Please join the East End Partnership of Pittsburgh June 5^th during Unblurred: First Fridays on Penn, a monthly event held the first Friday of each month by the Penn Avenue Arts Initiative.

At 5:30p.m. in front of the Allegheny Cemetery Entrance Gate, the Partnership will celebrate the first completed project recommended in the Penn Avenue Corridor Master Plan: the lighting of Cemetery Row.  This dramatic lighting project will enhance public safety while contributing to Penn Avenue’s unique character by creating ambiance for pedestrians as they traverse this section of the Avenue.

Following the Cemetery Row lighting celebration we will travel to 5000 Penn Avenue to celebrate the completion of “5000 Penn,” a new townhouse project by Friendship Development Associates. In the heart of the Penn Avenue Arts District, these townhouses are within walking distance to a plethora of restaurants, art galleries, music and culture.  Each town house boasts an open, second floor patio that overlooks the district as well as nine-foot high ceilings, vinyl enhanced tile and carpet, full kitchen and baths and energy efficient heating and cooling systems.  The townhouses range in size from 1413 to 1521 square feet with three stories of living space.

Following the “unveiling” of these two key projects in the Penn Avenue Corridor, we hope you can join us for a happy hour at Envy, 4923 Penn Avenue.

Friday June 5^th Schedule of Events:

5:30PM – Celebration of Cemetery Row lighting (a project of the East End Partnership of Pittsburgh). Location: Allegheny Cemetery Entrance Gate, Penn Avenue and Mathilda Street.

6:00PM – Ribbon cutting for 5000 Penn townhomes (a project of Friendship Development Associates).
Location: 5000 Penn Avenue.

6:30PM – Happy Hour celebration. Join the East End Partnership organizations as they celebrate these two new Penn Avenue projects.
Location: Envy, 4923 Penn Avenue.

The Penn Avenue Corridor Master Plan is available for review on the East End Partnership of Pittsburgh website: www.eastendpartnership.org.  To learn more about Unblurred and the Penn Avenue Arts Initiative visit www.pennavearts.org. To contact the East End Partnership, email info@eastendpartnership.org or call 412-782-5100 x108.

RSVP’s appreciated: info@eastendpartnership.org

The Cemetery Row Lighting Initiative is a result of the sponsorship of Duquesne Light, Allegheny Cemetery, and Surdna Foundation as well as the participation of St. Mary’s Cemetery and the Catholic Cemeteries Association. The project was made possible with leadership from the East End Partnership and design by Hilbish McGee Lighting Design.

5000 Penn is made possible by the generous support of Landmarks Community Capital Corporation, Urban Redevelopment Authority, Pittsburgh Partnership for Neighborhood Development, Pittsburgh Community Reinvestment Group, Citizens Bank, Anonymous Foundation and Community Design Center of Pittsburgh.

Photo from WTAE TV

This past Sunday, May 17th, the last of East Liberty’s three highrise apartment buildings came down! The 20 story building was imploded at 9 am by the Titan Company. Watch the video of the highrise going down on youtube!

Future plans for the sight include a major department retailer.

Pittsburghers, you should be proud!
In a recent article in the New York Post, Pittsburgh was #23 in the top 100 summer travel destinations! The article recognizes the old-heritage culture of the strip and the happening new arts scene of Lawrenceville.

Take a look at the article and plan a summer vacation to one of the great U.S. destinations, but remember to return home to our beautiful, happening hometown!

Join Mayor Luke Ravenstahl, Senator Jim Ferlo, Highland Park Community Development Corporation, East Liberty Development, Inc and other East End Partners for the groundbreaking ceremony for 5801 Bryant Street this Friday, May 15 at 2:30 pm at the corner of Bryant Street and N. St. Clair Street.

This investment in Highland Park will mean a new restaurant for Bryant Street’s growing business district, as well as loft apartments on the 2nd and 3rd floor of the building.

Refreshments will be provided for the event. To RSVP, please call Emily Nordquist at 412.361.8061 ext. 15. Hope to see our Pittsburgh neighbors there!

The Western Pennsylvania Herb Society will have an herb plant sale from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. May 23 outside of Trader Joe’s, at 6343 Penn Ave. in East Liberty.

Hundreds of herbs, from the unusual to the popular, will be for sale, including Bay Laurel Trees, herb of the year for 2009. Also available are herbal gifts and the Herb Society of America’s Essential Guide to Growing and Cooking with Herbs Cookbook. Members of the society will be present to answer questions.

To pre-order herbs to pick up the day of the sale or for more information, visit the calendar of events, Great Lakes District, section at www.herbsociety.org, or contact Peggy Trevanion of 412-418-1182 or westernpahsa@yahoo.com.

Berlin International Group (BIG) presents PEACe LOVe & BLENd on Friday May 8, 2009 at 9pm at the Shadow Lounge and Blue Room 5972 Baum Blvd, Pittsburgh, PA 15206.

PEACe LOVe and BLENd will be taped live, hosted by Aki Durham and featuring live performances in the Shadow Lounge by Pittsburgh’s own People in the Red Balloon (Rock, Funk Hip Hop Jazz Fusion), and National Recording Cross-Over Artist CRA$H (plus a special musical guest). Featured International Artists Jill Lena Ford (abstract art) and Mara (photography) works will be displayed in the Blue Room.

There is a $10 admission and all guests must be 18 and over. Each guest will receive a BLENd raffle ticket. And a chance to win a $300 Gift Basket from Unforgettable Creations, 2 Izzazu Fab Bags, Tickets to Pittsburgh Public Theater, Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra upcoming productions, Bottle of Boyd and Blair Potato Vodka, MCG Jazz concert tickets, Eco Conscious Clothing from Revenge Is, free pair of Kashi Kicks, HaterMag.net T-shirts plus other great prizes. Attendees can also buy BLENd raffle tickets to increase their chances of winning. A Portions of the Proceeds Benefits Public Allies Pittsburgh.

The Shadow Lounge is the most culturally diverse establishment the city of Pittsburgh has ever seen with the energy of the late 60’s and early 70’s. It’s edgier and artsy atmosphere is welcoming to everyone from the Metro-Urbanite to the Upscale/Inner city art critic and finally a place where college students can discover themselves. The Shadow Lounge is the perfect location to host the World’s Only Eco-Conscious Global Diversity Event Movement!

BLENd is the international face of diversity an image that transcends language and culture. BLENd is the World in a Green atmosphere that celebrates the uniqueness of our differences by allowing people to express their personalities while connecting with liked minded people from different cultural backgrounds.
Groovy concept Huh?!