PHOTO COURTESY DROPKICK MURPHYS

MUSIC

Dropkick Murphys

Stage AE | Feb. 12

For 30 years, the high-energy Celtic punk machine Dropkick Murphys has taken pride in serving up music for regular people.

If you follow them on social media, you know they are not shy about speaking out. They treat every injustice like a mosh pit, fearlessly jumping in. Their most recent album, “For the People,” makes that very clear.

Do your stretches, and prepare for a cathartic and visceral release for your feelings about the state of the world. The group is much more than a “I’m Shipping Up to Boston” needle drop; they are, quite simply, a voice for the people.

THEATER

“An Enemy of the People”

O’Reilly Theater | Feb. 4 through Feb. 22

Forget the “slippery when wet” sign — this public spa is a five-star death trap. Originally set in the 1880s in a small Norwegian town, “An Enemy of the People” follows Dr. Thomas Stockman, who discovers that the water in a popular bathhouse is contaminated.

He tells everyone, but instead of gratitude, his neighbors and so-called friends turn on him. Actor Jeremy Strong won a Tony for the 2024 Broadway revival, a modernized version of Henrik Ibsen’s classic. Now, the bathhouse becomes a contemporary spa — and themes of corruption, media misinformation and financial gain pitted against public health are all too familiar.

FOOD AND DRINK

Pittsburgh Winter Beerfest

David L. Lawrence Convention Center | Feb. 21

The Pittsburgh Winter Beerfest offers an excellent opportunity to perk up these frigid and gray days.

This 21-and-over event features more than 150 local and craft beers available for sampling and purchase. You will also find ciders, seltzers and some liquor. When you purchase either a day or night session ticket, you are free to sample beverages throughout — and, as a way to responsibly enhance your exploration, discounted Designated Driver tickets also are available.

Non-alcoholic beverages and food will round things out before your ride home.

CONVENTION

Horror Realm Con

DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Pittsburgh — Green Tree | Feb. 27 through March 1

If your heart belongs to all things spooky, Horror Realm Con is calling your name. You’re diving headfirst into total horror immersion!

Among all of the terrifying screen queens and horror icons (William Katt of “Carrie,” Derek Mears of “Friday the 13th,” Felissa Rose of “Sleepaway Camp” and many more) in attendance, Pittsburgh will be represented by its very own master of macabre makeup, Greg Nicotero.

There also will be plenty of vendors around, offering the best place to shop for a bloody bounty.

THE SCANDINAVIAN HOME: LANDSCAPE AND LORE | PHOTO BY SETH CULP-RESSLER/THE FRICK PITTSBURGH

BEST BET

Hygge in the Gallery

Through Jan. 11 | The Frick Art Museum

The many pieces in The Scandinavian Home: Landscape and Lore are perfectly united in feeling — even though they’re almost completely dissonant in style and media. There are paintings, sculptures, tapestries and furniture in this exhibit; within each of those disciplines, there are even more varieties in style.

Yet they all sit perfectly together, ineffably capturing something instinctual about the spirit of this part of the world. To use perhaps the only Danish term I know: It’s all very hygge. The exhibit, which is open through Jan. 11, comes from the private collection of David and Susan Werner, aficionados of Scandinavian art for decades; in fact, they began gathering these works before Nordic art was widely recognized by the art community at large.

While many subjects, from folkloric figures to quiet home scenes, are represented in “The Scandinavian Home,” the interplay of light and landscape is a frequent subject. And while beautiful, snowy vistas are present, my favorite piece in the exhibition runs counter to that trope: Swedish painter Eugène Jansson’s “Bastugatan in the Evening” gazes from a working-class neighborhood at the sunset over an industrial cityscape.

If you didn’t know better, you’d swear you were looking at an image of Pittsburgh. “The Scandinavian Home” is the perfect exhibition for the winter months; you’ll have visions of it jump to mind anytime the sunlight cascades over the snow. — Sean Collier

SHOW

“Yippee Ki Yay: The Parody Celebration of Die Hard”

Dec. 2-21 | Greer Cabaret Theater

It isn’t truly Christmas until John McClane saves the day — and yes, “Die Hard” is a Christmas movie. This year, put a twist on the tradition by going to see the “unauthorized parody” “Yippee Ki Yay: The Parody Celebration of Die Hard.”

Imagine your bestie recapping the entire movie, with props, at the bar. Originally an Edinburgh Fringe hit, this live show is totally safe for those ages 14 and up.

COMEDY

Bill Bellamy

Dec. 5-7 | Pittsburgh Improv

From MTV VJ to co-star of HBO’s “Insecure,” Bill Bellamy has spent decades establishing himself as a versatile entertainer. Best known for his effortlessly smooth (yet goofy) and energetic stage presence, this beloved Gen-X comedian is a masterful storyteller who engages crowds on relatable subjects such as being a family man, current events and everyone’s favorite subject … aging.

WRESTLING

Keystone State Wrestling Alliance

Dec. 6 | American Legion Langley Post 496

Sean Collier’s pick: It’s the end of an era in local professional wrestling, as the Keystone State Wrestling Alliance wraps up its 25th and final year of grappling with one last “Fan Fest” event.

The longstanding promotion has been a staple of the city’s lodges and American Legion halls since the turn of the century, offering family-friendly wrestling shows featuring local brawlers and old-school showmanship.

Their farewell show is a charitable one: It doubles as a holiday toy drive.

MUSIC

Storm Large’s Holiday Ordeal

Dec. 7 | Pittsburgh Winery

There’s a storm brewing, and it’s unlike anything you’ve ever seen. Storm Large’s Holiday Ordeal is a melodic way to celebrate Sparkle Season, as Large will be performing holiday classics and originals from her holiday album, “A Joyful Noise.”

The Pink Martini vocalist delivers a holiday show unlike any other. This isn’t your grandma’s cozy Christmas show — it’s bold and brassy holiday chaos.

PLAY

“Clue”

Dec. 30-Jan. 4 | Benedum Center

Based on an ’80s cult classic that’s based off of a board game played in wood-paneled basements … it’s “Clue,” the stage show!

Watch the murder mystery unfold right before your eyes as six mysterious guests gather at Boddy Manor for a dinner they’ll never forget. Don’t expect an exact replica of the film; there will be brand new twists and turns to keep you guessing whodunit.

PHOTO COURTESY DEVIN GALLAGHER

MUSIC

“GallagherFest — A Family Musical Tribute to Mike Gallagher”

Nov. 15 | Mullaney’s Harp & Fiddle

Celebrate the life and talent of one of Pittsburgh’s most beloved Irish musicians at “GallagherFest — A Family Musical Tribute to Mike Gallagher.

As one of the only musicians to have performed in every Pittsburgh Irish Festival from its inception in 1991 through his death in March, Gallagher’s legacy is one to be cherished.

Sharing music and memories is one of the best ways to honor someone so loved. Admission is free, but reservations are recommended; call 412-642-6622 to save a seat.

MUSIC

Queensrÿche

Nov. 18 | Palace Theatre

Progressive metal band Queensrÿche continues their Volume and Vengeance tour with a stop in Greensburg.

Best known for the Top 10 hit “Silent Lucidity,” the current incarnation of the group offers virtuosic performances of songs from the group’s 1980s and ’90s heyday — while throwing in a few new tracks to prove they’ve still got it.

THE INTERRUPTERS AT THE 2023 FOUR CHORD MUSIC FESTIVAL | PHOTO BY NICK PREZIOSO

BEST BET

Four Chord Music Festival

Sept. 13-14 | EQT Park

Over 11 years, the Four Chord Music Festival has grown into one of the nation’s largest gatherings devoted to pop-punk music — and now, the organizers are finally bringing their “white whale” to the stage.

The first night of this year’s event will be headlined by Blink-182, the titans of the genre known for infectious, radio-favorite hits including “What’s My Age Again?” and “Dammit.” It’s a coup for an independent event, says Adam Valen, the festival’s marketing director. “There’s no corporate backing on this. We’ve always been told that we’ll never get a [band like] Blink-182.”

This year’s lineup also includes Jimmy Eat World, AFI, Alkaline Trio, Say Anything, Bowling for Soup and punk forebears Jawbreaker; the latter band, who has never played in Western Pennsylvania, set the blueprint for many other bands on the festival.

“It can’t be understated how influential they are in this scene,” Valen says. “They hold a really near-and-dear place in our hearts.”

Locally based bands including Punchline and Eternal Boy — the latter of which features festival founder Rishi Bahl, who has shepherded the event since its early years as a nightclub show — also are set for the event, which returns this year to EQT Park in North Franklin Township, home of the independent-league Washington Wild Things.

— Sean Collier

COMMUNITY

The Freedom Harvest Celebration

Sept. 6 | Frick Environmental Center

The Freedom Harvest Celebration is a joyful gathering of local artists sharing their talents, celebrating creativity and embracing the spirit of liberation. The community celebration is inspired by the Frick Environmental Center’s “From Slavery to Freedom Garden,” which showcases crops like peanuts, green onions and other foods that have been vital to people seeking freedom.

This event is an afternoon full of culinary delights, garden tours, family activities and soulful music meant to uplift and unite the community.

MUSIC

Joe Hisaishi

 Sept. 13-14 | Heinz Hall

JOE HISAISHI | PHOTO BY NICK RUTTER

Joe Hisaishi — award-winning composer, musical director, conductor and pianist — is taking the stage to conduct the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra. He’s best known for creating evocative and emotionally rich soundscapes; just watch the Oscar-winning “The Boy and the Heron.”

Along with the Mendelssohn Choir of Pittsburgh, Hisaishi and the PSO will present new music from “The End of the World,” his album inspired by “the people in the USA.”

DANCE

Texture Contemporary Ballet

Sept. 19-21 | New Hazlett Theater

Being in the here and now is a great mantra to have, if you’re hoping to reset your mindset. Texture Contemporary Ballet invites you to step into the present with “In This Moment.” This performance encourages audiences to feel and embrace every breath. Experience the “power of presence and the beauty that emerges when we slow down and fully inhabit the now.”

MUSIC

Garbage

Sept. 23 | Stage AE

Known for their experimental approach and fierce individuality, Garbage continues to create music that defies easy categorization. Formed in 1993, this iconic band is woven together by vocalist Shirley Manson, Duke Erikson, Steve Marker and renowned producer Butch Vig.

Stage AE is just big enough to hold the industrial grit of Manson’s powerful vocals on hits including “Only Happy When it Rains” and “Push It.”

MOVIE

“The Rocky Horror Picture Show”

Sept. 26 | Oaks Theater

“THE ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW” | PHOTO BY JOEL BREWTON

“The Rocky Horror Picture Show” is an experience on its own, but watching it with a shadow cast elevates it to an unforgettable spectacle. For more than 40 years, members of the Junior Chamber of Commerce Players have been acting out the movie in sync with the screen, adding a layer of interactive chaos and comedic brilliance. Even though a prop kit is included in the ticket price, you might want to bring your own feather boa and fishnet stockings.

THE CLEMENTE MUSEUM | PHOTO BY ROB LARSON/CLEMENTE MUSEUM

Pittsburgh punches above its weight when it comes to museums.

Institutions including The Andy Warhol Museum and the Carnegie Museums of Art and Natural History have gained international fame — but they’re far from the only spots for visitors and locals alike to learn and explore.

In fact, some of the city’s most fun exhibits and institutions are so unheralded that even lifelong yinzers may not realize they exist. Here are 10 Pittsburgh museums that visitors and locals alike should keep on their radar.

Pittsburgh Tattoo Art Museum

5413a Walnut St., Shadyside

PHOTO BY HUCK BEARD

A one-room museum in the heart of Shadyside serves as an ode to the history and art of tattooing. Tattoo artist and collector Nick Ackman has spent decades amassing an extensive collection of tattoo memorabilia and antiques — a collection that has grown so big that only about 10% of it can fit in the Pittsburgh Tattoo Art Museum.

It may be time for a bigger home. Tattoos, after all, have a long history. Ackman, who founded the museum in 2022, has carefully curated the items on display, including many of the rarest and oldest items in his collection. One highlight is a set of personal sketches from early 20th-century tattoo artist Lew Alberts, a highly influential figure in American tattooing who contributed to the design of motorized tattoo guns used today. It is one of only two known sets of Alberts’ drawings still extant (the other belonging to tattoo artist and entrepreneur Ed Hardy).

Stencils and sketches from other well-known figures in tattooing history make up much of the collection. Most are from the early 20th century, and are accompanied by signs and photographs that provide context on the artists and their role in American tattoo culture.

There are several antique tattoo guns on display; they date back to the 1890s, not long after the electric tattoo machine was invented. Among them is a traveling kit used by carnival tattooists made from a repurposed, hollowed-out record player. Visitors who like the vintage designs on display won’t have to go far to get one inked. The Pittsburgh Tattoo Art Museum also is a working tattoo shop, with four resident artists.

When he’s not tattooing, Ackman can usually be found sketching in the back of the museum. He’s happy to answer questions, give background on items in his collection or just geek out about the art he loves.

Hours: Wednesday-Sunday, 11 a.m.-6 p.m.
Admission: Free

Bicycle Heaven

1800 Preble Ave. Chateau

PHOTO BY HUCK BEARD

Want to see the bike Pee-wee Herman rode in “Pee-wee’s Big Adventure?” Or the four-person tandem bike ridden by the Monkees? Both are on display at Bicycle Heaven, alongside thousands more.

This combination museum and bike shop is incongruously located in Casey Industrial Park in Pittsburgh’s North Side. Bicycle Heaven is the world’s largest museum dedicated to bicycles. It started as the personal collection of bicycle aficionado and repairman Craig Morrow, who collected antique bikes while running a repair shop in nearby Bellevue.

He upgraded in 2011 to the North Side space, where today he showcases roughly 3,500 of the more than 27,000 bicycles in his collection.  Bicycle Heaven regularly provides props for movie and TV productions; bikes used in films including “Super 8” and “Fences” are among those on display.

The collection also features bikes dating back to the 1800s, including several penny farthings and an all-wooden bicycle made before the Civil War. The rarest bikes in the collection are four colors of Bowden Spacelander, a fiberglass bicycle made in 1946. (Morrow owns 19 of the estimated 38 remaining in the world.) Visitors can also see pedal-free bikes powered by bouncing on the seat and a chunk of a tree with two bicycles partially encased within it.

While Bicycle Heaven’s famous and rare bikes are the main draw, they’re not the only items in the collection. Several were donated to honor their former owners. Signs posted on these bikes explain their significance, from treasured childhood possessions to bikes used to win races and souped-up models used for stunts.

Another detail setting Bicycle Heaven apart from other museums: If guests like something they see, they might be able to take it home. They sell used, new, and collectible bikes both in-store and on their website. Others can be rented for visitors who want to ride around the city, something Morrow says happens on a near-daily basis. It’s also still an active bike repair shop, with a million or more spare parts interspersed among the complete cycles in the collection.

Hours: Daily, 10 a.m.-7 p.m.
Admission: Adults $15; groups of 5+ $10 each; kids under 9 free

Johnny Angel’s Ginchy Stuff

1800 Preble Ave., Chateau

PHOTO BY HUCK BEARD

Anyone visiting Bicycle Heaven on the weekend should allow time to also visit its next-door neighbor: Johnny Angel’s Ginchy Stuff. This museum and collectibles shop is a must-visit for music lovers, particularly those with an interest in those golden oldies — and vintage records.

Founder Jack Hunt (better known by his stage name, Johnny Angel) is a lifelong yinzer who grew up in the Woods Run area of the North Side, not far from where his museum is located. His first band, the Cordells, released their debut record in 1966, evolving into the better-known Johnny Angel and the Halos in the 1970s. From then on, they were a fixture of the music scene until 2024, when Hunt was sidelined by a stroke.

During his more than 50-year-long music career, Hunt shared a stage with James Brown, Chuck Berry and the Four Tops. Along the way, he amassed the collection of records, autographs, outfits, instruments and other memorabilia that has been displayed in his shop since it opened in 2016.

Visitors first encounter the museum’s record shop, which has an extensive array of hard-to-find and vintage vinyl for collectors to peruse and purchase. The rear space of the shop is a kind of rock and roll thrift store, selling an eclectic mix of books, collectibles, clothes and art.

To tour the museum itself, just head through the beaded curtain. From there, you’ll explore several rooms of exhibits spanning musical eras and genres. There are an autographed drumhead from the Yardbirds, a game of Chubby Checker Twister, a vintage Green Book, colorful suits worn by soul groups like the Temptations and the Flamingos — and, naturally, an array of Johnny Angel and the Halos gear from their performing years.

Visitors with questions about items in the museum can often get the answer straight from Hunt. He’s usually the one behind the counter and is happy to chat, whether it’s about his music career, his internet radio show (the “Heavenly Soul Show”) or a rare record that a museum guest has been trying to track down.

Hours: Saturday-Sunday, 11 a.m.-4 p.m.
Admission: Free

Moonshot Museum

1016 N. Lincoln Ave., Chateau

PHOTO BY HUCK BEARD

Space lovers of all ages will have out-of-this-world fun at the Moonshot Museum. This edutainment destination opened in October 2022, making it one of Pittsburgh’s newest museums. Operated by the Astrobotic Foundation, the nonprofit arm of Astrobotic Technology, it also holds the distinction of being the first space museum in Pennsylvania.

The highly interactive museum’s exhibits pack a great deal of hands-on learning into a compact space, giving visitors an immersive introduction to 21st-century space exploration — not just the math and engineering elements of space travel.

Visitors start their tour in the Moonshot Theater for an introduction to the modern space industry and a look at the role Astrobotic and Pittsburgh play in it. With this background in mind, you’ll launch your own simulated lunar mission: Build a lunar rover in The Lab and then head to the moon’s surface to identify potential human settlement sites and learn what it takes to survive in an alien environment. You can design a mission patch, too — and even swing by the Hope Moonshot exhibit to send a future message to the Moon, to one day be carried aboard one of Astrobotic’s lunar missions.

Perhaps the coolest thing about the Moonshot is that it also houses Astrobotic’s workshop, where the robotics company builds real lunar landers and rovers for NASA space missions. Visitors get a literal window into the work in progress in Astrobotic’s Clean Room, where they’re building the Griffin-1 Lander. Scheduled to launch in late 2025, Griffin-1 will carry Astrobotic’s FLIP rover to the Moon’s South Pole, along with dropping off payloads for NASA and the European Space Agency.

Once construction is completed, the Griffin-1 will pass through the Moonshot Museum on its way to the launchpad at Cape Canaveral. Upcoming events will be announced on Astrobotic’s and Moonshot’s social media accounts, for visitors who want to see if their visit coincides with a launch or landing. The museum team plans to continue updating its exhibits to match the current work of the Astrobotic team, so repeat visitors will learn and see something new each time they stop in.

Hours: 10 a.m.-4 p.m.

Admission: Adults $12; children 3-12 $7; kids under 2 free

St. Anthony Chapel

1700 Harpster St., Troy Hill

PHOTO BY HUCK BEARD

You might be surprised to learn that Troy Hill holds the largest collection of Catholic relics in the United States. In fact, the more than 5,000 relics at St. Anthony Chapel make up the biggest collection of its kind outside of Vatican City.

St. Anthony Chapel’s nondescript, tan-brick facade belies its ornate interior, which features painted ceilings and a gilded apse reminiscent of the grand cathedrals of Europe. The chapel was founded by the Rev. Suitbert G. Mollinger, the first pastor of the Most Holy Name of Jesus Parish, specifically to house his relic collection. Born into a wealthy Belgian family, he aimed to recreate the elegant churches of his homeland through the chapel’s design and decor. Much of the art, like the life-sized wooden statues for the Stations of the Cross and the stained-glass windows depicting the Virgin Mary and the saints, was imported from Europe.

The shrine opened on the Feast of St. Anthony in 1883 and was designated a Historic Landmark in 1977. It’s dedicated to St. Anthony of Padua, whose tooth is among the relics housed at the site, found in a small reliquary on the St. Anthony altar. All told, there are more than 800 reliquaries throughout the chapel, many of which contain multiple artifacts.

The collection also includes 525 certificates attesting to the relics’ authenticity. Many of these documents are historic artifacts in their own right, with the oldest dating back to 1716. Other highlights of the collection include the entire skeletal remains of martyr St. Demetrius, relics purported to be from Mary Magdalene and John the Baptist and the skulls of martyrs St. Theodore, St. Macharius and St. Stephana.

Visitors can tour St. Anthony Chapel every afternoon (except on Friday). It is also an active house of worship, with Sunday and weekday-morning masses, Novenas to St. Anthony on Tuesdays and Stations of the Cross on Friday evenings and Sunday afternoons during Lent.

Hours: Saturday-Thursday, noon-3 p.m.
Admission: Free

Clemente Museum

3339 Penn Ave., Lawrenceville

PHOTO BY ROB LARSON/CLEMENTE MUSEUM

A few athletes have earned the nickname “The Great One.” But in Pittsburgh (and Puerto Rico), this title is reserved for one legend: Pirates right fielder Roberto Clemente, the only athlete in the city to be honored with his own museum.

