The Holiday season, or, cheaping out on your close friends and loved ones

The holidays always bring me to a strange impasse. I’m not religiously Christian, and neither are 80% of the people on my list (I’ve got Jews and Hindus and atheists, oh my!) but my love of gift-giving is such that I’ll embrace any excuse to shower my friends with pressies. Sadly and in ultimate proof that the beautiful and noble must always suffer, I’m not paid enough to give anyone a gift even half as cool as they are without coaxing my meager finances to stretch, twist, leap and perform amazing feats of agility. This is never easy. Out of curiosity I tried googling “inexpensive Christmas gifts” and the lists that popped up were horribly inadequate- stuff like “garden gloves and a packet of seeds” or “prepaid photo developing envelopes”, stuff that’s not even close to something I would ever want to give, or that anyone would be jazzed about receiving (except for my great friends from the Senior Center Book Club.) So here’s MY list of how-tos on cheaping out on your loved ones while not looking like a tactless bastard.
-Start early. Keep your eyes open all year for cool, unique gifts in stores or online. Oftentimes you’ll find a gorgeous enamel box, an old flask, or funky earrings for less at a garage sale or on sale for cheap at an otherwise expensive boutique. If it’s well-chosen and specific to their needs it doesn’t have to be expensive. One of the best gifts I ever got was three pairs of long, groovy cable-knit socks that can’t have cost more that $10 total. A year later, I saw socks almost exactly like them retailing at American Apparel.
-Got a skill like painting, drawing, or knitting? Use it. One year I crocheted hats and scarves for my friends, the next, I painted plain wooden picture frames with a design specific to each person and put a picture of the two of us in it. This works for the people at the top of your list too. One year I gave my then-boyfriend a picture I had drawn of us based on a cute photo. This approach takes a while so again, start early. Also, be realistic about your crafting abilities- don’t plan to sculpt everyone an art-deco ceramic vase if you know you’ll end up with blobby thumbprint pots.
- Hit up Goodwill, garage sales, or best yet, craft fairs. In fact there’s a craft fair going on today and tomorrow in the Southside- the I Made It! market. I’ll be there tonight looking for fabulous things for the last folks on my list- hope to see you there :)

State of the GVE address

At almost the end of the GVE and since I bet you’re wondering how it went (whether because you are interested in veganism yourself, wanting to garner a little schadenfreude by seeing me fail, or you’re killing time reading piffy prose on the internet) and I aim to please.
Well, to be honest, I didn’t succeed completely with my goal of total veganism- two days in, and a lack of prepared-ness (plus drunk hunger) had me stopping by the gas station for a bag of really, really animal-o-licious chips. After that little boo-boo I figured out I needed to plan better. Being vegan means you have to eat more frequently than an omnivore, probably about every two hours or so. Protein is in scarce supply so nuts, beans, tofu, TVP, tempeh- all crucial to a happy, full vegan who has no gas-station centric cravings. Using my trusty Moosewood Cookbook, the Fat-Free Vegan blog, and the vast stores energy I should be pouring into my job, I planned out a week’s worth of food (21 meals plus snacks and desserts, to be exact). A sample day looks something like this:
Breakfast: Oatmeal with bananas and strawberries sliced up in it.
Lunch: Brussels sprouts and shiitake mushroom soup
Snack: Baba Ganoush (with cherry tomatoes and tortilla chips as dippers)
Dinner: Asparagus and chickpea casserole
Dessert: Dark chocolate vegan cake*
I devoted one night to making a big batch of soup, casserole, baba, and cake so I didn’t have to think much once the munchies took hold. With that plan I was actually able to stick to my veganism AND have a lot more time during the week what with all the premade meals, so I got some grad school application stuff done too. Yay!
Three lessons learned: Vegans have to eat more often, go to the grocery store more often (what with all the produce) and research a lot. Never ever ask why something isn’t vegan, since it’s always some horribly gross reason you probably don’t want to know… and finally, veganism is a commitment- a commitment to compassion, environmental friendliness, and good health. If you do it right, it makes you feel better to know that you’re being good to your body and the earth. Will I keep it up? TBA. I have enough produce and lesson plans to last me another week or so- so we’ll see! But not to worry, I’ll be writing about plenty of other stuff too.

*sorry, trade secret ;)

Well, I guess this is vegan, right?

