You can also enjoy one of the free holiday concerts at the Carnegie Museums, which take place on select dates in December. The music of Joy Ike fills the Museum on Saturday, December 19, an eclectic mix of jazz, pop, and soul. A Nigerian singer and songwriter raised in Pittsburgh, she has worked with the Pittsburgh Public Theater, the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust, and the August Wilson Center, among others. On Sunday, December 20, Frank Cappelli entertains visitors. Famous for his children’s show “Cappelli and Company” that aired during the late 1980s and early ’90s, he provides lead vocals and guitar as a part of the Monongahela Duck Club Band.
Head to the Carnegie Museums for the Holidays!
So head to the Carnegie Museums, located in the Oakland area of Pittsburgh.
Looking for something to do this Friday? Try Unblurred: First Fridays on Penn! Various galleries in the Penn Ave Arts District (4800-5500 Penn Ave) to showcase a variety of artwork and performances. Events include:
GO EAST! at the Kelly-Strayhorn Theater from 7-10pm
Tweek Clothing, 1-11pm (holiday shopping for clothing, skateboarding and bmx products)
Pittsburgh Glass Center, Holiday glass sale, 6-9pm
And so much more! Bundle up and tour the street for some great Holiday deals!
It's time to vote again!!!! AmericanStyle magazine is now accepting votes for the the Top 25 Arts Destinations and Pittsburgh is on the list! Go to http://www.americanstyle.com/ME2/Default.asp and vote Pittsburgh as the best mid-size Arts Destination. Pittsburgh has won this honor before and as Pittsburghers, we know this is certainly true. With a 14 block cultural district and world-class museums, we can't be beat. Vote today!
The New Hazlett Theater is a world-class venue for cultural events located at 6 Allegheny Square in the Allegheny Center area of the North Side. The theater was built in 1889 as the Carnegie Musical Hall. Today it is a newly renovated venue for Pittsburgh's performing arts organizations and audiences.
Arts presenters, producers and artists rent the theater for a range of programs, including dramatic theater, dance, family programming, performance-art events, music, and spoken word performances, among other programming options. Theater offerings appeal to children, families, and adult audiences.
The New Hazlett Theater was awarded The Greater Pittsburgh Arts Council’s Best Practices in Arts Management award for 2009. The award honors the theater for "innovative and creative arts management practice that can serve as a model for the advancement of arts and culture in the region."
I love the Holidays! And there is so much to do in Pittsburgh that will add dazzle to your holidays!
Shop till you drop – the opportunities for holiday shopping are endless. From one-of-a-kind adventures in funky Pittsburgh neighborhoods, to antiquing in quaint, rural towns and villages, to power shopping in outlet malls, shoppers never had it so good! Add to that one of the best perks about shopping here – there’s no tax on clothing or shoes!
Downtown Pittsburgh turns it on with Light Up Night, an annual tradition that kicks off the holiday season on Nov. 20. See Pittsburgh decked out in her holiday best with lights, concerts and a fabulous fireworks display.
Excitement is in the air as the world-famous Rockettes return to Pittsburgh this holiday season for the 2009 edition of the “Radio City Christmas Spectacular,” Nov. 12-Dec. 6. Presented by PNC Broadway Across America - Pittsburgh, the Radio City Christmas Spectacular makes a perfect holiday gift for the whole family!
Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre’s “The Nutcracker” pirouettes into town Dec. 11-27, turning the Benedum Center into the Land of Enchantment. The Pittsburgh CLO's “A Musical Christmas Carol” is another favorite holiday tradition, Dec. 8- 23.
Then it’s time to ring in the New Year with First Night on Dec. 31. This New Year’s Eve family festival celebrates the arts and cultural vitality of Pittsburgh and is fun for all ages!
Head to the Carnegie Science Center on Halloween night for “Spooky Science Spectacular.” Exploration of the creepy side of science is back! Learn the strange stories behind some scientific breakthroughs. Check out the most “shocking” demonstrations. try a special fog cocktail (guaranteed to raise your spirits!) and get hands-on in the laboratory for some Halloween creations! Come in costume for safe, indoor trick-or-treating, and enter the costume contest to win great prizes! Call 412-237-3400 for all of the spooky details.
Squonk Opera and The Kelly-Strayhorn Theater offer up a gholish day of Halloween Mayhem on Halloween night at the Kelly Srayhorn Theater at 5941 Penn Avenue in the Highland park neighborhood . Squonk's Demon of Mayhem will be offering creepy candy for East End trick-or-treaters! Free activities from 1-5 pm include Family-Friendly Trick-Or-Treating, Mask-Making with members of Squonk Opera, Storytelling and other arts activities! The event also features A Movie Marathon, live activities, dancing, and more! CALL 412-363-3000 to find out more.
