First and Third Wine Nights

The first and third Fridays of every month are casual wine nights at Dreadnought Wines in the Strip District.  This event gives you the chance to try six different wines to decide what you like.  You can even order the wines of your choosing after the event at the same location.  This event is only $12.00 and no RSVP is required.  You can find out more information about great events like this one at Living Pittsburgh. 


How many times have you stood in a State Store, staring at shelves of wine bottles, wondering ‘will I like it after I buy it?’

For many years Dreadnought Wines in Pittsburgh’s Strip District has been giving wine lovers the opportunity to experience specialty wines before buying them at the First and Third Friday Casual Wine Classes at our store at 2013 Penn Avenue. Folks gather to experience three red and three white wines, carefully selected by owner Mike Gonze, complimented by breads and paired with fine cheeses from The Pennsylvania Macaroni Company, and to enjoy the company of other Oenophiliacs.

After experiencing the Wines represented by Dreadnought, patrons can order the wines they like, and pick them up two business days later (as required by state law). Pittsburgh wine lovers can meet and greet each other at these regular Casual Wine Classes twice monthly, from 5:30 to 7:30 PM at the Dreadnought Wines store at 2013 Penn Avenue in the Strip District.

These events are open to the public at the cost of only $12.00 per person and no RSVP is necessary.

A New German Bar in Pittsburgh

Hofbrahaus is not the only German restaurant in town as of May 15th.  An 88 seat Biergarten will open up on the roof of the Hotel Monaco Downtown.  This new restaurant will have a german street food and a great international beer collection.  You can learn more in this blog and at the Pittsburgh Post Gazette.


An 88-seat restaurant, Biergarten will open May 15 on the 9th floor rooftop of the Kimpton's Hotel Monaco Downtown, with a menu of German street food, and international beer selection and a view.

"It's a beer geek's destination," said executive chef of The Commoner, Dennis Marron. At Biergarten, there will be no Sierra Nevada or Iron City Light. Instead, it will offer 16 draughts and 50 to 60 types of bottles or cans. German brews such as Spaten Optimator and Weihenstephaner Hefeweissbier will be on the menu, along with Belgian ales, sours and lambics and French ciders. Biergarten will also sell beer by the growler.

There's no kitchen, but like a biergarten in Germany's capital city of Berlin, there will be carts serving homemade pretzels with mustard, bratwurst and currywurst. Visitors can grab seats at communal tables or high-top tables, as well as gather for a game of corn hole, garden chess and a super-sized Jenga or Connect Four.

The 248-room Hotel Monaco in the former Reed Smith building, between Sixth Avenue and Strawberry Way, opened in late January to much fanfare, since the property from the San Francisco-based Kimpton is among the first of a handful of boutique hotels opening in Pittsburgh. In East Liberty, the Hotel Indigo is set to open this summer, while the Ace Hotel is scheduled to open in late 2015; Distrikt Hotel and Forbes Hotel, both Downtown, are in the works for 2016.

Hotel Monaco hosted its official opening gala on April 9, with decor and attire inspired by the styles of 1903, the year the James Reed building was completed.

The marquee restaurant helmed by Mr. Marron, the Commoner features tavern fare such as scotch deviled eggs, a cheddar board or a hearty green salad among first courses and a steak and ale pie, lamb shank or brick chicken roasted in the wood-fired oven among main dishes.

Biergarten will open, weather permitting, at 4 p.m. Wednesday through Friday and at noon on Saturday and Sunday. For next year, the hotel is looking into an awning or another means that would allow it to remain open during inclement weather.

Spring Cleaning 2015

Spring is finally crawling out from under the rock it’s been hiding under since September. That means it’s time to clean your home and pretend like you haven’t been hiding under a rock all winter. Make your way through this spring checklist from Premeditated Leftovers to really scrub the winter gloom out of every nook of your home.



Family Room

1. Remove all décor from shelves and dust thoroughly.

2. Dust and clean the glass on all hanging pictures and picture frames.

3. Remove all sofa cushions and vacuum, fluff and replace pillows and vacuum as well. If your cushion covers are removable, remove and wash before replacing. If not, you may spot treat them for stains.

4. Dust all appliances, remove any you are no longer using and store away.

5. Remove all area rugs and shake out. Vacuum all carpets, moving furniture so you can access under all of the pieces.

6. Wipe down all base board. Wash walls with a simple mixture of warm water and Murphey’s Soap.

7. Dust all plants.

8. Dust all ceiling fan blades. Remove and wash light covers if needed.

9. Dust all light fixtures, replace bulbs if needed, and wipe down light switches.

Kitchen

1. Remove all items from cabinets and wipe down the inside with warm water and vinegar. Allow the cabinets to air out. Reconsider items as you return them to the cabinet. Donate what you no longer use.

2. Wipe down the outside of cabinets to remove grease and grime. Pay special attention to the handles.

3. Dust light fixtures. Remove and wash light covering if you need to.

4. Pull large appliances away from the wall if possible to thoroughly sweep and mop the floor. Scrub well in between tiles to clean the grout.

