Who Says Pittsburghers Stay Inside When It's Cold?

Seriously, it's not even officially winter. But this deep freeze certainly is putting the "BRRR" in "the ’Burgh." So that's why we're inviting you to drop by Market Square, where things are always heating up with some of the hottest events in town.

For instance, this Thursday evening the madcap comic geniuses of the WDVE Morning Show — Jim Krenn and Randy Baumann and assorted sidekicks — take to the Stage in the Square to host the station's annual Holiday Party that is guaranteed to rock the block with some of the town's favorite music legends like King Cool Donnie Iris, who partied on the Clemente Bridge during Light Up Night, and one of Bruce Springsteen's best friends Joe Grushecky of the Iron City Houserockers.

Now one of the coolest events to lace up skates in these parts is the New Year's Day NHL Bridgestone Winter Classic. Of course the Pens and Caps won't be bangin' the boards in the Square. But Allegheny County, the City of Pittsburgh and our pals at ’DVE will be hosting a huge pep rally in the Square very soon. So check back here later for more info on when you can show your support for the Pens before they take to the ice on January 1 at Heinz Field.

One of the best ways to really enjoy the spirit of the season is one of the quietest, most relaxing and even the most romantic. The normal holiday carriage rides run through this Saturday but we've added carraige rides on Dec. 31 and Jan. 1, 4 - 8 p.m. This little trip down memory lane is a great way to rediscover the city and all its holidays splendor as you take in the sights and sounds of our very own winter wonderland. Come celebrate the New Year in style.  For the full ride schedule, just click here.

If you're looking for that hard-to-find holiday gift for that special hard-to-please person, the shops in the Square might just might be best-kept Secret Santa shopping spot anywhere in the city. From the chic boutique at Serendipity to the sophisticated shoes at the Nettleton Shop, the Square is a shopper's paradise. And, when your budget and feet are just about exhausted, the Square is a great place to grab a bite to eat, a thirst-quenching beverage or just a moment's or two rest. So whatever the season — or the temperature — the Square is one of the best reasons to discover what's happening Downtown.

Diamonds Are A Square's Best Friend

Oh, there will be sparkle plenty early next year when the street lamps on Market Street sport a bit of bling, thanks to artist Carin Mincemoyer. With a playful turn on the Square's original name — The Diamond — Carin got the idea to design "diamond" studded accessories to dress up the lighting that leads the way to Downtown's favorite gathering place and historic crossroads.

With all the improvements on Fifth Avenue and in Market Square it just makes sense that the street connecting them should shine as bright.  The Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership reached out to the Office of Public Art (a public-private partnership between the City of Pittsburgh and the Greater Pittsburgh Arts Council) to solve the problem.  When the city's Office of Public Art sounded the call for high-watt ideas for a way to connect the Square with the Cultural District and First Side, Carin flipped on her creativity switch to come up with this brilliant plan. Carin worked hard to win the project.  A jury of property owners and art professionals sorted through all the qualifications from local and national applicants and Carin came to the top.  Just take a look at some of the past work highlighted on her website, including a temporary sculpture that was at the Children's Museum on the North Side - a dreamy cloud mobile made up of recycled plastic bottles, electronics parts and other stuff that people throw out. 

Just in case you never get a chance to see the Hope Diamond up close and personal, we're giving you a big time sneak peek at the Market Square's "Diamond, Diamonds" right here. Much of Mincemoyer's work investigates the space where nature and man-made products intersect.  This project references the history of the Square but also juxtaposes the diamond in its natural state versus man-made shape.  Individual 8" cut diamonds made of plexiglass and lit with LEDs will be suspended in the chemical shape of a diamond molecule.  The cluster will be mounted on the two poles in the middle of Market Street and it will appear as if the diamonds have encrusted the top of the lamp post.  When the poles light at night, the street light will add it's glow to the LEDs and they will have the effect of a halo around the central light glowing within.  When the project's complete this spring, clusters of gems will shimmer and shine every evening, drawing pedestrians back and forth along that magical pathway that links the Allegheny River to the banks of the Mon.

Of course, we're glowing that Carin got the nod for this project. But in addition to Carin's work, this project could not have gotten anywhere without the Office of Public Art, lighting consultant Hal Hilbish and the members of the committee.  They were plugged in from start to finish on this electrifying project.

