Happy Halloween!

Happy Halloween!

Did you know that the word Halloween is a contraction of “All Hallow’s Evening”?  Halloween is tomorrow and that means something different to everyone.  Some of you may be looking forward to dressing up and trick-or-treating, by with friends and younger siblings.  You might be planning on handing out candy at home.  Others still might be turning out the lights, pretending they’re not home, and watching a scary movie or reading a scary book.  I myself may be doing the last thing on this list, finishing up the last book in the horrific Monstrumologist series, The Final Descent, by Rick Yancey.

What are your plans for All Hallow’s Eve?  If you’re looking for a good horror read to scare your pants off on Halloween night, check out these books!

Happy reading!

Amy, CLP-Lawrenceville

More creepy halloween fun is happening @ your library this week

To follow up on Marian’s excellent roundup of spooky activities around the city’s libraries from last week, here’s what’s happening this week.

At Allegheny today we have Halloween Minute to Win It:

Do you have what it takes, or are you too scared? Test yourself during our spooky Halloween rendition of “Minute to Win It.”

Monday, October 28, 2013

4:00 PM

Location:

1230 Federal Street Pittsburgh, PA 15212

this could be you today. photo via Escondido Public Library’s flickr

Tuesday you can attend the ZOMB-FEST  at the Hill District:

Zomb-Fest 2013 kicks off with brain corn hole, snacks and learning the Thriller dance. Then we’ll have a professional make-up artist teach you how to Zombie-fy yourself with real theatrical makeup. Then you can hit the Photo Booth and capture the gruesome moment! Eat yummy, freaky Halloween snacks!

Tuesday, October 29, 2013
October 29, 2013

4:00 PM – 6:00 PM

Location:

2177 Centre Avenue at Kirkpatrick Street

Pittsburgh, PA 15219

photo of the author as a zombie

or view a scary movie at East Liberty‘s Teen Time!

There will be a selection of movies to choose from – classics and new releases, and some popcorn and apples to snack on.

Tuesday, October 29, 2013

4:00 PM – 6:00 PM

Location:

130 S. Whitfield Street

Pittsburgh, PA 15206

not the actual selection of movies. photo via nomadic lass on flickr

There’s also face painting at Allegheny on Tuesday:

Join local artist Lauren Toohey as she teaches you the basics of face painting. She will also talk about making a living as an artist. Have your face painted, then put your skills to use at our Halloween Carnival by painting a friend’s face!

Tuesday, October 29, 2013

4:00 PM – 6:00 PM

Location:

1230 Federal Street
Pittsburgh, PA 15212

You can see photos of Lauren’s face painting work at her site!

And a pre-Halloween party at Brookline:

Halloween is creeping around the corner! Put on a costume and do your part to get in the spooky spirit by partying up with us pre-Halloween.

Tuesday, October 29, 2013

5:00 PM – 7:00 PM

Location:

708-710 Brookline Blvd.

Pittsburgh, PA 15226

mutant cyborg costume by don pezzano on flickr

Then on Wednesday you can get candy at Brookline.. if you win a game:

Happy Halloween! On your way out the door to mega-candy acquisitioning, stop by the library for Teen Lounge. We’ll be distributing candy in the manner of Deal or No Deal. Will you hit it big, or will you end up with a toothbrush?

Thursday, October 31, 2013

3:00 PM – 6:00 PM

Location:

708-710 Brookline Blvd.
Pittsburgh, PA 15226

a toothbrush. by dave lanovaz

And on Thursday, Knoxville is having a Spooky Teen Time:

COME OUT AND ENJOY OUR FUN ACTIVITIES AND MORE! DON’T FORGET TO BRING A FRIEND AND/OR FAMILY MEMBER ALONG!

Thursday, October 31, 2013

3:30 PM – 5:00 PM

Location:

400 Brownsville Road

Pittsburgh, PA 15210

this could be what it’s like at Knoxville’s Teen Time. You’ll never know if you don’t show up! photo by minxlj on flickr

Remember, all of this is IN ADDITION to Carrick’s Haunted Library, Labs events, regular Teen Time activities, Art Clubs, AND MORE. Check the local teen evens near you on our teen event feed!

