Pop City

Stamping Out Cigarette Butt Litter

Wed, 08 Jul 2009 00:00:00 GMT

If we could remove one thing from Pittsburgh, it might be the cigarette butt litter strewn over our landscape. While unsightly, research now shows that those cigarette butts are also toxic to our environment, polluting our streams and rivers. Here's what some Pittsburgh groups are doing to stamp out the problem.

Why We Moved to Pittsburgh (Mt. Lebanon)

Wed, 08 Jul 2009 00:00:00 GMT

He could have commuted to Pittsburgh during the work week but Tim Nolan and his wife Beth decided to move here instead. The draw? The universities, for one, along with a few only-in-Pittsburgh amenities such as PNC Park and that stunning skyline view. Now they think Pittsburgh is one of America's best-kept secrets.

Pop Filter: What's Hot This Week

Wed, 08 Jul 2009 00:00:00 GMT

It's time to put down those BBQ tongs and soak up the city's sizzling arts scene. Silver Eye turns 30, Zombo Gallery turns two and music from as far as Budapest and as close as Bloomfield will keep you in tune with summer. Your calendar of cool awaits, only at Pop Filter.

New Girl in Town: What Pittsburgh Needs

Wed, 24 Jun 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Sure, we have much to appreciate but we can always do better. What does Pittsburgh need? Let's start with four amenities that could enhance our city--how about a living wall since we're already so green?--and raise the quality of life. Then we will continue the discussion after getting your suggestions.

From Dugout Dick to Eco Elvis: Your Environmental Road Trip

Wed, 24 Jun 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Deciding there was a role for him in the environmental movement, Mark Dixon created Your Environmental Road Trip (YERT) and traveled the country searching for innovative green solutions and delivering Pittsburgh's green message. Along the way, he discovered lots of people thinking creatively, including a cave dweller and an Elvis imitator.

Holiday Break and a New Look for Pop City

Wed, 24 Jun 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Pop City is taking a holiday break next week which gives us time to prepare for the launch of our new design later in July. In addition to our usual lineup, look for a new section called "For Good" to highlight community and nonprofit news along with a Fast Company profile each week and fast growth sectors. There's more, including an expanded space for Pop Filter right on the home page. Stay tuned and enjoy the holiday!

Changemaker: Charlie Humphrey

Wed, 17 Jun 2009 00:00:00 GMT

As head of Pittsburghâs Center for the Arts, Filmmakers, and Glass Center, Charlie Humphrey is taking arts advocacy to a whole new level, getting everyone involved as he battles the recession and deep budget cuts.
What do the arts mean to this region? More than you think.

True Northside

Wed, 17 Jun 2009 00:00:00 GMT

The turnaround on the North Side is nothing short of amazing as North Side resident Jen Saffron reflects on the emergence of Federal Hill townhomes and a number of strong organizations determined to reconnect their neigborhood. Could it be true that "the North Side is where it's at?"

Pop Video's Young Creatives: Terrance Hayes

Wed, 17 Jun 2009 00:00:00 GMT

If you've never seen nationally-acclaimed poet Terrance Hayes, here's your chance in this video where he reads his award-winning work. Then you can see him live next Wednesday at the Hill District Engagement Concert with the Pittsburgh Symphony. Click here for details.

Paris to Pittsburgh Direct: Part Deux

Wed, 10 Jun 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Paris is magical. After winging our way over on the inaugural direct flight, we can tell you how much easier the journey was flying nonstop and why you, too, will fall under this city's spell. Just don't go changing your name.

Buy Your Pop City T-shirt Here

Wed, 10 Jun 2009 00:00:00 GMT

For our third birthday, we gifted ourselves with special Pop City t-shirts. Now whenever we wear them people ask how they can get one, too. Hey, we're here to spread the love. And we're keeping costs low so everyone can get at least one. Click here to see both styles and to order. Click read more to see a photo of our designer in the women's red T.

Pop Video: Wallenda Tightrope Walking in Pittsburgh

Mon, 08 Jun 2009 00:00:00 GMT

In case you missed it, Nik Wallenda provided thrills and chills, but no spills, during his tense tightrope walking feat across the Allegheny River on Friday night during the Regatta. Renee Rosensteel, freelance videographer and photographer, caught the drama in air and the behind the scenes in this video.

New Girl in Town: The Perfect Pittsburgh Staycation

Wed, 03 Jun 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Staying in Pittsburgh this summer instead of going overseas? We've got you covered in our five-day staycation plan. There's so much to do that we had trouble packing it all in, from the Warhol to rocking out the Riverfront trails, you'll find a summer full of fun.

Pittsburgh to Paris: We're Onboard

Wed, 03 Jun 2009 00:00:00 GMT

This is big. After years of having none, Pittsburgh finally scores a nonstop flight to Europe. So now what? Support it. The publisher/editor of Pop City puts her money where her mouth is and books two tickets on the inaugural flight. Here's why.

Penguins, Red Wings: Talking Hockey Smack with Detroit's Model D

Wed, 03 Jun 2009 00:00:00 GMT

It's deja vu all over again as our Pittsburgh Penguins take on the Detroit Red Wings in the Stanley Cup -- and Pop City has some, uh, fun with Model D, just like last year. It's about much more than hockey. Too bad we can't do this in the football season but the Lions need to field a team first.

Tamari's Latin-Asian fusion sizzles on Butler Street

Wed, 08 Jul 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Tamari , at 3519 Butler St., is now open.

The long awaited Asian-Latin fusion restaurant is owned and operated by Allen Chen, who grew up in the restaurant business alongside his father Mike, who owns a variety of spots throughout the region, including Shadyside staples China Palace and Sushi Too.

"I love the energy and the vibe down here with all the independent businesses," says Chen of Lower Lawrenceville . "It's what Shadyside used to be 25 years ago."

Tamari, which seats about 100, was originally slated to open in 2007, but was delayed due to zoning issues.

Chen rents from Lawrenceville developer Lee Gross's A-1 Reality, and enlisted Downtown-based Fukui Architects and Jeff Fullard Construction to help transform the space. Chen says he's put "somewhere in the high six figures" into creating Tamari's unique atmosphere.

A handful of tables occupy the street-level courtyard; the first floor offers relaxed sit-down and bar seating; the second floor houses a sleek lounge that's all dark wood, metallic accents, plush corners and specialty cocktails (lychee mojitos, green tea cosmos and more); and a second-floor deck provides a picturesque view of Downtown.

Tamari's Asian and Latin flavors marry in dishes like the Peking Duck quesadilla with charred Serrano pepper hoisin; the Korean skirt steak fajita with Asian slaw; and fish tacos with tempura jalapeno. The menu, helmed by chef Roger Li previously of the North Side's now-shuttered New Moon Fusion Restaurant, includes small plates, entrees, maki, ceviche, robata -- which Chen describes as "skewered and grilled Japanese tapas" -- and desserts prepared by Dozen , which is opening its Downtown location later this month.

"It's nice to have two new Asian restaurants bookending Butler's business district," says Maya Haptas with the Lawrenceville Corporation . "Tamari is a destination on one end, and Pusadee's Garden recently opened on the other end in the former space of Sweet Basil and La Filipiniana."

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Writer: Caralyn Green
Source: Allen Chen, Tamari; Maya Haptas, business district manager, Lawrenceville Corporation

Photograph of Allen Chen and Chef Roger Li copyright Brian Cohen

22-unit green townhouse residence breaks ground in Mt. Washington

Wed, 08 Jul 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Sweetbriar Village, Mt. Washington's latest environmentally responsible residential option, broke ground on Thursday.

The single and multi-family townhouses will be constructed by Pomo Development/Sweetbriar Street LLP on an abandoned site at 406 Sweetbriar St., last used 12 years ago for a grocery store.

