Happy Memorial Day!

We hope everyone has a safe and happy Memorial Day with their friends and family!

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Parent and Me Classes in the Burgh

 Are you looking for something to do with your toddler this summer?  There are tons of locations in Pittsburgh for Mom/Dad and Me Classes.  There are also tons of options such as music and gymnastics for you and your little one.  Keep reading and check out KidsBurgh for more information.


If kids sometimes get "separation anxiety," parents can suffer from the opposite. Call it "eager inseparability": the feeling that you want to do everything with your kid. Today, parents and kids -- not to mention other caregivers, grandparents and dads -- can team with their toddler or teen for just about any activity. Some of the best have been around for a long time; others would seem to be impossible on their face. Here's how, and where, to pull them off.

At Gymkhana Gymnastics in Point Breeze's Factory complex, combining fun and physical activity starts as early as possible. There's the Toddler Gym, for kids four to 16 months, which includes a "silly pool" with no water but bunches of objects for kids to explore, and the Mini Gym, for 17- to 30-month-olds -- all in a separate space with appropriately sized slides, steps, a tree house and other gym equipment.

My Grownup and Me classes, for those two and a half to three and a half years old, are for those "who simply aren't ready to separate from the parents or their parents aren't ready to separate from the child, or the child has special needs," says Liza Barbour, Gymkhana's administrator.

All the programs offer exercises leading toward gymnastics skills as well as activities building fine and gross motor skills, from manipulating textures and colors on boards to climbing, crawling up and down equipment, log rolling or somersaulting, as well as songs to build a child's rhythm, movement and stretching habits and that all-important routine.

"That's a stepping stone into our gymnastics program," says Barbour. "It's a nice transition because they have their adult there for guidance, but they are starting to use the cycle of equipment."

Parent and kid programs at the Carnegie Libraries of Pittsburgh have long served as the school-before-school, the school-after-school and even school-when-there-is-no-school -- but don't tell your kids.

"Our programs are purposeful and designed toward the development stage of the children," says Mary Beth Parks, coordinator of children's services. "They help children with school readiness [and] are intentionally designed to enhance literacy skills, in a fun, interactive, engaging manner. We hope to create life-long learning."

A literate life begins for the youngest kids with Baby and Me's 20- to 30-minute programs of hearing (and moving to) nursery rhymes and stories. Terrific Tales for Toddlers, for kids 18-36 months plus their grownups, are next. Then it's time for the Family PlayShop, which offers one-on-one sessions for kids, their guardians and siblings up to age 4 (although they can be as young as 6 months). Across four to five weeks, for one hour per week, a librarian and a community-resource professional can answer questions about your own child's needs and offer developmentally appropriate materials, toys and activities.

There are other pre-K programs for kids 3-5 years old and their caregivers, all designed to build language and listening skills, curiosity, imagination and self-image. KinderPrep gets kids learning topics covered under the Pennsylvania Learning Standards -- called the Common Core -- while Family Study Buddies prepares kids for good homework habits. The Imagination Builders: Building Program turns building blocks into tools for developing motor, math and communication skills.

Just next door at the Carnegie Museums of Art and Natural History, three- and four-year-olds can go on the museums' PreSchool Play Dates with their folks. They include art making and games right inside museum galleries.

These 90-minute programs have a different theme each time, in a different gallery each week. The summer session of Play Date starts in June.

"It's a great way to introduce your child to what it means to be in a museum," says Marilyn M. Russell, curator of education for the Carnegie Museum of Art.  The classes tell kids what they need to notice -- colors and shapes -- and helps them make up stories about what they see.

For parents who want to do more heavy lifting -- well, light lifting anyway -- there are Mommy and Me yoga classes in several places. At Shining Light in Lawrenceville, kids from six weeks to three years old join their moms for classes. They can just drop in or buy more classes at a discount.

Participants experience "a little bit of yoga for babies, a little bit of yoga for moms, a lot of good social activities for both," says owner Deena Blumenfeld. The average of 45 minutes of physical activity each hour helps "to put moms' bodies back together after childbirth. It's geared toward beginners, so you do not have to have any yoga courses. It's an open class, a fun class, a class that works on flexibility -- not just on flexibility in our bodies but on our emotional make-up."

Moms have their babies in their laps or arms during some positions. Other exercises involve moving the legs of babies to songs. Repetition is really important for children, so they learn what to expect, says Blumenfeld. "We try to keep the pace steady so that everyone gets something out of it. About the third or fourth week of class, the babies are, 'Ah, I know what is coming next.'
         
"If the baby doesn't seem to be having fun," she adds, "or sleeps the whole way through class, that's okay -- maybe they'll get to yoga next week."

The first class costs $10, and future classes cost $15 each. Moms and kids don't have to come to consecutive classes. Some pre-natal yoga students even come back to finish their classes as moms.

At two of Schoolhouse Yoga's four locations, Squirrel Hill and the North Hills, the Mommy and Me Yoga classes have similar prices and deals. Owner Leta Koontz says her classes are open to moms with infants to five year olds.