During his 18 years with the Pittsburgh Pirates, Clemente won 12 consecutive Golden Glove awards, played in 12 All-Star Games and was the first major league player from the Caribbean to be named MVP of both the National League (1966) and the World Series (1971) — among many other accolades. His on-field accomplishments were significant enough that the National Baseball Hall of Fame changed their rules after his untimely death to make him eligible for an immediate, posthumous induction in 1973.

Clemente left as profound a legacy off the field as he did on the diamond. Born in Puerto Rico, he devoted his offseasons to charity work in Latin America and the Caribbean. This dedication ultimately led to his death, when his plane crashed on his way to deliver aid to victims of the 1972 Nicaragua earthquake. He was 38. Major League Baseball renamed their award for sportsmanship from the Commissioner’s Award to the Roberto Clemente Award in his honor.

The Roberto Clemente Museum celebrates both his incredible baseball career and his humanitarian efforts. The museum was founded in 2007 by photographer Duane Rieder, whose personal collection of memorabilia served as the foundation for the museum, supplemented by photos and artifacts donated by Clemente’s family.

Today, the collection includes thousands of items ranging from professional sports photographs and family snapshots to old uniforms and equipment — even seats from Forbes Field, where he played most of his career. The museum carries on his legacy of charitable giving, too. After Hurricane Maria devastated Puerto Rico in 2017, it organized relief efforts that raised more than $50,000 and gathered two tractor-trailers full of supplies.

While the Clemente Museum doesn’t offer walk-in hours, visitors can book a docent-led tour on the museum’s website. Tours typically last 90 minutes; available slots are posted a month in advance. The team also offers open-house tours during Pirates home games.

Hours: Scheduled tours are typically available 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Friday-Sunday and select weekdays
Admission: $21/person

Center for PostNatural History

4913 Penn Ave., Suite 101, Garfield

PHOTO BY RICH PELL/CENTER FOR POSTNATURAL HISTORY

Chickens, dogs and food crops have quite a backstory. Visitors can discover that tale at the Center for PostNatural History, a museum designed to explore the complex relationship between nature, culture and technology — with a collection of plants, animals and other organisms that have been intentionally altered by humans.

Tucked between storefronts along Penn Avenue in Garfield, the Center offers a refocused take on the traditional natural history museum. The timeline of the collection starts some 15,000 years ago with the domestication of dogs and runs through high-tech concepts like genetic engineering. In between, it covers everything from cultivated crops to lab mice to birds trained to imitate humans.

Museum visitors are greeted by the taxidermied remains of Freckles, a BioSteel goat who was modified to produce spider silk proteins in her milk. Other exhibits run the gamut from the familiar to the bizarre: fluorescent mice and GloFish; Sea Monkeys, representing the first time animals were bred explicitly as a toy; and HeLa cells, the immortal human cell line derived from Henrietta Lacks, just to name a few.

The center was founded in 2008 by Carnegie Mellon University professor Richard Pell, with the aim of studying how humans have shaped the evolution of the natural world. He opened the museum in 2012 to fill what he saw as a conspicuous gap in existing collections. As he explained in a 2024 interview with NPR, natural history museums tend to ignore modified organisms, despite their prevalence in everyday life. He set out to create a space where these altered life forms, and their role in human culture and development, could be given the consideration they’re due.

The Center for PostNatural History has garnered international acclaim as the first collection with this focus. Its exhibits have toured cities in Germany, France, Australia and Singapore. Its website offers an extensive archive of current and past exhibits; the center also released a book in 2024, “This is Not An Artifact,” which catalogs the first 16 years of investigation into PostNatural History (and comes with fun 3D glasses).

Hours: Friday 5-9 p.m.; Saturday noon-9 p.m.; Sunday noon-4 p.m.
Admission: Adults $10; students and kids under 8 $5

Bayernhof Museum

225 St. Charles Place, O’Hara

PHOTO BY HUCK BEARD

At most cultural institutions, the draw is either the place itself or the treasures it contains. At the Bayernhof Museum, it’s both. Along with more than 150 automated music machines, this sprawling 19,000-square-foot mansion boasts 10 fireplaces, 13 wet bars, 3 kitchens, separate gambling and billiards rooms, a rooftop observatory, a 10-foot waterfall — and spectacular views of Highland Park and the Allegheny River.

The Bayernhof Museum was originally the private residence of eccentric Gas-Lite Manufacturing Co. founder Charles Brown III (Chuck to his friends). Its construction cost $4.2 million and took six years, in part because his crew consisted of, as he would say, “three kids, two old men and a blue station wagon” under the oversight of an engineer who was still a teenager at the project’s start. This unconventional approach resulted in a labyrinthian layout featuring elements straight out of “Clue,” such as secret staircases hidden behind Murphy doors.

Brown’s intent with his mansion was to bring a slice of Bavaria to Pittsburgh. The name Bayernhof loosely translates to “Bavarian Hall,” and the decor largely matches this moniker; many of the moldings, fixtures and furnishings were bought from castles in Germany. Brown also liked his modern conveniences, though, installing features that were high-tech for the ’80s and ’90s and are now charmingly retro, making the home a historic artifact spanning multiple eras.

The Bayernhof’s music machine collection started from Brown’s interest in old music boxes. This evolved into buying larger and more intricate music machines, primarily antiques that are more than a century old — and, in some cases, are one of a kind. Highlights include a Wurlitzer Automatic Harp, a Rivenc Bird Music Box whose animatronic bird “sings” along with the music and a Hupfelt Phonoliszt Violina, which plays three violins and a piano all at once. Not all of these machines are stand-alone; the home theater has an early 20th-century player piano that also creates sound effects to go along with silent movies.

Tours of the Bayernhof are offered every day, except major holidays (although tours can fill up on busy weekends) and must be scheduled in advance. The tour is an audio as well as a visual experience, including demonstrations of several music machines as well as entertaining stories about Brown, the home’s construction and the history of many of the artifacts that call the Bayernhof home.

The Bost Building

623 E. 8th ave. Homestead

PHOTO BY HUCK BEARD

The Bost Building is best known for its role in the Homestead Strike, one of the most dramatic episodes in the history of American organized labor. The interior of this intended rooming house for workers of the nearby Homestead Steel Works was still under construction in 1892, when the strike started on July 1. Despite this, the Amalgamated Association of Iron and Steel Workers Union used the building as its headquarters during the 95-day strike, putting it at the center of the strike’s two most memorable incidents: the July 6 battle between striking workers and Pinkerton agents and the attempt to assassinate plant operator Henry Clay Frick two weeks later.

In the years that followed, the Bost Building briefly served its intended purpose as a hotel, though not a particularly successful one. It also functioned as a bar, grocery store, gambling hall, brothel and sandwich shop before being designated a National Historic Landmark in 1999. It reopened in 2002 as the headquarters for Rivers of Steel, an organization that preserves the industrial and cultural heritage of southwestern Pennsylvania.

Today, the Bost Building serves as the Visitor’s Center for the Rivers of Steel National Heritage Area. Along with staff offices and historical archives, it houses a museum displaying collections of photographs, artifacts, documents and art related to U.S. labor and the Pennsylvania steel industry. The museum’s permanent exhibits focus on the Homestead Steel Works, the Homestead Strike and the restoration of the Bost Building. Two rooms have been restored to their 1892 appearance, while the third floor hosts rotating art and archival exhibits.

The Bost Building is just one attraction in the greater Rivers of Steel site. Visitors with an interest in Pittsburgh’s industrial history can visit the Pump House in Munhall that was the site of the 1892 Battle of Homestead or explore the Carrie Blast Furnaces in Swissvale, the only non-operative blast furnaces remaining after the collapse of Big Steel in Western Pennsylvania.

For those who want more hands-on entertainment, Rivers of Steel also hosts festivals and workshops. These include metal arts classes like blacksmithing, iron-casting and their popular Doodle Bowl Experience (designing and carving a bowl that is cast in solid aluminum). They also lead photo safaris and hands-on graffiti tours of the grounds.

Hours: Monday-Friday, 11 a.m.-3 p.m.; timed tickets required
Admission: $5/person

Living Dead Museum

Monroeville Mall, 248 Mall Circle Drive

PHOTO BY HUCK BEARD

Pittsburgh claims the “Zombie Capital of the World” moniker, thanks to filmmaker and Carnegie Mellon University alum George A. Romero. Romero filmed several installments of his “Night of the Living Dead” series in the region; those films defined zombies in pop culture for the half-century that followed (and launched the career of special-effects guru and Bloomfield native Tom Savini).

Monroeville Mall was the primary filming location for 1978’s “Dawn of the Dead,” so it’s fitting that it’s now home to a museum honoring zombies in film. Visitors can see original props, costumes and set pieces from Romero’s films alongside photos from the production, movie memorabilia and the “Maul of Fame,” a wall of bloody handprints left by horror actors who have visited the exhibit.

Romero’s films aren’t the only terrors celebrated at the Living Dead Museum. It also has exhibits dedicated to other pop-culture zombies, including the cabin set used in “Evil Dead 2” and a statue of Michael Jackson in his full “Thriller” get-up. Other productions filmed in Monroeville Mall have space in the museum, too, such as a room devoted to the 2017 Netflix series “Mindhunter.”

The Living Dead Museum began life as a small display in curator Kevin Kriess’ Monroeville Mall toy shop. It moved in 2013 to Evans City, where Romero filmed the original “Night of the Living Dead” and his 1973 film “The Crazies,” before returning to an expanded space in the mall in 2018. Although the museum no longer calls Evans City home, the town is still worth a side trip for serious zombie lovers, who can see plaques and a mural dedicated to Romero as well as several locations featured in the movie — including the cemetery where the iconic opening scene was filmed.

While the Living Dead museum is open for walk-in visitors year-round, their hours are extended during the summer months. Monroeville Mall also regularly hosts festivals and events related to its spooky claim to fame, most notably the Living Dead Weekend every summer (it was held in early June this year); the macabre gathering features cast reunions, movie screenings and other undead-themed entertainment.

Hours: Monday, Thursday-Saturday, 11 a.m.-8 p.m.; Sunday noon-6 p.m.
Admission: Adults $8; students and active military $7; kids 12 and under free

Jess Simms came to Pittsburgh for an MFA from Chatham University and loved the city so much they never left. They write about the region’s culture and creative scene and participate in it as co-founder of Scribble House and Managing Editor of After Happy Hour Review.

JOAN JETT | PHOTO COURTESY OF PITTSBURGH BREWING CO.

BEST BET

Joan Jett and the Blackhearts

Aug. 8 | Pittsburgh Brewing Co.

For more than 50 years, the Godmother of Punk has been so unapologetically badass that it can be both intimidating and invigorating to stare directly into her power. It’s time to squeeze back into those leather pants because Joan Jett and the Blackhearts are descending upon the Iron City Stage at Pittsburgh Brewing Co.

Jett stands as an icon for women and girls to be true to themselves and their values, with an influence that extends beyond her music; she has been a significant inspiration for later female-fronted rock and punk bands, particularly the 1990s “Riot Grrrl” movement. In an industry where artists are constantly feeling the push and pull of reinvention, Jett authentically wears her “bad reputation” as a badge of honor.

She’s a rock star who remains a commanding presence, guitar slung low, delivering every note with the same power and defiant attitude that has captivated audiences for decades. Her music lets you know who she is, and as a listener, you can use those same guitar riffs and growling vocals as a conduit to express your own defiance.

Outdoors, along the Allegheny River, is a perfect spot to scream your riotous little black heart out.

ART

PearlArts Movement & Sound Presents: Drift Terrain

Aug. 2 | Carnegie Museum of Art Sculpture Court

INSIDE OUT: MICHIYAYA & FRIENDS, INCLUDING DJ SHOE, CARNEGIE MUSEUM OF ART, PITTSBURGH, AUGUST 3, 2024; PHOTO: DARIEUS VELTRI, VIZNS PHOTOGRAPHY / CARNEGIE MUSEUM OF ART

It’s a call and response for your senses. PearlArts Movement & Sound Presents: Drift Terrain is described as five hours of continuous soundscapes, presented in Carnegie Museum of Art’s Sculpture Court and curated by Herman “Soy Sos” Pearl.

The experience invites audiences to move freely through the space or to settle into stillness as acoustic and electronic musicians weave in and out with their musical contributions. What a perfect way to reset your soul.

FESTIVAL

Barrel & Flow

Aug. 9 | The Stacks at 3 Crossings

The “Best Brew Fest in America” is back for its fifth year! The inclusive Barrel & Flow Fest is not just a festival; it’s a movement, showcasing and celebrating Black breweries, artists and small businesses.

The live entertainment from musicians and visual artists will put an exclamation point on a space to connect opportunity, accessibility and artistry in ways that empower the Black community.

THEATER

“Hangmen”

Aug. 7-24 | Carnegie Stage

PHOTO COURTESY OF KINETIC THEATRE

Inside Out, the Carnegie Museum of Art’s free outdoor summer series, offers something different for families to enjoy in each iteration held on Thursday nights and Saturdays. On this particular Saturday, the “artsy fartsy” dynamic duo, KinselLand (ANQWENIQUE and DS Kinsel) will present Conflict and Competition, a day of family-friendly sport, collaboration and performance.

COMEDY

Josh Johnson

Aug. 15-16 | Byham Theater

Why would comedian Josh Johnson name his comedy tour “The Flowers Tour?” According to a post on his Instagram, he recognizes people as having their own unique “bloom” or qualities, much like a flower. Clearly, he’s one of comedy’s more gentle souls.

But that’s not to say that he doesn’t have a message for all. The on-air correspondent for “The Daily Show” has plenty of commentary on world views, society and the good ol’ US of A.

MUSIC

Gary Clark Jr. 

Aug. 26 | Stage AE

Gary Clark Jr. is a masterful guitarist who seamlessly blends blues, rock, soul and hip-hop. It’s almost like the souls of Jimi Hendrix and Marvin Gaye agreed to co-exist in Clark Jr. for the purpose of delivering a dynamic stage show.

His shows have been described as a “blues explosion,” offering a compelling and authentic musical experience as he promotes his 2024 album “JPEG Raw.”

NAS | PHOTO COURTESY OF THE PITTSBURGH SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA

BEST BET

Nas and the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra

July 26 | Heinz Hall

When one listens to a track by Nas, his artistry shines through lyrics with depth greater than that of the Pacific Ocean.

And it immediately becomes clear that, conscious though he may be, this man suffers no fools. Nas — the son of a jazz musician, the gentleman’s rapper, the educator — helped to remind a generation of Black boys and girls that they are descendants of Kings and Queens. The stories he tells range from realistic tales about growing up in public housing in Queens, New York, to fantastic visions of a world that he rules.

The thought-provoking talent, who is touring the country for special engagements at concert halls, will breathe new life into his 1994 debut album, “Illmatic,” as he joins forces with the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra. Expect a different feeling from the tracks, perhaps a bit more “grown-up” than the first time you may have listened to “Illmatic” while driving to a house party in your bestie’s car. After all, there is something extra beautiful about the results when hip-hop music gets dipped into other musical genres; the lush music of the PSO can only enhance the creatively introspective lyrics of the man considered to be one of the greatest rappers of all time.

MUSIC

Big Bad Voodoo Daddy

July 10 | City Winery Pittsburgh

Dust off those zoot suits and swing dresses; Big Bad Voodoo Daddy is coming to town to boogie-woogie. The band is celebrating its 32nd anniversary since bursting onto the scene in the early ’90s. (Boy, does that make me feel old.) The night is meant to dig up nostalgia and get the heart rate going as the band kicks out a beautiful, vibrant fusion of the classic sounds of jazz, swing and Dixieland.

MUSIC

Northside Music Festival

July 18-20 | Deutschtown

PHOTO COURTESY OF THE NORTHSIDE MUSIC FESTIVAL (MELANIE STANGLE)

The Pittsburgh weather is finally getting respectable. Which means it’s time to get outside! Venture over to Deutschtown for three days of art, live music and food at the Northside Music Festival. Free admission grants you access to various genres on several stages, numerous art vendors, food and Gospel Sunday. There also will be plenty of activities for the kids.

COMEDY

Patrick Warburton

July 22-23 | Pittsburgh Improv

PHOTO COURTESY OF PITTSBURGH IMPROV

“Seinfeld” fans call him Puddy. Others know him as Joe Swanson. Or Kronk. Or the Tick. No matter what you call him, most call him funny. A beloved actor with an iconic voice, Patrick Warburton has decided to try his hand at stand-up comedy. The man is 60 years old and has spent 40 years in the industry — you know he has some stories to tell!

FESTIVAL

Undead Format Fest

July 26 | Bottlerocket Social Hall

PHOTO COURTESY OF ALTERNATE HISTORIES

Physical media is dead, they said. Digital is the future, they said. Well, some of us older kids love a DVD or a cassette tape to hold in our hands — or to decorate our shelves. Bottlerocket Social Hall, Alternate Histories and Horror PGH are introducing Undead Format Fest, celebrating all varieties of physical media. Vendors will be on hand selling vinyl records, cassette tapes, DVDs, VHS tapes — even laserdiscs. You also can bring your own stash to trade with others.

DANCE

Dance Africa Pittsburgh: A Moment in Time

July 26-27 | New Hazlett Theater

Dance Africa Pittsburgh: A Moment in Time is an annual celebration hosted by The Legacy Arts Project. The vibe at this two-day event is “Peace, Love and Respect for Everybody,” with a focus on the beauty and diversity of the African diaspora through dance, drumming, song, spoken word and visual art. You also can explore community workshops and the African Marketplace to purchase traditional Adinkra prints, Kente cloth, natural body products and handcrafted goods.

MYSTERY LOVERS BOOKSHOP | PHOTO BY VIRGINIA LINN

Oakmont, a small bedroom community perched along the Allegheny River, is full of one-of-kind destinations beyond the acclaimed Oakmont Country Club.

Surprisingly, most of the expected 200,000 fans heading to the U.S. Open June 9-15 may miss the gems of this charming borough. They’ll be shuttled between the club and satellite parking lots in Hartwood Acres and Monroeville, rolling past delightful mom-and-pop shops, restaurants, a house museum and more.

“They forget Mayberry,” says Carol Kinkela, who founded the popular Carabella boutique more than 28 years ago. Still, Carabella, like other shops along the shady, brick avenue of its business district, will be extending hours during the tournament. “The merchants are ramped up and ready to welcome the world,” she says. (328 Allegheny River Blvd.)

CARABELLA | PHOTO BY VIRGINIA LINN

Buff Rodman, who has worked at the iconic Mystery Lovers Bookshop along this stretch since 1993, has experienced three U.S. Opens here so far. “We don’t get as much of a bump as you might think,” she said about extra business. The shop celebrates its 35th anniversary this year. When Mary Alice Gorman and Richard Goldman opened Mystery Lovers in 1990, it was the first book store in the region to offer a coffee bar (it no longer does, but customers can bring in their own). It has changed owners a few times and hosts author talks, four book clubs a month and more. Its offerings are focused on the second-most popular book genre: mysteries and thrillers. (514 Allegheny River Blvd.)

Oakmont also is home to the independent Oakmont Bakery. It opened as the town’s only full-service bakery in 1988; in early 2019, it nearly tripled its size at its new 19,500-square-foot retail and production space, where it serves more than 1,000 customers a day from all over the region. (1 Sweet St.)

The Oaks Theater opened as a single-screen movie theater in 1938 as the “jewel of Oakmont.” With changing times, it closed for a few months in 2014 for a transformation: It built a main stage for live entertainment and added a full-service bar and kitchen. The Oaks now offers stand-up comedy, live music and guest speakers and continues to show classic movies and cult films on its large screen. (310 Allegheny River Blvd.)

For history buffs, the Kerr Memorial Museum presents the well-preserved home of a professional middle-class family at the dawn of the 20th century; it includes Dr. Thomas Kerr’s medical office on the first floor. Virginia Kerr, the daughter of Thomas and Jessie, never married and lived in the Queen Anne-style home until her death in 1994. She bequeathed the home to the borough in memory of her father. A special exhibit on the Kerr family itself is underway and continues through October. Visitors can tour the first two floors, as well as the basement, by appointment. Call 412-826-9295 to arrange. (402 Delaware Ave.)

The River’s Edge, a mixed housing development built beginning in 2013 on the former site of Edgewater Steel, offers a beautiful park and walking trail along the Allegheny River. (Riverfront Street)

If you can’t make it to Oakmont Country Club, the long bar at Hoffstott’s Cafe Monaco — surrounded by six video screens and posters of former U.S. Open tournaments — might be the next best place to watch the action. One of the bartenders recalls Spanish pro Sergio Garcia joining the crowd one year. (533 Allegheny Ave.)

Its owner, John Keefe, owns several other restaurants in town, including The Lot at Edgewater, a new-age diner and chop house that provides another expansive space for gathering, as well as a cigar bar and live music. (145 Allegheny Ave.)

Pittsburgh Magazine Food Editor Kristy Graver suggests other dining and drinking places in the area: Oakmont’s first brewery, Local Remedy Brewing (531 Allegheny Ave.); Pittsburgh Taco Boys (319 Maryland Ave.); Acclamation Brewing in nearby Verona, at 10.7 Marina along the Allegheny River (314 Arch St.); and Inner Groove Brewing, a vinyl-themed brewery (751 E. Railroad Ave.).

