Andrea Polli's masterpiece in the heart of the Cultural District is an absolute gem of immersive…read moreart! A place I would often take visitors to our great city and a spot I still swing by whenever I'm home. The canal aka Garrison Place was originally a dank and dark alley (Garrison Alley) that transformed with the Cultural District coming into fruition. The LED art installation wasn't unveiled until 2018 but is still considered a vital and iconic piece of Pittsburgh art & history. The idea of the artwork is to mimic swimming under water. The lights change colors depending on weather. The animated waves also shift & change around the weather. If you're visiting Pittsburgh, be sure to check it out (after the sun goes down) in the 900 block of Liberty.

Garrison Canal was all messed up this morning. Dumpsters blocking the alley, garbage strewn…read moreeverywhere, broken glass, and even some person going to the bathroom behind a dumpster ... GROSS!!! Do better Pittsburgh!!!!

Very nice to see. Nothing like it anywhere else…read more Great to be right in the heart of The City . Best to go on a tour with others.

An incredibly quirky gem that is a must visit! There are…read morethings to discover at every turn in this yard turned art gallery. So much color, so much whimsey! You could spend just a few minutes or easily spend an hour exploring all the nooks and crannies.. There is no parking lot, but there is plenty of street parking in the area. Just play attention to the signs, because there are areas that are permit only or have restrictions on time.

Why have I never reviewed this amazing piece of work? We visited it several times and often while…read moreGustavo Zermeno (ID Labs) was in town painting it (July 2022). We got to briefly chat with him and he was so down-to-earth. He and his friend came in from Cali to do the job and it was done in just a couple of weeks. His talent is immense and the homage he paid to his friend, Mac is felt in every inch of the mural. I took a bunch of pics but I'm sharing only one as it was the best shot I got. When you see this mural, you don't feel like this kid is gone. Maybe just off on an adventure never to be seen again. Or maybe he's hiding behind the counter at Frick Park Market. Gone too soon but cherished by his hometown, always. If you're in Pittsburgh, head over to neighboring Etna to soak in this piece of history.

A nice tribute to local rap star, Mac Miller. It's fitting that it is painted on the side of…read moreID Labs where he originally recorded. The mural is beautifully executed, and it's fun to find it.

The Andy Warhol Museum is a great place to spend a couple hours before a Pittsburgh Pirates game…read more There are a bunch of levels in this museum, and it's pretty easy to navigate. A ton of art work throughout Andy Warhol's life. The iconic paintings of Jackie Kennedy, Marilyn Monroe, Campbell's Soup, and Coca-Cola are all here. I had a fun time in the video booth where you can record your own distorted video just how Andy Warhol used to record his guests. The museum is $25 for adults, $13 for seniors, $13 for students with ID, and $13 for kids 3-18 years old. Located right by PNC Park the home of the Pittsburgh Pirates.

I didn't know much about Andy Warhol but the 7 floors of information and art gave me a good…read moreunderstanding of his artistic progression and range and life both in (from) Pittsburgh to NY and elsewhere. He was not just an interesting eccentric that pushed culture forward but someone who found a way to make money off his art in advertising while also having a style of his own and forays into film. While this is the Warhol museum, there are pieces by others on the ground floor, including collaborators. Bottom line: Worth a view if you are a museums person and like modern art.

Did you know the Snoopy Doghouse on the Boulevard of the Allies was built in 2000 by a Public Works…read moreemployee? Yep. True story. Ron Gembarosky built it to cover a utility box. Creative, functional, and ingenious. Yet another reason to be proud of my beloved city. It's also listed on Atlas Obscura. Important to note that it may not always be in place because of theft and vandalism. It's been replaced several times over the years. I've seen it when only the roof was left or a piece of it. Still worth trying to see it if you're exploring our Steel City. It's located within the PPG Plaza area where Blvd of Allies & Stanwix meet.

I am endlessly amazed at the places and things that you can actually review on Yelp. I was looking…read morefor another business when this one popped up and I had to add my review! Pittsburgh is so full of quirky gems and it is fun learning about their stories. The first time I saw this, I did a double take. "Is that Snoopy's house?" and "if it is, why the heck is it there?!" I asked my husband who had no idea so I googled and learned that they were looking for a creative way to cover some utilities and this was their solution. There was a brief period where the house wasn't there, but they were rebuilding/refurbishing it. This isn't something you go out of your way to see, but it is definitely fun to point out to others. And how can you help but smile when you see a random Snoopy house downtown.

