Gaslamp Quarter

The region of downtown San Diego to head to for any nightlife activity is the Gaslamp District.  Here, there are various bars, clubs and restaurants for the enjoyment of people of any age.  My personal favorite is the dueling piano bar at The Shout House.  You'll also find a large outdoor shopping mall at Horton Plaza for your various shopping needs.  For those not from the Southern California area, it is quite nice being able to walk around in a mall without the feeling of being stuffed inside a building.

Another favorite is the Ghirardelli Ice Cream and Chocolate Shop on 5th avenue for amazing ice cream sundaes!  Definitely stop by for some dessert when you're in the area.

San Diego Chinese Historical Museum

At the intersection of 3rd Street and J Street in Downtown San Diego is the Chinese Historical Museum.  This small museum offers visitors for a unique look into the history of people in San Diego that have Chinese heritage. Various artifacts are available to view with detailed descriptions on their meaning.  The entry fee is only $2/person, but you'll probably spend less than 20 minutes in the museum.  While we didn't find the museum to be anything too special, it is probably something that someone who has a keen interest in Chinese history will find interesting.

Firebird Festival in Downtown Phoenixville slated for Dec. 11

 (image courtesy http://firebirdfestival.com/)

December 11 marks downtown Phoenixville’s seventh annual Firebird Festival, which draws thousands of people to downtown for the entertainment, dining and the main event – the burning of the Phoenix bird.

This year’s bird is the biggest ever – reaching heights of 28 ft. at the head of the bird and 20 ft. at both wings. There are also seven towers, one for each year of the festival.

Entertainment throughout the downtown, including musicians, dancers and even fire breathers and eaters, starts at 4 p.m. The lighting of the bird is at 8 p.m.

A parade, beginning at 7:15 p.m. at Starr St. and winding its way down Bridge St. and ending at the Firebird site on the 300 block of Bridge street marks the beginning of the lighting of the bird.

The Phoenixville Arts and Entertainment Committee dreamed up the event as a way to bring people into downtown Phoenixville. It is based on the mythology of the Phoenix, who rises from the ashes of the one before it, symbolizing resurrection and renewal.

It is also representative of the town of Phoenixville, who has risen from the ashes, after the steel company was shut down in 1986; the town fell on hard times. Today, it is a bright, vibrant community that has gone through quite a renaissance.

One note, parking in downtown is already atrocious, even on the best of days. Public transit is the way to go if possible. SEPTA bus route 99 from King of Prussia and 139 that runs between Limerick and King of Prussia make stops in downtown Phoenixville. (Route 139 stops at the Philadelphia Premium Outlets – lots of free parking there, and you can do some shopping before you catch the bus!)

For more information on the festival and a schedule of the downtown entertainment, visit firebirdfestival.com.

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.

PPG Place and Market Square

By far, the architectural highlight in Pittsburgh is PPG Place.  This plaza is made up of buildings of varying sizes made out of glass.  It looks like the lair of some evil genius in a comic book.

These buildings are of various sizes and house the offices of various corporations.  In the center, is a plaza with different statues that have been donated by various museums in the Pittsburgh area.  This is an area of downtown that I think everyone should see when visiting Pittsburgh.

Right down the street from PPG Place is the Market Square area.  I was a bit disappointed by this area as it was almost devoid of people on a beautiful Sunday afternoon.  This square, for pedestrians only, is surrounded by various restaurants and shops.  Unfortunately, half the restaurants are just generic chains.  A Primanti Bros. does exist here, but other than that, I see an area with a lot of potential, but nothing that shouts as a must-visit area.