Sweetbriar Village will feature 22 residences, ranging from 2,000 to 3,000 square-feet, and priced from $325,000 through the mid-$400,000s. Landscaping, by South Side's LaQuatra Bonci Associates, includes a central courtyard, picnic areas and a walkway leading to the nearby public park system.

Of Sweetbriar's 22 residences, two have already been sold, says Jeff Paul with Pomo Development and Coldwell Banker Real Estate Services in Squirrel Hill.

Paul says Pomo will use recycled and environmentally conscious materials, and is also located within walking distance of the Duquesne Incline, Grandview Avenue and the bus line.

Coldwell Banker, which is marketing the project, is also involved in Vista Grande , a Mt. Washington luxury residential building featuring 11 for-sale condos priced from the mid-$500,000s. One penthouse unit has been sold, and construction, which began in July 2008, is about 80-percent complete, says Paul.

Coldwell Banker is so invested in Mt. Washington, says Bill Dietrich with the real estate company, because "for every one person who wants to live Downtown, there are probably 20 who want to live close to Downtown. So much is happening close to the city, and Mt. Washington is right in the middle of it. We want to focus on bringing families with children back to the city, and we're doing that with Sweetbriar Village."

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Writer: Caralyn Green
Sources: Jeff Paul, sales associate, and Bill Dietrich, director of New Homes Division, Coldwell Banker Real Estate

Image courtesy Coldwell Banker

Bridgeway Capital awarded $2M in stimulus funding

Wed, 08 Jul 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Bridgeway Capital, based Downtown, has been awarded a $2 million grant--the maximum amount--from the Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFI) Fund of the U.S. Treasury Department as part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

One of just 59 national grants, Bridgeway's award was part of the first round of CDFI stimulus funding. Of the $90 million in stimulus funding dispersed last week, another $2.6 million was awarded to Pittsburgh organizations. The Progress Fund received $2 million, and another $600,000 went to the Northside Community Development Fund .

Since its inception in 1990, Bridgeway Capital--which serves 15 counties and manages more than $50 million--has placed more than 540 loans, creating or preserving more than 4,000 jobs with 418 small businesses in western Pennsylvania.

In the first three quarters of 2009, Bridgeway has seen a 59-percent rise in loan inquiries and a 67-percent increase in dollar amount requested over the same time period last year, says Liz Gage with Bridgeway.

Mark Peterson, president of Bridgeway Capital, says, "This $2 million award means we can get stimulus funds directly into the hands of small businesses, and help them and the regional economy grow. And as those loans are repaid, we'll be able to make more loans."

Bridgeway also announced last week its partnership with private nonprofit Catalyst Connection to start the Manufacturing Growth Cooperative Fund, which will provide small to mid-size Allegheny County manufacturers with as much as $250,000 for business growth, quickly and at fixed-rate interest.

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Writer: Caralyn Green
Sources: Liz Gage, marketing manager, and Mark Peterson, president, Bridgeway Capital

Image courtesy Bridgeway Capital

Environmental groups collaborate on regional stewardship symposium

Wed, 08 Jul 2009 00:00:00 GMT

For Pittsburgh's environmental stewards, community and collaboration are key. In an effort to further partnerships and increase awareness of volunteer opportunities, seven instrumental groups are teaming up for the first-ever Pittsburgh Regional Environmental Stewardship Symposium. The symposium will be held 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m., Sat., July 11 at the Environmental Charter School at Frick Park, in Regent Square.

The symposium aims to educate and invigorate active area stewards, and introduce those with newfound interest or engagement to an array of ways to get involved. A keynote address that positions Pittsburgh's efforts in a national context will be given by Steven Handel, Ph.D., a professor of ecology and evolution at Rutgers University.

Event hosts include: Allegheny Land Trust , Friends of the Pittsburgh Urban Forest , Frick Environmental Center , Mount Washington Community Development Corporation , Nine Mile Run Watershed Association , Penn State Cooperative Extension and the Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy.

Among the hosting organizations, more than 2,500 volunteers have logged nearly 20,000 hours of volunteer time over the past two years. Environmental stewardship in Pittsburgh includes restoration, remediation and continued maintenance, and ranges from street tree planting to riverfront trail clean-up to hillside stabilization, says Jeffrey Bergman with Nine Mile Run.

Erin Copeland with Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy adds, "Anyone who is doing any stewardship in the city is not only helping the environment but also the human population. You can't remove the people from the ecology of the city."

Registration and event details are available here .

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Writer: Caralyn Green
Sources: Jeffrey Bergman, program director, Nine Mile Run; Erin Copeland, restoration ecologist, Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy

Image courtesy Friends of the Pittsburgh Urban Forest

Eden's Market brings health-conscious convenience to Mt. Lebanon

Wed, 08 Jul 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Mt. Lebanon's walkable business district has gained its first healthy, convenient grocery option with Eden's Market, which opened at the end of June and will host a grand opening in September.

Located at 99 Alfred St., in the former space of Art Store Gallery near Clearview Common, the market is accessible to nearby residents who don't feel like driving to Giant Eagle or Kuhn's.

Eden's Market is no run-of-the-mill convenience store, though. Owner Jeff Weiner sees Eden's Market more as an alternative to Whole Foods than 7-Eleven. The market specializes in allergy-friendly, gluten-free, organic and local products. About two-thirds of the 1,800 square-foot, ground-level shop is dedicated to specialty items, while the other one-third offers traditional convenience goods. Standout products include a hard-to-find gluten-free challah bread for Jewish customers, and handmade Italian entrees from Mariani's Pleasure Bar in Bloomfield.

"One of the biggest holes in the community was the fact that there was no place to go for healthy groceries without getting in a car," says Eric Milliron, Jr., with the Municipality of Mt. Lebanon. "Edenâs Market is like manna from heaven for the neighbors."

Weiner, who has more than 20 years experience in the grocery business, was inspired by his family to establish Eden's Market. Weiner himself adheres to a gluten-free diet to treat celiac disease, and two of his four children follow strict, supplement-rich diets to manage autism.

After moving to Sedona, Ariz. after Hurricane Ivan-related flooding damaged his McDonald, Pa. supermarket five years ago, Weiner is happy to be back in the region, which he says offers not only a stronger economy but also superior access to special needs services.

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Writer: Caralyn Green
Sources: Jeff Weiner, owner, Eden's Market; Eric Milliron, Jr., manager of commercial districts, Municipality of Mt. Lebanon

Photograph copyright Tracy Certo

Penn Ave. arts corridor gets first fashion boutique in Tweek

Wed, 08 Jul 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Already an epicenter for arts, culture and cuisine, Penn Avenue is now on its way to becoming a fashion destination, too.

Tweek, a new shop specializing in one-of-a-kind, hand-screened streetwear, is the first boutique along the Friendship/Garfield corridor. Located at 4913 Penn Ave., Tweek shares the same block as Modern Formations and Garfield Artworks .

Tweek specializes in simple cotton pieces for ladies and gents, boldly printed with words and images such as the $ symbol, pirate stripes and the Tweek logo. Hoodies, tees, dresses, panties, handbags and sunglasses all fall within a decidedly American Apparel aesthetic, and are displayed in milkcrates and raw plywood shelving, lending the 800 square-foot, sunlit shop a loft-like feel.

The clothes and space are undeniably young and hip, which comes as no surprise, as the owner and designer is just 21-years-old (this also explains how hyper-connected Tweek is, in terms of MySpace, Facebook, Twitter and a blog). Jamal Krolowitz, originally from Vestal, NY, moved to Pittsburgh after he graduated from high school, and started selling his wearable art online to build a customer base before establishing his brick-and-mortar store this May.

All clothes are hand screen-printed in the store's basement studio, and most are hand-dyed, too, says Krolowitz, who lives on the North Side.

