First Fridays Followed By Sustainable Saturdays

Mt. Lebanon's annual First Friday street fair will be joined this summer by a new event: Sustainable Saturdays.

Groups including the East End Food Co-op and Construction Junction will staff tables and talk to patrons each Saturday about sustainability and related issues, said Susan Morgans, the community's public information officer. Sustainability refers to the ability to maintain an ecosystem without destroying or depleting natural resources or polluting the environment.

www.post-gazette.com/pg/09169/977989-55.stm

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.

Fridays Kick Off In Mt. Lebanon

A sure sign of summer is the year's first First Friday, a free outdoor family festival on Washington Road in Mt. Lebanon from 6 to 9 p.m. the first Friday of every month from June through October.

First up this year is "Pickin' on Uptown," June 5, featuring bluegrass and other music of the mountains. Headliners are Mac Martin and the Dixie Travelers. Martin, a Dormont resident, has lead bluegrass bands for five decades. The Blue Canoe Folkgrass Band will be on the second stage, in addition to dulcimer players and other street performers.

Link: www.thealmanac.net/ALM/Story/05-27-ML-First-Fridays--June-5-

First Friday Tonight on Washington Road

Come out to Washington Road in Mt. Lebanon tonight and enjoy a balmy First Friday. I'll be there shortly. Say hi!

Festivals, Market Kick Off Summer Of Mt. Lebanon Festivities

Live music, outdoor eateries, street performers and fresh produce will line Washington Road in Mt. Lebanon this weekend -- and on Friday nights and Saturday mornings through fall.

All of this and much more kick off the municipality's summer-long activities with First Fridays and the Uptown Farmers' Market.

First Fridays, a series of street festivals held on the first Friday of every month, lasts until Oct. 3. It runs from 6-9 p.m. The Uptown Farmers' Market opens from 8 a.m. to noon every Saturday until Sept. 27. Both events are free, said Laura Pace Lilley, municipal spokeswoman.

Link: www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/s_570988.html

Friday Night on Washington Road

Tomorrow night, Friday, December 7, from the Washington Road merchants:

Carolers, store specials, food and drink, local holiday shopping, and Find Lebo!!

Uptown, Friday December 7 from 6-9

Inside, Outside, Anywhere on Washington Rd.

Lebo the Elf wants to help his fellow citizens get a jump start on their holiday shopping. Find Lebo and get a surprise! Over $1000 in Lebo Loot, coupons, candy -- it's hard to say what might come out of Lebo's Sack o' Fun!

Lebo Loot can be spent at participating stores and for parking during the month of December. Stores include: Empire Music, Zipper Blues, More Than Words, Ona, KoolKat Design, Planet Art Gallery, Salon Vivace, Art by M.A., the parking authority, and more!!

[I've been out of town for every single First Friday and ULTRA Party since the beginning of last summer. I'm in town for this. I'll be on Washington Road tomorrow night. See you there! Mike]

Washington Road Events Coming Up in Mt. Lebanon

From washingtonroad.com:

Friday, November 2nd
The Harvest Festival
6 – 9 p.m.

Enjoy the same fun you had this summer!

Come to Clearview Common and hear performances by DoubleShot vocal band and a Special Guest. Enjoy the strolling entertainment of Ben Sota of the Zany Umbrella Circus and Donna Penoyer.

Monday, November 12th
Tastes and Treasures of Mt. Lebanon
6 - 9:30 p.m.

Come for a progressive walking and dining evening. Enjoy food, shopping, raffles, and entertainment. Tickets are $25 and available at the Recreation Center and Municipal Building.


Thursday, November 15th
Light Up Night

Welcome SANTA’s Arrival in the MLFD Fire Truck! Don’t miss the TREE LIGHTING in Clearview Common and be sure to check your favorite stores for holiday RAFFLES!

Enjoy musical performances by:
The Mt. Lebanon High School Marching Band
The Mt. Lebanon Drum Line
Double Shot Vocal Band
The Junior Tamburitzans of the South Hills

Friday, November 30th
Holiday Open House
6 – 9 p.m.

Come out for a relaxing night of chocolates, hors d’ouvres, adult beverages and great deals at: Create-a-Frame, Kool Kat Design, Planet Art Gallery, Ona, La Boheme, Celtic Cross, Art by M.A., Art Loft, More Than Words, Salon Vivace, and more.

Friday, December 7th
Mistletoe Menagerie
6 – 9 p.m.

2007's last First Friday with live music & strolling entertainment! Weather permitting, the party will be outside.
Otherwise, come inside to all your favorite Washington Road stores and enjoy music, food, drink & good company!

Events jointly produced by the Washington Road Business and Professional Association & Mt. Lebanon Municipality.
Major sponsorship for First Fridays comes from National City Bank.

A Taste(ful) of Mt. Lebanon is also presented by The Mt. Lebanon Partnership.

Friday, December 7th
Find Lebo!!
Uptown, 6 - 9 p.m.

Inside, Outside, Anywhere on Washington Road
Lebo the Elf wants to help his fellow citizens get a jump start on their holiday shopping.

Find Lebo and get a surprise! Over $1000 in Lebo Loot, coupons, candy -- it's hard to say what might come out of Lebo's Sack o' Fun.

ULTRA Party Last Night

I couldn't go to the First Friday celebration or the Mt. Lebanon ULTRA Party last night. I've heard one report already that the whole thing was groovy, baby, as Austin Powers might say. What did you think?

Lebo Summer Heats Up with ULTRAparty

Summer is about to heat up in Mt. Lebanon this August, as LEBO (Lifestyles Enriched By Opportunity) has announced ULTRAparty, a street fest for civic minded partiers between the ages of 22-35 that will encompass a three-block section of Washington Road.

ULTRAparty, sponsored by Miller Brewing, will feature one of Pittsburgh's favorite 80's cover bands, Velveeta, and will debut on Friday August 3, 2007 from 8 p.m. to midnight. A three-block area of Washington Road from Cedar Boulevard to Castle Shannon Boulevard will be closed to traffic from 8 p.m. to midnight following Mt. Lebanon's family-oriented First Friday festival.

Link: www.top40-charts.com/news.php?nid=32773

June 1 Kicks Off For Summer Activities

Mt. Lebanon is gearing up for another summer of outdoor entertainment with First Fridays and Sidewalk Saturdays, a series of music, shopping and food events on Washington Road, the town's main street.

New this year will be Ultra Party, a fund-raiser and outdoor festival for everyone, with emphasis on the 22- to 35-year-old set, scheduled for Aug. 3.

Link: www.postgazette.com/pg/07130/784627-55.stm