Pittsburgh is known for its three rivers. To me, it's been three cities over the past 30 years. And now the city that G-20 visitors will see can credit those institutions for helping it weather this financial crisis.

The financial crisis has ravaged many a Wall Street giant, but it has also produced a handful of winners. BlackRock, a money manager that is much admired but little known outside financial circles, is fast emerging as one of the nation’s financial powerhouses, the New York Times reports.