"I want to give back to the city; it's done so much for me," says Krolowitz, who plans to add more Pittsburgh-themed designs to Tweek's offerings. "Other cities, you'd need more money, more connections. But in Pittsburgh, you can do anything you want. You just have to go for it."

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Writer: Caralyn Green
Sources: Jamal Krolowitz, owner, Tweek; Sarah DiLeo, marketing and communications coordinator, Friendship Development Associates, Inc.

Image courtesy Tweek

Group greens Pittsburgh's concrete jungles, first to use new tree technology in Pa.

Wed, 24 Jun 2009 00:00:00 GMT

While the national average for similar-sized metropolitan areas is one street tree per every two people, Pittsburgh's average is one per 11, says Danielle Crumrine with Friends of the Pittsburgh Urban Forest. And the average drops dramatically in neighborhoods like the Strip District, Lawrenceville, East Liberty and Homewood, where there is one tree per every 22 people, for example.

Friends is working with TreeVitalize , a statewide public-private partnership, in an effort to plant one million trees by 2012. Pittsburgh's goal is 20,000, and in its second year of participation, has reached about 3,500.

Friends' recent work includes community education sessions and schoolyard greening initiatives, as well as plantings in East Liberty and Downtown.

For its East Liberty project, Friends received a $10,000 grant from the Alliance for Community Trees and national Home Depot Foundation to plant six trees last week at the Sojourner MOMS house, which provides housing and services for homeless, single women struggling with addiction, and their dependent children.

"The next step is to work with adjacent property owners to get them to plant trees in their front yards so we can restore the street's tree line," says Crumrine. "It's so important because trees improve air quality, energy efficiency and stormwater runoff, and increase neighborhoods' safety and property values."

This week, Friends is finishing its Downtown project -- 10 trees in front of the new August Wilson Center at 980 Liberty Ave. With support of the Center and Richard King Mellon Foundation , Friends is using Silva Cell technology to manage stormwater and prevent soil compaction. This is the first time Silva Cell technology will be used in Pennsylvania, Crumrine says.

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Writer: Caralyn Green
Source: Danielle Crumrine, executive director, Friends of the Pittsburgh Urban Forest

Image courtesy Friends of the Pittsburgh Urban Forest

Green Building Alliance awarded first LEED Platinum certification in western Pa.

Wed, 24 Jun 2009 00:00:00 GMT

The Green Building Alliance has achieved the first Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Platinum certification in western Pennsylvania from the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC).

LEED Platinum is the highest rating given by USGBC for design, construction and operation of high-performance green buildings.

GBA is the first USGB chapter or affiliate nationally to achieve LEED certification for its offices, and was awarded 75 percent of the total points available under the LEED for Commercial Interiors program.

"It's a wonderful accomplishment, but on a more practical level, it's a great asset for our employees," says Holly Childs, GBA executive director. "It's a healthy, energy-efficient workspace, and most importantly, it gives us a teaching tool to showcase green building in the region."

GBA's 3,850-square-foot office, which was designed and constructed in 2008, is located in the South Side's River Walk Corporate Centre . Nearly all furnishings are reused, salvaged or refurbished, and new materials include those that are manufactured locally and rapidly renewable. The office also features bike racks as well as an on-site shower to encourage cycling to work.

"We're a nonprofit, so we worked hard to achieve what we did with limited means," says Aurora Sharrard with GBA. "We want to use the office as a demonstration tool for what anyone can do, from green construction to corporate practices such as using environmentally friendly cleaning products, recycling paper and bottles, and responsibly disposing of electronic equipment."

In western Pennsylvania, there are more than 55 LEED-certified projects, and another 130 projects that are registered as pursuing LEED certification.

The LEED plaque presentation will be held 3:30 p.m. Friday at GBA's offices.

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Writer: Caralyn Green
Sources: Holly Childs, executive director, and Aurora Sharrard, Ph.D., research manager, Green Building Alliance

Image courtesy Green Building Alliance

Rimco Properties buys Robinson apartments for $29.75 million

Wed, 24 Jun 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Plum Borough's Rimco Properties, Inc. announced last week it purchased Chestnut Ridge Apartments in Robinson Township from Cleveland-based Associated Estates Realty Corp.

Financing for the $29.75 million deal was provided through CB Richard Ellis Capital Markets ' Pittsburgh office. The purchase price yields a cost of $68,568 per unit.

The 468-unit Chestnut Ridge, which is at 97 percent occupancy, includes one and two bedroom apartments ranging from 600 to 1,100 square-feet, starting at around $700 per month. The 25-acre property features a heated pool, tanning salon, two gazebos, a clubhouse with weight and cardio circuits, and basketball, racquetball, sand volleyball and tennis courts.

The apartments, which were constructed in 1987, will not require any major renovations, says William G. Cramer, president of Rimco, which manages more than 2,000 apartments in the region.

"Chestnut Ridge is a gorgeous property with fully mature landscaping, and its location is number one," says Cramer. "It's right on the Airport corridor, close to the new Settlers Ridge shopping and entertainment complex, and even more accessible with the new bridge connecting Campbells Run and Ridge Roads."

Located less than a mile from Chestnut Ridge Apartments, Settlers Ridge is a $110 million, 600,000 square-foot, open air shopping center developed by CBL & Associates Properties, Inc. Slated to open this fall, Settlers Ridge will include a 150,000 square-foot Giant Eagle Market District, REI, LA Fitness, Barnes & Noble, a 16-screen Cinemark theater, a P.F. Chang's China Bistro and a Courtyard by Marriott.

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Writer: Caralyn Green
Source: William G. Cramer, president, Rimco Properties; Katie Reinsmidt, vice president, corporate communications and investor relations, CBL & Associates Properties, Inc.

Image courtesy Rimco Properties

Trail town Rockwood opens hostel along Great Allegheny Passage

Wed, 24 Jun 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Judy Pletcher remembers when Rockwood, Pa. was a sleepy spot without even a stoplight.

Now the bustling town along the 150-mile Great Allegheny Passage has got pizza, ice cream and candy shops, a bakery, a fitness center, a tanning salon, a jewelry store, tons of antiques, dinner theater and a performing arts venue. And that's just in one building, the Rockwood Mill Shoppes & Opera House . Two doors down from that mecca, there's a brand new hostel, which can sleep about 30 tired travelers a night.

After retiring from a 30-year career in surface mining, Judy and Terry Pletcher opened the three-story Shoppes & Opera House in 2000, and followed up with the Hostel on Main this summer.

The Pletchers worked with architects at Greensburg-based Lettrich Group on the 1,600 square-foot hostel, which features several sleeping rooms, a common living room, and kitchen and laundry areas equipped with Energy Star appliances.

"We've seen almost 40 guests so far without any promotions," says Judy Pletcher. "Cyclists come to the trail and stop here from all over -- Virginia, Kentucky, Illinois, Colorado, even Montreal."

The Hostel on Main received a low-interest loan from The Progress Fund , which provides entrepreneurial capital and coaching to small businesses in rural Pennsylvania, as well as West Virginia and Appalachian Ohio.

"More than 350,000 people use the Great Allegheny Passage each year," says Amy Camp with The Progress Fund's Trail Town Program . "People who use the trail obviously need services, so we engage communities around the trail to embrace those opportunities."

A recent study by the Trail Town Program reports $12 million in direct spending on the trail annually, and an additional $3 million in wages attributed to the trail. The average overnight trail user spends $98 per day, and local users spend about $13 per day.

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Writer: Caralyn Green
Sources: Judy Pletcher, Rockwood Mill Shoppes & Opera House/The Hostel on Main; Amy Camp, program coordinator, Trail Town Program

Image courtesy The Hostel on Main

Cocina Mendoza moves to Mt. Lebanon

Wed, 24 Jun 2009 00:00:00 GMT

For authentic Mexican cuisine, look south. Not the border, but of the city.

