Yellow Pants Bowl

Magnet #1080 - Pittsburgh Steelers

Dudes, I dunno. I'm the one using this magnet at the start of the Super Bowl's second half where the Steelers are down 21 to 10.

But, I figure if I go ahead and use this magnet for today, then I don't have to wait until the next time the Black and Gold become AFC North champs.

Of course, I haven't a clue where I got this magnet. No, really. I think someone gave it to me back in 2008, but I'm not entirely sure why. Or maybe I bought it, and was I supposed to give it to one of my Steeler fan friends?

Eh, who knows.

Way to go, Steelers! Way to go!

Magnet #346 - Black and Gold Smiley

'Nuff said.

What? Work with me. How many Steelers magnets did you think I would own?

Head over to Cotter's Steelers blog for all of the highlights.

Though what a freakin' amazing game that was.

Congrats, Steeler Nation!

Here we go, Steelers! Here we go!

Magnet #345 - Pittsburgh Steelers

Yep. Game Day.

My best friend's husband is the biggest Steelers fan in Salisbury.

North Carolina.

Which means that whenever you see his giant gold truck tearin' around town, with the license plate Blitzburgh, you know it's him. I think he bleeds black and gold. And, it's funny, because my BFF wasn't ever a big pro ball fan, but now, she's built up quite a collection of Steelerwear, so that she'll be just as tricked out as he is on game day.

So, of course, I thought of them when I was lucky enough to snag my friend's season tickets a couple years ago.

They met me in Pittsburgh, having driven all night in the snow to get there.

I don't know why none of us thought about it, but halfway through our day roaming around Pittsburgh, we sort of realized that we were shamefully unprepared for any sort of tailgating. Which meant that we spent a good portion of the night before looking for what we could take with us the next day. At some point, we were debating tracking down a Kmart or Target to find a hibachi grill. Thank goodness we didn't. Instead, we headed for the first liquor store we could find, and managed to find whatever liquidstuffs would keep us warm at gametime.

The next morning, we managed to find a great place to park, and then wandered into the parking lot. OML, I don't think we were quite prepared for the level of Steeler-crazy tailgating. Jeez, those people know how to tailgate. Seriously, they don't play. Loud music, plenty of booze and food, and tons of black and gold.

Watching my BFF's husband roam around the parking lots, it was like he had found his people. Very sweet. Meanwhile, my BFF and I sat in the truck, guzzling as much liquor as we could to fortify ourselves for the weather. It was snowing. It was cold. And I could not tell you about the second half. All I know is that we lost. And that perhaps finishing off a bottle of that girly Alize blue stuff was probably not a good idea.

Nevertheless, totally a fun weekend in Pittsburgh.

Let's hope they turn Tampa upside down today.

Anyway, real pretty Steelers magnet, huh? But for the real scoop on the real Steelers, check out Cotter's real Steelers blog.

eta:
My sister reminded me yesterday of one of my favorite Loveswepts (ok, I admit, they're all my favorites). But this one was about a couple - both Steelers fans - that get together, so that they could win Steeler playoff tickets. I'd forgotten about it, but looks like the Smart Bitches, Trashy Books blog didn't.

I suppose Donna (and us, her editors, copyeditors and proofreaders) got some of the football stuff wrong, but c'mon. You gotta give it to me for a fantastic cover.

Home is where the Steelers are

Magnet #344 - Heinz Field

Wherever I go, whenever I can fit it in, I love taking stadium tours. My only true allegiance is with Carolina Tar Heel basketball, so it doesn't matter what team or sport the stadium is for, I just love touring the venues.

There's something majestic about quietly standing in the stands without the loud cheering crowds, while looking down at a field without a single player. And, it's way cool to stand on the 50-yard line even though you can't catch a football, or be in the locker rooms without the boys in it (though, I wouldn't mind if the boys were in it), and hang out in the press boxes or private boxes to see how the other half watch the games.

Heinz Field, home of the Pittsburgh Steelers, has one of the best tours out there. Highly recommended - no, it's not Three Rivers, but even if you're a sometime fan, you can still feel the history of Steelers past on this site.

They traipsed us all over the stadium grounds - it was fantastic. We totally weren't allowed on the field - our tour was during the season, so they didn't want a bunch of tourists messing up the grass. But, I still managed to steal a couple of blades of grass for a friend of mine - that's me, the rule-breaker. Heh.

