Jan 31 - Feb 2: Grand Reopening of the Pittsburgh Public Market

Friday, January 31st 9:30 a.m. – Ribbon Cutting Ceremony 10 a.m. – 12 p.m. - Live music with Broke, Stranded and Ugly 5:30 – 8 p.m. – Friends of the Market Tasting. Purchase tickets here. Saturday, February 1st 9:30 a.m. – 5 p.m. – Broke Little Rich Girl fashion boutique truck 10 a.m. – 11 a.m. – The Olive Tap Presents: Cooking with Olive Oil & Balsamic Vinegar 11:30 a.m. – 1 p.m. –  Vince Burns, live violin 1 p.m. – Caroline Shannon-Karasik, gluten free cookbook reading & tasting 2 p.m. – Make Your Own lip scrub with Mind Body Essentials 3 p.m. – Trio of Pastas recipe demo & sampling with Ohio City Pasta (RSVP to info@pittsburghpublicmarket.org) 4 p.m. – Eliza’s Oven Boozy Baking Workshop with Wigle Whiskey Tasting ($20/person, $18/Friend of the Market, Register here!)  An intoxicating hour of booze education! Learn the ins and outs of baking with booze complete with samples, whiskey tastings and a Q & A session with Boozy Baker Eliza Jane Bowman and Pittsburgh’s Premiere whiskey distillery, Wigle Whiskey. Sunday, February 2nd 11 a.m. – Live Cookspeak! Podcast with Chef Tom Totin 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. – Kids activities with our partners at Wonderaddo 12 p.m. – 1 p.m. – Live music with Squirrel Hillbillies 1 p.m. – Terrarium Class with greenSinner.   We’ll talk about considerations for choosing plants, accessorizing your   terrarium, and successfully caring for it. Then we’ll turn you loose on a container   of your choice to plant your very own terrarium. Bring a glass container. Please   RSVP to jonathan@greensinner.com to let us know you're coming.   Class costs $15, which includes soil, moss, rocks, etc. Plants are extra. 12 p.m. – 3 p.m – Balloon art by Kristin in our brand new Kid’s Corner! 2 p.m – 3:30 p.m. - Free documentary screening of Bethany's Story, sponsored by Lean Chef en Route/ Zest Wishes.

Jan 30: Climate Change series at Pitt

The Global Studies Center, University Honors College and the Model UN Club, will present a series of four events to foster understanding and engagement on the urgent topic of climate change, with key participants in the debates at the UN and from major non-governmental organizations (NGOs).  All events start at 4pm and will be held at the O'Hara Student Center, 4024 O'Hara Street, on the Pitt campus.

January 30                  The UN Framework on Climate Change

February 13                Drowning: Climate Change Hits a Small Island

February 27                Outside Pressure: NGOs as Climate Change Stakeholders

March 27                     Making a Difference in Climate Change Discourse: The UN and/or Popular Movements 

           

Guest speakers, participating via video, will discuss the politics of climate negotiations, the possibilities and limitations of the UN in addressing environmental issues, and how civil society groups, from environmentalist to public-health and peace activists, engage the UN.  Recommended readings for each event posted on website. Each session will include time for Q&A and extended dialogue with the guest speakers.

  

The sessions will be moderated by Dr. Roger Rouse, Instructor in Global Studies at Pitt, and by Ambassador Ahmad Kamal, a professional diplomat from Pakistan who is the Founding President of the Ambassadors Club at the UN and a Senior Fellow if the UN’s Institute of Training and Research. 

Speaker bios, relevant readings and more about the sessions are available at the series website http://www.ucis.pitt.edu/global/dialogs/climate-change-talks

Jan 29: Farm to Table Lunch & Learn

Farm to Table Lunch & Learn: Bringing Farm to Table into your Workplace

This complimentary workshop is part of our monthly series at the Pittsburgh Public Market.  Lunch is included.  Anyone interested in incorporating Wellness into their organization should attend.  Discussion will include an introduction to the "Farm to Table" concept: how do you buy local in Western Pennsylvania? 

