April 2018 Events

This is my list of events for April 2018 in the greater Pittsburgh area and beyond. There are also a few neat events from other cities at the end of the list under "Road Trips".
Please be sure to doublecheck any event you'd like to attend in case of mistakes, typos and cancellations. 

If you find this list useful, please spread the word! I compile this list mainly because it helps me to find terrific things to attend with my teenage homeschooled son. But as you can probably imagine, it's time consuming to compile. I don't have advertising or product reviews on this blog. So it would be way more worth my while if I knew others were benefiting from this information too!

Wildflowers will be blooming across Western Pennsylvania in April! Some places I hope to check out: the Wildflower Reserve at Raccoon Creek State Park; Trillium Trail at Fox Chapel Park (near Salamander Park, a wetlands known to be a great place for finding their namesake critter); Wolf Creek Narrows Natural Area in Slippery Rock; Fall Run Park in Glenshaw (which also has a lovely waterfall); the Latodami Nature Center in North Park (which has a handy photo guide to their wildflowers on their website); and Cedar Creek Park in Belle Vernon, where we saw early snow trilliums. Please let me know if I missed some good ones!

The Botanical Society of Western Pennsylvania has launched their spring season of wildflower field trips! http://www.botsocwpa.org/calendar.php “Registration for Botanical Society field trips is not required. Everyone is welcome, including non-members. Trips last 3 to 4 hours but one can leave at any time.” 

There are more fun outdoor activities offered through Venture Outdoors in April than I can list here. Check them out! https://www.ventureoutdoors.org/activities-calendar/

Crate Kitchenware and Cooking School http://www.cratecook.com and Gaynors School of Cooking https://www.gaynorsschoolofcooking.com offer so many great single session classes in April, I can’t list them all here. Many are suitable for adults and teens, and many are specifically for families and/or kids. Yum! 

“Ralph Munn Creative Writing Contest”, entries due on Sunday, April 15. For Allegheny County teens in grades 9-12. “Become a published author! All top-rated submissions will be published in the 2018 Ralph Munn Creative Writing Anthology, a book of creative work distributed to all Allegheny County public and school libraries. All writers will be invited to the Teen Media Awards, a special event celebrating the work of local teens on August 11. Categories are Poetry and Short Prose. Prizes awarded in both categories: 1st prize $250, 2nd prize $100. Everyone who enters will be invited to the Teen Media Awards celebration on Saturday, August 11th. All submitters will be notified prior to the Awards ceremony whether or not they have won an award.” Complete rules here: https://www.carnegielibrary.org/ralphmunn/

“Free Public Historical Tour of Pittsburgh by Air”, Sunday, April 1, 1PM, meeting at the Allegheny Observatory, 159 Riverview Ave., Pittsburgh. Free for the first 300 passengers. “Come see Pittsburgh as you’ve never seen it before- by dirigible! Noted historian Bartholemew Fliedelmeister PhD and structural engineer Elizabeth Stayton will be on board the 300 passenger dirigible Yinzer Blitzer to point out the glory of our city, our historic and fascinating retaining walls! The ancient Monongahela burial retaining wall, and Lewalle de Retenemente constructed near Fort Duquesne by the French were the earliest examples. Maymie Denny, wife of His Honor the First Mayor of Pittsburgh, founded the Ladies’ Society of Retaining Wall Enthusiasts in 1816, constructing retaining walls and beautifying them with attractive flowers. A custom began which has made Pittsburgh truly the City of Retaining Walls, with a current estimated 9,254,362 within city limits alone. Come join us on this fun and educational tour, and learn something about our city’s unique history! All passengers must have a signed waiver; download one here: https://www.yinzerblitzer.org/tours

The first tickets go on sale Monday, April 2 for "Yayoi Kusama: Infinity Mirrors" at the Cleveland Museum of Art, which will run Saturday, July 7 through Sunday, September 30. This is a major blockbuster show, breaking records at each museum it visits, showcasing one of Japan’s most popular artists, and Cleveland is its closest stop to Pittsburgh. At other museums across the country, it’s been selling out to members long before tickets go on sale to the general public. To compensate for not being able to buy tickets in their home towns, disappointed folks from Toronto and Washington DC have been driving to Pittsburgh to see the Kusama rooms at the Mattress Factory (learn about them here under "Permanent Installations"). But there's just no comparison. I’ve seen the show and can enthusiastically recommend it. It’s mind blowing! http://www.clevelandart.org/exhibitions/yayoi-kusama-infinity-mirrors

“Dyngus Day”, Monday, April 2, lunch 12PM from the Pittsburgh Pierogi Truck, kids activities 3PM-8PM, Polish Falcons of America Nest 8. 60 S. 18th St., Pittsburgh. Free and open to the public. “This year’s family-friendly celebration will be even bigger with a designated dancing area, cornhole, and children’s activities. Proceeds from the event will benefit the Polish Falcons Heritage Foundation. Polish and domestic beers will be available for purchase. Vendors will be on-site with Polish folk-art pieces and various specialty items. The celebration will take place rain or shine.” Schedule and details here: https://www.polishheritage.org/events.html

“Brain Computer Interfaces: Past, Present, and Future”, Monday, April 2, 7PM, Carnegie Science Center. Free with $5 parking. Preregistration required; register online: http://carnegiesciencecenter.org/programs/adult-programs-cafe-sci/?utm_source=suggestions&utm_medium=web&utm_campaign=Programs%20Overview “Imagine transmitting signals to someone’s brain allowing them to see, hear, or feel specific sensory inputs! The development of Brain Computer Interfaces (BCIs) revolutionizes how humans interact with the world around them and each other. In essence, they are devices which decode brain activity to infer intents and thoughts. On April 2, join Dr. Sagi Perel, research engineer at Google, as he explores the origins of BCIs, explains how they work, discusses the current state of research, and speculates about the future of the field.” 

“Life After High School”, Mondays, April 2 through June 4, 4PM-5PM, Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh Woods Run. “Thinking about where you will be and what you want to do after graduation? Stop in to CLP — Woods Run on Mondays to prepare for Life After High School. Workshops will range from scholarship applications to quick and easy cooking tips to financial literary and more. CLP is here to get you ready for whatever the future has in store.” 

“Opening of Butterfly Forest”, Monday, April 2, Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens, 1 Schenley Park, Pittsburgh. Open through September. Marvel as colorful butterflies break free of their chrysalises to soar and glide among the blooms. Like flowers that fly, butterflies bring color and motion to the beautiful glasshouse environs of our Stove Room. A family favorite, Butterfly Forest enchants visitors of all ages while showcasing the delicate life cycle of some of nature’s most important pollinators and their favorite aromatic blooms. Look out for yellow and black striped zebra longwings, orange and black western Pennsylvania monarchs and many other species as you explore the garden. If you're lucky, one of these beauties might even land on your shoulder!” https://www.phipps.conservatory.org/calendar/detail/butterfly-forest

“Slovak Castles and Castle Ruins”, Monday, April 2, 7PM-9PM, Mt. Lebanon Library, Pittsburgh. “Discover your Slovak heritage at the library! Open to everyone interested in learning more about Slovak culture. Slovak Heritage Group presents: Slovak Castles and Castle Ruins with Speaker Otilia Golis.” 

“Classes at the Citizen Science Lab”, Mondays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays, 1PM-3PM, Citizen Science Lab, Energy Innovation Center, 1435 Bedford Ave., Ste 132A, Pittsburgh. $25. Preregister online: http://www.thecitizensciencelab.org/events/ Terrific classes where students can work with research grade equipment to do unusual experiments you could never duplicate at home. We have found them thoroughly worthwhile. Each class is repeated over a 3 day series beginning on Saturday, with a new topic each week. April 2 and 4: Intro to Biochemistry; April 7, 16 and 18: Changing States; April 9 and 11: Matter, Molecules and Movement; April 14, 23 and 25: Density; April 21, 30 and May 2: Energy and Chemical Bonding; April 28: Polarity and Surface Tension. 

“Immaculee Ilibagiza: A Story of Faith, Hope and Forgiveness”, Tuesday, April 3, 6:30PM-8:30PM, Duquesne University, Union Ballroom, 4th floor, 600 Forbes Ave., Pittsburgh. Campus map here: http://www.duq.edu/about/campus/map-and-directions Free and open to the public. “Duquesne University and the Center for African Studies is proud to welcome special guest Immaculée Ilibagiza to our campus for a powerful presentation. For three terrifying months during the horrific 1994 Tutsi genocide in Rwanda, Ilibagiza and seven other women hid for their lives in the tiny, secret bathroom of a local minister. During that time, an estimated 800,000 people—including nearly all of Ilibagiza's family—were brutally murdered. Ilibagiza not only survived the genocide, but emerged as a fierce advocate for peace and reconciliation. She has published several books, including the New York Times best-selling Left to Tell: Discovering God Amidst the Rwandan Holocaust. Join us for this free event, and hear first-hand Ilibagiza's incredible story about the power of forgiveness.” http://duq.edu/events/immaculee-ilibagiza

“Drapanky (a.k.a. Eggshell Scratching) with Francoise”, Tuesday, April 3, 6PM-7:30PM, Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh Oakland. “Participants will decorate a colored eggshell by scratching designs on it, revealing the white shell. No registration is necessary for these sessions. Seating for all workshops is available to 20 participants on a first-come, first-served basis. You’ll want to come early to be sure you MAKE it on time!” 

“Project Owlnet”, 6:30PM-midnight, ending Tuesday, April 3, weather permitting (banding will be cancelled in the event of steady rain or strong winds), Sewickley Heights Park, Hallaway Rd, Sewickley. Free and visitors are welcome. Basically you can just come, hang out, and watch them check the mist nets every half hour. When they do catch an owl, you can watch them band it and record data about the bird. And you can meet some lovely nature lovers who will gladly tell you everything you’ve ever wanted to know about these amazing animals. “Project Owlnet is a coordinated, cooperative banding project to determine the timing, intensity and pace of migration of the Northern Saw-whet Owl, which was a little known species until this project began in the mid-1990s. A few banding mist nets are set up in a suitable habitat and an audio lure of the owl’s own call is played to attract any migrating owls closer to the nets. Several dozen of these tiny owls can be caught in a single night at some locations in the mountains of Pennsylvania and along the Lake Erie shore. But, until Pittsburgh Project Owlnet was started in fall 2013, we knew very little about the occurrence of these owls in the Pittsburgh region, which is well outside the classic ridgetop, lakeshore, and coastal areas where these small owls are known to be concentrated during migration.” https://www.aviary.org/project-owlnet

“Pittsburgh Police Chess Club”, Tuesdays, 5PM at Hazelwood Library; Wednesdays, 3PM, Brookline Library; Wednesdays, 4PM at Beechview Library; Thursdays, 3PM at Sheraden Library; and Thursdays, 4PM at West End Library (except April 5). “Children and teens are invited to join an officer for weekly community chess classes. Develop your mind and practice problem-solving skills that apply off the chessboard, too.” 

“Virtual Reality Open Play”, Tuesdays in April, 3PM-4:30PM, Carnegie Main Library Oakland. Ages 11-19. “Go amazing new places with our VR headsets. Here’s your chance to play games and explore the world!” 

“Mummenschanz: You and Me”, Wednesday, April 4, 7PM, Byham Theater, 101 6th St., Pittsburgh. Tickets here: https://www.trustarts.org/production/54592/mummenschanz-you-and-me “Swiss-based theater troupe Mummenschanz pioneered a new form of visual theater that has dazzled audiences worldwide for over 45 years. By creating a playful yet compelling experience through the inventive use of shadow, light, and creative manipulation of objects, Mummenschanz offers timeless insight on the human condition. The result is a visually stunning spectacle that transcends cultural barriers and sparks the imagination. In their new show, You and Me, Mummenschanz brings to life the large scale masks you’ve grown to love while reviving a historic tradition of acrobatics. You and Me will focus on the love and mutual joy the audiences and performers experience in Mummenschanz’s one of a kind theatrical performances.” https://www.mummenschanz.com/3/

“Talking Comics”, Wednesday, April 4, 3:30PM, Mt. Lebanon Library, Pittsburgh. “Do you love comics? Join us as we go beyond the page with discussion and creation in the library’s Maker Space. For kids in grades 6, 7, and 8. Book club books are available at the Children's Desk one month prior to the meeting. Registration for all clubs occurs when the book is checked out from the library.” 

“3Rs Book Club”, Wednesday, April 4, 7PM, Peters Township Library, McMurray. “Attention teachers and educators! Are you looking for exciting titles to share with your students? Then this is the book group for you! Teachers of all grade levels and homeschool educators are invited to join Dr. Nancy Hobbs and Myra Oleynik to discuss and recommend new or favorite Children’s and Young Adult books that you are reading. No time to read? You can use this group as your guide to finding great books for your students.” 

“Middle East Meltdown: Causes and Consequences” Wednesday, April 4, 7PM, Peters Township Library, McMurray. Preregistration required; register online: https://www.ptlibrary.org/event/middle-east-meltdown/ “The Peters Township Public Library will host former Ambassador Ryan Crocker on Wednesday, April 4 at 7:00 p.m. to discuss Middle East Meltdown: Causes and Consequences based on his experiences as the former Ambassador to Afghanistan, Iraq, Syria, Pakistan, Lebanon, and Kuwait. This program is offered in partnership with the World Affairs Council of Pittsburgh and with the support of McMurray Veterans of Foreign Wars POST 764 for the International Program Series. Ambassador Ryan Crocker is a career ambassador within the U.S. Foreign Service. He was in the Foreign Service for 37 years and, after retiring, was recalled to active duty by President Obama in 2011 to serve as U.S. Ambassador to Afghanistan. His previous appointments included service as the U.S. Ambassador to Syria, Iraq, Pakistan, Kuwait, Afghanistan and Lebanon. Crocker became dean of Texas A and M University’s George Bush School of Government and Public Service in 2010. Crocker has received many of the nation’s highest honors, including the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the Presidential Distinguished Service Award, the State Department Secretary’s Distinguished Service Award, the Department of Defense Distinguished Civilian Service Award, the State Department Distinguished Honor Award, The Award for Valor, three Superior Honor Awards and the American Foreign Service Association’s Rivkin Award. When he stepped down as Ambassador in Kabul in 2012, Crocker was named an Honorary Marine by the United States Marine Corps.” 

“Rules of the Game by Amy Tan – Light Literary Lunch Club: A Short Story Discussion Group”, Wednesday, April 4, 12PM-1PM, Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh Downtown and Business Branch. “Love literature, but don’t have much time? Bring a lunch and join us at noon on the first Wednesday of each month to discuss a short story. Light refreshments are provided. This month’s story is Amy Tan’s “Rules of the Game.” Stop by the library to request a copy or find it online here!” https://jg019.k12.sd.us/eng1/Assignment%20Documents/Rules%20of%20the%20Game.pdf

“Data 101: What is Data?”, Wednesday, April 4, 10AM-12PM, Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh Beechview. “Data can be used to make decisions that affect your life and your communities – and feeling confident interpreting and using data opens up new opportunities to have a voice in these discussions. But how do you know where to start? How is data collected? What data is trustworthy? To what extent are your actions and experiences reflected in data – and when is that representation helpful or problematic? As a result of this workshop, you will have a better understanding of how data is collected, when your own actions may result in data being created, and how you can find data you trust for your own projects. No computers will be used in this class, and there are no prerequisites.” 

“Drop Dead Book Club”, Wednesday, April 4, 7PM-8PM, CC Mellor Memorial Library. “The Drop Dead Book Club meets the first Wednesday of the month at 7:00 p.m. in the Edgewood Library Board Room. This month's book can be checked out at the upstairs circulation desk. For this month’s book, check their blog: https://dropdeadmysterybookclub.wordpress.com

“Citizen’s Toolkit: Graphics”, Wednesday, April 4, 6:30PM-7:30PM, Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh Allegheny. “Want to learn how to make beautiful graphics, display data in visualizations, and learn how we approach data visualization and design? PublicSource Interactives and Design Editor Natasha Khan will give you a few of her data visualization tips and tricks in this free one-hour lesson. We’ll also equip you with 10 open source chart and mapping tools you can go home with and start using right away.” 

“Tekko 2018”, Thursday, April 5 through Sunday, April 8, David L. Lawrence Convention Center, 1000 Fort Duquesne Blvd., Pittsburgh. Kid friendly. “Since its inaugural convention in 2003, Tekko has been bringing the best in Japanese pop culture to the 'burgh! Anime, manga, video games, cosplay, J-rock, J-fashion - Tekko has it all! At Tekko, you can find: Saturday Night J-rock Concert, Voice Actors and Industry Guests, Exhibitors' Hall, Cosplay Masquerade and Hall Cosplay Contest, Saturday Night Dance, AMV Contest, Dance Competition, Lolita Fashion Show and Coordinate Contest , Video Game, RPG, and CCG Rooms, Manga Library and more!” http://www.teamtekko.us/registration/

“Civil Liberties: Hot Topics”, Thursdays in April, 6PM-7:30PM, Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh Squirrel Hill. Free and no registration required. Join us Thursdays in April for a series of presentations by the Pittsburgh Chapter of the ACLU of Pennsylvania. See the library calendar for details on the bios of the impressive presenters they have lined up. April 5 – The 4th Amendment and Technology: Who’s Up For Some Total Surveillance? April 12 – Modern Day Debtors’ Prison: Too Poor, Too Bad April 19 – Freedom of the Press in the Age of Polarization April 26 – Mass Incarceration: Why Are So Many Of Us in Prison? 

“Inkspotters Teen Writing Group”, Thursdays in April, 4:30PM, Shaler North Hills Library, Yates Room, Glenshaw. “Do you write stories, fanfiction, poetry, or blog posts? Need help picking the perfect character names? Join our weekly writing group and meet other writers! Talk, work on an existing project, or try a writing prompt. No registration required.” 

“School of the Longhunter”, Thursday, April 5 through Sunday, April 8, Picketts Fort, 88 State Park Rd., Fairmont, West Virginia. $60. Preregistration required; register online: https://www.prickettsfort.org/store/p57/Event%3A_School_of_the_Longhunter.html “An intense weekend of instruction, exploring the role of early frontiersmen on the American frontier. Speakers will focus on the frontier skills of the Longhunter.” 

“Hygge- Extraordinary Moments”, Thursday, April 5, 7PM, Bethel Park Library. “Presented by Eva Robinson, Royal Danish Consul of Pittsburgh. Experience hygge (pronounced hue-guh), the Danish cultural phenomenon for a mood of coziness and comfortable friendliness with feelings of wellness. This everyday psychological experience of togetherness and contentment is waiting for you at the Library!” 

Concert, “Soca Plus”, Thursday, April 5, 8PM-10PM, City of Asylum Alphabet City Center, 40 W North Ave., Pittsburgh. Free. “Join Soca Plus for their presentation Soca Vibes, an acoustic celebration of the festival music of Trinidad and Tobago. Soca Plus is an acoustic ensemble that primarily presents the energized and spirited soca music of Trinidad and Tobago. Most of the music for Trinidad’s modern soca tunes are created and performed live relying heavily on Technology/Backing Tracks to be the band for vocal artists. Soca Plus creates and presents purely acoustic arrangements of soca music seeking to do so without losing any of the drive, energy or creative samples in the original works. The ensemble features voices, violin, flute, acoustic guitar, acoustic bass, marimba, steel pan, and percussion.” http://www.alphabetcity.org/events/soca-vibes/

“Otaku Lebo”, Thursday, April 5, 3:15PM, Mt. Lebanon Library, Pittsburgh. For middle and high school students. “Share your love of all things manga and anime and explore Asian popular culture.” 

“A Tribute to Martin Luther King”, Thursday, April 5, 7PM-8:30PM, Mt. Lebanon High School, Fine Arts Theater, 155 Cochran Rd., Pittsburgh. Free. “In remembrance of the 50th anniversary of the assassination of Martin Luther King, Jr., this talk celebrates his life and reflects on often forgotten aspects of the man seen as the iconic image of the Civil Rights Movement, but who found support split when he focused on economic justice and anti-war activism in the last years of his life.” http://www.mtlebanonlibrary.org

“Jane Eyre”, Thursday, April 5 through Saturday, April 28, Fred Rogers Studio, 4802 5th Ave., Pittsburgh. Tickets here: https://picttheatre.secure.force.com/ticket/ “Charlotte Brontë’s ‘Jane Eyre’ is one of the most loved novels of the Victorian era. It is the story of a child, rejected by her family and forced into the cruelty of a school for orphans, who achieves the role of governess and whose hopes for happiness are apparently destroyed by the hidden truth of her fiancé’s past. The journey of Jane Eyre is one of fortitude and humility triumphing over the whims of fate and the cruelty of ill fortune. This dramatization by Alan Stanford was originally commissioned by the Gate Theatre in Dublin and has proved a box-office hit wherever it has been performed, including the Guthrie Theater where it established record ticket sales. Performing at WQED's Fred Rogers Studio in Oakland.” 

“Titanic”, Thursday, April 5 through Sunday, April 8, New Hazlett Theater, 6 Allegheny Square East, Pittsburgh. For tickets, please call 412-539-0900 “The sinking of the Titanic in the early hours of April 15, 1912, remains the quintessential disaster of the twentieth century. Titanic examines the causes, the conditions, and the characters involved in this ever-fascinating drama. This is the true story of that ship, her officers, crew and passengers. Titanic is a special presentation by the teens of the Richard E. Rauh Conservatory, backed by a professional Orchestra, and fully produced by the professional artists of Pittsburgh Musical Theater.” http://newhazletttheater.org

“Italian Film Festival USA”, Thursday, April 5 through Saturday, April 21. Complete schedule and info on films here: http://www.italianfilmfests.org/pittsburgh.html The festival will also be in Cleveland April 2-20. “Free admission. Films in original language with English subtitles”. 

“HAYA: Migration Concert”, Thursday, April 5, 8PM, Indiana University of Pennsylvania, Performing Arts Center, Fisher Auditorium, 1011 South Dr., Indiana, PA. Campus map here: http://map.iup.edu/map/?id=709#!ct/11721,11630,8765,11597 Tickets $16-30.“US. DEBUT! HAYA Band’s Migration Concert is about finding your own spiritual home and seeing the beauty in life. Founded in 2006 and based in Beijing, the group is an award- winning music collective representing a new era in folk music. The group has won many accolades including honors from the China Music Awards, the Chinese Media Award, and the Taiwan Golden Melody Award. HAYA expresses their understanding of modern Mongolian music that connects to their passion for nature.” https://iuplivelyarts.secure.force.com/ticket#details_a0S1N000006qBUyUAM More about Haya here: http://www.missionfolkmusicfestival.ca/artist/haya/ 

“Pittsburgh Creative Arts Festival”, Friday, April 6 through Sunday, April 8, David L. Lawrence Convention Center, 1000 Fort Duquesne Blvd., Pittsburgh. Admission Tickets are $10 in Advance, $15 for 2 Days in Advance, $25 for all 3 Days in advance and $15 at Door for one day. There are also lots of classes, which have individual prices and require preregistration. “Knit, crochet, quilt, create! Join other knit, crochet, sewing and quilting and creative arts enthusiasts for the Pittsburgh Creative Arts Festival 2018! Don't miss out on incredible workshops and classes, special events, and the 2018 Quilt Challenge!” http://pghknitandcrochet.com

"What's Cooking?” Friday, April 6, 3PM, Carnegie Library Sheraden (ages 8-18); Monday, April 16, 3:30PM, Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh Allegheny; Wednesday, April 18, 3PM, Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh Squirrel Hill (grades 6-12); Thursday, April 19, 5PM, Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh Beechview (teens); Saturday, April 28, 12PM, Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh Hazelwood (grades 6-12); and Saturday, April 28, 2PM, Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh West End. "Learn to feed yourself and your friends! Chop, dice and mince your way to culinary mastery — then eat what you cook!” 

