Where the boys are

Who knew that in Lawrenceville's shops for girly girls, you could find a good man. After all, it's nice to have a man around the house. These guys won't take out the garbage, but they'll never leave a mess for you to clean up either.

You'll never get tired of this guy hanging around. Untitled by Greg Karkowski. $225 at Elements, 5171 Butler St.

There's nothing like a man in a suit. Tailor's prints from the 1920s. Several different prints to choose from, all with vivid colors that are just, er, dandy! About $80 each at Dandelions, 4108 Butler St.

Fall for the boyish charms of original art on wooden blocks by Mark Traughber. $35 each at Divertido, 3701 Butler St.

By the way, just like in real life, you'll have to be patient and look everywhere to find an interesting guy. All of these pieces were kept in the back of the shops!

Comic relief

What do you get when you mix the comic inventiveness of Whoopi Goldberg with the voice of Blossom Dearie? An evening's entertainment that will keep you wanting more. 

Pittsburgh native Meg Georgiana is a songwriter with a satirical sensibility that takes the mundane and turns it into a laugh-out-loud mini-drama. Accompanying herself on cello (or a ukelele), she has a seemingly limitless repertoire of thought-provoking songs: A dull job as a telemarketer becomes a commentary on unusual surnames. A menstrual cycle is a little monster. She even has flipped Mr. Rogers Neighborhood upside down. And when was the last time you heard a song (Sloppy 'n State Educated by Midge Crickett) that managed to mix Sartre and Camus with Evelyn Waugh, W. Somerset Maugham and an anatomy lesson?  

Meg performs as Midge Crickett, and with a group called Middle Children. You can catch her Friday night at the Waffle Shop, 124 S Highland Ave., when she appears as a guest on The Unemployment Show. It's at 11 p.m., and it's free!

Someday you can tell your friends you saw Meg/Midge before she landed a one-woman Broadway show and a sitcom in L.A.

Art's drawing room

It's a not uncommon fantasy: Many of us have daydreamed as we visited an art gallery, wondering what it would be like to stay behind after the doors closed to visitors. At the Louvre would you bed down in front of Mona? Camp out amid the ruins of the Parthenon at the British Museum? Dunk your feet in the pool of the inner peristyle at the Getty Villa in Malibu?

In A.S. Byatt's The Children's Book, a boy turns a gallery into his home. Mary Coleman has done the opposite: She's turned her home into a gallery.

If out-of-towners were to ask me what's the one thing they should see in Lawrenceville, I would say The Gallery on 43rd Street. It's our Versailles. A formerly private space made public. A glimpse into the past, chock-full of current treasures from Western Pennsylvania artists. And it's right in our own backyard.

Paintings by Dylan Critchfield-Sales are currently featured in the former, uh, drawing room.

The purity of his pictures, still lifes and portraits, complement the space. The floorboards, still  rough from when Coleman first moved in and ripped up the carpeting 17 years ago, let the 1881 house breathe. And Minnie the indoor cat, seen in the window at left, is keepin'  it real.

On the other side of the room, you'll find pit-fired pottery by Marlene Boyle. Her pinch pots are so organic they seem to have been created by Mother Nature herself.

Even the hallways are filled with art. I am very fond of the vases by Tracey Seder on the top left of the bookcase.

They remind me of Cycladic jars, an ancient find from an Aegean archaeological dig.

The walls of the hallway are lined with fine art, including Red Face, mixed media by West Virginia artist Robert Villamagna.

And a fruit series by Marian Sallade, who describes her work as "realistic impressionism."

The hallway opens up into what perhaps was the former dining room. Here you'll find all sorts of treasures, including small landscapes by plein air painter Ron Donoughe ...

sweet, hand-knitted baby sweaters by Helene Stokan ...

  ... and a fused glass window designed by Cyndy Mullen, that incorporates bits of bottles and stemware.

I never tire of The Gallery on 43rd Street. There are too many things to see on one visit. Besides, the exhibits change frequently. You never know what you might spy. Earrings made from bottle caps! Who needs Versailles?

