Two is Better Than One

Life is filled with awesome combinations: cookies & milk, peanut butter & chocolate, chips & salsa… Don’t you love it when your local Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh partners with another cool organization to bring you amazing programming? This week there are two such programs:

Carnegie Museum of Natural History Photo by philfraleyproductions.com

The Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh – Hill District and the Carnegie Museum of Natural History are teaming up to bring  you Carnegie Museum of Natural History @ the Library.

Tuesday, May 7, 2013
3:30 PM – 5:00 PM 

Go behind the scenes of the museum, meet scientists and create experiences that bring museum displays to life! Our friends from Carnegie Museum of Natural History will be at the Library with fossils and other museum objects to share activities that focus on energy and the environment. Come learn about an exciting new opportunity for teens.

Sponsor: Carnegie Museum of Natural History

Location: Hill District

What’s all the buzzing about? Well, the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh – Squirrel Hill and the Burgh Bees community are coming together and presenting Gardening Thyme: Honey Bees.

Honey Bees photo by: doandroidsdance.com

Wednesday, May 8, 2013  

4:00 PM – 5:00 PM 

Join us for a presentation on honey bees. Learn about the different types of honey bees, the Burgh Bees community apiary and honey bees as part of our agricultural system. There will be honey for tasting, a hive observation (a contained box with bees in it), and beekeeping tools and jackets.

Location: Squirrel Hill

To learn more about this, check out Corey’s blog:

buzz buzz with Burgh Bees and other Bee resources

lauren @ CLP – Woods Run

The Labs’ October Workshop: The Scary Story Filmmaking Challenge

Hi, everyone, it’s Corey here with more information about The Labs (Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh’s digital media lab program just for teens) and our featured October program: The Scary Story Filmmking Challenge.

Each month, The Labs will offer a featured workshop based on a theme or subject. This month that theme is filmmaking, and, since it’s October, we’re focusing on horror movies in our Scary Story Filmmaking Challenge (dates, times, and locations of all Labs programming can be found here).

The workshops started last week, but there’s still time to stop by your favorite Labs location (hours and locations here) to join in. Teens who take part in the Scary Story Filmmaking Challenge will work on crafting one scene of a scary movie as well as a trailer to advertise their film.

Perhaps the most exciting part of each month’s themed Labs workshop is that, if you complete the program (like, this month, if you make a scary movie and learn how to use our equipment and software) you’ll earn a badge! What’s the badge? Well, it’s like a merit badge, but it allows you to stop by The Labs and use our equipment and software on your own. It shows that we know you’ve got the basics down and you are now allowed to use our gear with little supervision–basically we’re saying we trust you. Back to this month’s project.

So, last week, Andre and Molly were mostly brainstorming with teens at our Allegheny, South Side, East Liberty, and Main (Oakland) libraries, watching clips from classic horror movies and discussing basic filmmaking skills of composition (the way you actually frame a shot or what your camera is pointed at).

Want to get up to speed? Try watching this video from Substream’s Film Lab for a great beginner’s tip and maybe Google some classic horror movie scenes while you’re at it. The Scary Story Filmmaking Challenge will run for the rest of the month!

The Rule of Thirds – The Rule of Thirds is super important. It’s a basic rule of composition that’s been used in painting, photography, and filmmaking by masters in each of those disciplines. You simply imagine that your screen or canvas is divided into three sections both vertically and horizontally. Now, when you frame your shot (in the case of filmmaking and photography) you will want to align objects that deserve special attention along the areas where two of your imaginary vertices intersect. Confusing? Just watch the video–they’re better at explaining it than I am.

- Corey, Digital Learning Librarian

CLPTeaser Tuesday – The List

It’s time again for Teaser Tuesday.  What’s Teaser Tuesday?  It’s a game.  (Based on pageturnsblog.)  How do we play?  I try to convince you to pick up and read the book I’m currently reading by posting two “teaser” sentences.  You in turn try to convince me to pick up the book you are reading by posting two teaser sentences from your book.  Here are the rules:

• Pick up what you’re reading.
• Open to a random page.
• Post two sentences from somewhere on the page.  (Don’t choose sentences that will give away too much, you don’t want to ruin it for others.)
• Include the Title and Author so that others can start reading it.

