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


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 Sunday-Thursday 11am-10pm , and Fridays and Saturdays until 11pm , serving lunch and dinner specials. Also, we offer kids' specials, gluten-free, vegetarian, vegan, and dairy-free menus.


In this Issue:
Accelerating Women in Industry at PPU
by : Lauren Clouser

To celebrate International Women's Day, Point Park University's Rowland School of Business is  hosting 'Accelerating Women in Industry' on March 6th from 8am to 1pm in Lawrence Hall
200.

This workshop and panel will explore women's experiences in the professional world and the
challenges many face. The panel will feature three speakers: Jocelyn Horner, co-president and  executive director of Strong Women Strong Girls, Janet Manuel, director of HR and Civil
Service for the City of Pittsburgh, and Elizabeth Walsh, president of WBEC East. There will be  breakout sessions focused on mentoring, increasing bias awareness, and more.

This event is open to the public and includes breakfast, lunch, and dessert. Tickets are $25, and  tickets for students are $15. Register before February 28th to secure a spot.

The Last American Hammer Is A Smash Hit
by : Lauren Clouser

The moment that Milcom Negley (Timothy Mix) steps out on stage with wild eyes to sing about how the American government has done the nation wrong, it is clear that audiences are in for a purely unique operatic experience. Pittsburgh Opera's The Last American Hammer, a modern-day political satire, kept audiences laughing and thinking throughout the show.

The show opens with Milton bursting triumphantly on stage, crowing about how the government has turned against its own citizens. He proudly displays his special version of the constitution, which he keeps in his vest over his heart. Milton's own version of the constitution contains a secret Thirteenth Amendment, which declares the government's power to be null and void.

As he descends down the stairs it is revealed that he is in a small museum dedicated entirely to Toby Jugs, ceramic pitchers in the shape of people. Milton has chosen the National Toby Jug Museum to stage his final stand against the government, and museum owner Tink Enraught (Caitlin Gotimer) has called the Joint Terrorism Task Force as per Milton's request. As the two wait for the FBI to arrive, they have tea and cookies and discuss the sorry state of their small town.

Milton expects armored vehicles and SWAT teams to come bursting into the museum and is sorely disappointed to find that rookie FBI agent Dee Dee Reyes (Antonia Botti-Lodovico) is the only one coming; even her partner is too busy eating sauerkraut balls to be bothered to come. As tensions rise in the delicate ceramic museum, Milton reveals what he has brought along in a case: the last hammer to be produced in American soil.

The Last American Hammer is performed at the Pittsburgh Opera Headquarters, a small, intimate stage that audience members walk through to get to their seats. This contemporary opera is perfect for first-time viewers; the opera is sung in English, and there are English subtitles projected above. Though there is enough humor throughout the show to keep audiences laughing, the opera also explores deeper themes of resistance and the American Dream.

The Last American Hammer has more performances on February 25th, 28th, and March 1st. To find tickets, visit https://opera.culturaldistrict.org/production/62116/list_performances.

Pittsburgh Fashion Week Partners with Lunar Gala
by : Lauren Clouser

Carnegie Mellon University's annual Lunar Gala (LG) is gearing up for another triumphant return on February 29th. The student-run fashion show celebrates Chinese New Year and showcases the work of over 140 students involved in design, modeling, production, and more. The gala centers around the zodiac animal of the new year, and this 24th Lunar Gala marks the completion of a second full lunar cycle. This year's animal is the year of the rat.

Michael Powell, one of Lunar Gala's two co-producers, said that they are using the theme of the metal rat to talk about "resiliency, adaptation, and willingness to change and move forward and progress, and tying that back into Pittsburgh especially."

In the past, the gala has combined fashion and technology to create a stunning visual production that showcases the talents of student designers, models, and dancers. This year, co-producer Ugne Ziausyte said that Lunar Gala will be branching out.

"We're really excited this year because we're kind of taking a departure from what LG has done in the past," Ziausyte said, "And we're kind of looking at LG's relationship within the greater Pittsburgh community and we're really looking to honor and celebrate those connections. This year's show really celebrates that."

The much-anticipated event attracts over 1,000 viewers a year. This year there are 16 teams of designers who will be tasked with creating fashion pieces following the theme. The gala is almost entirely student-based, which includes Carnegie students and other students from local colleges. Powell said one of his favorite parts of the gala was seeing it blossom into the Pittsburgh community.

"I didn't know all of these opportunities existed in Pittsburgh until I became a part of Lunar Gala, and now I'm just so much more aware and excited by all the creative talent that exists in the city," Powell said.

Ziausyte has been involved with the gala for four years, and said she is still surprised at the outcome of each production.

"I think that seeing the designs, seeing the scale of the production is actually something that still shocks me to this day. This will be my fourth year and every time I walk into the gym when the stage is being put up I am in awe that students that don't even have bachelor's degrees yet put on this kind of scale of production and how professional it looks," Ziausyte said.

Ziausyte said seeing the work of 143 students coming together was rewarding.

"I just find that something that can be so shocking and so inspiring in a way that we can do this kind of thing and I think that's my favorite thing about just seeing the show all coming together," Ziausyte said.

This year's Lunar Gala theme will be revealed on Friday, January 24th at 6 p.m. Tickets will also go on sale at that time and can be found at lunargala.org. All proceeds of the event go back to the organization.


CATS

CATS, the record-breaking musical spectacular by Andrew Lloyd Webber that has captivated audiences in over 30 countries and 15 languages, is playing at the Benedum Theater from February 25 - March 1.