12 noon - 1 p.m. at the Pittsburgh Public Market (2401 Penn Ave. 15222) 

Jan 26: Democratic Gubernatorial Forum

Eight candidates are competing in a wide-open race for Pennsylvania governor:  John Hanger, Jo Ellen Litz, Rob McCord, Katie McGinty, Max Myers, Ed Pawlowski, Allyson Schwartz, and Tom Wolf.

Please join the 14th Ward Independent Democratic Club, the 14th Ward Democratic Committee, the 7th Ward Democratic Committee, and the CMU Democrats for a Democratic Gubernatorial Forum to learn more about the candidates -- and make a New Year's resolution to work toward unseating Tom Corbett this fall.

2 - 3:30 p.m. (doors open at 1 p.m.) at McConomy Auditorium in CMU's University Center.  Note that parking is free on campus on the weekends (in the lot at Forbes & Morewood, or in the garage).  For more information, contact Sam Hens-Greco.  This forum will also serve as the Club Annual Meeting.

Jan 25: Summit Against Racism

The 16th annual Summit Against Racism will include workshops, panels, discussion, tabling, and meals.

8 a.m. - 3 p.m. at the East Liberty Presbyterian Church.  Learn more and register online here.

Jan 23: Green Drinks at TechShop

Green Drinks this month will take place 5-8 p.m. at TechShop Pittsburgh, 192 Bakery Square Blvd.

Jan 21: Healthy Farms, Healthy Families kickoff

Every year, 2 million people contract antibiotic-resistant infections.  Food & Water Watch thinks that's 2 million too many.  Unless we rein in the rampant use of antibiotics on factory farms, the medicines we rely on won’t work when we really need them. We have a chance to protect our antibiotics -- and public health -- starting here in Pittsburgh, and we need your help.

Join us in Pittsburgh to find out more about our new local campaign as part of a nationwide effort to rein in factory farms.  

6:30 - 7:45 p.m. at the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh- East Liberty, Room 3B (130 S. Whitfield St., Pittsburgh, PA).    RSVP here to join the campaign to make factory farms stop abusing our antibiotics!

Right now, 80% of antibiotics in the US are used on factory farms, primarily to make animals grow faster and to compensate for filthy conditions.  This is not how antibiotics should be used.  Low doses of drugs only kill some of the bacteria, leaving behind the stronger bugs -- and when humans get sick, these antibiotics may no longer work to make us better.

We want to live in a world where life-saving medications will be there when our family members get sick, but factory farms are playing by their own set of rules and putting the rest of us in danger.  That’s why we're launching a nationwide effort right here in Pittsburgh, to pass local resolutions showing Congress and Senator Bob Casey that the people want action to ban the overuse of antibiotics on factory farms.  And we need your help!

Jan 18 & Jan 20: Let Freedom Sing! MLK Day concerts

A pair of concerts celebrating the life and work of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.  Spoken word, gospel, and drumming.  Loved Vanessa German's rousing poem at Bill Peduto's inauguration?  She'll be in both of these concerts.

Saturday 7 p.m. at the Ebenezer Baptist Church (2001 Wylie Ave 15219) and
Monday 7 p.m. at Norwin High School in North Huntingdon (1562).

Free admission;  monetary donations accepted for local food banks.  More information here.

Jan 16: GASP Bike Air Monitor open house

Attention cyclists, friends of cyclists, and all fans of clean air!  GASP and Athletes United for Healthy Air invite you to come and check out our brand new, interactive bicycle air monitoring map.  This map, compiled from handlebar mounted particulate matter monitors, allows folks to investigate air quality their biking, walking, and running routes.  Special thanks goes to the University of Pittsburgh Computer Science program for donating their time to help us create this map.  For more info, check out this link: http://gasp-pgh.org/projects/bam/

Meet us in our offices on January 16th @530pm, load up on good food and tasty drinks.  At 6pm we'll present the project and discuss some sources of air pollution that you should be on the lookout for.  After that, feel free to play with the map, chat with GASP staff, and give us your feedback!  We will be wrapping things up at 8:30.  We want you to let us know what you think and how the project can be expanded and improved.  Hope to see you there!  The GASP offices are located at 5135 Penn Avenue Pittsburgh, PA 15224.

