Category Archives: Neighborhoods

good old uncle sam

you may have seen an uncle sam’s, either in oakland, squirrel hill or at the waterworks. you may have thought that it’s a chain restaurant with it’s thorough decor and teenage staff. the only thing that may have tipped you off is the fact that they only take cash. uncle sam’s is a locally owned and operated business offerring yummy subs to several parts of the city. you always get a foot-long and they offer thin fries as a side [included when dining in]. for me, a foot-long portabella sub is two meals, and for a total of $7, that’s a deal.

check out other restaurants from the same owner: fuel & fuddle and joe mama’s – both in oakland

Tango Lessons!

tango

I write to this post from bright and sunny Buenos Aires, Argentina, tango capital of the world. (Even the most diehard Pittsburgher has to escape from the snowy or rainy skies some time. ) To prepare for my vacation, I just had to get in one tango lesson. It was really fun and I got a lot of exercise in just one afternoon … so if going to the gym is not an appealing way to get in shape for you, try the tango! (Believe me, it is a lot more than strutting with your partner in a straight line down the dance floor!) I just got this e-mail from my instructor, Martin de san Martin:

“Hola Tangueros!

“Happy New Year to you all!

“How are you? I hope you had a great holiday season and are itching to come back to the dance floor!

“I am writing to you to confirm that we will have our weekly tango class this Sunday, January 8th, in our new home at the East Liberty Presbyterian Church – ELPC which is known as the Cathedral of Hope.

“The Cathedral of Hope (East Liberty Presbyterian Church – ELPC) is located at the corner of Penn and Highland in the East Liberty neighborhood of Pittsburgh. The main entrance is on Highland Avenue. Following I’ve attached a link with the directions posted on the ELPC website for your convenience.

http://www.cathedralofhope.org/directions.html

“Please note that we’ve changed the class schedule a bit to accommodate the requests of many of you. Therefore, the classes will be starting one and a half hour earlier!

“Time: 6:00 pm Beginners
7:00 pm Intermediate

“As usual, you’re welcome to suggest steps and techniques you’d like to work on. If you have questions please email at: tangointheburgh at yahoo dot com “

The tango is experiencing a revival around the world, Pittsburgh included: there is a surprisingly robust tango community here and many Argentines call this city home.

But I have to say, being in the middle of humid, hot summer sans air conditioning actually makes me appreciate the Pittsburgh weather I just left. So see? I still heart Pittsburgh! But I must go take a nap now … apparently the party doesn´t get started here until midnight … zzzzz.

What we already know, but needed Google to show others – People like living in Pittsburgh

Well we here at I heart PGH already know that people like living in Pittsburgh. The great parts of Pittsburgh are finally gaining some national attention with Google’s explaination for why they are opening an office in Pittsburgh.
Post-Gazette article: Google coming because local talent likes it here

Of course people like living here and it is just great that quality of life and talent are attracting a major national company to open a facility here. What a great statement for Pittsburgh and hopefully Pittsburgh will continue to attract and cultivate great companies so that more people can come to love PGH!

Finding out the History of Your House

HousesSo, have you ever wondered why you would reeeeally look through those dusty books at the recorder of deeds office? Well, if you’re interested in finding out the history of your house, you can march right up to the Allegheny County Office Building downtown and request the history of the transactions on your property. Other ways to find out the history of your home include census records – the census has been taken every year since 1790, and older records are available at the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh. Many city neighborhoods weren’t even incorporated well into the 20th century, so your house may have even been farmland a mere 100 years ago.

Who knows? Maybe your house was the former abode of a 1920s wiseguy politician, a baseball player from the Homestead Grays or single grandmother who raised 12 children on her own. But that’s the beauty of living in Pittsburgh, especially in a house that’s been sold through generations. My block has more history than some new housing developments with clapboard walls can shake a stick at! 😉 Gotta love that solid brick foundation. And some of us are lucky to have some stained glass or fancy woodwork.

The Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh has developed nice little web site with details about how to find out the history of your home. [Photo Courtesy of Dunn Real Estate.]

Beechview – Seldom Seen Greenway

The Seldom Seen Greenway is home to over 90 acres of undeveloped land in the city of Pittsburgh. It’s located off Route 51, near Saw Mill Run Boulevard. It is directly across the street from Brashear High School – right below Beechview and Mt. Washington.

Seldom Seen was actually a small village annexed by the city of Pittsburgh in 1924, and until the 1960s, the area was populated by a few families and farmhouses; families raised their own chickens and canned their own fruit. As people slowly moved out, the area escaped development. The forest has been virtually left untouched and allowed to grow and flourish, but the active Friends of the Greenway organize a biannual clean-up to keep it pristine.

According to a Tribune Review article:

“If you’re agile enough to go under or over the makeshift gate, (it’s there to keep out those who would use the area as a garbage dump) you can leave the noisy highway through the tunnel and stroll in a peaceful valley, with only the gentle lull of Saw Mill Run creek, bird calls and rustling leaves to enhance the silence. Trees hang over the creek from the shadowy cliffs, sheer enough for the Pittsburgh City rescue paramedics to practice rappelling.

“Around the bend is a thicket of trees, better reached from a steep path from behind Brashear High School. Here, Kathy and John Murphy, whose Beechview back yard edges on Seldom Seen, did a bird migration count for the Audubon Society of Western Pennsylvania last December, identifying 81 birds.

To learn more about the fascinating history of this area, read the rest of Tribune Review article.

There has also been discussion about providing an “Emerald Link” – connecting trails – between Mt. Washington, Duquesne Heights, Allentown, South Side and Beechview. The plan was spearheaded by the Mt. Washington Development Corporation, and you can check out the status of the project or get involved here.

Until then, the trails and wildlife of Seldom Seen, only minutes away from downtown Pittsburgh, remain to be explored.