Tag Archives: Oakland

Gus Millers Forbes Ave Oakland Pittsburgh

The Just Right Tailors, Gus Miller’s Newstand and The Green Weenie

Gus Millers Forbes Ave Oakland Pittsburgh

I posted a photo of this postcard on Instagram earlier this year and asked for some more information about just what “The Just Right” was back in the day. I knew this building had a long history as Gus Miller’s newsstand but I didn’t know what else was in the building. I liked the horse shoe on the top and “The Just Right” seems like a great name for a band or a podcast or the title of an essay for the New Yorker (the essay would of course be about someone who moved to Pittsburgh and found the city to be the just right place to be). For some reason I thought “The Just Right” might be a name for a brothel or other “interesting establishment.” There is a building on the Boulevard of the Allies,  where the restaurant Papa J’s was located, that was a brothel, so it is not out of the realm of possibility. Before I had t-shirts printed for my future rock band “The Just Right” I wanted to make sure I knew just what “The Just Right” building housed back in the day.

Thanks to Darren Toth aka @Yinztergram on Instagram and Twitter, who left a comment on my photow with a detailed and colorful history of this corner shop in Oakland.

The building upstairs served as the Oakland Board of Trade, i.e. the local businessman’s organization around the turn of the 20th Century. In 1904 a guy named Edwin Edwards opened up a tobacco shop on the corner, and next door at 3803 was a Tailor Shop, which changed hand a few times before it became known as, “The Just Right Tailoring and Cleaning Company” under an owner named Goldberg. Gus Miller took over the corner shop sometime between 1910 and 1911, and ran the shop pretty much as it was until he retired in 1967, passing the business on to his daughter, Myrtle Mae Miller, who retired in 1985, and died shortly thereafter in 1987. Myrtle was the woman behind the idea of “The Green Weenie“, a sort of precursor to, “The Terrible Towel”, popularized by sports commentator, Bob Prince. It was a green plastic hot dog shaped rattle that was used by Pirate fans in the 1960s at Forbes Field to jinx the other team. Not sure how waving wieners would fly today, but I imagine if you could find an original green weenie in good shape, you could make a few bucs on it…get it? “Bucs”? Eh, anyway, hope that clears it up a bit.

Gus Miller’s 1950s

From the Historic Society of Western Pennsylvania, here is a photo of the same building in the 1950s.

The caption notes that the Pitt Towers dorms were under construction. According to Wikipedia, the towers were completed in 1963, so this photo is probably early 1960s.

Gus Millers

The Green Weenie

Photo credit: The Terrible Blogger.

You can read a whole lot more about the Green Weenie over on The Terrible Blogger. In case you were wondering, the original 1966 Green Wennies are selling for $20-25 on ebay.

Corner of Forbes and Oakland Today

Using the Google Street view history, it looks like the awnings were removed from the building in July 2014.

This post is part of our series on historic Pittsburgh buildings for preservation month. You might be interested in reading about some of the other historic buildings that are located in Oakland:

Meds, Eds, Startups – A Few Reasons to Celebrate Oakland on April 12

This Friday, April 12, 2013 – you are invited to celebrate the neighborhood of Oakland.  The Oakland Task Force  has organized Oakland Forever.  Okland Forever is a mega event at Schenley Plaza and includes the food tour A Taste of Oakland.  More details on the event are belwo.

While I know many of you are thinking I’ve lost my mind – Oakland is a crowded place where you sit in traffic and try to avoid hitting the many college students and doctors who are criss-crossing Forbes and Fifth Ave 24 hours a day.  Well, sometimes that is the case, but I think we need to look past the traffic and dig a little deeper into what Oakland means to Pittsburgh and the revitalization of this city.

Oakland, Meds, Eds and Pittsburgh

Pittsburgh has emerged from the decline of industrial economy fairly well compared to most of the other rust belt cities.  Much of Pittsburgh’s success has been attributed to Meds and Eds – and Oakland is the heart of both medicine and education here in Pittsburgh.  While I know there are many strong feelings about UPMC’s relationship with the city, which has been good and bad, for the purpose of this post, lets just focus on the impact that medicine in general has had on Oakland and Pittsburgh.

