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Thursday, June 28, 2012

Partner Spotlight of the Month: Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh & More!

Every month here on our blog, we'll be highlighting one of our non-profit partnerships. This month, learn a little more about the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh.

While Eat’n Park has focused much of its giving towards fostering healthier lifestyles for kids and their families, there are many other causes we’re passionate about - one of those being literacy! And we don’t just mean reading the Eat’n Park menu…

In Pittsburgh, Eat’n Park had teamed up with the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh in many facets. With 19 locations throughout Pittsburgh and Allegheny County, the mission of CLP is “to engage our community in literacy and learning.” They’ve been doing just that, since 1895. Not only does this library system contain almost any title you could ever dream of, they also offer exceptional programming for kids, teens, the blind and handicapped, or anyone looking to dive into a great work of writing.

But that’s not the only library we support! In 2011, Eat’n Park supported over 40 libraries in the neighborhoods we serve through corporate donations. Another 65 libraries received restaurant level donations from Eat’n Park. Smiley and the Cookie Cruiser have attended library events as well – turns out cookies love to read!

In all that we do for our neighbors, Eat’n Park’s focus is always the same – we want to take care of people. By supporting local libraries and their reading programs, we hope that we are helping to create brighter futures for readers of all ages.

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Say Hello to Hello Bistro!

The wait is over…it’s time to introduce you to our newest addition to the Eat’n Park family: Hello Bistro! Located on Forbes Avenue in Oakland, Hello Bistro is a casual, street-front restaurant designed to incorporate two of Eat’n Park’s favorite menu items: the salad bar and famous (and award-winning!) burgers. Hello Bistro was also designed to fit in urban areas where we can’t fit a traditional Eat’n Park.


Hello Bistro: 3605 Forbes Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA


So, what’s Hello Bistro all about? Well, they’re like our sassy cousin – they’ve got some classic Eat’n Park favorites, with more than a few new twists thrown in…plus a little bit of attitude for good measure!

 Get your salad wrapped or chopped!

Let’s start with the classics. You can find our Superburgers, Ranch Dressing, Potato Soup, Coffee, and of course Mini Smiley Cookies at Hello Bistro.

As for some of the twists…Hold on to your seats ladies and gentlemen: Hello Bistro serves beer and wine! So for any of you who have always wanted to enjoy a nice cold beer with your Superbuger, Hello Bistro is your place.

Hello Bistro also serves up an extensive salad bar featuring 55 toppings. The best part: whether you get 5 or 15 toppings, the price is the same! What can we say…making people smile must just be in our blood!

 Just a few of the 55 toppings available on Hello Bistro's monstrous salad bar.

In addition to burgers and salads, Hello Bistro offers up grilled sandwiches, breakfast (available all day), and milkshakes & floats. We are super excited about this new addition to Eat’n Park Hospitality Group, and we hope you’ll give it a try. Learn more at http://www.hellobistro.com/, or join Hello Bistro’s email club today!

HELLO BISTRO

412-687-8787
3605 FORBES AVENUE
PITTSBURGH, PA 15213

Everyday: 7 AM – 10 PM


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Wednesday, June 27, 2012

Celebrating Smiley's Birthday at the Carnegie Science Center

Cookie Monster said, “Sometimes me think, ‘What is love?’ And then me think, ‘Love is what last chocolate cookie is for.’ Me give up the last chocolate cookie for you.” Eat’n Park’s Team Smiley gave up the last of our Smiley Cookies to a few hundred children and families, last Saturday at the Carnegie Science Center.


The Science Center hosted Smiley’s 26th birthday bash, where visitors found much more than just cookies! As children and their families enjoyed exhibits the museum had to offer, they were invited to invent their very own style of Smiley cookie at our cookie decorating station. Birthday hats, card signing and stickers were a must as we celebrated in style with Smiley.


After going through many bags of icing and 60 dozen blank and decorated Smiley Cookies, we all paid a tribute to Smiley by singing happy birthday and indulging in quite a tasty birthday cake for his 26 years of smiles. Smiley’s party was a blast – Team Smiley was glad to have celebrated in a special place with such special people!

Ari
Team Smiley

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Wednesday, June 20, 2012

Man Up Father's Day 5/10K

Team Smiley was invited to appear at the Man Up Father’s Day 5/10k this past Sunday. The three thousand runners, walkers, and family members who came to demonstrate their support for prostate cancer research and to celebrate their fathers humbled us, and the tone of the event made all participants gain a greater appreciation for family.


