The BBA and the BDC are thankful for all of our member businesses who have supported our community throughout 2008. The coming year will be our most exciting year yet, and we’re looking forward to sharing new initiatives and opportunities with the community. Stay informed by subscribing to Shopping Bloomfield, and we hope to see you at next year’s six bi-monthly Community Outreach Meetings, starting on January 27.

As a community, we should all be thankful for our award-winning restaurants and unique shopping, and for the local media that promote these assets to the City. This Thanksgiving, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette and the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review both tempted readers with tastes of the feast that is Bloomfield.

Sausalido “The Gourmet Bistro and Full Service Catering Company”

The Post-Gazette celebrated the savory side of Sausalido in China Millman’s article “Little Bites: Reasons to celebrate”:

In Bloomfield, the empty space left by Mezzanotte has been filled by Sausalido, which describes itself as New American and European but has an Italian-American slant, at least that’s pleasant to see in Pittsburgh’s Little Italy. Owner Nicholas Mineo, cousin of the pizzeria Mineos, has been managing the Shadyside Deli and developing its catering arm for the past five years. The menu at Sausalido includes pancetta-wrapped scallops ($26) and chicken breasts stuffed with caramelized apples and cranberries ($22). BYOB with a $2 per-person corkage.

Paddy Cake Bakery

In “Paddy Cake in Bloomfield satisfies sweet tooth”, Tribune-Review reporter Mark Kanny investigated Paddy Cake‘s indulgent offerings of doughnuts, cookies, French pastries and cakes:

The trays of cookies take up two counters in the store. Pumpkin cookies are one of the basic options (69 cents, $4.99 a dozen). Holiday cookie trays are available in two-dozen ($11.95), three-dozen ($17.95) and larger orders, up to 10 dozen ($55.95).

Consider supping at Sausalido and other Bloomfield restaurants for a break from Thanksgiving leftovers, and patronizing Paddy Cake for your Christmas cookies.

Machi Entertainment and Pittsburgh Amateur Boxing present Michael Lamb’s 2008 Silver Gloves Tournament. The advancing tournament will be on December 5, 6 & 7 (if necessary), in the old Roth Carpet building on Liberty Avenue (across from The Exercise Warehouse).

Details are below, and for more information on this fight and other local fights, go to www.pghamateurboxing.com.

To help promote the event, download a printable flier.

Friday, Saturday & Sunday, December 5–7, 2008
7:30 PM, 7:00 PM & 1:00 PM

Old Roth Carpet Building
4035 Liberty Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15224

Bloomfield Events Calendar

This Saturday, there will be a community meeting to discuss design solutions for Dean’s Field and the surrounding community beneath the Bloomfield Bridge. Ann Rosenthal and her environmental graphics students from The Art Institute of Pittsburgh will host the informal idea-gathering and idea-sharing meeting at Ann’s Dargan Street Studios, next to the park.

To help promote the event, download a printable PDF flier.

This summer, Bloomfield Citizens Council worked with the City of Pittsburgh to restore Dean’s Field with new natural turf, fencing, landscaping, dugouts and a warm-up area for pitchers. Ann is working with the community to continue to grow upon this great work, and to help keep the park safe, clean and green.

The results of Saturday’s meeting will be compiled in a report that outlines existing conditions and possible design solutions, and will be a first step towards considering such renovations. In the Spring, Ann plans to build on the inital work to produce a more formal proposal.

Details are below, and for more information, call 412-688-0417.

Saturday, November 22, 2008
10:00 AM–Noon

Dargan Street Studios
431 Dargan Street
Pittsburgh, PA 15224

Bloomfield Events Calendar

DOC Economou, the developers of the Baum-Liberty Crossing complex on the former Don Allen Auto City site, are holding another community presentation on Tuesday to discuss progress on the project.

For information call Christine Fulton, vice president of public finance and external relations for DOC Economou, at 724-935-4480.

Tuesday, November 18, 2008
6:00 PM–8:00 PM

Shadyside Presbyterian Church
5121 Westminster Place
Pittsburgh, PA 15232

Bloomfield Events Calendar

On November 20, join others who have accepted the Great American Health Challenge in the Wintergarden of West Penn Hospital for light refreshments, health screenings and information on smoking cessation. West Penn employees who attend can register for a variety of great raffle prizes!

Thursday, November 20, 2008 marks the American Cancer Society’s 33rd Great American Smokeout. The Great American Smokeout challenges smokers to quit for one day, and encourages people to commit to making a long-term plan to quit for good. The American Cancer Society has tons of resources on their website to help promote the event, including posters, stickers, announcements, tent cards, t-shirt transfers and statement stuffers.

If you’re considering accepting the challenge to set November 20 as your quit date, check out the American Cancer Society’s free resources or call the American Cancer Society Quitline® at 800-227-2345. Free, confidential counseling and resources are available to help you plan your quit day.

ACS also has resources for friends and family.

Thursday, November 20, 2008
11:00 AM–1:00 PM

West Penn Hospital Wintergarden
4800 Friendship Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15224

Bloomfield Events Calendar

PNC Bank is sponsoring another multi-neighborhood mixer and networking event on November 20. This year’s mixer will be at the Pittsburgh Opera, and feature refreshments and entertainment with guest bartenders, a raffle and auction. Join members of the Bloomfield Business Association, Neighbors in the Strip, Polish Hill Civic Association and Lawrenceville Corporation for an evening of merrymaking and networking!

Details are below. To help promote the event, download a printable PDF flier.

Please RSVP to bloomfieldbusinessassociation@verizon.net. For more information, call Karla at 412-681-2054.

Thursday, November 20, 2008
5:00 PM–7:00 PM

Pittsburgh Opera
2425 Liberty Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15222

Bloomfield Events Calendar

I’m writing this post from Grasso Roberto Café, using their new wireless network from Comcast High-Speed Internet. Free Wi-Fi makes this another mobile office space from which I’ll be working remotely.

Other free hotspots in the neighborhood include Crazy Mocha and Pleasure Bar. I’ve also used West Penn Hospital’s wireless, and hopped on networks while eating lunch at China House and W.G. Grinders.

What’s your favorite Bloomfield hotspot? Leave a comment to let us know.

If you haven’t yet seen the latest issue of weekly e-magazine Pop City, be sure to read Jennifer Baron’s article “The Best of Bloomfield”. In what may be one of the best articles on Bloomfield, Jennifer covers many of the unique businesses that make our neighborhood, well, unique:

Bordered by 40th St. and Baum Blvd., Bloomfield’s thriving Liberty Ave. commercial district anchors the community with a mix of old school charm and urban eclecticism. Within blocks, you can fire up your laptop and people watch at a trendy coffeehouse, pick up the latest Arcade Fire album, attend a gallery opening, and sample scrumptious gelato.

You’re sure to read something you love about Bloomfield in Jennifer’s article, and I’d love to read some of your comments here.