Bargain Wine
The 1998 Columbia Crest Grand Estate Cabernet Sauvignon ($12.99, PLCB Code 4133) from the Columbia Valley of Washington is both outstanding and a good wine value. The wine has rich black cherry and cassis fruit aromas with a hint of chocolate. On the palate, it delivers delicious fruit flavors with a nice touch of nutmeg and vanilla oak. Available at most Pennsylvania Wine and Spirits stores. Hours vary, generally Monday-Saturday, 9 or 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Credit cards. 800/322-7522. LCB Online

Cappuccino
The cappuccino, a combination of espresso and steamed milk with froth on top, sounds deceptively simple on paper, but at La Prima Espresso, where coffee is king, the key to an outstanding cup is the right proportions. Many coffee shops serve a 12-ounce cappuccino, but La Prima serves an 8-ounce version so that robust bite of the espresso is not lost in a sea of milk. For $1.75, you can experience an authentic cappuccino in the finest Italian tradition in an Old World decor never short of colorful characters hopped up on the bean. 205 21st St., Strip District. Sunday-Friday, 6 a.m.-4 p.m.; Saturday, 6 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Credit cards. 412/281-1922. LaPrima.com

Croissant
Crisp on the outside, made even more so with a sprinkling of toasted almonds. Smooth and fudgy on the inside. It wasn't just the chocoholics swooning over the chocolate croissants ($1.75) from Allegro Hearth, the specialty bakery of restaurant Cafe Allegro. The "plain" croissants ($1.50) are also rich and buttery, made even more so by the Cafe Allegro-made flavored butters and pâtés ($3-$8). And there's a toothsome array of artisan breads and a few sweets, plus a changing variety of soups and sandwich fillings for a takeout lunch. 2034 Murray Ave., Squirrel Hill. Monday-Saturday, 7 a.m.-9 p.m.; Sunday, 7 a.m.-7 p.m. Credit cards. 412/422-5623.

Healthful Takeout
Craig Street Coffee & Deli is a popular place for lunch for good reason. Although not strictly vegetarian (you can get a sandwich piled high with your favorite luncheon meat), the deli offers a wide variety of vegetarian and vegan options, like the tofu stack, hummus and veggie sandwiches ($2.50-$4.95); frequent soup options include the vegetarian chili, tomato basil soup and corn chowder ($1.65-$2.95). And if you decide not to be so healthy, there are temptations -- scones, macaroons, muffins and more -- lurking in the pastry case. 305 S. Craig St., Oakland. Monday-Friday, 7:30 a.m.-6 p.m.; Saturday, 8 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Credit cards. 412/683-9993. CraigStreetCoffee.com

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Tea That You Chew
Tea that comes with its own dessert? The Thai iced tea ($2.50) at Thai Cuisine is a sweetened blend of Thai tea and half-and-half served with an extra-wide straw to accommodate the tapioca balls that you get with every slurp. It's a great counterpoint to the spicy curries at this new Bloomfield eatery. 4627 Liberty Ave. Monday-Thursday, 11 a.m.-2:30 p.m. and 5-10 p.m.; Friday, 11 a.m.-2:30 p.m. and 5-11 p.m.; Saturday, 11 a.m.-11 pm.; Sunday, 5-10 p.m. Credit cards. 412/688-9661.

Pierogies (Not From Grandma or the Church)
If you are hankering for a homemade treat smothered in butter and sweet sauted onions, you don't have to wait until the next church bazaar or holiday. Rosie's Pierogies are homemade, come ready to eat and, well, I don't know if you can convince anyone that a pierogie is "lite" -- but these definitely do not sink like bricks in your stomach. Potato and cheese; potato, cheese and bacon, and sauerkraut varieties could pass for Grandma's, but the jalapeno variety packs enough heat to kick you right out of the comfort zone. And the price is reasonable, too: $6.50/dozen or $3.50/half-dozen. Plum Ridge Plaza, 2820 Golden Mile Highway, Plum. Monday-Friday, 11 a.m.-7 p.m.; Saturday, 11 a.m.-3 p.m. 724/387-2817.