The Gallery on 43rd Street
187 43rd Street
Pittsburgh, PA 15201

Open from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday.
412-683-6488
galleryon43rdstreet@yahoo.com

Warning: Dozen Is Addicting

Dozen has done it again.

They took one of my favorite salads -- the Southwestern, a mix of black beans, corn and red pepper -- and they wrapped it in pastry. Hosanna in the highest!

And it's vegan. I can enjoy it without any guilt whatsoever!

I would show you a picture of this lovely, little handmade pie, but I was too busy eating it.

If you haven't tried it yet, get thee to Dozen forthwith! Perfect for lunch or a light supper.

And I heard that the best invention ever -- the Margarita cupcake -- is being whipped up today/tomorrow. A hint of tequila and the salt on the frosting make the Margarita irresistible.

There should be a sign over the door at 3511 Butler Street: Beware, All Ye Who Enter Here -- Dozen Is Addicting.

The CD House

One of our favorite houses in L'Ville! These homeowners put their own spin on upcycling.

An ancient art steps into the future

O'Bannon Oriental Carpets in Lawrenceville just got a new shipment of rugs. Many are contemporary designs, some traditional. They'll make your eyes smile, your feet happy, and your wallet sigh with relief.

O'Bannon has a big deal for you on smaller rugs -- rugs 5 by 7 or smaller, like the ones at left. Ten to 50 percent off! Heck, for a lot of us in L'Ville, 5 by 7 is a room-size rug!

How small is smaller? O'Bannon even carries 1 by 1 foot rugs. 1 by 1! Aren't you dying to see what a 1 by 1 rug looks like?

As soon as you walk through O'Bannon's door (at 3803 Butler Street), you are greeted with a cheery hello! by owner Kristen Rockwell. If you were expecting a stuffy store staffed by overbearing sales people, well, fuhgeddaboudit!

You'll recognize Kristen by her trademark blue jeans, naturally curly hair and big smile. If you look up "laid back" or "easy-going" in the dictionary, I swear you'll find her picture. She's a weaver herself, with a wealth of knowledge about exotic locales and traditions.

A visit to O'Bannon's, you see, is a tour of ancient civilizations like Afghanistan, Persia and Tibet.

The Persian rug at left, woven by women with traditional methods in a modern motif, has so much movement in its design that the squares appear to be dancing. Reminiscent of Klimt. It's one of my favorites in the new shipment.

Another rug that I couldn't stop admiring was the "argyle" -- a rug that reminds me of Scotland, if Scotland had Kabul as its capital or Edinburgh overlooked the Persian Gulf. Argyle? Diamond? Diagonal stripes? Its colors and patterns have to be seen in person to really appreciate its vibrancy. Gray and other neutrals, uh, ground its design. The reds and blues make it soar. Oh, forgot to mention: This rug is about 4 by 6. Yes! That's right! It's on sale too!

Do you prefer solid colors? O'Bannon has a variety. Rugs of a single color but many moods. Colors as blue and restful as a Bishapur sky. Colors as earthy and watchful as the wine-dark sea.

Don't forget to wander downstairs where you'll find furniture and more contemporary designs.

The rustic Chinese bench, at left, is a piece so versatile it could be used in any room. A hall table. A side table. A skinny and snazzy coffee table in a narrow sitting room. A one-of-a-kind bedside table. You name it. Its rustic finish and simple lines make the perfect seasoning for modern decor.

At O'Bannon's, as you wander into the past, you'll take a leap into the future.

O'Bannon Oriental Carpets
3803 Butler Street
Pittsburgh PA 15201

Tue-Fri 11:00-6:00
Sat 11:00-5:00
or by appointment
412-621-0700
info@obannonrugs.com

What's for breakfast?

For residents of Lawrenceville, it's Christmas morning in June and Santa has arrived with fresh baguettes in his basket.

Customers started flocking to La Gourmandine as soon as it opened its doors at 7:30 this morning.

Yes, the baguettes are real flutes of fresh French bread. At only $1.95 per loaf, you'll want to get one to eat in the morning and one for dinner. 

The baguettes are the perfect size. Bread like this is meant to be enjoyed the very same day, not kept on a shelf or, god forbid, saved in a fridge or freezer.