My teaser this month is:

The List by Siobhan Vivian

“For as long as anyone can remember, the students of Mount Washington High have arrived at school on the last Monday in September to find a list naming the prettiest and the ugliest girl in each grade.  This year will be no different.”

Now, it’s your turn.  Post two sentences along with the Title and Author of the book.

~Maddie

CLPTeaser Tuesday – Starters

It’s time again for Teaser Tuesday.  What’s Teaser Tuesday?  It’s a game.  (Based on pageturnsblog.)  How do we play?  I try to convince you to pick up and read the book I’m currently reading by posting two “teaser” sentences.  You in turn try to convince me to pick up the book you are reading by posting two teaser sentences from your book.  Here are the rules:

• Pick up what you’re reading.
• Open to a random page.
• Post two sentences from somewhere on the page.  (Don’t choose sentences that will give away too much, you don’t want to ruin it for others.)
• Include the Title and Author so that others can start reading it.

My teaser this month is:

Starters by Lissa Price

“Like you, she heard about us through a friend.  The women who rented her body were quite pleased.”

Now, it’s your turn.  Post two sentences along with the Title and Author of the book.

~Kim

Whipping Up Green Drinks to Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day

Picture from http://www.browneyedbaker.com

 St. Patrick’s Day will be here Saturday.  If you’d like to celebrate by drinking something green I’ve got a list of recipes to help you out.  I haven’t made any of these but come Saturday I’ll make some.  Not all of these are vegan, so if you’d like to make them vegan you’ll have to substitute the milk or ice cream.  

• Homemade Shamrock Shake
• Green Punch
• Lime Pineapple Delight
• Mint Limeade

If you would like to make something a little healthier then try one of these:

• Green Monster Smoothie
• Green Smoothie
• Kris’s Go-To Green Smoothie

 I also came across these.  I know they aren’t drinks but they are too cute not to mention. 

St. Patrick’s Day Rainbows

 

DIY T-Shirt Boa Scarf

Picture from Generation T website

I have what feels like, a million t-shirts laying around. I wanted a quick and easy project to use up some of my t-shirts.  I love this one!  All the cutting required takes a little bit of time, but you can do it while you watch tv, so it’s not too painful. I got this project from the book: Generation T: beyond fashion.

The author, Megan Nicolay, has great step by step instructions along with plenty of photos. Go ahead, try one of her projects.

If you’d like to get started right away, there’s a tutorial on the boa scarf  at HERE on YouTube.

CLPTeaser Tuesday – Bruiser by Neal Shusterman

It’s time again for Teaser Tuesday.  What’s Teaser Tuesday?  It’s a game.  (Based on pageturnsblog.)  How do we play?  I try to convince you to pick up and read the book I’m currently reading by posting two “teaser” sentences.  You in turn try to convince me to pick up the book you are reading by posting two teaser sentences from your book.  Here are the rules:

• Pick up what you’re reading.
• Open to a random page.
• Post two sentences from somewhere on the page.  (Don’t choose sentences that will give away too much, you don’t want to ruin it for others.)
• Include the Title and Author so that others can start reading it.

My teaser this month is:

Bruiser by Neal Shusterman

“My uncle knows about the things I can do – the pain that I take – and knowing makes him still crazier and more protective, but of himself, not me.  I muffle the screaming wound with a white gauze square; but nervous, tense, I press too hard and wince, a small twitch almost imperceptible, and he’s looking at me with searing intensity, seeing all.”

Now, it’s your turn.  Post two sentences along with the Title and Author of the book.

~Kim

Sticks and Stones (No Name Calling Week)

January 23 – 27 is No Name Calling Week , a national initiative started to combat bullying in schools and help prevent teen suicide.

Reading the stories of others offers insight, comfort and a much needed escape when faced with bullies, drama, and stress. The Library carries many titles that tell stories of bullying, harassment, survival, and triumph.

Check out the books below to see if one of them speaks to you! And always know there is a Teen Specialist at every CLP location if you need someone to talk to!

Have you ever felt different because of how you look? Age. Weight. Gender. Complexion? The Skin I’m In by Sharon Flake talks about the self-esteem issues black girls face when they are darker skinned. Maleeka is self conscious of her complexion until her whole life is changed when she meets a teacher with a rare skin condition. Check out this book if you want to hear about how Maleeka finds love with a boy named Caleb, overcomes her bully Charlese, and learns to love the skin she’s in!

