Tuesday, July 31, 2012

Under the Tent at Schenley Plaza


Positively Pittsburgh Live News 7-30-12




Steel Wheels (Bluegrass)--South Park Amphitheater 2012 Concert Series
Free and Almost Free in Pittsburgh
Friday, August 3, 2012, 7:30 pm
South Park Amphitheatre, Brownsville Rd., South Park, PA 15129

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Love Front Porch.com
We are saddened any time there is a senseless shooting. One brave Pittsburgh artist located in Homewood (one of the most violent neighborhoods in the US) is doing something about it. If there is a way you can help Vanessa with a donation or art supplies, please do so. You can also drop them off at my stores in Brentwood or Monroeville and I will get them to her. Put my name on the box: Noreen McGinnis Campbell


love front porch is about love, art, and community. love front porch says: believe in what you believe in, love what you love, let it be what it is and do what it has to do. love front porch believes that courage is imperative. love front porch believes in the power of art. love front porch knows that art heals.

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They’re Creepy and they’re Kooky… Meet the Addams Family!

Pittsburgh gives a spine-chilling welcome to one of the spookiest families we know… The Addams Family! The weird and wonderful bunch comes to devilishly delightful life in The Addams Family, a new musical comedy.  The family will be making their way to the Benedum Center from July 31- August 12 and it’s going to be frighteningly unforgettable.

Wednesday Addams, the ultimate princess of darkness, is in love for the very first time! And it's with someone surprisingly…normal! Things get a little terrifying when the Addams Family invites this ordinary bunch over for a not-so-ordinary dinner.

The Pittsburgh CLO invites you to meet the family and see all the spooks and kooks! Don’t worry; they’ll leave the lights off for you. For tickets, visit here.

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Beat the Heat at the Water Steps!
The high-temperatures this summer could easily make you want to escape the outdoors and hide out in the cool air-conditioning.  But you don’t want to waste this abundance of sunshine!  A perfect way to cool off Downtown is to head over to the North Shore and visit the Water Steps at Riverfront Park.

The Water Steps
The Water Steps are an interactive public water fountain, perfect for dipping your feet in or even letting the kiddos bring their suits and go for a swim!  The layers of sandstone steps have an endless amount of cool and refreshing water cascading down them at all times of the day.  While you sit and get reenergized, you can gaze over at the incredible view of the Pittsburgh skyline.

The North Shore is full of awesome attractions!  You can stop by Jerome Bettis’ Grille 66 for some great grub, catch a cool concert at Stage AE, or examine an exciting exhibit at the Carnegie Science Center.

You definitely want to experience the Water Steps before the summer comes to an end, so don’t be shy and head on over!  It’s fun and free, and great for all ages!

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Special Summer Sightseeing Savings
The Gateway Clipper Fleet is celebrating the 25th birthday of their flagship boat, the Majestic! In honor of the special anniversary and thanking loyal customers of Pittsburgh, Gateway Clipper is offering special summer savings now throughSeptember 3.

Screaming for ice cream? You can bring a friend and board the Ice Cream Social Cruise for just $25 for a pair of tickets. Do you have your sight set on sailing? Take $7 off any One Hour Sightseeing, Good Ship Lollipop or History Cruise.

Offers are good for up to the purchase of eight tickets only and are not valid on prior reservations, offers, coupons or discounts. Call 412-355-7980 to reserve your special summer spot!

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You've just received an exclusive invitation to attend an advance screening of:
Total Recall
Thursday August 02, 2012
7:30 PM - West Homestead, PA

To learn more about the screening or to reserve a pass, click here.
Please hurry as there are only a limited number of tickets available.


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Spark and Hustle with Tory Johnson
Thursday August 9th, 2012 9:00 am
DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Pittsburgh, 101 DoubleTree Drive, Greentree, PA 15205
(412) 922-8400

Tory Johnson brings Spark & Hustle to take over Pittsburgh for one jam-packed, high-energy day enabling you to experience big breakthroughs in your business and yourself. You’ll learn, laugh, and leave with a treasure trove of value.

Women attend our events for two main reasons: content and connections. Learn fresh ways to build your business and boost your bottom line and meet prospective clients, customers, collaborators and champions. For more details click here.

