Great Free Events Throughout the City

Check out these great events throughout the city this week.  Music, dinners, and dancing are just some of the great activities that you can look forward to throughout the week.   Keep reading to find out about all the great events below.

Monday, January 28


Interval Mondays at AVA – $3 cover

Bargain Mondays at South Side Works Cinema – $6 admission all day with concession specials

AcoustiCafe – FREE admission and drink specials

Totally Free Mondays at Steel City Improv Theater – FREE

Affordable Monday at South Side Works – Around $35 for two people

Salsa Mondays at Seviche – FREE, no cover

Storytimes Around the City – FREE

Cheap Movie Deals Around the ‘Burgh on Mondays – discounted movies on Mondays

Monday Wing Deals – wing specials in the ‘Burgh on Mondays

Cheap Burgers in the ‘Burgh on Monday – $3 or less

Cheap Monday Taco Days – taco specials in the ‘Burgh on Mondays

Tuesday, January 29


2 for 1 admission to the Clayton – purchase one admission, get another FREE

$2 Tuesdays at North Versailles Bowling Center – $2 games

Two for Tuesday at Color Me Mine – two paint for the price of one

Ceili Dance Lessons – FREE

JazzLive at the Backstage Bar – FREE

Folding Space Pay-What-You-Can yoga classes – pay what you can

Tiny Tots at Romp N Roll Skating Rink – $5.00 for food, skating and skates

Storytimes Around the City – FREE

Terrific Tuesday in the Cultural District - Around $30-$35 for two people

Tuesday Knitting Group – FREE

Cheap Movie Deals Around the ‘Burgh on Tuesdays – discounted movies on Tuesdays

Tot Tuesdays at The Aviary - 1/2 off admission for children 5 and under w/ paying adult

Tuesday Wing Deals – wing specials in the ‘Burgh on Tuesdays

Cheap Burgers in the ‘Burgh on Tuesday – $3 or less

1/2 off Wine on Tuesday – 1/2 price wine by the bottle or glass

Cheap Tuesday Taco Days – taco specials in the ‘Burgh on Tuesdays

Wednesday, January 30


Community Night at the Union Project – Donation based

Yoga on Centre Pay-What-You-Can yoga classes – pay what you can

$1 Night at North Versailles Bowling Center – $1 games, food, drink & shoe rental specials

Pittsburgh Banjo Club Open Rehearsal – FREE

Open Mic Night at Cannon Coffee – FREE

Mommy & Me Wednesdays at My Little Outback – $2 discount

Bluegrass Night at the Park House – FREE Bluegrass music

Dave & Buster’s 1/2 off game day – 1/2 priced games all day

99 cent movies all day – 99 cents

Wednesday Knitting Group – FREE

Storytimes Around the City – FREE

Cheap Movie Deals Around the ‘Burgh on Wednesdays – discounted movies on Wednesdays

Wednesday Wing Deals – wing specials in the ‘Burgh on Wednesdays

Cheap Burgers in the ‘Burgh on Wednesday – $3 or less

1/2 off Wine on Wednesday – 1/2 price wine by the bottle or glass

Cheap Wednesday Taco Days – taco specials in the ‘Burgh on Wednesdays

Thursday, January 31

PPT Mix @ Six: 1776 – $26 or less

Ceramics Open Studio at the Union Project – $10

Family Night at Schenly Ice Rink - Kids skate free with each paying adult

Entrepreneurial Thursdays at Little E’s – $5

Play Dates on Ice – $4.25

Senior discount admission at Clayton – $5 instead of $12

Thursday Matinee at the Harris Theater – $5.00

offCenter at the August Wilson Center – FREE

Roger Humphries Jazz Jam Session at CJ’s in the Strip - No cover

1/2 off Wine on Thursdays – 1/2 price wine by the bottle or glass

Storytimes Around the City – FREE

Salsa Thursdays at Bossa Nova – FREE, no cover

New Mothers Knitting Group – FREE

Pittsburgh Improv Jam Comedy Show - $3 plus $2.50 craft beer special

Folding Space Pay-What-You-Can yoga classes – pay what you can

Thursday Funday Downtown – $20 to $25 per person for an ENTIRE evening out

Cheap Movie Deals Around the ‘Burgh on Thursdays – discounted movies on Thursdays