HYEHOLDE | PHOTO BY LAURA PETRILLA

It’s an inspiring time to be covering Pittsburgh’s restaurant industry. There’s an undercurrent of electricity to dining in the city right now, driven by chefs who are growing into themselves and spaces that feel more self-assured than ever. We’ve never been a city that’s been focused too much on buzzy gimmicks and fleeting trends.

What’s happening here is deeper than that. Our chefs are digging into their identities and building menus that reflect who they are — and who they want to be. And it’s making me excited to see what’s next.

The 26 restaurants in this list exemplify the best of what’s out there, with dishes that stopped me in my tracks and experiences that lingered long after the last bite.

The Best Restaurants in Pittsburgh

• Alta Via
• Altius
• Apteka
• Balvanera
• Bar Marco
• Casbah
• Chengdu Gourmet
• DiAnoia’s Eatery
• Dish Osteria and Bar
• Driftwood Oven
• Duo’s Taqueria
• Eleven Contemporary Kitchen
• EYV
• Fet-Fisk
• Gi-Jin
• Hyeholde
• Lilith
• Morcilla
• One by Spork
• Otaru
• Pusadee’s Garden
• Siempre Algo
• Soju
• The Speckled Egg
• The Vandal
• Wise County Cafe

Alta Via

PHOTO BY LAURA PETRILLA

Inspired by the flavors of Northern California and Italy, Alta Via (both at its original O’Hara location and its newer outpost in Market Square) takes a fresh, contemporary approach to Italian cuisine, steering clear of clichés like checkered tablecloths and oversized plates of red sauce.

Instead, under the guidance of big Burrito partner Bill Fuller, Alta Via leans into the refined simplicity of house-made pastas and vegetable-heavy dishes, like a plate of baby artichokes served with fresh mint-salsa crudo.

Fuller has spent years fine-tuning Alta Via’s concept, drawing inspiration both from his time living in the Bay Area and his travels through Europe. The result is a menu that’s anchored by delicate handmade egg noodles and extruded pasta, crafted daily in a dedicated pasta and bread-making room in the Market Square location. And while Alta Via initially avoided East Coast Italian staples (“We didn’t want to be too classic Italian,” Fuller says), one pandemic pivot led to the creation of the now wildly popular chicken Parmesan.

The dish is made with chicken breast brined in a blend of whole milk, garlic and Calabrian chiles before being sauteed and topped with, yes, their house red sauce. It may be a classic, but it’s perfectly their own.

O’Hara: 46 Fox Chapel Road
412-408-3816

Downtown: 2 pPPG Place, Market Square
412-981-5155

Altius

PHOTO BY LAURA PETRILLA

It would be a mistake to think of Altius as merely a special-occasion restaurant. Yes, the views are breathtaking; perched atop Mount Washington, it offers one of the most spectacular vantage points of Pittsburgh’s skyline. And yes, the service is impeccable, led by proprietor B DeFrancis and a front-of-house team that ensures every detail is flawless.

But beyond the elegance, Altius is a place where fine dining feels both luxurious and incredibly welcoming. When Chef and Owner Jessica Bauer opened the restaurant more than a decade ago, she aimed to create a space that was uniquely Pittsburgh. “We always strive to not be something that Pittsburgh is not,” Bauer says. “We do certain things that are unique to us, like the amuse-bouche, the takeaway treat, the whole experience. But at our core, we’re still a big, center-of-the-plate, meat-and-potatoes place.”

Signature dishes like the Heron Point Crab Toast (a truly special starter, with wild-caught crab and grilled artichoke cream cheese on a house-made baguette) highlight Bauer’s thoughtful approach to flavor. The Chilean sea bass, paired with seasonal accompaniments, and the flawlessly executed filet mignon (it’s a splurge, but the melt-in-your-mouth steak is worth it) are showstoppers.

Altius is a restaurant designed to impress, but it’s just as suited for a spontaneous Monday-night indulgence.

Mount Washington: 1230 Grandview Ave.
412-904-4442

Apteka

PHOTO BY LAURA PETRILLA

Even after nine years in business, Bloomfield’s Apteka is still one of Pittsburgh’s most effortlessly cool dining experiences. Owners Kate Lasky and Tomasz Skowronski, perennial James Beard nominees, have built something remarkable: a restaurant that defies convention, from its counter-service model to its all-vegan, Eastern European-inspired (and deeply labor-intensive) menu.

Apteka’s menu is a reflection of meticulous preparation and seasonal inspiration. “Everything is from scratch,” Lasky explains. “Some base ingredients take 72 hours. We’re soaking nuts, making milk, culturing it, fermenting it. But we love that. This is what we work for.”

And you can taste that effort in their food. Definitely order the pierogies; they’re time-tested and worth all of the hype. But you also must lean into the experience, and order something that surprises you, such as a rosehip soup with marfax beans, or Kluski Leniwe, a funky potato and sunflower-seed dumpling with sunchoke sauce (creamy and made of sunchokes, also known as Jerusalem artichokes).

The menu changes regularly, depending on what’s seasonally available. Lasky and Skowronski also dig into their own culinary archives for inspiration and make endless adjustments until they’re perfect. “There’s a very simple salad with nice Napa cabbage and herbs that Tomasz’s grandfather used to make growing up,” Lasky says. “But the thing that was really crucial for this dish is cottage cheese. So we ended up experimenting with culturing pumpkin seeds and we got this product that’s kind of waxy in texture and has a chew like a fresh cheese. All of a sudden, we’ve opened this door, and we can have this new thing to work with.”

It’s proof that even after nearly a decade, Apteka is still discovering new ways to surprise and delight.

Bloomfield: 4606 Penn Ave.
412-251-0189

Balvanera

PHOTO BY LAURA PETRILLA

Sometimes, what you’re really craving isn’t just a great meal — it’s a little bit of fun. Balvanera gives you both.

The sprawling, 4,400-square-foot Strip District steakhouse doesn’t do quiet. It brings serious energy to your evening out. It’s loud, lively and offers a creative take on South American cuisine, with a menu that’s centered around grass-fed beef from Pampas of Argentina. The Ancho (the Argentine ribeye) was my favorite, deeply marbled and perfectly prepared. House-made sausages, like the pork and guanciale version laced with piquillo and guindilla peppers offer a strong showing, while the morcilla, a blood sausage with an unexpected bite, keeps things interesting.

But it’s the surprising touches that make Balvanera stand out. A seemingly simple cheese plate with Goat Rodeo Farm’s Bamboozle flavor is taken to another level when paired with poached quince (and had us asking for seconds), and a crème brûlée-style Basque cheesecake was impossible to resist, even after a delightfully heavy meal.

Add in a deep bench of South American wines and a clever take on classic cocktails and you have a restaurant that’s as much about the experience as it is about food. This isn’t just dinner; it’s a night out. Balvenera makes sure it’s a good one.

Strip District: 1660 Smallman St.
412-586-5617

Bar Marco

PHOTO BY LAURA PETRILLA

What does it take for a restaurant to be considered a classic? After more than a decade in the Strip District, Bar Marco has earned that title while still managing to feel as fresh as it did on the day it opened.

Now under the sole ownership of Justin Steel — one of the four original founders — the restaurant continues to evolve while staying true to itself. Bar Marco and its now-closed sibling, The Livermore, were the first no-tip establishments in Pittsburgh; Bar Marco continues that practice.

It brings an Italian sensibility to its menu, but not in the way you might think. “Italian restaurants in Italy aren’t ‘Italian restaurants,’” Steel explains. “They just use the best local products. So we take that philosophy and use as much local produce and meats that we can then supplement with really nice products from Italy.”

The menu, Steel says, shifts with the seasons, offering lighter, coastal influences in the summer and heartier northern Italian flavors in winter, like the hand-cut pappardelle dish I was fortunate enough to try in December. Made with braised duck, green peppercorns, duck brodo, cabbage and a cured egg yolk, it was a dish that lingered in my memory long well after I enjoyed it.

The evolution continues. Bar Marco recently expanded its offerings and introduced a more traditional menu format. We’re ready.

Strip District: 2216 Penn Ave.
412-471-1900

Casbah

PHOTO BY LAURA PETRILLA

In every city, restaurants come and go. The great ones leave a mark. But the legends endure. Casbah, celebrating its 30th year, is the definition of a legend.

A cornerstone of big Burrito Restaurant Group’s empire, it’s a restaurant that has grown with Pittsburgh, changing and evolving but never losing sight of what makes it special. You can taste it in the food, in dishes that have been fine-tuned to near perfection over decades.

The Long Island duck, for example, has been braised, rendered and fussed over with an obsessive attention to detail to the point where you’d be a fool to bet against it. Same story with the double-cut pork chop, a Casbah standard. Three decades in, it’s as sublime as it ever was.

The Mediterranean influences shine here, with North African and Middle Eastern flavors woven seamlessly into the menu. Start with the Mediterranean spread (house-made hummus, baba ghanoush and red pepper muhammara) before moving to the ever-popular arugula salad, a mix of pancetta, mushrooms and goat cheese with a pancetta vinaigrette that has been my personal Pittsburgh comfort food for years.

Then there’s my all-time favorite: the saffron pappardelle with lobster, a luxuriously creamy dish complemented with buttery bites of lobster. I’ve drifted from it at times, but I always come back. Just like I always come back to Casbah.

Shadyside: 229 S. Highland Ave.
412-661-5656

Chengdu Gourmet

PHOTO BY LAURA PETRILLA

Pittsburgh is lucky to have Chengdu Gourmet. Not just because it’s good — though it is incredibly good — but because it’s the kind of place that rewards curiosity.

When James Beard-nominated chef Wei Zhu opened his Squirrel Hill location in 2014, it took time to catch on. But under his careful leadership, the kitchen started turning out magic, with deeply flavorful, beautifully balanced Sichuan cooking that made Chengdu Gourmet a destination.

There are two menus here: one full of the Chinese-American staples you know, the other a deep dive into Sichuan flavors. The sheer volume of items on the menus shouldn’t scare you, but allow yourself enough room to try just one more thing … and then maybe just one more. If you order General Tso’s, you won’t regret it, but the real thrill is in leaning into something a little unexpected, like the spicy dry hot pot. Add in everything from lotus root and winter melon to quail eggs and lamb.

Choose your spice level carefully (medium tests my limits) and allow yourself to revel in the numbing heat, while appreciating all of the textures of the individual components. Go with a group, order recklessly and share everything. I’ve also had some great experiences sneaking in for an early dinner on my own, over-ordering and taking the time to notice how every dish is built to work together. Either way, you’re in for something remarkable.

Squirrel Hill: 5840 Forward Ave.
412-521-2088, chengdugourmetfood.com

Ross: 4768 McKnight Road
412-579-0999

DiAnoia’s Eatery

PHOTO BY LAURA PETRILLA

Dave Anoia and Aimee DiAndrea are building their own Italian empire in Pittsburgh. At the center of that empire stands DiAnoia’s Eatery, a restaurant that still manages to surprise in a city obsessed with red sauce and tradition.

If you’ve ever tried to grab a last-minute reservation, you know the deal: DiAnoia’s is one of the hottest tickets in town, and is packed every night with a crowd that defies easy categorization. “We don’t have a standard demographic,” says Anoia. “We get everyone.” They come for a reason.

The greens and beans – an untraditional take on the classic thickened to something more like a garlicky, sausage-laced stew with escarole and white wine – will ruin you for all others. The whole-roasted branzino, flaky and rich, is not to be missed. Then there’s the sleeper hit: their bistecca Fiorentina — a perfect cut of porterhouse, sliced thick, seared hard in a cast-iron pan, cooked medium-rare and drizzled with good olive oil and dusted with salt.

Nothing more, nothing less and absolutely nothing better. What truly makes DiAnoia’s special is the pasta. All of it is house-made. Some dishes, like the heirloom tomato tripoline, are fleeting — here for a moment, gone before you know it. It’s just a bucketload of tomatoes, some garlic, butter, basil and parm, but when the season is right, it tastes like pure summer.

Strip District: 2549 Penn Ave.
412-918-1875

Dish Osteria and Bar

PHOTO BY LAURA PETRILLA

Dish Osteria and Bar is the restaurant that Pittsburgh chefs go to on their night off. What Michele and Cindy Savoia have been creating in their cozy South Side restaurant since 2000 is nothing short of magical.

“People loved it, even from the beginning,” Michele says. Dish started as a wine bar, offering little appetizers — a carpaccio here, a prosciutto-and-brie sandwich there. Then, as Michele tells it, one thing led to another. A little pasta made its way onto the menu. Then a little more. “Then one more thing, then one more thing, then … here we are.”

Almost 25 years later (aside from a two-year break between 2017-2019), “here we are” continues to be one of the best restaurants in Pittsburgh. The menu is the definition of seasonal. A recent radicchio salad with grilled baby artichokes in a fig dressing nearly brought me to tears. It’s not that Dish is unlike anything else in Pittsburgh; it’s that Dish is simply better. A culinary gem. A Pittsburgh institution. A place so good, so enduring, that it should be a national treasure. It’s where you send your out-of-town friends when they ask what Pittsburgh is all about.

The most beloved dish? The Rigatoni alla Scamorza Affumicata, with smoked scamorza cheese, prosciutto, peas, and roasted pistachios in a cream sauce. It’s dreamy. If no one at your table orders it, order it for the table.

Reservations are tough to come by, unless you’re looking to eat at 10 p.m.; Dish remains one of the few restaurants in the city that serves well after dark. But if you can go, you must. The small kitchen limits how many dishes can be on the menu at any given time, but it never feels limited. It feels revelatory.

South Side: 28 S. 17th St.
412-390-2012

Driftwood Oven

PHOTO BY LAURA PETRILLA

Driftwood Oven is more than just a pizza spot; it’s a neighborhood staple. What began as a mobile pizza kitchen nearly a decade ago has grown into one of Pittsburgh’s most beloved pizzerias, where naturally leavened sourdough crusts and thoughtfully sourced ingredients set the standard.

Owner and baker Neil Blazin has a deep respect for fermentation, and you can taste it in every bite. His wood-fired pizzas strike the perfect balance: crispy on the outside, chewy in the middle and offering just the right amount of tang. The classic 16-inch pies and thicker Roman-style slabs are topped with everything from shiitake mushrooms and morita chili oil to herbed ricotta and a white-shallot cream sauce.

The sandwiches are just as impressive. The Italian, with mortadella, capicola, pepperoni, provolone and spicy pickled peppers on house-baked sourdough focaccia, is easily one of the best in the city. There is a cost that comes with sourcing top-level ingredients, using organic flour, Caputo Brothers cheese and produce from local farms.

“I know that our product cost is definitely higher because we’re using really quality ingredients,” Blazin says. “But I think our prices are fair.” Big changes are coming to the space in the coming months, including additional seating. But the things that make Driftwood special — the crust, the care and their underrated ginger molasses cookie — aren’t changing anytime soon.

Lawrenceville: 3615 Butler St.
412-251-0253

Duo’s Taqueria

PHOTO BY LAURA PETRILLA

How can it be that one of Pittsburgh’s best Mexican restaurants is run by a technology startup? Believe it, baby. The wildly inventive culinary arm of Duolingo started as a takeout window experiment and has since transformed into a full-fledged restaurant led by Chef Marcella Ogrodnik that takes its Mexico City-inspired menu as seriously as it takes language learning.

Duo’s Taqueria is an unexpected concept, sure, but this is no marketing gimmick. It is the real deal. The guacamole is classic, creamy and even better when topped with crunchy chicharrones. The crispy white fish taco, dressed with purple cabbage and smoky chipotle mayo, is a must. And the Suadero tacos are a nearly perfect bite, packed with tender Jubilee Hilltop Ranch brisket and a punchy salsa arbol.

Whatever you do, don’t skip the daily agua fresca, a refreshing accompaniment to anything on the menu. For dessert, I insist that you order the Tamal de Cacao, a chocolate tamale with corn mousse, cajeta (a thickened caramel) and pecans. It’s incredibly unexpected in the best way. Kind of like a restaurant from a tech company.

East Liberty: 5906 Penn Ave.
412-789-3852

Eleven Contemporary Kitchen

PHOTO BY LAURA PETRILLA

Eleven Contemporary Kitchen has been standing tall in the Strip District for more than two decades, a rare feat in Pittsburgh’s ever-shifting dining scene. It was designed to be the fine-dining flagship of big Burrito Restaurant Group; in a city where elevated dining too often skews either outdated or overthought, Eleven still threads the needle.

It’s polished but not pretentious, refined but never fussy. “We wanted it to be the best of what we do,” says big Burrito Owner Bill Fuller. “But it still had to be Pittsburgh.” The dining room remains one of the city’s most effortlessly elegant spaces, modern, warm and open.

The menu leans classic American with a chef’s precision, thanks to Executive Chef Eli Wahl, who has spent years perfecting dishes that feel both familiar and exceptional. There’s swordfish over rock shrimp risotto, pastas that take the shape of the season they’re in and a short rib that all but dissolves on the fork. It’s the Gerber Farms chicken dish that tells the real story. “The chicken dish has stayed fundamentally the same, but it’s gone through multiple interactions to make it better than it ever was,” explains Fuller.

With a crisp-skinned breast and a risotto enriched by braised leg meat, every step has been honed over the years to deliver something excellent. Also excellent is Eleven’s pastry program, run by Selina Pragor. With sweets like a Brown Butter Creme Brulee — a layered delicacy with griddled marble cake, kettle-corn panna cotta, chocolate cremeux, caramel popcorn and caramel sauce — it could be almost too much. But like Eleven itself, it’s always just right.

Strip District: 1150 Smallman St.
412-201-5656

EYV

PHOTO BY LAURA PETRILLA

At EYV, it’s not about hiding your vegetables — it’s about highlighting your vegetables. Here, they take center stage, boldly and unapologetically.

Michael Godlewski, the chef behind this North Side vegetarian restaurant, isn’t out to make you forget about meat. “I love a good burger, and I love a good steak,” he says. “But I like the challenge of vegetables. The freedom to manipulate them in different ways, to highlight their essence.”

The menu at EYV is always changing, two or three dishes at a time — depending on the season and what’s coming in from local farms. Which is how you end up with a Farmers Salad that changes from week to week but sticks with you for months. The version I had was a perfect balance of textures and flavors: fresh greens, rotating vegetables, a crisp potato tater tot (because it’s Pittsburgh), balsamic vinaigrette, a creamy ranch mousse and a dusting of dried, pulverized vegetables and pistachios, made to look “like those little rocks you find when you were a kid digging around in the dirt,” Godlewski says.

Godlewski’s food is smart and fun. Cabbage pastrami? It doesn’t taste exactly like pastrami, but the essence is there (and maybe better). It’s all deeply thoughtful, endlessly creative and ridiculously delicious.

North Side: 424 E. Ohio st.
412-742-4386

Fet-Fisk

PHOTO BY LAURA PETRILLA

There’s a lot to love about Fet-Fisk — just ask, well, anyone. With accolades coming in from national outlets like The New York Times, Eater and the James Beard Foundation (which named it a Best Restaurant finalist earlier this year), Fet-Fisk is well on its way to becoming the crown jewel in Pittsburgh’s culinary dining scene.

And they absolutely deserve it. In just over a year, Nik Forsberg and Sarah LaPonte have turned their Nordic-meets Appalachian seafood fever dream into one of the spots with the hardest tables to snag in Pittsburgh. They offer a menu that reads like a dare, and eats like a revelation. Raw oysters? Obviously. But then comes the smoked sturgeon pâté, folded in with farmers cheese, served with house-seeded crackers and a just-right hit of caper and shallot.

The pickled mackerel? I certainly didn’t expect to love it, but here we are. And then — then — there’s the roast chicken, a dish that I didn’t stop talking about for days after I had it for the first time. Perfectly roasted chicken, lacquered with lingonberry sauce and paired with farmer’s cheese, so absurdly beautiful, it should be framed and not eaten. (But you should absolutely eat it.)

Fet-Fisk is swaggering, effortlessly hip, and (frankly) cooler than me. But that won’t stop me from squeezing in at the bar, nursing an aquavit cocktail and pretending I belong. You should do the same.

Bloomfield: 4786 Liberty Ave.

Gi-Jin

PHOTO BY LAURA PETRILLA

There was a time when Gi-Jin was the buzziest new restaurant in town. The sort of place you namedrop in conversations, where reservations were flexes and the low light (and high design) made every night feel like an event. After more than four years, it has settled into something better: a restaurant that knows exactly what it’s doing and does it exceptionally well.

From Richard DeShantz Restaurant Group, Gi-Jin is small, dark and intimate, the kind of spot where you lean in close to talk to a stranger at the bar and end up sharing your life story over too much sake. It’s sleek without being stiff, cool without trying too hard. And the sushi is still some of the best in the city.

The hamachi crudo is a bright, balanced bite — yellowtail kissed with ponzu, ginger oil and daikon. The nigiri is pristine; the chef’s selection is an exercise in trust rewarded with King Salmon, Kanpachi or a delicate Madai, each crowned with something like shaved marinated peppers or a dollop of wasabi, and just the right flourish. The dynamite crab is a must. It’s a burst of texture and heat and comes together in a deliciously, sneakingly spicy way.

