Downtown CDC | Pittsburgh Fashion Week
(412) 904-2299 | [email protected]
320 Ft. Duquesne Blvd., Suite 4A
Pittsburgh, PA 15222
Love Art? Artsburgh Has The Hookup
Are you interested in arts or are you an arts organization? Well, no matter because Artsburgh caters to both. Artsburgh.org serves 43,000 in Pittsburgh and in the surrounding area. And with the return of in-person activities, our 2021 is set for a big year.

If you are still hesitant about registering your events with us, or about what we can offer someone looking for an artistic release, then know this about Artsburgh:

✓   Free to use, unlimited event listings
✓   Events are automatically listed on five other local websites
✓   Customizable organization and venue profiles
✓   Categories for every event, in-person and virtual
✓   Supported by paid marketing campaigns at no cost to you
✓   Supported by real people at your local Arts Council
Pittsburgh's Newest Film Fest in 48 Hours
Some movies can take a decade to make, but would you be able to write, shoot and edit an entire film in 48 hours? See how 38 local teams rose to this Herculean challenge during the 20th-anniversary edition of this fast-paced international cinema event. The world premiere screenings will take place July 26 and 27 at The Tull Family Theater in Sewickley and virtually via Eventive. Filmmakers will literally have 48 hours straight to make a movie incorporating prompts such as a genre, a line of dialogue that must be spoken, a prop that must appear and a character that must be included. Stay tuned for deets about the public wrap party.
Dish Set To WOW Upon Reopening
Michele and Cindy Savoia’s South Side is still one of the best restaurants in Pittsburgh. Given that it reopened in 2019 better than ever following a two-year hiatus, we expect great things when Dish reopens as soon as their staff is fully vaccinated. 

Dish is one of Pittsburgh’s most romantic restaurants, in large part due to the needs-anticipating service team and transportive ambiance. On the flip side, the front bar is an everybody-knows-your-name neighborhood hangout, where reasonably priced wines and a deep amaro list keep you buzzing. The restaurant is proof that serving straightforward dishes prepared with quality ingredients is the best way to go. Michele Savoia’s menu is attuned to his Sicilian roots — salads speak to the seasons; fish and shellfish, grilled and simply adorned, speak to the beauty of the sea; pasta dishes speak to our souls. 

A Cool Thrift Store In Millvale
If you’re looking to rock out in a ‘90s T-shirt and vintage boyfriend jeans, head to B-Sides. Located in Millvale, the home-like, retro shop will not only give you satisfaction from its color-coded racks, but let you enter a time warp. 

Owner Alec Munson says he found his passion for sustainable clothing four years ago. He would go to big thrift warehouses and dig through bins of clothing just to find that one specific T-shirt or pair of denim jeans to fit his aesthetic or to share or sell to others. 

Today, he finds his merchandise everywhere from flea markets and wholesalers to clothing warehouses — and he still has the same dedication to finding that one unique piece. 

“I was just tired of going to stores and being like everything is $50, or everything is so expensive,” he says of why he opened his store. “That’s why I named my store B-Sides, because it’s like a record, like the side that wasn’t the hit. There’s just some average, cool everyday stuff here and you can come in and get a whole outfit for $50. That was always the idea.” 

While B-Sides’ retail location opened last June, Munson has been selling vintage clothing online for four years. B-Sides customers may buy, sell and trade in items. The resale rate is 40% in cash and 50% in store credit. Store hours are from 1 to 7 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday. 

B-Sides, 214 Grant Ave., Millvale; bsidespgh.com.
Pittsburgh's Great Musical History
By: Anna Walnoha
Pittsburgh is not only a melting pot of rich culture, but the ‘Burg has also had a brilliant music history of talented people who were from Pittsburgh and made a career for themselves with their music. 
 
In the first half of the 1900s, jazz was coming out of the Hill District with notable names like Billy Strayhorn who was a pianist, Art Blakely a drummer, Maxine Sullivan a vocalist and Earl “Fatha” Hines who was also a pianist. These amazing jazz musicians and singers started out in nightclubs and big band ballrooms went on to have a great influence on jazz music history.
 
From the late 1950s to early 1960s Pittsburgh had superstar Doo-Wop groups like The Skyliners, The Del-Vikings and The Marcels. The Marcels were known for turning popular songs of the time into rock and roll, like their one hit, ‘Blue Moon’.
 
Brian Young was born in Pittsburgh and grew up in Bethel Park. He was the drummer for the power-pop group The Posies from 1994 to 1998. He was also the drummer for the rock band The Fountains of Wayne from 1996 to 2013, their biggest hit in 2003 was ‘Stacey’s Mom’.
 
Pittsburgh also has artists still out there today making a name for themselves. Hip hop artist Wiz Khalifa was born in North Dakota but later moved to Pittsburgh nine years later where he attended Taylor Allderdice High School. Or pop singer Christina Aguilera, who was born in New York City, but then later moved to Pittsburgh at the age of six. 
 
