Pierogi Love

For those who don't know, my heritage includes being half Polish.

Ever since I could stand at a kitchen counter, I helped stuff, pinch and fry pierogi, a delightful Eastern European dumpling, typically filled with potato, cheese, sauerkraut or cottage cheese. This was the only Polish tradition that was left in my family; we usually made them a few times a year.

In recent years, Pittsburgh has seemed to have an increasingly feverish obsession with pierogi. There's definitely a history here, and many bars serve them. But now, there are multiple food trucks that serve them, with traditional and non-traditional fillings alike. Naturally, when I found out about Pittsburgh Pierogi Fest, it piqued my interest. Pierogi are the quintessential nostalgic comfort food for me.

So Mark and I checked it out over the weekend.

A photo posted by Kate (@thriftburgher) on Sep 19, 2015 at 12:27pm PDT

A photo posted by Kate (@thriftburgher) on Sep 19, 2015 at 11:40am PDT

Although I left Pierogi Fest happy, (I won a Twitter contest that got Mark and I some free merch) I was a little disappointed by the execution of the event.

There's admission: $12 a pop at the door. Luckily I bought a Groupon ahead of time that cut that price in half. That doesn't cover any food -- just to get through the gate.

There was no shortage of pierogi options. More than 30 vendors were there, including at least a half dozen serving strictly pierogi: Pittsburgh Pierogi Truck, Gosia's Pierogies (Latrobe), S&D Polish Deli (Strip District), Cop Out Pierogies (Etna), and Perla Pierogies (out of Ohio).

Unfortunately, the lines were out of control. People were everywhere standing in lines. And there wasn't really anything else to do to break up the time. Mark and I had the patience to go through one line, which ended up being Pittsburgh Pierogi truck because 1.) their prices were reasonable, 2.) the line wasn't as bad as some of the others, and 3.) I wanted to try their food.

To be honest, I wasn't impressed with the pierogi there. But the haluski was bomb. Cop Out Pierogi looked amazing, however that line seemed longer than any other and looked like it snaked all through Stage AE. I figured I bought a Groupon for there too, so Mark and I would try their pierogi some other time.

Some things I wish would've been available: An opportunity to try a pierogi (or even half of one) from each pierogi vendor. Like, a $10 VIP pass to try them all and have an assembly line serve each one. Then cast a vote for best pierogi. Apparently there IS a best pierogi contest, but there's no way anyone could try them all with the kinds of lines with waiting 30 plus minutes in each one.

I think I demo about how their made, the background on their heritage, or even a couple cheesy pierogi filled games. (See what I did there?) I guess it doesn't really matter what I think; I'm sure they made their money and are all set to go for next year. But those were just some of the things I was expecting.

Mark always tells me the pierogi I've perfected over the years are the best he's eaten anyway. ;) After all, I've been making them since infancy, pretty much.

A video posted by Kate (@thriftburgher) on Jan 8, 2015 at 3:10pm PST

Happening NOW: Three Rivers Arts Fest!

If you have a pulse and live in Pittsburgh you're most likely aware of Three Rivers Arts Fest, which happens downtown every June. In my opinion, it's one of the best cheap/free things Pittsburgh has to offer each summer.

Over the weekend, Mark and I met up with my high school best friend Katie and her beau, Andrew, to peruse the hundreds of vendors. I've talked before here about how it's kind of an annual tradition.

Mark and I typically go at least twice over the 10-day span it's set up, depending on the free concerts. Friday night was Jenny Lewis, who I would've LOVED to see, but had to work. Neko Case is playing this Saturday, so Mark and I are planning to go back this weekend. It's going on through Sunday.

Here are a few personal art vendor favorites that caught my eye:

• Marisol Spoon
Painted lady profiles, often with kitty and nautical themes. I was trying to find a girl who had brown hair, bangs and an orange cat. That would've been an instant purchase. :) This vendor is at Arts Fest until tomorrow.

A photo posted by Marisol Spoon (@marisolspoon) on May 2, 2015 at 2:41pm PDT

• Black Ink Art
Some trippy mixed media work by two brothers working collaboratively. Often includes pop culture references, like Homer Simpson (Katie purchased a print of this one), Bill (Chill) Murray, Hunter S. Thompson, etc.

Mark and I purchased an astronaut print here. At $15, it's a hard price to beat for a decent-sized work of art. Canvas prints and original watercolors were also available for purchase.