Cocina Mendoza, which made a name for itself first in Green Tree, then in Bethel Park, has moved to a new location in the South Hills, at the shopping plaza at 300 Mt. Lebanon Blvd.

The restaurant, which opened mid-June, is owned and operated by Acapulco native Abraham Mendoza, who established himself as a banquet chef at the Club at Nevillewood in Presto, Pa., where he and his brother were in charge of the monthly Mexican-themed night.

"It was so popular, the members would ask me to do it twice a month and request it for special occasions," says Mendoza. "Then they pushed me to open my own business."

He established his first restaurant in 2003 in Green Tree, and then passed it off to his brother, who still operates Mendoza Express at 812 Mansfield Rd.

In 2006, Mendoza established his second location in Bethel Park, but closed that eatery just before moving into his current Mt. Lebanon space, which is almost twice the size. It seats about 80 people, and includes a full bar that's just waiting on a liquor license (in the meantime, Cocina Mendoza is BYOB).

The extensive menu includes conventional Tex-Mex dishes, traditional recipes passed down from Mendoza's mother, a large vegetarian section and Mexican breakfast items, from huevos con chorizo to omelets served with beans and tortillas.

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Writer: Caralyn Green
Source: Abraham Mendoza, owner, Cocina Mendoza

Photograph copyright Jennifer Baron

Dormont's Hollywood Theatre to reopen fulltime

Wed, 24 Jun 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Dormont's Hollywood Theater has made its second major announcement this month.

Earlier in June, the Hollywood announced it would reopen to screen classic films on weekends with the assistance of the Bradley Center, a team of volunteers and Dormont Borough Council President John Maggio. However, Maggio is now reporting the Hollywood will reopen fulltime under new leadership in August, thanks to interest from Motion Picture Heritage (MPH).

MPH is an Indianapolis-based group that rehabilitates and operates classic cinemas nationwide in conjunction with community activists. It will be subleasing the space for two years, with the option for an additional six, from the Bradley Center, which leases the building from Hollywood Partners LLP.

The Hollywood was last operated as a second-run theater by the Bradley Center between 2007 and 2008.

Plans for the 298-seat venue, which underwent more than $300,000 in renovations in 2007, include a café, an eventual liquor license and live music performances. Films will range from classics to cutting-edge indies to contemporary major studio fare, says Bill Dever with MPH.

"We don't want the Hollywood to be just a movie theater; we want it to be a complete experience," says Dever. "Potomac Avenue has a huge potential for restaurants and shops, so we want to help create foot traffic for our neighbors. People get a meal before or movie, or grab a beer afterward. We've seen situations like this where revitalized theaters have really improved local economies."

The Hollywood, located at 1449 Potomac Ave., is in the heart of one of Dormont's two business corridors, the other being along West Liberty Avenue. Dormont is celebrating its centennial this year, with a week of activities and events kicking off June 27 . One such happening is Buy Local week , which encourages sustainable shopping habits by promoting independent businesses in both of Dormont's commercial districts.

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Writer: Caralyn Green
Sources: John Maggio, president, Borough of Dormont; Lisa Fox, CEO, Bradley Center; Bill Dever, manager, Motion Picture Heritage

Photograph copyright Jennifer Baron

GTECH gardens vacant lots, creates green jobs for students

Wed, 17 Jun 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Now in its third year of operation, GTECH Strategies is revitalizing Pittsburgh's vacant lots and brownfields through bioenergy gardens, and cultivating a green workforce in the region.

The nonprofit plants crops, generally sunflowers, which transforms unused land into community spaces, improves soil quality and produces oil for biofuels. GTECH has not yet produced enough oil to sell commercially, but is looking to increase output and sell its product to local vendors in the future, says Chris Koch with GTECH.

GTECH, which stands for Growth Through Energy & Community Health, is doubling its neighborhood acreage this season. Previously, the nonprofit converted about 12 acres of vacant land in the region, with six of those in Hazelwood's 180-acre Almono Brownfield, and six in neighborhoods such as East Liberty, Lawrenceville and Larimer.

This spring, GTECH planted in New Orleans, its first activity outside the region. New project investments this summer include: 500 Jeanette St. in Wilkinsburg, where GTECH planted on half a 10,000 square-foot site being developed by Pittsburgh History & Landmarks Foundation; and a two-acre site at Fifth Avenue and Jumonville Street in Uptown. Additionally, GTECH is in talks to plant in Millvale and Homewood.

Through a partnership with the Student Conservation Association, GTECH will create 12 jobs this summer, a continuation of last year's pilot program. GTECH also partners with Three Rivers Workforce Investment Board on a Green Jobs Advisory Board that brings together between 20 and 30 groups on a monthly basis.

"In the past two years, a green workforce has gone from an unknown concept to something at the forefront of a federal mandate," says Andrew Butcher with GTECH. "The more people exposed to sustainable education, training and experience, the more this sector will continue to grow."

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Writer: Caralyn Green
Sources: Chris Koch, COO, and Andrew Butcher, CEO, GTECH

Image courtesy GTECH Strategies

Robert Morris University receives $500K toward nursing simulation center

Wed, 17 Jun 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Robert Morris University (RMU) received a grant last week for $500,000 toward the construction of a new nursing simulation center on its Moon Township campus.

"Our vision for the training center is to offer simulation not only to our students, but also to health care workers around the region," says Valerie Howard, Ph.D., with RMU. "The facility can be used by hospitals in the area for orientation, team training and employee competency testing."

The recent grant from the Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry comes on top of a $250,000 grant from Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield and a $95,000 federal grant.

The two-story, 23,000 square-foot facility, designed by Downtown-based Astorino architects, is still in the design phase, and is tentatively scheduled to be completed in 2011.

In the meantime, RMU is expanding its preexisting nursing simulation facility in the John Jay Center. The one-room simulation lab is being renovated, and two additional high-fidelity classrooms are being added. Five additional simulation mannequins, including a newborn, a 5-year-old, a birthing and two adult models, will allow students and health care workers to get real-world experience in a safe, controlled environment, says Dr. Howard.

"We have them practice in the lab before going out and taking care of real patients," she explains. "It decreases medical errors and improves patient outcomes in the healthcare arena."

RMU's School of Nursing and Health Sciences is six years old, and is home to about 180 undergraduates and 110 graduate students.

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Writer: Caralyn Green
Sources: Jonathan Potts, public relations director, and Valerie Howard, associate professor of nursing, Robert Morris University

Image courtesy Robert Morris University

Oakland county health facility to be replaced by $40M mixed-used construction

Wed, 17 Jun 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Within the next year, the longstanding Allegheny County Health Department building in Oakland will be no more.

The 40,000 square-foot building will be sold for $4.9 million, and will be demolished. The 1.5-acre site will be prepared for development by a joint venture partnership consisting of O'Hara-based Massaro Corporation, TKA Architects, Inc., Downtown brokerage firm Langholz Wilson Ellis, Inc., and Harmer-based Kratsa Properties, which is currently developing hotels throughout the city, including in Mt. Lebanon, on the North Shore near PNC Park and on Ross Street, Downtown.

The soon-to-be-former Health Department property, which spans Fifth and Forbes Avenues between Craft and Halket Streets, will see the construction of a 95,000 square-foot Class A office building, 150-room select service hotel and 510-car parking garage. The development team estimates overall costs in excess of $40 million.

The future of the health center is currently uncertain; they may move or may lease space in the new building.

The project is slated to break ground in the first quarter of 2010, and is expected to take 24 months to complete, says Gary Wilson with Langholz Wilson Ellis, Inc.

"We are thrilled with the location," says Wilson. "There is no other land left in Oakland that is closer to the hospitals and universities."

Wilson adds that his firm is working with developers Ed Dunlap and Annemarie Hoffman on redeveloping the nearby former Noce Cadillac site at the corner of Boulevard of the Allies and Craft Street. The vacant building will be converted into 20,000 square-feet of Class A office space with 75 parking spots, two-thirds of which will be indoors.

