Red, white, and “wooh!” As the 4th of July approaches, we’re simply giddy thinking about all of Pittsburgh’s firecrackin’ festivities.

Let’s get started! If you’re new to Pittsburgh, the Red, White, & Blue Bus Tours are a unique and fun way to acclimate yourself with the area. These double decker buses run daily from 9 AM to 7 PM, with plenty of opportunities to hop on and off, so you can explore the city at your own pace. Never droll or dull, these tours are packed with personality, Pittsburgh spirit, and interesting historical facts. Better yet? The tour will be running on the 4th, so you can enjoy the best tour before the best fireworks!

If a bus tour isn’t your speed, you can head down to Point State Park, hours before the renowned firework display, and celebrate all day! Thanks to the EQT Three Rivers Regatta, food, drinks, and entertainment are featured as an inclusive and exciting way to bring people together to “Celebrate America the Pittsburgh way!” Free and open to the public, you will find plenty of delightful, family-friendly activities. Visit the official site, celebrateamericapgh.com, for more information.

Searching for more sports now that the Penguins have won the Stanley Cup? On the 4th, catch Pittsburgh’s soccer team, the Riverhounds, face off against the Charlotte Independence at Highmark Stadium in Station Square. If you’re not familiar, Highmark Stadium is right across the river from Point State Park, making it one of the best seats in the house for fireworks viewing! Come for the soccer, stay for the sights. Sound like a match made in heaven? Purchase your tickets here!

Speaking of the Pens, we hear the fireworks this year will be honoring the team’s big win.

Whether you’re headed to Station Square, catching a tour bus, or traveling to Point State Park, you can do it all without the hassle of traffic and parking. Hop a city bus and get goin’ — Downtown is just a short ride from Shadyside via the East Busway! To check all holiday bus schedules in advance, click here.

Wherever your day leads you, we hope you get to witness the excitement and extravagance of Pittsburgh’s 4th of July fireworks, Flashes of Freedom. Considered one of the best displays in the country, this event is not one to be missed!

Happy 4th of July, friends!

 

Picture it: driving through the ‘Burgh on a sunny day with the windows down, your favorite radio station playing something sweet and melodic – as it always does. Sometimes, it just feels better to unplug your phone and listen to something classic, something authentic, and something from — and by — the community. That’s the spirit of WQED, the only community-owned multimedia resource in this region.

In 1954,WQED became the nation’s first community-supported television station. Then, in 1973, Classical WQED-FM was founded as the region’s only 24-hour classical radio station. Today, consistent with its mission, WQED changes lives by creating and sharing outstanding public media that educates, entertains and inspires. WQED’s rich content reaches the community through five television programming streams and three radio streams. Learn more about the station’s vibrant history here.

With its station and headquarters on Fifth Avenue, WQED is an essential part of Pittsburgh’s East End, and to Pittsburgh as a whole. Like WQED, Franklin West, Inc. has its roots in Shadyside. Founded in 1964, Franklin West, Inc. is an active supporter and partner of WQED.  When you call Franklin West, Inc. (412-661-1151) you will always get a live person — no voicemail here! However, if you were ever to be put on a brief hold, you will get to listen to the ever-enchanting sounds of WQED 89.3 FM, “the voice of the arts in Western Pennsylvania.” Beyond classical music, WQED also highlights retrospectives, tributes, community events, and celebrations.

As a non-commercial public station, WQED thrives from the support of the community. If you love the station as much as we do, or simply would love to support Pittsburgh’s cultural keystone, you can become a member today! A minimum of $5 a month will help WQED continue its mission of educating and celebrating the community — and it will reward you with the WQED passport, which allows you to watch any PBS show streaming on demand.

There’s always something happening within the station and on the airwaves. See everything WQED offers here, and we hope your relationship with WQED flourishes just as it has with Franklin West, Inc.

Check out the Glass Center’s calendar here to see what’s waiting to be explored — from beginner and advanced classes to dazzling exhibits displayed on the first floor. Now through July 30th, see Leana Quade’s unique art, which experiments with new ways to experience glass through light and fluidity.

The Pittsburgh Center is free and open to the public, but if you’re looking for a more hands-on experience, you can register for classes here. With a number of 2-hour beginner classes, like Marvelous Marbles and Glass Terrariums, your creativity will always have opportunities to flourish.

This is a summer for new adventures. Take advantage of all the neighborhood has to offer. Hey, and don’t forget to bring your best pals along! Maybe after you’ve made your first terrarium, you can celebrate your achievements with a refreshing brew at Primanti’s.

We’ll cheers to that!

Seasonal splendor is here! Warmer weather means welcoming one of the greatest treats to the neighborhood: farmer’s markets! Our arms are wide open for the fresh produce, meats, cheeses, baked goods, and crafts sold by local farms and artisans. In some locations, you may even see flowers, handmade soaps, coffee, balloon animals, live music, and more. It’s more than just a trip to the farmer’s markets – it’s a fun family outing!

