Pittsburgh Downtown Community Development Corporation | (412) 235-7263 | [email protected]
100 Fifth Ave, Suite 614
Pittsburgh, PA 15222




 
In This Issue:
Cap Park Will Connect Downtown and Hill District  

The Urban Redevelopment Authority voted to approve a $900,000 loan for the new I-579 Cap Urban Connector Project received criticism from the Pittsburgh Penguins for not providing the expected local funding needed to secure a $19 million federal grant.

Expected to be under construction in the fall, the I-579 cap is a project to build a new connecting area of public parkland over I-579, called Crosstown Boulevard that has long served as a highway that divides downtown from the  Hill District. The project is expected to benefit the Penguins' plan to bring a new mixed-use development to the vacant 28 acres of the former Civic Arena in the Lower  Hill District by putting it within walking distance through the planned park space. The Penguins are the chosen master developer of the publicly owned property.

The $900,000 loan to the city-county SEA, the agency that owns and oversees the arena site redevelopment, is expected to contribute money- matching funds required to access the federal funding, a TIGER grant awarded during the last year of the administration of President  Barack Obama.

City Councilman  R. Daniel Lavelle, who represents the  Hill District and the arena site, criticized the Penguins for not fronting the money, requiring the URA to do so.
"We're having to advance funds from the redevelopment authority because the Penguins haven't put up money that they're obligated to put forward," he said.
The board voted to approve the loan to the SEA largely to ensure that the $19 million grant not be put at risk.

The Penguins have delayed "taking down" or buying parcels at the arena site on the schedule laid out in the original master agreement that expected the team to buy and develop the site within a 10-year time frame. 

Board Chair Kevin Acklin acknowledged the criticism but wanted to make sure the cap project goes forward with its full funding intact. The project is expected to cost more than $26 million.

Travis Williams, the chief operating office for the Penguins, declined to comment.

Festa Di Limoncello Promises Homemade Italian Cocktails

Pittsburgh's second annual Festa Di Limoncello will take place on June 30, 2018 from 1pm-4pm in the open air lounge, outdoor space of Vallozzi's Pittsburgh, and McMaster's Way (the street connecting Vallozzi's to Market Square)  located in the heart of downtown Pittsburgh. The Festival will feature housemade Limoncello tastings, hand crafted Limoncello cocktails, Amalfi Coast street foods, Vallozzi's famous pizza, citrusy sweets, breezy Amalfi coast inspired décor, and world music provided by local DJs. Tickets are $75 in advance with limited availability for just 150 guests.

Vallozzi's Pittsburgh's bar program has long featured housemade Limoncello, which is bottled daily on-site. Limoncello is made from fresh lemon zest, water, alcohol (usually vodka or a grain liquor), and sugar. It is most often associated with and produced in Sorrento, located on Italy's famed Amalfi Coast. The Italian liquor is offered as a sign of hospitality in the Italian culture and is typically offered after meals- though; it is a popular drink for nearly every occasion.

Other fruit variations of Limoncello are also made in-house like grapefruit, orange, strawberry, and will be available for tasting and included in specialty cocktail options at Festa di Limoncello. Look for samplings of new flavors this year, too. Last year, Vallozzi rolled out a unique Fig-cello which quickly became the crowd favorite.

Festa di Limoncello has been designed as a way to experience a luxurious summer day on Italy's Amalfi Coast right in the heart of Pittsburgh. Lush garlands reminiscent of citrus trees, al fresco photo opps, world music, and even Amalfi's striped and festive beach umbrellas lining the event will transport guests to a luxurious Italian afternoon of delicious revelry, as they sip house-made Limoncello.


Pre-sale tickets are recommended. This event sold out last year.  Tickets are available on Showclix.com. 

Giovanni's Pizza is Expanding

Giovanni's Pizza and Pasta has offered quality Italian food to the downtown area for many years. They are the premier location for lunch, dinner and catering offering pizza, gyros, hoagies, soups, salads and pasta. And they are about to get bigger.

Currently, the restaurant is a little cramped. The space is long but narrow, limiting the seating and minimizing the productivity of the kitchen that cannot support the needs of their growing catering business. Although the food is amazing and made from scratch, Giovani's owner, Alihan Hanoglu knew things could be improved.

Giovanni's recently took over the property right next door and has renovated the space to expand the restaurant. In the renovation, the current kitchen and prep area has been taken out to expand the seating area. The kitchen is will be moved to location next door and be redone so it will be "big, shiny, and new". This will allow them to double the size of their catering menu and the restaurant itself. The expanded menu will offer Turkish cuisine, sandwiches, kabobs and more.

