Oakland

Phipps Conservatory’s Fall Flower Show – Alice’s Adventures in Autumn

Phipps Conservatory is known for being one of the largest botanical gardens in the region, and also for its seasonal flower shows that are truly events not to be missed.

For 2026’s Fall Flower Show, Phipps is continuing on their popular Alice in Wonderland themed show from the summer with a fall twist- aptly named Alice’s Adventures in Autumn! So if you’re ready to go through the looking glass one more time with the exquisite designs and colorful mums, chrysanthemums, and more, this show is for you!

As with all of our show reviews, we’re not going to share every room in the Conservatory (you’ll have to visit yourself to see them all!). Instead, we’re going to feature a few of our favorite rooms from the show to highlight a cross-section of the displays!

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Phipps Summer Flower Show – Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland

The summer shows at Phipps Conservatory are always bright and vibrant, and 2026’s Summer Flower Show goes through the looking glass with Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland!

Check out rooms decorated with the Queen of Hearts, Cheshire Cat, the Mad Hatter’s Tea Party, and so much more in this one.

As with all flower shows at Phipps Conservatory, we do not like to give away what you can see at all the rooms. So in this one, we wanted to share a few of our favorites. To see the rest, well, you’ll have to visit for yourself!

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The Carnegie International is a Once Every Four Year Treat

Move over, Olympics, the art world has its own once every four-year special event!

The Carnegie International at the Carnegie Museum of Art is the longest-running international art show in North America, and showcases works from artists from around the world every four years (okay, fine, four years-ish).

We got to check out the 2026-2027 Carnegie International during a media preview event, and this one really showcases the theme, If The Word We, quite beautifully.

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Cork and Crust Review – Premium Italian in Oakland

Cork and Crust is a high-end Italian restaurant inside The Oaklander Hotel in Oakland, featuring shareable dishes, pasta, and flavorful pizzas made by a James Beard-nominated chef, plus a large cocktail and wine program to go along with it.

We were fortunate enough to check this one out as a guest of the restaurant shortly after they opened (partially hosted), and had a pleasant evening out with some delicious pasta and pizza.

But while we enjoyed this one and are particularly glad to see more chef-driven hotel restaurants opening in Pittsburgh, the menu prices gave us pause. This one really is premium dining in Pittsburgh through and through.

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Phipps Conservatory’s Winter Flower Show – Holiday Magic

When it comes to holiday festivities, one of the best places in Pittsburgh to visit is Phipps Conservatory. Their winter flower show, which typically begins before Thanksgiving and runs until early January, is a celebration of the holiday season with festive art pieces, an array of gorgeous winter flowers, and some of the most beautifully decorated Christmas trees in Pittsburgh.

The 2025-2026 flower show is themed Holiday Magic and takes an elegant look at all things Christmas. With traditional decorations and subtle design elements, this one is simply beautiful.

As members of the conservatory, we got the chance to visit early in the season (running until January 4th, 2026) and wanted to share a few of our favorite rooms here!

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Phipps Conservatory’s Spring Flower Show – A Bloom for Every Room

As the cold of winter begins to leave Pittsburgh, there is one thing we always look forward to in order to ring in the start of spring – Phipps Conservatory’s Spring Flower Show!

2025’s Spring Flower Show has the theme “A Bloom for Every Room” and each room takes a focused look on a different spring flower bloom with impressive colors and beautiful designs!

We visited this one shortly after the show opened and wanted to share some of our favorite rooms and exhibits with you today. As with all of our museum posts, we’re only sharing a selection of our favorites because you truly must visit for yourself to experience it all!

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Phipps Conservatory for the Orchid and Tropical Bonsai Show

The Orchid and Tropical Bonsai Show, aptly themed “A Moment of Beauty” for 2025, brings these two beautiful plants (both favorites of ours) to the forefront of the Conservatory while highlighting how some of the flowers with special art, lighting, and more.

The theme here invites you to take a few extra moments in each room to really stop and appreciate selected flowers, and we really appreciate the notion as you really do see more when you stop and reflect.

As always with our show features, we wanted to share a few of our favorite rooms from this show and hope you’ll make it out to visit for yourselves!

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Spirits & Tales Review – Elevated Dining With a View in Oakland

Spirits and Tales is a modern brasserie-style restaurant on the top floor of The Oaklander hotel. The restaurant holds it own, though, and is more than just a place to eat while staying at the hotel. With craft cocktails, seasonal house made pasta and entrees, and stunning views, it’s a destination in its own right for some solid upscale dining in the Oakland neighborhood.

We have dined at Spirits and Tales a few times, but most recently when we were staying at the hotel as guests of the property. On a week night during the Christmas holiday season it was packed full, so we ended up sitting at the bar. A reservation is a good idea here, especially on the weekend and during the holidays.

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Latin American Cultural Center Showcases a Vast History

The Latin American Cultural Center is part of an outreach initiative put on by the Latin American Studies Association that has called Pittsburgh home since the 1980s.

The group’s headquarters can be found in a beautiful and historic building right in the heart of Oakland, and features a modest exhibition space sharing the history and culture of Latin America, a theater space for performances, periodic temporary exhibitions, and more!

So while a visit to this one can be quite brief, if you are looking for a unique museum right in the heart of the city, don’t overlook this one!

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JJ Poke Bowl Review – Fast Casual Poke in Oakland

Oakland is becoming a hub of excellent fast casual dining for the large college student, hospital, and office crowd in the neighborhood, and we’re always finding new gems on every visit.

JJ Poke Bowl is one such restaurant and focuses on all things poke and Taiwanese bubble tea with large portions, great flavor, and, perhaps best of all, a rather attractive price point!

So if you’re looking to feast on seafood for less, don’t overlook this great little restaurant right in the heart of Oakland!

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