by Michael “Buzz” Buzzelli, ‘Burgh Vivant.
Everyone was dancing in the dark at the 8th Annual Consol Energy Cosmopolitan Pittsburgh bash hosted by the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust Partner’s Board on Friday, July 11th.
Food from Cure, Grit & Grace, Root 174 and Round Corner Cantina were featuring specialty dishes. Round Corner’s seviche was party favorite. There was also plenty of whiskey to sample from Wigle Whiskey.
After dinner, party-goers were treated to music from Cait Cuneo Band, ukulele player Jody Perigo, and improvisational performers from the Arcade Comedy Theater. Cait Cuneo was giving out free CDs to all the lucky attendees. Congratulations to the lucky patrons who picked up a copy. Her voice was mellifluous. Emcee Jethro Nolen kept things moving. He and the Arcade Comedy crew were hilarious. The Nolens, with John Feightner played out a particularly funny sketch based on the Academy Awards, and Abby Fudor hosted a uproarious pseudo Dating Game show with Ben Mayer, Kristy Nolen, Liz Labacz, and Beth Ann Fogle.
After nine, things really got moving with DJ Adam Salter spinning tunes on the wide open spaces of the August Wilson Center, were the event took place.
The Dream Cream Team was scooping out ice cream, and there was a large array of desserts from various area restaurants. There was also plenty of popcorn from Pittsburgh Popcorn.
Patrons who didn’t feel like shaking their groove thing, played pinball or played dress up for a photo booth.
All sorts of people partied and fashioned ranged from outlandishly hip to cool and classy. Several “Pittsburgh Famous” faces were in the crowd. Samuel Badger, Natalie Bencivenga (from the Post Gazette’s Seen page), and ‘Burgh Vivant’s own Lonnie the Theater Lady were spotted on the dance floor.
Cosmopolitan Pittsburgh raised $70,000 to benefit the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust, and they did it with music, comedy, food and fun. Pittsburgh city councilman Tom Baker declared it July 11th Pittsburgh Cosmopolitan Day by special proclamation by the city.
Put it on your calendar in 2015, it’s one of the party’s of the year!
-MB.
