News Around the Neighborhood
Join City of Asylum for a Reading on January 20th
The Large Glass: Three Autobiographies
Translated by David Shook
In The Large Glass, celebrated Mexican author Mario Bellatin examines his most complicated subject: Himself. Featuring three different autobiographies, The Large Glass challenges the challenging project of autobiography itself—how can any writer account for himself in a way that is dignified yet honest? Intimate yet public? Like the Duchamp sculpture from which it takes its name, Bellatin’s The Large Glass plays with the artifice of the autobiographical genre, while at the same time celebrating the importance of the stories we tell about ourselves. The Large Glass further solidifies Mario Bellatin as one of Latin America’s most important living writers.
Plus…a unique opportunity!
Meet the translator and publisher, along with the author. Joining Mario Bellatin at the reading will be David Shook, translator of The Large Glass. David is also the Founding Editor of Phoneme Media, a publishing house in San Francisco.Join us for an evening with Mario Bellatin
Wednesday, January 20th 330 Sampsonia Way 7:00 pm: Reception 7:30 pm: Presentation and Questions 8:30 pm Dessert and Informal Discussion
[ebor_button style=”alizarin” url=”http://cityofasylum.org/event/salon-reading-mario-bellatin/”] Make Free Reservations [/ebor_button]
Mario Bellatin was born in Mexico and grew up in Peru. He has over 40 books published that have been translated into 15 languages. He was the winner of the Xavier Villaurrutia, Mazatlan, The Barbara Gitiings Literature Award, Antonin Artaud Awards and this year the José María Arguedas Award.
In 2012, he was the curator of Documenta 13, Kassel. Among his most important projects, besides writing, are the Dynamic School of Writers, The Hundred Thousand Books of Bellatin,the film Bola Negra and the CD Juarez Musical.From 18 Neighborhoods to One Northside
Watch the video: Seeding change on Pittsburgh’s Northside, Neighbor-to-Neighbor
In support of One Northside in 2015, The Sprout Fund catalyzed 48 community-based Neighbor-to-Neighbor projects led by Northside neighborhood residents.
With activities ranging from repairing city steps, planting trees, and starting community gardens to beekeeping lessons, parenting workshops, and job readiness coaching, each project added to the critical mass of positive change emerging on the Northside.
Thank you for being part of the shared vision for Pittsburgh’s Northside.
The Sprout Fund offers catalytic grants and other forms of support in partnership with the Buhl Foundation and in support of One Northside.
[ebor_button style=”orange” url=”http://www.sproutfund.org/one-northside-program/?mc_cid=4e2957a881&mc_eid=2b20a06007″] Learn more at sproutfund.org/northside [/ebor_button]
Free Tickets for Northsiders: Billy Harper Sextet
Presented by Kente Arts Alliance
Saturday, December 12 | 8PM
While constantly evolving from the influential sound of previous Jazz generations, Billy Harper has been careful to carve out his own sound rather than retrace that of music’s past, and in the process has consciously and continuously pushed the bounds and momentum of music forward.
You’re Invited
Thanks to the generous support of the Buhl Foundation, Northside residents and workers are invited to attend this performance for free. A limited number of tickets are available online, so reserve your seat today.
[ebor_button style=”blue” url=”https://www.eventbrite.com/e/northside-billy-harper-sextet-tickets-19865418000″] December 12 at 8:00 pm [/ebor_button]
Free Tickets for Northsiders: Loving Black
Part of the New Hazlett CSA Performance Series
Thursday, December 10 | 8PM
For generations, black masculinity has been defined along a narrow spectrum. Loving Black redefines black male identity through vulnerability and love. This hour-long theatrical experience combines music and dance as it spans genres as varied as jazz, classical, and hip hop, and captures the diverse black experience in the United States.
This performance is appropriate for high school age students but will involve adult language and mature themes of sexuality, race relations, and love.
You’re Invited
Thanks to the generous support of the Buhl Foundation, Northside residents and workers are invited to attend this performance for free. A limited number of tickets are available online, so reserve your seat today.
