If you're like us, when you think of Market Square in downtown Pittsburgh odds are good you think of mostly mediocre restaurants that are overpriced.
But there is one gem that is hiding on the second floor of a commercial space that you may otherwise overlook- Las Velas.
Not only does this one have a great view of Market Square, it also has some rather decent food as well!
Whenever we travel (especially abroad), we always love finding free city tours as a means to get our bearings in a new location and to also learn more about the city/country's history.
While Pittsburgh does have periodic, free city tours run by the Pittsburgh History and Landmarks Foundation, they are often limited in frequency and location. We, as a city, simply needed more.
It wasn't until late 2018 that Pittsburgh finally got its own free walking tour, put on by the appropriately named Free Pittsburgh Walking Tours. Naturally, I jumped on this one in early 2019 to give it a try and really enjoyed the tour overall!
When it comes to downtown Pittsburgh hotels, we have quite a few with each having their own unique features.
We didn't know much about the Drury Plaza Hotel, located just a few blocks from the convention center, but when we were invited out for a review we were excited all the same.
As we quickly found out, this one has comfortable rooms and some pretty awesome on-site perks!
The Commoner, located in the trendy Hotel Monaco in downtown Pittsburgh, is an equally trendy restaurant serving up elevated gastropub fare with a hipstery industrial vibe.
While the food was delicious, we couldn't help but think this one was significantly over-priced for what you get.
A few months ago if you would've asked us if Pittsburgh's Cultural District needed another performing arts venue, we probably would've said no.
With gems like Heinz Hall, the Benedum Center, the O'Reilly Theater, the Byham Theater, the August Wilson Center, and many more (plus a number of awesome free galleries and other art installations), the district already serves up an array of wonderful shows seemingly every night of the week.
But then Liberty Magic opened, and our thoughts changed completely. This one is a welcomed addition to the Cultural District, as we could all truly use some magic in our lives.
The Tempest is a classic by William Shakespeare that has survived the centuries amongst his portfolio of acclaimed works.
The Tempest is a modern rendition with a stellar all-female cast, led by Tamara Tunie (of Law and Order fame), that I knew I couldn't miss.
During the holiday season there are so many events and concerts that vie for your attention, but The Pittsburgh Symphony's Holiday Pops concert is one that should definitely be on your list to attend.
This family-friendly concert has something for everyone with special guest performers and a fantastic variety of holiday music.
The Renaissance Pittsburgh Hotel is located in the historic (and architecturally unique) Fulton Building in downtown Pittsburgh.
The building was constructed in 1906, financed by Henry Phipps (namesake of Phipps Conservatory), converted to the Renaissance Hotel in 2001, and named to the National Register of Historic Places in 2002.
From its unique arch on the outside to the beautiful rotunda and luxurious rooms on the inside, it doesn't take long to understand why this particular hotel is one of the most popular in the city.
Let's talk about magic, shall we?
Or, perhaps, we should be a bit more honest and talk about the art form of sleight of hand- most notably used in the form of card tricks.
This kind of entertainment has been around for quite some time, and is still alive an kicking at Lee Terbosic's resident show at the Kimpton Hotel Monaco– 52 Up Close.
We were invited to check out the show and have to say, he certainly fooled us during the 90 minute performance.
Zombie Den was canceled for the 2020 season and we are unsure if this one is returning for 2021.
Are you looking for some libations to go with your Halloween fun in Pittsburgh? Look no further than the Zombie Den pop-up bar in Market Square- a limited time bar during the month of October!
We checked this bar out shortly after opening and are sharing our full thoughts in this review!