First First Friday

Summer is Mt. Lebanon's charmed season. School is finished. Contentious School Board and Commission elections and debates are on hiatus. The swimming pool is open. Families and friends look forward to vacations and fireworks, to Kennywood Day, afternoons in the garden, and the ritual throwing-in-the-towel from the Pirates (oops! We've passed that milestone already!). But all together now: Let's Go Pens! Nothing shows off the best of the Pittsburgh city-state (Pittsburgh-as-ancient-Corinth) better than Penguins playoff mania. It's a great way to kick off the season.

Last Friday evening was the kickoff of the 2009 First Friday season. As usual, I missed it; I was on the road. To be precise, on Friday evening I was taking a side-trip to the east portal of the Moffat Tunnel, above Boulder, Colorado, after visiting Berry Best Smoothie Co., McGuckin Hardware [the folks at Rollier's have to see this place!], and the Falafel King [check out the rosewater lemonade]. After some trainspotting, we finished up with dinner at the Sundance Lodge and Cafe, watching thunder and lightning dance across the Rocky Mountains.

For one reason or another, I expect to miss the July and August First Fridays, too. There is some hope for September!

What happened in Mt. Lebanon on Friday evening? The poster hints at a great time.