The Silver Rivers

For a fleeting moment in the 1970s I considered a career in jewelry making during art school at Indiana University of Pennsylvania.

Then came the sticker shock of purchasing copper, silver and semi-precious stones on a budget that could barely afford nourishment, cigarettes and the rent. It was a dream quashed on the realization that I couldn't even afford to set up a studio with blow torches and lapidary equipment.

However, Jewelry 101 at Indiana University of Pennsylvania was motivating, fun and tedious enough to keep me out of trouble in college. The professor, Mr. Hamilton, had a reputation of being difficult, and he required his students to make a metal box and something containing silver and copper, among other things.

So I came up with this design mounted on walnut, an abstract of flowing rivers beside groves of trees in seven pieces, each of which could be worn on a necklace.

And then this creation ended up tuck away in a box in a drawer soon after I realized art wasn't paying down the student loan and a regular paycheck needed to be secured.

This art remained hidden away for three decades until the other day, when it became a discovery that took me back to sweet memories of youth, romance and idealism.

This burger is a tasty stretch

By Scott Beveridge

McMURRAY, Pa. – The Ostrich Burger's name on the menu at a Belgian beer bar chain in Pittsburgh is enough to pull any hungry man's head out of the sand at suppertime.

That burger is also more than enough to capture the attention of a small group of journalists, including myself, who gather last week for happy hour at its Sharp Edge Brasserie in Peters Township, Pa., and decide to divide one of the sandwiches up for a taste.

"It's a bit gamy," I remark, repeating a phrase some people say when they taste wild duck, turkey, pheasant or quail.

There is probably a much better word to describe this sandwich made with lean ostrich and sirloin blended with caramelized red onion, cracked pepper, pepper jack cheese and ancho chili aioli. That last ingredient sounds really fancy for something that a subsequent Google search reveals to be hot-spiced-up mayonnaise.

"I think it tastes likes a meatloaf kind of oniony spicy kind of flavor," says Amanda Gillooly, a freelance writer whose witty musings sometime show up on this blog.

She is right, I think, after dribbling up the tiny leftover clumps of food on the plate. That meat tastes better without the bun, really.

Another friend, who will remain nameless to protect her from losing her new newspaper gig, said she prefers the bar's soup over this burger.

"I don't think it replaces the the hop devil potato soup," she said.

And, after the plate is cleared, Breadline blogger Michael Jones chimes in, reminding us that $13.37 is a wee bit of a steep price to pay for any burger. He's probably right on that call.

A song for the Ferry Boat Frederick

Gary Antol performs at the Bowers Brothers Lounge's first annual Ferry Boat Festival in Fredericktown, Pa., along the Monongahela River. He is part of a local band, Antol & Wyels, which turned out to help promote tourism to this part of the woods.

Bar owner John Bowers said he participated int the event also sponsored by the Maxwell Basin Recreation Area, which formed three weeks ago.

The basin stretches from Maxwell Locks and Dam near Brownsville upriver to Point Marion, said Dennis Slagel, 59, who owns Bee’s Graphics in Fredericktown and founded the organization.

“The river is the asset,” he said.

The group kicked off this summer season with Memorial Day services followed by a rib fest at a local marina. It also will sponsor a festival around the Fourth of July, complete with fireworks at dark July 3.

“We’re testing the water so far, and we’ll build on what’s to come,” Slagel said.

Freaky cat Friday

Trinny01, originally uploaded by rew2010 photography.

Trinny

Ready, set, laugh until you roll

This jumping on a kid's plastic Big Wheel as an adult dressed foolishly and racing one down a steep hill actually sounds like a lot of fun. Go figure it would take an 80-something Monongahela, Pa., woman, who likes to take off some of her clothes for charity, and the Mon Valley YMCA to get in on this party. Her name is Lorys Crisafulli, and I will bet anything she is decorating her three-wheeled mini-cruiser for this August 29 event as we speak.

 

Red, white and blue Jesus

The Fourth of July, a wagon wheel, a bird bath planter and Christianity come together in this collection of yard art in Carroll Township, Pa.