So I know I was supposed to do an article about my Vegan experimentation, but I realized there is something amazing (and fall themed) here in our very own Lawrenceville that I couldn’t neglect to alert you to. Arsenal Cider House & Wine Cellar is a tiny venue that brews its own… you guessed it… cider and wine. The proprietors live right above the shop, make the beverages themselves, and aren’t shy with the samples. Plus, last time I was there I heard tell of them hosting a live music event soon. Check them out on Facebook for the latest happenings, or better yet, in person. I highly recommend the dry sherry.

The quiet and controversial storm

Inspired by a nasty dose of cheese poisoning, I’ve launched full-steam into a grand weeklong VEGAN EXPERIMENT. An accidentally well timed experiment, since November is World Vegan Month. As if my life isn’t complex enough, I just had to add a ban on animal products. I never could leave well enough alone.
I’ve started snooping to find what the glorious ‘burgh has to offer by way of cruelty-free dining goodness, and already I’ve turned up some dirt in the way of the Quiet Storm (no, not that movie). The Quiet Storm is a café-and-music-venue turned full-scale vegan and vegetarian restaurant on Penn Avenue. Since I was planning on dragging my friend E along with me on this culinary adventure I read a few reviews online to make sure I wasn’t leading him to a terrible meal that would turn him off of vegan dining forever. What I found was disconcerting. The reviews varied from five-star raves to zero-star slams- the Quiet Storm was broadly accused of being a hipster haven with cold food, terrible service, and a snotty attitude by some and the best vegan niche in Pittsburgh by others. Well, I could never resist a good debate, so here it is!
The Quiet Storm is kind of a parody of a hippyish vegan restaurant. The staff is laid-back, friendly, and exceedingly hands-off. Our groovy waitress didn’t know what day it was, but she handed us a hand-written specials menu that featured some of the tastiest vegan food I’ve had outside of my own kitchen. The selections are creative, delicious, and they steer well clear of the cardinal sin of vegan cooking- trying to make everything a soy-based imitation of meat and cheese. It’s odd to look at a menu and have no conception of what anything was supposed to be (the descriptions aren’t that good and the names of the dishes are more cryptic than guiding) but take a leap of faith and I promise, your meal will not disappoint. And yes, the food is hot.

A cure for cheese poisoning

Hello all,
Yes, it’s me- returned from hibernating in obscurity. What can I say- I’m sorry, ever so sorry, blogland, for my extended absence! I’ll make it up to you, I swear I will. Please take me back!
All right, enough of that. The actual point of this entry is to address a very real problem amongst vegetarians who have been socially obligated to eat a Thanksgiving meal prepared by our more omnivorous cousins (or grandparents, or friend’s grandparents). What happens is we get a hearty dose of whatever non-meat dishes around, which invariably are salad with bleu cheese dressing, broccoli and cheese, fried string beans with cheese, cheese-topped cornbread, and spinach and cheese quiche…. After basting our innards with gooey cow goodness galore, we end up with a nasty case of what I’ve not-so-fondly come to term ‘cheese poisoning’. For me, cheese poisoning results in an immediate onset sodium-drenched migraine, blotchy skin, bloated tummy, and week-long disgust of anything even in the same room as a block of Parmesian. As a measure of recovery, I usually temporarily turn to a diet rich in the veggies and whole grains I’m craving- Veganism. And since I figure there’s at least a few of you who are probably feeling the same way, I thought I would pass along a gem of a site that I’ve been relying on for the past few weeks. Yeah, you read right. I’m not a vegan, but the recipes on this blog are so quick, easy, versatile, creative, and healthy (adjective overload!) that they’ve become indispensible to me. Check it out- I hope you get just as inspired as I did.
http://blog.fatfreevegan.com/

Gallery Crawl

This little entry should be short and sweet, as the merits of this attraction speak for themselves. Gallery Crawl this Friday, October 1 in the Cultural District Downtown! Granted, the "Cultural District" of Pittsburgh stretches across about a street and a half, but it's chock-full of kickass museums which are FREE and open to the public on Gallery Crawl Night! Click the link to check it out. And don't be too bummed if you can't make it- there'll be another one the first Friday of next month, too :).

