Friday, December 30, 2016

Day 183 Cirque Dreams Holidaze Journey


My blog inspiration book, Little Golden Books, reminds us that, “Christmas is a time to go all out.” That is just what Cirque Dreams Holidaze is all about-going all out and celebrating  everything  “Holidaze.”  I thought that after Christmas day, this show would keep the energy going.  It did that with  jazzed up variety and circus acts plus a lot of  glitz.  

Thursday, December 29, 2016

Day 182 Rocky Bleier in The Play-His story, the life of Chances

Rocky Telling his journey 

Pittsburgh is a sports town so most  Pittsburghers  would jump at the chance to hear  a story from  a former Steeler  running back, who was part of the  “Golden Days” in  the 1970’s, the days of the “Steel Curtain,”  and  4 Super Bowl victories. This show is not really about Steelers team  history or I would have been lost and bored because  I must timidly admit that I am a temperate fan, unlike most  supersonic ones in this town.  What I do love however is  a  good  story (see Day 146). I  got a good story from Rocky Bleier. I heard his story of chance or of “what if’s” in his life.  I think many of us have those kinds of memories. During the holidays when we are together with family and friends, it is our stories that bring the joy of telling and remembering  to life so that we don’t forget. This is what Rocky Bleier accomplished in this one man intimate play.   

Monday, December 26, 2016

Day 181 St. Nicholas Church (Millvale)- Holiday light tour of Croatian Murals -Gift to America


Pittsburgh’s  rich immigrant  history  has given  birth to many hidden treasures. One of these treasures is the water color tempera  murals painted on the walls of  St.Nicholas Church in Millvale.   We give gifts during the Holidays and  Croatian artist  Maxo Vanka said that the murals were his "Gift to America.”  These paintings mix both secular and religious images to tell the story of the Croatian immigrant experience in the United  States.

The Holiday Light Tour is sponsored by “The Society to Preserve the Millvale Murals of  Maxo  Vanka.”  This tour is a good way to experience these paintings with new LED lighting and learn about their social justice, anti war and reverence for women themes. 

Thursday, December 22, 2016

Day 180 Phipps Conservatory- Feel the Wonder in a Wonderland


The weeks before the holiday often involve that panic rush feeling "to get it all done.” We forget, as my blog inspiration book, Everything I Learned About Christmas, I Learned From A Little Golden Book, reminds us that Christmas should be a “time of wonder, a time like no other time of the year.”  At Phipps Conservatory,  the beauty brings back the wonder of the season as you navigate through the 8 rooms  of nature infused with lights, Christmas trees, and  poinsettias,  as well as 5 permanent  botanical  gardens. 

Sunday, December 18, 2016

Day 179 Michael W. Smith with Jordan Smith Christmas Tour- Christmas Giving

Mom and I before the show 

Listening to the sounds of Christmas  is a good way to get “into the spirit.”  It’s even better  when  you go a concert which celebrates Christmas and does not try to focus on a generic “Holiday Season.”  That is what  you get with the Michael W. Smith  Christmas tour. My Blog inspiration book,  Everything I Need to Know about (Christmas), I Learned From A Little Golden Book,  reminds  us that Christmas is, “ a time for giving the very best of yourself.”  Giving your best,  felt like the spirit of  this concert.