Oh Sugar.

We must not have our heads on straight these days.

Why?

Because we almost overlooked the Oakmont Greek festival that's
happening this weekend, in Oakmont. Duh.

Now this takes our weekend over the edge.

We are already planning a raging time at NKCD, and are also planning
a grub fest at Kennywood Park.

Now we realize we need to save some room for stuffed grape leaves, lamb
shanks, spinach pies and Mediterranean chicken.

The 4 horsemen of Greek food.

We'll find a way to persevere.
Trust us.


"Opah!"

When: 5-11 p.m. Friday, 4-11 p.m. Saturday and 2-11 p.m. Sunday.
Dinner will be served until 9 all three days, and the patio grill and bar
will be open until 11 p.m. every night. Grecian Odyssey dancers
will perform twice an evening.

Where: Dormition of the Theotokos Greek Orthodox Church
12 Washington Ave., Oakmont

Getcha Mind Right.

It's happening.

This weekend.

You know what time it is.

You know the location.

You know the fudge flavors.

That's right, brothers and sisters...

It's the 18th Annual New Kensington Community Days!

Booyah.

We here at thenewk love NKCD. And you caught us right as we
were making our yearly checklist of things to do while there.

- Buy fudge.
- Enjoy some onstage entertainment.
- Spend boatloads of cash on food and drink tickets.
- Get an airbrush tattoo of a sweet dragon on our tramp-stamp spot.
- Chuck-a-luck, Muth@f-er!
- Eat an entire funnelcake, without using our hands.
- Shop at the hippie jewelry booth.
- Buy more fudge.
- Recognize people from high school.
- Act like we don't recognize the people we recognize from high school.
- Visit Deebo the Clown and get a balloon hat.
- Avoid the bingo tent at all costs.
- Use up extra food tickets by purchasing and chugging delicious huggies.
- Walk back to our vehicle.
(Buses are for suckas.)

So that is what we hope to do this year.

Will you be joining us?
Wanna get together for a huggie?

We hope you can make it, as it really is a great event that supports
the Fire Departments.

Here are the times:

Friday: 5pm - 11pm
Saturday: 11am - 11pm
Sunday: 11am - 5pm
Where: Memorial Park, New Kensington
Free shuttle buses from Valley High, and also from Hillcrest Shopping Center

Riding The Rails?

For years now, there has been talk of a commuter train cruising people from
the Newk area down to the beautiful city of Pittsburgh.

Now, this "talk" we speak of, usually happened in area barbershops
and taverns. But it seems that trend is changing.

It's looking like this could be more than just jibber-jabber.
The Westmoreland County transit officials might be making this dream
a reality. And for much less money than they first thought.

They are actually considering 2 of these direct lines.

One starting here in Arnold, with stops in New Ken, Oakmont,
Verona and Penn Hills before coming to rest at Penn Station in Pittsburgh.

The other would start in Latrobe, and make stops in Greeensburg, Jeannette,
and a few other places we could care less about.

They say the Arnold line, would take just 45 minutes to get
to the Burgh', and they'd expect a minimum of 2,700 daily riders.

They asked state rep. John Pallone about this, and he had things to say.

~
The things he said really aren't worth the time it would take us to type them out. To be honest, what we are typing now is a good bit longer than the actual quotes. But it's too late to turn back now. Could you imagine how long it would take us to delete everything we just typed, then retype everything he said? I'd have to guess that with our 3 finger typing method, and our lack of concentration...it would take up to 7 minutes to do all that. Now let's think about this. There are a lot of things we can do in 7 minutes. Shall we count them down?

1. Take an entire shower (Well, not including our ankles. Seriously, how
dirty do ankles get on a daily basis?).
2. Eat a bowl of Cap'n Crunch.
3. Watch 2 youtube videos featuring Louie100.
4. Check out the latest gossip pictorial at hollywoodtuna.com.
5. Watch the entire 7 Minute Abs video while eating Pop-Tarts.
6. Fold a freshly finished load of bath towels.
7. Make love to 6 women and have time left over for a smoke.
8. Top off our gas tank and grab a Death Dog at Sheetz.

