Author Archives: Lindsay

About Lindsay

Lindsay has been writing about Pittsburgh since 2005. She likes pretzels from the Pretzel Shop on Carson St., used book stores, her rollerblades and she hopes to learn to skateboard someday soon.

Rust Belt Coalition of Young Preservationists

RustBeltTakeover: The Rust Belt Coalition of Young Preservationists Comes to Pittsburgh This Weekend

This weekend, young preservationists from Buffalo, Ohio, Wheeling, and Indianapolis will descend on Pittsburgh for the Rust Belt Coalition of Young Preservationist Summit. This is a big deal for Pittsburgh and for the historic preservationists who are coming to town.  Not only is this a great opportunity to show our rust belt neighbors some of the best historic preservation Pittsburgh has to offer, but this is a chance to learn from other cities what has been successful in their historic preservation efforts.

One of the most influential events that I participated in was the 2nd annual GLUE (Great Lakes Urban Exchance) conference in Milwuakee in 2009. After a plane ride and a train ride, I showed up in a very cold Milwaukee and was wondering why I decided to make the trip. The next day, they loaded us onto a bus for a tour of Growing Power, an award winning urban farm in Milwaukee. I was sure I was going to hate the experience and I was already looking for a plane ticket home. After about 15 minutes of the tour, I had forgotten how cold it was and was already sold on the idea of hydroponic urban farming. Not only did I leave Milwaukee an adamant supporter of urban farming, but I had build a network of incredibly valuable rust belt city lovers in other cities.

I am incredibly impressed with the work that the Young Preservationists Association has done to bring this conference to Pittsburgh and to show off some of the excellent examples of historic preservation (and preservation in process) in the city of Pittsburgh.

There are still tickets left to join the RBCoYP on the tour of Carrie Furnace on Sunday (a great opportunity, especially since the tours of Carrie Furnace usually sell out).

Follow the RBCoYP

RBCoYP in Curbed

Make sure to check out this post on Curbed, a national real estate blog about the RBCoYP Conference.  Great press for the young preservationists and for Pittsburgh.

April 7, 2016, Curbed: Young Rust Belt Preservationists Banding Together to Save Industrial Heritage by Patrick Sisson, @freqresponse

During an election season with a focus on manufacturing and American jobs, it’s hard to escape mention of the Rust Belt and its importance to the race. While many have rightfully focused on workers and economic revitalization, that same concern hasn’t been shown to the physical reminders of U.S. manufacturing across the region. The challenge of protecting and preserving the region’s architectural history, and using it as a catalyst for future development, has led a group of young preservationists to try and find new means to publicize and protect endangered sites.

The Rust Belt Coalition of Young Preservationists, bringing together smaller groups from New York, Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia, meets for its first summit this upcoming weekend in Pittsburgh. Hosted by the Young Preservationists Association of Pittsburgh, the meetup aims to establish a regional network, share strategy, and create a support system for new and nascent groups forming around the region.

Join the RBCoYP for a tour of Carrie Furnace and Debrief at Brew Gentleman

While most of the events are just for the visiting preservationists, check out the entire schedule of events here so you can see all of the places that will be highlighted). The events on Sunday are open to the public and there are still tickets left to see Carrie Furnace.

Some more rust belt reading…

IheartPGH Exclusive: UPMC to Buy Steelers

Photo Credit: Nate Guidry, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Photo Credit: Nate Guidry, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

We have just confirmed with our source, UPMC is in talks to buy the Steelers football franchise from the Rooney Family.

While this may seem like a surprising move, it reflects the changing nature of the City of Pittsburgh. The Steelers franchise was established in 1933, when Pittsburgh was a steel manufacturing hub.  The city has transformed, and weathered the decline of industry with a new focus on “meds & eds.”

It makes sense that UPMC would want to acquire the team. Not only does it provide an expanded platform to market the UPMC health plan, it also positions UPMC to be a world leader in studying CTE and traumatic brain injury on the field.

One of the first changes fans will see at Heinz Field this fall is a UPMC urgent care clinic and medical research lab that will study both players and fans. There is no better place to study the effects of stress on the heart than studying the fans during a fourth and goal, with the clock winding down. You will be able to order your Primanti brothers sandwich and schedule your triple bypass during half-time.

Another interesting idea that is apparently being tossed around (pun intended) is adding a nurse-themed cheerleading squad to the sideline this fall. Looks like UPMC marketing department is trying to recruit new patients by raising the collective blood pressure of the fans.

Stayed tuned to Wendy Bell’s Facebook page for more details on this breaking story.

