM. The Half Marathon also starts at 7:30 AM for both walkers and runners and the Marathon Relay race kicks off at 7:30 AM.

All Pittsburgh Neighborhoods along the race course get out your grills and all of your party duds and make the runners feel welcome to the City of Pittsburgh. To get a more detailed description of all events go to www.pittsburghmarathon.com.

Blue Man Pittsburgh 2012

I’ve never personally seen the show but I know people that have seen it in Vegas and gave it good reviews. The show combines comedy, music, and multimedia – all without any spoken word. It is supposed to be a perfect show for all ages.

The Blue Man Group began working together in the late 80′s and started performing Off Broadway in the early 1990′s. Over the years they have had constant shows in several major cities, such as NYC, Boston, Vegas, Chicago, and Orlando.

Starting in 2010 they began a nationwide tour, which started in Fayetteville, Arkansas. In May of 2012 they will finally come to the Pittsburgh Cultural District for 6 day span of shows. Check out the list below to find Blue Man Group tickets.

Buy Blue Man Group Tickets

The show will be at the Benedum Center which is located on 7th Street between Liberty and Penn Ave. in downtown Pittsburgh. The first show time is on a Tuesday at 7:30PM and runs through that Sunday.

• Tue May 15, 2012
• Wed May 16, 2012
• Thu May 17, 2012
• Fri May 18, 2012
• Sat May 19, 2012
• Sun May 20, 2012

PNC Park on North Shore

It is time for another walk around Pittsburgh. Today we are heading for the North Shore. The best way to get to the North Shore today is to ride the Port Authorities T Plus. This is the much Talked about extension to the T, going under the Allegheny River. No discussion on the merits of this system today, we are going on a walk.
You can board the T any one of the downtown stations and ride to the North Shore for free. We are going to exit at the first stop after crossing the river at Allegheny Station. Exiting the station on West General Robinson Blvd we turn left walking toward Mazeroski Way. Looking to our right is PNC Park. Crossing Mazeroski Way walking to the next intersection, this is Federal Street. Cross to the left on Mazeroski Way then cross W. Gen Robinson Blvd. walking toward the river. Isabel St. is a one block stroll. Walk left along Isabel St. to the green space on your right. The building is One North Shore Center and the park is a City park called River Front Park-Allegheny Landing.

Take notice of the several pieces of art sculptures. This is a very nice place to sit and watch the boats along the Allegheny River. If you want you can rent a Kayak and paddle the river yourself. Under the Bridge to your right is the rental place, enjoy.

We are going to walk toward the bridge and cross Federal Street. You are now standing beside a statue of “The Great One”, Roberto Clemente and the Center Field entrance to PNC Park. Let’s walk down the stairs. The building on the river is the City River Safety Unit. We walk to our right along the river walk with the center field fence to PNC Park to our right. As the center field wall comes to an end, walk up the stairs. Here is a statue of Bill Mazeroski, a sculptured from the picture of Bill running the bases after hitting the World Series winning home run during 1960 World Series against the New York Yankees.

Continuing our walk toward McFadden’s, turn left and walk along the sidewalk. At the first break in the wall, turn left. You are now entering the Korean War Memorial. Please stop and look at the several plaques dedicated to the fine individuals who fought in this War. There is a wall with all who did not make it back home. After a few moments of reflection walk toward the sound of falling water.

You come upon a water feature and water fall. You will notice a historical sign noting that the first World Series took place near this site. The game was played in Exposition Park in 1903. Looking across the river you are presented with a great panorama of the Downtown portion of the City of Pittsburgh and Point State Park.

The next attraction is the Vietnam Veteran’s Memorial. Please stop and reflect on this particularly troubling time in our history. Continuing our walk along the River Walk, to our right is the Corporate Headquarters of Del Monte, home of Charlie the Tuna and several fine eating establishments with outdoor dining.

