Lawrenceville businesses will open their doors for the fourth annual Lawrenceville Blossom Tour, a free event to be held April 17-19, 2009. Twenty-five of Lawrenceville’s most interesting merchants will pass out a variety of flower and herb seeds to all visitors (while supplies last). Each merchant will offer a different packet of seeds, so visitors can collect all 25 and plant them for a beautiful garden!

The Blossom Tour begins on Friday, April 17 and continues through Sunday, April 19. Business hours vary by location. On Saturday April 18th, there will be many activities taking place throughout the neighborhood. Visitors can visit two marketplaces at either end of Butler Street where they can view gardening demonstrations and gather green resource information. Visitors can even hop on a Green Gears Pedicab, a bicycle that pulls a two-seated cab to travel throughout the district. Ditch your car and pick one up at either of the marketplace locations.

The following participating businesses along Butler Street, Penn Avenue, 43rd Street, and 44th Street will provide a map of the Blossom Tour and a free packet of seeds: Fresh Heirlooms (5218 Butler Street), Luke & Eloy Gallery (5169 Butler Street), Who New? Retro-Mod Décor (5156 Butler Street), Slaughterhouse Gallery (5136 Butler Street), Jay Design Soaps & Gifts (4603 Butler Street), Crystal Bead Bazaar (4521 Butler Street), City Café (4502 Butler Street), Moneysmart Agency (4415 Butler Street), Perk Me Up Coffee House (4407 Butler Street), Technicuts Hair Design (4400 Butler Street), Arsenal Bowl (412 44th Street), Purple Rose Tearoom (4316 Penn Avenue), Salon 22 (4322 Butler Street), Wagner Quality Shoes (4313 Butler Street), Outlet Connection (4305 Butler), Teddy Bear Hospital of Pittsburgh (4304 Butler), Gallery on 43rd Street (187 43rd Street), Your Inner Vagabond Coffeehouse & World Lounge (4130 Butler Street), Everyone An Artist (4128 Butler Street), Elements (3819 Butler Street), Dandelions (4108 Butler Street), Divertido (3701 Butler Street), Allison McGeary Floral and Event Design (3625 Butler Street), T’s Upholstery (3611 Butler Street), and Dozen Bake Shop (3511 Butler Street).

Download the Blossom Tour Map here.

Marketplaces will “spring” up in the 3500 and 5100 blocks of Butler Street on Saturday. Confirmed participants include Bottled Up Pittsburgh, Fossil Free Fuels, Green Lawrenceville Bulb Exchange, Grow Pittsburgh, Chef Claudio Masci of Isidore Foods, Chef Rachel Lori of Kretschmann Organic Farm, Pittsburgh Garden Experiment, and Steel City Soils.

For more information, contact Mary Coleman at the Gallery on 43rd Street at 412.683.6488 or galleryon43rdst@msn.com or Maya Haptas at the Lawrenceville Corporation at 412.782.5100 x 103 or maya@lawrencevillecorp.com.