The Three Rivers Arts Festival - Pittsburgh, PA

I'm a sucker for a good festival, and The Three Rivers Arts Fest never disappoints!

This annual event is held in downtown Pittsburgh, with artists, laced through the streets selling their wares, food trucks & vendors ready to feed hungry, greedy bellies (like mine!), limber, rythmical, street performers wowing crowds of people, and musical concerts all around. 

MM!  There's nothing like supporting fellow artists, while vibing to great music and eating chicken on a stick!

I couldn't resist collecting a few reasonable priced (surprisingly) pieces of visual & wearable art for myself!

Who's that Lady Collection - "Lucky Bag Hat" 

by Tracy - The Rising Phoenix Trinity

https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Rising-Phoenix-Trinity/115086089102

The festival sound track was a collage of musical genres; from Jazz to Rock to Bluegrass.  All appropriate to feed the free soul.

By T. James-Sykes

An Unexpected Hero? Dead Giveaway?: Chuck Brings Us To HIS World

"How ridiculous can you be?"..."Oh, that's just stupid!"..."Aw, what a cool dude."... "He said what?!"... "He did whaat?!"..."Poor thing!"

Yep, those were a few of many phrases I said aloud as I laughed, cried, got angry, and laughed again, while reading Charles (Chuck) Ramsey's story:  "Dead Giveaway: The Rescue, Hamburgers, White Folks and Instant Celebrity...What You Saw on TV Doesn't Begin to Tell the Story..."

A coined hero, Chuck was a key player in the rescue of three women who were kidnapped 11 years ago, on Cleveland, Ohio's westside. Chuck tells his story in a way that only HE could; rough around the edges, insanely outlandish, plain, and honest!

I went on a mental and emotional rollercoaster ride; Chuck's antics blindsided me with irritation, and tears filled with laughter, as he accounts the chain of events in his life before, during, and after the rescue of Michelle Knight, Gina DeJesus, and Amanda Berry. 

There are alot of words that many use to descibe this read, and Chuck makes no apologies about his delivery. It "satisfies" so many sensations that I can't help but call it entertaining!  

I must add that you'll be surprised by Chuck's colorful background, and journey.  This book reminds us that as humans, we have multiple facets, flaws, and great things about us.

While he's so called an "unlikely" or "unusual" one, I'm proud to simply call Chuck an AMERICAN Hero!

Book Link: Dead GiveAway

By T. James-Sykes