Mr Rogers

As we continue our walk the first thing that comes into view is Heinz Field, the home of the Pittsburgh Steelers and the University of Pittsburgh Football Teams. We have to climb the stairs to the last two memorials. The first is dedicated to the fallen Law Enforcement Officers of the City of Pittsburgh. Next to this is a rather large wall with a hole in the middle. This is A Tribute to Children and Mr. Rogers.

Leaving the Mr. Rogers Memorial and turning left one finds the Carnegie Science Center, You have to tour this place, a great place for children. Along the river is probably the only World War II Submarine moored on a river in a land locked city, beside the Science Center and waiting for you to take a tour. In front of the Science Center is High Mark’s Sports Works. This is another great place to visit with your kids. Enter the Science Center to tour any of these attractions.

Our walk has now come to an end. Continue walking toward the T Plus station – Allegheny Station. Board the train and head back to downtown.
I hope this walk was enjoyable and informative.

As bigger cities go, Pittsburgh is great for raising kids. While they’re growing up, there’s loads to do — libraries, museums and parks come in every variety. A zoo, an aquarium and an aviary (the National Aviary at that) are all right in town. When the kids start looking at schools, there are several top-notch colleges in Pittsburgh to choose from, not to mention hundreds more in neighboring states.

As great as Pittsburgh is, though, raising kids downtown isn’t everyone’s idea of a good time. Higher crime rates and more than a few ways I can think of for idle children to get themselves into trouble. On the upside, there are a variety of options for parents to drive to nearby townships that offer affordable housing, easy commute, walkable neighborhoods and great schools. With Pittsburgh recently ranking fifth for the most educated young (ages 25-35) workforce in the country and an influx of more young professionals, the neighborhoods and townships just outside of downtown are a great compromise for me: close enough to culture to stay active but quiet enough for kids to play in the street.

Raising a family: top spots in the steel city

With so many good choices, it’s tough to nail down a list of the absolute best places to raise kids around the ‘Burgh, but that didn’t stop me from picking out a few peak performers:

1. McCandless Township. Ranked number 46 best place to live in the U.S. by CNN Money, this township is a true gem. North Park’s three-thousand-plus acres are within walking distance and covered with hiking and mountain biking trails just like I like it. Crime is nearly non-existent, which makes the walkable atmosphere that much more appealing. You’ll find shopping is just a short drive down McKnight Rd. In McCandless, kids are zoned for the North Alleghney School District, which is ranked in the top three for the state.
2. Aspinwall. A low crime rate, excellent schools, a walkable downtown, and a tight-knit, supportive community all make Aspinwall look to me like the epitome of places a kid should see growing up. The marina was purchased by the stellar community I mentioned in 2011 with help from Friends of the Riverfront, and it’s slated to become a new park. Created as a refuge from industrial Pittsburgh in 1892, it’s still a great escape from the bustling city — with public transport and a short commute.
3. Sewickley. I like to commute by bicycle, so this community is a bit far for me — but if you don’t mind the half-hour commute to downtown, Sewickley offers an artsy vibe with classic New-England overtones. This highly walkable community offers schools that rank in the top 10 for the state and an isolated feel that makes you think you’re a lot further away from Pittsburgh than you really are — and it’s close to the airport, which I liked.
4. Mt. Lebanon. Just a little south of downtown, Mt. Lebanon boasts low crime rates and a number-two ranking in the state for its schools. The architecture stopped me in my tracks; it’s fantastic. From what I saw, it looked like finding a deal on housing could be tough in this area, but with all the amenities (from public transit and top schools to a beautiful library and great sense of community), it’s sure to be worth a little extra.

Many, many more didn’t make the list. Let’s face it: Pittsburgh is a great place to live. Burgeoning industries, a host of cool communities, colleges in Columbus, Ohio to one side and Philly, Boston, New York, and more offering hundreds of schools without too much driving on the other, a pro football team, and plenty of cycling, mountain biking, and hiking right near by — the only difficult part is figuring out which neighborhood I like more.