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UMOJA African Arts Company in partnership with CitiParks to Host the
African-American Festival being held at Point State Park in Downtown Pittsburgh

African Arts in the Park Festival is dedicated to the demonstration and promotion of African and African Diaspora Arts in Pittsburgh and surrounding areas. This year’s theme, “Bridging African Rhythms and Jazz”, appeals to people of all backgrounds recognizing that African music is a strong contributor to the genre of jazz music. 

Umoja’s mission,” to raise awareness and increase appreciation for the rich cultures of Africa and their influence on the world”, utilizes the African Arts in the Park as a wonderful event for such an exposition.  Plan on stopping by Umoja African Arts Company’s 8th Annual African Arts in the Park Festival, August 11th & 12th, 2012, in Point State Park from 11AM-7PM in the center of Downtown Pittsburgh. Read the entire release here.

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Hug-A-Thon Pittsburgh Group Hug Party

Saturday, August 11, 2012 - 2:00 pm - 4:30 pm
Schenley Plaza, 4100 Forbes Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15213

Join us as we engage "Largest Group Hug in a Tent.”
If you are a hugger come out and join us and get in our picture to document the "Largest Group Hug in a Tent!" The final picture will be sent to www.recordsetter.com. This is a family friendly event with food, entertainment, and lots of Hugging going on.

Help worthy charities, and win a party for your group. Gather your friends and co-workers in a group hug, take a picture and post it to our Facebook page! The biggest group hug wins an exclusive party, courtesy of Sam's Club, and will be recorded on http://recordsetters.com. 


Winner to be announced on August 11, 2012, Under the Tent at Schenley Park Pavilion. 

For more information and rules, visit http://facebook.com/hugathonpittsburgh.com


For your entry to be valid you must donate $5.00 for each member in the hug. $300 per corporate table.


Our Charities: Cancer Caring Center, Sickle Cell Foundation, Pittsburgh Passion's Passion for Life Foundation, Operation Troop Appreciation

Sponsored by PositivelyPittsburghLiveMagazine.com, Building Bridges for Business, American Income Life.

Causual attire, attendee pays parking. For more information, contact Joanne Quinn Smith at  412-444-5197 or info@hugathonpittsburgh.com
  
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The Roving Pittsburgher Report

Operation Troop Appreciation
Operation Troop Appreciation (OTA) honors those serving in the military and veteran's from the area in very special ways. Tucked into a space at the lower level of Century III Mall, OTA has created a public military tribute space that honors veterans from WWII through current day deployments. The space also serves as the charities headquarters, providing the public with an opportunity to sign thank you cards for the troops, make monetary donations or drop off items the group sends to our troops overseas. They are open Tuesday andThursday from noon – 9 pm and Saturday from 10 am – 4 pm.  Visit OTA today and help support our troops! To learn more, please visit their website here or follow them on Facebook.






Tamarind

2101 Greentree Road, Pittsburgh PA 15220, 412.278.4848

On Sunday afternoon until 3:00 pm, you can get a great buffet, although for the Western taste it might be a bit spicy. It is $10.00 for all you can eat and these were our favorites:

Idly - steamed rice and lentil pattie
Dahi Vada- fried lentil donuts dipped in yogurt sauce
Chilly Chicken/paneer/gobi (dry) chicken sautéed with spices, chilies & herbs

Meenakshi Kapoor’s Family Hug
And the bonus… I got a big hug from my Indian friend Meenakshi Kapoor’s family.  We are practicing for Hug-A-Thon Pittsburgh Day. Participating in the hug were Meenakshi’s two aunts and uncle, and her father Paddim who we call Papa.







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This was reported as a reproduction of PositvelyPittsburghLive news done by Joanne Quinn-Smith. (c) Joanne Quinn-Smith and PositivelyPittsburghLive(TM) 2012 All rights reserved.


Tara Darazio is a Positively Pittsburgh Live reporter, an independent copywriter, blogger, article writer, and social media strategist. If you are in need of writing assistance, or need help with your social media efforts connect with Tara on LinkedIn here.