Cheap Burgers in the ‘Burgh on Thursdays – $3 or less

Thursday Wing Nights – wing specials in the ‘Burgh on Thursdays

Cheap Thursday Taco Days – taco specials in the ‘Burgh on Thursdays

Friday, February 1

Unblurred: First Fridays on Penn – FREE

Hot Jam Open House at the Pittsburgh Glass Center – FREE

Wine Knows Tasting - $12

Irish Dance Lessons at Claddagh – $5

Sushi Happy Hour at Blue – FREE Sushi Buffet w/ a beverage purchase

Good Fridays at The Andy Warhol Museum – 1/2 priced admission

Observatory SkyWatch at the Science Center – $1

Storytimes Around the City – FREE

Friday Night Improv at Studio Theater – $3

Salsa Fridays at Cabaret at Theater Square – $5

Kinder Klimb at REI – FREE with $20 LIFETIME membership

Line Dancing lessons at Saddle Ridge – FREE

Cheap Burgers in the ‘Burgh on Friday – $3 or less

Friday Wing Deals – wing specials in the ‘Burgh on Fridays

Saturday, February 2

Home Depot Kids Workshop: Build a Valentine Card Holder – FREE

Observatory SkyWatch at the Science Center – $1

Saturday Nights at Swing City – $10-12

SCIT Social Improv Jam - FREE

Saturday Light Brigade Radio Show – FREE

Sunday, February 3

Free Sunday Afternoons at the Carnegie Library – FREE

Fifty Cent Sundaze at Arsenal Bowling Lanes – $.50 cent games, shoe rental and hot dogs

Starving Artist Sunday Supper at Brillobox - $6

Sunday Brunch Deals – affordable local brunches

Sunday Wing Deals – wing specials in the ‘Burgh on Sundays

Cheap Burgers in the ‘Burgh on Sunday – $3 or less

Sunday Bloody Mary Specials in Pittsburgh – ‘Mary specials in the ‘Burgh on Sundays

For more information see Living Pittsburgh.

A Great Affordable Night Out!

Noodlehead is a great restaurant with an eclectic feel.  They serve food from Thailand, and all the dinners are under nine dollars.  There is a very specific menu that gives you a variety of tastes to choose from.  This great restaurant is something for everyone to try, and it will not break your budget for a night out with friends.

Nearly a decade ago, the opening of Typhoon on Shadyside's South Highland restaurant row seemed to signal a sea change in local Asian dining. It elevated Thai food from "ethnic" category to stylish cuisine, served with refinement in an artistic, upscale setting. In Typhoon's wake, other restaurants now provide a similarly splurge-worthy experience of Thai dining, while a new, far more humble but still delectable, trend has taken hold in the once-elegant space Typhoon occupied: noodles.

To say that Noodlehead isn't elegant is not to suggest that it isn't fashionable. But the recycled wood-plank walls, old-fashioned filament light bulbs, picnic-style utensil caddies and eclectic seating (from industrial stools to plastic-fantastic mod chairs) evoke a feeling more than a specific place or culinary tradition: simplicity, authenticity, rusticity, noodles.

Such rough-hewn chic does not necessarily come cheap, but by taking cash only, not accepting reservations, being BYOB and not even having a phone, Noodlehead is able to offer an elemental approach to the delightful street food of Thailand in which nothing is over $9.

Noodlehead's tightly curated menu is another part of this equation. It has four short sections: a pair of noodle soups at $6 apiece; five no-substitution noodle dishes for $9; three more with your choice of shrimp, chicken or tofu, also for $9; and five finger-food "snacks," each at about $6. You can try the entire menu for $104 — and, with the help of some holiday guests, we nearly did.

As their title suggests, the snacks are small plates, and good for sharing. Thai fried chicken came as a mound of moist, sliced cutlet, coated in a light, ultra-crisp crust that was delightful on its own and better with a generous dollop of sweet garlic-chili sauce. Pork belly steamed buns were actually less labor-intensive rounds of fluffy dough folded over several chunks of succulent pork belly in a smoky-sweet, barbecue-esque sauce, while paper-thin slices of house-pickled Asian cucumber added brine and tang.

