News Around the Neighborhood
Tree Recycling
Another Success Story for our Annual Christmas Tour
Submitted by Carol Gomrick
The chill in the air did not deter guests from attending nor their spirit during the 2018 Christmas Tour. This year was a tremendous success. We sold over 1,500 tour tickets and over 300 train tour tickets. The tour boasted a special treat for several groups Saturday afternoon when the president of CCAC, Dr. Quintin B. Bullock, came into his office and allowed guests to view the grandeur of the Byers wing of Byers Hall. Quite often guests shared how excited they were about the homes on the tour and what a great experience they had visiting our neighborhood. The showing of Byers Hall made real for so many the history they hear on the tour about the once magnificent Millionaires’ Row and a greater appreciation of how important is is to not lose any more of our history.
As many know as recently as mid-November, we were a few homes shy and running out of options. Once again the neighborhood came together to bring Christmas early to so many. I really need to express a special thanks to the homeowners who are the the real heroes. The Moore and Beer families, the Malakoffs, Hal and Nick, and of course John DeSantis – thank you for your hard work and welcoming so many people (and a dog) into your homes! Special thanks to Amelia Beer. Several tour groups were treated to and impressed by Amelia’s violin playing.
The tour guides were incredible again this year! So many guests shared with me how knowledgeable and engaging or guides were this year. I received a special email from one attendee “Sally”. She was so impressed with Thomas Huygens she just had to share her impression – “Outstanding 2018 tour … Our guide a young man named Thomas was absolutely fabulous. He was very conscientious about all aspects of the tours … thank you for making our 11th tour one of the best ever!” High praise indeed especially for a veteran tour guest like Sally and knowing the bar is high with all of the other tremendous docents!
Thank you to Rev Larry, Martin, and Doug for all of their efforts at Calvary. It makes such a difference to have such a welcoming place to greet the guests!
This is my last tour as Ways and Means chair. The baton is being handed over to the capable hands of Annette Trunzo. So many of you have been incredibly generous with your time and support over the past two years, there are no words to express my heartfelt thanks. The tours with all of their twists and turns never fail to remind me of how blessed I am to be a part of such a wonderful community and though my term as Ways and Means has come to an end, I look forward to staying involved with the tours in 2019.
Happy New Year to you all and congratulations on completing another successful tour season!
The Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra Returns to Alphabet City
The Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra Presents
East Meets West:
Influences of China on U.S. Art
Thursday, January 24th
7:00 pm
Join musicians of the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra for East Meets West: Influences of China on U.S. Art, a program celebrating the eclectic work of Chinese composer Qigang Chen and Chinese poet Huang Xiang.
Qigang Chen is one of the most performed living composers in the world. A teenager and musical prodigy during China’s Cultural Revolution, he spent three years imprisoned, undergoing an “ideological reeducation.” Yet in spite of censorship and anti-cultural policy, he pursued his training in composition both within and outside of China, eventually garnering world-wide acclaim.
Hosted by conductor Earl Lee, this program will feature PSO musicians Adam Liu (Cello), Ellen Chen-Livingston (Violin) and Rodrigo Ojeda (Piano) playing selections from composer Qiguang Chen’s repertoire. Lee will contextualize the program’s music with a discussion on Chen’s unique character, identity, and social activism–as well as on the Chinese influence on Western art.
A video montage will give audiences a glimpse into Huang Xiang’s life and work, the “publication” of House Poem, and how he has shaped COA into the organization it is today. Local writers Brandon Fury and Lori Beth Jones will interpret Huang Xiang’s poetry in English in a live performance so that audiences can enjoy the full scale of emotion evoked by his words.
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More EMS Coverage on the Northside
I have some wonderful news to share. The Councilwoman, who for years has argued that the North Side needs to have more than one ambulance available overnight has finally gotten her wish. Medics 4 & 10 will now be activated 24/7, meaning the District and the entire North Side will have two ambulances available around the clock. Please inform your community members of this wonderful public safety development.
Thank you and have a wonderful holiday season!
Sincerely,
Jeff Martin
Constituent Services Director
Office of Councilwoman Darlene M. Harris
Oscar-Nominated Animated Feature
Sembène – The Film & Art Festival Presents
The Breadwinner
Saturday, January 5th
3:00 pm
The Breadwinner is an Academy Award and Golden Globe animated feature nominee. It tells the story of Parvana, an 11-year-old girl growing up under Taliban rule in war-torn Afghanistan in 2001 – where women are not allowed to leave home without a male accompanying them.