[ebor_button style=”pumpkin” url=”https://www.eventbrite.com/e/northside-loving-black-tickets-19865394931″] December 10 at 8:00 pm [/ebor_button]
Letter from the President – December 2015
So we have a decision to make. If everyone could put down the House Tour decorations for a minute, Councilwoman Harris has asked for the Civic Council to weigh in on the new proposed food truck legislation. You can read the proposed legislation here that loosens restrictions on food trucks. It’s a hard question and there are legitimate concerns on both sides that need to be considered before the neighborhood takes a position. The Board has been checking in with residents and business owners on Western (the trucks will still only be allowed on non-residential streets), to understand their concerns, but for the Civic Council to take a formal position we need to have a vote. I would encourage everyone who feels strongly either way to please come to the membership meeting on Tuesday to contribute to the discussion. We’ll do our best to keep the conversation focused so folks can go back to their house tour projects in a reasonable amount of time. If you’re interested in the subject and want to read up on the subject here are some resources on the topic:
- FOOD ON WHEELS: Mobile Vending Goes Mainstream: http://goo.gl/qykjHy
- ON THE GO: INSIGHTS INTO FOOD TRUCK REGULATION: http://goo.gl/
F54kFX
…and, if you really want to go all out, here’s a dissertation about food trucks in North Carolina:
- An Empirical Study of the Emergence and Policy Implications of the Food Truck Industry in the Research Triangle Region: https://goo.gl/UJgKlw
Speaking of interesting studies, a bunch of folks in the neighborhood ended up at a conferences about Historic Preservation in Pittsburgh put together by the City. I’m super glad I decided to burn some vacation days to attend, since my commitment to Historic Preservation was why I wanted to live in Allegheny West in the first place. As much as I’m a cheerleader for the Historic Review Commission and the preservation guidelines, even I was surprised how clear the positive economic impacts for things like property values and even employment that the rules have. The Historic Review Commission has posted the study they commission for Pittsburgh.
I also have been to a Complete Streets meeting, a Zoning Board workshop, and a talk by Mayor Fetterman from Braddock about urban renewal. Let that be a warning to anyone who ends up next to me at the cheese table during the House Tour Volunteer party. I’ve been in historic preservation and urban planning nerd heaven lately.
On behalf of the Tour Committee I want to thank the incredible amount of people who have dedicated literally hundreds of hours to make this tour a success! We’ve all been overwhelmed by how willing folks have been to step up. I can’t wait for the tour and the volunteer party…)
Catherine Serventi
President, AWCC
The 2016 AWCC Executive Committee
As proposed by the nominating committee (elected November 2015 immediately following the Board election):
President – Cathy Serventi
Vice President – Timothy Zinn
Secretary – Dan Adam
Treasurer – Bob Griewahn
Ways & Means – Carrie Doyle
Membership – Scott Mosser
Housing & Planning – Gloria Rayman
Communications – Sarah Beck Sweeney
Property – Ann Gilligan
Sgt. at Arms – John DeSantis
Friend of Allegheny West / Public Space – Michael Shealey
2016 AWCC Nominating Committee
Tim Zinn – Chair
Eleanor Coleman
Cathy Serventi
Gloria Rayman
Elaine Stone
Alternates: John DeSantis, Scott Mosser
The 2015 Old Allegheny Victorian Christmas House Tour
We Still Need Your Help
The 2015 tour will be on Friday, December 11th from 5:00-8:00 pm, and Saturday, December 12th from 10:00 am-8:00 pm. Tour tickets are now $35 and Train Museum tickets are now $15.
Ticket Sales
Continue to encourage friends, relatives and coworkers to attend the tour. To purchase tickets, or for more details, check our website.
Training for Tour Guides and Train Guides
All guides are asked to make every effort to attend a training session—there are 4 new houses on the tour this year!
