High Fives and Super Sevens

This championship season, DIGIORNO pizza wants to see whether Pittsburgh or Green Bay has the most passionate fans. Okay, we think we already know the answer to that one. But on February 3, we'll make it official when Market Square hosts the DIGIORNO High Five Challenge from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. This tasty lunchtime rally will determine which city's fans will make history by attempting to break the Guinness World Record for the most simultaneous high fives at 12:45 p.m. While football great Jack Ham cheers on fans in Market Square, Antonio Freeman will be pumping up the Green Bay fans, who will also attempt to break the record in their hometown the same day.

And if breaking world records isn't enough, fans in both cities will have even more reasons to celebrate during the High Five rallies. You see, DIGIORNO will provide free pizza slices for every fan who officially checks in.  They will also donate $5 for each for each participant to the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank, a local Feeding America* affiliate.  If we bring 2,500 people to high-five that means $12,500 much needed dollars into our local food bank.  Free pizza, money for the Food Bank, and beating the Green Bay fans?  Talk about a Win-Win-Win situation!

“Pittsburgh fans are the greatest, and I am confident we can set a new Guinness World Record,” said Ham. “The DIGIORNO High Five Challenge is the perfect event to showcase just how passionate Pittsburgh fans can be.”

DIGIORNO is extending the celebration beyond the High Five rallies with a special limited-time-only $5 offer on a variety of pizzas available at participating grocery retailers nationally.

“We want to congratulate Pittsburgh on their championship run and are excited to give fans a number of ways to be a part of the celebration, whether in a pre-game rally or from the comfort of their living rooms,” says Tom Moe, director of marketing for DIGIORNO. “With a Guinness World Record-breaking High Five attempt, we hope to help one team’s fans make history in their hometown and keep the celebration going with DIGIORNO pizza, the perfect complement to any game day.”

After such a show of Pittsburgh pride, pizza may not be enough to satiate rabid Pittsburgh fans hungry for a championship.  Fortunately, in Market Square there are tons of choices for grabbing a quick bite on the way back to work, whether you'll eat it right away or save it to kill those mid-afternoon munchies!

Watch the City crews as they clear the snow in preparation for next week's event and start getting excited fans!  For more information about the High Five on February 3, visit facebook.com/digiorno. 

*DiGiorno will donate a maximum of $15,000 to the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank, with a minimum donation of $12,500 per city.

The Market Square State of Business Address

Sometimes it seems like every time you walked across Market Square during 2010 there was a special event going on there. Whether it was the two-day 50th Anniversary Light Up Night extravaganza or a quiet summertime wedding, there was hardly any downtime in the Square last year. So while we recapped the Best Events of 2010 in a recent post, it's time to take a look a some equally big goings-on in the Square that were sometimes just out of the spotlight. Now it's their time to shine.

Open for business: Nearly a dozen businesses opened in or relocated to the Square or the streets nearby. In the heart of the Square, the new shops include the trendy WEAR fashions, the relaxing zen of Zhang's Massage and a fresh nest for the legal eagles of Sommer Law Group, perched above Starbucks. Of course, Chipotle added a bit of spice to the Square's dining menu with it's freshly prepared gourmet wraps, salsa and other tasty South of the Border treats. 

Now, we like to think of Market Square as a state of mind, especially when it comes to the cool new enterprises operating in the vicinity. If you're in the mood for a new "look," we recommend that you stop in 3 Guys Optical along Fifth Avenue, in the beautifully restored Buhl Building. These visionary eye wear experts will fit you with a new set of specs to guarantee that you look your best. Speaking of the Buhl Building, the main tenant there is PMI, a multimedia production company that does amazingly cool work. Chances are that you've seen PMI prez David Case walking around Downtown with Pittsburgh's most photographed pooch, Willie. And on the Market Street corner of the Buhl you'll find Splash, the city's kitchen, bath and home decorating experts. Always a Downtown landmark, the Buhl is bouncing back to life as hip hub for energetic entrepreneurs.

Just a few step away from the Buhl Downtown residents, shoppers and employees stop by the new PNC Y to work off a few of those extra pounds we all seemed to put on during the holidays. And if you need a break from our little winter wonderland here, the vacation planning experts at Liberty Travel can put together a R&R getaway to a warm-weather destination of your desire.

