Living Treasures Wild Animal Park!

Living Treasures Wild Animal Park is a petting zoo for wild animals. I know that my blog focuses mainly around things to do in Pittsburgh however, for Living Treasures I had to make an exception! Living Treasures is about exactly 44 minutes from Beaver County. The city depending on traffic is usually 30, so I figured what is 14 more minutes, it is totally worth it. Living Treasures is similar to a zoo however you are able to feed and pet all of the animals, rad right? They have tons of wild animals. They have tigers, cheetahs, llamas, giraffes, a white lion and so many more! You are not able to pet and feed all of the animals, naturally you will not be allowed to feed the lions, tigers, or cheetahs but you are able to touch and feed the giraffe along with other less dangerous wild animals.

Not only is Living Treasures fairly close, but the admission to get in is wicked affordable! For adults 12 years of age or older it is $13.99, and for anyone under 12 years of age it is $10.99. The hours for Living Treasure vary. In the months of April, May, September, October, and November they are open everyday 10:00am-6:00pm. And in June, July, August they are open every 10:00am-8:00pm. 

Living Treasures has such a solid environment. It has a stellar atmosphere, all of the workers are extremely nice and informative. The living areas of all the animals are extremely neat and clean, no grotesque smells or anything like that. They also sell carrots, lettuce, and feed at the gift shop that you can feed the animals which I thought was convenient and affordable. All of the animals that you are able to pet and feed are very well groomed and extremely friendly. There were children there that had to be atleast 3 years old that were having the time of their life, they weren't afraid or anything, that is how friendly these wild animals are!

I had not one single complaint about this trip, the directions were straight forward and very easy, parking was great they have a huge parking lot and is free, admission was affordable, and I had a great time interacting with the animals. They let you take as many pictures as you want and you also do not have a time limit, you can stay for as long as you'd like. It is definitely a cool experience that I will remember forever! I never thought i'd ever see a giraffe in my life let alone get to pet and feed one. Seeing wild animals and being able to interact and feed them is only 40 minutes away from you, get out and live a little people!

If you want more information on Living Treasures, you can click this link: http://www.ltanimalpark.com/our-mission. On their website they inform you on every single animal and their story along with any other information you want on the animals. It informs you on the park and its history, along with extremely easy directions on how to get there. It is one of the most informational websites I have ever visited. It is also very user friendly, if you are interested in going to Living Treasures I would highly suggest visiting the website first! 

Marty's Market!

Marty's Market is a unique food market, cafe, and coffee bar in Pittsburgh. Along with it being a market that serves fresh produce, it is also a restaurant that serves breakfast, brunch, lunch, and dinner. The food is impeccable, it is my absolute favorite place in Pittsburgh to eat. I specifically enjoy their brunch but for the record, all of their food is amazing, I just really love brunch!

Along with having impeccable food, Marty's Market has outstanding coffee. Starbucks was always my first choice until I had coffee from Marty's Market. It is a perfect way to finish off such a scrumptious meal! I have eaten at Marty's Market plenty of times and I have yet to order a meal that I did not love.  Breakfast hours Monday-Friday are 8:00am-11:00pm, Brunch hours Saturday and Sunday are 9:00am-3:00pm, Lunch hours Monday-Friday are 11:30am-3:00pm, and dinner hours Wednesday-Saturday are 5:00pm-10:00pm. Marty's Market is located in Pittsburgh on 2301 Smallman Street, it is extremely easy to find and the parking is amazing. There is a huge, free parking lot right across the street that is always open to park in. 

Eating delicious food is always stellar however, eating delicious food that is made from all fresh produce is even better. That might be why Marty's Market is my favorite place to get brunch. It is close by, the food is delicious, the produce is fresh, the menu is affordable, and the atmosphere is great. All of the waiters/waitresses are delightful and very helpful with the menu if you are a first time customer. They are always busy yet they always find a way to seat you quickly and get your food to you even quicker. It is an all around great place, you will never go to Marty's Market and have a bad experience, I assure you! If you want to know more about the produce or take a look at the menu you can click this link: http://martysmarket.com. 