At the race, we passed out special Father’s Day Smiley Cookies to families. We handed out all of our 84 dozen cookies and were a popular stop for attendees. Our cookies weren't the only draw, though; Smiley also proved to be a huge hit with children!


Overall, we had a great day and were proud to support this important event. Thanks to everyone who attended!

Katie
Team Smiley

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Come out on June 30th and Roll for a Cause

Every year, our company rallies together to raise money for the local children’s hospitals and charities in the communities we serve. In our restaurants, our “Caring for Kids” campaign takes place over the holidays, featuring special events and fundraisers in each of our locations. Our other divisions get in the act, too – and not just over the holidays!

Parkhurst Dining, our corporate and campus dining division, annually holds a motorcycle run and classic car show benefitting the Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh Free Care Fund. This year, the event will take place on Saturday, June 30th, and we’d love for you to come out and join us!


For just $20, participants can ride their classic cars or motorcycles from West Mifflin to Washington, and receive a complimentary picnic-style cookout. Or, if you have someone riding on the back of your motorcycle, it’s only $35 for the both of you! And if you aren’t into riding, you can stop by the picnic to eat, have fun, and support a great cause for just $15.

The ride begins at 10:30 AM at the Hot Metal Harley Davidson in West Mifflin, PA and ends at the Steel City Harley Davidson in Washington, PA. For more information, click here.

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Monday, June 18, 2012

99-cent kids’ meals are back for Smiley’s Birthday!

This promotion ended on July 27, 2012.

Yep, you heard that right! It’s time for Smiley’s birthday celebration, and that means that all kids’ meals* are just 99-cents, now through July 27th. That’s not all though. As usual, Smiley is celebrating in style. All kids who visit during his party will receive a special Smiley treat bag containing a Smiley tattoo, sticker, wristband, and of course, a Smiley Cookie!

We’ve also added a fun new twist to Smiley’s Party – a coloring contest! Stop in to any Eat’n Park to get a coloring sheet, where kids can illustrate how they like to stay active. One winner from every restaurant will receive a Backyard Activity Kit, filled with all the makings of a fun, active summer – a basketball, jump rope, chalk, soccer ball, hula hoop, wiffle ball and bat, football, Frisbee, beach ball, and sunscreen.

Plus, one lucky grand prize winner will take home four Smiley bikes, so the whole family can stay active together.

Additionally, the birthday boy will be making appearances at many of our locations - just click here to see if and when he’ll be visiting YOUR Eat’n Park. Kids can personally wish Smiley a happy birthday, as well as decorate their very own Smiley Cookie.

Smiley will also be out and about in Pittsburgh. On June 23rd, he will be celebrating at the Carnegie Science Center - stop by from 11:30-1:30, when children will receive half off the price of admission with the purchase of an adult ticket. Later that day, Smiley will be rooting on the Buccos after he throws out the first pitch at the Pirates’ game. All those in attendance will receive a scratch & win ticket for Eat’n Park! Finally, if you haven’t been to the zoo yet this summer, you should stop by during Eat’n Park Family Week, June 30-July 8. It’s sure to be a roaring good time!

*99-cent kids' meals not valid on breakfast and brunch buffets or on takeout. Guest check must include one adult meal. Kids' treat bags available while supplies last.

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Friday, June 15, 2012

2012 Eat'n Park Scholarship Winners

We care about our team members. A lot. Which is why every year we grant over $50,000 in academic scholarships to students who are working for us. We believe that making an investment in our team members is essential to the growth of our company.

This year we gave out 59 scholarships to college students and graduating high school seniors. Best of luck to the following recipients who will be starting their college careers this fall:
  • Aliecia Anderson, Whitehall Restaurant - West Mifflin High School
  • Benjamin Balish, Hampton Restaurant - Pine Richland High School
  • Pamela Bonnett, Penn Hills Restaurant - Penn Hills High School
  • Caitlyn Braun, McKnight Road Restaurant - Shaler High School
  • Sarah Bruff, Austintown, OH Restaurant - Austintown Fitch High School
  • Alyson Burchell, North Versailles Restaurant - East Allegheny High School
  • Leah DeSantis, North Huntingdon Restaurant - Norwin High School
  • Nina Italiano, Greensburg Restaurant - Hempfield Area High School
  • Laura Littell, Weirton, WV Restaurant - Brooke High School
  • Ashley Martin, Wheeling, WV Restaurant - Wheeling Central Catholic
  • Stephanie McGee, McKnight Road Restaurant - Shaler High School
  • Kenneth Petris, Canonsburg Restaurant - Canon McMillian High School
  • Samantha Reich, New Castle Restaurant - Lawrence County Career & Tech Center
  • Karly Sarver, Austintown, OH Restaurant - Jackson Milton
  • Samantha Szumigalski, Franklin Park Restaurant - Eden Christian Academy
  • Leeza Tokarski, Waterfront Restaurant - Obama Academy
Congratulations to ALL of our scholarship winners!