An order of pig wings inevitably led to jokes about when pigs will fly. But these morsels of pork shank were worth the groaners. Butchered to resemble drumsticks, they were spicy and intensely flavored; unlike chicken wings, pork has more than enough robust flavor of its own even beneath minced herbs, spices and chilies. Perhaps disadvantaged by following the pig wings, garlic nam pla chicken wings were plump and crisp, but not especially flavorful.

After all these delights, it was noodle time. The 10 noodle preparations on offer included fully six different types of noodles, a testament to Noodlehead's commitment to its craft. Thin rice noodles were tender in both Sukothai and Love Boat soups; the former punched up the flavor quotient with sliced pork loin, slivered green beans, peanuts and hard-boiled egg in a spicy lime broth, while the latter relied on the rich savor of simmered beef and pork cracklings. 

For more information see City Paper.

Great Pittsburgh Events This Week

This week check out these great events being held all around the city.  Carnegie Science Center to
the Children's Museum there is something for all ages.  Make sure to check out the great cultural 
    events that are also going on around the city.



Thu., Jan. 17 — Exhibit Certain nights, Carnegie Science Center offers to watch the kids while the parents have a night out. Tonight, though, it's all about the parents — or any other adult. The Center's 21+Sports is a no-kids night for visitors to enjoy such Highmark SportsWorks attractions as the 25-foot rock wall, the bungee-harnessed trampoline and the rollercoaster simulator. You can also roam the Center's four floors and exhibits like SeaScape. Plus there's live music and a cash bar. Very adult. Bill O'Driscoll 6-10 p.m. One Allegheny Ave., North Side. $10-15. 412-237-3400 or www.carnegiesciencecenter.org

Fri., Jan. 18 — Exhibit Busy weekend at the Children's Museum. Today through Monday, visit the Makeshop to create your own DIY clock (with an $8 kit and help from a Makeshop instructor). Starting Saturday, and every weekend through January, build a "glow tree" — a sculpture of twigs and copper wire that sparkles purple and green thanks to a vacuum chamber. This Saturday and Sunday only, at 1 p.m. daily, watch scenes from visiting Enchantment Theatre Company's production of The Velveteen Rabbit. (The full show's on stage at The Hillman Center for Performing Arts on Saturday night.). And Monday, look for Martin Luther King Jr. Day programming, including storytelling by actor Greg Kenney. BO Museum hours: 10 a.m.-5 p.m. 1 Children's Way, North Side. $12-13 (children under 2 free). 412-322-5058 or pittsburghkids.org
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Fri., Jan. 18 — Words

Novelist Sarah Dessen has published 10 young adult novels, two of which were adapted into the 2003 teen drama How to Deal. Her latest novel, What Happened to Goodbye, hits stores in paperback later this year. As part of the 12th season of Pittsburgh Arts & Lectures and Carnegie Library's series Black, White & Read All Over, Dessen speaks tonight at the Carnegie Library Lecture Hall. The event also features an audience Q&A, live music, book-signing and snacks. Jeff Ihaza 7 p.m. 4400 Forbes Ave, Oakland. $15 (or two for $25 online). 412-622-8866 or www.pittsburghlectures.org

Sat., Jan. 19 — Art

"Creativity is sort of insanity," opines Tim Fabian in a press release. "My work then is my insane need to play coupled with a socially appropriate outlet." Now photographer Fabian has invited some playmates to join in his first curatorial venture, Play. It's a group show at Millvale's Panza Gallery highlighting artists and photographers whose work exhibits evidence of play. The exhibit spotlights such local names as Sue Abramson, David Grim, George Kollar, Mark Panza and William Wade. The opening reception is tonight. BO 6 p.m. Show continues through Feb. 16. 115 Sedgwick St., Millvale. Free. 412-821-0959 or www.panzagallery.com
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Sat., Jan. 19 - Stage

