Day 296 Party at the Pier-Celebration of Pittsburgh Riverfronts- Benefit for Riverlife-"Riviera Dolce"

Pittsburgh, a city that boarders three rivers (the Allegheny, Monongahela and Ohio) was recently ranked the 2nd most livable city in the United States. Riverlife is a non profit organization that  facilitates the enjoyment of these rivers by helping to make them "cleaner, safe, and more fun". This blog encourages the exploration of  new experiences in  Pittsburgh and Riverlife  makes this city more enjoyable and livable by promoting  projects that enhance  one of our best assets, our rivers. This organization defiantly gets my support!

Party at the Pier is an  annual  event where 100% of the proceeds support Riverlife. This year, The Rivers Casino's ballroom was transformed into a little part of  Italy’s Amafi Coast  for "Riviera Dolce", in celebration of Pittsburgh's riverfronts. 

Reflection

Party at the Pier which usually takes place along the river was moved indoors due to  thunderstorms  but this did not change the Italian ambiance of  the party.  Lights cascaded throughout  the ballroom  lined  with flower carts, musicians  strolled playing the accordion and violin, and  a Mediterranean  landscape of cliffs, spotted beaches, villas, vineyards  and lemon groves, was projected on a  large screen. Photo opts with bold green, orange, yellow and pink Vespas and a village  backdrop  with props at a photo booth, allowed you to picture your- self somewhere on the Italian Coast.  It was bellissimo!

Food and drink  was in abundance as it should be at an Italian festa.  An open full bar  contained  featured drinks with my favorite being the Limoncello Collins (lazzaroni limoncello, aviation  gin, lemon juice,club soda). The buffet had filet mignon, salmon, polenta and more. You could enjoy  passed d’oeuvres (caprese ravioli, sunflower arancini, shrimp skewers), a three tiered desert table and a gelato cart. It was deliziso!

Everyone  seemed to be enjoying this Italian excursion and dressed for the Rivera wearing brimmed and skimmer hats,  colorful and flowered attire, and  some even sported lemon prints.  Many were sipping cocktails on the balcony overlooking the river and others filled the dance floor later in the evening.  It was fantasico!

Riverlife was established in 1999 with  a mission to “reclaim, restore and promote Pittsburgh’s  riverfronts as the environmental, recreational, cultural and economic hub for the people of this region and our visitors”. They have done this by supporting: the development of Three Rivers Park, a 13 mile, 880 acre park system (2002); the  landscaping along the river (2006); the redevelopment of Allegheny river front along  the Strip District, Lawrenceville Highland Park and Morningside(2013); and  the establishment of the Strip District river front Park (2016). This organization continues to  keep our rivers and riverfronts attractive to joggers, bikers, boaters and kayakers (riverfront guide). 

 Pittsburgh is more of  a fun place to live, work and visit, thanks to Riverlife. I will continue to support this group that celebrates our rivers  and mark my calendar to "party at the pier" next year.

(For more information about Riverlife or to donate to the cause go to  Rivelifepgh.org.)

Other Sources

http://riverlifepgh.org/

http://riverlifepgh.org/riverfront-guide/

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