A taste of the Old Country

If you’re tired from partying all weekend (or sick of staying in) take a stroll down Main Street in Bloomfield and check out the Little Italy Days- running until 7pm tonight. Get serenaded on the street, buy cheap saint cards, and gorge on fresh Italian food that’s both inexpensive and delicious. I recommend the cannoli, and the fortune-reading booth. Great for a date, or a hangover :)

Slight blogging hiatus- Belvedere's

Hello hello, Blogland! I'm sorry for my recent flakiness about posting. I'll try extra hard to update regularly from now on- most likely, on a MWF schedule.
I'm devoting this post to an oldie but a goody- Belvedere's, on Butler St. For those unfamiliar, Belvie's is a total dive bar. Not only is it as lacking in natural light and air as Sarah Palin's bathroom, it is usually crammed with people thrash-dancing in the most alarming way. If I happen to be jogging past here during the 15 minutes a week they air it out, the stench of condensed cigarette smoke is enough to give me a nicotine buzz for a week.
With an intro like that, how could you resist?
But really, Belvie's has some redeeming qualities- in the form of 80's nights. 80's night is every Thursday, and features- you guessed it- 80's music. It's a good place to stop by if you're in the area, if only for the great DJ, the lounge-esque area, and the freedom to thrash dance as you please. It's a $4 cover, and drinks are relatively cheap, like most dive bars. Just be prepared to shower afterwards.

I'm gonna rock and roll all night.

Most of us who live fabulous lives (and if you are reading this blog, you are most likely committed to being fabulous) are under a lot of pressure. Between work, classes, personal pursuits, friendships, and partying, we end up cramming our days with enough twists and turns as to make Houdini turn in his card and quit. This can (and does) manifest itself oftentimes in troubled sleeping, which is quite a shame. At night, when we should be able to finally take a break, our poor little systems are so overwrought that we end up wide-eyed at four am… and unfortunately for us, instead of developing a charismatic cult leader alter ego that runs wild in all this spare time and develops a lucrative side business of soapmaking, we’re just tired and cranky. Luckily, I’ve come up with a few methods of circumventing this whole nasty business- and no, no need to sit here and read through a list of ridiculous, impractical tips like “Go to bed at the same time each night,” or “Meditate for two hours a day”. Personally, I have a life that doesn’t leave a whole mess of spare time that’s just begging to be spent on keeping dream journals or whatever. Try some of these workable tips, and see if they make a difference for you.
-Take a bath- I don’t mean an all-day soak, just ten to fifteen minutes in a tub full of hot water can work wonders on your muscles and stress levels. Especially if it’s in the evening. This alone has amped up the quality of my sleep. If you don’t have a bathtub, or you’re devoting every spare minute of your day to a project or paper, you can try a hot foot soak for the same amount of time. It works especially well if you add some sprigs of lavender to the hot water.
-Drink noncaffenated tea close to bedtime: This one is particularly easy, as it can be done while you’re doing other things in the evening. I don’t know why it works, but it just does. Herbal tea is supposed to be pretty healthy anyway, so choose any that you like. (I’m a fan of Trader Joe’s Bedtime Tea with a ton of lemon juice.)
-Don’t do work on your bed: You want to train yourself to associate your bed with sleeping, which is impossible if it’s covered with pens, pencils, and PB+J crumbs. Beds are awesome, and it’s fun to hang out in them, but really. Do your work on your desk, and leave your bed for snoozies.
-Exercise during the day: Or at least stretch out a little and take some deep breaths a few minute prior to bedtime. Exercise has been shown to deepen sleep, and stretching a little bit before bed helps clear the mind and wind you down.

The internet is amazing

As it gets chillier and chillier outside, more of us are giving in to our natural instinct to curl up and hibernate. Just when I thought I was as impressed as I possibly could be with the plethora of options for low-energy entertainment on the web, I came across this glorious site that meets my need for cutting-edge culture. It's the Daily Art Muse a site that brings you just-off-the-presses art news, along with tons of pretty pictures. The site tends to showcase items that straddle the divide between fine sculpture and folk art, and they are well worth looking at. If you are fortunate to live near any of the museums that host the oeuvres featured on the Daily Art Muse, you can use it to inspire you to make the trek and see the art in person. For the rest of us, the Daily Art Muse is like a little gallery in itself.

