It's Christmas Time in the City

Living in downtown Pittsburgh, as I have mentioned before, is an experience that I treasure dearly. And being able to do so during this time of Renaissance for the city is something I will remember forever. Here are some great activities going on around downtown that your whole family can cherish and take part in during this final week before Christmas.

Logo credit: Peoples Holiday Market.

This year marks the 1st Annual Peoples Gas Holiday Market, right here in Market Square. The Holiday Market was inspired by the original Christkindlemarket created in 1545 in Nuremberg, Germany and the Christkindlmarket in Chicago, and it is quite the little treat in the city. I love walking through the square everyday and now that it's filled with European-styled wooden chalets with different handmade crafts inside each one, I am just in awe by these beautiful products each time I walk through. This is just such a breath of fresh air (literally, because you're outside) from the rushed feel of the malls and major chain stores during the time of year that is supposed to be the most peaceful. Also, the Holiday Market features music and dance talents from around the area each day and is honestly the perfect place to pick up some last minute gifts for anyone on your list. The Market, which of course has special gifts and performers also has Santa's House to meet and give Santa your child's finely edited, last-minute wish list and is open seven days a week until December 23rd.

While your family can also enjoy free horse-drawn carriage rides and ice skating at PPG Place, don't forget about also stepping inside for a minute to get warm, and to see the Spirits of Giving Around the World Exhibit and the 10th Annual Gingerbread House and Train Display. The Spirits of Giving Around the World is so interesting to see and read about how different nations celebrate Christmas and how Santa Clause looks (and what his name is) in each of those places. The gingerbread houses are made by local groups and divided up and awarded by age and has become my favorite part of Christmas time in Pittsburgh because I love the creativity displayed by the kids who make these houses.

Photo credit: Pittsburgh Ballet Theater.

Also going on downtown until December 30th is a holiday favorite, presented by the Pittsburgh Ballet Theater. I'm sure you can guess that I'm talking about The Nutcracker, going on now at Benedum Center. And just across the Monongahela River from downtown at the Gateway Clipper Fleet are Santa Fun cruises on December 22nd and 23rd. These cruises are great for the whole family, especially your youngest Christmas lovers because multiple characters, along with Santa himself, ride the boat filled with toys, balloons, pictures, ornaments and other treats for a great afternoon along the rivers.

Whatever your plans are, try to make it to the city for one or more of these great events! Everything going on now is family friendly and gives you a wonderful reason to come out and enjoy this beautiful city. Even if you just decide to walk around downtown, you will not be disappointed. The city is so gorgeous right now with Christmas lights and decorations all over and is really a sight to see ans enjoy.

Fashion Forward Fridays: What I Look For

Hello friends! I know you're here because you want to see some beautiful winter weather fashion, but today just wasn't may day. And I know some of you might think that I can just walk out the door and pick someone, which I could, but I am oddly particular about my fashionista/o's. So to let you all know why I am sometimes slow to upload on a Friday or why I sometimes don't post at all, here are the ins and out of what I'm looking for and some things I plan to do in the future, to make this more fun for you guys, and yes, easier for me. Also, since I know you still want to see some fashion, I'll be showing you a couple fashionista's I have featured before and how they actually fit in to these Fashion Forward Friday ideals.

1. Fridays are my sleep-in days. So sometimes it's hard for me to pull myself out of bed, get dressed all fashion forward myself and then roam around downtown looking for someone. If planned appropriately, I can take a bus somewhere so that the downtown area of business suits and some students isn't all I find, but that of course, takes getting up earlier.

Channing has interesting pieces and all go well together.

2. My fashionista/o's are unique but still commonly accepted. I like to pick people who are obviously fashionable but not necessarily in a flashy way. I also like to find people who obviously thought about the pieces they put together, I know that sometimes great fashion does happen by accident, but you can tell when someone thought about the parts of their outfits before putting them together. I like to pick those people because they will also have more to say about their fashion sense and give better advice in my opinion. 

3. Fashionista's are always on their phones. Every time I see someone, female or male, who I think "oh, that person would be good," they end up being on the phone. It's hard to stop a stranger on the street while they are on the phone and ask if they will pose for a couple pictures. This also goes for people who walk fast. It's hard to catch up with someone who looks fashionable and although I have done this before with Teiona, I'd rather not do it again, especially since I'm usually wearing heels and I don't prefer to run in them.

Carly was alone & had a lot of great advice to give.

4. I like to stop people while they are by themselves. This might not be scientific, but I feel like someone who is alone is more likely to actually stop for a brief interview and modeling session. When you're in a group or with one other person, you get caught up in conversations and are wrapped up in actually being with them. Also, I would feel bad saying I want to feature one person of the group, while everyone else would just be standing there, possibly offended that I didn't pick them too. I don't like to hurt any feelings.

5. I try my best to get locals. It doesn't make sense for me to take pictures and feature people who are not from Pittsburgh if I'm trying to show that Pittsburgh is a fashionably city. So if you look like a tourist (aka pointing at buildings and street signs or have that face of lost), or you are in an area that attract touristy activities (like right outside theaters or around the PPG ice rink), I'm not going to pick you because while you might be from Pittsburgh, in those instances, I cannot really be sure. Granted, I cannot ever be sure, but when you are from an area, especially an area like Pittsburgh, you have a certain look.

Excuses, excuses, excuses. I know. And for a social butterfly like me this shouldn't matter and this process should be easy right? I know that too. But it does. I look for a certain kind of fashion in a certain area in a certain way, so it's not always as easy as I think it should be. So here are two things I am going to do to help make Fashion Forward Fridays more fun for you guys and a little easier for me.