RANDYLAND!

Randyland is a museum of every type of art you could possibly imagine! It is a museum however, it has a little bit of a twist. Randyland is located in Pittsburgh on the Northside. Randy Gilson purchased this house on the Northside, and turned it into what is now called Randyland. He made all of the artwork and he put it all together himself. He created many pieces of street art in addition to 800 gardens, 50 vegetable gardens and 8 parks. It is at the least, the most rad place I have ever been to.

Randyland is open every day from 1:00pm-7:00pm. It is located on 1501 Arch Street in Pittsburgh on the Northside. Admission is free however, donations are always welcome! Donations go to Randy so that he can produce more artwork to add to Randyland. Randyland is on a normal street so parking isn't horrible but it isn't the best. Walking a few blocks, in my opinion, is certainly worth it. I heard of Randyland through a friend of a friend, and it always sounded interesting however I never pictured it to be how it was. The pictures do not even do justice when it comes to showing how much Randyland sticks right out, it is wicked cool. You could not miss this place even if you walked down the street with your eyes closed!

Everything in Randyland is so well thought out. It looks from the outside or atleast from first glance like it is just a bunch of junk thrown together. However, once you go and actually explore it you quickly realize how everything is strategically put together. Randy Gilson was actually there when I went to visit, he is an amazing guy. He is so down to earth and does all of this from such a genuine place in his heart. I love how he doesn't even charge admission, he does this all for the simple fact of sharing his works with he world. Randy is typically at Randyland which I also adore. I think it is great he is there to meet and greet with the people who come and visit. Talking with Randy really gives you more of a feel for the place.

If you want more information on Randy Gilson and his entire story and creation of Randyland you can go to this website: randy.land. It is extremely interesting, affordable, and close by! Go and visit Randyland, I assure you that you will not be anything short of pleased!

Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium!

The Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium is an absolute must when it comes to things to do in Pittsburgh! It is low cost and extremely entertaining, it is well worth a visit. It is only $15 to spend a whole day at the Zoo along with their aquarium.The Zoo is open 362 days a year, closing only on Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's Day. Naturally the operating hours of the Zoo vary throughout the year. The Fall operating hours are the Tuesday after Labor Day through December 31st, doors open at 9am and close at 5pm. The Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium is located on 7340 Butler Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15206. 

This is a very fun, low cost, and enjoyable place to visit. The atmosphere is great and the animals are all so beautiful. The staff are all so educational, polite, and more than willing to help you have the best visit possible. Along with a wonderful staff and friendly animals the Zoo is beautiful as you can see in the picture above. The big glass windows are beautiful to look at and to look out of. I haven't been to many zoo's however the Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium is the nicest I have ever been to. It is great for kids and adults of all ages. It is something that everyone can enjoy!

Penn Brewery!

For all of you beer connoisseurs, Penn Brewery is the place for you to be! Penn Brewery is a local beer brewery in Pittsburgh. They brew everything from german beers to IPAS to pumpkin beers and even christmas beers. They brew the best beer in Pittsburgh! Along with the brewery, they also have a restaurant, their food is just as good as their beer! Penn Brewery is open Monday-Saturday 11am-midnight and Sunday 11am-9pm. It is located on 800 Vinial Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15212. There is plenty of free parking behind the building! 

Penn Brewery has different beers all year around, they vary depending on the season! To find out what they have on tap, and are brewing at the time you can check out their website, http://www.pennbrew.com/TalktoUs/ContactInformation.aspx. Their website is very convenient and helpful. You can find out all the information you need by just going to the website and clicking our beer. Penn Brewery has a great atmosphere and all of the employees are extremely nice and take great care of their guests. If you are a newbee when it comes to beer, the bartenders are very helpful in finding you a beer for your liking. 

Penn Brewery has a happy hour Monday-Friday 4-6pm, all beers are $3 plus 50% off select appetizers. $3 beers are more than a good deal, it is an epic deal! Going during their happy hour would be your best bet to get a good deal on the best beer in town. It is very low cost and very worth your while. Penn Brewery is an all over great time and I suggest beer connoisseur or not, you would have a very enjoyable time! 

