Caliente Pizza and Draft House Review – Go For the Pan Crust

Caliente Pizza and Draft House is a Bloomfield favorite that is known for popular Pittsburgh pizzas, nationally award winning crusts, and a tap list that includes a decent selection of local Pittsburgh beer.

But as this one is a pizza place at its heart, we had to visit to check out their critically acclaimed pies to see what the fuss is all about.

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Spirit & Slice Island Review – Performance Venue and Pizza

Picture a dive bar in your head. Now give it a performance space. Swap the Yeungling and Bud Light on the bar for beer from the likes of Draai Laag (now known as Strange Roots) or Full Pint. Oh, and picture the kitchen giving up the traditional burger and fries for Sicilian pizza.

Got it? Good.

This is Spirit, the multi-floor bar, performing arts venue, and Pittsburgh pizza shop located just off the main drag of Lawrenceville in an old Moose lodge, and it is exactly like what you're envisioning.

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Row House Cinema Review – Beer and a Movie in Lawrenceville

Row House Cinema is a unique neighborhood movie theater located on Butler Street in Lawrenceville.

The theater shows a wide range of films with themes that change every week, and its connection with next door Bierport makes it convenient for bringing craft beer with you into the movies.

We recently made a trip to see Fences and really enjoyed our afternoon as this intimate theater.

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The Panhandle Trail – A Perfect Stroll in Nature For All

When it comes to getting out into nature, we love the great outdoors and will do everything we can to find a unique hike regardless of how rigorous it ends up being (which has gotten us in trouble a few times if we are to be honest).

But we know that this level of exertion is not always for everyone, and sometimes you just want to get out somewhere for an easy stroll or bike ride. For those who seek out this kind of outdoors experience, The Panhandle Trail (a converted rail trail) is for you.

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Condado Tacos Review – Tacos Without Breaking the Bank

One of the biggest complaints we hear about taco joints in Pittsburgh is that they are, for lack of a better term, overpriced. Throw in the premium of downtown Pittsburgh and it is pretty fair to say that you have a hard time getting a decent taco in the area without breaking the bank.

So when Condado Tacos, a Columbus-based budget taco restaurant, invited us to check out their first Pittsburgh location right in the heart of downtown, you knew we had to go. Thankfully, we have to say that this one comes in to fill that void with more appealing prices, roughly $3-$4 per taco, meaning you could walk away with a full meal for under $15 per person quite easily.

When it comes to restaurant dining in downtown Pittsburgh, we'll call that a win.

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Rowdy BBQ Review – A Road Side Staple in the South Hills

There is something about a barbecue shack on the side of the road that just gets me excited.

You don't need a fancy restaurant, a unique ambiance, or even real seating to be a good barbecue joint in Pittsburgh. So when you find one that is literally just a small building with a window to order from, two picnic tables, and a portapotty outside, you know something good is going on.

At Rowdy BBQ, you get just that.

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Fallingwater by Frank Lloyd Wright is Truly a Sight to See

Fallingwater has become a popular tourist destination in southwestern Pennsylvania as it was designed by the famous architect, Frank Lloyd Wright, is one of his most acclaimed works, and was named a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2019.

There are several more good reasons for this popularity, as the house features unique designs both in the layout and how it appears in nature over the changing seasons.

But did you know that Fallingwater is connected to Pittsburgh in that the famous Kaufmann family (of Kaufmann department store fame) were the original owners of the property and hired Frank Lloyd Wright to build them a house near one of their favorite waterfalls in Ohiopyle?

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A Shopping and Eating Guide to Squirrel Hill

Squirrel Hill is one of those Pittsburgh neighborhoods you can't help but love. It is primarily residential with tons of gorgeous houses and has two business streets that are among the most vibrant in the entire city.

We lived in Squirrel Hill for many years and enjoyed visiting the shops and eating at the plethora of restaurants that call this neighborhood home. To share some of our favorite places to hit during a visit, this guide was born!

It is worth noting that the following is not a collection of every business in Squirrel Hill. This article only features businesses that we personally visit when we explore the neighborhood.  As such, it should only be taken as a starting point and is certainly not a list of every establishment. 

If you see an interesting business while exploring Squirrel Hill, do yourself a favor and go inside!

Note: Squirrel HIll is a neighborhood whose businesses are often in flux. As such, businesses may change faster than we can keep up with. If you spot a place that has closed please contact us.

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Ski Resorts Near Pittsburgh – Head to the Laurel Highlands

Pittsburgh is in a unique position as a city because you can pick any direction, drive 30 to 60 minutes, and be out in nature.

Head southeast on your route and you'll end up in the Laurel Highlands, a region that is often referred to as Pittsburgh's backyard. And what a backyard it is! With many activities available throughout the year, this is one part of Pennsylvania that has us returning on easy day trips time and time again.

This past winter we had a goal, and that was to get out and check out some of the region's ski resorts. Our first instinct was to look to the Laurel Highlands and check out their three resorts all operated by Seven Springs (perfect for a weekend multi-park lift ticket!).

What did we find? Well, they're each tailored for various skill levels!

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Snow Tubing in PA – A Must Try at Seven Springs

As one of the largest ski resorts near Pittsburgh, I've been to Seven Springs to go skiing several times now. And, not surprising, my visits have followed a fairly typical pattern for me, namely: drive down early in the morning, ski for four or five hours, get incredibly exhausted, and go home.

Each time I often thought about the other activities you can do at Seven Springs in the winter, but by the time we were ready to leave for the day I would forget about it until our next visit. Thankfully, during my most recent trip I was able to stay for the weekend, and was given the opportunity to try something I've been wanting to do for a very long time- go snow tubing!

After taking in this one, I had to ask myself why I waited so long to do it in the first place.

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