Category Archives: Pro-PGH

Flux

I am really excited to write about Flux. I had a really hard time deciding on a subject for this post. Here are some of the titles that didn’t make it:

  • Saturday Night, Alright Alright (I am really not an Elton John Fan)
  • One Big Ball of Pittsburgh Fun (I didn’t want you think that Flux requires you to wear a ball gown)
  • Flux is Fun (Sounds too much like a promo for the Children’s museum, Flux is was more fun than the Children’s museum).

What is Flux?
A great big party/art show/concert that highlights a neighborhood in Pittsburgh.

This Saturday (June16, 2007) Flux is Downtown. I have attended some of the previous Flux events of years past and I also attended the most recent Flux in Braddock was awesome. Tons of amazing people, art, music, conversation – everything from sculpture to film.

If you are one of those people who feels like Pittsburgh is always the same (if you read IheartPGH occasionally I hope you still don’t think like that) then you must attend this event.

Even Better!

I was just checking out the Flux Website – Flux is getting greener and better.

FLUX is going Green!
FLUX is making the investment to go “green� and has contracted with Restorative Events to make the events the “greenest� in Pittsburgh. To kick-off the initiative at FLUX 15, Restorative Events has ensured that every waste related item used at FLUX is recycled�every cup and bottle, as well as some of the installations, will be collected and taken to a recycling center. Wristbands and paper products are made from 100% recycled paper and soy-based inks were used for marketing materials. As always, FLUX supplies locally made beer from Penn Brewery and has historically been a champion of adaptive re-use �creatively using old structures for new purposes. In addition, FLUX encourages attendees to use alternate and public transportation and is sponsoring a bike valet service hosted by Bike Pittsburgh for FLUX 15.

Free Bike Valet / partnership with Bike Pittsburgh
FLUX is sponsoring Bike Valet service that will be managed by Bike Pittsburgh and will allow attendees to ride their bike and park it in a safe, secure, monitored in-door space for the evening. The Bike Valet will be located on Smithfield, just across the street from the event entrance, at the former site of the Barnes & Noble. The service is FREE to all FLUX attendees.

Spatial design by local architecture + design firm SO-AD
FLUX has teamed up with local architects and designers David Burns and Jason Morris of SO-AD to develop an interior space plan, improve the visitor experience and enhance the architectural uniqueness of the event location.

New wine sponsor!
In addition to yummy beer from Penn Brewery, red & white wine will now be available at FLUX from Barefoot Wines via a sponsorship with the Three Rivers Arts Festival. Beer will be $2 a bottle. Wine $3 dollars a cup.

Walking in Wilmerding

If you are a frequent reader of this blog, you know that I don’t like to leave the city limits (I like sidewalks and being able to get home by bus should you get a flat tire).  But I will make rare exceptions, for interesting non-strip mall activites that happen to fall outside of city limits.  Today I make an exception for Wilmerding.

This Saturday, June 8, Urban Hike heads to Wilmerding.  I participated in the last urban hike in May, and had a delighful afternoon on Neville Island, complete with a stop at Tasty Freeze (if someone knows of a Tasty Freeze with in the city of Pittsburgh, please let me know).

So I would highly recommend a trip to Wilmerding.  Not only do you get to participate in a hike, You can check out the annual George Westinghouse Days festival which happens to be the same day.  The hikes usually take 2 to 2.5 hours with lots of stops for ice cream and interesting things – when is the last time you spent 2 hours on the treadmill at the gym.

Here are the details from Urban Hike (directions are available here):

George Westinghouse did his thing in Wilmerding. George who? Wilmer what? Sorry, you’ll have to come on our hike to find out. We’ll walk in Wilmerding Saturday, June 9th beginning at noon. The hike will take about three hours. Then stick around for a while afterward to partake in the borough’s annual George Westinghouse Days festival (I’m telling you, this guy was important).

Meet us at the war memorial in the parklet surrounded by Herman Avenue, Station Street and Commerce Street. You’ll see it once you get there if you follow our directions.

Park on the street or at the George Westinghouse Museum (325 Commerce Street).

Allow plenty of time to get there! The outbound Parkway East is under construction this weekend in Squirrel Hill, so things are going to be a little crazy. Including these directions, by the way.

Not The Point

is a great name for a party. I have been trying to avoid writing about lots of fundraisers (we all know one of the great things about Pittsburgh is that there is so much free stuff to do).

Not The Point
May 31 5:30 – 8:30 pm
937 Liberty Avenue Pittsburgh, PA 15222

More Info Here: Three Rivers Arts Festival Website

Here are 5 reasons why this party deserves your attention…

  1. The Arts Festival is a good thing.
  2. Great name, I love love love that this event is called “Not the Point” – which has multiple meanings, Point State Park is under construction, so this years Arts Festival will be held at other locations around downtown.
  3. I personally know at least one of the organizers for this event and she is working extra hard to make sure this is one heck of a fun time and not another Pittsburgh fund raiser.
  4. The scrabble themed invite
  5. Party attire – Pittsburgh needs more excuses to dress to party.

A Great Time had at The Sprout Fund’s Preliminary Design Exhibition

This past Thursday, Concept Art Gallery in Regent Square, hosted The Sprout Fund’s annual Preliminary Design Exhibition. The event was meant to provide a sneak peek into the proposed mural designs for this year’s mural sites. The exhibition showcased 19 talented local artists each competing for one of the eight mural sites. Throughout the evening artists, community members, friends and family came to check out the designs, mingle with fellow community members, and eat food generously provided by the Square Cafe. There are a couple pictures from the event posted below. Keep your eyes peeled for eight new murals sprouting up this summer!

Craftology

The Pittsburgh Craft Mafia will be starting craft classes that will be held throughout the year to help new indie businesses learn the tools of the trade.
Topics include taxes, craft business101, and consignment. This first class, Craft Show Basics, will be hosted in the basement of In the Blood Tattoos and Rock and Roll in South Side (2005 E. Carson St.) and is free of charge. May 17th 6-8pm.

pre-register: http://www.pittsburghcraftmafia.info/shop/