Tiny Bubbles on the Square

It's true - there is something new in Market Square just about every day. And if you've been looking around the Square lately, you've noticed that something's going on in the space above Bruegger's. We've decided to give you an exclusive sneak peek at what is soon to be the latest hotspot in Downtown Pittsburgh when Perlé debuts in just a few weeks.

The dreamchild of NOLA on the Square partners Yves Carreau and Pete Landis, Perlé will open its doors to a more cosmopolitan Downtown crowd looking to literally rise above it all. With its champagne bar theme and decor, Perlé brings a sophisticated atmosphere to the Square for after work, get-togethers and late-night rendezvous. With muted hues and subdued lighting, Perlé's centerpiece will be a 24-foot long bar that stretches nearly the length of the intimate but spacious interior. While workmen are currently busy transforming the blueprints into reality, Perlé will soon be a chic refuge in the heart of the city.

With a bit of a twist, Perlé will be open for public and private events on a split schedule. The doors open Wednesday through Saturday to the public. The kitchen will serve an innovative tapas menu with a continental European flavor and will stay open past midnight most evenings, with even longer hours on weekends. From Sunday through Tuesday, Perlé will be available for private functions such as weddings or business meetings. Landis says that at least one wedding is in the works and several local corporations are looking to book the space.

And please pardon our French, but Perlé (per-lay) is how they say pearl in Paris. It's also a sly French reference to the tiny bubbles that will be served at the Square's newest and chicest destination. Stay tuned for details.

Wieners Take All!

Hey, isn't it cool that the Buccos are in first place? It's always great to cheer on a winner. Well, tomorrow at noon in Market Square — that would be Wednesday, June 13 — you can root for a whole bunch of wieners, uh we mean winners, when the regional round of Nathan's Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest Qualifier returns to Pittsburgh at noon. Nearly as old as Major League Baseball, the Nathan's competition took its first bite out of the action in 1916, at the Original Nathan's location on New York City's very own Coney Island. And we're proud to say that our hometown is one of a few select cities chosen for qualifying rounds. That's the kind of ranking we really relish.

Now, a lot of games can have a lot of rules. But for this match up, the guidelines are simple. You gotta eat more frankfurters and buns than anyone else during 10 minutes. These big league eaters can help the dogs go down easier by dunking them in the beverage of their choice or chomp them down or bite by bite. But the only "no-no" in this wiener take all battle is that they must swallow every bite. There are no "put backs," if you know what we mean.

Judging by last year's event, the  2012 qualifier will be even more ferocious in this man bites dog battle. "Big" Brian Subich of Johnstown looms large in the men's field as a previous winner in North Carolina. But the rest of the pack will be nipping at his heels — and big piles of hot dogs — as they go for the title and a chance to win an  trip to chow down at the July 4 Championship, which draws 40,000 fans to the corner of Stillwell and Surf avenues, just a couple blocks away from Coney Island's famous Cyclone roller coaster. Along with a broadcast on ESPN that's viewed by almost two million fans, the men's and women's eating champs will pocket a cash prize big enough to keep them up to their necks in Nathan's dogs.

For the first time in Pittsburgh, a husband and wife will compete on the same stage when Theresa Subich sets her sight on the women's crown. And just what does it take to be the champ?  Well, it's a combination of a big appetite for Nathan's hot dogs, a cast-iron stomach and a determination to win. Last year's winners of the fast-and-furious franks fest in the Square each downed 28 dogs in 10 minutes. To put that into perspective, world champion eater Joe Chestnut consumed 68 Nathan's Famous dogs in the same amount of time — a record that actually might be hard to swallow for mere mortals.

Even though it's too late to compete in this year's event, it's never to late to begin training for the 2013 competition. You can start getting in shape, sort of, by visiting the Downtown Nathan's at the corner of Wood Street and Third Avenue. After all, everyone loves a wiener.

The Mysteries of Downtown Pittsburgh

We're not whistling past the graveyard when we tell you that some Downtown Pittsburgh workers, residents and visitors have experienced encounters with ghosts and orbs. After all, with such a rich and majestic history more than 250 years long, you can bet there are more than a few dispirited souls from the netherworld roaming the city's streets, buildings and imaginations.  While we're pretty sure that Market Square remains specter-free, aside from the annual ZombieFest, Tim Murray and his crew of ghost hunters will track down a phantom or two on weekly tours of Haunted Pittsburgh that start in the center of the Square.