Paying for abuse? That might seem the dynamic in Seminar. The 2011 Broadway comedy concerns four aspiring young writers who've purchased spots in an Upper West Side writing seminar with a famous author named Leonard, only to hear him label their work "a soul-sucking waste of words," among other blandishments. But there's more to this critically favored play by Theresa Rebeck, best known for creating the NBC drama Smash. (Her plays include Bad Dates and Mauritius.) In City Theatre's production, Leonard is played by Daniel Gerroll, an acclaimed British actor who had a big role in the film Chariots of Fire. The production, directed by Tracy Brigden, also features longtime City favorite Rebecca Harris. Tonight begins a week of preview performances; opening night is Jan. 25. BO 5:30 p.m. Continues through Feb. 10. 1300 Bingham St., South Side. $15-55. 412-431-2489 or www.citytheatrecompany.org
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Sat., Jan. 19 — Words

"Having no interest in mainstream masculine activities such as sports, sports-watching, finance or alcoholism, I've had to distinguish myself through other means," writes David Matthews. "I have a postcard collection, a menagerie of anthropomorphic coconuts, and a compulsion to channel my sarcastic tendencies in a socially-acceptable way by writing." As in the introduction to his debut story collection, Meltdown in the Cereal Aisle — and with story titles like "Putting the Bi into Bicentennial" — Matthews' wields a droll, left-of-center sensibility. A fixture on the local arts scene, he's known for his publicly posted personal-ad flyers seeking romance. Tonight's launch for his self-published book will be filmed by Julie Sokolow for her documentary Aspie Seeks Love, about Matthews' late-in-life Asperger's syndrome diagnosis. Also: readings by Matthews and award-winning Chicago-based writer Erika Mikkalo. BO 7 p.m. Awesome Books, 929 Liberty Ave., Downtown. Free. www.awesomebookspittsburgh.com
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Sun., Jan. 20 — Stage

Harmontown, the fictional universe led by Dan Harmon, is a magical place. Harmon writes for NBC's Community; he and fellow comedian and co-host Jeff Davis blend the mundane and the hilarious in this often-confessional weekly podcast. The show's growing number of devoted fans — Harmonites — has led the pair to share their universe with the masses via the touring Harmontown Live Podcast Show that makes its way to the New Hazlett Theater tonight. JI 7 p.m. 6 Allegheny Square East, North Side. $20. 412-320-4610 or www.newhazletttheater.org

Sun., Jan. 20 — Music

Renowned Croatian vocal group Klapa Cambi visits with a rare offering. The group's klapa music is a form of a cappella singing dating to the 1800s, derived from liturgical styles but still part of the country's contemporary culture. (Some klapa tunes celebrate, for instance, wine.) The nine-man group's Sound of Dalmatia tour hits just five U.S. cities — all in the company of Pittsburgh's own Jerry Grcevich Tamburitza Orchestra. The show's at the Byham Theater tonight. BO 7:30 p.m. 101 Sixth St., Downtown. $31.25-45.25. 412-456-6666 or www.trustarts.org

For more information see the City Paper.

Vallozzi's is Now in Pittsburgh

Vallozzi's is a well known Italian Restaurant in Greensburg, PA. It now has a second location in Pittsburgh on 5th Avenue. This restaurant has a great selection of Italian food that has made it a local favorite in Greensburg. Check out all the great offerings this Pittsburgh location will offer its customers below.
While corporate chain restaurants tend to ring city centers by establishing links in suburban shopping centers, local restaurants branch out in more idiosyncratic patterns. An establishment that has become popular in one neighborhood will often seek to shorten waits for tables by opening a second location nearby. Sometimes, success in the city leads proprietors to test suburban waters, leading to broader choices all around.

Vallozzi's, a venerable Italian restaurant from Greensburg, recently reversed this trajectory when it opened a new branch amid the bright lights of recently revitalized lower Fifth Avenue, Downtown. Vallozzi's Pittsburgh is a thoughtful blend of contemporary and traditional Italian imagery and flavors. Coming in off the bustling sidewalk, visitors pass through a sort of indoor birch forest of a lobby, where white-painted branches stand in for live plants, to take their seats in dining rooms walled in faux-aged frescoes. This progression allowed us to put the familiar sights and sounds of Downtown behind us and focus on the sensory experience of Italy that Vallozzi's works hard to create.

