Pittsburgh Dish

Manteca sale on again

Reese releases plan to neighbors

Photos by Frank Kownacki

North Side resident Henry Reese, co-founder of the City of Asylum/Pittsburgh, is expected to finally purchase the troubled Manteca bar located at 1410 Monterey St. in the Mexican War Streets. Reese, a Sampsonia Way resident, balked at purchasing the property last year, leaving neighbors frustrated. A nusiance bar task force has been in place and Zone 1 detectives were collecting testimonies from neighbors affected by violence emanating from the bar.

Reese declared his future intentions for the Manteca and an adjacent building in a letter that he slipped through Monterey mail slots yesterday. The letter, along with a liquor license application posted on the front of the bar, affirms the impending demise of the sometimes violent bar. Update 3/13/08: Shots fired outside the bar

He thanked residents for their patience in the never-ending waiting game.

He calls his newly formed limited liability corporation "Ripen" a name chosen in the "hope that it can spur a surge of good things on the transformation of the Monterey Jacksonia corner begun by the Mattress Factory." The MF is located around the corner from the bar on Sampsonia Way, next to many City of Asylum owned properties that were rehabbed for visiting writers. The MF owns a building on the corner of Jacksonia and Monterey that is used for gallery space.

It is also the spot of a drive-by shooting last summer where the intended victim was seen running into the Manteca.

Reese plans to "create a complex with a bar-restaurant-bookstore and literary related activities." He will establish a "space for poetry, fiction readings, intimate theatre, small scale music and workshop spaces, etc."

His personal goal is to form a place "where all have access to ongoing cultural activity that can inspire and change lives." Reese also hopes to create a source of income to continue the City of Asylum project.

Details still being worked out, Reese wrote. No project schedules are in place at this time. Earlier, Reese purchased two properties north of the Manteca to be used as parking for Ripe. The homes were destroyed, upsetting some neighbors who say that city zoning regulations prohibit the property from being used for parking.

Update 3/13/08:Shots fired outside the bar and how city and state official's ignored a judge's warnings about the bar 13 years ago.

AGH finally steps up to the plate

Hospital to renovate vacant building; others uncertain

Photo by Frank Kownacki

After rotting for 31 years under the ownership of Allegheny General Hospital, the boarded up Aeberli Funeral Home building on the corner of Sandusky Street and East North Avenue on the North Side will undergo a $2.5 million restoration. The city declared the 150 year-old house a historical structure and proposed plans required approval by Historic Review Commission.

The first phase will begin this month. The building will be used for administration and retail space.

Although this development is good news, the area is still in a holding pattern.

Still boarded up is the Garden Theater located a few blocks down from the Aeberli. It, too, has been designated as a historical structure but its new owner, the Urban Redevelopment Authority of Pittsburgh, has not indicated when the theater will undergo a face lift.

A few doors down from the Garden sits a blighted building purchased last year by Franco Harris. A source told Dish that Harris has put off plans to develop the property into an organic restaurant until the URA makes a move on the Garden.

Harris was seen hovered over blueprints yesterday at a nearby coffeehouse. The celebrated RB is  having extensive work done on a historic house that he owns (also located on North Avenue) so neighbors hope the blueprints are for the restaurant.

Dish meets DeSantis

Republican mayoral candidate candid in leadup to Nov. 6 election

Photos by Frank Kownacki

Mark DeSantis has a lot going for him. The bright and articulate 48-year-old is Chief Executive Officer of ANGLE Technology Consulting and Management. He has worked as a policy analyst to the Science Adviser of President George H.W. Bush (the first one).

He has also served as an aide to the late Senator John Heinz, the only Republican many Pittsburghers ever voted for. He boasts many advanced degrees.

But last week, DeSantis was in surroundings humbler than the corridors of power or the corporate boardroom as he hosted a $35-a-head fundraiser in the second-floor private party room of the landmark Downtown Mitchell's Restaurant & Bar.

"We beat Ravenstahl in this (fundraising) reporting period," he said with a smile. That's great, but in a city where registered Democrats outnumber Republicans by a 5-to-1 margin, one needs ideas as well as dollars to persuade a stodgy, traditionalist electorate.

By way of ideas, DeSantis mentioned Ft. Wayne, Ind., as a model for what he promises will be a fiscally prudent, performance-based DeSantis administration. Ft. Wayne, he said, compares the cost and benefits to the public of city services to "model" city services provided elsewhere. The results are annually released to the public and Ft. Wayne resident can see, in black-and-white, the bang they get for their tax bucks. This method, DeSantis says, drives city department heads to become increasingly
efficient.

Throughout his campaign, DeSantis has beat the drum of fiscal responsibility, of doing more with less in city government. Another hallmark of the DeSantis campaign is a promise to make Pittsburgh more attractive to entrepreneurs.

DeSantis proposes to eliminate the gross receipts and payroll tax on new business for three years. But what of the revenue lost? Minimal at best. "This region has created zero net private sector jobs in the last seven years," he said.

If this and other incentives to create more private-sector growth are successful, DeSantis says, any cash lost through this tax cut will be recouped as business grows. And, as businesses grow and jobs become more abundant, other tax instruments will bring in more cash to Pittsburgh's coffers without raising tax rates or creating new taxes.

Another method of goosing private sector job growth would be to persuade local foundations and private investors to create a pool of cash for "microloans" to small business, DeSantis said. A small grant of a few hundred or a couple thousand dollars, he said, can go a long way for a small company in its infancy. DeSantis pledged to spearhead a microloan program regardless of his electoral fate Nov. 6. The private investor will be Pittsburgh's salvation, he said, not a bloated government.

If there's an unstated motto for the DeSantis campaign, it might be something along the lines of "Create, Don't Stagnate." And it was perfectly clear after 30 minutes with DeSantis (it would have been longer had his handlers not dragged him away to chat up the people who actually paid to get into the fundraiser--the man likes talking public policy) that he sees the continuation of Luke Ravenstahl's administration as an anchor on this struggling city's prospects.

