The Definitive Guide to Sewickley

Of all the impressive things about  Sewickley, two interesting factoids stand out. One, there are more active library cards used at the classically renovated sandstone Sewickley Library than in all of Allegheny County. And two, legend has it that this is where the expression “Keeping up with he Joneses originated, when Mrs. Jones of Jones and Laughlin Steel kept adding onto her now demolished 100-room home in an area known for grand houses.

Located on the Ohio River 11 miles northwest of downtown Pittsburgh, the Village of Sewickley is a quaint, charming and highly walkable community with sidewalk and tree- lined streets and scores of stores, most independently owned. Parking is available in a metered lot accessible from an alley off Broad or the alley next to Pendleton clothiers on Beaver.  Street parking is metered, too, so bring lots of quarters since zealous meter maids intuitively know when yours expires.

(To see more about Sewickley, check out the Pop City home page this week for a neighborhood directory and more photos.)

Enter Sewickley from Route 65 by turning onto Broad Street at the original granite post office resurrected as Sweetwater Center for the Arts.  Retail and restaurants are clustered around the intersection of Broad and Beaver Street.  Sewickley merchants are a mixture of upscale and quirky. Many have owned the same stores for decades. Priding themselves on unique inventory and special orders, expect fun shopping but don’t expect bargains.

Although a BMW/Porsche dealership stands at the Sewickley Bridge entrance to the village, and 1984’s Preppy Handbook listed it as Pittsburgh’s paragon of prep, it’s more diverse  and eclectic than you might think.

Initially deeded as Depreciation Lands given to soldiers after the Revolutionary War, Sewickley (“sweet water”) became home to riverboat captains, then railroad barons. Incorporated in 1853, the village itself has a population of around 4000, swelling to over 12,000 if the other boroughs are counted.

Village residents can walk everywhere, from schools, stores, and  restaurants, to art galleries, the hospital, and the library. PAT buses stop along Beaver Street for downtown Pittsburgh commuters and the airport is just across the bridge over the Ohio River.

The blue ribbon Quaker Valley school district serves the area along with private Sewickley Academy, whose commuting students come from as far as Steubenville. The Sewickley Valley YMCA is enormously popular with a range of programs for all ages.The annual library fundraiser, “Savoring Sewickley” is one of the top events among many festivals and annual happenings that are well attended. Also well attended are the twenty churches in the area, including the Zen Center in Bell Acres.

In addition to the village housing stock of gingerbread Victorians, small farm houses and Georgian mansions in Sewickley and on into Edgeworth, the estates in Sewickley Heights are well worth a look.  Cloistered behind the stone walls lining Blackburn Road and beyond, keep an eye out for mounted fox hunters on Wednesday and Saturday mornings in the fall.

The Dining Scene
Lunch and dinner choices include The Sewickley Hotel, which hasn’t actually been a hotel for decades – with its antique bar, good traditional food and smokefree atmosphere.  The Sharp Edge Bistro, hidden between a parking lot and the alley behind the post office, serves addictive sweet potato fries as well as more upscale offerings, Try their “Beer Taster Rack”, a selection of four sample-sized draft beers from their vast selection of microbrews from the U.S. and all over the world; including seaweed, gluten free, and organic.

The Sewickley Café is a  community staple with its serene rear tented patio. You can’t go wrong with their soups, salads, sandwiches and baked goods as the filled tables indicate.

Eric Assandu left the Hollywood Hills to open Café des Amis on tiny one way (off Broad) Division Street, and Francophiles are happy he did.  Monseiur Assandu offers authentic French food to dine in or carry out, but closes at 4:00. (That's him above in the big Pop City masthead photo this week.)

For a snack, try the Kittanning made gelato at Jim Dioguardi’s Sewickley Confectionary or head for tiny Ice Works on Walnut, an institution in the neighborhood. Open seasonally, the sliding glass window offers over thirty kinds of shaved ice flavors. You’ll easily spot it on a summer day by the Labrador Retrievers and Portuguese Water Dogs slurping their own containers of unflavored ice.