Speaking of PNC, just across the street you'll find the newest branch office of the city's biggest bank, located on the ground level of Three PNC Plaza. Along with indoor ATMs and bright cheery lobby, the bank is also a "green" business focused on saving big bucks with its energy-efficient design. Once your money matters are in order, why not perk up your day with a freshly brewed coffee or latte at 21st Street Coffee. The top-shelf baristas prepare each specialty drink to your preference while your eyes do a little window shopping at Larrimor's, now located at the corner of Fifth Avenue and Wood Street. And if you just can't wait to get to Downtown for your first cup of the day, you can pick up a bag of beans to brew your own at home.

Certainly one of the most welcome additions to the city's sparkling skyline this year, Three PNC Plaza also is the home of the luxurious Fairmont Hotel and the fabulous Andys watering hole, where the upscale happy hour beverages deliver an oh so smooth tonic — and a few other ingredients — to end a hectic work day or start a night on the town. The bartenders here provide an  artful touch to the classy cocktails they mix every day of the week and their new happy hour specials prove there is something for everyone "where art and industry meet."

And let's not forget that Market Square is the fastest growing neighborhood within Downtown — the city's newest neighborhood. Along with the apartments at MarketSquare Place and the Residences at Fifth and Market, the posh penthouse pads in Three PNC Plaza provide a bird's eye view on the Square and just about everywhere else Downtown.  Market Square Place and Three PNC both saw their first tentants move in during 2010.

All these businesses are such great additions to the area its hard to remember that just one year ago the doors they didn't exist.  And, amazingly, there's even more to come in the days and weeks ahead. Just this week Winghart's served its first customers and word is spreading across the internet in reviews of the awesome burgers and pizzas now available in Market Square.  So make sure you check out our blog and visit the Square often to see what's happening at one of the business addresses in town.

The Best of 2010 in Market Square

Since the first week of 2011 is in the history books, let's take a look back at the Best of Market Square in 2010. While our list of top events certainly puts the reopening of the Square in the Number One spot, the rest of the best don't fall into any particular order — except for making 2010 one of the best years ever for the Square. Okay, here we go.

The Square Reopens: Sure, it seemed like a long time. But when the Mayor and enough other dignitaries to fill up Times Square cut the ribbon to officially reopen it, it was well worth the wait.

Here Comes the Bride: We broke out the super-sized box of tissues when Andrea Gault and Koy Lopez tied the knot in the Square this past August. The bride and groom traded "I do's" under picture-perfect summer skies in biggest open-air chapel in town.

Zombie-palooza: No, it wasn't a remake of "Night of the Living Dead," but more than 4,000 happily "undead" filled the Square in their most gruesome Sunday best for Zombie Fest.

Down on the Farm: After being transplanted to Gateway Center during construction, the Farmers Market returned to the Square in 2010 with the freshest, home-grown produce around, plus lots of other goodies from pastries to local wines.

Holiday Highlights: Every night during the 2011 year-end holidays was a little brighter in the Square as the inaugural Season of Lights display twinkled and blinked away. Designed by Blachere Illuminations and generously sponsored by the Colcom Foundation, more than 150,000 LEDs adorned buildings, lamp posts and the centerpiece 33-feet tall sphere tree. This instant favorite de-"lighted" holiday revelers all season long.   

A Real Bumper Crop: Before they raced ’round the Oval in Schenley, the Vintage Grand Prix roadsters made a pit stop in the Square to impress antique auto lovers with their classy chassis.

Totally Toyota: Fresh from the fields, the Toyota Farm to Table Tour rolled into the Square to showcase the abundance found close to Pittsburgh with eight local celebrity chefs who whipped up al fresco Square meals using ingredients supplied by our very own Farmers Market.

Pens Central: Hundreds of Penguins fans flocked to the Square for to cheer on the Sid, Marc and all their favorite hockey heroes for the Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic. Though the Pens got the short end of the hockey stick in the game, the rally was a winner.

Golden Opportunity: A Pittsburgh tradition for a half century, the Square was at the heart of the 2010 50th Anniversary of Light Up Night, a special two-day celebration that featured food, fireworks, marching bands, a horse-drawn carriage parade, the second wedding of the year and much merrymaking to usher in the holiday season. 

