VOLUNTEER

Volunteers Needed for 2-hour Shifts in the Areas of Food Prep/Service, Beverage Service, Ticket Table, Silent Auction and Event Set Up/Break Down.

Click Here to Sign Up as a Volunteer!

TICKETS

$11 in Advance / $13 at the Door / Children Under 10 FREE!

DONATIONS

Interested in Donating to the Lawrenceville Gourmet Spaghetti Dinner? Email donate@bernarddogrun.org or make your tax-deductible contribution today:

CONTACT

For more information or questions, please contact info@bernarddogrun.org.

ABOUT THE LAWRENCEVILLE GOURMET SPAGHETTI DINNER

The Lawrenceville Gourmet Spaghetti Dinner, founded by the Boys of Lawrenceville in 2004, marks its return on Friday, March 2, 2012 at the Teamster’s Temple in Lawrenceville. This unique event will benefit the Bernard Dog Run community initiative, aimed at building an off-leash dog park for the residents of Lawrenceville, as well as the nonprofit animal resource center, Animal Friends.

The Bernard Dog Run community initiative started in 2008 with the sole mission of establishing a community-based, off-leash dog park that is well-maintained, safe and enjoyable for the dogs and dog owners of Pittsburgh’s Lawrenceville neighborhood. The initiative, supported by Lawrenceville United, Councilman Patrick Dowd and the City of Pittsburgh, is continuing its momentum as all clearances and approvals have been secured; now, raising funds to cover construction and maintenance costs remains as the final step in launching this much-needed community asset.

The community initiative was named in honor of the late Jay Bernard, a Lawrenceville resident, businessman and abandoned dog advocate. Mr. Bernard pioneered neighborhood involvement in Lawrenceville, serving as a catalyst for community activities including Art All Night, the Joy of Cookies Tour and the Lawrenceville House Tour. He founded The Boys of Lawrenceville, a benevolent organization of gay men in Lawrenceville, and created its Gourmet Spaghetti Dinner fund-raiser to benefit local families and organizations.

The dinner was last held on October 5, 2007, just short of five months after Mr. Bernard passed from his battle with stomach cancer.

On Friday, March 2, 2012, the Lawrenceville Gourmet Spaghetti Dinner returns after a more than four-year hiatus to serve as the major annual fund-raiser for the Bernard Dog Run community initiative. The event will be held at the Teamster’s Temple at 4701 Butler Street from 4:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m., and the evening will include entertainment, silent auctions and traditional Italian music for more than 750 guests.

It’s been 67 Days since most of our New Year’s Resolutions or 2009 Goals went into effect.

So dust off that blog post, because I’m asking the question:

HEY – Remember Those Goals!?

It’s human nature to start January off with a BANG – then let those weight loss, exercise and fiscal responsibility goals go right out the window!  What are you doing to stay on track?  Are you reaching out to your friends and community for help?  Do you need to find a community to support you?

Here’s where I stack up against my 2009 Goals:

1. Communicate better in all aspects of my life
   • I have been more actively communication with family, friends and peers via Social Media and local events
   • Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, Flickr, BrightKite, etc.
   • I get on the horn (phone) more often and take time to reconnect
2. Focus on family and friends even more
   • I have found that enjoying the company of friends beats a night at the bar almost anytime
   • I feel I’ve gotten to know my new friends here in Pittsburgh VERY well
   • Trying to plan more time to visit family (Florida in January to visit Brother’s family/Two young nephews)
3. Establish my new career path; Love my work
   • This has been challenging, but I’m working to get into the marketing space here in Pittsburgh
   • Working with Right Management and getting assistance with the search
4. Get my blog going
   • CHECK – It has been fun writing (the few) posts for this blog
   • Highlighting PGH Small Business, Marketing and Community is what I’m ultimately striving for with this blog
5. Tap into the Pittsburgh dog owner and social media community
   • Joined local Lawrenceville Dog Park Committee
   • Meeting LOTS of dog owners in PGH (Planning on hosting another Puppypalooza soon!)
   • Helping with the planning process of PodCamp Pittsburgh (Social Media UnConference)
   • Established The Cavaliers Drum & Bugle Corps presence on Twitter, as well as the Cavalier Alumni Association
6. Investigate creating dog park in East End
   • As mentioned above, I’m helping a local committee market, promote and raise funds for a much-needed dog park in Lawrenceville (see previous post)
7. Help my brother launch a business
   • Helped my brother establish LOCKDOWN LLC providing communication services to the Prison population
   • Unconventional business model, but I’m helping him get this off the ground
8. Practice financial responsibility
   • Cutting back on impulse purchases
   • Saving money more often
   • Learning from my peers
9. Be adventurous with food, drinks, entertainment and marketing methods
   • Who knew curry was so good!?
   • Trying new food and drinks almost everywhere I go
   • Learning more about niche, small business, social media, Word of Mouth and referral marketing
10. Paint and volunteer more
    • Volunteering as a Board member of The Cavaliers Alumni Association
    • Painting for Lawrenceville Dog Park Art Benefit
    • Painting the house
    • Looking for more volunteer opportunities here in Pittsburgh
11. Start moderate exercise program
    • Bought a weight bench, weights and Whey protein (trying to get buff)
    • Did I mention moderate exercise?
12. Learn as much as possible about social media and business
    • Google Reader, Twitter and LinkedIn have been my friend
    • Learning about Social Media by diving in
    • Learning about Pittsburgh Small/Local Businesses

