Year: 2025

Pittsburgh Banjo Club’s Wednesday Practice is a Classic

When it comes to music institutions in Pittsburgh, it feels like we've sadly lost many to history.

But there is one musical experience in Pittsburgh's North Side that still exists to this day, and that is the Pittsburgh Banjo Club. Founded in the 1980s, the Pittsburgh Banjo Club has become a beacon for banjo lovers to play together. Even better? Their Wednesday night practices take place weekly at the Elks Lodge #339 on Cedar Avenue starting at 8 pm, and is completely free for visitors to attend!

Free live music from a Pittsburgh institution? You'll get just that with the Pittsburgh Banjo Club!

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10 Free Concert Series to Enjoy Live Music in Pittsburgh

It doesn't take much to find great music in Pittsburgh. From our thriving theaters in the Cultural District to numerous concert venues and one-off events at businesses all over the city, you really don't have to go far to find good music.

But finding free music, and perhaps more importantly, recurring free music can be a bit harder.

So in this one, we thought we'd share some great recurring concert series that are worth checking out. Some are on a year-round schedule, others are seasonal, and even more are on select nights that change weekly or monthly. But the one thing that ties them altogether- they're free!

Note: Please reconfirm all schedules prior to visiting as performances are prone to change. The days of the week and/or months featured below are representative of historical schedules only.

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Nan Xiang Soup Dumplings Review – A Dumpling Feast

Nan Xiang Soup Dumplings got its start in Flushing, New York, a few decades ago and has since garnered a huge following, expanding to multiple locations in several states. Needless to say, the opening of a location right here in Pittsburgh created a huge initial buzz and anticipation.

We visited soon after opening and enjoyed the fun vibe, the variety of soup dumplings on offer, and several of the non-dumpling menu offerings.

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Hey Babe Offers a Mix of Cocktails and Food in East Liberty

Ever since Whitfield closed at The Ace Hotel (now the Maverick Hotel), we've been looking forward to a new spot that would be a worthy successor.

In 2025, Hey Babe opened and had a menu that made us think this could be the place, and we went in as quickly as we could to check it out.

On the surface, Hey Babe feels like a proper hotel lounge, with a robust menu of craft cocktails, wine, and beer. This alone would put the bar in the running for one of the best hotel bars in the city. But throw on their robust food menu as well, and this is the kind of place you can go for drinks, food, or a little bit of everything and not feel out of place- for guests of the hotels and locals alike.

To put it bluntly, Hey Babe has just about everything we look for in a good cocktail bar.

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10 of the Best Free Pittsburgh Experiences Not to Miss

Sometimes we want to get out and explore Pittsburgh without spending a lot of money. Other times we want to get out and enjoy the city without spending any money at all.

While entry fees for attractions and experiences are commonplace, there are thankfully many great free things to do in Pittsburgh that you may want to consider when you want an activity that doesn't break the bank.

So in this one, we thought we'd share a few of our very favorite ideas to help you get exploring without having to bust out your wallet!

Please note: As of publishing, the below attractions are all completely free to visit; however, you may require to pay for parking at some locations depending on when you visit. These locations will be noted accordingly. Some attractions may also require advanced reservations and many have donation boxes available near the entrance. If you are able, tipping a little bit goes a long way to help keep these attractions open to all! 

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Wild Rosemary Review – Family Style Italian Dining

Wild Rosemary closed in October 2025.

We always love a good prix fixe dinner experience, as they can make for a great way to taste around a restaurant's menu.

But some restaurants only offer prix fixe dining, and Wild Rosemary in Upper Saint Clair is one such spot. But they take this one even further by serving things family style, meaning you are in for a fun evening with new friends, and a whole lot of food.

So check the monthly menu to see what is on, and dive into the feast here!

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The Storyville Lounge Offers a Speakeasy and Distillery

We've been awaiting the public opening of The Storyville Lounge in Allentown for many years.

This gorgeous speakeasy space was built several years ago and used for private events (with open houses during the bi-annual Allentown Night Market– when we would historically visit). But it was only recently that they expanded to maintain regular hours.

So in early 2025, we made our way back to Allentown to check out The Storyville Lounge, Conjure Bar, and more. For those who like housemade spirits, delicious takes on classics, and a stunning speakeasy ambiance, this one is for you!

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10 Performing Art Venues in Pittsburgh’s Cultural District

Every Pittsburgher knows what makes the Cultural District special, and it is the impressive concentration of theaters found in just a few short blocks.

From Heinz Hall and the Benedum Center to more obscure spots like Liberty Magic and Greer Cabaret, we really have the opportunity to see a show almost every single day of the year.

So in this one, we thought we'd run through all of the great theaters in the Cultural District to help you find a new spot to take in a show!

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A Guide to Pittsburgh Farmers Markets and Artisan Pop-Ups

When it comes to seasonal markets, Pittsburgh does them quite well. Hardly a week goes by in the spring, summer, and fall without a pop-up event- be it a weekly farmers market, monthly artist roundup, or a neighborhood yard sale.

As with everything on our site, it has been our mission to visit all of these markets over the years.

After visiting many, we realized that not all of them necessarily warrant their own article. So we decided to do things a little different for this topic and compiled a selection of all of our favorites to share the important information you need to know before you go!

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9 of the Best Sushi Restaurants in Pittsburgh

It is really hard to beat delicious sushi, and thankfully in Pittsburgh there is no shortage of great sushi restaurants to enjoy (despite our city not being near an ocean).

So in this one, we wanted to share ten of our favorite places for sushi in Pittsburgh. But, to be complete, we're going to look at sushi as all things raw seafood and include sashimi, nigiri, and the classic roll here as there truly are gems for every type!

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