Renaissance Festival Time!!

Fall might be my favorite time of year for many reasons.  Football season is starting (the Broncos are playing the Ravens tonight!!), the nights get colder and way better for sleeping, apples and pumpkins are coming into season AND it is time for the annual Pittsburgh Renaissance Festival!!  if you have never been there it is an awesome place to visit and I recommend it to anyone who has an interest in history, Game of Thrones or even dressing up in cool costumes!

There are four weekends left in the renaissance festival so enjoy it while you can!

If you are not able to make it to the Renaissance festival or you just want to immerse yourself into the 16th Century, the Library has some great books and movies.  Here are some of my favorites.

 Maid of Secrets by Jennifer McGowan.  After 17 year old Meg is caught trying to rob the Queen’s advisor, she is forced to work as a member of Queen Elizabeth’s secret Maids of Honor.  The Maids are her all female bodyguard team who protect and spy for the Queen.  meg’s first assignment is to spy on a handsome young Spanish nobleman.  The first book in a series, it is full of intrigue and action.

The Wicked and the Just by Jillian Anderson Coats.  Cecily’s father is moving her from their comfortable English manor to a small town in the wild Welsh countryside.  The story alternates points of view between Cecily and the Welsh servant girl (Gwinny) who has to serve her family.  There are hard feelings on both sides of the English-Welsh struggle.  This book is set a bit earlier than the other ones, but it still gives a good feel for medieval times.

 

  Matthew Shardlake series by CJ Sansom.  This series of historical mysteries features Matthew Shardlake, a hunchback lawyer in the time of Henry VIII.  he longs for a nice quiet life, but his sharp mind draws the attention of men like Thomas Cromwell and Thomas Cranmer.  These men force Shardlake to help them in their political dealings.  This series is a great introduction to the time of Henry VIII and Elizabethian England.

Teen Media Awards

On Wednesday, August 14, 2013, Library staff and community members gathered to honor the creative works of Pittsburgh teens at the 3rd annual Teen Media Awards! Winners of the Ralph Munn Creative Writing Contest and TheLabs “Labsy” Awards shared their writing and creative arts with a packed theater!

Teen Media Awards 2013 @ Carnegie Museum of Art Theater

Keynote speaker Shioban Vivian started off the evening with an inspiring (and comical) talk about following your dreams and always striving to be creative and hard working. See below for winners and photos from this very special night in Pittsburgh!

Keynote Speaker: Siobhan Vivian

Ralph Munn Creative Writing Contest

Poetry
1st Place: “A or a” by Rose Swanson
2nd Place: “Hospitalia” by Agatha Monasterios – Ramirez

Short Prose
1st Place: “Bishop and Wash” by Lana Meyer
2nd Place: “Veteran Advice” by Kristen Grom

Screen Writing
1st Place: “cHaos before hArmony” by Justen Turner-Thorne
2nd Place: “On the End of Every Fork” by Tyler Hudson

Labsy Awards

Photography
1st Place: “Tanzania” by Olivia Muse
Honorable Mentions: “Flagpole” by Morgan Wable-Keene, “Downtown” by Raven

Design
1st Place: “Chronology Poster” by Morgan Wable-Keene
Honorable Mentions: “Submission 2” by Sarah Watkins, “Drawing 1” by Lexi Hall

Music/Audio
1st Place: “Short Jam” by David Watkins
Honorable Mentions: “Midas Theme” by Morgan Wable-Keene

Maker’s Studio
1st Place: “Space Intruder” by Morgan Wable-Keene
Honorable Mentions: “Speaker” by Ceu Gomez Faulk, “Glam-o-Tron” by Joshalyn and Cassidy

Video
1st Place: “Hat Chasers” by Simone Traub, Julian Edwards, Ashae Shaw, Umoja Shaw, Trayvon Ramsey, Jayla Ramsey, and Caliyha Hogan
Honorable Mentions: “Midas” by Cody, Morgan, Sarah, Philppa, Pascal, Kayla, and Pei Pei, “Electric Twist” by Kate Philipps, Hannah Philipps, Tessa Twyman, and Mae Twyman

For more photos from the Teen Media Awards click here or here or here.