A Downtown lawyer named Tim decided to chase down apparitions in his hometown after enjoying similar tours in other cities. And once he began researching local ghost stories, he discovered that Pittsburgh was blessed — or should we say cursed — with a treasure trove of such eerie tales. Many of those yarns from the dark side trace their shadowy origins to some of Downtown's most famous landmarks, including one prestigious hotel where the ghosts can check in anytime they like but they can never leave.

And then there's the story of the celestial child who saved the life of a noted steel industry magnate at his Downtown Fifth Avenue office. Despite suffering two gunshot wounds to the neck and a stab in the thigh, the industrialist managed to wrestle his would be assassin into submission. Years later the man of steel credited the miraculous appearance of a departed young daughter whose brilliant aura blinded the would be assassin. You could say the guy never had a "Frick"ing chance.

Broken hearts often turn into lost souls. When Kate Soffel fell head over heels for Ed Biddle, she should have known better. After all, she was the wife of the County Jail warden and Biddle was a notorious area criminal awaiting the executioner on death row. Still, Mrs. Soffel aided Biddle's ill-fated escape from H.H. Richardson's landmark structure. Not long after the jail break, Biddle was shot to death, and his star-crossed lover spent the rest of her life in prison. Rumor has it that the wailing ghost of Mrs. Soffel still roams the former jail's corridor. If you stand under the Bridge of Sighs on Grant Street, you might just hear her spine-chilling moans.

And there are even more things that go bump in the night, such as the curse of the Wabash Railroad Bridge, the dead judge who dons his robes to deliver verdicts from beyond the grave, the former brothel turned restaurant, PaPa J's Centro, where the ghouls are "boo-tiful" and otherworldly legends of a totally honest president who logged a night's rest at the western end of Smithfield Street.

While many of the stories will make the hairs nearly jump off the back of your neck, there's plenty to learn along the way about Pittsburgh's history and role in literally building an America that became a world power. Still, bizarre is the theme of these weekly, 90-minute spook search tours, which start  in the Square each Saturday at 7 p.m. for the next few weeks before switching to Fridays on July 7. It's such a shock to the system that you just might want to return to the Square to sit down with some friendly "spirits" to calm your rattled nerves.

Family Affair in the Square

Now, we know that most people think of Market Square as a grown-up type of place, but starting this Tuesday morning, youngsters rule in the Square when KidsPlay! launches a summer load of fun activities geared towards children and families. Whether it's story time or craft making — or even catching a sneak peek inside the Pittsburgh Police bomb squad truck — tots, tykes and even tweens will find something to like during KidsPlay!, which runs from June 5- August 21 from 10-11:30 a.m. And did we mention free snacks like ice cream and chips? 

So you know -- moms & dads, granddads & grandmas, and even aunts & uncles are invited to join the kids in their family down to the Square next Tuesday to take part in a ton of activities. Best of all, a special guest from Downtown's very own Toonseum will be on hand to entertain. That's right, master cartoonist and storyteller — not to mention Toonseum's executive director —Joe Wos will delight kids and adults with his quick wit and even quicker drawing hand as he creates cartoon drawings on the spot for a few lucky youngsters to take home with them. 

During June, kids also will get a chance to meet real-life heroes such as city firefighters and police officers, learn how trees make the world a healthier place and get an inside look at why everyone needs to learn about the arts. Later in the summer, KidsPlay will bring back one of the Square's all-time favorite visitors —"That Guy With the Birds." With his band of fine feathered friends — all parrots rescued from not so great situations — John Lege's pampered pets dunk a basketball, play ring toss and perform other tricks that will amuse all. When John and his birds are around the Square, it's always time to fly! 

While the kids are having a good time, the grownups might take a short stroll to the Carnegie Library Reading Room, which also rolls into the Square every Tuesday morning from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. through October 9. Adults and kids will find plenty of good reads on the Carnegie's roving library carts that are filled with everything from best sellers to do it yourself manuals of all types. Plus, you can't beat the prices either, with hard covers selling for $2 and paperbacks going for just a buck! Best of all, every book  you buy supports the library's Downtown branch. 