A photo posted by Black Ink (@blackinkarts) on Mar 19, 2015 at 3:11pm PDT

• Ron Copeland
A Pittsburgh-based visual artist that often incorporates light and typography into his eye-popping work. Mark and I have him on our radar for a potential future purchase.

A photo posted by Ron Copeland (@norpoc) on Mar 20, 2015 at 4:39pm PDT

Other favorite goodies:

• AJW Creations
• Gregg Knott Photography
• Antique Pet Photos

What are some of your favorite summer traditions?

Kennywood's Open

Potato Patch fries. The Thunderbolt. Community picnics. Noah's Ark. Pittsburgh's favorite amusement park, Kennywood, has been dazzling visitors for more than 115 years.

Along with most people who grew up in the area, Kennywood is a major source of nostalgia for my family. It was an annual trek growing up. My mom loved the Thunderbolt, a classic wooden coaster that goes off the track with a dip, thanks to the region's hilly terrain, and squeezes your sitting partner around each speeding curve. My dad would ride anything fast or scary, including the Steel Phantom, the park's only steel coaster. (It has since been replaced with Phantom's Revenge.)

During high school, I went there a little too much since I went to picnics and (as a band geek) usually marched in the Fall Festival parade there. Visiting about once a summer is plenty for me to get my Kennywood fill.

I recently found this pair of postcards during a flea market haul. I'm guessing these are from the 1960s, based on some of the outfits patrons are wearing in the Ghost Ship postcard.

It was kinda hard to nail down a time period initially, but after a little research I now know the Ghost Ship operated for only a short time, between 1966 and 1975, when the building it was housed in burnt to the ground from an electrical fire.

There is so much classic charm at Kennywood that's unmatched at most other modern amusement parks. Places like Cedar Point and Six Flags have the thrills, but Kennywood wins on its classics. There's a variety of wooden roller coasters, there's plenty of old rickety rides in the best way like The Whip, the Turtle and Noah's Ark, and delicious foods. The french fries and the square-shaped ice cream cone come to mind. Familiar with the movie Adventureland? Kennywood was the movie's primary set, and was a huge reason why I watched that movie on heavy rotation post-college.

The biggest downfall to the park is there's little room to physically expand, so each time the park announces a new ride, it usually means another ride has to be removed.

The Pitt Fall, one of my longtime favorite rides, fell victim to that a few years ago, and was removed and sold to another park in 2011. Mark's favorite ride at Kennywood, The Turnpike, met the same fate a year or two before the Pitt Fall. (However, park officials said at the time of removal they would likely revive The Turnpike at some point at a new location. That hasn't happened yet, to my knowledge.)

Other favorites of mine are still in existence: the wooden coasters, especially the Racer, the Log Jammer and the swings, which is perfect after a wet ride to dry off. Technically I don't think it's a ride, but I've done the Skycoaster a few times over the years, too.

And if you're a native, you know that the phrase "Kennywood's Open" has more than one meaning. ;) I once, in mid-winter, had a long, awkward conversation in elementary school about whether Kennywood was actually open. A few minutes went by until I realized my classmate was trying to tell me my fly was down. Haha.

The park is now open on weekends, and then opens full-time for summer beginning next weekend. Anyone have favorite Kennywood memories?

Pennsylvania Prints

I went to State College (home of Penn State University) over the weekend to visit some college friends who are living there now. It was great to be able to spend time with people I don't get to see very much anymore. And weirdly enough, it was my first time visiting State College, even though it's only about a three-hour drive away.

My friend Lauren showed me around, and we explored the downtown area and checked out a few local wineries. We also went to a used bookstore downtown called Webster's, and I found this amazing Pennsylvania Prints book for 6 bucks!

I thought I'd share a few images from it:

Lithograph, from 1902
Published by T.M. Fowler & James B. Moyer

"The Pennsylvania Canal was built at a time when transportation was needed to connect communities across the eastern states. The western section of the Pennsylvania Canal, joining Johnstown and Pittsburgh, was completed in 1830. In 1832 the Juniata section was completed, and in 1834 the Allegheny Portage Railroad was put in service. The line was 300 miles long, cost $25 million to build, and was never profitable.

In 1842 Charles Dickens traveled on the Canal Packet from Harrisburg to Pittsburgh. His eyewitness account is told in his American Notes, published the following year."

Print on broadside, 1837
Printed by Young, Philadelphia

"The mountain lion of Pennsylvania, mascot of Penn State since 1908, has many names: puma, deer tiger, panther, cougar, and catamount, among others..."

