By Lori Pelersi
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| Pi Day Awesomeness at Pie in the Sky Bakery |
Since the big thing happening in Albany this weekend is the St. Patrick’s Day Parade, everyone has forgotten that Saturday is also Pi Day!
For those of you who don’t know, I was a math major in college, so obviously I think Pi Day is pretty awesome. Pi Day occurs every year on March 14 (or 3/14) since Pi is equal to 3.141592653…If you are a little rusty on your math skills, I’ll help you out. Pi is a number that goes on forever but it never repeats itself, which is also called an irrational number, often represented as π. It is used to calculate the area and circumference of circles as well as determine the ratio between the circumference of a circle and its diameter. I could go, on but I digress...
On Pi Day, people get together and eat pie while discussing Pi and other math related items.
So when I heard that Pie in the Sky Bakery was located at 314 Central Avenue, the math geek in me took over and my eyes lit up. “That just made my day” I said to a colleague who was filling me in. Coincidence? Intentional nerdiness? Was there a baking math nerd out there? I had to go Pie in the Sky Bakery to find out more.
When I arrived I looked in their display case, thinking there would be pies everywhere. There was no pie…
I introduced myself to the very friendly staff and explained that we were doing a Pi Day promotion and going to all our businesses that sell pie, taking pictures of staff holding the pies, and putting it on our social media pages. The staff members seemed game, if lacking in pie. They went into their bakery cases, but the closest we could get was three turnovers. Handpies, I thought. Okay.
As we set up the shot, I asked them casually if they knew about tomorrow's illustrious history, but it was clear from their faces they had no idea what I was talking about. It was like I was speaking German. Or math.
Their lack of interest couldn't diminish my enthusiasm. Since I was still so excited about the whole situation, I started rambling on and on about Pi and how “punny” this is! I noticed that both staff members had polite smiles on their faces, the ones you usually give to people who you think are a little crazy but you don’t want them to know you’re thinking that.
When I finished my schpiel about pi vs. pie, I asked them if they realized that company that they work at is "Pie" in the Sky Bakery, located at 314 Central Avenue. (Pi? 3.14? Get it?) I waited for their faces to light up, the way mine had. I waited for the bolt of lightning, that sheer excitement that only math can give. I was destined for disappointment. No, they said. They hadn't realized that.
Wasn't it an amazing coincidence, I insisted, still excited. Sure, they said, with a shrug. Quite a coincidence.
I tried to explain why and how this should be a huge deal to them. Had the owner ever thought about removing the “e” in Pie to really make it more “punny," I asked. Marketing to math geeks? Ka-ching.
After chuckling a little bit, with the polite smiles still plastered to their faces they said No. They would would have to think about that.
I took a couple shots of the turnovers, the address outside, and went on my way, a little disappointed that no one is a math nerd like I am, but still proud that there is an awesome math pun right here on Central Avenue.
Pie in the Sky Bakery is located at 314 Central Avenue. They serve breakfast and lunch, and offer catering for events. They make delicious pie, upon request. For more information, please call the restaurant at 463-7355.