About the Author:

Karl Fendelander cut his teeth on web writing in the late nineties and has been plugged in to the newest technology and tuned in to the latest trends ever since. With an eye for design and an ear for language, Karl has created content and managed digital media for startups and established companies alike. When he’s not studying a map of Pennsylvania cities, Karl can be found biking about town, hiking and climbing.

Apparently a rally was held today in Mellon Park.

You can read more about the case at www.justiceforjordanmiles.com

I’ve decided to take some of the most recent search queries that seem to popup multiple times. The topics have all been touched on in various parts of the site, but I figured I’d do a quick summary of some of the more recently frequently asked questions. In general this also serves as a quick round up of some recent blog topics.

If you have a question that you’d like to have answered or topics that you’d like to see discussed then send a message and I’ll try to get to it in a future post.

Things to do in Pittsburgh this weekend.
Ok, this isn’t really a question, but a lot of people come to the blog looking for this information. I try to do a weekly roundup of event in Pittsburgh, but I don’t always get around to it in time. You can always check the Events category though for the latest events that I have chosen to talk about. You can also look under Things to Do for other activities that might not be tied to a specific date.

Note: If you know of an upcoming event and you’d like to get the word out, feel free to sign up as a writer and submit your story!

City Cab Pittsburgh
City Cab is the latest cab company to invade downtown Pittsburgh. I haven’t yet gone for a ride, but apparently people have been coming here looking for more info. Go here to read my post about City Cab.

How far is the walk from subway to PNC Park?
I’ve actually ridden the new portion of the Pittsburgh subway from PNC Park to the casino – yes, it takes longer to wait for a train and ride over to the casino than it would to walk, but we wanted to check it out. The North Shore station is literally right outside of PNC Park – about half a block underneath the West General Robinson Street Garage.

You can read more about the North Shore Connector in this article by Chuck.

Where to live in Pittsburgh?
This is a great question and one that I have definitely not covered enough. I’ve basically only lived in the east suburbs, but I’ve visited many areas. I’ve covered a few in the Where to Live category. Some of my favorite neighborhoods and suburbs include Monroeville, Shadyside, the Southside, Greentree, Mt Washington, Glenshaw, Dormont, and Bloomfield. Ok, I’m all over the map… It really depends on your budget, what type of housing you are looking for, and where you are going to be working. Pittsburgh is a very affordable city, so check out several neighborhoods and decide what area suits your interests the most.

What happened to Jim Krenn?
If you are a fan of DVE in the morning, you probably already know by now, but a lot of people still seem to be searching for answers. He was let go from his contract near the end of last year and not renewed. You can read a good user submitted article about Jim Krenn here.

Sports leagues in Pittsburgh.
Spring is here with summer right around the corner. Lots of people are looking for softball, baseball, ultimate, soccer, etc leagues to play in. I wrote a pretty extensive summary of Pittsburgh Sports Leagues over here.

A craft brewer is defined as a small, independent, traditional beer maker. Generally a craft brewer produces 6 million barrels of beer per year (or fewer). The majority of craft brewers are not owned by a larger alcoholic beverage industry member and a craft brewer will normally produce malt beers as 50% of its volume.

Craft brewers can additionally be sub-grouped into categories such as nanobreweries, microbrewers, brewpubs, and regional craft breweries.

Regardless of all of the terminology, the craft beer movement has exploded over the last few years – even to the point that many people have taken up the hobby of home brewing.  At my current job, we have at least 4 or 5 different guys that are brewing home beers on a regular basis.  Every couple of months they’ll bring in a few bottles on a Friday afternoon and let us all sample their handy work.

Locally there are many bars that server craft beers and microbrews.  A favorite place of mine to find new beers is D’s Dogs located in Regent Square and also in Monroeville.  The House of 1000 Beers in New Ken is also a great spot and another personal favorite.

Celebrating Craft Beers in Pittsburgh
My girlfriend sent me an email the other day about an event which is going on Friday night at D’s in Monroeville.  As a part of the Pittsburgh Craft Beer Week, Founders Brewing will be holding a free beer tasting between 6pm and 8pm. (The place also has great food and plenty of TV’s, so you can check out the Pen’s game while you sample some great beers.)

