Category Archives: Community Organizations

Peepsburgh Banjo Club

A little Easter treat.  Every Wednesday evening is Banjo Night at the Elks Club on the North Side (the Elks club is the big building across from the Giant Eagle).  Admission is free and from 8-11 pm – live banjo music.  (You can read more about Banjo Night from PopCity Media and Everything Better Pittsburgh)

This peeps display was sitting on the table in the back of the room.  I am not sure who created it – if you know, please leave a comment so we can give them credit.  If you haven’t been to banjo night yet, yes there is a disco ball over the stage.

Speaking of peeps… The Washington Post runs an annual Peeps Diorama Contest.  This years winner is “Twinkie: Rest in Peeps”

Happy Easter!  Hope you have a lovely day celebrating with your friends and family.

This Week In Pittsburgh (Jan 28 – Feb 3)

After a week off, here’s your list of things to do this week. My calendar is a little thin at the moment, but feel free to post a comment and I’ll update the post!

 

Shift Change
Wednesday 6p, Free
Big Idea Bookstore, Bloomfield

This 2012 documentary film tells the little known stories of employee-owned businesses that compete successfully in today’s economy while providing secure, dignified jobs in democratic workplaces. After the movie, there will be informal discussion about the movie and cooperative owned businesses.
More information: (412) 687-4323

 

Pitts-burrrrgh Drowned Hog Swim
Saturday 11a, Charity Event
South Side Trail

Join the Pitts-burrrrrgh Drowned Hogs at the 18th Street Boat Ramp for a dip in the river to celebrate Groundhog Day — when, according to folklore, a groundhog named Punxsutawney Phil determines whether we will enjoy an early spring. Begun in 2006, the Pitts-burrrrrgh Drowned Hogs is an informal group of adventurous people who plunge into the chilly Monongahela River on Groundhog Day. Challenge co-workers and other teams to see who can raise the most money or wear the goofiest outfits. Proceeds benefit Circle C, a private, nonprofit agency serving troubled and disadvantaged youth throughout the greater Pittsburgh area since 1967.
More information: (412) 937-1605 ext 227

Some content provided by the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Four Things To Do This Week

This week: Oscar season kicks off and one of the best musicals of all time visits Pittsburgh!

 

Steel City Poetry Slam
Tuesday, ~9:30p, $5
Shadow Lounge, Shadyside

The Steel City Poetry Slam is held on the third Tuesday of every month at the Shadow Lounge on Baum Blvd. Sign up sheet goes out usually between 9:15 and 9:30pm, and the slam starts shortly thereafter.

More info: https://www.facebook.com/steelcityslam

 

Pittsburgh Job Fair
Monday, 11a
Holiday Inn, North Hills

All job seekers are encouraged to network, submit resumes and connect with hiring managers from some of the area’s top local employers.

 

Les Miserables
Tuesday 1/15 Sunday 1/27
Benedum Center For The Performing Arts

Based on Victor Hugo’s classic 1862 French novel, this stage musical has touched lives around the world with the powerful story of ex-convict Jean Valjean and his life-long struggle for redemption during the French Revolution. See the musical behind the movie that’s nominated for a Best Picture Oscar, among other awards.

Tickets: http://trustarts.culturaldistrict.org/production/32852/les-miserables#tab=buy_tickets

 

Manor At Midnight: Oscar Classics
Every Saturday through 2/23
The Manor, Squirrel Hill

My favorite local theater is showing classic Oscar films, leading up to the big event every Saturday at midnight. This week: the beautiful One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest

More info: http://www.manorpgh.com/img/ManoratMIdnightOscar.pdf

The Sprout Fund Hosts A Fall Open House – Nov. 2

One of the Pittsburgh non-profits that has been doing what they do to make Pittsburgh a better place is the Sprout Fund – think of it as a Pittsburgh Kickstarter, before Kickstarter ever existed.  The Sprout Fund has been making small grants to people/organizations with ideas for projects to make Pittsburgh a better place to live.

The Sprout Fund started with the Seed Award Program back in 2001 – in the past 11 years various Seed Awards have helped to launch many projects that are continuing to serve Pittsburgh today – Bike Pittsburgh, GTECH and Handmade Arcade all got started with the help of the Sprout Fund’s grants.  You can read more about the first 10 years of the Sprout Fund here in the Post-Gazette and check out the projects they have funded here.

Sprout Programming has expanded from the Seed Award and they now run the Spark program that focues on kids, creativity and technology.

On November 2, 2012 stop by the Sprout Fund offices located on Penn Avenue in Garfield to check out some the projects that have been supported, there will be snacks, drinks and music as well.

Join Sprout, neighbors, friends, current, and past projects for an open house on Nov. 2 from 5:30-9:30pm at Sprout offices:
5423 Penn Avenue Pittsburgh, PA 15203, next to EDGE studio and across from The Quiet Storm!

