Category Archives: Neighborhoods

PublicSource Facebook Live with Chris Ivey

Facebook Live with filmmaker Chris Ivey who has been documenting East Liberty for over a decade

The East Liberty Presbyterian Church tower

The East Liberty Presbyterian Church tower (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Somewhere around 2005 or 2006 I was sitting in the Shadow Lounge a coffee shop, bar, event space that was located at the corner of Highland Avenue and Baum Boulevard. The space was most recently the Livermore and is currently undergoing an update and will be reopened by the folks who own Independent Brewing and Hidden Harbor.

I can’t remember why I was there that evening, I think it was a week night. But I remember that Chris Ivey walked in and was eager to show off some of his most recent footage he had shot in East Liberty.  I have a clear picture of sitting there in the blue room, a room painted blue with a large projector on the wall, watching this footage and feeling stunned about how much I didn’t know about this neighborhood. I had spent most of my life less than a mile away from East Liberty, but my Pittsburgh experience could not have been more different.  I think of this evening every time I hear about a screening of East of Liberty.  Looking back this is probably one of the points that where I realized that thereis an importance of storytelling and story sharing.

East Liberty is a neighborhood that has changed many times in its history. Chris Ivey has been documenting the most recent changes for his documentary film East of Liberty.

Facebook Live with Pittsburgh Filmmaker Chris Ivey

PublicSource, an investigative news website that writes stories about Pittsburgh and Western PA (I have contributed to PublicSource and continue to work with them on researching stories), will be interviewing Chris Ivey on Facebook Live on Wednesday.  If you are interested in East Liberty, neighborhoods, urban planning and how people in Pittsburgh’s neighborhoods are impacted by development, this should be an interesting discussion.

RSVP for the Facebook live here.  If you have a question you want to ask Ivey, leave a comment during the interview or send it to jeff@publicsource.org ahead of time.

PublicSource Facebook Live with Chris Ivey

Recent PublicSource stories about East Liberty

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Bloomfield Celebrates the Stoop on Saturday, October 10

bls_stoopcity_images_logo

The community group, Bloomfield Liveable Streets is organizing a celebration of Bloomfield’s beautiful stoops on Saturday, October 10.

You can get all of the details on the Stoop City Website here. You can check out the Facebook event for Stoop City here.

Bloomfield Liveable Streets is looking for people who want to perform and people who want to host acts during Stoop City. All types of performers are welcome.

Explore Bloomfield and Snap a Selfie with Albright

Albright United Methodist Church

One of my favorite summer photos of Albright United Methodist Church. Photo Credit: Larry Rippel.

While your out and about exploring Bloomfield, do me a favor and stop by 486 S. Graham Street and snap a selfie with the stained glass at Albright United Methodist Church and be sure to tag it with @AlbrightPGH and #SaveAlbright. (I have been working with friends, community groups and a whole bunch of other awesome Pittbsurgh folks this summer to make sure this 109-year-old beauty doesn’t get torn down. I have to work next Saturday, otherwise I’d be there greeting you all from the stoop of Albright. I hope more people will help me share photos of this good looking church. If you want to help with the efforts to #SaveAlbright – join the Facebook group here.)

Pittstarter: Play Games with LFG

Last week, I took a trip out to Brookline to sit down and get defeated at a variety of games at Looking for Group (LFG). The name and its abbreviation is a well known phrase in gaming communities- the online call of “does anyone want to play with me?”

Looking For Group's storefront

Looking For Group’s storefront on Brookline Boulevard

 

LFG hopes that you want to do more than just play. LFG is positioning itself as an unusual hybrid: it’s a co-working space combined with a pay-to-play gaming space. John Lange, one of the founders, doesn’t think that combination is odd at all. It grows out of his own interests: he’s an IT professional and a passionate gamer. John talks about that passion and how it develops his friendships in a talk he gave earlier this year.

“I think a lot of people don’t have the same community that I’ve built with my friends and family and I want to share that with everyone,” John says. That community focus shows even now, as the space is still finishing construction. They’ve already hosted a game jam, and while they’re doing work, they’ve invited the neighborhood to pop in and play some games and chat. While I was there for a few hours on a Tuesday afternoon, several neighborhood kids popped in for a few rounds of games. By combining work and play in the same space, LFG hopes that a playful, open and inviting community forms.

John explains:

I think gaming startups and even established gaming companies would be interested in our coworking space because it feels really awesome, when you’re getting burnt out on working, to come see everyone in the gaming side smiling and laughing together and have that instant reminder of why you’re working and sweating and bleeding to build a game.