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Tuesday, June 12, 2012

Meet Team Smiley!

Summer is here, and the fun is just beginning for our newest interns: Team Smiley! This enthusiastic crew is about to start their summer-long journey across the tri-state area, where they’ll be visiting fundraisers, festivals, races, and other community events from now through the fall.

Where Team Smiley goes, fun follows. Click here to see when they’ll be visiting your neighborhood, then stop by with the family to meet Smiley and enjoy a free Smiley Cookie – or even decorate one yourself!

All summer long, you’ll be able to read about Team Smiley’s adventures here on our blog. And, if you happen to cross paths with them at an event, be sure to check our Photo Gallery to find your photo!

So, you probably want to know a little more about these fresh new faces. Luckily, we’ve got the scoop. Read on!

Left to right: Katie, Alicia, Anthony, Ashley, Ari

Alicia
Hello! My name's Alicia and I attend Duquesne University of the Holy Spirit. I'm a senior in the A. J. Palumbo School of Business, and my concentration is in Marketing. As a new member of Team Smiley, there are countless things that I'm looking forward to this summer; some of which include traveling around with a great group of people every weekend, meeting and getting to know Eat'n Park guests, performing services for the community, and gaining experience in a successful, local business. Above all of those, the thing I'm looking forward to the most is gaining experience specifically within event planning and promoting, since that is my intended career path. Outside of Eat'n Park, I like to be a nerd by reading fantasy novels, such as: Lord of the Rings and Game of Thrones. I also like to spend my time outside with my cats, swimming, playing volleyball, and attending concerts around Pittsburgh. In conclusion, my favorite thing about Eat'n Park is the culture. The motto around the office is "Work hard. Play Hard.", and that's exactly what we do.

Anthony
My name is Anthony, and this fall, I am going to be a Junior Marketing major at Saint Vincent College. I cannot wait to attend all the events throughout the summer, and officially become “Cookie Certified.” In my spare time, I love to cook, eat, read, workout, and jet ski. This past winter, I learned how to ski, and I am now officially addicted to the slopes. Also, I am definitely the biggest foodie you will ever meet. There is not a single food I do not like and will not eat. I can honestly say that my favorite thing about Eat ‘n Park, besides the Fried Zucchini, is the fact that everyone loves seeing smiling faces, and when you run into an Eat ‘n Park employee, you are guaranteed to find a smiling face.

Ari
Hi, I'm Ari. I graduated from Duquesne University and majored in Advertising and Graphic Design. There are many perks to working on Team Smiley, but I'm most looking forward to contributing to community events, developing more knowledge on events and promotions, and distributing as well as eating as many Smiley Cookies as I can. While I'm not on the road with Team Smiley, I'm working on freelance graphic design projects and as a production assistant to help a team of my friends with their production company. In my spare time, I enjoy art, movies, running, rock climbing and traveling. My favorite things about Eat'n Park are the Original Breakfast Smile and chocolate milkshakes, and the company the Eat'n Park staff keeps at any time of the day!

Ashley
My name is Ashley and I am a senior at Penn Sate majoring in Journalism. I really enjoy playing sports and being outside during the summer. I am so excited about this internship because Team Smiley gets to meet tons of Eat'n Park guests and make them happy by giving them Smiley Cookies! My favorite thing about Eat'n Park (besides the Strawberry Pie) is how everyone who works there treats you like family. Guests are able to enjoy great food and service every time they come into the restaurant.

Katie
Hi, my name is Katie and I will be a junior at Elon University in the fall. I am passionate about community service, international travel, cheerleading, and leadership. This summer, I will work with my team to leave a positive lasting impact on Eat'n Park by incorporating social media to attract a young adult audience. And my absolute favorite thing about Eat'n Park is potato soup day every Wednesday and Sunday!

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Monday, June 11, 2012

Team Smiley Visits Special Olympics Summer Games

Team Smiley veterans have raved to this year’s team about one of the greatest events of the summer. It wasn’t until this past Saturday that we experienced this first hand.

