Jeremy Waldrup
Photo by John Altdorfer.
Photo by John Altdorfer. All photos courtesy of the Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership.

Since joining the Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership as President and CEO in 2011, Jeremy Waldrup has worked to create cool and innovative programs that help implement a vision for a vibrant downtown—such as the Rooftop Shindig, Project Pop Up, Market Square Farmers Market, public art initiatives, and more.

Monday, July 11

I’ll start the week off with an operations meeting with our clean and street team. Our clean and street teams provide supplemental sanitation services and outreach to the homeless community of Downtown.

Jeremy at the PDP’s Annual State of Downtown Pittsburgh event at the new Tower 260.
Jeremy at the PDP’s Annual State of Downtown Pittsburgh event at the new Tower 260.

The afternoon will be dedicated to transportation, as I am attending the Regional Transportation Alliance of Southwestern Pennsylvania‘s “Future of Mobility Forum” at the Kelly Strayhorn Theater. This forum will be examining how technology is transforming transportation and will inspire good conversation on how we can leverage new technologies, particularly those being developed in Pittsburgh, to improve transportation opportunities for our region.

After the conference, I hope to join a few colleagues to debrief on the forum over a few drinks, hopefully at the Ace Hotel.

Tuesday July 12

I will start the day with an internal meeting to discuss upcoming events and activations. This year is jam-packed with opportunities to enjoy Downtown Pittsburgh. I am really excited about a new project we have been spearheading with the Greater Pittsburgh Arts Council called the Re:NEW Festival. The monthlong festival will be a celebration of creative reuse and sustainability and we are still raising funds to support this exciting new initiative. Of course, at the PDP we never stop talking about the holidays and planning is well underway for Light Up Night and the holiday season.

I am planning a quick happy hour at Hotel Monaco’s Rooftop Biergarten with some colleagues as we gear up for a big weekend. After that, I will head home to spend some time with my kids. Tuesday nights are great because I have the kids to myself and we will likely take our new puppy, Theo, on a walk and let the kids get out of the house as my wife Wesley will host a meeting with her team from an education technology start-up she co-founded, Project Playground.

Wednesday July 13

I begin today with some committee meetings of the PDP. We convene several committees of stakeholders monthly to discuss a variety of issues. Today’s meeting is focused on Cleanliness and Safety. We also have a weekly staff meeting that we are beginning to hold in Market Square; it’s a great way to get out of the office and support our efforts to activate the fantastic public space.

Jeremy dining with former Warhol Museum director Tom Sokolowski at Downtown’s G&G Noodle Bar.
Jeremy dining with former Warhol Museum director Tom Sokolowski at Downtown’s G&G Noodle Bar.

Next up is a meeting with David White, the executive director of Pittsburgh Bike Share. I serve as vice chair of the board and am excited about plans to expand the system. We are reaching out to the corporate community to build support and better leverage the very generous support we have received from the philanthropic community and the City of Pittsburgh.

I will end the day at a community town hall (it is free and open to the public at Point Park University; RSVP is required) that we helped plan with the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police. The event will allow Downtown stakeholders to hear from Police Chief McLay about his team’s efforts to enhance public safety in Downtown Pittsburgh.

Unfortunately, I will not be checking out Justin Bieber at Consol. As much as I hate to admit it, I do like his music . . .

Thursday, July 14

Today we begin preparations for Picklesburgh, which will take over the Rachel Carson Bridge all weekend. Today, you just might catch a glimpse of a giant Heinz Pickle flying over the Allegheny, it’s a really big dill.

Jeremy at Picklesburgh. Photo by Renee Rosensteel.
Jeremy at Picklesburgh. Photo by Renee Rosensteel.

I am co-chairing a Bicentennial Celebration Committee that will be commissioning a public art installation on the Rachel Carson Bridge that will kick off on Light Up Night. While the artist hasn’t been announced, we are really excited about the concept and can’t wait to cap off a year of celebrations with this also temporary public art installation.

I hope to have a quick date night and grab dinner at Spork, our new neighborhood favorite.

Friday, July 15 & Saturday July 16

Today is all about pickles and that will continue to Saturday. Friday will involve a live segment on KDKA’s Pittsburgh Today Live and then I will be hosting a reporter from The Washington Post who is covering the event. I am also excited to help judge the much-anticipated Pickle Juice Drinking Contest on Saturday!

Sunday, July 17

Although I should be licking my pickled wounds there will be no rest for the weary. The kids will be heading south to hang with the grandparents and we are planning to head to Schenley Park for the Pittsburgh Vintage Grand Prix. While I have been in Pittsburgh for five years, this will be my first time at this event and I can’t wait. On my to do list is to restore my grandfather’s Mercury Comet and I can’t wait to get some inspiration.

Jennifer has worked at the Mattress Factory, Brooklyn Museum of Art and Dahesh Museum of Art and is co-author of Pittsburgh Signs Project: 250 Signs of Western Pennsylvania. She also is co-coordinator of Handmade Arcade. Musically, she is in a band called The Garment District and is a founding member of Brooklyn's The Ladybug Transistor.