The HPCC July 2020 newsletter is now available!

IN THIS ISSUE:

On Thursday, July 16, the HPCC hosted the Highland Park Community Development Corporation (HPCDC) at a special July Community Zoom Meeting.  The HPCDC has a long history of working to address blight and promote economic development in the neighborhood.  Below are the slides that they presented which highlight their past and ongoing work, including the most recent renovations on Bryant Street. The HPCDC described its efforts to fill its renovated properties on Bryant Street and to attract like-minded partners to complete the development of the two vacant parcels there, and discussed the possibility of providing space for County Magistrate Mikhail Pappas’ office in the open retail space next to Park Bruges. Information was provided about the anticipated impact of the court on parking (primarily weekday during business hours) and other Bryant Street businesses (weekday foot traffic from staff and court clients is expected to benefit existing restaurants and shops).  Magistrate Pappas described his vision for the court as a complementary addition to the street and neighborhood, and clarified that magistrate offices deal primarily with civil cases.

We have another great line-up this weekend. If you haven’t checked these performers out, I strongly recommend that you do so – that are a diverse and talented bunch! Bravo & thank you musicians!!! The map is attached.

Audience members: please remember to wear masks and stay at least six feet away from folks not from your household. If it rains, it’s up to musicians to make the call about performing – sorry that we don’t have the capacity to post updates about that.

Bassoon Brothers

951 Wellesley Road

Pittsburgh Symphony musicians David Sogg, Jim Rodgers, and Joe Merchant playing bassoon trios for you from across the ages.  You’ve never heard anything like it!  

Tania & Jeff Grubbs

1033 Portland St

The Grubbs are professional jazz musicians who comprise ⅔ of the Tania Grubbs Quintet.  https://taniagrubbs.com/

Christopher Shipton

5822 Bryant Street

Christopher will perform ambient experimental music using modular synthesizers.

Jonathan Callard & Friends

5811 Stanton Ave.

Jonathan is a professionally-trained vocalist who’ll be playing acoustic guitar & singing an eclectic mix from folk, pop, gospel, and other genres. http://www.jonathancallard.com/blog

Saul Straussman

1423 N. Euclid Ave.

Saul plays bass in The Pshrinks (a band that actually has several practicing psychiatrists, although Saul isn’t one of them) and also plays with the band Mid-life Crisis. He will be playing an assortment of blues, funk, rock, and pop tunes (and maybe one or two originals). 

Tami Fire

822 N. St. Clair St.

Tami, who plays kids songs and folk songs on guitar, will be celebrating Christmas in July this 

Funky Fly Project

Mellon & Bryant

The Funky Fly Project is a Jazz/Funk band featuring four talented young men who have all grown up in Pittsburgh’s East End.  Two are Highland Parkers and three of the boys got their start in music right here in the neighborhood at The Dilworth Traditional Academy.  The FFP have played music venues all over Pittsburgh and sometimes travel as far as Ohio, Chicago, and South Carolina.  weekend!  Drop by for a holiday sing-a-long!

Highland Park Mini Band

1112 N. Highland Ave.

Artists:  Deb and Jim Bogen + family

The Bogen family will be singing and performing eclectic music from traditional folk and gospel, to a real mix of band members’ favorites like Gillian Welch, Bob Dylan, and Lyle Lovett.  They will be playing uke, banjo, bass, and guitar.

The Highland Park Community Development Corporation (HPCDC) would like to update the neighborhood regarding the ongoing transformation of Bryant Street’s Commercial District. Longtime residents will appreciate the tremendous distance the street has come, but we all recognize that there is more work needed to complete the story.  The Highland Park Community Council is hosting this meeting together with the HPCDC. We look forward to the updates and welcome everyone’s feedback to help make the street even stronger. 

Meeting Details:

What: Joint HPCC and HPCDC Bryant St. Meeting

When: July 16, 2020 7:00 PM Eastern Time

You MUST register in advance for the meeting by clicking this link.  A telephone dial-in option will be available.

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.Agenda:

1. History of the Business District.  The HPCDC will provide a brief history of the business district, the grounding of the Bryant Street Vision in the 2004 Community Plan, and an overview of its work there.  Specific projects include:

• Available retail/food/office space in the newly restored 2-story building at 5802 Bryant St.;
• Marketing efforts underway for our two vacant parcels at 5804 and 5902 Bryant St.; and
• Possible relocation of the 31st District Magistrate’s Court, now located in Morningside, to Bryant St.  The Magistrate’s Court provides a range of important services to the residents of Highland Park, as well as to those in our surrounding neighborhoods.

2. Question and Answers.  Please post questions using the Chat Function so the moderator can keep the meeting running smoothly.

Eight amazing performances – including 2 new acts – are on tap for this weekend. Thank you musicians! Audience members, please remember to wear masks and stay at least 6 feet from folks who aren’t from your household.  The map is attached. 

New this week!

Funky Fly Project
The end of Browning, just off of Highland
The Funky Fly Project is a Jazz/Funk band featuring four talented young men who have all grown up in Pittsburgh’s East End. Two are Highland Parkers and three of the boys got their start in music right here in the neighborhood at The Dilworth Traditional Academy. The FFP have played music venues all over Pittsburgh and sometimes travel as far as Ohio, Chicago, and South Carolina.

Saul Straussman
1423 N. Euclid Ave.
Saul plays bass in The Pshrinks (a band that actually has several practicing psychiatrists, although Saul isn’t one of them) and also plays with the band Mid-life Crisis. He will be playing an assortment of blues, funk, rock, and pop tunes (and maybe one or two originals).

Returning favorites:

Roger Romero
Bryant Street across from Smiling Banana Leaf
Roger Romero is a professional musician, artist, composer and educator who will be performing on saxophone. www.rogerrafaelromero.com

Christopher Shipton
5822 Bryant Street (& next door to Roger Romero!)
Christopher will perform ambient experimental music using modular synthesizers.

Highland Park Mini Band
1112 N. Highland Ave.
Artists: Deb and Jim Bogen + family
The Bogen family will be singing and performing eclectic music from traditional folk and gospel, to a real mix of band members’ favorites like Gillian Welch, Bob Dylan, and Lyle Lovett. They will be playing uke, banjo, bass, and guitar.

Tania & Jeff Grubbs
1033 Portland St
The Grubbs are professional jazz musicians who comprise ⅔ of the Tania Grubbs Quintet. https://taniagrubbs.com/

Tami Fire
822 N. St. Clair St.
Tami will be playing kids songs and folk songs on guitar.

Jonathan Callard & Friends
5811 Stanton Ave.
Jonathan is a professionally-trained vocalist who’ll be playing acoustic guitar & singing an eclectic mix from folk, pop, gospel, and other genres. http://www.jonathancallard.com/blog