Toto Photo Comes to the 'Burgh This Weekend!

OK, if that absolutely amazing photo did not grab your attention and make you want to read the rest of this article then I think you might be a robot.

This gorgeous little thing is named Moujik, and the photograph was taken by Joanna Totolici, a high school friend of mine who has gone off to New York and gotten all famous on me. In typical "wow, Pittsburgh is a really small town" fashion, I ran into Joanna a few years back (at Target - of course!) when she was still living here in the 'Burgh. I always suspected that Joanna was probably one of the coolest people in my high school, and my suspicions were confirmed when, a few years later, some of her dog sessions found their way onto her facebook page. Believe me, capturing the personality of these dogs the way Joanna does takes some serious talent. There were no clothes wearing dogs, no dogs with props, just plain old glorious dogs, dignity intact. Wisely, Joanna has recently established Toto Photo, and as the site proclaims, "Toto Photo likes Dogs." Hey, guess what? So do I! Then, I learned that Joanna is planning a trip back to the 'Burgh for some very special, "just in time for Christmas" sessions. Now, if there are any members of my family reading this, I want to mention here that for those who love dogs, this would be a very good gift (nudge, nudge). This upcoming session prompted me to call Joanna and sit and beg for an interview, which being the very cool chick that she is, she graciously accepted

The first question I had for Joanna was one I had been dying to ask. It should be no surprise that I have taken millions of photos of my dogs, and without exception I get some crazy demon-eyed blur that is instantly deleted. My dogs are hyper. Crazy. INSANE! I would be just a tad humiliated to take them into a photography session. They would shake and tremble underneath my feet, and my Rat Terrier would growl like Cujo. How the heck does Joanna not only manage to capture such great photos of these dogs, but also gets them to perform like rock stars?

"High-strung dogs can be a challenge for sure, yet sometimes they yield the most interesting results! If they are wild and crazy, I like to capture them that way, just as they are. Sometimes bribing them with a treat or their favorite squeaky toy can help too, even if just for a millisecond! There are other secrets, and I could tell you, but then I’d have to bite you."

Note to self, bring lots of Greenies to a photography session with Joanna......

Before Joanna was a completely awesome photographer of canines, she turned the camera on human subjects, and firmly established herself as a fashion photographer. Don't be surprised to see her credited in the pages of some of your favorite magazines. In the most recent issue of Shady Ave, Joanna's photography is the highlight of a feature on 'Burghers and the dogs they love. So, what brought about the switch from 2-legged subjects to 4?

"I've always been completely CRAZY about dogs! But in the beginning I didn't want to be labeled as the pet / children photographer. I am not being snob about such work, it is just not who I am and what I do. It was important for me to establish myself as a fashion photographer and THEN introduce a modern, clean, and fun way to photograph and present the dog images. Slowly I got so caught up in fashion that I forgot about the dream of dog portraits.
I would often bring my dog with me to my photoshoots, and the models would always go crazy for her. Even the allergic ones. One day, on the set for a national campaign, our doggie walked in front of the camera, sat and crossed her long legs ever so lady-like. I couldn’t help but take a few images. That’s when TotoPhoto was reborn.
I'm glad I waited, as I feel I can deliver much better artwork now than from even three ago. In fact I am fashion photographer at all times: sometimes my models are human, sometimes they are not. But you can safely say the fur coats worn by doggies are the only ones that our studio, TotoPhoto, approves of."

As I mentioned before, Joanna is based primarily in New York, but will be traveling back to Pittsburgh as needed for work. I asked how she thinks the pet photography concept will translate here in the 'Burgh.

"Being in New York has been a great impetus. As ambitious about work as they are, New Yorkers are just as insane about dogs, for many of them have dogs as their surrogate children. Our concept of high end dog portraiture seems to be just what the doctor ordered. You'd be amazed at all the doggie play groups, spas, and "yappy hours" that occur here in New York. How often I'll be coming to Pittsburgh depends on how much the TotoPhoto concept will appeal, but we will be coming on regular basis, whether for doggies or other assignments."

Hey, I have Yappy Hour at my house every night! I think this is a call to action fellow dog owners!




