Round Museum

Sometimes it becomes necessary to relocate a polar bear that persistently feeds from the town's trash barrels. Once captured, the polar bear is released into a more suitable area, away from potential conflicts and humans. If relocation is not carefully planned, the polar bear may return in a short period of time, even over great distances.

WALKING THE 'BURGH WEEK
Pittsburgh Zoo & Aquarium

06.16.26

The swirling, layered bands of chalcedony in a polished agate geode sphere create an otherworldly quality, broken dramatically by crystal-lined cavities and angular gaps. Typically formed as nodules within volcanic rock, agate geodes start as “stone bubbles” in gas pockets within rhyolite lava as it begins to cool. Also called a “thunderegg”, over time the minerals in a geode crystallize into hollow veins of quartz, amethyst, or gypsum.

Hillman Hall of Minerals and Gems
Carnegie Museum of Natural History
Pittsburgh, PA

WALKING THE 'BURGH WEEK
06.15.26

The centerpiece of the University of Pittsburgh’s main campus is the 535-ft tall “educational skyscraper” named The Cathedral of Learning, or “Cathy” as the students call her. The building is the tallest educational structure in the Western Hemisphere and the second-tallest university building in the world. It has something of everything in it, designed by Philadelphia architect Charles Klauder as a blend of the architectural ideals of Gothic Revival with a modern skyscraper.

On the lawn outside the Soldiers & Sailors Memorial Hall & Museum features large cannons stand guard, representing the extensive collection of military artifacts of this unique memorial museum built in the early 1900s. Surrounded by the campus of the University of Pittsburgh in the Oakland neighborhood of the city, the museum features exhibits spanning histories from the American Civil War through our conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan. Adjacent to the park is the 42-story Cathedral of Learning, the centerpiece of the University.

WALKING THE 'BURGH WEEK
06.13.26

Here's a literary three martini lunch for you. According to Hemingway nothing tasted "as cool and clean" as a martini. And though Steinbeck thought the first sip "bit like a vampire bat," by the time he arrived at the bottom of the bird bath the martini had "turned downright good." While Mencken called it "the only American invention as perfect as the sonnet." We don't know what Shakespeare had to say, no martinis back then. But whatever your literary bent, reading between the lines is clear: "Cheers!"

06.12.26

It’s Thirsty Thursday! You have your Happy Hour options which typically range between two to four hours in mid- to late afternoon. And there’s Cocktail Hour which is an actual hour just before dinner time. And then there’s Martini Hour, which from the looks of things could be anytime and may require some illumination.
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06.11.26

It's High Noon and hot as blazes here in the Big City. A slight breeze pushes a tumbleweed across the street. The jangling sound of spurs-on-boots breaks the silence… Kid Clementine has arrived in the town square to duel. Let's settle this now, KC. There’s not room in this town for the two of us…

06.10.26

They weren’t! Holding hands and the key to the secret formula, can friendship save Spongebob and Patrick from their predicted fates on the CMU carnival floats? Find out next week!  

06.09.26

Somewhere in the general vicinity of Mendocino, a purple urchin has washed up on the shore. Over the past decade the warming climate has caused marine heatwaves affecting numerous ecosystems. The sunflower sea star – the purple urchin's primary predator – has been decimated by a mysterious wasting disease, and consequently the urchin populations have exploded. They have covered the sea floor and devoured 90-95% of the area's kelp forests.

The sun's going down on Madaket Beach at Nantucket, Massachusetts. A little bit of surf, sand, and serenity for your Sunday.

06.07.26