Onlyinpgh is a resource dedicated to showcasing the unique places, sights and local flavor our city has to offer. From the corner store with great pierogies to the grandeur of the inclines, Pittsburgh is full of unique sights, smells, stores, tastes and people, and our goal is to present them in all their glory. In essence, yinz know it when yinz see it.

Summer 2010

Onlyinpgh started as a photoblog in the Spring of 2009. This summer, onlyinpgh has been redesigned and is expanding its content by providing:

• Profiles of the local businesses and organizations that help make this town a great place to live, work and visit.  The goal is to give some background on the business, the people running it, and the unique features that make it part of our local scene.  If you know of or are a part of any organization that would like to be featured, tell us at submit@onlyinpgh.com.
• Weekly emails containing events, specials, sales, etc (we call them all “happenings”) — basically anything we hear about that seems like it would be of interest to our readers.  To sign up, go to our Happenings page, and if you hear about something you think we should include, send it to happenings@onlyinpgh.com.
• And, of course, local photos.  We’ll continue to share our best shots of Pittsburgh, as well as yours.  Send any photos to submit@onlyinpgh.com and we’ll put them up! Please make sure to let us know who to credit it to, your website (if applicable), the location in Pittsburgh/western PA, and a caption.

Looking Ahead

With a beta launch targeted for Fall 2010, onlyinpgh is planning to change the way people find things to do in Pittsburgh.  This summer we’re developing an online social network based on a map interface that will visually connect people to what is going on around town, allow people to virtually explore different parts of the city and facilitate direct interaction between those looking for things to do and the people and places  providing things to do.  Visual features will allow you to see what places are hot, where your friends are going and what places have the best attractions. Onlyinpgh will answer questions like:

• What’s going on in Pittsburgh?
• How many people are going to X?
• Are any of my friends going?
• Where are the best specials?

And, most importantly:

• What should I do tonight?

But…why are we doing this?

Onlyinpgh is unabashedly pro-local and pro-Pittsburgh.  Spending money locally is not only better for our economy, it is better for our environment and our sense of place.  Local businesses and organizations give Pittsburgh its unique character, and we want to do our part in promoting them.

Particularly during the last few decades, small local businesses have been taking a hit.  Without the resources and marketing capabilities that national chains have, it’s increasingly difficult for small businesses to compete.  It’s harder for a small store to get the word out about their unique offerings and it’s harder for consumers to hear about their offerings. Ultimately, this leads to a lose-lose situation.

By providing a tool that makes it easier for small businesses and organizations to get the word out and easier for consumers to find the things they are looking for, onlyinpgh will make a difference. Our goal is to help improve the local economy and make our local character more accessible to visitors and newcomers, thereby making a positive impact on the city as a while. For these reasons we consider ourselves to be a social enterprise.