RustBeltTakeover: The Rust Belt Coalition of Young Preservationists Comes to Pittsburgh This Weekend

This weekend, young preservationists from Buffalo, Ohio, Wheeling, and Indianapolis will descend on Pittsburgh for the Rust Belt Coalition of Young Preservationist Summit. This is a big deal for Pittsburgh and for the historic preservationists who are coming to town. Not only is this a great opportunity to show our rust belt neighbors some of the best historic preservation Pittsburgh has to offer, but this is a chance to learn from other cities what has been successful in their historic preservation efforts.

One of the most influential events that I participated in was the 2nd annual GLUE (Great Lakes Urban Exchance) conference in Milwuakee in 2009. After a plane ride and a train ride, I showed up in a very cold Milwaukee and was wondering why I decided to make the trip. The next day, they loaded us onto a bus for a tour of Growing Power, an award winning urban farm in Milwaukee. I was sure I was going to hate the experience and I was already looking for a plane ticket home. After about 15 minutes of the tour, I had forgotten how cold it was and was already sold on the idea of hydroponic urban farming. Not only did I leave Milwaukee an adamant supporter of urban farming, but I had build a network of incredibly valuable rust belt city lovers in other cities.

I am incredibly impressed with the work that the Young Preservationists Association has done to bring this conference to Pittsburgh and to show off some of the excellent examples of historic preservation (and preservation in process) in the city of Pittsburgh.

There are still tickets left to join the RBCoYP on the tour of Carrie Furnace on Sunday (a great opportunity, especially since the tours of Carrie Furnace usually sell out).

Follow the RBCoYP

Website: rustbeltcoalitionofyoungpreservationists.com
Twitter: @RBCoYP
Instagram: instagram.com/rustbeltyp/
Summit Hashtag: #rustbelttakeover

RBCoYP in Curbed

Make sure to check out this post on Curbed, a national real estate blog about the RBCoYP Conference. Great press for the young preservationists and for Pittsburgh.

April 7, 2016, Curbed: Young Rust Belt Preservationists Banding Together to Save Industrial Heritage by Patrick Sisson, @freqresponse

During an election season with a focus on manufacturing and American jobs, it’s hard to escape mention of the Rust Belt and its importance to the race. While many have rightfully focused on workers and economic revitalization, that same concern hasn’t been shown to the physical reminders of U.S. manufacturing across the region. The challenge of protecting and preserving the region’s architectural history, and using it as a catalyst for future development, has led a group of young preservationists to try and find new means to publicize and protect endangered sites.

The Rust Belt Coalition of Young Preservationists, bringing together smaller groups from New York, Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia, meets for its first summit this upcoming weekend in Pittsburgh. Hosted by the Young Preservationists Association of Pittsburgh, the meetup aims to establish a regional network, share strategy, and create a support system for new and nascent groups forming around the region.

Join the RBCoYP for a tour of Carrie Furnace and Debrief at Brew Gentleman

While most of the events are just for the visiting preservationists, check out the entire schedule of events here so you can see all of the places that will be highlighted). The events on Sunday are open to the public and there are still tickets left to see Carrie Furnace.

11am – Tour of Carrie Furnace
1:30pm – Rust Belt Coaltion Wrap Up at Brew Gentlemen

A Human Study of the American Rust Belt in Decline During the 1980s (flavorwire.com)
Vacant Lots in 6 Cities to Become Tree Farms, Ag Plots (stlouis.cbslocal.com)
Akron plays a key role in new book ‘The Smartest Places on Earth’ (crainscleveland.com)

Following the PA Senate Race

In just an hour, the three democratic candidates for PA Senate will participate in a live televised debate on WTAE. In just three weeks, the voters of Pennsylvania will go to the polls to decide which one of these three candidates will challenge Republican Pat Toomey in the general election.

You can follow the debate on Twitter with the #PASenDebate. I’ve created a Twitter list of the candidates for Pa Senate here.

As you know, this years Presidential election has been anything but typical. One of the things that has come up in many conversations over the past few months is what role does social media play in the elections. I am curious if social media can “predict” the elections, especially local elections.

Here are the social media accounts and stats for each of the 4 candidates who are currently in the race for Pennsylvania senate:

PA Senate Social Media Stats

First Name	Last Name	Twitter	Followers	Facebook Page	Likes	Instagram	IG Follower	IG Photos
John	Fetterman	@JohnFetterman	9,777	FB Page	33,235	/johnfetterman	3201	135
Katie	McGinty	@KatieMcGintyPA	4,313	FB Page	11,097
Joe	Sestak	@JoeSestak	11,864	FB Page	17,121	/joesestak	195	61
Pat	Toomey	@PatToomey	10,666	FB Page	147,689	ToomeyForSenate	204	41

IheartPGH Exclusive: UPMC to Buy Steelers

Photo Credit: Nate Guidry, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

We have just confirmed with our source, UPMC is in talks to buy the Steelers football franchise from the Rooney Family.