“Learn to Code Using Hip-Hop Beats”, Friday, April 6, 3:30PM or Saturday, April 7, 1PM, Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh West End. “Curious about coding? Love hip-hop? Spend an hour with our Coding Mentor and learn how to use a free, online coding platform called EarSketch to combine cool tracks. You’ll leave with your own EarSketch account, your first audio script, and tips on how to learn more about coding fundamentals using EarSketch. No music experience, programming experience, or downloads required. Bring your own laptop or use a library laptop. Headphones or earbuds required.” 

“Creating Habitat for Wildlife: Kestrel Boxes”, Friday, April 6, 7PM, Yellow Creek State Park. Ages 10 and up. Preregistration required; email Lisa Meadows at limeadows@pa.gov. “Learn how to create suitable habitat for kestrels, some of PA's smallest falcons. Join Patrick Snickles, Information and Education Supervisor from the PA Game Commission, for a short discussion on kestrels, after which attendees will have the chance to build kestrel boxes for the park.” http://events.dcnr.pa.gov/event/creating_habitat_for_wildlife_kestrel_boxes_preregistration_required

“Freedom of the Press and Religion: Violations of Civil Rights in Turkey and Across the World”, Friday, April 6, 4:30PM-6PM, Duquesne University, Africa Room, Student Union, 600 Forbes Ave., Pittsburgh. Campus map here: http://www.duq.edu/about/campus/map-and-directions “Abdülhamit Bilici (former editor-in-chief of the largest daily in Turkey) and James Harrington (founder of the Texas Civil Rights Project) will discuss press freedoms with moderator Carla Lucente. Organized by the Consortium for Christian-Muslim Dialogue and the Turkish Cultural Center of Pittsburgh.” http://www.duq.edu/events/freedom-of-the-press-and-religion-violations-of-civil-rights-in-turkey-and-across-the-world

“Fab Lab: 3D Printing 101”, Friday, April 6, 5PM-6:30PM, Carnegie Science Center, 1 Allegheny Ave., Pittsburgh. $25. Preregistration required; register online: http://www.carnegiesciencecenter.org/programs/fablab-public-workshops/ “Learn to design and print on Fab Lab's 3D printers and explore the technology of 3D printing using a 3D printing pen. This introductory class is required in order to use the 3D printer during Fab Lab Open Workshop (FLOW). Workshop is open to ages 8 and up. Children 12 and under must be accompanied by an adult who also registers for the workshop.” 

“Pittsburgh Fringe Performing Arts Festival”, Friday, April 6 through Sunday, April 8. Various venues, with individual tickets or a full weekend pass. All performances are conveniently rated for adult content so you will know what will work for kids of various ages. Details here: “The Pittsburgh Fringe is an all-out, no-holds-barred, inclusive multi-disciplinary visual and performing arts festival featuring international, national and local artists. The annual 3-day festival, in multiple venues across the Northside of Pittsburgh, showcases theater (physical, street, musical), comedy, visual arts, puppetry, family entertainment, music, dance, spoken word, opera, poetry, literature and shows we haven't even thought of yet! Pittsburgh Fringe strives to keep the festival accessible and affordable to artists (low application and participation fees) and audiences with affordable tickets, special free programming, "see-as-much-as-you-want" passes, and other discounts like our button discount).” http://www.pittsburghfringe.org

“Jad Abumrad of Radiolab: Migration”, Friday, April 6, 7:30PM, Carnegie Lecture Hall, 4400 Forbes Ave., Pittsburgh. $25, $20 for students. Tickets here: https://pittsburghlectures.culturaldistrict.org/production/55405/jad-abumrad-of-radiolab “Migration is arguably one of the most dramatic phenomena in all of natural history. How do scientists define migration apart from any other kind of movement? How do animals—birds, insects, mammals—sense the urgency to move or where to go? In what way is Pittsburgh and its surrounding natural environment a host site for thousands of migrating creatures? Join Jad Abumrad, host of the NPR broadcast and award-winning podcast Radiolab, in conversation with Eric Dorfman, director of Carnegie Museum of Natural History, for insight into how mass movement has shaped the course of evolution.” 

"A Nation Divided: Interaction Orders of Race and The High Cost of Unconscious Racism in Everyday Life", Friday, April 6, 5PM, Carnegie Mellon University, Steinberg Auditorium, Baker Hall A53, 5000 Forbes Ave, Pittsburgh. Campus map here: https://www.cmu.edu/assets/pdfs/cmu_map_8.5x11.pdf “This talk is about Race in the US and how it has become embedded in the taken-for-granted structures of day-to-day interaction, to produce unconscious forms of racism that go on every day – yet remain hidden. Drs. Duck and Rawls will identify a set of interrelated phenomena we call ‘Interaction Orders of Race,’ ‘Fractured Reflections,’ and ‘Submissive Civility,’ that provide novel ways of understanding race in everyday interactions. In this presentation they will present data from interactions between Americans who self-identify as Black and White. They argue that the expectations of everyday life differ for Black Americans, who experience what Du Bois called ‘Double Consciousness’. Because Black and White Americans inhabit different Interaction Orders, with distinct methods of sense-making, divergent expectations by Race often lead to tacit misunderstandings across racial groups.” https://www.cmu.edu/history/cause/events/2017-18/duck-lecture/index.html

“Peter and the Starcatcher”, Friday, April 6 through Saturday, April 21, Comtra Theater, 20540 Route 19, Cranberry Township. $15. “The Tony-winning play, based on the best-selling novels, upends the century-old story of how a miserable orphan boy becomes the legendary Peter Pan. A young orphan and his mates are shipped off from Victorian England to a distant island ruled by the evil King Zarboff. They know nothing of the mysterious trunk in the captain’s cabin, which contains a precious, otherworldly cargo. At sea, the boys are discovered by a precocious young girl named Molly, a Starcatcher-in-training who realizes that the trunk’s precious cargo is starstuff, a celestial substance so powerful that it must never fall into the wrong hands. When the ship is taken over by pirates – led by the fearsome Black Stache, a villain determined to claim the trunk and its treasure for his own – the journey quickly becomes a thrilling adventure.” http://www.comtratheatre.org/2018-season/peter-and-the-starcatcher/

“An Evening with John Adams”, Friday, April 6, 6:30PM doors open, 7PM presentation, The Chapel at Old Main, Washington and Jefferson College, Washington, PA. Campus map here: http://www2.washjeff.edu/map/# $20. “An Evening with John Adams is a unique history event. John Adams, portrayed by Peyton Dixon from the American Historical Theater, will address the audience at the Chapel at Old Main, Washington and Jefferson College. Mr. Adams will talk about his time as President of the United States and his connection to Western Pennsylvania. It was President Adams who finally, in 1799, pardoned David Bradford for his role in the Whiskey Rebellion, in response to a letter sent to Adams by Bradford in 1798. Adams will be portrayed by Peyton Dixon of the American Historical Theatre, an interpreter with over a decade’s experience. In 2004 Dixon was captured by the spirit of both the well-known and the everyday man of the eighteenth century – trying desperately to understand and make their place in new, exciting, and frightening world. He was particularly fascinated and impressed by the powerful yet (at the time) mostly unsung John Adams. His goal is to bring to light the accomplishments as well as the imperfections of John Adams, as well as our other founding fathers: to look beyond the statue, bring them off the pedestal, and see the everyman beneath.” http://www.bradfordhouse.org/symposium/

“Hot Jam”, Friday, April 6, 6PM-9PM, Pittsburgh Glass Center, 5472 Penn Ave., Pittsburgh. Free. “Jaime Guerrero is an artist and craftsman from Los Angeles who recently relocated to Pittsburgh. He is one of the few and first artists in the world to sculpt life-size figures in glass. He’ll be sculpting a life-size crocodile in the hot shop. See it come to life on Friday from 6-9pm! Hot Jam is a free open house featuring heat defying acts of art including live glassblowing demonstrations and a contemporary glass art exhibition. Fun for the entire family. An American Sign Language (ASL) interpreter will be onsite to welcome visitors and narrate the glassblowing demonstration.” https://www.pittsburghglasscenter.org

“Comp Sci Creativity Challenge”, Friday, April 6, 5PM-10PM, Carnegie Science Center, 1 Allegheny Ave., Pittsburgh. Grades 9-12. $10. Preregistration required; call 412‑237‑3400, then press 7. “Teens, guided by Carnegie Mellon University computer science students, will challenge themselves to think like computers while cracking codes, solving logic puzzles and doing other fun computer science-focused activities. Tasks include: Decoding hieroglyphics in a scenario set in ancient Egypt. Using binary code to solve and create messages for a secret crime-fighting agency. Figuring out the answers to riddles that have pictures as clues. Participants will register as individuals and form teams of three to five teens on site. Members of the top-scoring teams will win Amazon gift cards. Both beginners and teens who have prior experience with computer science are welcome. Dinner is provided.” http://www.carnegiesciencecenter.org/educators/themed-field-trips-comp-sci-creativity-challenge/

“Martinis and Murder”, April 6, 7, 13, and 14, 7PM, The Avenue Theater, 158 Brighton Ave., Rochester. $12. “Kit and Kate Norris, a retired detective and his wealthy heiress wife, embark on a quest to solve the murder of investment banker Bentley Cunningham, who was found shot to death in the lobby of his apartment building. Kit and Kate invite the suspects to a dinner party where they hope someone will let slip that clue that will point out the murderer. Which among the guests could have done the deed? Mrs. Cora Worthing, wealthy society matron who is a critic of everything; Lily Worthing, her feisty and rebellious daughter; Milton Andrews, Lily’s nerdy, research scientist fiancé; Masie O’Rourke, the tacky cigarette girl from the Flamingo Room nightclub; Lefty Jones, a petty criminal once sent up the river by Kit; Lieutenant Oscar Sharpe, the police detective who has always been jealous of Kit. A tribute to William Powell and Myrna Loy and the Thin Man series of films.” https://www.ractproductions.com

“Muzzleloading Gun Show”, Friday, April 6, 1PM-5PM, and Saturday, April 7, 9AM-4PM, Old Bedford Village, 220 Sawblade Rd., Bedford. “Venders’ tables of muzzleloading firearms and accouterments.” http://oldbedfordvillage.com/index.php

“CranFest”, Saturday, April 7, 11AM-3PM, Cranberry Township Municipal Center, 2525 Rochester Rd, Cranberry Twp. Free. “4th Annual CranFest is two great family events in one! Folk and Food Festival and Cranberry at Your Service. “Folk and Food Festival, a presentation of the Cranberry Area Diversity Network, is a huge attraction. This year we will again celebrate Cranberry’s ethnically and culturally diverse population. The Folk and Food Festival will feature culturally distinctive entertainment by residents of the Cranberry area drawn from six different continents as well as other diverse populations in the region. Entrée-size portions will be available for prices set individually by each booth vendor. Cranberry at Your Service, a showcase of local government services, provides an opportunity to go behind the scenes to learn what Cranberry’s operating departments do for the Township and how they go about doing it. At stations spaced throughout the Municipal Center, each of the Township’s departments – Public Works, Public Safety, Parks and Recreation, Engineering, Codes, Golf Course, Information Technology and Communications - plus, the Volunteer Fire Company and EMS – will have representatives on hand to answer visitors’ questions, along with displays, tools and work demonstrations.” http://www.twp.cranberry.pa.us/2230/CranFest

“Banff Mountain Film Festival”, Saturday, April 7, 7PM and Sunday, April 8, 5PM, Byham Theater, 101 6th St., Pittsburgh. Recommended for ages 13 and up, no one 2 or under admitted. “The Banff Mountain Film Festival World Tour returns to the Byham Theater for two days of edge-of-your-seat, awe-inspiring action! Audiences will experience incredible highs and agonizing lows through the lenses of some of the most accomplished climbers, paddlers, skiers, snowboarders, mountaineers, mountain bikers, explorers and adventure filmmakers alive today.” https://www.ventureoutdoors.org/events/

“Literary Gardens of England”, Saturday, April 7, 1PM-2:30PM, Mt. Lebanon Library. “Visit the gardens of your favorite authors, including Jane Austen, Charlotte Bronte, Beatrix Potter, Agatha Christie and Frances Hodgson Burnett. Learn how these writers used their surroundings in their work, and get tips on creating your own English garden. Our speaker, Carol Chernega is the author of A Dream House: Exploring the Literary Homes of England.” 

Author Heidi Ruby Miller: “Atomic Zion”, Saturday, April 7, 1PM-3PM, Monessen Library. “Local author Heidi Ruby Miller will discuss her science fiction and thriller books, including ‘Atomic Zion’, the publishing industry and much more.” http://www.heidirubymiller.com 

“Pierogies: Old-World Cuisine in Modern Pittsburgh”, Saturday, April 7, 12PM-3PM, Chatham University, Eden Hall Campus, Lodge Kitchen, 6035 Ridge Rd., Gibsonia. $65. Preregistration required; register online: https://www.chatham.edu/events/details.cfm?eventID=22168 “Come learn about the history and of significance of pierogies in Pittsburgh, while learning how to make them yourself! In this hands-on class, we’ll make pierogi dough from scratch and use a variety of savory and sweet fillings to stuff them. After assembling, we’ll freeze and package your pierogies to take home (about 2 dozen per person) and we’ll also eat a batch together!” 

“Sourdough Bread Baking Basics”, Saturday, April 7, 4PM-6PM, Chatham University, Eden Hall Campus, Lodge Kitchen, 6035 Ridge Rd., Gibsonia. $50. Preregistration required; register online: https://www.chatham.edu/events/details.cfm?eventID=22170 “Have you ever wanted to take a crash course in bread baking? This workshop will cover the fundamentals of baking in two hours. We will cover basic mixing, shaping, and scoring techniques, all with yeast doughs. Each participant will leave with a bowl of dough and the knowledge of how to bake at home. The workshop will be followed by a tasting. Please bring a large bowl to take home dough. All proceeds from this event will go directly to building a wood-fired bread oven at the Eden Hall Campus!” 

“Tartan Day”, Saturday, April 7, 10AM-4:30PM, Bethel Presbyterian Church, 2999 Bethel Church Rd., Bethel Park. Free. “What is Tartan Day? On April 6, 1320 the Declaration of Arbroath was signed asserting Scotland’s sovereignty over England’s territorial claims. This commemorates the signing of Scotland’s Declaration of Independence. This day is set aside every year by Scottish-Americans to reflect on and celebrate their heritage. On March 20, 1998, the US Senate Resolution 155 was passed declaring April 6th as National Tartan Day. Throughout the country, there are festivals and parades celebrating this day. The members of the St. Andrew’s Society of Pittsburgh will host visitors on April 7th, 2018 between 10:00 AM and 4:30 PM at Bethel Presbyterian Church. The event is free to the public. There will be entertainment from bagpipers, fiddlers, and dancers. Food, raffles, Celtic workshops, and a variety of gifts can be purchased. Proceeds from the celebration benefit the Tartan Day Scholarship Fund. This fund provides assistance for students of the Scottish Arts. The St. Andrew’s Society of Pittsburgh is a 501(c) (3) non-profit organization that preserves and promotes Scottish heritage."http://www.standrewspittsburgh.org/event/tartan-day-2018/?instance_id=383  

“Teen Comedy and Improv Night”, Saturday, April 7, 7PM-9PM, Shaler North Hills Library, Glenshaw. Preregistration required; register on the library calendar: http://www.eventkeeper.com/mars/xpages/S/SHALER/ekp.cfm?curOrg=SHALER#5345991 “Ever watch ‘Whose Line Is It Anyway?’ and want to try it yourself? Come add your own spin to our evening of improv games, like ‘Park Bench’ and ‘Scenes From a Hat,’ or just enjoy as an audience member! Snacks too!” 

“Ordinary to Extraordinary”, Saturday, April 7, 2PM-3PM, Greenburg-Hempfield Area Library. Preregistration required; register online. “This program will be presented by Dr. Eric Greisinger, Professor of History at Salem University, and will highlight common folk accomplishments during World War I.” 

“Woodcock Weekend”, Saturday, April 7, 7PM-9PM, Forbes State Forest. Free. Preregistration required; email rmahony@pa.gov or call 724-259-2201. “Discover the springtime ritual of the American woodcock during this easy, evening hike. We will learn about this unique bird and observe its spectacular sky dance! This program will be taking place in a woodcock management area in the Mountain Streams tract.” http://events.dcnr.pa.gov/event/woodcock_weekend_8690

“41st Annual Maple Syrup Festival”, Saturday, April 7, and Sunday, April 8, 8:30AM-4:30PM, Bradys Run Park Lodge, 526 Bradys Run Rd., Beaver Falls. “A pancake breakfast held at Bradys Run Lodge that includes entertainers, crafters, and more. There are often children's activities, including pony rides and a children's tent as well as war reenactments and a civil war encampment. Dozens of craft booths showcase local crafter goods for sale as well as maple cotton candy, popcorn, and fresh ground buckwheat, whole wheat, and corn meal. Bradys Run 100% pure maple syrup is sold on site in many different size bottles.” https://www.beavercountyconservationdistrict.org/maple-syrup-fastival 

“Birding 101”, Saturday, April 7, 10AM-12PM, Beechwood Farms Nature Reserve; Saturday, April 7, 2PM-4PM, Succop Nature Park. $10, or $6 for Audubon members. Preregistration required; register online: http://aswp.org/events/8027 “Birdwatching is one of the fastest growing hobbies in the United States. Come learn the basics of birding and why watching our feathered friends is such a captivating hobby.” 

“Guided Nature Hike”, Saturday, April 7, 2PM-4PM, Round Hill Farm, 651 Round Hill Road

Elizabeth. Free. Preregistration required; register online: https://apm.activecommunities.com/alleghenyparks/Activity_Search/rh-guided-nature-hike/2156 “Approximately 3 miles with moderate elevation changes Join a Park Ranger for a walk and learn about the local flora and fauna that you see along the way. We will stop to observe animals and plants that are prevalent in the environment and discover the natural and cultural landscape as we hike. Hikes will vary in distance and time, but expect to spend two hours on the trail. Bring water and wear hiking shoes.” 

“Wisdom of the Woods Air Quality Hike”, Saturday, April 7, 10AM-12PM, Frick Environmental Center, 2005 Beechwood Blvd., Pittsburgh. Free. Preregistration required; register online: https://www.pittsburghparks.org/park-events “Hike with experts from the Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy and Group Against Smog and Pollution as we learn what the parks can teach us about air quality. During this hike we will search for natural indicators of air quality while we learn more about the pollutant-sensitive organisms that live in our city.” 

“Greenhouse Horticultural Series: Seeding”, Saturday, April 7, 1:30PM-3:30PM, Boyce Park, 675 Old Frankstown Rd., Pittsburgh. Free. Preregistration required; register online: https://apm.activecommunities.com/alleghenyparks/Activity_Search/bp-greenhouse-horticultural-series-seeding/2051 “Learn seed planting techniques for annuals, perennials, herbs, grasses and vegetables! This class will highlight the uses of both shade and sun species.” 

“Plaster Weekends”, Saturdays and Sundays, now through April 29, 12PM-4PM, Carnegie Museum of Art, Hall of Architecture. Free with admission. “Be inspired by the monumental plaster cast collection in the Hall of Architecture every Saturday and Sunday to create your own take-home plaster mold. Get familiar with how these replica buildings were created! Just drop-in. Bring your family and your imagination. We provide the materials.” https://cmoa.org/event/plaster-weekends-2/

“Games for Change Student Challenge: Wildlife Conservation”, Saturday, April 7, 1PM-4PM, Frick Environmental Center, 2005 Beechwood Blvd., Pittsburgh. Free. Preregistration required; register online: https://www.pittsburghparks.org/park-events “Bring friends, make friends! Get comparative, get competitive, get creative with Games for Change. Teens, experience a free and fun afternoon of games, play, and workshops to develop game concepts that teach people how wildlife conservation matters. Inspired by the work of Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy, teens are invited to hang out with regional gamers and content experts to explore the themes of wildlife conservation, specifically pollinators. Park Conservancy educators will share their deep knowledge and efforts in local conservation. Carnegie Mellon University’s Alice will help users create worlds with SIMS characters, building interactions in dozens of epically designed backdrops and environments. PIGDA - Pittsburgh Chapter of the International Game Developers Association will provide guidance and gaming strategies. Teens can get started or continue working on the national Games for Change Student Challenge designing their own transformational video games on loads of laptops we will have on-site using Scratch and GamestarMechanic.” 

“Luncheon with John Adams”, Saturday, April 7, 12PM-2PM, Union Grill, 13 ½ Wheeling St., Washington, PA. $50. Preregistration required; register online: http://www.bradfordhouse.org/event/luncheon-john-adams/ “John Adams, second President of the United States, was an imperfect, burdened, yet ever-striving man. In him we recognize the desire to be something more, the concerns about what others might see in us, the struggle for balance between our personal opinions and our public persona. Throughout his life, Adams faced many challenging situations, but perhaps what is even more impressive than how he tackled these issues, or his list of accomplishments, is his humanity. It was President Adams who finally, in 1799, pardoned David Bradford for his role in the Whiskey Rebellion. Adams will be portrayed by Peyton Dixon, an interpreter with over a decade’s experience. In 2004 Dixon was captured by the spirit of both the well-known and the everyday man of the eighteenth century – trying desperately to understand and make their place in new, exciting, and frightening world. He was particularly fascinated and impressed by the powerful yet (at the time) mostly unsung John Adams.” 

“Brown Bag Concert”, Saturday, April 7, 12PM-1PM, Pittsburgh Opera, 2425 Liberty Ave., Pittsburgh. Free. “You're invited to our free April Brown Bag concert! The performance takes place in the George R. White studio at Pittsburgh Opera Headquarters, 2425 Liberty Avenue in the Strip. It's free and open to everyone. Bring a friend and bring a lunch! Meet the Resident Artists afterward in an informal reception. Doors open at 11:30.” https://www.pittsburghopera.org/calendar/detail/march-brown-bag-concert2

“Aquatic Entomology: What we can learn from stream-dwelling insects?”, Sunday, April 8, 2PM, Powdermill Nature Reserve, 1795 Route 381, Rector. Free. “How healthy is the water that flows through Powdermill Run? How about the Monongahela River in downtown Pittsburgh, or the creek that flows through your backyard? One way to find out is to look at the animals that live in the water. Macroinvertebrates are abundant in all types of aquatic habitats and tell a story about the quality of the water in which they live. Let’s learn with Research Entomologist Andrea Kautz about what kinds of bugs can be found in different types of aquatic environments and then go sample Powdermill Run for ourselves! (Note: We invite you to get into Powdermill Run with us. Please wear closed-toed and -heeled shoes, such as galoshes or old sneakers, if you do plan to venture into the cold stream. A towel and a change of shoes/clothes are also recommended.)” https://carnegiemnh.org/visitor/powdermill-nature-reserve/

“Opera Up Close: The Elixir of Love”, Sunday, April 8, 2PM-3:30PM, Pittsburgh Opera, 2425 Liberty Ave., Pittsburgh. $5. “Opera Up Close is an in-depth look at the music and story of Donizetti's The Elixir of Love, with singers and directors from the production, in the George R. White Opera Studio at Pittsburgh Opera Headquarters. Panelists will include Maestro Christian Capocaccia, TBA cast members and more.” https://www.pittsburghopera.org/calendar/detail/opera-up-close-the-elixir-of-love

“Lost Worlds Found”, Sunday, April 8, 10:30AM-1PM, Heinz History Center, 1212 Smallman St., Pittsburgh. Free. Preregistration required; register online: http://www.heinzhistorycenter.org/events/lost-worlds-found “Join Pittsburgh-based photographer David Aschkenas as he tells stories behind a selection of his work focusing on photographs of the grand synagogues and Jewish cemeteries of Europe and his ongoing documentation of Pittsburgh. Aschkenas’ work will be complemented by students from the University of Pittsburgh as they present new research about Western Pennsylvania Jewish history. Their work stems from Dr. Rachel Kranson’s “Jews and the City” course, which follows the migration of Eastern European Jews to urban centers around the world, including Pittsburgh.” 

