An old friend recently shared this gem with me. This is spectacular for many many reasons.

If that isn’t enough, make sure you check out the recent post: Your Afro is the Bomb!

Each year, the Mattress Factory’s Urban Garden Party becomes the talk of the town as more than 1,000 attendees turn out to help support the museum’s mission with one heck of a fundraising party!

SUMMER IN THE CITY: THE 2010 URBAN GARDEN PARTY
Friday, June 18, 2010
7:00 PM (VIP Pre-Party at 6:00 PM)
The Mattress Factory is located at 500 Sampsonia Way in Pittsburgh’s North Side

Geekstar.com is part of the Urban Garden Party Street team. Please help me reach my ticket sale quota by ordering from the link posted below. Support the arts in Pittsburgh! Thanks so much!

TICKETS: BUY TICKETS HERE

http://urbangardenparty-geekstar.eventbrite.com

As the Mattress Factory’s primary annual fund raising event, the Garden Party is vital to the organization’s programming and has helped the museum push the artistic envelope for more than three decades.

London based DJ collective Eclectic Method will be headlining from 9 PM till 11 PM. You have to love these guys because they made a video collage of robots set to their music! I love robots!

Eclectic Method – Robots from Eclectic Method on Vimeo.

The night will also include DJ Omar Abdul, Artist Tim Kaulen & Sean Derry. There will be skateboards from Mr. Smalls Funhouse just like it’s 1988 all over again!

For one night only, many of Pittsburgh’s best restaurants and bars will come together to offer an amazing selection of delectable edibles and liberating libations. Their donations in support of the Mattress Factory are included in the cost of your ticket to the Urban Garden Party.

Food and beverages for the Urban Garden Party generously donated by:

TICKETS: BUY TICKETS HERE

http://urbangardenparty-geekstar.eventbrite.com

Join geekstar.com and friends at South Side’s OTB (Over the Bar) Bicycle Cafe Sunday May 24th at 8:00 PM for food and drinks.

Feel free to invite friends. All ages welcome but must have ID to order from the bar.
Nearly 50 people came out for our last OTB happy hour in March!

Monday is Memorial Day so stay out late!

OTB is formerly Quagmire’s bar and grill and is located between 25th and 26th street on East Carson.

OTB is bicycle themed cafe and bar with a full menu featuring vegetarian and non-vegetarian items. OTB also has a full bar that carries an assortment of craft brews and of course PBR.

For our happy hour, OTB is offering us the following specials (kitchen will be open till 10):

$1 off all burgers (turkey, black bean, or beef)
$1 off all draft beers
$2.99 Appetizers Menu

Menu: http://www.otbbicyclecafe.com/?page_id=112

Sunday May 24, 2009
8:00 pm – close
OTB (Over the Bar) Bicycle Cafe
2518 East Carson Street
Pittsburgh, PA

http://www.otbbicyclecafe.com

CLICK HERE TO VIEW FACEBOOK INVITE

A very scientific experiment involving ‘peeps’ during the wee hours of Easter 2009.

Geekstar’s posse had a little too much fun with peeps. It doesn’t take much to entertain us.

Love Marty’s “Dude!” throughout!

YouTube Direktvideo link

Geekstar’s original review:
http://geekstar.com/2009/01/18/otb-over-the-bar-bicycle-cafe-south-side-now-open/

Friday January 30, 2009
Complimentary Hors d’oeuvres 6-8 PM
Draft Beer Specials all night!

2518 East Carson Street
Pittsburgh, PA 15203

www.otbbicyclecafe.com
Phone: 412.381.2690

OTB Cafe in South Side is now open! Geekstar’s friend, John Benzinger, opened the cafe with his business partners, Mike Kotyk and Scott Ambrose, on East Carson Street in Pittsburgh’s South Side. You may recognize OTB as formerly Quagmire’s Bar and Grill. The old pub was given a complete overhaul and has been converted into OTB Bicycle Cafe.

I love the concept of OTB. It is all things bicycle and outdoors. OTB reminds me of cafes and pubs I’ve seen in places such as Portland and Seattle. The cafe is full of art. I love art and unique interior design. The team hired artist, Ashley Hodder, to paint custom outdoor themed murals across the angled ceiling in the cafe. The murals are complemented by wrought iron sculptures made out of bicycle parts by Grace Catranis of Red Star Ironworks. Chris Beech of THICK Bikes designed bicycles on that are on display. Pittsburgh needs more independent boutiques and eateries and OTB fits the bill.

The cafe is the first of it’s kind in our area. It’s biker friendly with outdoor racks to lock your bicycle while grabbing a bite and brew. It’s a perfect stopping point after hopping off the South Side Bike trail just across East Carson Street.

Then there’s the food. OTB offers healthy selections that also include a variety of delicious vegetarian options. OTB also has a full bar that carries an assortment of craft brews and of course PBR.

OTB will be my next suggestion for happy hour with friends. Be sure to check out Over the Bar (OTB) Bicycle Cafe and help spread the word. OTB’s success will encourage more independent small businesses to open their doors in our fine city.

Over the Bar Bicycle Cafe
2518 East Carson Street
Pittsburgh, PA 15203
(412) 381-3698

www.otbbicyclecafe.com

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Change is underway in Braddock as groups working with and within the community bring renewed energy to a town that many wrote off. Artists, social entrepreneurs, community organizers, urban homesteaders and others with a pioneering spirit are inspired by the town’s potential for grassroots urban renewal and are using the inherent energy in Braddock to fuel their creativity.

