Squirrel Hill has a new, low cost (sliding scale) - medical and dental clinic.

                              Copyright@L.Hadley 2025

      When I am in Chicago and need some dental work done - my dentist there - is one of the few ones who lets me pay my bill - "spread out" into monthly installments.
     Pittsburgh's Squirrel Hill - has a clinic called "Squirrel Hill Health Center" - located at 4516 Browns Hill Road - Pittsburgh - 15217 - which operates on a "sliding scale" principle. The idea is not new - since one of the most excellent hospitals in the country - Chicago's - Cook County Hospital - has been doing that for the last hundred years. It makes a lot of sense to charge the patients for the services - according to their earnings. This concept makes the dental care - available to more people who might - otherwise - ignore to take care of their dental or medical problems while they are still manageable. 

   When - stubbornly neglected - abscessed teeth - start "acting up" - they - not only seriously threaten the health of the "owner" of such teeth but frequently - those foolish oversights lead to tons of expensive, hospital procedures for which the taxpayers end up "paying through the nose".
    I started the badly needed treatments of my teeth (before "things get out of control" - mind you) - with the dental staff at Squirrel Hill Health Center - so to wit - I am almost half way done. So far - so good - in every possible way.
   Stay tuned totally breathlessly - for my updates on the "continuation" and "conclusion" as well as more details regarding the various - up to date - treatments.

    

    Important note - 2025 

  The Dental Clinic - mentioned above - became enormously overbooked with a huge line - to wait - so they stopped taking on any new patients. However - I - currently - have dental insurance which pays half of my dentist's - fees - which helps a lot.
   

Jonathan Ornstein - An Executive Director of Krakow - Poland - Jewish Community Center - Gives a Dynamic Presentation.

                         Copyright@L.Hadley and Associates - 2025

    Last Tuesday Nov. 4 - 2014 - instead of our customary "Jews in the News" session at Pittsburgh's - JCC - Mr. Jonathan Ornstein - a good looking, dark haired, early middle aged, well-spoken director of a Krakow - Poland - small Jewish Community Center - delivered a well thought-out, thought-provoking presentation to an assorted crowd which packed a Pittsburgh's JCC - community room.
    The wildly mixed audience mostly consisted of a long-time immigrant one - from Europe - especially from Poland and Eastern Europe. The Jews from those countries - having established reasonably good, new lives for themselves in the United States - are always "dying" to hear what attracts the American Jews like Mr. Ornstein - an ex-New Yorker to Poland which is well known for her numerous, anti-Semitic - episodes - throughout history. 

     It needs to be noted - however - that many Poles risked their lives - as well - to help their Jewish neighbors - during the Nazi - Weimar Republic' - 'reign of terror - during the Second World War.
    Mr. Ornstein gave the audience an interesting, brief account of how he found himself first serving in Israeli army - IDF - where he met and followed to Poland - a Polish lady - a Gentile volunteer with whom he travelled to Poland where he learned an excellent Polish (which is normally hard to master for a Westerner in a relatively short time). Even though their relationship "fizzled out" - nevertheless - Mr. Ornstein secured a position of an executive director of a Jewish Community Center in Krakow - a beautiful, historical Polish town - after his stint as a lecturer of Israeli Culture at the oldest Polish University named after the past ruling Polish royalty - the Jagiellons - located in Krakow which used to be a capitol of Poland thus the name - Jagiellonian University - bears the last name of the Polish royal dynasty - the Jagiellons. 
    The seed money for the Polish - JCC - was secured by Prince Charles; no wonder that the Jews in Great Britain - achieve even more distinctions than the ones in the U.S.

    In a nutshell - Mr. Ornstein's message - skillfully conveyed - makes a lot of sense. We need to support the new generation of Poles showing an interest in Jewish culture. The audience at the Pittsburgh's JCC asked a lot of questions about the present conditions of a few Jews still left in Poland. According to Mr. Ornstein - for now - the new, young generation of Poles - shows a big interest in Jewish culture - "but what the future will bring - nobody knows" - according to Mr. Ornstein. 