“Richie Cole and the Alto Madness Quartet”, Sunday, April 8, 2PM, Carnegie Main Library Oakland, South Wing Reading Room. “In honor of Jazz Appreciation Month, world famous alto saxophonist Richie Cole and his Alto Madness Quartet will be performing selections from his critically acclaimed new release ‘Richie Cole: Latin Lover’.” http://www.richiecole.com

“Teen Anime Club”, Sunday, April 8 and Sunday, April 22. 1PM, Carnegie Library Allegheny; Wednesday, April 11, 4PM, Carnegie Library Lawrenceville; Saturday, April 14, and Saturday, April 28, 2PM, Carnegie Library Woods Run; and Saturday, April 14, 3PM, Carnegie Library Beechview. “Explore new anime and express your fandom at Teen Anime Club! We’ll watch anime, explore Japanese culture, and enjoy a fun Japanese-inspired snack.” 

“Pittsburgh Reptile Show and Sale”, Sunday, April 8, 9AM-3PM, Harmar House, 1321 Freeport Rd., Cheswick. $5 per person, free for kids 3 and under. “Thousands of animals and supplies all under one roof! Bring the family and don’t forget the camera! Buy direct and save, wholesale pricing!” http://pghreptileshow.com

“Teen Dungeons and Dragons”, Sundays in April (except Easter), 1PM, Peters Township Library, McMurray. “Pros and new players are welcome to join us for this on-going game. The game will be led by a Teen 'Dungeon Master' from our Youth Advisory Council. Register at the Youth Services Desk.” 

“Bartramian Audubon Society Meeting: Bird Population Dynamics and Habitat Disturbance”, Monday, April 9, 7PM-9PM, Jennings Environmental Center, 2951 Prospect Rd., Slippery Rock. “How well do birds deal with changing environmental conditions? Black-backed woodpeckers in South Dakota's Black Hills prefer forests recently disturbed by wildfire or insect infestation. When forest management seeks to mitigate or minimize disturbances, does the woodpecker population suffer? Dr. Christopher Rota has studied these issues and will share some of his findings and conclusions with us. Dr. Rota is an assistant professor of Wildlife and Fisheries Resources at West Virginia University. His research focuses on population characteristics and habitat use of diverse wildlife species, from mule deer in North Dakota to Canada warblers in West Virginia. He received his Ph.D. from the University of Missouri. This is the Bartramian Audubon Society's 'Donor Appreciation Night.' Along with an informative and entertaining program, we'll have pizza and other special refreshments as our way of saying ‘Thanks’ to our members and friends.” http://events.dcnr.pa.gov/event/bartramian_audubon_society_meeting_bird_population_dynamics_and_habitat_disturbance

“Three Minute Thesis (3MT) Pitt Competition”, Monday, April 9, 12PM, University of Pittsburgh, Hillman Library4200 5th Ave., Pittsburgh. Campus map here: http://www.tour.pitt.edu/campus-map “Three Minute Thesis (3MT) Pitt Competition is an academic competition that challenges PhD students and candidates to describe their research within three minutes to a general audience. 3MT celebrates the discoveries made by research students and encourages them to communicate the importance of their research to the broader community. Developed by The University of Queensland in 2008, enthusiasm for the 3MT concept and its adoption in numerous universities led to the development of an international competition. In SIS’ localized version of the 3MT, all doctoral students and candidates are eligible to compete.” https://www.pittwire.pitt.edu/event/special-event-three-minute-thesis-3mt-pitt-competition

“Vietnam Veterans Discuss PBS Series, The Vietnam War”, Monday, April 9, 7PM*8:30PM, Peters Township Library, McMurray. Preregistration required; register online: https://www.ptlibrary.org/event/vets-discuss-vietnam-war-series/ “To commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Tet Offensive and to delve more deeply into our veterans’ experiences and perspectives, the Peters Township Public Library will partner with the Veterans Breakfast Club for a unique panel discussion. On Monday, April 9 at 7:00 p.m., four Vietnam veterans will meet to share their thoughts about the PBS documentary series The Vietnam War: A Film by Ken Burns and Lynn Novick, focusing on Episodes 1 and 6. The discussion will be moderated by Todd DePastino, founder and executive director of the Veterans Breakfast Club.” There will also be screenings of the documentary; see the library calendar for details. 

“Mystery and Mayhem Book Club”, Monday, April 9, 1PM-2PM, Pleasant Hills Library, Pittsburgh. “Join the mystery book discussion group! Usually meets the first Monday of the month- but meeting the second Monday in April. Pick up the book at the front desk.” April’s book is “Two Days Gone” by Randall Silvis. 

“Pittsburgh Japanese Film Festival”, Monday, April 9 through Thursday, April 19, Row House Cinema, 4115 Butler St., Pittsburgh. Complete schedule and lineup of films here: http://jffpgh.org

“Cookbook Club”, Monday, April 9, 6PM-7:30PM, Oakmont Library. “Do you love to browse through cookbooks and try new recipes? Are you a foodie? Would you like to meet new people and share food with them? Then this is the club for you! Each month, we will select a cookbook and display it at the programming table. Look through the book and choose a recipe you want to make. Mark the page with a post-it note with your name so that we know who will be cooking what. Ask a library staff member to copy the recipe for you to take home. Prepare your food or beverage and bring it to Cookbook Club, which will take place on the second Monday of every month at 6PM at the library. Tableware will be provided. Food, new friends, and fun! Please join us and start cooking!” 

“Ulysses S. Grant”, Monday, April 9, 7PM, Kittaning Library. Free. Preregistration required; call 724-543-1383 or email kittaninglibrary@hotmail.com. Performed by Kenneth J. Serfass. “Take a trip back into history April 9th at Kittaning Public Library. Ulysses S. Grant will be joining us to tell about what life was like in the 1800s, well, not the real Grant but a Grant re-enactor and impressionist. Ken Serfass of Gettysburg, PA travels around the country giving a living history lesson a bout what it was like before and during the War Between the States. Ken has had a lifelong affinity for the Civil War hero and 18th president of the United States which has deepened so much that Serfass now has full-time work as a living historian, portraying Grant.” 

“Cookbook Club”, Monday, April 9, 6PM-8PM, McKeesport Library. “This months theme: Foods that start with the first letter of your name. Call or email for more info: 412-672-0625 bendelm@einetwork.net." 

“Soldiers and Sailors Museum presents: Memories of a Soldiers Life, a Footlocker Story” Monday, April 9, 6:30PM-7:15PM, Pleasant Hills Library, Pittsburgh. Preregistration required; register on the library calendar: http://www.eventkeeper.com/mars/xpages/P/PLEASANT/ekp.cfm?curOrg=PLEASANT#5522281 “Through personally donated artifacts and mementos, Soldiers and Sailors Museum will present a unique look into American Military history by telling the stories of individuals who served our county from Civil War through present day. Focusing on a soldier’s life including the equipment they carried and the experiences they went through, we’ll learn how soldiers lives changed over the course of time. Open to ALL ages, but recommended for teens, adults, and families with children ages 7 and up.” 

“Cookbook Club”, Monday, April 9, 6:30PM-8:30PM, Northland Library, Pittsburgh. “Love to cook and try new recipes? Join other food enthusiasts at Northland's cookbook club! All women, men, and teens of any skill level are welcome as we explore dishes from various cookbooks or food blogs. Each month, we'll pick a new theme, then cook a dish to bring along to share with the club. No registration is required. If you have questions or are interested in joining, email Michelle Kuhn at mkmkuhn873@gmail.com.” 

“Jr. Students Active for Environment Club (SAFE)”, Monday, April 9, and Monday, April 23, 3:15PM, Peters Township Library, McMurray. “Grades 4 through 8. Second and fourth Mondays of the month. Right after school. Interested in learning more about the beautiful planet we call home? Join our Junior SAFE Club. Assisted by members of the PTHS SAFE Club, every session will explore a different environmental theme or issue. We’ll have lots of fun hands-on activities while learning about our world.” 

“History Roundtable: Nana Movie and Discussion”, Monday, April 9, 6:30PM-8:30PM, Franklin Station North, 2525 Rochester Rd., Ste 300, Cranberry Township. Free. “In conjunction with Classrooms Without Borders, Serena Dykman, granddaughter to Maryla Michalowski-Dyamant, a Holocaust Survivor, will be here to discuss and show her film, NANA. Maryla Michalowski-Dyamant was born in Poland, survived Ravensbruck, Malchow, and Auschwitz, where she was the forced translator to the ‘Angel of Death’, Dr. Mengele.” http://www.cranberrytownship.org/Calendar.aspx?EID=11550&month=4&year=2018&day=30&calType=0 Trailer here: https://www.nanafilm.com 

“Citizen’s Toolkit – Data and Right to Know”, Monday, April 9, 6:30PM-7:45PM, Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh East Liberty. “Join PublicSource in learning how to use publicly available data to answer questions about your city and neighborhood. Reporter Jeffrey Benzing will help you navigate public data, teach you to get information you’re entitled to and show you how to make your own requests under the Pennsylvania Right-to-Know law.” 

“Mystery Book Club”, Monday, April 9, 10AM, Springdale Library, “Join this diverse group that meets at the library to discuss a different mystery book on the 2nd Monday at 10:00 AM. The discussions are started by our Director, who choses books that are not necessarily written by a well-known author. Please call the library to register, we want to make sure enough books have been ordered for the group. April 9, 2018 -- The Lying Game, by Ware.” 

“History Roundtable: SGT Cepek, U.S. Army”, Tuesday, April 10, 6:30PM-8:30PM, Franklin Station North, 2525 Rochester Rd., Ste 300, Cranberry Township. Free. “SGT. Cepek will discuss his experiences during his three enlisted combat tours as an Army door gunner and ground scout. He was awarded three bronze stars.” 

“Home Grown Book Group”, Tuesday, April 10, 2PM-3PM, Shaler North Hills Library, Glenshaw. “You might be surprised by these good reads by authors right in your own backyard! This book group reads a variety of books written by authors from the local Western Pa area. Meets monthly. No registration required. Contact Eileen Kruszewski.” 

“Mystery Book Discussion”, Tuesday, April 10, 2PM-3PM, Robinson Township Library. “This month's selection is The Cat Who Could Read Backwards by the late Lilian Jackson Braun. Jim Qwilleran is a prizewinning reporter who's been on the skids but is now coming back with a job as feature writer (mostly on the art scene) for the Daily Fluxion. George Bonifield Mountclemens, the paper's credentialed art critic, writes almost invariably scathing, hurtful reviews of local shows; delivers his pieces by messenger; lives with his all-knowing cat Koko in a lushly furnished house in a moldering neighborhood, and has a raft of enemies all over town.” 

“Slovak Cooking Demonstration”, Tuesday, April 10, 6:30PM-8PM, Shaler North Hills Library, Downstairs Large Print Program Room, Glenshaw. $2 donation for food costs. Preregistration required; register on the library calendar: http://www.eventkeeper.com/mars/xpages/S/SHALER/ekp.cfm?curOrg=SHALER#5345991 “Otilia Golis a native from Kosice, eastern Slovakia, shares her heritage through cooking with the Pittsburgh community! Join Otilia this fall as she demonstrates scrumptious recipes. Visit Otilia’s Facebook page, Slovak Homemade Cakes, where she shares various authentic Slovak masterpieces from her kitchen with anyone interested in treating their taste buds to authentic Slovak cuisine.” 

“Cookbook Club: Everyday Italian”, Tuesday, April 10, 6PM-7PM, Bridgeville Library. “Sign up for a recipe from the cookbook, Everyday Italian by Giada De Laurentiis at the Bridgeville Library circulation desk. We have copies of the cookbook to check out. The day of, bring your dish to share, along with a serving utensil! We'll provide paper products. Sponsored by the Friends of the Bridgeville Public Library.” 

“Cooking Class with Chef Carol”, Tuesday, April 10, 6PM-9PM, Northern Tier Library, Gibsonia. $40. Preregistration required; library phone 724-449-2665. “Join Northern Tier Library and Chef Carol Nardello for fun-packed cooking classes on the second Tuesday of the month at 6:00 PM! Spring is in the Air Bountiful Brunch: Tuesday, April 10: Sunshine Citrus Punch; Velvety Asparagus Soup; Salmon Frittata; French Breakfast Puffs; Fresh Fruit Salad with citrus, mint, and ginger. Chef Carol Nardello has worked in restaurants, owned a catering business, collaborated on three cookbooks, and taught at three cooking schools. Most recently, while living in Hawaii, she worked as a Chef Instructor at the Culinary Institute of the Pacific. She and her husband now live in Wexford. Classes are $40 each, and will be limited to 20 attendees, so advance registration is required. No refunds can be issued for this program if a patron does not attend after submitting payment.” 

“Steiner Lecture in Creative Inquiry: Kelli Anderson”, Tuesday, April 10, 5PM-7PM, Carnegie Mellon University, Frank-Ratchye STUDIO for Creative Inquiry, CMU College of Fine Arts, Room CFA-111, 5000 Forbes Ave, Pittsburgh. Campus map here: https://www.cmu.edu/assets/pdfs/cmu_map_8.5x11.pdf Free and open to the public. “Kelli Anderson is an artist/designer and tinkerer who draws, photographs, cuts, prints, codes, and creates a variety of designed things for herself and others. From interactive paperforms to layered, experimental websites, Kelli subverts expectations by injecting humor and surprise into everyday objects. In fall 2017, she published 'This Book Is a Planetarium: And Other Extraordinary Pop-Up Contraptions', a book about how humble materials can perform extraordinary feats—and featuring a tiny, pop-up planetarium and other functional contraptions. Kelli writes: ‘In my work, I try to better understand how things work so that I might demonstrate their surprising capabilities hidden in plain sight. However, lo-fi research methods are also being used in (what would traditionally be considered) high-tech fields. Using strategies like origami, engineering labs are also seeking ways to make complex problems tangible—to open then up to physical intuition. By engaging abstractions tangibly, we often find surprising possibilities hidden in plain view.’ http://studioforcreativeinquiry.org/events/steiner-lecture-in-creative-inquiry-kelli-anderson

“Matsuri 2018”, Tuesday, April 10, 3:30PM-8PM, Carnegie Mellon University, Wiegand Gymnasium, 5032 Forbes Ave., Pittsburgh. Free admission. Tickets available for $1 each for purchasing food and playing games. “Originally a sacred ceremony of the Shinto belief, now a day full of street food, games, and joyful performances, Matsuris are of great importance to the Japanese people, its culture, and its tradition. We want to share a snippet of this eventful festival here in Pittsburgh, right on the Carnegie Mellon campus! Come by to try a taste of Japanese street food, play with some traditional games and enjoy a range of performances from Japanese Taiko Drumming to fire dances! We have put in a lot of effort into authenticity; We purchase things online and ship them from Japan. We hand craft our booths to make it look like what you see on the streets in Japan. Enjoy the event to its fullest by paying attention to the details we've put in! We are also proud to announce that the profits we make at this event will be donated to Minato Junior High school in Ishinomaki, Japan. The school lost their whole campus due to the East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami of March 11, 2011.” https://cmujsa.com/matsuri/

“Line Dance with Roland Ford”, Tuesday, April 10, 6PM-7PM, Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh Homewood. “Put on your stepping shoes and come learn some line dance steps with Pittsburgh’s own and beloved line dancing king, Roland Ford. Learn a new way to get in shape.” 

"2018 CMU Three Minute Thesis Championship”, Tuesday, April 10, 5PM-7PM, Carnegie Mellon University College of Fine Arts, Kresge Auditorium. Campus map here: https://www.cmu.edu/assets/pdfs/cmu_map_8.5x11.pdf Free and open to the public. “Three Minute Thesis (3MT®) is an internationally recognized competition that challenges Ph.D. students to present a compelling oration on their thesis and its significance in just 3 minutes, in language that anyone can understand. 3MT is not an exercise in trivializing or ‘dumbing-down’ research but requires students to consolidate their ideas, crystallize their research discoveries and capture the imagination of their audience. The 2018 3MT Championship is being held during Graduate and Professional Student Appreciation Week. The 3MT Championship is a public event, all are encouraged to attend.” http://library.cmu.edu/3mt

“Talking Black in America: A film screening with executive producer Walt Wolfram”, Wednesday, April 11, 4:30PM-6PM, Carnegie Mellon University, Rashid Auditorium, Gates-Hillman Center 4401, 5000 Forbes Ave, Pittsburgh. Campus map here: https://www.cmu.edu/assets/pdfs/cmu_map_8.5x11.pdf Free and open to the public. A documentary about African American dialects in the USA. “Walt Wolfram is the William C. Friday Distinguished University Professor at North Carolina State University and director of the North Carolina Language and Life Project. A panel discussion follows the screening. Panelists are: Fred Brown, President and CEO, Homewood Children's Village; Professor Waverly Duck, Department of Sociology, U. of Pittsburgh and Center for Africanamerican Urban Studies and the Economy, CMU; Dr. Lovie Jewell Jackson Foster, Ph.D., Prevention Specialist, Allegheny County Children, Youth and Families; Dr. Tamara Sanders-Woods, Principal Colfax Elementary and Middle School (PPS).” https://www.cmu.edu/dietrich/about/diversity-inclusion.html Trailer here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l-AR5hCQcd4 

Screening, “Until the Well Runs Dry: Medicine and the Exploitation of Black Bodies”, Wednesday, April 11, 5:30-8PM, Frick Environmental Center, 2005 Beechwood Blvd., Pittsburgh. Free. “This powerful documentary brings attention to issues relating to medical ethics or lack thereof, as it pertains historically to the African American community, and encourages discussion about what has changed. The History Center’s African American Program will sponsor several film screenings and discussions in 2018 as part of the From Slavery to Freedom Film Series, hosted at the Frick Environmental Center. Visitors of the Frick Environmental Center can now see the new From Slavery to Freedom Garden, which showcases plants used for food and medicinal purposes by freedom seekers during the 18th and 19th centuries.” https://www.pittsburghparks.org/park-events Trailer here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=017IbQNPmQk

“The Serengeti Rules: The Quest to Discover How Life Works and Why it Matters”, Wednesday, April 11, doors open at 3:30PM, lecture at 4PM, Carnegie Museum of Art Theatre. Free. Preregistration required; register online: https://carnegiemnh.org/visitor/the-serengeti-rules-the-quest-to-discover-how-life-works-and-why-it-matters/ “How does life work? How does nature produce the right numbers of zebras and lions on the African savanna, or fish in the ocean? How do our bodies produce the right numbers of cells in our organs and bloodstream? Award-winning biologist and author Sean B. Carroll tells the stories of the pioneering scientists who sought the answers to such simple yet profoundly important questions, and shows how their discoveries matter for our health and the health of the planet we depend upon.” 

“ONYX Northside Job Fair for Teens at CoLab 18”, Wednesday, April 11, 4:30PM-7PM, CoLab 18, 100 S. Commons, Pittsburgh. “Looking for a job? Join the Library for a visit to the Northside Job Fair, featuring employment opportunities and training for local teens, as well as Learn and Earn application support. Ask a Teen Specialist for more information. There will be food and raffle prizes!” https://www.carnegielibrary.org/event/onyx-northside-job-fair-colab-18/

“Mystery Book Club”, Wednesday, April 11, 10AM, Bethel Park Library. April’s book is “Lights Out Tonight” by Mary Jane Clark. http://bethelparklibrarybookclubs.blogspot.com

“Meet, Play, Learn: Dungeons and Dragons”, Wednesday, April 11, 5PM- 8PM, Carnegie Main Library Oakland. “Come play Dungeons and Dragons at the library! Bring a character and some dice or just your imagination. All experience levels are welcome. Please register beforehand by emailing Wren at mcgalliardw@carnegielibrary.org. Indicate your experience as a player, so that we can assign you to an appropriate table. If you are interested in learning how to be a Dungeon Master, let us know and we can help you run a game at this event.” 

“3D Printing”, Wednesday, April 11, 2PM, Bethel Park Library. “Learn how 3D printing is changing the world and how you can print objects at your Library.” 

“Tea and Mysteries Book Club”, Wednesday, April 11, 1PM-2PM, South Park Township Library. April’s book is A Great Deliverance by Elizabeth George. 

“Twelfth Night”, Wednesday, April 11 through Saturday, April 21, Indiana University of Pennsylvania, Performing Arts Center, Fisher Auditorium, 1011 South Dr., Indiana, PA. Campus map here: http://map.iup.edu/map/?id=709#!ct/11721,11630,8765,11597 Tickets $15 adults, $12 seniors, $10 nin-IUP students and children. “Shakespeare’s brilliant exploration of human love in its many forms...a masterpiece replete with unforgettable characters, music, dance, spectacle, and comedy for every taste.” https://iuplivelyarts.secure.force.com/ticket#details_a0S1N000006qEK0UAM

“New Audio Recording Equipment – Hands On Introduction”, Wednesday, April 11, 3PM-4PM, Sewickley Library. “Interested in recording your own audio but don’t have the equipment? Drop in for this program to learn about Sewickley’s new audio recording equipment. This equipment includes microphones, mixing equipment, monitors, and audio editing software. The equipment can be requested and reserved free of charge to work on your next project!” 

Carnegie Mellon Opera Presents, “Trouble in Tahiti” and “Bernstein Excerpts”, Wednesday, April 11 through Sunday, April 14, Carnegie Mellon University, Alumni Concert Hall, College of Fine Arts, 5000 Forbes Ave, Pittsburgh. Campus map here: https://www.cmu.edu/assets/pdfs/cmu_map_8.5x11.pdf “$10 adults, $5 seniors, free for CMU and Pitt faculty, staff, and students. “Join us for an evening of Bernstein featuring the one-act opera, Trouble in Tahiti, and excerpts from West Side Story, Candide, and On The Town.” http://www.music.cmu.edu/events/822

“Make and Take Lip Balm and Bath Bombs”, Wednesday, April 11, 5:30PM-6:15PM, McKeesport Library. Preregistration required; register on the library calendar: http://www.eventkeeper.com/mars/xpages/M/MCKEESPT/ekp.cfm?curOrg=MCKEESPT#5518082 “Join us in making lip gloss and bath bombs from simple material. All ages. Under 14 must be accompanied by a guardian.” 

“Cooking Club: Mac and Cheese”, Wednesday, April 11, 5:30PM-6:30PM, Scott Township Library Preregistration required; register online: http://www.eventkeeper.com/mars/xpages/S/SCOTTTWP/ekp.cfm?curOrg=SCOTTTWP#5473802 “Come join us for Cooking Club, every second Wednesday of the month. We will swap recipes, talk favorite foods, and taste and make a dish together. This month, we’ll be making Mac and Cheese from scratch. The real stuff is so much better than the box—come see (and taste) for yourself!” 