So, remember to keep your chin up in the months ahead to keep track of an illuminating idea that we think is, well, just brilliant.

A Chile Reception

Oh, it's getting hot, hot, hot in Market Square even during this early pre-winter big chill. That's because the Square's newest eatery — Chipotle Mexican Grill —  officially opens it doors today and says "Hola!" to lovers of south of the border comfort food during a much anticipated mucho Grande Opening. Just in case you needed another reason to visit the Square, a stop at Chipotle is a plenty tasty one. With a healthy culinary southwestern accent, the gourmet tacos, burritos, salsas, chips and dips will leave a smile on your face as wide as the Rio Grande.

Now, if you think that Chipotle is just another fast food place, we're going to set the record straight. In it's quest for serving healthy fare for all, Chipotle is on a mission to dish out "food with integrity." On one hand that means Chipotle serves only chicken, beef and pork raised without growth hormones or antibiotics. Which means, the sour cream on your taco and the cheese in your burrito bowl were produced from milk from cows that are rBGH-free. And that's true of all the meats on the menu.  Of course, Chipotle is a national franchise. But in every part of the country where it operates a restaurant, the company buys as much produceas it can in season from local, family owned farms. In fact, up to a third of the beans served at Chipotle are organically grown. The focus is always on fresh in this food chain.


We're sure that the lines will be out the doors for the next few days, especially during lunch. But not to worry, the Chipotle in the Square will be open every day from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. So hasta la vista, amigos. We're off to Chipotle.



 

A Winter Wonderland

It's beginning to look a lot like...well, you know what time of year. Especially now that the holiday season is officially here. And while we hope that all Downtown merchants enjoyed a very, very Black Friday last week, we want you to know that every day and night in and around Market Square is going to be a very, very bright throughout the holiday season. Now that a few snowflakes are falling, it's the perfect time to visit the Square to get into the Spirit of the Season.

If you just happened to be one of the couple of hundred thousand or so people who passed through the Square during the two-day 50th Anniversary Celebration of Light Up Night, then you were probably dazzled by the towering, sprawling luminary display of the magnificent Market Square Season of Lights, the brilliant LED light creation from Blachere Illuminations. Through early January, the Market Square Season of Lights — sponsored by the Colcom Foundation — will delight holiday revelers with musically synchronized eight-minute shows every half hour. In it's first few days of brightening the City, the Market Square Season of Lights is already a brilliant crowd favorite.

Now, we know that Downtown offers the finest shopping experience around, with first-class retailers such as Larrimor's, Macy's, the shops at Fifth Avenue Place, Oxford Centre and Saks — just to name a few. But did you know that the Square hosts high-end fare at the Nettleton Shoe Shop, Heinz Healy's clothing for gentlemen and the oh so chic Serendipity Accessories? And just in case, you venture outside the Square on your shopping expedition around town, you can rest your feet as your travel in style — for FREE — on the Holly Trolley shuttle service, with a stop conveniently located by Heinz Healy's, at the entrance to Market Square. This is one sweet ride thanks to Fifth Avenue Place, located adjacent to Market Square.

If you prefer a more leisurely mode of sight-seeing, then hop on the free horse-drawn carriage rides that are sponsored by the Shoppes at Oxford Centre.  From 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. you can sign up for a ride time at One Oxford Center and spend the interval roaming the shops in your quest to find that special something for everyone your holiday gift list. Saturday evenings, Market Square hosts free carriage rides from 4 - 8 p.m. There will also be free rides on Friday Dec. 31 and Saturday Jan. 1 from 4 - 8 p.m. for First Night and the Winter Classic. With a driver at your service, a carriage ride around the city is a return to a bygone era of elegance.

Maybe you're looking for a way to work off a few calories from that big Turkey Day dinner. Then glide on over to the Rink at PPG Place for a leisurely skate around the ice. Not only is the rink a the perfect spot for a brisk bit of exercise, it's also the ideal location for a romantic moment during this most wonderful time of the year. And in case you didn't already know this, the PPG ice is actually bigger than the renowned rink at New York City's Rockefeller Plaza. So take that Big Apple.