It is with this spirit that OBSCURAE  views the maligned town – turning a photographic eye towards the borough’s oft-overlooked beauty amidst the former grandeur and “urban blight” that Braddock has come to represent for many.

Curated by Braddock residents Jenny Fremlin and Jodi Morrison, with special guest curator John Ryan Brubaker, OBSCURAE pays homage to Braddock’s unique post industrial urban beauty. From the borough’s Victorian and industrial-era construction to particulars of its natural surroundings, each photograph captures a unique perspective of the town.

Works are mounted and framed with found-materials from the community. In creating OBSCURAE , curators Fremlin and Morrison hope to encourage others to look deeper and appreciate the small wonders that drew them to Braddock.

Join us for a two-day photography exhibition/fundraiser on Friday, December 5 and Saturday, December 6, 2008. Benefiting Braddock Redux’s continuing revitalization efforts of this historic steel mill town.

OBSCURAE features more than 100 donated and framed photographs of Braddock from over 25 photographers that ticket holders will win and take home at the OBSCURAE art photography lottery.

Public viewing of the work, open to all and free of charge, begins Friday from 7 – 11pm and continues Saturday at 2pm; the art lottery commences at 4pm Saturday.

Those attending OBSCURAE, held at UnSmoke Systems Gallery at 1137 Braddock Avenue, are invited to take part in the gallery’s interactive photo booth designed by installation artist Merissa Lombardo and taste fresh-baked pizza by Josh Tonies made in Braddock’s very own outdoor wood-fire community oven located next to UnSmoke Systems.

There is no charge to attend OBSCURAE and view the exhibition; visitors wishing to take home a work of art can purchase lottery tickets for $45 through the website, www.obscuraegallery.org, or for $55 at the door. The lottery offers supporters the opportunity to contribute to Braddock art and community projects. At the same time, supporters will be able to enjoy the exhibit, local food and drinks, the photo booth installation, AND leave with a limited edition framed art photograph that will sell in OBSCURAE’s online gallery, many for over $100. Photographs included in the lottery range from 8×10 to 13×19 and are mounted and framed using a variety of reclaimed materials. All pieces are stunning to display or give as a gift this holiday season.

Guest band, the Bloodsugars, play this Saturday night at Brillobox. The Bloodsugars hail from Brooklyn NY and are bringing a unique blend of indie dance rock to the burgh. Also on the bill are Pittsburgh bands Good Night States and Round Black Ghosts. Philadelphia band Grammar Debate will also be performing.

The Bloodsugars recently released their latest EP titled BQEP. This six song EP consists of catchy indie rock songs mixed with the clean vocals of singer Jason Rabinowitz. The Bloodsugars stand apart from other “indie dance rock” bands with their intelligent songwriting and arrangements. Anyone who has ever played an instrument can immediately pick up on the tremendous technical aptitude showcased by all four members. Take a listen to their music and hear for yourself at: www.myspace.com/bloodsugars.

The Brillbox is located in Bloomfield across the street from the new Children’s Hospital on Penn Avenue. Brillobox is where to go to hear local and national indie rock bands in Pittsburgh. The scene is filled with hipsters, great music, strong drinks, and flocked velvet wallpaper. Geekstar’s suggestion is to arrive early and have dinner at the neighboring Taste of India restaurant. Next, grab a Straub and enjoy the show at Brillobox.

Brillobox
4104 Penn Avenue
Pittsburgh PA 15224

Bands: Good Night States, Bloodsugars, Round Black Ghosts, Grammar Debate
Show time: 9 PM
Cost: $5

Read what people are saying:

The Bloodsugars play sweet garage synth-pop, refreshingly unconnected to bands of the 80′s in it’s simplicity. - The Village Voice

The Bloodsugars are the perfect party band for intelligent dancers. - The L Magazine

The New York Rock band the Bloodsugars has an uncanny ability to engage it’s listeners with captivating and soulful sounds. Jason Rabinowitz’s voice is reminiscent of Elvis Costello. Eerie and mutually arresting. - Toledo Free Press

Note: Jason Rabinowitz decided to name the band The Bloodsugars as a wink to being diagnosed with diabetes at the age of 9. The band was originally formed with fellow NYC-natives and school chums David Beauchamp on drums, Brendan O’Grady on bass and Matt Katz on synths. Beauchamp has since parted ways with the group to devote more time to playing with the Jeffrey Lewis Band, and The Bloodsugars have been blessed with the addition of Kenneth Salters behind the kit.

BLOODSUGARS UPCOMING TOUR DATES:

Sept. 17th -  Roustabout! at Bar Bleu – State College,  PA
Sept. 18th -  Now That’s Class – Cleveland, OH
Sept. 19th -  Northside Tavern – Cincinnati, OH
Sept. 20th -  Brillobox – Pittsburgh, PA

I think these are fantastic. The Chocolate Bar in NYC commissioned 10 NYC graffiti artists to design candy wrappers for their gourmet chocolate bars. What more could a stylish girl want?

You can order these chocolate bars only for $4 each or the whole lot for $40 at chocolatebarnyc.com. A portion of all sales supports the children’s art organization, All Star Project.

fab & yum.

Photo credit chocolatebarnyc.com.