“Homeschool CSI: iMapInvasives”, Thursday, April 12, 9AM-12PM, Jennings Environmental Center, 2951 Prospect Rd., Slippery Rock. Ages 5 and up. $3 per person or $12 per family. Preregistration required; register online: http://events.dcnr.pa.gov/event/homeschool_csi_imapinvasives "Join Jennings staff for the next in a series of citizen science investigations (CSI) for homeschooling families; iMapInvasives. Designed for students ages 5 and older, this program will demonstrate how families can contribute to scientific research by observing and photographing plants and animals that have become a “problem” in Pennsylvania and are considered invasive. Invasive species are plants or animals that are outside their normal range and cause damage to or push-out native species. Families will work together to discover what invasive species are invading Jennings. We will use our knowledge to make real-life observations and report our findings using iMapInvasives, an online way to report the locations of invasive species in Pennsylvania and beyond.” 

“Teen Gender and Sexuality Alliance”, Thursday, April 12, 5PM, Carnegie Main Library Oakland; and Tuesday, April 17, 6PM, Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh Beechview. “The Teen Gender and Sexuality Alliance (GSA) is a place where you can be yourself! We’re a group of LGBTQIA teens and allies who are having fun, being supportive, learning about local resources, and striving to make our community stronger.” 

“Yom HaShoah Commemoration 2018”, Thursday, April 12, 7PM, Jewish Community Center, Katz Auditorium, 5738 Darlington Rd., Pittsburgh. Free and open to the public. Preregistration required; register online: http://hcofpgh.org/yom-hashoah/ “Yom HaShoah, or Holocaust Remembrance Day, is the day set aside to remember the approximately six-million Jewish victims of the Holocaust. In Israel, it is a national memorial day. The Holocaust Center has been holding a community-wide commemoration since the establishment of the Center in 1980. The commemoration includes a candle-lighting ceremony. Six candles are lit in memory of the six million and two additional candles are lit in honor of the Righteous and the Liberators – – those non-Jews who risked their lives to save the lives of their Jewish friends and neighbors. The candle-lighters comprise of local survivors, community members, and lay leaders who have a connection to the year’s topic. This Year’s Yom HaShoah commemoration will honor local survivors and their families. The program will include sections from The Holocaust Center of Pittsburgh’s publication Flares of Memory.” 

“Teen Anime Club”, Thursday, April 12 and Thursday, April 26, 4PM-5:30PM, Shaler North Hills Library, Glenshaw. Grades 7-12. “Snacks, anime, and discussion!” 

“Steel City Slam”, Thursday, April 12, 8PM-10PM, City of Asylum Alphabet City Center, 40 W North Ave., Pittsburgh. $10. “Steel City Slam hosts Pittsburgh’s annual poetry slam championship! Pittsburgh’s top slam poets will compete for a cash prize and the right to represent Pittsburgh at the National Poetry Slam in Chicago. 13 poets will enter, 4 will make the team, and only one will leave as champion!” http://www.alphabetcity.org/events/steel-city-slam/

“The Homestead Strike, 1892”, Thursday, April 12, 7PM-8:45PM, Mt. Lebanon Library. “Join Jerry Fitzgibbon, docent and interpretive historian for the Rivers of Steel Heritage Area for a presentation on the Homestead Strike of 1892. 126 years later, the Homestead Strike of 1892 retains its capacity to shock. It was a defining event which revealed in the starkest terms the respective strength of labor and management in America in the 1890s. The crushing defeat of the workers meant that there would be no recognized trade unionism and collective bargaining in steel and other heavy industries until the 1930s. On one side was the Carnegie Steel Corporation, the world’s largest manufacturing firm at the time. Representing labor was the Amalgamated Association of Iron and Steel Workers. Founded in 1876, it was one of the largest unions in the country with a membership of over 20,000. On July 6, 1892, they would all have a rendezvous with destiny. Jerry Fitzgibbon is a former employee of the US Steel plant in Homestead. After the mill closed in 1986 he re-careered into computers and retired from the Information Technologies Department of the PA House of Representatives. He is a docent and interpretive historian for the Rivers of Steel Heritage Area, and a board member of the Battle of Homestead Foundation. He gives talks on the labor battle at the historic Pump House, site of the 1892 event.” 

“In-Gallery Music with the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra”, Thursdays, April 12 and May 10, 5:30PM-8PM, Carnegie Museum of Art, 4400 Forbes Ave., Pittsburgh. Free with admission. “A cash bar opens at 5:30, with repeat performances and conversations at 6:15, 6:45, and 7:15. Don’t miss CMOA and the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra bringing you the sights and sounds of the Enlightenment era! Visit our new exhibition, Visions of Order and Chaos: The Enlightened Eye for a special in-gallery music series on three different evenings. Just drop in for informal, intriguing conversations on art and music. PSO musicians will perform music from the 18th and 19th centuries among period works of art. Discover the intersections in the arts that inspired a generation of creative personalities from Chopin to Beethoven. We’ll explore a different theme each month including romanticism, patriotism, and human imagination. While you’re here, stop by the bar for an opportunity to exchange ideas with curator Lulu Lippincott and researcher Costas Karakatsanis.” https://cmoa.org/event/in-gallery-music-with-the-pittsburgh-symphony-orchestra/

“More Than Just Mosaics: The Ancient Synagogue at Huqoq in Galilee”, Thursday, April 12, 7:30PM, Pittsburgh Theological Seminary, Kelso Museum of Near Eastern Archaeology, 616 N Highland Ave, Pittsburgh. Free. “Since 2011, Professor Jodi Magness has been directing excavations in the ancient village of Huqoq in Israel's Galilee. The excavations have brought to light the remains of a monumental Late Roman (fifth century) synagogue building that is paved with stunning and unique mosaics, including depictions of the biblical hero Samson, Noah's Ark, and the first non-biblical story ever discovered decorating an ancient synagogue. In this slide-illustrated lecture, Professor Magness describes these exciting finds, including the discoveries made in last summer's season. For more information visit www.huqoq.org. The Kelso Museum of Near Eastern Archaeology will be open from 6:30-7:15 p.m. and after the lecture. The lecture and reception to follow are free and open to the public.” https://www.pts.edu/Archaeology-Lectures

“Suffrage and Sappho: 75 Years of Wonder Woman!”, Thursday, April 12, 7PM, Bethel Park Library. “Presented by Wayne Wise. Wonder Woman first appeared in Sensation Comics in 1942. Since that time she has been recognized as the foremost female superhero, influencing generations of creators and characters. Join us for a presentation of her history, the background story of her creation, and the ongoing story of her influence, both in comics and the world.” 

“From ‘Gettysburg’ to ‘Cold Mountain’, an Insider’s View”, Thursday, April 12, 6:30PM-8PM, Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Hall, 4141 5th Ave., Pittsburgh. Free. “Since the days of silent film the Civil War has been both a popular topic and background dressing for Hollywood. Whether history is portrayed authentically or not in film many people come away believing what they see, therefore the film industry shapes what the public comes to see as fact. The Civil War has been romanticized, fictionalized, stereotyped and sanitized for years. Ever wonder what it’s like to see a major film created and have a say in production? Soldiers and Sailors, Curator Michael Kraus has been an historical consultant for military scenes on two major films, ‘Gettysburg’ and ‘Cold Mountain’. Come hear a background history of the Civil War in film and see behind the scenes of two popular modern films about the war.” https://soldiersandsailorshall.org/event/spotlight-gettysburg-cold-mountain-insiders-view/

“Identifying Invasive Species”, Thursday, April 12, 7PM-8:30PM, Northland Library, Pittsburgh. Preregistration required; register online: http://www.eventkeeper.com/mars/xpages/N/NORTHLAND/ek.cfm?curOrg=NORTHLAND#5514891 “Are there intruders living in your garden or in the woods behind your house? These invasive species are plants, animals, or fungus that are not native to our area. Join Matt Trudeau, assistant naturalist from North Park, as he discusses just what these intruders are, where they come from, and how they effect our ecosystems and lives.” 

“Urinetown”, Thursday, April 12 through Sunday, April 14, Washington and Jefferson College, Olin Fine Arts Center, 60 S. Lincoln St., Washington, PA. Campus map here: http://www2.washjeff.edu/map/ Tickets $12 adults, $10 seniors and non-WJC students, $7 children. “Don’t let the title fool you! This Tony-award winning musical is a fun-filled, satirical tribute to musical theatre traditions, and its story pits the little guy against a big, bad and manipulative corporation. In this city there is a water-shortage that has led to a government-enforced regulation and ban of all but public, pay-to-pee toilets, and the consequence for anyone caught breaking the law is brutal. One unlikely leader steps up to aid the less fortunate and lead them to freedom, but will that freedom mean the world is a better place?” http://www.washjeff.edu/communication-arts-department-theatre-productions

Carnegie Mellon School of Drama Presents, “A Bright Room Called Day”, April 12-14 and April 24-28, Carnegie Mellon University, Philip Chosky Theater Thrust, Purnell Center for the Arts, 5000 Forbes Ave, Pittsburgh. Campus map here: https://www.cmu.edu/assets/pdfs/cmu_map_8.5x11.pdf Tickets $10-35. “"This Age wanted heroes. It got us instead.” “Find yourself in Berlin, 1932 during the twilight months of the Weimar Republic. While fascist forces move to seize control of the government, a group of communists, artists and intellectuals gather to trade stories and drown their fears. Tony Kushner's poetic and incendiary play follows these women and men as they strive to preserve a world that is tearing apart. In A Bright Room Called Day, the demons of the past are the prophets of the future.” http://drama.cmu.edu/box-office/bright-room/

“Reptile and Amphibian Program”, Friday, April 13, 6:30PM, Beaver County Conservation District Classroom, 156 Cowpath Rd., Aliquippa. Donations requested. “Join us for one of our most popular educational programs!! April Claus joins us with her critters to teach us about the reptiles and amphibians that call Pennsylvania home. All ages welcome for this interactive experience. Meet turtles, snakes and frogs up close!” https://www.beavercountyconservationdistrict.org/aboretum-programs

“Thaddeus Phillips: Inflatable Space”, Friday, April 13 and Saturday, April 14, 8PM, KST Alloy Studios, 5530 Penn Ave., Pittsburgh. “Pay What Makes You Happy! Tickets for this event are available at any price. Simply choose the level that makes you happy—or name your own! All seats are general admission. For his latest work, award-winning director/designer/performer Thaddeus Phillips teams up with critically acclaimed actor Ean Sheehy to deploy an assemblage of custom-crafted inflatable scenery that expands, contracts and collapses as he explores a universe of creation and destruction. Starting with a reprinted edition of Carl Sagan’s legendary Golden Record—humanity’s most viable message to other worlds, launched into space in 1977—Phillips theatrically examines a selected archival history of life on earth. Visually stunning, Inflatable Space features Phillips’ playful work weaves together idiosyncratic juxtapositions in a dramatic tale about possible extraterrestrial life, moments on earth and new interstellar discoveries. Colombian pop star, Juan Gabirel Turbay creates a sonic landscape using the tracks on the Golden Record while LA based video artist, Spencer Sheridan delivers a playful and evocative video design that launches this work beyond normal theatrical conventions.” https://kelly-strayhorn.org/events/thaddeus-phillips-inflatable-space/

“Steel City Con”, Friday, April 13 through Sunday, April 15, Monroeville Convention Center, 209 Mall Plaza Blvd, Monroeville. “The Steel City Con is the exclusive comic con of the Monroeville Convention Center. It is one of the largest comic cons in the United States with over 100,000 square feet of convention space and filled with 750 vendor tables, artist alley, and celebrity guests. At the Steel City Con you can meet TV and film celebrities along with experience celebrity Q and A’s, panels, celebrity photo ops, and the Artist Charity Quick Sketch. You can also take part in the Steel City Con’s cosplay, trivia contest and costume contests!” https://www.steelcitycon.com

“Youth Maker Night: Book Binding (Grades 6-8)”, Friday, April 13, 5PM-7PM, Assemble, 4824 Penn Ave., Pittsburgh. Free. Preregistration required; register online: http://assemblepgh.org/event/youth-maker-night-book-binding-grades-6-8/ “Design your own hand-bound book. We will use a variety of materials like cassettes, magazines, repurposed materials, and a variety of colorful paper. Learn all about DIY bookbinding with Guest Expert Tess Wilson. Youth Maker Night is a free, interactive monthly workshop for students in grades 6-8! Make new friends in a community setting while participating in hands-on STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math) projects led by Guest Experts. No experience necessary; just bring yourself and an excitement for learning! Pizza and snacks provided. Please email Hannah at hannah@assemblepgh.org if your student has any dietary restrictions.” 

“Seed Library Start-Up”, Saturday, April 14, 1:30PM-4:30PM, Moon Township Library. “We have a suggested donation of $1 or more to help our seed library take root. Be a Seed Library Starter! We are starting a seed library and want you to help it grow. Patrons of all ages will help us develop our seed collection by making seed paper and seed balls. Once you've made a seed ball or seed paper for us, take one with you to start your garden at home. Note: Making seed balls and seed paper can get messy, so wear clothes you don't mind getting dirty.” 

Friends of Phillips Park Presents "Spring Into Shakespeare", Saturday, April 14, 12PM-2PM, Phillips Park, 201 Parkfield St., Pittsburgh. Donations requested. Preregistration required; register online: https://www.showclix.com/event/springintoshakespeare “The Friends of Phillips Park and The New Renaissance Theatre Company present Spring into Shakespeare, a 2-hour workshop that will get you on your feet to experience the Bard in a whole new way. The Unrehearsed Cue Script Technique is an historically informed practice based upon the working conditions of Shakespeare and his contemporaries. Learn to read Shakespeare like one of his actors as you explore this fast-paced and physical performance technique with The New Renaissance Theatre Company's Artistic Director Andy Kirtland. Become familiar with this fun unique approach to Shakespeare before NRTC brings the Unrehearsed Shakespeare Project summer tour production of 'As you Like it' to Phillips Park. All ages are welcome, but space is limited, so be sure to reserve your place in advance.” 

“Auditioning 101”, Saturday, April 14, 2PM-3PM, Peters Township Library, McMurray. Grades 6 and up. Preregistration required; register online: https://www.ptlibrary.org/event/auditioning-101/ “Instructor: Val Williams. Have you ever thought about trying out for a role in your school’s or community’s next theater production? The library is holding a workshop full of great tips to help your audition go smoothly! We invite grades 6 and up to take advantage of this opportunity!” 

“Homeschool Discussion with Dr. Maria Wheeler-Dubas”, Saturday, April 14, 2PM-4PM, Bethel Park Municipal Building, Council Chambers, 5100 W. Library Ave., Bethel Park. Preregistration required; Register by emailing Samantha at humbleleehomeschooled@gmail.com with the number of people attending. “Join us for a homeschool discussion. Dr. Maria Wheeler-Dubas is the science education outreach coordinator at Phipps Conservatory. Being homeschooled from K – 12 herself, Dr. Wheeler-Dubas went on to earn her Ph.D. in biology from Duquesne University. All are welcome! New or experienced homeschoolers; Families contemplating homeschooling; Homeschool students with questions.” https://www.facebook.com/events/204615110309859/

“Hummers at Home and Project Nestwatch”, Saturday, April 14, 12PM, 3 locations: Beechwood Farms Nature Reserve, Succop Nature Park, and Todd Nature Store. Free. Preregistration required; register online: http://aswp.org/events “This combined Citizen Science program looks at two important citizen science programs you and your family can participate in. Hummers at Home monitor hummingbirds and how they must sync their migration and nesting times with the flowering of nectar-bearing plants. Nestwatch is a nationwide monitoring program designed to track status and trends in the reproductive biology of birds, including when nesting occurs, number of eggs laid, how many eggs hatch, and how many hatchlings survive.” 

“Wildflowers and Acrylics”, Saturday, April 14, 4PM-6PM, Raccoon Creek State Park, 3000 State Route 18, Hookstown. $15 per person. Preregistration required; register online: http://events.dcnr.pa.gov/event/wildflowers_and_acrylics “The Friends of Raccoon Creek State Park has partnered with Artist Lora Russell to bring you " Wildflowers and Acrylics" at the park. We invite anyone from beginner to skilled artist to learn and practice their artistic talents while enjoying the spring wildflowers at Raccoon Creek State Park. Both children and adults are welcome to attend this program on painting wildflowers with acrylics. All art supplies are provided.” 

“Trafford Jr. Tamburitzans”, Saturday, April 14, 4PM, The Lamp Theater, 222 Main St., Irwin. $10. Tickets here: http://lamptheatre.org/event/614-2-2-3-2-3-2-2/ “Join The Jr. Tamburitzans for their 47th annual concert. The TJT consists of young performers from the Pittsburgh area who celebrate, preserve, and perform Eastern European music and dance. This year a special guest will join them. Toronto, Ontario, Canada’s Kodaly Ensemble. Don’t miss this one of a kind show.” http://traffordjuniortamm.wixsite.com/tamburitzans

“Rich Gazarik: Prohibition Pittsburgh”, Saturday, April 14, 12PM-1PM, Jeannette Library (preregistration required; call 724-523-5702); and Wednesday, April 18, 6:30-7:30PM, Murrysville Library. “Rich Gazarik’s latest book, Prohibition Pittsburgh, explores the impact prohibition had on the city. Pittsburgh is a hardworking city. And hard workers sometimes enjoy the occasional spirit. So, when Prohibition hit the Steel City, it created a level of violence and corruption residents had never witnessed. Join author Richard Gazarik as he details the shady side of the Steel City during a tumultuous era. Gazarik is a former reporter for the Tribune-Review and has written several books about historical events in the Pittsburgh area.” 

“A Tribute to Ella Fitzgerald”, Saturday, April 14, 7:30PM, Hillman Center for the Performing Arts, Shady Side Academy Senior School, 423 Fox Chapel Rd., Pittsburgh. Tickets here: https://www.thehillman.org/shows/special-events “First Lady of Song Ella Fitzgerald was the most popular female jazz singer in the United States for more than half a century, winning 13 Grammy awards and selling more than 40 million albums. In celebration of her 100th year, this special tribute presents many of her original big band arrangements, some of which have not been heard in concert in more than 40 years.” 

“BodyTraffic”, Saturday, April 14, 8PM, Byham Theater, 101 6th St., Pittsburgh. Tickets here: https://www.trustarts.org/production/53467/bodytraffic “Named “the company of the future” by The Joyce Theater Foundation, BodyTraffic is already internationally recognized for their flawless talent. Working with the best choreographers in the world, the repertory company of seven dancers offers incredible range through an evening of three vastly contrasting pieces. Dust, with choreography and music by Hofesh Shechter, takes a dark look at the power and commercialism that steer today’s society and asks us to question what is important. After all eventually we all turn to dust. o2Joy is an expression of sheer exuberance through great American jazz and playful, contemporary dance. Choreographer Richard Siegal’s work is peppered with syncopated hip-hop and drenched in light-hearted humor. Finally, Once Again Before You Go by Victor Quijada, eloquently re-imagines and de-constructs choreographic principles and hip-hop ideology, examining humanity through a unique fusion of aesthetics.” 

“38th Annual Latin American and Caribbean Festival”, Saturday, April 14, 12PM-8PM, Center for Latin American Studies at Pitt, 4200 Posvar Hall, 230 South Bouquet St., Pittsburgh. “The Center for Latin American Studies (CLAS) at the University of Pittsburgh’s University Center for International Studies will be hosting the 38th Annual Latin American and Caribbean Festival from noon to 8:00 p.m. on Saturday, April 14, 2018 in the Galleria, and Patio of Wesley W. Posvar Hall, 230 South Bouquet Street. Beginning at noon, the festival will feature Latin American and Caribbean food, arts, crafts, and information on local and regional organizations. Latin American vendors also will offer handmade and authentic Latin American products. Music and dance performances from Latin America and the Caribbean will take place throughout the day.” https://www.facebook.com/events/181884709066264/

“Painting Pittsburgh Workshop”, Saturday, April 14, 11AM, Trust Arts Education Center, 807 Liberty Ave., Pittsburgh. $25. Preregistration required; register online: https://trustarts.org/registration/53924 “Students will create a painting of Pittsburgh inspired by an image they select. Paintings may be realistic or abstracted relevant to students' ability and desire. Various painting techniques will be discussed and practiced. Supply list: An apron or smock to protect clothing; photograph or image that you want to paint.” 

“Mushroom Education Day 2018”, Saturday, April 14, Cooper-Siegel Community Library, 403 Fox Chapel Rd., Pittsburgh. “Each session is $10; the full day is $20. A free mushroom walk at nearby Salamander Park will follow. The morning classes, suitable for beginners, will provide an introduction to mushrooms, as well as a focus on Morels. The afternoon will include an introduction to mushroom cultivation and a workshop on how to use iNaturalist.” Schedule and registration details here: http://wpamushroomclub.org/events/mushroom-education-classes/

“Crochet Coasters with Morgan”, Saturday, April 14, 2:30-4:30PM, Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh Downtown and Business Branch. “Join us for an afternoon of crocheting! From amateur crafters to experts–all are welcome. No registration is necessary for these sessions. Seating for all workshops is available to 20 participants on a first-come, first-served basis. You’ll want to come early to be sure you MAKE it on time.” 

“Jazz Collage Workshop”, Saturday, April 14, 11AM, Trust Arts Education Center, 807 Liberty Ave., Pittsburgh. $25. Preregistration required; register online: https://trustarts.org/registration/53930 “A collage and multimedia workshop for all skill levels, inspired by artist Romare Bearden and jazz greats! Learn about jazz legends and artist Romare Bearden - and his connections to Pittsburgh! We’ll create artwork inspired by live jazz music and our own memories, using a variety of art materials and techniques. Everyone can be successful in this fun, step-by-step workshop. Make a collage of your own to share your love of jazz! Live music by the Thomas Wendt Quartet.” 

“Great Ladies of the 19th Century Tea”, Saturday, April 14, 11AM-2PM, Hartwood Acres Estate, 200 Hartwood Acres, Pittsburgh. Ages 12 and up. $41, or $33 for Allegheny County residents. Preregistration required; register online: https://apm.activecommunities.com/alleghenyparks/Activity_Search/ha-great-ladies-of-the-19th-century-tea/2018 “Expanding on last year's Jane Austen Tea, this new gourmet dessert tea will focus on lady authors of the 1800s, including Alcott, Austin, Stowe and more! Choose from a selection of delicious confections and enjoy a lovely afternoon in our magnificent Great Hall. The event will finish with a tour of our beautiful English Tudor Style mansion.” 

“Wildflower Hike”, Saturday, April 14, 2PM-4PM, White Oak Park, 3 Muse Lane, McKeesport, PA; and Sunday, April 15, 2PM-4PM, Deer Lakes Park, 1090 Baileys Run Rd., Tarentum, PA. Free. Preregistration required; register online: https://apm.activecommunities.com/alleghenyparks/Home# “Bloodroot, Spring Beauty, Trout Lilly and Trillium are starting to emerge. Join our Park Rangers in a search for blooming wildflowers, learn how to identify them using field guides, and explore the flower's role in its ecosystem. Many flowers only bloom for a short time, so you never know what we will discover!” 

“Bigfoot Fest 2018”, Saturday, April 14, 1PM-4PM, Frank Sarris Library, Canonsburg. “A Town Hall Event – Keynote speaker is Doug Waller, Founder of the Southeastern Ohio Society for Bigfoot Investigation. Special guests include Tony Merkel of The Confessionals Podcast and Bigfoot eyewitness Dave Groves.” 