The one thing I love almost as much as dogs is living in Pittsburgh. I asked Joanna to tell me what she misses the most about the city.

"I lived in Pittsburgh between 1992-2001 and then again from 2005-2008. First of all I miss my friends. I also miss the affordable living, the amount of space available, and also how easy it is to get from point A to point B. And restaurants like Spice Island, Pho Minh and Kelly's. If I could have TotoPhoto permanently in Pittsburgh, I would probably be the crazy dog lady."

Sorry Joanna, the crazy dog lady title has already been taken.

Now, get out the tissues folks! I wanted to know the most memorable session that Joanna has had with a dog, and this one is a heartwarmer!

"The most memorable session was when we photographed about 20 dogs for the Humane Society. Most of them were the shelter dogs, so it was especially tricky to get them to stay in front of the camera long enough to take a shot. They were 100% fireballs of energy ready to run around and meet people. A few others were rescues, owned by the very dedicated workers of WPA Humane Society. We have been told that one in particular, Maui, was slated to be put to sleep by her original owners. Not because she was aggressive, nor because she had some deadly disease. It was because her owners thought she was crazy. Now she is a certified therapy dog. Can you imagine? Of all the many sessions that followed since that, Maui’s story, cheerfulness and gentle demeanor stayed with us. Please adopt responsively, the WPA Humane Society can help you, and could use your help at the same time. http://www.wpahumane.com"

......and Joanna officially creeps up another notch on the cool scale with me!

Ready for your puppy's session with Joanna? Toto Photo will be in the 'Burgh this coming weekend! (December 5th and 6th). To book, you can email info@totophotony.com, or call 917-325-5465. There are many more adorable photos to view at the Toto Photo website, so be sure to stop by for a visit by clicking here. Go on, click here, that's it.....GOOD BOY!

Friday's Focus: Downtown Pittsburgh

Welcome to the first installment of Friday's Focus! Sorry, I have no Black Friday (or Cyber Monday for that matter) specials to offer you. Although, I will confess I am writing this on Thursday night with just the lingering little bit of hope that Best Buy made a terrible mistake, and that it was actually I who won their Black Friday VIP contest, so of course I will be very busy tomorrow......

Each week, I will choose a neighborhood of the 'Burgh to focus on. Of course if you would like, you can always follow me on Twitter (see that....over there.....to the right?) and suggest your favorite place! This week, what I consider to be one of Pittsburgh's newest neighborhoods: Downtown.

What? Downtown, you say? To many 'Burghers the idea of living in the City Proper is downright outlandish. No one lives in Downtown Pittsburgh! Well, according to the Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership, over 5000 people call it their home, and we should listen to them, as they are the experts on such matters......

No less than five years ago, you could head out for an evening in the city only to find the streets basically deserted. With the exception of those heading to dinner and the theater, there would be nary a soul in sight. Of course, the yearly traditions would bring out the droves (our Annual Light Up Night just celebrated its 49th anniversary!), but once the last firework popped, it was mass exodus back to the ''burbs.

I have always been of the opinion that, in order for a city to thrive, there needs to be those who call the core of the city home. Apparently, there were some developers with the same idea, and with an "if we build it, they will come" attitude, high rises began to sprout up from each nook and cranny of the great Three Rivers. Of course, there are those who came before, the grandaddies of Downtown Living, such as Chatham Towers, and Gateway Towers. But, there had been no new residential construction in almost 40 years! The vast majority of Pittsburgh peeps viewed Downtown Living as being for the eccentric, the out of touch. Now upon reflection, we have to admit that these early residents appear to be pioneers.

Of course, we struggled through the "Chicken or the Egg" scenario of deciding what to build first, the amenities for those who will live here (i.e. Grocery stores), or the housing for those who will use those amenities? In the end, we seem to have hashed all of that out, and Right By Nature proudly stands in the Strip District as one of the most hailed food stops in the city. Rosebud Fine Foods Market and Deli located on the corner of Seventh Avenue and Fort Duquesne makes a great stop for those hoping to find the fixings for a nice dinner at home.

