Urban Dare Race this Saturday!

 

Looking for adventure this weekend?  Urban Dare is the race where smarts can beat speed. It’s part trivia, part photo hunt, part mental and physical challenges, and all fun. It’s like a 1-day Amazing Race.  Teams of 2 solve a set of 12 clues to find checkpoints where they must take photos or perform dares in a race to the finish.  Check-in begins at 11am at the Claddagh Irish Pub on Cinema Drive, and the race starts at Noon.  Winners get free entry in the next Super Dare, where they will compete for $5,000. Proceeds go to benefit the fight against breast cancer.

Be Artsy in April!

There is a full weekend of arts events in Pittsburgh as April draws to a close.  The art starts this Friday, April 29th with downtown’s seasonal Gallery Crawl.   The Gallery Crawl is a free quarterly showcase of art and entertainment in the heart of the Cultural District. All events take place at a variety of galleries and spaces and are FREE and open to the public. The event is ongoing between 5:30 and 9:00 pm, and patrons may start at any location. 

Then on Saturday, get out to the Lawrenceville neighborhood to experience Art All Night.  Art All Night is a free annual celebration of arts and community.  This year it will be held in the Iron City Brewery at 3340 Liberty Avenue where visual artists and performers will gather to provide you with nearly 24 hours worth of sensory overload.   The event starts at 4pm on Saturday and will last overnight into Sunday afternoon.

So go out, indulge you senses, and enjoy this great warm weather!

Happy Easter, Pittsburgh!

 

The Wyndham Grand Pittsburgh downtown is having a special Easter buffet.  Patrons can enjoy a buffet with appetizers, omelets prepared by a chef, seafood station, carving board featuring Virginia Ham and roasted leg of lamb, assorted entrees and a dessert buffet. Brunch pricing is $34 for adults, seniors are $31, and children 5-12 are $17. All children 5 and under are free.
Brunch will also feature a one-of-a-kind Egg Hunt for the whole family, with prizes for both children and adults, taking place in the hotel courtyard. There will be two Egg Hunt events, one at 11:30 a.m. and the other at 1:30 p.m.
The Easter Bunny will be in attendance, presenting sweet treats to children and taking part in photo opportunities during the day’s festivities.
Reservations will be available every half hour starting at 10:00 a.m. To make a reservation, please contact the reservation line at 1-412-594-2251

Books and Banter

 

Do you like heady discussion and relaxing with a good book?  Why not  join the Carnegie Library - Mt. Washington Branch’s Monthly Book Club.  Join them the last Wednesday of every month at 6pm for lively book discussions. This month's selection is 29 Gifts by Cami Walker.  Next month’s selection will be The Particular Sadness of Lemon Cake. New members are always welcome.

Cook with Class

Ever dream about becoming a professional chef?  Well, you don't have to change careers to cook like a pro!  Why not pick a free Saturday morning and take a non-professional culinary class at Le Cordon Bleu as part of their Chef's Series.  Upcoming classes include Appetizer Appreciation, Fresh Mozzarella, and Tex-Mex Cuisine.  Check the Downtown Pittsburgh Events page to find out more or to sign up for classes.

Reach New Heights

Enjoy Pittsburgh's rich history right outside your door!  Did you know that the Duquesne Incline was voted one of the top ten places for viewing cityscapes by USA Today, right along with the London Eye ferris-wheel and the ferries of Sydney Harbor?  And you can enjoy this international treat just steps away!  For groups of ten or more, you can schedule a FREE tour of the Machine Room, Observation Deck, Museum, and the Incline itself.  Or if the Incline is a Pittsburgh feature near and dear to your heart, you can join the Society for the Preservation of The Duquesne Heights Incline  with a charitable donation.  For more fun facts and events, visit http://duquesneincline.org/

Downtown Comedy

Have you laughed today?  Why not top your next Thursday evening off with a night of comedy at the CLO Cabaret in the heart of the downtown action.  Part of the CLO's Late Night Cabaret Series, the Pittsburgh Improv Jam is a weekly improvisational comedy show featuring both seasoned and amateur improvisers and comedians from Pittsburgh's theatrical community.  The fun starts at 10pm every Thursday and tickets are just $3.00 at the door.  Or for the truly brave of heart, show up early at 9:30pm and you can sign up to be in the show!

Fine Dining and Fireworks

This Saturday, why not watch the fireworks while treating yourself to a romantic dinner at the Isabela on Grandview?  Voted the "2011 Best Overall and Most Romantic Restaurant"  for the second consecutive year in Pittsburgh Magazine's readers poll.  The best views in the city are right around the corner!  Also, be sure to check out the complete Fireworks Schedule to plan that perfect date.

Pittsburgh Named America’s Most Livable City

Just in case anyone didn't believe it before, more proof that Pittsburgh is the best place to live!

Each year Carnegie Mellon's Tepper School of Business attracts some of the brightest master's degree candidates in the country. But the admissions staff occasionally has to sway prospective students with their choice of top schools who wonder why they should relocate to Pittsburgh, Pa.

"Pittsburgh has a really great cultural scene. We have a great ballet and a great symphony that travels the world and performs to packed houses, and there's a restaurant scene that's much more diverse than it ever was when I was growing up," says Wendy Hermann, director of student services for master's programs and a Pittsburgh native. "And it's an easier sell, now that the Steelers and Penguins won their respective titles."

America's Most Livable Cities - Forbes.com