Le Cougar de Pensilvanie
Engraving, circa 1787

James Buchanan is the only U.S. president that's from Pennsylvania. I know I have an ancestor or two that were named after him.

Lithograph, from 1856

Lithograph, circa 1847

This is just a snippet of some of the prints featured in the book, all from the mid 1800s to the early 1900s.

I'm glad I snatched this book up while I had the chance, not just because I've been such a sucker for local history lately, but also, because it looks like it's been out of print for awhile. It originally published in 1980, by the Penn State University Press, and the postcards, maps and photos had been used in a historical exhibition at the time. It had a little crease on the cover, so I guess that's how I was able to get the good deal. :)

In addition to Pittsburgh and Philadelphia, there were old maps and postcards of Johnstown, Williamsport, Lewisburg, Easton, among other towns throughout the state.

I think my favorite image, aside from the Pittsburgh map, of course, is the railroad advertisement, highlighting that a ride from Philly to Pittsburgh only takes 3 and a half days! Ha. The human race has come so far over the last 150 years.

The book is titled Pennsylvania Prints, from the Collection of John C. O'Connor and Ralph M. Yeager.

PS If you're local to Pittsburgh, don't forget to enter to win admission for two to the Pittsburgh Vintage Mixer! You can also read a Q&A I did with one of the event's founders, Bess Dunlevy. The giveaway ends on Friday night, and the mixer event is on Saturday, Nov. 22.

Q&A with Bess Dunlevy Pittsburgh Vintage Mixer founder (local giveaway!)

Guys, I am so so excited to present my first Q&A post AND first giveaway post on the blog!

I met Bess Dunlevy, who created the local event Pittsburgh Vintage Mixer, at a Yelp event earlier this year. She was a really fun person to chat it up with, and she was nice enough to take the time to answer some questions about her vintage collecting habits and talk about the next event, coming up on Saturday, Nov. 22!

If you're local to Pittsburgh, you can also enter to win two tickets to the vintage mixer below. :) How cool is that??

I'm hoping to make the Q&A sessions an occasional part of the blog, so enjoy.

Bess Dunlevy, 35 (pictured in the middle, with fellow directors Jason Sumney and Michael Lutz)
Castle Shannon resident; Washington, PA native

How did you become interested in collecting vintage items? What keeps you interested in it?

My mom would take me to flea markets when I was a kid in Washington County, and my grandmother, who lived in Murrysville, took me along with her to antique shops. Collecting has always been fun for me. In 2009, my pals, Jason Sumney and Michael Lutz, and I began selling vintage housewares on Etsy as Red Pop Shop. We were new Pittsburgh homeowners at the time and wanted to sell vintage to folks like us, who use vintage in everyday, but also want good quality but on a budget. We’re going on our sixth year selling together, and I’ve since branched out in selling small furniture and vintage clothing here in Pittsburgh. In my own life, midcentury furniture and vintage fashion are a big part of my personal aesthetic - it’s rarely about the value of the item for me. I just like old things.

Are there any particular items you tend to collect?

Yes. I have a bit of an issue saying no to 1950s dishware and certain midcentury patterns. Canonsburg Pottery, Royal China, Russell Wright - I have three china cupboards filled. I enjoy having dinner on a great plate, even when I’m dining alone or it’s just takeout. I think it tastes better.

What is your favorite vintage houseware you own and why? Favorite vintage clothing piece?

Around the house, it’s hard to say. I think it changes for me. This summer, I bought a funky vintage aluminum porch glider. It’s huge with brightly colored vinyl cushions that are still in wonderful condition. I had a bit of an adventure picking it up with friends. And I have used it every warm morning, afternoon, evening since! It will remain a staple on my porch so long as my neighbors don’t get tired of my gaudy outdoor decor. My clothing is really forever in rotation.

Is there anything in particular vintage item you aspire to have that you haven’t found just yet? If so, is there a reason why this item is hard to find?

Honestly, I surround myself with vintage pieces that match my personal style - it’s rarely about a certain item or designer. I pick up things along the way that I like. Sometimes they turn out to be gems; sometimes I use a table for a few months and realize it’s not a good fit for my little 1950s home. It’s fun to research the history of pieces that I buy. I love well made, casual furniture from the 1950s and 1960s and the hunt for new stuff is always the best part.

How do you feel about mixing items from different eras, places, especially when it comes to outfits?

I can’t imagine not mixing pieces. I think wearing items from one era only is a bit extreme and, perhaps, kinda boring.