Positively Pittsburgh Live! Schmorgasports--Sampling of Burgh Sports Teams 7-30-12


Positively Pittsburgh Live!
Schmorgasports--Sampling of Burgh Sports Teams
 7-30-12

Yes, Pittsburgh is the City of Champions with winning teams like the Penguins and Steelers and this year the Pirates have had a pretty good year, too. But Pittsburgh really is a sports town with so many outstanding teams. Tonight's guests are just a few of them. A sampling of the intense sports climate that envelopes the City of Pittsburgh.


Guests:
Kimberly L. ZubovicGeneral Manager, Pittsburgh Passion
Anthony Simasek, Player/President of the Pittsburgh Rugby Football Club
Justin Evans, Head Coach and Director of Business Relations, Pittsburgh Riverhounds

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Pittsburgh Passion
2012 National Championship Weekend
Weekend of August 3rd- August 5th

The Pittsburgh Passion will host the inaugural 2012 Breaking Barriers Festival, featuring the SilverSport Women’s Football Alliance National Championship on Saturday, August 4th at Heinz Field.

2012 marks the 40th Anniversary of Title IX and also the 40th Anniversary of the Immaculate Reception. Four decades after a collective threshold of breaking barriers, the two will commemorate at the legendary home of the City of Champions. This will be the first Women’s Championship in history to be hosted at an NFL Stadium.

August 3rd, 5:30-7:30 pm: VIP Reception, hosted by the Heinz History Center, the largest history museum in Pennsylvania. For all WFA Team Owners, Host Committee Members, Guest Speakers, All Star Members and National Partner representatives. 8:00 pm:  Meet N Greet, open to all players and fans! Come mingle and meet everyone in Pittsburgh! Drink specials at the Pittsburgh Bar and Grille.

August 4th, 4:00 pm: Championship, The 2012 SilverSport Women’s Football Alliance National Championship will showcase the best of women’s football nationwide!

Kimberly L. Zubovic
Tickets include admission to the National Championship Game, the Immaculate Tailgate Challenge, the Fan Fest on the Plaza, and the Hall of Fame Enshrinement!

ESPN3, espnW, ESPN OnDemandCoverage will be provided by ESPN3 and espnW, making the event available to more than 73 million homes nationwide! The highlights of the Championship weekend will also play nationally on ESPN OnDemand!






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Pittsburgh Rugby Club
Anthony Simasek is a current player and the President of the Pittsburgh Rugby Football club.  He started playing rugby nine years ago at the University of Virginia and has been a part of the game ever since.  In addition to playing and administering for the Pittsburgh Rugby Club, he is also the head coach of the University of Pittsburgh Women's Rugby Club.

The Pittsburgh Rugby Football Club was established in 1964. Since that time, the club has identified itself as an organization of diverse and colorful people with one common passion: to play the best rugby possible. In the long history of the club, people from all occupations have played for the team including doctors, lawyers, mechanics, students, police officers, engineers, etc. The team has grown to represent the city from which it has sprung. Whether it be its diverse makeup of members, its hardworking and gritty reputation, or even the colors it wears (Black and Gold), the PRFC is the city’s team. They play in the city. They practice in the city. Hence their nickname as they have come to be known around town – “Pitt-City.”

They currently have two men's and one women's team. The men play in the Midwest Division 2 and Division 3 leagues and the women play in the Midwest Division 2 league. The women have been national finalists in Division 2 for three of the last four years. This past year, the men qualified for the Midwest playoffs and lost to the eventual D2 National runner up. In addition to being players, they also provide coaching for the University of Pittsburgh Men and Women's programs, as well as high school programs like Fox Chapel girls and Sto-Rox boys. The teams practice in the Spring, Summer, and Fall on Tuesday and Thursday evenings and play games throughout the Midwest and East coast on Saturdays.  

In addition to fielding rugby teams they also own a bar in the Southside, "Rugger's Pub" - where you can always find a friendly rugger on Thursday and Saturday evenings. They also host one of the largest one day collegiate rugby tournaments each year at Coopers Lake Campground in Slippery Rock, PA. The Pittsburgh Brewfest, which has grown into a large beer tasting event, is hosted each November by the Pittsburgh Rugby Club and features over 80 beers, 1,200 people, live music and is a great way to enjoy local craft brewers.

