Events: Heinz History Center Book Fair, Dec. 5

This Saturday, Dec. 5, the Senator John Heinz History Center will hold its Annual History Center Holiday Book Fair. From 10:00AM until 2:00PM local authors from points throughout the region will all be at the History Center for one big book signing party. Again this year they’ll have free coffee & hot chocolate, and live music.

This is the seventh year the History Center has held the Book Fair. It will be my third time there as one of the authors signing books. In my first year, 2004, my daughter attended with me and met Dan Rooney. (I told her she could lord it over the boys in her elementary school class about shaking hands the owner of the Steelers, but she declined to follow up on that.) This year local celebrity authors will include Art Rooney, Jr., Rory McHugh, Jennifer Antkowiak, Dave Crawley, Jim O'Brien, and Eleanor Schano. There will also be some names that fans of local history might know: Brian Butko, Greg Spalding, Arthur Fox, Lisa Spahr, Quentin Skrabec, Autumn Redcross, and Michael Muchnock.

There is no registration to get into the Book Fair, and no fee. Just walk in and meet and talk with over 60 local authors. Check out the History Center’s web page on the event at http://www.heinzhistorycenter.org/events.aspx?EventID=9. I hope to see you there!

Events: December '09 Roundup

Here is a partial list of December events at local historical societies. For more details for any event, click on the corresponding historical society's link under "Favorite Links" to the right of this post.

DECEMBER 5:
- Senator John Heinz History Center - Annual Local Author Book Fair, 10:00AM - 2:00PM

- Zelienople Historical Society - Christmas Home Tour.

- Freeport Renaissance Association - Freeport Celebrates Christmas.

DECEMBER 6-7:
- Armstrong County Historical Museum - MCain House Museum Open House and Light-up Night.

DECEMBER 7:
- Oakmont Historical Society, regular meeting, 6:30PM, Oakmont Public Library.

DECEMBER 8:
- Squirrel Hill Historical Society, "Steel City Jews, A History of Pittsburgh and its Jewish Community 1840-1915," Speaker: Barbara S. Burstin, PhD., 7:30PM, Sixth Presbyterian Church, corner of Forbes and Murray avenues.

DECEMBER 12:
- Senator John Heinz History Center, "Mother Daughter Tea with the Lincolns," 1:00PM - 4:00PM.

DECEMBER 13:
- Crafton Historical Society - "Holiday Gala with dinner, live music & dancing," 5:00PM - 10:00PM, Cefalo's Restaurant.

DECEMBER 14:
Mifflin Township Historical Society - regular meeting, 7:00PM, West Mifflin Borough Building.

If your organization has a December event that you don't see on this list, email me the information at thethroughway@gmail.com.