One-Fifty-One First Side

And, what homes we can find Downtown! The first building to dip its toe into the residential waters was One-Fifty-One First Side. First Side towers over the Monongehela River, and was officially the first residential high-rise to be built in Downtown Pittsburgh in over 40 years. Then came the tax abatement! The City of Pittsburgh now offers a ten year tax abatement for up to $250,000 of your purchase price. There are many dimensions to this credit (for detailed information please click here to go to the Urban Redevelopment Authority's website) but suffice it to say this enticement caused residential construction to boom! Downtown focused buyers now have a plethora of options, including Piatt Place (for those who love being surrounded by Pittsburgh's stunning architecture), Keystone Lofts (chic, urban lofts. FYI - if you look too the right and give a little clicky - you will see that the remaining two units at Keystone are listed by yours truly!), 941 Penn (which sold out faster than you can blink), and The Residences at 3 PNC (located in the largest mixed-use future LEED certified building in the world). Each of these projects are vastly different, in style and price. Fortunately, that means there is something for everyone, and that, ladies and gentlemen, makes a neighborhood. Yes indeedy!

Keystone Lofts

The fun doesn't stop with just buyers though, the rental market in Downtown Pittsburgh is certainly seeing some life as of late. The Encore (above the aforementioned Rosebud Fine Foods), is a beautiful building with some first class apartments. The recently renovated Century Building in the Cultural District expects occupancy next summer, and The $5 Million dollar Market Square Renovation will also result in some architecturally significant rental units. To follow the Market Square renovation you can click here to go to their Blog!

Now, on any given day after five pm, you will see people flocking to McCormick and Schmick's for their famous Happy Hour specials, or lingering on Penn Avenue outside of Seviche. The bustle of the Cultural District, which is the hub for theater goers in the 'Burgh, has something going on almost every night, and the bi-annual Gallery Crawls have become a tradition for some. Businesses continue to move into Downtown Pittsburgh as the demand increases, and in fact one of my favorite locally owned businesses, Dozen Cupcakes, recently opened a Downtown location (which, being in close proximity to my Downtown office means I very rarely make it home without a little blue bag).

The daily hustle and bustle I am now surrounded by in Downtown Pittsburgh frequently makes me pause and smile, for it was my desire to educate people on the complete and total awesomeness of Downtown Living that brought me into Real Estate.

Yes, that's right, complete and total awesomeness. Which just about describes this cupcake I am about to drown my contest losing sorrows in......

Why Pittsburgh Wednesday - Warm Fuzzies

Why I am thankful that I landed in the 'Burgh:

I can start a blog and not only be accepted, but warmly embraced by the blogging community in Pittsburgh

It can be downright terrifying to put your words out there for all to see. My (many, many) moments of self-doubt, writers block and "does anyone really read this?" were washed away with the tremendous support and encouragement from other local bloggers. I was amazed, but should not have been surprised. It is emblematic of the larger 'Burgh mentality. We support our own. In endeavors large and small, we live in a City that bands together, and doesn't think twice about lending a helpful hand, encouraging word, or even a friendly smile to help you keep your head above water.

I can make a living doing what I love

So, I have mentioned I am a Real Estate agent, right? Seriously though, in most other cities this career choice would have been a disaster when the economy took a downturn. Thanks to stable property values and a low unemployment rate, I was able to continue to work steadily, and in fact found myself even busier this year than in those past!

I can be where I need to be in no more than 20 minutes flat

Downtown to my home in Shadyside? 15 minutes. Lawrenceville to the North Hills? 20 minutes. Highland Park to the South Side? 18 minutes. Yes, we have rush hour traffic like everyone else does, but I'll give you 3 weeks in the 'Burgh before you find no less than 4 alternative routes to work and back home again. In fact, I recommend seeking these routes out. One of my favorite stops, Artemis on Butler Street, I found because I took a new route Downtown. I also get better gas mileage with that route, since my wallet is much lighter when I leave.