I still have LOTS of work to do until I’m satisfied, but here are Six Simple Things you can do to stay on track:

1. Keep the 2009 Goals List on your desk (preferably on top of the mess) – This way you constantly see your 2009 Goals
2. Include your friends and family – They can help remind you of your goals or help/support you along the way
3. Reach out to others in your community with similar goals – If it’s running, then find a local running Meetup Group
4. Break your 2009 Goals into bite-sized chunks – If your goal is to loose 25 pounds, then work in 5lb increments
5. Start slow and gain momentum – Like the point above, you can’t just jump into the 2009 Pittsburgh Marathon without training first
6. Remember that your2009 Goals are for YOU - take pride in your hard work and accomplishments

Let’s keep each other in check.  I’ll come back in a few months and see how we’re doing!

In the meantime – What are you waiting for?  Are your 2009 Goals going to become 2010 Goals?

I’m personally trying to make sure that doesn’t happen.

Photo Credit: Catd_Mitchell

Starship was on to something with its smashing 80s hit, “We Built This City.”  While Blender magazine named this tune “The #1 Worst Song EVER” in 2004, the catchy chorus speaks to the whole notion of building community.

Nowadays, “community” is getting  a lot of play in the social media world, but what about in real life?  What is your neighborhood, town or city doing to BUILD and ENHANCE the community?  And are the local businesses getting involved?

There are many fine examples of this very thing happening in Pittsburgh (Shopping Bloomfield for one) – but I’ve latched on to an effort near and dear to my heart (Dexter’s too!):  The Lawrenceville Dog Park.

The Lawrenceville Dog Park Committee (I’m not only a recent member, but I’m also a client) has been investigating the building of a much-needed dog park in the East End/Lawrenceville area.  I have been impressed with the dedication of the group, as well as the generosity and support of the local business community.

You can read more about the effort (including events, proposal and location info) at http://lvilledogpark.blogspot.com.

Lawrenceville Building [even more] Community

Lawrenceville is already known for its thriving boutique arts and business district.  The Lawrenceville Dog Park is to be (knock on raw-hide) open by summer, and here are a few thoughts on what this dog park will add to this community:

• Public amenity that provides a safe recreational area for our pups (BIG & small)
• Attract new Dog-Loving residents to Lawrenceville neighborhood
• Attract visitors & commerce to Lawrenceville neighborhood
• Provide an exercise outlet for our pups
• Enhance Dog-Owner community with social opportunities
• Highlight Dog-Friendly businesses
• Incorporate and Highlight the growing local Arts Community

Local Pittsburgh Businesses (and Artists) Digging the Dog Park

These local Pittsburgh businesses and artists have thrown their collective support behind The Lawrenceville Dog Park effort (and we couldn’t be more thrilled!):

• Bloom Organic Skin Care Parlor
• City Theater
• Colangelo’s Pasta and Pizza
• Cytech Hosting
• Deli on Butler Street
• Devine Touch Therapeutic Massage
• Dozen Bake Shop
• Enrico Biscotti
• Evolve Hair Design
• Gallery on 43^rd
• Grasso Roberto
• Jay Design
• Klavons Ice Cream
• Merlin’s Bark Products
• Pavement Shoes
• Picturesque Photography and Gifts
• Remedy
• Your Inner Vagabond

Featuring donated artwork by:

• Stella Belikiewicz
• David Calfo
• Mary Coleman
• Kate Dougherty
• Monika Gibsoon
• Will Kesling
• Beth Kiewicz
• Lyn Lewandowski
• Deborah Mahan
• Tra Nelson
• Cloin Noonan
• Jay Resler
• Anthony Schafermeyer
• Richard Schnappp
• Jenny Snyder
• J. Woolslayer
• Zombo

An impressive 125 Artists, Belly Dancers, and Dog Lovers showed up and supported The Lawrenceville Dog Park at the Benefit Variety Show (Follow the process via Twitter).  When I think about what community means – The residents AND local business here in Pittsburgh are STEPPING UP!

Dexter will soon be playing with and sniffing the dogs of Lawrenceville, and I wouldn’t have it any other way!

UPDATE: Have your pooch try the Grasso Roberto‘s Doggy Gelato and Enrico Biscotti‘s Doggy Biscotti (I tried both)! Muy Delicioso!