Driving the 'Burgh - Episode 5: Master Planning

As we take a whirlwind tour of Bloomfield (and sport some insanely red lipstick), I talk about two important new websites for Pittsburgh.  PGHSNAP is the data set being used as part of PLANPGH, Pittsburgh's first comprehensive master plan for the city, and Kidsburgh, which is a piece of another master plan for making Pittsburgh the greatest place in the world for kids! 
Oh yeah, and of course there is also a little talk of the brand new PPM Realty Blog, which is part of my master plan to be the best Social Media Director my company has ever had!  Well, I am the only Social Media Director my company has ever had......and I would kinda like to keep it that way. So, please give it a little love by visiting when we launch April 1st!
Enjoy!



Links from this Episode:

PGHSNAP
PLANPGH
Kidsburgh
Pop City Media
PUMP
Pittsburgh Sports League
PPM Realty Blog

Oh, Snap. Pittsburgh Gets a Master Plan

One of the challenges of being a Real Estate Agent in the 'Burgh, is that you need to have the equivalent of a PhD. in "'Burgh Neighborhood Logic".  It isn't an easy degree to get.  Classes incude: "Shortcuts to Downtown Pittsburgh 101", "Mount Washington vs. your Navigation System", and the always popular "How Many Neighborhoods Fit in One Zip Code".  I suppose, at the risk of taking this analogy just a little too far, you could consider 'Burgh Living my thesis.Understanding the 'Burgh and its neighborhood eccentricities is my obsession.  So, this weekend, when an attendee of my Sunday open house pointed me in the direction of an "online course" (I know, WAY too far), I have to say I was a little shocked and embarrassed to admit that I hadn't known about it before.
PGHSNAP and PGHGIS are two ways you can wrap your mind around the 90 distinct neighborhoods that make up the city of Pittsburgh.  PGHSNAP can be thought of as a "Snapshot" of data for each neighborhood, easily accessible to users through a download from the website.  PGHGIS stands for Geographic Information System, and can be launched directly from the site, providing the user with an interactive city map.  All of this leads up to PLANPGH; Pittsburgh's first ever Comprehensive Plan. 
This evening, I will be attending a presentation/networking event (thank you PUMP!), that will lay out the plan, and discuss and explore these two websites in more detail.  The PPM Realty Blog (launching April first), will report back to you on what I learn, and how these two sites can put your "'Burgh Education" on the fast track. (OK, I'll stop).

'Burgh Watching Episode 1 - The Remix

Just in case you missed it the first time around, our premier episode of 'Burgh Watching has had a bit of a facelift with a few re-edits.  Oh, look. It's right here.  How convenient.........

Behind the Makeup

Now that I have given you some time to digest that little tidbit that was 'Burgh Watching Episode 2, I thought you may like to learn a little more about the creator of Francis Rocks, and the producer of Web series "The Weakness".
Once she was back in her "street clothes", so to speak, I had a chance to chat with Lauren Zito, the person behind those enigmatic Vampires....


Tell me about how the idea developed for "The Weakness"
Interesting story. It started about 3 years ago. I started exploring the world of YouTube videos. I had connected with several people on that site and we started a fun little community of sharing videos. Sort of like blogs only they called them "vlogs". It was sort of (and still is) a YouTube tradition to do a lip sync video. I thought it would be a challenge to do a lip sync video to a song by a German metal band, Rammstein. I chose the song, Stirb nicht vor mir (Don't die before I do) by Rammstein. It is currently still on You Tube with over 150,000 views. It can be viewed here. People really liked the video, thought it was pretty fun. One of my friends on You Tube thought the idea could be developed into a longer story. The idea of a captured, tortured vampire wondering the fate of his human love. I grabbed onto the idea and ran with it.

Tell me a little bit about how the series has developed and your growing following!
We have made many technical and artistic improvements. The original lip sync video was shot with a tiny flip camera and edited on iMovie. We then pruchased a consumer grade video camera, shooting it all in 30 frames a minute. By Episode 3, we upgraded more equipment, shooting in 24 frame a minute but still in SD format. It wasn't until episode 2 of season 3 did we move up to the HD format. We have brought many characters into the fold, some have stayed and some have left, but we have worked hard assembling and getting our troupe a tight little team. We work extensively to try and get the word out there for our series. Because our episodes are longer more tv style lengths. (about 20 minutes), its often hard to keep up with the story. So we maintain a facebook page, a You Tube page and have the episodes available for download on ITunes. Our next goal is local Pittsburgh Marketing. Perhaps a premeir or two this year at local galleries and to get some press through the local alternative publications.