Tour Guides
Wednesday, 12/9 from 6:00-7:00 pm at Calvary UMC (Beech Avenue entrance)
or
Thursday, 12/10 from 6:00-7:00 pm at Calvary UMC
Train Guides
Wednesday, 12/9 at 7:30-8:30 pm at Holmes Hall, (719 Brighton Road)
Greens “Bunching” and Street Decorating
We will be decorating the streets on Saturday, December 5th, starting at 9:00 am. Volunteers will be bunching greens to create the lamppost swags in the Serventi/Wilson garage on Dounton Way. This is a fun way to get in the holiday spirit—and we can finish quickly with 20 volunteers.
Clean-up
Also on Saturday, December 5th, join your neighbors and pick up litter and leaves around the neighborhood (and in front of your house!) If each of us fills just one bag, our streets will be clean!
Cookies for Party
Please contact Trish Burton if you can bake two dozen cookies for the volunteer party.
More Ways to Help!
There are many opportunities to volunteer. During the tour, be a greeter at Calvary, a tour guide, a house sitter for a homeowner on tour, a conductor at the train museum or be ready to help tour houses with salting and shoveling should we get snow that weekend. Or, help with the volunteer party or set up the luminaria. If each of us helps in just one way, then our neighbors don’t have to do all the work to make this, our biggest fundraiser (that pays for all of our fun events, as well as preservation activities), successful. AND, you get to attend the party!
Volunteer Party
All volunteers are invited to our Holiday Party. This year, Carol Gomrick and Brett Kempf at 940 W North Avenue will host on Saturday, December 12th, beginning at 9:00 pm. This will be a “seventh” house for volunteers to get to see, and it’s a gem! To help with party, please contact Carrie Doyle at (412) 337-6020.
December Street Cleaning
The City street sweeper will come through again this week, weather permitting (date TBA). You can help by moving your car from the street or sweeping the leaves to the middle to be picked up…or sweep and bag leaves in case the sweeper doesn’t come!
Thank you for helping to make our neighborhood look its best.
December Street Closings
Thank you for your cooperation. The streets are only closed for 1¼ days, and allow tour visitors to safely move through the neighborhood.
Residents of the 800 and 900 blocks of Beech Avenue; the 800 block of North Lincoln; and Galveston from Buttercup Way to Dounton Way, and from Maolis Way to North Lincoln.
The above streets will be closed to traffic and parking on Friday, December 11th, from 4:00 pm until 11:00 pm, and on Saturday, December 12th, from 9:00 am until 11:00 pm for the 2015 Christmas Tour. This is done to protect the safety of all of us. Pedestrians will be walking on the streets during these times.
If you park on these streets, please find an off-street spot for parking during the tour. The following lots will be available:
- The Babb Lot on the corner of North Lincoln and Galveston – enter from Chapel Way (must exit by midnight, Saturday, December 12th)
- The CCAC Lot on Ridge Avenue across from the Fort Duquesne Bridge ramp
- The Smart Solutions lot on the 800 block of West North
A Wonderful Place to Call Home
Submitted by Fran Barbush
When Tom and I moved to Allegheny West in 1976 we were unfamiliar with the community that existed beyond our doorsteps. Manchester and the Mexican War streets were getting the historic attention in Pittsburgh. We felt we were lucky to find this little known gem of a neighborhood which needed some TLC. Our interest began by meeting Gary Otto who was already here working on his home.
But, we were still surprised to learn of the active community when Larry Ehrlich knocked on our door looking for volunteers for the neighborhood Springfest. At the time the most urgent challenge was to keep the community standing since so many entities felt that their important “cause” justified demolition of buildings. This ultimately led to our successful city, state, and national historic district designation. The prevailing sentiment being that without the buildings there would be no neighborhood.
There have been many challenges, and varied strong opinions which were not always unanimous, but through years of voluntary efforts the neighborhood has grown stronger. Thank you to all the helpers who work to make Allegheny West a wonderful place to call home. Tom and I still think it is the best place to spend Christmas. A line from a song I learned in college is something I reflect on when times are troubled – “Let there be peace on earth and let it begin with me.”
Wishing you all peace now and in the new year.