City life is sometimes frustrating. Traffic jams, potholes, limited parking, and more recently, unplowed snowy streets are just a few stressors of the city. Have you ever wanted to report or complain about something, but were not sure who exactly to contact? Well, Pittsburgh now has a couple of solutions to this problem. Mayor Luke Ravenstahl introduced the 311 non-emergency line in October 2006, and has since expanded its operations in times of need, like our recent snow storms.

Anyone living in the city can simply dial 3-1-1 from 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM, Monday through Friday, and reach a live service representative who can assist you with anything from the phone number of a city department to reporting potholes, broken streetlights, or any other neighborhood nuisance. If you live outside of Pittsburgh or have an out-of-town area code, you can still reach the line at 412-255-2621. You may also fill out a 311 Form online or get more information on the 311 line or other city departments on the mayor’s website.

In addition to the non-emergency line, Pittsburghers with an iPhone can now download the new application iBurgh, which allows users to snap a pic of any neighborhood eyesore, attach a note, and then send it to 311 operators. City councilman Bill Peduto described it as “the first mobile application for city government,” wrote Joseph L. Flatley of Engadget in his article “iBurgh complaint department for iPhone gets to the heart of city living”.

Both the 311 line and iBurgh make it quicker and easier than ever before for residents to access city services. These customer-service focused means of reaching our local government will hopefully mean faster and more efficient resolution of the city’s numerous little annoyances.

2009 Best of Pittsburgh Readers’ Poll Results

City Paper’s “2009 Best of Pittsburgh Readers’ Poll” included several winners from Bloomfield. While we didn’t have as many winners as last year, we got a few repeat victories (“Best hipster bar/club”, “Best karaoke bar”, “Best hamburger”), and one new business (Pinky’s Pet Parlour) on the list:

Culture & Nightlife

Best hipster bar/club
1^st Brillobox

Best karaoke bar
1^st Nico’s Recovery Room

Food & Drink

Best Italian restaurant
2^nd Del’s

Best Southeast Asian restaurant
1^st Tram’s Kitchen

Best coffeehouse
1^st Crazy Mocha, various locations

Best hamburger
1^st Tessaro’s

Best cheap eats
3^rd Ritter’s Diner

Goods & Services

Best place to buy used CDs
2^nd Paul’s Compact Discs

Best place to still buy vinyl
3^rd Paul’s Compact Discs

Best pet grooming
3^rd Pinky’s Pet Parlour

People, Places & Propaganda

Most of these categories aren’t location-specific, but the following winners are tied to Bloomfield in meaningful ways:

Best blogger
1^st Pitt Girl, Virginia Montanez: Before PittGirl revealed her identity, she wrote a guest post for us. Look for another guest post from the artist formerly known as PittGirl in the new year.

Best bus route
1^st 54C: We’re proud to share this route with a lot of other great neighborhoods.

Best Form of Alternative Transportation
1^st Biking: We’ve had bike lanes since 2007, and urban cycling magazine Urban Velo is based here.
2^nd Walking: Bloomfield is a Walkers’ Paradise.

Best thing about hosting the G-20
1^st Publicity and exposure for our city: We had some of that.

Best Pittsburgh politician
2^nd Bill Peduto: Councilman for City Council District 8

Best of 2009 Staff Picks

Besides the readers’ poll results, City Paper staffers also choose “Best Of” winners of tomorrow — some of Pittsburgh’s best that readers may not yet know about, in categories that weren’t on the ballot. Each pick is explained in a short description that is worth reading, so click on the main categories for more information.

Culture + Nightlife Staff Picks

Best reinvention of a venue
Howlers Coyote Café

Food + Drink Staff Picks

Best food to come in both carnivorous and vegetarian forms
Thai Gourmet’s General Tso’s chicken/tofu

Congratulations to all of the Bloomfield businesses that were recognized this year. Maybe next year we’ll put together a Bloomfield ballot — what do you think?

Sign up today for a very special night out with Councilman Bill Peduto — Candide Neighborhood Night!

