Category: Featured

  • Property Tax Savings in Allegheny County – Homestead/Farmstead (Act 50) Exclusion

    Property Tax Savings in Allegheny County – Homestead/Farmstead (Act 50) Exclusion

    Allegheny County Act 50

    March 1st is the last day to submit your Act 50 Application to Allegheny County to be able to receive a deduction on the assessed value for your property tax in Allegheny County.

    How much can I save on annual property taxes in Allegheny County? $85.14

    If the property is your primary residence, you can apply and see a reduction of $18,000 from the assessed value of your property.

    Here is the example from the Allegheny County Real Estate website:

    Example 1 (Without Exclusion):

    A property is assessed at $100,000. The property tax would be $473.00 year:

    Assessed Value multiplied by the Tax Rate = Tax Owed
    $100,000 x 0.00473 = $473.00


    Example 2 (With Exclusion):

    The same property receives an $18,000 Homestead Exclusion. This same property now has an assessment of $82,000 and the tax owed is $387.86 – a savings of $85.14:

    Assessed Value minus the Homestead Exclusion multiplied by the Tax Rate = Tax Owed
    $100,000 – $18,000 = $82,000 x 0.00473 = $387.86

    How to Apply for the Homestead & Farmstead Exclusions in Allegheny County

    1. Check the Allegheny County Real Estate Website to see if you have already applied. You only need to apply once.
    2. Fill out the Act 50 Application and print. You can download a copy of the application here: ACT 50 Homestead Farmstead Exclusion Application.
    3. Submit the Act 50 Application to Allegheny County
      1. By MAIL – must be postmarked by March 1
        1. Office of Property Assessments
          542 Forbes Ave., Room 347, PITTSBURGH, PA 15219
      2. By FAX – 412-350-5796 or 412-350-6084
      3. In PERSON – Office of Property Assessments, 542 Forbes Ave., Room 347, PITTSBURGH, PA 15219

    For more information, visit the Allegheny County Homestead/Farmstead Exclusion webpage.

  • Guide to Pittsburgh Substack Newsletters

    Guide to Pittsburgh Substack Newsletters

    Looking to stay connected with Pittsburgh’s vibrant community of writers, creators, and local experts? Here’s a curated list of Substack newsletters by Pittsburgh writers.

    Know of another local Substack that we should add to the list? Please let us know by filling out this form!

    Directory of Pittsburgh Substack Newsletters

    • A Good Time with Casey Barber – Casey Barber is a food lover who was born and raised in Pittsburgh. She writes about food and fun things and should be on your radar because she wrote the book “Pierogi Love.”
    • A More Perfect Region – The Substack newsletter from the Pittsburgh Futures Collaborative, a nonprofit that works on coaching leaders to make Pittsburgh a region where everyone can thrive.
    • Breathing Space – Virginia Monantez, aka Jane Pitt, has been tweeting and writing about Pittsburgh since the internet was born. In addition to providing a humorous look at local events, she is a published author and also writes about local history.
    • Buried Ledes by Bobby Cherry – Journalist Bobby Cherry curates news stories and other interesting information. He is a super fan of Sheetz and also maintains a website about Christmas.
    • Facts Over Fear: Natalie Bencivenga – Natalie Bencivenga is a Pittsburgh journalist and host on KDKA radio.
    • Joyful Chaos with Rachel Ekstrom Courage – Rachel Ekstrom Courage is a literary agent and author based in Pittsburgh.
    • Pittsburgh Art Book Fair – The Pittsburgh Art Book Fair (PABF) is a free celebration of printed matter featuring over 60 local, national, and international exhibitors. Co-presented by Carnegie Museum of Art and Pittsburgh Art Book Fair.
    • Pittsburgh Pizza News – Dan Tallerico is a Pittsburgh pizza expert. Subscribe for the scoop on the best slices in the ‘Burgh.
    • Pittsburgh Startup News – Updates, events and news about Pittsburgh startups.
    • Pittsburgh Tech Beat – Austin Orth publishes a monthly roundup of Pittsburgh tech news.
    • Pittsburgh’s Green and Gray – Laura Zurowski writes about Pittsburgh parks and photography.
    • Rootbound – A newsletter exploring gardening, plants, people, culture, history and the way that we’re all connected.
    • The Hazards of Love – Katie Oldaker is one of the organizers of Pittsburgh’s Queer Craft Market. The Hazards of Love focuses on writing projects.
    • The Latest From Littsburgh – Littsburgh is a website and newsletter celebrating Pittsburgh authors and local literary events.
    • The Modern Rabbi – Thoughts from Rabbi Seth Adelson, spiritual leader of Congregation Beth Shalom in Pittsburgh.
    • Trumplessness – Journalist Annie Saunders provides a round-up of news stories.
    • Weed Church – Casey Taylor writes about religion, art, technology and cannabis.
    • Yinz Vote – Yinz Vote is on a mission to empower every Pittsburgher with the information they need to vote on election day.
    • You Have Left the Planned Route – Book reviews and recommendations, personal essays, and commentary on politics from Melissa Firman.

