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Classic and jurassic
Friday, May 19, 2000 By Adrian McCoy, Post-Gazette Staff Writer
Hot Picks
PITTSBURGH ZOO & AQUARIUM
A major new attraction opens its doors at the Pittsburgh Zoo & Aquarium this summer. The new aquarium is home to 4,000 aquatic animals, with five theme galleries and 45 natural habitats. The new 42,000-square-feet facility is the largest in this state and one of the largest in the world.
Although the aquarium is open for preview visits, the official grand opening is June 11. That day, Just Ducky Tours will lead a parade to the ribbon cutting ceremonies. Other opening-day activities include a puppet show, the steel drum band Dynamic Steel, storytelling and face painting.
'T. REX ON TRIAL'
Carnegie Museum of Natural History has a "rex file" for you.
There's a dead body, in this case a triceratops. The accused killer is T. rex. While T. rex is often thought of as a ferocious predator, new theories see the dinosaur as a scavenger who, in this case, would have just happened upon on the dead triceratops for dinner.
Visitors will gather information from the various exhibits and come up with a guilty or innocent verdict for T. rex.
Paleontologist Jack Horner -- who was the inspiration for "Jurassic Park" -- developed "T. rex on Trial," a traveling exhibit that opens here May 27. Horner, who is also curator of paleontology at the Museum of the Rockies, will be in Pittsburgh June 22-24 to give two talks -- one for kids, one for grownups, this summer.
SEASCAPE
Across town from the new zoo aquarium, another fascinating underwater attraction makes its debut. The Carnegie Science Center will unveil SeaScape, a new permanent exhibit that creates a living Pacific coral reef.
There will be more than 400 species of underwater life in SeaScape, and a host of exhibits and displays designed to teach all ages about life in the coral reef ecosystem. The tanks will showcase the diverse life in different parts of the coral reef, including fore reef, back reef, lagoon and mangrove.
For younger visitors, there's a Live Touch Tank, where they can handle starfish, sea urchins and horseshoe crabs, and the Yellow Submarine and diving suit, from which they can explore a sunken ship.
SeaScape opens June 24.
WHIRLIGIGS
Every summer, they pop up on lawns everywhere, and this year they'll be in full bloom at the Pittsburgh Children's Museum.
The new traveling exhibit Whirligigs opens June 16. Visitors can hang out in the museum's indoor Whirligig Yard and see a collection created by artists. Young artists can stop in the museum's Workshop and design their own.
CARNEGIE MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY
Pow Wow: Anniversary celebration of the Alcoa Foundation Hall of American Indians presented by the Council of Three Rivers American Indian Center, with singing, dancing, art crafts and food (May 20-21).
"T. rex on Trial": Lets visitors use scientific methods to figure out whether T. rex was a killer or a scavenger (May 27-Sept. 3); T. rex: Predator or Scavenger, lecture by Jack Horner, dinosaur expert and curator of paleontology at the Museum of the Rockies. (June 22); Family Day: Children's talk by Jack Horner and Science on Stage production of "Dinosaurs." June 24); one-year celebration of the life-size Diplodocus carnegii figure outside the museum (July 7).
Other special events: Camp Earth: A Summer Science Adventure turns museum into discovery laboratory for kids (June 12-Aug. 18), 412-622-3288; Family Overnight: Dinosaurs and Beyond (July 28), 412-622-3288; Carnegie Gem and Mineral Show (Aug. 25-27).
4400 Forbes Ave., Oakland. 412-622-3131.
CARNEGIE SCIENCE CENTER
Exhibits: Science Carnival (through Sept. 10); Zap! Surgery Beyond the Cutting Edge exhibit explores the science behind surgical technology (through Aug. 13); SeaScape exhibit creates a living Pacific coral reef, with more than 400 species of plants and animals (opens June 24)
Omnimax Theater: Dolphins (through Sept. 30); Ring of Fire (through July 29); Olympic Glory (July 30-Feb. 28).