5. Remove all items from the refrigerator. Discard what is no longer edible. Wipe down the entire inside with hot water and soap. Wipe clean and replace the items. Repeat on the outside of the fridge.

6. Run the self cleaning option on the oven or clean yourself. Pay special attention to the outside as well, by removing the knobs to give it a good scrub as well as giving some attention to the grates.

7. Clean the microwave inside and out.

8. Wash all base boards and wall areas thoroughly.

9. Remove silverware and other small items from drawers. Wipe out and return items to area.


Bedrooms

1. Dust all furniture pieces thoroughly.

2. Move bed (now is a great time to flip your mattresses as well) and vacuum under it. Return bed to its place and vacuum over the mattresses as well.

3. Wash pillows and duvets base. Replace sheets and pillowcases.

4. Wash all base boards as well as walls with a hot water and soap solution.

5. Dust ceiling fans and remove light coverings so you can thoroughly clean them.

6. Remove clothing items from closet. Donate what you no longer need. Clean out the closet well removing any dust and debris. Return clothing.

7. Do the same with drawers. Remove items, donate what you no longer need, wipe out drawers, and replace.

8. Dust and clean all hanging pictures and décor.

9. Deep clean or spot clean carpets as needed.

Bathrooms

1. Deep clean the shower with appropriate cleaners for your tile. Get in between tiles with a toothbrush to really clean the grout. Don’t neglect the shower ceiling.

2. Remove shower head and soak in a lime away product. Clean other shower fixtures with an appropriate cleaning product until they are nice and shiny.

3. Remove shower curtain and launder. Replace the shower liner if needed.

4. Discard any old or empty bath product containers. Wipe down any bath tub storage fixtures with bleach.

5. Remove toilet lid so you can thoroughly clean all the way around the bowl. Clean down to the base of the bowl and don’t forget the handle and back of bowl as well. Let some solution soak in the bowl before scrubbing the entire inside. Replace any automatic bowl cleaner you may have added.

6. Remove all toiletries from vanity drawers and cabinets. Wipe clean and replace. Discard any unused or empty containers.

7. Wash all storage containers out.

8. Clean all mirrors and light fixtures. Replace any bulbs as needed.

9. Launder all bath mats or toilet coverings.

10. Mop floors and wipe clean base boards.

…


In all rooms

1. Wash windows thoroughly. Remove windows if possible to clean the inside of the window well.

2. Remove and clean all blinds and curtains. Curtains can be laundered while blinds can be dusted and wiped clean.

3. Spot treat any upholstered items that can’t be laundered.

4. Spot treat any wall chips with matching paint.

5. Replace air fresheners or sachets in all rooms with fresh ones.

6. Wipe vents clean and sanitize commonly touched areas such as handles and switches.

Allegheny Observatory Night Tours

Have you ever seen the Allegheny Observatory?  There are night tours this weekend from 8am-10pm. You can tour this working research facility and see the Fitz Clark telescope.  If the weather is clear, you may even be able to see some celestial objects that are within the telescope's range.  You can learn more at Living Pittsburgh. 

WHEN:

April 10, 2015 @ 8:00 pm – 10:00 pm

Repeats 

WHERE:

Allegheny Observatory - 159 Riverview Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15214, USA

COST: Free

CONTACT:

412-321-2400

Event website 

Tours of this working research facility begin with a short slide or film presentation and continue with a walking tour that ends at the 13″ Fitz-Clark refractor telescope. If it’s a clear night, you’ll see whatever celestial objects are within the telescope’s range. Tours are free but reservations are required. Call 412-321-2400 between 1:00 and 5:00 Monday through Friday to reserve your spot. Tours are more adult oriented, however children aged 7 and older may attend.

The Pens and Autism Awareness

The Pittsburgh Penguins are lighting it up blue for World Autism Awareness Day. On April 2nd all of the Pens staff and team will be wearing blue. The ice will also be lit up blue to raise awareness for Autism.  You can learn more here.

This week, iconic landmarks all over the world – including the Empire State Building, the Opera House in Sydney, the pyramids in Egypt and the Christ the Reedemer statue in Brazil – will all be shining bright blue lights to celebrate World Autism Awareness Day.


And right here in Pittsburgh, the Penguins will be doing their part to join this global initiative.


“What’s great is that we’re able to take that and localize it and make it a Pittsburgh thing as well too,” said Brett Spitale, executive director of Greater PA Autism Speaks. “So you’ll see a lot of buildings and different landmarks around the Pittsburgh area that night that’ll be lit up blue in awareness for autism. This national campaign has gotten support locally and nationally including the Empire State Building and the Eiffel Tower. You can learn more here.

“It’s great that the folks down at the Penguins help us out with this. Pittsburgh is such a great sports town, so what better way to raise awareness than through Pittsburgh sports.”

On World Autism Awareness Day, Autism Speaks celebrates its international Light It Up Blue Campaign. Thousands of those previously mentioned iconic landmarks, communities, businesses and homes across the globe unite by shining bright blue lights in honor of the millions of individuals and families around the world affected by autism.

