Did you know you are able to divert your Pennsylvania state taxes to Immaculate Conception School in Bloomfield? Dr. Ron Bowes, Assistant Superintendent for Public Policy for the Diocese of Pittsburgh will speak about this program on Tuesday, March 3 at Immaculate Conception.

Details are below, and for more information, call the BBA at 412-681-2054.

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

Tuesday, March 3, 2009
8:00 AM

Immaculate Conception Social Hall
321 Edmond Street
Pittsburgh, PA 15224

Bloomfield Events Calendar

In “Bloomfield boasts family-owned businesses”, Tribune-Review author JoAnne Klimovich Harrop spent a Saturday in Pittsburgh’s Little Italy, savoring the Italian-style home-cooking among the shops, cafés and churches.

Starting with a hearty breakfast at Grasso Roberto, JoAnne took an extensive tour with Mainstreets Manager Karla Owens, documenting various Bloomfield businesses along the way. The article goes beyond the Italian food and heritage to paint a pretty accurate picture of the unique and eclectic experience that is Bloomfield:

Bloomfield has shops, cafes, churches and plenty of entertainment. Every September, there is a three-day festival called Little Italy Days, where there’s music, food, games and so much more.

“Most of the businesses in Bloomfield are family-run and owned businesses,” says Karla Owens, Bloomfield Business District main-street manager. “They all have a unique identity and are willing to help each other out. It is so nice that we have an awesome residential district behind us.”

Read more to find out if JoAnne visited your favorite business, or to discover a new favorite.

The Bloomfield Business Association is producing an online video show to promote dining in the neighborhood, and we are seeking a foodie to host the show. Each episode will focus on a different restaurant, highlighting key dishes and specials plus interesting facts about the establishment and neighborhood. The format of the show will be developed with the host’s input, but a similar format would be Food Network’s $40 a Day, edited down to 5–10 minutes per restaurant.

We are looking for hosts of either gender, 21+ as alcohol may be reviewed. The host should be an aficionado of food and drink, and have the ability to verbally describe different culinary experiences in an interesting way. The position pays $250 per episode for two episodes per month. We are planning on doing a full year of episodes, filmed throughout the year to take advantage of seasonal opportunities. Each shoot should take no more than three hours to shoot, plus voiceover work to be recorded in our local studio. Hosts will be required to handle their own makeup, hair and wardrobe, but a producer will be at each shoot to help.

If interested, please submit a headshot and resume to design@bloomfieldnow.com.

After being struck by fire late in the evening on October 16, 2008, the best little Polish bar in Pittsburgh’s Lil’ Italy was forced to close for repairs. Now back open and celebrating their 23rd anniversary, the Bloomfield Bridge Tavern is throwing a grand reopening party.

The party starts at 5 PM tomorrow, February 21. According to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette and Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, the 23rd anniversary will feature pierogies for 23 cents, beer specials, music by WRCT DJ Mockster and bands Mr. Devious and Teen Riot.

Admission is free. For more information, please contact Steve Frankowski at 412-682-8611.

Saturday, February 21, 2009
5:00 PM

Bloomfield Bridge Tavern
4412 Liberty Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15224

Bloomfield Events Calendar

As promised, here are the highlights from last week’s community meeting at West Penn Hospital, along with the slide presentations from Mainstreets Manager Karla Owens and Senator Jim Ferlo. Thank you to BDC Secretary Judy Koll for taking the minutes.

Meeting Highlights

BBA/BDC President Ben Forman welcomed everyone and thanked West Penn Hospital and  Senator Jim Ferlo. He stated that the purpose of the meeting was to engage the community in developing a shared vision for the future of Bloomfield’s commercial corridor, to discuss neighborhood issues, and to inform and educate everyone regarding the goals and purpose of the newly-formed Bloomfield Development Corporation.

The organizational history and structure of the BBA & BDC were discussed by Karla Owens, Mainstreets Manager & Executive Director of the BDC.

Senator Jim Ferlo discussed advantages of participation in the Mainstreets Program, which will provide grants through the Urban Redevelopment Authority for the revitalization of the Bloomfield business district through historic preservation and façade/design updates.

The following topics were highlighted:

• Advantages of BBA membership
• BBA/BDC revenues and expenses
• 2008 Holiday lighting deficit
• 2008–2009 BDC grants — received and pending
• BDC 2009 goals
• Upcoming BBA activities
• City and local partnerships/Little Italy Days partners

Guest Speakers included:

• Marjorie Howard
  Senior Community Development Specialist, Community Technical Assistance Center
• Sarah Dieleman Perry
  Program Officer, Pittsburgh Partnership for Neighborhood Development
• Josette Fitzgibbons
  Mainstreets Pittsburgh Program Coordinator, Urban Redevelopment Authority

A question and answer period followed the meeting. Neighborhood residents and business owners expressed opinions regarding the topics discussed as well as their interest in signing up for committees.

Slide Presentations

Bloomfield Development Corporation
Presentation Courtesy of Karla Owens

Bloomfield: Revitalization Through Historic Preservation
Presentation Courtesy of Senator Ferlo

Thanks to all who attended our first community meeting sponsored by the Bloomfield Development Corporation. A special thanks to Senator Ferlo for hosting the meeting, and to West Penn Hospital for the use of their meeting facilities.

For those of you who were not able to attend, we will be posting the topics discussed next week. Our next meeting will be Tuesday, April 28, 2009 in the West Penn Hospital Liberty Rooms at 6:00 PM. We encourage you to sign up for our e-newsletter and calendar for all the latest updates.

If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to call the Bloomfield Business Association at 412-681-2054.

On Friday, February 13, 2009, Children’s Hospital will be holding a community fair at the Oakland facility to introduce employees of the new Children’s Hospital to the surrounding business communities. The event is from 12–3. I will be attending with representatives from the BBA with literature on Bloomfield. If anyone has any business cards, flyers, promotional pieces on your business, please let me know and I will make arrangements to pick them up and disburse them to the future Children’s Hospital employees. The expected attendance is 300.

For more information, call the BBA at 412-681-2054.

Friday, February 13, 2009
12–3 PM

Children’s Hospital Oakland Facility
3705 Fifth Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15213

Bloomfield Events Calendar