Tag Archives: Kickstarter

Pitt-Starter: Help The Funniest Kids in Town, Move Across Town

One of the best kept secrets in town just maybe the Steel City Improv Theater (aka SCIT).  SCIT was founded about 2 years ago by two folks who met doing improv in NYC and decided the burgh needed a space for Improv.  Since it’s founding – SCIT has hosted classes and performances almost everyday of the week – and they have outgrown their little theater on the North Side.

Well the SCIT folks are moving across town – and they need your help.  A new space for the theater and classrooms has been rented in Shadyside – just beneath the Highland Ave bridge and demolition has begun.

Even these kids have fun tearing down walls, well at least they take funny pictures…

while their Kickstarter project has met the initial goal of $5000 – they are eager to raise the full $12500 – money will go to the build out of their new theater space.

Watch the Kickstarter video below and support the SCIT here.  They have some great thank you gifts – including the option to name the bathroom in the new theater.

e2 Kickstarter Project – Support a Local Eatery

So one of the things that I am secretly happy about in light of the recent recession is that there has been an amazing shift in supporting local businesses in Pittsburgh.  I think that it is interesting that some of the larger businesses have left town and some of those spaces have been filled by locally owned businesses.  Take Walnut Street in Shadyside – Pottery Barn left and Max and Erma’s closed – the Max and Erma’s location has become the new home of the Elbow Room and the folks who own the Elbow Room have opened a new place, The 1947 Tavern, where the Elbow Room used to be located on Ellsworth Street. (The Elbow Room folks are great Pittsburgh lovers too – I was luck enough to sit next to one of them at a wedding recently).

Another little business area that has been growing over the past few years is on Bryant Street in Highland Park.  What once was home to a little market and a few other shops – now has 3 restaurants and more development coming.

We often refer to supporting local businesses here on this blog – it isn’t just about supporting Pittsburgh businesses but it is about supporting businesses that are supporting the entire Pittsburgh community.

I can’t say enough good things about e2 – I first met chef Kate Romane when she was running the Union Project cafe a few years ago.  e2 started out small – they first opened for soup during snowmageddon and over the past 2 years have continued to expand their hours and offerings.  The food is wonderful – if you haven’t been there – you should go.  Check out what others have to say about e2 on E2 on Urbanspoon Kate and the entire staff at e2 could not be nicer and more welcoming.

Kate couldn’t be a nicer person and she has kindly answered many MANY questions from me over the years (I like to ask ALOT of questions). Last year, I asked Kate to help me with food for a bridal shower – and everything was perfect – this was especially important because I have been known to struggle with food preparation.  Kate helped me pick out items that would be easy to keep warm and serve a few hours later.

e2 is located in a building that has been used as a restaurant for many year – currently they serve food upstairs but there is a big event space in the basement – that I think was an india restaurant a few years ago.  The basement is functional but needs a few updates – and they are asking for  your help to turn this into a space for events of all different sizes.

Watch this video to learn more about e2 and the project

The e2 Kickstarter campaign is great for a few reasons…

Number 1 – Pittsburgh NEEDS more flex spaces  – just yesterday I received an email from someone who was desperate to find a space to host a meeting for 25 that had wifi access.  Right now the choices are the conference rooms at Panera or an expensive hotel conference room rental.  Yes, e2 is first and foremost a restaurant – but I have no doubt that this space will be used as a place to bring community together

Number 2 – Delicious rewards – Kickstarter is awesome – because when you give to a project – you get something in return.  Kate and e2 have put together a whole list of awards for supporting this project.

Update on P.Nosa’s Sewing Tour – First Stop Pittsburgh

Last week I posted about Paul Nosa’s Sewing Tour project on Kickstarter. Paul is an artist based in Tuscon, AZ who is planning to travel across the country with his solar and bike powered sewing machine.

I posted about the project because the video is awesome (check out the video here) AND he is bringing the tour to Pittsburgh.  The first Kickstarter project didn’t reach funding – but he has relaunched the project on Kickstarter here.  A few changes to the route – his first stop is Pittsburgh!

Check out his video update here.

Help Bring Paul Nosa’s Sewing Tour to Pittsburgh

Sewing Tour 2012 is project that came up on Kickstarter. We have posted some Kickstarter projects here before – Kickstarter is a website that lets your croudsource funding for projects and businesses.

I am sharing this project because it has a really nice little video and I think it is a neat little project.  While I don’t do much of it myself, I like sewing and quilting and I like to think that quilts – which were used to tell stories are sort of a precursor to the modern day blog.

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Paul Nosa is an artist who creates drawings with a sewing machine.  He powers the sewing machine with solar power.  He is trying to raise money to take his solar powered sewing machine on a cross country tour this summer.  One of the stops is already planned for Pittsburgh.

Here is one of the patches he created with his sewing machine titled Bicycle Over City


Check out his video and maybe lend some support to his tour.

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Hot Dog! 5 New Restaurants to Open in 2012

Over the holidays, the Post-Gazette reported that over 30 restaurants opened in Pittsburgh last year!  Which new restaurant was your favorite? We are looking forward to trying a bunch during Pittsburgh Restaurant Week.

2012 is already looking like another great year for the Pittsburgh food scene as well.  Here are a few openings to look forward to…

Station Street Hot Dogs
Salt of the Earth’s Kevin Sousa and partners are reopening the hot dog shop that is located behind the new Target in East Liberty. Pittsburgh food blogger Cooking For My Dad has been tweeting with Station Street about their new menu.

Union Pig and Chicken
Kevin Sousa is also working on opening a BBQ place on Highland Ave in East Liberty. Discount gift cards are available online here.

Winghart’s Burger and Whiskey Bar to Open South Side Location
While we haven’t had a chance to visit the Market Square Location, we have been hearing rave reviews of this place.  The Post-Gazette’s Bill Toland is tweeting that they will be opening a South Side location soon.

Wild Purveyors to Open a Market in Lawrenceville
Brothers Tom and Cavan Patterson have been selling their Certified Organic and/or sustainable farm fresh produce, and meats at the public market and directly to restaurants since 2009.  With the help of a very successful Kickstarter campaign they will be opening their own storefront in Lawrenceville in the next month or so.

Walnut Grill to Open in Mt. Lebanon?
The Post-Gazette reported that Molly Brannigans in Mt. Lebanon closed in early December.  The building has been purchased by the owners of the Walnut Grill.