All photos courtesy of Bess and pghvintagemixer.com

How did your interest evolve into your Etsy Store, Red Pop, and the annual Pittsburgh Vintage Mixer? Why did you start the Pittsburgh Vintage Mixer?

The vintage fair came about over talks and plans between the three of us (myself, Sumney and Lutz) and mutual friends. We discussed the successes of vendor fairs focused solely on vintage and retro culture in other cities, and the wealth of vintage and antiques shops here in Southwestern PA. In 2011, we began planning the first Pittsburgh Vintage Mixer - a one-day vintage event with an atmosphere that would fall somewhere between a flea market and a high-end antiques fair. Our mission for the event, then and now, is that it focuses on genuine vintage, quality and variety, and remains accessible to collectors of all ages and budgets.

I heard that you only have vintage items that are true to their original form, not upcycled. Is there a reason for that?

That’s correct. Pittsburgh is lucky to have a number of wonderful upcycled small businesses in the region, as well as a thriving arts and crafts community, and we support and value the craftsmanship behind upcycled vintage. The Mixer has evolved into an event that recognizes vintage “in the raw.” Coats may have had a button reattached or lamps may have been rewired for safety, but ultimately, the Mixer is a place for genuine antiques and vintage sellers to show off their collections. It’s become a special part of the event. I think it sets us apart.

So when is it?!?!

The next Pittsburgh Vintage Mixer is our fourth event and our very first fall fair!

The Mixer is Saturday, Nov. 22, at The Teamsters Hall Local 249 on Butler Street (across from the cemetery), Lawrenceville. The event is 9 a.m. - 3 p.m. and will feature nearly 35 vintage sellers, local food trucks Franktuary and Mac and Gold, beverages and treats from 4121 Main, as well as music selections from a mix of local DJs.

What kinds of items should people expect to see there?

Vinyl, men’s and women’s fashion and accessories, furniture, decor, housewares, artwork, toys, paper ephemera and more.

What advice do you have to anyone that’s new to the vintage scene?

Talk to people. There are some wonderful vintage and second-hand shops here in Pittsburgh and inside are wonderfully interesting and knowledgeable shop owners. Chat with them, pick their brains, get to know what they sell and what you like to collect and in the meantime, enjoy the hunt!

You can find out more about the event at the Facebook event page, the website, Instagram and Twitter!

Here's the giveaway to win two tickets to the event, which runs until midnight next Friday. Best of luck, guys!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Souvenir of Pittsburgh, Penna

While perhaps not as exciting as my other Pittsburgh postcard collection, this is still a pretty cool set. It's not as exciting because 1.) It's newer (from 1941, vs. the other one, from 1914) and 2.) Mark bought it on Etsy for my birthday.

However, it does include photos featuring some of the city's world-class charm, including a few of the city's many bridges, my college alma mater, Duquesne University. That's also where Mark and I met. :)

It is sorta like the other set, in that it's according style, with all the postcards connecting to one another, and postcard photos are printed on both sides.

That first postcard threw me off a bit, because there totally aren't any traffic circles here now. And I'm so thankful for that, because I think I have a heart attack every time I drive through one of those.

Pittsburgh 200th

Pittsburgh's bicentennial year was in 1958. I know this because the 250th anniversary was celebrated in 2008. Sad but true. I love that Pittsburgh is an older city. I think that's where it gets a lot of its charm. The history is rich. But I guess, compared to most European cities, Pittsburgh is still fairly young.

This postcard in particular is about double the standard size, and was a little beat up, but thought was worth having, if for nothing else, to simply have yet another Pittsburgh postcard. :)

There's still been so much growth since then, too.

Bleeding Black and Gold

Pittsburghers have a reputation when it comes to sports. They're diehard, and are usually wearing a Steelers or Penguins jersey regardless of whether or not it's game day. That's great for civic pride, but not so much for fashion.

Outfit No. 1: Shirt, thrifted vintage; cardigan, J. Crew Outlet; pants, Target; shoes, Modcloth (old).

Mark and I have been season ticket holders for awhile now. We got a 20-game pack this year, so we've been going to games about once a week. I thought I'd showcase a couple of the outfits I've worn to games this year.

So, I've been trying strike a balance being civic pride and style. It's easy to just throw on a t-shirt and jeans. Or wear a jersey. And trust me, I did that for years. But I just wanted to do something a little more fun.

The vintage shirt above, from the early 1990s, made it super easy.

