5 Things | Father's Day

Father's Day is this Sunday!  If you're still thinking of what to get Dad, trying thinking outside the tie-rack! This year, give him the gift of experience with these 5 fun ideas for any kind of guy!

1: Relax at a cigar lounge

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Located in Lawrenceville, Cigar Den offers a large variety of cigars as well as multiple rooms to lounge, converse and enjoy your cigar.  It has a classic, gentlemen's feel without the membership and snooty attitude.  Take your dad here to relax and puff on a fine cigar - there's even refreshments, a patio and a grill for your use if you feel so inclined! Click here for more!



2: Take him for an old school shave

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They might not say it, but men love to be pampered just as much as women do!  So while you can go ahead and get Dad the same boring electric shaver and shaving cream combo, taking him to get a nostalgic lather and straight razor shave might just be what he needs.  Mister Grooming & Goods in Lawrenceville provides ta menu of very specific cuts and shaves geared toward men. Treat him to a "Sweeny Todd" and you just might win "Kid of the Year."

3: Get him some "Man Food"

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It's Summer, it's Father's Day, ditch the green juice and quinoa for your ol' man just for a day and get some real, rib-stickin, mouth-watering man food.  Try Union Pig & Chicken in East Liberty for big portions of BBQ'd goodness, complete with homestyle sides and a great selection of beer.

4: Feed his Inner Pyro

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Is he the kind of guy that HAS to build the fire at camp?  Get him an IncinerGrate by FIREase and he might never come inside.  This device helps hold up wood and maintain a fire by creating an "ember core" in the center.  Better bust out the hot dogs and marshmallows now, this thing will have you sitting around a fire all summer long! Learn more about IncinderGrate and other FIREase products here.


5: Have an Outdoor Adventure

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Get in touch with the great outdoors (or city rivers), and take him kayaking!  It's a great workout, scenic, pretty calming and lots of fun!  Kayak Pittsburgh has some great (and affordable) options for group tours and solo trips, they also provide bike rentals in case you'd like to stay on the ground. Check out Kayak Pittsburgh here.

Monday Spotlight | Richard Claraval: Abstract Expressionist Opens "Mythological Gestures" Show

Jupiter and Io by Richard Claraval

Award winning charcoal on paper artist, Richard Claraval, has always been inspired by the Renaissancesque human figure when creating Abstract Expressionist gestures.   His drawings express the realistic free flowing movements of the human body fused with dynamic forms and figures; the real versus the unimaginable. In his upcoming show "Mythological Gestures," Claraval takes the godly forms of traditional mythological characters, as well as characters of J.R.R Tolkien, and pairs it with a unique abstract twist .  

"The highly imaginative “supernatural” and archetypal elements of myths, which are in sense abstractions, as well as the monsters and exotic chimeras, lend themselves to an abstract gestural mode of interpretation. As well, the ability of many of the characters to do impossible things such as fly and become invisible fit well my interest in depicting the figure in very dynamic and sometimes impossible poses."  - Richard Claraval

 

Mythological Gestures: Contemporary Figurative Charcoal Drawings on Old Subject

  June 1 - June 30  The Spinning Plate Gallery 

5821 Baum Blvd. 15206

OPENING RECEPTION

Saturday    June 14   7pm-10pm

richardclaraval.com

The Look: Aw Else Boutique

Aw Else Boutique, a premier accessories destination in Greensburg, Pennsylvania, has just launched an online store with expanded designer inventory. The new virtual store can be found at AwElseBoutique.com, and features the same inventory as its brick-and-mortar location, which is a short drive outside of Pittsburgh.

As the 2013 winner of the Tribune Review’s Readers’ Choice Awards for both “Ladies’ Boutique” and “Women’s Clothing and Accessories,” Aw Else truly is a “ladies’ boutique with a heart.”

Cinda B Bags  (chels&thecity)

The staff guarantees shoppers a warm welcome and personal assistance for a relaxing, fulfilling shopping experience. Aw Else even collaborates with nonprofit organizations to host charitable shopping events, and recently ran a successful fundraising campaign to benefit the Muscular Dystrophy Association.

Known as AEB to many loyal fans, the store’s name derives from a combination of the owners’ daughters’ initials. The boutique features designer accessories from jewelry and handbags to home décor, and currently carries brands including Big Buddha, Bridgewater, Chrysalis Jewelry, cinda b, Greenleaf Spa, John Wind, Pouchee, Sequoia Paris, and Sorrelli. This spring, Aw Else will expand its inventory to include the following designer lines: 

-Betsey Johnson's fun, stylish handbags

-Harveys hand-sewn seat belt bags, which have recently attracted a collaboration with Mercedes-Benz

-Big Buddha Handbags

Aw Else's owner is excited to continue bringing shoppers sophisticated style and unbeatable customer service, "We enjoy embracing our customers like they are welcomed into our home," boutique owner, Danielle Shaffer said.