    Subscribe to the IheartPGH Substack!

    Please take a moment to subscribe to the IheartPGH Substack too!

  • Guide to Pittsburgh’s Independent Movie Theaters

    Guide to Pittsburgh’s Independent Movie Theaters

    When the weather starts heating up, sometimes the only thing to do is go inside. This season many of us will take to the air-conditioned refuge of our local megaplexes. To switch things up, I offer you a list of local independently owned theaters. Many of the theaters screen the same new releases, but also provide character and unique programming.

    Hollywood Theater475193_275212485896001_1501098987_o

    1449 Potomac Ave., Dormont

    (412)563-0368

    The Hollywood plays a wide variety of movies as well as special film events. Known for its Rocky Horror Picture Show performances, as well as its “Breakfast and a Movie” series (just what it says, breakfast, and a movie) there’s something for everyone. The single-screened theater is a nonprofit dedicated to revitalizing Potomac Avenue and Dormont by providing a theater and community center.

    The Strand

    119 North Main St., Zelienople

    (724)742-0400

    The Strand offers a variety of films as well as live performances. The Rocky Horror Picture Show screens regularly (17 & over only) and yes, you can throw things at this performance. The theater screens classics like Gone With the Wind and The Wizard of Oz, but you can also find live shows at The Strand. The nonprofit theater was restored in 2002, and wants to expand the project.

    The Manor

    1729 Murray Avenue, Pittsburgh

    (412)422-9851

    The Manor theater screens both wide-release and independent movies, at often lower prices than the megaplexes. The Manor also boasts “The M Bar” in the lobby where patrons can bring alcoholic drinks into the theater. Check out the “Manor at Midnight” series, when the theater screens classic movies Saturdays at midnight.

    Harris Theater

    a little history?
    a little history? (Photo credit: macwagen)

    809 Liberty Ave., Pittsburgh

    (412)682-4111

    Owned by the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust and programmed by Pittsburgh Filmmakers ,the Harris Theater is a classic movie house in the heart of the Cultural District. The theater screens foreign and contemporary independent films, and is also part of the Three Rivers Film Festival.

    Oaks Theater

    310 Allegheny River Blvd., Oakmont

    (412)828-6322

    The single screen Oaks Theater screens both new releases and cult classics. Check out the summer series “Moonlit Matinees”, where Oaks screens a cult classic every Friday and Saturday night. Once a month, the theater hosts the “Cine Bruch”, where movie fans can watch and munch on a delicious Oakmont Bakery brunch.

    Regent Square

    Regent Sq Theater

    1035 South Braddock Ave., Pittsburgh

    (412)682-4111

    Owned and operated by Pittsburgh Filmmakers, this single screen theater plays limited release independent movies seven days a week. In addition, every Sunday night the Regent Square theater hosts “The Sunday Series”, a monthly series of film screenings based around a theme, era, or director.

    Melwood Screening Room

    477 Melwood Ave., Pittsburgh

    (412)681-5449

    Located within the Pittsburgh Filmmakers building, the Melwood Screening Room is the youngest of the independent theaters on this list. The screening room plays independent features, and hosts “Film Kitchen” on the second Tuesday of every month.“Film Kitchen” is a series featuring local short films. The filmmakers are present at the screening and available for discussion after the show.

     


    View Independent Theaters in Pittsburgh in a larger map

    What’s your favorite theater in Pittsburgh? Seen any good movies lately?

