Community Blog

Many of us as kids loved the idea of a circus.  A lion tamer, fire breather, elephants and clowns; there is nothing more exciting to a child.  Well residents of Pittsburgh, you are in luck.

The Greatest Show on Earth is coming to town soon.  Zing Zang Zoom sponsored by The Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey will be bringing their tour to the Pittsburgh area.

The tour calendar is full of dates and stops all around the country.  Each star of the Zing Zang Zoom shows work hard to put on an excellent show each and every night.  Magicians, acrobats and clowns are just part of the roster bringing the impossible to life every time they take the stage.

The loveable character of Curious George, along with the Man in the Yellow Hat will be at the Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh.  George always finds new things to discover.  Kids can learn like George, through direct experiences and problem solving.  They explore science, math and engineering through hands-on play.

The Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh provides high quality exhibits and programs for learning through playful exhibits & activities.  They are always in need of donations & volunteers , so don’t hesitate to check out what you can offer.  And if you have kids, check out the calendar of events to see what is in store for you at the museum!

Just because summer is almost over does not mean that you should stop thinking about taking a vacation!  There is still half of the year left to plan something fun.

Now those of us who work in the U.S.A. won’t be surprised to learn that we are one of the few countries who don’t receive guaranteed vacation time.  But what is a surprise is that in the country of Brazil, 41 days of paid time off is required by the government.  European countries such as Portugal, Spain and Denmark also require at least 30 days of paid time off.

So now that I have you thinking about other countries that will pay you NOT to work, you can begin focusing on how quickly you can plan a vacation to leave your current job, at least for a couple weeks.  Yahoo Travel has compiled a list of the most adventurous destinations to travel.  They also offer many tips to help you plan a great vacation.  On the flipside of that, Squidoo has listed the 50 Most Boring Ways to Spend a Vacation, so you may want to avoid these follies.

Do you yearn for a place that doesn’t keep your burgers under a red lamp?  Do you want to sit down and have a nice meal at a place that doesn’t require a suit or tie?  Well I have the perfect place for you, Fat Head’s Saloon!

A neighborhood bar & grill on Pittsburgh’s south side, Fat Head’s has been serving the area with wings, ribs and their famous Headwiches.  Not to mention they have a reputation for world class beer.  They have won multiple awards for their brew.

Located on East Carson Street, the directions are simple to follow, and next thing you know, you’ll be enjoying some great food at Fat Head’s Saloon.

It all started back in 1963, when a teacher wanted to influence her students to learn about the Elizabethan days of England.  The renaissance festival was held in her backyard and was also a fundraiser for a local radio station.  The festival lasted for a full week and had over 8000 participants.

Fast forward to 2010, and there are renaissance festivals everywhere.  And the Pittsburgh Renaissance Festival will kickoff on August 21^st!  Open every Saturday & Sunday, the Pittsburgh festival will take place in New Stanton.  If you are looking for a day trip, you can check out the directions.

Tickets are $13.95 for adults and children pay $6.  You will experience jousting, fire eaters, hypnotists, acrobats and much more.  There will be entertainment for everyone!

Ever had a day where you can’t seem to decide what to eat?  Sure, we all have had days like that.  The next time you have are free and have an appetite to fill, check out ‘Burgh Bits & Bites Food Tour.

This idea came from the dreams of Sylvia, the founder.  She’s a first generation Pittsburgher and spent a lot of the 1990s traveling Europe and studying here family’s roots.  Nowadays, after creating the food tour, she works as a tour guide that specializes in a walking tour highlighting Pittsburgh’s Strip District’s best eateries.

The Burgh Tour has an extensive calendar of events.  The cost of the tour is around $35 to $45 dollars, and if you want to organize a private tour, there is an option for that also.  And if you don’t want to believe me, you can read customer reviews.

So why sit around and think about what restaurant to attend?  Go ahead and take a tour of the city, and get some grub!

The summer season is nearing its end, and before you know it, the snow plows and heavy coats will be back.  But I know of a place where you can always feel a Caribbean breeze, Bahama Breeze in Robinson Township!

It has a unique combination of Caribbean-inspired food, specialty tropical drinks, vibrant atmosphere and a staff that wears a smile at all times.  Bahama Breeze is the restaurant that brings you the feeling you need when you want to escape to the Caribbean.  Bahama Breeze first opened its doors in 1996 in Orlando, FL, and has 24 restaurants nationally.

There are several promotions that are sponsored by Bahama Breeze.  If you want to become an Island Insider, it’s as easy as a quick signup.  As an Island Insider you will receive the recipes first and hear of special events before the general public.  The menu and recipes give a nice flavor of warm weather and sand beaches!

What better way to end the summer than with some delicious barbecue?  Don’t worry if you haven’t quite built up a huge appetite yet, you still have a couple weeks until the Annual Coors Light Kickoff and Rib Festival.

Come down to Heinz Field and celebrate the start of the football season.  Running September 2^nd through September 6^th, the festival will feature national rib vendors, free concerts, football and lots of fun.

On Thursday September 2^nd, the final preseason game begins the rib fest as the Pittsburgh Steelers take on the Carolina Panthers. The festival will be open along Art Rooney Avenue throughout the game.

Other events during the festival weekend include a 5k run & walk and concerts by Butler native Bret Michaels, Uncle Kracker and Little Big Town.

It’s been a long season for The Pittsburgh Pirates, but there’s nothing like some good home cooking.  The Pirates will return to PNC Park for a 3 game series against the Colorado Rockies.

These two teams are heading in different directions.  The Rockies are 6.5 games out of first place in their division, while the Pirates have only 3 wins in their last 10 games.  A sign of hope is that Colorado is only 20-32 on the road this year, so we need all the fans in the Pittsburgh area to come out and support the Pirates.  The next time you’ll be able to do that will be on August 16^th, when the Florida Marlins come into town.  That series will begin a 10 day home stand that will feature the St. Louis Cardinals and New York Mets.

Andrew McCutchen has enough heart for the entire team, especially after taking a fastball to the neck earlier this week.  He bounced back with a HR the following game.  That just goes to show you, no matter how hard you get knocked down you can always get back up.  Let’s go Pirates!

There’s nothing better to do with spare time than learn something new.  Now, I’m sure if you told a kid on their summer break, they would disagree.  But as adults, we are constantly striving to learn new things and implement the knowledge we gain, into our everyday lives.

The Westmoreland Museum of American Art in Greensburg, Pennsylvania houses a permanent collection of significant American works of art.  Not to mention the extensive collection of southwestern Pennsylvania landscapes and industrial scenes has earned the Museum a world-class reputation.

If art is your thing, you can check out their online brochure.  There are events that run year round, and you can get access with your admission.  Memberships offer many more advantages, such as FREE admission year round, along with members-only events and discounts in the gift shop.

The Westmoreland is only half-hour drive east of Pittsburgh, so plan your trip and get ready to learn more about our lovely city, state & country!

Painting: THE YOUNG MUSICIAN (ca. 1858-60 )
Artist Information: David Gilmour Blythe

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