In order to improve Market Square's reputation, the Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership needed to come up with ideas that would attract both natives and tourists alike to the area. What makes more sense than 10,000 water balloons? Yeah, I don't know either.

After the battle cries had ceased, I was walking back to the car only to spot this chick going to her secret stash of ammo. Naturally, I followed her and am still laughing about how (dare I say it?) cute these two were.

This was the biggest urban water balloon fight I have ever seen - wait, it's the only urban water balloon fight I've ever seen, but holy cow it was hysterical.

It was a war zone. Literal, taped-off war zone. To be honest, I was there and cannot account for 90% of the water in this picture. Can someone please explain how water balloons can have that much of an explosive impact?

Regardless, the fact that it was a "city-approved water-balloon fight" makes me love Pittsburgh all the more. Hands down one of the funniest things I've ever seen.

"I never trust a girl who doesn't like icing."

I really find that to be an invalid assessment of trustworthiness, but whatever. For the record, I had no intention of offending the cupcake.

The Pittsburgh Blues Festival held at Hartwood Acres Friday through Sunday showcased many of the country's coolest blues groups. Not only was the weather perfect, but the musicians were, well everyone knows how I feel about musicians. I found a little soft spot for a Louisiana musician named Eric Lindell and his band, so I encourage everyone to check him out.

www.ericlindellband.com

www.myspace.com/ericlindell

I apologize for having an incorrect link posted a little earlier - cheerleader moment.

I really really enjoy musicians.

"Heartbreak, loneliness, despair and you can dance to it"

The blues are an extraordinary phenomenon in the musical world. No matter what, by nature of the blues being what they are, you know you will never be short-changed because of the energy and experience it takes to write good tunes. They are one of very few genres that allow you to take the very saddest of the human condition and turn it into a lil dance. When it comes down to it, I think the blues are a perfect cure for the blues. Life got that musician down and what did he do? He wrote an awesome song.

I'm a little embarrassed to say that the only pictures I'm posting of the entire festival are of Eric and his band. That's how much I enjoyed these guys.

There is so much about Pittsburgh that I love, but one of my favorite (non-music related) hot spots is definitely the Strip District. Aside from the original Primanti Bros., the Strip offers a collection of ethnic markets (Sunseri's meatball subs? Eccellente.) and the freshest foods in the city. Although I do like food a great deal, I find the most enjoyable thing about this area is the consistently genuine conversation. Apart from my experiences, just watch Penn Ave. on a Saturday morning and you will see a street full of complete strangers delightfully engaged with one another, behaving like old friends. I don't know why that is undervalued elsewhere, but I've had some of the best conversations with noodle-makers, florists, grocers and meat-packers - having never met any of them previously. Knowing why and how they do what they do is a passionate confirmation of dedication and loyalty that I don't come across often and seek out all too much. And yes, I'm sure it's not always easy, hell I know it isn't always easy, but they continue with it anyway. And that, my friends, is love, which sometimes seems like stupidity, though somewhere in me, I know it's far from it.

All this over a picture of corn.

"What, you couldn't fit the Statue of Liberty in there too? A copy of the Declaration of Independence? A Bald Eagle? C'mon the eagle was doable."

Interesting how my impromptu run to the roof of Matt's building created a more patriotic image from post-Pirate game fireworks than from the overzealously red fireworks of July 4th.

So, I thought that I was just going to fight a speeding ticket in Williamsport, but somehow I ended up at a carnival in Brooklyn. Who knew?

Believe it or not, it's actually a pretty sweet story having very little to do with the picture of creepy carnival characters. I just like the colors under the cheap fluorescent light.

Giant orange slicker, makeshift camera rain gear - I looked ridiculous photographing flowers in a torrential downpour.

Fireworks from Matt's roof downtown was certainly a new July 4th perspective for me. Although we couldn't really see the fireworks shot from PPG, the ones from the barges lit up the horizon of buildings in front of us.