Seasonal

Allegheny Observatory Shares Pittsburgh’s Astronomy History

I have to admit, I'm rather crazy about astronomy. I took several courses in astronomy in college and love getting out to observatories and dark sky locations all over the world just to be able to have a clear look out into the cosmos.

While Pittsburgh's skies aren't the best for stargazing, we do have a rich history of all things astronomy. For those who are interested in the field, a visit to the Allegheny Observatory in Riverview Park is a must to learn about notable local astronomers, their contributions to several scientific fields, see historic telescopes, and, if you're lucky, look through one on a clear summer or fall night!

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The Science Behind Pixar Takes a Deep Dive into Movie Making

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!

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Escape USS Requin – Escape Room on a Submarine

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.

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The Millvale Music Festival Fills the Borough With Sound

When it comes to enjoying music in Pittsburgh, there is no shortage of events going on from local performances, mega artists visiting on a global tour, and local festivals.

One festival stands out as being one of the very best in southwest Pennsylvania- the Millvale Music Festival.

This one, located in Millvale just outside of Pittsburgh, brings over 300 bands to more than two dozen stages all within a roughly one-mile radius over two packed days. Truly, you're never more than a few feet away from music at this one, and it is a whole lot of fun!

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Phipps Conservatory’s Summer Flower Show – Under the Sea

The summer shows at Phipps Conservatory are always bright and vibrant, and 2024's Summer Flower Show goes nautical with the theme Under the Sea!

Check out aquatic sea life, join scuba divers exploring the deep, and more in this absolutely beautiful show.

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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Phipps Conservatory for the Orchid and Tropical Bonsai Show

The Orchid and Tropical Bonsai Show, aptly themed “Into the Mist” for 2024, brings these two beautiful plants (both favorites of ours) to the forefront of the Conservatory while highlighting how some of the flowers with special water features and lighting.

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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10 Reasons to Visit Pittsburgh in February – Outdoor/Indoors

On the surface it seems like February is the month where things quiet down in Pittsburgh. Winter is at its coldest, the month is short, and overall life moves at a slower pace than months in the more vibrant seasons of the year.

That being said, there are a number of things to enjoy in Pittsburgh throughout the month, and whether you want to get outdoors or stay warm inside we've got you covered in this one!

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Laurel Ridge Cross Country Ski Center is a Perfect Winter Day Out

If there is any state park in the Laurel Highlands that we have had trouble exploring properly over the years, it would be Laurel Ridge State Park.

The reason for this is simple- the state park is sprawling. Instead of covering one (often round) area with nested hiking trails, Laurel Ridge State Park follows along Laurel Mountain through four counties.

Short of through-hiking on the 70-mile Laurel Highlands Hiking Trail, getting to enjoy Laurel Ridge State Park often comes in small segments.

In the winter, one of our new favorite sections of the park is the groomed cross country ski and snowshoeing trails maintained by the Laurel Ridge Cross Country Ski Center. Seeing the beautiful of the state park in winter? Sign us up for this one!

Although this one offers rentals in addition to the paid entry to the groomed trails, we picked up our own snowshoes and went out for a day of winter fun in the Laurel Highlands!

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7 New Year’s Eve Parties in Pittsburgh to Consider

It is hard to beat a good New Year's Eve party to say goodbye to the year that was and look forward to the next one. 

As far as Pittsburgh New Year's Eve parties are concerned, there are many to choose from- way more than even we could feature in a single article. So, in this one, we wanted to share some New Year's Eve parties at various business types, party styles, and more!

So whether you are looking for a bar to toast the new year, a dinner experience to send 2023 off with a bang, ring in the New Year at a dance club, or to enjoy other activities that wind down for the holiday season on December 31st, we've got some ideas for you.

As with most of our guides, this is not a complete list of New Year's Eve parties. This is just a selection covering different styles that we wanted to highlight!

Note: Most New Year's Eve parties put on by local businesses require tickets being purchased in advance as capacity is limited.

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