They also walked us under the giant ketchup bottles, which reminded me of the giant Coke bottles over at Turner in Atlanta.

Still, we were up in the private boxes - cushy-cushy snap, it's a great view from up there. And in the private lounge areas, and just above their little players private dining area. We went into a couple of famous people's boxes, and the real Steelers fans that we were with, were completely bowled over by being allowed in. I'm not gonna lie, while I was excited for them, it totally flew over my head.

At least until we went through their Steelers hall of fame area, where we were able to take time to look at the memorablia and read about the great players and coaches. Totally learned a lot more just wandering through there. And bonus, we were with maybe 15 people, rather than 15,000.

Oh, and the little shop! Dudes, how fun to run around and pick up tons of Steeler stuff without having to fight your way through mobs of people! Somehow, even though I myself am not a huge fan, I ended up dropping a ton of money anyway. Heh, I even picked up a Terrible Towel for my boss, not knowing the significance.

WHAT? I said I wasn't a huge fan! And now I know, okay? Now I get it.

Well, I know enough to theme this Superbowl weekend with Steeler magnets, anyway.

But, for the real scoop on what's the haps with the Steelers, definitely check out Cotter's One for the Other Thumb blog. He'll get ya educated.

Heaven's in the details

Magnet #321 - Sony/AT&T Tower

Someone asked me the other day what my favorite building in New York was. I hadn't thought about it before, but then, I never like picking favorite anythings.

I came up with two buildings - the Philip Johnson (formerly AT&T) Sony Tower and the Roche-Dinkeloo Ford Foundation Building.

You'll see on this magnet the broken pediments at the top of the Sony building that I just love, love, love. Some people deride the building as a little too Chippendale, but wherever I am in the city, whenever I see this building top, I think of home. It looks like a lot of the furniture I grew up with.

It's fairly boring down the rest of the building, but the building base is quite breathtaking, with its daunting seven-story entry archways and giant lobby. Great building. And a far cry from the other building that Johnson completed in 1984 - PPG Place, one of my faves in Pittsburgh.

As far as the Ford Foundation building on 42nd Street - well, you'd never know it from the outside, but it's probably one of the most peaceful places in town. If you go during a workday, you can often find yourself alone in a gorgeous garden, complete with lily pond. My favorite part is looking up at the sunlight to see the steel girders and glass walls, but also seeing all the Foundation folks going about their workday behind the glass. It must be fab to work there, able to open their windows into the 12-story atrium.

There's one other building that I am in complete love with - the Sloan & Robertson Fred F. French building, also in Midtown. I discovered this one from the observation deck at Top of the Rock. You would not believe how cool this thing looks from up there. The level of detailing 38 stories up is superb. Simply gorgeous. I would love to get into an upper floor conference room in one of the neighboring buildings, just to see those allegorical panels up close. I'm convinced that those allegorical themes are really some sort of ritualistic thing, perhaps a secret NYC coven or ancient underground society. Mark my words.

Anyway, none of these buildings are on the 1001 Buildings list (I'm not sure that's the same list as the actual book, btw), but because of their unique details, they're definitely three great NYC buildings in my book. (I keep visiting all three of them, it's weird, I know. But, fun pix.)

Which leads to the other reason I picked this magnet. I want to share one of my new fave blogs - Scouting NY, written by a location scout here in town. The About Me blurb mentions something about New Yorkers never noticing the little details of our surroundings. How true.

But, since I live for those details, I've enjoyed reading the various buildings and details that he's discovered on his scouting jaunts around the boroughs. A must for the ole Google Reader.

If you're so inclined...

Magnet #277 - Duquesne Incline

So today (or tomorrow, depending on which sources you read), in 1758, the British captured Fort Duquesne away from the French, during the French and Indian Wars.

The French had burned the fort to the ground, and then took off. The British rebuilt and renamed it Fort Pitt for their then-prime minister William Pitt (the Elder), the guy who ordered them to take the outpost.

There's probably a ton more to the story (actually, I dimly remember something about heads on stakes and stuff), but you should actually visit Pittsburgh to learn it.