Those photos were taken on one of the cooler July evenings last month, so the cardigan was an added bonus to bring out the yellow in the shirt, and therefore, showed just how much I love the Pirates.

Outfit No. 2: Shirt, Homage, via Avalon Exchange; short, Old Navy; shoes, Modcloth.

And the City of Champions shirt has been a wardrobe staple of mine for years. I kind of wear it everywhere, if I want something that's comfy, stylish, and full of Pittsburgh pride. Haha.

It's not like these outfits are crazy out of the box, but I think they're fun.

By the way, the Pirates are five games above .500 as of now. Hooray! Fingers crossed they keep that record up. For some historical background about the underdog Pirates, read this.

What do you tend to wear to sporting events?

P.S. PNC Park a beautiful ballpark, arguably the most stunning one in the country. I definitely recommend checking it out if you're ever in town, baseball fan or not.

The Mon has Mystique

I found this postcard during our Cleveland trip a few weekends ago, at Sweet Lorain.

From what I've learned about postcards over the past few months, this card was printed between the 1930s and 1951, because of its white border, the contrasting colors, and the linen finish. I know it was printed before 1952, when stamp cost was raised to two cents instead of a penny.

I'm not even exactly sure of the location, since I'm pretty sure Lock No. 1 along the Monongahela (often called the Mon) no longer exists.

Regardless, I know the city looks nothing like this now. My guess is this was taken from South Side or Mt. Washington. The current Station Square is on distant left, where a booming railroad station once stood, downtown on the right, with what is now Smithfield Street Bridge connecting them.

This postcard was published by the Pittsburgh News Company, and has no description of the scenery.

Even though a lot of aspects of this card remain mysterious, I'm glad I was able to add a few more Pittsburgh cards to my collection.

The image actually makes me think of this place in South Side, off a running trail that runs parallel to the river. There is this huge cement slab, about 10 by 15 feet, hidden behind bushes off the trail that sits along the river. A lot of people called it the slab. It's kind of like a peaceful little place, where you can have a great view of the city, witnessing chaos and craziness, but be in complete peace because it was isolated from everything. I haven't been there in forever, probably since college, but maybe I can seek it out again.

So who's willing to talk about their secret place? ;)

Pittsburgh: 100 Years Past

I'm still stunned I found this at Rogers Community Auction over the weekend. It's a postcard booklet, with locations printed on the front and back. The postmark is dated September 1914. I paid $5 for it.

Allegheny County Courthouse, Downtown Pittsburgh

St. Paul Cathedral, Oakland

Mercy Hospital, Uptown

Allegheny General Hospital, North Side

Heinz Residence, East Liberty

Highland Park Zoo, Highland Park (Now just the Pittsburgh Zoo)

Baseball Park, aka Forbes Field, Oakland

"New" University of Pittsburgh, Oakland

Forbes Field, Oakland

Carnegie Technical School, Squirrel Hill (Now Carnegie Mellon University)

Pennsylvania Railroad Union Station, Downtown Pittsburgh

Hotel Schenley, Oakland (Now the William Pitt Union at the University of Pittsburgh)

There were a few other ways to confirm this is from 1914.

First, Pittsburgh is spelled with an H on these. From the 1890s until 1911, the city was spelled Pittsburg. Also, there are pictured of Forbes Field and Exposition Park in this collection. There was only a small time frame when both existed at the same time: Forbes Field was built in 1909; Exposition Park (pictured in the "Smoky City" photo) was used until 1915.

It's kind of cool that most of the buildings, with the exception of Forbes Field and the Exposition buildings, are still in existence. Not sure about the fate of the Fort Wayne Depot and Pittsburgh Post Office buildings pictured. Other buildings, while still standing, have changed significantly or have been repurposed. For instance, as I mentioned above, the Schenley Hotel is now the student union building at Pitt. Also, the Allegheny Post Office, in North Side, now houses the Children's Museum of Pittsburgh.

One other thing I did: I searched the name Helen Duncan, of Saltsburg, since this booklet was addressed to her. She was born in September 1904, so she received this booklet right around her 10th birthday. And I'm guessing she held onto it for a long time, or collected them. The seller at Rogers had a few other booklets featuring other cities, so she could've collected them. I didn't see whether they were all addressed to her or not.

Lastly, the booklet had postcard photos on the front and back, instead of the traditional open space to write a note. And they were all attached accordion style. That's something I've never seen before.

Have you ever been curious as to what your hometown looked like 100 years ago? How much have things changed over the last century?