Our first glance at the menu suggested that tradition would dominate, but a closer look revealed how even classic dishes like bacon-wrapped scallops had been updated, in this case with prosciutto for bacon, truffled beans for a bed, and a kohlrabi and apple salad. Meanwhile, bucatini carbonara, a dish that's been estranged from its Italian roots by American popularity, was reconceived. While the Italian-American style chokes the noodles in puddles of heavy cream, Italians rely on raw egg, beaten and tempered by the hot noodles. Vallozzi's gave a nod to this latter method by topping the pasta with a soft-fried egg, allowing the assertive flavors of black pepper and garlic to enliven the cream that clung to the al dente bucatini.

A Vallozzi's Greensburg classic that has made the move to Downtown was turtle bisque. The smooth soup, studded with just enough tender shreds of terrapin, was deep brown, indescribably rich and savory, and thick without being heavy.

Vallozzi's fresh mozzarella bar deserves to become a classic in its own time. In the storefront lounge, you can sit before an array of cheeses — not unlike sitting at a sushi bar. We sampled gorgonzola dolce, served with wafer-thin slices of seckel pear and chopped walnuts, and smoked buffalo mozzarella, with roasted fig and spiced pecans. The former delivered rich, intensely flavored cheese with perfect accompaniments, while the latter combined ingredients that don't always work (at least not for us) into a wholly harmonious array. We especially enjoyed how subtly the smoke infused the cheese, lending it just enough body to hold its own with the bold fig and pecans.

Pizza is de rigueur at even upscale Italian restaurants, where it tends away from pizzeria-style and toward wood-fired flatbread. But Vallozzi's offered something unexpected even in this ubiquitous realm. Its roughly square pizzas were built on crusts layered like pastry and walled up at the edges, as if formed in a shallow skillet. The crust texture was more like a cracker than chewy, Neapolitan dough, reminding us of pissaladiere from southern France. The distinctive crust worked well with a summery yet hearty topping of pesto, chicken, sweet peppers and artichoke hearts.

Veal saltimbocca, on a bed of mashed potatoes and a blanket of wilted spinach, was mostly traditional, but an unusual sage demi-glace was its defining characteristic, enhancing the cheese-filled veal and providing ample flavor to the potatoes. One quibble was that the veal was cut on the thick side, which resulted in slight toughness as well as imperfect proportion with the filling. The flavor was good enough that we didn't really mind, but it was a surprising misstep from the kitchen.

The dish that in many ways embodied our meal didn't sound Italian at all: buttermilk fried chicken. Fried chicken has had a bit of a revival of late, with superstar chefs competing against your grandmother's recipe, with mixed results. Vallozzi's took fried chicken as a starting point for a dish that managed to embody the Mediterranean and the American South at the same time, with chestnut gnocchi standing in for dumplings, prosciutto di Parma for Virginia ham and braised kale in lieu, perhaps, of escarole. All these ingredients were united under a flag of asiago-and-sage gravy, which tied the whole thing together in a satisfying dish that was somehow classically simple and utterly sophisticated.

By anchoring the menu with time-tested recipes, Vallozzi's is free to explore contemporary Italian cuisine. Ultimately, its fluency with both styles makes for a superlative — if expensive, even by Downtown standards — dining experience. 

For more information see the Pittsburgh City Paper.

Tips for Pittsburgh Restaurant Week

Pittsburgh Restaurant Week starts this week.  There are some great deals and restaurants participating all throughout the city.  However, to get the most out of this week make sure to follow these tips and tricks listed below.  This will allow you to experience the most restaurants at the best price.


Tips for Getting the Most out of Pittsburgh Restaurant Week

Excited to celebrate Pittsburgh Restaurant Week? Here are some tips to ensure you get the most out of your restaurant week experience.
 
Make reservations early, many of the most popular restaurants get booked up. If making a reservation by phone, be sure to mention Pittsburgh Restaurant Week when booking.
 
Read menus and reviews of participating restaurants. Restaurant Week is a great opportunity to experience the diverse restaurants available in Pittsburgh. Some restaurants offer pre-fixed menus as their restaurant week special, others offer a flat discount.
 
Be aware that not all restaurants participating in Pittsburgh Restaurant Week offer the promotional menu at lunch AND dinner. When you make your reservation, you should confirm with the restaurant that they are participating in Restaurant Week. Some restaurants may have seats set aside for diners participating in the celebration.