The Special Olympics of Pennsylvania gathered at Pennsylvania State University this weekend to participate in a “life-changing movement of people helping people.” Team Smiley discovered the humility of the athletes at the Special Olympics Summer Games, and how they truly live by the Athlete Oath, “Let me win. But if I cannot win, let me be brave in the attempt.”
Smiley poses with members of one team participating in the Special Olympics

At our Smiley Cookie decorating tent, athletes shared their optimism, stories of their games - whether they were wins or losses - and their courage, which made us Team Smiley members believe in all that is right with the human spirit. This experience echoes the mission of the Special Olympics, and we now understand why the athletes in years past have left a lasting impact on our team members. Their memorable personalities have warmed our hearts and have uplifted us. We are grateful for the opportunity to meet and bring smiles to over a thousand athletes of every age.

Smiley and the athletes enjoy a little dancing!

You can be certain that we'll pass on what a wonderful experience we had at the Special Olympics, continuing the tradition of telling future Team Smiley members about one of the greatest events of our summer!

Katie
Team Smiley

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Friday, June 8, 2012

Eat'n Park in the news!

With all of the exciting new things happening at Eat'n Park Hospitality Group, we've been in the news several times lately.  Wondering what all the buzz is about? Here's what you missed:



Pittsburgh Magazine: The Changing Face of Eat'n Park
In November, we opened The Porch at Schenley, a new concept in Pittsburgh's Oakland neighborhood. This month, we'll be opening another new concept (read more about that below).  These new additions are just the latest steps in the evolution of Eat'n Park.  From humble beginnings as a car-hop restaurant in 1949, we've continued to grow and change with the times, all the while retaining the core values that make us who we are.  Click here to read Pittsburgh Magazine's take on how we've grown.



Pittsburgh Post-Gazette: Eat'n Park Adds Bistro Concept to Restaurant Brand
Our newest concept, Hello Bistro, is set to open at the end of June. A fast-casual restaurant with subtle ties to some of Eat'n Park's core items (think Salad Bar and Superburgers), Hello Bistro will serve up a fresh twist on salads, burgers, sandwiches, and more. Though the new concept shares a few similarities with Eat'n Park, one very noticeable difference availability of beer & wine.  Click here to see what else the Post-Gazette had to say. 

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Monday, June 4, 2012

Summer Specials are here at Eat’n Park!

Summer weather is rolling in, and at Eat’n Park, we’re welcoming the flavors of the season: Fresh, fruity, and fantastic! You might just find a new favorite among these specials, available everyday throughout the summer.

Additionally, if you’re a lover of all things between bread, you won’t want to miss our “7 Days, 7 Deals, 7 Dollars” specials. We’re featuring a different burger, sandwich, or wrap every day of the week. From favorites like our Buffalo Chicken Wrap to new items like the Over Easy Cheeseburger, we’ve got 7 days of deliciousness. Click here to read all about it and plan your next visit.

And, from June 18 through July 27th, we'll be celebrating Smiley's Birthday Party! That means 99-cent kids' meals, as well as a special birthday treat bag for all kids under 10.  Click here to read more!

Finally, without further ado, here are our tantalizing new summer specials … for breakfast, lunch, dinner and dessert!

For lunch and dinner:
Superburger Sliders
Smiley Cookies taste great in a mini-version, so we’ve applied that logic to our famous Superburger! Three sliders to share - or keep all to yourself. $4.99

Superfruit Fusion Salad
Superfruit, super fresh! Fruity blend of spinach and mixed greens topped with julienne grilled chicken, fresh blueberries, dried cranberries, glazed pecans, carrots and cucumbers. Topped with Açaí Vinaigrette and served with our homemade zucchini bread. $7.99

Classic Fruit Salad
A sweet and juicy medley of six of the season's finest fruits with a scoop of sherbet or cottage cheese and our exclusive creamy dipping sauce. Served with fresh-baked zucchini bread. $7.99

Grilled Chicken and Strawberry Salad
Julienned slices of grilled chicken breast, served on a bed of crisp mixed greens and tender spinach. Topped with freshly sliced California strawberries, sliced almonds, and our warm poppy and sesame seed dressing. Served with zucchini bread. $7.99

Baked Chicken Bruschetta
Back by popular demand! Nothing tastes like summer more than fresh, juicy tomato bruschetta. Herb-crusted baked chicken breast topped with our homemade bruschetta, drizzled with a balsamic glaze, and finished with Asiago cheese. Featuring fresh, local tomatoes (in season). Served with your choice of two sides and homemade rolls. $8.99