      The audiences' comments and questions were addressed by Mr. Ornstein in a straight-forward, informative manner. He needs to lecture in Chicago where the local Jewish community is a lot "weightier" - than the group in Pittsburgh.

Claudia Sanchez - a Dark Haired Argentinian Beauty - Easily Performs Terrific Latin and Popular Hits - on a Grand Piano.

                         Copyright@L.Hadley  and Associates 2025


     Everybody who loves to listen to good piano pieces - take notice!
     Pittsburgh's loft shaped - Oxford Atrium Center - behind the downtown Fifth Avenue Macy's - hosts a terrific lady pianist with an international track record - every Thursday from 11:30 am till 1:00 pm.
      Her selections are varied with each one sounding good. I got totally "hooked" on the sounds of various good tunes - some ex-hits - some classics.
      If you want to know more - click on the website: www.PassionatePianist.com.
     However - if you are seriously interested in booking Claudia Sanchez for your event you can send her an e-mail
Claudia@PassionatePianist.com
    Please - do it only if you have access to a grand piano for the evening - otherwise - you can go to Oxford Atrium on a Thursday late morning from 11:30 am till 1:00 pm - if you want to listen to some beautiful piano music.

          See you Thursday and the Oxford Atrium!

Important Note

Due to some changes in Downtown Pittsburgh - it's best to try the pianist's - website for info.

L.Hadley and Associates 2025

Pittsburgh, Pa - showcases - totally she-she-poo-poo, extremely fashionable, artsy and stylish area - Shadyside.

        It's almost a long Labor Day weekend - holiday signaling the end of summer. Shadyside hosts an art fest with the artists from all over the country and some from abroad - presenting a lot of varied arts objects and trinkets. Williams-Sonoma - the upscale gourmet store - (5514 Walnut St - Pittsburgh, PA 15232) - subsequently - closed - so we shall miss their cooking techniques classes.
     This Sunday August 24 - 2014 - a locals lady chef/cooking instructor/public speaker - demonstrated a deep fried in olive oil artichoke dish while explaining the origins and various ways of preparing the artichoke.

     Cynthia Goch  - a dark haired, Italian looking beauty - keeps her sessions in a humorous and interactive mode. For more details you can click on her website
www.GochYaCooking.com to make arrangements for her presentations.

     Long story short - in a nutshell - Cynthia's demo was tons of fun - so I strongly encourage you to check out Cynthia's website - ascertained - above - about their vast variety of cooking events.

    

    Important note: Since Williams Sonoma chain at this address - closed - the new, exciting venue is scheduled to open in the 4th quarter of 2024 - at the address given above - in Pittsburgh's - classy area - Shadyside - it will be their 8th franchise in Pennsylvania - they have close to 3 thousands of them - around the world. The name of the new venue - Paris Baguette Cafe.

    Copyright@L. Hadley and Associates 2025     

Mildred Sidorow - an acrylic media artist - keeps young with her work and going strong - she is ninety five years young.

                Copyright@L.Hadley 2017

    It's a beautiful summer night on a Sat. June 28 - 2014. Christine Frechard Gallery in Pittsburgh's Squirrel Hill - 5871 Forbes Ave - 
   www.christinefrechardgallery.com - hosts an opening reception - a start of the exposition - a display - of the sunny hued - various shaped and sized paintings by a ninety five year old artist - Mildred Sidorow. The showings starts today - Sat. June 28 - 2014 and will last for a month.
   Since the artist talks animatedly to the visitors and appears much younger than ninety five - I ask her daughter a middle aged, dark haired New Yorker about her mother's creative output. She informs me that due to her mother's advanced age - she has some problems with her eyesight but nevertheless Mildred works every day a few hours and she "lives for her art" according to her daughter. The bright, sunny canvases radiate a good mood and an uplifting spirit.
    Simone - the artist's daughter informs me that because of her mother's advanced age - she prefers to work with smaller size canvasses and acrylic seems a better medium than watercolors which she did at the beginning of her career.