"The mothers may actually hold the baby and use the baby as a weight," says Koontz. Kids often enjoy being placed on a body part that has to move as part of a yoga exercise, she adds; the older kids like assisting mom with a pose or a stretch: "The kids love crawling on their moms and 'helping' them.".

"If you're looking for a really relaxing, quiet yoga class, you should probably get a babysitter," she concludes. "But if you want to have fun with your kids and meet other moms -- they really love the class."

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Living Pittsburgh Free Events

 It is time for the list of free events throughout the city! Check out these great events that everyone can participate in.    Dance, food, and comedy are just some of the events that you can check out everyday of the week.  You can learn more about great city events at Living Pittsburgh.




Monday, May 13

Garden Thyme – Learn to make your own natural Sunscreen - FREE

Interval Mondays at AVA – $3 cover

AcoustiCafe – FREE admission and drink specials

Totally Free Mondays at Steel City Improv Theater – FREE

Affordable Monday at South Side Works – Around $35 for two people

Salsa Mondays at Seviche – FREE, no cover

Storytimes Around the City – FREE

Cheap Movie Deals Around the ‘Burgh on Mondays – discounted movies on Mondays

Monday Wing Deals – wing specials in the ‘Burgh on Mondays

Cheap Burgers in the ‘Burgh on Monday – $3 or less

Cheap Monday Taco Days – taco specials in the ‘Burgh on Mondays

Tuesday, May 14

1/2 Off Tuesdays at The Mattress Factory - FREE – $7.50

2 for 1 admission to the Clayton – purchase one admission, get another FREE

Two for Tuesday at Color Me Mine – two paint for the price of one

Ceili Dance Lessons – FREE

JazzLive at the Backstage Bar – FREE

Tiny Tots at Romp N Roll Skating Rink – $5.00 for food, skating and skates

Storytimes Around the City – FREE

Terrific Tuesday in the Cultural District - Around $30-$35 for two people

Cheap Movie Deals Around the ‘Burgh on Tuesdays – discounted movies on Tuesdays

Tot Tuesdays at The Aviary - 1/2 off admission for children 5 and under w/ paying adult

Tuesday Wing Deals – wing specials in the ‘Burgh on Tuesdays

Cheap Burgers in the ‘Burgh on Tuesday – $3 or less

1/2 off Wine on Tuesday – 1/2 price wine by the bottle or glass

Cheap Tuesday Taco Days – taco specials in the ‘Burgh on Tuesdays

Wednesday, May 15

Pittsburgh International Children’s Festival - FREE and up

Community Night at the Union Project - Donation based

Beer Sampling at Carson St. Deli - FREE

Ceramics Open Studio at the Union Project - $10

Yoga on Centre Pay-What-You-Can yoga classes – pay what you can

$1 Night at North Versailles Bowling Center – $1 games, food, drink & shoe rental specials

Pittsburgh Banjo Club Open Rehearsal – FREE

Mommy & Me Wednesdays at My Little Outback – $2 discount

Bluegrass Night at the Park House – FREE Bluegrass music

Dave & Buster’s 1/2 off game day – 1/2 priced games all day

Storytimes Around the City – FREE

Cheap Movie Deals Around the ‘Burgh on Wednesdays – discounted movies on Wednesdays

Wednesday Wing Deals – wing specials in the ‘Burgh on Wednesdays

Cheap Burgers in the ‘Burgh on Wednesday – $3 or less

1/2 off Wine on Wednesday – 1/2 price wine by the bottle or glass

Cheap Wednesday Taco Days – taco specials in the ‘Burgh on Wednesdays

Thursday, May 16

WYEP’s Third Thursday – FREE

Pittsburgh International Children’s Festival - FREE and up

Entrepreneurial Thursdays at Little E’s – $5

Play Dates on Ice - $4.25

Senior discount admission at Clayton – $5 instead of $12

Thursday Matinee at the Harris Theater – $5.00

offCenter at the August Wilson Center – FREE

1/2 off Wine on Thursdays – 1/2 price wine by the bottle or glass

Storytimes Around the City – FREE

Salsa Thursdays at Bossa Nova – FREE, no cover

Pittsburgh Improv Jam Comedy Show - $3 plus $2.50 craft beer special

Thursday Funday Downtown – $20 to $25 per person for an ENTIRE evening out

Cheap Movie Deals Around the ‘Burgh on Thursdays – discounted movies on Thursdays