La Gourmandine offers other breakfast items: Danish, cinnamon rolls and brioches. (About $1.50 each)

A real treat for Americans are chouquettes. Small pastry puffs dusted with sugar (seen at right), they are crisp and airy. A perfect bite or two or three to have with your morning coffee. (The chouquettes are 30 cents each.)

Gods and monsters on Butler Street

What men or gods are these? What maidens loth? What mad pursuit? What struggle to escape? What pipes and timbrels? What wild ecstasy?

At O'Bannon Oriental Carpets, art isn't just underfoot, it's outside.

They arrived on Saturday, a new shipment of garden statuary looking like ancient messengers trapped in concrete.

There's Atlas, above left, with the weight of the world on his shoulders for the rest of time. He's oblivious to the less-than-handsome Pan, above right, with his flute of seven reeds.

Look closer. Pan has a sly smile on his face. Does he still dream of chasing nymphs? Is the god of shepherds forever piping songs forever new?

Both Atlas and Pan have been "cast" in the role of telamones, columns or supports for a building sculpted in the shape of men.

Their architectural sister the caryatid, left, seems all too lifelike. She's not kidding around, is she. Would you call her gaze determined? Sullen? Is she playing hard to get?

These architectural elements are more than decorative objects for your garden. They tease us out of thought: They remind us of the importance of strength or endurance. 

In addition to large statuary, O'Bannon also has some smaller pieces to hang on a wall or place among your flower beds.

This plaque seems to be Medusa. You know the saying "if looks could kill"? Well, her looks could. In fact, it was she who caused Atlas' misfortune. One look at her head and Atlas was turned into a mountain, a mountain so high he seemed to be supporting the heavens.

Here they both are, endlessly repeating the ancient past in the little yard on Butler Street between O'Bannon and Coca Cafe. 

The garden statues can be viewed 24/7 at 3803 Butler Street in Lawrenceville.

O'Bannon Oriental Carpets

Tue-Fri 11:00-6:00
Sat 11:00-5:00
or by appointment
412-621-0700
info@obannonrugs.com

Bread lines

It's official!

Put away your plans for a Bread March on Versailles Butler Street. Owner and baker Fabien Moreau says that La Gourmandine will be selling baguettes and patisseries starting tomorrow morning at 7:30 a.m.

The bakery, located at 4605 Butler in Lawrenceville, will be open until 4:30 p.m.

Stay tuned for details. Your intrepid reporter will have a full report posted by Tuesday morning at 9 a.m.

The ultimate in fitness

You may not think it's possible, but in one hour you can travel from Japan to Brazil and land in Pittsburgh. How? By taking a martial arts class at Renzo Gracie Pittsburgh Academy in Lawrenceville.

Warren Stout, the fitness center's owner and instructor, carries on a tradition in jiu jitsu that was brought to Brazil by a Japanese judo expert in the early part of the last century. The Gracie family, a Brazilian clan of Scottish descent, turned the martial art into a sport.

"The Gracie family are technical and martial arts innovators," said Stout,  who was a championship wrestler at Lehigh University in Bethlehem, Penn. "Part of their genius was the way they have marketed the sport."

For the jobless, a chance to network

The simple act of writing a thank you note will help you stand out in a crowd of job applicants, said Jill Patterson, national account executive at Careerbuilder.com, at a forum held last night in Lawrenceville.

It was advice that Monica Greene will take away with her as she searches for a job in library science. Every seat at The Grey Box Theatre was filled with job seekers like Greene who were hoping to make one more connection at the event, sponsored by PUMP and PYP, two nonprofit groups that give young Pittsburgh professionals opportunities to network and get involved in their city.

Funny business

You can't stop smiling when you go to Divertido in Lawrenceville. One of the anchors of the rejuvenated Butler Street, it's the shop that never loses its sense of humor.

That's the plan, said owner Mary Ellen Gubanic, who likes to keep things fresh. She's always on the lookout at gift shows and online for something a little bit different.

Perhaps the best translation for Divertido, which is Spanish, would be whimsical. Like Disneyland, it's fun for all ages.

