☃️ Save a snowball — for science
Plus, a Pennsylvania history pop quiz.
By Rossilynne Culgan
Hello and happy Mardi Gras!
Got a last-minute paczki craving? Good Food Pittsburgh has you covered with this list of where to find the delicious delicacies.
Before we jump into today’s news, a quick programming note: Rossilynne here. Remember me?! I used to write this newsletter in what seems like a century ago (but was somehow only six months ago). With Colin off to a new gig, I’m filling in for a bit until we name our new director — stay tuned for more about that.
Here’s what we have for you today: Some staggering snowfall numbers, a Pennsylvania pop quiz, big news from the Hays eagle nest, and the scoop on why you might want to save a snowball today (scroll all the way to the bottom for that).
What Pittsburgh is talking about
How we feel about all this snow: 😕. | Tag #theinclinepgh to be featured in our Instagram of the Day. (📸: @ktk7895)
4 things to know today
🌨️ Snow way. This winter is one of Pittsburgh’s snowiest with 49.7 inches so far, Patch reports. Here are some tips from the National Weather Service on how to measure how much snow is in your yard.
➡️ The Art House in Homewood was damaged by a fire. “There is a lot of damage, but everyone is OK,” acclaimed artist Vanessa German said on Instagram. She created the Art House as a community space for local kids. Here’s more from the Post-Gazette.
🗓️ Mark your calendar for “Athletes Against Antisemitism” this Wednesday. Steelers lineman Zach Banner will be among the athletes attending the virtual event hosted by the Holocaust Center of Pittsburgh. The Pittsburgh Jewish Chronicle has more details.
📊 Here’s the latest on our region’s COVID-19 numbers and vaccine information, via PublicSource.
4 things to make you smile
💗 This is love. A local bridal shop gave away wedding dresses to 55 frontline workers planning weddings, with the owner saying “I wanted to do it to give back to all the frontline workers who have been putting themselves and their families at risk throughout the whole pandemic.” The Post-Gazette has the full story.
🏛️ Pop quiz: How many Vice Presidents have been from Pennsylvania? Only one. George Mifflin Dallas. Never heard of him? Observer-Reporter has a quick history lesson.
🐢 Welcome to the newest Pittsburghers: Seven rare and endangered sea turtles now being cared for at the Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium. Here’s a look at the sea creatures.
🐦 The first two eggs of 2021 were spotted in the Hays bald eagle nest. KDKA’s got a picture of the nest and here’s a link to the Hays bald eagle cam.
Meet an Incline member: Courtney Sukitch
Courtney Sukitch, celebrating life. (📸: Photo by Golden Orchid Photography)
Supporting members (aka Incline Insiders) make what we do possible, so we like to put them in the spotlight when we can. Today we’re introducing you to Incline Insider Courtney Sukitch, of Canonsburg, with a quick Q&A:
Where in town might people run into you?
You can find me at any eatery downtown on the weekends! I am still working on eating my way through Pittsburgh! As long as there is snow on the ground, you can also find me skiing the slopes at Seven Springs.
What made you decide to become a member of The Incline?
Getting the newsletter in my inbox always brightens my day and I have found so many great new restaurants and activities to do around this amazing city, it just felt right to become a member!
What’s something you’re working on — in big ways or small — that you could use help with?
I am working on finding ways to give back to the community. I love to volunteer, especially in trying times. 2020 was a year unlike any other, so anytime I see something devastating on the news, I try to make a point to volunteer and give back so we can put a little good back into the world. I would love to learn of more ways to volunteer virtually now and in person when it's safe to do so again.
What local business do you think deserves a shoutout (and why)?
I'd like to give South Side BBQ and Mike's Beer Bar a huge shoutout for always being consistently great spots! I love seeing the SSBBQ food truck out and about, the Bar-Ba-Cones are out of this world. I can always count on Mike's Beer Bar to have an incredible variety to choose from. I love the local spotlights they do, the live music is stellar, and don't even get me started on the food! Amazing spots more yinzers should know about!
What’s a local event you went to recently that you loved?
I have not been to any of these recently, but I love Picklesburgh and all the beer fests. Anything that involves a good bite and a local brew, you can count me in on!
What are you celebrating in your life right now?
I am celebrating being a newlywed and spending some time with my husband, Kenny Sukitch. It's been a treat to spend so much time with him and listen to him create new music in our little apartment studio. He's been able to write, record, and release some great new tunes (check them out on Spotify if you'd like!) and getting to take time to mix and master music from other local musicians as well.
Want your turn in the spotlight? Want to plug a project you're working on in front of the 14,000 people who receive this newsletter? Become an Incline member today and we'll send you a handy little form with questions like these. You'll also get special perks like event discounts and bonus/exclusive content in the newsletter.
Things to do
Submit your events to our calendar.
Today
🔬 Hear from Dr. J’Tia Hart, nuclear engineer at Argonne National Laboratory, in this Carnegie Science Center Career Connections chat (Online)
Tomorrow
🎞 Mark Black History Month by exploring the story of Derrick Evans, a Boston teacher who moved back to Mississippi when the graves of his ancestors were bulldozed to make way for a sprawling city (Online)
➡️ Tune in for Athletes Against Antisemitism, a virtual event hosted by the Holocaust Center of Pittsburgh on combatting anti-Semitism, racial justice and moving forward in unity (Online)
Thursday
🎭 Catch a reimagined "Romeo and Juliet" from Pittsburgh Public Theater, this version centered on Black culture and characters — multiple dates (Online)
Friday
🖼 Get timed tickets to see the acclaimed SWOON exhibition at Contemporary Craft’s new location — multiple dates (Upper Lawrenceville)
🐦 Learn about this year's finch superflight and how the Western Pennsylvania Conservancy is using new technology to track winter movements of evening grosbeaks (Online)
Saturday
🐧 Hear from Charles Bergman, award-winning author and photographer, as he shares his quest to see every penguin in the world in this Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium program (Online)
Sunday
☮️ Take inspiration from great works of art in a 30-minute live, guided meditation session from the Carnegie Museum of Art — multiple dates (Online)
📜 Learn unknown facts about Sojourner Truth's life and how Prime Stage Theatre created a streaming production of "Sojourner" by Richard LaMonte Pierce (Online)
Monday
➡️ Explore the hidden Jewish neighborhoods of Pittsburgh in this Doors Open Pittsburgh event (Online)
One more thing ....
Save a snowball now, get discounted admission to Carnegie Science Center later.
Anybody who brings a snowball on June 20 (the first day of summer) will get into the museum for $5. You can even send your snowball flying with the Science Center’s cannon, which is truly something to look forward to after this frigid winter.
Snowball Day has been a tradition at the Science Center for more than a decade. Over the years, hundreds of snowballs have sat carefully packed away in freezers throughout the region and made their way to the Science Center — in coolers, freezer bags, frosty coffee cans, and plastic storage containers.
If we’re going to have a brutal winter, we might as well have some fun with it, right?
See you back here tomorrow.
✌️ — Rossilynne at The Incline