They are also adding in an additional fun feature to the new kitchen: a window that looks like an old brick pizza oven connecting the kitchen to the street including lights that give the allusion of a burning fire. Through this window, people will be able to buy pizza by slice, directly from the kitchen.

Mr. Hanoglu is of the mind set that one can never stop moving and improving and is looking forward to the opportunities this expansion will provide.


Joe Orlando's Has Changed Locations

Joe Orlando's, a gentlemen's clothier, was located on Liberty Avenue for 37 years. But a year ago when a new landlord took over their building and decided not to renew their contract, Mr. Orlando and his staff were in a scramble to find a new location that would fit their needs. They knew they wanted to stay downtown, it was their home, and had found several suitable locations but none of the potential suitors stood out to them as much as the historic Carlisle Building on Wood Street. Mr. Orlando had some reservations about moving to the opposite side of Downtown from where they had always been. But the space was perfect for reinventing the nearly four decades old retailer. The new location exudes quality as soon as you enter the door. The tall pillars and walls made of marble give the impression of regality and the products on display let customers them know they are receiving excellence. Customers are "wow-ed" when they walk through the rotating door on the corner of Wood and Forth. The exuberant collection of styles and patterns for the shirts and suits on sale ensure that any customer will be able to express their style in anyway they like. In addition to the interior, their new location provides them with additional foot traffic; something they did not get a lot of where the location was almost a detour.

Joe Orlando's was also able to bring their tailor, Frank into the center of the store. Customers can see Frank working at his sewing machines, making sure everything will fit just right for clients, an element Mr. Orlando feels adds authenticity to the retailer.

Mr. Orlando commented that Downtown's Wood street has the potential for becoming a large retail hub for Pittsburgh with several men's clothing stores in the area already and Boutique la Passerel and Larrimore's  as women's retail options on Wood St and Fifth Ave respectively. The addition of more retail stores would only help downtown. Currently, "men are able to find everything they need right downtown but women have limited options so retailers often lose women to locations like Ross Park Mall."

Even though the store is still filling out its new location, Mr. Orlando pays close attention to the small details that make the store come to life; like arranging handkerchiefs into champagne flutes and twirling ties to look like flowers. And with new location, Mr. Orlando commented that "even in a week, I've noticed we've had a lot more foot traffic coming in from the street. People have to walk by our store, not make a detour to find it." Despite having more customers and a fancy new location, Mr. Orlando still says what he takes most pride in about his store is "the amount of loyal customers [we have], more than anything else. The products we have currently are superior to anything we ever had. We open up boxes and are amazed with the quality of the products we have. But we have guys coming in, sometimes three generations from the same family; grandfather, father, son. And that's what I am most proud of."

Amazing Books Fills Downtown Need for Books
 
There is only one used bookstore in Downtown Pittsburgh and that would be Amazing Books and Records. The space is small but owner Eric Ackland has filled it up. Located on the busy Liberty Ave, Amazing Books and Records came into Ackland's life five years ago when an existing pop-up bookstore was up for sale and Ackland seized the opportunity.

While I was in the store speaking with Mr. Ackland, several people were milling about. As each of them checked out with their purchases, Mr. Ackland asked them where they were from. One was from Cincinnati and the other Tallahassee, both grateful to find a bookstore placed so conveniently. Mr. Ackland believes that the reason the bookstore has been so successful in its five years of business is not because of interested passerbyers alone: "We fill a need no one else is filling. There aren't any other bookstores except for the college ones in the neighborhood. A bookstore makes a neighborhood complete."

Clearly customers agree as the store is almost overflowing with used books and records that Mr. Ackland has acquired from instore purchases and estate sales. Which is why he is currently looking into expand his business and flourish even more in the downtown neighborhood, providing customers more convenience for their bookshopping needs. Although nothing is set in stone, Mr. Ackland hopes to expand on the concept of the existing store culture by increasing the number of new books, adding in more greeting cards and gift items and potentially adding a vegan cafe- filling another need not currently filled by the downtown area.

Music City Downtown Weekly Calendar


Andys @ Fairmont Pittsburgh
Thursday, May 24 - Clare Ascani - 7:30 - 10:30 p.m.
Friday, May 25 - DJ Malls Spins Vinyl - 5:00 - 7:30 p.m.
Friday, May 25 - Trudy Holler - 8:00 p.m. - 12:00 a.m.
Saturday, May 26 - Kenia - 8:00 p.m. - 12:00 a.m.

Backstage Bar
Tuesday, May 22 - Eric Johnson & The Fabulous A-team at 5:00 p.m.
Friday, May 25 - T.B.A. at 5:00 p.m.
Saturday, May 26 - T.B.A at 5:00 p.m.