Remembering Elliott Smith

This past Monday marked the 10^th anniversary of Elliott Smith’s unfortunate passing.  Like every great artist, though, his work lives on – sounding every bit as compelling and relevant as it did when first released, like a final defiance to time itself.

I found Elliott Smith when I was in seventh grade, just a few months after he had released his third solo album, Either/Or.  For me, at that age, he definitely broke down some self-constructed walls – I was, quite exclusively, into more abrasive stuff (e.g. Glassjaw, Pg. 99, Fugazi, Converge, etc.) but was, like many, instantly and inexplicably drawn to the hushed melancholy of his initial solo material.  While I couldn’t fully explain my interest at the time, I was definitely pulled in by the juxtaposition of his unique songwriting ability – how bleak and gritty yet equally beautiful his songs are; how his painful honesty and personal intensity was still so widely relatable on an emotional level despite being so insular.

Anyways, I thought I’d just share a few of my favorites:

Off the third album from his early 90’s band, Heatmiser:

A short film by Jem Cohen – two originals and his Big Star cover: 





     

Jon : Carrick

ENTER ONLY IF YOU DARE!

Maggie is right.  ‘Tis the season for all things scary and spooky.  In Western Pennsylvania, a favorite and long-standing Halloween tradition has been the haunted house.  (And of course, the haunted library!)

The teens at the Ream Recreation Center in Mt. Washington are planning and creating their own haunted house.

Haunted House at Ream Recreation

Lots of preparation has gone into the design of the haunted house.  The teens have started to craft coffins and cemetery stones for the display.  They have painted masks and other spooky decorations.

Making “gross-out” jars for the haunted house refrigerator was the sloppiest and most fun of the decorating projects.  Fake blood and eyeballs.  Spiders and bugs and rats.   Big hairy spiders.

 Yucky and as gross as can be.

 

Gross-out jars are easy to make.  Start with a quart sized canning jar.  Actually any empty jar or container will do.  Sort through the recycle bin to find some suitable jars.  Next, you need some stuff to put in your jars.

• spiders and spider webs, eyeballs and skulls (find them at the dollar stores and craft stores)
• doll heads
• food coloring and gelatin mixes
• food items such as grapes, olives, macaroni and spaghetti (cooked), salsa (the chunkier the better) and jelly
• craft glue mixed with paint
• shredded plastic bags and paper
• items from nature such as rocks, buckeyes, leaves and sticks

Add your selected items to your jar, layering things as you go,  If you add water with food coloring, some items will float for a truly spooky look.

If you use food items, use a jar with a lid.  When using food items–make your jars just a few days before you need them.  We don’t want our Gross-out jars to be really gross and stinky!

Gross-out jars are the perfect thing for a haunted house that has a Mad Scientist room.  Display them on a window sill or bookcase.

Another great idea for using canning jars is to make Halloween lumaniries.  Decorate the jar with tissue paper and craft glue or paint the outside of the jar.  Use LED tea lights instead of candles for safety reasons.

And one really fabulous pretty jar~

For more great ideas, see Mason Jar Love and Pinterest Mason Jar Halloween,  Ask your librarian for more recommendations regarding books and web sites for Hallloween decorations.

~Marian

‘Tis the season…

The season of FEAR is upon us. If you’re in search of thrills and chills, you’re in luck– creative teens around the city are hosting library hauntings to inspire horror in the hearts of fear-seekers.

This Saturday, October 26, check out the first ever Haunted House at CLP- East Liberty, brought to you by the East Liberty Teen Advisory Council. This fear-fest will feature horrific tales, ghoulish delights, and even…robotics? Gotta see it to believe it. You can drop in between 10 AM and 5 PM on Saturday at 130 S. Whitfield Street to catch some of the frightful (& FREE!) fun.

Meanwhile, the ghosts of Halloweens past are gathering in Carrick, waiting to invade the library for another year of fear. From the gruesome minds that brought you CHAIRPOCALYPSE! and the story of Alice and her haunted well, it’s THE RETURN OF THE HAUNTED LIBRARY.

Take a spine-tinging stroll through three mini-rooms of terror as you delve into a tale of madness and obsession. Can you keep your cool as the restless spirits surround you? Don’t let your mind wander too far…they say there’s something lurking in the woods.

Check out how the teens of CLP- Carrick have transformed an ordinary room into a chamber of fear– don’t miss the Haunted Library at 1811 Brownsville Road.

