Baby Beez and the Vehicles: Touch a Truck

By Elizabeth / May 24, 2013 / Adventures, Pittsburgh

Last year the Beez family discovered the wonder that is the Junior League of Pittsburgh’s Touch a Truck Event. The event is AWESOME. It’s a kid’s event, but don’t be fooled, the adults love it too. The concept is secret: Get a whole bunch of trucks in one place and EVERYONE GETS TO CLIMB ON THEM.

All kinds of trucks! Bomb squad trucks! SWAT trucks! Mail Trucks! Cement Trucks! Fire Trucks! Monster Trucks! ALL OF THE TRUCKS!

And you get to climb in them! and Sit in them! and Take Pictures! and get this…..

YOU GET TO HONK THE HORN!! Even on the big semi trucks! You get to pull the cord! HONNNNK HONNNK!

Mr. Beez was especially sad to learn that Touch a Truck was occurring at a time he could not attend. He loves this event just as much as Baby Beez and me. This year we met up with friends and climbed through all the trucks together. Friends make the best things even better.

The Chaperone, Laura Moriarty (2012)

By Elizabeth / May 23, 2013 / Books

The Chaperone was this month’s selection for my book club, and the only explanation I really have of why I liked it is because it was a “nice story.” In The Chaperone, Cora Carlisle, a Prohibition-era Kansas mother of two, agrees to chaperone Louise Brooks on her summer of intensive dance instruction in New York City. (If you, like me, had no idea who Louise Brooks was, she was an immensely famous film and dance star in the 1930s.)

During her duties as chaperone, Cora also takes the opportunity to explore her complicated past. This job was perfect for her, as she has mysterious roots in New York City, and she spends the summer working to unravel that mystery.

The book is character driven. It’s easy to relate to Cora’s struggles to control, or atleast mitigate the damages in the wake of, bratty and spoiled Louise. Cora is so close and relatable. The book brings a few surprises, but Cora is a positive figure throughout and it is easy to become closely endeared to her. Although Louise is a key character in the book, Cora quickly becomes the reader’s primary interest.

Cora is a good character, through and through. Living in such our current bleak, depressing world, it’s nice to read a novel in which a good character stays good. This book isn’t heavy or twists or turns, but it’s very relatable and easygoing.

Friday Fun with @ohhonestlyerin @unionprojectpgh and @pghtacotruck

By Elizabeth / May 22, 2013 / Food, Pittsburgh

It should be clear from this blog that I am not the stay-at-home type. I love to be out and about, going to events, meeting people and seeing things. This is certainly not a problem in this city, because Pittsburgh’s got a lot going on. A LOT. And there are some weekends where all the cool things seem to be going on at the same time, and it puts me in the unfortunate position of having to choose between things. This past weekend was one such weekend. Baby Beez and I tore up the town. Our weekend was chock-full of activities, and even with the million things we did, we missed out on the Clifford the Big Red Dog opening at the Children’s Museum, the Venture Outdoors Festival and the St. Nick’s Greek Food Festival. Even with missing those things, we did a LOT. So much that it can’t all fit in one post (or at least not one post that anyone would want to read). So I’m going to break it down into several. This was our weekend:

Friday: Tot Shabbat at Temple, followed by the Flat Floor Fiesta at the Union Project.

Saturday: Junior League’s Touch a Truck, an hour long conference call for me during which I hoped Baby Beez would nap but I had no such luck, an outing to the Pittsburgh Children’s Festival, which included meeting up with Baby Judah (and his parents), quality time at the petting zoo, seeing wonderful children’s friendly play called Egg & Spoon with our friends Liz and Baby Claire, hula hooping and dancing, and then a visit to Dave & Andy’s.

Sunday: The Easter Seals Walk With Me at Kennywood Park followed by a morning riding the kids rides with our friends Sandy, Ben and Elena. Several hours in the office so I could get work done, and despite Baby Beez’ refusal to nap, she behaved and watched movies on my laptop. An evening at home in which Baby Beez jumped off the walls in that manic phase of exhaustion because I ridiculously overscheduled this weekend and because she has not napped in the last two days. Despite being crazy hyper, at least she was being cheerful.

So yes, that’s what a weekend looks like when I let my enthusiasm get the better of me. Needless to say, Sunday wound up with an early bedtime for Baby Beez and quiet magazine-reading time for me. I guess when I’m complaining about feeling tired and completely under-rested, it’s obvious why that is. But I can certainly say that it was a super fun weekend.