     Come to check out the exposition,

     I will see you there.

Squirrel Hill - 15217 - Pittsburgh, Pa. has a charming tea shop on the corner of Forbes and Shady - Pittsburgh's - Squirrel Hill - international and cosmopolitan - conclave.

                                 Copyright@L.Hadley 2025

      Important note - the tea store is currently called "Blue Money Tea Company". If you like a "fancy-schmantzy" teas and tea accessories - connected to tea stuff - that's the place for you.
      You need to stop by the shop at 5872 Forbes Ave which is close to the main intersection of Forbes and Shady in Squirrel Hill - 15217 or click on their website - bluemonekytea.com or you can call them at 412-422-1606.
     See you there for tea!

Suzanne Watters - a local Pittsburgh area silk screen artist - has a display of her works at Christine Frechard Gallery - Squirrell Hilll.

                      
                         Copyright@L.Hadley 2015
   

    On Sat. May 31 - 2014 - during a lovely late afternoon - the large scale silk screen artist - Suzanne Waters is setting up a sumptuous opening reception of her nicely framed works at Christine Frechard Gallery - 5871 Forbes Ave - at the very heart of Squirrel Hill - Pittsburgh, Pa 15217. The exposition will last about a month until the end of June 2014. Click on
http://www.christinefrechardgallery.com to get more news about the various events at the gallery.
    The local artist - a Sewickly resident - Ms. Watters - a tall, strong and statuesque appearing lady about forty years old with long, brown hair and brown eyes - answers my interview questions while she puts some finishing touches of delicious looking horse'de'ovres and fine wines spread over the Christine Frechard Gallery - tables. 
    Ms. Watters says that she works on one project at the time and the choice of two colors gives her an opportunity to pick the best combinations - however - frequently - when she lifts the screen for the final time - she is pleasantly surprized at the unexpected end results.
   Click on her website:
suzannewatters.artspan.com
to find out more about this local artist who also teaches Art History and History of Visual Communications at Rober Morris University. Ms. Watters states that working on her art projects gives her a good feeling of recharging her energies; in addition - she likes to market and distribute her works as well as she is looking forward to the orders for some commission projects.

Pittsburgh's - Shadyside - Sonoma Williams Store - A Botique for Aspiring Chefs - holds terrific technique classes - most Sundays.

                        Copyright@L.Hadley 2021

       On Sunday May 4 - 2014 - a local young chef/Cooking School instructor named Mike presented several Latin American - specifically Mexican staples. The technique session consisted of the demonstration of several Latin American - Mexican staples - among them - fresh Salsa and delicious Chicken Fajitas - featuring chunks of chicken - marinated in Margarita mix which were braised with several seasonal, vegetable strips - on the electric grill .
      Mike did an excellent presentation of both items. He highlighted various ingredients - all available in Sonoma Williams - in slightly higher price versions - however - the quality and presentable packing always justify the prices which are a little higher in Sonoma Williams stores.
      The Sonoma Williams store in Shadyside - 5516 Walnut St - Pittsburgh, Pa 15215 - always presents the seasonal visuals in an extremely appealing manner. The clientele of that store consists of an exciting mixture of customers - some of which are connected to a prominent and prestigious - Carnegie Mellon University Campus located right next to Shadyside. The shops, coffee shops, upscale eateries of Shadyside as well as several bars of that "she-she-poo-poo" part of town - are characteristic of that popular part of Pittsburgh right next to a legendary, European style - Squirrel Hill - which is very similar in character; both areas convey the atmosphere of easy luxurious but classy - life styles.

A short interview with a Philadelphia visual artist - Antonio Puri during the opening reception of his mixed media art exposition at Christine Frechard Gallery - Squirrel Hill - Pittsburgh, Pa 15217.