For dessert, the silk chocolate torte with a soy caramel compote, complete with a surprising touch of umami, can’t be beat. Gi-Jin isn’t the new kid anymore. It’s better than that. It’s a sure thing.

Downtown: 208 Sixth St.
412-332-6939

Hyeholde

PHOTO BY LAURA PETRILLA

Dining at Hyeholde isn’t just about a meal. It’s an experience. Pull into the winding driveway to meet the valet and the tone is set for an evening steeped in old-school elegance. Step inside, and you’re transported back to a time when dining out was an event.

There’s real history here. The restaurant first began serving meals in 1938 (yes, really), making Hyeholde a Moon institution for more than 85 years — and a rare holdout of refined, white-tablecloth dining. The service is attentive, the cocktail list is classic and the food is more exceptional than you might expect. The sherry bisque is legendary — rich, velvety and a bestseller for decades.

There’s a seasonal component to the menu, but some staples remain: fork-tender braised short ribs, Elysian Fields lamb rack and, if you’re lucky, a cassoulet worth savoring. For generations, Pittsburghers have celebrated life’s milestones at Hyeholde. Anniversaries, engagements, birthdays.

Some traditions are worth keeping. This is one of them.

Moon: 1516 Coraopolis Heights Road
412-264-3116

Lilith

PHOTO BY LAURA PETRILLA

You know when a new restaurant opens, and your first visit is that perfect, electric, can’t-wait-to-tell-everyone meal? Then you go back … and it starts to fade? You still love it, but maybe not with the same intensity? Lilith is not that restaurant.

Every time I’ve been to Lilith (and it’s been quite a few times) it has been better than before. Pittsburgh restaurant vets Jamilka Borges and Dianne DeStefano took over the storied Café Zinho space and turned it into something deeply personal. Borges cooks the kind of food that makes you want to stay all night — sipping cocktails, talking too loud, forgetting the time. Her steak is one of the best in the city, totally rich, indulgent and effortless.

There’s a monkfish dish with a brothy stock, heavy on the culantro, studded with lemongrass and tamari that’s worth its weight in gold. And DeStefano’s desserts? Pure alchemy. I had a baked Alaska that made me question why we don’t eat them every single day.

“If I had it my way, I’d change the menu every day,” Borges says. But part of being a great chef, she’s learned, is consistency. Some dishes have become signatures, the kind of comforting, dependable things that make a restaurant feel like home. “I don’t have anything to prove anymore,” Borges says. “I just want to make good food.”

Lilith is better than good. It’s magical.

Shadyside: 238 Spahr St.
412-744-9290

Morcilla

PHOTO BY LAURA PETRILLA

Morcilla is the kind of place that never gets old. Almost a decade in, this Lawrenceville staple is still one of the most exciting restaurants in Pittsburgh, and still pulling off a trick that very few can: the art of reinvention without losing the essence of what made it great in the first place.

This is a restaurant where you go when you need to impress someone, but also where you go when you just want to eat well. Chef and partner Nate Hobart keeps the place running like a well-oiled machine while making sure no detail is overlooked. And it shows.

“It doesn’t feel like 10 years. It still feels like a new restaurant, which is a really good thing for us,” Hobart says. “We have a great system in place, but we don’t want to be complacent. We don’t want to miss those small details. We just want to keep pushing forward.”

The Spanish-influenced menu is consistent, but never static. Costillas de la Matanza — baby-back ribs swimming in harissa honey and balanced with za’atar and labneh — is a must. The braised oxtail is legendary. And when spring rolls in, a conical cabbage dish with lobster beurre fondue and trout roe steals the show. Mussels en Escabeche is sourced from Bangs Island in Maine, transformed by the season, with ramps in spring, Verona’s Coldco Farm’s best in summer.

Ten years in, Morcilla is still pushing forward and still essential.

Lawrenceville: 3519 Butler St.
412-652-9924

One by Spork

PHOTO BY LAURA PETRILLA

Spork was one of those restaurants that made Pittsburgh feel like it was playing in the big leagues. When Chris Frangiadis shut it down last year, it felt like a gut punch. But he had a plan. One by Spork is that plan in action.

It’s a distillation of everything Frangiadis loved about Spork, boiled down into a prix fixe, seven-course tasting menu where every plate, every bite, is deliberate.

It’s a chef narrowing his focus, stripping away the distractions, chasing perfection. “Every single item is really well thought-out, researched and, hopefully, executed,” Frangiadis says. “We’re able to put more focus on each individual dish, and so I’m confident that when we make it, we know that it’s something that is really special.”

The experience starts in the lounge with welcome bites, maybe a smoked bass charcoal tartelette, maybe a BBQ turkey taco. Then guests take their seats at a 16-person circular table, where Frangiadis and his team finish dishes tableside. There’s tratoli pasta with semolina, gnudi with yakitori mushrooms and an Australian Wagyu steak with a Roquefort-collard green soufflé.

Or maybe not. Every week, one dish swaps out, keeping the menu in constant motion. Over at the bar, Cecil Usher shines at creating accompanying cocktails and wine for pairings. He’s a talent, and it’s great to see him have so much fun behind the bar.

It’s intimate and ambitious and a bet on Pittsburgh’s dining future (and at $275 per person, not including tax and gratuity, it’s also one of the most expensive individual experiences in town). If Frangiadis has his way, it’s going to be one hell of a ride.

Bloomfield: 5430 Penn Ave.
412-441-1700

Otaru

PHOTO BY LAURA PETRILLA

Prepare to be impressed by Otaru. The Japanese restaurant, high on Mount Washington, offers stunning views of the city and an elevated date-night experience in the stylish, polished dining room.

If you’re feeling bold, take the “Otaru Experience,” a nine-course journey that flexes the kitchen team’s skills. Tosazu Shrimp, sharp and bright with vinegar, is a must-order whether you’re going all in or picking other dishes à la carte. Chawanmushi, a delicate, savory egg custard, melts away on the tongue.

Sushi is an art form here, but if nothing else, get the Bluefin toro. It’s fatty, luxurious, with a bite that lingers. Then there’s the honey- and lemon-marinated tomato, a dessert that shouldn’t work, but somehow captures the taste of summer in a single bite. I mainly ordered it on a whim, only because I was intrigued by its description, not because I really thought that it would be especially good.

I’ve never been so glad to be proven wrong. And those sights. They’re the kind that turn any night into something worth remembering.

Mount Washington: 1200 Grandview Ave.
412-586-5485

Pusadee’s Garden

PHOTO BY LAURA PETRILLA

The best way to enjoy Pusadee’s Garden is with someone who understands the unspoken agreement: Everything is for sharing. You don’t come here for just one dish. You come for the experience, for the layers of flavors stacked like a culinary Jenga tower, for the quiet luxury of a meal where every bite is a discovery.

For more than a decade (minus a years-long renovation detour), Pusadee’s Garden has been one of Pittsburgh’s most popular restaurants. Owners Watcharee Tongdee, Bootsaba Tongdee and Michael Johnson have built something rare and created a sophisticated space that still feels fresh, and still surprises.

On the menu, the Khao Yum, a 17-ingredient salad topped tableside in a tamarind dressing, is as bright as ever. The sweet potato roti, paired with a mild curry that somehow explodes with flavor, is one of those dishes that makes you happy just to know that it exists in the universe. Then there’s the pork belly. Succulent, caramelized, bathed in a sweet chili garlic sauce that defies reason. It’s the sauce I’ve been chasing for years — the kind that makes you want to bottle it up and smuggle it home.

For dessert, don’t miss the sticky rice and custard. It’s the perfect way to end your evening with a sweet grand finale.

Lawrenceville: 5319 Butler St.
412-252-2683

Siempre Algo

PHOTO BY LAURA PETRILLA

Every dinner at Siempre Algo feels like the best yet. Brian Hammond’s North Side gem has been quietly turning out some of Pittsburgh’s most thoughtful New American cuisine since 2018, without a lot of noise, without much press. It’s the kind of place that doesn’t need hype — because the food speaks for itself.

There’s a warmth to the space, thanks in part to the kind of hospitality that starts you off with a complimentary sip of something bubbly, one of the nicest little touches in town. A New American menu that changes with the season but is always executed to perfection. A recent meal started with yellowfin tuna tartare, layered with Hackleback caviar, toasted benne, fermented chili aioli, avocado-lime puree, tempura crisp and black sesame tuile.

It sounds like a lot, but it lands perfectly, with every flavor being intentionally chosen. There’s a stinging-nettle soup that sings. A house salad that eats like an Italian hoagie in disguise (with pickled beet, Amish swiss, hot soppressata, Jimmy Nardelo peppers, a compressed cucumber and an herb vinaigrette). A porchetta dish, made with Ibérico pork tenderloin wrapped in house-made sausage, sits over braised navy beans and grilled escarole.

Your parents will love it here. So will you. Before long, it will be the place you recommend anytime someone asks you where to go for a meal that feels both special and effortless.

North Side: 414 E. Ohio St.
412-652-9968

Soju

PHOTO BY LAURA PETRILLA

Soju, the tiny, beloved Korean spot in Garfield, shouldn’t be here right now. A burst pipe in January almost ruined everything inside. But Chef/Owner Simon Chough isn’t the kind of guy who quits. A few short months later, Soju returned. And, somehow, it’s better.

The menu is tight, without any room for fluff or missteps. I’m not, by nature, a fan of tofu, but Killer Tofu is an exception. It lives up to its name, and I order it every time, and enjoy crispy, golden pieces, drenched in a pineapple soy glaze that probably should be illegal. Then there are the kimchi nachos, which have a full-blown cult following at this point. The dish features fried wontons stacked with pickles, mushrooms, kimchi and cheese sauce, a messy, funky explosion of flavors.

Larger plates, like the Dwaejibulgogi (thinly sliced grilled pork in a spicy Korean marinade) and Bibimbap (a mixed rice dish) are sure bets, but you really can’t go wrong with anything on the menu.

It’s a small place. There might be a wait. But you’ll be fine because Soju is worth it. It’s always been worth it.

Garfield: 4923 Penn Ave.
412-450-8968

The Speckled Egg

PHOTO BY LAURA PETRILLA

It’s hard not to make this entire entry about the homefries at The Speckled Egg. Really. I could write a love letter to those crispy, golden-brown breakfast potatoes, grilled with sweet peppers and onions until they taste like every perfect Sunday morning you’ve ever had.

But The Speckled Egg is more than its potatoes. It’s the kind of breakfast spot that makes you rethink breakfast. The kind of place where buttermilk poppyseed pancakes arrive impossibly fluffy, where avocado toast is an art form, where the breakfast sandwich (a deceptively simple thing) becomes essential. Two eggs (broke yolks, obviously), melty cheese, crisp lettuce, all stacked onto one of their onion-poppy buns.

Go ahead, add the bacon. You won’t regret it. It’s also the kind of place that, despite the weekend crowds, runs without a hitch. Brunch service is a warzone everywhere, but at The Speckled Egg, the servers move like pros, ferrying stacks of French toast and bringing fresh coffee before you even realize you need it.

Now with two locations — seating mostly in the ornate lobby of the Union Trust building, Downtown, and a sprawling South Side Works outpost — owners Jacqueline and Nate Schoedel have built something special. And those potatoes? They’re just one reason why I’ll keep coming back.

Downtown: 501 Grant St.
412-251-5248

South Side: 428 S. 27th St.
412-206-7793

The Vandal

PHOTO BY LAURA PETRILLA

It might seem unlikely that ordering a mushroom tartine (just mushrooms on grilled sourdough) could be life-changing. But that’s the kind of restaurant The Vandal is. The kind that takes something simple and makes it unforgettable.

This year marks a decade for the Lawrenceville mainstay, a place that started as a casual counter-service burger joint and evolved into one of Pittsburgh’s most compelling dinner spots. Owner Joey Hilty credits that shift to a love of what they were doing. “We’ve just slowly evolved — anybody who comes in can kind of see it, and understand it, that this experience is better than the last time they were here,” he says.

The menu leans toward the refined yet welcoming, where a smoked-trout pâté gets a jolt of brightness from herby salsa verde and a beet salad finds unexpected harmony with shaved fennel and roasted pistachios. The bar program is a dream for natural-wine lovers, always skimming the edge of what’s next. “We want stuff you can’t get in the state store, something unique to us,” says Hilty.

Dishes like Atlantic cod with mussels, vadouvan (a curry spice blend), coconut and fennel push the menu forward, evolving with the restaurant itself. After 10 years, The Vandal is just getting started.

Lawrenceville: 4306 Butler St.
412-251-0465

Wise County Cafe

PHOTO BY LAURA PETRILLA

Wise County Cafe isn’t just a biscuit shop. It’s a community — a place that Lena Laskaris and James Wolfe built in 2024 after years of selling their homemade biscuits at farmers markets. Now, on the North Side, they’ve created something more: a cozy cafe where regulars sip coffee, community groups gather and couples linger over breakfast.

“What we wanted was a neighborhood feel,” Laskaris says. “We wanted to be somewhere, sort of like a soft cushion for people to fall. They don’t necessarily have to overthink things when they come through.”

Wolfe’s biscuits, adapted from his Applachian grandmother’s recipe, are the foundation of the restaurant. “We had to tweak them a bit,” Wolfe says. “My grandma’s biscuits were amazing, but they’d never hold up to a sandwich.” His are layered, structured and built for things like sausage and eggs, pimento cheese or soup beans with country ham. But Wise County isn’t just about biscuits. “We wanted it to feel like home,” says Laskaris.

So they make a burger, one that’s thick, juicy and slathered in “the sauce” on a house-made potato roll. They make soups that taste like someone’s been tending to them all day. They make coffee that keeps you sitting just a little longer. And the wait? Don’t worry. “We’ve gotten really good at convincing people to trust the process,” Wolfe says. “You’ll get a table when you need it.”

That’s Wise County. A place where, if you let it, breakfast can feel like coming home.

North Side: 911 Galveston Ave.
412-330-1389

Emily Catalano has been writing about Pittsburgh’s restaurant industry for more than a decade. She is the founder and editor of Good Food Pittsburgh and owns Highly Social Media, a creative content agency. She visited more than 70 restaurants while writing this piece, and loved them all in their own way. 

“THE SHARK IS BROKEN,” WHICH TELLS THE BEHIND-THE-SCENES STORY OF “JAWS,” PLAYS AT THE BAREBONES BLACK BOX THEATER. | PHOTO BY DUANE RIEDER

BEST BET

“The Shark Is Broken”

May 30-June 15| Barebones Black Box Theater

As any dedicated fan of the movie “Jaws” knows, there was nearly as much drama behind the scenes as there was on the screen. The script changed, tempers flared, actors failed to get along, everything went over budget and — most notoriously — the dang shark never worked.

That explains the title of “The Shark Is Broken,” a play co-written by Ian Shaw and Joseph Nixon, but like the 1975 film itself, there’s much more to it than a big fish. Shaw’s father, the gifted yet mercurial actor Robert Shaw, played Quint in “Jaws.” Shaw not only wrote “The Shark Is Broken” based on his father’s experiences, but he also portrayed his gruff Dad during the show’s ascent from the Edinburgh Fringe to Broadway.

The play will make its Pittsburgh debut this month in a staging by Barebones Productions. Devotees of “Jaws,” which celebrates its 50th anniversary this year, will likely be more than enticed by the subject matter alone. For audiences that are less fanatical about Steven Spielberg’s film, “It’s entertaining as hell,” says Patrick Jordan, Barebones’ founder and artistic director, who will be portraying Robert Shaw.

“You don’t have to have seen ‘Jaws’ to enjoy this play — which is kind of the great thing that Ian Shaw did while writing it.” The show finds the film’s three stars — Robert Shaw, Roy Scheider (Patrick Cannon) and Richard Dreyfuss (Quinn P. Shannon) — sitting aboard the ill-fated Orca, waiting to film Quint’s famous speech about the U.S.S. Indianapolis.

— Sean Collier

FESTIVAL

Dollar Bank Three Rivers Arts Festival

June 5-8 | Strip District

PHOTO COURTESY OF THE DOLLAR BANK THREE RIVERS ARTS FESTIVAL

You’re a true Pittsburgher, so you already know that the first weekend of June is dedicated to free art and music during the Dollar Bank Three Rivers Arts Festival.

Support local artists by purchasing unique pieces to add to your home. Enjoy a warm evening dancing to musical acts like Preservation Hall Jazz Band, the Guardians of Sounds Hip Hop Orchestra and Lisa Loeb — just to name a few.

Oh, and make sure to forget all about “sensible” eating while you dig into all the yummy festival snacks available. Because of Downtown construction, the festival is shortened this year and will be held in a temporary location. Fingers crossed for no rain!

MOVIES

Napoleon Dynamite LIVE! 20th Anniversary Celebration: A Very Special Evening with Jon Heder, Jon Gries & Efren Ramirez

June 8 | City Winery

Believe it or not, it has been 20 years since we all became enamored with the misunderstood high-school kid unafraid to let his freak flag fly.

I’m talking, of course, about Napoleon Dynamite.

Napoleon Dynamite LIVE! 20th Anniversary Celebration: A Very Special Evening with Jon Heder, Jon Gries & Efren Ramirez is the perfect chance to revisit the iconic indie film darling — with the cast in attendance.

After watching the movie, there will be a live show complete with Q&A, comedy improv, a game show and more. Make the night even better by taking advantage of a photo opportunity with the guys. It’s sure to be better than warm Tater Tots in your pocket.

MUSIC

Dolly Parton’s Threads: My Songs in Symphony

June 18 | Heinz Hall

PHOTO COURTESY OF PITTSBURGH SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA

Is seeing a Dolly Parton multimedia symphonic storytelling experience on your 2025 bingo card?

You’re in luck! With an onscreen Parton, Dolly Parton’s Threads: My Songs in Symphony leads audiences through a visual and musical journey of her life and music.

While the show doesn’t feature Parton in person, it will include Dolly’s biggest hits, including “Jolene,” “9 to 5” and “I Will Always Love You,” along with the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra adding an extra dose of magic. This woman should be protected and celebrated at all costs.

JUNETEENTH

Juneteenth Celebration

June 19-22 | Mellon Park

This year’s Juneteenth Celebration may have a new location, but it will be the same celebratory event with free concerts, parade, a boat party, sporting tournaments and all-around fellowship for the Black community.

Lovers of old-school R&B will be thrilled to see legendary acts like Morris Day and The Time, Dru Hill and Jon B onstage. The entire weekend will be packed with fun and educational activities for everyone from the babies to the elders.

PARTY

Shadow Lounge 25th Birthday Celebration

June 28 | 5972 Baum Blvd.

In Pittsburgh’s arts and culture world, few places have managed to capture the essence of community and creativity like former East Liberty venue The Shadow Lounge. From 2000 to 2013, owners Justin Strong and Tim “DJ SMI” Guthrie intentionally crafted a space free from judgment as they welcomed everyone like family — as long as those visitors respected the vibes.

Those vibes are coming back for the Shadow Lounge 25th Birthday Celebration. That lightning in a bottle is returning for at least one night.

THE PITTSBURGH SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA WILL PERFORM THE MUSIC OF JONI MITCHELL, CAROLE KING AND CARLY SIMON. | PHOTO COURTESY OF THE PITTSBURGH SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA

BEST BET

“Clouds in My Coffee: The Trailblazing Music
of Joni Mitchell, Carole King & Carly Simon”

Heinz Hall | May 9-11

“Clouds in My Coffee: The Trailblazing Music of Joni Mitchell, Carole King & Carly Simon” is a tribute to three of the most empowering, iconic and unapologetic women in the history of music.

They voiced a generation and continue to resonate with their timeless songbooks. Performed at Heinz Hall by the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra under the baton of Ted Sperling, the vocals will be led by Morgan James, Bryonha Marie Parham and The Hamlisch-Page Student Choir. But we’re betting the night will turn into one big sing-along before it’s done.

Songs like “You’re So Vain,” “Big Yellow Taxi” and “I Feel the Earth Move” have become part of our DNA; there’s no escaping. This will be two nights (and one afternoon; Sunday’s show is a matinee) of big Mother Earth vibes.

THEATER

“12 Angry Men”

New Hazlett Theater | May 2-11

Our decisions are colored by our own biases and personal experiences. When faced with a life-altering dilemma, one hopes to do the right thing — though that can be harder than it seems, as will be on display in Prime Stage Theatre’s production of “12 Angry Men.” The classic play tells the story of an all-male jury with different backgrounds and world views, trapped in a room until they can agree on the fate of a teenager on trial for murdering his father.

MUSIC

Nada Surf

Spirit Hall | May 4

It’s been almost 30 years since the alternative-rock band Nada Surf gave very specific guidelines on the teenage guide to popularity. The boys are back and taking their new album, “Moon Mirror,” on the road. Their critically acclaimed 10th studio album leans into their musical consistencies of passion, melody and (most importantly) having a great time.

BOOKS

Great Pittsburgh Book Crawl

Various Bookstores | May 10-18

PHOTO COURTESY OF BEYOND BEDTIME BOOKS

Bibliophiles! The first Great Pittsburgh Book Crawl is your time to shine. The week is dedicated to supporting local indie bookstores by visiting some of your faves and checking out ones that you haven’t had a chance to explore yet. (And of course, you need more books in that TBR pile.) There are more than two dozen participating stores, and if you grab a passport book — available at each participating location — you can keep track of where you travel. You may even win a prize!

