With breathtaking views of the Pittsburgh skyline and top notch seafood, Monterey Bay on Mt. Washington is one of the city's premier fine dining destinations. Although it would be easy for the food to play second fiddle to the scenery, the chefs here go above and beyond to make sure the food is just as memorable as the views.
Year: 2018
Justin Severino’s Hog Butchering Demonstration at Morcilla
Most Pittsburghers know about esteemed Chef Justin Severino and his two restaurants, Cure (closed in early 2019), that featured his creative and unique charcuterie, as well as Morcilla, focusing on Spanish tapas. But did you know that Chef Severino also hosts semi-annual hog butchering demonstrations where you can take a deep dive into his world of meat curing while enjoying a multi-course meal?
We've long been fans of Severino's work and were so excited that we recently had the chance to finally enjoy one of these events at Morcilla.
Rivers of Steel’s Uniquely Pittsburgh – Historical Cruise
At this time we believe the Explorer riverboat is not in operation and is receiving maintenance upgrades. We do not have an estimated timeline when tours will resume. Please check directly with Rivers of Steel to check on current operation status.
The Rivers of Steel maintains a number of historical sites in southwestern Pennsylvania, with one of the most notable being the Carrie Furnaces in Rankin/Swissvale (just southeast of the city).
In 2018 the nonprofit launched a new riverboat tour that takes place on Pittsburgh's three rivers. This one takes patrons on a journey through Pittsburgh's history, laying out where we've come from as a city and how the citizens of the past have paved the way to our prosperous future.
As this tour is one of the most in-depth lessons you'll get on all things Pittsburgh, it is aptly named Uniquely Pittsburgh. But instead of being set in a classroom, this one using the views of the city from the rivers to really bring the region's history to life.
Nostalgia Overload at Pinball PA in Aliquippa
Sometimes all we want is a little bit of nostalgia.
Thankfully, when the nostalgia fix we seek involves old school video games and pinball machines, Pittsburgh has just the place- Pinball PA.
On a hot summer day we wanted to get out of the heat and relive our childhoods, so we made the drive out to Aliquippa to get our fix of retro arcade heaven.
Clem’s Cafe Review – Tender Meat Worthy of the Drive
If you follow any Pittsburgh barbecue circles at all, odds are good you'll hear the name Clem's Cafe come up time and time again.
This spot in Blairsville is located about an hour east of the city and has a die-hard following of many Pittsburghers who make the drive just for their meat.
Intrigued by this prospect, I made the trip out to Blairsville to give them a try.
Idlewild and Soakzone – A Great Outing from Pittsburgh for Kids
Idlewild and Soakzone in the Laurel Highlands is one of the nation's most popular children's theme parks (not to mention the oldest amusement park in the state), and is a spot we've been wanting to check out for quite some time.
Except we had one problem- we don't have kids.
It wasn't until our friends at the Laurel Highlands invited both us and our friends at UncoveringPA in for a visit that we had a light bulb moment- we could steal their son for the day in order to visit the park!
Okay, fine, we didn't actually steal UncoveringPA's son, but we did get to enjoy Idlewild through his eyes all the same during our visit, and that is pretty much the same thing.
Barrel and Flow Fest – The Nation’s First Festival for Black Breweries
Barrel & Flow Fest (formerly Fresh Fest) is a unique beer festival in Pittsburgh put on by our friends at Drinking Partners podcast and was designed to be the first black brewery festival in the United States.
The festival had many goals in mind, including introducing craft beer to a market that has been traditionally overlooked, highlighting local minority-owned businesses, artists, and entrepreneurs, and of course celebrating beer made by a few of the only 50 or so breweries in the USA operated by black business owners.
If that sounds like a tall order with a lot of ways to experience the event, you're not alone. But after attending this one practically every year since its inception, we can safely say this is one we'll be making a staple in our Pittsburgh beer festival rotation for many years to come.
Pittsburgh Beerfest Summer Edition Review – Drinking in the Summer Heat
Pittsburgh Beerfest returned to Stage AE in 2018 for their summer event and, as we love a good beerfest, you know we had to make the trip down to check it all out.
What is the event like? Is it worth your time and money? Are the beers any good? These were some of the questions we wanted to find out the answers to.
How to Choose Where to Stay When You Visit Pittsburgh
If you are looking to visit Pittsburgh from out of town, one of your first thoughts is likely “where do I stay?”
In a city of 90 neighborhoods, figuring out where to stay in Pittsburgh could make or break your visit almost entirely. So finding a spot that fits your style, budget, and interests is key.
As with most of our guides, we want to take a detailed dive into the best neighborhoods to stay in for your Pittsburgh visit.
But not only are we going to dive into our favorite aspects of each neighborhood (both in general and from a visitor's perspective), we also want to provide the reasons why you may not want to stay in the neighborhood as well!
Because as awesome as these neighborhoods are, none are perfect. Depending on your style, budget, and trip goals there may be some things you need to keep in mind before booking.
With that, let's jump into it!
Alla Famiglia Review – Fine Italian Dining in Pittsburgh
Alla Famiglia is a fine dining Italian restaurant in Pittsburgh's Allentown neighborhood that has stood the test of time. While it used to be a tiny spot in a multi-story house with an open kitchen, in the past few years it has expanded to the adjacent building.
Although the vibe may have changed, this is still one very popular spot for a classic and over-the-top Italian meal.