Year: 2023

Three Brothers Bagels Review – Fast Casual in Glenshaw

Pittsburgh's bagel scene has been rapidly improving in recent years with the opening of many great shops with house-made bagels, bagel sandwiches, and more.

Those in the North Hills looking for a delicious bagel received one more option in the form of Three Brothers Bagels, which opened in Glenshaw in mid-2023.

The popularity of this one skyrocketed overnight, with frequent early sellouts, so of course, we had to visit shortly thereafter to check it out. For those who need a bagel, this one is a treat!

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The Pittsburgh Irish Festival Celebrates Irish Heritage

The Pittsburgh Irish Festival has been an annual tradition in the region since the 1990s and has found a home to celebrate all things Irish culture at the gorgeous Carrie Furnace in Rankin each September.

Whether you want to visit this one to get your fill of Irish food, drinks, shops, or live music, this popular event is one not to miss!

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25+ of Our Favorite Pittsburghese Terms and Sayings

We love Pittsburghese, and whenever we hear it, we know we are most certainly back in the Burgh.

The local dialect first started as the result of Scots-Irish immigrants moving into the region, then mixed with immigrants from all over coming in to work in the steel industry in the late 1800s/early 1900s, and several generations later what we now know as Pittsburghese was born!

Sadly, due to Pittsburgh evolving into a cosmopolitan city after the steel industry's collapse, it feels like the Pittsburghese dialect is becoming less and less used over time. Still, both visitors and locals alike frequently hear Pittsburghese around the city. So in this one, we thought we would share some of the most common terms you may hear when visiting!

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Hemlock House Review – A Modern Take on Pub Fare

Hemlock House opened in a prime location on S. Braddock Street in Swissvale (near Regent Square) in 2023 and serves up an array of modern pub fare with some flavor twists that you're unlikely to find anywhere else.

We visited this one with eager anticipation shortly after they opened and discovered this one is quite the gem.

Although we did not get to try the full bar menu just yet as the liquor license was still a work in progress, this pub is worth a visit for the food alone!

Note: At the time of our visit, Hemlock House had popups from local producers Kingfly Spirits and Arboretum Trail Brewing. So, while perhaps not their own bar program outright, you could still get a great drink with a meal all the same!

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Quantum Theatre’s Hamlet at the Iconic Carrie Furnace

In 2019, we, unfortunately, missed Quantum Theatre's performance of King Lear at the gorgeous Carrie Furnace in Rankin. 

So when the group announced that they would be bringing Shakespeare's iconic play, Hamlet, back to the historic site in 2023, we knew we had to take in a show and bought tickets right away.

Not only is the performance one not to be missed, but the gorgeous backdrop also provided a stellar ambiance you are unlike to get anywhere else.

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10 Indoor Activities in Pittsburgh to Enjoy on a Rainy Day

If you're reading this, the odds are good that the weather outside is not so great. We get it. The weather in Pittsburgh is, well, often not the best.

But you're in luck! There are several great indoor activities in Pittsburgh that are perfect to enjoy on a rainy day.

So whether you're in the mood to hit a new museum, take in a movie, play pinball, or more, we've got some ideas for you!

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The Asian Lantern Festival Celebrates Animals, Culture, and More

The Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium is known for putting on many events throughout the year, and in 2023 they are bringing back one of their most popular events- the Asian Lantern Festival running on Thursday to Sunday nights through October 29th!

We were fortunate enough to visit the Seoul Lantern Festival when visiting South Korea in 2019 and absolutely loved the large, ornate, and colorful paper sculptures that lined Cheonggyecheon Stream in the heart of the city (see some of our favorites over at our travel blog at the previous link).

Naturally, when we heard that the Pittsburgh Zoo was going to host their own lantern festival, we knew we had to attend. We love this one so much that we return back to check out every year's show right after opening in early August.

In this one, we thought we'd share a bit more about what the Asian Lantern Festival at the zoo is like in 2023, share a few of our favorite pieces, and give some tips to help you plan your visit for this limited-time show.

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Renovating a Kitchen in Pittsburgh – Who We Used

When we started renovating our kitchen, we knew we wanted to support as many Pittsburgh businesses as we could over more conventional big box retailors.

Although many of the products we installed in our kitchen were, of course, not locally made, this one purchasing decision at least allowed us to help keep some of what ended up being a rather expensive remodel local.

So in this one, we thought we'd share who we used, what we thought, and more to help others who are looking to renovate a kitchen in Pittsburgh like we did!

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5 of the Best Spirits Made in Pittsburgh and Southwest PA

There is a lot to love about Pittsburgh distilleries and locally-made spirits. From the numerous options to the great local grains and products sourced, those who love a good cocktail are truly spoiled when it comes to all things local drinking.

In the past, we've liked to highlight the distilleries themselves that we have visited over the years. But in this one, we wanted to shift and look at the spirits as there are five bottles made in Pittsburgh and southwest Pennsylvania that we always seem to have on hand in our home bar.

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Wine & Cheese Tasting with The Indian Somm and Nosh & Curd

We love good wine and cheese pairings and must admit that for how much we are into wine, we have not taken many formal classes that showcase this epic pairing outright.

It wasn't until our friend Kanika, The Indian Somm (whom I've been studying WSET Diploma with), started wine and cheese classes with Nosh & Curd in Mars that we made this a reality. 

Wine and cheese pairing from experts in the respective fields? We're all about that!

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