“Farm to Table Western PA Annual Conference”, Saturday, April 14 and Sunday, April 15, David L. Lawrence Convention Center, 1000 Fort Duquesne Blvd., Pittsburgh. General admission is $20 for one day admission, kids 12 and under free. Others can attend for free too (the “teachers” category is for homeschool teachers also!): https://farmtotablepa.com/free-registration-farm-table-conference-select-groups “The theme is Buy Local! The conference provides consumers with two days of networking and educational opportunities. Seasonal cooking demonstrations, gardening, and information about the nutritional value of local food are presented by local experts. Meet with other Locavores to discuss ideas about where their food comes from and where to find businesses and organizations who can provide them with healthy food and healthy lifestyle choices.” https://farmtotablepa.com/conference

“Spring Garden Workshop”, Saturday, April 14, 9AM-4PM, Old Economy Village, 270 16th St., Ambridge. Details TBA: http://oldeconomyvillage.org

“Citizen Science: Hummingbirds”, Sunday, April 15, 2PM-3PM, Mt. Lebanon Library, Meeting Room A. For school-aged children through adults. “Everybody loves these flying jewels. Discover fascinating facts about these feisty little guys and how you can help Hummingbirds@Home. Audubon’s newest citizen science program encourages people to make their yards great for hummingbirds, and then report on who visits!” 

“Hike with a Naturalist: Tree Communities”, Sunday, April 15, 10AM-12PM, Frick Environmental Center, 2005 Beechwood Blvd., Pittsburgh. Free. Preregistration required; register online: https://www.pittsburghparks.org/park-events “We are lucky to live in a city with so many trees! The woodlands of Frick Park are home to a diversity of tree species that depend on and support a community of many other plants, fungi, and animals. Join Naturalist Educator Stephen Bucklin on a hike to learn more about the incredible relationships that exist between trees and the other organisms who make their home in our parks. While this is an all-ages event, it is geared towards teenagers and adults. Children should be accompanied by an adult. This hike is rain or shine. Weather-appropriate clothes and footwear with good tread are encouraged. Hike will meet at the Frick Environmental Center.” 

“Signs of Spring Hike”, Sunday, April 15, 2PM-4PM, South Park; and Tuesday, April 17, 11AM-1PM and 6PM-8PM, North Park Latodami Nature Center; Free. Preregistration required; register online: https://apm.activecommunities.com/alleghenyparks/ “Winter is almost over, and nature knows it! Come explore the County Parks with a Park Ranger and learn how local flora and fauna prepare for longer days and warmer weather. We will look for blooming flowers and fungi, returning migrators, and emerging hibernators! Bring water and wear hiking shoes (spring showers can make for muddy trails).” 

“April Art Song Recital”, Sunday, April 15, 2PM-4PM, Pittsburgh Opera, 2425 Liberty Ave., Pittsburgh. $5. “This Art Song recital will feature Resident Artists Andy Berry and Leah de Gruyl. Friends of Pittsburgh Opera are your hosts at the reception." https://www.pittsburghopera.org/calendar/detail/april-art-song-recital

“Mother of All Pottery Sales”, Sunday, April 15, 10AM-5PM, Union Project, 801 N. Negley Ave., Pittsburgh. “A free, family-friendly event. Come celebrate all things clay at our 5th annual Mother of All Pottery Sales - the biggest clay celebration in Pittsburgh that brings talented ceramic artists and pottery lovers together under one roof! Join us this year for hands-on activities in the studio, a live demonstration from professional ceramic artists Jen Allen and Shoji Satake, a clay activity in the studio with Mattress Factory, and a sale featuring locally made pottery from 30 of the region’s top ceramic artists. Sustenance will be available for purchase through the food truck BRGR at noon and Leona's Ice Cream.” https://unionproject.org/events/mother-all-pottery-sales-2018

“Maker Mondays: Hydroponic Gardening”, Monday, April 16, 6:30PM-7:30PM, Moon Township Library. Preregistration required; register online. “Learn some STEAM skills with this makerspace workshop. Get started with DIY hydroponic gardening by making your own passive hydroponic planter out of a soda bottle. This project will require you to bring your own 2-liter soda bottle. You can bring your own seeds or take some from our new seed library. Note: This program is intended for adults but teens and pre-teens with parental supervision may attend. 

“War Stories from Pittsburgh's WWII Veterans”, Monday, April 16, 7PM-8:30PM, Upper St. Clair Township Library. Preregistration required; register online: http://www.eventkeeper.com/mars/xpages/T/TWPUSC/ek.cfm?curOrg=TWPUSC#5411395 “Todd DePastino knows how to tell a good story. As an award-winning historian, that’s his job. But for the past six years, he's been focused on listening. And the stories he's heard—some beautiful and heartbreaking, others gut-wrenching—are largely about war. Todd is co-founder and director of the Veterans Breakfast Club, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to gathering veterans of all eras and generations together to share their stories of service. Using photographs of the veterans he’s met and interviewed, Todd will tell the extraordinary WWII stories he’s heard from veterans living in the region and will also discuss his quest to preserve and celebrate them.” 

“Frank Preston - the Man, the Moment, and the Mission”, Tuesday, April 17, 1PM-3PM, Moraine State Park, State Parks Region 2 Office Conference Room 195 Park Rd., Prospect. “Dr. Frank W. Preston was the visionary behind Moraine State Park. He was the right man, in the right place, at the right time to realize his dream of "Moraineland." Polly Shaw, author of the book “Images of Modern America Moraine State Park”, will share images and insights into the life of Dr. Frank W. Preston. Born in England, he operated a business as a glass technologist in Meridian while pursuing his vast interests in geology, ornithology, the out-of-doors, and his personal mission to recreate the glacial lake.” http://events.dcnr.pa.gov/event/frank_preston_-_the_man_the_moment_and_the_mission

“Mystery Book Club”, Tuesday, April 17, 1PM-2:30PM, Brentwood Library, Pittsburgh. “The Mystery Book Club meets every 6 weeks. Stop by the library to sign up and get a copy of this month’s selection.” 

“Inkblots: a middle school writing group (grades 6-8)”, Tuesday, April 17, 5:30PM-7:30PM, Northland Library, Pittsburgh. “We will meet the third Tuesday of every month. A monthly meet-up for young writers! Each month writers will receive a prompt to write for the following meet-up. This supportive, encouraging group will offer critiques, suggestions, and praise as we share our writing. No registration required.” 

“Cookbook Club”, Tuesday, April 17, 6:30PM-8:30PM, Brentwood Library, Pittsburgh. “Calling all cooks! This group that meets the third Tuesday of every month (except November, when it's the second Tuesday) is for cooks of all ages and all skill levels. At these pot-luck style meetings, you supply the food, and the library supplies drinks, utensils, dishes, etc. The library also makes cook books available according to each theme. April's theme is Lovely Legumes--vegetarian dishes made with lentils, beans, buts, peas, and other legumes. Join us! Call Tracy at 412-882-5694 with questions or to join the club.” 

“Native Plant Center Volunteer Sessions”, Tuesday, April 17 and Tuesday, April 24, 11AM and 4PM, Beechwood Farms Nature Reserve. Free. Preregistration required; register online: http://aswp.org/events “Volunteers are needed to help ASWP grow and care for native plants. Tasks may include sowing seed, repotting, watering, and other general nursery tasks. Volunteers will gain hands-on experience with native plants and plant propagation. All materials will be provided, no experience necessary. Meet at the Audubon Center for Native Plants on the north side of the parking lot of Beechwood Farms Nature Reserve.” 

“Attracting Monarchs and Other Butterflies into Your Garden”, Tuesday, April 17, 7PM-8:30PM, Monroeville Library. “Master Gardener Patti Schildkamp will discuss some of the local area butterflies such as the Monarch, Painted Lady, Great Spangled Fritillary, Red Spotted Purple, Eastern Tiger Swallowtail, Spicebush Swallowtail, Giant Swallowtail, Buckeye, and Eastern Tailed Blue. She will review the host plants that feed the caterpillars and the plants that supply nectar to the butterflies. Ms Schildkamp will show photos of the butterflies, their lifecycle stages, and their favorite plants, and will provide several fact sheets for both butterflies and plants. The Monarch butterfly will be spotlighted with regard to what is needed to raise butterflies from eggs to emerging adults, their migration patterns, butterfly tagging, and registering a garden as a Monarch Waystation. She will identify books and links to butterfly-related information.” 

K-Theatre Dance Complex Presents “Twisted Tales”, Tuesday, April 17, 7PM-9PM, Kelly Strayhorn Theater, 5530 Penn Ave., Pittsburgh. Adults $20, kids 14 and under $10. “Take a journey down memory lane through K-Theatre’s adaptation of childhood fairy tales through dance.” https://www.facebook.com/events/2037601763190094/

“Tick Identification and Prevention”, Tuesday, April 17, 7:30PM-8:30PM, LL Bean Ross Park Mall, 1000 Ross Park Mall Dr., Pittsburgh. Free. Preregistration required; register online: https://www.llbean.com/llb/ods/33?nav=ftlink&STORE_CITY_STATE=[22]&EVENT_TYPE=[0]&EVENT_LEVEL=[0]&PRICE_RANGE=[0] “Safety is always a top priority. Come learn how to prevent your exposure to ticks and how to safely remove them when you are on an outdoor adventure.” 

“Intro to 3D Printing”, Tuesday, April 17, 7PM, Bethel Park Library. Grades 3-8. Preregistration required; info here: http://www.eventkeeper.com/code/rocketsearch/rs_event.cfm?curOrg=BETHPARK&tfem=false&eID=5490893 “This class will show students how our 3D printer works and what applications 3D printers have in the real world. We will also introduce them to Tinkercad— a free, online 3D design program.” 

“Mystery Readers Book Club”, Tuesday, April 17, 7PM-9PM, Mt. Lebanon Library, Pittsburgh. “This group reads selections from a wide variety of mystery genres. April’s book is Secrets of Wishtide by Kate Saunders. “In 1850 England, 52-year-old Laetitia Rodd finds herself in reduced circumstances after the death of her archdeacon husband. Living with a friend in Hampstead, she pays her bills by occasionally acting as a private investigator for her barrister brother. It's just such a case that sends her to Wishtide, the home of Lord Calderstone in Lincolnshire, to work undercover as a governess and ferret out information about the mysterious fiancée of the nobleman's son. Before long, she's also trying to solve a murder.” 

“Stamp Club”, Tuesday, April 17, 6:30-8PM, Peters Township Library, McMurray. Preregistration required; register at the circulation desk. “Third Tuesday of the month. Spend your time with Kings and Queens, Sports Legends, Movie Stars and more! You can start your own art collection, connect with the past, or travel to far and mysterious lands. Come and learn the basics, expand your collection and meet with others who share your interests.” 

“Simple Automotive Care”, Tuesday, April 17, 7PM-8:15PM, Jefferson Hill Municipal Building Community Room. Preregistration required; register online: http://www.eventkeeper.com/mars/xpages/J/JEFFBORO/ekp.cfm?curOrg=JEFFBORO#5516402 “If you know nothing or next to nothing about the simple care of your car, we have the perfect seminar for you! Knoll Automotive Services will join us to show us lots of great care and maintenance tips. The Knolls will also award door prizes at their seminar.” 

“Nature at Night: Frog Spotting”, Wednesday, April 18, 7PM, Powdermill Nature Reserve, 1795 Route 381, Rector. Free. “Frogs do most of their calling in the evening, and they are most active in the spring! Join us for an evening of listening and looking for frogs. We will start out at the Nature Center where we will go over some frog calls, then head over to the ponds to see what we can hear!” https://carnegiemnh.org/visitor/powdermill-nature-reserve/ 

“Painting in the Park”, Wednesday, April 18, 6PM-8PM, Butler County Parks and Recreation, 184 Alameda Park Rd., Butler. Ages 12 and up. $30 per canvas. Preregistration required; call 724-284-5383. “Join Butler County Parks and Recreation as we bring back a fan favorite of Painting in the Park! Don't know how to paint? Don't worry about that, our instructor Sandra will be with you every step of the way as we break it down to make a masterpiece something anyone can paint. Ages 12 years of age or older permitted. Must have 8 painters registered for this class to run.” http://www.co.butler.pa.us/Parks-and-Rec-programs

“Homeschool Day”, Wednesday, April 18, Fort Ligonier, 200 South Market St., Ligonier. “Hands-on educational programming especially for homeschool and cyber school students. Take advantage of the $9 per person Early Bird Registration which opens on March 26 through April 8. $12 per person after April 8. Contact Candace @ cgross@fortligonier.org or 724-238-9701 for details.” http://fortligonier.org/news-events/events-calendar/

“Teen Book Discussion about M.T. Anderson's FEED”, Wednesday, April 18, 4PM-6PM, Scott Township Library. Preregistration required; register oniine: http://www.eventkeeper.com/mars/xpages/S/SCOTTTWP/ekp.cfm?curOrg=SCOTTTWP#5474645 “Get together with other teens to talk about technology, algorithms, marketing, and advertising through a discussion of M.T. Anderson's entertaining young adult sci-fi novel Feed. The novel is about two teenagers living in the future, when the internet is literally plugged into almost everyone's head. They negotiate how the internet keeps track of what they do, what they look at, etc. to target advertising straight to their brains. Does this kind of situation relate to the way you use the internet, or how companies try to figure out what to market to you? Do they somehow use YOUR interests to further their commercial interests? Please register (so we can have enough snacks!) and read the book ahead of time!” 

“Cook Book Club”, Wednesday, April 18, 1PM-3PM, Whitehall Library, Pittsburgh. “This club celebrates cookbooks and cooking! Club members will discuss and sample foods using recipes from selected cookbooks. Interested? Call the library (412-882-6622) to find out how to be a part of the next meeting. We're always cooking up something good!” 

“Genre Book Club – Audacity by Melanie Crowder”, Wednesday, April 18, 6:30PM-7:30PM, Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh Squirrel Hill. “Step out of your reading comfort zone! Each month Genre Book Club reads a book in a different genre and meets for a lively discussion. In April, the group will explore the genre of historical fiction by reading a young adult novel in verse, Audacity by Melanie Crowder.” http://melaniecrowder.net/books/audacity/

“After-school Career Month – Firefighters”, Wednesday, April 18, 4:30PM, McKeesport Library. Preregistration required; register online: http://www.eventkeeper.com/mars/xpages/M/MCKEESPT/ekp.cfm?curOrg=MCKEESPT#5468291 “April is Career Month, where we bring in guest speakers from all over the area to talk with kids about their jobs, career paths, education/training, etc. Kids will gain perspective on which jobs may be right for them and what they'll need to do to make it happen. Today's Career: Fire Department.” 

“Cherokee Peace Chief Visits Fort Ligionier”, Wednesday, April 18, 6PM, Fort Ligonier, 200 South Market St., Ligonier. $15 adults, $8 students 6-21, $12 members. “Join us for an engaging evening with Robert Rambo, portrayer of Attakullakulla - Cherokee Peace Chief. Known as the most important Indian of his day who led the largest tribe in North America as they struggled to survive a changing world.” http://www.ramboshistory.com/index.html http://fortligonier.org/news-events/events-calendar/

“Week of Will 2018- Shakespeare’s Birthday and Much More!”, Wednesday, April 18 through Monday, April 30, various venues. “Pittsburgh Shakespeare in the Park’s fourth year of live and online events celebrating William Shakespeare’s 454th birthday!” Events listed here: https://www.facebook.com/events/2510569255833999/

“Cheese Tasting with Wheel and Wedge”, Wednesday, April 18, 6:30PM-7:30PM, Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh West End. “Interested in learning about and tasting delicious American cheeses? Of course you are! Cheesemonger and owner of Wheel and Wedge, Alix Wiggins, believes American-made cheeses rival the best international cheeses out there, and wants to get them in the hands of Pittsburghers. We hope you can join us when she visits CLP-West End for a tasty and informational session about all things cheese.” 

“Cooking by the Book”, Wednesday, April 18, 6:30PM-7:30PM, Sharpsburg Library, Pittsburgh. Library phone 412.781.0783. “Do you like to cook? Bring a dish to share and a copy of the recipe to Cooking by the Book! In April, our theme is Favorite Dish! Whether it’s a comfort food or something you discovered recently, we want to taste your favorites! Please RSVP by Monday, April 16.” 

Staycee Pearl Dance Project and Soy Sos Presents “worx”, Thursday, April 19 and Friday, April 20, 8PM, Kelly Strayhorn Theater, 5530 Penn Ave., Pittsburgh. Tickets here: https://kelly-strayhorn.org/events/spdp-soy-sos-present-worx/ “A mixed repertory concert, worx will highlight some of Staycee Pearl Dance Project and Soy Sos’ formative pieces rooted in shared and personal history, identity, culture, and the now. The creative duo will share an excerpt of sol., a new soulful movement and sound experience. The concert also features …on being…, and excerpts from OCTAVIA and circlePOP.” 

“Afternoon Mystery Book Group”, Thursday, April 19, 2:30PM-4PM, Shaler North Hills Library, Glenshaw. “Love thrillers? Suspense? A good mystery? Join this group as we read the latest mystery and thriller books and discuss how well the author manages to ‘surprise’ us. Titles range from classics to recent authors, puzzle mysteries to ‘killers.’ Meets monthly. No registration required. Contact Beth Lawry.” 

“David Aitken visits the West Pittsburgh History Club”, Thursday, April 19, 11AM-12:30AM, Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh West End. “We hope you can join us when David Aitken, author of The Little Saw Mill Run Railroad: Its Life and Legacy’, visits the History Club to discuss the book and the research that went into his publication. Interested in Local History? The History Club is open to the public. Join us every month for a lively discussion!” 

“Day by Day with the 123rd Pennsylvania Volunteers”, Thursday, April 19, 7PM, Bethel Park Library. “Christopher D. George, a former Bethel Park resident, will share how he discovered the unique story of the 123d Pennsylvania Volunteers while delving into the genealogy of his own family. This Civil War regiment, comprised almost entirely of young men from Allegheny County, was led into battle by a Presbyterian minister during some of the darkest days for the North. Mr. George will bring the story of these ‘Christian soldiers’ to life by sharing the journals they kept as well as the extensive coverage they received within the local Pittsburgh newspapers.” 

“Mystery Lover’s Book Club”, Thursday, April 19, 6:30PM-8PM, Coraopolis Library. “Join us for a lively discussion re: this month's selection: The Good Daughter by Karin Slaughter.” 

“Deep Listening: A Healing Sound Concert”, Thursday, April 19, 6:30PM-7:30PM, Carnegie Music Hall, 4400 Forbes Ave., Pittsburgh. $10, $8 members, $5 students. Ages 10 and up. Tickets here: https://cmoa.org/event/deep-listening-a-healing-sound-concert-2/ We invite you on an auditory enterprise, a musical meditation, a vibration adventure. Experience a magnificent soundscape of crystal bowls and didgeridoo in the grand Carnegie Music Hall for a Healing Sound Concert with Vox Lumina and Octeel. This evening will delightfully combine the elements of sonic science, spiritual practice, and artistic expression. The performance will be followed by a Q and A with the artists. Participants sit in the Music Hall during this experience. Come ready to be relaxed and renewed! Please note, this concert experience is not recommended for children under 10 years of age (for purposes of maintaining an undisturbed listening space for all). Thank you for your consideration.” 

“Hamlet”, Thursday, April 19 through Sunday, May 20, O’Reilly Theater, 621 Penn Ave, Pittsburgh. Tickets here: https://www.ppt.org/production/51431/hamlet “A young man encounters the ghost of his slain father in this epic drama. Prince Hamlet feels his life spiraling out of control. His uncle, Claudius, has murdered the king, usurped the crown, and married Gertrude, Hamlet’s mother. Revenge has been ordered by the spirit of the dead monarch, but Hamlet is in turmoil. Fiercely intelligent and wildly passionate, this exploration of love, lust, and grief has enthralled theatergoers for centuries. The greatest play in the English language lives again in a new production on The Public’s stage.” 

“The Dresser”, Thursday, April 19 through Saturday, May 5, Little Lake Theatre, 500 Lakeside Dr., South, Canonsburg. Ages 13 and up. “Backstage at a London theatre during a WWII air raid, Sir, the last of the great breed of English actor, is in a bad way tonight and refuses to perform. Sir’s dresser, Norman, tries valiantly to prepare him to go on stage as King Lear. With Herculean effort on the part of Norman, Sir finally makes it on stage for the performance of his lifetime in this classic love letter to the theatre.”  https://www.littlelake.org/the-dresser

“Night Disc Golf”, Friday, April 20, 9:30PM, Butler County Parks and Recreation, 184 Alameda Park Rd., Butler. 25$ 2x Niteize night disc golf discs (1 putter and 1 driver), 10$ Bring your own discs. (This is a night round make sure they light up or glow). “Join us in the park after hours for a disc golf competition. Registration will be at 9:00pm and the event will start at 9:30pm. Chris Lachendro from the Professional Disc Golf Association will be helping to run these events at Alameda Park and we are so pleased to have him. This will be a Night Round on a temp course. The temp course will be setup next to the Purple park. Check-in from 8:45pm-9:15pm,we will have a short players meeting and then tee off at 9:30pm. This event is open to all skill levels and all money will be collected at the event.” http://www.co.butler.pa.us/Parks-and-Rec-programs

“Red Herring Book Club: Mystery Book Discussion Group”, Friday, April 20, 1PM-2PM, Carnegie Main Library Oakland. “Join us for lively discussions of your favorite mystery novels. Discussions are free and open to the public. No registration is necessary. We usually have copies of the current month’s book available for you to check out at the Ask a Librarian desk on the First Floor. Discussions are held in the Graphic Novels Room on the First Floor of the Main Library on the third Friday of the month at 1 p.m. This book group meets monthly from March through November. The theme for March through June 2018 is Female Sleuths. April’s book selection is Jane and the Unpleasantness at Scargrave Manor by Stephanie Barron — Fleeing from a broken engagement, Jane Austen has scarcely arrived in Scargrave when the local earl is felled by a mysterious ailment that is far too agonizing and fatal to be credited to his fondness for claret and pudding. The earl’s widow asks Jane to investigate.” 

“Fab(rication) Friday: Animated Automation”, Friday, April 20, 5PM-7PM, Assemble, 4824 Penn Ave., Pittsburgh. Grades 9-12. Preregistration required; register online: http://assemblepgh.org/event/fabrication-friday-animated-automation-grades-9-12/ “Build an automaton (a moving mechanical robot) of a fun character. Make it come to life by turning the lever! Learn the history and how mechanisms can be so artistic! Join Guest Expert Cynthia Andujar to learn all about constructing your own mini automaton! Fab(rication) Friday is a monthly creative workshop series for high schoolers! Hang out with friends in a community setting while participating in hands-on STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math) projects led by Guest Experts. No experience necessary! Pizza and all materials provided. Please RSVP in advance. If you have a dietary restriction, please email Hannah at hannah (@) assemblepgh.org or call 412.661.6111” 

“A Chocolate Tasting Tea with Sarris”, Friday, April 20, 7PM-9PM, South Park Township Library. Preregistration required; library phone 412-833-5585. “Sarris Candies, known for not only its superior rich taste, but adherence to high quality standards and exceptional customer service for over 50 years will educate us in the art of chocolate. We will sample and hear the history of Sarris Chocolates—a Pittsburgh Classic!” 

“Celebrate Jazz and Poetry Month with a Literary JAZZAMATAZZ”, Friday, April 20, 6PM-9PM, Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh Homewood. Preregistration required; email ubbcpgh@gmail.com. “United Black Book Clubs of Pittsburgh is celebrating Jazz Artists who have sung and spoke for Social Justice and who have birthdays in April. Live music, a cocktail hour and readings from the works of Paul Robeson, Gil Scott Heron, Jill Scott and Billie Holiday await participants.” 