For the tiniest customer (and grandparents everywhere), there are onesies with attitude (top). For children over 5, you'll find puzzles based on classic stories like Peter Pan ($42, above). Made in the USA out of wood, the puzzles  make an instant heirloom.

You'll spin more than 33 rpm when you see the wide bracelet cuffs crafted from old vinyl records. (About $25)

Is Dad's wallet falling apart? Divertido has a Dynomighty solution just in time for Father's Day. Impossibly slender and incredibly lightweight, the wallets are made from Tyvek -- you know, that water-resistant and tear-resistant stuff used to make FedEx envelopes. You've got to hold the wallet in your hands to believe it. The material will naturally expand as Dad stashes away cash and credit cards. There are plenty of designs to choose from, like the homage to Warhol. These wallets aren't just for guys -- girls will love them too. Hey, this is the new millennium!

For her, there are linen scarves ($78). Sheer happiness!

Open since 2004, Divertido's merchandise is always evolving. It's kind of  like the charming guy who keeps you guessing. What will be in store next week?


Divertido

3701 Butler Street

Pittsburgh, PA 15201
412-687-3701

Want to let your dog run free?

Lawrenceville Dog Park.org, which is seeking to establish an enclosed off-leash area for our canine partners, has posted a survey online, and survey results from the 204 responses it has received so far.

Join the chorus seeking a place right in L'Ville for a pup playground. You have until June 16 to give them such insights as to how many pooches you have, whether they're big or small, and what kind of amenities you'd like to have in a dog park.

Minerva, my canine partner for life, is a big supporter of one of Lawrenceville Dog Park's primary aims: separate areas for small dogs and large dogs. Two paws up!

Aroma of fresh bread is right around the corner

The arrondisement of Lawrenceville has a treat in store. A new bakery is about to open at 4605 avenue Butler.

La Gourmandine will soon be rolled out by owner and pastry-maker Fabien Moreau, who trained at Lenôtre, the premier school of patisserie arts in Paris.

"We plan to serve traditional French baked goods. Different types of bread, the famous baguette of course, what we call 'Viennoiseries' (danishes) like croissants, brioches, pain au chocolat, pain au raisins," said Lisanne Lorin-Moreau, Fabien's wife. "Also pastries, chocolat éclairs, fruit tartes," anything you would expect at a French bakery, she added.

Patisserie is truly an art form. If I can measure out my life in espresso spoons, the experiences were made memorable by the perfect brioche in the morning or a lovely éclair in the afternoon.

Lawrenceville has longed for a bread bakery, but real brioches a few blocks away from me? A dream come true.

I now hike all the way to Enrico Biscotti in the Strip District to get a loaf of bread. No doubt Lawrenceville soon will become the destination for god's-honest patisseries.  

Get your kicks on Route 64

When I'm not shopping on Butler, my favorite place to go is Shadyside. It makes a nice walk with the dog. Or a great bike ride on a nice day.

Note: nice day. If Saturday or Sunday brings a thunderstorm -- frequent lightning strikes, an unpredictable deluge of rain -- biking is out. Walking all the way to Shadyside seems like an ordeal, and finding a place to park in Shadyside seems even harder. 

The Port Authority of Allegheny County has offered us an alternative. A new bus route. Destination Lawrenceville. The route from L' leads to the Waterfront. But what lies in between?

The Lawrenceville Vibe hopped aboard Bus 64 to find out.

Grazing, along Butler Street

I admit it. My dog is a beggar. And a schmoozer. And a flirt.

She's also hard-headed. Lately this has led to an interesting turn of events.

No longer does she want to walk by the river. Bunnies? Boring! Arsenal Park? Been there, she says, done that!

What is her preferred route these days? A stroll down Butler Street. It's a time-consuming -- and calorie counting -- exercise, I can assure you.

Minerva may be a mutt, but she's had a discerning palate since the day I met her -- at the pound. Concrete. Iron bars. Dry food. It's a wonder she survived.

In Lawrenceville, the cutting edge

For both men and women, it defines us. It's one of the most critical decisions we ever make in our lives. It's where we get our hair cut.