So lets dive into this silly weekend. First things first, the Union Project Flat Floor Fiesta. The Union Project is a fabulous nonprofit multi-use building (formerly a church) in East Liberty. They hold pottery and art classes there, but the facilities are also available to rent for all kinds of things like weddings, festivals and parties. The downside to hosting an event at the Union Project was their steeply sloped floors, making anything requiring the use of tables an awkward experience. This Friday marked the grand reveal of the Union Project’s newly renovated FLAT floor, with a Flat Floor Fiesta.

Erin and her fam were all there, and we hung out with them. Chooch and Baby Beez ran around the grass like a couple of maniacs. Baby Beez dug in the rocks and ran and ran and ran.

To be frank, I like the Union Project just fine, but my primary interest in the event was the rumored appearance of the Pittsburgh Taco Truck. The Taco Truck premiered a few months back, is the sole taco truck in the city, and seems to have a maniacal social media following. I needed to check this place out.

I ordered the chicken/bacon/cheddar/sriracha cream taco, which despite the truck’s ever-changing menu, is one of their consistent offerings. The tortillas were high quality and the combination of flavors was a good one. It was a little heavy on the cheese, but really, can you complain about too much cheese?

I also had the pork and sweet thai slaw taco, which was likewise a stand-up taco. The Taco Truck does a good job of spearheading the food truck movement and bringing creative taco dishes throughout the city. The food is good (although the proportions are sometimes off, Erin had the curried potato taco and it appeared to be overwhelmed by guacamole), and the business worthy of support. I can’t say it’s the absolute best taco in Pittsburgh—in my experience that honor sticks with Reynas or Smoke—but the tacos are definitely good. If it’s in your neighborhood, the Taco Truck is worth a visit. I probably wouldn’t drive across the city to visit it, but if it were in my neighborhood, I would not hesitate to stop there for a bite.

Food, running around with friends, and playing with rocks. Ain’t nothing wrong with that for a Friday evening.

Unexpected Date Night: Tearing up the Town @almapgh @cakecookiespot and @clubcafelive

By Elizabeth / May 21, 2013 / Date Night, Pittsburgh

On Mother’s Day Weekend, we ended up with an unexpected date night. My mother –in-law already had plans to watch Baby Beez while we were out on our roller skating adventure, but when we dropped her off that afternoon, she asked if she could please keep Baby Beez for an overnight. We didn’t have anything planned with the kiddo for the night, so what the heck, spending more time with her Grandparents is a win all around (they took her to Chuck-E-Cheese, by the way, so I’m sure she was very pleased that we acquiesced to this request). After living out our childhoods on the rink, we ran some boring grown-up errands (which included buying new couches. Yay new couches!) Since we hadn’t planned for an evening out ahead of time, we went with the old standby: FOOD!

For dinner we went to Alma, Regent Square’s innovative pan-Latin establishment. We’ve been there several times before, but this time the starters really stole the spotlight. I had an avocado and grilled chicken soup that was hearty but not too thick for the warm weather, and the fried yucca was amazing. I’d take that yucca over French fries any day. It was crispy on the outside but much denser than the common potato. It was hearty and filling.

Mr. Beez went for steak and was very pleased with his dish. Many of the dishes here are some variation on protein/rice/beans, but they are all skillfully seasoned and carefully prepared. I find that Alma doesn’t provide any surprises, but that its strength is in its consistency.

I had the vegetarian tangine with tofu. The vegetables, fruit and rice within the tangerine were a colorful mixture. They actually forgot the tofu initially and quickly brought it to me on a separate plate, but I didn’t even notice it was missing, because the dish was quite excellent without it. In fact, I didn’t think the tofu was really necessary (I certainly won’t turn down a serving of tofu, though, I like that stuff.)

We passed on the dessert at Alma in favor of exploring an establishment in Squirrel Hill. We visited the Cake & Cookie Spot. Its offerings are exactly like its name—cake and cookies. They are awesome.

Their signature offering, and my favorite of the ridiculously huge gluttonous order we placed, are cake shots. This is cake layered with filling and frosting. I feared that the cake might get soggy, but it did not. Not in the least. This cake was so light and fluffy and the fillings and icing so perfect. I picked the S’mores cake shot, but they had many, many flavors including red velvet, vanilla, grasshopper, etc. I need MOAR.

I also ordered a 7-layer bar, which was delicious and buttery and chocolaty and rich. So delicious, even the sea mammals are trying to steal the treats!

Mr. Beez and I also split a bunch of cookies. Like the other desserts, they were exquisite. He had ordered a brownie, and we discovered that they didn’t hear that part of our order, and Mr. Beez was heartbroken. I guess that just means I’ll have to make another visit back there soon! The Cake & Cookie spot is the perfect place when you’re having a hankering for skillfully baked but homey-tasting baked goods. It’s like a Pittsburgh cookie table in a storefront!