Experience scary thrills at Nightmare at Station Square running through October 31. The most intense outdoor haunted experience is back for the 2009 featuring two large haunted houses, a terrifying cemetery walk through, dunk tank and much more! The entire Amphitheatre will be transformed into the tri-state area's most terrifying attraction. Screaming corpses, ghoulish ghosts, and creepy clowns are just the beginning! . Check out the physic readings and actual paranormal investigators who will be live on site! CALL 800-859-8959 for the frightful details.
So go out and scare up some fun and don’t forget your costume!
Lawrence County is known as the Fireworks Capital of America and is located north of Pittsburgh. There's lots to see and do including entertainment options such as the ballet, community theater, historic museums, art galleries, restaurants and more.
The Hoyt Institute of Fine Arts offers art galleries in an environment of Victorian opulence. The Scottish Rite Cathedral contains one of the largest stages between New York and Chicago. Described as New Castle's "cultural jewel", the historic four building complex offers an environment of historical interest while housing art galleries, classrooms, studios and a collection of fine arts library on five manicured acres of the residential North Hill.
Living Treasures Animal Park features 100 species of animals, including an exotic white tiger. Visitors can pet and feed some of the animals at the petting zoo. The "Stuff your own Animal" stand lets customers pick their favorite animals, stuff it, and dress it up! Get up close and make friends with baby lambs, baby camels, sheep, goats, pot belly pigs, llamas, yaks and Muffin, the miniature Cow with buck teeth!
Railroad enthusiasts will be right on track at the Harlansburg Station Museum of Transportation, where you'll find exhibits of transportation memorabilia plus a unique gift shop.This is a story on the creation of one man's dream, his own personal museum that he now shares with the public. It is the Harlansburg Station, Museum of Transportation. Donald Barnes, a retired US Air pilot, started collecting things 30 years ago, such as an airplane propeller, the frame of an unassembled bi-plane and more. He built an airstrip and airplane hanger to house future museum exhibits, as well as a grass airstrip. His collection grew to include two full size antique Greyhound buses, old gas pumps, porcelain signs, railroad tools, badges from steel mills, an airliner galley, a Model T 1949 Ford truck, parachutes, leather flying pants and four passenger railroad cars. He built a museum so that he could share his passion for transportation. Today the museum features over 3,000 objects.
There are also lots of outdoor activities in Lawrence County, including West Park Nature Center and Villa Maria Wetlands Trail. West Park is a 108-acre park brimming with wildflowers and an abundance of bird species and several acres of wetlands. Villa Maria Wetlands Trails is an inland wetland area providing four distinct views.
So head to Lawrence County. Whether you see the dazzle of fireworks or the beauty of Christmas trees, you will have a great experience.
The Pittsburgh Glass Center is a unique attraction. It is a public access state-of-the-art glass studio and gallery dedicated to teaching, creating and promoting glass art.
World-renowned glass artists go to PGC to make studio glass art. Visitors can learn about glass, explore the contemporary glass gallery and watch live hot glass demonstrations. It is one of the top glass art centers in the world. Tours are also available.
Pittsburgh Glass Center is the largest arts organization on Penn Avenue in Pittsburgh’s East End and is a cornerstone of the Penn Avenue Arts Initiative’s redevelopment of an underutilized part of the city through the arts.
Pittsburgh Glass Center is an important arts organization in Pittsburgh that is helping the city connect its history as a major producer in glass to its creative future through the innovative use of glass as art.
Check it out!
One of the great ways to spend a weekend in Autumn is to head to the annual Penn’s Colony Festival Village in Saxonburg. The festival begins the weekend of September 19th and runs through October 10th.
Now in its 26th year, the award-winning Penn's Colony Festival captures the spirit of the French and Indian War era as the French and British struggled to control Pennsylvania's western frontier.
Experience a recreated colonial village in the midst of the celebration "Publick Tymes." See a full day of colonial entertainment of music, dance, living history, children's games and festive food with living history and battle re-enactments by French, British, Scottish and Native reenactors.
Fill your home with the finest craftsmanship and American Folk Art as master artisans create furniture, decorative accessories, gifts. The juried marketplace features Handmade in America works by artisans dedicated to quality craftsmanship that will be passed on from generation to generation.
