The Pittsburgh Irish Festival celebrates its 20th Anniversary. This event is one of the finest Irish-American festivals, exhibiting Irish music, lore, food, and dance in the region. The Pittsburgh Irish Festival is held the weekend after Labor Day in September at Riverplex between Sandcastle and Waterfront, and draws over 25,000 visitors for the weekend gathering. Audiences will enjoy the performances of Irish music, dance and cultural craft persons, artisans and the Irish history and tradition that exist in Pittsburgh past and present.
Daily entertainment and events for all ages such as: Gaelic Sports, Irish Market Place, Blarney Bingo and an Irish dog area. No need to bring your dog… this area will introduce you to all of the Irish breeds
The young adults can join in for competitive and non-competitive activities in the activity area here there’ll be the “Cliffs of Moher” climbing wall along with trying your hand at the Irish cornhole game.
Get your Irish up and come experience a weekend of family fun.
The Historic National Road is the Nation's first federally funded highway. It became a transportation corridor for goods and people, creating cultural diversity where visitors experience a physical timeline -- classic inns, toll houses, diners, and motels that trace 200 years of American history.
Look for the cast-iron mile markers placed along the route. These obelisk markers were placed every one mile and noted the distance to Cumberland and Wheeling and nearby towns.
First stop: Fort Necessity
Before the National Road was constructed, the first battle of the French & Indian War was fought there at Fort Necessity, 11 miles east of Uniontown, Colonial troops commanded Colonel George Washington were defeated in the small stockade at the "Great Meadow". Today the park comprises approximately 900 acres, including the battlefield with the reconstructed Fort, a visitor center, and Mount Washington Tavern.
Second stop: Mount Washington Tavern
Mount Washington Tavern, now part of the Fort Necessity National Battlefield, was a home built by Judge Nathaniel Ewing in about 1827. It later became a stage stop and tavern that served travelers on the National Road. This is a stagecoach tavern that Offered three basic things; food, drink, and lodging.
Third stop: Major General Edward Braddock
View the grave of British, leader of an ill-fated expedition to the forks of the Ohio River to try to capture French-held Fort Duquesne during the French and Indian War
Forth stop: Uniontown
Uniontown was the headquarters for three major stagecoach lines which carried passengers over the National Road, and The Columbia Rolling Mill, an iron and steel works, was located in Uniontown from 1887 to 1895. The mill was the town's unquestioned top industry at that time.
Fifth stop: Searight toll house
Named for tavern owner William Searight, the toll house is one of six toll houses along Historic National Road and the one of the two located route 40 in Pennslvania. Thousands of travelers paid tolls here while journeying along the road.
Six stop: Brownsville
Located on the Monongahela River, Brownsville was a center for steamboat building and river freight hauling. Here you can visit Nemacolin Castle, the Flatiron Building Heritage Center or a historic church of 1845. Stop to view the Flatiron Bridge built in the 1830s.
Seventh stop: Beallsville
Located here you’ll find the statues “The Madonna of the Trail”, an 18-ft. tall tribute to the pioneer mothers who traveled west. The Madonna of the Trail is a stony-faced pioneer Mother in long dress and bonnet, strutting westward with a rifle on one arm, an infant on the other while another little child grasps Mom's skirt.
Stop eight: Scenery Hill
This view opens up all the land, you’ll see the most breath taking scenes, where the towns, highways, mountains and the and the sky meet up to paint a beautiful picture.
Along the trail there are stops for antique shopping, picking up some fresh vegetables and fruit. You can also stop at an old diner The Route 40 Diner for a good breakfast, lunch or dinner.
The Society for Contemporary Craft has presented contemporary art in craft media by international, national and regional artists since 1971. It offers exhibitions of multicultural diversity and of non-mainstream art. They also offer classes, community outreach programs, free to the public exhibitions and family friendly hands-on art activities..
Main Gallery exhibit is Fiberart International 2010 (April 16 - August 22, 2010)
Fiberart International was organized by the Fiberarts Guild if Pittsburgh, Inc. it is held every three years and features 85 works that push the boundaries of fiber art. Twenty-two pieces were produced by artists living outside of the US. This is an exceptional exhibit for example Lori Lope Pelish’s, “We Were All There” Appears to be a tapestry, but upon getting close to it you see that is a patch work of materials (think quilt.)
This is a great venue for groups and for families…the adults will enjoy the exhibits and gift shop, while the children can visit the “drop-in studio” to make a piece of art of their own creation.