Wednesday, October 30, 5-7:30 PM
Thursday, October 31, 5-7:30 PM
Saturday, November 2, 2-4:30 PM

Need some inspiration for taking on the terror? Look no further:

 

Mustaches are having a moment

Mustaches are really having a moment.  Mustaches now adorn shirts, pillows, shoes, duct tape, puppies- everywhere I turn there are mustaches.  But you see, mustaches were not always looked upon so favorably.  In 1965, the American Mustache Institute formed to combat discrimination against people sporting ‘staches and other fine expressions of facial hair, becoming ” the world’s leading facial hair advocacy organization.”  According to their website, the American Mustache Institute “continues to battle negative stereotyping that has accompanied the mustache since those glory years of the 1970s – the peak of mustache acceptance – fighting to create a climate of acceptance, understanding, flavor saving, and upper lip warmth for all mustached Americans alike.”

Please do not take offense, but unlike most trends, it actually seems like Pittsburgh has been a real leader in the recent mustache renaissance.  In fact, in 2011 Pittsburgh actually placed third on the list of Most Mustache Friendly Cities in America by the American Mustache Institute.  Further cementing our vanguard in the mustache world, the American Mustache Institute actually relocated to our fine city this past July.  And right now, the American Mustache Institute is soliciting votes to determine the winner of this year’s Robert Goulet Memorial Mustached American of the Year!  The winner will be announced on Saturday, October 26 at an event they are hosting here in town.

Purely by coincidence, CLP Main- Teen is also hosting a Teen Halloween Mustache Bash for teens in middle and high school on Saturday, October 26 from 2 pm to 4 pm.  Instead of the usual scary/zombie/ghostly themed Halloween fare, we decided to capitalize on our culture’s current mustache obsession and celebrate ALL THE MUSTACHES!  We “mustache” you to join us for mustache themed games, treats, crafts, and a best mustache contest!

In the meantime, be sure to check out this book in preparation:

Happy National Coming Out Day!

Happy National Coming Out Day!

Rather, Happy (belated) National Coming Out Day – because NCOD was actually on Friday!

So, Happy National Coming Out Day – Week – Month – Year – Decade – Whatever. Take a moment to celebrate all the glorious gay, bi, trans, queer folks who make this world sparkle.

NCOD logo designed by graphic artist Keith Haring

National Coming Out Day (NCOD) is observed annually on October 11th to celebrate individuals who publicly identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and/or queer (LGBTQ). It started on October 11, 1988 to commemorate the anniversary of the 1987 National March on Washington for Lesbian and Gay Rights. The day is often marked by events like public rallies, festivals, and gatherings. For some, attending an NCOD event holds an important place in the gay rights movement as a rite of passage.

Fostering  support and building community is a HUGE part of any coming out or pride celebration. And LGBTQ folks and their straight allies are busy building community right here at the Library. Check it out!

CLP Teen Gay Straight Alliance : Bi-monthly Meeting

Tuesday, October 22, 2013
5:00 PM – 6:00 PM

Come join us for a meeting of the CLP Teen Gay Straight Alliance. This group is for all LGBTQ and straight teenagers who want to support each other and make new friends!

Location:
Classroom A – Main Library
4400 Forbes Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15213

In the mean time, check out some of these titles on LGBTQ history, life, and love!

 

Beyond the Wall, My Trip to Iceland.

Every time I read a book or watch a movie I learn about another place–whether it’s real like the Galapagos or made up like Westeros in Game of Thrones—I’d like to visit.

For years I wanted to travel to Iceland even though I knew very little about the country–glaciers, icebergs, geothermal energy, folklore featuring Thor, trolls and huldufolk (hidden people or elves).  I needed to learn more if I wanted to plan an epic adventure.  The Library had everything I needed!

My first stop was the travel section at CLP – Main.  I checked out Lonely Planet and Frommer’s travel books to learn the basics of Icleandic culture and geography.

Next, I began using Zinio, a service which lets you choose from more than 300 free digital magazines.  These magazines can be read on a computer or mobile device and all you need to get started is your library card number.  I subscribed to National Geographic in the hopes of coming across articles about Iceland.  National Geographic’s digital edition has videos and content from its Instagram feed embedded in its pages!   This discovery lead me to begin following National Geographic on Instagram @natgeo.  Photos like the one below made me even more excited for my trip.