"Listen, retail politics is dying. Three of the city council candidates endorsed by the (Democratic) party lost," he said. "I'm (in the race) because these guys (the traditional city power brokers) screwed up."

Photo this page: DeSantis chats with North Side residents at Mitchell's

Chocolate factory coming to the North Side?

New neighbor for the Garden? Sweet.

Owners of a prominent Upstate New York chocolate factory were in town over the weekend for a look-see at a building on West North Avenue on the North Side. The large building is located next to the Garden Theater and part of a cluster of buildings the Urban Redevelopment Authority of Pittsburgh (URA) hopes will attract new businesses.

The chocolatiers, who Dish will not name at this time, were extremely interested but apprehensive about renovation costs. But, they said, they had taken a chance on their present location --a city that has gone through an impressive revitalization -- which proved to be a smart business move for them and their community.

Their factory supplies private label and custom chocolates to upscale department stores and grocers (including Whole Foods). A Pittsburgh location would include wholesale as well as a retail shop.

Keep fingers crossed. Dip them in chocolate for extra luck.

Bloomfield bike lanes complete

Pittsburgh pedaling improving

Burgh bikers blazing through Bloomfield Tuesday found freshly painted lanes along Liberty Avenue. The Department of Public Works outlined on-street bike lanes and sharrows (shared lanes) on both sides from The Bloomfield Bridge to Ligonier Street (near Pittsburgh Brewing). Signs were also posted.

Scott Bicker, executive director of Bike Pittsburgh, said the Bloomfield lanes signify the city's willingness to share the roads. A Mellon foundation grant and political support helped fuel the project. On Monday, June 18, Mayor Luke Ravenstahl will ride along the new lanes.

"This has been in the works for so long," said Bicker. "We've been measuring streets, talking to people and going to meetings for years." Grant Street, he said, has backed the idea of increasing road safety for bikers.

"Pittsburgh is more bike friendly than many people think," said Bicker. "Pittsburgh's tricky because there isn't a grid and many of the streets twist around like spaghetti," he said, "but it's not impossible to improve accessibility."

Another bike lane is slated for next week in Squirrel Hill, depending on the availability of Public Works labor. 

In July, Bike PGH will offer maps to help cyclists navigate city streets. Bike PGH, a non-profit group with about 500 members and 2000 newsletter subscribers, will sell the map via its website.

"Two neighborhoods is great but not enough," said Bicker. "We have a long way to go."

Pinkcycle photo by Jeff Glagowski. Click image for larger view.

Click here for fun Bike PGH events

Welcome to progress

East Allegheny mural unveiled

Photos by Frank Kownacki. Click images for larger views.

Scaffolding holding up local artist Dave Edwards came down today, unveiling his latest work of public art.

The mural, part of the North Shore Glass Mural Project in conjuction with the Children’s Museum, is located on the corner of East Ohio and Cedar in Deutschtown on the North Side. The North Side Leadership Conference coordinated the funding along with the Elm Street Community, URA and others.

According to the Pittsburgh Celebrates Glass website, “This project has several aims, primarily to develop a family oriented district in Pittsburgh. The museum has chosen family-friendly places such as The Mattress Factory, the National Aviary, the Carnegie Science Center, the Andy Warhol Museum, the New Hazlett Theatre and Artist Image Resource. Dave Edwards was selected by the National Leadership Conference from a pool of other artists and designers, and he has great plans for the project. The mural features nine crests, each representing various cities in Germany and Switzerland. Edwards said the stained glass and backdrop silhouette of a piano player work together to convey the feeling that the context of the mural is nighttime.”

The mural is 99.5% complete and community logos still need to be added in the next few days. The mural is 3,000 square feet and is 60' or five stories at the tall side. Edwards applied about forty gallons of paint onto the very rough and thirsty brick and mortar wall of the Park House. He worked alone for nine weeks including weekends.

Edwards said the experience drew myriad reactions from passing neighbors.

"'That motherf----er is always on that wall" Shut up man, that motherf----kin boy can paint!" said the man in the park to his friend. I'm 45 years old with two kids in college so being referred to as a boy (along with the other colorful words) made me smile."

"I was visited almost on a daily basis by many older folks from the neighborhood who expressed their heartfelt appreciation that "such a beautiful picture " was being painted. Another elderly man noted that "your mural fits in... it looks like it belongs here." When I heard that I thought I might me doing something right."

The mural could be a sign of progress on the troubled East Ohio Street, which now boasts a new art gallery and, coming soon, “Bistro to Go.”

A ribbon cutting ceremony is scheduled for June 20 at 6:30 p.m.

Billy the Kid tops kid mayor

Garden marquee turf war afoot
Photo by Frank Kownacki. Click for larger view

Mayor Luke Ravenstahl, boy wonder of the world, was to have top billing on the Garden Theater marquee, thanks to his single-handed handiwork in the demise of the house of porn, according to some.

Luke's glory was shot down this week by Billy the Kid, who's rootin' tootin' life will be played out by Quantum Theatre in June.

Dish is investigating rumors that Mayor Luke Ravenstahl has ordered the exhumation of the Old West outlaw in order to, as Ravenstahl put it, “Tattoo my name on his decomposed rump.”*

*Quote may be entirely fictional.

......................................................................................................

Quantum Theatre

The Collected Works of Billy the Kid
Adapted from Michael Ondaatje’s award-winning book of poems and directed by Dan Jemmett

June 14 – July 1. Opening and Press Night: June 15.
Performances: Wednesdays-Fridays at 8 p.m.; Saturdays at 5:30 & 9; Sundays at 7 p.m.

