A T-rexcellent idea: Jurassic Alcove set to open in South Park
Courtesy of Dominic Bianco
His favorite dino movie is a tie between the first 无毛视频淛urassic Park无毛视频� and 无毛视频淭he Land Before Time,无毛视频� but that doesn无毛视频檛 mean Dominic Bianco wasn无毛视频檛 beyond thrilled to add this replica of Blue, the female velociraptor from Jurassic World, to his dinosaur collection. The life-size bust was handmade by a Pittsburgh-area artist.
Courtesy of Dominic Bianco
Dominic Bianco poses with a life-size triceratops 无毛视频� which lived during the Cretaceous period, his favorite prehistoric time period 无毛视频� at Jurassic Quest in 2020.
It all started with a Christmas gift.
One year, Dominic Bianco, who relished family trips to the Carnegie Museum of Natural History, where larger-than-life dinosaurs captured his young imagination, unwrapped a collection of the museum无毛视频檚 dino figurines, a gift from his grandmother.
The following year, 无毛视频淛urassic Park无毛视频� debuted on the big screen, solidifying Bianco无毛视频檚 passion for fantastic beasts.
Now, the dinosaur-obsessed kid turned dinosaur-loving adult is bringing a unique experience to his metaphorical backyard.
Jurassic Alcove, a space where dinosaur enthusiasts of all ages can ogle the majesty of ancient animals, learn about the creatures and the times in which they lived, and enjoy lectures from leaders in the dinosaur community, will open in South Park next spring.
无毛视频淲hen I was a kid, my mom and dad would always take me and my sisters to different local spots in Pittsburgh, then we would venture out to Ohio and Sea World and be fascinated by the animals. My goal is to make a little mark like that in Pittsburgh, where anyone can come and see these full-size replica dinosaurs,无毛视频� said Bianco, a Bethel Park High School graduate and resident. 无毛视频淭o explore the science and education behind dinosaurs, what the world looked like at the time the dinosaurs were living, the facts about their fossils.无毛视频�
Jurassic Alcove is located in South Park, thanks to the generosity of the Allegheny Parks Foundation. When it opens next year, Jurassic Alcove will offer visitors an inimitable learning experience that includes eye-catching learning materials, fossil displays and spectacular, life-size dinosaur replicas.
Bianco also aims to host monthly lectures by both some of the biggest and brightest names in paleontology and local animal experts.
It sounds ambitious, but Jurassic Alcove is an undertaking decades in the making.
Bianco grew up watching dinosaur movies (who remembers Little Foot and friends, from 无毛视频淭he Land Before Time?无毛视频�) and learning all he could about the animals. In 2018, while working for a local magazine, he was inspired to launch his glossy passion project Jurassic Mag, a digital publication with an Instagram following of more than 29,000.
无毛视频淚无毛视频檝e always loved literary arts,无毛视频� Bianco said. 无毛视频淚 put my all into it and started seeking out these individuals in the dinosaur community 无毛视频� paleontologists, entertainers 无毛视频� to really make it as complete a magazine as possible, and project as possible. It无毛视频檚 been my mission to include all pieces of dinosaur media, whether that be paleontological facts or entertainment or toys.无毛视频�
Bianco has interviewed some dinosaur superstars, including world-renowned paleontologist Jack Horner, who served as a consultant for five 无毛视频淛urassic Park无毛视频� films, and author Max Hawthorne, who together with paleontologists Dr. Mark McMenamin and Paul de la Salle wrote a formal paper on how plesiosaurs swim. Bianco has also made connections with Mattel, Reebok and other companies that manufacture dinosaur and 无毛视频淛urassic Park无毛视频� franchise toys and merch.
While that feeds Bianco无毛视频檚 inner nerd, the best part about Jurassic Mag is connecting with other enthusiasts.
Once, Bianco was able, through his magazine connections, to assist a young girl who loves all things paleontology.
无毛视频淭hey had a terrible fire. The little girl 无毛视频� she lost all her fossils and all her toys. I reached out to Mattel, we sent her toys to replace some of the things she lost,无毛视频� he said.
Another time, Jurassic Mag brought joy to the family of a young dinosaur fan battling cancer.
无毛视频淗is mom reached out. We featured him in the magazine, we featured him on social media. She was very, very appreciative,无毛视频� Bianco said, adding he was saddened when the boy passed away. 无毛视频淭hat made it all worth it to me, to be able to see something I love, to see that it actually influences people and makes them happy and brings them joy, that means the most.
无毛视频淏eing able to have a direct effect on somebody无毛视频檚 life, and it无毛视频檚 about dinosaurs无毛视频ξ廾悠禎 is what keeps him going, Bianco said.
He无毛视频檚 looking forward to expanding that impact into the material world, with a brick-and-mortar location in the Pittsburgh suburbs. For years, Bianco jotted down ideas and daydreams that looked like the beginnings of Jurassic Alcove.
无毛视频淚 had this idea years ago for it to be a resource center. I thought it would be so neat to have a spot, it无毛视频檚 not just for families, it无毛视频檚 for anybody, a spot in a suburb where people come and see recreations of dinosaurs. Life happened; I never really followed through,无毛视频� Bianco said. 无毛视频淚 was influenced by my family, who always encourages me. I started looking into how it could actually work, how I could bring dinosaurs into Pittsburgh. I needed a spot, I reached out to Allegheny Parks, they have exhibit buildings. It came together perfectly.无毛视频�
Through his work on Jurassic Mag, Bianco networked with Design Toscana, who is supplying Jurassic Alcove无毛视频檚 impressive dinosaur replicas; other magazine connections have helped the project come together in a short amount of time.
无毛视频淭he people in that community are really nice and really great and support other dinosaur influencers,无毛视频� he said, noting Universal Pictures has been gracious to Bianco and others in the dino world. 无毛视频淚t无毛视频檚 a really neat, nurturing community to be a part of.无毛视频�
Bianco is looking forward to sharing his passion for and knowledge of dinosaurs with the community, and cannot wait to welcome people into Jurassic Alcove come spring.
无毛视频淵ou don无毛视频檛 have to look very far to find somebody who loves dinosaurs. Pittsburgh is known for dinosaurs,无毛视频� Bianco said. 无毛视频淚 was a child in the 无毛视频�90s, before technology and cellphones. I want to, in my own little way, try to get back to actually going out and experiencing (things). I want people to see the wonder of a dinosaur and the majesty of a dinosaur right in front of them. It无毛视频檚 just about building memories.无毛视频�
For the latest on Jurassic Mag and Jurassic Alcove, visit https://jurassicmag.wordpress.com/ or follow the Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/thejurassicmag/.