Henry Buhl, Jr. Planetarium: "Gray Matters: The Brain Show" is a trip inside the human brain (through Sept. 30); "The New Cosmos: Journey" (through Nov. 18)
Special events: On Tap at Carnegie Science Center (June 9); Kids Week has gifts and special activities (June 11-25); BIZCamp for Kids (Aug. 7-18)
One Allegheny Ave., North Side. 412-237-3400.
PITTSBURGH ZOO
Aquarium Celebration: In conjunction with the opening of the zoo's new aquarium. Music, entertainment and activities (May 20- 21).
Special events: Big Fish: Columbia & Snake Rivers Campaign with program on restoring salmon habitats (May 20); Allegheny General Hospital Baby Day, learn about the zoo's newest arrivals (May 27); Adopt An Animal Day, learn about the zoo's animal sponsorship program (May 27); musician Cheryl Ann Hawk (May 28); 3WS Day, activities and kids fun sponsored by 3WS (June 3); A Night To Treasure Aquarium Gala black-tie fund-raiser for the zoo, 412-365-2541 (June 10); Aquarium Grand Opening with parade, entertainment, storytelling (June 11); Festival of Water, area groups will be on hand with information about different water activities in the area (June 26); KDKA Radio Day (July 6-7); Splash Water Sports' The Diving Tank, free scuba diving instruction (July 8-11); Children's Fest, sponsored by WSHH, storytelling music and kids' activities (July 8); Safari Sam's Day (July 20); Miss Frizzle from "Magic School Bus" will talk to kids about ocean and sea life (July 23); Annual Tent Sale (July 29-30); Twilight Tours guided by zoo docents (Aug. 5, 19); Komodo Dragon Day, sponsored by Herpetological Society of Pittsburgh (Aug. 5); Animal Enrichment Days (Aug. 26, 27); ZooFest, sponsored by WSHH with kids activities and giveaways (Sept. 2); National Elephant Day (Sept. 17).
One Hill Road, Highland Park. 412-665-3639.
KENNYWOOD PARK
Special events: Carpatho-Rusyn Day/4H Day (June 28); Grand Victorian Festival (June 30-July 6); Independence Day Fireworks (July 4); WTAE-TV Day (July 13); Serbian Day (July 14); Italian Day (July 18); Slovak Day (July 20); Greek Day (July 25); Byzantine Day (July 27); Majorette Day (July 31); Polish Day (Aug. 1); Hungarian Day (Aug. 2); Slovene Day (Aug. 7); Cheerleader Day (Aug. 8); Girl Scout Day (Aug. 15); Fall Fantasy Parades (Aug. 15-Sept. 1); Fun Finale (Aug. 28-Sept. 1); Croatian Day (Sept. 2); Labor Day -- Final day for 2000 (Sept. 4).
West Mifflin. 412-461-0500.
PHIPPS CONSERVATORY AND BOTANICAL GARDENS
Exhibits: Butterfly Forest, several species of butterflies in the conservatory gardens (through Oct. 13); Fountains and Watergardens Exhibit, how to create water gardens (through June 18); Hosta Cut-leaf Show, Daffodil and Hosta Society of Western Pennsylvania's annual show (June 3-4); Wildlife in the Garden (June 24-Aug. 13).
Jazz in the Garden: Free concerts in the Outdoor Garden, Kenny Blake Jazz Band (June 25); Boilermaker Jazz Band (July 30); Salsamba (Aug. 27).
Special events: Salsa Show, Some Like It Hot (Aug. 19-Oct. 8); The Great Salsa Festival: Learn about spices, vegetables and fruits that are the ingredients of salsa (Aug. 20); Monarch Festival, marks migration of monarch butterflies south for the winter (Sept. 2 ); Discovery Garden Anniversary, fourth anniversary celebration of children's garden (July 8).
Schenley Park. 412-622-6914.