The Garden Theatre
12 W. North Ave., on the corner of W. North Ave. and Federal St., North Side

Tickets: $25 Wednesdays & Sundays; $28 Thursdays & Fridays; $30 Saturdays; plus a limited number of $15 student tickets. Call 412-394-3353 or visit www.proartstickets.org

Shinding sans smut

Party to celebrate The Garden Theater’s demise: Pants mandatory

Click flyer for larger view

Activities Dish would like to see:

• Hide the salami and go seek the penicillin

• The Vivid Video vixen hunt

• What you told your wife you were going to do while fully intending to catch a matinee at The Garden charades

• Balloon/Not a balloon

• The Porn Name Game (ed: Mr. Dish is Kitty D)

• Three-legged race, solo division

• The salad toss

• DVD player buying seminar

• Delouse-a-thon ‘07

Police push pilot program

Cops hope crime fighting website catches on

On March 8, Police and neighbors on Fleming Street on the North Side worked together to nab a thief, who struck a home while cops were en route to the location. A suspected was apprehended and neighbors identified him. Turned out the suspect was responsible for several unsolved copper pipe robberies in the area.

Neighbors were connected, shared information with each other and the police. All this happened at the scene, face-to-face, door-to-door. But neighbors two blocks over may not have heard about the crime or the arrest. Sometimes word-of-mouth isn't enough.

Watchful neighbors now have another tool to use to help keep their streets safe. Zone 1 police are using a St. Paul-based website called Citizen Observer, a site that sends out alerts, fugitive descriptions and crime prevention information. Registration is free.

"We are providing information that will include new ways to keep us all connected and informed and will help keep our community safer," the website reads.

Once registered, alerts can be received via email, fax, pager or cell phone. All tips are anonymous and no information is posted that could jeopardize a case.

Zone 1 is the pilot station for the crime fighting website, which was launched on Feb 23. Funding was provided through the North Side Leadership Council as well as a host of banks. If successful, the program may go citywide.

"Our goal is to get all of the North Side registered on this site," said Officer Forrest Hodges, who is the community relations/crime prevention officer for the North Side. "You never know when you can help a neighbor." Hodges attends several neighborhood safety meetings per week and is plugged into North Side Block Watch campaigns and community groups.

While Hodges doesn't know how many residents have signed up yet, he said the program is "going very well."

 

Amani Cafe wraps neighborhood in warm embrace

Inside Terra Jones' new North Side coffeehouse

Pittsburgh native Terra Jones stands behind the counter of her recently opened East Allegheny coffeehouse with pride, enthusiasm and a smile to match.

The University of Pittsburgh grad has created a neighborhood gathering place in East Allegheny that is comfy and warm and lives up to her motto: "Uniting cultures with one cup." Amani which means “peace” in Swahili, draws all ages and races, not just the typical hipster looking for free wireless.

The coffeeshouse, located a block from East Ohio Street, is tucked into a neighborhood in desperate need of a meeting place where you can relax with friends over coffee, tinker on your computer or grab a salad and read the paper. With a gallery space adjacent to the cafe, it's roomy enough to accommodate larger groups but without the feel of a cavernous Starbucks. Revolving art exhibits and live jazz are in the works for the larger space.

Amani offers fair trade coffee, teas and a menu that includes soups, salads and wraps.

Jones, with assistance from the Northside Community Development Fund, has the focus and drive needed for a small business. She's created a hip place out of an empty space that most developers might overlook.

She has every reason to smile. As will you.

Try the Grilled Chicken Caesar wrap!

Amani International Coffeehouse & Café, 507 Foreland St., North Side, 412-537-5510

Peduto declares for mayor

Promises a populist path to Grant Street.

Flanked by a man wearing a balloon chapeau and a young girl holding a "Peeps for Peduto" sign, City Councilman Bill Peduto officially threw his uninflated hat into the mayoral ring last night.

The 42 year-old Point Breeze resident launched his second bid for mayor in front of about 300 supporters at the Union Project in Highland Park. Vowing to "build a new Pittsburgh," Peduto called his crusade "the people's campaign."

"Pittsburgh is not a city in decline, it's a city in transition," Peduto said. He called the city's hospitals, universities and small businesses the new steel mills. He claimed his election would empower the people to seize the Democratic Party machine which has ruled Grant Street for years.

While not naming him, Peduto alluded that his opponent, Mayor Luke Ravenstahl, is a cog in the machine. He called for "independent, responsible, experienced leadership," and said that the city "needs independent leadership to dismantle the political machine."

Peduto lost in the 2005 primary to Bob O'Connor who died Sept 1. Ravenstahl rose from City Council President to mayor soon after.

Ravenstahl quickly became a celebrity on the talk show circuit for being the nation's baby-faced mayor. That pin-striped, lollipop image could help bankroll his campaign.

Peduto appears to be running a folksy campaign, claiming that decisions about neighborhood revitalization should be "on Main Street, not on Grant Street."

That folksiness was exemplified not on the podium, however.

That folksiness described behind the podium was exemplified in front of the Union Project, as two parking spaces were reserved in front of the building with two folding chairs --the quaint Pittsburgh valet.

Mayor, URA announce announcements to be announced

Media swarm outside Garden Theater for announcement.

Photos by Frank Kownacki

Mayor Luke Ravenstahl, members of the Urban Redevelopment Authority and Franco "Super Donut" Harris gathered in front of the Masonic Temple near the corner of North Avenue and Federal Street at noon today to officially announce an impending announcement of developers of 11 properties near the Hut du Horny (known to some as the Garden Theater), which might be taken over by the city through eminent domain. The Garden's owners lost a lower court case late last month, but could appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court.

Hizzhonor, the URA and members of the Grant Street Gang, licking their municipal chops at the prospect of seeing the city's pornographic big screen roll up, asked that potential developers come forth to invest in the boarded up block. Franco is the first to invest dough in the blighted area with plans to open a restaurant in a defunct bar at Federal and North.

The URA plans to announce details of the proposals on their website on Jan. 17. Stay tuned for more announcements.