Darell Mercer moves from Philadelphia to California. There he finds a new life, a new school, and a new bully. After spending months in fear, he is faced with a big decision. He can either keep running from his bully or find some way to fight back. To find out what happens to Darell check out The Bully by Paul Langan.

Thirteen-year-old Vladimir Tod really hates middle school. Bullies harass him, the principal is watching him closely, and the girl he likes prefers his best friend. And Vlad has a big secret: His mother was human, but his father was a vampire. With no idea of the extent of his powers, Vlad struggles daily with his blood cravings and growing fangs while trying to hide his identity. On top of everything he is being stalked by a vampire hunter! Check out The Chronicles of Vladimir Tod by Heather Brewer and read all five books in the series to find out what happens to Vlad!

Much like Diary of a Wimpy Kid, The Loser List tells the oddball story of Danny Shine. He is a geek who loves reading comics, trading comics, drawing comics, and buying comics. Find out how he loses a best friend, gets humiliated in front of the whole school… and somehow still manages to save the day!

In 50 Cent’s book Playground he uses his life experiences to tell the story of a 13 year old bully named Butterball. In the story, Butterball finds himself overweight and unhappy in a new school. One day, in an angry haze, he fills two socks with D batteries and heads to a fight at the playground. You will have to read to find out what happens to Butterball and how he finds redemption.

-Michael @ CLP Hazelwood

Favorite Vegan Winter Drinks

Here are my favorite drinks for the Winter season.  Some of them are not Vegan, but I will tell you how to make them vegan if you want.  Make sure to use soy milk, almond milk, etc in replacement of milk.  Use a vegan butter substitute (like Earth Balance) in place of butter, and use vegan chocolate instead of just regular chocolate.   That’s pretty much all it takes to convert a recipe into a vegan friendly one.  I hope you enjoy the recipes.  I’ve included recipes for both smoothies and hot drinks.

Favorite Smoothies

• Pumpkin Pie Monster: This one is already a vegan recipe so no need to worry about switching up any of the ingredients.
• Frozen Mocha Hot Chocolate: This isn’t a vegan recipe so remember to replace the milk with whatever you normally use, and remember to get vegan hot chocolate mix and vegan chocolate syrup.
• Pumpkin Gingerbread Smoothie: This is a vegan recipe, but I don’t add the chia seeds.

Favorite Hot Drinks

• Vegan Coconut Milk Latte: This is my standard latte recipe.  Yum!  Sorry, but I just found out this link doesn’t work. :(  See recipe in the comments section below.
• Spiced Hot Dark Chocolate: The recipe calls for soy milk – just remember to buy vegan chocolate if you want the recipe to be vegan.
• Homade Chai Lattes: This isn’t a vegan recipe so substitute the milk and don’t use honey.  Instead use  agave or a vegan sugar or “Sugar in the Raw”.
• Hot Buttered Lemonade: This recipe isn’t vegan either, just substitute the butter for a vegan brand.  I use Earth Balance.
• Pumpkin Spice Latte:  This recipe isn’t vegan so you’ll need to substitute the milk if you want it to be vegan.

Enjoy!

-Kim at Squirrel Hill

CLPTeaser Tuesday – Bad Apple by Laura Ruby

It’s time again for Teaser Tuesday.  What’s Teaser Tuesday?  It’s a game.  (Based on pageturnsblog.)  How do we play?  I try to convince you to pick up and read the book I’m currently reading by posting two “teaser” sentences.  You in turn try to convince me to pick up the book you are reading by posting two teaser sentences from your book.  Here are the rules:

• Pick up what you’re reading.
• Open to a random page.
• Post two sentences from somewhere on the page.  (Don’t choose sentences that will give away too much, you don’t want to ruin it for others.)
• Include the Title and Author so that others can start reading it.

My teaser this month is:

Bad Apple by Laura Ruby

“My name is Tola Riley, and I’m a junior at Willow Park High School.  I’m the girl who is supposedly having an affair with Mr. Mymer.”

Now, it’s your turn.  Post two sentences along with the Title and Author of the book.

~Kim