But, when you go, definitely take a ride up and the Duquesne Incline - the views of the town and the surrounding area, the stadiums and the confluence are certainly well worth it!

Sorry to be so short and sweet and factual, but I just killed my work Mac today, and I'm on my old Dell right now. Boo feels awesome and compact, compared to my Boo Silver, who at 17" was a giant among her kind.

My problem is that my left pinky is so very confused and keeps searching for that damn open Apple key, so it's best I stop now, before I start my own Mac vs. PC commercial, with pinky in the starring role.

Where have all the flowers gone?

Magnet #152 - Atlanta Botanical Garden

A friend of mine from Atlanta sent me this superpretty magnet.

What? I just did four straight posts on pretty boys. Now here's some actual pretty! Chrysanthemums, to be exact.

I've got a couple of these flower magnets, and on the back, they all say REAL FLOWERS (just in case you thought they weren't), and the name of the flowers pressed under the glass.

Dudes, someone actually had to sit at a table and press the flowers. Did they grow the flowers just for this purpose? Is there a magnet flower farm somewhere? How do you choose which flowers to press? Are they seasonal? Do they freeze or shellac them, or something before they get set on the tiles? And like, when you're pressing flowers, are you constantly looking to see if one of the petals have pressed funky? I mean, I do that when I press flowers into a book.

Does anyone do that nowadays? Press flowers into a book? How sentimental. And an odd thing to think about in this day and age.

I've done it only a couple of times that I can remember. A pretty flower from somewhere in Big Sur. A pretty baby bloom from Paris or England, I can't remember.

Oh, and somewhere, in a travel book, I have contraband pressed blades of grass from Heinz football field in Pittsburgh. What?


eta:
Again. Having hit Publish Post and seeing this magnet in layout...how pretty with the blue and green. Sigh.

(That's weird, huh, to sit back and admire that which I didn't really design...)

My favorite town in America

Magnet #64 - Pittsburgh, PA

Pittsburgh is my favorite city in the United States. No, I swear! I've always said that I'd live in Pittsburgh, if it weren't in Pittsburgh. Which sounds mean, but really, it's just that it'd be harder to get to my family who lives pretty much up and down the eastern seaboard in NC/DC/NY/Boston.

It's the twentieth largest city in America, second largest in Pennsylvania. Which is why I'm surprised by how much there is to do there.

I have to travel to Pittsburgh every once in a while for work, but I discovered how terrific this town is when I went to a friend's wedding there several years ago. I will also admit here to only a very touristy, cursory exposure. I don't know the different neighborhoods, I don't really know their people (aside from my fab coworkers), and I don't really know the area.

So what is it about this town?

The architecture. For such a small town, it's a veritable grab bag of terrific buildings. There's the PPG building, with its gothic look and feel, adorned in glass. (PPG stands for Pittsburgh Plate Glass Company.) There's the U.S. Steel building, made of...well, steel. The Alcoa building, made of...well, aluminum. There's even the gorgeous and historic William Penn Hotel, built in 1916. (And down the highways are three Frank Lloyd Wright houses!) OK, if I keep going this whole post will be about buildings.

The tourist attractions. The Duquesne incline: Ride up the side of the mountain in a somewhat scary tram car and see the gorgeous views. The Warhol Museum: Spend several minutes walking around the Silver Clouds exhibit - it really makes you feel like you're flying. The Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens: Well, I went for a wedding, so of course it was beautiful. The Carnegie Museum of Art: Went for the reception, but was able to enjoy some of the museum. The Heinz Museum of History: Ok, stopped in, but it was too late to really enjoy the Lewis & Clark exhibit.

The confluence. Hello, how cool is it that three rivers meet here - the Allegheny and Monongahela actually meet here to form the Ohio.

The bridges. Apparently? There are 446 bridges...thus earning Pittsburgh the moniker of The City of Bridges.

The teams. Pirates. Steelers. Ok, and the Penguins. There's a magnet later, but taking a tour of Heinz stadium is so impressive - even if you're not a fan.

Oh, there's a ton more about Pittsburgh that I could wax poetic about (I could even go on and on about their terrific airport), but there's still a lot for me to discover. I still have yet to see the Cathedral of Learning, the birthplace of the Big Mac, and I'm making a list for the rest.

See? And you wonder why more people haven't been to Pittsburgh.