News Around the Neighborhood

Babb Gives Back in a Big Way!

Babb, Inc. on Ridge Avenue once again participated in a “Day of Caring” on May 23, 2017, allowing about 22 employees to care for the AW parklet at Brighton Road and Western Avenue. These enthusiastic colleagues worked hard to help Diane Caruso and Trish Burton begin to implement a long-term plan for the garden. Twenty-five bags of weeds, overgrown foliage, tree prunings and trash were gathered that morning. Many perennials were re-planted in different areas, including a grouping of hosta varieties that now ring the tree. Flats of multi-colored annuals were then planted in the beds and in tree wells along Western Avenue.

Babb Gardening

Thank you, Babb employees: We couldn’t have done it without you!

July 4 Rib Cook Off

Thanks to everyone that came out for the Memorial Day picnic. It was another great success! I wanted to remind all the “smokers” in the neighborhood that the 2nd Annual Allegheny West Rib Cook Off will coincide with the 4th of July neighborhood picnic. Dust off your favorite BBQ sauce recipes and secret wood selections, and get ready to face off against your neighbors. Good news… Last year’s winner, Tom Barbush, will be sidelined in an effort to make things a little easier for the rest of us!

Please feel free to give me a call with any questions. Scott: (216) 832-1299

Art, Artists & Neighbors Create a Picture-Perfect Event

3rd Annual Art ShowApproximately 130 works of art were on display for the third annual Allegheny West Art Show, with the majority of the artists hailing from the Northside. Our neighborhood welcomed art in all shapes and sizes, and artists of all professional levels and backgrounds, working in a number of different mediums, including an Ikebana floral design (by neighbor Ritsu Shimizu). SMARTsolution Technologies, owned by neighbors Elaine and Mitchell, once again generously provided the perfect venue, newly expanded and improved this year. Two hundred and fifty guests enjoyed the diverse array of art. There was also delicious food provided by skilled neighborhood chefs, sandwiches from the Allegheny Sandwich Shop, and additional food and beverages, as well as retro DJ music made possible by a generous donation from Joe and Linda Ianotta. The Allegheny West Civic Council hosted this unique neighborhood event. Beyond being an enjoyable evening, an art raffle on opening night (benefitting the Northside Common Ministries) raised over $400.

Dennis Bergevin (show founder and producer) and Sara Beck Sweeney (co-producer) would like to thank all of the hardworking friends and neighbors that made this event possible, including: Doug Schreck, Cheryl Towers, Jonathan Steinhauser, Dan Bolick, Catherine Drapkin, Holly Pultz, Catena Bergevin, Eleanor Coleman, Shannon Pultz, Heather White, and the senior fine art students at CAPA. A special thank you to City Books and K. S. Kennedy for distributing art applications; F. L. Haus for printing our wonderful poster; and neighbors Doris Short and Greg Coll, of Gc Graphic Design, for skillfully designing it.

¡Salud! Thank You for a Successful Wine & Garden Tour!

Thank you all for making the 2017 tour and tasting event such a wild success! The weather was perfect and the comments throughout the event were extremely positive! I continue to get requests for the tapas recipes and compliments on the wine pairings. Look for these pairings and recipes on the Allegheny West website soon!

The tour was made extra special this year with the addition of Thaw Mansion and Emmanuel Episcopal Church. The history, lore and beauty of these two properties cannot be overstated and I know the guests really enjoyed learning more! I’m so grateful to the vicar and parishioners at Emmanuel for volunteering, and to the Carusos for their incredible efforts in their home and garden, so lovely. Thank you the Whitmers, Mitchell Schwartz and Elaine Stone, Rob Johnson, and of course John DeSantis for your willingness to open your wonderful homes. I cannot think of a better cross section of homes to demonstrate how wonderfully diverse the properties are in Allegheny West and to show what makes this neighborhood such a gem. I have to say, the homes are why we get tour-goers to visit the neighborhood, but it’s the homeowners who made it such a joy to live in the neighborhood. Thank you!