The SCC is also a great place to rent for your next event not only does this provide a unique venue for your guests, but the rental fees support SCC’s free exhibitions and community programs.
Operating hours are Tuesday through Saturday-10am to 5pm (Mondays by appointment)
Admission to exhibition is free to the public. Call or visit website for class fees.
First a real quick explanation "Sweetwater" is the translated Native American term for Sewickley, a beautiful one square mile town with a vibrant downtown located west of downtown Pittsburgh. The Sweetwater Center for the Arts celebrates its 35th anniversary this year. And will host a number of events to celebrate though out the year. The Center located in the old Sewickley Post Office building offers a wide array of classes, outreach programs, scholarship opportunities, exhibitions and cultural experiences. As well as art exhibits.
This February 2010 on Fridays there will be an evening of jazz featuring several well known artists, the evening will include complimently wine and hors d'oevres. The guest artists will be Jessica Lee, Robbie Klein, Betty Douglas and The Howie Alexander Trio.
In April 2010 join in for the birthday gala. There will be dancing, dinner, cocktails and live music, even an art auction. Sounds like fun please come.
Through 1/31/10 visit the Andy Warhol Museum to view Shepard Fairey's "Supply and Demand."
Shepard Fairey, the Los Angeles-based street artist behind the red, white, and blue Obama campaign image that swept the globe, is the subject of an exciting new exhibition organized by the Institute of Contemporary Art/Boston. The 20-year retrospective, the first solo show of the artist's work, explores the breadth of Fairey's career. In 1989 the first “Andre the Giant has a posse” sticker was created and the OBEY GIANT project was born. Twenty years later, Shepard Fairey has a solo retrospective exhibition at The Warhol. Within that time, Fairey has gone from artsy prankster and skateboarders’ underground hero to worldwide cultural phenomenon for his murals, fine art prints, and street art poster campaigns.
Adult admission: $15
Come downtown on New Year's Eve for First Night Pittsburgh! More than 100 programs in locations across the Cultural District (90% are indoors). Dance, music, hands-on activities for the kids, theater, gallery crawl, parade... and what Pittsburgh event would be complete without FIREWORKS!!!
SO MUCH to see and do! Check out the event listing here.
Another FREE exhibit at the Society for Contemporary Craft: Transformation 7: Contemporary Works in Wood, the Elizabeth R. Raphael Founder's Prize. This exhibition includes the works of 26 contemporary artists.
Established in 1997, in honor of founder Elizabeth Rockwell Raphael, the $5,000 cash award recognizes excellence in the field of contemporary craft and is presented biennially, in conjunction with a juried exhibition, purchase award, video and catalog.
As with the past six exhibitions, this show continues the theme of transformation. In addition to the prize winner, Christian Burchard, Transformation 7 also features the work of 25 finalists who are using an amazing range of techniques and materials, forms rooted in traditional craft materials and processes, as well as art the explores relationships between craft and painting, or sculpture and installation.
I just came back from a fabulous lunch at Lidia's Pittsburgh in the Strip District. Not only is the atmosphere in this place warm and inviting, the food is AMAZING! I had the Beet Salad (Insalata di Barbabietole e Caprino) which consists of roasted beets, fresh peaches and goat cheese tosserd in a red wine vinaigrette (apples were substiuted for the peaches because of seasonality).
Not to forget their delicious, freshly baked bread with spreads and dipping oil.
If you're looking for a wonderul, authentic Italian meal, Lidia's is the place!
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Home to Duane Rieder's photography studio, the Roberto Clemente collection and a wine cellar where Engine House 25 wine is made and bottled, Pittsburgh's Engine House 25 in the Strip District has it all. Join host Laura Kelly, as she helps Duane, Nino and friends make the 2009 Cabernet.
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Video and editing by Brenda Miller, still photographs provided by Rieder Photography, www.riederphotography.com.
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!
Since the Holiday season is fast approaching, why not check out the different ways the Holidays are celebrated. Head to the Senator John Heinz History Center for Annual Heritage Holidays going on Nov. 21 and 22 from 11am-3pm. The event features live entertainment and family activities that showcase regional ethnic customs.
