As executive director of Visit Pittsburgh, Beverly Morrow-Jones is head cheerleader for our region's scenic, historic and cultural attractions. Like a Hollywood agent who won't take "no" for an answer, she talks up the city through direct marketing, advertising campaigns, billboards or radio and TV interviews. A lyric soprano, she attended Oberlin College in Ohio on a full scholarship, singing opera during the week and belting out Dusty Springfield and Laura Nyro songs with a rock band on the weekends.
"I love jazz and if I have sort of a mythical second life I'd probably want to sing blues and standards in a club," she says. "That would be loads of fun."
For now, she sings the praises of Pittsburgh.
"My primary goal is to let everybody in the universe know what a great city we live in. There's so much great stuff happening here. It's wonderful to be in a position to tell the story. "
The star who would play me in the movie version of my life and why:
Bernadette Peters or Madeline Kahn, if she were alive. They're small, sassy, talented performers with big voices.
Childhood hero and why:
Roberta Peters. I saw her perform in Pittsburgh when I had just started taking singing lessons. She was small and beautiful and wore the most gorgeous red satin gown. Until then, I was convinced I could never be an opera singer because all of the opera stars were very large.
My favorite captain:
A.Kirk
B.Kangaroo
C.Crunch
D.Jack Sparrow
D. Jack Sparrow -- Love Johnny Depp
If the TV is on at 2 a.m., I'm watching:
An old movie
Three people I'd love to have dinner with :
My husband -- and all of my friends
After a long day, I like to relax with a (pick one):
A.Martini
B.Cold beer
C.Cabernet
D.Herbal tea
E.Hot chocolate
F.Red Bull
A martini ... if only I could drink! I seem to be allergic to liquor and wine. YOI!"
My quirkiest inherited trait:
All my best quirky traits are inherited. ... They're "Jeannettic!" That's my mother's name.
My favorite sandwiches, plus fixings:
Portobello mushroom with roasted red pepper and provolone.
One word my mother would use to describe me :
Perfect. She's misguided, of course.
Celebrity crush:
Jeff Bridges and Johnny Depp
The oldest thing in my refrigerator is:
Goat cheese
My required snack in a movie theater is:
Popcorn and dark chocolate-covered raisins
When I was 10, I wanted to be:
A singer
Exercise I hate most:
The treadmill, even with the TV. It's boring, boring, boring!
Vegetable I won't eat:
Lima beans
I'm deathly afraid of:
Heights and deep waters. Got caught in a rip tide in Virgin Gorda and that was the end of snorkeling.
If I was auditioning for "American Idol," my song would be:
"My Man's Gone Now," from "Porgy and Bess"
The first band I saw in concert (when and where):
Bob Dylan -- a million years ago at Cornell.
TV marathon I could watch all day and why:
"Mad Men." Watched 26 episodes over the holidays
The person I'm most often mistaken for:
When I had long hair, it was Susan Sarandon.
I own pairs of shoes. My favorites are:
My Uggs -- nothing better in the winter
In high school, I was:
Busy!
The most famous person I ever became friends with:
Iris Rainer Dart, author of "Beaches." We used to perform together when we were in high school.
Chose one:
A.John
B.Paul
C.George
D.Ringo
A. John
The movie that always makes me cry:
Casablanca
My most treasured fashion accessory is:
My wedding ring. My husband, Doug, and I met and married in five months. When you know it's right, you just move ahead.
Pick one you love or hate:
A.Stripes
B.Polka dots
C.Plaid
D.Paisley
It's not about loving or hating them -- it's about knowing how to wear them.
What you'll always find in my glove compartment:
Bed Bath and Beyond coupons. You never know!
My most embarrassing junk food:
Fritos -- only once a year! But, boy are they great!
The last book I read:
"There's Something in the Backyard" by Pittsburgher Richard Snodgrass. It's wonderfully written and I loved every word!
It's not pizza without:
Black olives, mushrooms and hot peppers.
Pick one:
A.Original Hot Dog Shop fries
B.Primanti Brothers fries
C.Potato Patch fries
D.Pommes frites
Pommes frites with a great steak and the Original fries with a hot dog. Both are terrific!
My favorite Web site:
www.visitpittsburgh.com . I'm partial!
My most memorable fashion mistake:
According to my best friend, Jan Getz, it used to be wearing too much taupe.
Pick a Bond:
A.Sean Connery
B.Timothy Dalton
C.Pierce Brosnan
D.Daniel Craig
A, There is only one "Bond" for me, and that's Sean Connery. Although, the others are pretty good to look at.
My childhood nickname was:
I was deprived ... had no nickname.
My first job:
Babysitting
My worst job:
Receptionist in a funeral parlor in Manhattan
My favorite cable channel:
HBO
The song that always gets me out on the dance floor and why:
The one that's playing. Love to dance!
Life would be better without:
Bitter, self-righteous people.
I never travel without my:
Hormones and sanitizer wipes.
People would be surprised to know that I:
Won a full music scholarship to Oberlin College for voice -- and I studied opera during the week and sang with a rock 'n' roll band on weekends.
