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 :)

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 :)

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.

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.

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.

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.

Book report

Remember back in elementary and middle school when you were assigned a list of summer reading books choices at the end of each school year? I do, probably because it was utterly traumatic. Dashing jubilantly out of your last test, ready to head home to a nice popsicle and some cartoons, only to be tapped rudely on the shoulder and handed a nasty yellowed sheet of paper with a billion book titles on it. I loved to read (still do) and probably would have read all summer anyway, but let’s just say my ideal reading list in fifth grade would not have included The Communist Manifesto. BUZZKILL.
It may seem unseasonable to write about summer reading right as the beach season ends, and I suppose it is. But I would much rather pass along to you a list of books I’ve read and loved than saddle you with some dry titles based on secondhand recommendations (do you think any of your English teachers would really have enjoyed sitting down with some tea and Night by Elie Wiesel? Come on, it’s not exactly an upper). Keep these in mind if you have a spare minute during the year. Pleasure reading is truly the best therapy.
P.S. You may notice that stuff on this reading list isn’t quite what you would see recommended in your monthly Glamour. While I like to make myself look good, doing so is unfortunately not the purpose of this list. For the record, I also dig the Gossip Girl novels and a good True Blood marathon.
Who Wrote the Bible by Richard Elliot Friedman- Nonfiction. This book is an academic examination of the various historical and cultural forces that influenced the writing of the Old Testament/Torah. I started reading this knowing nothing about ancient Israel or its government and culture, and I came out of it both informed and enlightened. It’s not your typical easy read, but totally worth it if you’re curious about the forces that shaped the bestselling book of all time.
Blind Willow, Sleeping Woman by Haruki Murakami- Fiction. Haruki Murakami does it again in yet another compilation of intriguing short stories. He places his characters in fantastical situations (or places fantastical characters in everyday situations) for stories that, at their core, are not just complex modern-day fairy tales, but moving portrayals of the human condition. Be warned, they can also be seriously weird.
In Defense of Food by Michael Pollon- Nonfiction. The author of The Omnivore’s Dilemma, Micheal Pollon wrote this “Eater’s Manifesto” in response to fan’s inquiries about what he deemed fit for consumption. The book is a detailed, yet easy-to-read history of the evolution of American cultural attitudes (and governmental policies) towards food. If you’ve been looking to overhaul your pantries, read this gem first.
The Best of Roald Dahl- Fiction. Yup, an adult can read Roald Dahl without having to be a parent, English teacher, or a pedophile. He’s best known for his children’s books, but he shows his satirical (or sometimes humorous, naughty, or scary) side in his short stories that are definitely for grown-ups.

METABLOGGING

Sometimes we have to do slightly absurd things, like playing drinking games to television shows from the late nineties, or if you have a blog, blogging about another blog (and in your blog post, saying “blog” as many times as possible, because it’s a funny word). Today, I succumb. I’d like to give a shout-out and many thanks to Sofia at Doing Laundry in Heels for her kind mention of restock and the I LIKE YOUR BLOG award. Anyone who’s planning a trip to the NY area or who is lucky enough to live there already should check out Sofia’s insider coverage of the New York scene, and much much more. Anyone who’s in need of a little pick-me-up should check out her insightful coverage of the human comedy we call life.

Weekend therapy-et-adventure

Sometimes city life can get you down, even if you live in a badass city like Pittsburgh. Your job is stressful, your apartment is cramped, and not even a night out at a relaxing bar or a day spent in a gallery can cure you of your ennui. At times like these, most chose to hole up in their room with some “profound” self- help book and emerge a few weeks later as a vegan, Kabbalist, or poet*. But honestly, who thinks that STAYING IN will fix anything? The real answer, as always, is to get out- not into the city, but into the wilderness. OhioPyle State Park is about a two-hour drive from Pittsburgh, and it features outdoor activities for everyone from your grandmother to Mike Tyson. We went yesterday for my delightful roommate’s birthday. Just your typical celebration, you know, friends, food and…whitewater rafting.
There are two options for whitewater rafting trips at Ohiopyle Park. We went with the less expensive Ohiopyle Trading Post ($73/person without an in-boat guide) and the more pricey Wilderness Voyagers. As far as I could tell, there wasn’t any difference between the two companies- Trading Post was just as safe, helpful and enthusiastic.
Upon our (late) arrival, the wilderness experts suited us up with helmets, lifejackets, and paddles, packed us into a bus, and drove us down to the Youghiogheny River, where we were briefed on safety and set adrift in the absolutely breathtaking river chasm. Guides were with us at all times, signaling us on what routes to take through the obstacles and watching to make sure nobody fell out and drowned. At times, we got the chance to hop out of the boat and paddle around in the river, and even to take a dive off a giant rock. Five hours later, we were exhilarated, exhausted, and ready to head back to the ‘burgh.
Although I would like to leave you with the misconception that I’m a total badass, honesty must prevail. The whitewater rafting was made manageable by the expertise of the guides and my more knowledgeable friends. (It was made even nicer by the large quantities of buff, attractive people in the immediate vicinity. Seriously, they all looked like Abercrombie & Fitch models but less shiny.) This is a really good jumping-off point for those who want to more into more upper-level wilderness sports. It was dangerous and physically taxing, but if you’re athletic and bored, do your psyche a favor and get the hell out to Ohiopyle. Now I’m going to do myself a favor and soak these sore arm muscles in a lovely bath.