"We're currently seeking a tenant for Craft Place and will begin renovations immediately upon obtaining one," says Wilson.

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Writer: Caralyn Green
Sources: Gary Wilson, principal, Langholz Wilson Ellis, Inc.

Image courtesy Lanholz Wilson Ellis, Inc.

Author McCullough looks at city's place in history

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 GMT

Author David McCullough, featured guest at the recent Pittsburgh 250 History Makers Gala at the Senator John Heinz History Center, sat down at the Westin Convention Center last Friday afternoon for a wide-ranging interview with a group of reporters.

Creative politics

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 GMT

In this Pittsburgh Post-Gazette piece, sociologist Richard Florida argues that the party that can bring together the working class and the creative class is likely to build a lasting majority.

McKeesport company still hoping maglev project will be built

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 GMT

For nearly two decades, Maglev Inc. has spearheaded a local effort to develop a 54-mile line that would guide magnetically levitated trains at speeds of up to 250 mph between Pittsburgh International Airport and Greensburg.

But as federal funding dried up, the McKeesport company had to branch out into other ventures just to keep its signature project afloat.

Heinz Endowments boss sets new tone

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 GMT

The man now in charge of Heinz's $80 million annual grant-making is a former college president, oil and gas executive, ordained minister, prison warden and municipal-finance expert who prefers informality (he asks that you call him "Bobby"), enjoys peanut butter and jelly sandwiches and grilled cheese with mustard, preaches optimism (his favorite Bible verse: "All things are possible to him who believes") and is quick to express humility with acts of self-deprecating humor, especially in staid settings.

Chinese real estate investors tour Pittsburgh

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 GMT

Pittsburgh Mayor Luke Ravenstahl met Monday with a delegation of Chinese real estate investors who are being hosted in the city by the Pittsburgh Regional Alliance.

How to sell a city

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 GMT

What's in an urban brand? Civic leaders across the country ask that question as they strive to make their towns attractive to entrepreneurs and others in shaky economic times.

County, city want to merge

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 GMT

After more than a year of talking about it, Pittsburgh Mayor Luke Ravenstahl and Allegheny County Chief Executive Dan Onorato yesterday announced a plan to merge the city and county under one government, calling it a "significant and bold" step for the region.

Allegheny County to spend $350 million on road repairs

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 GMT

Bridges and state highways are on the list of construction planned for the year in the North Hills.

Pittsburgh Emerges as Robotics Center

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 GMT

The former steel town of Pittsburgh was recently dubbed "Roboburgh" in a Wall Street Journal article.

August Wilson: Write, stop, pivot, punch

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 GMT

August Wilson was the great chronicler of black America. John Lahr remembers the school drop-out who wrote standing up - with a punchbag at his side.

Reed Smith adds 55 lawyers from NYC firm

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 GMT

Pittsburgh's Reed Smith LLP has added 55 lawyers from New York City-based Anderson Kill & Olick, after merger talks between the two law firms were terminated.

The Last Lecture: A Love Story for Your Life

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 GMT

Diane Sawyer speaks with Randy Pausch and his family seven months after inspiring lecture.

Cancer-killing waves gain national attention

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 GMT

Leslie Stahl recently interviewed Washington County native John Kanzius, who invented a radiofrequency (RF) generator four years ago to treat cancer. His story was told Sunday, April 13 on CBS Television's "60 Minutes."

Well-cast drama translates "Mysteries"

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 GMT

Duane Byrge reviews filmmaker Rawson Marshall Thurber's film The Mysteries of Pittsburgh, which recently screened at the Sundance Film Festival.

Pittsburgh residential real estate expected to remain stable

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 GMT

Pittsburgh continues to rank as one of the nation's most stable residential real estate markets, according to a recent study.

Two local legends receive nationâs highest engineering honor

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 GMT

Two esteemed Pittsburgh researchers were elevated to the ranks of the nationâs most prestigious organization of engineers, the National Academy of Engineering.

Dr. William âRedâ Whittaker, founder of the Field Robotics Center at Carnegie Mellon University , and John Swanson, ANSYS founder and University of Pittsburgh engineering alumnus and trustee, joined the illustrious national panel, an honor that will give them a voice on important issues to Congress and the Obama administration.

Dr. Whittaker is widely known for his pioneering work in robotics. He was instrumental in the design of a driverless SUV that won the 2007 Urban Challenge. He is also on track to develop and land a lunar robot on the moon in December of 2010. Whittaker is chairman and chief technical officer of Astrobotic Technology, a company formed to win the $20 million Google Lunar X Prize.

âThis is the highest honor you can achieve for an engineer,â says Randal Bryant, dean of the school of computer sciences. âOf all the people at CMU, Red is the truest engineer we have. He makes use of the best science known to create technologies that solve real world problems, bringing together computers and systems that do things no one thought possible.â

The academy recognized Swanson for his development of the ANSYS program, a general-purpose finite-element software code used in engineering design worldwide to predict how product designs will behave in manufacturing and real-work environments.

âIt might fairly be said that Dr. Swanson helped bring the âhigh techâ economy to Southwestern Pennsylvania long before the term had been coined,â says Pitt Chancellor Mark Nordenberg. âWe have enormous respect for and are deeply grateful to Dr. Swanson, and today we join him in celebrating yet another premier professional distinction.â

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Writer: Deb Smit
Source: Randal Bryant, CMU; Morgan Kelly, University of Pittsburgh

Image of John Swanson courtesy University of Pittsburgh

Photograph of Red Whittaker copyright Brian Cohen

DeepLocalâs Chalkbot welcomes racers at the Tour de France, watch it in action!

Wed, 08 Jul 2009 00:00:00 GMT

In the midst of the Tour de France, a Pittsburgh robot is roving the streets, paving the raceway with messages of hope and inspiration for riders and survivors of cancer.

Nike LIVESRONG has launched an integrated media campaign, âItâs About You,â to inspire a greater global awareness in the fight against cancer. Lance Armstrong, a slew of celebrities, TV commercials and a deeplocal creation called Chalkbot are stepping up for the cause.

In the tradition of displaying written messages for riders along the route, Chalkbot receives text messages from people all over the world and paints them in yellow on the raceway, explains Nike spokeswoman Carmen Velasquez. The messages are documented on the Nike Web site with a digital Google map that invites supporters to create public profiles and upload inspirational stories, photos or video.

Chalkbot was receiving about 200 text messages a day at last count.

âWe built Chalkbot so people from everywhere can spread messages of hope and cancer survival to the entire world at the Tour de France on the streets,â says Nathan Martin of DeepLocal in a video created about the campaign by LegionMedia of Pittsburgh. To view the video, click here.

âItâs About Youâ will also surface through similar âchalkingâ events in New York City, Los Angeles, San Francisco and Chicago. Each event will tie to a celebration happening in that city and feature a local artist who will create a yellow chalk art installation on the streets that people will be encouraged to expand upon with their messages.

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Writer: Debra Diamond Smit
Source: Carmen Velasquez, Nike

Image courtesy of Nike LIVESTRONG

Social Security numbers easy to crack with public data, researchers say

Wed, 08 Jul 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Just how secure is your Social Security number? Not very, depending on when and where you were born, according to Carnegie Mellon researchers.

It turns out that the nine-digit Social Security number is a fairly easy number to crack thanks to loads of available online public informationâgovernment sources, commercial databases and social media. The news has many questioning the future of the 74-year-old federal system.

Lead researchers Alessandro Acquisti, associate professor of information and technology at Carnegie Mellon University, and post-doctoral researcher Ralph Gross report that an individualâs date and state of birth are often enough to enable an identity thief to guess a Social Security number with great accuracy.