Breaking new ground on the North Side

Federal Street development project begins Monday.

From the Central Northside Neighborhood Council:

There will be a groundbreaking in the 1300 block of Federal Street on Monday, November 20 at 11:00 a. m. to celebrate the beginning of construction on the Federal Hill Project. The Federal Hill Project will build a total of 60 new homes on Federal, Jacksonia and Alpine Streets and is a project of the Central Northside Neighborhood Council (CNNC) and S&A Homes of State College. The architect on the project is Rothschild Doyno Architects and the homebuilder is S&A Homes. The Federal Hill Project is being funded through the Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency Homeownership Choice program, the Pittsburgh Partnership for Neighborhood Development, and the Urban Redevelopment Authority.

The plan calls for the construction of 60 homes to provide home ownership opportunities for a diverse population of community members. Sales prices will be in the $130,000 to $220,000 range, offering a mix of market-rate sales as well as purchasing opportunities for low and moderate income families. Additionally, the plan calls for infrastructure improvements that will bring new curbs, street trees, and a center planting median down the middle of Federal. These improvements will help to return Federal Street to the pedestrian friendly residential boulevard it was for decades before blight and deterioration produced large-scale abandonment of the street, said CNNC Development Specialist Rebecca Davison-Wagner.

In addition to the 60 new homes being built, this project also includes affordable flats or condominiums and a rental portion that will create between 39-42 new low income rental units scattered in the project area.

As Joan Kimmel, CNNC board member and Federal Hill Committee chair states, "Unfortunately, Federal Street now serves as a poor reflection of all that the Northside has to offer. The current blighting conditions of this gateway gives an impression that is neither representative of the   strength and character of the diverse Central Northside neighborhood nor does it project a positive reflection on Pittsburgh in general. While the need for redevelopment along this stretch is obvious, the potential for renewing Federal Street as a grand residential/commercial boulevard can happen. The Federal Hill Plan is part of a larger initiative to revitalize the core of the Federal Street/North Avenue gateway into a vibrant mixed-use urban neighborhood."

"It's been 10 years of hard work and nd persistence but this is finally moving forward, allowing us to dramatically reverse the course of disinvestment in this area, create housing opportunities for a mix of income levels, build a tax base for the city, eliminate blight, and make much-needed road and infrastructure improvements," says CNNC board president Claudia Keyes.

For more information about the Federal Hill Project, contact Rebecca Davison-Wagner at 412-231-7742.

North Side impending traffic disaster requires lovely leaflet

You know you're screwed when you get your own font. 

While North Siders are girding their loins in preparation for the North Shore Connector construction farce next month, The Port Authority of Allegheny County is apparently trying to soothe their imminent ire by responding with a darling information flyer complete with all sorts of good stuff.

Christened "The Scoop," it will contain information about upcoming street closures, bus and car detours, construction highlights, public meeting information, progress reports, project schedules and anger management classes (just kidding, for now).

The flyer will be distributed electronically and printed copies will be available at Port Authority’s Downtown Service Center, Sustainable Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership, Community College of Allegheny County, Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh, Fifth Avenue Place, and Allegheny Towers and Parking Garage.

Oh, and there's even a construction information hotline, 412-566-5222. You know you're really screwed when you get your own hotline.

Smut palace can't thwart progress

Central North Side surges forward.

October is a busy month for North Siders. There are plenty of opportunities to show your North Side pride. Here is a list of activities provided by the Mexican War Street Society:

Tuesday (tomorrow) October 17

7 p.m.

Unitarian Universalist Church of Allegheny, 416 W North Avenue, North Side

General membership meeting of the A number of development issues will be discussed at this meeting--and at the November meeting, so please plan to attend to find out all the scoop! We are always interested in new membership. Great time to invite new neighbors and friends to find out what the MWSS is all about.

*Mr. Franco Harris has an interest in developing property at Federal Street and North Avenue. He will present about his proposal and seek our support for it.

*Mr. Henry Reese and Ms. Diane Samuels will present about the development of property on Monterey Street (pictured right) into businesses that will support their Cities of Asylum initiative. They have a very wonderful vision and plans for their nonprofit and its impact on the MWS.

*Ms. Mary Monahan, Head Librarian, Allegheny Branch, Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh will present on the development of a new location for the North Side library building.

Thursday, October 19, 2006

6 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Bidwell Presbyterian Church, 1025 Liverpool Street, Manchester

Neighborhood Forum

A neighborhood forum hosted by Ms. Tonya Payne, Councilwoman for District 6. She is organizing a panel of guests from up and down the City of Pittsburgh departments and offices. Bring your questions, concerns and problems here! We need to draw Ms. Payne and many other folks to our community for sound answers and solutions. Your voice is important and needs to be heard. THIS IS A DISTRICT-WIDE COMMUNITY MEETING. DO NOT MISS IT!

Tuesday, October 31 through Saturday, November 4

National Trust for Historic Preservation's Annual National Preservation Conference in PittsburghThis is the mother of all preservation organizations. Preservationists, development people, city planners and politicians, architects, engineers, green development people, et al. will descend upon Pittsburgh for a wonderful and lively week of educational sessions, field sessions, neighborhood tours, lectures, unveilings. This organization has made a great stride forward in the name of historic preservation, especially in the urban areas of America. They are expecting close to 2500.

The Pittsburgh History & Landmarks Foundation is the host organization for this conference. More conference details can be found at www.phlf.org or www.nthp.org. The Mexican War Streets Society is a local advisory committee member, recognized by the PHLF and the NTHP for its active involvement in historic neighborhood preservation.

Tuesday, October 31 and Friday, November 3

Motorcoach tour of all of the historic districts surrounding the Allegheny Commons

To that end, we have bitten off three huge activities of the conference. An all-day tour will be led by David McMunn and leaders in each of the five neighborhoods/organizations we visit. That's almost two hundred people coming here to OUR neighborhoods because they want to see what preservation, development and, too, what opportunities there still are here on Pittsburgh's North Side.