Hockey

Three words: Stanley Cup Champions

I can find a good cupcake in almost any neighborhood

We have Dozen, who I think is working to open just that many bake shops in the city. There is the original Lawrenceville location, Squirrel Hill, Downtown, and their newest location in the Southside. Here in Shadyside, we have Vanilla Pastry Studio, who I think makes cupcakes look almost too pretty to eat, but I do anyway and they are delicious. In the North Side, Barkus Bakery puts little craters in the tops of their cupcakes and fills them with frosting. Yep, you had me at frosting. Of course, I would be remiss if I do not mention the Almond Torte from Prantl's on Walnut Street in Shadyside. It isn't a cupcake, but is so beloved by my family that they don't let me through the door on Thanksgiving without one in hand. In fact, if your timing is right you may run into me there tomorrow waiting in line!

Pittsburgh is making a huge effort to go Green, which makes me proud to call it home

We are getting ready to follow up hosting the G-20 with being host city for World Environment Day on June 5th 2010. We have over 33 LEED certified buildings in the city, and are still counting. 3 PNC will be the worlds largest mixed-use LEED certified building. The David L Lawrence Convention Center is the largest green convention center in the world, and is also LEED certified gold. There is a great grassroots green campaign here as well. With the Black and Gold City Goes Green website, participants can sign up online, and perform the monthly activity to help them "go green" on a smaller (but no less important) scale. There is so much more our city is doing, enough for an entire blog of its own. For more information, I recommend visiting the website for the Pittsburgh Chapter of the Green Building Alliance.



I could continue, but I don't want to take the thunder away from future "Why Pittsburgh Wednesday" installments. Stay tuned, this Friday will welcome "Friday's Focus", the newest feature of the 'Burgh living Blog, and there are some special treats lined up for December!



Have a Happy and safe Thanksgiving!

Change in Date and Time for the Children's Hospital Fundraiser

Some important information regarding the upcoming Chow Chow Children's Hospital Fundraiser!

The date and time have changed, and the event will now be held on Saturday, November 21st, at 5pm.

I hope that you are all still able to attend, and although I will not be present due to the time change, the Spoiled Dog Basket will be!

Spoiled Dog Basket

Here is the Supersized Spoiled Dog Basket that will be auctioned/raffled off at the Chow Chow event mentioned in my last post. It includes: Good Dog/Bad Dog Christmas Stocking, Extra Large Doggie Loofah Toy, Creme Brulee Dog Shampoo, Conditioner and Spray, Doggie drying Towel and 2 packages of Milk Bone All-Natural Soft Treats. It is packaged in a bone shaped food storage container that will hold about 10lbs of food.

I hope all of my dog loving 'Burghers will be able to attend and have a chance to go home with this basket! I am warning you - my yearly attempts to reclaim the basket as my own are aggressive, so bring your wallet! Remember that all of the proceeds from the Chow Chow benefit the Children's Hospital Free Care Fund.

Why Pittsburgh Wednesday: Because We Give Until it Hurts

There are volumes that I could write about the generosity of Pittsburghers. We are legendary for our selflessness and random acts of kindness. We who live here experience it so frequently, that it is something we take for granted. We assume that it is like this everywhere, and I can confirm, it most certainly is not. Pittsburgh is a growing city, yet we have managed to maintain a small town cheerfulness that permeates everything we do. From the small things - like actually letting that person take the "Pittsburgh Left Turn", even motioning them along with a wave and a smile. (for those of you not versed in the traffic speak of the 'Burgh - a "Pittsburgh Left Turn" is when someone in the opposing lane of traffic, hits the gas to take their left turn before the people going straight pass through the intersection). I can assure you, performance of a Pittsburgh Left Turn in any other city is truly taking your life in your hands.


Then, there is the "One Person Who Makes A Big Difference" category of Pittsburgher. My choice this year is fellow Pittsburgh Blogger Michelle (aka 'Burgh Baby), who thus far has raised over $2800.00 with her "Christmas Crazy" campaign to "help provide some kids with a little Christmas Magic". She did this because she is from Pittsburgh, and that is what we do. What does she get out of it? Nada - except for the warm fuzzy feeling of knowing that you are doing something that matters. If you would like to contribute to the Christmas Crazy fund, you can click here to go to the 'Burgh Baby blog.