  • A Football Town With a Soccer Problem

    A Football Town With a Soccer Problem

    Despite three Stanley Cups championships and five World Series titles to its name, Pittsburgh is undeniably a football town. Every time Monday Night Football comes to town, Pittsburghers are treated to hearing ESPN’s crew praising our city’s blue-collar work ethic, as well as noting how that work ethic is reflected in our football team. They’re not wrong. The Steelers have a unique bond with their city that few other teams in the NFL, let alone in the whole of professional sports, can claim. For example, the Terrible Towel, originally a tool for supporting the Steelers, has become just as strongly associated with the city as a whole.

    Surprisingly enough, this won’t wind up being a post about football, so much as it’ll be about fútbol. Considering Pittsburgh’s passion for the sports world (maybe “passion” is the wrong word to describe our relationship with the Pirates in the last twenty years, but bear with me), it surprises me that our own Pittsburgh Riverhounds don’t get more in the way of love from the ‘Burgh’s historically spirited fanbase.

    Okay, fine. Maybe it’s not all that surprising. Most Americans—not just Pittsburghers—have had a tense relationship with the game of soccer since we gave up the game in grade school. (Admit it, you only played for the orange slices at halftime. I know I did). I get it. You want touchdowns and home runs. Even hockey goals are more exciting than soccer goals, partially because you know the names of the guys who are scoring them, and partially because the powers that be have made it impossible for hockey games to end in a tie. Ties are boring, and any game that offers the outcome of neither a win nor a loss must also be boring. Period. End of discussion.

    Hold on a second. The Steel Army would like a word with you. On Sunday, I headed down to Station Square to see the Riverhounds square off against Antigua Barracuda FC. The Hounds trounced Antigua, by a score of 4-1, but the highlight for me was the passionate supporters group who gathered on the bleachers behind the goal line, and spent nearly the entire game shouting, chanting, singing, beating drums, waving flags, and generally stirring up a ruckus, the likes of which I don’t think I’ve ever seen on a sustained level at a professional sporting event. Sure, every once in a while someone will get a good chant going, (“Let’s Go Bucs, “Let’s Go Pens,” “Here We Go Steelers,” etc.) and I won’t deny that 65,000 people waving Terrible Towels in unison is a pretty exciting sight to see, but it always seems that, eventually, stadiums are awash in a “Too Cool to Care” attitude, and the fan participation dies down after about a minute and a half. What I witnessed on Sunday in Highmark Stadium (the capacity of which is around 4,000 bodies) was almost a full 90 minutes of unabashed engagement, from truly passionate fans. The Steel Army takes its cues from traditional English supporters, (no hooligans though, as far as I could tell, so feel free to bring the kids) and even though their numbers are significantly smaller, they make up for it by being very loud and very invested in the outcome of the game. I get the feeling that if you spent some time with the Army, you’d become just as invested. Even if you don’t see the appeal of soccer as a game, or if you don’t understand it completely, I’ve said it before: there’s something exciting about a group of people bonding over city pride, and the Army has city pride in droves.

    One of the banners found in the Steel Army supporters section

    One of the banners found in the Steel Army supporters section

    If I still haven’t convinced you by way of my “passionate soccer hooligans” argument, (even though they really do seem like lovely people) at least do yourself a favor and go check out the stadium. Situated in Station Square, Highmark Stadium opens out onto the Monongahela River and offers a really awesome view of the Point that faces opposite Heinz Field and PNC Park on the Allegheny. The Hounds carry their ten game unbeaten streak (unfortunately, that does include ties) into a match against the Charlotte Eagles on the Fourth of July at 7:00 PM. Tickets start at $9.50. What better way to celebrate your country’s independence than with cheap semi-professional soccer? Then, toward the end of July, (July 19th, to be exact) Wigan Athletic comes to town. For those who are unfamiliar, Wigan Athletic is a club from across the pond in Merrie Olde England. They’re also the reigning FA Cup champions, which is kind of a big deal. Think March Madness multiplied by eleven or so. Every football club in England (all 758 of them) automatically qualifies, then they duke it out for the oldest association football championship in the world. So now the victorious Latics are bringing the FA Cup to Pittsburgh, and would probably be missing out if they weren’t given the whole Pittsburgh sports experience that one might receive at a Steelers, Pirates or Penguins game.

    But if you really must avoid the association football, you can head down on July 3rd  at 6:30 PM for a free concert and a great view of the Three Rivers Regatta Fireworks show. At least you can be sure that the fireworks won’t end in a tie.