All year round you can get a “sugar high” at Doug Alpern’s one of a kind, old-fashioned Village Candy, a must stop. In addition to vintage candy, Doug offers monthly evening tastings from his cooler of birch, ginger and root beers, crème sodas, and sarsaparilla. And don’t forget to take home something from Fondi’s Market. Every community should be so lucky.  Paul Fondi and Yvonne Kass supply a wide range of fresh water and salt water fish, free range chicken, frozen shellfish, deli meats, specialty condiments and tangy amberjack spread.

Shopping
The Antiquarian Shop sells Baker furniture and high end reproductions. Or for antique silver, try Sewickley Traditions.

Clothing Boutiques
Monday’s Child's classic childrens’ merchandise includes brother and sister outfits, baby clothes and shoes. No polyester here. The shocking pink walls of Angie Pansmith’s Perfect Boutique inside the Nickelodeon Mall surround a selection of young and hip, jeans, tops and accessories. Soho features casual but elegant clothing, jewelry, outerwear and accessories. You can also adopt a pet through the ads in their window. Bailey and Bailey is situated across from the Rolls Royce dealership at 425 Walnut. You can’t be too rich or too thin to shop here.  Check for sales.

Generations have purchased their scarab bracelets and strings of pearls from Thomas Jewelers with its large selection of estate jewelry. For contemporary bling, the Gordon family, local residents and owners of the venerable ORR’s Jewelers in Squirrel Hill built a brand new branch at the south end of Beaver Street.

Eva Means and her daughter, Melissa Cook, make sure that everything from The Gfit Corner, especially their chic aluminum serving pieces, is in perfect taste.
 
In color splashed Cheers, youll find three floors of toile pillows, decoupage, furniture, ceramics, barware, and a bed and baby boutique.  At Moxie, check out the fabulous picture frames that can be special ordered for any occasion or décor.

Classy Crafts
Yarns Unlimited features the best yarn selection in Western PA, period. It’s a feast of a selection, worth the trip. At the Clay Café inside the Nickelodeon Mall, choose a piece of pottery, paint it yourself, and within the week it will be glazed, fired, and ready to take home.  At Sewickley Bead Company (with a location on the Southside) make your own necklaces, bracelets, and eyeglass holders.  For needlepoint, The Porcupine carries surprise projects like clogs and luggage tags.

Multi-strand pearls perpetually adorns the mannequin in the window of Nina Fontana’s St. Michele Fine Linens. That classically elegant vibe pervades her European and US- made bath choices inside.  After over twenty years in Shadyside, a second Feathers store opened in Sewickley offering sumptuous European bed linens, Scandia Down, novelty pillows and area rugs. Baby Feathers, too.  

But wait. There's more.
Don’t miss the Sewickley Spa which is a destination spot for many Pittsburghers. As spas go, it's a cut above. Also on the don't miss list: two unique stores hidden up tiny Locust Place off Beaver. Cuttings is more than a florist, occupying a big old house with welcoming front porch. You might decide to live there.

Across the street find Habitat with its overwhelming choice of decorative plumbing and hardware— cabinet pulls, decorative and farmhouse sinks, and faucets from rustic to contemporary.

You've got to love a shop called Spoiled Chics which has a cool website which lists some fun girlfriend excursions. Check out their purses and jewelry. Then explore Pie in the Sky Jewelry for antique and handmade pieces. Fun Buy the Pound on Beaver specializes in building toys such as Legos which you can buy by the pound.

Bringing spiritual healing alternatives to the community, Open Mind Bookstore has tarot readings, Reiki massage sessions, classes and workshops,  and action figures of Jesus. Papier carries classic stationery as well as calligraphy service. Have something you have always wanted to have made into a lamp?  Lamps and Such can get it done. Get your children’s gifts and specialty toys, party supplies and Steelers stuff at the fun and festive Party Ants.

Yes, it's hard to pack in during one visit. Make a plan to return. The charm of this village is on full display in the fall, a great time to visit.

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Captions, from top: Doug Alpern at the Village Candy; Municipal Building; Sewickley Hotel; Don Reinhardt jr. at the Sewickley Cafe; Jay Miller's Antiquarian Shop; Broad Street; Party Ants.

Photographs copyright Brian Cohen