MOTHER’S DAY

Mother’s Day Celebration

Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh | May 11

One of the best Mother’s Day gifts is a kid tired out from a full day of activities. The Mother’s Day Celebration at Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh is designed to do just that. The family can sing, move, play, make butterfly-themed crafts and create mini flower bouquets. Opya Studios is also offering Mother’s Day portraits there. All activities are included in the price of admission. Once the day is over, Mom should be able to finish that book in peace.

COMEDY

Marlon Wayans

Pittsburgh Improv | May 22-25

MARLON WAYANS | PHOTO COURTESY OF PITTSBURGH IMPROV

Multi-hyphenate Marlon Wayans has been a household name for decades. His talent for artfully delivering in both comedic and dramatic roles moves across TV and film. Being the youngest of 10 siblings in one of Hollywood’s most talented families, Wayans knows how to capture an audience. He has more stories to share — but now in a more intimate space where you can look each other in the eyeballs.

“HOLDING STILL, HOLDING ON” AT THE ANDY WARHOL MUSEUM. | PHOTO COURTESY OF CARNEGIE MELLON SCHOOL OF ART MFA CLASS OF 2025

BEST BET

“Holding Still, Holding On”

March 14-April 21 | The Andy Warhol Museum

What does it mean to hold space? How does one’s sense of memory and belonging shape them as a person? The “Holding Still, Holding On” exhibit, held at The Andy Warhol Museum, explores these concepts with new works by the CMU School of Art MFA Class of 2025 — Frankmarlin, Izsys Archer, Tingting Cheng, Chantal Feitosa-Desouza and Max Tristan Watkins.

Each artist commands storytelling through mediums from photography and painting to sculpture and film, bridging the gap between personal and collective histories. “The film installation I’ll be showing at The Warhol is dedicated to all who believe in a brighter future for public education, especially at a time in Pittsburgh when so many schools are at risk of closing,” says Feitosa-Desouza. “My project invites viewers to join ongoing conversations of education justice and see the power that public memory can have over disappearing sites.”

It’s also a fitting partnership between The Warhol and the school (then Carnegie Tech) where Andy Warhol earned his degree.

THEATER

“Birthday Candles”

March 8-30 | City Theatre Company

SAIGE SMITH, PART OF THE CAST OF CITY THEATRE COMPANY’S “BIRTHDAY CANDLES,” PERFORMS IN THE THEATER’S 2024 PRODUCTION OF “POTUS.” | PHOTO COURTESY OF CITY THEATRE

Birthdays. That annual marker that usually prompts reflection on our past, present and future … with cake. “Birthday Candles” follows Ernistine through her life, one birthday at a time. Spend 90 minutes celebrating rituals and pondering your place in the universe.

IMPROV

“The Winner’s Circle Part 2”

March 28 | Arcade Comedy Theater

PHOTO COURTESY OF ARCADE COMEDY THEATER

Select Start (Pittsburgh City Paper’s two-time Best Comedy Act), Latchkey Kids (celebrating their third Pittsburgh Magazine win) and Chi Chi de Vivre (City Paper’s Best Drag Performer) are joining forces like a Pittsburgh comedic Avengers for “The Winner’s Circle Part 2.” Treat yourself to a night of fast-paced, short-form improv as well as ’90s nostalgia and an iconic drag performance.

MUSIC

Masta Killa

April 13 | Mr. Smalls Theater

Named for the 1978 kung fu movie “Shaolin Master Killer,” Masta Killa has rocked the mic with the legendary Wu-Tang Clan since the mid-’90s. Like the rest of the Wu-Tang Clan, the “36th Chamber of Shaolin” has also kept up a prolific solo career.  Even as the only member set to take the stage that night, he will still bring the ruckus.

DANCE

Dragonfly Dawn

April 24-25 | New Hazlett Theater

What happens when a violin-playing cricket entices a swan to join him in a mystical forest lake? They dance, obviously, but there is so much more to this enchanting tale. Written by Joanna Abel, Dragonfly Dawn is a dance concert set with fierce battles and soaring aerial displays. It’s a mystical tale of good and evil worth getting lost in.

John Waite

April 26 | Pittsburgh City Winery

PHOTO COURTESY OF CITY WINERY PITTSBURGH

Whether it was with The Babys, Bad English or his solo career, John Waite has a single that’s essential to your ’80s playlist. His 40-year career catalog includes songs like “Missing You,” “Isn’t It Time” and “When I See You Smile.” Revisit those power-ballad classics with Waite in this intimate performance.

PHOTO: SHUTTERSTOCK

Want to get inside the Steelers’ locker room? There’s a tour.

Want to sample an array of tasty bites in the Strip District? There’s a tour.

Want to scope out some of the breweries along our riverfront trails? There’s a tour.

Whether you’re visiting Pittsburgh for the first time or want to discover more about your home city, you’ll find myriad tours of the Steel City by foot, bike and boat. We sent reporters out on several of them; not only did we all see and learn something new, we got a chance to meet the local tour guides who are serving as ambassadors to our fine city.

1. ‘Burgh Bits & Bites Food Tours

SAMPLE FRESH MEATS AT PARMA SAUSAGE ON THIS FOOD TOUR | PHOTO BY KRISTY GRAVER

The Strip District is known for its weekend hustle and bustle, but I prefer visiting on Monday mornings.

Shop and restaurant owners wave hello as they open their doors. You can smell fresh coffee brewing, feel a gentle breeze as cars whiz by on Penn Avenue and hear a low buzz as the city slowly comes to life. There’s even ample parking.

Continue reading here.

2. Acrisure Stadium Ultimate Tour

STEP INTO THE STEELERS’ LOCKER ROOM ON THIS ACRISURE STADIUM TOUR | PHOTO BY JOHN MATEY

In case you were wondering, yes, one of the giant Heinz ketchup bottles is still at Acrisure Stadium. Erin, our guide for the stadium’s 90-minute Ultimate Tour, told us that fact early on. Most of those working at the stadium were as blindsided as the rest of the city on July 11, 2022, when the Steelers announced the stadium name change, ending 21 years as Heinz Field.

“Well, it’s still Heinz Field to us,” a woman in the tour group called out.

Continue reading here.

3. Bikes & Brews Tour

BIKING AND BEER COME TOGETHER WITH THE BIKES & BREWS TOUR | PHOTO BY VIRGINIA LINN

Warning: There’s a chance the Bikes & Brews Tour may go over its allotted time.

That’s not because of poor organization or other glitches. It’s because participants on this 9-mile tour, which includes four beer stops on the North Side, Millvale and Lawrenceville, become fast friends and are simply having too much fun. That might just inspire you to stick around longer than the 3 ½ hours promised.

Continue reading here.

4. Doors Open Pittsburgh Boat Tours

LEARN THE HIDDEN STORIES BEHIND THE CITY’S GRAND STRUCTURES WITH DOORS OPEN PITTSBURGH’S BOAT TOURS | PHOTO BY SEAN COLLIER

With all due respect to local tourism companies past and present, some tours of Downtown can tend toward the same old highlights. Inclines, stadiums, the Point — yes, us locals know the general history.

It’s understandable; many tours have to cater to tourists and thus have an obligation to keep things broad. Fortunately, though, there’s an alternative for locals looking to dive deep. If you want the blow-by-blow of local history — from railroad wars to historic curiosities, from pre-Revolutionary scuffles to modern makeovers — sign up for one of the boat tours offered by Doors Open Pittsburgh.

Continue reading here.

5. Downtown’s Best Special Places and Spaces Tour

STOP BY THE ALLEGHENY COUNTY COURTHOUSE ON THIS DOWNTOWN PITTSBURGH WALKING TOUR | PHOTO BY RUBY SIEFKEN

It was during the 1950s that Pittsburgh leaders put the brakes on the ubiquitous wrecking ball that was sweeping across America in the name of urban renewal to replace old buildings with characterless structures. The result is the preservation of our some of our most exquisite architecture, which is presented on several walking tours sponsored by the Pittsburgh History & Landmarks Foundation.

One of these tours, “Downtown’s Best: Special Places and Spaces,” provides a comprehensive look at a variety of architectural styles in the Golden Triangle, from exterior brickwork and building spires to the intricate details on elevator doors and heating vents.

Continue reading here.

6. PNC Park Tour

STEP INSIDE PNC PARK LIKE NEVER BEFORE WITH THEIR TOURS | PHOTO BY JOHN MATEY

It’s an uncharacteristically warm day for early March in Pittsburgh. About a dozen of us are gathered around the statue of the Pittsburgh Pirates’ legendary left-fielder, Willie Stargell, just outside PNC Park’s Left Field Gate. Among the group is a family from Montreal with a stroller and two older children wearing Pirates T-shirts and hats, one holding a baseball.

A few minutes before noon, we’re called inside to start our 90-minute, off-season tour of PNC Park. I look out over the baseball field. Tour guide Bob assures us that, yes, there is a field of Kentucky Bluegrass out there, but unfortunately it’s under a tarp to prepare for the coming season.

Continue reading here.

THE BRIDGE OF SIGHS | PHOTO BY RUBY SIEFKEN

It was during the 1950s that Pittsburgh leaders put the brakes on the ubiquitous wrecking ball that was sweeping across America in the name of urban renewal to replace old buildings with characterless structures. The result is the preservation of some of our most exquisite architecture, which is presented on several walking tours sponsored by the Pittsburgh History & Landmarks Foundation.

One of these tours, “Downtown’s Best: Special Places and Spaces,” provides a comprehensive look at a variety of architectural styles in the Golden Triangle, from exterior brickwork and building spires to the intricate details on elevator doors and heating vents.

This tour is one of six featured in our Visitors Guide. Explore the other tours here.

Our guide on a cloudy June morning, Lancaster native Tracy Myers, has led tours and trained docents for a little under five years. The self-proclaimed “architecture geek” and historian describes her expertise as practical experience combined with a passion for architecture and cities.

“Architecture is not an art, it’s a way of expressing something about yourself,” Myers said before the tour began. This tour is not only popular among guests but her personal favorite.

Surprisingly, nine of the 11 in our group were from Pittsburgh. We began at the Pittsburgh City Council Clerk’s Office in the City-County building before we headed into the central courtyard of the Allegheny County Courthouse, which was designed by H.H. Richardson in the Romanesque Revival style.

ALLEGHENY COUNTY COURTHOUSE | PHOTO BY RUBY SIEFKEN

As we entered the courtyard, Myers reminded us to look up to catch each building’s intricate details. Myers described the building’s architecture as “rhythmic” — the windows are patterned to the beat of a certain rhythm, climbing toward the top of the building in alternating shapes and brickwork patterns.

The next stop took us into the Frick Building, built by industrialist Henry Clay Frick and opened in 1902. Myers said the Frick Building had a masculine quality when it was built — everyone who worked there was male, even secretaries. The few female presences that counterbalanced the building’s power and strength included the stained-glass “painting” of Fortuna, the goddess of luck in Ancient Rome.

THE CITY-COUNTY BUILDING | PHOTO BY RUBY SIEFKEN

Myers described buildings as a form of spoken expression in the language of architecture.

We popped into the Union Trust Building, admiring its stained-glass ceiling, before stopping in Mellon Square. We were surrounded by what Myers called “an architectural panorama” — the former Alcoa headquarters with its striking aluminum frame, the U.S. Steel Tower (Pittsburgh’s tallest building) and the brick 108-year-old Omni William Penn Hotel.

The next stop, First Presbyterian Church of Pittsburgh on Sixth Avenue, introduced us to Neo-Gothic style — dark, worn stone with several pointed spires, five arches lining three wooden doors and a towering stained glass window.

Inside, rows of etched pews made a convenient resting spot for our group. The wooden doors behind the altar stretch from floor to vaulted ceiling. Myers said they weigh 2 tons each but can be opened with little effort due to their engineering and weight distribution.

My tour companion, Evelyn Jacob, tried her hand at opening the hefty doors and was able to slide them along their metal track with relative ease. The church’s early 20th century construction made this masterful engineering even more impressive.

We walked down Penn Avenue next, passing Heinz Hall on our left. Fellow tour-goer Ellen Sussna-Heyman said an enthusiastic “hello” to one of the bricks embedded in the pavement.

She said she purchased an engraved brick several years ago in dedication to her father, who brought his family to the symphony every Sunday for most of her Pittsburgh childhood.

“The theater was my father’s life,” Sussna-Heyman said. “His greatest disappointment was that I hated classical music.”

PPG PLAZA | PHOTO BY RUBY SIEFKEN

The tour wrapped up, after about 2½ hours, in PPG Plaza. Myers told us the buildings are examples of Postmodernism, with their mirrored frames with four points scratching the clouds of the classic-Pittsburgh overcast sky.

While I’m not an architecture fanatic, I would recommend this tour to history buffs, tourists or anyone who enjoys urban architectural beauty. It’s safe to say, I left the tour feeling like a Pittsburgh expert.

PHLF offers weekly and monthly city, neighborhood and bus tours. The Downtown walking tour costs $30; you can get tickets at phlf.org.

ABOARD THE DOORS OPEN BOAT TOUR | PHOTO BY SEAN COLLIER

With all due respect to local tourism companies past and present, some tours of Downtown can tend toward the same old highlights. Inclines, stadiums, the Point — yes, us locals know the general history.

It’s understandable; many tours have to cater to tourists and thus have an obligation to keep things broad. Fortunately, though, there’s an alternative for locals looking to dive deep. If you want the blow-by-blow of local history — from railroad wars to historic curiosities, from pre-Revolutionary scuffles to modern makeovers — sign up for one of the boat tours offered by Doors Open Pittsburgh.

This tour is one of six featured in our Visitors Guide. Explore the other tours here.

Detail is the name of the game for the nonprofit organization. Normally, they bring tour groups into off-limits spaces such as private homes and businesses; their signature Downtown tour draws large crowds eager for a peak behind the Golden Triangle’s ornate facades.

With the Boat Tours, however, Doors Open takes the opportunity to reveal the hidden stories behind the city’s grand structures — with plenty of detail for architecture buffs.

It even answers the eternal question: Why, exactly, do we have so many bridges?

31ST STREET BRIDGE | PHOTO BY SEAN COLLIER

You’ll line up at the Gateway Clipper dock at Station Square for one of the tours as you await the arrival of your expert tour guides. There’s a respectable concession stand on the docks, but only snacks on board. Beverages — including beer, hard seltzer and cocktails — are available both dockside and aboard, so you won’t go thirsty at any point. (You could also grab lunch in Station Square if you don’t like to cruise on an empty stomach.)

Arrive early and angle to be one of the first folks aboard; the best views are found on the top deck, but seats are first-come, first-served.

GATEWAY CLIPPER DOCK | PHOTO BY SEAN COLLIER

No matter where you sit, you’ll be able to hear the amplified narration of your expert guides. Todd Wilson, a transportation engineer and author who has written books on Pittsburgh’s bridges, is part of every cruise. He’ll point out details you’ve never noticed about spans you’ve crossed every day. A pair of architecture specialists — preservationist Justin P. Greenawalt and Paul Tellers, a former university architect at CMU — split co-hosting duties with Wilson.

Each tour departs from Station Square, but the routes diverge from there; on the five-date 2024 schedule, each river gets its own dedicated tour (“Secrets of the Ohio River” is scheduled for Aug. 17, while “The Mighty Monongahela” gets the spotlight on Oct. 19) while the more general “Bridges, Buildings and Architecture of the Three Rivers,” next scheduled for Sept. 28, covers a bit of everything around the confluence.

PNC PARK | PHOTO BY SEAN COLLIER

On a tour of the Allegheny — already in the past for 2024, but likely to return next year — Wilson said we’d focus on “how the built environment has shaped Pittsburgh.” It was a subject that offered both intriguing specifics and big stories; one moment, he was giving the detailed history of bygone spans identifiable by architectural relics in the water, and the next, he was explaining the fascinating merger of Pittsburgh and Allegheny City — the once-separate municipality now known as the North Side.

That blend of information makes the Doors Open journey an excellent choice for groups that contain both locals and visitors. You’ll learn the answers to questions you never thought to ask, while your guests get an overview — and have the chance to see a dozen breathtaking vistas, from the fountain framed against the skyline to the Three Sisters bridges towering overhead.

It’s a great way to spend an afternoon — and it’ll likely make you hungry for more history and secrets. Fortunately, Doors Open has more secrets to show you … on dry land.

Tours, most of which depart at 1 p.m. (some at 11:30 a.m.), are $40; guests under 18 are $15. Tickets are available at doorsopenpgh.org.

PHOTO BY JOHN MATEY

It’s an uncharacteristically warm day for early March in Pittsburgh. About a dozen of us are gathered around the statue of the Pittsburgh Pirates’ legendary left-fielder, Willie Stargell, just outside PNC Park’s Left Field Gate. Among the group is a family from Montreal with a stroller and two older children wearing Pirates T-shirts and hats, one holding a baseball.

PHOTO BY JOHN MATEY

A few minutes before noon, we’re called inside to start our 90-minute, off-season tour of PNC Park. I look out over the baseball field. Tour guide Bob assures us that, yes, there is a field of Kentucky Bluegrass out there, but unfortunately it’s under a tarp to prepare for the coming season.

Bob, who is finishing up his first year as a tour guide at the park, takes us through a brief history of the Pirates’ stadiums. Despite black and gold being the official colors of every Pittsburgh sports team, the stadium’s blue-steel construction is a nod to Forbes Field, the stadium in Oakland where the Pirates played from 1909 to 1970.

PHOTO BY JOHN MATEY

The walls inside PNC Park, however, are covered in black and gold — logos, quotes and murals of famous players from the team’s past. A power drill can be heard somewhere in the distance; Bob says construction is common off-season. As we pass the Pirates’ clubhouse, Bob invites us to take a peek through an open doorway. Unfortunately, tours stopped going in when the pandemic hit, and the restriction had yet to be lifted.

The tour continues up an elevator to the press box, where we’re given an impressive view of both the stadium and the city. Someone asks about the Pirates’ dugout being on the third base line as opposed to the first. It’s uncommon for baseball fields to be built this way, Bob says, but the layout gave the Pirates easier access to their locker rooms.

This tour is one of six featured in our Visitors Guide. Explore the other tours here.

Next we’re shown the suites, each dedicated to a year the Pirates won the World Series. Bob stops at the one for 1971 because he likes the photo of former Pirates catcher Manny Sanguillen and former Pirates pitcher and TV sports broadcaster Steve Blass on the wall, both suspended in a state of sheer joy.

Bob takes us down to the outfield, where spectator seating overlooks the bullpens. Fans can watch pitchers warm up, though Bob notes the visiting team’s bullpen had to be moved farther from the stands to prevent drinks “accidentally” being spilled on the players.

Finally, we head toward the dugout. A few tour-goers cheer. Above the descending steps is a quote from the revered hall-of-famer Roberto Clemente: “When I put on my uniform, I feel I am the proudest man on earth.” Bob says players like to tap it on the way out to the field, and as we descend the kids from the Montreal family jump up to touch it.

PHOTO BY JOHN MATEY

Stepping outside, I’m once again greeted with a view of the city. The lower row of benches in the dugout are well-worn with scratches from cleats. Bob notes the three phones on the wall — one with a direct line to the bullpen, one for reviewing plays and one for the press, which Bob admits is just a regular phone. Legend has it a player once used it to order a pizza during a game.

On the way out, we pass a series of posters for each of the Pirates’ five World Series victories. Though it’s been 45 years since the Pirates’ last such win, one of the kids, still clutching the baseball, makes sure to touch each one as we walk by. I couldn’t help but smile.

Tickets for the off-season tour, which range from $12 to $15, can be purchased at mlb.com/pirates/ballpark/tours. Morning tours are also available during the baseball season. PNC Park also offers pregame tours — though Bob recommends going in the morning, as some areas are closed off for the players later in the day.

THE ALLEGHENY RIVER | PHOTO BY VIRGINIA LINN

Warning: There’s a chance the Bikes & Brews Tour may go over its allotted time.

That’s not because of poor organization or other glitches. It’s because participants on this 9-mile tour, which includes four beer stops on the North Side, Millvale and Lawrenceville, become fast friends and are simply having too much fun. That might just inspire you to stick around longer than the 3 ½ hours promised.

Led by the congenial Dan Berg and his wife, Diane Tromans-Berg, the tour is held at 2 p.m. Saturdays and launches from the Bike the Burgh Tours headquarters near the David L. Lawrence Convention Center, Downtown. Dan says he was inspired to start the tour a year ago after visiting Chicago and finding brewery bike tours that didn’t yet exist in Pittsburgh.

GUIDES DIANE TROMANS-BERG AND DAN BERG | PHOTO BY VIRGINIA LINN

Our seven-member group in early June included a young couple, Brian and Justine from D.C., who were Los Angeles Dodgers fans and were in town for a game. Also along was Jeff, who traveled here from London on business.

The tour provides high-quality, 8-speed PUBLIC bikes with fenders, similar to those used in Amsterdam; electric bikes also are available. Each of our bikes was named; I was riding “Clemente,” and my husband was on “Carson,” as in Rachel.

