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Pins Mechanical Co. Brings the Fun and Drinks in South Side

We always wondered what would go into the old movie theater space in South Side Works, and we have to admit an entertainment complex was not the first thing on our radar.

But when Columbus-based Pins Mechanical Co. announced they were opening a two-floor, 30,000-square-foot bar and gaming facility, complete with duckpin bowling, pinball, vintage arcade games, and more, we were intrigued.

We were fortunate enough to check this one out shortly after opening for a media event, and have to admit this one packs a punch (and then some)!

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Castle Blood is a Haunted House Experience With a Twist

There is no shortage of great haunted houses in Pittsburgh. 

But, in a way, many haunts follow a fairly standard blueprint. That is to say, you enter a themed area, walk through a linear path, and get scared at each and every turn.

For those who are looking for something just a bit different (or simply a solid haunt south of the city), Castle Blood, located in a 100-year-old funeral home in Monessen, entertains by being as much of a game as it is a place to be scared silly. To put it bluntly, you'll have to keep your wits about you to survive this one!

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Bracket Night Brings Tournament Style Improv Downtown

If you are a fan of stand-up comedy, odds are good you've taken in a show at Arcade Comedy Theater in downtown Pittsburgh. This one features an array of performances ranging from live standup to themed shows run improv style and more.

We were invited to check out one of these shows, aptly named Bracket Night, and got to throw down with other guests in an interactive, tournament-style battle focused on a single topic. As we visited for a pre-Halloween show, the theme was a timely one, Best Candy, and as they say, there can only be one winner!

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A Quick Hike Around Kooser State Park – A Smaller Gem

Kooser State Park is a smaller park by Laurel Highlands standards, coming in at approximately 250 acres in size.

While this one lacks in size compared to other state parks nearby, it makes up for it with a gorgeous lake, a trout run, and beautiful nature all around.

A visit here can be quick, but the park presents many opportunities for those who want to stay a while as well!

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15 Reasons to Visit Pittsburgh in November – When the Seasons Change

November in Pittsburgh is truly a month of change. If we are lucky the start of the month still has mild temperatures and peak fall colors, and by the end of the month winter is starting to descend upon the region.

As such, while there may still be a number of outdoor activities to enjoy this month, depending on the weather forecast you may also want to start moving inside for some experiences!

So if you are looking for things to do in Pittsburgh in November, check out the following options.

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10 of the Best Places to Check Out in Pittsburgh With Kids

Pittsburgh certainly has a reputation for being a kid-friendly place, and there is no shortage of activities out there specifically dedicated to the young ones in your family.

While we personally do not have kids, we have visited all of the best spots for kids in Pittsburgh over the years. So in this one, we wanted to highlight some of the best things to do in Pittsburgh with kids, share some rough age ranges for each place (as a 13-year-old will obviously have drastically different interests than a 3-year-old), and point out any possible discounts for young ones as well!

This list also focuses on attractions and museums that are kid-friendly, and does not include any Pittsburgh parks. For those destinations, check out our guide at the previous link and review hiking difficulties as mentioned before visiting with young ones.

Please note: Discounts can and do change so we recommend reconfirming before visiting. If you intend to visit any paid museum more than two or three times in a 12-month period, you may ultimately save money with a family membership as well. Likewise, this is not a comprehensive list of activities for kids and is simply a starting point for what we think are some of the best.

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Pittsburgh is Going to the Moon at the Moonshot Museum

Finally, Pittsburgh has a space museum!

If you follow space news at all, odds are good that you know Pittsburgh's robotics companies are at the forefront of innovations for upcoming missions off-planet. One such company, Astrobotic in the North Side, is designing many new technologies that can be used for upcoming missions to the moon in particular.

To showcase their work and the goals of these missions at large, the company has opened a modest educational museum, aptly named the Moonshot Museum, at their North Side production facility in late 2022.

We got the chance to visit this one just before it opened to the public and share a bit more about what you can expect when visiting!

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Buffalo Bill’s House is a Must for The Silence of the Lambs Fans

We love checking out movie set locations in Pittsburgh, and one of the most famous films shot here is none other than the 1991 thriller The Silence of the Lambs.

You may know that some of the movie's most iconic scenes were shot at a set built inside Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Hall in Oakland (where they typically recreate the set for a screening most Halloweens). But did you know that the house used as Buffalo Bill's residence is located about an hour south of the city just outside of Perryopolis?

Up until 2021, this house was maintained as a private residence, but when it went up for sale a horror movie fan (and worker in the film industry at large) bought it up to transform it into a private rental and museum for tours. 

Naturally, as a fan of the movie myself, I had to visit this one as quickly as possible once it opened for the public and had my chance during a media tour via our friends at Laurel Highlands tourism.

You'll want to check this one out as fast as possible! 

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5 Things to Do After Midnight in Pittsburgh

We're just going to be upfront here- Pittsburgh isn't known for being a late-night city.

Part of this is cultural- the demand for late-night entertainment simply is not great (yet). Another part is due to local laws- late-night serving is often heavily restricted. Furthermore, many of our popular business districts are also nestled within residential neighborhoods where noise ordinances cause businesses to close earlier than they'd otherwise like. And yet another part is simply that those who do want a nighttime vibe almost always head to South Side.

That being said, the late-night scene in Pittsburgh is changing for the better, so in this one we thought we'd share a few great activities you may want to check out after the clock strikes midnight!

Notes: While we always recommend reconfirming hours before visiting any place shared on our site, this is especially important for late-night spots. Hours can and do change faster than even we can keep up with. One spot may be open with food service til 5 am one week, then suddenly change to 2 am, 11 pm, or 8 pm the next (the original Primanti Brothers in the Strip District is a great example- it was once 24/7 but as of publication now closes at midnight). Finally, as always, if your late-night outing involves alcohol, please be responsible and Uber or have a designated driver.

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7 Places to Play Arcade Games and Pinball in Pittsburgh

We love good pinball and vintage arcade games, and we have been pleased that so many bars, cafes, breweries, and other event spaces in Pittsburgh have been adding machines for customers more and more over the years.

While we could list out every single spot in the city that has a few machines for enjoyment, we thought we'd take a different look at this activity and showcase spots that we think are the best of the best.

In this instance, the places featured here have some of the largest collections of pinball and/or arcade machines near the city plus other unique amenities you really should know about be it featuring great coffee, beer, or free play options!

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