Today was an adventure
Dec. 29th, 2011 10:14 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
cornerofmadnessI'm not much for taking public transit mostly because it's rarely found in the places where I live and I'm a driver. I have no issues going in to the city and using public parking. However where we were going has limited public parking so we decided to take the T (Pittsburgh's half trolley car, half subway). I haven't been on this since my BFF from college moved away from Mount Washington. Mom, her friend P and Prejudiced Girl head for Pittsburgh (and how much of a nightmare is this for me, everyone feels sorry for PG because of her mother's death last week that they keep inviting her to EVERYTHING. i have to see her two more times. That said, away from her husband's influences, the prejudice talk is almost non-existent).
We wanted to see the life-sized Santas from around the world at PPG place. I have no idea why Mom, a Santa fanatic didn't know they were there. I must have seen them 15 years ago. Pittsburgh Paint & Glass has this amazing complex of glass castles in Market square.
Pretty isn't it?
We drove to Station Square which was the high end mall when I was in h.s. back in the 80's (and amazingly some of the stores were still there 26 years later). From there we got on the T which really is a short drive into town but it spares me having to drive over the river and trying to park. Naturally the only spots open are the ones where i have to ride backwards. Urp. whee motion sickness. Naturally, the stop that is right there in market square is closed so we get to walk a few blocks in the cold wind. Mom and I were loving it. the other two were frozen
Not only did they have the Santas there were two buildings worth of gingerbread inventions by girl/boy scout troupes and schools entered in a contest that raised money for Children's Hospital. they were really neat. Also there was a train set up (well several of them). Also picked up some tourist info there including dining info so I'll be ready for![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
rain_oubliette to return next year. We can find places to eat that aren't insanely overpriced like near that hotel.
After checking out the ice skating rink they've set up outside it,
, we hit Market District. I went into Nicholas coffee/tea importer and got chinese rose congou and indian Nilgiri teas and the kid weighing them out (he was cute, looked a little like BBT's Raj with glasses) was in a chatty mood. He's an animation student and was excited I taught anatomy and had to drag out some of his art for me (I mentioned you yuukihikari as a friend studying the same thing).
We hit the old 5th Ave arcade (it's been renamed but it's one of those things that will always be it's former name until a few generations fade away). I picked up a really neat florite pendant piece to add to the collection of pendant centerpieces I'll never make into a necklace. Then headed back over the river to Station Square for lunch at the Sesame Inn (multiple award winning Chinese place), MMMMM orange shrimp. The mall also had a wine cellar where we could sample wines. Mom bought three including a bubbling strawberry wine for New Years.I got Winter Pear.
And right now, i've had way too much coffee. I'm sort of vibrating in my seat. Wheee
and before I forget again, thanks toevil_little_dog for the really nice gift (mostly books including a signed one, true crime from IN)
Here are just SOME of the Santas (I'll space them out)
Grandfather Christmas travels from house to houseon New Year's bringing gifts usually wearing winter furs or a Bishop's robes.
St. Stephen. In his honor boys since from house to house with symbolic wrens of straw (I'd like to see that)
Old Man Christmas (viejo pascero) who brings holiday treats like pinatas full of gifts
Father Christmas, he'd be interesting to see traveling on his goat with a yule log
Saint Nicholas. The info says the celebrations begin Dec 5th. Makes me wonder if they still do and how the whole month is celebrated.
We wanted to see the life-sized Santas from around the world at PPG place. I have no idea why Mom, a Santa fanatic didn't know they were there. I must have seen them 15 years ago. Pittsburgh Paint & Glass has this amazing complex of glass castles in Market square.
Pretty isn't it?We drove to Station Square which was the high end mall when I was in h.s. back in the 80's (and amazingly some of the stores were still there 26 years later). From there we got on the T which really is a short drive into town but it spares me having to drive over the river and trying to park. Naturally the only spots open are the ones where i have to ride backwards. Urp. whee motion sickness. Naturally, the stop that is right there in market square is closed so we get to walk a few blocks in the cold wind. Mom and I were loving it. the other two were frozen
Not only did they have the Santas there were two buildings worth of gingerbread inventions by girl/boy scout troupes and schools entered in a contest that raised money for Children's Hospital. they were really neat. Also there was a train set up (well several of them). Also picked up some tourist info there including dining info so I'll be ready for
rain_oubliette to return next year. We can find places to eat that aren't insanely overpriced like near that hotel.After checking out the ice skating rink they've set up outside it,
, we hit Market District. I went into Nicholas coffee/tea importer and got chinese rose congou and indian Nilgiri teas and the kid weighing them out (he was cute, looked a little like BBT's Raj with glasses) was in a chatty mood. He's an animation student and was excited I taught anatomy and had to drag out some of his art for me (I mentioned you yuukihikari as a friend studying the same thing).We hit the old 5th Ave arcade (it's been renamed but it's one of those things that will always be it's former name until a few generations fade away). I picked up a really neat florite pendant piece to add to the collection of pendant centerpieces I'll never make into a necklace. Then headed back over the river to Station Square for lunch at the Sesame Inn (multiple award winning Chinese place), MMMMM orange shrimp. The mall also had a wine cellar where we could sample wines. Mom bought three including a bubbling strawberry wine for New Years.I got Winter Pear.
And right now, i've had way too much coffee. I'm sort of vibrating in my seat. Wheee
and before I forget again, thanks to
evil_little_dog for the really nice gift (mostly books including a signed one, true crime from IN)Here are just SOME of the Santas (I'll space them out)
Grandfather Christmas travels from house to houseon New Year's bringing gifts usually wearing winter furs or a Bishop's robes.
St. Stephen. In his honor boys since from house to house with symbolic wrens of straw (I'd like to see that)
Old Man Christmas (viejo pascero) who brings holiday treats like pinatas full of gifts
Father Christmas, he'd be interesting to see traveling on his goat with a yule log
Saint Nicholas. The info says the celebrations begin Dec 5th. Makes me wonder if they still do and how the whole month is celebrated.
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Date: 2011-12-30 03:22 am (UTC)Adventures are fun, at least.
Hope you enjoy the books. I couldn't resist on getting you the Nancy Drew. I just couldn't. :D
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Date: 2011-12-30 03:34 am (UTC)adventures are fun
thanks again
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Date: 2012-01-02 01:58 pm (UTC)I know the fondue place is insane. I have no idea how my friend Tony could afford to take four friends plus self there for food. At least we didn't have to wait too long for a table. :)
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Date: 2012-01-02 02:20 pm (UTC)yeah, that's a little nuts. Hell with as few people I saw in that mall I'm not sure how it's staying open
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Date: 2012-01-02 02:39 pm (UTC)The Hard Rock is close by. Also, when we went, we had about a 20 minute wait... the joint was PACKED. Must be rich people in P'burgh.
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Date: 2012-01-02 03:30 pm (UTC)