The 2014 Teen Media Awards are just around the corner. If you are a budding writer, photographer, filmmaker, designer, creative-extraordinaire in Pittsburgh or Allegheny County, get started on your work today!

Looks for details on the Ralph Munn Creative Writing Contest in spring 2014 and visit The Labs at Main, East Liberty, Southside, and Allegheny to start working on your designs, photography, and more!

Solar S’mores & Pedal Power

Before I got a drivers license, I spent my summers cruising around town on a bike.  It was a gray 10-speed splattered with pink and turquoise paint and I thought it was the coolest.  I loved to speed down the hill next to my house, feet off the pedals, until the day I wiped out on a patch of cinders.  The cinders were dropped by snowplows during winter storms and the street cleaner never seemed able to sweep them all away.  After that, I always kept my feet on the pedals and looked for cinders.  I pedaled to the town pool, the local library, and my friends’ houses.  My friends and I built bonfires in their fields, crafted massive s’mores and ate logs of cookie dough, and stayed up until the stars began to fade.  We’d wake up in dew-covered tents with the smoky scent of campfire still clinging to our hair.

When I moved to Pittsburgh s’mores and bike rides became a thing of the past, as I was nervous about riding on the city’s busy, pockmarked streets and starting a campfire seemed like an easy way to burn down the entire neighborhood.

While I’ve become comfortable riding my bike in the city, thanks to tips from friends and Bike Pittsburgh’s Pittsburgh Bike Map, there still aren’t many s’mores in my life.

Bike Pittsburgh’s Bike Map

That will change this Saturday (8/17) at 3pm during Outside the Lines: STEM + Art.  Abby will teach us how to make solar ovens which we’ll use to make s’mores!  No campfire or BBQ needed, just the power of the sun!  Let Abby know if you’re planning to join her for this awesome experiment.

Solar Oven!

Ride your bike to the Library this week (we have bike racks in front and in the parking garage!) and make solar s’mores with us!

Here are some of my favorite bike-themed books and movies and, of course, a book about s’mores!

Steelers Training Camp

I know that everyone is excited about the Pittsburgh Pirates and the amazing season they are having so far.  I was tempted to write about them, but I don’t want to take the risk that I might jinx things and cause another late season fade.  So, instead I will stick with the NFL and the Steelers!  I always love when the Steelers start training camp because I get to see highlights of Saint Vincent College in beautiful Latrobe, PA.  As a proud SVC grad it is cool to see my college on the news every night. 

Plus, Sports Illustrated writer Peter King called it his favorite training camp location.  The Steelers will be at Saint Vincent until Saturday, August 17th.  All the practices that are open to the public will be held from 3-5 in the afternoon.  There will be one night practice on Wednesday, August 14th from 5:30-7:30.  If you go to Latrobe I recommend the wings at Sharkey’s Cafe.  They are awesome, plus there is always a chance that you might see some of the Steelers there too!

As far as the actual NFL action looks, here are some my top thoughts and predictions about the upcoming season.  Sorry to all the Steelers fans out there, but I don’t see them making the Super Bowl this year.

AFC:

Playoff teams: Patriots, Steelers, Texans, Broncos, Colts (wild card), Bengals (wild card)

NFC:

Playoff Teams: Giants, Packers, Falcons, 49ers, Lions (wild card), Saints (wild card)

Super Bowl: Falcons over Broncos

This week in Pittsburgh: Lozziwurms, singing orphans, and little mermaids

As usual, this week at CLP we have a plethora of things for you to come and do –

watch a movie about terrifying earthworms,

play in a video and card game tournament,

create songs, films, graphic art and more at a Labs location,

sew your own creations,

draw comics…

the list goes on and on.

Going to a library program is one thing you can do to complete your TSR activity list – don’t forget to turn yours in so you can go to our End of Summer Reading festivities!

