Welcome to the fall edition of The Strip! As usual, our latest issue covers a variety of subjects. The articles’ topics range from coffee and salt to poetry and art, not to mention the Olympic Games of a century ago!
The Prestogeorge company has been grinding and selling coffee since the 1950s, and now they’re doing so on an even larger scale with the opening of their new facility in Fox Chapel. AJ Prestogeorge, representing the family’s third generation in the business, is running the new place. The whole story is presented by writer Chris Cussat.
And then there’s the aforementioned salt. Unknown to most, there are hundreds of varieties of salt, and Denise Artman discusses all that and more with John Tarallo, the owner of Steel City Salt. John is joining the exclusive ranks of Strip District merchants who had an idea but with no showroom for it set up a table on the sidewalk and launched a successful business. John is still “on the sidewalk” but has added a new storefront in—well, read all about it.
Who knew there was so much to consider when framing something? Writer Cynthia Weisfield and Amanda Cianella, owner of the Strip’s Framezilla, provide an in-depth look at the very creative art of framing. Also in the art arena, take a look at the varied work of one of our area’s most distinguished artists, Marlon Gist, in our “The Artist” feature.
Greg Suriano has gotten in touch with the gentlemen who have run—in the past and now revived—the renowned International Poetry Forum, hearing from its director emeritus, Samuel Hazo, and from his successor, executive director Jake Grefenstette, who is presiding over the organization’s new plans, readings, and events. Finally, this year’s Olympic Games inspired Tom Powers to tell the tale of Lawrenceville’s own Olympic competitors (in 1920!), boxers Jake and Pete Zivic.
Art, poetry, salt, coffee, the Olympics, and news of the neighborhoods in our “Happenings” section—enjoy The Strip!’s unique and always interesting variety of topics.
“The only place Success comes before Work is in the dictionary.”
—Vince Lombardi