Please RSVP on Facebook by following this link: https://www.facebook.com/events/638057592883641/?ref_dashboard_filter=calendar

Jan 16: Community Solar gathering

SUNWPA (Solar Unified Network of Western Pennsylvania) is holding a Stone Soup and Community Solar Summit - an education, networking and soup/potluck event focused on “shared solar” (aka, “community solar”),  We will explore the various regulatory considerations in Pennsylvania surrounding shared solar projects as well as the possible options for our region. 

6 – 8 p.m. at Schwartz’s Living Market on the Southside.  Please register so we know how many to expect.  Here’s more information and the registration link: https://stonesoupandsolar.eventbrite.com.

In addition, SUNWPA will be starting a Shared Solar Task Force and we will be discussing how to get involved with this activity during the Stone Soup and Solar event on the 16^th.  This task force will further explore the opportunities to start a shared solar project in western Pennsylvania.

SUNWPA is also forming a Solar Education Task Force for those who are interested in getting out into the community (libraries, Rotary Clubs, faith groups, etc) to increase solar literacy in the region.  The formation of both of these task forces will be voted upon at the next SUNWPA business meeting, which is scheduled for February 13 at the Millvale Community Library from 6:30-8:30pm.  You are welcome to attend that meeting as well (more information will be forthcoming).  If you can’t attend but are interested, please contact Sharon Pillar to be added to the list.  And please email Maren if you'd like to join the email/online discussion/resource group on the topic that grew out of last September's Sustainability Salon.

Jan 16: Inspire lecture with Place-Based Education

Inspire Speakers Series Returns with Place-Based Education: Making School More Like a Farmers’ Market Start the new year off right with Phipps and Green Building Alliance at our next Inspire Speakers Series event! On Jan. 16, author and educator David Sobel will show us how a place-based approach to education allows kids to explore their communities and local resources, while Executive Director Jane Werner will share how The Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh puts this theory into action. The gorgeous backdrop of Phipps is a perfect place to take in an inspiring presentation. Enjoy light refreshments and networking with attendees before presentations begin at 6 p.m. You may also register to join the speakers for dinner at The Porch after the event. 5 – 8 p.m. at the Phipps Events Hall.  Learn More and Register

Jan 11: Sustainability Salon Winter Film Series

Once again, with dark afternoon skies and uncertain winter weather, the wintertime Sustainability Salons will take the form of film screenings and discussions (along with the usual potluck fare and evening music).  We're still working on the film selection(s) for Feb 1st, but rest assured we'll have some tremendous examples of environmental filmmaking to provide fuel for lots of heated discussion during this chilly season!  And we'll be physically toasty with the help of the masonry heater.

In the meantime, for Jan 11:  

The choice you are making today is what side are you on.  -- Tim DeChristopher

Bidder 70 centers on an extraordinary, ingenious and effective act of civil disobedience demanding government and industry accountability.  In 2008, University of Utah economics student Tim DeChristopher committed an act which would redefine patriotism in our time, igniting a spirit of civil disobedience in the name of climate justice.  Follow Tim, Bidder 70, from college student to incarcerated felon.  Redefine justice for yourself.  Choose your side.

In the words of local filmmaker (and my co-conspirator for the Winter Film Series) Mark Dixon, "Bidder 70 is extremely compelling.  Made me cry.  Got me angry.  Got me hopeful.  All those things."   To see the trailer and read reviews and more information, click here.