Acquisti and Gross tested their prediction using records from the Death Master File of people who died between 1973 and 2003. Among the most startling discoveries, they could identify, in a single try, the first five digits for 44 percent of deceased individuals who were born after 1988.

âOur hope is to not simply point out the weaknesses of the system, but trigger a change,â says Acquisti. âWe hope to encourage and initiate better ways to protect against identity theft.â

Acquisti notes that the government never intended the numbers to be used for anything other than tracking taxes and has warned outside agencies against their use for personal authentification. Online technology has increased the risk to personal privacy.

The findings will be published this week in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Science and presented at an information security conference in Las Vegas later this month. In addition, the researchers will present their findings in person this week to lawmakers in Washington, D.C.

To read the full study, click here . To learn more about the research, click here.

To receive Pop City weekly, click here.

Writer: Debra Diamond Smit
Source: Alessandro Acquisti, Carnegie Mellon University

Image courtesy Carnegie Mellon University

White House recognizes two Pittsburgh companies as national models

Wed, 08 Jul 2009 00:00:00 GMT

President Obama recently tapped two Pittsburgh companies as national models of social innovation and community transformation.

Andrew Butcher and Chris Koch of GTECH Strategies and Felix Brandon Lloyd of Skill-Life received a White House invitation on June 30th to join a select crowd of 100 to celebrate the creation of the Office of Social Innovation and Civic Participation.

âNow more than ever, we need to build cross-sector partnerships to transform our schools, improve the health of Americans and employ more people in clean energy and other emerging industries,â Obama told the group gathered in the East Room. The $50 million Social Innovation Fund will support community partnerships and projects.

âIt seems clear the White Houseâs agenda for social innovation is committed to identifying the best practices throughout the country for community revitalization,â says Butcher. âThis was an invitation to work on a larger scale. It was pretty empowering for us.â

GTECH and Life-Skills were awarded the Echoing Green Fellowship for Social Entrepreneurship in 2008. Butcher and Koch, 2007 Carnegie Mellon grads, founded GTECH in 2007, a firm that reclaims vacant land through the growth of alternative energy crops to transition blighted space and serve as a platform for green jobs.

GTECH recently completed a project in New Orleans, has addressed the Brookings Institute and is working to expand its model to other regions. (For the Pop City story, click here .) Skill-Life, an Alpha Lab startup, is developing a game-based platform that teaches life skills, financial literacy, nutrition and citizenship to tween-agers. Both companies are located in Point Breeze.

âThis is a special time to be in a place like Pittsburgh, not just because it has a culture of entrepreneurism, but itâs on the forefront of old industrial cities that have the potential to be the future,â adds Butcher. âWeâve survived the downturn in the economy and Obama recognizes that. â

To receive Pop City weekly, click here.

Writer: Debra Diamond Smit
Source: Andrew Butcher, GTECH Strategies

Image courtesy GTECH Strategies

Carnegie Mellon prof wins prestigious national green chemistry award

Wed, 08 Jul 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Carnegie Mellonâs Krzysztof Matyjaszewski has received the 2009 Presidential Green Chemistry Challenge Award from the EPA, a coveted prize that promotes the research and development of low-risk alternatives in chemical and industrial production.

Matyjaszewski was recognized in the academic category for the development of an earth-friendly, low-impact form of Atom Transfer Radical Polymerization (ATRP), a widely used method for developing functional polymers.

With 400 billion pounds of synthetic polymers produced in the world each year, ATRP substantially reduces the environmental impact of polymer fabrication, using friendly chemicals such as vitamin C and sugar to offset an otherwise toxic process.

The ATRP polymers have been used for coatings, adhesives and cosmetics and are currently under investigation for use in the medical and environmental fields.

Matyjaszewski is the second chemist from Carnegie Mellon to win the award since its inception in 1996. Terry Collins, the Thomas Lord Professor of Chemistry, received the award in 1999 for the development of TAML oxidant activators, catalysts that safely remove toxic chemicals from water.

ATRP formed the basis for a spin-off company in 2006 called ATRP Solutions that uses the technology to develop next generation materials. Seven corporations including PPG Industries, Mitsubishi and Dionex have licensed ATRP and have begun to produce high-performance, safer materials for a wide variety of applications.

"At Carnegie Mellon, sustainability is in our DNAâ says Richard McCullough, vice president for research. âHaving two recipients of this award reaffirms that Carnegie Mellon's Green Chemistry program is one of the most influential in the United States."

âThe award-winning technologies that we are celebrating today are just the kind of innovations that will help us build the clean energy-based economy envisioned by the President,â adds Amelia Salzman with the White House Council on Environmental Quality. âThe shift to green chemistry will create green jobs, safer conditions for workers and less pollution and will save energy, natural resources and money.â

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Source: Richard McCullough, Carnegie Mellon University

Image courtesy Carnegie Mellon University

World-class bass anglers bring national spotlight back to Pittsburgh

Wed, 08 Jul 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Pittsburgh gains the national spotlight this month when world champion bass anglers cast their lines into the regionâs rivers.

The FLW Outdoorsâ Forrest Wood Cup , the second major bass fishing championship to descend here, will attract the worldâs best bass anglers and an estimated 60,000 people, one of the largest crowds ever for the event. It will also pump an estimated $36 million into the regionâs economy.

The event takes place July 30 to August 2 and will be televised nationally on Versus.

âPittsburgh is one of the few cities in the world with an urban setting for a fishing tournament,â says Craig Davis, vp of sales and marketing for VisitPittsburgh. Davis helped to bring both the Forrest Wood Cup and the Bass Masterâs Classic in 2005 to the city. âThis sends a message that our streams and rivers are clear and clean against our urban backdrop. The Bass Masterâs Classic was executed well and earned us a great reputation.â

The National Guard Junior World Championship will also be held on the Allegheny River in nearby Kittanning, Pa. July 31 to August 1.

âWestern Pennsylvania is now a world-class destination for recreation and tourism, and weâre looking forward to the opportunity to showcase the beauty of our rivers to the nation,â adds Ken Komoroski, an attorney with K&L Gates and member of the local organizing committee.

The challenge marks the culmination of six qualifying events in venues throughout the United States. The top 77 qualifiers compete for the $1 million top prize. FLW Outdoors will also announce the winner of its Fantasy Fishing competition on August 1, an angler who will take home a grand prize of $1 million.

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Writer: Debra Diamond Smit
Source: Craig Davis, VisitPittsburgh

Image totally thrown together in desperation

Astrobotic develops robot to enter NASA's moon-dirt moving challenge

Wed, 08 Jul 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Pittsburgh-based Astrobotic Technology Inc. has entered its second lunar competition with a moon-dirt moving robot designed to help develop a future lunar outpost for NASA.

The NASA Regolith Excavation Challenge will take place on Oct. 17-18 at the NASA Ames Research Center in Silicon Valley. The droid that digs and dumps the most simulated lunar grit under moon-like conditions will receive the $500,000 prize.

The contest was held last year but no one succeeded in meeting the minimum requirements. Astrobotic did not enter, says David Gump, president, but he believes it will handily take the purse this year.

The competition is a preliminary step in Astroboticâs larger plan to win the Google Lunar X Prize. Led by Carnegie Mellonâs Red Whittaker, Astrobotic hopes to land a lunar robot on the moon, a rolling television studio that will transmit high-def video of the Apollo 11 site back to earth. The launch is planned for May 2011. (For the Pop City story, click here .)

The company is working on a deal with Lockheed Martin to develop a booster for the launch. Formed in 2007, Astrobotic is positioning itself to be a robotic supplier of labor for research and development of the lunar frontier. The firm has secured lunar contracts from NASA and two commercial firms to date.

NASA plans to locate a lunar base on the moon by 2024. Understanding how machinery and materials will perform in the lunar atmosphere is key to mitigating the risks of early missions. Gump believes this early work is the beginning of greater things to come.

