What to do in Pittsburgh between October 16th to the 19th?

October 13, 2008 6:01 PM

I am a student in Critical and Curatorial Studies in Toronto and some class-mates and I are going on a field trip to Pittsburgh this Thursday - Sunday. We will be seeing all the museums and galleries but I was wondering if you could suggest any concerts, cool events, vintage shopping areas and anything of interest going on.
posted by radiocontrolled to travel & transportation (10 comments total)

Start here, here, here, here, and here.
posted by chinston at 7:39 PM on October 13, 2008

the frank lloyd wright house fallingwater is there
posted by refractal at 7:50 PM on October 13, 2008

Since you will be here this weekend, you should not miss Squonk Opera's Astro-rama. Its playing Wednesday through Saturday at Schenley Plaza (right next to the Carnegie Museums in Oakland. Don't miss this as Squonk is one of the most amazing performance groups around..

There's a good show going on at the Wood Street Galleries right now.

A list of 250th anniversary events can be found here.... whether or not they are interesting is a another issue.

Check out lawrenceville/Butler Street for cool shopping. Maybe Elsworth Avenue in Shadyside as well.
posted by buttercup at 8:30 PM on October 13, 2008

Go to the South Side for vintage shopping, eating and music. I don't live there anymore, so I don't know specific things for this weekend, but the City Paper is the local independent paper with all the cool stuff listed.
The Carnegie International is on right now, assuming by your comment that you will be seeing all the museums that you are hitting that one, but that is a must-see.
posted by bwanabetty at 8:42 PM on October 13, 2008

Ditto on the South Side. There's this cool coffee place called the Bee Hive that's worth checking out and hanging around for a while if you've got time to kill. Great atmosphere.
posted by daboo at 8:50 PM on October 13, 2008

Seconding previous threads' information and buttercup's recommendation of Astro-rama. Just wanted to add a few ideas:

The Glass Center has exhibitions and demonstration tours which you might find interesting- didn't see them mentioned before.

Saturday is the opening night of Saint-Saëns' Samson & Delila which promises to be quite good (I hope so, anyway, since I'll be there). Also, the symphony will be having concerts on Friday and Sunday in celebration of the 250th, as well as a free concert on Saturday at the Warhol Museum.

Finally, if you aren't tired of art by the end of your museum tour, try and see if you can get in to see the anti-war murals at St. Nicholas Croatian Church in the Millvale neighborhood. Painted by Maxo Vanka in two phases in the '30s and '40s, they're haunting and memorable.
posted by notquitemaryann at 8:57 PM on October 13, 2008

The Elephant 6 Holiday Surprise Tour hits Brillobox saturday night. Should be a good show.

I'm a huge fan of the Church Brew Works.

Also, saying that Fallingwater is in Pittsburgh is like saying that Philly and NYC are only 15 minutes apart. Especially if you're coming from Toronto, it's pretty dang far out of your way.
posted by god hates math at 9:32 PM on October 13, 2008

I was far more delighted by Pittsburgh's incline than I probably should have been.
posted by scruss at 7:38 AM on October 14, 2008

WYEP is having a Free concert Friday Evening. It's a good way to see some great local bands live in a low-key atmosphere.

From their email:
91.3 FM WYEP's Third Thursday Concert Series
Thursday, October 16, 6:30 pm
Pittsburgh, PA
WYEP Studios, 67 Bedford Square (Southside), 15203
FREE! ALL AGES! Beer (with i.d.) and munchies, 'til they run out!

The studio is located on the Southside, so you'll be close to some great vintage clothing and book stores as others have mentioned.

I also highly recommend the Strip District for Saturday morning breakfast/brunch. There are lots of good options (Pamela's, Enrico's, DeLuca's, for example). The Strip District is also a great place for shopping, especially for exotic foods at the old-timey style grocery stores that line Penn Avenue. There are also some nice antique stores in the immediate area.
posted by Alison at 8:17 AM on October 14, 2008

WYEP is having a Free concert Friday Evening
Yikes. That should read "WYEP is having a Free concert THURSDAY Evening."
posted by Alison at 10:55 AM on October 14, 2008