When it comes to hosting the world, there are no dumb ideas, but that doesn't mean every idea is going to fly, said Allegheny County Executive Dan Onorato today as he greeted about 100 people for the second round of brainstorming in anticipation of the G-20 economic summit slated for Pittsburgh.

"I would ask you to think about a few things before you give your suggestion. They are coming here to have meetings," Mr. Onorato told the group that met at Robert Morris University in Moon this afternoon.

The forthcoming invasion by world leaders, their retinues and an expected 3,000 members of the press could prove a bonanza for the city, but Mr. Onorato cautioned against unrealistic expectations.

"Unlike the All Star game or the U.S. Open, this is not a public event coming here where we're going to be doing a fireworks show every night. We're hosting the world leaders for a meeting," Mr. Onorato said. The Pittsburgh impulse to help is famous, he said, but the benefit of the G-20 meeting here isn't likely to be accrued during the two days of meetings set for Sept. 24-25.

"I think the benefit for us as a region? We've achieved half of that benefit: we were selected," he said. "The other golden opportunity is between now and Sept. 24 and 25, what we do between now and then."

The suggestions followed in rapid succession. A local printer suggested promoting the city's sustainability with brochures and forms on "100 percent post-consumer recycled paper with vegetable-based inks."

"I think we should have signs in multiple languages on the way in from the airport saying welcome to Pittsburgh," offered another. On the trip out, the signs could say in the languages of the world, "come again."

Another audience member, who assumed the world's leaders are aware of a higher power, suggested an interfaith prayer service.

A local woman announced she had created a special pendant that represents the city, including its rivers and aqueduct and suggested the world leaders be presented with versions of it.

"It's a way of wearing Pittsburgh Pride," she said.

Other ideas ranged from the down-to-earth to the Land of Oz.

"The key thing is to make them feel at home," said John Donahoe, of Life Works.

The most animated suggested came from Trina Jenura, of D.J. and More, an entertainment firm based in Weirton, W.Va.

"We should have our own video montage commercial," she told the group. In a sales pitch straight out of a Hollywood meeting, she proposed buying airtime on network television.

"We show them what we want them to see," she said. "What if we make it like the 'Wizard of Oz,' " she asked. Then she answered: start in black and white, with smokestacks and grim skies, rush the camera through the Fort Pitt Tunnel.

"We come out of the tunnel and there's colorful Pittsburgh," she exulted, arms spread wide.

The audience burst into applause. Someone asked her for her resume.