Place to Eat Alone
Whether you're dining solo to finish some work or to treat yourself to a few moments alone, the Original Fish Market accommodates you. The bar is a social nucleus for locals and hotel guests alike. If you prefer solitude, watching colorful gems of fish wrapped and rolled at the sushi bar is tranquilizing. Or stretch out at a table in the main dining room and allow the servers to tend to your every need. Westin Convention Center hotel, 1001 Liberty Ave., downtown. Monday-Friday, 11 a.m.-1 a.m.; Saturday-Sunday, 4 p.m.-1 a.m. Credit cards. 412/227-3657.

Tequila Sunrise at Sunset
Day is done, and your nerves are medium-raw. Try winding down with dinner and a sunset. The Sesame Inn's second-floor location has been designed with sun-sational effect: a bar with an exterior wall of glass and a western exposure. Grab a bar stool, order a drink -- how about a Tequila Sunrise? -- and watch the sun slip below the horizon far off in the distance. Then let West meet East with the Chinese cuisine. Don't forget the fortune cookie. 715 Washington Road, Mount Lebanon. Monday-Thursday, 11:30 a.m.-10 p.m.; Friday-Saturday, 11:30 a.m.–11 p.m.; Sunday, noon-9 p.m. Credit cards. 412/341-2555. SesameInn.net

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Topping to a Meal
If you have a taste for the unusual, try Cafe Zinho. It's not just the Blue Ribbon award-winning cuisine that will whet your appetite. Look up from your meal, lean back your head and check out what's right above you: You're sure to find some food for thought at this contemporary-casual spot with its fun, funky decor. The
ceiling has been created from "good,
old-fashioned, heavy real-wood doors," says Becky Pais, who along with her husband, Toni, owns this cafe as well as the next-door home-furnishings and gift shop Lilas (5890 Ellsworth Ave., 412/363-8269) and award-winning restaurant Baum Vivant (5102 Baum Blvd, Oakland, 412/682-2620). Becky says she's especially impressed with how the doors have been made to conform so well to the ceiling's irregular shape. 238 Spahr St., Shadyside. Tuesday-Thursday, 11:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m.; 5:30-10 p.m.; Friday-Saturday, 11:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m.; 5:30-11 p.m. 412/363-1500.

Way to Eat in the Strip When You Can't Get to the Strip
To the uninformed, Oasis Express looks like a truck stop. But 20 miles north of Penn Avenue, Oasis has Strip District favorites like Enrico biscotti, Benkovitz fish and meats and cheeses from Pennsylvania Macaroni Co. Ingredients for Fox's Pizzas as well as most other food items prepared at Oasis also come fresh from the Strip. Notably not from the Strip: Benkovitz sandwiches are piled high on Mancini's bread (also sold by the loaf), and Market Square's Nicholas Coffee fuels the morning commute. 2619 Wexford Bayne Road, Franklin Park. Food court, Monday-Saturday, 7 a.m.-8 p.m.; and Sunday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Credit cards. 724/940-2900.

Girly Martini
So you think gin tastes pretty much like hair spray, and you don't want to "feel the burn" with each sip of your cocktail, but still want to drink something served in a graceful and elegant martini glass. Try the Appletini: very girly and very green, even served with a slice of Granny Smith apple. Made from sour-apple schnapps and vodka, the concoction is sweet and tastes much like -- well, apple juice. Use extreme caution while imbibing. This cocktail is enjoying increasing popularity and is popping up on many a menu, but if you are looking for an expert mix, try it at Olive or Twist ($6-$7). 140 Sixth St., downtown. Monday-Thursday, 11:30 a.m.-10 p.m.; Friday-Saturday, 11:30 a.m.-2 a.m.; Sunday, 11 a.m.-8 p.m. Credit cards. 412/255-0525.

