Friday, August 20, 2010
1 Day Trip to Pittsburgh
We've posted over the past week or so about specifics on our trip to Pittsburgh. We only got to spend about 24 hours while we were there, but it was definitely worth the trip and it definitely gets our recommendation as a trip to take. Some of the highlights to read about are our visits to the Andy Warhol Museum and the Senator John Heinz History Museum. The inclines are a great way to get a beautiful view of the city, as is a cruise on the Gateway Clipper Fleet. The downtown area can be a bit quiet and empty compared to most other major cities, but for some, this is considered a plus. Also, definitely make sure you check out Primanti Bros. in the Strip District on your trip for some classic Pittsburgh culinary fare!
Tuesday, August 17, 2010
Wendell August Forge
Situated in an old barn along Main Street in Exton is Wendell August Forge.
The Forge, opened in May 2008, originates from Grove City, Pa. They have a self-guided tour of the forge in Exton as well as a gift shop. You can also arrange for a fully guided tour if you prefer. The first stop on the tour, and the loudest, is the hammer room. Here, one of their craftsmen uses an air hammer to bang the metal into the die.
All of the dies at Wendell August Forge are hand engraved by artisans at their Grove City location. These engravings are done with hammer and chisel in reverse and can take from one day or up to eight weeks to complete. However, once a die is engraved, it can be used for many products before it has to be re-cut.
After the hammer room, the pieces are colored by placing them over a fire to bake in the black color you see. This color comes off mostly in the polishing step, but it gives dimension to the hammered piece.
The piece is then shined, the edge hammed for a more finished look and prepared for sale at Wendell August Forge.
The Exton location has four full time craftsmen, one of whom, Emily, will be premiering her jewelry line in the store on Sept. 10.
In March 2010, the original Grove City forge had a fire that destroyed the entire forge. The Exton location has a few of the antique pieces from the Grove City location on display that were pulled from the rubble after the fire. There are also other antique pieces on display in the shop.
Our tour guide, Melissa, explained to us that Wendell August’s original design was the dogwood flower – which they still carry today.
However, the die has had to be re-cut a few times. The new die has some fun characters in it too! There are ladybugs hidden in some of the pieces.
In the autumn line you can find an inchworm and a spider in some pieces.
Before you leave the Forge, there is one more room to explore. Some of the retired dies have been set out as well as mallets and metal so you can make your very own Wendell August Forge piece – and very unique as nothing in the showroom is of the same design! We made a bear!
And for all of you Philly fans out there, they even have a die of the skyline of the city as you drive in from I-76.
The Forge, opened in May 2008, originates from Grove City, Pa. They have a self-guided tour of the forge in Exton as well as a gift shop. You can also arrange for a fully guided tour if you prefer. The first stop on the tour, and the loudest, is the hammer room. Here, one of their craftsmen uses an air hammer to bang the metal into the die.
All of the dies at Wendell August Forge are hand engraved by artisans at their Grove City location. These engravings are done with hammer and chisel in reverse and can take from one day or up to eight weeks to complete. However, once a die is engraved, it can be used for many products before it has to be re-cut.
After the hammer room, the pieces are colored by placing them over a fire to bake in the black color you see. This color comes off mostly in the polishing step, but it gives dimension to the hammered piece.
The piece is then shined, the edge hammed for a more finished look and prepared for sale at Wendell August Forge.
The Exton location has four full time craftsmen, one of whom, Emily, will be premiering her jewelry line in the store on Sept. 10.
In March 2010, the original Grove City forge had a fire that destroyed the entire forge. The Exton location has a few of the antique pieces from the Grove City location on display that were pulled from the rubble after the fire. There are also other antique pieces on display in the shop.
Our tour guide, Melissa, explained to us that Wendell August’s original design was the dogwood flower – which they still carry today.
However, the die has had to be re-cut a few times. The new die has some fun characters in it too! There are ladybugs hidden in some of the pieces.
In the autumn line you can find an inchworm and a spider in some pieces.
Before you leave the Forge, there is one more room to explore. Some of the retired dies have been set out as well as mallets and metal so you can make your very own Wendell August Forge piece – and very unique as nothing in the showroom is of the same design! We made a bear!
And for all of you Philly fans out there, they even have a die of the skyline of the city as you drive in from I-76.
Megabus Review - Philadelphia to Pittsburgh
When Megabus premiered Philadelphia as a hub for their service, one of the destinations that we saw that we knew was a must-visit since neither of us had been there before was Pittsburgh. The total travel time clocks in at just under 6 hours (assuming you don't hit any bad traffic), with a brief stop in Harrisburg and a rest stop in Waterfalls, PA.