Thomas Lauderdale & Storm Large of Pink Martini Perform in Pittsburgh

Fetterman-Pink-MartiniOn Monday night, you have a rare opportunity to hear some of Portland’s finest perform here in Pittsburgh. Pink Martini is a little orchestra from Portland that performs around the globe with a sound that The Washington Post describes as “rich, hugely approachable music, utterly cosmopolitan yet utterly unpretentious… it seems to speak to just about everybody.”

Thomas Lauderdale & Storm Large of Pink Martini will be in Pittsburgh performing a show at Club Diesel, the proceeds of this performance will benefit John Fetterman’s campaign for US Senate.

Thomas Lauderdale & Storm Large of Pink Martini
Monday, March 7, 2016
7pm
Club Diesel, South Side
Tickets: $20 online, $25 at the door
Facebook Event

Not only does Pink Martini have rave review from critics and many of my Facebook friends, but Pink Martini also has a bit of political history.

From the Pink Martini Wikipedia page:

In 1994 in his hometown of Portland, Oregon, Thomas Lauderdale was working in politics, thinking that one day he would run for mayor. Like other eager politicians-in-training, he went to every political fundraiser under the sun… but was dismayed to find the music at these events underwhelming, lackluster, loud and un-neighborly. Drawing inspiration from music from all over the world – crossing genres of classical, jazz and old-fashioned pop – and hoping to appeal to conservatives and liberals alike, he founded the “little orchestra” Pink Martini in 1994 to provide more beautiful and inclusive musical soundtracks for political fundraisers for causes such as civil rights, affordable housing, the environment, libraries, public broadcasting, education and parks.

One of the great things about living in Pittsburgh is that sometimes you get an opportunity to see amazing artists perform up close. Last summer,  I posted a photo of Sharon Jones performing at Hartwood Acres. Actually, I went back and looked for the post, it was 2012 and I posted this hilarious tweet:

The next day, I received the following email from my father (one of the things I’ve learned is that if my parents haven’t heard from me, they check the IheartPGH twitter feed to see if I am still alive)…

A couple years ago, our neighbors Jim and Margaret invited us to go see Sharon at Club Cafe on the South Side–they had just seen her at the Monterrey Jazz Festival.  Small club as you may know—anyway, somehow I ended up dancing with Sharon during one set—don’t ask–it was all a blur!  My bit of Dap Kings trivia.

I am told that Pink Martini usually plays sold out shows for much larger crowds. I can’t promise you will end up dancing with Storm Large, but I am sure it will be a great performance.

Follow:

Mon 3/7 @Stormof69 & Thomas Lauderdale from @Pink Martini Band in #Pittsburgh

Click To Tweet

Free Classes for Women at TechShop on March 8

Have you every wanted to try welding? Maybe you have always wanted to learn to build your own furniture or learn to use a 3D printer. If you are a woman in the Pittsburgh area, this is a great opportunity for you to try these classes for free.

International Women’s Day celebrates the social, economic, cultural and political achievement of women. TechShop is celebrating International Women’s Day by offering FREE classes to all women on Tuesday, March 8th.

TechShop-Womens-day

TechShop is a maker space located in Bakery Square. What’s a maker space you ask? I happen to work at TechShop and while I might not be qualified to use all of the equipment in the shop, I am more than qualified to tell you about all of the things you can do and make at TechShop.

Think of TechShop kind of like a gym or fitness center, instead of treadmills, free weights and an akward area where people are supposed to do situps, TechShop has all kinds of equipment that members can use for making things. Everything from laser cutting machines, to welding, to a woodshop, as well as a large area that is not-so-awkward where everyone can work on projects.

Once you are TechShop member, and you have passed the SBU class (SBU is TechShop speak for safety and basic use), you can come in to use that piece of equipment whenever you want. The SBU classes cost between $50 and $150, so this is not only a great chance to learn a new skill but also to check an SBU off your TechShop bucket list.

Free Classes for Women on March 8 @ TechShop Pittsburgh

Here is the schedule of classes for Tuesday, March 8. You MUST call the front desk (412) 345-7182 or come into the shop to register. The front desk is open from 8:30am to 10pm. The shop is open to members from 8am to 1am.

Interested in learning more about TechShop?

  • Everyone is welcome to stop by the shop for a tour.  Click here to sign up.
  • Friday, March 4 – TechShop Happy Hour from 5pm-8pm. Tickets are $10, or you can enter to win 2 ticket here.
Some related reading on entrepreneurship & makers…