McMutrie Sisters There are two kinds of people in the world: those who when they see a need, talk about doing something to satisfy it, and those who roll up their sleeves and actually get to work. Pittsburgh sisters Jamie and Ali McMutrie are of the latter stock. For nearly 14 years, the McMutries, who hail from Ben Avon, have been working in Haiti to
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One of the best things about Pittsburgh is the generosity of the people living here. Below is a list of some local and national charities that are near and dear to the hearts of Pittsburghers as well as Popular Pittsburgh. Some of these charities have been founded by people just like you. Be sure to show your support, as advocating for them makes the world
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I didn’t grow up under a roller coaster, like Woody Allen’s character Alvy Singer in the movie Annie Hall, but I did grow up very close to one. I grew up in West View, the home of West View Amusement Park. I was a kid in the 1960’s and 1970’s, right before the park went into decline and closed. But even in its waning days,
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The motto of St. Benedict is “ora et labora”, Latin for “pray and work.” Benedict, the patron saint of Europe, was a monk who lived 1500 years ago. Born in Nursia, he was educated in nearby Rome, but soon became repulsed by the decadence he found there. Desiring to serve God, he retreated to the mountains at Subiaco, where he lived as a hermit. Several
Read the Full Article →I’ve always enjoyed my neighborhood. A few years ago, I began to notice many improvements within the area, and realized that the Brighton Heights Citizens Federation was largely behind them. The BHCF has impacted Brighton Heights in the same way that other good civic organizations have added value to the neighborhoods they represent. I decided to attend one of their monthly meetings to show my
Read the Full Article →The most striking aspect of the Flight 93 Memorial is how isolated and hauntingly quiet the crash site is. The stillness almost has a physical presence. Located 60 miles southeast of Pittsburgh in Stonycreek Township, near Shanksville, Pennsylvania, the memorial is an easy day trip from the city, and one that packs a profound emotional experience. The memorial is 20 miles from Exit 110, the
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From Poorhouse To Golfer’s Paradise: The Transformation of Woodville All that remains is a makeshift cemetery. The graves are abandoned, smothered by weeds and brush in summer, and buried by snow during winter. Tucked away in transitional space between one of Pittsburgh’s most upscale housing developments and the commercial/industrial area that supports it, there is one major gravestone, marking and commemorating the institution for what
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Pittsburgh’s Oakland neighborhood is the education center of the city. Each year thousands of students move into this area to attend one of the universities located there. Being a newcomer, or even a resident who hasn’t ventured to this area of the city recently, can be a bit overwhelming and disorienting. At Popular Pittsburgh we know how that feels. A few years ago, my husband
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Talk about makeovers! Pittsburgh’s North Shore, on the banks of the Allegheny and Ohio Rivers across the water from downtown Pittsburgh, is one of several areas in Pittsburgh that has undergone revitalization in recent years. In addition to cultural, historical, sporting, and recreational attractions, this area boasts some of the most beautiful views of the city. That says a lot, as this town is packed
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Here are ten favorite places to photograph, record or paint in Pittsburgh. In other words, the following are places that provide a great city view. A big part of its beauty started a long time ago when glaciers started cutting out the valley that the city was later built in. Was it a million years ago, 500,000 years ago or 250,000 years ago that this
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