The following day was Mother’s Day, so we had plans to spend most of the day hanging out with my in-laws. I was hoping for an opportunity for a grown-up brunch, complete with cocktails, so the timing of Baby Beez’ overnight was impeccable. Mr. Beez and I were able to pay a visit to Club Café for a sophisticated, grown up brunch. The last time I was there I had the steak & egg croissant and it was awesome. I wasn’t in the mood for that on this visit, but I pressured Mr. Beez to try it out, and he loved it. The combination of the buttery croissant from Jean-Marc Chattelier’s bakery and the meaty steak is delicious and filling.

I started off with a salad that was perfectly dressed with arugula, walnuts and goat cheese. If only every meal started this way!

Next were the shrimp & grits. I love grits. Love them, love them, love them. These were dressed with turmeric and a little kick, and delightfully lightly charred shrimp. It was delightful. Absolutely delightful.

Club Café is a decidedly grown-up brunch spot. It’s laid back, not fancy, but it has an abundant cocktail menu and sophisticated dining option. It’s not as well known as some other big-name brunch spots, so that means there’s often a table open. Club Café s on my short list of places to bring out-of-towners when they’re seeking a taste of the ‘burgh.

I’ve Got a Brand New Pair of Rollerskates

By Elizabeth / May 20, 2013 / Adventures, Pittsburgh

ATTENTION residents of Lancaster, California!

Was your heart irreparably broken when the beloved Holiday Skating Rink had the audacity to, GASP, modernize and reinvent itself as Skateplex USA? Now where will the sweaty pre-teens go to skate the limbo and anxiously glance around the rink when the couples skate comes on? Those orange-carpeted walls! Gone! We can only hope the slush puppy machine wasn’t tossed along with them!

I propose a modest remedy: THE NEVILLE ROLLER DROME, right here in sunny Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. This roller-land time has not touched. Browns and oranges abound. The walls are comfortably carpeted. Inexplicably they play Top 40 (as in today’s Top 40) but we can forgive that. Everything else—the stinky brown skates, the unbelievably cheap snack bar, and the obnoxious showoff rink referees are all in place.

A roller skating outing was high-priority on this year’s list of fun to-do’s. Skating is Erin’s thang, and she was enthusiastic to skate. Her son is likewise a pro. Sandy is also an enthusiastic skater and was excited to bring her daughter on her first skating excursion. Mr. Beez, despite certain skating-related childhood trauma, was up for an afternoon at the rink. We left Baby Beez with her grandparents because we knew her enthusiasm wouldn’t be matched by her skill. She’d end up frustrated and screaming, and this was skating time, WE DON’T GOT TIME FOR THAT.

The complete roller skating experience, disco ball and pulsating ceiling lights included.

I rollerblade with fair regularity (For the last 5 years I have carried my rollerblades in my trunk in case an impromptu blading opportunity presents itself, which has never ever happened), but even though I do fine with moving forward, I can only stop by smashing into something. The same proved true with roller skating. The following roller skating tasks I can accomplish skillfully: skating forward. The following roller skating tasks I have no hope at accomplishing: skating backwards, turning with less than 100 feet advance notice, stopping under my own power. Thank goodness for those carpeted walls.

I swear I only look awkward because I was trying to tone down my INCREDIBLE SPEED so Mr. Beez could snap a proper picture.

Mr. Beez wiped out only once, and on the whole did a darn good job. Sandy was slow but steady. Elena was tearing up the floor, and even when she fell she hopped right back up nonplussed and went right back to skating. Erin and Chooch were both zoom! zoom! zoom! all over the place. It was a great time! Mr. Beez and I are old and rickety and only made it through about 2 hours of skating. Maybe with a little skating we can make it through the full 3 hours. I was a little sore the next day from working my skating muscles, but I was not totally incapacitated, so that’s good.

I liked the matinee skate because it wasn’t crowded. I was afraid of little fast kids zooming by, scaring me, and I keel over and crush them. There was plenty of room for all people, big and small, fast and slow. Also, the Johnny Gym Class contingent was sparse. There were a couple people who skated backwards and I saw EACH AND EVERY ONE OF THOSE JERKS BITE IT AT SOME POINT. That’s what you get, showoffs. I kept it simple, and didn’t fall once. So that was our Saturday afternoon adventure! The other two ladies who accompanied me on this outing already posted recaps (Orange Chair Blog and Oh Honestly, Erin!) So I tried to be at the top of my blogging game for this one. Pressure’s on!