Celebrate the region’s cultural diversity with live music and dancing, delicious food samples, and hands-on activities from more than 30 Western Pennsylvanian ethnic and heritage groups. Many of the cultural groups formed in the Pittsburgh region, including Irish, Carpatho-Rusyn, Filipino, African American, German, Lithuanian, Bulgarian, Indonesian, Native American and Scottish. Visitors can share their rich traditions and ethnic heritage with displays, cuisine, and performances for the entire family to enjoy.
There are a variety of performances throughout the event including Japanese Choral Group in Pittsburgh, India - Bengali Folk & Classical Dance, Filipino American Association of Pittsburgh Folk Dance Troupe, Grecian Odyssey Dancers of Christ Greek Orthodox Church of East Pittsburgh, Celtic Spirit Highland Dancers & Pipers of Pittsburgh, Rankin Junior Tamburitzins and more.
This event is free with History Center admission, and visitors are invited to explore the History Center’s six floors of exhibit space.
Had a FABULOUS lunch today at Roland's in the Strip (Grilled chicken salad, of course!). This seafood restuarant has great food and good service and reasonable prices.
It was a gorgeous day to get outside- and Pittsburgh's Strip District was just teeming with people! Folks were lining the street, vendors were out and traffic was... well... it was packed. A gorgeous day in the city for sure!
VisitPittsburgh and Greyhound Bus have partnered for a contest that will begin this Monday, 11/16! Follow VisitPittsburgh on twitter (@vstpgh) and stay tuned for more details.
Greyhound opened a new terminal in Pittsburgh last year and it is beautiful! At the end of the Strip District, the new terminal has a great location and serves the city well!
More to come on Monday!
Heinz Memorial Chapel is one of Pittsburgh’s many beautiful landmarks. Located on the University of Pittsburgh campus, the Chapel’s gothic architecture makes people stop in their tracks to view its beauty. The stained glass windows, designed by western Pennsylvania native Charles Connick, are spectacular. On a sunny day, a prism of rainbows reflect from the magnificent windows. The chapel’s 23 windows total approximately 4,000 square feet and contain nearly 250,000 pieces of glass. There are 391 identifiable figures in the windows. The iconography combines traditional religious figures and symbols with historic and cultural figures that extend from biblical times through the middle ages to the late 19th century.
The Heinz Memorial Chapel began as a gift. Henry John Heinz, the founder of the H.J. Heinz Company, wanted to honor his mother, Anna Margaretta Heinz, with “a building” at the University. Ground was broken for the chapel in 1933, the cornerstone was laid in 1934, and the building was dedicated in 1938.
Various religious services are held in the chapel, but it does not belong to any denomination. From its beginnings, the chapel was intended to be interdenominational.
The chapel is open daily throughout the year except for University holidays, and it hosts approximately 1,500 events annually. More than 100,000 people participate in religious services, weddings, concerts, classes, memorial services, and guided tours. Many simply seek its peace and beauty as a refuge.
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."
Hartwood Acres, originally the private country estate of John and Mary Flinn Lawrence, is now considered the crown jewel of the Allegheny County park system. The 629-acre park near Pittsburgh includes a stately Tudor Mansion (1929), a stable complex, beautiful riding trails, a gate lodge, an outdoor stage and amphitheatre for summer concerts and theater, and acres of public gardens.
Hartwood Acres is located 10 miles northeast of downtown Pittsburgh straddling the border of Hampton and Indiana townships. The grounds at Hartwood Acres are free and open to the public. For mansion tours, admission is $5 for adults; $3 for junior (13-17) and senior citizen (60+); $2 for youth (6-12); and $1 for children (0-5). Stable tours are $3 and are offered on a limited basis. Groups of 40 or more receive a 15% discount (except for holiday tours).
Guided tours of the Hartwood Mansion, formal garden, and stables are offered daily except on holidays. Reservations are recommended. Over 30 miles of horse and bike trails meander throughout the 639-acre county park, offering abundant opportunities for walking, horseback riding, biking, hiking, and cross country skiing. Hartwood also has an outdoor amphitheater on the western side of the property, site of many concerts and performances. There are, however, no picnic groves or other recreational or sports facilities in Hartwood Acres outside of the trail system.
Hartwood Acres plays host to a variety of cultural and charity events, such as concerts, theater performances, equestrian events, and charity benefits. Highlights include the annual Celebration of Lights, a winter holiday light display; free concerts under the stars as part of the Allegheny County Summer Concert Series; special holiday tours of the decorated Hartwood Mansion are held from mid November through the first week of January; hayrides and High Tea.
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!