Spring Break!

It’s time for Spring Break!  Time to put the text books away for a few days and have some fun!

•  Take a Hike

There are numerous hiking trails in the Pittsburgh area.  Take a look at the trail map before you start out.  If you take the same trail over a long period of time, you will be able to take note of the seasonal changes.  To enchance your hiking experience, you may want to keep a nature journal.  Don’t forget to take a camera with you.

Emerald View Park

Here are some hiking trails to consider:

Emerald View Park–Mt. Washington

Frick Park–East End

Riverview Park–North Side

Three Rivers Heritage Trail System–The River Front trails include the North Shore Trail  the South Side Trail the Eliza Furnace Trail and the Pittsburgh Riverwalk.

• Create Something

Art Club, Teens–Main.  Wednesday, March 27, 2013 @ 3:00 PM, Get creative with Peeps Brand marshmallow chicks.

Teen Lounge–CLP Brookline.  Make a Monster Bookmarks on Tuesday, March 26, 2013 @ 3:30 PM.  We’ll be making monster bookmarks that both eat the page and keep your place at the same time.

Teen Thing–CLP Carrick.  Tuesday, March 26, 2013 @4:30 PM.  Carrick Library’s the place to be every Tuesday afternoon,  if you’re into cool art projects, epic games, music, candy and just chilling out.

Teen Art Studio–CLP Beechview.  Saturday April 6, 2013 @ 1:00 PM.  If you’re an aspiring artist, this is a pleace to work on your projects, enjoy access to art materials, meet other young artists and showcase your creations.

• Watch a Movie

The Croods looks to be a fun movie choice for spring break.  If you are looking for free movies, the library has lots of choices for you.  You can borrow up to 5 DVDs with your library card.  You may need to reserve new releases.  The library also offers a lot of free movie programs especially for teens.  Some upcoming movie programs include:

Time Time:  Movie Time–CLP East Liberty.  Tuesday, March 26, 2013 @ 4:00 PM.  Joins us for a movie and fresh popcorn.

Teen Movie Night–CLP Beechview.  Thursday, March 28, 2013 @ 4:30 PM.  Watch new movies on our big screen.  Snacks are available.

Bad Movie Fridays.  Teens-Main. Friday, March 29, 2013 @ 3:00 PM.  Some movies are so bad, they’re good.  Join us for the best of the worst.  We’ll be celebrating Teen Tech Week all month by viewing films featuring once cutting edge, but now old school technology.

~Marian

CLP–Mt. Washington

Enjoy your spring break and perhaps the last snowy days of the season.  It’s the perfect weather for visiting your library!

Fun Things to do in the Wintertime

Ice Skating

In the Pittsburgh area, there are lots of places to go if you want to go ice skating.  Schenley Park Skating Rink is open 7 days a week, and the Mascot Skate is this Saturday, January 12, 2013 from 1:30-3:30.  There’s also the Rink at PPG Place Downtown, North Park and South Park, and Penguins Pond at Station Square.

Venture Outdoors is sponsoring MLK Jr. Day in the Park (January 21, 2013) at Schenley Park Skating Rink.  The event includes arts & crafts, ice skating and snowshoeing. 

See Something Different

Winter is the perfect time to see a movie.  When you pick a movie, try to pick something really different.

Beasts of the Southern Wild

This movie is now out on DVD, so you can borrow it from the library.

Try a silent film.  The Hollywood Theater in Dormont is showing a Charlie Chaplin series on Sunday January 13, 2013.

Take a Hike

Hiking in the winter has its own rewards.   It’s quiet and you might have a good chance to see some birds or wildlife. There are lots of hiking trails in Pittsburgh to choose from.  Try the Tranquil Trail in Frick Park or the Observatory Trail in Riverview Park.

~Marian

Yo, Pittsburgh! Take A Hike!

I have to admit, I really didn’t gain respect for the outdoors and nature until I was well into my 20s.

The first time I ever went on a hike I was 25 years old and I wish I hadn’t waited so long! Since first hiking Mount Nittany, it has become an annual trek I take with friends every July.

Fortunately, you don’t have to go all the way to Happy Valley to spend time outdoors.

Pittsburgh and Western Pennsylvania are full of parks, trails, hills and mountains that are worth checking out! I highly recommend a trip to the Montour Trail or Racoon Creek State Park.

Even if you can’t make it outside of Pittsburgh, there are plenty of urban trails to check out here in the city, like the Eliza Furnace Trail that connects Schenley Park and Downtown Pittsburgh!

The Library has lots of local hiking guides. Click on the photo to get one today!

Happy Hiking!

-Michael B. (CLP Hazelwood)

My Guide to a Fun Summer Close to Home.

It’s happened.  Summer is here, school is out and free time abounds.   I’m sure you’ve got plans for some of your summer vacation.  Maybe you’ve lined up a part time job, a volunteer shift, summer camp or just rest and relaxation. Even if you’re totally booked you owe it to yourself to get out and enjoy the beautiful weather and amazing activities available.

If you’re into walking, running or biking around town check out the Heritage Trail system that crisscrosses the city.  Don’t have a bike but feel like riding?  No problem.  Or if aquatic recreation is more your style take a flat water kayak for a spin.  Don’t forget about the many city parks all around town or the 18 public pools throughout the city.

If you can get out of town for the day, take a drive to one of  Pennsylvania’s beautiful State Parks.   In Western Pa alone there are 22 State Parks.  To the south check out Ohiopyle State Park for amazing views, and some of the best whitewater boating in the east.  A short drive west will take you to Raccoon Creek State Park for horseback riding, hiking, mountain biking, and swimming.  Head north to Moraine State Park for two huge beaches, wind surfing and boating or to McConnell’s Mill for more advanced whitewater boating or hiking.  If you can take a longer adventure, head two and a half hours north to Lake Erie’s Presque Isle State Park where there are tons of beach, hiking trails and views of PA’s favorite Great Lake.

These ideas are just the beginning.  Share your favorite things to do in Western PA in the comments!

-Brooke

CLP-South Side

One Book, One Community and One Long Hike

This year’s selection for the One Book One Community program is A Walk in the Woods:  Rediscovering America on the Appalachian Trail by Bill Bryson. 

When I first read A Walk in the Woods about 10 years ago, I became fascinated  with the Appalachian Trail.  When I went camping with friends in the Great Smokey Mountains National Park I got a chance to hike on part of the trail.  It was cool to see and meet serious hikers at the trailhead in Tennessee.

For awhile, I was obsessed with reading accounts of people who “thru-hiked” the whole 2,170 miles.  I was impressed that someone would devote months of their life to hiking the trail.  The trail begins (or ends) in Georgia and ends (or begins) in Maine.  Most people like to begin their hike in Georgia in the Spring.  This way they can avoid the heat of the summer in the south and the snow and cold of winter in the north.

The Appalachian Trail Conservancy (ACT) is a volunteered based organization dedicated to the preservation and management of the trail.  This is a good starting point to find information about the trail.

For personal stories about hiking the trail, I really liked A Journey North: One Woman’s Story of Hiking the Appalachian Trail by Adrienne Hall.  I would also recommend Appalachia Adventure: From Georgia to Maine–a Spectacular Journey on the Great American Trail.

Try Trailplace: An Appalachian Resource Website for great photographs and personal trail stories.  Click on Trailplace Forums to see the photos from the trail. 

Now that spring is here, I’ll have to dust off the hiking boots and plan a hike around Pittsburgh some weekend. 

~Marian