NEIGHBORHOOD NOTES

NEW BUSINESS NOTICES

Viet Nom Nom

Vietnamese cooking combines five essential flavors: sweet, salty, bitter, sour, and spicy. Finding the right balance is a matter of taste. Luckily, the taste is yours at Viet Nom Nom (1715 Murray Ave), a new entrant in the casual dining scene in Squirrel Hill.

Viet Nom Nom follows the increasingly popular “choose-your-own” model where customers create their own dishes. Among the base options are rice, vermicelli noodles, and a 15-inch loaf of banh mi bread, while protein choices include lemongrass beef, honey chicken, tofu, and two kinds of pork. Fish sauce (a quintessential Vietnamese condiment) flavors the rice and noodles, and fresh veggies top it all off.

Owner Thy Chan wants diners to know that Asian cuisine can be healthy and fresh. “Everything here is made to order, and you can custom create your own meal,” she said, adding that although the service is quick, this is not fast food. Chan, who grew up in Pittsburgh, chose to open Viet Nom Nom in Squirrel Hill because the neighborhood is so accepting of new cuisines.

Steal City Vintage

According to Rob Schwoegl, Steal City Vintage (1918 Murray Ave) wants to “slow down fast fashion.” Goodbye cheap, disposable garments. Hello affordably priced, fashionable treasures from the ’80s, ’90s, and Y2K.

Schwoegl and DJ Lander, who co-own the shop, are trying to make fashion more sustainable and accessible. Their mission is reflected in Steal City Vintage’s mindful design. The fixtures were sustainably sourced, and the displays are unisex, allowing customers to discover themselves in what’s on display. “Nothing is imposed on anyone,” said Schwoegl. There’s also a lot of fun to be had, like comparing your height to Penguins’ legend Jaromir Jagr on an old Giant Eagle poster.

The store’s always-changing racks of vintage clothing, accessories, and memorabilia are a source of nostalgia for many shoppers, but Schwoegl and Lander also hope to educate younger customers about the items they sell and the histories they represent. Each item is labeled with the date of its production, meaning that visiting Steal City Vintage is kind of like visiting a museum, except here you can buy your favorite piece at a price that won’t break the bank.

Vendor Bender

Perhaps you’ve travelled the world and came home obsessed with a snack food. Perhaps you’ve never ventured far but have adventurous tastebuds. No matter your travel history, Vendor Bender (2301 Murray Ave) can take your appetite to new places.

Inside Vendor Bender’s unassuming storefront is an eye-popping array of vending machines stocked with international goodies.

The choices vary on any given day, so there might be candy bars from Poland, juices from Mexico, potato chips from Ireland—or crisps, as the Irish call them. The machines accept cash, credit cards, and mobile payment services, and you can see the latest offerings on their Facebook page. Since you are only buying one package at time, there’s no reason not to try something new.

KOERNER HOUSE JOINS NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES

The home of the artist Henry Koerner in Squirrel Hill is now listed on the National Register of Historic Places! This follows its recognition as a Historic Landmark by Pittsburgh History and Landmarks Foundation in 2021. The National Register, which is overseen by the National Park Service, is the official list of the United States’ historic buildings, districts, sites, structures, and objects worthy of preservation. The nomination process for the Henry Koerner house took a year to complete and was a collaborative effort that involved Caroline Boyce (the current owner of the home), Joseph Koerner (the artist’s son), historic preservation specialists, and many locals who knew Henry Koerner.

The house was built in 1966, the product of a design collaboration between architect Richard Righter and Henry Koerner, who lived there until his death in 1991. The exterior reflects Koerner’s love of buildings in his birthplace, Vienna. The interior is designed in accordance with the concept of the “white cube” art gallery becoming popular at the time.

“His residence at 1055 South Negley was also a gallery for his art, a meeting place for friends and patrons, and a family home,” said Joseph Koerner, who grew up in the house. “That the building would be honored in this way goes beyond his wildest dreams. But he would have understood it as commemorating his love for Squirrel Hill, and for the panorama of Pittsburgh that the hill setting afforded.”

The inclusion of the house in the National Register is another step towards cementing Koerner’s legacy as an artist and as a Pittsburgh resident. “I hope that the recognition of the historical importance of the Koerner House by the Department of the Interior will help to bring attention, not only to the house, but to Henry Koerner and his tremendous and varied body of work,” said Boyce.

CELEBRATE ARBOR DAY IN MELLON PARK!

Friends of Mellon Park is hosting its 2nd Arbor Day event on Saturday, April 29, from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. It’s a family-friendly occasion to celebrate the park, appreciate its beauty, and bring people together to enjoy it. There will be lots going on, including science and art activities, lawn games, a scavenger hunt, food, live music, and much more! Rain or shine, come to the south side of the park and join Friends of Mellon Park, a grassroots community organization, in celebrating this beautiful greenspace that connects Squirrel Hill to neighboring communities.

SUMMERSET THANKS RETIRING MAIL CARRIER

The Summerset at Frick Park community came together in early December to congratulate a beloved mail carrier on his retirement. Neighbors gathered at Summerset’s Community Center to thank Derek Ricketts for his 12 years of dedicated service, part of a 38-year career with the US Postal Service.

“Derek was the best mail carrier ever and a true friend and blessing to our community. He personally knew so many neighbors, always looking out for everyone,” said Amy Mann. “When planning our neighborhood celebration for his retirement, many neighbors reached out to help. As I spoke to more and more neighbors, it was evident that everyone thought that he was their best friend. We had a packed house for his celebration, and it was evident, Derek, indeed, was a friend to many. Our community will truly miss him, and we are so thankful for his friendship and service over the last 12 years.”

SQUIRREL HILLBILLIES’ NEW ALBUM

When Jenny Wolsk and Gary Crouth began performing as the musical duo Squirrel Hillbillies twelve years ago, they played covers of songs they loved. Then, a conversation with the folk singer Joe Crookston helped inspire them to write their own music. For three albums released between 2012 and 2020, they did just that in a musical style they call “acoustic roots.”

Now, the Squirrel Hillbillies are returning to their own roots in their fourth and latest album. Rhizomes honors the music and musicians that have inspired them. This set of covers includes their version of Crookston’s “Good Luck John.”

While the songs on the album connect to different people, places, and times—one is a song recorded by the African American singer Arthur “Blind” Blake in 1929—the Squirrel Hillbillies are firmly grounded in Squirrel Hill. They arrange, record, and mix their albums locally and, although they tour widely, you may have heard their home-grown blend of folk, country, and blues at the Night Market and Farmer’s Market. For more information about upcoming performances, how to access their music on streaming services or as a CD, visit their website squirrelhillbillies.com.