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Place to Sell CDs
Need to unload weird Uncle Ed's acid jazz collection and a few random Michael Jackson and Frank Zappa CDs, but don't want to have to traipse around to find a shop that will take them? CD Warehouse is your best bet. Kate Foster, assistant manager, says the store will buy just about anything, and that with every purchase, she'll slip you a list of hundreds of CDs that the independent chain will pay $5 for. Double CDs are worth a little more, but Foster says not to expect more than 50¢ if there are already 100 copies of that Ace of Base CD of yours in stock. Sell back five CDs and get a stamp. Ten stamps earn you one free used CD that's priced at $8.99 or less. 3613 Forbes Ave, Oakland. Monday-Saturday, 10 a.m.-9 p.m.; Sunday, noon-6 p.m. 412/687-4715. YourCDWarehouse.com

Place to Buy Used DVDs
Everyone who owns a DVD player dreams of a DVD library, but dreams can be expensive. So how can you build your own Blockbuster-at-home without breaking the bank? Buy used. Dave's Music Mine stocks an ever-changing inventory of around 300 titles ranging from $14.99 down. And it's not just Weekend at Bernie's and Waterworld, but a wide range of popular titles, adult fare, music videos, foreign films, anime and even DVDs for the kids. And if you've been wondering what to do with the Police Academy box set that Aunt Mary got you for Christmas, take it to Dave's. DVDs in good condition can get you up to $7 in cash, even better in trade. 3710 Forbes Ave., Second Floor (above Kinko's), Oakland. Monday-Friday, 10 a.m.-8 p.m.; Saturday, 10 a.m.-6 p.m.; Sunday, noon-5 p.m. Credit cards (except American Express). 412/687-1234. DavesMusicMine.com

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Place to Color Your World -- or Kitchen
Love the bright colors of Fiesta tableware but wonder how you can afford to buy enough sets to get a really great mix of color? The Homer Laughlin China Co., maker of the colorful tableware, is in Newell, W.Va., which may sound far, but it's just a little farther down the road (Route 2) than Mountaineer Gaming Resort. The factory outlet store not only offers first-quality collections, but there also is a huge room filled with slightly imperfect, and maybe some more-imperfect pieces, at tremendously discounted prices. Be prepared to spend a considerable amount of time digging to find what you want -- the pieces are all mixed, the colors are mixed, and some are in better shape than others, but it is a great and inexpensive way to start or to build your collection. Sixth and Harrison streets. Monday-Saturday, 9:30 a.m.-5 p.m.; Sunday, noon-5 p.m. Credit cards. 800/452-4462. HLChina.com

Place to Buy Baking Supplies
It happens all too often: a birthday looms around the corner with no good gift solution in sight. A trip up some very steep hills to Frozen Egg and Fruit may be the solution. From wintergreen extract to pumpkin-shaped pie pans to novelty candles shaped like beer bottles or Harry Potter, this little store has what you need to whip up a cake to make any celebration memorable. Martha would be proud. 121 Boggs Ave., Mount Washington. Monday-Saturday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. 412/431-6828.

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Small-Town Shopping District
Where else can you shop for upscale fashion (Carabella), high-end shoes (Lucy), custom jewelry (Robert Hallett Goldsmith), lush flowers (Oakmont Floral); have a great meal (Mighty Oak Barrel, Chelsea Grill or Café Monaco); take in a movie (The Oaks); sip a cappuccino while browsing through a hot new murder mystery (Mystery Lovers Bookshop) and end your visit with a huge hunk of cake (Oakmont Bakery)? And that is just one itinerary, primarily along Allegheny River Boulevard. Wide sidewalks, a walking trail and a glimpse of the Allegheny River make shopping in Oakmont a real delight. It is one of the few shopping districts that remains predominantly independent, with friendly shop owners who offer quality merchandise and greet shoppers with an enthusiastic "Hello!" Shops generally open Monday-Saturday, 9 or 10 a.m. to 5 or 7 p.m., and later on Thursdays till 8 or 9 p.m.

