Whether you became your kids’ new teacher, shifted your work life into your home – or maybe both, your favorite local restaurants want to provide a little bit of comfort as you navigate this new normal. 

Many local establishments are continuing to offer takeout and delivery while their dine-in service is shut down due to the COVID virus. From options like contactless delivery to curbside pickup, you can still patronize your favorite places from a safe distance. 

Here are a handful of places that are offering takeout and delivery options: 

Noodlehead

242 S. Highland Ave

A neighborhood favorite is still offering takeout – and a NEW delivery option! Avoid the normal line of waiting for a table and order online or use their new delivery feature. Check this Instagram post for all the details or give them a call at 412-295-4580. 

Photo Credit: Noodlehead via Instagram

Acorn

5528 Walnut Street

Acorn is offering to-go orders by calling the restaurant directly at 412-530-5950. They are also offering delivery through GrubHub. To-go and delivery menu options include Shrimp & Grits, Tossed Chicken Salad, ‘Bubbe’s Matzo Ball Soup’, Cheeseburger, Fish Sandwich and more. Yum!

Photo Credit: Acorn Pgh via Instagram

Mad Mex

220 S Highland Ave

While we may have missed the cherished return of the Gobblerito, (which sold out in one day!) Mad Mex is still offering take out and even delivery to make sure you can get the Mexican food fix you’re missing. For more information visit their website here.

Photo Credit: Mad Mex via Instagram

Mercurio’s 

5523 Walnut St

Pizza is the perfect takeout or delivery option and Mercurio’s won’t disappoint. They are offering both takeout and delivery during their normal business hours. Visit their website for additional details or to place an order. 

Photo Credit: Mercurio’s via Instagram

Bird on the Run

128 S Highland Ave

Guests will be able to order in-store for take-out, order online for pick up in the store, or order through 3rd party delivery partners like Postmates, DoorDash, GrubHub, and UberEats. Visit their website to order your favorite fried chicken in Shadyside. 

Photo Credit: Bird on the Run via Instagram

Millie’s Ice Cream

 

In addition to a delicious dinner, you need dessert too, right? Millie’s is offering mobile delivery right to your doorstep. They are pulling their ice cream truck from 2014 out of the archives to give the people what they want – ice cream! Visit their online store for more information or to place an order. 

Photo Credit: Millies via Instagram

These are just a few of the foodservice establishments still offering takeout and delivery. The best way to find out if your favorite place is still open is to check their social media. Many restaurants have been posting weekly specials or new features like local delivery to help their business thrive during difficult times. 

If you aren’t interested in dining out during this time, you can also buy gift cards from your favorite place to put some money in their pocket and a gift card in yours for a later date. 

We are all spending a bit more time indoors right now. As spring approaches it seems like the perfect time to get some extra cleaning done. Whether you are looking to get rid of the items collecting dust in your closet or to organize the pantry, we put together a list of tips to help you create a clean and organized home, within all the uncertainty. 

First, overhaul your cleaning supplies. 

Before you start cleaning, take inventory of the products you are using. Try to get rid of products with toxins and switch to clean, all-natural products that are still just as effective.

According to the American Lung Association, it’s particularly important to avoid air fresheners and choose products that do not contain (or have reduced amounts of) VOCs, fragrances, irritants, and flammable ingredients.

Franklin West would like to give a friendly reminder not to flush disinfectant wipes down your toilets, including ones that claim to be flushable. Doing so could clog the sewer system causing major damage to your space and the apartment building as a whole.

Kick that smell in the kitchen sink. 

If you have a garbage disposal, try running lemon rind through the drain and then following it with cold water to get rid of the smell. 

Disinfect your knife block. 

The best way to prevent bacteria growth within your knife block is to thoroughly clean and dry knives before returning to storage, but it’s also a good idea to do a more vigorous cleaning once a year, according to Viola Wüsthof, CEO of WÜSTHOF knives. 

For a deep clean:

1. Submerge the knife block into a mixture of one gallon of lukewarm water and one tablespoon of household bleach. 
2. Let the wooden block soak in the mixture for two minutes. 
3. Turn upside-down onto a dry towel to air dry completely.

Dust your ceiling fans. 

In addition to keeping your house germ-free, it is also allergy season, so pesky allergens are also floating around. Protect your space by placing a drop cloth or an old sheet twice the size of the blade span, on the floor. Use an extendable wooly duster to wipe the span of the blades. Pick up the drop cloth, shake outside, and wash.

Clean your refrigerator. 

You probably wipe down your fridge’s interior shelving on the regular already, but don’t forget about the rest. Pop-out the door shelves and bins, and wash in warm, soapy water to get rid of food bacteria and spillage.