The Little Flea

Everyone has a weakness. For me, it’s vegan baked goods. For my roommate, it’s collecting small tin boxes with crazy floral patterns on them (no judgment). Luckily for us, there is a magical place where our interests can merge- the Lawrenceville Little Flea, a community flea market that’s every Sunday from 9am-4pm. The past times I’ve gone, they’ve had live music, fresh veggies, homemade magnets, and plenty of crazy tin boxes. This Saturday they will be featuring wares from the Justseeds Artist Cooperative, a group of 26 artists devoted to making graphic art that focuses on current social and political issues, plus whatever other weird shit the residents/shopowners of Larrytown can drag out of their closets. Intrigued? Come on down. Keep in mind, “market season” ends at the end of October, so if you’re in the mood for cheap garden plants, fifty cent DVDs and books, and weird trash-turned-treasure, get your little butt down here quick.

Making sweet, sweet film together. Not like that.

From the nonprofit who brought you the Three Rivers Film Festival:
For all those who like movies that are off the beaten track, yet still enjoy a good cinematic experience (without being gouged by DVD rental rates) check out the Pittsburgh Filmmakers’ monthly screenings. They approach film with the reverence due to any fine art form, showing rarer, critically acclaimed films in “exhibitions” all over town- specifically, in their theaters in Edgewood, Downtown, and Oakland. Offerings change per month, so look on the website under “Exhibitions”. This month’s movies include To Kill a Mockingbird and Life During Wartime, a UK import that's generated quite the buzz. The latter rates as a 72% “fresh” on Rotten Tomatoes, has the stepmom from Juno in it, AND Ally Sheedy (the emo girl from the Breakfast Club!) I’m pretty pumped.
The icing on this gorgeous filmic cake is that your admission is only $3 if you go to a local university. But remember, you’re not being cheap- you’re supporting the arts.
PS- I'm aware that almost everything in this entry kind of sounds like a weird euphemism for a porno, and I apologize. Especially because if you didn't think that before, you surely do now.

The War on Acne: State of the Nation Address

Since I lack other productive pursuits, I devoted the summer months to really trying to combat the latest surge of blemish terrorism all across my face. At the end of it all, I emerge with a few more pounds of misbegotten beauty products, cleaner faced, and more the wiser. Here’s a summary of what’s worked, what hasn’t, and what that means for you.
-Mix and match your product lines
If you ask most of the ladies that work at the Macy’s cosmetics counter, they’ll swear to you that products are most effective when used with other products of the same line. However those ladies work on commission from the sales of said products (while I, sadly, do this for free.) If you have intense adult acne, the “product line” rule doesn’t necessarily apply. For example, I found that using the entire Clinique Acne Solutions line would cause me to end up with a face that felt angry, inflamed, and stiff. But using just the Acne Solutions Cleansing Foam in the mornings (in conjunction with non-medicated toner and moisturizer) was perfect. While you don’t get the OCD satisfaction of seeing all your cosmetic bottles match, you might just reap the benefits of a cleaner face.
-Alternate products according to your skin’s current needs
A sales associate told me this once, and it was some of the most valuable advice I’ve gotten. Your skin’s needs change by the week. Some weeks you may need gentler, more moisturizing products for dryer skin, and some weeks you may need stronger cleansers and spot-treatments. This approach requires that you pay attention and learn from experience what works for you. Eventually you’ll be able to recognize that if you skin is suddenly oily in the middle of the day you need to switch to your stronger cleanser in the morning, or whatever. The worst part about this is that it’s not as easy as just slapping on some prefabricated product combination every day, but if you’re reading this, that probably means that the “easy” route isn’t doing much for you right now anyway. Don’t stress out and overhaul your whole routine in one step. Just start to take note of how your skin feels after each product that you use, and go from there.
-Don’t confine yourself to “acne” products
Zitty skin can benefit from gentle moisture, deep cleansing, mild exfoliation, and a whole bunch of other stuff that doesn’t come included in your standard acne-product package. Personally, I found that products marketed for aging/sensitive skin to be good additions to my system as they were often free from heavy oils, yet soothing. As you’re learning to alternate products according to your needs, be sure to swap in some other stuff you may not have thought of before.
Like that old philosopher dude said, know thyself. Like I say, know what works for you.

Decisions, decisions.

