Category Archives: Green PGH

Eat Pancakes for Tree Pittsburgh

Image courtesy of Tree Pittsburgh

On Sunday, March 6 from 10am to 2pm at the Double Wide Grill on the South Side you get all you can eat pancakes for $10 and your donation goes directly to benefit Tree Pittsburgh – an environmental non-profit organization dedicated to enhancing the City’s vitality by restoring and protecting City trees.  Why should you attend?  Well, pancakes are delicious (and there is a vegan option), you get free coffee and potatoes as well, tunes from Big Snow Big Thaw, and street trees are a critical element for a livable urban environment.  Are you one of those people that includes a link on your Facebook page every time Pittsburgh gets voted ‘most livable city’ (possibly including the comment ‘suck it, Portland’)?  Well street trees are a huge part of reducing our City’s pollution* and there is still a long way to go in improving our air quality.  Who knows?  Your $10 just might end up helping to promote Pittsburgh to most livable city in the world!

For more information on Pittsburgh’s urban forest, info on street tree plantings in your neighborhood, and to learn about becoming an official tree tender to help care for Pittsburgh’s trees visit the Tree Pittsburgh’s website!

RSVP for breakfast on Facebook!

*Leaves filter the air we breathe by removing dust and other particulates. Leaves absorb carbon dioxide and other pollutants from the air such as ozone, carbon monoxide, and sulfur dioxide.  In exchange, trees give off vital oxygen.

Arbor Aid – Taking Care of Pittsburgh's Trees

Second North American blizzard of 2010 (Pittsb...

Image via Wikipedia

I know this is short notice for an event but I wanted to highlight this event and the organization that it supports.  Arbor Aid is the annual fundraiser for Friends of the Pittsburgh Urban Forest – which is an amazing group that has been working to preserve, protect and plant new trees in Pittsburgh.

You may have noticed that Pittsburgh continues to be ranked highly on list of places to live and one of the many reasons that Pittsburgh is getting high scores for liveability is the green space in this city.  In Pittsburgh you can afford to live on a tree lined street.  Friends of the Pittsburgh Urban Forest has been working to educate and train city residents to take care of trees in neighborhoods all over the city.  Another great thing about this organization is that they are working closely with residents and local government to keep Pittsburgh a shady city.

So, if you are looking for a great evening on Friday – check out Arbor Aid.  This event is held on the top floor of the Guardian Storage Building in the Strip District.  The event features artwork created from salvaged wood. Continue reading →

Sept. 17 – Happy Park(ing) Day Pittsburgh!

Parking Day picture from Sq. Hill
Image by IheartPGH via Flickr

I have been stuck at home all week – fighting off what I hope will be the first and only cold of the fall season.  I have been catching up on bad tv and blog reading and one of the events that has been receiving much attention in the blogosphere and beyond – it was actually a friend who I saw on the bus last week that first reminded me about Park(ing) Day.

Park(ing) Day is an annual event that is celebrate here in Pittsburgh and other cities around the globe (New York, London, Brisbane, Los Angeles) – where parking spaces are turned into mini parks for the day. Park(ing) day is a chance to see some creative ideas around parks and to think about how we use our public spaces.

Just a few years ago – Oakland had a large, what I thought at the time was – lovely and convenient parking lot right next to the library, museum and the Cathedral of Learning.  But the Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy had bigger ideas and the big parking lot has been replaced with Schenley Plaza – which is much more lovely than a parking lot.  It is great to see the plaza and the tent filled with people enjoying the space on sunny afternoons.  Schenley Plaza is just one example of how we can start to re-imagine our public spaces.  Continue reading →

Festival of Geek Meets Green Meets Arts on Penn Ave – Friday April 2nd

Since tomorrow is the first Friday of the month – it is First Friday’s on Penn Avenue – where business and galleries stay open late and have special programs for the evening.Gagi Main-1

This Friday is also the Geek Arts/Green Innovators (GA/GI) Festival.  One of the great things about Pittsburgh, and I feel like I say this often, but it is true and worth repeating is how different communities come together to create innovation.  GA/GI celebrates the intersection of geek and green in the arts.

The organizers of the festival have assembled an impressive line up of people and organizations doing impressive things in the areas of technology and the enviroment in Pittsburgh.  See the entire line up below.  If you are not familiar with the Penn Avenue Arts coridor – start at the Pittsburgh Glass Center at 5471 Penn Ave and go from there.  The Glass Center always has interesting demos on first Fridays and a number of the GA/GI events will be there.