Audiences and critics alike are rediscovering this beloved musical with breathtaking music, including one of the most treasured songs in musical theater- Memory. Winner of 7 Tony Awards® including BEST MUSICAL, CATS tells the story of one magical night when an extraordinary tribe of cats gathers for its annual ball to rejoice and decide which cat will be reborn. The original score by Andrew Lloyd Webber (The Phantom of the Opera, School of Rock, Sunset Boulevard), original scenic and costume design by John Napier (Les Misérables), all-new lighting design by Natasha Katz (Aladdin), all-new sound design by Mick Potter, new choreography by Andy Blankenbuehler (Hamilton) based on the original choreography by Gillian Lynne (Phantom) and direction by Trevor Nunn (Les Misérables) make this production a new CATS for a new generation!

You can purchase tickets by clicking the link:  https://trustarts.org/production/63018/cats


Sustainable Pittsburgh Shop

Sustainable Pittsburgh Shop: Are you a business owner who cares about being a good community leader and employer? Our friends at Sustainable Pittsburgh offer a FREE program called Sustainable Pittsburgh Shop that assists small retailers in achieving sustainability goals that give them a competitive edge, while publicly recognizing their achievements.

Interested in getting involved? Simply complete the online Sustainable Shop assessment. The assessment takes about 30 minutes to complete. If your business is already included in the Participating Business Finder, no action is needed! We encourage you to stand out with customers by taking the refreshed assessment to see if you qualify for the new Platinum designation level. Questions? Contact Sustainable Pittsburgh Shop at [email protected] or 412-258-6642.
OneStopPGH Making it easy for residents

The City of Pittsburgh is making it easier for residents to get licenses and permits.

OneStopPGH Phase 4: City departments are preparing to launch Phase 4 of the OneStopPGH system in March 2020. OneStopPGH is the city's "one-stop-shop" website where residents can apply, pay for and receive business licenses and permits, upload development plans, and track notices of violations.

Phase 4 will include the integration of Bureau of Fire permits, Department of Mobility and Infrastructure (DOMI) permits and PLI violations. Learn more about Phase 4 here.
Downtown CDC Will Host 8th Annual Dinner on March 25

As a visionary in developing the potential of Downtown Pittsburgh, you know the value of coming together around a common goal. For many years the community goal has been to revitalize the urban core.Together, we have reinvented the Downtown experience, transforming block after block from vacant space into vibrant, profitable urban experiences that position the city and region as the envy of cities across the country. Please join Mayor Peduto and County Executive Rich Fitzgerald at the  2020 Downtown Experience Awards cocktail hour and dinner at the Wyndham Hotel. The date is Wednesday, March 25th, we hope that you will join us for the evening. Cocktail hour starts at 5:30.

A signature event for the downtown community, 500 of the region's leaders in business, philanthropy and government will be in attendance. Also known as the Annual Dinner, we will celebrate the accomplishments of the past year while looking forward to the initiatives of the future. "It's a special night of bringing Pittsburghers together," said John Valentine, executive director of the Downtown CDC. Join us to honor the past, present and future of Downtown Pittsburgh. "I think this year is special because of the very high probability of Target coming into Downtown," 

The 8th Annual Dinner will recognize individuals who have made an impact on the Downtown community. This year's recipients of the 2020 Downtown Experience Awards include Mimi Falbo from Market Street Grocery who will be recognized for Small Business Person of the Year. Daniel Gilman, Chief of Staff for Mayor William Peduto, will be recognized for Public Servant of the Year and Kevin Wade, Executive Vice-President, Corporate Real Estate, PNC Bank for Corporate Person of the Year. 

In past years, the Downtown CDC has led projects to bring a grocery store downtown (Market Street Grocery) and the first off-leash dog run park. Exciting initiatives are on the way and the Annual Dinner allows for a celebration of the continuing transformation of our community. 

Celebrate with us on March 25. Tickets are $95 and can be purchased here:  https://www.eventbrite.com/e/downtown-cdc-annual-dinner-tickets-89657170009 cost for a table of 10 is $900.  

If interested please email us at  [email protected] or call 412-235-7263

More Than Just Downtown: Weekly Round-Up 

Good Food Pittsburgh shares Pittsburgh's latest restaurant and food news! This week: Where to find the best Pączki in the city, new restaurant openings and more.  

Music City Downtown Weekly Calendar 


Friday, February 28 - Daryl Shawn from 5:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m

Live music every Friday from 5:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.

Live music every Wednesdays from 7 p.m. - 10 p.m.

Tuesday, February 25 - Symmetry from 5 p.m - 9 p.m.
Wednesday, February 26 - George Heid 3 from  6 p.m - 10 p.m.
Thursday, February 27 - Reggie Watkins Quartet from 6 p.m - 10 p.m.
Friday, February 28 - Symmetry from 6:30 p.m - 10:30 p.m.
Saturday, February 29 - Ezra and the relatives from 6:30 p.m - 10:30 p.m.
Sunday, March 1 - Alex Peck Trio from 5 p.m - 9 p.m
Monday, March 2 - Maria Becoates-Bey from 6 p.m - 10 p.m.

Live music every Wednesday to Friday from 5 p.m - 2 a.m
Live music every Saturday from 6 p.m - 2 a.m

Friday, February 28 - Tania Grubbs from 8:00 p.m. - midnight
Saturday, February 29 - Clare Ascani from 8:00 p.m. - midnight

Friday, February 28 - Pick Matt Project from 8:00 p.m. 
Saturday, February 29 - RML Jazz from 8:00 p.m. 

Live music with Billy Schneider & Guests every Friday and Saturday

Live acoustic music with Billy Schneider every Thursday from 4:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.
Downtown Events This Week:

Check out the Downtown CDC's website for this week's events. Don't miss out on what is happening in your area! For more information and events, click here.

If you'd like to see your event appear in The Downtowner newsletter and/or on the Downtown CDC events calendar, submit your event here!





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.