For more information and meeting dates and times, please check out the MWSS website www.mexicanwarstreets.org and the new CNNC website, www.centralnorthside.com. There is a meeting for every interest and every level of commitment! Won't you please join today???!!!!

Franco eyes North Side eyesore

Venerable RB hopes to develop run down property into eatery.

Franco Harris, celebrated Steeler and longtime champion of the North Side, plans to renovate a North Avenue eyesore into an organic restaurant.

Harris presented his plan to the Central Northside Neighborhood Council to purchase the dilapidated Park View Cafe at the intersection of North Avenue and Federal Street.

The CNNC passed the proposal 25 to 3. The three dissenters voiced concerns that carry-away liquor sales in the troubled area will create a negative ripple effect.

Harris, who has owned a house on the North Side since the 70s (pictured right), will appear before the Urban Redevelopment Authority this month for approval of the sale.

The URA remains in a longtime legal bump and grind with the owner of the adult Garden Theater on the next block. It has refused to sell to the URA and thus is holding up the Federal North redevelopment project. In the meantime, URA owned properties along North Avenue, including the Park View Cafe, remain blighted. The city is attempting to take the Garden via eminent domain, having spent $700,000 (which, according to the Post-Gazette, is twice the property's market value) to pursue the case. A decision on the matter from the Pennsylvania Supreme Court is expected soon.

Harris, who is a 1972 graduate of Penn State University with a B.S. in Foodservice and Administration, owns Super Bakery, a Burgh-based company that was the first to be approved by the USDA to sell nutritionally fortified donuts and buns under specific guidelines.

A bright future for Brighton Road?

Some bright students hope so.

If you have an inkling of how you’d like Brighton Road to change, tonight you’ll get the opportunity to thrust your brilliance upon a group of smart kids from CMU. Tonight at 8 p.m., at the Pittsburgh Children’s Museum, architecture students from the Urban Laboratory of Carnegie Mellon University will listen to your pipedreams, er, big ideas. And it don’t cost nothin’.

About the project:

The 5th year undergraduate "Urban Lab" studio is composed of four architectural studios this fall semester, which serve to envision urban design strategies through community participation. Two studios are sponsored by the Urban Land Institute and the Urban Redevelopment Authority of Pittsburgh; their visionary projects will focus on sites include the Herron Avenue corridor in the Hill District and Brighton Road corridor on the North Side. Two studios are working in conjunction with the Pittsburgh Children's Museum on their current competition "The Charm Bracelet Project;" their visionary projects will focus on North Side Attractions and strengthening the connections between them.

Both projects are hosting their first Community Meeting "Identifying Issues and Setting Objectives tonight. The Herron Avenue studio is meeting in the Hill District at the John Wesley Ame Zion Church at 5pm. The three North Side studios (Brighton Road and Charm Bracelet projects) are hosting a meeting at the Pittsburgh Children's Museum from 6:30-8:00 p.m. Admission is free and open to the public. A second community meeting for all studios will be held the week of October 23rd. 

Dish thanks Asst. Prof. Kelly Hutzell, 5th Year Urban Lab Coordinator, CMU School of Architecture, for the information.

North Side theater to be restored

Grant money will revive Hazlett.

Story and photos by Janet Gunter

A very “Big Check” presentation took place in the lobby of the New Hazlett Theater on Friday, March 3rd, where State Representatives Jake Wheatley and Don Walko handed over a $1 million grant towards the efforts of restoring and renovating the historic theater.

The theater, originally built in 1889 as the Music Hall portion of the Carnegie Free Library, was officially renamed the Hazlett after the president of the A.W. Mellon Educational and Charitable Trust. With funding from the Trust and under Ted Hazlett's leadership, the North Side's Carnegie Music Hall was renovated as a theater and reopened as the original home of the Pittsburgh Public Theater in 1975. The PublicTheater moved downtown to the O'Reilly Theater in 1999. Since 2000, the Hazlett has occasionally been rented from the City by several performing arts organizations including the Pittsburgh New Music Ensemble, New Horizons Theater, Unseam’d Shakespeare Company, Prime Stage and Chatham Baroque.

Friday’s presentation brought out some of those most able to support art in Pittsburgh: Mayor Bob O’Connor and County Chief Executive Dan Onorato. Dan Onorato reminded the Mayor that now that he’s Mayor, he “doesn’t need a passport to came to the North Side.” This prompted the Mayor to remind the crowd that he has owned a business not far from The Hazlett and is very familiar with the area.

Representative Jake Wheatley expressed gratitude for all the hard work that Sara Radelet, The Hazlett’s new Executive Director, has put into making The Hazlett renovations a success.

Representative Walko said, “It’s extremely important to support the arts community in our neighborhoods. This new venue will be a vital cog on the greater campus of the North Side.”

The Hazlett Board of Directors include members of several arts organizations, including Attack Theatre, the Children’s Museum, the Andy Warhol Museum, Manchester Craftsmen’s Guild, PrimeStage Theater, Carnegie Museums of Pittsburgh, as well as representatives from the City and residents of the North Side.

When it opens this fall the new theater, designed by EDGE Studio, will boast a thrust stage, flexible seating risers, total possible seating of 450 and loading and rehearsal facilities.

We all look forward to this new addition to the North Side.

Photos: The Former North Side Carnegie Music Hall, now a reborn Hazlett Theater; Allegheny County Chief Executive Officer Dan Onorato, Pittsburgh Mayor Bob O'Connor, State Representative Jake Wheatley, New Hazlett Theater Executive Director Sara Radelet and State Representative Don Walko; State Representative Jake Wheatley and Executive Director Sara Radelet

Pittsburgh Sports League's gonna PUMP you up

Want to meet new people? No sweat. OK lots of sweat.