 

In the wider world of Pittsburgh there are also some things well worth mentioning –

1. The Lozziwurm, “a colorful, twisting, tubular play sculpture designed by Yvan Pestalozzi in 1972” is open for play at the Carnegie Library Museum of Art. It’s part of the upcoming 2013 Carnegie International, and part of their current Playground Project exhibit.

You’re never too old for a playground, so go play on the Lozziwurm and learn about competing schools of thought in playground design and theory (yes, it’s a thing!)

(Taking a photo at a museum is also something on the TSR activity list, hint hint…)

photo by flicker user masivaan

2. Are you an actor, singer, dancer, or all three? Do you want to be?

There are several open auditions going on this week

The Heritage Players in Bethel Park is auditioning for a production of Oliver! – the classic tale of a hungry orphan. Bring a song of your choice.

(Hint: The library has librettos, cds, and sheet music for many, many, musicals. Checking a book out of the library is one activity to do on your TSR Activity List!)

Gemini Theater in Point Breeze is auditioning for a production of The Little Mermaid – they’re asking for a 1-2 minute a capella song and cold reading.

and finally, The Junior Mendelssohn Choir is looking for singers for all voice parts. Click the link for audition requirements and dates.

-Tessa, CLP – East Liberty

Summer Movie Time

Truth be told, there is no denying summer break is slipping away. Some mean-spirited, ruthless people would even say it’s more than half over!

Ron Weasley isn’t so happy! via http://cmyk-giffed.tumblr.com/

Even though the minutes of summer are ticking away, there are still a million things to enjoy before heading back to school. And if you count the summer solstice as the start of summer – we have really just gotten started!

Elaine on Seinfeld via http://cmyk-giffed.tumblr.com/

Movies, movies, and more movies. Summer is the best time to catch up on movies you may have missed!

If you can manage to find a Citiparks book, check out the hundreds of free (or nearly free things to do)! My personal favorite is Cinema in the Park!

Cinema in the Park – Grandview

Each week, FREE new release movies are premiered at many parks throughout the city. Check out the calendar. You can still see a few blockbusters before the summer is out like The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey, The Hunger Games, and Jack the Giant Slayer.

Can’t make it to Cinema in the Park? Check out Teen Movie Night at CLP-Beechview! Or movies in the afternoon on Saturdays at Woods Run and Allegheny!

If you love strange, campy oddball flicks stop at Main Teen to enjoy the delights of Bad Movie Fridays!

C-3PO via cmyk-giffed.tumblr.com

Movie aren’t your thing? No worries! Escape the heat at the library with gaming and more. There is gaming nearly all day, every day @ Main Teen! Top off your week with Teen Gaming & Button Fridays at the West End if you want to make some of these!

K-Stew freaking out! via tumblr.com

Michael, CLP Hazelwood

Everyone’s Favorite Sob-Inducing Teen Romance Set to Film in Pgh

Hazel Grace Lancaster and Augustus Waters are two terminally ill teenagers who meet and fall in love.  If you think that sounds like a melodramatic Afterschool Special (teens, do you understand this reference?), I don’t disagree with you.

Despite my initial meh feeling toward it, The Fault in Our Stars by John Green had me sobbing.  Noisily.  Embarrassingly.  I was crying.  I was driving.  It was raining.  The world was a bit blurry.  I admit, I should have pulled over as my tears were a danger to my driving abilities.  However, I continued driving and kept telling myself, I’ll stop crying soon.  It can’t get any sadder.  

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reported The Fault in Our Stars will shoot in Pittsburgh beginning August 26.  I can’t wait to see how the script writers interpret the sadness, the excitement and scariness of first love, and the other jumbled emotions that make up this intense book.

Fans have been debating for months since the bestseller’s publication which actors should portray the book’s main characters.  It seems official decisions have finally been made with Shailene Woodley playing Hazel and Ansel Elgort portraying Augustus!  These casting choices and the script writers’ past successes are getting people hyped.  Shailene and Ansel are also acting in Divergent!