Then, there are the unlimited number of companies who contribute to limitless charities all year long, raising millions of dollars because that small town generosity does not stop with the individual person.


Howard Hanna is one of those companies, and the Holiday Season is when the Choo Choo Chow Chow fundraiser for the Children's Hospital Free Care Fund is in full swing.

So, what's up with that name? You can ask, because when I first heard it I needed to know the story behind it. When Hoddy Hanna, Chairman and Chief Executive officer of Howard Hanna began the fundraiser 21 years ago, the idea was that each office would be a stop on the fundraising train (hence, "Choo Choo") and that each stop would offer food (hence, "Chow Chow). Now, the Chow Chows are held throughout the year, but primarily during the holiday months of November and December. They range from golf outings, to evening soirees and include delicious food, along with fabulous auctions and raffles. All of the proceeds benefit the Free Care Fund, and the company has raised nearly $5.5 Million over the last 20 years.

My office is holding their annual Chow Chow at the Sunnyledge Boutique Hotel and Tea Room in Shadyside, this Friday, November 20th at 7pm. There will be some wonderful food courtesy of the Rivers Club, and of course some great auctions. I know you want to bid on my Spoiled Dog Basket! (details are forthcoming)

Tickets are $25, are available at the door, and include food, beer, wine and vodka drinks. You will also receive two tickets for entry into the annual car giveaway. This year's car is a 2010 Jeep Liberty 4X4! If you can't attend the event, raffle tickets for the car are still available. Please contact me!

Also, if you would like information on your neighborhood's Chow Chow fundraiser, please visit the Howard Hanna website for more information.

Everyone Loves a Makeover

You like?

Welcome to the new face of the 'Burgh Living blog. My new banner photo is fresh off the presses, taken just this afternoon from a perch high upon Mount Washington close to the West End. In case you are curious, here are a few photos that did not make the cut:

Yeah, that last one I can barely bear to look at, given that it was taken during what turned out to be a very disappointing loss to the Bengals....I figured it would be flat out bad juju to look at that everyday.

Please enjoy the new format. New features are to come! I will of course be continuing the weekly "Why Pittsburgh Wednesday" segment, but a new weekly feature will premier this Friday, so stay tuned!

Why Pittsburgh Wednesday: Road Trip Edition

Who doesn't need a good road trip every once in a while and for anyone considering relocating here, you should know that this is the area for some of the best. One of the truly fabulous things a Pittsburgh resident can do in the fall months, is take a short trip up I79, and visit some wineries. I had just such an opportunity this past weekend, when the weather was so amazing. We are so very close to some really amazing places, and every thriving city resident needs a good escape route every now and then. Fortunately for us, that escape can take place as an uber-relaxing day trip. It might not be Napa Valley, but it was perfect for us!



I am, as I have mentioned before, from a place up north that may as well be Canada (hence my love of all things hockey). Mom and Dad are still there, and when they gave us a ring on Friday night and said - "Hey, wanna come up and look at some art and drink some wine", well, who were we to decline!

Specifically, our trip took us first to Campbells Pottery in Edinboro, PA, which is minutes from my old stomping grounds, but only about an hour and forty-five from the 'Burgh. Campbells Pottery is primarily a first-rate gift shop of handmade local and national crafts, specializing in, you guessed it, pottery. In what appears to be an architectural marvel of a barn, there is, on the lower level, The Stonewall Art Gallery. On this day works from three local artists; Lainie Addessi, Victoria Brogden and Deborah Sementelli, were on display. It was some captivating work, and if I would have had a spare $225, or done a better job of the big eyes and trembling chin thing with the BF, would have left with a very cool photo collage of the Kohler Brewery (an Erie landmark), by Brogden. I call it a photo collage, but I am not an artist and I am quite sure that it was much more than just that, so my apologies to Brogden!

Heaven forbid I should enter a gift shop without leaving with something, so a Murano Glass little penguin would have to do. He now sits in front of my TV as good luck. I named him Max. get it?

