Hiya, Burghers! PittGirl here.

You may remember me from The Burgh Blog, or maybe you’ve read my new column in Pittsburgh Magazine? Or maybe you don’t know me at all?

I’m awesome. Why don’t you know me?

I kid. But not really, because I’m totally awesome.

I was asked to guest-post here on the wonderful Shopping Bloomfield about shoes.

Men’s shoes.

I don’t know a single thing about men’s shoes except that I imagine they run a smidge larger than women’s shoes and I bet it’s impossible to find a decent heel in a wide width. But I do know a little something about a certain someone who recently purchased some shoes at Bloomfield’s own Best-Made Shoes.

Aussie Alex O’Loughlin filmed the CBS pilot Three Rivers in Pittsburgh during April 2009, and during that time he visited Best-Made Shoes and purchased the Birkenstock Tatami Alton which he can be seen wearing in the pilot episode.

You may remember Alex O’Loughlin from his days as a kinda dirty (but really really hot) cop on The Shield. Or maybe you remember him from his days as a super major hot vampire on the now-defunct Moonlight on CBS.

If you never saw Moonlight, I got three words for you: Robert Pattinson who?

Here’s the shoe as you would find it in the store:

Here’s the shoe on the I imagine totally gorgeous feet of Alex O’Loughlin in the pilot episode:

You don’t know how long it took me to freeze frame that at the right exact second to show you that. Like 23 minutes. Now you know.

And here’s Alex being adorable in the pilot episode:

I don’t know about you, but I’ll be visiting Best-Made shoes to see if I can find out some more information.

Did Alex stand here? What about here? Did he gaze gorgeously out of this window? This window? Did he pee in here? Did he touch this? DID HE LICK ANYTHING IN THE STORE?!

Uh. Anyways. Best-Made Shoes.

Go. Tell them PittGirl sent you, that you think she’s really awesome, and also she’d really like to know IF HE LICKED ANYTHING IN THE STORE.

The Bloomfield Development Corporation will host the third of six community meetings for 2009 on Tuesday, June 30. Come and hear about the exciting new developments from the BDC, Burt Hill and Port Authority!

Join us at 5:00, before the community meeting for everything you need to know about this year’s Little Italy Days. During Little Italy Days, 20,000+ people will be our guests. Find out how your business can benefit from this popular annual event!

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

Tuesday, June 30, 2009
6:00 PM

West Penn Hospital Auditorium
4800 Friendship Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15224

Bloomfield Events Calendar

The deadline to join the Bloomfield Business Association for 2009 is June 30, 2009. If you are interested in elections or voting in the November election, your dues must be paid by June 30.

As business owners, you are all stakeholders in Bloomfield. The BBA has many avenues to promote your business. Join now and find out how your business can benefit.

If you have any questions, please feel free to call the BBA office at 412-681-2054.

A beautiful summer day is planned as we head to several Greensburg area highlights.

We’ll depart Bloomfield about 9:30 AM and head out on our Myer’s Coach to our first great stop!

DeLallo’s Italian Marketplace  where Anthony DiPietro, a member of the DeLallo family will conduct an informative tour of this absolutely gorgeous store.  You’ll be so impressed with the beautiful presentations at the antipasto bar and cooking inspired with all the great DeLallo products and other imported delicacies dripping off the shelves. Treat yourself to some great goodies as we take a break for lunch outdoors in the cute area in front of the store. You may bring a cooler to store under the bus with purchases to take home.

Stop number two!!  We discovered Sand Hill Berry Farm last year at our local farmers’ market.  Their luscious fruit preserves are one of the ingredients which have made our Ricotta and Jam Tart so popular.  We’ll stroll through the berry farm and store with Bob or Amy (owners of this lovely setting) and then we’ll treat you to a fabulous dessert at the outdoor café.  We’ve enjoyed some of their tasty treats — you won’t want to miss out! We’ll also include some wine tasting at Green Dance Winery, a beautiful part of the farm as well.  You’ll be able to purchase your favorite bottle and take it home as a delicious reminder of this great day!

We’re getting there!  The Lenox Factory and Outlet Store are only five miles away from Sand Hill. It would be such a shame to be soooo close and not stop in.  No tour, no info just great bargains on china, tableware and crystal. The bus has a great big storage area!