Cheap Burgers in the ‘Burgh on Thursdays – $3 or less

Thursday Wing Nights – wing specials in the ‘Burgh on Thursdays

Cheap Thursday Taco Days – taco specials in the ‘Burgh on Thursdays

Friday, May 17

Pittsburgh International Children’s Festival - FREE and up

Allegheny Observatory Tours - FREE

Palate Partners Wine Tasting Sessions - $12

Good Fridays at The Andy Warhol Museum – 1/2 priced admission

Observatory SkyWatch at the Science Center – $1

Storytimes Around the City – FREE

Friday Night Improv at Studio Theater – $3

Salsa Fridays at Cabaret at Theater Square – $5

Kinder Klimb at REI – FREE with $20 LIFETIME membership

Line Dancing lessons at Saddle Ridge – FREE

Cheap Burgers in the ‘Burgh on Friday – $3 or less

Friday Wing Deals – wing specials in the ‘Burgh on Fridays

Saturday, May 18

Venture Outdoors Festival - FREE

6th Annual Touch-A-Truck Event - $4 in advance, $5 at the door

Pittsburgh International Children’s Festival - FREE and up

Cooking Demo with Macy’s Chef Tom Douglas! - FREE

Saturday Nights at Swing City – $10-12

Saturday Light Brigade Radio Show – FREE

Sunday, May 19

The City Spree – Early registration $25 (Plus LP discount code!)

The Pittsburgh Record & Cd Convention – FREE

Pittsburgh International Children’s Festival - FREE and up

Pittsburgh Youth Symphony Orchestra Performances at Heinz Hall - FREE

Rivers of Steel Sunday Heritage Market – FREE admission

Free Sunday Afternoons at the Carnegie Library – FREE

Fifty Cent Sundaze at Arsenal Bowling Lanes – $6 plus .50 cent games, shoe rental and hot dogs

Starving Artist Sunday Supper at Brillobox - $6

Sunday Brunch Deals – affordable local brunches

Sunday Wing Deals – wing specials in the ‘Burgh on Sundays

Cheap Burgers in the ‘Burgh on Sunday – $3 or less

Sunday Bloody Mary Specials in Pittsburgh – ‘Mary specials in the ‘Burgh on Sundays

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Congratulations to All of the Participants in the Pittsburgh Marathon!

The Pittsburgh Marathon was this weekend.  This race spans through many historic Pittsburgh neighborhoods, bridges, and the three rivers.  The finish line is the Boulevard of the Allies at Point State Park.  The race this year was marked with inspirational stories, and support for the Boston Marathon tragedy.  Keep reading to learn more about this year's Marathon.

Finishing among a group of half marathon participants, James Kirwa was the first to cross the finish line at the Boulevard of the Allies to win the 2013 Dick's Sporting Goods Pittsburgh Marathon.
Kirwa, who is of Kenyan descent, also won the 2012 Pittsburgh Marathon, making him the first person to win the race in back-to-back years since 1994.

He finished with an unofficial time of 2:13:37, which did not break a record, but it was better than his winning time of 2:14:09 from last year. The time was also the fastest since the race was resurrected five years ago.

The Pittsburgh Marathon drew to a close this afternoon with James Kirwa as the men's winner with an unofficial time of 2:13:37. Mary Akor finished first among female participants with a time of 2:37:35. (Video by Nate Guidry and Doug Oster; 5/5/2013)

American Mary Akor finished first among female participants in the marathon, but after she crossed the finish line, she fell and had to be attended to by the marathon's medical staff. Akor finished the race with an unofficial time of 2:37:35.

Finishing behind Kirwa on the men's side were Stephen Njoroge in second place (2:14:10) and Jonathan Kibet in third place (2:17:29).

Hirut Guangul finished second in the women's marathon with a time of 2:38:05, with Yihunilish Bekele Dele rounding out the top three with a time of 2:41:30.

Julis Kogo of Kenya won the UPMC Health Plan Pittsburgh Half Marathon.

In the process of his victory, Kogo broke the half marathon course record, which was set last year with a time of 1:02:57. Kogo ran a 4:47 minute mile pace for the 13.1 miles

Risper Gesabwa of Kenya finished first among the female participants in the half marathon. The top two female finishers in the half had the second and third-fastest times in the race's history.

Matt Levassiur of Colorado Springs was the first American finisher in the half marathon with a time of 1:08:18

Under clear skies and with the temperature at a breezy 50 degrees, the marathon got off to an official, and uninterrupted, start at 7 a.m.

The half-marathon leaders were coming up on East Carson Street at about 7:45. Kenyan Julius Kogo was starting to stake out a lead.

The pack of elite runners made its way across the West End Bridge at about 7:25 a.m.

The race began at its starting line on Liberty Avenue near Seventh Avenue with a blow of the whistle from Steelers safety Ryan Clark.

The marathon featured a record number of participants -- about 30,000 -- for a race that is entering its fifth year since it restarted after a brief delay.

A strong police presence was felt along today's course, in the wake of the April 15 Boston Marathon bombings. Pittsburgh police were assisted by Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency staff and other area police departments.

A little more than four hours after the start time, police spokeswoman Diane Richard said police operations at the marathon were going "pretty smoothly." She said police received a few calls for people acting suspiciously, but they were unfounded.
Read more: http://www.post-gazette.com/stories/local/region/sunny-dry-and-temperate-are-predicted-for-race-day-686394/#ixzz2SXHhxUM8

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