Travel Discoveries: Pittsburg

There is an area not far from downtown on Penn Street called the Strip. Formerly a warehouse and industrial area, it has remade itself into a vibrant slightly grimy street market populated with ethnic food stores (Italian, Polish, Chinese) and a variety of little restaurants that line the main street or are just off the street towart the river. Part of what fuels this energy is the urban revitalization that has transformed many warehouses into urban living spaces.

My favorite place to have breakfast is Pamelas diner just one half block off Penn Street in the river direction at 60 21st Street. (412-281-6366). There is always a crowd at this restaurant and if you get there after 0830 you will have to stand in line a bit on the weekend. The atmosphere inside is pure 50's diner with vintage photographs (school yearbook shots and family photographs) lining the walls. Tables are Formica and steel and chairs are covered in shiny Naugahyde.

President Obama choose this place to have breakfast a few months ago, and I can see why; a good place to rub elbows with the local population.

http://www.pamelasdiner.com/

Living Large in a Small Way

Check out the 64square foot house that Dee Williams lives in! Gives a new definition to downsizing. Whatever form that might take, it is the new reality for a sustainable future; finding ways to use less without necessarily losing on the quality of life one experiences.

Follow the link:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eZM2G-PfEbc&feature=player_embedded

Inspirations: Hanging plants

Walking around today I saw a really neat window display using heavyduty clear plastic baggies suspended in the front window using green fishing line (I think). Each bag was planted with a different flower or herb, and they all seemed to be doing really well in their sunny environment. It was a really beautiful way to grow herbs and the occassional marguerite flower added a bit of whimsy to the display.

Travel Discoveries: Columbus Ohio

This weekend finds me in Columbus, a place I really knew nothing about, except it is home to Ohio State. I spent a few hours walking the downtown area know as Short North, which used to be a bit down and out and crime ridden apparantly about 30 years ago (1970's and 80's) but which has now transformed itself into a rather edgy arts district with a vibrant local population living just a block off Main Street. Heading north from State Street, one passes through the arches of The Itallian Village area lined with many antique shops as well as little eateries. I had the Cowboy breakfast at Northstar restaurant (http://www.thenorthstarcafe.com/) There was a crowd there so I figured it must be good. The ambiance suit me perfectly; great music, ample reading from the well stocked magazine rack (I read from the literary review magazine "Image" and came across some wonderful poetry quite apt for reading on what is supposed to be the last day of time (according to some religious fanatics who have recently taken out full page ads in major newspapers claiming May 21, 2011 as the last day before the rapture/judgement. We'll see; it's only 1326 as of this posting!). A couple of other restaurants that looked really interesting were the coffee shop Impero (http://www.imperocoffee.com/)  and the bistro Barrio (http://www.barriotapas.com/) . This part of Columbus is well cared for; many flowers planted along the streets and in the lamp posts, and a clean well swept feel. There are a number of large parks just off main street toward the river (Scioto River), great for early morning strolls.

More info at : http://www.experiencecolumbus.com/

Soul Journey

This blessing by Henry Van Dyke was included in the funeral service
for John Johnson who died Marh 19, 2011 in Asheville. John was
an inspiration to many hundreds if not thousands of people because
he embodied the spirit of true compassion which was strengthened
by his own struggle with addiction. He died of cancer.

"I am standing upon the seashore. A ship at my side spreads her white sails to the morning breeze and starts for the blue ocean. She is an object of strength and beauty. I stand and watch her until at length she hangs like a speck of white cloud just where the sea and the sky come to mingle with each other.

Then someone at my side says, 'There, she is gone!'

'Gone where?'

Gone from my sight. That is all. She is just as large in mast and hull and spar as she was when she left my side and she is just as able to bear the load of living freight to her destined port.

Her diminished size is in me, not in her. And just at the moment when someone at my side says: 'There, she is gone!' There are other eyes watching her coming and other voices ready to take up the glad shout: 'Here she comes!'

And that is dying"

We know that even as we celebrate the life of a loved one here today, and mourn the fact that we can no longer feel there arms around us and feel sad that we have to say, "He is gone", friends and family were jumping up and down on the next shoreline shouting , "Here he comes! Here comes our beloved!"

Here are a few more favorite sayings that John used to quote:

• God doesn't love us because we are good. God loves us because God's good.
• You want to make God laugh? Tell her your plans!
• Happiness is a choice.
• Be the love.
• Life is but a series of ever increasing moments of NOW.
• There are no great teachers-only great students with great questions.
• Look around and ask yourself what is wanted and needed here.
• If it wasn't for good luck I wouldn't have any luck at all.
• Be the man your dog always thought you were. Anything worth doing is worth overdoing.
• There is something I don't know, the knowing of which could change everything.
• There is only love or fear.