âCan we prove thereâs water ice at the polar craters? If so, it means we can live off the land,â he says. âWe can begin using the frontier to reduce costs, make exploration less expensive and perhaps use it as a fueling station for ships moving out to Mars and beyond.â

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Writer: Debra Diamond Smit
Source: David Gump, Astrobotic Technology Inc.

Image courtesy Pittsburgh-based Astrobotic Technology Inc.

WTW Architects design nation's first LEED Gold student union

Wed, 08 Jul 2009 00:00:00 GMT

The Green Mountains of Vermont are home to the first LEED Certified Gold student union in the country, designed by WTW Architects of Pittsburgh.

The University of Vermontâs Davis Student Center sits on a stretch of Main Street in Burlington and houses a 4-story atrium, pub and bistro, bookstore, retail outlets, 850-seat ballroom, food services, conference and meeting facilities and a terrace where students can enjoy sweeping views of the mountains.

The $61 million, 186,000 square-foot facility is a perfect feather in the cap of WTW, which celebrates its 50th year in the business and a long history of sustainable design.

Sensitive planning is nothing new at WTW, which has actively promoted it since the energy crisis in the Seventies, says Rich DeYoung, president and CEO.

âEarly on it was a challenge to get clients to think about it; today they want LEED experience,â he says. âLEED became the catalyst that formalized what we were doing. It pushed us further and challenged our clients.â

UVMâs Gold features include the energy efficient lighting and building systems, which reduce energy use by 50 percent. In addition, 92 percent of all construction waste was recycled or reused in some way and 63 percent of the building materials came from within 500 miles of the center.

A controlled carbon dioxide ventilation system pumps fresh air directly into the facility, depending on the number of people inside, explains DeYoung, which combats fatigue, a symptom of many older buildings today.

âIf you look at the project from the outside, you wouldnât know itâs sustainable,â DeYoung adds proudly. âWe didnât force an alien aesthetic.â

WTW has received national recognition for its designs of new and renovated student unions, which comprises about 35 percent of its business. Taking a team approach to design work, WTW and employs 55 people in its Pittsburgh office and has an affiliate in Colorado Springs.

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Writer: Debra Diamond Smit
Source: Rich DeYoung, WTW

Image courtesy Westphalen Photography and WTW

Getting ready for the G-20 Summit--weigh in now!

Wed, 24 Jun 2009 00:00:00 GMT

When leaders of the worldâs most important emerging-market countries come to Pittsburgh this fall, what will they need, see and experience?

Suggestions poured in this past week during three public brainstorming sessions. Not able to attend? Share your ideas and sign up for potential volunteer opportunities at the Pittsburgh G-20 Partnership Web site by clicking here.

âWeâve gotten some really great ideas, things we hadnât thought of,â reports Kevin Evanto of Allegheny County . âMany say they want the city to gleam, a display of flags of all the nations, to welcome people in their native language.â

One gentleman suggested inviting illusionists to walk the streets because no one needs a translator to understand the language of magic.

Other thoughts? Pittsburgh must live up to its green image with sustainable opportunities and recycling offered everywhere, at hotels, on the streets, in parks. Stage a special light-up or festival of lights, get the ethnic communities involved, improve signage and enlist university and high school students to volunteer.

âWeâre still waiting to hear from the White House on many issues, but we want to be as prepared as possible so when we get direction, we can act,â Evanto adds. âWe want to be in a position to respond to the White House right away.â

The county plans to create an online media center so when 3,000 reporters descend, they will find a Web site filled with story ideas and local opportunities.

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Writer: Debra Diamond Smit
Source: Kevin Evanto, Allegheny County

Vivisimo names new President and CEO to growing team

Wed, 24 Jun 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Squirrel Hill enterprise search engine pioneer, Vivisimo, is shifting into high gear with two powerhouse executives who are joining the growing team.

John Kealey (pictured right) and Kevin Calderwood (left) will serve as CEO and president respectively. Founder and former CEO Raul Valdes-Perez will become executive chairman. Both men bring two decades of executive management experience to the firm from Virginia where they both worked at iDirect Technologies and a mix of technologies and markets.

Both will serve on Vivisimoâs board of directors. In addition, Vivisimo has added Phil Carrai to its board of directors. Carrai is currently executive vice president of the $100 million IT solutions group for Kratos Defense, Inc.

"This rocket is ready to accelerate so we're looking for the best people to move forward," says Valdes-Perez who has been discussing the move for the past year. "We are a major player in enterprise search and have the best product on the market."

Valdes-Perez says he plans to devote more time to innovation technology development.

Kealeyâs background includes more than 25 years in the communications and information technology business. He formerly served on Vivisimoâs advisory board and is the former president and CEO of iDirect Technologies in Herndon, VA, which he helped to grow into a global leader with $120 million in revenue. The company was acquired by Singapore Technologies in 2005.

Calderwood was a founder and managing partner of venture capital firm Amp Capital Partners in Reston, VA, and Palo Alto, CA. He served as executive manager for two Amp Capital portfolio companies and was chairman of the board of iDirect until 2005.

For complete bios, click here.

Vivisimo is one of the fastest growing companies in Pittsburgh. The firm employs 100 and has plans to hire people in technology, engineering and professional services in the coming year.

âAfter nine consecutive years of growth and a loyal customer base that spans markets and geographies, Vivisimoâs potential couldnât be greater,â says Calderwood. âIâve worked for many companies over the years, but none have had this perfect storm combination of the right product with a hungry, growing market and, of course, the right people. The opportunity here is remarkable.â

To receive Pop City free each week, click here.

Writer: Debra Diamond Smit
Source: Raul Perez-Valdez, Leo Tignini, Vivisimo

Images courtesy Vivisimo

BrainPort helps the tongue to see; Center for Vision Restoration receives $3 M

Wed, 24 Jun 2009 00:00:00 GMT

A roadside bomb in Iraq nearly killed Marine Cpl. Mike Jernigan, who sustained serious injuries and lost his vision in the blast.

Today he is learning to see again with a new device in development that may restore sight through neural pathways to the tongue.

The Center for Vision Restoration of UPMC and the University of Pittsburgh received a $3 million gift this month from Louis J. Fox, a graduate of Pitt.

The gift will enable the center to pioneer research and technology like BrainPort, a system that captures images on a digital camera mounted to sunglasses and sends the electrical signal to sensors on the tongue. In time, users learn to interpret the signals and see their surroundings, albeit in a feeling, sensing fashion.

The Louis J. Fox Center for Vision Restoration of UPMC and the University of Pittsburgh is a research and clinical program dedicated to ocular regenerative medicine and improving quality of life for the vision-impaired. Along with the UPMC Eye Center and McGowan Institute for Regenerative Medicine , the centerâs focus is discovery and development of new cures for blindness and visual impairment, especially for those with problems affecting the retina, optic nerve, cornea and lens.

Through basic and clinical research, it will provide vision restoration through the augmentation of existing visual pathways or by providing vision through non-visual means.

âMy heartfelt desire is that my contribution speeds the discovery and development of therapies that will make it possible for people to see again,â says Fox.

Source: Louis J. Fox, Stacey Simon, UPMC

Louis J. Fox
Image courtesy of UPMC

Downtown is the ultimate playground for Urban Baby Tours

Wed, 24 Jun 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Rachel Booth thinks downtown Pittsburgh is the best place for little ones to play. And tour.

So do her friends and their children. Last summer Booth led her playgroup on a romp through several city fountains and parks when her friend suggested that she turn the outing into a business.

âI love living here,â says the full-time mom and part-time freelancer, who penned âWhy We Moved to Downtown Pittsburghâ for Pop City this year. Booth lives in the Cultural District. (For the story, click here.) âI figured even moms who donât live downtown, or maybe donât know where to go, would enjoy it.â

Urban Baby Tours was born this summer, 90-minute tours that set off before and after nap times giving kids and moms a pint-size perspective on the Golden Triangle. All you need is a stroller (or a backpack), an inquisitive child between 0 and 5 years and water shoes.