By Anthony Defeo

This year, I had a goal to really shake things up in my life. I wanted to try new things; meet some new people. Earlier in the year, I decided to join a gym. That's been fun and rewarding and it's certainly helped me get in better shape, but it didn't necessarily fill my "shake things up" agenda. Working out is good for the mind and body, but the gym isn't exactly a social hot-bed. I researched other avenues such as volunteering and perhaps, joining a sports league. I really like sports but where can one go if one wanted to, say, play flag football or softball? The answer is quite simple: The Pittsburgh Sports League. The PSL, created in the fall of 2000 by Drew Elste, is a subsidiary of Pittsburgh Urban Magnet Project (PUMP).

"I believe that Drew Elste was really the leading force behind the creation of the league," said Becky Reitmeyer, the league's director. "He also had a crew of volunteers behind him, as well as the support of PUMP. PUMP houses the PSL. The PSL fits nicely into PUMP's mission and programming as it strives to make Pittsburgh a fun place for young people."

As director, Reitmeyer has an instrumental role in every aspect of the league--including planning the seasons, hiring the officials and setting up End of Season Parties--but as Reitmeyer points out, she has a lot of help. "There's also a very dedicated committee of volunteers. They are extremely helpful with marketing, finance, event planning, etc, and help make all the decisions that require more than a single voice."

The PSL offers dozens of year-round schedules in both competitive and recreational leagues. Entire teams can sign up for a particular sport or people are welcome to join as individuals. I signed up as an individual for the recreational flag football portion of the Fall Schedule. Fall recreational flag football is being played every Sunday morning at Sullivan field, located on Liberty Avenue adjacent to the Church Brew Works in Lawrenceville. The PSL holds its various sports in numerous Pittsburgh area venues. For example, for the fall schedule, recreational co-ed volleyball is played in the West Penn Rec. center in Polish Hill and competitive flag football is played at Magee Field in Greenfield.

Signing up as an individual didn't mean I had to take on entire teams by myself. I was placed on a team with people who also joined individually. Meeting new people is fun, and dare I say, healthy.

Even though at the age of 33, I've finally given up on the prospect of someday playing in the NFL, the PSL is great outlet for my competitive streak.

Some of my "individual" teammates had similar reasons for joining the PSL. Some are also first timers like Jamie Bialor, 34 of Squirrel Hill. A transplant from California who moved here recently. "It's been fun," said Jamie. "I've met some cool people who are just out to have a good time and not only into it for the 'win'."

Others, like Tom and Erin Baker of Greenfield, have been involved with the PSL for a while. "I wanted to play softball and learned about the league through friends," said Tom, 26. "My wife and I also wanted to meet people and find a fun way to keep in shape. Our PSL experience has been amazing. We joined an individual softball team that ended up winning the Fall 2003 championship. Many of the players on the team are our closest friends today and we have gone on to win six more softball titles and one basketball championship. We have also had some tough losses on the field but it has been a great time. PSL and PUMP are instrumental in the effort to attract and retain young professionals in the Pittsburgh region."

"It's my favorite thing about Pittsburgh and I've met my best friends through it," said Tom's wife, Erin, 24, who is originally from Philadelphia.

Mike Adamski, 30, of Scott Township has been involved with the PSL since its inception in the Fall of 2000. Like Tom and Erin, he's also a multi-sport participant. "We won the softball championship on Saturdays. This Tuesday we hope to win it in hockey as well. I hope flag football for the trifecta."

My flag football teammates and I are gearing up for the playoffs. I sure hope we win, but win or lose, it's been a ton of fun and a great experience.

The average age for the PSL is 28. The numbers of participants are difficult to tally. "Hard to say since people often play more than one sport," said Reitmeyer, "but I can tell you that 2005 saw over 5500 participants (some of whom are double or triple counted)."

I'm looking forward to signing up for a winter sport in either a recreational or competitive PSL league. I'm hooked. Volleyball anyone? How about some dodgeball? How about this winter's newest sport, broomball? The sweat is unlimited in the PSL.

For more information on the Pittsburgh Sports League go to:
http://www.pittsburghsportsleague.net or http://www.pump.org

Photos courtesy of PUMP.

An immodest proposal for the Garden's demise

All it takes is one trip to Sam's Club.

Dish neither advocates nor objects to pornography. When naughty bits are photographed doing naughty things, Dish just kind of sighs and gets on with it. “Oooh, look, another shorn twitchit. How thrilling. And, my, will you look at that tallywacker? I wonder if they’re going to employ the quintuple-ended triduodecadong.” Yawn.

So, when folks in Dish’s neighborhood get all uptight about our big-screen porn palace, the Garden Theater, Dish yawns anew. (Truth be told, though the Garden is a wonderful landmark, a beacon with which to guide and, for the more blue-blooded among them, shock out-of-towners—“Yeah, three blocks past the dirty movie house, bang a right and there you are.” Much more street cred than using Allegheny General Hospital or, haven forefend, the National Aviary—Dish wouldn’t mind seeing the joint go the way of the (insert something extinct here. Anything aside from the Dodo will do). Gentrification must progress. The Central North Side demands latte and boutique.

For years, the city has been grappling with the New York smutlord who owns the Garden, trying to pry the filth hut from his presumably sticky fingers. Now we’ve got an eminent domain case on our hands. (Dish, in a rare moment of conservatism, must say that it has a real problem with government taking private property just because the use of that property, though legal, is, to some, rather unpleasant. Pittsburgh: If you want to clear that block for development, pay the man. Which is what you should have done in the first place. Really, what have you expended thus far in legal fees related to this mess? Enough that had you offered it to New York pornfellow in the first place we’d have a Gap there by now?)

In any event, the Garden’s still there and the case is still bumping and grinding around in the legal system. How to truncate this interminable process? How to uproot the garden and plant the seeds (sorry about the metaphor—can’t be helped at times) of neighborhood regeneration?