So make it a family affair in the Square every Tuesday morning with KidsPlay and the Carnegie Library Reading Room. 

Bluebird on the Wing

Let's just say that a little birdie chirped the news to us about the Bluebird Kitchen. Now we'll tell you that the Bluebird Kitchen is on 221 Forbes Avenue. But the easiest way to find the Bluebird Kitchen is to look up for its sign — a welcoming circular fixture with a tiny bluebird on a nest of woven twigs in the center.

Open for just two weeks, the Bluebird Kitchen is the creation of Mt. Lebanon native Liz Moore. After 11 years of living in New York City — where she worked for a "monster" of an IT company— Liz returned to Pittsburgh to live out her dream of owning a small cafe and bakery. After looking at spaces in other parts of the city, Liz landed the Bluebird Kitchen near the Square — a decision based on Market Square's renovation and new office and hotel building construction nearby.

Thanks to windows that stretch nearly from floor to ceiling, natural light brightens the butcher block counters that offer a perfect perch to view the workday world rushing by. And when you open the door at the Bluebird Kitchen, chances are that Liz will greet you with a smile and take your order at the register. Once you say hello, it's time to check out the menu on the four giant chalkboards behind the counter, which lists breakfast items from fried egg sandwiches topped with cheddar and Gruyere cheese, with a side of house-made sausage, to organic steel cut oats. Of course, you can window shop the baked goods and decide on a muffin or doughnuts fried on the premises.

Liz promises a core lunch menu of tasty treats such as the "croque monsieur" sandwich, a French twist on the classic ham and cheese, plus an ever-changing selection of daily specials. While she handles the "front of the house," a creative young staff is busy in the kitchen. Whether it's a nutter butter cookie or the ciabatta bread on your roast beef sandwich, the Bluebird staff prepares everything in house from scratch. Even the meats served are cured and cooked in house. Running the show in the kitchen, executive chef Steven Thompson — who honed his skills at Downtown's Nine on Nine and Oakland's Lucca — stays busy whipping up new culinary surprises that are sure to delight. Open Mondays-Friday from 7 a.m.-3 p.m., the Bluebird Kitchen (412-465-0330) is one winged thing that will always be welcome in the Square.

From bluebirds to "hogs," the Square will be roaring with Harleys and other motorcycles roll into the Square Thursday evening for the first "Iron City Bike Night."  If you were born to be wild, you can get your motor running every Thursday starting at 6 p.m. through August 30 as the Market Square Merchants Association welcomes easy riders of all stripes to enjoy free music by local bands— along with food and beverage specials — all summer long.

Great Eats, Great Reads and Great Tunes

Summer's still more than a month away according to the calendar. But the activity meter is heating up as four of the most popular attractions return to the new town square of Downtown this week. What's in store for Market Square during the warm weather months is a lineup of farm fresh foods, good books at bargain prices and free music throughout the work week. In other words, the Farmers Market rolls into town this Thursday, the Carnegie Library Reading Room opens a new chapter starting Tuesday and the Mellow Monday and Thursday Noontime concerts strike just the right chord.

By now, everyone knows that the Farmers Market plants its roots deep in the Square every Thursday during the spring, summer and fall. Now in its eighth season, the Farmers Market is a perennial favorite with Downtown residents, workers, shoppers and just about anyone else who happens to stroll through the Square on Thursdays from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Along with a bumper crop of returning favorites, the Farmers Market will expand from nearly a dozen vendors to 25 sellers of fruits, vegetables, organic meats, pastries, prepared foods, vegetarian pet treats, fresh-cut flowers, beeswax candles, Angora goat yarn and so much more that you'll want to visit every week just so you don't miss anything.

While you're picking a peck of perfect peppers or savoring a flaky Greek pastry, you can tap your toes to the sweet sounds of some of the City's best musicians during a free lunchtime concert that fills the Square each Thursday from Noon-2 p.m. with the blues, soul, bluegrass, rock and more from local talents such as Joy Ike, The Whiskey Holler and this week's first act, Maddie Georgi, an amazing balladeer who has belted out the National Anthem at Pirates and Steelers games. From tunes with a heavy back-beat to songs with an upbeat tempo, the Thursday Noontime Concerts will keep your toes tapping all summer long.

