Friday, August 3, 2018

Day 293 Wine & Art Crawl- Explore A Childhood Local Area-Revitalized Bellevue Borough: A Mixture of Old and New



Pittsburgh is unique with its cluster of boroughs surrounding the city, many of which have transformed into hubs for new businesses giving these areas a stronger pulse. I grew up near a little town called Bellevue which is just 5 miles north of Pittsburgh.  I have not explored my childhood neighborhood in over 10 years.  Bellevue recently hosted  an annual  Wine and Art Crawlclosing  the main street, Lincoln Ave, for wine tasting, food, music and art.  I discovered a main street that was revitalized  with new businesses but also one that retained the historical establishments  of my past, resulting in a blended charm.


Reflection
In my elementary school years, my three girl pals and I made an adventure of walking or riding our bikes the 30 minutes to Bellevue. We visited the movie theater, the penny candy store (dating myself now) next to the theater, ventured though  G.C. Murphy’s that seemed to have a little of everything, and somehow always ended up at the Lincoln  Bakery for a sweet. Although the mega screen theater  is gone, and I bought some “nostalgic” penny candy for $2.00 during the wine crawl, Bellevue still has a main street where  just about everything you might need is within walking distance. 

Dietz Floral
During the wine crawl we strolled Lincoln Ave with a glass in hand making our way  to 20 businesses to sample  local wine from Volant Winery. I thought that maybe Andy Griffith from the 1968 sitcom, “Mayberry R.F.D” might pop out because Bellevue still had that small town feel. The main street was lined with banks, saloons, restaurants, medical establishments, various shops, a drug store,  a barber shop, a florist, a jeweler,  and  even a hardware store and car dealership!

Bellevue's  past survived  as we examined diamonds at Fodi Jewelers  which has been in business for over 33 years. Dietz Floral, a full service floral shop, and Erin's Hallmark, with rows of cards and trinkets for gifts,  are still operational after  50 plus years. The mom and pop restaurant, Rusty Nail, and the diner, Dairy Villa still serves a mean breakfast and I had an éclair  at the iconic 70 year old Lincoln Bakery.

Cake it Easy -cake pops
There are new and even some unusual trends in the borough. Open are several new coffee shops but Cyclops Cafe  intrigued me with coffee, music, art and the  ability to get a tattoo. One of my favorite  stops during the crawl was Cake it Easy, a custom cake store that paired the wine with  “to die for” cake pops. There is also a new family owed cookie store,  Good L' Oven, which would  likely have been a place visited on my childhood bike adventure.
Cyclops Cafe/coffee, music and tattos

Entertainment with food is available most nights at Grill 565 Live which just opened a back deck. Children’s Theater  is alive at Mariposa Theater which has  performances, classes, an adult monthly  themed cabaret  and more.

Revival on Lincoln fine dining to open  mid September

Bellevue’s changes on the horizon  will continue to add flavor to the past and future of this town.   Fine dining will arrive mid September with the  opening of Revival On Lincoln, located in an historic landmark building. A micro brewery,  Lincoln Brewery, is in the works to also open in September. With The Center of Bellevue, a revamped church/community center, providing various community programs, Bellevue will likely continue to buzz with an energized pulse.
  
Lincoln Brewery to open in September

I will not wait another 10 years to revisit the neighborhood of my childhood. I say visit yours or try mine- Bellevue. You will experience a mixing of the past with the future.  

(On  August 11, 2018 Bellevue will again close the street down for Wizardvue, a Harry Potter themed festival!)


Spiritual Reflection
"...Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it." And he took the children in his arms, placed his hands on them and blessed them. (Mark 10:15-16)

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