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Note: In July 2018 Bar Frenchman changed its name to La Riviera and closed in early 2019. Its sister restaurant, The Twisted Frenchman, closed in June 2020.

Bar Frenchman (now La Riviera) in East Liberty is a fine dining restaurant serving up French dishes in a modern, non-stuffy atmosphere. On our recent visit the cocktails were whimsical and impressive, the food was delicious and nearly perfect, and the service was on point.

The restaurant's supremely tall ceilings, tiled floors, and suspended lights all give off a more casual vibe than the Twisted Frenchman, Bar Frenchman's sister that offers a multi-course tasting menu experience on the second floor of the building. The relaxed atmosphere may seem at first a little incongruous with the menu style and pricing, but we think it keeps the restaurant from being too staid.

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Pittsburgh Poke closed in 2020 and does not appear to be returning.

Pittsburgh Poke brings the trendy Hawaiian raw fish salad known as poke right to the heart of downtown Pittsburgh. This spot serves up super fresh build your own sushi bowls and burritos, perfect for a healthy lunch on the go.

We visited Pittsburgh Poke on a Friday evening not that long before they closed. We were a little apprehensive as the place seemed shutting down and there weren't that many patrons, but we're glad we followed through as the meal ended up being surprisingly delicious.

That said, given that this spot closes at 7 PM on week nights, it definitely seems geared more for the weekday downtown lunch crowd.

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Note: Bitter Ends closed permanently in April 2022.

You may have seen the Bitter Ends pop up at the Bloomfield Farmers Market on Saturdays in the past, but now they've got their very own storefront in Bloomfield.

With farm fresh ingredients (straight from their own farm) and everything made from scratch including bread and pastries, soups, and sandwiches, we haven't been this ecstatic about a restaurant opening in a while.

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Acorn closed in 2023.

Acorn brings modern American cuisine with an inclination towards fine dining to the Shadyside neighborhood.

The menu focuses on seasonally inspired cuisine with dishes that are on the surface straightforward enough but with international flavors, interesting ingredients, and creative spins sneaking in to each dish to keep things interesting.

We had been eyeing this one for a while, and when the folks at Acorn invited us in to try out their winter menu, we were pretty excited to try some of their hearty dishes on one of the coldest days of the year.

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Note: It does not appear that Shadrack's will be returning in 2023. However, the Butler County Fairgrounds will be home to a light show called the Holiday Lightshow which does not appear affiliated with Shadrack's.

Shadrack's Christmas Wonderland is a holiday light display that has several locations around the country.

In western Pennsylvania, Shadrack's calls Butler County its home and is one of the most popular Christmas experiences in the greater Pittsburgh region.

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Harris Grill closed their downtown location in December 2021. As such, this popup bar is likely not returning in future years.

Christmas in Pittsburgh is a big thing. We as a city go all-in for the holiday from Light Up Night until well after New Years.

The downtown Pittsburgh restaurant Harris Grill gets in on the holiday spirit and transforms their first floor bar space into a holiday pop-up known as Tinsel Town Cocktails.

While this one may not be over-the-top Christmas like nearby Miracle on Market, it does offer a laid back drinking experience during the holidays that downtown Pittsburgh could always use more of.

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It appears that Brian's Barbecue may be permanently closed as of 2022.

Brian's Barbecue is a small restaurant in Finleyville, PA (about 30 miles south of Pittsburgh) serving up wood-fire cooked meats topped with a hearty tomato barbecue sauce and a selection of decent side items.

Next time you find yourself south of the city, do yourself a favor and try this one!

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Wigle's Barrelhouse has been shut down since the start of COVID. We are unsure if this will reopen in 2022.

When Wigle Whiskey opened their barrelhouse in the North Side in 2014, we weren't entirely sure what to think.

The location on Spring Garden Avenue is a little off-the-beaten-path even for North Siders, and the seasonal operating schedule from May to October gives a limited window to check it out in any given year.

But after visiting this one several times over the years, for themed parties, bottle releases, or to simply enjoy a cheap cocktail with Wigle's stellar spirits, we have to say that this one has become one of our favorites.

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Distrikt Hotel is rebranding to become the Joinery Hotel in 2022. This review is from our visit with the former branding. While we expect some details to be similar, we will update this review once we visit the updated facility.

What do you get when you take a historic Salvation Army and convert it to a modern and hip Pittsburgh hotel? You get the Distrikt Hotel– a boutique accommodation in downtown Pittsburgh.

The hotel opened its doors in summer 2017, and we rushed down to be one of the first guests for an overnight stay.

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The Three Rivers Regatta last took place in 2018. We are unsure if or when the event will come back.

The Three Rivers Regatta is one of the largest annual events in Pittsburgh and attracts over half a million people to the city during its three days.

The event historically was held on the Fourth of July; however, as of 2016 was moved to August to stand on its own.

We've visited this one many times throughout the years and have barely just begun to scratch the surface of all of the cool events worth seeing.

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