Oh my goodness! The most fun event with so many cool gifting options for self and others! Attended…read morewith my sister and her 2 kiddos and it was a great place to see the kids find joy in the many little treasures. I enjoyed items from Bread Winners, Broken Egg Clay, and Playfully Bizarre! All the vendors were so friendly, and with varying price points you can really find something special for whoever you may be getting gifts for!

I've always heard wonderful things about this show and was really looking forward to attending…read more Although the artisans had some beautiful things, none of them seemed to have many items (or items at all) under $250-300 a piece. We (myself, my child and my sister) headed downtown, paid for parking, paid $20 each as a donation to enter (we genuinely like to support the arts!) only to see very sparse crowds and very high prices. We ended up not being able to purchase anything. (My budget ahead of time was about $100 after admission)

Strawberry Way is an alley in the heart of downtown Pittsburgh that's been transformed into an…read moreeclectic outdoor seating area that attracts people from all walks of life: business professionals, students and artists. The street has been painted in a vibrant and funky pattern and in the summer months filled with multi-colored tables and chairs. The seating area provides a fun experience for lunch hour or just to take a break and enjoy the views of surrounding buildings. This is one of those little gems I'd love to stumble across as a tourist in another city. Definitely worth enjoying and not taking for granted as a city resident or area local.

Fun, funky, quiet, an oasis. This little neighborhood alley can be anything you want it to be. The…read morewalkway has been painted in a multitude of colors/shapes and there are planters and tables and chairs throughout to take a load off and just relax. If you need a spot to unwind, come on down!

This is a cool mural/ sculpture that creates an appeal of rhythm in the uptown. It blends a painted…read moreworks of art with a sculpture as well. It is really cool to see. The piece depicts numerous scenes of music and food that define the neighborhood.

The "Legends of Pittsburgh" mural shoes notable baseball players from the city, including members…read moreof the Pittsburgh Pirates and Josh Gibson of the Homestead Grays. The mural is underneath Boulevard of the Allies at Ross Street and Second Avenue. It was replaced in 2013 after a car struck and damaged the piece.

II was my last night in Pittsburgh, and the cold snap was at its most brutal for this wimpy Left…read moreCoaster. That translated into a very restrictive perimeter around my hotel from which I chose this fusion spot for dinner. The menu was quite a hodgepodge of familiar Asian plates. I have to admit though when I saw ramen and stir-fries on the same menu, I was wondering how well they do it all. I tried two items starting with the $13 Chicken Lettuce Wraps. The chicken was stir-fried with carrot, mushroom, and scallion in an excess of brown sauce. They provided enough iceberg lettuce to handle it, but the sauciness really let me down (Photo 9). The second dish, the Sichuan String Beans with Shrimp, was better but still overshadowed by whatever sauté seasoning they used quite liberally (Photo 10). Fortunately the side of white rice helped offset the uneven flavor (Photo 8). It was all middling at best. FOOD - 3 stars...saucy and middling for such a diverse menu AMBIANCE - 3.5 stars...dominated by a long bar, on the dark side SERVICE - 3.5 stars...certainly nice enough TOTAL - 3 stars...a bit of fusion confusion RELATED - Exploring Pittsburgh? Here's a collection of places I've visited and reviewed:https://yelp.to/-gL0ZnaHz6

Wow. This place was great. We made reservations for a party of ten. We were late. They…read moreaccommodated us fine. Joe provided amazing service. We got a bunch of amazing apps. (I ate too much). Then the main dishes came out. Wow. Amazing. Everybody loved their food. I wanted to try the matcha cake. But way too full. Maybe next time. Good drinks. Good food. Good service nice decor. Nice bathroom sinks. Would recommend and would go back. Only thing I wouldn't do is get the 'gao'. The pork belly was good but it was too doughy. We had a great time. And we had a range of a party from 20 to almost 80 and no one complained. (Miracle).