Category: <span>Places</span>

Published April 27, 2009 by

Foodie Heaven: Pittsburgh’s Strip District

PittsburghWhenever I return to a place I once lived–Hollywood, Amish country, or Andalusia–I know exactly where I’m going to eat. Visiting an old haunt and ordering a favorite dish–nothing fuels nostalgia more.

PittsburghLast weekend Mike asked me to join him in Pittsburgh for his college reunion but from the sound of it our meal at Primanti Brothers Restaurant was just as important as visiting the campus. Located in the Strip District, it’s a true Iron City establishment. What brought it to such fame? Massive sandwiches with vinegar coleslaw and French fries slapped between white bread. After eating there, I too love Pittsburgh that much more–but it wasn’t the heart-attack-of-a-sandwich that won me over, it was the world of food at the Strip District that already has me nostalgic.

It’s a mecca of markets, produce stands, butcher shops, bakeries, cafes, and ethnic groceries spanning the globe. Its no-frills charm and all-flavor offerings would bring me back daily if I lived remotely near here.

Pittsburgh
The Strip District has been Pittsburgh's meat and produce district since the mid-1800s and though a few trendy restaurants and clubs have moved in, the markets are still open and as raw as ever.

Pittsburgh
A few of the smaller produce markets are open to the public on Sundays. Here, I love that the sidewalk constitutes the majority of this store's real estate.

Pittsburgh
The Pennsylvania Macaroni Company is a deceptive name considering they sell nearly every gourmet food imaginable. It may have been my favorite spot on the Strip.
Pittsburgh
Their cheese, olive, and meat selection was beyond abundant and more than mouthwatering.
Pittsburgh
Regulars line up here to refill their own olive oil.

Pittsburgh

Pittsburgh
Down the street, Wholey's Fish Market makes western Pennsylvania feel like a waterfront village. They are incredibly proud of their fresh selection and display the daily catch accordingly. Vegetarians not advised.

Pittsburgh
Enrico Biscotti is one of the trendier spots on the block but their cute facade doesn't detract from their foodie cult status.
Pittsburgh
These pies looked ridiculously good. Next time I'm skipping Primanti's and going straight for dessert.

Places

eats Pennsylvania

Published December 9, 2008 by

Adventures in Holiday Decorating

christmas treeIn my hometown of Hollywood, Christmas trees come from parking lots. My family and I would go to Home Depot every holiday but now that I live in the East and am in love with a man from the Poconos, cut-your-own is the only option.

christmas tree
Because I'm the city girl, my Pocono counterparts made me cut down the tree.
christmas tree
We got a 14' tree for Mike's mom (we nearly broke the bale on that one) and an eight-foot tree for our Hoboken apartment.

The Neola Christmas Tree Farm turned out to be fantastic all-around. Not only was it a bargain at $25 a tree, but they let us have all the branches and logs we wanted for my various decorating schemes.

christmas tree
As quick solution for the front door, we hung a single branch with an ornament and it turned out to be a pretty cute alternative to a wreath.
christmas tree
Mike and I are getting ready for our house warming this weekend and decided to create a swag over the door with the rest of the branches.

treeThe tree is up (smelling better than any Home Depot pine) and ready for decoration. Since we only have a small smattering of ornaments, we’ve decided to lay out craft supplies at the party and fold ornament-making into the festivities. I’m sure it will be hysterically kitschy but in exchange for personal touches and genuine character, I wouldn’t want our first tree to be any other way.

Places Projects

decorating holidays

Published November 13, 2008 by

The Feisty Future of Design

hinges shaped like bugsWhen I was at the Interieur Design Biennale in Belgium, I did a few short blogs on all the new manufacturer introductions, but I’ve been saving the goods from the Young Designers Fair until today. Of all the things at this prestigious European furniture festival, these no-name designer prototypes were the things that impressed me most. The entering students and start-ups weren’t necessarily designing for mass appeal, for beauty, or even functionality; they were designing to shake things up. The call to entry was a search for a new creative process, an answer to current questions, and a source of motivation and inspiration through design.

Above is a hardware series by 28-year-old Johan Brunix that I simply adored. The hinges don’t move any differently than an average set, but by adding delicate wings, that movement becomes the flutter of a butterfly. From innovation that tips the scale to the small detail that makes you smile, the Young Designers Fair shows the future of design is in good hands.

Click here to see the winning designs and the future of furniture

Etc Places

Belgium designers Interieur

Published October 22, 2008 by

Why Belgian Design is Just That Good

Belgium_Antwerp_Square.jpgDuring a group lunch at Chez Fred in Antwerp with Interieur Designer of the Year Stephan Schöning, this topic came up: Why is there such great design in Belgium? The Belgians at the table mused about their history as the forefront of creativity in the Middle Ages and joked about their gloomy weather as source of productivity, but my reasoning? It’s the awe-inspiring cultural and governmental support for design across the country.

WinkelhaakDesignCenter.jpgEXHIBIT A: Winkelhaak Design Center
Twenty-seven start-up design firms occupy this Antwerp building and each is given a furnished office for four, conference rooms, gallery space, a marketing team, a secretary, and basic catering—for free. The only down payment they make is a commitment to improve their business and a promise to leave within five years. With this government-subsidized program, the average design team leaves within three years because their company has outgrown the space.

Be_DesignPlatfomrLimburgMembers.jpgEXHIBIT B: Design Platform Limburg

When the factories shut their doors in the mining town of Limburg and unemployment shot up, the community turned to design as a their salvation. With financing from Belgium and a Euregio (an organization of like-minded European regions) they founded Design Platform Limburg: a network of educators, financiers, marketers, and manufacturers especially created for young designers looking to launch their career. The town is now nationally recognized as a talent-breeding ground and design haven.

BE_SofieLachaert.jpgEXHIBIT C: Designer Give Back
On this trip we were introduced to a number of accomplished designers. I was inspired by the creativity in their work, but their humility and generosity impressed me the most. Fabiaan Van Severen who has an award-winning furniture line, also teaches design at four schools in Belgium. Sofie Lachaert, who designs for the ever-influential Dutch Droog, runs a gallery in Ghent where emerging talent gets the opportunity to present their work and get the necessary practical experience to succeed.

Belgium_Kortrijk.jpgEXHIBIT D: Interieur
On the surface Interieur might look like a trade show, but it’s a national festival of design. It is open to the public for ten days and families, schools, local companies, and designers of all talents will all attend. The biennale was advertised in each of the four cities I visited and truly celebrated by all.

Places

Belgium Interieur