Clean windows on a shady day. 

To get those crystal clear windows you only see on commercials, wait to clean your windows on a cloudy day. When the windows are warmed by the sun, the cleaning solution can streak leaving unwanted marks. Save the window washing session for a good, cloudy Pittsburgh day. 

Clean the kids toys. 

Don’t overlook the dishwasher in dire times. It can be the perfect companion when washing kids’ (and even your dogs’!) toys. Choose the crystal or quick cycle and skip the heated dry. For stuffed animals, check the care tag first and then gather in a mesh bag or pillowcase and throw in the washer on a gentle cycle.

Purify the air. 

When the weather starts to warm up, leave the windows open for a few hours to release the stagnant air that filled your house all winter. Take this opportunity to swap out dirty filters and grab an electrostatic duster to clean grime from ceiling fans. 

Keep a clean mattress. 

Did you know we spend 3,000 hours a year in our beds? That’s the equivalent of four months! Keeping the mattress super clean, and rotating it a few times a year is important. To clean the mattress, vacuum the surface. Then, sprinkle on a mixture of baking soda and a few drops of essential oil (lavender promotes relaxation.) Let this sit for a couple of hours, then, vacuum the baking soda mixture away.

Scour the grout. 

Grout can get gross, but you don’t need harsh chemicals like bleach to get to the bottom of this mess. A homemade solution of warm water, ¼ cup of vinegar, and one tablespoon of dish soap should do the trick. 

Clean out bags or purses. 

Take everything out, toss trash, and organize items by category. Use organizers to keep small items in place, and wipe down the exterior with a disinfectant wipe while you’re at it. 

Don’t forget your cell phone. 

While we don’t always think about it, our cell phone is actually said to be dirtier than a toilet seat or the bottom of your shoe. Take the case off, swipe a disinfectant wipe over the entire surface of your phone. Then do the same to the case before replacing it.

Franklin West Resident Reminders

As guidelines change daily with COVID, Franklin West is taking extra effort to put the safety of our residents first. Here are a few reminders specific to our residents.

• Trash Disposal – make sure trash is tightly sealed. 
• Loaner Vacuum is Still Available – to borrow our “loaner vacuum,” call the office and we will have it placed right outside of your apartment door.
• Laundry Rooms are Open – we are focused on maintaining a clean and sanitized laundry rooms in our building for your safety.

There’s a lot you can accomplish while at home to continue to feel productive when you can’t run your weekly errands. Focus on spring cleaning for fulfillment instead. Looking for products to help you get organized. Check out this article featuring the best-selling organizational products on Amazon.

Our greatest pleasure is spreading the word about local businesses within Shadyside whether it’s through our blogs, in social media, or by talking to our residents. Even more so, when we can support our fellow female business owners!

To celebrate Women’s History Month, we’d like to highlight three fantastic female leaders who started a business right here in our neighborhood!

The Barre Code

This local fitness shop welcomes anybody and every body to its results-driven program! The Barre Code passionately promotes personal growth and self-acceptance in a place where women feel supported. This is all thanks to founders, Jillian Lorenz and Ariana Chernin. 

Ariana is a certified fitness professional specializing in women’s fitness and MMA conditioning and Jillian is a recognized post-natal fitness expert with a passion for choreography. After opening the Barre Code, both women were featured in Vogue, Harper’s Bazaar, Glamour, Entrepreneur, and more.

Dinette Pittsburgh

Dinette opened its door in October of 2008 serving thin-crust pizzas & small plates made from sustainable ingredients by using their rooftop garden to source veggies used in all their dishes. It’s also been recognized as a “Sustainable Restaurant” by Sustainable Pittsburgh (2015).

The Chef and Owner of this amazing eatery is Sonja Finn. She learned her skill through the Culinary Institute of America reaching many achievements since like Mother Nature Network’s “40 Chef’s Under 40,” and being named an ACDA “Woman of Achievement.”

I Made It! Market

Formed in 2007, the I Made It! Market lets small and local businesses promote and sell their quality, handcrafted goods at accessible marketplaces year-round. The goal is to support our community and support sustainability by encouraging all to shop small!

Carrie Nardini is the leader of this wonderful organization and of the Neighborhood Flea as well as director of local event, A Fair in the Park. She’s passionate about cultivating a strong, supportive craft community, “It hit me once while driving over the Liberty Bridge toward the city — I had created my dream job without even realizing it,” (sourced from Pittsburgh Magazine)

Visit Barre Code, Dinette Pittsburgh, and the I Made It Market in Shadyside to show your support. Happy Women’s History Month!