Category Archives: Just Outside of Pittsburgh

5th Annual Braddock Chili Cook Off

Here is a tasty event for a good cause (we love good events for good causes).  But first a little background – if you are a regular IheartPGH reader then you probably know a little about Braddock and how there has been some cool stuff happening in what is often seen as an abandoned steel mill town.  If you are a newer reader – first of all hello and thanks for reading.  You may have seen some stuff about Braddock on tv and through the Levi’s “We are all workers” campaign” – which was photographed in Braddock and ran in ads around the country last year.  You can read more about the Levi’s campaign in the Post-Gazette and New York Times.

The Carnegie Library in Braddock was founded in 1889 and expanded in 1893.  This building was not just for books and includes a music hall, gymnasium and swimming pool. This was the FIRST Carnegie Library in the United States.

Carnegie Free Library of Braddock in Braddock,...

Image via Wikipedia

The Braddock Carnegie Arts Program is a more recent addition to the Library – the old bathhouse area has been transformed into a ceramics studio that is used for classes and open studio.  Classes are offered for free or for a nominal fee and the studio has been supported by many volunteer hours as well.

Check out this great post from the blog Western PA Potters for photos and more detailed info about the studio.

Which brings us to the Chili Cook Off – for the fifth year – there will be a Chili Cook Off in Braddock to benefit the arts program.

Braddock Carnegie Arts Program
5th Annual Chili Cook Off
Saturday April 9, 2011 1-4pm
Braddock Elks Lodge, 424 Library St. Pittsburgh PA 15104 (which is directly across the street from the library)
$10 for Adults, $5 for Kids 12 and under

Looking for more info on Braddock? Check out www.15104.cc – the website has been updates and has a lot of information about the history or Braddock and things that are happening there now.

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Sharing Good Ideas for a Better Pittsburgh – A Look at Ending Homelessness

I have been thinking a lot about how Pittsburgh could be an amazing urban test lab for some of the best ideas from around the country.  Pittsburgh is a big city that isn’t too big and Pittsburghers are passionate and ready to help other people who are in need.  I continue to be awestruck by just the power of the bloggers who have been collaborating on charity projects and have been raising money and doing good things for Pittsburgh and beyond.

We have some good ideas happening here in Pittsburgh – for example – The Union Project has transformed an abandoned church is to a thriving community center while teaching others how to restore stained glass windows.  And there are some good ideas happening around the country that maybe we should try here in Pittsburgh too.

The great thing about blogging is that it is a great way to share ideas and improve.  I hope we can have more conversations and more sharing here on IheartPGH or we can even start a new blog if that is need for getting more good ideas going here in Pittsburgh.

I was just reading this article on NPR about Common Ground – an organization in New York City that has been working to end homelessness – they turned an abandoned hotel in Times Square into a shelter with services and have tackled cronic homelessnes in Time Square.

A few years ago I was in Chicago for a conference hosted by the League of Young Voters – and we happened to have breakfast at the Inspiration Cafe.  It turns out that not only was this an amazing place to have breakfast but this cafe was part of a large project to end homelessness in Chicago.  It looks like the model there has changed a bit since I was there and I am not sure if they still serve meals to the public – but their work to end homelessness has not changed.  Inspiration cafe operates a cafe and offers services to those who are homeless – including things like voicemail and job training by working in the cafe and in their training kitchen.

Do you know of other innovative organizations working on homelessness here in Pittsburgh or around the country?  What else could be added to this list and what should we be trying here in Pittsburgh?

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Parades, Reenactments, Festival Food and Fall = Fort Ligonier Days

i heart this bike
Image by IheartPGH via Flickr

I was thinking surely there has to be a few posts in the Pittsburgh blogosphere about Fort Ligonier Days – but nothing.  I think this is one of the biggest and most spectacular community history celebrations in Western PA (and any where else I have been I try to stop at the local festivals when I am away from the burgh.  I can tell you the the Venice, FL Sharks Tooth Festival is nice but it is no Fort Ligonier Days.

All of the festival details are available here: http://www.ligonier.com/fld.html

5 Reasons to attend Fort Ligonier Days:

A member of the Shriner Syrian Corvette group ...

Image via Wikipedia

1. Parade – this is a serious parade – it is a few hours long and there are tons of marching bands and elaborate floats as well as the Shriners in their hats and shoes and funny clown cars.  If you are smart you will put out your chairs along the parade route on Friday night – don’t worry no one will steal them.  If not you can still sneak in and find a spot to sit along the parade route.

2. Fall – if you want to see leaves and Western Pa in all of its perfect fall splendor – Ligonier is really the place.  Take the turnpike to the Donegal exit and drive into Ligonier along rolling hills, split rail fences, and autumn leaves. Continue reading →

FREE Concert with Joe Grushecky and the House Rockers – 4th Annual Dormont Street Festival

4th Annual Dormont Street Fair and Music Festival
DATE: Saturday, October 9, 2010, 4-11p.m.

LOCATION: Potomac Avenue, between Belrose & West Liberty Avenues

The family-friendly event promotes Dormont’s many amazing local businesses and will feature more than 30 local vendors, artisans, independent businesses, and food merchants.

Join friends, neighbors and surrounding South Hills community members, visit local Dormont businesses, boutiques, artists, and organizations, dance along to featured entertainment, support the town’s vibrant commercial district, and rock the night away with local legend Joe Grushecky!

On the stage—and back by popular demand—is Dormont’s own Joe Grushecky and the Houserockers. The legendary Pittsburgh group will be headlining an exciting lineup of local acts including The Wheels, The Composure, and The I Drive. Live performances also by Dance Pittsburgh, Sterling Yoga, and the Eagles Twirling Corps. Continue reading →

Jazz and Poetry at Bottlebrush Gallery – Friday, March 19

bottlebrushWhile I know we mostly blog about Pittsburgh things – we are also happy to support some of the great communities that are with in a reasonable drive of Pittsburgh.  The Bottlebrush Gallery is one of those places.  Located in historic Harmony, Pa – which is about a 20 minute drive north of Pittsburgh on 79N.  The founders of Bottlebrush Gallery have transformed this old antique shop into a great place to find local arts of all kinds.

The first floor of the building houses a shop with art and handmade items of all shapes, sizes and prices.  There is also a separate gallery space – currently showing the works of Luke Homitsky until April 11, 2010. Continue reading →