Have you heard any of that new theory that the talking heads* have been bandying about recently? It’s something like, “When consumers are offered a large number of options, they are often overwhelmed, and end up paralyzed in their decision-making.” (Behavioral economics, 101). Sound familiar? It certainly pertains to me.
I was planning on having a quiet evening tonight- getting some boring house shit done, possibly staying in and maybe seeing a friend or two in a low-key way. But out of idle curiosity, I started checking out what’s going on in some of my favorite places tonight. Let the panic begin.
Thunderbird Café: Featuring the Pawnbrokers at 9:30. I’ve wanted to see these guys in person for quite a while. Their music is the kind of blues to make you smile.
BrilloBox (Lawenceville): Featuring their amazing Pandemic World Beats dance party starting at 10. I’ve mentioned this before, but fyi- world music, expertly mixed and beat-matched by a DJ, incredibly dance-a-ble. It’s impossible to stay still for this.
Scott Pilgrim vs. the World: I’ve heard pretty good things about Michael Cera’s latest inventive comedy- Rotten Tomatoes even gives it an unusually high 81% rating. Besides, the movie theater is the only place I can think of where it’s encouraged to eat massive amounts of fresh, buttery popcorn and sit on your butt in air conditioning. I learned this fine distinction as a teenager- if you do this at home, you’re a loser, but if you do it in the South Side, you’re being “social”.
Andy Warhol Museum (Downtown): The Twisted Pair- Marcel Duchamp/Andy Warhol exhibit until September 12. The Warhol Museum is a Pittsburgh cultural staple that looks curiously like the inside of an Urban Outfitters. This exhibit is supposed to explore the intimate relationship between the work of two influential 20th century modern artists, Andy Warhol and Marcel Duchamp. Why is this a priority for this evening? Because Friday (“Fanfare Good Friday) it’s half-price admission. Hells yeah! Maybe I'll finally find out what's "surreal" about a urinal.

*Not these guys. These guys.

Some like it hot... Red Hot, that is.

I love the Red Hot Chili Peppers. Who doesn’t? I do not, however, generally enjoy RHCP covers or “tributes”, because, let’s face it, they are usually just plain bad. (To be fair, this says more about the greatness of the RHCP than the quality of the band trying to cover them.) This is a view that’s I’ve broadcast far and wide, even before I had a blog with which to make pointless statements on the internet. But earlier this summer, I was (happily) forced to eat my words.
Higher Ground is a RHCP tribute band that plays a lot of shows in Pittsburgh, especially the Oakland area. I saw them at Spice Café, on Atwood, which was a perfect, intimate venue because this band loves their audience interaction- which is great, because the crowd I was with loved to sing along. Their set was tight, and they made sure to focus on numbers that made for good dancing and mix it up with some Weezer, Sublime, and other awesome 90’s bands. Higher Ground knows how to put on a great show, so join their group “The Red Hot Chili Peppers Tribute Band” on Facebook for show invites, and try not to get them confused with these Swedish dudes. A plus- the lead singer, Sal Puccini Jr, owns Puccini’s Hair Design in Oakland and if you’re a regular there, he’ll most likely give you a personal greeting from stage. Don’t know about you, but I do love the attention.

Confessions of a college graduate

Employment was the worst thing that’s happened to me in a long time. Now that I’m no longer a starving student but a hungry college graduate, I’ve found that it’s become slightly harder to exercise self-control on some of the expenditures that I would have previously resisted in favor of… well, food. I figured if I blogged about this stuff, at least I would have the catharsis of publicly admitting my addictions to the world, Post Secret style (or at least I'd spread the virus to you guys. Misery loves company!)
Vera Cruz: (Oakland) This little gem flourishes in the midst of the franchise Mexican-food giants on Forbes, mainly due to its' student-friendly prices and delicious made-from-fresh offerings. I know a guy who ate at this place twice a day for his entire last semester of college… so don’t blame me for getting a little excessive with their Nacho Supremo.
Hot Haute Hot: A home boutique in the Strip District that features antique furniture, restorations, home furnishing and of course, gorgeous jewelry. The stuff is one-of-a-kind and absolutely beautiful. Let’s just say that this gave me a lot of motivation to study for grad school entrance exams and get a better job. The monsters.
Pennsylvania Macaroni Company: The Strip District. Delicious, delicious cheeses, gourmet extra-virgin olive oil and giant jars of Nutella. PenMac= Nirvana.
Verde Good Beans: Downtown. This place is, blessedly, super-close to my workplace. It offers luxury coffee-type drinks for half the price they are at Starbucks, plus fresh made paninis and even gelato shipped in from Mercurio’s Mulberry Creamery in Shadyside. If I’m feeling super sorry for myself on any given workday, I’ll treat myself to a decaf soy chai latte (yes, they have decaf chai! Oh, happy day) and some Honey Sunflower gelato.

