Annie O'Neill, Post-Gazette photos Jackie Dempsey of Squonk Opera performs. Click photo for larger image. More Coverage: Seen Photo Journal

Live Green. View Blue. Paint the Town Red. The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust's annual gala stepped outside the box this year, leaving the safe confines of Benedum Center behind. It echoed what the Trust is hoping to encourage with the development of its new RiverParc, the first "green" residential arts neighborhood in the nation.

At Home in the District celebrated the concept of cutting-edge urban living by creating a very cool party, and a very cool party site on the riverfront at the corner of Fort Duquesne Boulevard and Eighth Street. Three structures were erected to house the celebration -- a green scaffolding that served as the entrance, a giant clear party tent filled with blue light and a potato-chip shaped performance tent bathed in red.

Riverfront development principals Martin Haas and Susan Eastridge with Kevin McMahon Click photo for larger image.

There Pittsburgh's own, internationally known Squonk Opera performed a piece especially commissioned for the gala, a mesmerizing, energetic and charming work that was presented on the hour to the 500 guests.

Taking her theme as "an artful fusion of performance and place," Nancy Byrnes of Nancy Byrnes Events created the concept and produced the evening, commissioning composer Jackie Dempsey's piano composition, "View Blue," as well as the videos that were projected onto the roof of the blue tent for a spectacular effect. From the colored laser disc necklaces guests were given to announce their show times to helium bubbles and metallic blue linens, the river flowed through the evening.

The cuisine was equally alternative. Big Burrito circulated a tasting menu of delicacies, serving dinner in courses on small plates that kept coming until the fabulous dessert buffet. Not having to sit down and behave was a major plus, and it kept the festive cocktail hour feeling going through the night.

Cultural Trust CEO Kevin McMahon (with Kristen) introduced the development team for RiverParc -- Susan Eastridge and Mike Haller of Concord Eastridge (a sponsor for the evening along with Howard Hanna Real Estate Services), architects Martin Haas and Adrian DiCastri and Helen Hanna Casey, president of Howard Hanna, with Hoddy Hanna and Annie Hanna Cestra.

	Frank Cahouet gets his framed picture taken. Click photo for larger image.

A crowd as mixed as the development to come was on hand, combining founding members of the Cultural Trust with arts leaders, patrons and corporate sponsors.

Among the many enjoying a truly original and unforgettable evening were riverfront development chair Tom VanKirk with Bonnie, design committee chair Jane Arkus and vice-chair Syl Damianos with Lu, Bill Trueheart and Carol Word, Max and Peggy King, Selma and Leon Sherman, Harriet Schach, Tim and Audrey Hillman Fisher, Peggy and Steve McKnight, Bill and Janet Hunt, Merrill and Miroya Stabile, Lynn and Ron Davenport Jr., Basil Cox and Jayne Adair, Kathleen and Joe DeMartino, Melanie Werner, Christopher Hahn and Ron Booth, Kitty Hillman and Richard Burkland, Catherine Loevner, Sally Levin, Jack Barbour, Carnegie Institute's David Hillenbrand, Murray Horne and Jody Stein, Ray Ryan, Steve and Karen Feinstein, Suzy and Jim Broadhurst, Pam and Ken McCrory, Toto and Jim Fisher, Ranny and Jay Ferguson, Susan and David Matter, Teri and Damian Soffer and many more.