In 2017 country music singer Gabby Barrett auditioned for the sixteenth season of American Idol in Nashville, TN. She made it to the finals before she was voted off. But that didn’t stop her from producing an album and three hit singles. Barrett is originally from Munhall, PA and she was recently crowned the ACM New Female Artist of the Year. 
 
With new beginnings also comes the tragic ending of another. As a city we felt an accomplishment but the people of Pittsburgh also felt personally impacted when Pittsburgh native and hip hop artist, Mac Miller, died in September of 2018. 
 
 For many years and even still today, Pittsburgh has been pumping out talent from jazz, country, rock and rap. The ‘Burgh should not be overlooked, we have a lot to offer from our humble steel city beginnings. 
Networking With Laughter
Business after hours. Networking, fun and hilarity to be held July 28 from 6 - 9 p.m. at Arcade Comedy Theatre Liberty Avenue Pittsburgh.

Did you ever want to break out of your shell, play a role, learn improv or stand-up comedy?  Bring a friend for a Gay old time with experienced, skilled instructors who will take you through interactive sketches, games, fun and hysterical activities to explore improv. Make some new friends, and network with LGBTQ+ business owners, allies and colleagues. This class WILL sell out and is limited to 20 participants to ensure the most engagement. Light snacks provided and BYOB.
Sneaking Stress Relievers into Your Daily Schedule
By: Jodi Velazquez
Stress around the globe may be at an all-time high so this may be a great time to add some simple de-stressors into your life, the more the better.

My friend told me that she prefers having a glass of wine at my home because it feels warmer and cozier than hers. I think the difference is my lighting which can be very calming. Decorative, colored lighting and string lights are currently a hot product on the market and can really help boost your mood. I currently have a lime green decorative lamp and a heart shaped red table light in my kitchen/family room; two colors that have a calming effect according to science. They create a soft and comfortable atmosphere and if I add mellow music and a candle this room becomes quite the tranquil environment.

Who has time to set 15 minutes aside for deep breathing? Well if you do not, this “Super Stress Buster” can be done while driving and it may even help lower your blood pressure when busy traffic is testing your patients. Deep breathing not only helps reduce stress, it promotes improved immunity and lowers blood pressure. I drive daily so getting into this habit of taking some deep breaths while driving assures that I will do this activity every day! If you don’t drive, try this while watching TV or before you fall asleep

When we are at entertainment events such as the ballpark, fairs, festivals or on vacation we often dine outside; so, our brains may relate dining outside to a “good time”. Therefore, when we eat outside our brains may relate this to having fun without us knowing it. Research shows any exposure to nature can sooth you physically as well as psychologically by decreasing the level of stress hormones inside your mind and easing muscle tension. The outdoors can also help keep your blood pressure and heart rate in control. If you are unable to eat outside, choose a window to sit in front of so you can have an outside visual.

Enjoy the sounds of nature to help relax the functioning of your fight or fight response in times of stress. If you are an early morning person, open the window slightly so you can hear the birds singing. If you are not a morning person or you are unable to open your window, Youtube offers many early morning sound videos and many music providers like Spotify offer early morning sounds. This is a super easy way to reduce stress you may just have to get in the habit of putting it on.

Sofa or couch stretching is easy to squeeze into your daily schedule and it can be quite relaxing mentally and physically. We all hit the sofa at some point during the day and it is usually to relax. Your brain already knows that your day is done or you are on break, why not take it a step further and stimulate your muscles to relax even more. You would be surprised how many muscles you can stretch while sitting down. It is also surprising how many videos and demonstrations there are on-line to demonstrate sofa/couch stretching. At nighttime, this process may even assist in you with falling asleep faster.

Take a bath by candlelight. There is something about the flickering candle light and the sound of the water that is very serene. There are those that soak in the tub and those that would never; but for those that do, they know the effect a bath has on the body is relaxing and positive. Hydrotherapy or submerging ourselves in water has been practiced for centuries for personal hygiene, leisure and health. It has been scientifically proven that the use of both hot and cold water can have beneficial effects on the body. The steam from a warm bath can help you breathe better. A bath can help pain and inflammation and calm the nervous system. The warm bath steam can oxygenate your blood and make it will flow easier. Plus, the warm water makes your heartbeat faster and burns calories.

The saying “It’s a Walk In the Park” refers to something that is or will be easy, combine that with another famous saying, “Man’s Best Friend” and you have a powerful antidote to stress by taking your dog for a walk. Just being around a dog can lower levels of the stress hormone cortisol. The effect is so strong that service dogs are used to help war veterans manage PTSD (Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder) and to calm children when testifying in court. This is a super stress buster and there is no doubt that Fido will appreciate the walk as well.