This Friday, November 20 join Councilman Peduto for dinner and the Quantum Theatre production Candide. Before the show, enjoy a dinner with Quantum Theatre’s artistic director Karla Boos, and Councilman Peduto at Cafe Sam, 5242 Baum Boulevard. Candide follows at 8 PM at the former Don Allen Auto City, 5315 Baum Boulevard.

Tickets are $32, and district residents receive a $5 discount for this event. Mention the Neighborhood Night discount when ordering by phone (412-394-3353) — tickets must be purchased in advance! Read more about Quantum Theatre’s production of Leonard Bernstein’s Candide here.

View the Cafe Sam menu for the pre-show dinner here.

This event is limited to 30 people — so make your reservation today! Please contact Jessica McCurdy at 412-255-2133 to reserve your spot!

Friday, November 20, 2009
5:45–11 PM

Cafe Sam
5242 Baum Boulevard
Pittsburgh, PA 15224

Former Don Allen Auto City
5315 Baum Boulevard
Pittsburgh, PA 15224

Tickets are $32, and district residents receive a $5 discount for this event.
Prix Fixe Dinner is $19.95 for ticket holders.

Bloomfield Events Calendar

Ever wonder about those cars parked at the Ella Street side of the ShurSave parking lot? Those are Zipcars, vehicles that can be rented by the hour or day. Zipcars are available in key cities and neighborhoods, and are used by business and personal drivers who prefer not to own their vehicles for a variety of economic, health and environmentally-conscious reasons. On the Zipcar website you can learn more, find cars and rates around Pittsburgh, and sign up for an account on their online reservation system.

Low-Car Diet

In 12 North American cities, Zipcar has launched The Low-Car Diet Challenge: “for 30 days, put down your keys, dust off your bike, trike or roller skates and find out what the Zipcar way of life is all about.” Check out the Low-Car Diet website to meet the participants and you will see that Pittsburgh has more volunteers than almost any other city, including one of our forward-thinking City Councilmen, Bill Peduto.

City Councilman Bill Peduto, right, takes the Zipcar Low-Car Diet Challenge.
Photo Copyright Michael Heater, Post-Gazette

Yesterday at a ceremony in Market Square, Peduto gave up the keys to his Mini Cooper to join 16 other Pittsburghers in taking this challenge. When I asked about his decision, Peduto explained:

I want to break my dependency with my car. This is a great opportunity to prove to myself that I don’t need a personal vehicle to get to everywhere I am going. I can utilize public transit, take out a Zipcar, get my lazy butt on a bike or even walk and get to the places I need to be. To me, this is a great opportunity to change my lifestyle to a more healthy, more environmentally-friendly and more cost efficient way of living.

Read more about Councilman Peduto and others who are taking that challenge in today’s Pittsburgh-Post Gazette article “City councilman among those giving Zipcar a whirl”.

The homegrown Pittsburgh web sitcom Something to Be Desired (or STBD to its fans) got some great news from the fine folks at Yahoo! this week. The show, a comedy about the ups and downs of life after college, is one of five nominees in the category of "Best Series" in the 2008 Yahoo! Video Awards—and now they need your help!

Online since 2003, STBD has produced more than 20 hours’ worth of original content. The show frequently features some of Pittsburgh’s finest restaurants, bars, businesses, landmarks and personalities—including a memorable political debate featuring City Councilman Bill Peduto during fictional character Rich Mathis’s ill-fated (and politically incorrect) write-in bid for mayor in the 2007 election. A season three episode filmed at Bloomfield’s own Grasso Roberto Café featured a cameo appearance by former owner Guy Peluso:

To see more of the series, visit the Something to Be Desired homepage, where you can catch up on five years’ worth of laughs, love and very bad decisions made by its colorful ensemble cast—nearly all of whom (including creator and producer Justin Kownacki) are Pittsburgh locals themselves.

Voting for the award is up to the public, so all five nominees have been rallying their fans and friends to spread the word. If you can spare a few mouse clicks to help vote a fellow Pittsburgh creation up the charts, vote for STBD in the 2008 Yahoo! Video Awards!