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Art in a New Medium
An exhibit at a public laundry? Maybe that won't wash with some art aficionados, but not Morningside artist Carol Capezutti, founder of the National Lint Project. Her 9-year exploration of lint (yes, that stuff found in a dryer) as a medium for art culminated this winter and spring with a series of events, including puppet-making, photography, poetry and parties. Recently, the Good Grief Center for Bereavement Support commissioned Capezutti to create three large lint angels for its new center at the Carnegie Library of Homestead, which will be unveiled at the May 16 opening gala. For the latest in lint, to receive the Lintletters newsletter, to donate lint or to have Capezutti create a sculpture just for you, check out StudioCapezzuti.com or 412/362-1024.

'80s Night
Really, '80s nights are all things acid-washed denim and Reaganomic-concatenated, packaged and sold to people in their late 20s and early 30s who want to celebrate the "good" times when learning entire John Hughes screenplays and loving too many singers named Rick and Patti were part of daily life. Avoid crowds and people who still really peg their pants by checking out Lava Lounge on Thursdays, 10 p.m.-2 a.m. DJ Doug's diverse collection includes hundreds of cool new wave and alternative hits. He will even take requests for everything except our beloved Winger. (And he might even play THAT if you ask really nicely.) 2204 E. Carson St., South Side. Tuesday-Saturday, 4 p.m.-2 a.m.; Monday, 8 p.m.-2 a.m. Cover $3 every night but Monday. Credit cards. 412/431-5282.

Hottest New Place
This place is so hot it will melt glass -- molten glass that artists and students sculpt into African beads, marvelous marbles and transparent insects. This is the Pittsburgh Glass Center, where you can take intensive summer classes in flameworking, glassblowing, kilncasting and mixed media starting May 20 ($500 for one week, $900 for two weeks). During the one-week Summer Youth Institute, high school students can immerse themselves in the art of hot glass or flameworking. See how experienced glass artists do it when the PGC inaugurates its gallery with Robin Stanaway's "Elevated Plate Series," an installation from hand-blown glass and wire-frame steel. The exhibit opens May 17 at 5472 Penn Ave., Friendship, and runs till mid-September (close date TBA): Monday-Friday, 9:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Classes run 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Regular three-hour classes, in eight-week sessions, range from $290 to $400. 412/365-2145. PittsburghGlassCenter.org

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Jukebox
Saddle up to Pittsburgh Deli Co.'s bar with an $8 snifter of scotch (worth every penny), slide in a few bucks ($1 for two selections; $2 for six) and you can finally get that annoying new tune by the latest Disney-teen-oriented- marketing-scam band out of your head. The Deli Co. may be the only place for 300 miles in any direction where you can hear The Pharcyde, Neil Diamond, live Grateful Dead and Erykah Badu in the same hour without anybody making an intentional joke. There's something for everyone among its 100 or so CDs. 728 Copeland St., Shadyside. Monday-Sunday, 11 a.m.-2 a.m. 412/682-3354. PghDeli.com

Places to Hear Music on a Budget
Not far from the shores of the old Monongahela we have some of the most exciting music-making you'll find anywhere at the best possible prices. Pitt, CMU, Duquesne and many other campuses have hundreds of terrific events -- often for free -- and you don't have to be a student or alum to join the audience. Carnegie Mellon's School of Music, which often has as many as 50 events in a month, competes with Juilliard, Eastman and Curtis for the world's best music majors. The century-old College of Fine Arts Building is a Henry Hornbostel masterpiece with a gorgeous painting of St. Peter's on the ceiling, marble everywhere, and two music theaters, including the Kresge Auditorium, which has been remodeled with comfy new seats, greatly improved acoustics from a Wanger shell and new lighting on the way. This year, faculty members Douglas Ahlstedt and Irene Schreier recorded a Schubert CD in Kresge; it's also the home of the globe-trotting Grammy-nominated Cuarteto Latinoamericano. Next October, the Kresge will host a George Crumb Festival in honor of the composer's 80th birthday. CMU has the Philharmonic ($5/ticket) at Carnegie Music Hall and piano recitals at the art-deco gem by Benno Janssen a few blocks away in the Mellon Institute Concert Hall on Forbes Avenue in Oakland. Faculty member Luz Manriquez says the Steinway at Mellon Institute is the "best in Pittsburgh." Walk by the dean's-office entrance in the Fine Arts Building, a replica of the door of the City Hall of Toulon, France. Sculpted in 1656 by Puget, the door is considered one of the sculptural masterpieces of the world. The price is right. Many events are free, with $5 the top ticket price for the Philharmonic. Park in the East Campus Garage, go PAT or hike from the Carnegie Museums. CMU Concert Line: 412/268-2372 or CMA online.