3-10 p.m. at Maren's house in Squirrel Hill.  Please don't arrive before 3pm;  we usually introduce speakers beginning around 4pm after folks have had a chance to meet, mingle, and tour around an interesting and productive urban permaculture site.   Please email me to RSVP (yes or maybe), or click on the link in your EventBrite invitation.  Please do so each time -- it helps greatly in several ways.  Among other things, attendance varies widely, and these events have been so successful that we need to begin limiting attendance.  So RSVP early if you can, to ensure your participation!  The free virtual "tickets" on Eventbrite may run out (you don't need to print any tickets, by the way, just be on the list).  Also, weather and such can be unpredictable and it's good to know who to contact if there's a change -- and I'll send directions and/or a trail map if you need 'em on Friday or Saturday.  Be sure to include salon in the Subject line, as I receive a ridiculous amount of email every day.  Bring food and/or drink to share if you can, along with musical instruments if you play.  Check back on MarensList (where you can find information on all sorts of environmental and social justice events) for updates.  And if you aren't yet on my list, if you're interested in Sustainability Salons (and our occasional house concert, simply contact me and I'll put you on my email list.  

Note once again that I'll be sending out directions and such, and any late-breaking info, to all the RSVP'd folks by the morning of the salon if not before.  So if you don't have it yet, please be patient! One of these days I'll streamline this process a bit (assistance would be welcome -- thanks to Beth for her help with the transition to EventBrite), but for now it takes a while to to dot all my i's and cross all my t's.  

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For the uninitiated, a Sustainability Salon is an educational forum, a venue for discussion and debate about important environmental issues, a house party with an environmental theme.  We usually have featured speakers on a particular topic, interspersed with stimulating conversation, lively debate, delectable potluck food and drink, and music-making through the evening.
Past topics have included community mapping projects, environmental journalism, grassroots action, community solar power, Marcellus shale development and community rights, green building, air quality, health care, solar power, trees and park stewardship, alternative energy and climate policy, regional watershed issues, fantastic film screenings and discussions (led by the filmmakers) over the winter with both YERT and Gas Rush Stories, and food, food, and more food.

Quite a few people have asked me what sorts of food to bring -- and my answer, as always, is whatever inspires you;  I believe in the "luck" part of potlucks.  Tasty noshings for the afternoon, hearty main dishes or scrumptious salads and sides for dinner, baked goods from biscuits and breads to brownies or baklava -- and/or beverages of any kind:  wine, beer, hard or sweet cider (the latter we can mull if you like), juice, tea, whatever (I've got the kombucha covered, though it's always fun to compare).  The more the merrier!  Local fare is always particularly welcome, whether homegrown or boughten.  Dishes containing meat are fine, though if it isn't really obvious please make a note of it.  

And if you like to make music or listen to homemade music, don't forget the evening sing -- we typically run the gamut from Irish fiddle tunes to protest songs to the Beatles, and a fun time is had by all.  Bring instruments if you play, and/or pick up one of ours.  Conversations will continue through the evening, as well. 

Jan 6: Last day for Braddock kickstarter

January 6th is the end-date of a Kickstarter campaign to enable a fantastic new enterprise get off the ground in Braddock, bringing together world-class food, ultra-local farming, job training, building reuse, economic stimulus, and community-building for Braddock and for the greater Pittsburgh region.  Superior Motors is the once and future name of Kevin Sousa's groundbreaking restaurant-in-the-works.  Help make it happen with the Kickstarter campaign!  

Here is a wonderful blog about the whole project by Brazen Kitchen's Leah Lizarondo.

Jan 4: Protect Our Parks info session

The Protect Our Parks movement has made some headway and attracted quite a bit of media attention since beginning the fight to protect Allegheny County parks from fracking (back in August).  As the New Year begins, here's an opportunity to get up-to-date on the latest information, and ways in which more people can get involved!

The meeting will begin with a brief overview of where we currently stand, followed by a discussion of talking points for County Council, how to register to speak and other logistical details for Council meetings, and brainstorming on ideas for further actions.

11-12 at the East Liberty Presbyterian Church (116 S Highland Avenue, 15206).  

Jan 1: Welcome to 2014!

I wish all my MarensList visitors good health in the New Year, and hope that you will be engaged in positive change.  Let's turn this train around, bringing consciousness and action to all levels of society.