News Around the Neighborhood

Help Our Parklet

DIVIDE AND DONATE: Our parklet at Brighton Road and Western Avenue is in need of more hostas (in particular, variegated varieties), in addition to some other perennials, so if you have any in your garden that need to be divided, we’ll take them off your hands! Our crew can help you to dig them up and transport to the parklet if needed. DIVIDE AND TRANSPLANT: The “triangle garden” at Brighton Road and North Avenue is donating some of the tall grasses to our parklet. However, we need a few strong backs to accomplish this. It should only take about 30 minutes, and we can meet you whenever it’s convenient for you, so please contact either Trish Burton, (412) 523-9402 or tdburton3@gmail.com, or Diane Caruso, (724) 799-3952 or djc010961@gmail.com, if you can help.

Alleys, Axles & Ales

This year’s Alleys, Axles & Ales tour will be held on September 29th. Cecile Canales will chair this tour and Tom Barbush will co-chair. If you are interested in having your garage on tour or would like to volunteer, please email Cecile at ccanales13@icloud.com. An initial meeting is scheduled for May.

Fourth Annual Allegheny West Art Show

The 4th Annual Allegheny West Art Show is back! Showcasing work by artists living and/or working across the Northside, and their fellow artists. The opening will be Friday night, May 11th, starting at 6:30 pm. Enjoy food and beverage courtesy of AWCC while browsing a great and diverse collection of art on display, at HIP’s wonderful space! (HIP at the Flashlight Factory, 831 W North Avenue.) The show continues on Saturday, May 12th from noon to 5:00 pm.

Stephan Crump’s Rhombal, Part of a National Tour

City of Asylum (2018)

Stephan Crump’s
Rhombal

Sunday, April 22nd
7:00 pm

City of Asylum welcomes back Grammy-nominated bassist/composer Stephan Crump. He played here in 2017 with his group Rosetta and earlier with Vijay Iyer Trio. Rhombal will be playing a special jazz concert elegy composed for Stephan’s late brother.

Stephan Crump's Rhombal

“Crump’s compositions impart concise and easily expandable storylines, along with his associates who fluently operate through numerous jazz-based modalities.”
All About Jazz

Stephan is known for the elegance and purposeful groove of his acoustic and electric bass playing, and for transforming his instrument into a speaking entity with magnetic pull. A longtime collaborator with adventurous jazz composers, he is a singular voice. His music can be heard in numerous films and on his twelve critically acclaimed albums as leader.

In addition to Stephan, Rhombal features veteran Ellery Eskelin on tenor saxophone, a brilliant young trumpeter Adam O’Farrill, and extraordinary drummer Kassa Overall.

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Take Action – and Support Allegheny Commons

Hello Allegheny Commons Stakeholders!

The Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy has submitted another grant request to the VERY COMPETETIVE Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program (RACP) state grant program requesting additional funding for the fountain, the North Avenue Promenade (repaving the pathways and lights) and storm water management.

Last year, over 1,100 people submitted comments in support of our request for Allegheny Commons and we are back again looking for the same support! The public comment period is open until Sunday, April 8th. We are asking folks to sign on in support of our grant request.

Please take 30 seconds to sign on and support this grant request here.

Please also share with your friends, neighbors, and contacts and ask them to support this as well! Please let me know if you have any questions.

Thanks for your time,

Erin Tobin
Community Outreach Coordinator

Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy

Time-Travelling Jazz that Fuses Past with Future

City of Asylum (2018)

Kevin Sun Trio

Sunday, April 15th
6:00 pm

Brooklyn-based saxophonist Kevin Sun comes to Alphabet City in celebration of his adventurous new album Trio, his debut as a bandleader.

Kevin’s style is as genre-bending as it is time-hopping. As The New York Times describes, his sound incorporates “the shoulder-hugging maneuvers of Mark Turner, the snaky melodicism of Chris Potter, the susurrating quiet of Chris Speed. But Mr. Sun reaches back farther. Sometimes you’ll hear a smoldering kernel of Albert Ayler; when he picks up the clarinet, the tonal gamesmanship of Jimmy Giuffre looms in.”

Trio Album Cover

“[Kevin Sun is] a player who sees the big picture and his evolving place within it…”
The New York City Jazz Record

With Walter Stinson (bass) and Matt Honor (drums), Trio is an exploration of the differing epochs and trends in jazz history, merging the contemporary and the traditional in satisfying ways. These era-spanning compositions are as propulsive and swinging as they are intricate and challenging.

Together, this trio cultivates something wholly new from the seeds of the past.

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You’re Invited: Northeast Fountain Groundbreaking

Allegheny Commons

You’re Invited

Groundbreaking Ceremony for Allegheny Commons Historic Northeast Fountain

The Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy in partnership with the City of Pittsburgh, Allegheny Commons Initiative, and North Side Leadership Conference invite you to attend the groundbreaking for the rebuilding of the historic Northeast Fountain.

Thursday, April 19th
10:00 – 11:00 am

Event will take place at the corner of Cedar Avenue and East North Avenue in Allegheny Commons Park.

Symphony Meets “Synth-ony”

City of Asylum (2018)

Peter Evans & Levy Lorenzo

Wednesday, April 4th
8:00 pm

Electronic musician Levy Lorenzo and trumpeter Peter Evans play a mix of composed and free-structure pieces. Lorenzo’s brings a toolbox of self-built instruments, gongs, dry percussion, laptop and sound processing that he blends with Evans’ acoustic trumpet in a dialogue of noise, mystery, precision and chaos.

Peter Evans + Levy Lorenzo

“Peter Evans cast a deep and disorienting spell..defy[ing] the conventional limitations of the instrument, if not the laws of physics….superhuman precision and trailblazing technical vocabulary.”
The New York Times

Their music is an otherworldly shifting cloud of dense rhythmic frameworks, elaborate notated pieces, open improvisation, and weird drones. Together they experiment at the futuristic border of avant-garde jazz and new music. This is truly a sound like you’ve never heard! And won’t want to miss!

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PHLF: The Odd, Mysterious and Fascinating History of Pittsburgh

PHLF 2017 Banner

Location: Landmarks Preservation Resource Center, 744 Rebecca Avenue
Date: Thursday, March 29th
Time: 6:00 pm – 7:30 pm
Contact: marylu@phlf.org or (412) 471-5808 ext. 527

Legends, historical mysteries and fascinating facts have long fascinated John Schalcosky, who took it upon himself to investigate and record an in-depth knowledge of a history of Pittsburgh that is rarely told. In this lecture, John will discuss aspects of Pittsburgh’s past, narrating the story of Pittsburgh through quirky and unusual stories to show how the past helps us understand the present city.

About the Presenter: John Schalcosky is the founder of the “Odd, Mysterious & Fascinating History of Pittsburgh,” a very popular Facebook Page that explores the most unusual, mysterious and forgotten tales of Western Pennsylvania. He is a frequent speaker at high schools, universities and at public events, and he is often featured in stories and interviews on Pittsburgh history.

All events are free to PHLF members. Non-members: $10 RSVPs are appreciated: marylu@phlf.org or (412) 471-5808 ext. 527

Check out http://phlf.org/events/ for more PHLF tours and events.