For more information see Pittsburgh Restaurant Week.

Weekend Plans for the Family

What are you doing this weekend?  Living Pittsburgh has your list of free and affordable events for you or your family to check out.   Whether you like dancing or sporting events, there is something for everyone to do.  Also, don't worry about eating this weekend.  These great events below include some of your favorite food so make sure to schedule them in!



Friday, January 11

Irish Dance Lessons at Claddagh – $5

Sushi Happy Hour at Blue – FREE Sushi Buffet w/ a beverage purchase

Good Fridays at The Andy Warhol Museum – 1/2 priced admission

Observatory SkyWatch at the Science Center – $1

Storytimes Around the City – FREE

Friday Night Improv at Studio Theater – $3

Salsa Fridays at Cabaret at Theater Square – $5

Kinder Klimb at REI – FREE with $20 LIFETIME membership

Line Dancing lessons at Saddle Ridge – FREE

Cheap Burgers in the ‘Burgh on Friday – $3 or less

Friday Wing Deals – wing specials in the ‘Burgh on Fridays

Saturday, January 12

Mascot Skate at Schenley Park – $4 adults, $3 kids & seniors, $2.50 skate rental

The 12th Annual Art Inter/National Exhibition – FREE opening reception

Free First Ever Chili Cook Off – FREE admissions, tasting & recipes

SAT Practice Test – FREE

Lowes Build & Grow Clinic: Mystery Kit – FREE

Observatory SkyWatch at the Science Center – $1

Saturday Nights at Swing City – $10-12

SCIT Social Improv Jam – FREE

Saturday Light Brigade Radio Show – FREE

Saturday Jazz Jam Session at CJ’s – FREE to attend

Saturday Salsa Night at Mexico City – $5 cover

Storytimes Around the City – FREE

Line Dancing lessons at Saddle Ridge – FREE

Super Saturdays at Arsenal Bowling Lanes – $7.00 all you can bowl

Sunday, January 13


Free Sunday Afternoons at the Carnegie Library – FREE

Fifty Cent Sundaze at Arsenal Bowling Lanes – $.50 cent games, shoe rental and hot dogs

Starving Artist Sunday Supper at Brillobox - $6

Sunday Brunch Deals – affordable local brunches

Sunday Wing Deals – wing specials in the ‘Burgh on Sundays

Cheap Burgers in the ‘Burgh on Sunday – $3 or less

Sunday Bloody Mary Specials in Pittsburgh – ‘Mary specials in the ‘Burgh on Sundays

Let's Go Pens!

Hockey is back.  The players and the NHL have reached an agreement, which was the best late holiday gift for any hockey fan.  Penguins have a lot to practice in the next week to get ready for the season.  Here are some of the burning questions that fans are worried about for the short season.

Who’s the last top six guy?

You’ve probably got Sidney Crosby and Pascal Dupuis chained together on one line and Evgeni Malkin and James Neal attached on the other. Chris Kunitz, last year’s Malkin-Neal third guy, is expected to be shifted back to Crosby’s line, where he’s played since the Pens acquired him in 2009, barring Crosby injuries. That leaves a huge hole. Can Eric Tangradi finally make a jump to productive NHL player? Will Dustin Jeffrey be given the chance to play there? Or youngster Beau Bennett? Or a rotating group of Matt Cooke, Tyler Kennedy and who knows who else?

How will the net tandem shake out?

James Mirtle says that a 50 game NHL schedule won’t even be THAT compressed, so it’s not like the team will have 4 or 5 games every week. But still, the move to acquire Tomas Vokoun looks pretty good right now for Ray Shero and the Pens. Marc-Andre Fleury had a stellar regular season and just as dreadful of a playoff. With a goalie of Vokoun’s caliber, it’s likely at some point of this season we’re going to find a fan or media generated goalie controversy, the first true one since 2008 when backup Ty Conklin played well during a Fleury injury absence, but Fleury returned as the #1 goalie and played the best hockey of his career leading the Pens to the Stanley Cup Finals. Vokoun has a checkered injury history, but he also almost always has a higher save percentage than Fleury. Dan Bylsma’s usage of the two will be crucial, especially as the playoffs approach. Who will emerge as the go-to guy?

