Today is the First Day of Spring and Pittsburgh is gorgeous! God really showed off today. The sky is clear and blue. And the temperature is perfect. As I reluctantly drove back to work in the sunshine after a meeting I was struck by how different everything looks in springtime. Granted, we have had nice days for a couple of weeks, but today seems special. There are more students sitting outside basking in the sunshine. More people are out walking their dogs and biking. I also noticed that the dogwoods and cherry blossoms are in bloom. Seeing those blooms made me realize that Spring is here for real!
The other curious thing I noticed was a line of people wrapping around the block at a local Rita's Italian Ice store. When I returned to the office I asked our intern whether they were giving away free treats. She responded with a smile, "Of course. It's the first day of Spring!"
Apparently for the past 19 plus years, Rita's has been giving away a free, regular size Italian Ice to each and every guest to mark the first day of spring! I may be one of the few people who didn't know about this tradition. Apparently, in 2011, Rita's gave away over 1.2 million cups of Italian Ice away in a ten hour period!
Rita's Italian Ice is legendary. It is cold, sweet and delicious. For those with a real sweet tooth like me you can even get it in the flavor, "Swedish Fish". YUM!!!!
There are Rita's all over the country and lots here in Pittsburgh. So, if you're reading this blog and would like a treat, go to your local Rita's and ask for your favorite flavor. Tell them that I sent you!
We are already gearing up to celebrate the arrival of spring in 2012! A springtime tradition, Rita's annual giveaway will be held on Tuesday, March 20 from noon to 9 p.m. at all open Rita's locations. This is surely a tasty tradition that you won't want to miss! So be sure to stop by your local Rita's location and celebrate the arrival of spring on us!
Click on this link to locate a Rita's in your area: http://www.ritasice.com/
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