For more information on the Club or for info on how to join, visit their website at www.pghrugby.com.

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Pittsburgh Riverhounds
Founded in 1999 as a member of the United Soccer Leagues’ A-League, the Pittsburgh Riverhounds have brought elite soccer to Western Pennsylvania and are the only pro soccer team in the Tri-State Area. 

The Riverhounds recruit players from top programs around the country and the world. Since established, the Riverhounds have not had an official home field and have played at CONSOL Energy Stadium in Washington, Pa as well as a handful of local high schools around the area. In 2007, the team obtained new ownership and began to develop a presence in the area. During this same year, the Riverhounds brokered a relationship with Everton Football Club of England to create a developmental program for youth soccer players. 

The Riverhounds Academy has grown in participation, programming, and value and has proved to be a soccer Academy where young players are trained by the professionals.  The growth of the Academy in the area has been a catalyst for the new stadium. During the fall of 2010, the Riverhounds joined the USL PRO Division created by the United Soccer Leagues. The division sits just below Major League Soccer and will serve as a stepping stone for players looking to jump to the next level. 

The season runs from April through September. For more information, please visit their website at www.riverhounds.com.

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This was reported as a reproduction of PositvelyPittsburghLive news done by Joanne Quinn-Smith. (c) Joanne Quinn-Smith and PositivelyPittsburghLive(TM) 2012 All rights reserved.


Tara Darazio is a Positively Pittsburgh Live reporter, an independent copywriter, blogger, article writer, and social media strategist. If you are in need of writing assistance, or need help with your social media efforts connect with Tara on LinkedIn here.

Tuesday, July 24, 2012

Hug-A-Thon PittsburghSecond Night at the Races, 7 Ways to Win


Second Fundraiser, Night at the Races 
Yunz comin'?  

Second fundraiser to support

Hug-A-Thon Pittsburgh Day


Pittsburgh Hugs the World!

"World Class Pittsburgh Hugs supporting

Home Town Pittsburgh Charities."

The Actual Event is not until September 6, 2012
But the Support Event is August 1, 2012 over 80 people are attending!  Are Yunz' comin'?

Win with Hug-A-Thon Pittsburgh

Here are the wins: 
Win1:  You help to create an event that will raise money for Pittsburgh Charities. 
Win 2:  You get to hang out with some great "Winning" Personalities. 
Win 3:  You get to watch the races and have a chance to Win yourself. 
Win 4:  You get to eat Bistecca's Winning Food. 
Win 5:  You get $10.00 in Free Play
Win 6:  You get a ticket to  the Women's Footballl Championship three days later on August 4 and watch the Pittsburgh Passion WIN the championship. 
Win 7:  You get a raffle chance to WIN
That's Win, Win, Win, Win, Win!  See you on August 1 at Hug-A-Thon Pittsburgh Night at the Races!

Donation is $45.00, you can't beat that.  

This is what you get?

To register:   Click Here


Come to Hug-A-Thon Pittsburgh's ™ Night at the Races 
Be there by 6:30p.m. Wednesday Night August 1, 2012
We will watch LIVE horse racing at the 
Meadows Racetrack and Casino, Upper Level Adios Rooms
There will be three designated Hug-A-Thon Pittsburgh™ races for the Winner Circle Photos. (This is for Sponsors only!)

Watch the races from the Luxurious Upper Level Suites
  • 50/50 Drawing
  • FREE APPETIZERS
  • FREEPLAY ($10)
  • Fun! Fun! Fun!
  • Cash BAR
  • Ticket to Women's Championship Football Playoff atr Heinz Field, Saturday August 4
  • Complements of Pittsburgh Passion Women's Football, You also are entered into a chance to have dinner with Franco Harris, tickets to the Steelers game/w/parking pass and 3 nights/4 days in Orlando and choice of tickets to various entertainment parks in Florida

To register:   Click Here

Techno Granny and PositivelyPittsburghLiveMagazine are throwing another party! This is to benefit the Hug-A-Thon Pittsburgh  A City Wide Event.