Rock the Block: Downtown residents from all over congregated in the Square for the 2010 Neighborhood Block Party in the Square. Under the clear skies of a soft fall evening, 1,500 neighbors chatted as they tasted and sipped the best dishes of eateries in the Square. 

Happy Holidays n'at, yunz guys: It was jingle bells all the way around the Square as Joe Gruschecky, Donnie Iris, Rick Witkowski and other local rockers made merry during the WDVE Holiday Party. With morning show hosts Jim Krenn and Randy Baumann hosting the bash, Pittsburghers caught the spirit of the season with a dose of holiday tunes played rock ’n’ roll style. 



 We want to thank everyone who helped make 2010 one of the best years ever for Market Square. And we hope to see you all there in 2011 for even more fun.

Let's Go Pens! Let's Go Pens! Let's Go Pens!

No matter the weather, it was a great day for hockey fans in Market Square. Because that's where hundreds of Pens supporters flocked at noon today to cheer on Sid the Kid and the rest of the lads before they take on the Wash Caps in the Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic at Heinz Field on New Year's Day. With  longtime play-by-play announcer Mike Lange handling MC duties, with help from broadcast buddy Phil Bourque and WDVE's Val Porter, this pep rally was more fun than a playoff series sweep against the Philly Flyers.

Of course, showing your support for the Pens before the big game was reason enough to be in the Square. But one lucky fan took home a pair of tickets to the game during a text message contest. Sometimes it pays to be all thumbs, especially when you get to pocket the hottest tix in town for the coolest winter event in the ’Burgh.

And there were more prize giveaways than slapshots in an OT shootout. For winter sports enthusiasts, the free lift tickets will keep some lucky downhill types schussing along the sweetest slopes around — or sipping hot chocolate in the lodge — all day long. And the supercalifragilisticexpialidocious passes to the opening night performance of Disney's "Mary Poppins" at the Benedum went down easier than spoonful of sugar. 

Now, if you didn't score tix for the Pens/Caps faceoff, we hope you got your hands on the First Night  admission buttons that the friendly folks from the Cultural Trust. These festive fashion accessories are your ticket to enjoy many of the amazing performances that will push 2010 into the history books and usher in 2011 with a big bang of two separate fireworks displays. Even if you managed to skate a few laps around the rink outside Heinz Field, some lucky fans got free passes to show their ice skills at the county's rinks in North and South Parks. And so many people went home with a Great Race Gift Bags, filled with goodies like a Dick's Sporting gift card, that we lost count. 

It's not really a party in the Square until the band plays. And there was music galore on stage with local legends Jimmy Adler and Norm Nardini, who's going to open for New Jersey rockers Bon Jovi at the Consol Energy Center in February. Budding musicians also strutted their stuff, too, as the Riverview marching band entertained and cheerleaders from Brashear, Gateway and Riverview high schools pumped up the crowd noise and enthusiasm. 

For an event this big, more than a few dignitaries were on hand, including chief county exec Dan Onorato and Pens mascot Iceburgh.  But the biggest VIPs were all the generous people who donated canned goods and money to help keep the the shelves full at the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank. That's the real spirit of the holiday season.

And just because we can't say it enough...
Let's go Pens! Let's go Pens! Let's go Pens!

Ring In The New Year In The Square

Now we know that there's going to be plenty of action all over Downtown this New Year's Eve during the First Night festivities. But we'll be singing a few verses of "Auld Lang Syne" in the middle of Market Square as we count down the final seconds of 2010. After all, we certainly don't want to forget that this was one great year for the "new" Square.

Okay, so while you're out and about around town with friends and family, why not use the Square as a meeting place throughout the evening? The eateries around the Square are great spots to refuel with a beverage or two and consume some tasty calories to keep your engines running in high gear all night long.  If you're looking for more than a quick bite, a little birdie told us that Bella Sera Urban Trattoria has a couple tables left for their special New Year's Eve seatings.

And while there will be plenty of sky-high pyrotechnic displays as fireworks brighten the night to start and end the New Year's festivities, the brilliant Market Square Season of Lights, made possible by Colcom Foundation, will light the final hours of 2010 in Market Square.