Sample the culture, music and food of Ireland without needing a passport! Head to the Pittsburgh Irish Festival Sept. 11-13 at the Riverplex at Sandcastle in Homestead. The hours are 4pm-12 midnight on Sept. 11; 11am-12 midnight on Sept. 12 and 9am-6pm on Sept. 13. The festival features traditional/contemporary Irish entertainment, extensive children’s activities, Irish dogs, authentic marketplace and food, and a Gaelic mass. A variety of Irish bands will be performing, including the incredibly talented Gaelic Storm. There’s so much to do at the Irish Festival. Delight in music and dance performances; discover your Irish family tree; have fun with your kids at the children’s arts and crafts center; shop for Irish gifts; meet Pittsburgh’s Irish organizations; watch artisans and historians at work; watch Irish sports or feast on Irish cuisine. Don’t miss the 19th annual Pittsburgh Irish Festival. Get out your green!
Labor Day Weekend is upon us and for most young people the last summer vacation weekend, so below I've listed a few activities to wrap it up.Let's start with the things we have to put away until next year:
Swim and slide at SandCastles as the final weekend begins on September 5 & 6 & 7, they will be open from 10am to 6pm weather permitting on all three days. The city and county pools will also see their final summer weekend as well.
After or before your final dip in the water, head east to the 16th Annual Arts & Crafts Colonial Festival taking place in Greensburg at the Westmoreland County Fairgrounds on September 4, 5, 6, 7. This is one of the highest rated craft show in Pennsylvania, where you'll find indoor and outdoor exhibits, a childrens area and artisans donning period clothing touting their finest wares. Plus a military encampment, musical performances and living history demonstrations.
Then wrap up your weekend by attending the Pittsburgh Labor Day Parade, it takes place Monday @ 10 a.m. starting at Freedom Corner.
Then on Tuesday morning most of us will start working towards our next Labor Day. So everybody get up! It's time to go to school, work, _______. You fill in the blank and have a safe, fun Labor Day Weekend!
**All the city, county,state and federal government offices will be closed on Monday (Labor Day) as well as banks, post offices, and state liquor stores.
For benefit of the Pittsburgh Food Bank, First Commonwealth presents the 15th Annual Blues Festival at Hartwood Acres. Some of the headliners will be Los LoBos, Robert Cray, Cyril Neville & Tribe 13 and more. Bring a bag of non-perishable food on Friday and enjoy the evenings music for free. There is a charge for Saturday and Sunday, but parking is free as well as kids under 12.
The kidZone for family fun and music features face painting, arts & crafts and weekend visits from local mascots. "Blues in the tent" is new this year and will include a history of blues, story telling, and singin' the blues with interactive music presentations. 412.460.blue
Come one, come all...sounds like it's going to be a pretty good benefit.
Ever want to learn ceramics or express your inner self at a creative writing course? Then you should know about the Pittsburgh Center for the Arts, a non-profit community arts campus that offers arts education programs and contemporary art exhibitions, providing services and resources for individual artists throughout Western Pennsylvania. The Center is where the community can create, see, support, and learn about visual arts. Life is all about learning and PCA offers workshops on everything from jewelry making to drawing to printmaking.
If you don’t want to take a class, you can browse the various exhibitions or indulge yourself in the gift shop, which promotes and sells the work of local artists. You find one-of-a-kind treasures for yourself and those you love.
The grounds of PCA are serene and beautiful and it is only minutes from downtown Pittsburgh.
So head to the Pittsburgh Center for the Arts and immerse yourself in the local art scene. Once you discover it you will be a frequent visitor!
What was once a shoeshine shop inside the concourse of The Westin Convention Center Hotel is now 3G Gallery (3 G stands for "Three Generations").This gallery showcases the owners work and the works of Pittsburgh-area local artists in a wide range of styles and mediums. 3G Gallery has an ever changing inventory of art and handmade jewelry by artists and craftsmen, and spot lights an artist monthly.
The shoppers' eye wanders from one cool thing to another as the many items beg for a close up look. There are quilts, blown glass, painted silks and beaded bags. On your next walk about in downtown Pittsburgh stop by and check out all the lovely one of a kind gifts, no doubt you'll find something unique to call your own.
Experience the 19th century way of life at Old Economy Village in Ambridge, PA, about 23 miles from downtown Pittsburgh. The Old Economy Village was the home of the 19th-century Christian communal group, the Harmony Society that was established in 1824. Economy was known worldwide for its piety and industrial prosperity.
Old Economy has a lot to offer visitors. Encounter traditional tradesmen performing historic chores such as blacksmithing. Tour the historic buildings on the site. There’s the Museum Building and Feast Hall that constructed between 1825 and 1826 that were opened to the public in 1827 as a Natural History and Fine Arts Museum. The Cabinet Shop contains original Harmonist tools, benches, and lathes that fashioned the buildings, woodwork, and furniture seen throughout the historic site. The Harmonist Clock Shop and Lock Shop are in an adjacent room. The Blacksmith Shop was built in 1900 as a garage and contains tools used for demonstrations of blacksmithing.