Hugs are Free on September 6, 2012 but the budget for the event is not!  So we need your help.
Hug-A-Thon Pittsburgh™ Day will be held on September 6, 2012. This is a City Wide Event to raise awareness and funds for our local charities.
To find out more about Hug-A-Thon Pittsburgh™ Day go to our Facebook page and like it to get continuous updates.
Missed the first Night at the Races? You Missed a Great Party!

To find out about Hug-A-ThonPittsburgh Day

Click Here


Come to Hug-A-Thon Pittsburgh's ™ Night at the Races 
Be there by 6:30p.m. Wednesday Night August 1, 2012
We will watch LIVE horse racing at the Meadows Racetrack and Casino
There will be three designated Hug-A-Thon Pittsburgh™ races for the Winner Circle Photos.

Watch the races from the Luxurious Upper Level Suites
  • 50/50 Drawing
  • FREE APPETIZERS
  • FREEPLAY ($10)
  • Fun! Fun! Fun!
  • Cash Bar
  • Entry into Great Vacation Package, Steeler Tickets, Dinner with Franco
To register:   Click Here
Your Business can Become a Sponsor. We have great sponsorship packages. See Below! 

If you are one of our wonderful fans and want to hang out with other PositivePittsburghers, then you can purchase anindividual ticket or group sponsorship package!

Call with a credit card to:
Mary Pam Kilgore 412-854-4827 or Al Levine 412-973-9611
OR
Email your name number of tickets and payment information to:

This will be the first time four you to meet our Hug-A-Thon Pittsburgh Charties
Cancer Caring Center
Sickle Cell Society, Inc.
Pittsburgh Passion's  "Passion for Life Foundation"

Operation Troop Appreciation


If you are one of our wonderful fans and want to hang out with other PositivePittsburghers, then you can purchase an individual ticket or group sponsorship package!

Positively Pittsburgh Live News 7-23-12


Positively Pittsburgh Live News 7-23-12

Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre Sets Stage for 2012-2013 Season
with Free “Ballet Under the Stars” Performance at Hartwood Acres


Gather your blankets and picnic chairs, and relax under the stars for Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre’s 24th annual open air performance at the Hartwood Acres Middle Road Concert Area on Thursday, August 16, at 7:30 p.m. with pre-performance activities beginning at 5 p.m.

As part of the Allegheny Summer Concert Series, PBT will perform a free evening of mixed repertoire by August Bournonville, George Balanchine and Dwight Rhoden. Prior to the performance, PBT will host a variety of free, family activities and a VIP picnic dinner under the PBT tent.
Read the entire release here

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Free and Almost Free in Pittsburgh
5880 Centre Ave, Pittsburgh, PA"Five Buck Friday! Every Friday through Labor Day from 5pm to 7pm. Join us outside at the grill for seasonal plates that will change weekly. For just $5 you will receive a sample size entree along with a side of your choice. While strolling the store each Friday from 5pm to 7pm, you will have the opportunity to sample our Local items."

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Celebrate & Share Invites You to the  4th  Annual Breakfast at the Rivers Club 
Celebrate the 92nd Anniversary of the passage of the 19th Amendment! Tuesday, August 28, 2012, Rivers Club, Oxford Centre Downtown, Pittsburgh, PA, 7:45 am - 9:30 am. Donation - $45, Honorary Sponsors- $92.00, Table of 10: $450, Founding Sponsors $1,000. Hosted by Bonnie DiCarlo & JoAnn R. Forrester. Make your reservation by calling Bonnie at 412-480-5247 or emailing her at bonnie255@aol.com or call Joanne at 412.440.6969 or email her at selfimagebz@aol.com.

Join us for a special presentation on "What does the Right to Vote Mean to Me?"
Hear our distinguished panel of women talk about what the Right to Vote means to them. Panelists: Georgia Berner, Owner of Berner International, Inc, & Berner Energy, Inc; Christy Uffelman, V. President of Employee & Organization Development, Mascaro Inc.; Kelly L. Enders, Esquire, Caroselli Beachler McTiernan & Conboy; Danielle Howard, Marketing & Sales Agent, Grace Robinson Insurance Agency; Cynthia Shapira, Senior Policy Advisor to County Executive, Rich Fitzgerald.