Any spoilers for future episodes?
I can give a few. Look for some big and catastrophic changes to happen with the Bishop's inner circle, especially with Father Michael. Soon, all will be revealed with Quinn's past and his mysterious man that keeps harrassing him, and look for the return of a character thought lost.

What's on your plate for future and current projects with "Francis Rocks"
When not doing the Weakness, we are looking into more Book Trailers. We had a lot of fun doing Box of Lies and hope to do more. We have Mark LaFlammes next trailer currently in pre-production.

Why do you think projects like this work so well in Pittsburgh?
Oh, many reasons. Pittsburgh can look like so many places. Between the neighborhoods changing look from one to the next, and being very close to rural areas without a whole lot of "urban sprawl" that other cities get. One neighborhoold could look like and old European grotto and another can look like bright shiny modern Toronto. So diverse! All this at a much more managable cost. We have been able to mimic many places around the world and various times in history.

"Why Pittsburgh?" for you personally?
I had initially left the city "undefined", but as time went on, I felt like I neede to put this story in a place and let this place be Pittsburgh. Its in the middle of everything geographically and lends its percieved gritty feel to the story. Also, as Zhan said himself, "averages 45 sunny days a year". Not bad for vampires.

Burgh Watching Episode 2: Interview With a Vampire

The strings I had to pull to land this interview!
Fair warning: there is a little more "blood and guts" in this video than you may be used to seeing on the 'Burgh Living Blog, but I was interviewing a vampire after all.  Sheesh!

Where to Go? What to Do? Get Some Help From Wawadoo!

Tim Kern and Chris Allen of Wawadoo

Sorry, I went a little Dr Seuss on you.  OK, I'll stop.

Scene: A Friday evening in the 'Burgh Living household.  She Who Writes 'Burgh Living and her BF are in the family living room.

BF: So, what should we do tonight?
BL: I dunno, what do you feel like doing?
BF: I dunno.

A silence takes over the room.  After a few minutes, a "click" is heard as the TV turns on, and the dog sighs happily as she settles in on the couch for the evening.

This is a scene that happens all to often around here.  Pretty sad, especially considering I scour my sources in search of new and interesting things for you to do in the 'Burgh.  There is a ton going on in the city on any given weekend, but the question isn't "What can I do?", it's "What do I feel like doing?".

Enter Wawadoo.  A name I could say over and over and over.

WHO?WADOO

Thanks to Alphalab, self-described as "Pittsburgh's Startup Accelerator", Houstonites (Houstonians? No matter, they're 'Burghers now!) Tim Kern and Chris Allen made the trip to the City of Champions on January 1st of this year.  Literally, New Year's Day.  "It was a pretty low-key New Year's eve", says Tim.  The duo are long-time buds, and both have an impressive resume that belies their youth.  Tim majored in Entrepreneurship at the University of Houston, home to the top program in the country, and then launched a career in Freelance Internet  Marketing.  Chris, a self-taught computer programmer, attended Drexel University with a major in Biomedical Engineering, and became one of the top salespeople at the Daily Court Review. 

The combined Programmming, Sales and Marketing skills of Chris and Tim made the perfect recipe for a startup, and the idea for Wawadoo had been brewing for a while.  The same scene that I shared above, happened often in the college dormrooms and apartments of both, the difference being they had the skills to create something to solve the problem.

Working hard to make sure you have something to do

WHA?WADOO

So what is Wawadoo?  Tim describes it as "Pandora for events". Like me, Tim and Chris also scour their sources to add as much content as possible.  Users can vote "Thumbs up" or "Thumbs Down" and the site will learn their personal preferences, eventually giving customized recommendations for your evening out.  Genius!

Right now, the service will be launched in only Pittsburgh and Houston, but the guys have big plans. In addition to their lists of events, they see user-submitted content as a future development as well. We are also likely to see a mobile app down the road.  Wawadoo users will be able to choose their preferred method of recommendations, such as a text message or email.  One of the benefits they have found working with Alphalab, is that it gives them an opportunity to beta test the site to a small group of people, getting feedback from other startups housed there, before the wider Beta Launch which is anticipated soon.


SIGN ME UP!