Here are a few articles about Eds, Meds and Pittsburgh

What’s Next for Pittsburgh – Startups

I’d like to make the argument that the next renaissance for Pittsburgh is going to come from the startup community.  Over the past 12-18 months there has been an incredible wave of activity in the Pittsburgh entrepreneurship scene.  This past weekend – hundreds of people attended the 3rd Startup Weekend Pittsburgh – where teams worked to build a company in just 48 hours.  One of the interesting things to note about Startup Weekend is that it is one of handful of events that is successful in getting students out of oakland and collaborating with other Pittsburghers who aren’t necessarily students.

With Oakland home to both Carnegie Mellon University and the University of Pittsburgh, the neighborhood is really best positioned to be the birthplace of the future businesses that drive Pittsburgh’s economy.

Real Estate in Oakland is at a premium and mostly occupied by universities.  Much of Pittsburgh’s startup activity has been pushed to neighborhoods, like the Southside and East Liberty, which are close but  that aren’t as convient  for students to get to and from Oakland.  (Keep an eye on StartUptown – which is an impressive co-working space that is slightly more convient to the Oakland Schools.  With Uptown being right in the middle of Pitt, CMU and Duquesne – hopefully this will continue to grow as a startup friendly neighborhood).

There has been some efforts to do more to connect current students to the entrepreneurship community – much credit goes to Spencer Whitman who attended college in Pittsburgh and is now starting a company here.  Spencer has been organizing Entreburgh a monthly lunch at The Porch to make it easier and convient for students to interact with others in Pittsburgh’s entrepreneurship community.  You can learn more about Entreburgh here on Facebook and sign up to attend one of their monthly lunches.

The more mixing (and collaborating) between the university community in Oakland and the rest of Pittsburgh – the better off both communities will be.

Thinking of Oakland as More than Just Students

If you haven’t spent much time in Oakland, you are missing out.  I would argue it is one of the best places for lunch on any given weekday.  There is something about college nieghborhoods that creates a place where delicious food is abundant and affordable.  Vera Cruz, a little mexican place on Forbes, is still on of my favorite go to spots for a burrito. More Vera Cruz details available on Veracruz on Urbanspoon

Not only is Oakland home to major universities  but it is also a livable neighborhood with affordable housing within walking distance of parks, libraries, and museums.

A great introduction to the neighborhood is Oakland Forever this friday at Schenley Plaza.

Oakland Forever Details

Polish Festival and Lawrenceville Artists' Studio Tour

UPDATE – Artist Studio Tour is Saturday, November 13 – the Polish Fest is Sunday, November 14.

Between noon to five today SUNDAY head to the Cathedral of Learning in Oakland to check out the Polish Festival. There will also be crafts and music but who are you kidding? You know you’ll be there for the pierogi, haluski and stuffed cabbage.  Want to walk off that full belly?  Head to Lawrenceville for the sixth annual Artists’ Studio Tour. This free self guided walking tour lets you check out artists working in a variety of media.  Download a map here or pick one up at Gallery on 43rd Street (187 43rd Street).  Tour attendees can also pick up a coupon for a discount on Quantum Theatre’s production of When the Rain Stops Falling at the Iron City Brewery in Lawrenceville through November 21.  This play has been getting rave reviews so don’t miss out!

KazooFest

A photo I have taken of 2 kazoos for the Kazoo...
Image via Wikipedia

Free family fun from the good fun loving folks at the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh!

Fourth Annual Oakland KazooFest
Saturday, January 30, 2010
1:30 PM – 2:30 PM

Kazoos will be provided, but you may BYOK (Bring Your Own Kazoo) if you wish. We’ll practice our standard repertoire then open the program to requests. ANYONE can make music with a kazoo, so . . . “Pucker up and party!” This free program is for all ages. Bring the whole family.

Location: Main Library (Oakland), 4400 Forbes Ave,Pittsburgh, PA 15213

Contact: Children’s Department, 412-622-3122, children@carnegielibrary.org

Please register here – http://www.clpgh.org/events/details.cfm?location=Main%20(Oakland)&event_id=49453

blue kazoo

Image by g_cowan via Flickr