If you're looking for a nearby watering hole to catch a bite to eat or quench your thirst, the Square offers many fine eating and drinking establishments around the Square, like The Original Oyster House (a hometown favorite for 140 years), the cozy Bella Sera, Primanti Brothers, Moe's Southwest Grill and the new Chipotle location, which opens next week.

Okay, we're only stopping here because we're on our way to the Square to get our holiday season off to a holly, jolly good start.  See you there!

Redding Up A Good Cause

Sometimes, we get serious here.  Especially when it comes to talking about HIV/AIDS. That's why we're taking a few moments to remind everyone that December 1 is World AIDS Day across the planet and invite people of all backgrounds to take part in the second(PITTSBURGH) RED World AIDS Day activities, begining Wednesday at 10 a.m. at the City-County Building and other locations throughout Downtown — even in Market Square.

Now with Mayor Ravenstahl starting off the activities at 10:30 a.m. with a speech about the seriousness of fighting HIV/AIDS, we don't have to tell you about the consequences of these diseases. But we do want to remind everyone that despite all the advances against these diseases, they still bring sickness and sadness to so many people around the world. So, we really want to let you know about some ways to get involved in helping save lives not just around the world, but right here in Pittsburgh.

One of the easiest — and most "tasteful" — things to do is visit the Starbucks in the Square for one of the company's hand-crafted beverages. Along with a much-needed midday refueling, the purchase will add a nickel to the kitty to fight AIDS. Okay, maybe five cents doesn't seem like a lot of money, but in just one year, Seattle's best coffeemaker brewed up enough java to fund more than 7 million days of medical care for people with AIDS in Africa. We think that's justifiable grounds for at least one stop for a cuppa Joe.  They also have specialty merchandise that supports the cause.

While World's AIDS Day is a remembrance of those lost to the disease, it's also a celebration of life. All week long, portions of the AIDS Memorial Quilt will be on display throughout the city, including the City-County Building and Fifth Avenue Place. Most important, free, confidential  HIV/AIDS testing will be available at 201 Grant Street from 11 a.m.-3 p.m. on Wednesday, December 1.

Of course, you can show your support in a very visible way by wearing a red ribbon, which will be available Downtown tomorrow. Pick one up at a Starbucks location like Market Square (while supplies last) or at 10 a.m. at the City County Building where Starbucks will be giving away coffee and the Art Institute of Pittsburgh students will be giving away red ribbon cookies.  There is a suggested donation of $1 for coffee and cookies with all proceeds to (Pittsburgh)RED.

If they run out of ribbons at the Market Square Starbucks, well, just look up at the spire of the Highmark Building, which will be lighted up in red for the occasion. And, please, remember that after World Aids Day is over, the battle against HIV/AIDS — and to save lives — goes on every day in our own community.  So wear some red tomorrow, grab a ribbon and find out what you can do to be aware, be safe, and support your neighbors currently living with HIV/AIDS.

(Pittsburgh)RED

Keep On Glowing In the Square

Okay. We'll admit it. We're still basking in the afterglow of this past weekend's amazing, two-day and night 50th Anniversary Light Up Night Celebration. After all, this year's bash was the biggest, brightest and most brilliant Light Up Night ever. If you were there, then you were plugged into all the fun, food and festivities that stretched from One Oxford Center all the way to the Clemente Bridge. And at the center of it all for this special extravangana was the most electrifying place of all — the new Market Square. 

From start to finish, this will be one party to remember for the ages. Actually it was a blowout for all ages, with activities for everyone from the young to the young at heart.  Whether you rocked to the performances of No Bad Ju Ju and Jeff Jimerson on the Main Stage or jumped to your own beat in the Tiger Bounce House, the Square was one high-volt place that blinked, twinkled and glittered even before Mayor Luke Ravenstahl — with the help of Colcom Foundation VP John Barsotti and his sons — flipped the on switch for the first-ever Season of Lights holiday display. 