FIND OUT WHAT INGREDIENT IN YOUR FACE SOAP IS KILLING YOU

Just kidding. But it got you to read, didn’t it? Exactly my point. Have you ever noticed how you can use a product for months or even years sans problem, then wake up one morning and read an article about how a preservative (coloring agent, emollient, whatever) in it is probably slowly poisoning you? It’s one of my pet peeves about health-based media. They latch onto a study or two and turn whatever ingredient it is into some kind of cosmetic “untouchable”, and next thing you know, your grandma is freaking out and throwing away all her perfume. (Or maybe that’s just me). Here, I’ll be talking about some of the current ingredients everybody’s gone phobic over. Guys, this applies to you too, as these alleged poisons are also lurking in your face wash/deodorant/toothpaste/whatever.
First, a note: Animals are very different from humans, which is one of the reasons that animal testing of ingredients has fallen under such scrutiny lately. I certainly don’t agree with it. That being said, if your mascara gave a rat a tumor, you might not want to keep it around your eyes.*
Diethanolamine (DEA) + Triethanolamine (TEA): This scary-sounding one has been shown to induce tumors in test mice and inhibit fetal development in mouse brains, and cause eye and nose irritation. It’s mainly used as a lubricant in cosmetic products.
Parabens- Parabens have shown to affect the reproductive health of test animals, and high concentrations of parabens have been found in human breast tumors. The study that has found said concentrations is a little iffy, from what I’ve heard, but never hurts to be safe.
Sodium Laurel/Laureth Sulfate- This one seems, to me, to be a true example of the health media getting crazaaay. Sodium Laurel/Laureth Sulfate is a foaming agent in many cleansers. If you google it, you’ll see about a thousand people saying, “Guess what, guys? It’s also in your FLOOR CLEANER!” To which I reply, “Know what else is in my floor cleaner? Orange extract. Guess I should stop eating oranges too, as they are obviously evil.” SLS is said to be too “harsh” and “stripping” but it’s not associated with any health issues besides eye irritation, so if you’re using it and not having any problem, go you.
Synthetic anything- Have you ever heard of the “naturalistic fallacy”? A fallacy is a deceptive, misleading, or false belief. The naturalistic fallacy goes something like this. “If it’s natural, it’s good for you. If it’s not natural, it’s bad for you.” Have you ever heard ladies with acrylic nails rejecting some food or beauty product because it’s got “synthetic ingredients”? Not only is this silly, it’s pretty dangerous too. For example, penicillin isn’t “natural” but it’s pretty helpful to us as a species. Likewise, talc exists as is in nature, but talc powder has linked with cancer in several studies. Lesson learned: take each ingredient on a case-by-case basis, and don’t grant products a blanket pass just because they’re marketed as “natural”. Synthetic ingredients, if they are safe, can actually be a godsend for people with allergies or sensitivities. Personally, it’s easy for me to get carried away with the whole natural products thing (because I love them) so I try to keep the above information in mind.

*Ironically, most of the ingredients that have been shown to be carcinogenic to test animals are still being used by the cosmetic companies that paid so much money to run the tests in the first place. This begs the question, why bother even testing the stuff for potential side effects if you’re just going to use it anyway? If you give a mouse a tumor… you’ll be lawsuit free?

Back to school: haircuts, hummus, and bulbonic plague- oh my!