Mattress Factory!

The Mattress Factory is a museum created by artists in 1977, to support artists working in residence to create site-specific art. The museum today supports established and new emerging artists through a residency program.  The Mattress Factory museum is located in Pittsburgh, on the North Side, just a few minutes from downtown Pittsburgh. They have free parking for Mattress Factory guests which is provided in the museum parking lot, located at 505 Jacksonia Street. It is very cost friendly considering all of the amazing works of art you get to see, along with the free parking. It is originally $20 for adults however, if you are a student at any school and you bring your student I.D. you get in for $15! The Mattress Factory is open Tuesday-Saturday 10am-5pm and on Sundays 1-5pm. They are only closed on Mondays, New Year's Day, Easter, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and New Year's Eve. 

This museum is so unique and different from any other museum, in my opinion. It is absolutely worth visiting. This was my first time going and I already am itching to go back! They have such interesting works of art, it makes you see art in such a different way. I also enjoy the fact that they are so supportive to new and upcoming artists. Not only do they showcase such amazing artwork, they also support art and believe in it to the fullest. They want to help and spread art throughout the city, I admire their passion and support. One of my favorite pieces of work was called the Repetitive Vision by Yayoi Kusama. It is such a stimulating work of art. You walk through a set of double doors, and into a black corridor and then into a very bright lit space where the floor is covered in hot red dots. There are three female mannequins painted in white and their bodies and hair are cover with the red dots which are reflected in the mirrored walls and ceilings. It is a must see!

Repetitive Vision by Yayoi Kusama

Another must see is by Greer Lankton, it is called It's all about ME, not you. You open a tall gate and pass through a narrow alley beside a "white trash" house. Inside, Greer Lankton recreated the Chicago apartment where she lived and worked. The walls are painted in dark colors. Stars cover all over the ceiling. The room is filled with  dolls and figures that Lankton made during the course of her life. It is a cool concept to turn into a piece of art. Langton is a very different type of artist, I enjoy every single one of her works of art.

It's all about ME, not you by Greer Lankton

All in all, this was a fascinating museum to visit. Museums are typically known as boring however, this is a different type of museum. It takes your mind and opens it up to different viewpoints. It stimulates your thoughts and fills you in on the new type of art that is out there. It is low cost and is in a very convenient location, along with free parking! Go visit, explore, and enjoy!

SCAREHOUSE!

ScareHouse is a haunted attraction that is only 10 minutes from downtown Pittsburgh! It is located on 118 Locust Street Etna, PA 15223. The best part about ScareHouse is that you get 3 haunts for the price of 1! The three haunts this year are; the summoning, krampus: come all ye fearful, and hallowed grounds. The 3 haunts change each year, which I think is so rad! The way the three haunts works is you walk through it like a normal haunted house, however it changes along the way. It is more like three different stages, if you will. 

ScareHouse has been ranked as one of “America’s Scariest Halloween Attractions” by Travel Channel and has been featured on Good Morning America, USA TODAY, CBS news, Buzzfeed, Forbes, Geek & Sundry, and many other national media outlets. I come to ScareHouse yearly, it is my absolute favorite haunted house I have ever been to, and I have been to a lot. Sunday nights and Thursday nights the cost for ScareHouse is $19.99 and on Friday nights and Saturday nights the cost is $24.99. ScareHouse is open Sundays and Thursday 7-10 p.m. and Fridays and Saturdays 7-12 p.m. The most convenient thing is that ScareHouse has a free parking and shuttle service at the Pittsburgh Zoo and PPG Aquarium located at 7340 Butler Street, in Pittsburgh, PA 15206. It is very convenient and easy to find and figure out. 

This year in my opinion was the best year ever! The makeup and costumes were so real and lifelike. The acting was impeccable, none of the people there even the mangers and owners will talk to you normally. Each and every person is dressed up and in character for the entire night, no exceptions. I enjoyed all three of the haunts, they are truly petrifying. I suggest that everyone go celebrate October by visiting the ScareHouse. It is absolutely worth while and it is low cost and like i said earlier, 3 haunts for the price of 1, you can't beat it!