“Star Parties”, Friday, April 20 and Saturday, April 21, Nicholas E. Wagman Observatory, Deer Lakes Regional Park, Russellton; and Saturday, April 21, Mingo Creek Park Observatory. Lots of details here: https://3ap.org/resources/star-parties/ “What is a star party? Take a whole bunch of friendly, intelligent, telescope-toting amateur astronomers; anxious to share their hobby, put them in a large open meadow at the top of a gentle hill with excellent views to all horizons, add two large permanent telescopes, and invite the public. Many visitors bring their own telescopes to get help with “setting up” or operation. Many bring binoculars, and many just use their own eyes. There is always a telescope with a wonderful view of some celestial treasure just waiting for a novice eye to enjoy. The AAAP members are happy to answer questions about astronomy, buying a telescope, or protecting our dark sky resource (actually you may have a hard time getting some of the members to quit talking once you get them started). Several times throughout the evening an AAAP member will give a “guided tour” of the sky – an introduction to the constellations and brighter stars. The two large permanent telescopes at each observatory are open as well with an AAAP member at each to answer questions, adjust the telescope, and keep people from toppling off the viewing ladders. There are also displays within the observatory’s “warm-up” room covering a wide variety of subjects of interest to amateur astronomers, and the science of astronomy in general. Star Parties are usually scheduled around the time of the first quarter moon; that way very nice high contrast views of the craters and mountains of the moon can be seen, but the moon still sets early enough that good views of deep sky objects such as nebulae, clusters, and galaxies become available. The positions of the planets vary from month to month, but there is always something interesting to observe.” 

“Can Composting Save the World?”, Friday, April 20, 7PM-9PM, Raccoon Creek State Park, 3000 State Route 18, Hookstown. Free. “Have you ever wanted to learn how to compost or improve your skills at composting? If you have, then join us to learn from our guest speaker and Composting Expert Joseph Jenkin. During this program, attendees will learn how easy composting can be, how you can compost almost anything, and how composting can help save the world. Free program.” http://events.dcnr.pa.gov/event/can_composting_save_the_world “Celebrate Earth Day by helping to “weed out” invasive plants at the Jennings Environmental Education Center. A tasty lunch featuring some of these plants, will be provided at the end of the work session. Each volunteer also will receive a native plant to take home for their own garden or backyard. Participants must be age 12 or older and be prepared to work outdoors, rain or shine. Preregistration for the program is required. Register (to the right) by April 13th. Invasive plants are a major factor in the decline of native plant species, second only to habitat loss. Some non-native species are introduced intentionally for beneficial purposes, while others move as unknown stowaways and "hitchhikers," when people and their products are transported around the world. Over 1000 species of exotic plants have been identified as threats to native plants in the United States. Many grow and reproduce aggressively, and have few natural controls in their new environment. These invasive non-natives can severely alter habitats, disrupt ecological relationships, and diminish biodiversity.” 

“Community Campfire”, Friday, April 20, 6PM-9PM, Lower Frick Park Falls Ravine Shelter, Pittsburgh. Park map here: https://www.pittsburghparks.org/frick-park “At the Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy, every day is Earth Day! In honor of international Earth Day, we invite you to join hundreds of your neighbors at the annual Earth Day in Frick Park, a free community celebration that spans two days. Join us for an all-ages community campfire under the stars. We'll have the fire and sticks, you bring your own hot dogs, veggie dogs, and s'more fixings.” https://www.pittsburghparks.org/park-events

“Garden Planning: Choose Your Own Adventure”, Saturday, April 21, 10:30AM-12PM, Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh Allegheny. Preregistration required; call CLP-Allegheny at 412-237-1890. “Use a decision tree to create an individualized garden plan that is perfect for you! Learn about container gardens for apartment dwellers, community gardens, backyard gardens, and raised beds. Select vegetable varieties that best meet your needs. Gather frugal tips and hints for gardening on a dime. Get your hands in the dirt and plant a little something to take home. Materials provided.” 

“Greenhouse Horticultural Series: Transplanting”, Saturday, April 21, 1:30PM-3:30PM, Boyce Park, 675 Old Frankstown Rd., Pittsburgh. Free. Preregistration required; register online: https://apm.activecommunities.com/alleghenyparks/Activity_Search/bp-greenhouse-horticultural-series-transplanting/2055 “Practice transplanting techniques in both dry and damp conditions with various plants.” 

“Spring Wildflower Walk”, Saturday, April 21, 11AM, Bradys Run Park, Shelter #12, 526 Bradys Run Rd., Beaver Falls. Free. “Enjoy a guided walk through the woods finding and identifying the many different types of wildflowers.” https://www.beavercountyconservationdistrict.org/aboretum-programs

“Mechanics of Good Fiction Writing for Teens”, Saturday, April 21, 1PM-3PM, Beaver Library. Preregistration required; register online: http://www.eventkeeper.com/code/events.cfm?curOrg=BEAVERLIBS#5259109 “Experiement with point of view and verb tense in your fiction writing under the direction of award-winning author Wende Dikec! Light refreshments provided. Registration is requested. Geared for students in grades 5-9.” 

“Oakland and Schenley Farms Walking Tour”, Saturday, April 21, 1:30PM-3PM, meeting at the Entrance plaza of Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Hall and Museum, 4141 Fifth Avenue, Pittsburgh. Members $10; non-members $35 (includes a one-year complimentary membership in Pittsburgh History and Landmarks Foundation). Preregistration required by April 17; register online: http://phlf.org/event/oakland-schenley-farms-walking-tour/ “Explore the Schenley Farms National-Register Historic District in Oakland with docents from PHLF. Hear how real estate developer Franklin Nicola (1860-1938) realized his dream of creating an example of the “City Beautiful” ideal. Where cows grazed peacefully on a steep Oakland hillside, Nicola saw grand boulevards and elegant homes, hotels, and clubs. We’ll walk along the quiet residential streets of Schenley Farms, where Nicola’s company developed a high-quality residential community with the latest modern conveniences. And we’ll see what happened when Nicola encouraged some of the most notable regional and national architects of the early twentieth century to design some of Pittsburgh’s grandest buildings. Participants will take a brief look inside Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Hall and Museum and William Pitt Union (originally, the Hotel Schenley). This tour will reveal the power of historic preservation, since many historic buildings have been sensitively repurposed for new uses.” 

“Stop Motion Animation”, Saturday, April 21, 11AM-1PM, McKeesport Library. Preregistration required; register online: http://www.eventkeeper.com/mars/xpages/M/MCKEESPT/ekp.cfm?curOrg=MCKEESPT#5485593 “The Stop Motion Animation Station gives kids the chance to make their own stories come to life on screen. Use a combination of computer tech and simple scenes, props and characters to tell stories in brief stop motion movies. Finished movies get posted to the library's Facebook page for all to see!” 

Pittsburgh Opera Presents “The Elixir of Love”, Saturday, April 21 through Sunday, April 29, Benedum Center, 237 7th St, Pittsburgh. Tickets here: https://www.pittsburghopera.org “We will conclude our 2017-18 season with Donizetti’s L’elisir d’Amore - The Elixir Of Love, a comedy about a traveling medicine show huckster who claims to possess a love potion. People have pinned their romantic hopes on magic love potions for thousands of years. Why, the very name ‘aphrodisiac’ comes from the Greek goddess of love, Aphrodite. And whether it’s Love Potion Number 9 or the Funky Cold Medina, people have been singing about love potions for a long time too. The story concerns a ‘little nobody’ named Nemorino. Nemorino is smitten with the beautiful and wealthy Adina, who appears to be completely out of his league. His prospects are further diminished when the handsome and dashing Sergeant Belcore arrives. But when Doctor Dulcamara rolls into town and sells Nemorino a bottle of his dubious Elixir of Love, things get very interesting. Not seen here since 2007, The Elixir of Love is full of charming romance and light-hearted fun.” 

“Teen Eye Newsletter Meeting”, Saturday, April 21, 12:30PM-1:30PM, Cooper-Siegel Library, Pittsburgh. “If you love to write short stories, poetry, or articles consider joining the library's teen newsletter, Teen Eye. For 7th grade and above.” 

“Audubon Earth Day: Day of Service to the Planet”, Saturday, April 21, 9AM-12PM, 3 locations: Beechwood Farms Nature Reserve, Succop Nature Park, and Todd Nature Store. Free. Preregistration required; register online: http://aswp.org/events “Roll Up Your Sleeves and help ASWP on the Audubon Earth Day of Service. We are inviting everyone to help celebrate with our Earth Day of Service, a morning of pitching in with friends and neighbors at each of our three locations to show some love to our little corner of the planet. Help us remove invasive species and return native plants and trees to the ecosystem, or help out on our trails. Help ASWP to beautify and improve our reserves and green spaces for our birds and local wildlife. Families and community groups encouraged to participate. Free.” 

“Dunnmore’s War Seminar”, Saturday, April 21, 10AM-1PM, Heinz History Center, 1212 Smallman St., Pittsburgh. $10 adults, $5 students and members. Preregistration required; register online: http://www.heinzhistorycenter.org/events/dunmores-war-seminar-2018 “The Fort Pitt Museum invites visitors to learn about the 1774 conflict, known as Dunmore’s War, between the colony of Virginia and Ohio Valley Indians. In January 1774, Virginia Governor John Murray, the fourth earl of Dunmore, reasserted Virginia’s claim to the Forks of the Ohio by seizing control of Fort Pitt and encouraging westward settlement into Indian lands leading to conflict between Virginians and Ohio River Valley Indians. Lord Dunmore’s War resulted in the surrender of additional Indian lands south of the Ohio River. Each presentation will be followed by Q/A.” 

“Be My Neighbor Day”, Saturday, April 21, 1PM-3PM, Heinz History Center, 1212 Smallman St., Pittsburgh. Free. Preregistration required; register online: https://www.pittsburghcares.org/opportunity/a0C1H00000wzgpKUAQ “On Be My Neighbor Day, volunteers of all ages are invited to explore the original set of “Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood” and then make a sweater themed treat for a neighbor inspired by an original Fred Rogers sweater on display. Volunteers will craft paper sweaters with messages for neighbors, transforming a snack bag into a token of kindness filled with food that will benefit the afterschool programs at the South Hills Interfaith Movement. Volunteers that register through Pittsburgh Cares will be provided free admission for the day. Registration for volunteering is open from Tuesday, March 20 to Monday, April 16. If your family volunteers on April 21, we welcome you to join us on Sunday, April 22 for a special Thank You Day event with Daniel Tiger and Katerina Kittycat! Details for Thank You Day will be shared with families upon registration for the Day of Volunteering.” http://www.heinzhistorycenter.org/events/be-my-neighbor-day

“Origami Club of Pittsburgh Presents Fantastic Folding”, Saturday, April 21, 1PM-4PM, Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh Squirrel Hill. “Explore the art of paper folding. Accomplished paper folders will demonstrate various techniques and help participants create origami forms. Participants must have a basic understanding of origami forms. This program meets first Sundays and third Saturdays of the month from 1 – 4 pm. Children age 7 and up are invited to join but must have adult supervision. Adults and teens welcome!” 

“Star Party”, Saturday, April 21, 7PM, Bradys Run Park Baseball Fields, Anchortown Rd., Beaver Falls. Free. “Sponsored by Beaver County Amateur Astronomers. Weather permitting. Bring telescope or binoculars or come share ours. Starts at dusk.” https://www.facebook.com/Beaver-County-Amateur-Astronomers-111271978443/

“Earth Day Events at Frick Park”, Saturday, April 21, with a Volunteer Event 8AM-11AM and Walks and Hikes 11:30AM-4PM, Lower Frick Park Parking Lot, Pittsburgh. Frick Park map here: :https://www.pittsburghparks.org/frick-park” Make a positive mark on your park as a volunteer! This event is held in partnership with Comcast. Registration for the volunteer event is required. Register here: https://www.showclix.com/event/earth-day-volunteer-event-2018#_ga=2.181188069.333797846.1521697390-659125919.1521697390 Get outdoors to enjoy a series of hikes and activities throughout Frick Park with expert naturalists. Brush up on your tree and mushroom ID skills; learn about critters in the litter; look for birds; and much more! Stay awhile and join us for nature play throughout the day.” https://www.pittsburghparks.org/park-events

“Coolspring Power Museum Open Days”, Saturday, April 21 and Sunday, April 22, 10AM- 5PM, 179 Coolspring Rd., Coolspring. $7 adults, free for ages 11 and under. “Coolspring Power Museum presents an illuminating history of the evolution of internal combustion engine technology that put an end to the steam powered era. The museum's collection includes over 275 stationary engines housed in more than 35 buildings and outdoor displays. Stationary gas hit and miss engines, throttle governed engines, flame ignition engines, hot tube ignition engines, and hot air engines are all among the permanent exhibits at the Coolspring Power Museum in Coolspring, Pennsylvania. Engines in the museum's collection range in size from fractional horsepower up to 600 horsepower.” http://coolspringpowermuseum.org/index.htm

“30th Annual Hammer-In”, Saturday, April 21, 9AM-4PM, W.A. Young and Sons Foundry and Machine Shop, 114 Water St., Rices Landing. Free. “Recognized by the Department of the Interior as a National Historic Landmark just last year, the W.A. Young and Sons Foundry and Machine Shop is a marvel by its mere existence. It is the only surviving and functional example of our nation’s twentieth century evolution from local blacksmith shops to mass production machining facilities. Saturday, April 21st, we’ll open the doors, switch on the machines and invite area blacksmiths to demonstrate just how this unique machine shop operated! Guided tours and blacksmith demonstrations occur throughout the day. Members from the Pittsburgh Area Artists Blacksmiths Association and the Appalachian Blacksmiths Association will demonstrate blacksmithing processes and auction off their artworks to support the Machine Shop, PAABA and ABA. Festivities begin at 9 am, with a welcoming ceremony at noon, followed by the auction and an aluminum pour courtesy of Rivers of Steel Arts. Admission is free and refreshments are available for purchase. A family-friendly event, don’t miss this opportunity to watch the past come alive!” https://www.riversofsteel.com/things-to-do/event/hammer-in/

“Spring Wildflower Hike”, Saturday, April 21, 10:30AM-12PM, Ohiopyle State Park, Cucumber Falls Parking Lot, Ohiopyle. Free. “The Great Gorge Trail is alive with nature’s adornment after a long winter sleep. Many plants and flowers bloom to mark the beginning of spring. In celebration of Earth Day, we will identify them and talk about their many uses according to various folklore. This short hike is on one of Pennsylvania’s best wildflower areas (the Great Gorge Trail). Many of spring’s most beautiful citizens will be on display. Bring a camera.” http://events.dcnr.pa.gov/event/spring_wildflower_hike_3804 (Google Maps has Cucumber Falls marked so you can find the parking lot.) 

“Take Back The Woods: Battling Invasive Species”, Saturday, April 21, 9AM-1PM, Jennings Environmental Education Center, 2951 Prospect Rd., Slippery Rock. Free. Ages 12 and up. Preregistration required; register online: http://events.dcnr.pa.gov/event/take_back_the_woods_battling_invasive_species_8890

“Earth Day Festival”, Saturday, April 21, 11AM-3PM, Raccoon Creek State Park, 3000 State Route 18, Hookstown. Free. “Come enjoy beautiful Raccoon Creek State Park and take part in our First Annual Earth Day Festival! There will be many hands on activities and hourly guided wildflower hikes. The festival will be held at the Beach and will offer food for purchase, fishing and trout stocking, boat rentals, hands on activities, live animals, and much much more!” http://events.dcnr.pa.gov/event/earth_day_festival

“Dusk Hike: A Search for Crepuscular Animals”, Saturday, April 21, 6PM-8PM, Succop Nature Park. $10, or $6 for Audubon members. Preregistration required; register online: http://aswp.org/events/8049 “Dawn and dusk are busy times for many animals. Come to Succop Nature Park as the sun goes down and enjoy a guided hike that highlights the crepuscular activities of our park residents. We will wander through various habitats and then finish with a campfire. All ages are welcome.” 

“Habitat Hike with Girl Scout Nadine Oury”, Saturday, April 21, 10:30AM-1:30PM, Lindbrook Woodlands – Hopkins Church Road entrance. All ages. Free. Preregistration required; register online: https://www.ventureoutdoors.org/activities-calendar/?wppb=program&month=4&calyear=2018&=&tmpl=register&id=3017 “Did you know that the Big Sewickley Creek runs through one of the most bio-diverse regions in Allegheny County? In Linbrook Woodlands, a newly protected Allegheny Land Trust conservation area, you can explore the narrow, wet trails with cattails and tadpoles, the old, clear logging paths and power line routes with amazing views all in one short hike! Girl Scout Nadine Oury will lead a hike through this new habitat loop trail as part of her Gold Award Project, so join us in getting outside and exploring the many habitats created by both natural features and human activity. Linbrook Woodlands Conservation Area is a 168-acre parcel adjacent to Linbrook Park and located within the Franklin Park municipality. The sloping, wooded property has frontage along 3,000 linear feet of Big Sewickley Creek with deep wooded ravines, trails, and many springs that support Big Sewickley Creek.” 

“Monarch Butterflies”, Saturday, April 21, 10AM-12PM, North Park; and Saturday, April 28, 10AM-12PM, South Park. $6, or $5 for Allegheny County residents. Preregistration required; register online: https://apm.activecommunities.com/alleghenyparks/ “Monarch butterflies have fascinated scientists and non-scientists for decades. The seemingly-impossible migration they make each fall is probably their greatest mystery. Why do they go to the same location every year? How do they know how to get there? How can they fly that far with those tiny wings? Join Kimberly Vensel, the Butler Butterfly Lady, as she explains the mystery of the Monarch!” 

“Pittsburgh Retro Gaming Convention”, Saturday, April 21 and Sunday, April 22, Ace Hotel, 120 S. Whitfield St., Pittsburgh. “PRGC 2018 is MORE! MORE OF EVERYTHING!! MORE DAYS, MORE HOURS, MORE SPACE, MORE VENDORS, and MORE GAMES! As always you will get access to the largest game focused vendor floor in the region, but that is not where it stops this year... We are proud to announce PRGC 2018 will usher the return of speaker panels and live music! It is with much enthusiasm we announce Danimal Cannon will be PRGC 2018's head line musical artist preceded by other great gaming inspired bands. Remember, a portion of the proceeds continue to support Children's Miracle Network. Help us keep PRGC growing!” http://pittsburghretrogaming.com

“Making Tiramisu”, Sunday, April 22, 3:30PM, Instituto Mondo Italiano, 7604 Charleston Ave., Pittsburgh. $35. Preregistration required; register online: https://www.istitutomondoitaliano.org/cooking-classes.html “Come and make with us the most popular, the most appreciated Italian dessert. You will also learn about the origin of this "dolce" and the available variations. Every participant will take home his/her very own Tiramisu'. ​Buon appetito!” 

“Totally Tees: Repurposing Old Shirts”, Sunday, April 22, 1PM-3PM, Whitehall Library, Pittsburgh. Ages 16 and up. Preregistration required; register online: http://www.eventkeeper.com/mars/xpages/W/WHITEHALL/ek.cfm?curOrg=WHITEHALL#5462689 “Celebrate Earth Day with your favorite library! Bring your old t-shirts and transform them into something new. From tote bags to dog toys, there's something to learn! No experience necessary. Ages 16+ We recommend bringing a minimum of 4 shirts.” 

“Brilliant Corners: The Duke’s Men”, Sunday, April 22, 2PM-4PM, The Heid House, 201 Center Ave., Aspinwall. “In this Sunday afternoon learning session led by jazz drummer Thomas Wendt from Lighthouse Arts, Inc., and music librarian Timothy Williams, we’ll be spotlighting three of Duke Ellington’s sidemen. Are you interested in jazz music and want to learn more? Join us for lively, informal gatherings where we will explore a variety of topics in jazz that will help you gain more listening enjoyment. No experience required! https://www.carnegielibrary.org/event/brilliant-corners-dukes-men/

“Peak of the Lyrid Meteor Shower”, Sunday, April 22, in the few hours just before dawn. “The Lyrid meteor shower – April’s shooting stars – lasts from about April 16 to 25. About 10 to 15 meteors per hour can be expected around the shower’s peak on a dark, moonless night. Fortunately, in 2018, the waxing moon will set before the peak morning hours of the Lyrid meteor shower. The Lyrids are known for uncommon surges that can sometimes bring the rate up to 100 per hour. Those rare outbursts are not easy to predict, but they’re one of the reasons the tantalizing Lyrids are worth checking out. The radiant for this shower is near the bright star Vega in the constellation Lyra, which rises in the northeast at about 10 p.m. on April evenings. In 2018, we expect the peak viewing hours to take place in the dark hours before dawn April 22, at which time the moon will be out of the sky.” Details here: http://earthsky.org/astronomy-essentials/everything-you-need-to-know-lyrid-meteor-shower#how-many

Concert, “Klezlectic”, Sunday, April 22, 2PM-3PM, Carnegie Main Library Oakland, Quiet Reading Room. “Inspire your creative spirit and feed your musical soul! Klezlectic specializes in klezmer music (Jewish soul and lively dance music), but also performs American, popular, jazz and Jewish folk songs, serving up a lively feast of truly sweet genres for any occasion. Janice Coppola, clarinet; Mark Perna, trombone and bass; Roger Day, tuba; Laura Daniels, vocals and keyboard; and Jeff Berman, percussion, are all long-time Pittsburgh musicians who present a one-of–a-kind musical experience for audiences of all ages. Their arrangements of new compositions and of even the more familiar, older melodies, bring a 21stcentury appeal to the listener who is looking for an ensemble who will have their audiences kicking up their heels and asking for more! Find out more by perusing their website JaniceCoppola.com.” 

“Allegheny Cemetery Walk”, Sunday, April 22, 1PM-4PM, Allegheny Cemetery, 4734 Butler St., Pittsburgh. $15, or $12 for Venture Outdoors members. Preregistration required; register online: https://www.ventureoutdoors.org/activities-calendar/?wppb=program&month=4&calyear=2018&=&tmpl=register&id=3007 “Allegheny Cemetery is the oldest institution of its kind west of the Allegheny Mountains, and one of the oldest incorporated cemeteries in the United States. As we stroll through these peaceful grounds, we will hear the history of the cemetery and will learn about a few of the famous people who have been laid to rest there. The route covers about 3.5 miles and includes paved walkways and lawn crossings.” 

“Spring Nature Hike”, Sunday, April 22, 2PM-3PM, Deer Lakes Park, 1090 Baileys Run Rd., Tarentum. Free. Preregistration required; register online: https://apm.activecommunities.com/alleghenyparks/Activity_Search/dl-spring-nature-hike/2064 “Search for vernal greens on this guided tour and interpretive walk.” 

Author Talk, “Jesse Andrews: Munmun”, Sunday, April 22, 1PM-2:30PM, Riverstone Books, 8850 Covenant Ave., Pittsburgh. “Help us celebrate the release of Munmun, the new YA novel by Pittsburgh-native bestselling author Jesse Andrews! Jesse is also the author Me, Earl, and the Dying Girl, which was made into a movie last year. Light refreshments will be served.” “MUNMUN is my most recent book. It is about inequality and dreams. Its story takes place in an alternate reality a lot like our own, except that everyone is proportional in size to how much munmun (money) they have. Warner and his sister Prayer have none, and so they're about the size of rats. On the other end of the spectrum, the richest character in the book is over 150 feet tall.” http://www.jesseandrews.com 

“Cement City Home and Walking Tour”, Sunday, April 22, 1PM, beginning at the Donora Smog Museum, 595 McKean Ave, Donora. $13. Allow at least 2.5 to 3 hours. Space is limited to around 30 to 35 people. Call the Donora Historical Society and Smog Museum at 724 - 823 – 0364 or email donorahistoricalsociety@gmail.com to register. “The Donora Historical Society has done numerous presentations on our National Historic District - Cement City. In the spring and fall of each year, we schedule Cement City Home and Walking Tourson Saturday and/or Sunday afternoons. The afternoon starts at the Smog Museum with a photo, blueprint and artifact presentation. The photos were taken during construction by Donora's original photographer: Bruce Dreisbach. From there, we carpool up to the Historic District for a walking tour pointing out the various architectural details. After, we go into two actual homes, portions of which have been restored to the period. Finally, the group is encouraged to venture back into town for dinner at one of our local restaurants to further the discussion.”  https://sites.google.com/site/donorahistoricalsociety/cement-city 

“Silent Tales from Richland Cemetery”, Monday, April 23, 7:30PM, Wrights United Methodist Church Social Room, 788 Venetia Rd., Venetia. “Video Presentation by Richard Gaetano on Persons of historical interest buried in Richland Cemetery, including a soldier who fought at Little Big Horn” http://peterscreekhistoricalsociety.org/upcoming-events/ 

“Chinese Paper Cutting”, Monday, April 23, 7PM-9PM, Upper St. Clair Library. Preregistration required; register online: http://www.eventkeeper.com/mars/xpages/T/TWPUSC/ek.cfm?curOrg=TWPUSC#5462322 “Join us for a demonstration of the intricate, beautiful art of Chinese paper cutting, featuring renowned artists from China. You'll learn about the history and practice of this centuries-old technique, and even have your portrait done in cut paper!” 