Before we head for home our final stop will be at Mauro’s Ristorante in Jeannette.  Mauro is from the same town in Italy as my husband Mario!  We’ve been dear friends for many years .  He’ll prepare a great Italian feast for us and show us some beautifully warm Italian hospitality!  We’ll pick up the tab for dinner.  Indulge yourself in a drink from the bar — we have a designated driver!

That will wrap up what plans to be a glorious day! We’ll wind down and head for home so we can get ready for WORK on Tuesday!

Let us know as soon as you can if you’ll be able to join us.  Space is limited and fills quickly.  We’ll take payment in full please as your guaranteed reservation.

Please feel free to give us a call or email us with any questions! 412-682-3370 or maria@merante-gifts.com.

Monday, July 13, 2009
9:30 AM

Merante Gifts
4723 Liberty Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15224

$89 per person

Bloomfield Events Calendar

Attention Business and Property Owners:

Is there a tree on your property? Are you properly watering and caring for the tree? Please see the information below from TreeVitalize. Remember that it is the responsibility of the property and/or business owner to care for the trees. These trees were provided to us through grants from the City of Pittsburgh. Let’s keep our business district clean and green!

Yes! Trees undergo extreme stress when they are transplanted. Like all living things, some rebound quickly and others struggle.

This tree is alive and may recover if cared for properly.

Please be sure to water all your new trees — especially stressed ones — 20–30 gallons once each week!

You can determine if a stressed tree is still alive by gently scratching the bark of the trunk or branch with your fingernail. If it is green inside, then the tree is alive and may recover.

Please be patient. Trees can sometime take a whole growing season or more to recover from the shock of transplanting.

If you see a newly planted TreeVitalize tree that looks stressed, please send its location (including street name and address) and species (if you know it) to mhecht@paconserve.org or call 412-586-2396.

Thanks for helping make the Pittsburgh region a greener and healthier place to live and work!

Last Friday, the City of Pittsburgh Public Works Department cited several businesses for not having appropriate permits for sidewalk cafés.

In order to put out tables on the sidewalk, you must go down to Department of Public Works, 611 Second Avenue. Please see below for the requirements to meet the city code.

There were also violations for merchandise being sold on the sidewalk. In order to be in compliance with the city, you must get an “Extension of Premises Permit”. There is a $25.00 fee and you also go to 611 Second Avenue to obtain this permit.

While this may seem like a lot of regulation, there are reasons for it. The city needs to make sure there is proper insurance so that if someone does trip over a table or chair, they cannot sue the City or the business owner. The City also has to maintain all Americans with Disabilities Act requirements in public right of ways. Because they do, they need to have a level of control as to what private businesses do in the public right of way (the entire sidewalk is the public right of way).

Please see the directions below:

e) A resolution of Council is not required for cafes that meet the specifications described below, and a permit may be obtained from the Department of Public Works without a Council Resolution:
(1) All sidewalk cafes must have removable barriers that encompass the entire cafe. (Rope & Stanchion)
(2) A minimum of five (5) feet of open sidewalk must be maintained for pedestrian traffic.
(3) Insurance must be obtained naming City of Pittsburgh as Co-Insured.
Limits:
$100,000.00–$300,000.00–Public Liability
$50,000.00–Property.
(4) Applicant must obtain an occupancy permit from zoning.
(5) Applicant must obtain approval from the Department of Public Works and the City Council Member of the District and Ward the cafe is in.
(6) The City Council Member representing the District where the cafe is proposed shall acknowledge, in writing, having reviewed the application, prior to issuance of the permit.
(7) A one hundred twenty-five dollar ($125.00) application fee on all new sidewalk cafe applications. A fifty dollar ($50.00) renewal fee each year after.

(Ord. 20-1991, effective 6-18-91; Ord. 11-1992, effective 4-21-92; Am. Ord. 19-1998, effective 7-30-98; Ord. 25-1998, effective 11-6-98; Ord. 19-2001, § 1, eff. 8-9-01; Ord. 24-2002, § 1, eff. 7-23-02)

CODE OF ORDINANCES
City of PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA

Codified through
Ord. No. 18-2008, enacted Oct. 13, 2008.
(Supplement No. 16)