Pittsburgh Weekend Staycation: July 19-21

Everyone knows that summer means a time to relax and possibly take a vacation, but if you're like anyone else these days, you're also looking for a way to save money. So a lucrative vacation might not be your scene right now, but here's a way to still have a great time "away from home" while staying right here in Pittsburgh.

I've made a little roundup of fun activities for anyone in the area who wants a mini-vacation but still wants to get away. To get the full effect, I suggest you splurge on a two-night stay at any of the great hotels around the 'burgh and take on the activities in this list, especially tailored for this weekend. Get packing, the fun starts after you get off work tomorrow!

Skybar: though I have yet to be there, I cannot wait to go at some point this summer! Photo credit.

Friday Evening: 

Check into your hotel and head out the door for dinner and a little fun at the Rivers Casino. With five wonderful, trust me I've tried them, restaurants to choose from and plenty of slots and table games for you to play, you're sure to start your evening off right and instantly feel like you're on vacation. But don't stay too long because you want to be able to head down to the Southside to check out Skybar, Pittsburgh's only rooftop pool and lounge. Seriously, how big city of us to have a rooftop pool bar.

Saturday Morning/Afternoon: 

Where else would you want to spend a Saturday in the summer besides Kennywood? 

Ride the Phantom's Revenge, take the Pittsburg* Plunge, and for all things great and beautiful, eat some Potato Patch Fries!

*Pittsburgh was spelled without the 'h' circa 1890 - 1911 so the Plunge still takes that spelling.

Cinema in the Park: various parks around Pittsburgh, but the one mentioned is happening this weekend. Photo credit

Saturday Evening: 

Get a prime view of the city while snuggled up to your friends on a blanket while watching 

Rise of The Guardians at Cinema in the Park at Grandview Park on Mt. Washington.

Sunday Morning: 

Wake up early and head to Schenley Park for the Pittsburgh Vintage Grand Prix. 

The parade and opening ceremony starts at 11am and at noon watch those cars fly! 

The newest addition to the Gateway Clipper Fleet, the Queen! Photo credit.

Sunday Afternoon: 

What better way to end your time in the city than by touring through it on the Gateway Clipper? 

See all the sites from the upper deck of one of their one-hour sightseeing cruises and reminisce about your greatly packed, Pittsburgh weekend!

Whatever you do this weekend make it fun and think about keeping it in Pittsburgh!

But, I already have a Big Brother...

So, yesterday, after of course getting over my anxiety of riding the Port Authority T under the river to the Rivers Casino, I walked in to audition to be on the next season of Big Brother. My plan was to go over and interview people who actually wanted to audition about why they wanted to be on the show and so on, but without a proper press pass, that was a no go. So instead, I had to opt for another option, audition myself.

Big Brother logo - I wonder who's eye that is!

Besides the fact that I haven't watched Big Brother since maybe once or twice during the first season, my confidence was perfectly fine. Basically, all they did was have everyone fill out an application form of the basics, who you are, how to contact you and why you should be on the show. Then everyone went one by one to speak in front of the camera. We were asked also basic questions, again why we should be on the show, the weirdest or funniest thing we've ever done, who is the craziest person we know. And I don't really remember any of the answers to their questions because everything happened so fast.

Around 7p.m. when I was there, it was nothing like I expected. It was wide open, no line, no wait. But of course, auditions were going on since 2p.m. so maybe it was more crowded earlier on, but from what I saw, 1) not too many exciting prospects and 2) Big Brother is on the outs. Just an observation though. Anyway, when I was leaving I ran into Janelle Pierzina, who I Googled to find out was on Season's 6 and 7. 

Now we play the waiting game. See what I go through for my readers! I don't even like Big Brother - but winning upwards of $500,000 would be nice. Considering I'm sure the footage they have of me is awful, feel free to laugh at it if it ever airs. I'll pray that it doesn't, and that they don't call!