Purity Ring!

The people of Pittsburgh know about the big concerts that are held at either PNC park or Heinz field. However, what the people of Pittsburgh do not know about are all the other concerts being held in Pittsburgh all the time, just at smaller venues. Stage AE is known for all of its many concerts, in which tickets are always sold for a reasonable price.

Purity Ring is a Canadian electronic music duo that started in 2010. The band consists of Megan James, who does all the vocals and Corin Roddick, who does all the instrumentals. They are one of my absolute favorite bands. Their tour this year is called, Another Eternity Tour, and this was their first time ever performing in Pittsburgh. They performed at 7:00 at Stage AE, on September 24th. Ticket prices were awesome, $22 if you bought them in advance and $25 if you bought them at the doors. The thing I love most about Stage AE is the convenient parking. They have a huge lot for parking that is free and if that is full then there is tons of spots all along the street along with a very near by parking garage that is only $5 to park.

Purity Ring's opening act was a girl named HANA. I have never heard of her before and unfortunately I missed her performance because I got to the concert late. The show started at 7:00 p.m. however, I got there around 8:30 p.m. and Purity Ring had yet to take the stage. They took the stage around 9:00 p.m. which was perfect timing due to me being late. Stage AE is an indoor and outdoor venue. They have a huge stage outside along with a stage inside. Purity Ring performed inside this concert however they kept the outdoor part open for people to drink and hangout. I stayed inside and got a few drinks before they took the stage, drink prices weren't as bad as they could have been. A beer on tap was $4 which to me was not bad, beers at Heinz field or PNC park range from  $6-9 during concerts.

The stage was decorated in these awesome string lights that changed colors as the beat of the song changed. It was so rad, it was my absolute favorite part about the concert! The concert ended around 10:30 p.m. which I thought was great! It wasn't too late or too early and they stayed on stage for a constant hour and a half which I thought was a good amount of time. I enjoyed the concert a great deal, it was just as good as i expected it to be. People always surpass all the concerts at the smaller venues in Pittsburgh, don't be one of them! They are a great time and very affordable.

Kayak Pittsburgh!

Kayaking in Pittsburgh was a great way to kick off my blog! I have heard through multiple of my friends and family members that Kayak Pittsburgh is a blast and extremely affordable, so I figured I would start there! Kayak Pittsburgh is up and running seven days a week, during the warmer months that is. They have three locations: downtown, the Millville Riverfront Park and a suburban outpost in North Park.

I chose to kayak in the downtown location. I figured it would have a really nice view, naturally I was right.  The rates were extremely reasonable; solo rides are $15 per hour with an added $8 for every added half-hour and two person rides are $20 per hour with an added $10 for every added half-hour. I kayaked alone so I payed $15 dollars for an entire hour, which in my opinion was plenty. 

I went on Saturday, unfortunately for me it rained the entire day. Besides the raining aspect of it all, it was actually super fun! The staff was extremely nice and welcoming, and they were great with informing us on the instructions. It was not too busy on Saturday due to the rain, however the staff informed me that it typically is crowded on nice days but it is all well organized and runs smoothly.

It took me about 30 minutes to get there and only cost me $15 to kayak. It was fun, affordable and wonderfully convenient. You can find more out about Kayak Pittsburgh and all of the other things it has to offer on this website: https://www.ventureoutdoors.org/kayak-pittsburgh/. 

Welcome!

Hello! My name is Elle George and I am a communications major attending Penn State at the Beaver campus. I am going to blog about fun and affordable things to do in Pittsburgh. I chose to blog about this because Penn State Beaver is extremely close to the city and there are tons of fun and affordable things to do.

I am going to do a new thing in Pittsburgh each week and then blog it. I will discuss how I found out about what I did, along with the cost and the location. I think it will be fun to try new things each week and for my classmates to be informed because I feel that many people are unaware of all the possibilities that Pittsburgh has to offer.

I think this is a good blog topic because not only is it informative and interesting but I also will be taking something from this as well. I will be able to explore all Pittsburgh has to offer and write about my experience!