Steel City Saturday

Day one conclusion: Pittsburgh might be the most humid place on the East Coast. This is a challenging - and unfortunate- lottery to win.

I just woke up, and my hair resembles Rick Allen's, (who is now, by the way, spiritually transformed, playing with Krishna Das, and running the Raven Drum Foundation with his wife.)

Sample quote: "I’d say that Hare Krishna has more energy attached to it in terms of thousands of years of being uttered than “Pour Some Sugar on Me.”"

Right on. Yay for evolution. But I don't know...there's some sick energy concentrated in late-80s ROCK, dude. Don't underestimate it.

Yes, Pittsburgh hair. And also, I'm trapped in some "All the Right Moves" Tom Cruise/Willy Wonka Guinness Factory. Freaky.

Other observations thus far:

1. There is a freaking Bravo here. Pasta Bravo, friends: "Our signature dish-rigatoni tossed with wood-grilled chicken and mushrooms in roasted red
pepper sauce." GUESS WHOSE face will be smack in the middle of a plate of that lovely, lovely stuff before the day is out? RICK ALLEN'S, channeled by ME, that's who! Pour some Pasta Bravo on me, in the name of Krishna Das and drum circles! Please!

We have Brio at home, their upscale version, but it's just not the same. I spent many nights at the Dayton Bravo. I even worked there for two days.

2. Speaking of drums (please see Rick Allen item), I met a nice man named Michael Vignole at the festival who will sell me a handmade bodhran for a reasonable price. He tells me if I have rhythm I can play it. And oh, that's really not a problem. There's a workshop today. I'll be there.

3. Got into an argument - an ARGUMENT, because I apparently have deeply held opinions about such things - with a guy in a Flogging Molly t-shirt at the bar last night about the necessity of indicating that such and such a band is an "IRISH" rock band, and the validity of said "Irish rock" as a genre. I seem to recall posing the question of whether aHa really needed to be labeled a Norwegian band, when "a band who are really just cartoon renditions of men, who also happen to ride reindeer" would suffice. (kidding about the reindeer part.) He totally started it, I swear. I just stated an OPINION. Why bring the noise so fast, huh? Calm DOWN. I know it's alarming when a damned GIRL has drawn a conclusion or two about music, but it might happen again. Prepare yourself for the onslaught. Of course he's from DC. Apparently these guys are supposed to change my mind. Also, Dropkick Murphys! Rawr? Ruh-roh?

4. Sandwiches come with French fries and coleslaw ON THEM here.  Seriously, this place?  Insane. And at 2 a.m.? Insaner. They're open 24 hours a day.

5. I learned in Breezewood, town of motels,  (one of my favorite roadtrip places, honestly) that there is reliable wireless internet access at over 470 truck stops nationwide.  It is not free, however. 

Also, there is a MySpace for truckers, in case your world is missing MyConvoy.

6. Beer monopolies at Irish festivals are a bad idea.

7. Pittsburgh has a ton of bridges.

8. Finally, this town is home to a band called the Corned Beef & Curry Band. Not as trainwrecky as the title could suggest. Bob Bannerjee, fiddle player and vocalist, is a very talented guy. Props to the rest of the crew, too. It was quite a jam session.

More illuminating points later. And some more embarrassing pictures, because that's my self-created job.

Comments

[Jerry]

Sounds like you are having a good time.

Long live Rick Allen!!!

[Jennifer/The Word Cellar]

I can appreciate the alliteration in this post's title, but Pittsburgh is not just a steel town anymore, people! We're fighting and fighting this image all the time, and since I write for a publication (www.popcitymedia.com) that strives to highlight Pittsburgh's current strengths, I feel obliged to point out that the city has a lively arts scene, a strong hi-tech sector, advanced bio-tech businesses, an impressive medical research and innovation environment, and sophisticated green (environmentally-friendly) buildings. Oh, and it was just named the Most Livable City in America by Rand McNally.

That's my soapbox and I'm getting off of it now. Thank you for indulging me.

p.s. If you like Primanti's, try the "O" in Oakland. I think it's open 24-7 as well. They have killer fries (order a small, trust me) and very decent pizza. Oh, and forties of beer, I think, if you’re into that kind of thing. Plus you can't beat the (lack of) ambiance.

[Caroline Armijo]

I am sure that you already know this, but you must go to the Andy Warhol Museum. They will give you a pair of gloves and you can go through a box from his archives.

[Laurie]

Jennifer - I have absolutely no beef with Pittsburgh and have had a good time here. I knew nothing of the place before I got here and given that I drove by what looked to me to be a "smoke stack memorial" a few times on the way to the festival, and have read "steel city" several times in local publications in relation to the place, it's still here. Nothing wrong with that either.

I lived in Dayton, Ohio, for several years, and love it dearly, so know from cities that suffer a negative reputation, particularly related to one dying industry or the other. There was absolutely no need for us to deny where the city had been in order to embrace the future. There's obviously a lot of pride here in Pittsburgh related to its history. Who cares about labels? Not me. That's why I use them all the time. Nice way to defuse the negative impact, I think.

I think I linked to your publication? Maybe not - don't know, I'm tired...but at the very least I saw it!

[Jennifer/The Word Cellar]

Thanks, Laurie. I totally agree that we don't have to deny the past in order to embrace the future. I didn't meant come off sounding angry or crazy. :) And I'm glad you had a good time in "the 'Burgh"! I missed the Irish Festival this year, alas.