An immodest proposal:

Mayor Murphy (or O’Connor, you can’t get this ball rolling soon, Murph), consider dipping into the city’s coffers, heading out to Sam’s Club and investing in a couple hundred DVD players. Then head out McKnight road and get a couple hundred porn DVDs. To Walgreens for a couple gross of Kleenex and hand lotion. Head down to W. North Ave., and distribute said merch to the Garden’s loyal cadre of perverts. Bingo, the Home Wanker Starter Kit.

Problem solved, more or less.

The Gardeners may miss the illicit liaisons that are said to occur in the dark places of the theater, but one thinks that the more relaxing home environment may make up for the camaraderie.

In short, no customers, no Garden. The owner suddenly becomes eager to sell, perhaps at a rate acceptable to the city, and the North Side becomes Shadyside. Or, at least, Bloomfield.

Seize this opportunity, and you (Murph or O’Connor) will make David L. Lawrence look like a piker.

Pittsburgh porn illustration by Kyle Summer.

Vegas on the Mon for Mario

The quest for a new hockey arena in Pittsburgh hit another snag as poorly structured families explained their poorly structured ways.

By Mark Weimer

The most realistic development that could bring a new hockey arena to Pittsburgh is revenue from slot machines which could exist in Pittsburgh by 2007. Despite the promise of increased revenue, some speak out against the plan citing their former spouse’s addictions and idiocy.

According to the Post-Gazette, a meeting was held at the Regional Enterprise Center concerning slot revenue and the finances for a new hockey arena. Two men brought forth ideas, along with a binder containing 26,000 signatures of people who supported the Penguins’ bid for slot revenue. A wide variety of topics were discussed, with the idiots focusing on the devastation of gambling.

One person illustrated the ill effects of gambling, explaining that her ex-husband lost over $50,000. Such loss caused hardships for the family, which seems evident with a divorce. "It blows my mind. How can we destroy lives for money?" she asked. Although nobody responded with such retorts as Operation Iraqi Freedom, outsourcing, or Wal-Mart, it seems clear that gambling was on a different circle of Dante’s hell. Idiotically, this may be true. Nevertheless, in order to justify her presence at the meeting, she added that should gambling exist in Pittsburgh, it should also put revenue towards counseling, college scholarships, grief support, childcare, and other services for loser families.

No blame was placed on the husband, who entered the gambling facility, was checked at the door, walked about for an undisclosed amount of time, and knowingly lost a sum of money.

Another obstacle for a new arena concerns the state of Mellon Arena. Much like a parking lot, frozen pond, street, or driveway, a speaker stated that Mellon Arena was “still adequate” for hockey. Although this statement does not differentiate Mellon Arena from the skating rink and in short articulates nothing, it is not an unpopular opinion. Many idiots believe that Mellon Arena, the oldest, smallest, crappiest arena in the NHL can be the home of a revived Penguin franchise, which struggles to suit fans needs due to its size. The Penguins, despite astronomical ticket sales, are set to lose money this season. To be brief, a new arena would offer more seats, leading to better prices, thus drawing larger crowds to fund a team that has laid the foundations for a hockey dynasty. Leave it to the idiots to destroy hope and promise.

There is no doubt Pittsburgh is in a financial funk. However, at heart Pittsburgh is its culture, its sports teams, its arts, its aesthetics, and its history. Slot machines will be a huge draw to the city and will generate revenue which can be used to improve the other aspects of the city. Atlantic City? Nothing. Everybody, at heart, knows the Penguins need a new arena. There won’t be hockey in Pittsburgh without a new arena, and that will be a greater loss for this town than that which slots can generate.

Junk yard art fest this weekend

Please recycle this press release after reading.

SALVO will hold their third annual Festival of the Salvage Arts at Construction Junction on Sat., Oct. 8 from noon to 10 p.m. and Sun., Oct. 9 from noon to 5 p.m.

Admission is $6 per person/$1 for children under 10.

Art and recycling aficionados from all over will gather to celebrate using salvaged materials as inspiration for artistic creativity. The festival will feature two days of salvage art workshops, music, poetry, food and drink. There will be room to let your imagination run free and activities to inspire children and adults of all ages.

Art has always had the ability to ignite passion and serve as a catalyst for change in society. In a culture where progress is consistent with gobbling up the earth's natural resources, we must create meaningful ways to improve our relationship with the land. With faith in this belief, SALVO was established over two years ago as a project of Construction Junction to foster a community of salvaged-based artists in Pittsburgh. With so much of Pittsburgh's infrastructure providing surplus material for a growing number of area artists, SALVO has an opportunity to make Pittsburgh a national center for the salvage arts.

CONSTRUCTION JUNCTION is a nonprofit organization that promotes conservation through the reuse of building materials that would otherwise be discarded. While the majority of donated materials are sold to renovating homeowners, items that can’t be reclaimed for this purpose find life in the salvage arts.

Just part of the line-up for this year's festival (all activities free with admission) will include:

Artist workshops

Art exhibit, auction and juried competition

A salvage wear fashion show

Live performances by Zany Umbrella Circus, Mark Dignam, the Steel Pan Combination Band, and more

To volunteer your time or talents for the festival or to request additional information, individuals should email salvoarts@aol.com or phone Barbara Nicholas at 412-638-3390. All volunteers will receive a $15 store credit in gratitude for a four hour volunteer shift. Volunteers are needed for set-up, clean-up and to assist artists with their workshops. We also need volunteers on Friday October 7.

As western Pennsylvania's first non-profit for used and surplus building materials, Construction Junction operates a retail store selling used, surplus and vintage building materials. Since its founding in 1999, Construction Junction has received more than 250,000 items donated by 2,300 individuals and companies. Construction Junction is located at 214 N. Lexington Street in Point Breeze.

Pittsburgh City Council rids rodents, keeps dirty rats

While the rat squad's away the fuzz will play.