SENATOR JOHN HEINZ PITTSBURGH REGIONAL HISTORY CENTER
Permanent Exhibits: Points in Time: Building a Life in Western Pennsylvania, 1750-Today; Glass: Shattering Notions; The Prine Collection of Woodworking Planes.
Changing Exhibits: What We Wore: Hard Hats to High Heels (through spring 2001); Heinz 57: A look at the Heinz Company's 130 years in business (through spring 2001); Matthews International 150th Anniversary Exhibit (through Sept.); Take Me Back To Braddock, Pa.: Artist Joe Jacobs collection of art and memories of Braddock (July 29-Oct. 22); George Washington: The Man Behind the Myths: Traveling exhibit from the Virginia Historical Society, along with History Center displays on Washington's connection to Western Pennsylvania (July 29-Oct. 22).
Events: Meet The Author: Bruce Markusen, author of "Roberto Clemente: The Great One" (June 3); "Of, By and For the People": A look at life in America from the 1700s to the present, told through writings by Western Pennsylvanians and performed by Stages in History (July 1 -2).
1212 Smallman St., Strip District. 412-454-6000.
IDLEWILD PARK
Special events: Civil War encampment, equipment and demonstrations by the Pennsylvania National Guard (May 28-29); Outdoor Classroom: Learning experience for elementary and middle school students (June 1-2); Firefighter and EMS Day: Exhibitions and competitions (June 18); Kid Fest: Buy one, get one free admission (June 20-25, 27-30); Fox 53 Days: Games, competitions and entertainment, plus 4th of July fireworks (July 3-7); KDKA For Kids' Sake Days: Kids' activities, and buy one, get one free admission (July 11-14); WQED Neighborhood Days with Mister Rogers' characters, the Neighborhood Trolley and the Neighborhood of Make-Believe, portion of the proceeds benefits WQED (July 18-21); Old Fashioned Days with old-time manufacturing and crafts, plus watermelon seed spitting, pie-eating contests and Catfish Derby, antique car parade every evening (July 25-28); Giant Eagle Car Load Sale, $59 for up to eight people per vehicle (Aug. 22-25); WDSY-FM Day with games and competition (Sept. 4).
Route 30 west of Ligonier. 724-238-3666.
NATIONAL AVIARY
Special events: Walk for the Animals, fund-raiser for animal welfare organizations (May 28); Hummingbirds, Butterflies and Bees, educational program (July 15, 16); Night in the Tropics (Aug. 4).
Ridge Avenue and Arch Street, North Side. 412-323-7235.
PITTSBURGH CHILDREN'S MUSEUM
Exhibits: The Vision of Jim Henson (through May 28); Whirligigs in the museum's indoor Whirligig Yard, workshop activities and more (June 16-Nov. 12).
Fabulous Friday Nights: Officer Friendly: Representative from Pittsburgh Police will present program on police work (May 19); Falling, Floating, Gliding, learn how objects fall or glide (May 26); Pinhole Photos, pinhole photography and pinhole Polaroid photos (June 2); Safety tips from STAT MedEvac team (June 9); Sparky the Fire Dog safety program (June 16); fossil and dino-sculpture workshop (June 23).
Other events: "Punch and Judy" and "Faust," hand puppet and marionette shows presented by The Gifted Center (May 19); Stand For Children Day, kids can add their footprints to a banner that will be presented to Gov. Ridge (June 1); Yo-yo tricks (June 17); Team Mercury In-line skating demonstrations (June 21, 28); Helmet Safety (June 24); Block Party Weekend featuring Helmet Safety on Safety Street (June 23-25); Team Mercury teen-age troupe teaches in-line skating safety (Wednesdays from June 21-Aug. 17); Metropolitan Life Car Seat Safety Checks (June 20, July 18, Sept. 12); Team Mercury program on bicycle helmet safety (June 23-25); Back to School Safety: School bus safety (Aug. 18-20).
Local performers present regular programs of puppetry, storytelling, music and more.