The drive both ways was very pleasant and comfortable. The fact that they made a rest stop along the way was definitely pleasing as being stuck on a bus for 6 hours can make one restless. You should definitely remember to bring a blanket with you if you get cold easily, as the air-conditioner will probably be at full blast the whole time. The WiFi was very convenient, as were the electrical outlets to keep our iPods charged.
The drop off spot in Pittsburgh was at 10th Street and Penn Avenue, which is very central to the downtown area of the city. It made it quite easy for us to walk to our hotel, as well as to various activities around the city. It is also located only a block away from the Greyhound station, which has lockers you can use as storage if need be for your trip. We took advantage of this to keep our backpacks in after we checked out of our hotel so that we wouldn't have to drag them around everywhere.
The drive both ways was very pleasant and comfortable. The fact that they made a rest stop along the way was definitely pleasing as being stuck on a bus for 6 hours can make one restless. You should definitely remember to bring a blanket with you if you get cold easily, as the air-conditioner will probably be at full blast the whole time. The WiFi was very convenient, as were the electrical outlets to keep our iPods charged.
The drop off spot in Pittsburgh was at 10th Street and Penn Avenue, which is very central to the downtown area of the city. It made it quite easy for us to walk to our hotel, as well as to various activities around the city. It is also located only a block away from the Greyhound station, which has lockers you can use as storage if need be for your trip. We took advantage of this to keep our backpacks in after we checked out of our hotel so that we wouldn't have to drag them around everywhere.
Monday, August 16, 2010
Phillie Phanatic Press Conference
At a press conference today, the future of the 20 Phillie Phanatic statues that have been part of the Phanatic Around Town summer promotion have been decided. The statues will be removed from their current locations around the city on August 30 and moved to Citizens Bank Park through the end of 2010 Philadelphia Phillies regular season.
The statues will be at the “Phanatic Walk” at the Third Base Gate through Sep. 30. On Sep. 11, Citizen’s Bank Park will be open to the public, with FREE admission for the public to see all of the Phanatics. On Aug. 27, online at http://philadelphia.phillies.
So, here’s your chance to catch all of the Phanatics all in one place in case you missed them this summer. And if you have a favorite, you can own one and make it part of your family.
For a video of David Buck, Philadelphia Phillies Vice President of Marketing and Advertising Sales making the announcement, please click here.
Sunday, August 15, 2010
Senator John Heinz History Center
Outside of the steel industry, the business that is probably most synonymous with the city of Pittsburgh is Heinz. Founded in 1869 by Senator John Heinz, this brand has become world renowned especially for their ketchup. In downtown Pittsburgh, is the Senator John Heinz History Center, which is a museum dedicated to not only the history of Heinz, but also to the history of the city of Pittsburgh, with two floors concentrating on the history of sports in the city. This building is easily recognizable with the big bottle of Heinz Ketchup located on the roof.
This museum was definitely one of the highlights on our trip to Pittsburgh, and I think it is something many people that live in the area and visit the area miss. There are various interactive exhibits that both kids and adults can enjoy. This is a place I highly recommend to anyone that is in the Pittsburgh area. Also, remember to show your AAA card for a small $1 discount on the $10 admission price.
This museum was definitely one of the highlights on our trip to Pittsburgh, and I think it is something many people that live in the area and visit the area miss. There are various interactive exhibits that both kids and adults can enjoy. This is a place I highly recommend to anyone that is in the Pittsburgh area. Also, remember to show your AAA card for a small $1 discount on the $10 admission price.
Station Square
On the South Side of the Monongahela River in Pittsburgh is Station Square. Various bars, restaurants and shopping is available here, as well as a beautiful view of downtown Pittsburgh.
We came here on a Saturday night, and there were a decent amount of people around, although we did expect more of a crowd. The restaurants seemed to be a mix of chains and local fare. This is also where you can start a cruise on the Gateway Clipper or the Just Ducky Tours.
If you're in Pittsburgh, this is definitely an area to check out. However, don't expect it to have as much selection in this restaurant/bar area as you'd find in other major cities.
We came here on a Saturday night, and there were a decent amount of people around, although we did expect more of a crowd. The restaurants seemed to be a mix of chains and local fare. This is also where you can start a cruise on the Gateway Clipper or the Just Ducky Tours.
If you're in Pittsburgh, this is definitely an area to check out. However, don't expect it to have as much selection in this restaurant/bar area as you'd find in other major cities.
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