A few things that are definitly worth a stop:

  • Voluto Coffee – we <3 Voluto and they know coffee
  • Grow Pittsburgh – Twilight Farmer’s Market
  • Friends of the Pittsburgh Urban Forest –  Art Display by John Metzler
  • The Power Flower by Art Energy Design,
  • CMU ChargeCar
    • Check out the PopCity article about ChargeCar here.

But honestly – all of these are great organizations and it is nice that they have lined up so many great organizations and activities in one place.

GA/GI Festival Details

5472 Penn Ave,Pittsburgh, PA, 15224
April, 2, 2010, 5:00 pm – 11:00 pm
Festival location within 4800-5500 Penn Avenue…OR start at 5472 Penn Avenue–The Pigh Glass Center!

Website and Facebook

CLUSTER 1 (near Pittsburgh Glass Center 5472 Penn Avenue)
Pittsburgh Glass Center
A “Hot Jam” in the  Hot Shop;
Exhibit: “From the Earth to the Fire and Back”;
Live Entertainment:  Life In Balance,
The Rusty Bagpiper, DJ Stevey B of iParty Productions,
Cello Fury (Formerly Cello Fourte) and a Fashion Show “Pedal to the Metal” with DJ James Gyre @ 9:30 pm

Enjoy a light nosh and wine made in Lawwrenceville–with Duane Rieder of Engine House 25!

@Glass Lofts “Eco Living” – NOW OPEN! Pittsburgh’s hottest, address, view a show space by Emphasis Interiors and a variety of art exhibitions: the Society of Sculptors, celebrating their 75th Birthday. Featured Artists: W. Johansen,  V. LaValle,
A. Almarza,  J. Fisher,  A. Azoury, E. Singer, M. Gregio, Carnegie Mellon Entertainment Center Global, and  Pittsburgh Filmmakers.

@ Dance Alloy Peformance @ 7 pm  5530 Penn Ave “Tap Into the Possibilites” (cost $7 admission)

Voluto Coffee hosting artist R. Snow” Open Until 10 pm

A Glass Clearnce by Shermise hosting an intallation by Evolve Architechs “Fast Forward to 2020” (Also showing in Cluster D)

Edge Studios “Exquiste Corps” @ 5411 Penn Ave.

Creative Fitness /Go work out a sweat free for 20 minutes @ 5406 Penn Ave

CLUSTER 2 ( near Quiet Storm 5430 Penn Avc)
Grow Pittsburgh “Twilight Farmer’s Market
Friends of the Pittsburgh Urban Forest Art Display by John Metzler
Turner Dairy Farm
Garfield Farm and Friends
Student Conservation Association
Sprout Fund GA/GI Showcase: Replay My Play and The Hill District Green Print Plan
Quiet Storm Cafe /Benefit Dinner for Grow Pittsburgh (Reservations preferred)

CLUSTER 3 (Family Dollar Sector /Intersection of N. Pacific Ave and Penn to 113 S. Pacific)–Great Family Venue!!!
The Power Flower by Art Energy Design, ZipCar, CTSI Science Mobile Lab, CMU ChargeCar, Verizon Fios, (Hula)Hoop Union, The Pittsburgh Chess Club, EcoCents, Allegheny County Library Association “One Book”, Pittsburgh Technology Council, Global Links, Creative Reuse hands-on activities;  Save the Igloo,  Yellow Black and Green Pittsburgh, Green Gear Pedicabs; The Trash Fairy–a salvage art storyteller, and others!

CLUSTER 4 (Penn Avene and Winebiddle sector)
Awesome Books–Book Release Party for C. Leach and  E.McNutt
Laura McLaughin–Community mosaic project
ARTica Gallery w  J. Vachon Salvage Quilt Project and C. Dregalla, artist
Irma Freeman Center–“Anitquated & Future or Imaginary Technology
Ian Ingram @ All God’s Creatures Grooming (see window)
Image Box–featuring exhibit “Green, Green Grass” by J. Visnesky
Most Wanted Fine Art–J. Lysak and the Edinboro University Print Shop
Mixed Media Terrariums by S. Wojdylak
Mondern Formations / Annual Spring Salon and guest Electric Owl
International Children’s Museum / Mandala art work
Space Robots and Other Creations
R. J. Walters Law Office “Tango” demo
5000 Penn Ave  and Gross Street Exhibitions by P. Villalobos Echeverria
Tweek clothing/ 10% for College Students on entire shop
B. Ziller’s Beautification Project–Paint colorful boards for abandoned RE