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JAZZSPACE Resident Artists
Are hittin' the Pittsburgh scene with exciting performances all around the city. Don't miss your opportunity to check out these future jazz masters, starting with Cool Like Dat (The Redux) on July 24. Definitely unique and definitely COOL, this night is inspired by the 90s jazz-hip hop fusion hit. It will feature a collage of some of the hippest young artists in town.

Next, we hope you'll join us at Umoja's African Arts in the Park on Saturday, August 11. Downtown for the second year in a row, this free, eclectic event has something for everyone. Anqwenique will join Joe and his band, KINETIC, for a set of original tunes inspired by jazz, African pop, and African traditional music.

Finally, please SAVE THE DATE for Friday, August 17 for the JAZZSPACE Debut Concert! This will be a fun evening all about the next generation of Jazz in one of the jazziest new venues in town. Keep your eyes peeled for when we announce this location and tickets on sale by email, Facebook, and Twitter. Next week! More details here

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Penny Folino honored among Women in the Restaurant Industry
Penny Folino have been selected as a woman of outstanding leadership in the Restaurant Industry. Penny takes her place among iconic women, including Michelle Li.  Having owned restaurants in China, Michelle headed to the United States to fulfill her dream of owning and franchising pancake restaurants.  Now open for business in San Marino, California, Michelle is currently developing her franchise plan. Michelle is a Featured Leader at The IWLA.
We live in a demanding world!  Women are challenged to balance their lives in and out of the workplace, at home, and in the community.  These challenges require that we establish meaningful resources that provide options without obligation, efficiency with effectiveness, relationships with reliability.

These are the aspirations of The IWLA: to inspire you to continue to pursue personal and professional development, to surpass your own expectations, and to support other women as they strive to do the same.

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NAWBO Awards
As the 2011-2012 NAWBO year comes to a close, it is The Pittsburgh Chapter of NAWBO tradition to recognize the women in our organization and in the Greater Pittsburgh area who have contributed their time, energy and talents to women business owners, to NAWBO and to our community.  We will also recognize our new members and share news on local and national benefits of NAWBO membership..
Please join us for NAWBO's Annual /Awards Celebration.  Reserve the date, Wednesday, August 15th.  We invite you to join us for a special luncheon of celebration of great businesspersons and their friends.  The luncheon will be held at the Grand Concourse, Station Square. Registration and networking start at 1:00 PM.  The cost of the luncheon is $35.00. Read the entire release here.
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9th Annual Mid Summer Tennis Classic
Saturday, July 29
Mike and Dom have been organizing this tournament since 2004 and are now accepting registrations.To enter, go to their website below and click on the tennis ball for an entry form. 

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Baseball Stories from The Pittsburgh Quarterly Team
As we await the continuation of the Pirates' exciting season, we thought you might like to read a few baseball stories until play resumes Friday night.

First is an outstanding profile on the hottest player in the majors—Andrew McCutchen—written by the late Bruce Keidan: Eye on the ball.

Second, and appropos of the All-Star break, here's a story containing interviews of Major League greats on their recollections of Pittsburgh. It's a fascinating historical piece from many of the game's biggest names, recalling Pittsburgh through the years. Read: Pittsburgh's claim to fame.

Finally, if you want a better understanding of Pittsburgh's prominence in the old Negro Leagues, read the Golden Quill winner, The black diamond and see how "tricky baseball" dominated the Hill District's Pittsburgh Crawfords, while the Homestead Grays represented the city's black establishment. 

We wish you a wonderful summer and let's go Bucs!

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Roving Pittsburgher Report

Bigelow Grille
One Bigelow Square Pittsburgh, PA 15219, 412-281-5013

I had lunch at the Bigelow Grill in the Doubletree by Hilton Downtown to close the deal to do the gala for Hug-A-Thon Pittsburgh Day on September 6, 2012. I had the Organic Chopped Salad: romaine, avocados, swiss cheese, tomato, cucumbers, bacon, egg, corn, scallion, bell peppers, salmon, with house Balsamic vinaigrette.