                      
                          Copyright@L.Hadley - 2024

               On a lovely, breezy early evening - Sat. April 26 - 2014 from 5pm till 8pm - Christine Frechard's Gallery in Pittsburgh's - Squirrel Hill hosted an opening reception for a Philadelphia visual artist - Antonio Puri - who works in mixed media. The exposition will last a month.
       I ask Mr. Puri - a tall, athletic looking guy in his early forties - who looks Latin or Italian - several questions about his work and the source of his inspiration. He tells me that when he was growing up in India in a city of Chandigarh - the French architect LeCorbusier inspired Puri with a motive of geographical shapes which dominate Mr. Puri's works. 

      The artist - also - told me that his artworks are the extension of him. Mr. Puri mentioned something interesting - namely that his major work - a big piece of mixed media hanging prominently on the wall of the Christine Frechard Gallery - art piece - consisting of a thirty or so - squares - could make a suitable markette for the front of the building for some architect.
       Antonio Puri further explained to me that as far as marketing of his works is concerned - he contacts the art gallery owners and art agents while working on his art pieces. He gets the ideas for his art works from life experiences. 
      When I asked Mr. Puri what he would be doing if he wasn't busy with his art - he answered that he had no plan "B" of any kind.
    "I need to do my art - like I need to breath."
 
       Important note: Since publishing this interview - Ms. Frechard has closed her art galleries in Pittsburgh area - however - Mr. Puri's website - antoniopuri.com - is worth exploring.

 

     Copyright@L. Hadley and Associates 2024

Christine Frechard Gallery - 5871 Forbes Ave - Pittsburgh, Pa 15217 (Squirrel Hill) - had a terrific swing event on Sat. Apr. 19 - 2014.

           
               
                   Copyright@L.Hadley 2023

     On Sat. Apr. 19 - 2014 from 9 pm till midnight - Christine Frechard's verstile Art Gallery - turned into an exciting nightclub with Jimmy Sapienza - Pittsburgh's veteran swing vocalist expertly and generously entertaining - the diverse public - consisting that night of some youngsters from neighboring Oakland - the home of Carnegie Mellon University and University of Pittsburgh - mixed in with some middle aged and older - Squirrel "Hillers". 
     Last night - Jimmy's accompanist - a short, slight but unfortunately blind/sightless keyboard player - demonstrated his mastery of the instrument and good rapport with Mr. Sapienza whose choice of the repertoire also needs to be given the proper credit. The lasting hits of Louie Prima and Frank Sinatra always strike a chord with the listeners.
   Some good dancers showed off their dance steps on an "improvised" gallery's fine wooden dance floor. The atmosphere of a relaxing spring night - attracted some young dancers who also demonstrated a lot of excellent, new dance combinations.
    Next week - we will give you a review of the opening reception taking place on Sat. Apr. 26th - 2014 - 5:30 pm - the new to the gallery, modern American artist -Antonio Puri - originally Indian - lately from Philadelphia - will present his works. For more details - click on Christine's website -
   www.christinefrechardgallery.com

   Stay tuned for that "write-up" and have a very happy Easter 2014 to all!

Visual Arts Artist - Bettina Clowney displays her paintings at Christine Frechard Gallery - Squirrel Hill - 5871 Forbes Ave - Pittsburgh, Pa 15217.

          Copyright@L.Hadley and Associates 2025

        An established Philadelphia artist - Bettina Clowney - displays her watercolors and oils at Christine Frechard Gallery. The opening reception and the interview with the artist -  took place on Sat. March 22 - 2014 - from 5 pm till 8 pm. The exposition will last from March 22 - 2014 till April 25 - 2014.
        Ms. Clowney - a distinguished looking lady with an "artistic" twinkle in her bright blue eyes explained that she usually works on developing at least two painting ideas at the time since the paining projects tend to progress at "their own - right pace". She uses the so called "glazing" technique which applies several subtle layers of colors - to arrive the unique combined shades of delicate hues.
      At any rate - you need to check out recent expositions at Christina Frechard's Gallery - so for more details - first google Christina Frechard Gallery in Pittsburgh, Pa - to see which artist she currently - hosts. She recently relocated her gallery to a different part of Pittsburgh where she has more space.