In addition to D’s, there will be events going on throughout Pittsburgh from Apr 20th to Apr 28th – including many more free tastings, as well as dinner / beer pairings.

The events kick off Friday morning at 7am with a beer and breakfast event at Jack’s in the Southside, which is being hosted by Penn Brewery.  Check out the calendar of events for more details.

Most areas of the city seem to be represented and all types of beers are available to please just about any taste.  I thought about going through the calendar of events and trying to pick out some highlights, but there are literally so many placing participating and so many great events, that it would take me all night to go through the entire list.  Your best bet is to take it day by day and beer by beer.

So if you are a fan of craft beer or you want to expand your beer drinking pallet beyond Miller Lite and Coors Lite, then head out this weekend and next week and support the first annual Pittsburgh Craft Beer Week.

A few of my favorites:

Beechwood Farms
614 Dorseyville Road
Pittsburgh, PA 15238
(412) 963-6100
www.awsp.org

Beechwood Farms is a place that changes with the seasons.  From late fall to early spring, it is a quiet retreat, a good place to run or walk and enjoy the solitude of being alone with one’s own thoughts.  From mid-spring to mid-fall, it is a bright and lively place, buzzing with nature and a variety of both flora and fauna.  Nine trails of varying terrains and difficulty are offered.  Each individual trail length is under one mile, however the trails connect at various points throughout the park, offering those wishing to run or hike longer distances the ability to do so.

Deer Lakes Park
1090 Bailey Run Road
Tarentum, PA 15084
(724) 265-3520
http://www.alleghenycounty.us/parks/dlfac.aspx

Because this park is on my list, it should come as no surprise to those who know me that it is located in close proximity to a delicious pizza shop (Stello’s).  Deer Lakes Park is a large and pretty area with paved trails available for walking, running, and biking.  There are also plenty of wooded areas for hiking and a small lake for fishing.  In the summer, a spray park is available for kiddos to cool off.

North Park
Pearce Mill Road
Allison Park, PA 15101
(724) 935-1766
http://www.alleghenycounty.us/parks/npfac.aspx

Where to begin about available activities at this park?  The shorter list would be what you cannot do in the 3,075 acres that comprise North Park.  Golfing, trails, swimming, ice skating, fishing, soccer, you name it, are all available here.  Aside from the occasional road closure for a 5K (the Halloween Freaky 5K is always a good time), the park is open daily to visitors.

Ohiopyle State Park
Laurel Highlands, PA
http://www.discoverohiopyle.com/
http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/stateparks/findapark/ohiopyle/index.htm

On days when you find yourself with extra time and the willingness to drive a bit, this is a wonderful place to spend a day or the whole weekend.  In addition to numerous hiking trails, there are also both paved and mountain biking trails available.  Rental bikes are available near the head of the trail.  For the adventurous soul, there are various levels of whitewater rafting available.  Equipment and and tours are offered at multiple locations.  Having been several times, I can advise that Classes I-III are fun, and while Class IV is exhilarating, it is definitely not for the faint-of-heart!

Point State Park
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
(412) 471-0235
http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/stateparks/findapark/point/index.htm

For those hoping to enjoy a view of the city, a visit to Point State Park is in order.  Located at the convergence of the Allegheny, Monongahela, and Ohio Rivers, the park makes for a pretty setting for activities ranging from picnicking to bicycling and everything in between.  You can bring your own bicycle or rent one there.  The paved trails along Pittsburgh’s North Shore provide walkers, runners, and riders with an opportunity to pass by the stadiums and possibly (okay, rarely) catch a stray baseball during Pirates home games.

Hopefully, this list has provided you with some ideas for places in the area to work off a few extra calories while enjoying some of what nature has to offer.  I’m sure I left out at least a dozen other deserving parks in the area, if I did not include your favorite, feel free to email it to me at itsawonderful@live.com and I’ll be sure to visit it and possibly include it in a future article!