Starting as early as May 15th and extending into fall, you can find farmer’s markets in 7 different bustling locations on various days, Monday through Sunday. Specific addresses and dates are provided here – Don’t miss out on the farm-fresh goodness, right in your own backyard! The 2017 Shadyside Farmer’s Market will take place in the Liberty School Lot (corner of Ellsworth & Filbert Street) every Saturday June 3 – September 30 from 10am-2pm. For a list of vendors and events at the Shadyside Farmer’s Market, click here.

Are you ready to enjoy nature’s bounty?

In Memoriam: John Boering

It is with deep regret and profound sadness that we inform you of the sudden passing on Thursday, May 11th, of John Boering, our maintenance person.

John has been an employee of Franklin West, Inc. for 40 years. He was devoted to this company, and took much pride in the service he provided to our residents. John was a truly great human being, friend, mentor, and colleague to many of us. He always went above and beyond to help anyone in need.

We will all miss John terribly, but his legacy will live on in our continued passion and efforts to provide our residents with the service that sets us apart from the others. That service is what John has taught to every maintenance person hired over these past 40 years.

John’s obituary will be in the newspaper later this week. A memorial service will be held at Calvary Episcopal Church on Monday, May 22, 2017 at 11:00AM. A luncheon will follow at our office.

Thank you.

Sincerely,

Holly Rubinoff
Property Manager

Franklin West, Inc.

This Tuesday, May 16, 2017, is primary election day in Pittsburgh! Two former Franklin West residents are running for local office.

Dan Gilman is running for City Council, and was once a resident in one of our apartments on Walnut. Matt Wholey is running for District Magistrate, and was once a resident one of our apartments on Howe.

Former Franklin West residents Dan Gilman and Matt Wholey.

Here is the Voter’s Guide prepared by the League of Women Voters of Greater Pittsburgh (LWVGP). (Please note that this guide does not include information about district magistrate races.)

Along with all candidates for public office, we support their commitment and desire to serve the needs of their communities. Let’s get out there and rock the vote, Shadyside!

Highland Towers is a national historic landmark that recently celebrated its 100th anniversary. Located at 340-342 S. Highland Avenue, it contains 36 one-bedroom and two-bedroom apartments.

The towers are situated near University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC) area hospitals and are just a few blocks from the retail shops and restaurants on Walnut Street, South Highland Avenue and Ellsworth Avenue. This residence allows quick, convenient access to the best that Pittsburgh has to offer.

Franklin West has been the steward of this architectural masterpiece for more than 40 years. Read more about its rich history and architectural design here.

The Towers’ stunning design has been featured over the years in many books and movies. Its latest spot in the limelight? At Pittsburgh Filmmaker’s upcoming art show!

Debuting at the Melwood Gallery on Friday, April 28th, this event will feature work by Pittsburgh Filmmakers members and students in photography programs, as well as a one-night screening of short films completed by students in The Filmmaking Intensives program.

Keep an eye out for photographs of the historic Highland Towers from Pittsburgh-artist Christianna Kreiss!

Are you as excited for summer in Shadyside as we are? We could simply burst thinking about sunny mornings, lazy afternoons, and endless activities indoors and out!

We’re very much looking forward to the start of Bach, Beethoven, and Brunch: a weekly summer series hosted by Citiparks that brings together two of our favorite things — dining al fresco and live music!

Spend your Sunday relaxing on the Mellon Park lawn while an ensemble plays the classics. Mellon Park is just a 1-to-2 block walk from the majority of our buildings, including 6315 Fifth Avenue, 6313 Kentucky and units on Denniston Avenue!

Admission is free. Simply bring your friends, your picnic blanket, and an appetite for marvelous melodies. A new band or orchestra plays each week, so there’s always reason to attend again.

Mark your calendars: Bach, Beethoven, and Brunch returns to Mellon Park on June 18th at 10:30am, and continues each Saturday through August 13th!

Fifth Avenue, now the main thoroughfare between Shadyside, Oakland, and Point Breeze, was once known by a different name: Millionaire’s Row. Home to Gilded Age Industrialists and synonymous with wealth, power, and social status, Fifth Avenue’s mansions were stunning reflections of their prestigious owners.

Today, only a precious few of Fifth Avenue’s historical homes remain. 5945 Fifth Avenue still stands today under the ownership of Franklin West.

The property’s original owner, J. M. Guffy, certainly fit in with his notable neighbors at the time. Guffy was a gas and oil tycoon with strong ties to Southwestern Pennsylvania. His company, J.M. Guffey Petroleum Co., eventually branched out to form Gulf Oil in 1907 — a millionaire, indeed.

While the original architect of 5945 Fifth Avenue is unknown, many original design elements are similar to the work of George S. Orth.

What began as an ornate, red brick Queen Anne Victorian mansion, stands today as a white stuccoed, Praire-style duplex. Franklin West selects and carefully restores buildings of historic value, ensuring their continued use as comfortable residences with architectural integrity.

While significantly altered, 5945 Fifth Avenue exists as one of the rare, few vestiges of Millionaire’s Row. This year marks its 134th birthday.

Research conducted by Frank Reichard, Wenfei Luo, and Justin Greenawalt for East Liberty Valley Historical Society, Inc.