Saturday, August 30, 2008

September 27, National Entertainer, Phil Ventura at Carol's to Benefit Miracles for Marissa

The historic West End has a heart in Carol Carmichael of Carol’s Restaurant & Hometown Sports Deli. Folks around here know you can have a generous home cooked meal at an everyday price, plus a world-class smile and greeting from Carol at no extra charge... But now She’s added to that a mission... which is to raise funds for a phenomenal young lady... a very spunky and brave little girl named Marissa, who is struggling with the complications caused by Spina Bifida... the “Miracles for Marissa” campaign is an ongoing fund-raiser hosted at Carols (410 South Main St. in Pittsburgh historic West End) and powered by area Musicians and Friends who share their talents for the benefit of this sweet and delightful Girl they have all come to know and love.


Along with all of the challenges or recent surgery, the Webb family has had a fire destroying the first floor of their home. A local hometown guy who has not been around in years discovered Miracles for Marissa and has taken the mission to heart.




Phil Ventura to appear in a day long telethon type fundraiser for Miracles for Marissa.

That’s right... the same fella who played and sang the hits at Langley High Dances with his Rock Band 1969-1970’s... member of the Class of ’71 at Holy Innocents High... veteran of 1001 gigs at places like West Park Fireman’s Club, the Avalon and Gateway Party Liner...

Ventura is coming September 27th
2 Carol’s for 3 shows
His first public appearance to the
Tri-State Area in over 2 Decades

In keeping with the diverse musical and ethnic heritage of his Hometown,
He will perform 3 distinctly separate shows on September 27th
12:00 - 2:00 cool Jazz, hot Swing plus Sinatra
5:30 - 7:30 Continental Dinner party plus Dino & Contemporary Euro Pop
8:00- 10:00 Golden Oldies through Hippie era Rock and Roll and beyond!

Our Jazz Luncheon will include all your favorites from “Take 5” through the complete
“An American in Paris” into fully orchestrated Big Band Classics... Ventura sings from the Great American Songbook like the Sinatra/Nelson Riddle arrangement of “Under my Skin”

For Dinner, our music will reflect Ventura’s travels in Europe, and the Music he brought home from Italy, Germany, and France, to go with some ethnically complementary food special Carol is cooking up! Maybe he’ll sing some Dino... even in Italian!

After 8:00 we’ll return to our roots and Rock Out! Let’s remember those songs we Laughed and Loved to as Teen’s... awesome local Dreams: “I Only have Eyes for You” hot hits: Darrin’s “Dream Lover” great classics: Redding’s “Dock of the Bay” on through some hippie era Songs that will help you remember the thoughts, hopes and ambitions
we shared during that amazing period of American History.

Friday, August 1, 2008

Carol's Customers Two of Pittsburgh's Finest Inspire New Feature on Positively Pittsburgh Live

At Your Service and On Your Side, Pittsburgh's Finest

Immediate Release, Pittsburgh, July 15, 2008 Well sometimes we start a segment on Positively Pittsburgh Live and then we fill it but this time we are starting a segment because we have some great people to fill it. Last week-end was the Miles for Marissa Bike Run and Family Fun complete with block party in the Historic West End. In order to block off streets in the City of Pittsburgh you must have a permit and to get that permit you must have police security which you have to pay for.

I understand the policy and I understand the security reason but the price was a little exorbitant for a fundraiser intended to make money for a young lady, Marissa Web, who is preparing for her 42nd surgery for spina bifida related illness. Enter two customers of Carol's Restaurant and Hometown Sports Deli on Main St. in the West End. They just happened to be customers who were also members of Pittsburgh's Finest. Officer Ed Dolly from Zone 1 in the North Side and Sergeant Kathy Alexander from Zone 6 in the West End requested time off for the event and volunteered their services.

This is a great example of the Pittsburgh Police Force being not only, "At Your Service" but "On Your Side." Mayor Luke Ravenstahl and the Pittsburgh City Council need to know that not only do they have great policeman in the city of Pittsburgh but great humanitarians also.

Both officers provided a safe and congenial environment for the Miles for Marissa Bike Run and Block Party in the Historic West End on Sunday, July 11, 2008.

Next Miles for Marissa and Oktoberfest will be held in October, listen and watch at Positively Pittsburgh Live Alliance for date and details. We will be adding the Hometown Heroes segment to Positively Pittsburgh Live TalkCast on Monday, July 23, 2008. You can listen in at: http://www.talkshoe.com/talkshoe/web/tscmd/tc/18520

"The Dish" Writes about the Dishes at Carol's

July 31, 2008
The Dish on Dish: Carol's Restaurant
A West End jewel

by Emilia Boehm

Though not exactly new (they’ll soon celebrate their three-year anniversary) Carol’s Restaurant in the West End provided these Dish correspondents with a new experience in local cuisine. Whilst playing hooky from our respective workplaces, we made a short mid-morning trip across the West End Bridge for breakfast.

The West End Circle, of course, is under construction until the end of time (or the bankruptcy of the Commonwealth, whichever comes first); but don’t let a little construction scare you – it’s still a much shorter trip than you think. Carol’s is beyond worth any detour - very affordable, diverse menu, and Carol herself is one of those sweet and friendly types that you just can’t help but love (well, you could help it, but you’d probably be a real jagoff).

The restaurant serves classic diner fare - breakfast, lunch and dinner, and, though we were too stuffed to verify it, the menu also advertises a selection of pies and ice cream for dessert. For our breakfast, the shorter correspondent chose the strawberry pancakes, and received three ginormous, fluffy pillows of buttery goodness, with a side of bacon that was happily eaten by her companion. My choice was the Western Omelet, which was a hefty eggstravaganza with green peppers and onions, and an even heftier side of home fries (made with real, skin-on potatoes) and toast. As for décor, well, the folks at Carol’s are Stiller fans, so there’s a goodly amount of the Black and Gold around, along with many great photos of family and friends (including the small selection of cast and crew from the Kevin Smith movie that just wrapped in the ‘Burgh.)

As the happy little wine bottle on the menu suggests, Carol’s is BYOB, so you can bring a few bottles if you’re there for lunch or dinner (or breakfast, I’m not here to judge). Carol told us that in the fall they’ll be doing weekend Jam Nights with local bands, but don’t wait until then to try some great home-cooked food. Go now, and by the time you leave, Carol will make you feel like you were visiting old friends.

To walk off some of the extra potatoes after breakfast, take a walk and visit some of the new art galleries that are popping up on and near Main Street.

Carol’s Restaurant

410 S. Main Street, West End., 412-921-2627

Go here to view wonderful photos of Carol's Restaurant

July 31, 2008 in Food/Restaurant reviews, Scoop du Jour, The Dish on Dish | Permalink


Please read more at this great media site for Pittsburgh at www.PittsburghDish.com