You may have noticed I haven’t been blogging the past few days.*That’s because I’ve been devoting blood sweat and tears to studying for that evil monolith of standardized testing, the GRE. Honestly, you think having an entire undergraduate career would be indicative of your readiness for grad school, but NO- they can’t charge you an extra $160 for real-world academic experience. That’s why they need a standardized test. Bitterness aside, I made the trek out to the testing center this morning, which happens to be located in my dear Alma Mater, University of Pittsburgh, where today was the first day of classes. All that hustle and bustle, the neverending crowds… needless to say, it was like stepping into a Petri dish of plague. Awesome.
It never fails. My immune system has the uncanny ability to stave off sickness until literally 5 minutes after a test, when I feel the beginnings of a sore throat along with the wave of relief. Thanks, evolutionary responses! As such, my more boisterous plans for celebrating freedom will have to go on backburner as I nurse an illness the likes of which I haven't felt since my undergraduate career.**
Here’s MY lesson plan for the week. It’s what I’ll be doing/what I recommend you doing if you feel like taking a moment of personal time during this hectic first week of classes, or if you're an old-timer like me who wants to kick-it old school (no pun intended).
Seminar in Historical American Culture (HISTORY 001- 5 credits): Buffy the Vampire Slayer: They may not have the whole series, but they have the first few episodes. You owe it to yourself to check this out- not only does it have corny side effects, piffy late-nineties dialogue, and RIDICULOUS fashion, but it’s a total blast from the past for anyone who is a late 80’s baby like myself. Seriously, it’s of great cultural significance, especially the super-dark lipstick.
Preventative Health Science (BIOLOGY 0500- 3 credits): Here’s my recipe for the aptly named “Sick day Hummus”. Warning: it’s seriously garlicky, but it seriously works. It’s loaded with vitamin C to boost your germ resistance, plus tons of garlic, which has natural antiseptic properties. Use this to fortify your immune system for the long winter ahead. It also has the welcome side effect of warding off vampires- trust me, I haven’t seen one yet.
1 15-ounce can chickpeas (garbanzo beans)
3 cloves of garlic, peeled and diced
2-3 tablespoons lemon juice (add as needed)
A pinch of salt (to taste)
Rinse and strain the chickpeas. Toss them in your blender, add the diced garlic cloves, 2 tablespoons lemon juice, and the salt, and puree. If the mixture isn’t getting as smooth as you would like, add a bit of water or more lemon juice (your choice) and keep blending. Pause once in a while to scrape the sides of the blender to mix the hummus, add more lemon juice or water, and keep blending till the mixture has the consistency of loose peanut butter. Eat it on a sandwich, with tortilla chips or pita, with a side salad or with rice… any way you want, this stuff is super versatile.
Home Economics (ECON 0020- 4 credits) A fashionable, yet affordable haircut at Salvatore Puccini’s Hair Design in Oakland. Puccini’s has a walk-in discount of $18-$32 if you drop by without a scheduled appointment, plus many other bonuses- check the link. The different hairstylists have different… well, styles, but if you are clear about what you want, you’ll generally walk away quite pleased. I’ve had comparable haircuts that cost me much more. Which leads me to:
How to get a happy haircut:
-Know what you want. Go in with specific ideas for styles. If you want the same style, that’s fine, just know that that’s what you want. It seems simple, but many don’t realize that just a little planning can make a routine haircut a much happier experience.
-Bring in a picture of what you want. If you have your heart set on looking like Sookie Stackhouse, you can tell them as such. But what if the stylist doesn’t have HBO? Print out a picture that shows exactly what you want- it spares you trying to explain and her trying to understand. For extra credit, say what it is about the style that you like ("I like that it frames the face.")If you can’t find a picture, proceed to step two.
- Get versed in hairstyling terminology. “Layering” is a hair technique that involves the hair being cut into variegated layers to create body. “Crisping” is when you have all your layers left the same, but trimmed for split ends. A “weave” is a hairpiece that is woven into the rest of your hair to create more volume. And on, and on, and on. The more specific you can be about what you want, the more likely it is that you’ll get out of there with your dignity intact. Check this website for a helpful hair terms list: http://www.leestafford.com/uk/thelook/glossary/
-Be specific. If you’re like me and you like long layers, say so. If you’re growing out your bangs or all your hair, tell them... preferably before they start cutting. You may feel like you’re being a bossy bitch (bastard?) but most of the stylists I’ve spoken to prefer direction and clear communication to a silent customer that later comes back demanding a refund.
So that’s it. School’s out!

*Or maybe you haven’t- if a tree falls in a forest with no one there to hear it, does it make a sound?
**A whole four months ago!