One of my greatest fears when traveling abroad is that I’ll somehow embarrass myself by not knowing any of the native language.  In order to allay this fear, I spent time using Mango Languages, one of the Library’s online language learning resources.  Mango teaches you how to greet others, introduce yourself, introduce someone else, and more.  Don’t want to be tied to your PC?  The Mango App for your iPhone or Android device lets you practice anywhere!

 

Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh resources helped me plan for 8 stunning days in Iceland.  Here’s one of my pictures–taken at Vatnajokull National Park where Game of Thrones’  has filmed Beyond the Wall scenes.

Winter is coming.

Teen Blogger Jayne’s Interview with Jenny Han & Siobhan Vivian

Jenny Han & Siobhan Vivian are friends and writing partners who have created the Burn for Burn trilogy for teen girls and fans of YA literature. The second book in the series, Fire with Fire, was released in September 2013.  Jenny & Siobhan will take the stage to speak about friendship, collaborative writing, and life as it relates to teens. Both have plenty to say about their own writing careers and will share perspectives from their individual experiences.

Teen Blogger Jayne caught up Siobhan and Jenny for a little preview of Friday night’s main event.

Jayne: How did the two of you decide you wanted to write a story such as the Burn for Burn trilogy?

Siobhan & Jenny: We became friends in a writing program and after years of sharing our work together, we thought it would be fun to do something together. We worked on another idea – a screenplay – before we came up with the Burn for Burn series.  

Jayne: What were the inspirations for some of the characters?

Siobhan & Jenny: We really try to put pieces of ourselves in every character we write. Lillia has a little sister Nadia, and both of us have little sisters, too. I think there are plenty of moments where we both feel quiet and shy like Mary, or confident and confrontational like Kat.

Jayne: Did you incorporate any inside jokes between the two of you in either of the books?

Siobhan & Jenny: Not exactly…but we definitely try to make each other laugh with the stuff that we do write. It comes out a lot in the Kat chapters, because that girl will say almost anything!

Jayne: Do the two of you plan to write together on another series any time soon?

Siobhan & Jenny: We’d love to work together again. After all, we are best friends!

 Books for this event will be available for sale from our local and independent book store, Mystery Lovers Bookshop, before and after the program.

Presented in partnership with Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh.

For tickets click here or call 412-622-8866.

Invite your friends to join you on Facebook!

The Hectic Glow: Alternative Homecoming 2013

Yes!  It’s that time of year again.

This year Alternative Homecoming celebrates beats and beasts along with John Green’s international bestselling YA sensation The Fault in Our Stars.

As always, Alternative Homecoming is open for teen expression to breathe free. Whether formal wear, cosplay, or jeans and a t-shirt), dress however is going to get you feeling turnt up! Bring the sweetheart you want, go stag, or rock the party with all your friends!

Tickets are only $5 apiece.

For online tickets, additional info, and a form for song requests, visit http://www.carnegielibrary.org/althomecoming/.

Tickets can also be purchased at the reference desk at Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh, Main – Teen (4400 Forbes Avenue, 15213).  Stop by and see us!

Here’s a sneak preview of some of the things we have planned:

* Neon face painting, in celebration of Carnegie International artist He An
* Ultraviolet dance party, with DJ Joey J of CLP – Main, Teen Department
* Green screen photobooth, courtesy of The Labs @ CLP
* Dramatic wildlife scavenger hunt, with Teen Docents from Carnegie Museum of Natural History
* Flashlight tours through Carnegie Museum of Natural History exhibits
* LED light-up corsages from Assemble
* TeenSpeak! social issues forum, from the City of Pittsburgh’s Mayor’s Youth Council
* Memory book to record the legacy you want to leave in the world, in honor of the themes presented in The Fault in Our Stars.
* Guest passes good for a future visit to the Carnegie International, courtesy of the Carnegie Museum of Art
* Decorate your own Smiley cookie, courtesy of Eat’n Park

And here’s a list of books you can check out to get you prepped for all the fun you’ll have!  😉

       

Happy reading and we’ll see you on November 2 at 7:30 pm!

-Morgan, Main – Teen