Eddie V's 
Tuesday, May 22 - Symmetry - 6:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m.
Wednesday, May 23 - George Heid 3 - 6:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m.
Thursday, May 24 - Reggie Watkins Quartet - 6:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m.
Friday, May 25 - Prizm - 6:30 p.m. - 10:30 p.m.
Saturday, May 26 - Alex Peck Trio - 6:30 p.m. - 10:30 p.m.

Howl at the Moon 
Live music on Wednesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays at  8:00 p.m. and Fridays at  6:00 p.m. For more information, visit Howl at the Moon's website here .

NOLA
Friday, May 25 - Rick Matt - 8:00 p.m.
Saturday, May 26 - Olga Watkins - 8:00 p.m.

Olive or Twist
Live music every  Thursday,  Friday, and  Saturday at  9:00 p.m.

Redbeard's on Sixth
Live acoustic music every Thursday and Friday from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
DJ Ridiculous every Friday and Saturday from 10:00 p.m. to 2:00 a.m.

Revel + Roost
Friday, May 25 - Spencer Allen Patrick - 7:00 p.m. - 11:00 p.m.

Rivers Casino
Friday, May 25 - Tony Janflone Jr. - 9:00 p.m.
Saturday, May 26 - Artistree - 9:00 p.m.

Rivers Club
Wednesday, May 23 - WNL- Mary Ann Mangini - 5:30 p.m.

Downtown Events this Week:

TUESDAY, 5/22  
Portugal. The Man, Stage AE, 6:00 p.m. - 12:00 a.m.
Half Full, Half Empty: Prohibition Glassware, Heinz History Center, 6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.

WEDNESDAY, 5/23
American Cancer Society Emerging Leaders Kickoff, Penn Society, 5:30 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.
Raw: Pittsburgh Presents Magnify, Xtaza Nightclub, 7:00 p.m. 

THURSDAY, 5/24
A Crisis of Criminality and Policing, Heinz History Center, 7:00 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.
Wine & Beer Cruise - Celebrities!, Pittsburgh Luxuries Cruises, 6:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.

FRIDAY, 5/25
Mix & Match, Federal Gallery, 6:00 p.m.

SATURDAY, 5/26
Nomad Motel, City Theatre, 1:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Pittsburgh vs. St Louis Cardinals, PNC Park, 4:00 p.m.

SUNDAY, 5/27
Free Family Fishing Day, Fort Pitt Museum, 11:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
World Kaleidoscope Presents Susan Powers & Jeff Berman, CLP- Main (Oakland)- Quiet Reading Room, 2:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.

Ongoing Events
Northside Sandwich Week Sampler, Priory Grand Hall, through May 27th
Cinderella, Heinz Hall, through May 27
2018 East Coast Volleyball Championships, David L. Lawrence Convention Center, through May 28
Pittsburgh Improv Jam, Cabaret at Theater Square, Thursdays at 10:00 p.m.
Salsa Fridays,  Cabaret at Theater Square, through August 24 
Worth New York and W by Worth collections for women sizes 00-20 in The Diamond Building. Text style strategist Bear Brandegee for your appointment at 412-877-0464.
Gallery Crawl in the Cultural District , The Cultural District, through September 21
Pittsburgh Improv Jam , Cabaret at Theater Square, through August 23


124 Sixth St.
Pittsburgh, PA 15 222

Alihan's is a family owned restaurant which brings the authentic taste of Turkey to Downtown. Alihan is not only the owner, but he is the head chef as well: using family recipes,  making sure all meals are prepared in a traditional way, from fresh ingredients, and of course, in healthy Mediterranean style. 

Come to experience the hospitality of a Turkish family who welcomes every guest with a smile and cares of every customer's needs. 
We are BYOB, so don't hesitate to bring a bottle of your favorite brand to accompany our fresh meals. 

We are open every day from 11am-11pm , Fridays and Saturdays until midnight , serving lunch specials, dinner, and brunch on weekends. Also, we offer kids' specials, gluten-free, vegetarian, vegan, and dairy-free menus.

220 5th Ave.
Pittsburgh, PA 15222
412-394-3400

An enticing menu comprised of Vallozzi family traditions such as homemade pastas (including Helen's gnocchi) and the pizza that made them famous, as well as fresh steaks and seafood. The menu also boasts a number of Italian meats and cheeses flown in from Italy weekly and served from their 'Fresh Mozzarella' bar.





*Photography and media sourced from 3rd party sites in no way implies support or affiliation with the Pittsburgh Downtown Community Development Corp., or any partners.

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