While World Autism Awareness Day actually takes place on April 2, the Penguins will be celebrating it today. The Penguins’ coaches, hockey operations and front office staff are all wearing blue; there will be special graphics on the American Eagle LED pucks; and the ice will be illuminated blue during intermissions.

While all employees will be wearing blue puzzle piece lapel pins just for the day, Penguins goaltender Thomas Greiss wears an Autism Awareness decal on the back of his helmet every single game.

It’s a cause that’s important to him, as his girlfriend Brittany Palmer’s niece has been diagnosed as being on the spectrum. They both do a lot to raise awareness, including working with the Steel City Icebergs throughout the season – a local special needs hockey team that plays in the American Special Hockey Association. They've both been special guests at the club's practices, where they skate around with the players offering pointers, tips and just getting to know them.

“My girlfriend's niece is autistic and it's a different cause because it's family,” Greiss said. ‘They're great kids and they're a lot of fun to work with.”

World Autism Awareness Day was adopted by the United Nations in 2007 to shine a bright light on autism as a growing global health crisis. Autism is one of only three health issues to be recognized with its own day by the United Nations.

“Autism spectrum disorder is a neurological disorder that has to do with many different neurological things that aren’t happening in the brain,” Spitale said. “That’s why we’re really here, to be able to raise the awareness and raise the funds to fund the research to try and figure out what’s going on here.

“This is our day throughout the year that really allows us to be able to bring it to the forefront. Last year when we were doing stuff like this, we were trending the entire day on Twitter and Facebook and all social media outlets nationally. So it’s really a huge, huge day for us and it’s really our day to be able to say you know what, here we are, our folks need some help, our families need some help, let’s shine a light on this.”

Make Your Bedroom Perfect

Your bedroom should be the oasis in your apartment, so you want that space to feel as large as possible, whether it is actually large or not. You can use the decor and furniture pieces in your bedroom to manipulate the size of the space. So how do you make a room feel larger than it is? Try these tricks from Apartment Therapy:





1. Bed drawers and multi-tier nightstands
It's not within every budget to buy a bed that has built-in storage, but in this small and closet-less space, it appears to have been a vital element to ensure this small space actually functioned the way they needed it. Another fun storage feature? Not just one nightstand, but three, on each side! Floating nightstands have long been a smart choice for small spaces, but here, the addition of even more wall-mounted (or in this case, headboard-mounted) ledges means more room for both needed and decorative objects.


2. A large, horizontal wall-mounted mirror
We all know that wall-mounted reflective surfaces like mirrors work magic in small spaces, and in here it's no different. They chose to add the mirror to the wall opposite the door, which is a smart move since it'll reflect an image of the other room, making it feel a little more open than it actually is.


3. A sliding door
For privacy, you can't beat a door. For saving space and adding privacy, you can't beat a sliding door, which they made here themselves using mostly items found at Home Depot.
DIY Home Decor: How To Make a Sliding Door for Under $40


4. Light-colored black-out drapes that blend
For those who need a lot of darkness to sleep peacefully, black-out drapes (lined with dark, light-blocking fabric) are a must. But keep the side of the drapes that face the bedroom a light color, preferably a similar color to the wall. This will help them blend in and expand the look of the space visually.


5. A minimal style
It just makes sense — small spaces need less stuff, and keeping the decorative elements to a minimum will help keep a small space from feeling cluttered. But, that doesn't mean you have to keep everything out. As this small bedroom proves, you can find a good balance between art, decorative elements and more and still have a room that feels spacious for its size.

Make Everyday A Great Day

How often do you get up on the wrong side of the bed?  There are a few steps to make the chance of this happening a little less likely.  Try these four simple steps to make tomorrow a great morning. You can learn more at Apartment Therapy.


Make your bedside a soft transition into a good morning (and day)

Let the good vibes roll from the very first minute you open your eyes, stretch and step out of bed. Have a soft, fluffy rug by your bed that you step onto. Have a bouquet of flowers or something scented to wake up beside. Make sure your first view is of a clean, organized room decorated in a way that motivates you. Immediately pampering yourself as soon as you wake up will send a signal to your brain that the day is going to be enjoyable (and the feeling just might last).

Drink a glass of water

Senior writer Jennifer tried out this 10-second trick over the summer, and the results were simple and effective. How could this keep the grouchiness at bay for the rest of the day? Well no one likes to be dehydrated, and downing a glass of water in the morning will get you back on the track of hydration for the rest of the day, making sure you operate optimally.

Make your morning nutrients easier to get to

While in Europe we noticed a trend on the rise, and that's making breakfast a slower, more enjoyable part of the day. So decide what it is that you love the most about your ideal breakfast — is it a healthy omelet? A nice cup of coffee? Decide what is it you love to eat and drink in the morning, and then make it easier on yourself. Chop your omelet veggies the night before. Assemble a nice array of coffee and tea supplies that even in a sleep state you can use. And take time to savor whatever it is you choose to eat or imbibe to start your day.

Have everything you need for the day already assembled in your entryway

Save yourself the time and frustration of searching for your briefcase, laptop, keys and whatever else you might need in the morning, by making sure they're all ready to go and in one place (preferably in your entryway or near the door you leave out of).