These seven stress-relieving activities are easy to incorporate into your day and can sneakily help you reduce your stress level without much effort.
Bricolage Revives Artistic Workshops
Bricolage is holding their annual teacher training workshop to find local and remote teaching artists, as well as video editors interested in working with their Midnight Radio Education Program.

The pandemic has kept the theater company out of schools for over a year, but they have been developing new ways of reaching students and giving them the opportunity to research, write and perform stories based on their school curriculum 

If you have experience teaching young people, leading artistic workshops, working with video editing software, and/or participating in virtual learning environments Bricolage wants to hear from you!

Please fill out this application for consideration and share your experience and interest with the Bricolage Education Team.

If you have any questions please contact their Head of Education, Sam Turich at [email protected].
Barefoot in the Park Comes to AO
Pittsburgh Public Theater is proud to welcome audiences to an extraordinary week of pop-up performances of Neil Simon’s BAREFOOT IN THE PARK…IN THE PARK at the newly opened Allegheny Overlook Pop-Up Park, located on Fort Duquesne Boulevard in downtown Pittsburgh.

“When our 2019-2020 season was cut short due to the COVID-19 crisis, the first priority was the health and safety of our audiences, artists, and staff,” said Pittsburgh Public Theater Artistic Director, Marya Sea Kaminski. “One of the productions we were all looking forward to with great anticipation was Neil Simon’s Barefoot in the Park, which unfortunately had to be canceled that season. Yet here we are, so many months later, bringing a pop-up production of this classic romantic comedy to an incredible new outdoor venue featuring some of the most irresistible, hilarious performers in the region. I simply cannot wait.”

“Bringing audiences together at the Allegheny Overlook will be cause for celebration this August,” shared Pittsburgh Public Theater Managing Director, Lou Castelli. “Our patrons have been incredibly patient and supportive during this time, and they deserve a night of relaxation and laughter. Once again seeing friendly faces in the crowd and enjoying the magic of live theater together will make for one memorable week.”

BAREFOOT IN THE PARK
By Neil Simon
Directed by Marya Sea Kaminski

PERFORMANCE SCHEDULE
Tuesday, August 3 at 7:00 pm
Wednesday, August 4 at 7:00 pm
Thursday, August 5 at 7:00 pm
Friday, August 6 at 7:00 pm
Saturday, August 7 at 7:00 pm

SUBSCRIBER INFORMATION
Pittsburgh Public Theater subscribers and those who donated their tickets to BAREFOOT IN THE PARK in 2020 will be invited to an exclusive VIP event this August at a private location. Invitations will be shared via mail and email.

TICKET INFORMATION
Tickets are available to BAREFOOT IN THE PARK at no charge. To register for free tickets, click HERE by Thursday, July 29 or visit PPT.ORG/BAREFOOT. Pittsburgh Public Theater graciously thanks Presenting Sponsor Highmark, Production Sponsor Richard W. Moriarty, M.D. for their generous support, and the Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership for its invitation to participate in Allegheny Overlook programming this summer.
Hair Dye Both Judges and Expresses
By: Lauren Wessl
There are many ways that women and men are able to temporarily and permanently alter their appearance. Different cosmetics have been increasing in popularity over the past decade. 

With the rise of social media, more people are learning new skills and hobbies. “The beauty industry has always been one of the most competitive commercial spaces. Pre-social media, beauty brands relied on major ad campaigns to target consumers, and make-up counters or shop shelves to sell to them.” 

Today, social media allows for cosmetics to be effortlessly marketed to the public. Because of this, many people are able to expand their knowledge about new hair and makeup products and try new things. Not only that, influencers on platforms such as Tik Tok and Youtube are seen trying out new products such as colorful hair dye or makeup, urging consumers to try it as well. Because of this, beauty products are becoming more acceptable in terms of self-expression.

The idea that makeup is utilized to enhance a person’s appearance is a long-standing idea. While it is true that it is primarily used to enhance a person’s features, there are many other ways for someone to use it. The same goes for dying a person’s hair; it can be done to enhance appearance, but it can also make a person feel better about themselves. 

In the past, going out with hot pink hair or curly blue locks would turn some heads, and not in a good way. It can be easy to label someone based on the way they look. Clothing, makeup, hair, tattoos are all examples of things that are not only able to be judged by others but are outlets of expression. “Research conducted by Nottingham Trent University, on women between the ages of 25 and 66, found that women experience a boost of confidence after dying their hair. Of the studied women, about half agreed that, after dyeing their hair, they wouldn’t be embarrassed to either sing or dance in front of strangers.” 

It’s easy to feel bored of your appearance once in a while, but there are so many options out there to be able to change and express yourself better. Before you judge someone for the way they look, remember that they are doing what makes them feel good about themselves.
*Photography and media sourced from 3rd party sites in no way implies support or affiliation with the Downtown Community Development Corp., or any partners.

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