Help Kevin Sousa Fund His Ambitious Restaurant Concept in Braddock

Our 2011 Chef of the Year is looking to bring a community-rooted eatery to Braddock — but he needs your help.

 

Support this. Right now. Do it. Salt of the Earth chef/owner Kevin Sousa, our 2011 Chef of the Year, is capable of imaginable feats of culinary derring-do. Now he’s trying to harness his creativity and passion to give the community of Braddock a boost. Sousa has taken to Kickstarter to rally support for Superior Motors, an ambitious community restaurant and farm ecosystem project.

Sousa’s plan is to transform a space right in the heart of Braddock that used to house one of the nation’s first Chevrolet dealerships. The focus is on complete sustainability: The rooftop of the building already houses a 1,000-square-foot greenhouse, and it is one block from an urban farm that produces organic produce.
 

 

But this is about much more than sustainability. Because there are no restaurants currently in the community (even fast food), Sousa plans to offer a substantial discount for residents, as well as training and jobs for young people in the community.

Contributors have already pledged $21,000 to the Kickstarter, but it’s still short of the $250,000 goal. Back the project today. Do it.

 

#Smiles: Pittsburghers are a content bunch, says Jetpac

 

Perhaps you can chalk it up to the large rubber duck, yarn-bombed bridge, stellar Pirates season and/or creative eateries that dish out delicious, photo-worthy fare: Jetpac, an iPhone app, released recent data showing that Pittsburgh is the nation’s fifth-happiest metropolis. How did it arrive at such a conclusion? Well, it looked to Instagram, where Jetpac spotted innumerable pictures of smiling ’Burghers. We’d bet money that a large number of photos were taken with the beloved duck or somewhere inside PNC Park. But that’s beside the point.

With a new, improved setup on Route 28 and free holiday parking downtown on Saturdays this holiday season, we’re hoping locals continue to feel merry and bright.

 

#TV: CMU Drama students appear on the small screen

 

Last night's live "Sound of Music" primetime special was a point of pride for Pittsburghers from the local arts scene. Carnegie Mellon University School of Drama senior Michael Campayno played Rolf and alumnus Christian Borle portrayed the role of Max Detweiler. Point Park University alum Rob Ashford directed the program featuring Carrie Underwood.

This was Campayno’s small-screen debut, but Tony Award-winner Borle is no stranger to TV; previously, he starred in the NBC show "Smash." Ashford has been nominated for eight Tony awards and won in 2002 for choreographing “Thoroughly Modern Millie.”

 

 

#Props: 96.1 KISS Stuff-A-Bus toy drive breaks record yet again

 

This morning, radio personalities Mikey and Big Bob of 96.1 KISS wrapped their annual Toys for Totds drive, which broke last year’s record: The outpouring of community support was tremendous, resulting in the KISS team packing 42 school buses to the brim with new, unwrapped toys for children.
 

 

What’s happening this weekend?

 

• The Art Institute of Pittsburgh presents Steel Runway benefiting Allegheny County Camp Cadet Alumni. With designs from students, Coldwater Creek and Cache, there will be clothing to see for everyone. — Friday, 6:30p.m.

 

• Catch a screening of “Out of the Furnace,” shot here in Braddock, during its debut weekend.