It's not our face we present to the world, it's our hair. It tells a stranger whether you play it safe, or seek attention.

Do you follow "Posh" trends, or are you  an individual?

Your hair stylist, of course, is more than someone who wields a pair of scissors. He is a father confessor, she's a therapist, who will interpret your desires and dreams with a few snips or waves of a blow dryer.

In fact, you can develop such a close bond with your stylist you'll stick with her for years. And when you do want to see someone else, it can feel like you're cheating.

For a community of Lawrenceville's size, we're on the cutting edge of hair design. In the poll on the right, tell us which hair salon in L'Ville has the kindest cut.

It's all Greek to me

Everybody say it with me: pah-STEET-see-oh. You'll want to make sure you know how to pronounce Pastitsio when you tell your friends about Lawrenceville's newest deli and takeout.

Pastitsio forms part of what has become a golden delta of eateries at Butler and 38th Street. It's next door to Round Corner Cantina and kitty corner from Piccolo Forno, which has just been knighted by Pittsburgh Magazine as one of the city's 25 best restaurants.

What the heck does Pastitsio mean? A pastitsio is a mixture: a baked pasta with seasoned meat, topped with white sauce and cheese. Looks like lasagna, tastes like pastitsio. It's that hint of cinnamon that you'll remember. In Greece, it's a comfort food.

As you can see from the menu (above), the deli serves a lot more than pastitsio. The menu will evolve, with different items each week, said  owner Stamatis L. Bournias, who is known as Matt.

The deli's interior is a bright space, with a few tables for those of us who can't wait to try some shrimp and feta, or a piece of baklava.

This week, Pastitsio will be open from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., but Matt plans to extend the hours soon.

And he already has plans for expansion -- outdoors. There's a lawn on the left side of Pastitsio that would be perfect for picnic tables, Matt said.

Get a little Greek. Who wants to cook on a warm night?


Pastitsio
3716 Butler Street
Phone: 412.586.7656
Fax: 412.586.7659

In memoriam

The Bird House

One of our favorite houses in Lawrenceville!

Many of us put out a bird feeder or a bird bath, but this house is a veritable urban wildlife sanctuary.


Although the homeowner has rescued many different kinds of birds, you will recognize her house by the humble pigeons who gather there.

Welcome to Lawrenceville! Hope you enjoy your stay-cation!

You don't need to go far to have fun
this weekend. Here's 36 hours in L'Ville:

Friday evening
8 p.m. What better way to start off a weekend in tribute to great Americans than at Queersburgh, an exploration of queerness at Espresso a Mano. I don't know whether Walt Whitman or Henry James or Langston Hughes or Tennessee Williams or Alice Walker will be discussed, but I hear America singing. You don't have to be a card-carrying member of the LGBT community to enjoy the smoothest espresso in town and thought-provoking poetry. Besides, aren't we all queer as folk?

11 p.m. Continue your discussion over cocktails on the patio at Tamari. Who can resist their filo-wrapped tiger shrimp?

Fair is fowl, and fowl is fair

Here's the scoop on Dozen's new coop.

One of Dozen's bakers is raising chickens at her Butler home. She has nine birds, some named after Dozen staff members.

The hens aren't producing yet, but Dozen is counting its chicken eggs before they're laid.

The bakery and cafe uses hundreds of eggs every week, said James Gray, Dozen's owner and L'Ville's unofficial ambassador. James expects to get only a small amount of eggs from these hens to use for select items. "All of our eggs do come from local sources, but that source is a larger producer," he said.

Will we see one of these cuties on the menu for, say, chicken pot pie? "NO!" James said. "Eggs only."

Whew!

Photo courtesy of James Gray

A note to readers

People have been asking me lately: What's the purpose of this blog?

The simple answer: It doesn't have a purpose.

This blog reflects my whims, my wanderings about Lawrenceville, my interests: I like to drink latte, and eat pastry and walk my dog and sometimes I do all three at once. I like to shop. I like to eat out. I love vintage anything. I love can't live without art or music or gardening or the latest news. I vote.

