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!
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.
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!
We always love seeing what new art exhibits come to the Cultural District in downtown Pittsburgh, and in the summer of 2023, the Backyard at 8th and Penn has one of the largest pieces yet.
Architects of Air: Daedalum is a unique, immersive, and inflatable art piece that guests can go inside and explore a world of color, geometric patterns, and the influence of light.
We visited this one shortly after it opened in July 2023 and want to share a bit more about what you can expect when visiting this one during its temporary run through Labor Day.
Note: We are limiting our shares of imagery from inside the experience to not give everything away- particularly of the two biggest art pieces found inside. Note that advanced sale tickets are available as are walk-ups, pending demand.
The era of the social club often feels like a distant memory. But Pittsburgh is actually home to many private clubs focusing on heritage, sports, and a whole lot more.
Perhaps one of the most well known is Teutonia Mannerchor, the German club residing in none other than Deutschtown in the North Side. Not only is this one of Pittsburgh's oldest and largest private clubs, it is also somewhat difficult to get into without knowing a member or joining yourself.
Thankfully, Teutonia Mannerchor offers a number of public-facing events throughout the year. For roughly nine days each summer, the aptly named Sommerfest is your chance to check out this beautiful building, listen to German music, eat German food, and, of course, drink copious amounts of German beer!
As we have a soft spot for all things German beer, we naturally visited as soon as possible.
It is hard to beat being at Seven Springs for a festival on a nice summer day, and when the weather is cooperating in August for the annual Wine Festival, you can't really ask for much more.
A few dozen Pennsylvania wineries, free-flowing pours, and the beauty of Seven Springs all around you? We can be down for that!
Chatham Baroque is a period music ensemble that was founded in Pittsburgh in 1990 that performs their own concert series in the city, in addition to collaborating with other groups in Pittsburgh and touring around the country and world. Artistic directors Andrew Fouts, Patricia Halverson, and Scott Pauley invite other musicians from around the world to perform with them, making their concerts special and unique.
We were first introduced to Chatham Baroque when they accompanied the opera Idaspe, put on by Quantum Theater in the fall of 2022. I don't think we had ever seen instruments like the viola da gamba or the theorbo played in person before. We were instantly drawn to their unique look and sound, and knew we had to learn more about this interesting ensemble.
Cut to early 2023 and we were able to check out Chatham Baroque play their final concert of the season, The Joy of Bach!
Note: The AllClad Sale is returning to the Washington County Fairgrounds on December 5th and 6th in 2025!
If you love cooking or know anyone who does, the All Clad Seconds Sale at the Washington County Fairgrounds should be on your radar.
This semi-annual event offers up deep discounts on “seconds” quality pots and pans from this high end cookware brand from Canonsburg, PA, and is one event we try to make at least once every year to pick up something new.
In this one we want to share everything you need to know about this event to ensure your shopping trip is successful!
In 2022, the Pittsburgh Botanic Garden near Oakdale announced they were hosting a new holiday light experience, aptly named Dazzling Nights, which transformed 65 acres of the property into a gorgeous walkthrough experience.
We, naturally, were quite excited about this one as walk-through Christmas lights in Pittsburgh are few and far between, and hit this one shortly after it opened in November.
While this one comes at a significant premium over just about every other holiday experience in the city, we have to admit, we had quite a good time here all the same!
When it comes to concerts in Pittsburgh, many venues have regular shows throughout the year. Some spots, like the Petersen Events Center, host concerts less frequently as this particular venue is primarily used for Pitt basketball games first and foremost.
But clocking in at about 12,000 seats, the Petersen Events Center is a serious stadium (roughly 2/3 the size of PPG Paints Arena) and does attract star talent periodically. While stadium performances are not typically our favorite, we have to admit we loved our show at this particular spot (Billy Strings) and have some thoughts on where to sit, what to consider before visiting, and what to avoid!
So if you plan to attend a concert at the Petersen Events Center soon, keep these tips in mind!