Katy’s report at 世界日報: Santa Claus visited Steel City

Katy’s dispatch was published at World Journal (世界日報) on Dec. 23 while we’re on our way to Michigan.  Enjoying the excitement and chaos among the loved ones during the holiday season, I put the job of translating this report in the back burner. (may click the photo to enlarge it)

For those spending the Christmas holiday in Pittsburgh, do not forget visiting the Winter Garden at PPG Place, after you have taken the Riverboat cruise or have been overwhelmed by the spectacular Pittsburgh night view from Mount Washington.  The show will end on January 7, 2011.

You’ll see the life-sized paper-made Santa Clauses from all over the world (America, China, France, Germany, Great Britain, Haiti, Ireland, Italy, Latin America, Russia, the Middle East, Netherlands, Norway and Ukraine); each is robed in their own traditional apparel mixing with their national/ethnic flavor.  The theme of the exhibit is “Spirits of Giving from around the World”. 

The marvelous gingerbread houses display, coupled with various ornate electric toy-trains running through them, captured the wonder and fantasy of all, adults and children alike.  One can also relish the music and dancing performances.  Music and holiday spirit are in the air and in one's heart, no doubt.

The PPG outdoors Skating Rink is Pittsburgh’s answer to the Ice Skating Rink at Rockefeller Center in New York City.  Here you’ll see people of all ages swirling and twirling in holiday spirit around the rink.

(The following is Katy's dispatch to World Journal,世界日報 )

PPG Place冬日花園 聖誕老人等你來

【賓州匹茲堡訊】 世界新聞網 北美華文新聞、華商資訊

December 23, 2010 06:03 AM

聖誕節假期造訪匹茲堡，除了可至火車站廣場搭船遊河，或到華盛頓山頂用餐觀賞夜景外，別忘了也可到PPG Place的冬日花園 (Winter Garden)，該處紙製的世界各國聖誕老人與薑餅屋展覽，將持續至明年1月7日.

即使你錯過上月熱鬧的匹茲堡市區亮燈儀式，現在你還來得及到PPG Place的冬日花園免費欣賞真人大小的紙製各國聖誕老人，和第八屆薑餅屋與電動玩具火車展覽.

展覽場地有中、美、英、法、蘇、德、義、海地、挪威北歐等國的聖誕老人及精美油畫，室中央有32呎高的聖誕樹，薑餅屋整村則環繞在樹下。室內右側有 音樂或舞 蹈表演台，供匹茲堡地區的交響樂隊或高中樂隊演出，還有各種舞蹈表演。舞台後有許多聖誕紅堆疊成的聖誕樹，為紀念逝者與支持富比臨終關懷而設。訪客可以觀 賞室內展覽，同時聽音樂會或看舞蹈表演。

由於匹茲堡有不少德國裔，薑餅屋展覽有越來越多人參賽。這些參賽的薑餅屋由本地 或附 近職業學校的學生、廚師與公司行號製作，成品都頗富巧思。製作薑餅屋講究穩重黏緊，最重要的是薑餅須慢火烤硬，再用糖粉或蛋白當黏著劑，再點綴各式各樣的 糖果餅乾，造型有鋼人足球場、匹茲堡登山小纜車、俄羅斯教堂、農場動物、小木屋，不一而足。另外由鍾斯(Don Jones) 提供收集的電動火車，穿梭在薑餅村內，吸引許多孩童興致盎然地觀賞。

PPG Place 的戶外則有很多特殊的商店，市場廣場的溜冰場中央有超大的聖誕樹。門票大人7元、孩童6元，每人再付3元租雙溜冰鞋，就可以從上午11時溜到半 夜12時，PPG Place 的冬日花園有各種音樂會，表演日程表可參考網頁http://www.ppgplace.com/。(張瓊月). (may click the photo to enlarge it)