“Steiner Lecture in Creative Inquiry: Mimi Onuoha”, Tuesday, April 24, 5PM-7PM, Carnegie Mellon University, Frank-Ratchye STUDIO for Creative Inquiry, CMU College of Fine Arts, Room CFA-111, 5000 Forbes Ave, Pittsburgh. Campus map here: https://www.cmu.edu/assets/pdfs/cmu_map_8.5x11.pdf Free and open to the public. “Mimi Onuoha (@thistimeitsmimi) is an artist and researcher examining the implications of data collection and computational categorization. Her work uses code, writing, and sculpture to explore missing data and the ways in which people are abstracted, represented, and classified. Based in Brooklyn, Onuoha has been in residence at Eyebeam Art and Technology Center, the Data and Society Research Institute, Columbia’s Tow Center, and the Royal College of Art. She has spoken and exhibited in festivals internationally, and in 2014 was selected to be in the inaugural class of Fulbright-National Geographic Digital Storytelling Fellows. She currently is a contributor at Quartz, where she uses code and data to tell stories about the implications of emerging technologies. Her interests include data collection, missing datasets, sculptures about algorithms, information visualization, and zines. Onuoha once tried (and failed) to find out where her electricity comes from. Onuoha earned her B.A. from Princeton University and an MPS from the NYU Interactive Telecommunications Program. She is presently a visiting faculty member in the division of Visual and Performing Arts at Bennington College, where she teaches courses in ‘Impossible Maps’ and ‘A Philosophy of Data’. http://studioforcreativeinquiry.org/events/steiner-lecture-in-creative-inquiry-mimi-onuoha

“High School Anime Club”, Tuesday, April 24, 7PM-8PM, Shaler North Hills Library, Glenshaw. Grades 9-12. “NEW! A quieter, more laidback anime club for older fans.” 

“Stalking the Freshwater Sponges of Western Pennsylvania”, Tuesday, April 24, 7PM-8:30PM, Monroeville Library. “Please join biologist Marc Yergin for a fascinating up-close look at the freshwater sponges of western Pennsylvania, some of which could possibly be found in the streams that run behind your house! Sponges are a very ancient and highly successful group of animals. Sponge fossils have been found in rocks that are more than 760 to 600 million years old. They are considered sister animals to all other groups of animals, including humans. Although they are very ancient, they have become the source of some of the newest antibiotics and anti-cancer drugs. Sponges are found in oceans and freshwater. They are the simplest multicellular organisms and have bodies full of pores and channels allowing water to circulate through them. In freshwater they attach themselves to rocks and logs and filter the water for various small aquatic organisms such as protozoans, bacteria, and other free-floating pond life. Marc Yergin was a marine biology major in southern California and studied marine sponges off the beaches of Malibu until he was asked to take a six-month vacation in 1967, during the height of the Vietnam War. Instead of being drafted, he joined and was trained as a clinical laboratory medical technologist. After many decades working in clinical labs, he retired from both his job and his 24-year stint in the Army, returning to doing what he likes -- being a biologist and studying sponges under the auspices of the Carnegie Museum of Natural History.” 

“Coyote Education”, Wednesday, April 25, 6PM,-6:45PM, Harrison Hills Park. 5200 Freeport Rd., Natrona Heights. Free. Preregistration required; register online: https://apm.activecommunities.com/alleghenyparks/Activity_Search/hh-coyote-education/2071 “Learn about the biology and life habits of coyotes, as well as what to do if you encounter one.” 

“Mystery Lovers Book Club”, Wednesday, April 25, 1PM-2PM, Baldwin Borough Library, Pittsburgh. “Love a good mystery? Join us for a great time trying to figure out ‘whodunnit’! New friends are always welcome. This month's book is ‘Light in the Ruins’ by Chris Bohjalian.” 

“Drew Mathieson Greenhouse and Manchester Craftsman Guild Lunch Bus Trip”, Wednesday, April 25, 10AM-2:30PM, meeting at the Mt. Lebanon Library, Pittsburgh. $20 including bus trip and lunch. Preregistration required; call the library at 412-531-1912. “Join us for a bus trip to the Drew Mathieson Center for Horticultural and Agricultural Technology to tour its amazing facility and spring flower production. The Drew Mathieson Center for Horticultural and Agricultural Technology is one of Western Pennsylvania’s premier educational greenhouses. The daily operation and production of specialty crops — including the greenhouse’s signature plant, the Phalaenopsis orchid, hydroponically grown vegetables, and other seasonal crops — not only contributes to our unique combination of education and enterprise but to the diverse learning experiences afforded to our adult career training students.” Lots more details and a schedule on the library calendar: http://www.eventkeeper.com/mars/xpages/M/MTLEB/EKP.cfm?zeeOrg=MTLEB

“Life Behind the Scenes for a World War I Soldier”, Wednesday, April 25, 6PM-8PM, Cranberry Library. “Co-sponsored by the Cranberry Genealogy Club and the Library - this free program with Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Hall, features a glimpse inside a World War I soldier's footlocker - to learn more about life as a soldier on the battlefront. Plus, Club members will offer resources and suggestions for researching your ancestor’s service in WW I.” 

“Cook the Book Discussion Group”, Wednesday, April 25, 7PM, Castle Shannon Library. Library phone 412-563-4552. “Do you love reading cookbooks and making new recipes? If so, then this is the club for you!! We pick the cookbook or theme, you select and make a recipe from that cookbook or theme. Please call the Library or stop in to register. Wednesday, April 25th - Smitten Kitchen Every Day: Triumphant and Unfussy New Favorites by Deb Perelman.” 

“Science Fiction Book Discussion Group”, Wednesday, April 25, 7PM, Mt. Lebanon Library. “The science fiction book discussion group focuses on classic, ‘hard,’ and/or award winning science fiction books.” April 25 Novel: “Everfair” by Nisi Shawl; Short Fiction: “Spider The Artist” by Nnedi Okorafor and “Home Affairs” by Sarah Lotz See detailed book list for the year on their website calendar: http://www.mtlebanonlibrary.org

“Mystery Book Discussion”, Thursday, April 26, 10:30AM-11:30AM, Whitehall Library, Pittsburgh. “Do you enjoy a good mystery? If so, join the Mystery Lovers Book Group! We meet once per month to discuss the hottest whodunnits. This month, we will be discussing Good Me Bad Me by Ali Land.” 

“JFilm Festival”, Thursday, April 26 through Sunday, May 6, Southside Works Cinema, 425 Cinema Dr, Pittsburgh. “The annual JFilm Festival presents international Jewish-themed films that deepen audiences’ understanding of Jewish culture, tolerance, and our common humanity. The eleven-day festival is complemented by a variety of supplemental programming, including visiting filmmakers, guest speakers and collaborative events with other local organizations.” 

“19th Annual Ridgeway Chainsaw Carver’s Rendezvous”, Thursday, April 26 through Saturday, April 28, 9AM-7PM, on the grounds of the Elk County Courthouse, 250 Main St., Ridgeway. “Eighteen years ago, we set out to share with world the art of chainsaw carving. Now it’s time to take the art form to the next level; it’s time to give the public an art show! Throughout the three days will be opportunities for interaction with skilled artists, to watch carving demonstrations, purchase finished pieces directly from the artist, and bid on quick carve pieces. New for 2018 is awards for carvers. This is an opportunity for the public to cast votes in the Best of Show and Social Media Choice categories. Carvers attending will cast votes for their peers for the Carver's Choice award. We hope you will Rendezvous with us APRIL 26-28, 2018 in Ridgway!” http://chainsawrendezvous.org

Screening, “Free CeCe!”, Thursday, April 26, 5:30PM-8PM, Carnegie Main Library Oakland, South Wing Reading Room. “CeCe McDonald survived a brutal attack, only to be incarcerated in a men’s prison for defending her life. After an international movement to free her, CeCe emerged as a leader to interrogate the prison industrial complex and inspire women to fight back when attacked.” https://www.freececedocumentary.net/free-cece--trailer.html

“Carl’s Story”, Thursday, April 26, 7PM-8:30PM, Northland Library, Pittsburgh. Preregistration required; register online: http://www.eventkeeper.com/mars/xpages/N/NORTHLAND/ek.cfm?curOrg=NORTHLAND#5514816 “Noretta Willig, author of Carl's Story, will be here to tell the powerful story of her uncle. Killed in battle during WWI, Carl Willig's remains were never found. Over eighty years later, a genealogist contacted Noretta to let her know they had found some of Carl's remains in France. Through these letters and photographs, she learned about her family as well as the soldiers who fought for their country during the First World War.” 

“18th Century Market Fair”, Thursday, April 26, Friday, April 27, and Saturday, April 28, 9AM-5PM, and Sunday, April 29, 9AM-3PM, Fort Frederick State Park, 11115 Fort Frederick Rd., Big Pool, Maryland. $5 for adults, $2 ages 6 to 12, and 5 and under free. “Now in its 24th year, the Market Fair features the best artisans, craftspeople, and sutlers together with an 18th century encampment. Come to historic Fort Frederick, an original stone fort built in 1756 during the French and Indian War and travel back in time to an authentic 18th century market fair. A whiff of campfires fills the air. Colorful entertainers are found strolling about the fair. See sutlers (period vendors) selling 18th century wares: pottery, tin and copper ware, clothing, material and patterns, books, fireplace and cooking hardware, muskets and accoutrements, paintings and prints, lanterns and other camp gear, etc. See hundreds of fair-goers of all ages dressed in colonial clothing: artisans, soldiers, ladies and gentlemen, Native Americans, longhunters, traders, servants, etc. Free entertainment for all. The Fair is open to sutlers, traders, street vendors and entertainers as well as individuals, groups, military units and American Indians portraying the appropriate time period and geographic area, representing eastern North America from 1730 through 1790. The Fair is a juried event for camper and sutlers, but open daily to all visitors. Attending Market Fair is a wonderful way to increase ones knowledge of the period, particularly the French and Indian War period, and the role that historic Fort Frederick played in that conflict and in protecting the Maryland frontier in general.” http://www.friendsoffortfrederick.info/market_fair.htm

“An Evening of Poetry”, Thursday, April 26, 7PM-9PM, Shaler North Hills Library, Community Room, Glenshaw. Preregistration required; register online: http://www.eventkeeper.com/mars/xpages/S/SHALER/ekp.cfm?curOrg=SHALER#5345991 “April is National Poetry Month! Please join us in celebrating the works of five local poets and celebrating the beauty of words and storytelling. Pick up a brochure for details on the poets: Cameron Barnett; Scott Pyle; Fred Shaw; Alyssa Sineni; Bart Solarczyk. Free and open to the public. Readings, talkbacks and refreshments. Books available for purchase.” 

“Homestead Steel Strike”, Thursday, April 26, 2PM, Bethel Park Library. Presented by Frick Art and Historical Center. “A seminal event of the era, the Homestead Steel Strike of 1892 changed the face of labor for decades. Examine the events and the players in this drama of American industrial history: Henry Clay Frick, Andrew Carnegie and the union laborers of the Carnegie Steel Company.” 

“Calliope Folk Song Night”, Thursday, April 26, 7PM-8:30PM, Monroeville Library. “Singers and instrumentalists of all ages are welcome at this informal gathering of people who want to sing together and share songs, brought to you by Calliope, Pittsburgh's Folk Music Society. We sing songs from the Rise Up Singing songbooks and the shared musical knowledge of all group members. Bring your song ideas and join us!” 

“Cooks-n-Books: Bacon”, Thursday, April 26, 6:30PM-8PM, Hampton Library, Allison Park. “This month's theme: Bacon! Cooks-n-Books is a cookbook and food discussion group for people who love to cook and make new friends! No real experience or culinary expertise is needed - just a desire to share recipes and food!! We meet in Great Room A in the Hampton Community Center. Here’s what to do… 1) Check out a cookbook or magazines from the library that has a recipe that fits the region. 2) Cook that dish and bring it to the group the evening of the discussion. Please bring a copy of the recipe as well. 3) Sample all of the amazing recipes! Please note there will be a $2.00 fee to cover the cost of supplies.” 

“Fab Lab: Vinyl Cutting 101”, Friday, April 27, 5PM-6:30PM, Carnegie Science Center, 1 Allegheny Ave., Pittsburgh. $25. Preregistration required; register online: http://www.carnegiesciencecenter.org/programs/fablab-public-workshops/ “Learn to use the computer controlled vinyl cutter in Fab Lab Carnegie Science Center. This introductory class is required in order to use the vinyl cutter during Fab Lab Open Workshop (FLOW). Workshop is open to ages 8 and up. Children 12 and under must be accompanied by an adult who also registers for the workshop.” 

“Gallery Crawl in the Cultural District”, Friday, April 27, 5:30PM. Free. “Gallery Crawl in the Cultural District, produced by the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust, is a free, quarterly, multi-venue showcase of downtown’s dynamic art and entertainment scene. Dozens of galleries, stages, storefronts, and unique public spaces dot each installment’s 14-block map of destinations, hosting US premieres of international multimedia artists, regional visual art exhibitions, live music, theater and dance performances, film screenings, hands-on creative activities, and special crawl after dark attractions. The Gallery Crawl is what it looks, feels, tastes, and sounds like to experience a true Cultural District, with diverse artistic offerings for a multitude of interests. Nearly 30,000 annual visitors experience this ‘open house’ for Pittsburgh’s renowned Cultural District, free and open to the public since 2004.” https://crawl.trustarts.org/crawl_home/visit

“Potted Potter: The Unauthorized Harry Experience”, Friday, April 27 to Sunday, April 29, Byham Theater, 101 6th St., Pittsburgh. Ages 6 and up. Tickets here: https://www.trustarts.org/production/59276/potted-potter “Returning to Pittsburgh, ‘Potted Potter: The Unauthorized Harry Experience- A Parody by Dan and Jeff’ takes on the ultimate challenge of condensing all seven Harry Potter books (and a real life game of Quidditch) into seventy hilarious minutes. This fantastically funny show features all your favourite characters, a special appearance from a fire-breathing dragon, endless costumes, brilliant songs, ridiculous props, and a generous helping of Hogwarts magic!” 

“Home School Day”, Friday, April 27, or Wednesday, May 2, 1:30PM-3:30PM, Old Economy Village, 270 16th St., Ambridge. $5 per person. “Students will get a chance to visit the 15 historic buildings like the Community Kitchen, Natural History Museum, and the Mechanics Building. See the Blacksmith and the Printer, and learn about life in the 1830’s. Try some hands on activities such as making rope and 19th century children’s games. Old Economy Village was founded in 1824 by a German pietistic Christian communal society called the Harmonists. They built their town 17 miles north of Pittsburgh along the Ohio River in modern day Ambridge. You must register for one of these dates by Wednesday, April 25.” http://oldeconomyvillage.org/home-school-days/

“Full Moon Hike”, Saturday, April 28, 8PM-10PM, Boyce Park, 675 Old Frankstown Rd., Pittsburgh. Free. Preregistration required; register online: https://apm.activecommunities.com/alleghenyparks/Activity_Search/bp-full-moon-hike/2057 “Approximately 3 miles with moderate to difficult elevation changes. Who needs a flashlight when the moon is full and bright? Bring your boots, some water and prepare to spend about two hours on the trail with a Park Ranger enjoying the outdoors by moonlight. Flashlights are recommended in case of emergencies; however, you'll be asked not to use them during the hike.” 

“Kulu Mele – African Drum And Dance”, Saturday, April 28, 7:30PM, Olin Fine Arts Center Theatre, Washington and Jefferson College, 285 E. Wheeling St., Washington, PA. $12 adults, $10 seniors and students, $7 ages 12 and under. Box office 724-223-OLIN (6546). “Kulu Mele’s repertoire includes traditional/folkloric West-African and Afro-Cuban dances that includes celebratory, sacred, spiritual and ritualistic dances, accompanied by live traditional drumming. Kulu Mele also performs contemporary American hip hop, exploring the development of dance genre, tracing its lineage from traditional to contemporary.” https://www.washjeff.edu/wj-arts-series http://www.kulumele.org/ 

“Sketching Your Backyard Birds”, Saturday, April 28, 10AM-12PM, Beechwood Farms Nature Reserve. $45, or $40 for Audubon members. Preregistration required; register online: http://aswp.org/events/8060 “In this workshop with artist Amanda Zimmerman, we'll start with some basic birds anatomy and then practice some tips for sketching a moving, feeding, and singing bird! Learn how to take notes on behavior and mannerisms and keep track of your regular and irregular bird feeder visitors! We will work from photos and videos and even a live bird to gain comfort in observing and drawing birds. Please be sure to bring an inexpensive sketchbook and drawing pencils. 2h and 2b preferred.” 

“Backyard Biodiversity”, Saturday, April 28, 10AM-12PM, Beechwood Farms Nature Reserve. $4, or free for Audubon or Fox Chapel Garden Club members. Preregistration required; register online: http://aswp.org/events/8070 “Our backyards are often home to a wide variety of critters that help to keep our ecosystem in balance. This session will highlight landscape concepts and methods that will help create a beautiful practical habitat for wildlife. Participants will have the opportunity to sow a variety of native plant seeds to take home to their gardens.” 

“Happy Birthday August Wilson Block Party”, Saturday, April 28, 11AM-5PM, August Wilson’s Childhood Home, 1727 Bedford Ave., Pittsburgh. “Say Happy Birthday and celebrate August Wilson in front of his childhood home with The August Wilson House, a project of the Daisy Wilson Artists Community, Inc.! Come for performances, food trucks, children’s activities, music, and more!” Details here: https://www.augustwilsonbirthdaycelebration.com

“17th Annual Concert: Traditions Are Nurtured And Celebrated”, Saturday, April 28, 3PM- 11PM, Andrew Carnegie Library, Carnegie. Performance $15 ages 13 and up, $6 ages 4-12, and free for 3 and under. Reception $10 ages 12 and up, $5 ages 4-12. “Come out and support Folklore Ensemble Hrvatski Tanac (a junior tamburitzan group inspired by international culture) and Folklore Ensemble Ljeljo (Croatian performance troupe) at their annual concert and reception. We have put together another amazing show for your enjoyment! Invite your friends for a fun-filled day of dance, singing, music, and great food! Special guests Shareni Chorapi and Folklore Ensemble Ljeljo to appear. Ticket prices - 15$ ages 12 and up, 6$ 4-12 years old, under 3 is free! Reception to follow concert at the same venue with dinner served for 10$ for 13 and up and 5$ for 4-12 years old. Drinks available for purchase as well. Chinese Auction, 50/50 and lots of fun to be had! Reception music provided by Orkestar Zabava.” http://carnegiecarnegie.org/our-team/folklore-ensembles-hvratski-tanac-ljeljo-present-traditions-are-nurtured-and-celebrated-an-evening-of-song-dance-music-food/

“Youth Fishing Derby”, Saturday, April 28, registration 6:30AM, Derby 8AM-12PM, Hopewell Township Community Park, 2500 Laird Dr., Aliquippa. “Prizes for most fish caught, biggest fish and most trout. Numerous door prizes awarded to participants throughout the day. Catch a tagged fish for bonus prize! Bait will be sold at the park. Concessions will be open.” http://www.hopewelltwp.com/Calendar.aspx?EID=106&month=4&year=2018&day=23&calType=0

“Western PA Soap Box Derby Fun Day”, Saturday, April 28, 9AM-2PM, Beaver County Emergency Services, 351 14th St., Ambridge. “Open event for youths ages 7 to 17 to drive our Soap Box cars down the track. We will also have adult cars for the parents to try! So bring the entire family. Free for youths." www.facebook.com/westernpasoapboxderby/

“11th Annual Butler Paranormal Conference”, Saturday, April 28, 10AM-7PM, 10 Austin Ave, Lyndora. $10. Family friendly. “11th Annual Butler Paranormal Conference Speakers to be announced. There will be multi media displays, book signings, vendor booths, with various merchandise for sale, raffles, door prizes, and more. A concession stand will be available during the event with food and beverages. Admission is $10. Doors open at 10:00 AM Speakers start around 11:00AM.” https://www.facebook.com/events/348127268959715/

“Meet George Washington”, Saturday, April 28, Fort Ligonier, 200 South Market St., Ligonier. Museum hours 9:30AM-4PM, $10 adults, $6 ages 6-16, and free for ages 5 and under. “Enjoy a memorable conversation with George Washington, by Dean Malissa, the official portrayer of our nation's first President at Mount Vernon. 'Gallery Talks' will be held in Fort Ligonier Museum's new George Washington Gallery throughout the day.” http://fortligonier.org/news-events/events-calendar/ http://www.gwashington.com/main.html

“Art All Night”, A 22 hour event, (Tentative) Saturday, April 28, 4PM through Sunday, April 29, 2PM. Lawrenceville. Children’s activities 4PM-8PM Saturday and 10AM-12PM Sunday. Free. Definitely check their website as plans are finalized for this event: https://www.artallnight.org/wp/ “The annual non-juried, uncensored 22-hour art show in the Lawrenceville neighborhood of Pittsburgh. Art All Night admission and artist participation is free and open to the public. Anyone can submit one piece of art to the show to be viewed and bid on by the public.” 

“7th Annual Tomodachi Festival”, Saturday, April 28, 2PM-5PM, Carnegie Main Library, Oakland. “Tomodachi is a Japanese word meaning 'friends.' Help us celebrate the spirit of friendship through activities, art and food that showcase Japan, its people and rich history. Activities will include Kamishibi storytelling, singing and dancing, origami art, kimono try-ons, and Japanese inspired refreshments. Presented by the Japan-America Society of Pennsylvania.”

“Mayfest”, Saturday, April 28, 9AM-5PM, downtown Huntingdon, PA. Free admission and parking. Mayfest is the only festival of its kind in Pennsylvania. Stroll through our historic themes, one per city block, while enjoying the breeze from the Juniata River.” Historic themes include Colonial Times, Back to the 50s, Victorian Era, Woodstock, and Renaissance Faire. http://www.mayfestofhuntingdon.org

“Bagels and Owlbears”, Saturday, April 28, 10AM-12PM, Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh Sheraden. “Come and play Dungeons and Dragons at the library! Space is limited so please call 412.331.1135 to reserve your spot. We have the books and dice .You just need your imagination!” 