Ansel & Shailene

Nerdfighters, don’t forget that CLP-Main will host a screening of A Film to Decrease Worldsuck: The Nerdfighters Documentary on Sunday, August 18!  We’ll be in the Carnegie Museum of Art Theatre (lower level) from 5-9 with TFIOS-themed art activities and musical performances by Lauren Fairweather & Matt Maggiacomo and Tonks and the Aurors.

Looking for something to satisfy your TFIOS itch?  Stay-tuned for more TFIOS programming and try this:

Kelly – CLP – Main, Teen

Update: The One Good Thing Project

Last October, I wrote about The One Good Thing Project.

The One Good Thing Project is a participatory art project that helps us find the good that happens each day. Getting involved is easy! Take a booklet. Fill it with good things. Keep it or return it to the collection.

Desk with return slot!

Since showing the project at CLP Hazelwood, the next step was to bring the project out into the community. Emily Sciulli and I launched the program with middle school students at Pittsburgh Mifflin and St. Rosalia Academy. The results have been stellar! Check out some photos from the schools!

One Good Thing Project @ Pittsburgh Mifflin

8th Grade @ Pittsburgh Mifflin!

8th Grade @ Pittsburgh Mifflin!

8th Grade @ Pittsburgh Mifflin!

Paying it forward: We got ice cream at Dell’s for Mifflin students who returned booklets!

Special thanks to everyone who has participated so far. Now we want YOU to take part!

We will be featuring the project at CLP Hazelwood this summer. To participate, drop by the library starting in July. Take a booklet. Fill it with good things (photos/words/anything good). Return it to the collection or keep it as a gift.

The One Good Thing Project returns to CLP Hazelwood soon!

Can’t get here, no problem! Grab a notebook and start record one good thing every day.

Happy Summer. Fill it with good things!

Michael (CLP Hazelwood)

Step Right Up! Try Your Hand at Our PRIDE Week Matching Game.

Can you match these YA book covers to their plot summary?

(1)

(2)

(3)

(4)

(a)  Feeling humiliated and confused when his best friend rejects his love and reveals a long-held secret, high school senior Luke must decide if he should stand by her.

(b)    A teen who feels like a boy mistakenly born as a girl, runs away from his best friend who has rejected him and the parents he thinks do not understand him when he finally decides that it is time to be who he really is.

(c)  Sixteen-year-old Ava does not know who she is or where she belongs, but when she tries out a new personality–and sexual orientation–at a different school, her edgy girlfriend, potential boyfriend, and others are hurt by her lack of honesty.

(d)  A teenager in Dublin, Ireland, in the 1990s, comes to terms with the fact that he is gay and seeks acceptance from friends and family.

Did you match them up??  Want to see if you were right?  (1) Click on the book covers to see the titles in the Library Catalog and read their summaries or (2) Scroll to the bottom of the page to see the answers.

June is LGBTQ Pride Month and June 9-16 is Pride Week at Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh.  I think my colleague Melissa said it best in her Eleventh Stack blog post, “Here at the library we pride ourselves on providing access to information and entertainment for everyone.”

Look for the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh tent at PrideFest this Sunday.  We’ll have a real-life version of this game, so you can test your knowledge of 24 LGBTQ YA titles!  Thanks to Morgan, who runs CLP – Main, Teen’s Gay Straight Alliance, for creating it!

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.

.

.

.

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1. (c)

2. (d)

3. (b)

4. (a)

–Kelly, CLP – Main, Teen

Summer Reading Extravaganza!!

Don’t forget that this Sunday (June 9th) is the annual Summer Reading Extravaganza at the Main Library in Oakland.  There will be a ton of stuff to do for kids and families, but just for teens we have:

Book Giveaways!!!!!

Homemade Books!!!!!

Button making!!!!!

Glitter tattoos!!!!!

And of course plenty of gaming!!  And best of all you might even see a library staff member dressed up like this:

 

 

 

 

 

And there is free food!!  Including Eat n Park Smile cookies.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Don’t miss it!

Jim-CLP Sheraden