So as we get ready to close the book on 2010, the past 365 days have been great ones in the Square — from the revolution in the way it looks and feels, to the return of the Farmers Market, to Zombies, a summer wedding and the spectacular two-day 50th anniversary celebration of Light Up Night. With plenty of old acquaintances to remember from the year that's almost history, we look forward to making many new friends and creating more exciting reasons to enjoy the Square in 2011.

Happy New Year!

Get A Square Deal On Last-Minute Holiday Gifts

Okay, you won't find a partridge in a pear tree in Market Square. But plenty of holiday shoppers are flocking to the shops in — and around — the Square for last-minutes gifts for colleagues at work or unexpected guests who drop by in the next week or so.

Of course, we're hoping for a bit of snow this holiday season. Still, the cooler temps can bring on a big chill in a hurry. Well, there's no better way to warm up a long winter's night than a basket of tea or coffee from Nicholas Brothers. If the boss is still on the gift list, this is one great perk.

Now, while some might like to sip, others on your list might like to nibble on something sweet throughout the holiday season. Just in case you're all thumbs in the kitchen, a batch of yuletide cookies or other goodies from Prantl's will satisfy most tastes.

You won't wear out any shoe leather for the next stop on this holiday shopping expedition. But if a certain gent in your life happens to be in need of new footwear, the Nettleton Shop is the place to find a sole mate for your soul mate.

For a complete head-to-toe look for that GQ type of man, the Heinz Healy's Gentleman's Apparel store is well suited to dress the fashionable male in nearly any sartorial style. From sportswear to more formal attire, this dapper depot is a must stop destination.

Guys, if you're still thinking about a new vacuum sweeper for that "lucky" woman in your life, take our advice. Head to Serendipity. Chock full of the latest, chicest accessories this side of New York and Los Angeles, a gift from this oh-so-hip boutique will put you at the top of her list as the New Year nears.

And for a very special touch, a gift certificate from Denham & Co. is a perfect stocking stuffer. For that post-holiday makeover, this cozy salon offers a bird's eye view of the Square and a to die for menu of services that range from a new ’do to facials, manicures and pedicures. Plus, Denham carries a complete line of Aveda lotions and potions to revitalize hair, skin and the inner beauty within.

Okay, all this deadline shopping can be stressful. So if you're looking to treat yourself, try a soothing massage at Zhang's. A combination of options from head and neck massage to an overall rubdown can help relax those aching shopping muscles and restore your good cheer — just in time to enjoy the glad tidings of this very special time of the year. 

While activities in the Square might be on the light side this weekend, the Season of Lights display will continue to shine. And the Square will be hockey central next week during a special Dec. 30 noon rally for the New Year's Day Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic at Heinz Field.

The Weather Outside Is Frightful, But The Band Is Soooo Delightful!

Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus. And he just happened to make an early stop Downtown for the first-ever WDVE Holiday Party in Market Square this past Thursday night. Just for this momentous occasion, Jolly Old St. Nick traded in his traditional red and white garb for more appropriate Black and Gold threads to rock the night away with local music legends like head Houserocker Joe Grushecky and Donnie Iris, the coolest king of rock of all. 

With morning show hosts Jim Krenn and Randy Baumann chilling at the mic as the evening's MCs, the crowd warmed up as the musicians made merry on stage with their special twists on classic holiday tunes. While we didn't spot Rudolph in the skies above, thousands of fans with rosy red noses and cheeks in the streets filled the Square with holiday spirit to spare. 

Of course, many of the pre-holiday revelers sought a bit or warmth in the watering holes around the Square. But all through this tune-filled night, no one was ready to turn in for a long winter's nap. This is one party that rocked from start to finish.

Last Night's performers:
Chris Higby
28 North
Paul Luc
Lovebettie
Sara Marince
Margo B
Gene The Werewolf
Scott Blasey
Good Brother Earl
Joe Grushecky
Donnie Iris
Rick Witkowski & The DVE All-Star Band

If you missed the live show or this morning's broadcast, you can download the performances on WDVE's website.  Just scroll down until you see the Christmas Party entries.
If you're wondering when the next big thing in the Square is going to happen, put a big circle around December 30. That's when hockey fans are invited to a huge noon pep rally to cheer on the Pens before they take on the Washington Caps during the 2011 Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic on New Year's Day.