Fuego Fries
This appetizer might just set your world on fire. Fried jalapeño peppers tossed with our crispy seasoned fries. Served with our homemade ranch dressing. $4.99

For breakfast:
Fresh Blueberry Crème Pancakes
Two fresh blueberry buttermilk or whole-grain pancakes filled with blueberry crème, topped with fresh blueberries, blueberry crème and streusel. Served with three pieces of bacon, sausage or turkey sausage. $5.99

Eat’n Smart Smile
A guilt-free way to start the day! Scrambled fat-free, no-cholesterol egg substitute, served with our new turkey sausage, a side of fresh fruit, and dry homemade six grain toast. Promise Spread available! $5.99

Chocolate Chip Pancakes
Three fluffy Chocolate Chip Pancakes are piled high and topped with whipped cream and MORE chocolate chips. $4.99 Also available with two pancakes for $4.29.

Breakfast Burrito
Olé! Scrambled eggs with chopped bacon, ham, and chorizo sausage; all stuffed into a tortilla with carmelized onions, Pepper Jack cheese, and chipotle sauce. Served with salsa on the side, and with breakfast potatoes of your choice. $6.99

For dessert:
Key Lime Pie
Cool and creamy - a taste of the tropics! Key Lime is our Pie of the Month for June, so get it for just $1.99 a slice or $8.99 for a whole pie!

New Floats and Milkshakes
What better way to chill out than with an old-fashioned float or milkshake? Stop in for a Root Beer or cola float, or try one of our tasty new shakes – Chocolate Caramel or Orange Creamsicle. Yum!

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7 days, 7 deals, 7 dollars – all summer long at Eat’n Park!

They say seven is a lucky number, and we agree! Every day is your lucky day this summer at Eat’n Park, because we’re offering seven days of deals for just $7 each!

Each day from 11 AM - 11 PM, we’ll be offering a different burger, sandwich, or wrap – all served with a housemade pickle and your choice of a side – for $7. You’re going to want to plan your calendar around these so you can try them all!

And don’t forget, we also have a bounty of other summer specials available – click here to check them out!

$7 Deals

Sunday
Over Easy Cheeseburger
We think everything is better with an egg on it- especially this 6 oz. Black Angus burger on a fresh Kaiser roll with bacon, crispy lettuce, tomato, and American Cheese finished with an over-easy egg.

Monday
Bacon Turkey Swiss
Simple is good. Smoked turkey, Swiss cheese, bacon, and tomato served up on our grilled sourdough bread. Delicious!

Tuesday
Turkey Club
A classic turkey club piled high with smoked turkey, American cheese, bacon, lettuce, tomato and mayo. Perfect with our fresh chips!

Wednesday
Buffalo Chicken Wrap
A warm tortilla with bleu cheese or ranch dressing wrapped around chicken fillets tossed in our own special Buffalo sauce, with cheddar cheese, lettuce, and tomatoes. And, because it's Wednesday, order it with our famous Potato Soup!

Thursday
Jumpin’ Jack Burger
A Cajun-seasoned 6 oz. Black Angus burger between grilled Texas-cut bread, with Pepper Jack cheese, fried jalapeño peppers, and Frank’s Red Hot™ mayo.

Friday
Tuna Melt
Our homemade tuna salad made with StarKist® tuna, fresh green peppers, celery, onion, diced egg, relish and mayo on grilled homemade Italian bread with melted cheddar, lettuce and tomato.

Saturday
Pittsburgh Turkey Sandwich
A recipe straight from da ‘burgh. Smoked turkey breast slices, Swiss Cheese, our housemade chipotle slaw, and crispy seasoned fries piled high between two slices of our grilled homemade Italian bread. You won’t leave hungry!

Don’t forget, each deal is only available on that particular day…if you can plan around our Potato Soup days, you can plan around these delicious deals!

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Friday, June 1, 2012

Checking in with Brenckle’s Farm

A few months ago, our team members visited Brenckle’s Farm in Butler to help plant some of our vegetables for the season. They were hard at work transplanting over 18,000 pepper plants and planting over 7,000 zucchini seeds. Now, just a few months later, these plants are thriving. It’s amazing what a few months of sun will do to them!

18,000 pepper plants

7,000 zucchini plants

We don’t know about you, but we are anxiously waiting for when these veggies can be harvested and used in our restaurants! It’s officially the start of FarmSource season at Eat’n Park.

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