Join me, and be one of the first to try Wawadoo: register for an invitation at http://www.wawadoo.com/ , and put an end to boring weekends.

The Pittsburgh Home and Garden Show - the Expected and the Unexpected

The BF did not want to go to the Home and Garden Show this year.  Every other year, we have some need or another that would make a trip to the show worthwhile (an exploding furnace here, an attic full of squirrels there). The idea of going "just for fun", however, definitely did not appeal to him.  So, he decided that, to entertain himself, he would count the number of Deck companies camped out on the floor of the Convention center.  Let's just say, if you are in need of Deck Building services, get thee to the show.  He lost count at around 23.

I decided instead, to find some more "unexpected moments". 

Of course, the promise of "There will be dogs", will get me out of the house in an instant.  This year, there was an entire row devoted to all things Man's Best Friend.  Camp Bow Wow North had a booth, as well as several rescue organizations.  There were pet collars, pet treats, pet supplies.  My head was spinning.  They even had the elusive "I Love my Toy Fox Terrier" and "I Love my Rat Terrier" bumper stickers.  I picked up a Peanut Butter Cannoli for the pups. 





I'm not 100% certain, but I believe this was the Trib's set-up.  It was this Easter Island Head that clinched what the theme of this post was going to be.  We were starting to have some fun here.  (Dum Dum, want some Gum Gum?)

The BF nixed this (yes, it's called "The Wizzer"), because he didn't think we needed another place in the house for the dogs to pee.....



WANT.....

I may have to go back this week just to pick up one of these to wear the the Pittsburgh Power opener.

Look!  They found the squirrel that we evicted from our attic last year.  Man, does he look mad......

Duquesne Light is one of the major sponsors this year, and their mascot stood very patiently for this photo while I fought with my camera

Someone at Pittsburgh Magazine has a lot of time on their hands.  Spongebob is made entirely of legos!

All I will say here is that the real people at the Duquesne Light set-up were very nice.  The patiently listened to us as we explained what a hazard our tree is, and how we really wouldn't care if they drove by and cut it down one day.  Really, we wouldn't care....



All in all,  this was likely the most fun to be had a a Home and Garden Show!  A few other items of note:

The Post Gazette recently announced a PDF edition.  I stopped by their booth and signed up for a subscription, as I have heard tell I could download it to my Kindle.  Brilliant!  Even better, it is $1.00 for the first four weeks, and $2.80 for every four weeks after that. 

There were turtle races!

The Rivers Casino cooking show was mesmerizing,   While we were there, the chef was giving a demonstration on creating glass-like sculpture out of sugar. 

Thanks to Songwhale, you can easily navigate and view the Home and Garden's website on your phone.  Simply eneter http://www.pghhome.com/ on your phone's web browser. 

Also, on our way out we made a quick pit-stop at the Sharp Edge Downtown, and without knowing who I was or what I did, a couple next to us at the bar struck up a converstation.  They started gushing about how great Pittsburgh was, and how they wished they lived here in the City.  Um, I can help you with that.  I'mjustsayin....

The Pittsburgh Home and Garden Show is running now through Sunday.  Hours are 4pm-10pm through Friday, 10am-10pm on Saturday and 10am-6pm on Sunday.  Admission is $10 for adults and $4 for children 6-12.  Children under 6 are admitted free!

Driving the' Burgh - The South Side Works

Ah yes, the pros and cons of video-blogging.
The Pros: I can get a video up for you lickety-split, just by doing something I do remarkably well; talking
The Cons: There is no backspace button to fix the gross mispronunciation of a reporter name (sorry again Leslie), or the fact that I drift off for a moment while concentrating on (God forbid) driving, or the use of the grammatically questionable "most fun", or the lack of lipgloss, or the slip of a finger on the zoom button while setting up the camera, resulting in you being up close and personal with a face desperately in need of some salon attention.  Sigh.

We're still new at this people, we promise we'll get the hang of it soon!




Want more details on the topics discussed today?  Check out these links:

The South Side Works (indeed, the "most fun")
Wawadoo (more later this week!)
Leslie's Blog - The Starting Line
Pop City's article on local Urban Farming
Pop City's article on 'Burgh Bees
The Pittsburgh Marathon
PPM Realty

Where in the 'Burgh

Here we go again......
This edition's answer will be revealed early next week in the next episode of Driving the'Burgh!

Where in the 'Burgh am I?

Winner Revealed!

Who was that mystery man?