Old Economy Village hosts a variety of events throughout the year. Upcoming events include A Summer Day in 19th Century "Oekonomie"on July 25 from 11am-3pm where visitors can participate in many 19th century games and activities such as pulling taffy and making hand-cranked ice cream. On Sept. 26 don’t miss Erntefest: Harmonist Harvest Festival from 10 am–4:30 pm where visitors can learn how the Harmonists celebrated the harvest and prepared for the long Pennsylvania winter. Churn butter, make apple schnitz, or press apples for cider and more. Craftsmen will demonstrate their crafts or trade. Enjoy site tours, Harmonist music, and dozens of family-friendly activities and games. Homemade German food and baked goods will be available.
So check out Old Economy Village and experience life in a different culture in a bygone era. You'll learn a lot.
Pittsburgh Glass Center located about one and half miles from the heart of downtown Pittsburgh is where you can see a glassblowing demonstration up close from start to finish. Here's where artists gather, shape, and blow amazing works of art.
You will also learn about Pittsburgh history in glass and take a guided tour of the contempory glass exhibition, as well as a narrated glassblowing and/or flame working demonstration.
A great experience for the entire family!
Tap your feet, hum to the beat, groove in your seat. You'll be doing all of this while you sit in the audience and experience PNC Broadway Across America - Pittsburrgh. The 2009 season has a line-up of great shows that you won't want to miss!
See the world famous Radio City Christmas Spectacular the Radio City Rockettes Nov. 11-Dec. 6 at the Benedum Center for the Performing Arts. Direct from New York, the Radio City Christmas Spectacular stars the world-famous Rockettes. Most famous for their eye high kicks and precision dancing, the Rockettes have strutted their way into the hearts of millions and continue to be a holiday tradition.
Dreamgirls takes the stage at Heinz Hall Dec. 29-Jan. 3. Full of onstage joy and backstage drama, Dreamgirls tells the rags-to-riches story of a 1960s Motown girl group, and the triumphs and tribulations that come with fame and fortune.
So mark the dates on your calendar and bring along your family and friends for a night of great music, drama and live theater!
Good morning! This past weekend, my husband and I ventured to the Three Rivers Arts Festival and had a blast! It was great to see so many people in downtown Pittsburgh enjoying the weather on a warm Saturday. We started at Point State Park, visiting tent after tent of talented artist selling his/her wares, then made a stop at the Fort Pitt Blockhouse to learn a little bit of history. We traveled across the point where Fort Pitt once stood, and made it to the fountain as the wind blew a mist of water our way (thank goodness... It was so hot out!!!)
After taking some photos and stopping just to enjoy the view, we headed back. Grabbed a HUGE snow cone at one of the many food vendor tents to help curb the heat. We crossed the street and spent the rest of the afternoon browsing more and more tents filled with everything from pottery, modern art, country crafts, jewelry... the list goes on!
Afterward, we made our way to Market Square and sat outside sipping coffee, watching the world go by. What a great Saturday in downtown Pittsburgh!
Just taking a drive, but no destination? Take a detour and visit a local neighborhood. I would like to suggest Shiloh Street area at the top of Mt Washington where time can be spent browsing the local shops and Arts Market Place. There are many local eateries to choose from and yes of course they have an ice cream parlor. The Grandview Scenic Byway Park with its green spaces, playground, trails PLUS a perfect view of the peaks and valleys that surround the downtown area.
This is only one of many neighborhoods of Pittsburgh in your back yard check out this website to find more local happenings.
Wow. 50 years of the Three Rivers Arts Festival in Pittsburgh! Today is the start of the annual arts festival and as always, the clouds are gathering in the sky and threatening rain. But that has never stopped the festival before! 2009 marks the 50th anniversary of this Pittsburgh tradition –a free festival that brings art, crafts, food and music to downtown.
The 2009 festival, which runs June 5-14, brings more than 100 individual events and performances, over 500 artists, fun and entertainment to the city.
Wander to the Point where you can grab a bite to eat in one of the many food vendor tents (chicken fajitas are a yummy recommendation!); enjoy a free concert; explore the artists market; buy special gifts for someone you love; it’s all at the Three Rivers Arts Festival.
The Three Rivers Arts Festival is always a sign of summer. The breezes are cool and soft. Music from one of the daily concerts thrums in the distance. The air has a fresh grilled smoky aroma from the many culinary treats cooking at Point State Park.
So put on your walking shoes, invite your pals and take a stroll to the festival for lunch. Sit for a spell and take in a mini-concert. Buy a hand-made craft that will always remind you of the breezy day you bought it at the Arts Festival.
It’s all good!