From this morning's Post-Gazette:

"In a separate matter, council voted narrowly to fast-track a proposal to shift $30,000 from Police Bureau internal investigations to rodent control. It may come up for discussion and a tentative vote today, and for a final vote Tuesday."

There's something a bit unsavory about diverting cash from the rat squad to the rat squad. Letting bad cops play while others rat slay? Dish is displeased. Therefore, without further tomfoolery, Dish offers city council heaps of free, unsolicited and, almost certainly very bad, advice on which other Peters to rob in order to pay rat-slaughtering Paul.

1) Any and all infrastructure improvement programs. It's not as if $30,000 worth of extra neglect is going to make things much worse. Right?

2) Local state legislators. Dish's goons, Max and Fred, will "persuade" them to hand over their "unvouchered expenses" checks with great dispatch and, if necessary, unspeakable violence.

3) Yield signs. Hand them over to Paul Warhola's North Side scrap metal concern and funnel the cash into rat poison. It's not as if anyone who drives around these parts has any idea what those things mean anyway. "Should I come to a screeching halt or speed up and try to run into other motorists?"

4) Hackneyed, shopworn, redundant, cliche-ridden, semi-thought out diatribes (kind of like the above thing about the yield signs and the infrastructure crack, but longer, with a little more vitriol and a lot more self-righteous earnestness) about why Pittsburgh stinks that are rarely sullied with original thought regarding how to correct the many things that do need to be improved around here. Tax 'em. Voila: The new Bitch-and-Moan Privilege Tax. Hey, that dreck's got to be worth something.

5) Sell City-County Building Dick Caliguri statue to Boston. Tell 'em it's Dukakis.

Top: image graphic by Kyle Summer. Bottom: illustration from orlandocops.com

Afternoon update: Rat Talk gets loud

What Steeler Game?

Only Green & Gold here.

Clusters of folks who paid $20 to root around other peoples homes milled about yesterday during the Mexican War Street Society House & Garden Tour. Monterey Street between North Ave. and N. Taylor was closed off to traffic and served as a makeshift food court and retail alley.

But the MWSS wasn't the only organization responsible for showing (off) homes.

Local real estate company Howard Hanna used the opportunity to jump on the open house band wagon with, well, open houses. Homes on the MWSS tour were specified with colorful banners while HH pitched open house street signs and tied their signature gold & green balloons to their listed properties. From 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. the neighborhood was an open door clusterf*** inside and out. A homeowner under contract with HH caught one visitor rooting through her panty drawer and another swiping all the info pamphlets off the coffee table.

On Friday night, a $50 a head black tie gala kicked off the weekend. On Saturday, ladders littered the sidewalks as tour participants spit-shined, buffed, fluffed and folded their fancy facades.

But not all the homeowners who participated on the MWSS tour did so to ostensibly flaunt. While HH's "Million Dollar Seller" Karl "New New New Everything!" Owens handed out business cards and red apples, an owner on the war-torn Alpine hoped visitors to his renovated home might choose a  home instead of an impressive address.

The Little Deli debuts on the North Side

Dean Zotis is a little worried. About three weeks ago he opened a (much needed) deli just off Western Avenue and business has been slow. His renovations took months but the pay-off is worth the elbow grease and expense. And his timing couldn't have been meatier.

Zotis has opened a squeaky clean take-out deli with an impressive selection of lunch meats, cheeses, breakfast items and sandwiches (Reubens, folks!). Many of the side items have a Greek flair: stuffed grape leaves, marinated Kalamata olives, Pita Land meat & spinach pies. The menu boasts deviled crabs and industry standard deli items such as coleslaw, macaroni salad and spicy wings.

"I listen to what customers want," said Zotis. "They say 'what about this' and I try to provide it. That's why I got the biscotti." He also brews fresh coffee and cappuccino.

But business is measured up to Zoti's expectations. However, a city plan announced in today's Post-Gazette may alleviate Zotis's concerns.

Reporter Rich Lord reports:

Efforts to create a business improvement district for a two-block area of Western Avenue got a boost from Pittsburgh City Council.

Council on Wednesday tentatively approved the transfer of $1.29 million among various Urban Redevelopment Authority programs. Among other things, the transfers allow the URA to commit $500,000 to Western Avenue improvements between Brighton Road and Allegheny Avenue in Allegheny West.

Business owners in the district would partially match public funding by assessing themselves a special tax, as Downtown businesses currently do.

The combined funds would support improvements in the streetscape, curbs and lighting, said John Canning, a North Side historian who supports the designation.

The funding shifts also move money from an under-utilized loan program for assisting businesses with equipment purchases, to a more popular program that backs commercial real estate transactions, said Robert Rubinstein, the URA's director of business development. The real estate purchase loan program, known as the Urban Development Fund, makes loans ranging from $25,000 to $250,000.

A final vote could come Tuesday.

In the meantime, Zotis shouldn't fret so much. Once the word gets out, North Siders should flock. Finding a good neighborhood deli is as rare as good roast beef.

The Little Deli

910 Galveston Ave., (near the Modern Cafe) North Side, 412-231-2678

Hours: Mon.-Fri. 8:30 a.m.-6:30 p.m.; Sat. 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Open for Steelers home games.

Bottoms up

Western Pennsylvania Conservancy volunteers put the bright in Brighton Road.

With all the bottoms up this morning on the corner of West North Avenue and Brighton Road, passersby might have checked their watches. Happy hour? So early? But soon after WPC volunteers broke ground on a street side patch of land, it became clear the focus was azaleas not Brandy Alexanders.

On hand was WPC volunteer coordinator Chris Farber who said that the North Side has the highest concentration of community gardens. She said WPC provides plants and landscape design but it's up to volunteers to provide care and feeding of each garden.

Cheers.

Interesting in volunteering? Contact Farber at (412) 586-2324 or cfarber@paconserve.org

A Lot of Work

Check out th