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December 2004
HOLIDAYS A TO Z
N is for Neville Island. Because that’s where Robert Morris University’s Island Sports Center offers two indoor ice-skating arenas and two outdoor rinks as well; choose your preference, as you skate in the same venue that has hosted the National Short Track Speed Skating Championships. (Info: 412/262-3335) Or go skating at one of the region’s other family-friendly rinks, such as Schenley Park Skating Rink (Oakland/Squirrel Hill, 412/422-6523), the Iceoplex at Southpointe (Canonsburg, 724/745-6666) or the Plaza Ice Rink at PPG Place, downtown.
O is for Open on Christmas. Who says you can’t have fun just because most businesses are closed? The movie theaters are open—so, hey hey hey, check out Pennsylvania native Bill Cosby’s new live-action Fat Albert movie, which will be going up against the blockbuster kids’ movie of the season: the Jim Carrey-Meryl Streep-Jude Law adaptation of the popular book series, Lemony Snicket’s A Series of Unfortunate Events.
P is for Political Parties. And we don’t mean the Republicans and the Democrats! No, we mean the real parties, when several local politicoes—legendary icons like former City Council President Bob O’Connor and political analyst Nello Giorgetti—open their houses to visitors to celebrate the holiday season. Besides being great merrymaking opportunities, these are key gatherings at which the political tone of the coming year is often set.
Q is for Quiet Time. There’s a reason the narrator of The Night Before Christmas was so happy that “not a creature was stirring”: Peaceful solitude can be hard to find during the holidays. Here’s one path that’s open to Pittsburghers of all faiths: the labyrinth at East Liberty Presbyterian Church, where walking the twists and turns without interruption is an age-old method of achieving meditative calm. (Info: 412/441-3800)
R is for Reindeer. Kids high on their latest viewing of Rudolph? Take their excitement one step farther: Bring them to the Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium, where they can see what a real, live reindeer looks like at the Kids Kingdom. The zoo is closed on Christmas Day and New Year’s Day, but otherwise it’s open seven days a week throughout the season. (Info: 412/665-3640.)
S is for Sebak. WQED’s Rick Sebak, that is, who stepped into Santa’s boots—and onto a beefed-up Segway vehicle —for our Pittsburgh magazine holiday shoot, pictured above and on the cover. S is also for Sightseeing, which Rick helps local residents do this year with his new TV show about Pittsburgh’s neighborhoods.
T is for the T. Why sit in traffic any longer than necessary if you’ve got the opportunity to ride the closest mass-transit approximation to Santa’s sleigh? Give our local environment the gift of slightly less automobile pollution this year and ride the T to shop downtown or in the South Hills.
U is for Used Book Stores. Positively the best place to pick up an inexpensive and cool gift to meet anyone’s taste—or, if you’re not sure what that taste is, you can get a non-chain-store gift certificate. Find some of the best in Oakland (Townsend Bookseller, 412/682-8030; Caliban Book Shop, 412/681-9111; Bryn Mawr Vassar Bookstore, 412/687-3433) and on the South Side (City Books, 412/ 481-7555; Eljay’s Used Books, 412/381-7444).
V is for Volunteering. Are you the sort of person who already has everything you need? Here’s an idea: Make your loved ones give you the gift of a few hours of their time—and bring them with you to spend a day doing charity work together. Pittsburgh Cares will hook you up: It’s an organization dedicated to matching up would-be volunteers with one of a hundred local causes that need a little bit of help. There will be a number of opportunities in December. (Info: 412/471-2114)
W is for Wintergarden. And also for Worldwide and “Wow,” which are the description and the reaction, respectively, that accompany the PPG Place Wintergarden’s annual exhibit of life-sized international Santa figures, from the original St. Nicholas to the Finnish Old Man Christmas and many more in between. Families will marvel at the fantastic detail and spectacular color of the exhibit, which is open through Jan. 7, Mondays through Saturdays plus Christmas Day and New Year’s Day.
X is for Xmas. “Xmas” began as a simple abbreviation for “Christmas” that advertisers appropriated because it’s so graphically effective—but today, it’s been adopted as an occasion unto itself, pronounced “ex-mas,” that many secular Americans use as a reason to give presents despite not celebrating any particular religious event. Consider it the commercial counterpart to the more spiritual and nature-oriented observation of the winter solstice, which many people celebrate as the shortest day of the year and the first of winter. This year it’s Tues., Dec. 21.
Y is for Yinzer Tree Ornaments. Tired of mirrored balls, beaded angels and pipe-cleaner Santas? Why not spruce up the tree with some true hometown décor—and recycle in the process? The shiny new aluminum I.C. Light bottle catches the reflection of a twinkling light just as well as any old hanging bauble does—Dad can just solder a hook onto the top and attach! Even better: Rather than throwing out last season’s Terrible Towel to buy a new one, slice the old one into garland-sized black-and-gold strips and show off your Steelers pride, no matter what their season record is.
Z is for ZZZZZZ. This stuff is tiring. Take an extra day off work, sleep late and kiss your loved ones Happy Holidays.
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