Third World in Concert at Rex; Carrie Furnace Site Tour; Shadyside Sidewalk Sale (Wed., 7/25/18)

1) The Jamaican group Third World has many musical influences. First and foremost is reggae, especially the master Bob Marley and his band, The Wailers. Additional influences have included pop, rock, soul, and funk. It’s been a successful mix for them, as they’ve had several top hits, including “Now That We Found Love,” “Sense of Purpose,” and “Try Jah Love.” This reggae jam will be at the Rex Theater. 8 p.m. 1602 E. Carson St., South Side. 

Carrie Furnaces — former industrial site, open for tours.

At Carrie Furnaces, modern urban art mingles with majestic remains of industrial history.

2) Archaeologists are excited to find well-preserved ruins of former times. Pittsburgh has such a treasure in plain view. The Carrie Furnaces site—twin blast furnaces towering above the Monongahela River, with auxiliary structures close by—is rare on a global scale, and astounding to visit. Not many old industrial facilities stay intact when they close. These immense furnaces, which boiled iron ore down to molten iron for U.S. Steel’s Homestead Works for nearly a century, were judged too much trouble to demolish after shutting in 1978.  And the sheer size of all that is left testifies to the brute-force nature of Pittsburgh’s historic industry. Just random details, such as massive heat pipes held together by bolts as big as human heads, can trigger awestruck imaginings of what it was like to build the furnaces—and to work there. The Carrie Furnaces site is open May through October under management of the Rivers of Steel National Heritage Area. Various kinds of guided tours are available, including (new this year) a riverboat tour. Get info and make reservations at the web link above. Tours kickoff at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. today. Carrie Furnace Boulevard, Rankin. (MV)

3) The annual Shadyside Sidewalk Sale is happening today through Sunday, all along the upscale Walnut Street shopping corridor. Look for great bargains at the merchant’s outdoor tables. The sale is a neighborhood tradition happening for over 33 years. Then, savor your shopping successes by enjoying a meal and relaxing in the many cafes and restaurants, including: The Yard, William Penn Tavern, China Palace, Mario’s East Side Saloon, Cappys, Steel Cactus, Girasole, Coffee Tree Roasters, and more.

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