Tag Archives: Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Frank Lloyd Wright Pittsburgh

Frank Lloyd Wright’s Design for a Civic Center at the Point

When I started this preservation month project of writing about a different historic Pittsburgh place every day in May, I thought it would be a fun way to share a little bit more about some of the places I have always known in Pittsburgh and to learn more about the history of theses places. Three weeks into preservation month, I have been amazed at the number of new places and local history that I have learned and the willingness of Pittsburghers to share more information.

Today’s post come from The Odd, Mysterious & Fascinating History of Pittsburgh Facebook page. Pittsburgh history lover and fact finder John Schalcosky has been researching and sharing historic Pittsburgh information on Facebook since 2014. Learn more about this fascinating Facebook page of local facts and how John started the site on Episode #31 of the Marta on the Move podcast.

I reached out to John about preservation month and he suggested I take a look at some of the Facebook photo albums that he has put together. I thought I knew about all of the Frank Lloyd Wright buildings in and around Pittsburgh but I had no idea that he had designed a civic center for the point.

Frank Lloyd Wright Pittsburgh

In the 1940s the Allegheny Conference on Community Development set out to rethink the land use of the point, the area that we now call Point State ParkEdgar J. Kaufmann, owner of the Kaufmann department store, was on the board of the Allegheny Conference on Community Development commissioned Frank Lloyd Write to create a design for a civic center at the point.

From the The Odd, Mysterious & Fascinating History of Pittsburgh Facebook Album on Frank Lloyd Wrights design:

Imagine instead of The Point’s Water Fountain, this incredible building was built in its place! Frank Llyod Wright designed this circular building with it being more than 1,000 feet in diameter and 175 feet tall containing an opera house, sports arena, three movie theaters, and a convention hall all wrapped by a spiraling strip of road. During the course ofWW2, federal and local authorities established three goals for the site: “the creation of a park commemorating the site’s history, improved traffic circulation through the construction of new roads and bridges, and designation of a portion of the site for new office buildings, intended to stimulate private interest in the Golden Triangle”.

Read more about this design and see the other photos of Wright’s design on The Odd, Mysterious & Fascinating History of Pittsburgh Facebook page.

Read more about Frank Lloyd Wright’s Design for a Pittsburgh Civic Center

More Historic Pittsburgh Buildings

You might be interested in some of these Pittsburgh buildings…

Have a building you would like to learn more about? Let us know by leaving a comment below.

Help Save Christmas & Pens Tickets Raffle

Here is the deal – for the past four years – we have joined with a group of bloggers to help the Pittsburgh non-profit Community Human Services – raise money for to provide holiday gifts for the people they serve.  Community Human Services, CHS – works with lots of Pittsburghers who often fall outside of the toy drives that provide gifts for kids and the elderly.

CHS-PENS-border

2 Days to Raise $2200

In 2012 – we had a great response and raised $5000 – enough money so CHS could provide a small gift for an additional 200 people.  Earlier this week – it was brought to my attention that we have only raised HALF of what was raised last year.

I am determined to help CHS raise the remaining funds – we still need to raise $2200 so that they can provide some holiday cheer for everyone who was supported last year.

It would be great if we could get all of the funds collected by Sunday – that way there is still time to get the last gifts together for the Christmas holiday.

If you could give $10, $20 or even more to support CHS – we can reach this goal!  Click here to donate to Community Human Services online.

What about those Pens Tickets?

Thanks to a generous donor once we reach the $2500 mark – they will donate a pair of Pens tickets to be raffled off!  Every dollar donated to CHS gets you an entry to win.  The more you give the more chances you have to win!  But we have to raise at least $2500 – so make sure to spread the word.

2 Tickets & Parking Pass

Penguins vs. Washington Capitals 

Loge Box 21, Captain Morgan Club

Wednesday, January 15, 2014

Donate to CHS and Enter to Win!

Every dollar donate to CHS on the Crowdrise page gets you an entry to win.  Use the widget below or click here to donate.

Fundraising Websites – Crowdrise

If you have already contributed to CHS – Thank You! You will be entered to win. Please tell your friends and help us spread the word.

Learn More about CHS

CHS was started in 1970 and is located in Oakland.  The organization serves all areas of the city and offers programs to prevent and reduce homelessness, runs mental health residential programs and runs a community food pantry. CHS has been named one of the best places to work in 2013 by the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.