None of this would have been possible without the efforts of Mary Callison, Deb Kelly, Doug Debelak, Fran Barbush and Nonie Knaus, who collaboratively cooked the food, chose the wine, and are the reason guests are asking for the recipes! It was a ton of work, but executed perfectly! Gene Wilson and Doug Sprague, thank you for corralling the tour guides! Cathy Serventi is the “wizard behind the curtain,” making sure the machine is working: thank you. Trish and John Burton always go above and beyond and this year was no different. Thank you for a perfect ending by opening your home for the after party. The tour guides, you make our history come alive for the guests. (See you on the Christmas tour!) I really enjoyed working with you all. Please share with me any positive and constructive feedback to continue making the Allegheny West tours a ‘must do’ in Pittsburgh

Dr. Dan to be Honored at Northside Leadership Council Dinner

Allegheny West Civic Council proudly announces our 2017 Neighbor of the Year, Dr Daniel Strinkoski. Dr. Dan, as he is fondly known, is a resident and business owner on Western Avenue in Allegheny West. Since moving to the neighborhood in 2003, Dr. Dan has taken on the litter problem with determination and enthusiasm.

Every morning throughout the year, and frequently on breaks during the day, Dr. Dan walks Western Avenue, Allegheny Avenue and Brighton Road, greeting neighbors and picking up litter. His beautiful smile and friendly nature brighten the day for everyone he encounters. On street cleaning days, Dr. Dan coordinates his walk with Elmer, the city maintenance crew driver, and uses a blower to push litter into the street so Elmer can sweep it up – on EVERY street in Allegheny West. Dr. Dan is on his 4th blower in the time he’s lived in Allegheny West. As Dr. Dan says, because of the stadiums, the Marathon and our proximity to downtown, “We probably get more visitors than any other neighborhood in Pittsburgh and our neighborhood needs to be clean and welcoming to our visitors.” His pride in Allegheny West is contagious.

In addition to his work keeping the streets of Allegheny West looking pristine, Dr. Dan also participates in the PennDot Adopt a Highway program and is responsible for maintaining a parcel of land by the entrance/exit to I-279, near Allegheny and Ridge Avenues. You can often spot Dr. Dan mowing that highly visible plot, which is above and beyond normal responsibilities of the program but is typical of our Neighbor of the Year. We are so lucky that Dr. Dan decided to live and work in our neighborhood and every day he makes it a better place.

Action Alert: Make Parks a Priority in the City’s 2018 Capital Budget

Park Action

How would you use $50,000 to improve your favorite park places? Right now, you can submit Capital Project ideas to the City of Pittsburgh, which could mean extra funding for the park places you love.

[ebor_button style=”nephritis” url=”https://www.pittsburghparks.org/action-alert?utm_source=hs_email&utm_medium=email&utm_content=52790334&_hsenc=p2ANqtz–JVhE70AoM56zfy8kqyOznf2wextLEH587Y1nPDK1IUQueanMkQ47IE2AN00r7LzMnuv24-FcqcdbdbMsfpmzKl1iP-A&_hsmi=52790336″] Learn More and Submit Your Ideas [/ebor_button]

Free Tickets for Northsiders: Cello Fury

Cello Fury

June 3 | 8PM

Kick off your summer with Cello Fury for an evening of original music. See the band up close in a historic theater. With seating available on three sides, there isn’t a bad seat in the house.

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-cello-fury-tickets-34843352405″] Reserve Your Tickets [/ebor_button]

The Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra Comes to Alphabet City

City of Asylum (2017)

The Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra Presents

Play N’at

Wednesday, June 7th
8:00 pm

The Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra’s popular chamber music series, Play N’at, comes to Alphabet City!

PlayN'at

Comprised of chamber groups formed by musicians of the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, this series showcases these ensembles in alternative venues around Pittsburgh. The Play N’at series provides opportunities for audiences to enjoy music selected by the musicians themselves in more intimate environments around the ‘Burgh.

City of Asylum @ Alphabet City’s concert will feature the Pittsburgh Cello Quartet and the Trapeze Ensemble, a wind and strings quintet. The repertoire is eclectic, featuring selections ranging from the Baroque to the Beatles. Come meet and mingle with musicians in a casual atmosphere.

[ebor_button style=”pomegranate” url=”https://cityofasylumpittsburgh.secure.force.com/ticket/#sections_a0F3100000NgZBWEA3″] Reserve Your Free Tickets [/ebor_button]

Did you know that there is a restaurant in City of Asylum @ Alphabet City? During these events, Alphabet City will be set up so that you can have dinner during the event (or simply order drinks).

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When making your reservation,
please add that you wish to see the film under special notes.