Saturday, July 16, 2022
Picklesburgh on the Andy Warhol Bridge in 2021—photo by Renee Rosensteel.
Honoring the Humble Pickle

There's no doubt that Pittsburghers love their pickles—from the long-lived and much loved Heinz pickle pin to the more newly celebrated crunch of pickles from the Pittsburgh Pickle Company—perhaps the most revered is the annual three-day event produced by the Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership: Picklesburgh!

Head on down to the Rachel Carson Bridge today and tomorrow to sink your teeth into (or wet your lips with) all things pickled! With more than 50 vendors and exhibitors, two stages with hours of music, and a pickle juice drinking contest, there's something for everyone, including the kiddos.

But don't limit your celebration of all things pickled to just this weekend. Our latest article highlights Pickled: A Fermented Trail—a way to experience pickled and fermented foods from throughout the Commonwealth that features a number of nearby small businesses whose food and beverages you'll definitely want to check out!

In non-pickled news, we have a number of casting workshops coming up. Folks in the southern counties of the Rivers of Steel Heritage Area might be interested in the Scratch Block Aluminum Casting workshop at the W.A. Young & Sons Foundry and Machine Shop. Coming up, we also have a similar Aluminum Casting Session at the Carrie Blast Furnaces, along with a three-day Sculptural Aluminum Casting workshop for those looking to explore the craft further.

Also, later this month we are hosting the one and only Sunset Photo Safari at the Carrie Blast Furnaces for 2022! Don't miss your chance to capture the golden hour.

Thanks for reading—we hope to see you soon!
Jars of pickled and fermented delights. Image courtesy of The Pickled Chef.
FEATURED STORY
Pickled: A Fermented Trail
Cynthia Caul, program manager for Chatham University's Center for Regional Agriculture, Food, and Transformation, offers insights on the region's best places to discover pickled and fermented delights in today's featured story on the Pickled culinary trail, a journey created to highlight foodways traditions in southwestern Pennsylvania and throughout the Commonwealth. 
FEATURED PROGRAM
Scratch Block Aluminum Casting
July 24, 3:00 – 5:00 p.m., W.A. Young & Sons Foundry and Machine Shop
Way back in 1906, metal was first cast at the W.A. Young & Sons Foundry and Machine Shop—and now it flows again! Connect with the legacy of early handcrafted manufacturing by carving your own mold and watch as it is cast with solid aluminum. It's a creative and fun workshop for folks of all ages. This session includes a mini-tour of this National Historic Landmark site.
METAL ARTS WORKSHOP: LEVEL 1
Aluminum Casting Session
July 18, 5:30 – 8:30 p.m., Carrie Blast Furnaces
Create a unique work of art from aluminum. Using everyday materials, you’ll create a one-sided design in resin-bonded sand—then watch as Rivers of Steel’s foundry crew casts your artwork from molten metal!

The Aluminum Casting Session is a great way to try something new. Take a class with a friend. Create a special gift or unique memento to keep. You’ll take your cast aluminum objects home at the end of the workshop.
METAL ARTS WORKSHOP: LEVEL 2
Sculptural Aluminum Casting
July 26 – 28, 4:00 – 8:30 p.m., Carrie Blast Furnaces
This workshop will introduce the process used to create three-dimensional sculptural forms in cast aluminum—patternmaking, mold-making, and casting. Participants will create small- to medium-sized castings and discuss various surface treatments and finishing options. If you can't make this week's workshop, sign up for the final session of the season in September.
THERE'S MORE TO EXPLORE WITH
Rivers of Steel Tours
Discover the artistry and innovation of southwestern Pennsylvania’s rich heritage on a Rivers of Steel tour!

Connect with Pittsburgh’s steel industry heritage when you tour the Carrie Blast Furnaces. See the city from a new perspective when you hop on board the Explorer riverboat. Travel back in time to discover the artistry of handcrafted manufacturing at the Machine Shop. There's always more to explore with Rivers of Steel tours!
Help preserve our region’s industrial and cultural heritage! Your tax-deductible contribution will help ensure that Rivers of Steel can continue to offer vital, engaging, community-based arts, education, and heritage programs for the residents of southwestern Pennsylvania and beyond.