Another short drive from Edinboro to Northeast, PA would bring us to the tail end of a wine tour (the rest of our tour got an early start). We managed to make two stops of note. The first was the well known Mazza Vineyards. We sampled some pretty good stuff, or at least my very amateur palate thought so, and left with a bottle of "Reflections", a white blend. I also recommend the Cabernet Franc, a spicy red that would be the perfect accompaniment for Holiday Dinner.


Our last stop was primarily impressive for the gorgeous interior. Quincy Cellars, actually located right over the border in New York State, was just prepping for what appeared to be a rehearsal dinner as we arrived, but they certainly did not make us feel rushed. As we sampled away and took in the vaulted ceilings and stonework, I noticed that they also featured an impressive menu, and made mental note to do my best to find an excuse to have an event here. Niagara wines can sometimes be unbearably sweet (I have sampled some in the past that taste just like liquid grape jelly), but the "Chancellor" here hit all of the right notes.







I am sad our day of art and wine has ended, but it is always great to land back in the 'Burgh!





Want to take our trip?
For more information on Campbells Pottery and the Stonewall Gallery please click here.
For more information on Mazza Vineyards please click here, and.........
For more information on Quincy Cellars, yep, click here.

Why Pittsburgh Warm-Up

Not that we have really needed a warm up lately! This weekend was absolutely spectacular (perfect for a road trip - hint,hint as to tomorrow's post!).
I have always needed the changing seasons. I could not imagine myself living in a city that was had the same weather all the time, no matter how spectacular that weather may be. This time of year should be crisp and cool. Time to break out the cool weather wardrobe and start planning holiday parties. Time to freeze your you know what off hiking the hill to Mellon Arena. Time to put on the doggies little red sweaters and take endless pictures of them, because they look so silly (but still very, very cute)

Just when I am getting tired of summer (read: when I am getting tired of gardening - which I am very bad at), the weather turns a little cooler and the leaves begin to fall. Fall is hands down my favorite season here, and it is certainly the prettiest. No matter where you live, chances of you being surrounded by gorgeous fall foliage is pretty good. I'll even take raking leaves (which I am also very bad at).

Here is a great little toasty warm drink to whip up for your next soiree. We had this when giving out candy during our Great Halloween Fail, and it made the whole thing much more bearable.



Hot-Buttered Rum Cider:

You will need:
5 Tea Bags (I use Celestial Season's Bengal Spice, but any spice tea will do)
5 Cups of Water
1/2 Gallon of Cider
1 tsp Ground Cinnamon*
1 tsp Ground Cloves*
Light Rum (to taste - I usually use 1/2 shot per serving)
Butter
Cinnamon Sticks

• Bring 5 cups of water to boil in a large pot.
• Add the 5 tea bags and reduce to a simmer for appx. 5 minutes.
• Remove tea bags, and add ground cinnamon, cider, and rum.
• Turn up heat and bring mixture to a rolling boil for 5 minutes
• Reduce mixture to a simmer, on very low heat. (the longer it simmers, the yummier it is. I have left it on the stove almost all day)

To Serve:

• place a small pat of butter in the bottom of a large mug (I know - it sounded a little gross at first to me too, but trust me, this is the most important step to deliciousness)
• pour in mixture
• Garnish with cinnamon stick (so you look all fancy)

*I use ground cinnamon and cloves because I live with someone who has an aversion to things floating in their drink. More power to ya if you want to use cinnamon sticks and whole cloves in place of the ground

It's Official! Homebuyer Tax Credit Extension (and Expansion!) Signed into Law

So, just a little FYI, I am a real estate agent. Have I mentioned that yet?

Anyway, as a real estate agent, I would be remiss to not contribute to the buzz of the last few weeks regarding the First Time Homebuyer Tax Credit and its extension. Pretty much up until this point most discussion was speculation, even though it did appear to be a slam dunk as of yesterday, as to whether the extension would actually be signed into law, and what the expansion of the bill would include.
So, with the President's seal of approval occurring today, here is what potential homebuyers should be getting excited about.

The First Time Homebuyer tax credit of $8000 has been extended, with homebuyers who close on a purchase between December 1st 2009 and June 30th 2010, and who have not owned a home in the last three years, receiving the credit. The small catch here is that a negotiated and signed offer must be in place no later than April 30th, 2010. That extra 60 days is to give the last minute charlies time to close!

