Students played the part of culinary critics this Wednesday during a new Campus Activities Board (CAB) event where local and surrounding Pittsburgh pizzerias competed to be voted No. 1 by Point Park students.
“I believe this is the most successful event we’ve had this semester,” said Louis Spanos, CAB’s Experience Pittsburgh Committee coordinator, who revived the idea of Pizza Palooza from a proposal taken up last year within the committee.
From the start time of 7 p.m., the Lawrence Hall ballroom was filled to capacity with hungry students swarming around red, white and green colored tables piled with boxes of warm pizza pies. The packed room and wrap-around lines “rivals’ attendance to the Drag Show,” Spanos said, referencing another successful CAB event that took place last week.
Evidence to back up Spanos’ claim was clear by 7:50 p.m., when nearly all the vendors had run out of slices, leaving behind a few boxes of breadsticks and stacks of marinara and ranch cups.
“It definitely exceeded my expectations for the event,” Spanos said.
The restaurants featured included R&B’s Pizza Place, Pizza Fiesta, Genoa Pizza and Bar and four other local vendors. Each were armed with their best pies, ranch and breadsticks. Students were handed a ballot to indicate which place had the best cheese, sauce, crust, ranch, breadsticks and the top spot, “Best Overall.”
While waiting in the packed lines, students began a sing-along when band A-ha’s hit “Take On Me” was blasted through the speakers, courtesy of Point Park’s WPPJ Radio Station.
When finished, students headed over to the prize table to submit their ballots for count and to enter or a chance to win one of a variety of pizza prizes, including a pizza scarf and pillow. The table was headed by CAB member Ally Hinman, who said was impressed with the events turnout.
“I bet it will become an every year event,” Hinman said.
At the end of the night, Pizza Fiesta won top spot among students. If the rest of CAB’s semester is anything like this night, it is bound to be a success.
“Doesn’t that inspire you, the bond over free food?” Ally Stacy, another member of CAB’s Experience Pittsburgh Committee, asked.
Another upcoming CAB event is “City in A Room,” taking place in the Lawrence Hall lobby Wed., Feb. 24.
Spanos, who will also head the event, said the goal of this upcoming event is to “help upperclassmen find places to live after graduation.”
“[City in A Room is] introducing students to local businesses and helping them find places to explore,” Spanos said.