This tour is one of six featured in our Visitors Guide. Explore the other tours here.

The route on city streets and bike paths is mostly flat; of the few hills, the most difficult hikes up the ramp from Millvale to the 40th Street Bridge en route to Lawrenceville. We did have to share the road with traffic, but it was never intimidating. Dan led the group at a leisurely pace; Diane brought up the rear.

We began by riding through the water feature at the convention center to the Riverfront Plaza on the Allegheny River. There, Dan stopped to offer some Pittsburgh history and point out important landmarks like the Three Sisters bridges. The Bergs, who live in Polish Hill, moved to Pittsburgh three years ago; Dan’s narrations on ‘Burgh history are still a work in progress (corrections welcomed).

But let’s be honest — we’re really here for the beer, right?

Our first brewery stop was at the recently opened beer garden and expanded tap room at Allegheny City Brewing in Deutschtown. In warmer weather, Dan selects lighter beer, and he delivered 8-ounce pours of Starlake Raspberry Wheat beer relatively quickly to our table.

ALLEGHENY CITY BREWING | PHOTO BY VIRGINIA LINN

Next stop was Penn Brewery at the entrance of Troy Hill. There, we learned more history and explored the beer caves. Rather than wait for service at the often busy bar, we rode up the Three Rivers Heritage Trail to the picnic pavilion at Millvale Riverfront Park, where the Bergs broke out bottles of chilled Penn Gold, pretzels and homemade pickles.

BEER CAVES AT PENN BREWING | PHOTO BY VIRGINIA LINN

Then it was off to the bustling Grist House Craft Brewery in Millvale, where each of us got three samples — a Tentacle Horizon-IPA, Krispadelic Kolsch and a Kaboom Sour — delivered in 5-ounce goblets. The Bergs bought each of us a tub of Cheesesteak over Fries from the Streets on the Fly food truck stationed outside.

We made our final stop at 11th Hour Brewing Co. in Lawrenceville, relaxing at a picnic table out front and realizing that we weren’t going to get back to the bike shop on time. No worries. Nobody had any place to rush to afterward, so we took our time sipping a mix of beer samples and exchanging stories.

All in all, the tour was a great way to spend a beautiful Saturday afternoon, learn some Pittsburgh history and experience picturesque bike trails and the area’s vibrant brewery scene.

Be mindful when booking. If you go through Tripadvisor or other third-party services, the tour can cost up to $89 per person; instead book directly with the tour operator, Bike the Burgh Tours, for $69.

ACRISURE STADIUM FIELD | PHOTO BY JOHN MATEY

In case you were wondering, yes, one of the giant Heinz ketchup bottles is still at Acrisure Stadium. Erin, our guide for the stadium’s 90-minute Ultimate Tour, told us that fact early on. Most of those working at the stadium were as blindsided as the rest of the city on July 11, 2022, when the Steelers announced the stadium name change, ending 21 years as Heinz Field.

“Well, it’s still Heinz Field to us,” a woman in the tour group called out.

This tour is one of six featured in our Visitors Guide. Explore the other tours here.

A week after the announcement, photos of one of the two famous Heinz ketchup bottles being hauled out of the city circulated widely on social media. The removal triggered such an uproar that the bottles were brought back, with one now displayed over the stadium’s aptly named Heinz Gate along Allegheny Avenue and other outside of the Heinz History Center in the Strip District.)

The Heinz Gate and ketchup bottle are favorite photo spots for tour-goers, and Erin is happy to take their pictures.

The tour begins in the stadium’s FedEx Great Hall. Acrisure Stadium is home to not only the Steelers but also the University of Pittsburgh football team; it also hosts local high school playoff games. Erin directs us to a wall display with the winners from past years, and I see my old high school, Gateway, listed several times among other names I recognize from marching band competitions and Friday night football games.

HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL CHAMPIONS | PHOTO BY JOHN MATEY

Despite it being a brisk March morning, there’s less of a breeze and more sun when we go out onto the field — or perhaps we’re feeling the heat from the more than 40 miles of copper wire installed beneath the Kentucky Bluegrass to keep it growing year-round. Erin says it’s speculated that on especially cold game days, former quarterback Ben Roethlisberger would lie on the grass for a few moments after being tackled just to warm up.

Surprisingly, the first event held at the stadium wasn’t a football game, but an N’Sync concert, which Erin attended on Aug. 18, 2001. She likes to tell people she was on the field before any football player ever was.

And Acrisure does quite well as a concert venue. Last year’s Taylor Swift Eras Tour brought in 145,579 people over two days — the stadium’s largest event to date. For concerts, workers install a giant rubber cover to protect the grass.

Before we enter the locker room, we’re told the players requested nobody step on the large Steelers logos in the middle of the room. Supposedly it’s to keep them clean, but I can’t help but wonder if there’s a little superstition in there, too.

STEELERS LOCKER ROOM | PHOTO BY JOHN MATEY

Most tour-goers want to know where Big Ben’s locker used to be. Despite decorations on a few key players’ lockers and the large logos on the floor, the room is surprisingly bare. The players are here to do a job, Erin says, and then they leave. They spend most of their time practicing at a facility on the South Side.

Erin says the Pitt locker rooms are more lavish, but the tour doesn’t go inside.

CAM HEYWARD’S LOCKER | PHOTO BY JOHN MATEY

Back in the FedEx Great Hall, we’re shown six Lombardi trophies — replicas, as the real ones are at the South Side offices — as well as jerseys and other memorabilia from decades past, including a collection of Terrible Towels; I had no idea there were so many different kinds.

We end the tour in the Steelers Pro Shop, where our tour lanyards earn a 10% discount.

Even if sports aren’t your thing, it’s impossible to deny the sense of community Pittsburghers have around the Steelers. Whatever it’s called, Acrisure Stadium is a place for that community to come together and celebrate something they love.

Acrisure Stadium offers a variety of tours year-round, including game-day tours and access to the Steelers Hall of Honor Museum. Book them at acrisurestadium.com. The Ultimate Tour costs $25; the game-day tour, $250.

PENNSYLVANIA MACARONI CO. | PHOTO BY KRISTY GRAVER

The Strip District is known for its weekend hustle and bustle, but I prefer visiting on Monday mornings.

Shop and restaurant owners wave hello as they open their doors. You can smell fresh coffee brewing, feel a gentle breeze as cars whiz by on Penn Avenue and hear a low buzz as the city slowly comes to life. There’s even ample parking.

On May 20, I took a ’Burgh Bits & Bites Food Tour through the Strip, which, according to my guide Marla Rzeszotarski, is the most visited of Pittsburgh’s 90 neighborhoods. We met in the monastery garden of St. Patrick Church, an oasis at 17th Street and Liberty Avenue. Catholics have been worshiping there since 1808.

This tour is one of six featured in our Visitors Guide. Explore the other tours here.

My touring companions were Tammy and Michael Citaramanis, lovely Maryland residents who were visiting relatives in Aliquippa. They peeked through the church windows to see the Holy Stairs, a set of 28 steps that the faithful ascend on their knees. It’s modeled after the original Scala Sancta at the St. John Lateran Basilica in Rome.

Who knew? I didn’t.

As Marla fed our brains with more fun facts, she handed us each a slice of Mancini’s Bakery Cinnamon Swirl bread. It tasted heavenly.

PARMA SAUSAGE | PHOTO BY KRISTY GRAVER

Michael’s brother was a food critic for the San Francisco Examiner, so he knows that restaurant hopping is the best way to acclimate yourself to a new city or learn a thing or two about your hometown.

During our tasty, two-hour trek, we stopped at nearly a dozen places to snack and chew the fat with small business owners. We sampled fresh meats at Parma Sausage, marveled at Wholey’s ice machine (it produces 40,000 pounds per day), ate Reyna Foods’ famous chips and salsa, dipped into Labad’s Mediterranean Cafe and Grocery, and slayed a Monster Pepperoni Roll at Sunseri’s. After downing two pastries at Peace, Love & Little Donuts, I was forced to take my complimentary Enrico’s biscotti to go. I could not, however, bypass an on-the-spot cheese pairing at Stamoolis Brothers Co. The beloved market has a 235-pound log of Carbonelli Provolone hanging from the ceiling like a charcuterie chandelier.

LABAD’S MEDITERRANEAN CAFE AND GROCERY | PHOTO BY KRISTY GRAVER

Sylvia McCoy, a first-generation yinzer and 2009 Pittsburgh Magazine 40 Under 40 honoree, launched ’Burgh Bits & Bites Food Tours in 2008. Her Swiss father and German mother came to the United States in the 1960s to pursue the American Dream, which they ended up finding in Bethel Park. Although she spent several years living abroad, Pittsburgh lured her back.

“It’s the only place that’s ever felt like home,” she says.

A veteran of the local service industry, Marla has watched the city’s dining scene evolve over the years into a major tourist attraction. I was blown away by her knowledge and neighborliness. Marla and the Marylanders simply chuckled when we passed by stores selling T-shirts insulting rival football cities Cleveland and Baltimore. Mister Rogers would be so proud of them!

REYNA FOODS | PHOTO BY KRISTY GRAVER

Marla gave us a lesson on the Pittsburgh Banana Company explosion that rocked Smallman Street on Dec. 17, 1936, exactly 42 years before my birth. I had no clue this cataclysmic event had happened, nor did I know that ripening bananas produce flammable ethylene gas.

As the tour wound down and the Citaramanises and I filled up on samples, we heard —a big boom. It wasn’t exploding fruit, but the Pittsburgh Steeline, a professional drumline, which was celebrating the grand opening of Shake Shack. The popular burger chain now occupies a storefront at The Terminal, a new dining and entertainment complex that was once the city’s produce distribution hub.

The food tours aren’t contained to the Strip. You can take a ravenous romp through Lawrenceville, Brookline or the South Side, head north to Butler County to visit Saxonburg and Harmony or customize your own route. The company employs a small army of guides to lead and feed you. Tours last a bit over two hours and cost $53.

PHOTO: SHUTTERSTOCK

It’s not just Barbenheimer.

After an existential crisis during the pandemic, the movie theater business recovered considerably in 2023, with everything from in-theater events such as Taylor Swift’s “Eras Tour” movie to popcorn fare from around the world drawing crowds to Pittsburgh-area cinemas. Repertory and specialty programming is surging; on New Year’s Day, Row House Lawrenceville saw sold-out crowds for silent films that had just entered the public domain.

Pittsburghers, in short, are going back to the movies. Fortunately, there are plenty of good places around here to do it.

Here are our picks for the 10 best places in the region for a night with the silver screen.

(Editor’s note: We independently review everything we recommend. When you buy through our links, we may earn a commission.)

Century Square Luxury Cinemas

2001 Mountain View Drive, West Mifflin, PA 15122 | Website

Why We Love It: It’s really, really cozy. The luxurious recliners at this West Mifflin multiplex, a converted second-run theater, make you feel like you’re lying in bed — if your bed were in front of a crystal-clear movie screen. Add in beer and wine at the concession stand, and the only downside might be getting so comfortable you nod off during the slow parts of your movie.

You’re Here For: Your preferred brand of comfort movies — romcoms, superhero flicks, even animation. Pick something that’ll match your relaxed mindset.

Cinemark Robinson Township and XD

2100 Settlers Ridge Center Drive, Pittsburgh PA 15205 | Website

Why We Love It: The best traditional multiplex in town boasts comfortable seats and great picture and sound quality, especially on its premium-format XD screen. Join the rewards program (also valid at the chain’s North Hills and Monroeville Mall locations) and you’ll more than earn back the monthly fee on deep concession-stand discounts; snacks and tickets are cheaper here than at a certain other national cinema chain.

You’re Here For: The latest blockbuster, especially if you spring for the XD seats. Special effects really pop on these screens.

Dependable Drive-In

549 Moon Clinton Road, Moon Township, PA 15108 | Website

PHOTO COURTESY DEPENDABLE DRIVE-IN

Why We Love It: For more than half a century, this Moon Township drive-in has been welcoming cars for al fresco movies. The price per film can’t be beat (two movies for $9) and, with four screens, there are plenty of options for date night, family outings or a fun evening with a group of friends.

You’re Here For: A double-feature of recent hits, anytime year-round. (Yes: Unlike most northern drive-ins, Dependable stays open through the winter.)

Harris Theater

809 Liberty Ave., Pittsburgh, PA 15222 | Website

PHOTO BY SEAN COLLIER

Why We Love It: Downtown’s century-old single-screen remains the best place in town for lauded movies from around the world, plus special events and revivals of recently restored cult classics.

You’re Here For: Movies that will be getting Oscar nominations — and some that are probably too underground to grab the attention of awards voters, but pop up on year-end “best of” lists.

The Lindsay Theater

418 Walnut St. Sewickley, PA 15143 | Website 

Why We Love It: The nonprofit arts center in Sewickley is a beautiful update on the neighborhood-cinema tradition, showing a mix of popular blockbusters and critically praised gems.

You’re Here For: A crowd-pleasing hit you can enjoy with multiple generations of the family — or a brand-new movie by local filmmakers, as the Lindsay hosts gala-style premieres of regional artists’ work.

Manor Theatre

1729 Murray Ave., Pittsburgh, PA 15217 | Website

Why We Love It: The Manor is one of the most carefully programmed theaters in town, with a great blend of films you won’t always find at the larger multiplexes. Reasonable prices and a great snack bar — including cocktails, beer and wine — help, too.

You’re Here For: Great movies such as “Poor Things” or “The Boy and the Heron.” The Manor is synonymous with the sort of buzzworthy films your coolest friends rave about.

Phoenix Theaters Chartiers Luxury 14 + PTX

1025 Washington Pike, Bridgeville , PA 15017 | Website

Why We Love It: A survivor of the turn-of-the-century multiplex boom, the former Destinta location in Bridgeville has endured and been updated with luxury recliners and great sound and image quality.

You’re Here For: A see-it-on-the-big-screen hit — or a favorite from yesteryear as part of the theater’s weekly “Flashback Cinema” series, which shows everything from all-time greats such as “Gone With the Wind” to more recent smashes like the “Lord of the Rings” flicks.

Rangos Giant Cinema

1 Allegheny Ave., Pittsburgh, PA 15212 | Website

Why We Love It: The only certified giant screen in the region also has the best sound, as one of only two regional movie theaters using the formidable Dolby Atmos system (along with one screen at AMC Waterfront). It’s not just a nice addition to a trip to the Carnegie Science Center; it’s a great theater in its own right.

You’re Here For: The kind of eye-popping nature documentary that deserves to be seen on a marvelous screen or a favorite classic revived in the theater’s Saturday-night throwback series.

Riverside Drive-In

1114 Lees Lake Lane, Vandergrift, PA 15690 | Website

Why We Love It: There’s no more idyllic setting for a movie in the region, as the single-screen outdoor cinema in North Vandergrift sits nestled in the trees. It also boasts a formidable snack bar; get a pizza for the car.

You’re Here For: The twice-annual Drive-In Super Monster Rama events, in which a quartet of spooky throwback flicks fill the screen from dusk ’til dawn. Diehard fans camp on-site to see two nights of mayhem.

Row House Lawrenceville

4115 Butler St., Pittsburgh, PA 15201 | Website

PHOTO BY JOHN ALTDORFER

Why We Love It: Each week is dedicated to a theme filled with a unique and delightful lineup of repertory films. These can be as general as a genre or as specific as the upcoming “Snow Week,” which will see frosty flicks such as “Fargo,” “Frozen” and “Doctor Zhivago” take the screen. And we’re looking forward to the re-opening of sister theater Row House Hollywood in Dormont; currently under renovations, the neighborhood theater is scheduled to re-launch in dramatic fashion later this year.

You’re Here For: Anything. The curators at Row House know what they’re doing; if it’s on this screen, it’s worth seeing. 

PHOTO BY DAVE DICELLO

We independently review everything we recommend. When you buy through our links, we may earn a commission.

If you’re looking to get glowing this holiday season, you’ve come to the right place. From the lights of Kennywood to the decor and holiday market Downtown, we’ve curated some of our favorite ways to take in the season’s lights — Pittsburgh style. 

PHOTO: KENNYWOOD

Kennywood Holiday Lights
Beyond strolling through more than 2 million twinkling lights, plus gazing upon the tallest Christmas tree in the state, there’s so much to do at the iconic amusement park in West Mifflin. Visitors can add on a buffet dinner that includes a meet-and-greet with Santa Claus or purchase a Speedy Pass, which allows guests to make up to five virtual reservations for rides. Speaking of rides, a number of the park’s attractions, including the Jack Rabbit, Merry-Go-Round, Kangaroo and Noah’s Ark, will be running during the holiday event, weather permitting. Santa arrives nightly in Thomas Town, where he’ll take photos with all the good little boys and girls. There’s also a tree lighting ceremony around the lagoon and a strolling holiday band, plus a dance party at the Kennyville Stage. Plan to come hungry — and thirsty. Festive food, such as turkey legs, cobbler, fresh donuts and hot drinks are available at the Lagoon Holiday Shops, while the Beer Garden offers seasonal brews, hot toddies and other specialty drinks. 

• Price: Tickets as low as $19.99 
• Duration: Varies
• Get tickets 

Holly Jolly Hunt
If you’re searching for a good time, and like some good-natured competition, you won’t want to miss the Holly Jolly Hunt. An app-based scavenger hunt that you can play anywhere of your choosing, Holly Jolly Hunt allows you and your besties to explore the city and look for holiday related items, both traditional and not so traditional. Participants will take photos through the app to score points for their scavenger hunt team and perform fun, holiday challenges — sometimes to comedic effect. Your score will appear on a leaderboard compared to other teams across North America. 

• Price per ticket: From $20 per group (up to 10)
• Duration: Varies
• Get tickets 

Pittsburgh Zoo & Aquarium Lights
Take in the wonder of the Pittsburgh Zoo & Aquarium without even leaving your car; the much-anticipated Zoo Lights Drive-Thru lets visitors stay cozy in their vehicle as they take a timed drive through thousands of environmentally friendly LED lights. New this year is the slower-paced, Walk-Thru Zoo Lights experience, which includes yuletide entertainment, photo opportunities, special holiday snacks and music. Santa Claus also will be on hand to listen to last-minute wishes.

• Price per ticket: $40 per member vehicle, $45 per non-member vehicle for Drive-Thru; $18 per adult and $15 per child for Walk-Thru
• Duration: 30 to 45 minutes for Drive-Thru; time varies for Walk-Thru
• Get tickets for Drive-Thru, Get tickets for Walk-Thru

Pittsburgh Holiday Lights Tour
Whether you’re new to the city or just looking to get reacquainted with it, the Pittsburgh Holiday Lights Tour is a great way to take in Downtown in all its bedecked and bedazzled glory. Beginning at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center, the family-friendly (and dog-friendly!) small-group is guided by an expert, with quick stops to see the lights and decorations at some of Pittsburgh’s landmark buildings, among them the US Steel Tower, Heinz Hall and the Omni William Penn Hotel. The tour’s grand finale ends at Market Square, where participants can take in the Peoples Gas Holiday Market and warm up with some hot chocolate.

• Price: From $29.95
• Duration: Two hours
• Get tickets 

THREE GNOMES WELCOME GUESTS IN THE GALLERY ROOM AT PHIPPS CONSERVATORY’S WINTER FLOWER SHOW. | PHOTO BY JAMIE FAITH SHEPPARD

Holiday Magic! Winter Flower Show and Light Garden at Phipps Conservatory
Phipps Conservatory in Oakland is beautiful any time of year, but especially during the holidays. On Nov. 17, the Holiday Magic! Winter Flower Show and Light Garden returned to the conservatory with the theme of “Season’s Greenings.” Visitors to The Winter Flower Show will find new displays featuring holiday trees adorned in jewel tones, detailed props and the conservatory’s signature floral arrangements, including amaryllis, orchids and 21 varieties of poinsettias. Outside, the Winter Light Garden is a wonderland, with a 7-foot tree decked out in warm white lights; a floral color scheme of light pink, blue and silver in planter boxes around a frosty tree comprised of LED orbs; a Winter Solstice-inspired display with glowing ring frames and whimsical gnomes constructed from dried plant material. Kids (OK and adults, too) won’t want to miss the new “singing tree” in the Winter Light Garden that reacts to your caroling. 

• Price: Tickets range from $21.95 to $27.95 for adults, $13.95 to $15.95 for children and $19.95 to $25.95 for seniors. 
• Duration: Varies
• Get tickets 

A Dream Christmas in Pittsburgh
Book your group a private walking tour that goes behind the scenes of some of Pittsburgh’s most beautifully decorated properties. Led by a professional local guide, the Dream Christmas in Pittsburgh tour, which begins at St. Mary of Mercy Church on Stanwix Street, includes stops at city’s own Glass Castles, aka PPG Industries’ six-building complex, the Peoples Gas Holiday Market at Market Square and the Fourth Avenue Historic District. 

• Price: From $216.95; price varies by group size
• Duration: Two hours
• Get tickets

PHOTO BY DAVE DICELLO

We independently review everything we recommend. When you buy through our links, we may earn a commission.