Enjoy complimentary snacks and drinks while listening to live entertainment from Lungs Face Feet and DJ Edgar Um. Guests can meet board members and staff to learn about Sprouts programs and discover recent projects funded by Sprout’s Seed Award!

Special thanks to EDGE studio, Whole Foods Market, Penn Brewery, Clear Story, Inc., & Thommy Conroy!

Pgh Needs Food Trucks & How You Can Help

I know this is a longer post than what I usually write – but while it may seem small, the issue of food trucks in Pittsburgh could become a great way to help start more successful businesses in Pittsburgh.  If you are in a hurry, you can skip my ramblings about Food Trucks in Austin and scroll down to read about the upcoming PghMobileFood events.

I guess I didn’t really know how behind the times Pittsburgh was interms of food trucks until I was in Austin, TX last fall for work.  I stayed in Austin for an extra day to just walk around and see what everyone loves about the place.  Another friend from Pittsburgh visits there often and posts amazing food from food trucks on his facebook page.  I took off my work shoes, put on my sneakers and set off on a little urban hike in search of food trucks.

I was probably using Yelp or Google maps – searching for the keyword tacos – and I stumbled upon the South Austin Trailer Park and Eatery – my first thought was this is an awful nice location for a trailer park, then I realized it was a food truck trailer park.    A parking lot with food trucks, picnic tables, a garage space – with doors that opened and more tables and bathrooms.

Sign for South Austin Trailer Park and Eatery

Sign for South Austin Trailer Park and Eatery (Photo credit: TheSeafarer)

South Austin Trailer Park and Eatery

South Austin Trailer Park and Eatery (Photo credit: riacale)

Austin -  Bouldin Creek: South Austin Trailer ...

Austin - Bouldin Creek: South Austin Trailer Park & Eatery (Photo credit: wallyg)

Austin -  Bouldin Creek: South Austin Trailer ...

Austin - Bouldin Creek: South Austin Trailer Park & Eatery (Photo credit: wallyg)

Location, Location, Location:

Another factor in the success of a business is location – if you open a new business in the wrong location – there is only so much you can do to get people to go out of their way to visit your shop.  Think about it – how many of you go over to the north shore for a meal if you aren’t already headed to the north shore for a baseball game, football game or other big event – the rest of the time – those location are pretty empty.

Food Trucks allow the businesses to go to the people, thus a new restaurant isn’t just limited to their location.  Which solves another problem – feeding a group of people – it is a challenge.  If you plan an event at a location that isn’t set up to feed a large group of people – you are limited in options.  Enter the food trucks – in the past 6 weeks – I have attended several events where the food trucks were able to come, set up and provide food – allowing for people to stay and participate in the community event.  The StepTrek and the Wigle Whiskey Tar and Feather party are just two of the events that drew a crowd, and food was provided by food trucks.

Chocolate Peanut Butter Cake Ball from Holy Cacao

And this got me thinking about the opportunity of food trucks – opening a restaurant is hard – some people say 90%, this article argues that it is more like 60% of restaurants that fail – and that is a failure not only for the business owner but for the communities that are eager to have businesses.

The Austin Trailer Park & Eatery makes it a little easier for a business to get started – tables, chairs, bathrooms, trash are all shared – plus multiple businesses are marketing the space together.  While I was there I had a taco for Torchy’s and some cake balls from Holy Cacao – in one visit I was able to patronize two  businesses.

Holy Cacao on Urbanspoon

We are starting to see something like this at the Pittsburgh Public Market.  The Public Market has already given places like the Crested Duck Charcuterie a start – and now that they have a following they have opened their own location in Beechview.  And the East End Book Exchange has been using the public market to get started on opening a used book store in Pittsburgh.  Low rent and weekend hours make the Public Market a great incubator for new Pittsburgh businesses.  If we want to grow more local business – what else can we do as a city and a community to help business owners get off to a successful start?

Crested Duck Charcuterie Deli on Urbanspoon

Confusing Laws for Pittsburgh food Trucks:

The food truck scene is huge in other cities (see this recent Post-Gazette article about Portlands 500+ food trucks) but is just getting started here in Pittsburgh – part of that is because there is a whole host of issues and conflicting laws about food trucks in the city of Pittsburgh and Allegheny County.

You can read more about the current food truck regulations in this August 2012 article from the City Paper.

PghMobileFood – Working to Improve Food Trucks in Pittsburgh:

Some Pittsburghers in partnership with the Saxifrage School (and keep an eye out for the Saxifrage School – this is an incredible new organization in Pittsburgh) are getting together to work on the local food truck problem and come up with some solutions – and you can join them.  Last Wednesday they hosted the first of 3 events on Food Trucks – Food Trucks 101: Competition Law and the Constitution.  Anyone who is interested is invited to attended the upcoming Pgh Mobile Food Events.

If you are a twitter user follow @PghMobileFood.