I am not affiliated with any official organization like Lawrenceville Corp. I am not buddies with any shop or restaurant owners. I'm not being paid by anybody to write this blog, and I'm not expecting to make any money from this blog. I'm a resident, and a fairly new resident at that, who has been trying to describe my new neighborhood to friends back in California. What started as emails to L.A. with photos of the River Walk has ended up as a blog.

It's as simple as that.

Tie me up! Tie me down!

You can tie me into any silky knot you want with one of these. The patterns recall the 1940s, or something you saw in an Almodóvar movie.

Found at Ambiance, 4735 Butler St. The ties here, located at the front of the store, run about $20 to $35. Ambiance, however, is a "shop with a purpose" -- proceeds benefit homeless women. In order to constantly make room for more merchandise, the prices go down week after week (and the clothes in the front move toward the rear of the store). Que bueno!

By the way, if you didn't catch Almodóvar's latest, Broken Embraces is now showing On Demand. Best movie I've seen in months.

Do you ask, or do you guess?

The theory runs that we are raised in one of two cultures. In Ask culture, people grow up believing they can ask for anything – a favour, a pay rise– fully realising the answer may be no. In Guess culture, by contrast, you avoid "putting a request into words unless you're pretty sure the answer will be yes… A key skill is putting out delicate feelers. If you do this with enough subtlety, you won't have to make the request directly; you'll get an offer. Even then, the offer may be genuine or pro forma; it takes yet more skill and delicacy to discern whether you should accept."

This Guardian columnist presumes that unpleasantness will occur when an Asker runs headlong into a Guesser. I don't believe that's true.

Just because an Asker wants to stay at the Guesser's house for a week, or wants a raise from the Guesser boss doesn't mean the Guesser has a problem turning him down. The Guesser may find the Asker's ask-iness amusing -- or even admire the Asker for his chutzpah.   

Sunday morning, praise the dawning

I've got a restless feeling. Looking for Elements? Your favorite vintage furnishings store has moved uptown, taking Butler Street's best-kept secret with it.

There's nothing like Sundays. Brunch at Coca, then browsing at Elements. But did you take a last sip of your latte this morning and leave Coca only to find that Elements was gone? Don't worry, it's not gone. It's just up Butler Street.

All day it has rained

All day it has rained, and we on the edge of the moors
Have sprawled in our bell-tents, moody and dull as boors,

Oh, what a world ...

. . . it seems we live in. 

 

Prints from the 1940s/50s. In original frames.

Makes any boy feel like picking up roses.

Found at Dandelions. About $17.99 each or $50 for all three.

Stay behind the line ...

Check out the winner of the 2010 Catlin Art Prize, which promotes emerging artists in the UK.

The judges felt the video/performance work, by 29-year-old Reynir Hutber, was "especially promising for its coherency and for placing the viewer within the piece itself."

Hutber's piece uses "looped video footage to make it appear that the viewer is within touching distance of the artist when in fact the installation space is empty. The impact of this strange encounter is a powerful one, and asks a loaded question for our televisual society: 'Are we responsible for what we watch?' "

The artist said his work was "broadly concerned with the devices through which social behaviour is coerced, monitored and evaluated. Rather than focus on the production of objects, I stage open-ended scenarios whose implications are ultimately determined by the audience’s response and interaction."

h/t The Independent 

What's smart and fashionable?

Voting.

The shop around the corner

Ever get the munchies late on Saturday night, say after midnight, and decide to make cookies or (cough) brownies? You've creamed the sugar with the butter and beaten the eggs when you discover you're out of flour? Will Shursave or Giant Eagle even be open?
Never fear! Lamont Gilmore is here! 

Awww! The family that plays together ...

Stays together. A polar bear cub and his mother frolic on the frozen water off the coast of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge in Alaska. / Photograph by Steven J. Kazlowski via the Daily Telegraph
Want to see the baby elephants dance?

Forget Venice

What makes a city the most livable?
Forbes used five criteria: unemployment, crime, income growth, the cost of living, and artistic and cultural opportunities. But the magazine left out the most important reason to call someplace home: It’s how it makes you feel. It’s a city’s vibe.