Allegheny Center, North Side. 412-322-5058
SANDCASTLE
Open daily June 3-Sept. 4; WTAE-TV4 Summerfest (June 17-25).
The Waterfront, Homestead. 412-462-6666.
GATEWAY CLIPPER
Sightseeing Cruises: Good Ship Lollipop Cruise (Sat. and Sun from May 20-June 4, Mon.-Fri. from June 10-Sept. 4); Lock 'n Dam Adventure Cruise (May 20, 27, June 3, 10 and Mon.-Sat. from June 12 -Sept. 4); Family Fun Cruise (Sundays from May 21-Nov. 19); Three Rivers Cruise (Mon.-Sat. from June 7- Sept. 2); Twilight Fountain Cruise (May 25, June 1, 8, and Tues. and Thurs. from June 13-Sept. 28).
Also brunch, lunch and dinner cruises, including Dixieland Chick'n Ribs Cruise (May 25, June 1, 8 and Tues. and Thurs. from June 13-Sept. 30).
Holiday Cruises: Memorial Day Weekend Cruise -- All sightseeing cruises (Lock 'n Dam Adventure, Family Fun and Good Ship Lollipop) are $2/person (May 27-29).
Nationality Dinner Cruises: Hawaiian Luau (June 7, 28, July 19, Aug. 9, 30); Hawaiian Luau Matinee (July 30, Aug. 20); Festa Italiana (June 14, July 26, Aug. 16); Irish Ceili (July 12, Aug. 2); Grecian Odyssey (Aug. 23).
Big Band Dinner Dance Cruises: Guy Lombardo's Royal Canadians under direction of Al Pierson (June 25); The Four Aces and The Joe Dallas Orchestra (July 9); Jimmy Sturr and his Orchestra (July 22-24); Tommy Dorsey Orchestra (Aug. 13).
Moonlight Dance Cruises: Miller Lite Friday Night Jamz featuring David Lincoln and the Straight Ahead Band (starting June 2); Coors Light Saturday Night Jammin' Oldies featuring David Lincoln and the Straight Ahead Band (starting June 3).
Bud Light Country Rock Dance Cruises: Corbin-Hanner Band (May 28).
Bud Light New Rock Cruises: The Buzz Poets with special guest (June 9); Gathering Field (July 1); Grapevine and Sho'Nuff (Sept. 1).
Bud Light Rhythm & Blues Cruises: Glenn Pavone and the Cyclones (May 27); Tony Janflone Jr. and In Sync (June 17); Billy Price Band (July 3); Jake's Blues Band and Shari Richards (July 15); Jill West and Blues Attack (Aug. 12); Joe Grushecky and the Houserockers (Aug. 26); Jake's Blues Band plus Norm Nardini, Erin Burkett and the Mean Reds (Sept. 2).
Miller Lite Jazz Cruises: Karrin Allyson Trio/Mellon Jazz on the River (June 17) Additional dates and acts TBA.
Polka Cruises: Lenny Gomulka and the Chicago Push (May 21); Dick Tady Orchestra (June 11); Jimmy Sturr and his Orchestra (July 22-24); Labor Day Polka Party Cruise -- Featuring Carl Wendt & the Casuals, Del Sinchak and Larry Placek (Sept. 4)
Cruises depart from Station Square. 412-355-7980.
OTHER PLACES
ANGORA GARDENS White Oak Park, 412-675-8556. English Angora rabbits, herb and flower gardens.
BEAVER AREA HISTORICAL MUSEUM No. 1 River Road Ext., 724-775-7174. open Wed. and weekends. Group tours by appointment.
BEECHWOOD FARMS NATURE RESERVE Fox Chapel, 963-6100. The Audubon Society's nature preserve. Five miles of trails through fields, forest, streams, pond and thickets, guided walks, natural history workshops, open daily.
BUHL HOUSE Zelienople, 724-452-9457. 1805 home of the Christian Buhl family, tours Sat. & Wed, part of the Zelienople Historical Society.