      An important notice - Christine Frechard has moved her gallery from Pittsburgh's - Squirrel Hill to the Pittsburgh's - Lawrenceville - Butler St. - location. However - as best we know - in Sept. 2024 - Ms. Frechard - has also - closed the second location. You can always - google her name and the name of the art gallery - just to make sure.

Pittsburgh's - Squirrel Hill (a faboulous - artistic - progressive - affluent - "with it" - part of Pittsburgh) has a fantastic new art/languages/educational - center.

                                  Copyright@L.Hadley 2025
      Four years ago - Christine Frechard - a doctoral candidate from University of Paris - that is Paris, France not Paris, Texas - who came to finish her doctorate at the University of Pittsburgh (Pitt) and decided to stay longer - opened a new, shick, slick and cozy art gallery which hosts other "artsy" events - as well. Last night's opening reception for Ann Brewer - a local artist who paints impressive, large, color-bold paintings - turned out to be a fabulous event. All the great food and drinks - notwithstanding - the Sat. Jan. 11 - 2014 - 5 pm till 7 pm - opening attracted a lot of diverse Pittsburghers - some from Squirrel Hill - some from other parts of the city.
    A little, ten-year-old art patron who wore an adorable, dark colored, formal suit with the bow tie in place - looked very cute and was well-behaved which the ten-year-olds not always do. He was visibly interested in some primitive art pieces featured prominently in Christine's gallery. Her selection of African masks looks impressive - especially - considering the moderate prices.
    Long story - short - in a nutshell. You need to visit Squirrel Hill's new gallery at 5871 Forbes Ave - Pittsburgh, Pa 15217. 
          Have a great weekend - everybody and look for more announcements of super cultural and fun events of all kinds happening in the gallery!!!

     An important note: Christine Frechard has - subsequently - closed her gallery - and the address indicated above - currently - as of 2025 - is rented to a dress shop.

Mike Walko's Ballroom Studio in Monroeville (a suburb of Pittsburgh, Pa) hosts a lively New Year's Eve Party 2013/2014.

                
                          
    Hello to all the numerous fans of this website, welcome to the first feature in 2014!!!

       The short review of the New Year's Eve Party 2013/2014 - in a nutshell - it was good. The small but well-established ballroom studio in Monroeville, Pa - the suburb of Pittsburgh, Pa - held a lively and fun - New Year's Eve Party on Tues. Dec.31 - 2013. The good feature of the event - much appreciated by all of us who don't like to "flush" the proverbial, hard-earned bucks - down the toilet - was the reasonable price of the ticket in addition to bringing a dish to share.
      The studio provided champagne toast at midnight, terrific ballroom dance music system plus - in addition to the dishes for the food - came the kitchen to fix the snacks. Even though their New Year's Eve party favors were skimpy - the studio owner - Mickey - dressed sharp and was a gracious host - notwithstanding his advanced age and him - recovering from a recent surgery.
     The variety of people present made an interesting ingredient in making of a cool New Year's Eve evening. It turned out that the life of the party became an older lady - dressed "to kill" in a seductive manner with her dancing style in the same mode - a good dancer - nevertheless - whose beautiful daughter and a shy son-in-law - somehow did not mix in as well as the older lady but they seem to enjoy themselves. 

    Still - the older lady - kept all the best male dancers present - happy since they could make comments about her "free" dancing style to their younger, and more attractive partners while the older "superstar" for the evening continued to "dazzle" as she belted out "Felice Navidad" in a surprisingly pleasant voice. Not boasting or anything - but I had to help her with the Spanish lyrics since I know five languages very well.
     The best thing - though - about this New Year's Eve party of 2013/2014 - was that I - unexpectedly reconnected with a couple of old friends, great ballroom dancers whom I have not seen for a few years.
      Keep dancing ballroom in 2014 - everybody - so the New Year 2014 will be great for all of us!!!

                      Copyright@L. Hadley and Associates 2025

A note of explanation:

Mike Walko passed away - a few years ago but Pittsburgh, Pa. has several good dance studios for ballroom dancing. Please - consult Google.