PGH Spotlight | The Paper Lady - Katy DeMent

Katy DeMent, aka The Paper Lady,  has been making her living as a full-time papermaker and teacher for over 20 years. Her work is found in galleries and museums worldwide and has been featured on HGTV’s “Crafters Coast to Coast”. DeMent was an Art major at Georgia State University but is self-taught in papermaking, welding, sewing and other crafts.

Katy's Paper Dresses

All DeMent’s works are created out of handmade papers she has made from locally gathered materials. Her 2-D imagery includes cast paper quilts, paper clothing, heirloom collage, and interactive shadow boxes, whilst her 3-D work is more functional and includes waxed paper, wall sconces and lampshades that balance on lamps made of old tools that she welds and wires herself.

DeMent grew up in North Carolina under a sewing machine. Around quilting great grandmothers, gardening great aunts, and mom= fashion designer. When Mom went to work She lost her personal seamstress so began altering her families Vintage clothes, up cycling, years ahead of this trend ,raiding closets for vintage materials.

Working at Hancock Fabric Store in high school and college (7 years she still has some cloth today," the one with the most…” she honed her craft as seamstress, costumer , designer.  DeMent discovered hand made paper in 1989 at the China Exhibit , High Museum o art , Atlanta . Profoundly influenced by this tactile and versatile medium. DeMent begin a self taught -on going journey creating art works both functional and decorative sustaining herself through paper making for over 20 years at galleries and art festivals.

This passion for hand made papers primary manufactured from recycled materials, vintage ephemera and invasive plants are influenced by her interest in visual narrative, a love of gardening and her long time relationship with fabrics and fibers and stitchery.

Paper Dress

Some of her works are coated with raw beeswax, which gives them a warm glow when light is added, making this unique lighting both “romantic and aromatic.” This utilizes the interaction between natural or man-made fibers and etched images. DeMent’s fine art works are complemented by handmade paper gift items, books, candle covers, Plantable Seed Cards © and other custom stationery.

This past fall DeMent won Best of Show at the Kentuck festival in North Port Alabama. Out of 350 artist nation wide. She will be exhibiting at the Kentuck Museum in June as well as teaching paper making work shops there in conjunction with the show.

Be sure to come see The Paper Lady's awesome creations at the 5th Annual GAGI Fest Fashion Show this Friday at the Pittsburgh Glass Center.

5 Things | Fresh Juice Places

Spring is here!  Now, if only the weather would agree.  Nevertheless, it's time for a fresh start. While sprucing up your house and updating your Spring wardrobe is definitely a start to a great season, cleaning up your diet can also prove to be very beneficial.  

The whole clean eating craze has gotten me interested in juicing.  I'm always so intrigued by the combinations of flavors and the gorgeous colors that come from 100% natural ingredients. Not to mention, fresh juices are packed with tons of vitamins and minerals each meant to trigger and focus on different health ailments and issues.  Juice places have been popping up all over Pittsburgh like little apothecaries waiting to mix up a potion just for you to help your body.   So where's a good place to get a fresh juice around here?  Here are 5 places in Pittsburgh to find one of these delicious concoctions. 

1 - Embody Natural Health: Lawrenceville

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This place alone can help transform you into a bonafide health guru! Their menu includes organic smoothies, juices and shots, all serving a specific purpose, like their "Happy" smoothie or "Radiant" juice, and their shots not only include the standard wheat grass but you can get a shot of apple cider vinegar or wild harvested algae.  Located in Lawrenceville, Embody also provides health coaching, private yoga lessons, detox programs, cleanses, and fun informational happy hours. 

2 - The Pittsburgh Juice Company:Lawrenceville

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This family owned Lawrenceville business aims to keep their juice alive! And by that, they mean the freshest juices possible. Their theory is that the enzymatic and nutritional value of the juice is lost when it's been processed through high heat or pressure.  Their cold pressed juices are made fresh everyday.  They also provide juicing programs fit for anyone whether you are a beginner or a juicing expert. 

3 - Fresh Farm Juices: South Side

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Another family owned business, Fresh Farm Juices presses and bottles their own juice.  The farms providing the fruit for the juices are all located in Western PA.  They distribute their juices to several locations in the city, but they are based in the South Side. They provide seven flavors that are perfect for specific times of the day.  And they also provide 2 day, 4 day and 6 day juice cleanses. 

4 - Juice Up 412: Highland Park 

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Located in Highland Park, Juice Up 412, aims to get the people Pittsburgh thinking and eating healthier.  Owner, Majestic Lane, believes in educating people on the importance of juicing.  Their signature flavor Orange Sunrise (a delicious combination of orange, carrot and lemon) is so good you can even get the kids on board with it.  

5- Eden: Shadyside

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This Shadyside vegan/vegetarian/organic restaurant has made strides as far as health food restaurants in Pittsburgh goes.  They've broken the whole stipulation that vegan/vegetarian food is a bunch of crunchy, dry food that tastes like grass. Not only does their food ROCK, but you can also stop in Eden and get yourself a fresh juice!  They keep it simple with flavors like Red, Pink or Green. Each very delicious and serving a very healthy purpose.