Discover East Liberty’s hidden pick-me-up! Kokolatte’s, located in the lobby of the Medical Center East at 211 N. Whitfield Street is “the best kept secret in East Liberty!”

This little Coffee House and Eatery offers Kiva Han Coffee, an array of sandwiches, paninis, wraps and salad, as well as a pleasant atmosphere and friendly staff!

Zanetta Wingfield opened Kokolatte’s this past November and hopes to expand the shops hours and open a patio space soon. She has a small staff of herself and three young ladies running the grill and coffee bar. Wingfield is pleased to chat with her patrons and this is definitely service with a smile!

Stop by to enjoy a creamy, blended coffee drink and a panini hot-off-the-press and you won’t be disappointed!

Kokolatte’s is open Monday through Friday, 8 am to 4 pm. (Make it there before 10 and have breakfast!)

The Eastside Development is getting a swanky new addition! Richard Chen Pan Asian Cuisine will bring upscale, modern-Asian food to the already ethnically diverse restaurant district of East Liberty.

Richard Chen, the noted executive chef from the Las Vegas Wynn Hotel, decided to begin an independent venture in Pittsburgh partly because his wife is originally from the area.

The restaurant is expected to privately open on the first of August with a Grand Opening on August 12. For more information, read about Richard Chen and East Liberty’s other wonderful dining experiences in the Post Gazette.

Rain Barrels reuse water from house gutters for gardening

Water run-off is not something most people think about. Where does our city water go once it is down the drain? What happens when the sewers flood? Why is water overflow such a bad thing? How can we prevent this?

Nathan Wildfire, ELDI Sustainable Policy Coordinator, and a number of partnering green organizations have been asking just these questions for almost two years. If you asked this Green Infrastructure team about water run-off they would tell you it is a big problem!

Pittsburgh ranks fourth of the 763 worst water overflow locations nationally. “With an annual average of 38 inches of rain, water overwhelms Western Pennsylvania pipes so often that 16 billion gallons of raw sewage pour into our rivers each year,” reported in the Tribune Review.

Because of this staggering statistic, East Liberty has been researching and planning strategies, such as rain barrels, porous pavement and tree wells, which will catch a good portion of the rain before it enters the sewer. These preventative solutions are more environmentally and economically friendly than the previous solution of additional sewer pipes.

For more information about these exciting, eco-friendly projects, contact Nathan at 412.361.8061.

Feel like you’re spinning your wheels when it comes to fitness? Shadyside Spin offers a variety of solutions to get or keep you in shape with exhilarating music and visualizations.

More than just a simple spin class, Shadyside spin has unique workouts and programs in addition to their high quality classes: Spynoga, a combination of spinning and yoga exercises, and Spintrim, a 9-week full-body program using a variety of non-impact activities.

Whether you’re just a beginner or you’ve been spinning for years, Shadyside Spin’s knowledgeable instructors can adjust their workouts to any fitness level and are always ready to teach any new-comer the basics.

Shadyside Spin is located at 6010 Centre Avenue (Penn Circle South)
Ph. 412-361-SPIN (7746)
info@shadysidespin.com
Call or e-mail for Hours or Appointments

The newly up-and-running East End Partnership is a collaboration between the Community Development Corporations of Lawrenceville, Bloomfield/Garfield, Friendship and East Liberty.

The alliance, funded by Surdna, came about as a strategy to concentrate efforts in the East End for planning, development, market and community investment.

Jonathan Cox, Director of the East End Partnership, has experience with neighborhood restoration after spending 5 years as the Vice President at the Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership. He is located in the Lawrenceville Corporation office at 5170 Butler Street. He can be contacted at 412.782.5100 ext 108 or by email at jonathan@lawrencevillecorp.org.

Read more about the Partnership and Jonathan in the Post Gazette and Pittsburgh Business Times.

TANA’s spacious interior melds with ethnic décor

“Finger food” is getting a serious upgrade. East Liberty proudly welcomes TANA, our second authentic Ethiopian Bar and Restaurant.

Offering a variety of meat dishes as well as many vegetarian entrées, TANA uses herbs and spices imported directly from Ethiopia to give each of its creations a unique flavor. True to its ethnic origins, dishes are served on a common plate and your hands are your utensils (though utensils are available on request for the less adventurous).

Enjoy the dishes, talk at the bar, or just relax and enjoy the coffee, but don’t forget to thank your server after the meal!

Read what the Tribune Review has to say about TANA or just browse their menu

Tana is located at 5929 Baum Blvd.
Ph. 412.665.2770
Lunch: 11:00am – 2:30pm
Dinner: 5:00pm – 11:00pm
Closed Monday

Matt Erb, FPUF arborist at tree nursery

Many don’t know the troubles our city trees go through. As festive as it looks, did you know that Christmas lights around a tree can strangle it and stunt its growth?

The Friends of the Pittsburgh Urban Forest are advocates for our city’s forest and they have a lot to say!

Read the article in the Post Gazette about our City Trees, as well as upcoming Tree Tender courses, which offer a way to get involved and care for our urban forest!