“Full Moon Hike”, Sunday, April 29, 7PM-9:30PM, North Park, Pie Traynor Field, S. Ridge Dr., Allison Park. Free. Ages 8 and up. Preregistration required; register online: https://www.llbean.com/llb/ods/33?nav=ftlink&STORE_CITY_STATE=[22]&EVENT_TYPE=[0]&EVENT_LEVEL=[0]&PRICE_RANGE=[0] “Join us for an exciting hike during the full moon. Please wear appropriate hiking clothing, waterproof footwear (if possible) and dress for the weather (layers; no cotton). Please bring a small day pack with extra clothes, snacks, water and any personal medications you may need. Ages 8 and up are welcome. Hope to see you on the trail!” 

“Seek-N-Build Neighborhood Scavenger Hunt”, Sunday, April 29, 1PM-3PM, Assemble, 4824 Penn Ave., Pittsburgh. $10/adults, $5/kids (18 or under); or $30 for a team of 4 or more (team max 5). Email Hannah at hannah@assemblepgh.org to receive the code for the free Garfield Resident ticket. Preregistration required; register online: http://assemblepgh.org/event/seek-n-build-neighborhood-scavenger-hunt-with-assemble/ “Join us for this family-friendly fundraiser to support Assemble! Assemble invites all ages to participate in a Seek-n-Build Scavenger Hunt around our home neighborhood in Garfield. Each team will solve a series of clues that will lead you to special places along Penn Avenue. At each location, team members will receive one item. When assembled, these items will make an awesome useful tool for the final competition! We’ll have lots of fun and great prizes! Stay tuned for our list of prizes. 

“Seldom Seen Places and Architectural Tour”, Sunday, April 29, 10AM-11:30AM and 1PM-2:30PM, Hartwood Acres Mansion. $8, or $6 for Allegheny County residents. Preregistration required; call 412-767-9200. “This is a chance to see "behind the scenes" at the Mansion during a tour that encompasses the expansive attic and basement. Come see where the log lift goes and where the rest of the player pipe organ resides!” https://apm.activecommunities.com/alleghenyparks/

“South Side Walking Tour”, Sunday, April 29, 12PM-1:30PM, meeting at Cindy Esser Plaza (12th Street and East Carson Street, Pittsburgh. Members $10; non-members $35 (includes a one-year complimentary membership in Pittsburgh History and Landmarks Foundation). Preregistration required by April 24; register online: http://phlf.org/event/south-side-walking-tour/ “Stroll through the commercial and residential heart of Pittsburgh’s South Side, between 12th Street and 18th Street, and celebrate the 25th anniversary of the East Carson Street City Historic District designation. Participants will be given a soft pretzel to savor along the way. PHLF docents will share stories about the colorful, adaptable commercial and residential buildings bordering East Carson Street and several side streets. You’ll see religious structures, too, that are a testament to the diverse immigrant population that was attracted to the South Side when glass, iron, and steel factories operated on riverfront land. There will be much to see and enjoy on this stroll through one of Pittsburgh’s most popular neighborhoods.” 

“Luther Hymn Fest”, Sunday, April 29, 7PM, Heinz Memorial Chapel, S. Bellefield Ave. betw. 5th and Forbes, Pittsburgh. “An evening to celebrate the hymnody of Martin Luther, commemorating the 500th anniversary of the Lutheran reformation. Featuring the Pittsburgh compline choir as well as other local choirs, organ music, as well as hymns sung by the assembly.” https://www.pittwire.pitt.edu/event/luther-hymn-fest

“The Second Annual Walk to Remember”, Sunday, April 29, 9:30AM-11:30AM, Community Day School, 6424 Forward Ave., Pittsburgh. $18 for individuals, $36 in advance for groups of 2-4, $50 in advance for groups of 5 or more. Free for Holocaust Survivors and college students with id. Preregistration here: http://hcofpgh.org/walktoremember/ “The Holocaust Center and Community Day School are proud to co­-sponsor the second annual WALK TO REMEMBER. This event brings together Holocaust survivors and their families, honors the survivors, and educates the public about the legacies of local survivors. Participants walk the perimeter around Community Day School six times to memorialize the six million Jews killed in the Holocaust. The walk begins at the site of the Gary and Nancy Tuckfelt Keeping Tabs: A Holocaust Sculpture. All proceeds from the WALK TO REMEMBER are split equally between the Holocaust Center of Pittsburgh and Community Day School, to fund Holocaust education at both organizations. This is a family­ friendly event, and light refreshments will be served. The event will also include meeting with survivors and tours of the Keeping Tabs sculpture.” 

“Awakening the Titans: Discovering Giant New Dinosaurs in the Southern Continents”, Monday, April 30, 12PM, Carnegie Museum of Natural History Earth Theater. Free. “Interested in learning about scientific discoveries directly from scientists? Carnegie Museum of Natural History scientific research staff and invited speakers discuss their latest findings on a wide variety of scientific topics at the free R.W. Moriarty Science Seminar Series. Seminars are free and no registration is required. Each seminar begins at noon in Carnegie Museum of Natural History’s Earth Theater and lasts about an hour. Visitors attending solely for the seminar are asked to check in at the front desk.” https://carnegiemnh.org/visitor/things-to-do/rw-moriarty-science-seminars/

“History Roundtable: SGT Harbula, U.S.M.C.”, Monday, April 30, 6:30PM-8:30PM, Franklin Station North, 2525 Rochester Rd., Ste 300, Cranberry Township. Free. “SGT. Harbula will discuss his experiences at the Chosin Reservoir as a veteran of 'Task Force Drysdale.' He is featured in the PBS documentary The Battle of Chosin as well as an episode of Against the Odds.” Trailer for Battle of Chosin here: http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/americanexperience/features/chosin-preview/

“Mystery Book Group”, Monday, April 30, 7PM,-8PM, Sharpsburg Library, Pittsburgh. “Get a clue with the Mystery Book Group! Join us for a lively discussion on the last Monday of the month. April's selection is Still Life by Louise Penny. Copies are available to borrow at the circulation desk. Please RSVP.” 

***Road Trips*** 

Baltimore: 

“Agar Art Workshops at BUGSS”, Saturday, April 7, 2PM-5PM, Baltimore Underground Science Space. Free. Preregistration required; register here: http://www.bugssonline.org/events-2/ “BUGSS is extremely excited that we get to partner with American Society of Microbiology (ASM) to host Agar Art workshops in 2018! What is Agar Art you ask? It is a perfect marriage of biology and art that everyone and anyone can get into. Come to the BUGSS lab to learn about some special microbes that produce and array of beautiful and striking colors. You will be able to use the tools and guidance provided by BUGSS to create your very own living work of art on agar plates! You may have seen the incredible works of art on petri dishes being shared all over social media? If not just Google image search ‘Agar Art’ and be inspired. Perhaps your art work has what it takes to enter the national ASM contest and win!? Yes, of course it does! There are two contests this year you can enter: AGAR ART MAKER – for 13 years and up, and AGAR ART KIDS 12 years and under.” 

“Homeschool Teen Art Workshop”, Thursday, April 19, 2PM-3:30PM, Natural History Society of Maryland, 6908 Belair Rd., Baltimore. $9. Preregistration required; register online: https://thewalters.org/events/event.aspx?e=4880 “Learn how to think like an artist and scientist while experimenting with different mediums through observation, interpretation, and practice at the Natural History Society of Maryland (NHSM). This special program is in partnership with the NHSM and National Geographic. This workshop is designed exclusively for homeschool students ages 13–17 in collaboration with National Geographic’s Educator + Explorer Exchange Program. In partnership with teaching artist Susan Dorsey and National Geographic Explorer Dr. Harimalala Tsiory Andrianavalona, a paleontologist in Madagascar, students make observations and interpret findings about artifacts through creative and scientific processes. This special workshop will be held at the Natural History Society of Maryland where students can view, draw, and interpret from their collection of plant and animal fossils. Students will use their observations to uncover information about the artifacts’ environment of origin and make connections to the work of Dr. Andrianavalona.” 

“Fells Point Privateer Festival”, Saturday, April 21 and Sunday, April 22, Fells Point Main Street, 1632 Aliceanna St., Baltimore. Kid friendly. “While plans are still underway, we'd like to share some fantastic attractions and entertainment we have lined up so far. The Schooner ‘Panther’ will be docked, History Tent, J.W. Brown Liberty Ship, Real-life Mermaids!, Pirates for Sail, Blue Buccaneers, The Brigands, A Pirate Feast, Rum Punch Tasting Contest, Vendors from all walks of sea life. Stay tuned for more updates!” https://www.facebook.com/events/617467628645297/

“Universal FanCon”, Friday, April 27 through Sunday, April 29, Baltimore Convention Center. “Universal FanCon is the first large-scale, 24-hour, inclusive event that celebrates the diversity of fandom and the diversity of fans. With its broad range of attendees, celebs, and unique experiences – and its engaging, interactive festival atmosphere — FanCon is the place for everyone who is a part of the true fan universe.” https://www.universalfancon.com

“Leakin Park BioBlitz”, Saturday, April 28, 10AM-3PM, 4921 Windsor Mill Rd., Baltimore. Preregistration required; register online: http://www.aqua.org/visit/baltimore/calendar/conservation-leakin-park-bioblitz?EventID=%7b5F840F12-00A5-4DD7-8B43-AC11C120E41A%7d “Join the National Aquarium Conservation Team in partnership with the Greater Baltimore Wilderness Coalition and the National Environmental Education Foundation to explore local nature and wildlife at Leakin Park in Baltimore. A BioBlitz is an event where participants work together to spot, identify and record as many living organisms as they can find. Join naturalists, families and volunteers as we learn by looking for plants and wildlife in Leakin Park! We will provide binoculars, magnifying glasses, nets and more for use while you explore the trails. This event is part of the City Nature Challenge and National Environmental Education Week. Pre-registration is required for this event. This event is family friendly and open to all ages. All volunteers under 18 must be accompanied and supervised by an adult.” 

Buffalo: 

“Dyngus Day Parade”, Monday, April 2, Buffalo, with more events throughout the week. “Dyngus Day, the annual post-Lenten bash, attracts tens of thousands to Buffalo, New York to celebrate spring, show Polish pride, flirt with pussy willows and listen to the best polka bands in the nation. DyngusDay.com is your home for Dyngus history and traditions, up-to-date schedules and information about the Dyngus Day Parade in the Historic Polonia District. Dyngus Day always falls on the Monday after Easter. In 2018, Dyngus Day will take place on Monday, April 2nd. Activities in the Buffalo-Niagara region have expanded to one week of events.” https://www.dyngusday.com

“Patriots Day Weekend”, Saturday, April 21 and Sunday, April 22, 9AM-5PM, Old Fort Niagara, 102 Morrow Plaza, Youngstown, NY. $12 adults, $8 ages 6-12, free for ages 5 and under. “Commemorate the opening of the American Revolution in 1775. Free admission for veterans and active duty military. This family-friendly event launches Old Fort Niagara's reenactment season with a salute to veterans and patriotism. Learn about the Battles of Lexington and Concord that began April 19, 1775, and started the American Revolution. Roll play as a "rebel" or "loyalist" and join a mock army with reenactors leading the charge. Reenactors will also present musket-firing and clothing demonstrations, 18th century military drills and be available to meet with visitors and answer questions.” https://www.oldfortniagara.org/event/100106/patriots-day-weekend

“Public Fossil Collecting”, Saturday, April 21, Saturday, April 28, 9AM-5PM, and Sunday, April 29, 10AM-5PM, Penn Dixie Fossil Park and Nature Reserve, 4050 North St., Blasdell, NY. “Unearth the Unexpected! Join us for guided fossil collecting tours at our regular admission prices. All ages welcome.” https://penndixie.org/calendar/

“Homeschool Day at Penn Dixie”, Monday, April 23, 10AM-1PM, Penn Dixie Fossil Park and Nature Reserve, 4050 North St., Blasdell, NY. “Learn about the geological history of Western New York at Penn Dixie. This special program for homeschoolers includes a complete educational tour of Penn Dixie led by our trained educators. Students can take home all the fossils they find! Admission is $5 per student. Students must be accompanied by an adult. No experience necessary. Program is for grades 1-12. Pre-registration is required. To register email Holly at holly@penndixie.org. Register by April 9 and receive $1 off admission. Note: Younger siblings of students are welcome. One free adult for every group/family. Siblings and additional adults welcome at the reduced admission rate.” https://penndixie.org/homeschool-day-at-penn-dixie/

Cleveland:


"Yayoi Kusama: Infinity Mirrors", ticket sales begin Monday, April 2 at the Cleveland Museum of Art. The exhibit will run Saturday, July 7 through Sunday, September 30. Don't miss it! http://www.clevelandart.org/exhibitions/yayoi-kusama-infinity-mirrors

“Dyngus Day Cleveland”, Monday, April 2. “Dyngus Day Cleveland happens once a year and is a Polka blast that rocks the streets of Cleveland with Polka jams from morning until night!” Check out the complete schedule here: https://clevelanddyngus.com/schedule/

“Frontiers of Astronomy: Other Earths and Origins of Life”, Thursday, April 12, 8PM, Cleveland Museum of Natural History. Free. Presented by Dr. Dimitar Sasselov, Harvard University. “The lecture will discuss the new field of scientific research on the emerging frontier where astronomy meets biochemistry. In the past year astronomers have discovered planets that resemble Earth around nearby stars and now prepare to explore them with a new generation of telescopes. In the meantime, chemists and biologists have narrowed down the environments necessary for early forms of Earth life and are helping the astronomers in defining their targets. The search is on!” https://www.cmnh.org/frontiers

“Cloud Spotting”, Friday, April 13, 7PM-8PM, Observatory Park, Robert McCullough Science Center, 10610 Clay St., Montville Township, Ohio. Free. School age to adult. “Learn all about clouds and what they can teach us about the hidden forces ruling our atmosphere. Weather permitting, program will be followed by night-sky viewing using Oberle Observatory telescopes until 11 PM.” https://reservations.geaugaparkdistrict.org/programs/index.shtml?id=12574&sid=819693.19505&uid=

“Trailing and Blooming Arbutus”, Sunday, April 15, 12PM, Singer Lake Preserve, Summit County, Ohio. This preserve is not normally open to the public. $14. Preregistration required; register online: https://account.cmnh.org/auxiliary/Reserve.aspx?p=22625 “Uncommon today, the arbutus bloom was once a treat for Ohioans in early spring. You will have a chance to view this favorite flower, protected at the Singer Lake Preserve.” Tradition has it that the trailing arbutus was the first flower the Pilgrims found in the spring, tipping them off that their first harsh winter was ending, and they called it the “Mayflower” after their ship. Also it’s rather lovely. 

Philadelphia: 

“Cherry Blossom Festival of Greater Philadelphia”, Saturday, April 7 through Sunday, April 15. The highlight is the Sakura Sunday, April 15, 10AM-5PM, Fairmount Park Horticulture Center, 100 N. Horticultural Dr., Philadelphia. Tickets $5-$15. “Celebrate traditional and contemporary Japan under the cherry blossoms in Fairmount Park. Sakura Sunday is an all-day celebration of all things Japanese, from live music, dance, and martial arts performances to fashion shows, arts and crafts, karaoke, and much more. Sakura Sunday is held at Fairmount Park’s Horticulture Center, home to hundreds of blooming cherry trees – including two from 1926. Bring family, friends, pets, and a picnic and enjoy a beautiful day of arts and culture beneath the blossoms!” http://subarucherryblossom.org/event/sakurasunday/

“Philadelphia Science Festival”, Friday, April 20 through Saturday, April 28. “The Philadelphia Science Festival returns for its eighth consecutive year this spring to educate, inspire, and engage the region with the science and technology that surrounds our everyday world, April 20-28. Established in 2011 by The Franklin Institute as one of the first of its kind in the country, the Philadelphia Science Festival is a nine-day celebration of science and technology in everyday places—parks, restaurants, bars, libraries, and museums. It aims to inspire not only the next generation of scientists and engineers but also create homegrown citizen scientists. The 2018 Philadelphia Science Festival offers more than 80 events over nine days in communities all across the region ranging from kid friendly live science events, themed bar crawls and cocktail hours, self-guided tours, creative workshops, stargazing parties and more— most of which are free of charge. Returning to the Benjamin Franklin Parkway this year for the Festival’s grand finale is the free daylong Science Carnival on the Parkway, Saturday, April 28. Attracting more than 50,000 attendees in 2017, the massive outdoor science carnival is one of the most highly-anticipated festival events, providing a packed day of non-stop family-friendly activities, hands-on experiments, live performances, educator opportunities, and explosive visuals from more than 150 partners to close the 2018 Philadelphia Science Festival.” Details and complete schedule here: https://www.fi.edu/psf

“El Carnaval de Puebla”, Sunday, April 29, 1112 S 9th St at Washington Ave., Philadelphia. Largest Cinco de Mayo festival outside of Mexico! “Cinco de Mayo in Philadelphia gets underway with the traditional El Carnaval de Puebla en Filadelfia parade in which participants dress as historic characters depicting the famous battle in 1862 when Mexican forces defeated foreign invaders. Tens of thousands of participants from around the U.S. and Mexico re-enact folk dramas from the town of Puebla, where the battle was fought. Dancing and marching to live Mexican music, each group entertains with its own costumes, routines and personas.” http://carnavaldepuebla.com

Washington DC: 

“National Cherry Blossom Festival”, Now through April 15. “Nothing signifies the arrival of spring in the District quite like the blooming of the cherry blossom trees and the three-week National Cherry Blossom Festival to celebrate the occasion. More than 1.5 million visitors descend upon Washington, DC each year to admire the 3,000-plus trees. The festival, which runs from March 20 – April 15, is full of events that honor both American and Japanese cultures and represents a close bond forged between the two countries that began with Tokyo Mayor Yukio Ozaki’s gift of the trees back in 1912.” Complete details on all the events here: https://washington.org/DC-guide-to/national-cherry-blossom-festival

“No Spectators: The Art of Burning Man”, now through January 21, 2019, Renwick Gallery, Pennsylvania Ave. at 17th St. NW, Washington DC. “Each year in Nevada’s Black Rock Desert, a city of more than 75,000 people rises out of the dust for a single week. During that time, enormous experimental art installations are erected and many are ritually burned to the ground. The thriving temporary metropolis known as Burning Man is a hotbed of artistic ingenuity, driving innovation through its principles of radical self-expression, decommodification, communal participation, and reverence for the handmade. Both a cultural movement and an annual event, Burning Man remains one of the most influential phenomena in contemporary American art and culture. No Spectators: The Art of Burning Man brings the large-scale, participatory work from this desert gathering to the nation’s capital for the first time. The exhibition takes over the entire Renwick Gallery building and surrounding neighborhood, bringing alive the maker culture and creative spirit of this cultural movement. immersive room-sized installations, costumes, jewelry, and ephemera transport visitors to the gathering’s famed “Playa,” while selected photographs and archival materials from the Nevada Museum of Art's show 'City of Dust: The Evolution of Burning Man' trace Burning Man’s growth and its bohemian roots.” https://americanart.si.edu/exhibitions/burning-man

“Scouting for Bricks”, Friday, April 6, 5PM-9PM, and Saturday, April 7, 9AM-5PM, The NZone, 14550 Lee Rd., Chantilly, VA. $7. “Scouting for BricksTM is a family oriented LEGO® Fan Event conducted as a fundraiser for Boy Scout Troop 39 out of Purcellville, Virginia. At Scouting for BricksTM 2015 we had over 85 exhibitors, 16 vendors, and members of the Washington, D.C. Metropolitan Area LEGO® Train Club (WamaLTC). We hope that you will join us in April 2018 to enjoy Scouting for BricksTM; fun for the whole Family!” http://s4b.troop39.us/home

“9th Annual Mid Atlantic Fireworks Festival”, the evening of Saturday, April 21, Charlotte Hall, MD. Details TBA, check their website: http://www.maff.ws/event.php and/or their Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/midaff/ Last year this was a THREE HOUR fireworks and pyrotechnics show. So I imagine it will thoroughly knock your socks off! And last year they only asked for a modest per-vehicle donation to attend. “The Mid-Atlantic Fireworks Festival is dedicated to providing its attendees the ability to pursue their passion for fireworks in a safe and legal manner, while at the same time providing a spectacular show for our spectators. Yes, spectators. While M.A.F.F. is put on by pyrotechnic enthusiasts and not a display company, it is open to the public. Spectators will enjoy an evening filled with one or more of the following events: open shooting of consumer (1.4G) and display fireworks (1.3G); one-fuse or one-board displays; shows containing consumer and display fireworks or a combination of the two and hopefully a pyro-musical or two. Attendees, those putting on the show, are invited to join us afterwords at the Afterglow M.A.F.F. provides a venue for enthusiasts to ply their trade under the supervision of licensed fireworks professionals while at the same time providing our spectators a show they are not likely to see anywhere else outside of a PGI convention or a club shoot.” 

“A Personal Look Into Eleanor Roosevelt's D.C.”, Sunday, April 22, 10AM-12PM, 2131 R Street NW, Washington, DC. $28. Preregistration required; register online: https://www.atlasobscura.com/events/eleanor-roosevelt-dc “Tour the nation's capital through the eyes of the pioneering First Lady. Join Atlas Obscura Society D.C. and the Eleanor Roosevelt Papers Project as we take a walk through the life of one of the most extraordinary and influential women in American history. Historians Christy Regenhardt and Christopher Brick will be our guides on a two-mile walking tour of Eleanor Roosevelt's D.C., starting near Dupont Circle—where the Roosevelts lived during WWI—and winding past the American Red Cross National Headquarters, the White House, and Constitution Hall. We will learn about Roosevelt's time in the nation's capital and how the city influenced her work as journalist, diplomat, activist, and First Lady. Plus, we will dive into why it took a long legal battle to obtain her classified FBI files.” 

Southern West Virginia: 

“Lore and Tracking Weekend at Twin Falls”, Friday, April 20 through Sunday, April 22, Twin Falls Resort State Park, WV-97, Mullens, West Virginia. “The annual Lore and Tracking Weekend at Twin Falls State Park is moving from January to April! This two-night, three-day event will take you back to the 18th century, when people living in America were more in-touch with nature. Learn about skills that were necessary for everyday life, and explore the culture of the time. This family-friendly event is a good retreat for history and nature-based groups, and incorporates three Master Naturalist lessons for anyone looking to earn hours for that program. Classes include Tracking (4 hours), Medicinal, Edible and Useful Plants (3 hours), and Herpetology (4 hours). The lead instructor is Doug Wood. For event registration, pricing and lodging options, call (304) 294-4000 and ask for Deana Cook.” https://wvstateparks.com/event/lore-tracking-weekend-twin-falls/ More details and a complete schedule here: http://mnofwv.org/home

Toronto: 

“Listening to Art, Seeing Music”, now through Sunday, April 22, Aga Khan Museum. 77 Wynford Drive, Toronto, Ontario M3C 1K1. “Light up the dark months and warm up the cold days with a visit to our new interactive installations! Listening to Art, Seeing Music brings together the Museum’s stunning Collection and stellar performances for a multi-sensory journey of discovery. Experience the interconnectedness of all of the arts as music and painting, digital art and spoken word, dance and poetry, and even food unite to create a museum visit like no other. From soundscapes and hands-on interactive displays to the contemplative space of an authentic Mongolian yurt, nearly a dozen installations invite you to explore the Museum on a journey of discovery. Watch shapes blossom from sounds in Sama Mara’s interactive installation A Hidden Order. Marvel at the craftsmanship in a display of instruments handmade by Syrian oud player Radwan Al Taleb. Contemplate the mesmerizing animations of Shahzia Sikander and the meditative score of Pulitzer Prize-winning composer Du Yun united in Disruption as Rapture. And, on select days, make your own music as you engage with instruments in the Museum’s public spaces. Whatever “art” means to you, find new inspiration and insight here.” https://www.agakhanmuseum.org/exhibitions/listening-to-art-seeing-music