Urban Hike Heads to Springdale – Sunday 10/18

If you like exploring, then you need to know about Urban Hike. This is a group of volunteers who plan out a fascinating route around a different neighborhood, town or borough.  IheartPGH has participated in many of the past Urban Hikes. It was a stop at this church on the Sharpsburg Urban Hike that first got me thinking about church reuse. Earlier this Summer, I was inspired to write about the John Woods House (aka the oldest house in Pittsburgh) after sharing an Instagram photo I took during the Hazelwood Urban Hike.

This Sunday, October 18, 2015, Urban Hike heads up the Allegheny River to the brough of Springdale. There are two things I know about Springdale which are both good reasons to go and check out this hike. Springdale is home to:

  1. Photo I took of Glens Custard in 2008

    Photo I took of Glens Custard in 2008

    Glen’s Frozen Custard – this is one of those places you NEED to know about. Glens is an establishment and worth the drive. When I was a kid, we would pile into the family station wagon for a drive out to Glens – I have vivid memories of riding backwards in the way-back seats of our Chevrolet station wagon as we crossed the Highland Park bridge. Many people who live in the East End often claim that if they have to cross a bridge to get there, then the destination is not worth the trip. Glens is one of those destinations that is worth crossing the bridge for.

  2. Rachel Carson Homestead – Rachel Carson is a Pittsburgher whose name you might know because the bridge next to the Andy Warhol Bridge and the Clement Bridge is named after her.  She is also the author of the 1962 book Silent Spring about pollution in our environment. Check out our recent blog post on Rachel Carson’s other house here.

The Urban Hike folks have planned a short hike (short means the hike will be over before the Steeler game starts) for Sunday morning. Lucky for you, the hike starts at Glens which has not yet closed for the season and will likely be serving pumpkin frozen custard. Yes, PUMPKIN custard!

Urban Hike Springdale
Sunday, October 18
10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Meet at Glen’s Custard, 400 Pittsburgh St, Springdale, PA 15144
Park on Porter or another nearby street by Glen’s Custard (just not in Glen’s lot!)
Facebook Event: http://on.fb.me/1RNyEXu

Follow @UrbanHikePGH on Twitter for updates.

 

Pittsburgh Blogger Seeks New Roommate

This Pittsburgh blogger is in need of a new roommate. My previous roommate has finished her residency at UPMC and has left town for greener, well colder, pastures of Boston.  I have tried posting on Ye Old Craigslist but haven’t had much luck. I’d like to avoid a Pittsburgh remake of Single White Female, so I am hoping that one of the dear readers of IheartPGH might have a friend, or a friend of a friend who is looking for a new place to live.

pittsburgh-roommate-craigslistI have a great, big, sunny apartment in the East End. The apartment is in a neat old mansion that was converted into apartments in the 80s. The apartment does not have the architecture or decor of Miami Vice, I promise (but, sometimes, I do like to wear my neon pink t-shirt).

  • 2 bedroom/2 bathroom
  • dishwasher
  • free laundry in building
  • off-street parking included
  • exposed brick walls
  • working gas fireplace
  • central air conditioning
  • small patio area
  • quiet neighbors

The entire apartment is furnished, including the bedroom and the room is available now.  Looking for someone who ideally will take over the rest of the lease – about 7 months.

If you know someone who likes pina coladas, and getting caught in the rain… just kidding (I prefer a margarita to a pina colada), if you know someone awesome, who ideally loves Pittsburgh or is willing to learn to love Pittsburgh, please send them my way. If you would like more details and photos email me Lindsay – at – IheartPGH.com.  Thanks!

 

Bikes, BBQ, Beer and the Beagle Brothers in the Borough of Saltsburg

About 30 miles west of the city of Pittsburgh, an hour drive by car, along the Kiskiminetas River sits the very tiny Borough of Saltsburg. If you have been reading IheartPGH this summer, you know that I have been spending a lot of time learning about local historic preservation, which has given me the opportunity to learn about many more places of historic interest. Which is exactly how the town of Saltsburg came across my radar.  I have been learning about the big beauty of this tiny borough from a friend who is as passionate about promoting Saltsburg, as I am about preserving Albright United Methodist Church.

In August, while taking the long way home from visiting yet, another historic church, I happened to pass through Saltsburg. Here are a few photos of the river, and some of the buildings. I love the how the tarp has been painted to replicate the storefront.

If you are new to Pittsburgh, or are like me and sometimes get too busy to leave the city. The colors of the fall leaves in Western Pennsylvania are not to be missed.  According to the experts, fall is falling into place a little late this year, which means that next few weekends are an ideal time to step outside of the city and explore some of the countryside.  If you are looking for a place to start, check out Saltsburg this weekend.

Saltsburg is for Cyclists

Turns out there is a lot to see and cycle in Saltsburg. Everyone talks about the Great Allegheny Passage trail, but you might not know much about the Trans Allegheny Trails, a collection of Trails that sits between Pittsburgh and State College. From Saltsburg you can hop on the Westmoreland Heritage Trail and the West Penn Trail. You can read more about the Trans Allegheny Trails and the 13 trails that make up the system here.

A Half-Square Mile of Historic Buildings

According to Wikipedia, the land area of Saltsburg Borough is .5 square miles. In this tiny town, you will see examples on Georgian, Federalist, Amish, Victorian and Deco architecture on the same street as well as a city block with three pre civil war buildings.

ihp-Saltsburg-bbqSee Saltsburg on Saturday, October 17

Saltsburg lovers are working to restore some of the towns most historic buildings and make this a stop for cyclists and kayakers. This Saturday, October 17, there is a free event to show off Saltsburg in all of the beauty of Fall in Western Pennsylvania. Bring your bike or just come for the BBQ and music. Some of the best folks in the ‘Burgh will be there to highlight the history and historic preservation in this little borough.

  • Beer will be provided by Braddock’s own The Brew Gentlemen.
  • Live music provided by the Beagle Brothers with special guest Kevin Kuts of Coal Mountain Ramblers & Mark Pipas

See Saltsburgh, PA
Saturday, October 17, 2015
Noon-Sunset
Beer, BBQ, & Music

 

home made pierogi

“every day is pierogi day, in pittsburgh”

National Pierogi Day

I was browsing the Pittsburgh subreddit which is a great place to find out about local events, news and interesting facts about this town. There is a post about the fact that Thursday, October 8 is National Pierogi Day. I don’t know who created National Pierogi Day or why it is in October. I come from a family that is pretty serious about pierogi making, I associate pierogi with the holidays, especially January. I do know that the lone comment on the Pittsburgh subreddit explains how most Pittsburghers react to National Pierogi Day: “every day is pierogi day, in pittsburgh.”

There isn’t much information about National Pieorgi Day online.  There is a Facebook page here. In Pittsburgh the only event I found for National Pierogi day is at the casino, which I don’t even think is worth linking to.

ihp-beer+pierogi

Quite possibly the best possible idea for a food pairing event, ever.

Next week, there is a pierogi & beer dinner in Braddock at The Brew Gentlemen with Casey Barber – author of book about pierogi @GoodFoodStories, author of the book Pierogi Love.

If you are looking for some pierogi gear, sadly the Commonwealth press store is sold out of the pierogi pillow, but Garbella has some pierogi attire for Pittsburghers of all ages.

How do you plan to honor the pierogi on national pierogi day (or every other day of the year)? Where are the best pierogi in Pittsburgh? Share your pierogi thoughts with #everydayispierogiday.

more pierogi reading…

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.)