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New Places to See Music
The Quiet Storm (5430 Penn Ave., Friendship, 412/661-9355. QuietStormCoffee.com. Sunday-Thursday shows usually start at 8 p.m.; Friday-Saturday shows at 9 p.m. ) is the latest Bohemian hangout catering to crowds of all ages with a nice big room, interesting programming (from jazz to folk to hip-hop DJs) and an everyone's-welcome vibe. This funky coffee shop also features a small, vegetarian menu and great soups.
The Rex Theatre (1602 E. Carson St., South Side, 412/381-6811. RexTheater.com. Under 21, Sunday, 8 p.m.; Tuesday-Saturday, generally 9 p.m.) offers music in a great theater setting, a nice house PA and a $10 cover that includes all the adult beverages you'd care to consume. Booking comedy, karaoke and live music throughout week, the former movie venue kept the theater seats, but there's still room to dance.

Retro Bar
Retro in Pittsburgh implies something different from what it does elsewhere in the land. Perhaps it's because we, unlike so many cities who succumbed to dull, desperate homogeneity, never lost our classics. In a town with more bars per capita than any other metropolitan region on Earth (look it up), Pittsburgh preserves with tender care our neighborhood gems, with the crown jewel being the Park House on the North Side. The barkeeps are neat and competent, the drinks are always to satisfaction, the food isn't bad, and the jukebox is kitschy, eclectic and stocked from the staff's personal collections. Try its wide variety of domestic and imported beers, including English classics like Samuel Smiths and Tetley, and specialty tequilas and vodkas. Nibble on the free peanuts. But best of all, you're surrounded by some of the friendliest people in a friendly town. 403 E. Ohio St. (just off Cedar Avenue), North Side. Monday-Sunday, 11:30 a.m.-2 a.m. Credit cards. All smoking. 412/231-0551.

Tiffany Windows You May Not Have Seen
Talk about flower power. Sarah Cochran liked her gardens so much she commissioned the Louis Comfort Tiffany Studios to capture their beauty in stained glass -- three large windows in the foyer of her mansion, Linden Hall, built around 1912. Of course, considering she was the widow of coke and iron-ore baron Philip Cochran, she had the wherewithal to do so. Now we all can enjoy these treasures at this house museum, featured on the Art and Entertainment Network's "America's Castles" in 1998. Off Route 51, Lower Tyrone Township (near Dawson), Fayette County. Monday-Friday, 11 a.m.-3 p.m., with tours on the hour; reservation-only on weekends. Adults, $8; senior citizens, $7; kids 12 and under, $4. Credit cards. 724/529-7543; 800/944-3238. LindenHallPA.com

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Garden Wedding
Imagine exchanging wedding vows with the sky as your ceiling and flowers at your feet. The gardens at Phipps Conservatory are available for ceremonies and receptions. Your guests can stroll amidst the blooming phlox and peonies and then witness your ceremony in the herb garden. If the day turns rainy, the whole event can be moved under a spacious tent. And think of how much more beautiful your wedding pictures will be. Rent the garden for two hours for your ceremony ($700, includes three tents and parking security). A four-hour reception rental ($1,900) includes security and tents for up to 75 people. Additional tents may be added for larger parties. Choose from four caterers. Outdoor events run mid-May through mid-October. Prices vary with arrangements and party size (10 to 175 people). Schenley Park, Oakland. 412/622-6915 or Phipps.Conservatory.org

