Happenings in Pittsburgh!! (Philadelphia, Liberty: insurance, casinos, legal)

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The UPMC name is definitely going up on the US Steel building! They have UP C up on one face and it's hilarious to see the GIANT letters taking up an ENTIRE road next to the building. I wonder how long they think it'll take, I bet city traffic is a real pain in the mornings right now.

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This is such a neat idea!! Pittsburgh is in a hockey FRENZY. I've even read articles that claim that hockey could overtake football in terms of fan-base in this town if they continue to do well (which I would find hard to believe).

But ANYWAY, they are opening the Civic Arena for two away games!! There has been such a huge attendance (several thousands people per game) who picnic and watch the games outside of the arena that they are now going to open it up during away games!

Admission is 5 bucks and the concession stands will be open. All proceeds will go to the Mario Lemieux Foundation for cancer and neonatal research!

The games will be broadcast on the arena's Jumbotron. Seating will be general admission at $5. Concession and souvenir stands will be open. Tickets will go on sale on today at 10 a.m., available online at www.ticketmaster.com and the Mellon Arena's gate one box office. The team said all proceeds will go to the Mario Lemieux Foundation for cancer and neonatal research.

Fans can watch road Cup games at Mellon Arena

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UPMC Children's Hospital ranked 10th out of 113 hospitals according to this years U.S. News & World Report "Americas Best Children's Hospitals."

This is an increase from 13th place last year. I anticipate once the new facility opens, Children's in Pittsburgh will leap further to the top as the facility is poised to be the one of the most impressive Children's Hospital facilities in the world. Of special note is that Pennsylvania contains two of the top 10 Children's Hospitals in the country, including the number 1 spot, Children's of Philadelphia.

Just something else I happened to notice, 5 out of the top 10 Children's Hospital were located within the greater Tri-State region, including 2 in Pennsylvania, 2 in Ohio, and 1 in Maryland.

Best Children's Hospitals - US News and World Report

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American Style Magazine ranks Pittsburgh in third place for mid-sized American cities list of top arts destination.

“I love Pittsburgh’s funky-friendly vibe,” wrote AmericanStyle reader Bibi Hahn, of Berkeley Springs, W.Va. “Pittsburgh has several neighborhoods reinventing themselves,” added Pittsburgh resident Rob Latta.

AmericanStyle Magazine Art Magazine, Art Galleries, Art Collectors, Art Museums, Art Fairs, Handmade Crafts, Arts Travel

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Here are two fantastic residential projects that are in full-swing now in up-and-coming neighborhoods. Both links have a picture!

Glass Making Groundbreaking signals start of $6.4M green condo project

An artistically auspicious groundbreaking will signal the start of the much-anticipated Glass Lofts project planned for the Penn Avenue Arts District.

Located across the street from Pittsburgh Glass Center, the $6.4 million green mixed-use development will feature 18 for-sale lofts, a 3,200-square-foot restaurant, artist studios, and 1,200-square-feet of office space.

$7M Y Lofts project debuts model unit, pre-sales info in Pittsburgh's East Liberty

The $7 million Y Lofts will feature 40 units ranging in size from 700 to 1,500 square feet. First-floor retail space is expected to house a restaurant, coffee bar and fitness center. Amenities will include a roof deck, underground parking, dog washing station, and bike storage.

Green design features include low VOC materials, high-efficiency HVAC systems, low flow plumbing fixtures, and Energy Star appliances. Demolition material will be recycled for structural fill and salvable building materials will be recycled by Construction Junction.

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Pitt and CMU are astounding the world again. Scientists from the schools have implanted tiny sensors in monkey brains that allow the monkeys to control mechanical arms with just their thoughts.

Two monkeys with tiny sensors in their brains have learned to control a mechanical arm with just their thoughts, using it to reach for and grab food and even to adjust for the size and stickiness of morsels when necessary, scientists reported on Wednesday.

The report, released online by the journal Nature, is the most striking demonstration to date of brain-machine interface technology.

The New York Times - Monkeys Think, Moving Artificial Arm as Own

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A surprising and new city council proposal (which has thus far not caused any surmountable negative reaction) will broaden the relationship boundaries and give domestic partnership status to cohabitating families (including same-sex couples). The proposal was modeled after similiar acts that were passed in Seattle and Philadelphia.

Any two housemates could apply -- as long as they aren't married, related or already in a domestic partnership, according to the proposal Kraus introduced Tuesday. People must be 18 and sign a "declaration of mutual commitment" that states the couple are in a "committed relationship" in which they "are jointly responsible to each other for the necessities of life."

Widely defined relationships ease boundaries - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

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Originally Posted by guylocke

A surprising and new city council proposal (which has thus far not caused any surmountable negative reaction) will broaden the relationship boundaries and give domestic partnership status to cohabitating families (including same-sex couples). The proposal was modeled after similiar acts that were passed in Seattle and Philadelphia.



Widely defined relationships ease boundaries - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

Wow, cool! I approve...

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For those of you who may have missed it (how could you?), as of this past week, smoking is now banned in nearly all public spaces across the state. There are a few stipulations that you can find listed elsewhere. I know smoking will still be permitted in I believe 50% of Casino space, bars that attribute less than 20% of their sales in food, private clubs, and in no more than 25% of hotel room space.

Smoking ban becomes law in Pa. - UPI.com

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Pittsburgh's economic report card for this past quarter is fairly good despite modest growth.

Currently, Pittsburgh job growth EXCEEDS the national average.

Pittsburgh housing has remained stable and our foreclosure rate is currently 86th out of 100 cities that are tracked. Pittsburgh housing appreciation is also currently EXCEEDING the national average.

Pittsburgh's economic stress index is currently BELOW the national average which has been attributed to a stable economy and the avoidance of a boom-bust cycle (been there, done that!).

Other than that, the forecast outlines many projects in the region and the revitalization of downtown and Pittsburgh is poised to be a "solid performer" in 2008.

It wasn't ALL good news (we can't have THAT now can we, I think of few of our regular posters would be slitting their wrists in their bathrooms). Pittsburgh still trails the national average in terms of income growth and the Pittsburgh office space demand has cooled off but has not become "cold," as the article mentions.

Kudos to slow-and-steady Pittsburgh. I think Pittsburgh will continue to turn-around at a modest pace but I think that is the right way to do it and experience it.

Pittsburgh Economics/PNC