Number One: I'm going to start picking local boutiques and featuring them once a month. This way, they get a little more exposure and you get to see what they have to offer. A win-win, you see. And some great fashion is still being shown.

Number Two: And the one you are probably more excited for - I want to see your fashion! Also once a month, I am going to be asking my readers, who mostly are from in and around Pittsburgh, to submit your photos to be featured as a fashionista/o. I know you're on the edge of your seat about that.

So how do you like that? Now you know what I look for and you can get excited about an outfit you'd like to submit for a future Fashion Forward Fridays post. The first time I plan on featuring a reader is on December 28th, if you're too excited to wait - feel free to start sending pictures to chelsandthecity[at]gmail[dot]com - make sure you send at least a full body shot and close ups of any great accessories. I will pick my favorite, email you a short interview and feature you on the 28th!

12 Days of a Pittsburgh Christmas

Well, just like everyone else in the world, I'm here to talk about 12/12/12. Wow. Amazing right? It's like the last time this can ever happen in our lifetime! Alright, moment is over, let's move on. Today I bring to you, my absolute favorite downtown Pittsburgh window display. I am always fascinated by window displays anyway because I'm a total nerd and I like to see how the branding of the company extends to the displays but Christmas is like a magical time for everything, especially window displays.

This one is featured at Larrimor's, which is actually a store I have never been in because it seems to have a more of a "grown-up" business look but I still think their window display is the most fun one I've seen. And I have seen a lot of because the bus stop to the Waterfront is right across the street. These photos were taken by my beautiful, die-hard Pittsburgh loving friend, Liz and I very much appreciate her for going around the entire store to get every window and then let me use them!

So in the theme of twelve's today, thank you Larrimor's for the 12 Days of Christmas, Pittsburgh style.

It's Christmas in Pittsburgh and My True Love Gave to Me...

12 I.C.'s Chillin'

11 Steelers Chargin'

10 Gumbands Snappin'

9 Heads by Andy

8 Perogies Fryin'

7 Pickles Picklin'

 

 

Living Pretty in the City

 This is a partnered post but all opinions are my own.

 

As you have probably figured out, I am in love with Pittsburgh. More so now that I live here too. I am living the dream here, although that is probably the most cheesy statement I have ever made. So when I was approached to talk about why people should follow the trend and move to Pittsburgh, I was more than happy to say yes.

Personally, I am living downtown, which is right for me at this time, but I know not right for everyone. But that's the great thing about Pittsburgh, each one of the many neighborhoods has it's own style and vibe to it, so anywhere here can easily become home for you. A way to find out which one would fit you best would be to visit, talk to the locals and actually spend the day in the neighborhood but I understand if you don't have that kind of time. An easy way to find out where you might fit best is through Pittsburgh City Living, and their Neighborhood Match. For me it was very accurate, and listed downtown, South Side and Lawrenceville as places where I would probably be the most interested in living. Spot on. Those are the three areas I am looking at for my next apartment and that is based on really knowing the areas, so if you're thinking of moving here, the match can be helpful.

See this infographic larger, in detail at Heartland Homes.

Although the suburb areas around Pittsburgh have a consistent growth, more people have been coming to live in the city as well. WQED recently aired a special about how growth in the city has been going. This interest in moving to the city is focused on young adults ages 20-29 who are coming to Pittsburgh for proximity to work, livability, and entertainment. For me, those are all the top reasons as well. Proximity to work and school was the reason I moved downtown after deciding on going to Point Park for my master's degree. It is convenient to be able to walk to work, school, shops and restaurants. Just imagine what it's like to not have to worry about parking or traffic. Sigh. So wonderful.

Entertainment is obvious in this city, whether you're a sports fan, music or history buff, theater lover, club hopper, outdoor adventurer, shopaholic...the list goes on, you will not tire of what this city has to offer. And as for livability has become known as the cost of living, variety of living and cultural opportunities and crime rate, and Pittsburgh has been rated the 2nd most livable city in the United States (30th in the world) for a few years running. (That's a big deal, you should live here!)

And I know some of you Debbie-Downers might be saying that this is all nice but that Pittsburgh comes with a high price tag. Well, Debbie's, any place this fabulous should, but Pittsburgh is actually below average in price. The average Pittsburgh home is $162,000 which is below the national average of $264,540 and apartments average at about $789 per month as opposed to the average of $1,087 elsewhere. (And for the record, I have seen great places for far less than that average too.)

But trust me, wherever you live in this city, the experience of living in the "no longer sleepy steel city" will be more than worth what you pay for it. This place is an experience in itself, live here and you'll understand what you've been missing out on and what you can look forward to. This is an exciting time to be living in Pittsburgh. The city is going through a beautiful Renaissance and I, like many other locals encourage you to join in on what we already know. Pittsburgh is the place to be.

Hi, I'm Alive!

Oh, hi there. Just checking in to let you know that I am still alive since I have neglected my little space of the web. And haven't been a good blogging friend because I haven't read anybody's posts either. So going to take the weekend to get back to emails and catch up on reading what all the other fabulous bloggers have been talking about.
Since Thanksgiving I have been very busy with school work and work in general but I will be back to updating regularly soon! (I know you missed me.) Here's a ridiculous picture of me to prove I'm back. And just so you know, all of this work has paid off because I have completed all of the requirements for my Master's degree!!! YAY! Happy Friday!