Magician Supply Store
Professional magicians and kids wanting to try their (sleight of) hand at magic -- as well as jugglers, clowns or anyone looking for a cool prank for April Fool's Day -- head to The Cuckoo's Nest, which magician Tom Peiritsh (known professionally as Tom Jay) and his wife, Linda Peiritsh, have owned for the past 26 years. For $4.50 you can pick up a coin trick; other items can run into the hundreds of dollars (and if you don't see something you want, they may be able to order it for you). Real magicians work in the shop and demonstrate tricks. Pick up books, videos and DVDs related to magic, or your own top hats and canes. 1513 E. Carson St., South Side. Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, 10:30 a.m.-5 p.m.; Wednesday, Friday, 10:30 a.m.-8 p.m.; Saturday, 10:30 a.m.-4 p.m.; Sunday, 11 a.m.–4 p.m. Credit and debit cards. 412/481-4411. TheCuckoosNest.com

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Pinball Arcade
Pinball, and pinball arcades, are a fading phenomenon around the country. With only one major manufacturer left in business, it's hard to even find them anymore. Diehard fans in the know gather in the back room of the Beehive, a coffee house known for an eclectic alternative crowd, to get their pinball fix. With only four machines, it may seem a surprising choice, but the Beehive continues to cater to a variety of different folks. If you need MORE pinball, log onto pinburgh.org for information on the only national pinball tournament in the country, held at the Best Western Parkway Center Inn June 21-23. 1327 E. Carson St., South Side. 8:30 a.m.-1 a.m.; Friday-Saturday, 8:30 a.m.-2 a.m. 412/488-4483.

Restoration
Schenley Park and the Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy are putting out the welcome mat -- and it's in front of the newly restored Schenley Park Visitor Center, the one-time maintenance building/ nature center across from Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Garden. The 91-year-old building includes spacious restrooms that meet the requirements of the Americans With Disabilities Act, information kiosks, a balcony, meeting rooms, a police sub-station and a cafe for mid-hike snacking. 101 Schenley Drive, Oakland. Expanding hours on May 6 to Monday-Friday, 9 a.m.- 9 p.m.; Saturday-Sunday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.; June-August, Sunday expands to 9 a.m.-9 p.m. 412/687-1800.

Place to Compete Head-to-Head in Sports
So who's the best athlete? Now you and your friends can finally find out at UPMC Sportsworks. Go one-on-one in rock climbing, hockey, mountain biking and many more. And when you beat your friend, race against Olympic champion Jackie Joyner Kersey on the 40-foot track. In all, there are 70 interactive exhibits that cover 36,000 square feet, making it the largest science and sports exhibition in the world. Across Allegheny Avenue from the Carnegie Science Center, next to Heinz Field, North Shore. Monday-Thursday, 10 a.m.-3 p.m.; Friday, 10 a.m.-10 p.m.; Saturday, noon-10 p.m.; Sunday, noon- 5 p.m. Adults, $14, children and senior citizens, $10. Free parking. American Express, Visa, MasterCard. 412/237-3400. CarnegieScienceCenter.org

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Place to Fly a Remote-Controlled Model Airplane
If airport security has you wishing you could pilot your own plane, you might want to start small, with a remote-controlled model-airplane flying club. You'll need a model airplane, assembly instructions and training (see Chuck Pusateri at J&C Hobbies, Penn Hills, 412/795-9344). You also need to join the Academ
of Model Aeronautics (also lists a variety of local clubs) to obtain the mandatory liability insurance and to join one of the local clubs to use its field.
• One of the nicest fields, unobstructed and open, is off Route 268 in East Franklin Township, Armstrong County, operated by the 268 Sky Kings (724/545-1411).
• The large field used by the Greater Pittsburgh Airport Radio Controlled Society (724/378-2881) on state game lands near Bavington, Washington County, off Route 22, has two asphalt landing strips, 800 and 620 feet.
• The Model Airplane Recreational Society (412/366-0264) takes off from farmland north of Zelienople on a grass strip 900 by 150 feet.
Some fliers have dedicated fields in county parks.
• The North Hills Nomads (412/366-8839) have a new home in North Park, near Parish Hill, after working with Allegheny County to clear land for a 400-foot runway.
• The Gateway R.C. Society (412/793-9383) uses a 300-foot grass strip at Boyce Park. The small field, trees and overhead wires are challenging, even for experienced fliers.
• At Hartwood in Hampton, the Steel City Soarers (412/486-7675) fly nonpowered gliders, known as sailplanes or silent planes. Other sailplane fields are in South Park and Mingo Creek Park, Washington County.