As a vibrant city with a rich history, Pittsburgh has a plethora of family-friendly activities that includes everything from the interactive exhibits at the Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh to the wonders of marine and terrestrial life at the Pittsburgh Zoo & Aquarium. The region also boasts many parks, among them Point State Park, with ample space for outdoor fun, as well as more unique attractions such as the Duquesne Incline, which climbs from Station Square up to Mount Washington and offers panoramic views of the city skyline. 

Ready to get started? Here are some of our top things to do in Pittsburgh with kids.

IBO, AN ENDANGERED LOWLAND GORILLA, HOLDS HER MONTH-OLD BABY GIRL. | PHOTOS BY PAUL SELVAGGIO

Pittsburgh Zoo & Aquarium
The Pittsburgh Zoo & Aquarium is a haven for families seeking a day of fun and education. Nestled within Highland Park, the zoo takes visitors on a journey from the African savannahs to the depths of the ocean in a single day. Children are captivated by the interactive exhibits, close-up encounters with animals and engaging educational programs tailored for young minds. With its diverse array of animals, play areas and events throughout the year, the zoo and aquarium is a must-visit destination in the Steel City.

Duration: a few hours
Price: adults, $17-$26; Buy tickets in advance

PHOTO COURTESY KENNYWOOD

Kennywood
Celebrating its 125th anniversary in 2023, Kennywood in West Mifflin has long been Pittsburgh’s destination for thrills. The iconic amusement park mixes traditional wooden roller coasters, such as the beloved Thunderbolt and Jack Rabbit, with high-speed thrillers such as the Steel Curtain and Phantom’s Revenge — which reaches up to 85 miles per hour and plunges riders 232 feet on its second drop. Younger kiddos will enjoy Kiddieland and Thomas Town, while classic rides such as the carousel and Noah’s Ark are a destination for all ages. There’s also plenty of games and food and drink vendors. Don’t forget to grab some of the park’s signature Potato Patch fries!

Duration: All day
Price: Book here

PHOTOS COURTESY CHILDREN’S MUSEUM OF PITTSBURGH

The Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh
Located on Pittsburgh’s historic North Side, The Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh is a vibrant hub of creativity and exploration for young minds. A wealth of interactive exhibits designed to spark curiosity include the Waterplay section, craft imaginative creations in the MAKESHOP and the Garage exhibit, where visitors can experience the wonders of gravity and motion. With its ever-evolving exhibits and programs, the Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh promises a day filled with discovery and laughter.

Duration: A few hours
Price: Adults: $19, Children 2–18: $17, Seniors 60+: $17, Children under 2: Free; Buy tickets here

PHOTO BY DAVE DICELLO

JUST THE TOUR – Double Decker Bus Sightseeing Tour of Pittsburgh
Experience the best of Pittsburgh on a tour that takes you through the vibrant heart of the city while offering unparalleled views from the top of a double-decker bus. With an expert guide providing insightful commentary, you’ll delve into Pittsburgh’s layered history, culture — and the stories behind its most famous sights. Whether you’re gazing up at the towering skyscrapers or cruising alongside the scenic riverfront, this tour promises a blend of education, entertainment and fun.

Duration: 2 hours and 15 minutes
Price: $34.95 per ticket; Book here

PHOTO: DAVE DICELLO

Duquesne Incline
One of Pittsburgh’s most iconic and historic attractions, the Duquesne Incline offers visitors a unique perspective of the city’s stunning skyline. As you step onto the vintage wooden cable car, you’re transported back in time as you ascend the steep slope of Mount Washington on tracks that have been in operation since the late 19th century. At the summit, you’re greeted with a breathtaking panoramic view of the Pittsburgh skyline, the confluence of its three rivers and the numerous bridges that stitch the cityscape together. Beyond the ride itself, the upper station houses a small museum showcasing the incline’s history and the mechanics behind its operation. Whether you’re a history buff, a photography enthusiast, or simply seeking a memorable experience, the Duquesne Incline offers a blend of historical charm and unparalleled vistas.

Duration: Ride is no longer than five minutes each way
Price: Adults (Ages 12-64) $2.50 Each Way or $5.00 Round Trip; Children (Ages 6-11) $1.25 Each Way or $2.50 Round Trip; Children 5 and Under Free; Book Now

PHOTO COURTESY IDLEWILD

Idlewild & SoakZone
One of the oldest amusement parks in the U.S, Idlewild & SoakZone in the Laurel Highlands blends traditional rides, modern attractions and interactive play areas. Children can revel in the enchantment of Story Book Forest, where fairy tales come to life, or take a splash in the SoakZone’s wave pool and water slides. With dedicated kiddie rides, entertaining shows (where kids can meet beloved characters such as Daniel Tiger), and the interactive Jumpin’ Jungle playground, Idlewild promises a day of fun for kids of all ages.

Duration: All day
Price: Tickets as low as $34.99; Book Now

PHOTOS COURTESY CARNEGIE SCIENCE CENTER

Carnegie Science Center
The Carnegie Science Center on Pittsburgh’s North Side is a haven for curious minds, offering a world of exploration and discovery for children and families alike. The state-of-the-art facility brims with interactive exhibits that span a range of scientific domains, from the wonders of outer space in the Buhl Planetarium to the intricate workings of the human body. Kids can marvel at the mesmerizing underwater world in the USS Requin submarine or ignite their engineering passion in the Miniature Railroad & Village. The Rangos Giant Cinema showcases educational films on its massive screen, while the live demonstrations and hands-on labs further nurture young scientists’ inquisitiveness. Whether it’s experimenting in the water play area, navigating the ropes challenge course, or gazing at the stars, the Carnegie Science Center ensures an educational good time for children of all ages.

Duration: A few hours
Price: $11-$20; Book Now

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Fairmont Pittsburgh (@fairmontpittsburgh)

The Fairmont Pittsburgh Health Club & Spa
The Fairmont Pittsburgh Health Club & Spa stands as a beacon of luxury and relaxation in Pittsburgh’s  Downtown. Renowned for its impeccable service and world-class treatments, this spa offers guests a sanctuary from the urban hustle, allowing them to rejuvenate both body and mind. With a curated menu of treatments that blend traditional techniques with modern innovations, every experience is tailored to meet the needs of each guest. The spa’s tranquil ambiance, coupled with its state-of-the-art facilities and highly trained staff, ensures that every visit is a memorable one. Whether you’re seeking a therapeutic massage, a revitalizing facial or simply a moment of serenity, The Fairmont Pittsburgh Health Club & Spa promises an unparalleled experience of luxury and well-being.

Why Book: Located in the heart of Downtown, this spa offers a range of treatments in a serene environment.

Price: Facials starting at $164; massages at $139

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by The Sewickley Spa (@thesewickleyspa)

The Sewickley Spa
The Sewickley Spa is a haven of tranquility and luxury, setting itself apart as a premier destination for those seeking an exceptional spa experience. Nestled in the picturesque village of Sewickley, this spa exudes an ambiance of relaxation the moment you step through its doors. What truly distinguishes The Sewickley Spa is its commitment to personalized service; each treatment is meticulously tailored to cater to the individual needs of its guests, ensuring a unique and rejuvenating experience every time. From its array of indulgent treatments, using only the finest products, to its team of highly skilled therapists, The Sewickley Spa promises not just a spa service, but a holistic journey that revitalizes the mind, body and soul. Whether you’re looking to escape the stresses of daily life or indulge in a day of pampering, The Sewickley Spa stands as a testament to luxury and well-being.

Why Book: A renowned spa in quaint Sewickley offering a variety of treatments in a tranquil setting.

Price: Facials and massages starting from $70

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Nemacolin (@nemacolin)

The Woodlands Spa and Salon
The Woodlands Spa and Salon at Nemacolin stands as a pinnacle of luxury and rejuvenation, offering guests an unparalleled spa experience set amid the breathtaking beauty of Pennsylvania’s Laurel Highlands. Renowned for its opulent design and state-of-the-art facilities, The Woodlands Spa is more than just a place for treatments; it’s a destination where guests are transported to a realm of relaxation and indulgence. The spa boasts a diverse menu of world-class treatments, each curated with the utmost precision and care, ensuring that every guest’s needs are met. The highly skilled therapists, combined with the spa’s commitment to using only the finest products, ensure that each visit is a symphony of wellness and luxury. Whether it’s the soothing ambiance, the therapeutic treatments or the impeccable service, The Woodlands Spa at Nemacolin Woodlands Resort offers an escape that is truly unmatched, making it an essential visit for those seeking the epitome of spa excellence.

Why Book: A luxury resort spa offering a comprehensive menu of treatments.

Price: Facials starting from $225; massages starting at $250

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Spa Jema (@spajema)

Spa Jema
Spa Jema, in Downtown Pittsburgh, is an emblem of urban luxury and relaxation. As one of the city’s premier eco-friendly day spas, it offers a serene oasis amid the bustling cityscape, providing a perfect retreat for locals and visitors alike. What sets Spa Jema apart is its commitment to holistic well-being, combining traditional spa treatments with sustainable practices to ensure both personal rejuvenation and environmental mindfulness. Each treatment is a testament to the spa’s dedication to excellence, with highly trained professionals using premium products to deliver bespoke experiences tailored to individual needs. The spa’s elegant ambiance, coupled with its array of indulgent services, makes Spa Jema a must-visit destination for those seeking a harmonious blend of luxury, relaxation and eco-consciousness in the heart of Pittsburgh.

Why Book: Located Downtown, it’s one of Pittsburgh’s premier eco-friendly day spas.

Price: Facials starting at $80; massages starting at $60

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by ESSpa Organic Skincare & Salon (@esspasalon)

Esspa Kozmetika
Esspa Kozmetika in Aspinwall is more than just a spa; it’s a holistic haven where tradition meets modern luxury. Celebrated for its unique Hungarian-inspired treatments, Esspa Kozmetika offers a blend of age-old European techniques combined with contemporary innovations, ensuring a spa experience that is both authentic and avant-garde. The spa’s commitment to using organic, natural products further elevates each treatment, promising not only relaxation but also genuine skin health benefits. The ambiance at Esspa Kozmetika, with its warm decor and attentive staff, instantly transports guests to a world of tranquility and indulgence. Whether you’re seeking a therapeutic massage, a revitalizing facial or a bespoke spa package, Esspa Kozmetika promises an experience that rejuvenates the body, refreshes the mind and reinvigorates the soul.

Why Book: An organic day spa offering a range of treatments from facials to massages.

Price: Facials starting at $99; massages starting at $66

PHOTO BY DAVE DICELLO

When explaining Pittsburgh to a visitor, there is a lot of ground to cover. The city offers many things to many people. What do you prioritize in your plans? Where do you begin? Our advice: Start with the city’s wonders — long-standing, striking landmarks — that will engage you into a better understanding of our past and present.

Here is our lineup of the 7 Wonders of Pittsburgh. Each location is within 15 miles of the city center, has a wide appeal and has been around for decades. Many are cultural attractions that have, by this point, become community pillars. And each can be enjoyed at multiple times of year (all but one are year-round operations, in fact), so you can enjoy them whenever you visit the
Steel City — or simply decide it’s time to get out of the house.

1. Monongahela & Duquesne Inclines

Slow and steady wins the race. Our inclines are not fast-moving, operating at an average rate of 6 mph, but they’re consistent. And one holds the title of the nation’s oldest operating funicular railway (a bragging right to break out at your next get-together).

Debuting in 1870, the Monongahela is the longest-running incline in the United States; it was renovated in 2022 to modernize controls and electrical components. The Duquesne joined it seven years later and has run alongside it consistently (minus a brief period in the 1960s, when it was being repaired). The inclines effectively book-end Grandview Avenue and operate often (Monongahela runs approximately every 15 minutes, whereas Duquesne is based on demand); with low fares, they’re inexpensive and safe transportation options for a night out or a daytime jaunt.

“On foggy mornings, you can also witness an interesting sight as the buildings emerge from the cloud cover,” says a spokesperson with Pittsburgh Regional Transit, which owns both (although the Society for the Preservation of the Duquesne Heights Incline operates the Duquesne).

Whether you ride the Mon or the Duquesne, the view from the car is unbeatable; it’s surely why the inclines are buzzed-about attractions among locals and out-of-towners alike. And the sights from the summit of Mount Washington are unmatched. There are multiple overlooks to check out the city, take photos and maybe even catch a life event in action: Given the breathtaking setting, wedding parties, soon-to-be-engaged couples and other celebratory groups make their way to the overlooks for photo ops.

Sweetening the deal is Emerald View Park, which runs through Mount Washington — but more importantly, its paved walkway lines Grandview’s outer edge, so you can get in your steps and sights at the same time. Follow the trail to either incline station and the neighboring business districts; the bustling Shiloh Street is near the Mon’s upper station, while Grandview eateries, such as the upscale Altius, surround the Duquesne’s upper stop.

South Shore: East Carson Street
rideprt.org; duquesneincline.org

{BY THE NUMBERS}

MON INCLINE
635
track length (feet)

367.39
elevation gain (feet)

35
grade (degrees)

DUQUESNE INCLINE
794
track length (feet)

400
elevation gain (feet)

30.5
grade (degrees)

Know Before You Go:
To pay, you’ll need exact cash (you can withdraw some at the onsite ATM) or a Pittsburgh Regional Transit fare card.

2. Kennywood

PHOTO COURTESY KENNYWOOD PARK

Anticipation builds as you’re sitting next to your friend with the lap bar closed. The bell sounds, and your car begins rolling down the flat track and then whips around the corner as you travel in line with 15 other cars. You can’t help but smile, and your pal’s face lights up too each time you quickly zip around the bend. After experiencing a little more than 2 minutes of unabashed joy, your car stops. Time to get off The Whip.

Kennywood’s oldest flat ride was restored for the 2023 season, just in time for the park to celebrate its 125th year in business. The amusement park’s story remains one of “blending classic and innovation,” says Tasha Pokrzywa, communications manager. Within the park, there are wooden coasters, such as the fan-favorite Jack Rabbit, alongside the thrill-seeker’s coasters such as the Steel Curtain and Phantom’s Revenge.

“In the most general sense, our goal is to create a fun but quirky atmosphere,” says Pokrzywa.

About the quirk: The alien-themed Spinvasion ride was added for the 2023 season (a year that also began with heightened security, such as physical upgrades and more lighting). Another masterpiece returned for its 50th season: the Potato Patch and their delectable fries.

Patron feedback is seriously considered as the park is updated, as evidenced by the return of the Kangaroo ride a few years ago. Pokrzywa says the team was met with a wave of dissenting feedback regarding the ride’s retirement, ultimately resulting in a full restoration of the classic attraction.

For decades, locals have turned to the park for entertainment — from school and work picnic days to food festivals and special events added in more recent years. Kennywood’s season extends well into the fall and winter annually, with Phantom Fall Fest and Holiday Lights themed festivities taking place in cooler months (and granting access to select attractions, too).

Kennywood’s Old Mill — its longest-running ride — has, over the decades, gone through multiple theme and structural revisions and embodies what Pokrzywa called one of Kennywood’s strengths: “[It’s] a park that can provide fun experiences with things that have been around for a long time.”

West Mifflin: 4800 Kennywood Blvd.
kennywood.com

{BY THE NUMBERS}

8
number of roller coasters

125
years of operation

197
tallest inversion (feet) on the Steel Curtain coaster (a World Record)

Know Before You Go:
The Racer, Jack Rabbit and Thunderbolt are American Coaster Enthusiasts Roller Coaster Landmark rides. (The group reserves this recognition for “rides of historic significance.”)

3. Cathedral of Learning

Inspirational” is an apt word to describe the world’s second-tallest educational building, better known as the Cathedral of Learning. The 42-story structure — whose construction in Oakland was completed in 1936 — may be on the University of Pittsburgh campus, but it’s a treasure for all to enjoy. Lovingly nicknamed “Cathy” by Pitt students, the cathedral is open to the public for lunch breaks, study periods or enlightening excursions; certain floors and aspects, like the gift shop, are fair game, whereas others, like the Nationality Rooms, require advance planning.

“Its presence is a testament to the university’s longstanding history in the region and is one of our earliest examples of how Pitt welcomes community collaboration,” says university spokesperson Nick France.

The Nationality Rooms pay respect to the ethnic groups of Pittsburgh and were built in stages: On the first floor, you’ll find the first 19, crafted by 1957; of the remaining 12, created since 1987, some are on the third floor. Each year, the Nationality Rooms and Intercultural Exchange Programs welcomes 10,000 visitors; paid guided tours are available in person and online.

“The 31 Nationality Rooms themselves are never altered from their original designs,” says France. “Each room was designed and constructed based on a respective ethnic group before 1787 — the year of the University of Pittsburgh’s founding, excluding the French room, which was styled after post-18th-century Empire style.”

Over time, the 535-foot, gothic-style structure naturally has required maintenance, such as foundation waterproofing, but stands strong as a “tower of learning,” in line with the vision of former Pitt chancellor John Bowman, who led the university during the cathedral’s construction. Its routine use by the community also was part of his wish, for it to be accessible to all.

“The cathedral is a symbol, literally and figuratively, of Pitt’s progress and success,” says France, “but also the progress and success of our neighbors.”

Oakland: 4200 Fifth Ave.
pitt.edu, nationalityrooms.pitt.edu

{POINTS OF INTEREST}

36
For a high-end aerial view of the city, take the elevator to the Honors College on the 36th floor, and head to a window to check out the sights.

22,000
Square feet — a half acre — of space in the four-story, Gothic Commons Room.

Souvenir tip:
If you visit the Nationality Rooms and are inspired by the cultures, pick up a copy of the recipe book in the cathedral’s gift shop. For a little more than $10, you’ll boost your ideas for the next time you need to whip up dinner, an appetizer or fudge.

4. Phipps Conservatory & Botanical Gardens

For the past 130 years, Phipps Conservatory & Botanical Gardens has delivered on its aim to provide a connection to nature — and has educated locals while doing so. But equally impressive is that the conservatory has continually presented seasonal flower shows; it’s actually one of few conservatories in the nation to do so, says senior director of communications Joe Reed.

Its origin story involves philanthropist Henry W. Phipps, who bestowed the conservatory to Pittsburgh. The attraction, stretching across 15 acres, now encompasses 14 glasshouse rooms, some of which house permanent collections — such as Palm Court, part of its original nine-room offering — plus a total of 23 gardens.

To draw its annual visitor count of 500,000, Phipps likes to keep it fresh. For the Spring Flower Show alone, the team uses thousands of plants, and it’s important that they promote responsible plants that are not high-maintenance, says Reed.

The conservatory plays a pivotal role in the community, as it partners with area schools and businesses. A newer offering is the professional landscaping training for locals (learners receive a certificate showing they’ve mastered the essentials of sustainable landscaping, upping their odds of becoming neighborhood lawn heroes). There’s even a complimentary “Ask Dr. Phipps” service, allowing novice growers to seek advice from the conservatory’s Master Gardeners.

Phipps also maintains a commitment to sustainability and has been “going green” for years. Three decades ago, it transferred ownership from the city to nonprofit management and doubled down on sustainability, as “human and environmental health go hand in hand,” says Reed.

Over time, its campus has grown to include production greenhouses and the Center for Sustainable Landscapes. A few of its buildings, such as the center, generate their own energy and have garnered attention for their excellence by earning recognition such as LEED Platinum status.

Phipps may be a gorgeous cultural institution and (let’s be honest) an Instagram-worthy photo backdrop on any given outing; however, it has stuck around and remained relevant because of the effort made to honor its roots while embracing the future.

Oakland: One Schenley Park
phipps.conservatory.org

{PRO TIP}
As Phipps closes at 10 on Friday nights, it’s an ideal date-night spot. Head there in time to watch the sun set — perhaps on the Tropical Forest Patio — and complete your tour through the rest of the campus.

Know Before You Go:
There are many ways to enjoy this spot, from private events to brunches and checking out the latest exhibits. But don’t forget about the top-tier gift shop and cafe.

5. Frick Park

Imagine having a place within city limits where you could take your pup to a massive off-leash area — then play tennis, go birding in dense woods and have a picnic. Perhaps coolest of all, you could walk into a living green building, at no cost, any day of the week to learn about the environment.

Good news: This place exists. It’s Frick Park. The original 151-acre plot was granted to the city by Henry Clay Frick in 1919 and opened in 1927; the park has grown to 644 acres and touches Point Breeze, Squirrel Hill, Swisshelm Park and Regent Square.

That green building is the LEED Platinum-certified environmental center, a joint project between the city and Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy; even on a casual pass through, you’ll learn new things (like how to create a worm bin) but definitely consider attending a class or two.

After visiting the center, you’ve got choices for where to turn next. If you’re up for birding, head toward Clayton Hill, recommended by Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy’s team because it provides optimal views of avian wildlife migrating in the spring and fall.

Alana Wenk, the conservancy’s director of advancement, says the bottom segment of Clayton is prime for exploratory outdoor activities, such as mountain-biking.

Where Clayton shows the wild side, Blue Slide Park is whimsical.

“It’s always fun — I love seeing tagged photos on social media,” of Blue Slide Park, says Wenk. That’s one Frick element that’s widely known, due at least in part to pop culture; “Blue Slide Park” also is the title of the debut album from late rapper and area native Mac Miller.