Visit the CHS website – http://www.chscorp.org/

Voter Guides and Election Day Links for Pittsburgh

Tuesday, November 6 is election day – in addtion to voting for the President – there are lots of other races on the ballot that should be on your radar.  But just as importantly for Pittsburgh – May 21, 2013 is the primary election for Mayor of the City of Pittsburgh and even-numbered city council seats.  If you aren’t registered to vote – please take a moment to register so you are ready for the Primary election in May.  Click here to fill out a voter registration form.

Below are some links to voting resources as well as local voting guides and endorsements from Pittsburgh bloggers.  We are posting links to guides and blog posts from both democrats and republicans.

Find Your Poling Place & Voting Info

Poling Place Locator:

  • Vote411.org – a non-partisan polling place locator run by the League of Women Voters
  • VotesPA.com – PA Department of State’s Voting Info Website

Election Protection

  • 866ourvote.org or call 1-866-687-8683
  • Additionally the Post-Gazette would like to be notified of any voting issues from their Facebook page “Also, please notify the Post-Gazette about irregularities by sending an email to localnews@post-gazette.com with subject line ‘Voting Problems.'”

Voter Guides

Last week we asked our followers on Facebook and Twitter to share links to voter guides – the following we submitted to us.

#VotePGH – Tweet The Vote

We’ll be following the hashtag #votepgh and sharing photos and links through election day – please use #votepgh in your tweets so we can follow along

What Pittsburgh Bloggers Are Saying About the Election

Here are some posts by local bloggers about the election.

If you have a post about the election or a voter guide we should add to the list please leave the link in the comments below.

Check Out Some Fashionable & Sustainable Pgh Businesses – Tula & Kelly Lane Open Houses

Pittsburgh is usually not known for being uber-fashionable, some may say that Pittsburgh is a good 10 years behind other cities in terms of our fashion sense.  Others are confused by our pro-sports dress code.  Only in Pittsburgh is a yellow hand towel considered an import accessory by everyone.

But there are some amazing businesses working to make Pittsburgh look better – this weekend both Tula Organic Salon and designer Kelly Lane are hosting open houses where you can check out their work spaces and save big on on their goods.  I have had the honor of learning about both of these businesses for some time.  I was luck to get an invite to one of the Kelly Lane sales at Kelly’s House a few years ago.  Tula Organic officially opened their doors in April – but the idea has been in the works since last summer.  Tula’s co-owner, Emily Askin, is a good friend of mine.  It is so exciting to see their idea for Tula Organic Salon and Spa become a reality.  Both of these businesses are hosting open houses this weekend and you should stop buy and say hello.

Kelly Lane

Kelly Lane Lake Side Dress

Kelly Lane is a clothing line that is based here in Pittsburgh.  Kelly Simpson-Scupelli designs dresses, skirts and tops that are sold around the globe.  Kelly Lane clothing is crafted with eco-friendly fabrics and is manufactured in the US.  Kelly Lane dresses have been featured on a number of fashion blogs.  Check out Kelly Lane’s Galaxy Dress featured in Eco-Salons list of top 10 Holiday Dresses.  Read more about Kelly Lane in the Post-Gazette profile of her business from March here.

Kelly Lane Spring Studio Sale
Deal Alert – 10-50% off past collections and on-of-a-kind samples

Friday, June 15 4pm-9pm
Saturday, June 16 10am-3pm
Ice House Studios (Lawrenceville) 100 43rd Street, Suite 108 Pittsburgh, PA 15201
Facebook Event – http://www.facebook.com/events/100704620072122/ 

Tula Organic Salon and Spa 

Tula Organic Interior

Tula Organic Salon and Spa is a new Aveda salon that opened in Pittsburgh this spring.  The owners of Tula are committed to sustainability.  Many elements in their new salon space were built by Pittsburgh artist Wade Caruso using reclaimed wood.  Stop by on Saturday evening to meet owners Emily and Becky and to learn more about their services

Tula Organic Open House
Deal Alert – to celebrate their opening – Tula is offering a $10 gift card bonus for each $50 gift card purchased
Saturday, June 16 5pm-10pm
Tula Organic Salon and Spa (Sq. Hill) 2629 Murray Ave, Pittsburgh PA 15217
Facebook Event – http://www.facebook.com/events/321519234594240/