*Note- I’m not knocking veganism, Kabbalism, or poetry, only the people who take them up for 2 weeks in a burst of “enlightenment,” then drop them as soon as the NFL season draft begins.

Check out the Mixxer for tongue twisters (foreign tongues, that is)

In case any of you did not know, I hold the dubious honor of being a college graduate as of May 2010. Along with getting to wear the flattering billowy black wizard robe and walk around in front of an audience, I got a well-earned break from studying. But since foreign language skills are hard to acquire and easy to lose, I didn’t want to rest on my laurels for too long. On a recommendation from my darling roommate, I tried The Mixxer, a site designed to match up native speakers of different languages for linguistic and cultural exchange. You post your native language along with the languages you’re “seeking” and your Skype name. I know what you’re thinking, because I thought it too, but it actually is legitimate and not a veiled entry into virtual prostitution. Users can peruse different profiles and send chat invitations to those that pique their interest. Within 10 hours of posting my profile, I got a friendly e-mail message from Kevin, in Nantes, France. We met up on Skype the next day. We divide the time between English and French, correcting each other as we butcher French (me)/English (him). It’s an easy and pleasurable way for people’s people to keep up with their skills, and make adorable overseas friends. I don’t know if everyone on the site is as amicable as the people I’ve met, but if there’s even a chance, then you’d be well advised to try it too. For anyone who wants to quit being a foreign language student and start being a student of life.

Stuff to be psyched about this summer

Yeah, we know that summer is hot. But being a whiny shut-in is not. Get outside.
Cinema in the Park (all over):
Pittsburgh Citipark brings Pittsburgh residents a sampling of tried-and-true cinematic gems to parks all around the city, for that old-timey drive-in experience (minus the car). Check out the schedule and locations for your favorites near you.
Market Square Farmer’s Market (Downtown):
Buy local. Now you have no excuse.
For anyone who maintains a busy career, but doesn’t want to let their consumption ethics (or vegetable intake) fall by the wayside, this summer the farmer’s market comes to you. Every Thursday from 10 am to 2, local farmers bring their wares to Market Square Dowtown. Hit it up for piping hot pierogies, homemade pies, fresh flowers, and inexpensive produce on your way to work. Also convenient for those Point Park or Duquesne University types. I wouldn’t go out of my way to attend this one, however- many of the same vendors can be found week-round in the Strip district.
Groupon (the interweb):
Groupon (an amalgamation of ‘Group Coupon’) is a site that offers coupons for cool stuff in your area. Past offerings have included Franktuary, classes at Bikram Yoga in the Strip, and the Firehouse Lounge. The catch? A bunch of people have to place orders for the same coupon before the deal goes through. If the deal is unpopular, you don’t get charged, but you also don’t get the half-off to belly waxing or whatever discount you’re trying to snag. For the gambler in all of us.
Half-price (Oakland):
Surprisingly, half-price is a relatively unknown phenomena for non-Oaklandites. Several restaurants around the Oakland area cater to student life and budgets by offering half-price menu options after 11pm. Participating establishments include India Garden, Joe Mama’s, Fuel and Fuddle, and Mad Mex. While this actually occurs year-round, summer’s the time to go- when the students are in town, it can take an hour or more to be served. Note: They won't seat you for half-price until 11, but you can put your name in ahead of time.
Kayak Pittsburgh (Downtown, under the 6th Street Bridge):
Venture Outdoors brings us a pocket-sized adventure- $15 for an hour of kayaking on the river! Even beginners can paddle along for a beautiful view of Downtown and Mt Washington, and sometimes Yinzers with fishing rods and whistles. The best time to go is towards early evening, around 5:30. It’s less crowded, the sun isn’t direct, and you catch the beginnings of sunset. Everyone can do this- even me, and I was once diagnosed with ‘lower-than average upper-body strength’ by my third grade gym teacher (thanks for that lifelong validation, Mr. R).