Now, here is the very cool part! If you are a current homeowner, and have lived in your home for at least 5 years, you too could be eligible for for a credit of up to $6500 with the purchase of a new home. So, if you have have a the lingering feeling that it is time for a move, that feeling should be banging on your front door right now! Along with me, listing paperwork in hand. Just kidding, sort of.

Other details include an increase in the income limits for qualification for the credit, as well as some anti-fraud measures. (and boooo-hisssss to all of those who committed the fraud to cause these measures to be necessary!)

Now, did I mention I am a real estate agent. I did? OK - that means I am not an accountant, and to get the details on exactly what you can qualify for, you should discuss your options with your accountant before making any decisions.

Now lets get moving!!!

Why Pittsburgh Wednesday - I Can See Here From My House!

As a Real Estate Agent in Pittsburgh, I have had the good fortune to have some listings that feature pretty spectacular views. In fact, it is not uncommon if you live in the city, to be able to appreciate our terrain right from the comfort of your living room!

The topography of Pittsburgh isn't just a challenge that new 'Burgh drivers have to master, it is something that provides the exclamation point to the city. When my commute used to take me through the Fort Pitt tunnel back into the city on my way home, I would time music to crescendo as soon as I burst through the exit and was greeted by the rivers and bridges that surround the city. Yep, totally geeked out on that. Of course, this was PittsburghViews 101; views for rookies. Since then my appreciation has blossomed, and I have had the opportunity to take in the city from some more unexpected locations.

POLISH HILL:

These photos were taken from the roof of a multiunit building I have listed in Polish Hill. I was excited to list this building because of the interesting history of the area (you can click here for more information), but was shocked when I took the spiral staircase to the roof, and was greeted with this panoramic view of Pittsburgh's East neighborhoods.

SOUTH SIDE SLOPES:

I knew the Slopes were known for some pretty spectacular views, but this image was taken from one of my listings that features a two-tiered deck to take it all in (more information here). Some of the homes here actually have views from their basement windows! Here you can see from Downtown Pittsburgh, across the Southside Flats and into Oakland (including the Cathedral of learning off in the distance)

This photo was also taken in the Slopes, from a listing that has since sold. I was very taken by how pretty the lights coming on in the flats look as dusk overtakes the city.

DOWNTOWN PITTSBURGH

Downtown Pittsburgh is a relatively new neighborhood. Although there have been places to live Downtown for nearly 50 years, it has recently seen a revitalization in construction, and many new and very cool opportunities for housing have become available. This is a view from the living room of a Unit at 151 First Side.

A city with a view, another answer to "Why Pittsburgh?"

Halloween Fail *sigh*

Back home, Halloween was a big deal. Mom would decorate the front yard like an old Salem witches' graveyard, we would dress up, and polish off a bottle of Kahlua together while passing out candy to the kiddies. By kiddies I mean hoards, loads, reeeeee-diculous amounts of kids. Dad running out for a mid trick-or-treating candy run was not unheard of.

I want nothing more than to relive this experience in my own home, but here in these parts we are notorious for a lack of Trick-or-Treaters and for people locking their doors up tight and vacating the neighborhood for more fruitful Halloween gatherings. This is what I have done for the last four years, but this year, whatever got into me - I am not sure. I put aside my doubts, and (to my BF's horror) dug out the Halloween decorations and set out to make a Happy Halloween darnnit.

I should insert here that I am the Mary Tyler Moore of party and event planning. The best of intentions go in , but the outcome generally leaves less to be desired. There was the epic fail of a pet party, the cramped Superbowl party, and on and on. It is so bad, BF winces every time the word "party" comes out of my mouth. Regardless, I forge on, this time filling up a basket full of candy (enough to feed the entire city of Pittsburgh, let alone the few that come to our door), whipped up a batch of the finest (spiked natch) cider, and cooking up a delish pot roast for the neighbors and us to enjoy during the joint candy-giving mission.

We had 7 kids.

Well - there is always next year.