Tuesday, March 28, 2017

Day 204-The Children’s Home of Pittsburgh & Lemieux Family Center-“Shake Your Booties..Down Bourbon Street” for a Family Cause at Stage AE


I have been to galas and walks to raise funds for organizations that focus on the support or a cure for various illnesses (Day 67, Day 90), but not for an organization that so strongly supports families. My blog inspiration, Little Golden Books, reminds us that family “times gives us a sense of belonging, when we feel safe and loved.” That is just what The Children's Home of Pittsburgh & Lemieux Family Center does by promoting the health and the well-being of infants and children through  services that establish and strengthens the family.  They help establish a family with an infant adoption program, prepare a family with a home-like transition hospital for children, and  assist a family with a day care program for children with developmental and medical needs. I was  therefore ready to enjoy a night of jazz and fun by attending the event, “Shake Your Booties..Down Bourbon Street " and support this family centered cause at Stage AE.


Sunday, March 26, 2017

Day 203- Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra POPS-Sounds of Simon & Garfunkel (AJ Swearingen & Johathan Beedle) –magical harmony.

Image result for aj swearingen and jonathan beedle images

At age 10, I remember listening to my neighbor’s parent’s  Simon & Garfunkel albums,“Bridge Over Troubled Water” and "Simon and Garfunkel Greatest Hits." We sang “Cecilia and  Homeword Bound” over and over again.  As a child, I loved the harmony and the stories told in the music and to this day I gravitate toward artists that have poetic lyrics and that harmonize.  This 1960’s duo was truly a magical musical union that fit together like no other. They produced songs that lasted the test of time or the kind that when played, you just start to sing along.  The Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra POPS –Sounds of Simon & Garfunkel–with guests,  AJ Swearingen and Jonathan Beedle, and under the direction of guest conductor, Michael  Krajewski, brought back that magical sound enriched with Pittsburgh's first class symphony orchestra.

Sunday, March 19, 2017

Day 202- Riverdance 20th anniversary-Amazing-Benedum Pittsburgh


Riverdance is on its 20th year of touring and I have never seen the show!  I love  to watch dance (see Day 193-Pilbolus & Day 90-Nutcracker ) so I thought that  it was time to see why this show has had such a long run and get my Irish fix on St. Patrick’s Day weekend. My son was home, so even though he needed a push to go, we both were amazed at the show. I overheard several people say “I thought it would be good but did not know it would be this good!”  

Friday, March 17, 2017

Day 201 Brit Floyd-Music of Pink Floyd- Back in Pgh revisit Immersion Tour at Benedum Pittsburgh






(Brit Floy is back in Pittsburgh with a 50th Anniversary Tour on April 21, 2028. Remembering the experience in 2017 and excited to experience the new production. For tickets go trustarts.org.)

My first experience with the  music of the British  rock band, Pink Floyd, was in college.  I was  not  a  “rock and roll” girl but a disco queen  in college mostly because I loved to dance.  One  of my roommates gave me  head phones and  I listened to the entire  album of “The Wall”laying down in a dim lit room.  I could not believe the musical experience with  the voices, sounds (laughter), and instrumentals. I assure you that no drugs were involved but  I was taken on an escape, a relaxing ride,  and  I was hooked on the band. My blog inspiration book, Everything I Need to Know I Learned from A Little Golden Bookreminds us to “use your imagination” and that is just what I remember doing that day in my college dorm as I was immersed in the music.   I was excited to see if  Brit Floyd, which is a Pink Floyd cover band, could capture the experience.  

Sunday, March 12, 2017

Day 200- Musical, Daddy Long Legs-Secret of Happiness and Lemieux Family Center Event at O’Rielly

March 9 to April 9 at  O'Rielly

Pittsburgh Public Theater  held an event to support  The Children's Home of Pittsburgh and the Lemieux Family Center before the second night of the musical "Daddy Long Legs" at the O'Rielly Theater. This organization which offers adoption services, a pediatric  hospital and a day care for medically fragile children, seemed like the perfect charity to combine with this play. Daddy Long Legs is about an orphaned girl (Judy), who goes to college because a generous anonymous trustee (Jervis) finances her studies. This musical is really about Judy's educational, social, and personal growth, and her  secret to happiness.

Wednesday, March 8, 2017

Day 199-Travel Around the World- Play at Epcot (Orlando)


As noted in Day 198-Winter Park, Florida, it's been 15 years since I visited the  theme parks in Orlando and back then my son was only 5 years old. At that time, it was an exhausting Disney World experience keeping my son entertained in the long lines, finding food that he would eat, and avoiding an over tired child meltdown. Even with all that,  I was still joyous when experiencing my son’s Disney excitement.  This empty nest experience was new. I was playing as an adult and I chose  Epcot so that  I could travel around the world in a day.
Disney  1999,  loved  my son's joy 

Saturday, March 4, 2017

Day 198 Beauty in Winter Park, FL- Orlando, museums, peacocks, lakes and more

  

Since February and March in Pittsburgh can be the perpetual rain and gray sky months, I say fly south for some beauty. From Pittsburgh there are reasonable and sometimes down right cheap direct  flights to Orlando. However I have not been to Orlando since 2002 when I did the Disney thing with my 5 year old son. Like most, I associate Orlando with Disney parks and endless exhaustive walking but  my friend introduced me to a lake community, Winter Park, Florida. It’s 7 miles from Orlando and  a small gem offering so much beauty in a quaint town with lakes, museums, peacocks and  more.

Wednesday, March 1, 2017

Day 197 Cool off with a Milk at the Shake Factory (Fat Tuesday)


 (I am reposting this reminder about the Milk Shake factory during our current heat wave!)

I have to admit that in my world  ice cream is a basic food group. My opinion is not based on any nutritional science but based purely on my  love for the stuff (see Day 10- Brewery and Ice cream).  I cannot pass an ice cream establishment  without indulging!  Therefore,  I  have no problem following the wisdom of my blog  inspiration book, Everything I Need to Know I Learned From A Little Golden Book that suggests,“treat yourself.” On this Fat Tuesday, the last feast day before the Lenten fast, I choose to have my feast with an ice-cream shake at the Milk Shake Factory.