CAR & CARRIAGE MUSEUM Frick Art & Historical Center, Point Breeze, 412-371-0600. Rare, antique and horse-drawn carriages, self-guided tours with video "Pittsburgh and the Automobile." Closed Mon.
CLAYTON Point Breeze, 412-371-0606. The restored home of Henry Clay Frick. Tours daily except Mon.
COOPER CABIN Route 356 South, Butler, 724-283-8116. An original 1810 homestead furnished with family heirlooms and period pieces. Open Sundays.
FALLINGWATER Ohiopyle, 724-329-8501. The house designed by Frank Lloyd Wright. Tours daily except Monday. Reservations required.
FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH Sixth Ave., Downtown, 412-471-3436. Tours of the church include 13 Tiffany stained-glass windows, after the 10:45 a.m. Sunday service.
GEORGE WESTINGHOUSE MUSEUM Wilmerding, 412-823-0500. Family artifacts, product exhibits, replica of time capsule. Closed Sun.
HARTWOOD North Hills, 412-767-9200. Guided tours of the mansion, Wed.-Sun.
HOMEWOOD CEMETERY TOURS Walking tours through turn-of-the-century Pittsburgh, from "Millionaire's Row" to the less affluent, sponsored by The Frick Art and Historical Center, Wed. 10-11:30 and Sun. 2-3:30 p.m., first and third Saturdays of the month 10-11:30 a.m., begin June 3, reservations required, 412-371-0600.
JIMMY STEWART MUSEUM Indiana, 724-349-6112. Family portraits, film awards, costumes, photos, posters and film clips. Open daily.
JUST DUCKY TOURS Station Square, 412-928-2489. One-hour city tours aboard The Duck, a restored World War II vehicle which travels on land and water. 10:30 a.m.-6 p.m.
LAUREL HIGHLANDS RAILROAD Route 819, Scottdale, 724-628-0776. Sat.-Sun.: Scenic three-hour train trips with varying destinations and times. Group bookings available.
LEMOYNE HOUSE Washington, 724-225-6740. "Heirloom Wedding Celebration," 19th-century wedding gowns, bridal bouquets and other wedding decorations, closed Mon.
LINDEN HALL Dawson, 724-529-7543. Tours of the mansion featured on A&E's "Great American Castles," weekdays 11 a.m.-3 p.m., weekends by reservation.
MEADOWCROFT MUSEUM OF RURAL LIFE Avella, Washington County, 724-587-3412. 200-acre outdoor museum complex. Weekends.
NATIONALITY ROOMS University of Pittsburgh, 412-624-6000. 24 rooms designed to reflect the ethnic heritage of Pittsburgh's immigrants. Tours daily.
NEVILLE HOUSE Route 50, Collier, 412-279-3385. 18th-century historic landmark, tours Sun. 1-4 p.m.
OLD ECONOMY VILLAGE Ambridge, 266-4500. Early 19th-century home of the Harmony Society; gardens and 16 buildings furnished with original artifacts. Tours available. Closed Monday.
OLD ST. LUKE'S Old Washington Pike, Scott, 412-531-6541. Pioneer church, 1823 pipe organ, Revolutionary War graves. Sun. 1:30-4 p.m.
OLIVER MILLER HOMESTEAD South Park, 412-835-1554. Revolutionary War Encampment.
PASSAVANT HOUSE Zelienople, 724-452-9457. 1808 National Register home of the Zelie Passavant family, tours Wed. & Sat. through Oct., part of the Zelienople Historical Society.
POWDERMILL NATURE RESERVE Laurel Highlands, 724-593-6105. The Carnegie's biological field station.
RACHEL CARSON HOMESTEAD Springdale, 724-274-5459. Home of ecologist and author. Weekends.
TROLLEY MUSEUM Washington, Pa., 724-228-9256. Scenic three mile rides on trolleys, exhibits, museum store. Weekends and holidays.
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