IN THE
Burgh
Photo Credit : Dllu , Phipps Conservatory
It ’ s Always Spring at Phipps !
No matter how cold it is outside , there ’ s always one place you can be warm — Phipps Conservatory . Though the weather outside may not be screaming “ spring ,” you can start enjoying some warmer temperatures and a little greenery right now . Nestled in the heart of Oakland , Phipps has a toasty Tropical Forest Conservatory , which is hosting a special exhibit on Hawaii that was years in the making .
Tropical Forest Hawai ‘ i : Aloha ‘ Āina is a 12,000-square-foot exhibit with foliage that towers 60 feet high . There are lots of interactive exhibit stations , including a “ hale ” ( a traditional thatched hut ) and a station detailing the making of poi , a traditional Hawaiian staple . Visitors will also learn how the colorful kapa cloth is made from the bark of wauke , or paper mulberry trees . And life-sized carvings of beautiful native Hawaiian birds are perched in the treetops .
Phipps is a great place to visit when it ’ s a cold or rainy day . But as the weather warms up a bit , the surrounding Schenley Park will give you an opportunity to explore nature intertwined with
beautiful statuary , including the Westinghouse Memorial & Pond and the Mary Schenley Memorial Fountain , named for the woman who donated the initial 300 acres for the park .
Schenley was named one of “ America ’ s Coolest Parks ” by Travel + Leisure in 2011 . It ’ s a scenic place for an early spring stroll , but there are plenty of annual events that draw visitors from across the country , including the Carnegie Mellon Spring Carnival held in April , a tradition for more than 100 years . It has a decidedly Scottish theme . The Pittsburgh Vintage Grand Prix and International Car Show held in mid-summer is a wonderful event for car enthusiasts , but those of all ages and tastes will likely find it interesting and entertaining .
Besides annual events , Schenley Park offers a lot of enjoyment on a daily basis with a playground , a golf course , a running track , tennis courts , a public swimming pool and softball and soccer fields .
On an historic note , if you love baseball , you ’ ll want to be sure to visit the historical marker and wall of the old Forbes Field , located on Roberto & Vera Clemente Drive , near Bouquet Street . Forbes Field was one of the first all-steel and concrete ballparks in the U . S . It was also the site of four World Series , the first in 1909 and the last in 1960 . Baseball legend Babe Ruth hit his last three home runs at this park , and it ’ s where Bill Mazeroski hit a game- and World Series-winning home run in 1960 . Though the ballpark was demolished in 1971 , fans still gather at the site on the anniversary of Mazeroski ’ s historic home run .
There ’ s lots to do while waiting for the weather to warm up , and the ‘ burgh offers some nice diversions in the meantime . n
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