NorthSide Archives - Discover the Burgh

The Monks’ Bar Review – The Smallest Bar in PA Packs a Punch

October 31, 2025October 30, 2025

In many cases, we often overlook that Pittsburgh hotels often have on-site cocktail bars. Some of these may be your conventional hotel bar, while others may be a bit more.

At The Priory Hotel in the North Side, you get what is perhaps the most interesting hotel bar experience in the city, for one unique reason- it is said to be the smallest bar in the state of Pennsylvania.

Yes, The Monks' Bar is tiny, and according to The Priory's website, it seats just 14 customers. So cozy up with your fellow patrons, get to know your bartender, and grab a drink from this limited, albeit expertly curated, bar menu!

North Side Sandwich Week – The Best Sandwich Competition

October 30, 2025October 29, 2025

Do you love sandwiches? We know the answer is yes, but we feel like we have to ask anyway.

Since you likely fall into this category, we're just going to cut to the chase and tell you that you need to make it over to the North Side to check out their annual sandwich week- taking place starting October 27th in 2025.

This annual event challenges all North Side restaurants to showcase a special sandwich for the week and throw down against each other for a judged event at The Priory Hotel to kick off the festivities.

We were invited to check out the opening night party in 2025 as guest judges and were able to get a sneak peek at some of the creations.

This is one party you don't want to miss in future years!

Shore Thing is the Perfect Pittsburgh River Experience

July 8, 2025

If there is one thing we want more of in Pittsburgh, it would be more amenities on the rivers.

Yes, we have great bike trails and numerous boating opportunities to get out on the water, but it often feels like businesses (like restaurants) and public spaces to relax along the shores are lacking at times. With three rivers, we would love waterfront amenities everywhere you look.

So when Riverlife announced that they were bringing a new concept to the Allegheny River in 2025, called Shore Thing, we were in. Not only was this one set to be a space for everyone to get out and enjoy the views of the water for free, but they went one better- it is built on the water!

We went to this one on opening day and loved it so much that we returned the next day for more. It is just that good.

Pittsburgh Banjo Club’s Wednesday Practice is a Classic

October 8, 2025July 1, 2025

When it comes to music institutions in Pittsburgh, it feels like we've sadly lost many to history.

But there is one musical experience in Pittsburgh's North Side that still exists to this day, and that is the Pittsburgh Banjo Club. Founded in the 1980s, the Pittsburgh Banjo Club has become a beacon for banjo lovers to play together. Even better? Their Wednesday night practices take place weekly at the Elks Lodge #339 on Cedar Avenue starting at 8 pm, and is completely free for visitors to attend!

Free live music from a Pittsburgh institution? You'll get just that with the Pittsburgh Banjo Club!

Things to Know Before Attending a Pittsburgh Pirates Baseball Game

April 3, 2025April 3, 2025

Pittsburgh is a sports town, and for the past several decades it seems like the Pirates have not gotten the memo.

Despite the fact that the Pittsburgh Pirates have been, well, awful, PNC Park is often ranked among the best ballparks in the country- and we agree. It really is hard to beat taking in a game at this stunning ballpark.

So whether you are an armchair Pirates fan, a baseball fan at large, or are a die-hard Buccos loyalist, there are many things to keep in mind when visiting PNC Park for a game.

In this guide, we want to share everything you should keep in mind before visiting!

5 Reasons to Love Living in the Mexican War Streets

February 4, 2025January 14, 2025

Pittsburgh's housing scene has been booming in recent years, and some neighborhoods have really become quite the popular spots to live, work, and play.

In this series, we thought it'd be fun to take a look at the major neighborhoods in Pittsburgh and share some reasons why you will love living there, plus give additional tips and insider advice you need to keep in mind before deciding to rent or buy a house in the Mexican War Streets.

So let's take a look at one of our favorite areas in Pittsburgh, the Mexican War Streets, and share some of our favorite details for residents!

Looking for a real estate agent? Be sure to check out our friends at The Melinda Lynch Team and tell them Discover the Burgh sent you!

Alberta’s Pizzeria Review – Pizza and More in the North Side

July 29, 2024

Alberta's Pizzeria is a wood-fired pizza shop offering small plates, salads, oysters, pizzas, and more on a stretch of Western Ave. in the North Side that has seen a flurry of new business development in recent months. After operating a successful food truck for several years, Alberta's brings their experience and delicious pies to their first brick and mortar location with a lovely traditional Italian pizza shop feel.

We have been dedicated followers of Alberta's food truck for years, sometimes planning our days around which breweries they were parking in front of. The dough of their thin-crust pies has great flavor complexity and beautiful leopard spotting, and their toppings are flavorful but simple, as all good wood-fired pies should be. It always impressed us that they could execute such deliciousness with a mobile setup, too.

One of Alberta's frequent brewery stops was Four Points, located on Western Ave., which just so happens to be right next door to Alberta's new brick and mortar spot. It's a match made in heaven!

Mattress Factory’s Garden Party is a Must Attend Fundraiser

September 13, 2024June 27, 2024

Many of our local Pittsburgh museums know how to put on a good party or gala. Not only are these events a fun way for the community to enjoy a museum in a different ambiance, they also serve a valuable purpose for the museums themselves- fundraising.

Raising funds while having a great time with a few hundred new, like-minded friends? Well, it is hard to say no to that.

The North Side's contemporary art museum, Mattress Factory, is one such museum that hosts an annual fundraiser party, and their themed Garden Party (often taking place in late spring) is an event not to miss.

We were guests of Mattress Factory to check out the 2024 Garden Party, themed MAKE/BELIEVE, and we thought we'd share a bit more about what it was like for those looking to attend the event in the future!

The Science Behind Pixar Takes a Deep Dive into Movie Making

May 23, 2024

Have you ever wondered how Pixar's popular animated movies are made? The touring show “The Science Behind Pixar,” running at the Carnegie Science Center from May 25th, 2024, to January 5th, 2025, takes a deep dive into this one.

With roughly 50 interactive exhibits, you'll be going down the rabbit hole of all things animated movie production from initial concepts to final renderings before release and everything in between, all while focusing on the science and technologies used along the way.

I was fortunate enough to get a preview of this one for the press conference before the show opened, and wanted to share more about what you can expect from this amazing experience!

Escape USS Requin – Escape Room on a Submarine

May 15, 2024

When we heard that our resident submarine, the USS Requin at the Science Center, was getting an escape room, we knew we had to check this out immediately. Although we're not that big on escape rooms overall, we're all about the unique concept of one on a submarine and tried to get a booking right away.

The emphasis should be on tried because this one's limited operating hours meant that the initial tours sold out quickly- within minutes of posting for the first few dates.

It wasn't until the second season of Escape USS Requin that an appreciable number of timeslots were added, and we booked one right away to go with friends. As far as escape rooms are concerned, this one was a real treat!

Note: Photography is prohibited on board the USS Requin during the Escape Room experience. All on-board photos here are from a visit during the conventional tour outside of escape room season. Do not expect hints to escape room games in photos here, because there are none.