The Pittsburgh Penguins, over the past forty-plus years, have turned themselves into one of the most storied franchises in the history of the National Hockey League. Today, led by their young captain, Sidney Crosby, the Penguins have proven year after year to be one of the NHL’s most successful franchises, as well as boasting the title of Stanley Cup Champions in 2009. There has been
Read the Full Article →(The History of Pittsburgh Jazz mural by Karen Bognar Khan.) Learn more about it and other great paintings, drawings, collages, and murals on the website www.ArtAddictPrints.com). Jazz is a purely American art form. No one is quite sure where it first began, but its roots lie in the African American experience of the South at the beginning of the 20th century. Perhaps the reason so many
Read the Full Article →For centuries, people have looked to good luck charms to enhance their fortunes. The ancient Egyptians wore Eye of Horus talismans, the Celts carried rabbits’ feet, and the Druids pocketed four-leaf clovers. It seems a bit fanciful to believe that necklaces, animal appendages, and common weeds can bring good fortune, but in light of some of the Pirates lucky pieces, they don’t seem all that
Read the Full Article →Nine national championships, four hall of fame coaches, countless legendary players and rabidly loyal fans. No it’s not the Steelers but the well-kept Western PA secret known as Pitt Football! With 28 bowl appearances, 86 first team All-American honors and 23 first round NFL draft picks, Pitt football has its own unique and storied history as part of the local sports landscape. Inspired by legends
Read the Full Article →When you think of a city, what comes to mind are usually the imposing steel skyscrapers, concrete canyons, and the hustle and bustle of an urban setting. However, when it comes to Pittsburgh, you may want to think twice. While Pittsburgh may have its share of impressive edifices and busy city streets, it also has an abundance of parks and recreation facilities where residents can
Read the Full Article →When you hear “hockey” and “Pittsburgh” in the same sentence, you probably assume that the Penguins are being talked about. Contrary to popular belief, Pittsburgh did have an NHL franchise before the Penguins, which was known as the Pirates. The Pirates came to be in 1925 after the departure of an amateur team called the Pittsburgh Yellow Jackets. The Yellow Jackets were a successful team,
Read the Full Article →A quick scan of Pittsburgh’s newspaper archives reveals that Pittsburghers have always been fond of gambling, whether legal or not. Headlines from old issues of The Post-Gazette read like something from Al Capone’s Chicago. “Police Seize Big Gambling Stronghold” emblazoned the front page of the January 20, 1934 issue. “Numbers Rackets Gets Set-Back” headlined the January 26, 1942 edition. The 1942 article details how bookies held
Read the Full Article →Gone fishing? For many Pittsburghers this favored pastime makes perfect sense. Situated as it is at the point of three rivers, Pittsburgh offers unparalleled opportunities to cast a line. Today, the world is taking notice. The Steel City has recently hosted major events such as the Bassmaster Classic and the Forrest L. Wood Cup, and the popularity of fishing in the city of bridges continues
Read the Full Article →Pittsburgh is “lucky” to be located close to so many casinos. Why, we even have one in our own back yard! But if you feel like venturing to another locale to try your luck, you don’t have to travel very far. The following is a list of gaming venues categorized by distance. All are less than 275 miles away. Some are suitable for a day’s
Read the Full Article →While names such as Honus Wagner, Pie Traynor, Lloyd Waner, Paul Waner, Bill McKechnie, Fred Clarke, Arky Vaughan, Ralph Kiner, Roberto Clemente, Bill Mazeroski and Willie Stargell sound like the surnames of a diverse modern Pittsburgh neighborhood, they are part of the honor roll of Hall of Famers who played for the Pittsburgh Pirates. The franchise’s proud history boasts five World Series titles, nine National
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