When her father is wrongfully arrested, there is no one to earn money or even shop for food. Parvana make a life-changing decision and disguises herself as a boy in order to support her family. With dauntless perseverance, Parvana draws strength from the stories her father told her and ultimately risks her life trying to discover if he is still alive.
“The Breadwinner is by no means a simple-minded kidpic; rather, it directly confronts the misogyny and chauvinism of contemporary Afghanistan, while powerfully suggesting that storytelling is both a means of coping and a solution for change.” – Variety
Equal parts thrilling and enchanting, The Breadwinner is a timely and inspiring tale about the transcendent power of stories and their potential to unite and heal us all.
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Oscar-Nominated Animated Feature
Sembène – The Film & Art Festival Presents
The Breadwinner
Saturday, January 5th
3:00 pm
The Breadwinner is an Academy Award and Golden Globe animated feature nominee. It tells the story of Parvana, an 11-year-old girl growing up under Taliban rule in war-torn Afghanistan in 2001 – where women are not allowed to leave home without a male accompanying them.
When her father is wrongfully arrested, there is no one to earn money or even shop for food. Parvana make a life-changing decision and disguises herself as a boy in order to support her family. With dauntless perseverance, Parvana draws strength from the stories her father told her and ultimately risks her life trying to discover if he is still alive.
“The Breadwinner is by no means a simple-minded kidpic; rather, it directly confronts the misogyny and chauvinism of contemporary Afghanistan, while powerfully suggesting that storytelling is both a means of coping and a solution for change.” – Variety
Equal parts thrilling and enchanting, The Breadwinner is a timely and inspiring tale about the transcendent power of stories and their potential to unite and heal us all.
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“Madonna Before Madonna, Prince Before Prince”
Sembène – The Film & Art Festival Presents
Betty: They Say I’m Different
Monday, December 10th
7:00 pm
A songwriter from a small local steel town, Betty arrived on the 70’s scene to break boundaries for women with her daring personality, iconic fashion and outrageous funk music. She befriended Jimi Hendrix and Sly Stone, wrote songs for the Chambers Brothers and the Commodores, and married Miles Davis. Despite being banned and boycotted, went on to become the first black woman to perform, write and manage herself.
Then suddenly – she vanished.
Creatively blending documentary and animation, Betty: They Say I’m Different traces the path of Betty’s life, how she grew from humble upbringings to become a fully self-realized black female pioneer the world failed to understand or appreciate. After years of trying, the elusive Betty, forever the free-spirited Black Power Goddess, finally allowed the filmmakers to creatively tell her story based on their conversations.
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Cowboys & Frenchman Post-Bop Jazz
Cowboys & Frenchmen
Sunday, December 2nd
6:00 pm
NYC-based quintet Cowboys & Frenchmen
“jazz that is fresh and defies easy categorizing, and offers rewarding listening” — Cadence Magazine
The band is comprised of five adventurous musicians: Owen Broder on alto sax, clarinet and bass clarinet, Ethan Helm on alto sax, flute and clarinet, Chris Ziemba on piano, Ethan O’Reilly on bass, and Matt Honor on drums.
The inspiration for the band’s quirky name is a short Western by David Lynch called “The Cowboy and The Frenchmen.
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We’re So Grateful for You
We couldn’t be more grateful for Pittsburgh’s wonderful greenspaces, and for park friends like you.
Are parks something that you’re thankful for this Thanksgiving? We invite you to take part in one of our favorite annual traditions – writing notes of thanks to parks!
Here are a few notes that we loved:
“Thank you for all the fun we had there year after year! You made our life so much better! :)” -Cheng C.
“Dear Frick Park, if it weren’t for you, I don’t know that I could live in the city. Thank you for your vast canopies, your burbling creeks, your soaring red-tailed hawks, your great horned owls in the winter dark. You are the best!” -Ryan W.
“I am giving thanks to Highland Park for the beautiful way it embraces all people and connects us to each other and the landscape we live in.” -Susan R.
Thank you for being a friend. Happy Thanksgiving from all of us at the Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy!
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Support Manchester Historic Society During GiveBig Pittsburgh
Manchester Historic Society needs your help! Please join us during GiveBig Pittsburgh on Novemeber 27th and help us get closer to our goal of restoring the Colonel James Anderson House in Manchester.
Starting at 12:00 am on November 27th, visit givebigpittsburgh.com and make a donation to us and/or to any of the great participating nonprofit organizations in Pittsburgh. You will have 24 hours to make your donation, and all giving will end at 11:59 pm on November 27th/sup>.
Questions? If you have any questions or would like more information, let us know. You can contact MHS at info@manchesterhistoricsocietypa.com or (412) 447-8692. Thank you in advance for your generosity to our organization!