Perogies for starters, cheddar cheese loaded with butter, not heart healthy and definitely holds up over all of the Pittsburgh ethnic church kitchens. For dessert we took home tins of famous Doubletree chocolate chip and nut fresh cookies. I had to give them away to my accountant and his eighty two year old mother because just one tasted like an instant coronary, as did the perogies.  But at least I would have died happy.

Will the Three Sisters find happiness?
Chekhov's Three Sisters, translated with a distinctly American flair by Paul Schmidt, directed by Harriet Power. Pittsburgh Irish Classical Theatre. Jo Ann Forrester’s review started with “Chekov’s “Three Sisters” makes me happy divorce is now an acceptable way of resolving crappy marriages made in haste in youth and repented in leisure in old age."  Review link to come

Billy Price Concert Market Square, Friday, July 20, 2012
The feeling of impending rain and the wet seats from the downpour that had just ended did not daunt the spirits of Billy Price Fans as he belted out his unique brand of soul. The scene would remind you of a piazza in Italy with all of the restaurants opened onto Market Square Bar and Grille, the Diamond Market,  La Gondola Pizzeria, Mo’s Southwest Bar and Grill and Nola Café.  We chose Nola Café, the epitome of outdoor dining in Market Square.

NOLA on the Square
24 Market Sqaure, Pittsburgh, PA 15222, 412-471-9100The drinks were “healthy” and reasonable and the Gumbo and Oyster Stew were both outstanding. The Oyster Stew featuring artichoke hearts, sherry and huge plump oysters was a meal in itself and so was the Creole Gumbo. This is direct from their website: “NOLA ON THE SQUARE, a New Orleans Jazz Brasserie located on beautifully renovated Market Square. A breathtaking transformation of the storied 1902 Landmark Tavern, a Nouveau Creole menu by Executive Chef Andrew Hebson, Bourbon Street cocktails, live jazz and blues music at least twice a week all contribute to that Big Easy vibe.” For once, I could not have said it better.


George Takai, Zulu, sighting in Market Square
Just when I though it couldn’t get any better, soul, great food, congenial environment, my partner in crime discovered George Takai walking into Nola’s. Billy Price, Creole food and George Takai in one night. That was probably more than this cardiac patient should experience in one night.

To see Techno Granny’s  star struck Star Trek fan moment click here.

And then George Takai, Zulu, sat downWhat a treat!




Grandview Saloon Regained its Name
1212 Grandview Ave. Mt. Washington, Pittsburgh, PA 15211, 412-431-1400
Still wonderful dining in the open air with a view of Pittsburgh. The food is wonderful and we could hear the concert in Station Square from on top of the Mountain.  Pittsburgh really is an amazing city.  My friend had a pulled pork sandwich that he said was “almost as good as his daughter in law’s.”  I had an amazing Greek Peasant salad with artichoke hearts, mixed greens and Greek herbed potatoes. It was both fresh and huge.

Serendipity
Two PPG Place, First Floor, Market Square, Pittsburgh, PA 15222, 412-325-1122
Serendipity "Accessories to express yourself.” Serendipity has been in the Pittsburgh downtown area for nine years. They carry awesome fashion accessories like designer hats. We met Kim Coppola, and her personality is as bubbly and facilitating as her accessories. I found two big beautiful large brim hats-- Big Brim Sunhat 50+ UPF Protection, malleable great for travel, that means it folds without destroying it, and completely packable. I am going back for a powder blue hat with a huge purple voile flower and a red one.  Also, the jewelry looks like it should be hundreds of dollars instead of $40.00 to $50.00 for big bold green agate necklaces.  What a find for accessories!

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This was reported as a reproduction of PositvelyPittsburghLive news done by Joanne Quinn-Smith. (c) Joanne Quinn-Smith and PositivelyPittsburghLive(TM) 2012 All rights reserved.


Tara Darazio is a Positively Pittsburgh Live reporter, an independent copywriter, blogger, article writer, and social media strategist. If you are in need of writing assistance, or need help with your social media efforts connect with Tara on LinkedIn here.