While this may seem like a surprising move, it reflects the changing nature of the City of Pittsburgh. The Steelers franchise was established in 1933, when Pittsburgh was a steel manufacturing hub. The city has transformed, and weathered the decline of industry with a new focus on “meds & eds.”

It makes sense that UPMC would want to acquire the team. Not only does it provide an expanded platform to market the UPMC health plan, it also positions UPMC to be a world leader in studying CTE and traumatic brain injury on the field.

One of the first changes fans will see at Heinz Field this fall is a UPMC urgent care clinic and medical research lab that will study both players and fans. There is no better place to study the effects of stress on the heart than studying the fans during a fourth and goal, with the clock winding down. You will be able to order your Primanti brothers sandwich and schedule your triple bypass during half-time.

Another interesting idea that is apparently being tossed around (pun intended) is adding a nurse-themed cheerleading squad to the sideline this fall. Looks like UPMC marketing department is trying to recruit new patients by raising the collective blood pressure of the fans.

Stayed tuned to Wendy Bell’s Facebook page for more details on this breaking story.

Happy Hour This Wednesday to Support the Women’s Center & Shelter

The Women’s Center & Shelter of Greater Pittsburgh in a constant Catch-22. It needs to promote itself and its services to people in the community, but also needs to be discreet and protect the privacy of clients.

Last year WC&S answered more than 5,000 hotline calls, provided legal advocacy for nearly 4,000 clients, and sheltered more than 500 women and children.

But the WC&S also had to turn away 755 women and children last year. They consider turning away victims of intimate partner violence unacceptable. When their beds are full, they always try and find alternate arrangements. However, that’s not always possible.

WC&S is in the middle of a capital campaign to renovate and expand its facilities. The campaign is called Shelter From The Storm, and it needs your support. The goal of expanding their facilities is to ensure they provide sanctuary for those here in the Pittsburgh area who need it.

To get the word out, the WC&S is hosting a happy hour this Wednesday, March 30, at Olive or Twist. The goal is to inform new Pittsburghers and young professionals about what they do and what services they provide to women and children in the area. You can buy tickets at the door or in advance here.

What: Happy Hour to Benefit Women’s Center & Shelter of Greater Pittsburgh

When: Wednesday, March 30, 2016 | 5:30-7:30pm

Where: Olive or Twist

Tickets: $25 online or at the door

Follow: @WCSPittsburgh

Thomas Lauderdale & Storm Large of Pink Martini Perform in Pittsburgh

On Monday night, you have a rare opportunity to hear some of Portland’s finest perform here in Pittsburgh. Pink Martini is a little orchestra from Portland that performs around the globe with a sound that The Washington Post describes as “rich, hugely approachable music, utterly cosmopolitan yet utterly unpretentious… it seems to speak to just about everybody.”

Thomas Lauderdale & Storm Large of Pink Martini will be in Pittsburgh performing a show at Club Diesel, the proceeds of this performance will benefit John Fetterman’s campaign for US Senate.

Thomas Lauderdale & Storm Large of Pink Martini
Monday, March 7, 2016
7pm
Club Diesel, South Side
Tickets: $20 online, $25 at the door
Facebook Event

Not only does Pink Martini have rave review from critics and many of my Facebook friends, but Pink Martini also has a bit of political history.

From the Pink Martini Wikipedia page:

In 1994 in his hometown of Portland, Oregon, Thomas Lauderdale was working in politics, thinking that one day he would run for mayor. Like other eager politicians-in-training, he went to every political fundraiser under the sun… but was dismayed to find the music at these events underwhelming, lackluster, loud and un-neighborly. Drawing inspiration from music from all over the world – crossing genres of classical, jazz and old-fashioned pop – and hoping to appeal to conservatives and liberals alike, he founded the “little orchestra” Pink Martini in 1994 to provide more beautiful and inclusive musical soundtracks for political fundraisers for causes such as civil rights, affordable housing, the environment, libraries, public broadcasting, education and parks.

One of the great things about living in Pittsburgh is that sometimes you get an opportunity to see amazing artists perform up close. Last summer, I posted a photo of Sharon Jones performing at Hartwood Acres. Actually, I went back and looked for the post, it was 2012 and I posted this hilarious tweet:

I am changing the name of this blogs to I heart Sharon Jones & the Dap Kings and I will be wearing pink sequins

— I heart PGH (@iheartpgh) August 13, 2012

The next day, I received the following email from my father (one of the things I’ve learned is that if my parents haven’t heard from me, they check the IheartPGH twitter feed to see if I am still alive)…

A couple years ago, our neighbors Jim and Margaret invited us to go see Sharon at Club Cafe on the South Side–they had just seen her at the Monterrey Jazz Festival. Small club as you may know—anyway, somehow I ended up dancing with Sharon during one set—don’t ask–it was all a blur! My bit of Dap Kings trivia.

I am told that Pink Martini usually plays sold out shows for much larger crowds. I can’t promise you will end up dancing with Storm Large, but I am sure it will be a great performance.

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