Hey, all! The Pittsburgh Public Market (a non-profit organization) is having it's First Birthday Extravaganza this weekend, with all kinds of samples, prizes, entertainment and give-aways (see schedule below). We are also rolling out our brand-new "Friends of the Market" program. If you're a lover of local produce, local products, and helping to spur the local economy, please come and join us! We are open Friday, 10-6, Saturday, 9-5 and Sunday, 10-4. We also are in need of volunteers for a variety of tasks, such as helping to cover merchant booths for short periods of time. If you are willing and able to do this, we will gladly accept your help, and give you a T-shirt or tote bag to boot! Contact me (Rachel Kudrick) at events@pittsburghpublicmarket.org to sign up. Here's our schedule so far: (and, if YOU have a talent or skill you'd like to share, contact me to set up a time and we'll let you show off!) All weekend: Construction Junction will be here all day with information, advice and possibly some merchandise. Friday: 12:00 pm - 12:30 pm -- Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh will show us 30 books in 30 minutes, a very entertaining and informative look at some good reads, from classics to moderns, children's to adult's. 12:30 pm - 1:00 pm -- Gosia's Pierogies will be doing a pierogie cooking demonstration. 1:00 pm - 3:00 pm -- Ronni Weiss will be here playing the keyboard and singing blues and jazz. 5:00 pm - 5:30 pm -- Quickie Cocktails with Chef Elizabeth Schandelmeier Gilgunn of Slow Cooked Pittsburgh. Demos on how to make 3 cocktails, and sampling! (Cost is $5/person, pre-registration required by calling the office at 412-281-4505 or visiting us upstairs at the Market.) Saturday: 9:00 am - 5:00 pm -- Alyssa Fine, the Pennsylvania Honey Queen, will be on-site with an observation hive, demos and samples, all to promote honey bees and beekeeping. 9:00 am - 11:30 am -- Music From Another Room, a hot local band great vocal harmonies and sweet guitar riffs, will be performing original music. 10:00 am - 4:00 pm -- Kristin Ward will be walking the Market with her balloon art skills. Stop her and ask for your favorite animal! 11:00 am - 3:00 pm -- Look for Sam the Magic Man and his fun antics! 11:30 am - 1:00 pm -- David Shelow and Friends will be performing both old and new tunes from Irish, Scottish and American traditions. 2:00 pm -- Cutting of the big, tomato birthday cake (it's red velvet, but in the SHAPE of a tomato!) made by Sugar Mama Cakes. Nom! Nom! 2:30 pm - 3:30 pm -- Cooking demo with Rebecca Gilbert of Yummyplants.com and raw vegan Chef Hilary Zozula of the soon-to-open restaurant, Eden. Sunday: 10:00 am - 4:00 pm -- International Market Day, featuring foods and products from around the globe. Sponsored by CEED to help immigrant, refugee and inner city populations. 11:00 am - 12:00 pm -- "Gardens Under Glass." Jimmy Lohr and Jonathan Weber of Green Sinner will be making terrariums with you, including offering discount prices on plants. $5/person covers cost of soil and other supplies. Bring your own jar, etc. But you must pre-register, so we know what size container you're bringing and how much soil we need! Call 412-281-4505 or email at events@pittsburghpublicmarket.org 11:00 am - 3:00 pm -- Kristin Ward will be walking the Market with her balloon art skills. Stop her and see what she can do! 11:00 am - 3:00 pm -- Sam the Magic Man will be walking the Market to entertain and amaze you with his magic and juggling skills. 1:00 pm - 1:30 pm -- Johanna Blarik of Piecing It Together will be doing a demo on how to make a tote bag of your own. 1:30 pm - 2:00 pm -- Cynthia Hill of Third Day Luxury Soaps will be giving some tips and samples with her "Two-Minute Facial" program. And, of course, stop by the Market Booth to say hello! I'll be there all weekend! Thanks, neighbors! Rachel