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Place to Leaf Town
So you've always wondered what that funny-looking thing growing in the backyard is -- you know, the botanical whatchmacallit you inherited from the last owner. Stop barking up the wrong tree. Take a leaf, a branch or a bark sample -- other types of plants also welcome -- and head over to Phipps Garden Center. A master gardener will try to identify the specimen Monday and Wednesday, 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.; Saturday, 10 a.m. to noon. You're also welcome to research things yourself at the Center's library, open Monday-Friday, 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. (Only members are permitted to check out books, though.) Or call the Center's Green Line (412/665-2364), leave a message and a master gardener will get back to you. Mellon Park, Fifth and Shady avenues, Shadyside. 412/441-4442.

Garden Resource
Whether it's wilting roses, disappointing tomatoes or how to start your first garden, the Penn State Cooperative Extension's master gardeners can help. Trained by consumer horticulture agent Sandy Feather, these experts can answer the unusual as well as garden variety of question on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 412/473-2600. Check the website to find out how to get your soil tested. That test is important: It tells you what you need to add to the garden to get great plants.

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Place to Dump Your Old Magazines
We know you cherish your old copies of Pittsburgh magazine, but when you do find it necessary to part company, think of the environment -- and build your way to a smoothie or ice cream cone in the bargain. Agents of Change Recycling accepts not just glossy magazines and catalogs, but also office paper, corrugated cardboard, paperboard (such as cereal boxes), newspapers (including inserts) and phone books; the company will also buy aluminum cans and all colors of glass (prices announced every Wednesday). What else is in it for you? The Green Card. Every time you bring in 20 pounds of paper (that junk mail finally pays off), you get another square filled. Fill 50 squares, and you can trade it in for discounts at the Audubon Society of Western Pennsylvania, the National Aviary or the Pittsburgh Zoo and Aquarium; or a free cone at Dave 'n' Andy's, or free smoothie at Jen's Juice Joint. Saturdays only, 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Route 8, just south of Glenshaw Glass, Shaler. 412/487-5885.

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Place to Not Have to Dump
Construction Junction will accept any material (in working order) that can be used to renovate, build or remodel a home or apartment building. Home owners, weekend renovators and contractors can get tax benefits by donating materials. You can find quality kitchen-cabinet sets starting at $200, interior doors $10-$20, and half-gallon cans of paint from $3. Western Pennsylvania's first nonprofit retail warehouse for surplus and used building materials can help consumers in several ways: providing a use for old items that are still useable, providing high quality items to consumers at low prices and keeping these items out of landfills. Save yourself some cash and help save the environment all in one stop. 214 Lexington Ave., Point Breeze. 412/799-0805. ConstructionJunctionInc.com

Ways to Fly the Flag
Can Old Glory be left out in the rain? How do you fold the American flag? What's the proper way for it to fly on Memorial Day (May 27): half-staff until noon, then raised to the top of the staff for the remainder of the day. These and many more questions can be answered at the National Flag Foundation, where vexillologists (flag experts) know the do's and don'ts of the U.S. Flag Code. You can order a booklet, "Our Flag: How to Honor It, How to Display It" (35¢), or visit the foundation's uptown headquarters, take a tour and learn more about the history of the American Flag and other flags as well, or consult the experts by phone or Web. Flag Plaza, 1279 Bedford Ave., uptown. Free admission, Monday-Friday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. 800/615-1776, 412/261-1776. AmericanFlags.org

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Homemade Shrine
It doesn't take a miracle to find. Featured in Rick Sebak's "Something About Oakland," the 46-year-old shrine to the Blessed Virgin Mary sits on the hillside at the edge of South Oakland above the Parkway East (I-376). Locals who take care of the small altar, candles and statue of Mary say there are some stories about possible miracles surrounding the shrine and that the spring that bubbles out of the ground there appeared when the shrine was created.
Just beyond the end of Wakefield Street, Oakland. Always open.