As the city’s largest historical park, Frick draws quite a crowd, especially in warmer months. In 2022, it was the site of 4,000 get-togethers, from after-school programs to Earth Month happenings. The conservancy team often works with the community; construction will begin in late 2023 on an outdoor sensory classroom near the environmental center that’ll be created in partnership with local groups to validate its features.

Speaking of features: We tend to be boastful about our scenic views. If you’re looking for a spot to catch the sunrise or sunset, check out Riverview Trail; you won’t be disappointed.

Squirrel Hill: Frick Environmental Center,
2005 Beechwood Blvd.
pittsburghparks.org

{FINDING YOUR WAY}

You don’t have to wing it on your visit; there’s a detailed map on the website and at select trail entrances (pittsburghparks.org).

{POINTS OF INTEREST}

40°25’35.3” N,
79°54’19.5” W

Search the lower part of the park to find a tranquil boardwalk along Nine Mile Run. Prefer technology to going wandering? Point your GPS to these coordinates.

6. The Andy Warhol Museum

It’s fitting that the museum dedicated to the late Andy Warhol, an influential Pop-Art king, is ever-changing.

For starters, The Andy Warhol Museum (one of four Carnegie Museums of Pittsburgh) is home to more than 10,000 works of art by the native son. What’s more, although he’s well known for his Pop-Art creations of muses such as Marilyn Monroe, he worked in various artforms throughout his multi-decade career — film, TV, painting and drawing are but a few examples.

Born and raised locally, Andrew Warhola was drawn to art at an early age; he graduated with a pictorial design degree from what’s now Carnegie Mellon University before he zipped off to New York City. The museum’s material naturally covers his claims to fame but also his background — the tale of his parents immigrating to the States, his Catholic faith and so on.

“We really try to tell the full Warhol story in a deeper way,” says Patrick Moore, director of The Warhol.

The seven-floor art gallery, which welcomes 150,000 visitors annually, provides exclusive experiences. For example, at press time, there’s an acoustically treated space set up to listen to recently digitized Velvet Underground master tapes while admiring cover album art by Warhol. Families with kids in tow can have fun, too, by making artworks in The Factory, whose name pays tribute to Warhol’s NYC studio.

The single-artist museum, which will celebrate its 30th anniversary in 2024, largely pays homage to the namesake artist’s works, but it also features special exhibitions a few times per year.

In 2022, The Warhol team established The Pop District, a multifaceted initiative involving multiple blocks of public art, workforce development offerings and various events and performances. Final Fridays, for example, are held from May through September in the nearby Silver Street event space and are effectively outdoor parties set to the beats of guest DJs.

“We want to attract, invite, [inspire people to] take selfies,” says Moore, “and make it an experience, hang around.”

North Shore: 117 Sandusky St.
warhol.org

Know Before You Go:
Block off at least 2-3 hours for the full museum experience, and more if you like to read every plaque.

{PHOTO OP}

Snag a selfie on the signature red couch located in the entrance space. (Like Andy, whose portrait is displayed above the couch, you, too, may want to throw on a pair of shades while striking a pose.)

{SOUVENIR TIP}

The gift shop stocks enviable knickknacks and prints of Warhol’s works.

7. Point State Park

It’s difficult to envision a city-skyline postcard or sporting-event live shot that doesn’t include the Point State Park Fountain. Heck, even a decade ago, when a giant rubber duck dropped anchor nearby, the roughly 150-foot fountain was not upstaged by the likes of the sizable, temporary art installation.

The fountain sits at, you guessed it, the point of our three rivers, where the Monongahela and Allegheny meet to form the Ohio. It debuted in 1974 and largely has remained a constant ever since; it required a full renovation in 2009 and shuttered before returning in 2013, when the park also received a facelift.

The 36-acre park space has quite the history, dating to its involvement in the French and Indian War. The Fort Pitt Museum has a wealth of info on that occurrence but also others, including the city’s founding; the Fort Pitt Block House, originally created in 1764 as a military redoubt, serves as a living relic. Point State Park’s green space was formalized due to the Pittsburgh Renaissance; after a 1950s urban renewal project wrapped, it was dedicated in 1974.

The park celebrates its 50th anniversary in 2024, and has been a gathering spot for everyday life and special occasions. Its green lawn is just the place to sit after the Pittsburgh Marathon or when celebrating July Fourth with tunes, food and pyrotechnics. On an average day, you’ll see families walking along the Three Rivers Heritage Trail, colleagues enjoying lunch and couples admiring the reflecting pool. Bikes are omnipresent here, as this is an access point for the Great Allegheny Passage, a 150-mile trail connecting Cumberland, Maryland, to the Steel City.

Back to the fountain: We’ll boldly say that catching a sunset there is a must. Everything surrounding the experience is slow-paced — people are conversing, picnicking, hanging out, relishing moments — and simple. On your first fountain experience at nightfall, you may feel as if you’ve been trusted with a sweet secret; you begin to understand some of the pride Pittsburghers have for the city and why our scenery gets such high praise.

Downtown: 601 Commonwealth Place
dcnr.pa.gov/stateparks

Know Before You Go:
The park is open year-round. The fountain is open May through October, weather permitting.

{POINT OF INTEREST}
You can spot the Duquesne Incline from the park, too!

Sculpture Garden at Hartwood Acres Park 
Fourteen large-scale sculptures representing the Minimalist movement have been recently conserved in their original grandeur, now situated on a fully accessible paved path arranged around the 1929 Tudor Revival mansion in this 629-acre park, considered the crown jewel of the Allegheny County Parks system. This is located about 12 miles north of Pittsburgh; use the Hartwood Acres Mansion entrance in your GPS.

Hampton: 200 Hartwood Acres
acparksfoundation.org

Big Mac Museum
Did you know that the signature McDonald’s concoction — two-all beef patties, special sauce, lettuce, cheese, pickles and onions on a sesame seed bun — was invented in Pittsburgh? Michael Delligatti introduced the sandwich at his McDonald’s franchise in Uniontown in 1967, charging just 45 cents for the big burger. McDonald’s Corp. launched the Big Mac nationwide in 1968, and it’s considered their all-time favorite hamburger. A museum dedicated to the Big Mac at Delligatti’s franchise in New Huntingdon opened in 2007 (inside the working restaurant), where there’s a 12-foot replica of the Big Mac, vintage wrappers and toys and other memorabilia.

North Huntingdon: 9061 Route 30

PHOTO BY VIRGINIA LINN

Bicycle Heaven
Both Austin, Texas and Portland, Oregon purport to be Weird. Keep Pittsburgh Quirky might be a more appropriate appellation for the Steel City, and places such as Bicycle Heaven fulfill this mission. Established in 2011 on the North Side by Craig and Mindy Morrow, Bicycle Heaven is touted as the world’s largest bicycle museum and bike shop with a massive collection of 6,000 vintage and new bikes under one roof, plus all the accoutrements that go with them. Here you’ll find an actual red prop bike from “Pee-Wee’s Big Adventure” (one of four made) as well as bikes that appeared in “The Monkees” show and movies such as “Super 8” and the filmed-in-Pittsburgh “A Man Called Otto.” They’re most proud of their collection of 17 Bowden Spacelander bikes — among the most sought-after bikes by collectors. Bicycle Heaven is open every day from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., and also includes sales, a repair shop and bike rentals. The museum’s Facebook page is filled with photos of smiling fans visiting the space. “It’s just an insane collection,” says one.

Chateau: 1800 Preble Ave.
bicycleheaven.org

PHOTO BY REAGEN WEST-WHITMAN

Exhibitions at Contemporary Craft
Check out the relatively new digs for Contemporary Craft, a 52-year-old organization that fosters the use of traditional craft materials — ceramic, fiber, glass, wood and metal — to make art. Its 13,000-square foot permanent home offers rotating exhibitions in a light-filled space and a gift shop you won’t want to miss.

Upper Lawrenceville: 5645 Butler St.
contemporarycraft.org

Water Steps at North Shore Riverfront Park
Operated during the warmer months by the Sports & and Exhibition Authority of Pittsburgh, the cascading fountain on the North Shore along the Allegheny River draws families and others who want to cool off with a striking view of the city’s skyline. It includes 500 blocks of sandstone cut from a Butler County quarry and another 1,000 smaller pieces of sandstone. Walk the waterfront near Hyde Park Prime Steakhouse and you’ll find it easily.

North Shore

Fort Pitt Block House
British forces built Fort Pitt during the French and Indian War at what is now Point State Park, where the Monongahela and Allegheny rivers join to create the Ohio River. The only remnant left is the block house, which was erected in 1764 and is believed to be one of the oldest buildings still standing in Pittsburgh. It was first used to defend the fort from Native American attacks and then later as a trading post after the fort was decommissioned. It’s open year-round and is free, thanks to the Fort Pitt Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution. (Operating days change during the winter, so check the website before you visit.) While you’re in the park, make sure to walk to the 150-foot fountain at the Point for one of the most brilliant views in the area.

Downtown: 601 Commonwealth Place
fortpittblockhouse.com

PHOTO COURTESY PITTSBURGH HISTORY & LANDMARKS FOUNDATION

Old Allegheny County Jail Museum
This landmark is open on the first and third Mondays of each month from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., except holidays. Docents are on hand from the Pittsburgh History & Landmarks Foundation to guide you through. The building, opened in 1886, was designed by famed Boston architect H.H. Richardson and was used it as a jail until 1995. It reopened as a museum in 2005, and includes a portion of one of the original cell blocks.

Downtown: 440 Ross St.
phlf.org

PHOTO BY DAVE HALLEWELL/HI-FI FOTOS

We’re not gonna sugar-coat it for visitors: It’s tough to figure out where you’re going around here.

Highway exits appear to be bearing left then swerve right. Bridges are somehow several interstates at the same time. Intersections seem to have been glued together by toddlers — and can only be navigated by locals who know the unwritten rules of negotiating particularly nettlesome bottlenecks.

Even for the pros, it’s intimidating. Bonny Diver is a longtime radio personality who provides traffic updates for regional iHeartMedia stations. She’s not a native, however; born outside Columbus, Ohio, she was baffled when she first visited Pittsburgh.

“We were driving down a one-way street — the wrong way,” she remembers of her first visit. “The police stopped us. I said, ‘Well, we’re just trying to get over there. Can you help us?’ He said, ‘Uhh … no. Just turn around.’ That’s the setting for Pittsburgh: cops can’t even get you there!”

Diver says the name of the game is planning — and being willing to admit defeat and ask for help (maybe from a civilian rather than a uniformed officer). “People are really friendly at helping you.”

And don’t worry: While mistakes can quickly put you on a highway going in the wrong direction, Pittsburgh is at least geographically compact. Even a major screw-up likely won’t cost you more than 10 minutes.

With help from Diver’s years of expertise, here are four simple rules for navigating Pittsburgh.

1. Use your GPS — but take a look at the route first. Even lifelong residents often use GPS on every trip, since construction or traffic could snarl plans. But, Diver says, look at the route your phone produces before you set off. “Sometimes [navigation apps] don’t tell you [what’s next] in time — and you can’t just go around the block.”

2. Signs are not necessarily your friends. Logic can go out the window when it comes to navigating Pittsburgh’s highways. “You could be on Route 65 going north and want to get to 79 North, but it’s an intersection! How can two highways that are both going north have an intersection?” The city’s color-belt system, a relic of an optimistic 20th-century project, is similarly confounding. Instead of trying to learn the highways, you should …

3. Know the major destinations and towns. If you’re headed North, look for signs for Cranberry; if you’re eastbound, look for Monroeville. The highway numbers on the signs may be meaningless to you, but destinations like Airport, North Shore and Oakland are helpful. Get going in the right direction and hope your GPS can handle it from there.

4. Learn the two sacred unwritten rules. It’s essential for all visiting motorists, Diver says: “You gotta know about the Pittsburgh left.” Due to all the bizarre intersections, it’s frequent courtesy that a driver headed straight at an intersection will let an opposing counterpart making a left turn go first when the light changes. Unfortunately, some drivers expect this treatment and jump uninvited; don’t be surprised. Equally important: If you see an old chair on the curb, keep driving. That’s a parking chair, and it means the spot is not up for grabs. You don’t wanna incur anyone’s wrath.

Burgh’ers Brewing
This brewery-restaurant got its start in Butler County, but it’s a ‘Burgh thing. While the owners work on putting the final touches on a new site at The Highline development on the South Side, yinz guys can visit their Zelienople and Lawrenceville locations for a menu made entirely of locally and sustainably sourced ingredients. There are smash-style burgers with Steel City-centric names; the Fox Chapel, which won a James Beard competition, is topped with goat cheese, mixed greens, pickled onion and balsamic reduction. But it’s not just a burger thing; there are small plates (pierogies!), sandwiches and salads, too.

Lawrenceville: 3601 Butler St.
Zelienople: 215 W. New Castle St.
burgherspgh.com

PHOTO BY LAURA PETRILLA

Cinderlands Beer Co.
Cinderlands’ first incarnation — the Foederhouse in Lawrenceville — is a cozy spot for naturally fermented foederbier and classic Belgian pub cuisine. Its larger location in the Strip is a two-story, 300-seat facility featuring a first-floor bar and dining room with views of the open, scratch kitchen. Upstairs, you’ll find another bar — as well as a lounge and patio. The brewery’s suburban taproom is a stripped-down version of their city sites with a menu to match. Get snacky items such as soft pretzels, pepperoni rolls, quesadillas, cheese dip and sliders — plus, food trucks roll up every Thursday from 5 to 8 p.m.

Lawrenceville: Cinderlands Foederhouse, 3705 Butler St.
Strip District: Cinderlands Warehouse, 2601 Smallman St.
Pine: Cinderlands Taproom, 171 Wexford Bayne Road
cinderlands.com

PHOTO BY KRISTY LOCKLIN

Spoonwood Brewing Company
When you’re driving up Baptist Road in Bethel Park, Spoonwood’s enormous, 15-barrel facility appears from behind the trees like a beacon of good beer. But their wood-fired oven looms just as large to the taste buds. Order a Working Class Hero Cream Ale while you peruse the weekly specials and a rotating menu filled with no-spoon-required appetizers, salads, burgers and pizza. A spacious, outdoor seating area and a steady line-up of live music makes Spoonwood a suburban vacation destination.

Bethel Park: 5981 Baptist Road
spoonwoodbrewing.com

PHOTO BY KRISTY LOCKLIN

Yellow Bridge Brewing
At this family-run business with locations in Delmont and Greensburg, pizza (and a smattering of salads and snacks) bridges the gap between an empty and full stomach. Using house-made dough and sauce, the little brewery is cranking out a variety of 12- and 16-inch pies. Styles range from The Plain Jane to The Pepperoni Moderno with red sauce, mozzarella, a generous layer of pepperoni, arugula, balsamic glaze and hot honey. If, during your stay in the City of Bridges, you get a hankering for Detroit-style, rectangular pizza, the Greensburg site also serves one of those, too.

Delmont: 2266 Route 66
Greensburg: 33 East Pittsburgh St.
yellowbridgebrewing.com

PHOTO COURTESY OF EAST END BREWING CO.

East End Brewing Company
One of Pittsburgh’s pioneering breweries — it’s been around since 2004 — East End is now making a name for itself with its creative pizzas. At its original Larimer site and its new sister location in the South Hills, East End Chewing is the culinary counterpart to beer production. (It also gets our Food Editor’s vote for Best Pizzeria Name.) The rustic, thick-crust pies — including an off-the-wall Pizza of the Week — are accompanied by a rotating list of soups, sides and bar snacks, including vegan and vegetarian options. And if you want to bone up on your Pittsburgh knowledge, East End is releasing a series of You Are Here beers representing each of the city’s 90 neighborhoods. Even Mister Rogers would’ve said cheers to that!

Larimer: 147 Julius St.
Mt. Lebanon: 651 Washington Road
eastendbrewing.com

PHOTO COURTESY HOP FARM BREWING

Hop Farm Brewing Company
Named Best Place For A Sunday Solo Beer in our 2023 Best of the ’Burgh issue, the Lawrenceville mainstay is also ideal for a dinner party of one or 100 (in addition to the taproom there is sidewalk seating and warehouse space). The BBQ Bacon Burger (two smashed beef patties, Swiss cheese, smoked bacon and housemade barbecue sauce) might not be good for the body, but it satisfies the soul. If you’re the indecisive type, order a flight of beers and a trio of sliders: Hop Farm Burger, Taco Burger and Pulled Pork. Hop to it.

Lawrenceville: 5601 Butler St.
hopfarmbrewingco.com

PHOTO BY KRISTY LOCKLIN

Mastic Trail Brewing
There’s a tropical oasis in … Shaler. Two summers ago, the former Moose Lodge was transformed into a 7,000-square-foot Caribbean-themed brewery named after a 10-mile scenic pathway on Grand Cayman Island. From the rattan furniture and cabana bar vibe to the floor that’s painted to look like sand and sea, it’s a respite from the industrial chic of typical taprooms. Order a beachy beer such as the Surfin’ Moose Blonde Ale. The food menu is similarly island-inspired, with Bacalao Fritters, a Cubano sandwich that’s roughly the size of Cuba and a Coconut Shrimp Po’boy.

Shaler: 1044 Saxonburg Blvd.
mastictrail.com

PHOTO: INSURRECTION ALEWORKS’ FACEBOOK PAGE

Insurrection AleWorks
If you want to rebel against typical pub grub, Insurrection AleWorks is your HQ. From a gourmet meatloaf sandwich to a vegan club, this microbrewery in tiny Heidelberg is an off-the-beaten path escape for good food for every diet. Feeling adventurous? California Roll Deviled Eggs! Canadian, eh? Poutine Loaded Fries! Saving your empty calories for beer? AleWorks Salad! Have offspring? Kids Grilled Cheese with fries! Everyone leaves happy.

Heidelberg: 1635 E. Railroad St.
insurrectionaleworks.com

PHOTO BY KRISTY LOCKLIN

The Smiling Moose
Turn your frown upside down and the volume to 11 at The Smiling Moose. Mike “Scarfo” Scarlatelli, who’s been a touring musician most of his life, opened the South Side location 20 years ago, offering upscale pub grub along with punk, rock and metal shows. A family-friendly, yet still rockin’, version debuted in the ’burbs in 2021. The menus at both Mooses are peppered with pop culture references (Pizza the Hutt’s Pizza Bread, anyone?), mouthwatering burgers, soups, salads, sandwiches (say hello to the Tony Montana Cuban) and really good pasta salad. Need another reason to grin? The Smiling Moose is also a nano-brewery churning out small-batch beers for its restaurants.

South Side: 1306 E. Carson St.
Cranberry: 8032 Rowan Road
smiling-moose.com

EVERGREEN DRIVE-IN | PHOTO BY CHUCK BEARD

Brownsville Drive-In
After the sun sets on this Fayette County hilltop, three screens light up with recent hits and classic favorites. Occasional special events round out the schedule; in recent months, the site has hosted concert broadcasts and even bingo games. While the theater is primarily open on weekends, the schedule stretches into the week for holidays and in the thick
of summer.

6229 National Pike E, Grindstone, Fayette County; facebook.com/brownsvilledrivein, 724/785-7190

• Screens: 3
• Concession Stands: 1 Full, 1 Limited Menu
• Established: April 26, 1949

Dependable Drive-In
The only operating drive-in in Allegheny County has only grown over the decades, adding two additional screens in the 1990s and a fourth in 2003. Recent blockbusters and studio hits appear in nightly double-features; four screens usually guarantee at least one family-friendly pairing. Unlike most locations, Dependable remains open year-round.

549 Moon Clinton Road, Moon Township; dependabledrivein.com, 412/264-7011, 412/264-7010, 412/474-3475

• Screens: 4
• Concession Stands: 2
• Established: June 27, 1950

Evergreen Drive-In
In a vast field in Westmoreland County, you can stand outside your car and see all three of Evergreen’s screens circling around a generally laid-back clientele. The surprisingly robust concession offerings go beyond standard fare with sausage and cheese steak sandwiches and oven-baked mini donuts.

309 Drive-In Lane, Mount Pleasant, Westmoreland County; evergreendrivein.com, 724/547-4747

• Screens: 3
• Concession Stands: 1 Full, 1 Limited-Menu
• Established: June 19, 1947

Riverside Drive-In
The single-screen Riverside Drive-In, just outside Apollo in Armstrong County, is a twice-yearly destination for horror hounds thanks to the popular Drive-In Super Monster-Rama weekends featuring dusk-till-dawn marathons of favorites and forgotten spook shows. Between those events, it’s a cozy drive-in with nightly double features tucked into a picturesque spot between the forest and the river.

1114 Lees Lake Lane,  Vandergrift,  Armstrong County; riversidedrivein.com, 724/568-1250

• Screens: 1
• Concession Stands: 1
• Established: May 6, 1949

More to Visit

There are eight drive-ins within a 50-mile radius of Pittsburgh; here are even more spots for movies under the stars.

• Starlight Drive-In, Butler, Pa.
  starlightdrive-in.com
• Hilltop Drive-In, Chester, W. Va.
  hilltopdriveintheater.com
• Comet Drive-In, Dunbar, Pa.
  cometdrivein.com
• Palace Gardens Drive-In, Indiana, Pa.
  palacegardensdrivein.com