General Sidney Crosby head-spot question mark

It’s no fun to talk about and something that’s been beaten into the dirt a million times, but at least for now, it’s a question of how Crosby will respond to NHL game action. Hockey is a collision sport and the most famous melon in the business is bound to get hit at some point. Can Crosby put concussion/neck fears behind him or will they put him back on the shelf when he takes fairly routine hockey contact (ala the David Krejci hit that re-injured him).

Can Paul Martin bounce back?

He’s the most targeted man in the lineup due to his salary, but the Penguins will need Paul Martin to find his game pretty quickly in 2013. Though he actually had a pretty decent 2nd half of the season, Martin’s play will be analyzed and scrutinized by fans everywhere. With Zbynek Michalek gone and no obvious replacement found, Martin is going to be a huge piece of the puzzle at even strength and on the penalty kill for Pittsburgh. Can he have a bounce back season and play a solid game and chew up a lot of minutes? The team needs him to be a very steady presence.

How will life without Jordan Staal be?

As Justin showed us, Jordan Staal was asked a lot of by the Pens, and he performed spectacularly, driving possession and shifting from defense to offense. Now Staal is gone, and in his place will be a fine two-way player in Brandon Sutter. But Sutter is not Staal and won’t be used in quite the same way. Will the Pens play Crosby more in the defensive zone? Will they ask Malkin and Crosby to kill penalties even rarely? And that PK unit, one of the best in the league in the past few seasons, loses their best forward. Joe Vitale might get an increased role to join Sutter and the regulars of Dupuis, Matt Cooke and Craig Adams but how the Pens move on without Staal will shape their defensive identity.

For more information see Pensburgh.

Gridiron Glory Exhibit

Do you have football fans in your family?  They are in luck.  The Pro Football Hall of Fame has brought an exhibit to the Heinz History Center.  Gridiron Glory displays the best of the Pro Football Hall of Fame and the NFL's history.  It includes hundreds of artifacts, videos, and documents from the hall of fame in Canton.  Check out all the details of the exhibit below.

Purchase your tickets now for Gridiron Glory: The Best of the Pro Football Hall of Fame — a major exhibition focusing on the history of pro football, from its humble beginnings in 1892 to its rise as one of the world’s most beloved sports.
The blockbuster exhibition makes its national premiere at the History Center this fall before embarking on a nationwide traveling tour. The Pittsburgh exhibition is made possible by Highmark, the presenting sponsor.

Gridiron Glory is the most comprehensive traveling exhibit ever created on America’s most popular sport.
The exhibit includes more than 200 football artifacts, rare photos, and one-of-a-kind documents from the Pro Football Hall of Fame collections, many of which have never been seen outside of Canton, Ohio.

Highlights include:

The 1892 Allegheny Athletic Association accounting ledger featuring Pudge Heffelfinger, known as “Pro Football’s Birth Certificate”
 
Artifacts from pro football’s pioneers, such as Jim Thorpe, Knute Rockne, Red Grange, Johnny “Blood” McNally, Sammy Baugh, and Bobby Layne
 
Items from the golden era of pro football, including Jim Brown, Vince Lombardi, Dick Butkus, Johnny Unitas, and Tom Landry
 
Highlights from the NFL’s greatest running backs, such as O.J. Simpson, Eric Dickerson, Tony Dorsett, Walter Payton, Bo Jackson, and Barry Sanders
 
Artifacts from record-breaking quarterbacks, including John Elway, Joe Montana, and Dan Marino
Items from today’s stars, including Drew Brees, Tom Brady, and Peyton Manning

Gridiron Glory also features unique artifacts from the Pittsburgh Steelers, including Art Rooney, Franco Harris, Joe Greene, Lynn Swann, and Jack Lambert, along with a special area of the exhibition dedicated to Western Pennsylvania’s incredible pro football tradition.
Purchase your exhibit tickets at www.showclix.com or by calling 1-888-71-TICKETS. Tickets may also be purchased on-site at the History Center box office at 1212 Smallman St. in the Strip District during regular museum hours (10 a.m.-5 p.m. every day). 

For more information see the Heinz History Center.