The storefront portion of the space is the gaming floor. The first thing you’ll notice is the large television facing the street as a lure for the passerby. PCs line the walls, with ergonomic chairs that steal their design cues from race cars. Console “pods” take up the center of the floor- dedicated televisions and gaming machines for each player. The storefront is open to the public in the late afternoons and evenings.

John and Edd take a break from installing floors to school me at several games

John and Edd take a break from installing floors to school me at several games

Behind the gaming space, separated by thick doors and sound-insulating walls, is the co-working office. John guarantees that between keeping gaming to the later portions of the day, plus the insulation, it’s a perfect space for heads-down concentration. There’s a small kitchenette and a modern conference room, which covers all of the vital amenities- with one more.

While the gaming storefront isn’t open to the public during core business hours, the members of the co-working space have unrestricted access to the building- including the games- 24 hours a day. I can’t imagine a better way of resolving conflicts in your team than settling your differences over a competitive round of a game like Speedrunners or Gang Beasts (two of the games John and his fellow founders were happy to beat me at while showing me the space).

But you don’t have to be a member of the co-working team to start making games. Their gaming PCs provide all of the software that you’d need to make your own games, and they’re planning a series of technical events to teach the public how to do everything from write code to a “Build Your Own Console” event, where participants take a Raspberry Pi computer and turn it into a gaming console.

I asked John what his vision of success was for Looking For Group, and he explained:

I think a lot of people who are my age miss playing games together and a lot of the younger kids out never had the chance to really play games with their friends next to them. It’s too hard to bring your computer over to play Minecraft next to your best friend. It really doesn’t matter how good or bad the game is when your friends are next to you, playing with you.

LFG has already secured their core equipment, and has enough funding to guarantee their operations for the near future. They’ve launched a Kickstarter, not to launch the space, but to secure even more equipment and make the space better. They’ve already cleared their modest goal of $2,000, and are shooting for stretch goals. You can check the space out yourself by visiting them at 924 Brookline Blvd, 15226. They’ve been doing a soft launch through September, and the gaming space goes officially live this Saturday, the 25th.

Pittsburgh Fringe Festival

This weekend: Living on the Fringe

Pittsburgh Fringe FestivalIf you are looking for experimental plays, one-person shows and performance art without a filter, the second annual Pittsburgh Fringe Festival comes to the North Side this weekend, May 8-10. If you are anything like me, I hadn’t heard about the Fringe last year when it took place in Shadyside. And, like so many of the more subversive events I find so fascinating in this city, I found out through old school word-of-mouth. So, after doing my own research, becoming involved and now preparing to participate in Pittsburgh Fringe, here is a quick and easy guide to what you need to know and what you can learn about this hidden Pittsburgh treasure:

A 5 Point Guide to the 2015 Pittsburgh Fringe Festival

1. Festival Details: For show descriptions, tickets and volunteer opportunities on the Fringe, please go to the official website: pittsburghfringe.org

Pittsburgh Fringe Festival

 

2. Location, location, location: the North Side is hosting this year’s artists. Fringe Central is at Arnold’s Tea Room. Here you can see the entire layout: http://pittsburghfringe.org/images/map@2x.jpg

Map of the 2015 Pittsburgh Fringe Festival

3. Explore the Neighborhood: In between shows, please take advantage of all of our hosting establishments as seen in the map. From food and beverage to art, tattoos and recreation, find more of what they offer here:

4. Podcast: For a more personal touch , listen to an AP collection podcast with Pittsburgh Fringe Artistic/Executive Director, Dan Stiker, and  two Fringe artists (yes, one of them  is me!) here.

5. Social Media Stuff: Follow the Fringe on social media for updates, news, shares and retweets at the following: (and don’t forget to use the official hashtag #makeityourfringe)

And who knows? Once you experience life on the Fringe, you may be inspired to join us next year as the international Fringe phenomenon becomes a local staple for alternative creative practice. Hope to see you there!

Shop Late Night in Lawrenceville is Tonight!

Most of us don’t shouldn’t take off work early to go shopping – and there is nothing more frustrating than getting to your favorite store and realizing it closed while you were waiting for the bus.  Fear not!  While many shops in Lawrenceville stay open late every Thursday, shops and galleries will stay open until 9pm the second Thursday of every month as part of Shop Late Night in Lawrenceville (SLN).  This year this event is better than ever with more shops, an online map, and specials at local restaurants and bars for SLN shoppers!

Shop Late Night in Lawrenceville!  Make a purchase at one store and get 10% off at another participating store with proof of purchase.  After 9pm get discounts and specials at participating bars and restaurants with proof of purchase. Many stores will also have drinks and snacks available while you shop!

SLN