There are limitless things we could do with 7 minutes, but quoting
State Rep. John Pallone is not one of those.
~

Could you imagine not having to drive Rte. 28 every time you needed to go
downtown? My nip-nips are hard just thinking about it.

Heading to the South Side and not have to worry about driving home.
Oh, I'd be livin' the dream.


~
You can voice your opinion about this matter at a public hearing on
June 30th at New Kensington City Hall.

Public comments will be heard from 6-9pm, and a formal presentation
will be given at 7:30pm. See you there!



-home-

Random Picture Monday (06-22-09)

I will make a post in the comments section about the most memorable
movie that I've ever seen here.

We suggest you do the same.




-home-

Hey Dad.

"Hey dad, do you need another tie?"

Please allow me to answer that question for you...

no.

Look it. Father's Day is this Sunday, and you are probably
in the same situation that we're in. No gift yet for Pops.

Dad don't want a tie, nose-hair trimmer, "For Dummies" book, pen set,
monogrammed hankies, or even some sweet silky boxers.
(How do we know? Cause we asked him, that's how. Now shut up and listen.)

And forget the flask. How many dads do you know that carry a
flask to work everyday?

Now, we were able to find out what he doesn't want. But getting him to tell
us what he did want, proved to be more than we bargained for.

So this year, we suggest you get creative. Seriously, what's the risk?

Take him to his favorite breakfast/lunch dive, buy him some scratch off
tickets, grab a 12 pack of Labatt's and watch the final round of the
U.S. Open with him.

Worst case scenario:
You eat some greasy grub and catch a light Sunday afternoon buzz.

Best case scenario:
You eat some greasy grub and catch a light Sunday afternoon buzz,
Dad thanks you for hanging out with him, and gives you a pat on your
prematurely balding head.


Either way, it sounds like a perfect Father's Day to us.


-
Go Rocco.



-home-

What's That We Smell?

There is a familiar smell in the air around here these days.
A smell that hasn't been smelled around here for years.

(We apologize if you are one of the people that has lost your
sense of smell from taking Zicam.)

It's a smell that takes us back to the good old days.
All the way back to the 1900's.
(1998 to be exact.)

Seriously.

Constitution Blvd. isn't the street many people associate with good smells.
Well, not lately at least.

But things in the Newk are always changing, and sometimes for the better.

So what is this aromatic sensation we are talking about?

It's the smell of fresh baking bread at Mazziotti's Bakery.

Hallelujah!
It's been 4 years since we have caressed your golden loaves.

Way too long.

So from all of us here at theNEWK.com, (all 1 of me)
thank you, Carmella Mazziotti, for making the greatest comeback since
a young kid asked me "do you need a license to be that ugly?"

St. Carmella, the patron saint of deliciousness.


And to answer that kid's comeback/question...
"Ask your mom."




-home-

The End Is Near.

We are posting from our blackberry, because we feel this is important
enough to tell you immediately. (Not that more than maybe 2 of you
will actually read this while its relevant.)

Fact is, the weather is terrible out there. Thunder and lightning and
tornado warnings...oh my.

If we get blown away, just know that we loved each and every one of you.

Nighthawks Over the NewK?

While relaxing at home this past Saturday (around noonish), I heard a noise
not native to the Newk.

Don't get me wrong. I've heard Life-flight, and I have even heard police
copters (back in the days of 'TriggerLock').

But this level of atmosphere moving force was unlike anything we've encountered.
So I grabbed our trusty camera and went to work.

Here is a shot of the heli in action.


I was like... "whoa."

Now, just a fly-by would be weird enough, but this thing was just cruising
around our skies like he was hunting Bin Laden.
(Seriously though, if Bin Laden was in this area, wouldn't he be hiding out in the
hills of Hyde Park or something?)

I think they noticed me staring and taking photos, so they decided to abort
"Mission: Be Loud As Hell," and headed back toward wherever is was they came from...

Harwick, maybe?


Whatever.

I guess it's just one of those things that makes living here so exciting.
Well that, and the Sheetz on Constitution.



"Sheetz...M-T-Whoa."




-home-

Random Picture Monday (06-15-09)

Oink Oink.

Welcome Home, Stanley.

Pens make the coochie go wooo-wooo!

Thank you Penguins for an amazing season.

We would totally have your penguin babies.