This little piggy goes to market

I’ll say it once, I’ll say it a thousand times. Buy local, and cook food from fresh ingredients. Seriously. It’s better for the environment, the economy, the farmers, and your upper arms (not to mention your overall health). That being said, I’m pretty happy with the number of people who have quit hiding behind paltry excuses (“I don’t have time because I’m taking 18 credits” or “I keep such crazy work hours and I don’t know how to cook!”) and have started to prioritize slow food as opposed to fast. For those who are hesitant to take the step, don’t worry. I may come off as a little harsh, but come on, this is a blog. In all reality, I would love to spread my love of food to all of you :).
This entry is due to popular demand. (I use the term loosely, as a unanimous request is easy when you have two whole blog readers). I’ve heard way too whining about the lack of farmers markets in this city. Whaaaat? Pittsburgh is stuffed with vegetable markets and amazing restaurants- the city is totally surrounded by farms, for God’s sake. In case you are also suffering under this apparently common misconception, here’s a little ditty intended to enlighten you. I’ve highlighted some of the better farmer’s markets and included some tips about how to make fresh meals on the cheap.
Good Apples-The interweb. Good Apples is an online produce shopping service which combines the ease of Amazon.com with the great prices and quality of a farmer’s market. You can order your items and pick them up at one of the pickup centers, or even get them delivered to your house. It really doesn’t get any easier. This service was a lifesaver when I was in college.
Market Square Farmer’s Market- Downtown. I’ve written about this before, but it bears repeating- every Thursday during the summer, 10am-2pm, a bunch of local vendors drag their wares all the way to Market Square, just for all us busy office workers. There are also homemade pies, jellies, cheeses, wines, and pierogies so you can get lunch while you’re stocking your larder.
Farmers@Firehouse- Strip District. This one is my absolute favorite. You can check online each week to see what delicious offerings will be there on Saturday, then make the trek there to mingle with the crowds, talk to the vendors, and get fistfuls of lovely green, for minimal amount of yours. TIP: While you’re in the Strip, you can always pick up some great-priced spices at Pennsylvania Macaroni Company and live herb plants at Roxanne’s Dried Flowers for the ultimate DIY meal plan. Growing your own herbs is one way to really cut down on meal costs, since herbs are so expensive. One plant will usually run you $3-$7 for an everlasting supply till the plant dies, while one “portion” of fresh cut herbs at the supermarket will run you around $3. You do the math. Seeds are even cheaper, but it’s way harder.
TIP FOR OAKLANDITES: If you are a Pitt or CMU student marooned in the market-less wasteland of Oakland, try Bombay Mart on Center and Craig (Indian), Merante Groceria on Bates (Italian), Halal Meats on South Bouquet St (Halal/Middle Eastern), Ginza (Korean and Japanese) on Atwood, or Seoul Mart (Korean, duh) on Neville. All will offer prices comparable or better than that ghastly place on Forbes… unless, of course, you’re in the market for Kraft Mac and Cheese. Good Apples (see first entry on the list) has a drop-off point very close to Pitt, so check that out too.
TIP: Always check any ethnic markets close to you if you’re in a pinch. The produce may not be local, but it will definitely be cheaper than Giant Eagle. Did you know that when Giant Eagle introduced its “Fuel Perks” program, it raised all the prices of its in-store stock? So if you shop there to save money with Fuel Perks, you’re not really saving anything at all, except Giant Eagle’s stockholders.

Our Ladies of LoLa

Recently (as a matter of fact, yesterday) it was brought to my attention that the area I live in has a name… and no, it’s not “Lawrenceville”. It’s LoLa, or “Lower Lawrenceville” which denotes specifically the span of Butler Street between 34th and 40th Street. Now, I’m not necessarily averse to cutesy nicknames, but I wish someone had told be BEFORE I moved that I would be living in an area that sounds like a Disney character/porn star and is reminiscent of ‘hocho’ (hot chocolate) or ‘froyo’ (frozen yogurt). It’s moments like these that I fear that my descent into yuppiedom is accelerating.
To be fair, “LoLa” (ugh) is a pretty nice place to live- there’s always something new or groovy going down, and it usually involves alcohol. For example, August 26-August 28 (from 4-8 each day) is the Our Lady of the Angels Parish festival. I grew up in a mainly Roman Catholic area of NY, and I must say, I love a good feast day. This one’s got all the standard fare: funnel cake, raffles, inflatable bouncy castle, and rubber duck races. When I was there, I got a high five from a giant pierogie and heard a little bit of live music. It’s not the liveliest scene in the world, but it was worth it for the nostalgia factor- at least for me. If you’re a Larrytown resident, stop by and buy a $1 raffle ticket and make the little old ladies smile. It’s good for the soul- promise.