Pittsburgh (PARK)ing: Big Change in a Small Space
Every self-respecting 'Burghers knows the “parking-chair code,” but PARK(ing) Day is entirely different.
(PARK)ING DAY PHOTOS COURTESY PITTSBURGH (PARK)ING DAY FACEBOOK PAGE
Starting at 8 a.m. on Friday, Sept. 18, PARK(ing) spots all around Pittsburgh will be transformed into multi-functional, activity-centered, urban outlets. From pop-up green spaces, to spontaneous drive-in movies, political debates, temporary urban farms and free bike repair shops, PARK(ing) Day is full of surprises.
A San Francisco migrant, PARK(ing) Day is an international, eco-minded initiative to inspire creative transformations of urban space.
The goal? To revolutionize how we see and interact with our cityscape.
Pittsburgh adopted the holiday many moons ago, yet every year the participants’ wild-and-wacky-themed spots keep Pittsburghers guessing.
An example? One made by local Quelcy Kogel invites married couples to renew their vows in a wedding-day-inspired ceremony and reception. A Parking Day at Bayardstown Social Club is set for 6 p.m.-midnight. Flower options are available by request, and an officiant will be present. All interested couples are asked to sign up before arriving because, although light-hearted, preparation is taken quite seriously. After the vows, food trucks, live music and photo ops will keep the fun rolling until the meter runs out.
Looking for a different spot? Getting involved is pretty simple. To explore the multitude of 2015 themes, check the PARK(ing) Day Pittsburgh website’s interactive map, which lists times, locations and brief descriptions per spot.
Inspired? Parking spots still are available to register so claim yours before one of the neighbors steals it.
—Lauralei Kraski
photo by richard cook
'#BurghyThings: One mustard bottle, one million meals
H.J. Heinz Co. and Shop 412, a Pittsburgh-proud branding storefront, have partnered up to end hunger.
Pittsburghers can show their hometown pride and support the mission by purchasing the Shop412xHeinz limited-edition yellow-mustard bottles, hitting the shelves at Shop 412 in SouthSide Works on Sept. 19. All proceeds from the $20 product will support the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank in its goal of providing 1 million meals to the hungry in Pennsylvania.
To help spread the word, take to social media to share your thoughts and photos with the hashtags #412xHeinz and #OneMillionMeals.
–LK
#Education: The Enduring Impact of Anne Frank’s ‘Diary’
Seventy years post-Holocaust, the stage version of The Diary of Anne Frank, which runs Sept. 24 through Oct. 25 at the Pittsburgh Public Theater, remains as relevant as ever.
Adapted by Frances Goodrich and Albert Hackett from Anne Frank’s actual diary, the story of Frank’s coming-of-age while hiding with her family in Nazi-occupied Amsterdam won both the 1956 Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award. The Public Theater’s production coincides with the enactment of Pennsylvania’s Act 70, which calls for teacher training in the subjects of the Holocaust, genocide and human-rights violations.
Pittsburgh’s Classrooms Without Borders, a program of the Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh, is leading the charge by providing free matinee tickets to 600 underprivileged students and significant discounts for area teachers.
— Elvira DiPaolo-Hoff