If you're looking for a real page turner, the Carnegie Library Reading Room continues a novel approach to reaching out to Market Square visitors who have an appetite for a good book during lunchtime. Back for a third season, the Reading Room welcomes readers of all ages to browse its ever-changing collection of fiction and non-fiction best-selling titles as well as books on topics ranging from gourmet cooking to automotive repairs. And you don't need a library card for this mobile branch of the Carnegie Library since all the books are for sale at the bargain prices of $2 per hardback and a buck for each paperback. While you'll be expanding your home library and base of knowledge, the proceeds will benefit the Downtown Carnegie location on Smithfield Street.

On the second Tuesday of each month, a staff librarian will be on hand to lead book discussions and help buyers select titles. For those caught up in the worldwide web, every third Tuesday will feature an update on what's new in technology at the Library. And throughout the season, which runs from this Tuesday through October 9, from 11 a.m.-2 p.m., popular programs such as "30 Books in 30 Minutes," salon sessions and cookbook celebrations — complete with a cooking demonstration from a local chef — will be featured. But we have to warn you, the early bookworms at the Reading Room really get the best reads.

Okay, now let's get this party started right with the Mellow Monday concerts. Sponsored by the Market Square Merchants Association, this soothing acoustic music series helps take a bit of the manic out your Monday, starting today, with some smooth sounds from the likes of Brad Yoder, Maddie Arnold and this week's headliner, Nina Sainato. We like to think of the series, which runs every Monday from Noon-1 p.m. through October 29, as the perfect side dish to the fabulous lunchtime meals served by the great restaurants in and around the Square.

So forget about the calendar...summer in the Square is here. Come on out and join the fun.

Everyone Loves A Wiener!

We like to think of Market Square as the City's very own United Nations of food. After all, you can dine on cuisine from Europe, Asia, Latin America and just about every corner of the earth. But up until a couple weeks ago, one dish you couldn't find in the Square was an All-American hot dog. Which is why we're here to tell you about an old friend who's returned to the Golden Triangle with the U.S.A.'s favorite sausage. That's right, we're talking about Yovi's Chicago style wieners.

After a six-year absence, Lee Yovanof is back in business Downtown, serving up the Windy City version of the frankfurter in the space below La Cucina Flegrea and next to Sienna on Graeme Street, also known as one of the shortest roadways in all of the City. Since opening his doors a few weeks ago, Lee says every day seems like a reunion. "So many of my old customers have rediscovered me," Lee says. "I was on Liberty Avenue for 19 years and built so many relationships with my customers," says Lee. "Now each day, another person comes back in and tells someone else that I'm back. It's such a good feeling."

 

The trip down memory lane started when Lee got the urge to sell his Chicago red hots again after helping his wife run a South Hills restaurant. "I really had the itch to get back," he admits. "I was looking for a new location in Downtown and saw an ad in the newspaper for this spot. It was perfect because it was already equipped for a restaurant and set to go. Though the address is different, much of the new Yovi's will be familiar to returning fans. The walls are still decorated with old-time photos of Chicago sports heroes, and a near life-size cutout of Michael Jordan basically greets customers at the door. But what really has regulars and newcomers alike making the trip to the new Yovi's is the dog. 

 

What makes the Chicago dog different from a New York frank or even a Pittsburgh version? "The Chicago hot dog is a nice looking dog," replies Lee, a native of Macedonia. "You start off with an all-beef wiener on a poppy seed bun and top it all off with yellow mustard, sweet green relish, diced onions, tomato wedges, a crisp pickle spear and tiny squares of sport peppers. It's beautiful." Along with one of the most artistic dogs in town, Yovi's serves fresh-cut french fries, thin-slice Italian beef sandwiches, hot and Polish sausages and more.

 

Adding a distinct new flavor to the Square, Lee says he's happy to add to the smorgasbord of dining options. "I think that the more variety the better. There's so much new life in Market Square these days. This is really a great place to be." And Yovi's — open Monday-Friday 10 a.m.-6 p.m.  — is a great place enjoy on old favorite with a different twist.