So, just in case you weren't one of the hundreds of thousands of people who streamed through the Square over the weekend, we're posting a few photos to show you what you missed — like Santa, the world's biggest marching band, the horse-drawn carriage parade, fireworks and Lynn Smith and Fred Bell getting hitched in front of thousands of friends and family. And we're going to go easy on the words here, because we really do believe that a picture is worth a thousand words. But we do want to thank Duquesne Light, PNC, Colcom Foundation, Northwest Savings Bank, Wyndham Grand Pittsburgh Hotel, Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield and all the generous sponsors who supplied the inspiration and illumination to power up a Light Up Night that glowed like 24-karat gold in the most livable  — and brightest — city around. 

Bright Lights, Big City

It's almost time for Downtown's biggest and brightest party of the year — the one-time only, two-day and two-night megawatt-palooza 50th anniversary celebration of Light Up Night, powered by the good people of Duquesne Light. Starting tomorrow at 4 p.m.,  the fun, food and festivities start in Market Square and on the Roberto Clemente Bridge with musical performances by Donnie Iris and the Cruisers, Etta Cox and Al Dowe, No Bad Ju Ju, The Stickers, Johnny Angel and the Halos, the young talents of CAPA and other Pittsburgh favorites. By time the old clock in the Square strikes 6, every avenue in the city will be an Electric Avenue. 

And since everyone knows that Downtown is the Center of the Season, the Square will be the heartbeat for so many holiday happenings during Light Up Night. An almost-instant tradition since its glowing inaugural run in 1960, Light Up Night will shine even brighter in 2010 with so many exciting new attractions that promise to perennial crowd pleasers from the start.

Now we're not playing favorites, but we don't have to check our list twice to predict that the most dazzling attractions for years to come will be the absolutely awesome Market Square Season of Lights display. Designed by Blachere Illuminations — they're the bright ones who lit up the Eiffel Tower and DisneyWorld's Cinderella Castle — the Market Square Season of Lights combines decorations on buildings and lamp posts in the Square with a towering 33-foot tall "sphere tree" lit by over 27,000 LED bulbs. From Light Up Night and into next January, the Market Square Season of Lights will delight visitors to the Square with synchronized eight-minute shows every half hour set to everyone's favorite holiday tunes. Be sure to be there when Mayor Luke Ravenstahl and Jolly Old St. Nick — with help from our generous friends at the Colcom Foundation — flip the on switch to illuminate this electrifying Light Up Night rookie of the year.

While they might not be little toy soldiers, student musicians from five area high schools will keep in step during the Highmark Light Up Night March as they parade through the city to the Square, just in time for the Seasons of Light debut. Of course, the Unity Tree will blaze at the corner of Fifth and Stanwix, and weary walkers can catch a free ride on the horse-drawn carriage trips that start at Oxford Center. And the first half of Light Up Night will end with a sky-high display of pyrotechnics of fireworks from the world-renowned Zambelli Internationale.

Okay, that's just part one of the 50th Anniversary Light Up Night fun. On day two, the activities start early in the day when everyone's favorite beagle glides across the ice as Snoopy laces up his skates to celebrate his 60th birthday — that's 420 in dog years — at the PPG rink. The Square will continue to rock all day long with the tuneful stylings of Jim Jimerson and Airborne, Joe Negri and Vanessa Campagna and other talented performers.

The weekend of fun keeps on rolling along with the city's first-ever Duquesne Light Horse-Drawn Candlelight Carriage Parade with over 20 carriages and more than 150 majestic steeds hoofing their way through Downtown's wonderfully bedecked streets. From Cinderella's pumpkin carriage to antique fire trucks, this will be one parade to remember. You'll even see the famous Wells Fargo Stagecoach, a fixture in parades across America since 1958 — that's two years before Light Up Night was a twinkle in the eyes of Jacques Kahn, the legendary Pittsburgh ad man and civic booster who masterminded the city's favorite holiday tradition.

Finally, Santa and Mrs. Claus will celebrate the season with a super stage show in the Square that will fill even the biggest Grinch with the Spirit of Christmas. After the 25-minute song and dance revue, the Big Guy and his Missus will do the honors as Lynn Smith and James Bell tie the holiday knot in a special Light Up Nuptials ceremony, sponsored by 96.9 BOB FM. To make sure you don't miss a minute of the fun this weekend, check out the Light Up Night schedules for Friday and Saturday. And get ready to get your glow on!