Get Around Town offers the littlest a stroller ride through downtown. A Fountain Crawl for toddlers stops at three child-friendly city fountains where kids can wade and splash. The Fountain Crawl Baby is a sight and sound experience with water. The Artsy Baby takes mom on a stroller tour through city museums and Play Park allows youngsters to run around city green spaces such as Point Park, Katz Plaza and Mellon Green.

The tours are spontaneous, she adds. âSometimes we stay longer in one place if we are having fun. Itâs a child-focused tour of downtown, whatever they are into. I enjoy sharing the city with other moms.â

Custom tours are available too.

Tours run 1.5 hours and are $20, although June tours are on sale now for $15. For more information, click here .

Source: Rachel Booth, Urban Baby Tours

Bayer Material Scienceâs Cool Roofs take the heat off

Wed, 24 Jun 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Want to save energy and combat global warming on a massive scale? Paint all the flat roofs in the world white.
.
U.S. Secretary of Energy Steven Chuâs recent suggestion during a London conference couldnât have been a better plug for âCool Roofs,â an innovative roofing product made by Pittsburgh-based Bayer Material Science.

âWe couldnât have paid him to say something more effective than what he said,â laughs John Linnell, roofing manager for BaySystems, purveyors of Cool Roof. âSave the planet by painting all the roofs white.â

The BMS product is sprayed on roof surfaces to help reflect the suns rays. The coating, which comes in a palette of reflective colors, adheres without seams or fasteners to existing rooftop material. Not only is it green, but it also extends the lifetime of the roof and repairs leaks, says Linnell. The shield blocks UV rays that degrade the roof in time.

A Cool Roof reflects up to 95 percent of the sunâs rays, substantially reducing the egg-frying heat on top by 50 to 100 degrees. It also effectively cools urban âheat islandsâ in the summertime. And the potential is there for road and other surfaces, he says.

The roofs are often tax deductible as a sustainable maintenance expense in some states. For more information on the Cool Roof system, click here .

Writer: Debra Diamond Smit
Source: John Linnell, BaySystems, Bayer Material Science

Image courtesy Bayer Material Science

Double Decker Tours cruise the âburgh

Wed, 24 Jun 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Bring your best British accent and jump on board a bit of history with Pittsburgh Tour Companyâs Double Decker Tours .

West Mifflin couple Manion and Vince LaMonica, co-owners of Celebrity Limousines, wanted to provide a hip way to see the city. Their wish came true when they located one of the few remaining vintage red double-decker buses made by AEC Routemaster for the London Transport Co. in 1964.

âA tour is more exciting when youâre riding on a piece of history," says Manion."There are only about 1,000 of these buses still in existence.â

The bus was refurbished and restored it to its original condition. âThe seats, windows, switches even the bell you ring when you want to get off is original,â she adds. Manion particularly loves the original checkerboard seat fabric, which was used in London's transit buses back in the day.

Double Decker Tours launches this month with a loop that runs from South Side, down Carson Street to Station Square to the North Shore and PNC Park, through the Strip and by Grant Street to Point State Park. Then it heads up 2nd Avenue and returns to South Side over the Hot Metal Bridge.

âWe plan to change the route over time,â Manion adds. â Itâs not just a tour of the city. We give you some history, fun facts. Hopefully people will get on and off the bus, go to museums, eat lunch at a local restaurant. People from here may even learn something.â

The tours will get underway this month from the kiosk at 445 S. 27th Street in the South Side. For more information, click here.

To receive Pop City free each week, click here.

Writer: Debra Diamond Smit
Source: Manon LaMonica, Pittsburgh Tour Company

Streamline your hiring time with The Resumator

Wed, 17 Jun 2009 00:00:00 GMT

In a tough hiring economy, a tool that helps to manage the prolific shower of digital resumes comes in handy.

Enter The Resumator and the end of manually fielding and processing the paperwork. An Alpha Lab graduate, The Resumator automates, eliminates and simplifies the busywork, making the entire process painless and paperless, says Don Charlton, founder and CEO of the Pittsburgh startup.

âBy definition, hiring is an extremely inefficient task,â says Charlton, a native of Fayette County and a former web and graphic designer. âLooking for a good candidate is like trying to find a needle in the haystack. These tools take the inefficiency out of the process instead of picking up every single piece hay.â

The online system also saves time and money by helping to post jobs on external job boards with a single click. âHistorically the industry goes after the Fortune 10,000,â Charlton laughs. âTheir entire business model is geared toward huge money contracts. Thereâs a huge opportunity to create a ubiquitous brand for small- to medium-sized businesses.â

Charlton hopes to form a partnership with key companies that will help increase brand awareness. He also credits Alpha Lab with helping the startup get up and running quickly.

âThatâs the cool thing about Alpha Lab. Itâs a program that allows startups to quickly create products that are extremely capital efficient,â Charlton says.

To receive Pop City free each week, click here.

Writer: Debra Diamond Smit
Source: Don Charlton, The Resumator

Image courtesy The Resumator

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Penguins, Red Wings: Talking Hockey Smack with Detroit's Model D

Tamari's Latin-Asian fusion sizzles on Butler Street

22-unit green townhouse residence breaks ground in Mt. Washington

Bridgeway Capital awarded $2M in stimulus funding

Environmental groups collaborate on regional stewardship symposium

Eden's Market brings health-conscious convenience to Mt. Lebanon

Penn Ave. arts corridor gets first fashion boutique in Tweek

Group greens Pittsburgh's concrete jungles, first to use new tree technology in Pa.

Green Building Alliance awarded first LEED Platinum certification in western Pa.

Rimco Properties buys Robinson apartments for $29.75 million

Trail town Rockwood opens hostel along Great Allegheny Passage

Cocina Mendoza moves to Mt. Lebanon

Dormont's Hollywood Theatre to reopen fulltime

GTECH gardens vacant lots, creates green jobs for students

Robert Morris University receives $500K toward nursing simulation center

Oakland county health facility to be replaced by $40M mixed-used construction

Author McCullough looks at city's place in history

Creative politics

McKeesport company still hoping maglev project will be built

Heinz Endowments boss sets new tone

Chinese real estate investors tour Pittsburgh

How to sell a city

County, city want to merge

Allegheny County to spend $350 million on road repairs

Pittsburgh Emerges as Robotics Center

August Wilson: Write, stop, pivot, punch

Reed Smith adds 55 lawyers from NYC firm

The Last Lecture: A Love Story for Your Life

Cancer-killing waves gain national attention

Well-cast drama translates "Mysteries"

Pittsburgh residential real estate expected to remain stable

Two local legends receive nationâs highest engineering honor

DeepLocalâs Chalkbot welcomes racers at the Tour de France, watch it in action!

Social Security numbers easy to crack with public data, researchers say

White House recognizes two Pittsburgh companies as national models

Carnegie Mellon prof wins prestigious national green chemistry award

World-class bass anglers bring national spotlight back to Pittsburgh

Astrobotic develops robot to enter NASA's moon-dirt moving challenge

WTW Architects design nation's first LEED Gold student union

Getting ready for the G-20 Summit--weigh in now!

Vivisimo names new President and CEO to growing team

BrainPort helps the tongue to see; Center for Vision Restoration receives $3 M

Downtown is the ultimate playground for Urban Baby Tours

Bayer Material Scienceâs Cool Roofs take the heat off

Double Decker Tours cruise the âburgh

Streamline your hiring time with The Resumator

Two local legends receive nationâs highest engineering honor

DeepLocalâs Chalkbot welcomes racers at the Tour de France, watch it in action!

Bayer Material Scienceâs Cool Roofs take the heat off

Double Decker Tours cruise the âburgh