Farewell Fraley's Robot Repair!

One of the Downtown Pittsburgh's Project Pop-Up's is leaving. Fraley's Robot Repair wasn't really a store but I loved it so much! I thought that it was such a clever art installation and will be sad to see it's space without that little, lonesome robot. Robot Repair was created by Toby Atticus Fraley and features a small shop where a robot is left to fend for himself since his owner could never be found. The installation changed often to go with holidays, day-to-day activities and other themes, always interesting and humorous. But little robot is now moving on to California ...hopefully he'll find some company there. In the meantime, here's some recent looks into the shop AND if you're nearby, check out the going away party TONIGHT from 5:30pm - 7:30pm at the Renaissance Hotel's Braddock's American Brasserie bar, including $4 beers and $6 cocktails and of course, photos with the robot!

Store front of Fraley's Robot Repair.

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Sadly digging his way to California...

The robot's map to the next location.

Boutique 208: Pop-Up of Fabulous

Do you know what's awesome about downtown Pittsburgh? Well. There are quite a few things that could be considered but, in my opinion, it is that downtown is the hub for Pop-Up Projects. I blogged before about Dream Cream Ice Cream, another Pop-Up Project, located on Liberty Ave, and now I have to talk about Boutique 208, which is right around the corner on Sixth Street.

Looking in the window at Boutique 208. (Both photos shamelessly borrowed from the Boutique 208 Facebook page.)

Boutique 208 caught my eye the minute it was finished and ready for business. It is across the street from Heinz Hall and connected to the Robot Repair Pop-Up Project, which draws a bit of attention, since no one really understands that Robot Repair is really just an art installation, not an actual store. So all this time, when you might have been roaming around downtown over the holidays or standing outside waiting for a show to start at Heinz, you were probably over-looking the most fabulous of all the Pop-Up Projects.

Dreamers Paradise

Nothing is better on a summer day than some yummy ice cream! Today while I was out and about doing some mundane Monday errands, I stopped by one of the latest Pop-Up projects to come to downtown: Dream Cream Ice Cream.

Dream Cream Ice Cream logo found on their Facebook page.

If you have yet to hear about Project Pop-Up, they are all a part of a program by Luke Ravenstahl, Urban Redevelopment Authority, Department of City Planning and Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership to bring some more life to downtown Pittsburgh. And they are doing a great job! All of the Pop-Up's that I have been to so far have all been awesome additions to the downtown area and Dream Cream is no different.

I stopped in today on my way back to my apartment and walked into a greater treat than I expected. While the space itself can still use a set or two of tables and chairs, or the Pittsburgh favorite, a bar facing out the window, the cute little shop has a great minimalistic and bright look. The staff is friendly and their sky blue t-shirts with the word dreamer across the chest is the perfect uniform that also matches the decor. 

The greatest thing about Dream Cream though, besides the taste of the ice cream, is the cause behind each scoop. Each month, the flavors of the ice creams are changed, given new titles and assigned to new dreams. On the Dream Cream website, you can apply to be a dreamer, allowing you to pick a flavor and part of the proceeds of each sale of that flavor goes to your cause. Awesome, right?! Pittsburghers are doing awesome things. 

Yvette Shipman just one of this month's dreamers!

Today I picked, Yvette's Fools Gold ice cream, which was so yummy and perfect for this humid day! It is peanut butter ice cream, peanut butter swirls and chocolate covered toffee pieces. Perfect! Yvette's dream is to open her own business, Moteasa, a specialty tea shop, where she will make her own teas, inspired by the different neighborhoods of Pittsburgh. Like I said, Pittsburghers are doing awesome things! I'm glad my little splurge today can help Yvette grow her business in some small way because I cannot wait to check out her tea shop when it's up and running! 

Be sure to come downtown and check out Dream Cream Ice Cream, I'm sure you'll see me there more than I need to be - this place is entirely too close to my apartment. It's located at 539 Liberty Ave. and I promise it is super yummy and a super great cause. Opened just in time for summer too!