I went to Level Up tonight for the first time - beginner's hip hop. It was a chill, fun atmosphere…read moreand everyone inside was super nice and welcoming. Our instructor Justin gave easy to follow instructions and it was truly for any level of experience. Had a really good time and am looking forward to going back

Great group of talented people. They have dance classes for multiple age groups they also host…read moresome really cool events!

I haven't taken a dance class here yet, but I've been to a couple events and they were great! I've…read morealso spoken to a bunch of people that have taken classes here and they love them. The first event I came to was the New Years party. The first couple of hours was partner dancing. You didn't need to bring a partner with you because everyone was really friendly, switching up partners throughout the night. People were willing to help you learn new moves if you don't know how to dance, too. The rest of the night was a free for all and had a fun variety of music to dance to. There were snacks, party favors and a live band. It was a great time! The second event I went to was just this past weekend. It was a 90's trivia night with a cash prize for 1st place and a 6 pack of zima for 2nd place, which fit perfectly into the theme. Everyone was encouraged to dress in their best 90's gear and the space had 90's themed snacks and music. Our team definitely lost, but we still had a good time! After the trivia, it was dance party time! There was a good mix of people of all ages. I would definitely recommend checking out the next event they have. You can tell the owner puts a lot of thought and care into her events.

A really nice place to take dance lessons, I don't think they are as hard-sell as most of the other…read morecommercial dance studios. Their open dances are excellent. The main dance floor is somewhat narrow but has a really nice surface for dancing. The studio offers a wide variety of classes, including West Coast Swing, Argentine Tango, Ballroom, and Swing. Reasonable prices.

This studio is fabulous! I was a dancer for 15 years and have been out of practice for far too long…read moreand it's basically like starting over. The instructors are so helpful, patient, and knowledgeable. Studio itself is well-lit, spacious, and impeccably clean.

Dance Alloy is a great little space! They have many different events there. It is the home of the…read morePittsburgh Hip Hop Collective, and they also work with adolescent theatre groups like Dreams of Hope. They offer many different types of classes in the upstairs rehearsal studio, and the summer artist lunches/dinners for artists in residency are great! Head on over for a poetry slam, open mic, or dance piece. It's a great time!!

I've been attending classes at the Barre Code since January 2019. The energy of the studio makes me…read morefeel comfortable, included, and ready to try something new. I've watched my body transform into something I never thought was possible. I definitely credit the studio with helping me feel confidence exercising after years of hating it. 10/10 recommend!

The studio itself was very nice, and our instructor Melissa was very, very positive. How she was…read moreable to maintain that level of energy at 7am on a Monday morning is beyond me, but I definitely appreciated her enthusiasm! I don't think barre class itself is for me. I like more active workouts-- running, weights, skiing, biking, boxing-- and barre felt very passive to me. The isometric exercises and tiny movements didn't make me feel like I was truly strengthening anything, and some of the exercises seemed to put a lot of stress on the ankles/hip flexors (although I'm not super flexible, so that may be part of the issue!) I've heard great things about their cardio kickboxing class, Brawl, but according to their website there's a waitlist for all upcoming classes. I'll be keeping an eye on it-- I might have to try it out.

I absolutely loved this workout class! The instructors were very easy to follow. It was engaging,…read morelow impact and high intensity. I literally feel more flexible after one class (I am NOT flexible lol) there is free parking! I did the classic class which was 50 minutes and involved a workout ball light weights and double tube. The instructor was super helpful. Made sure I had proper form and the rest of the staff was super friendly.

I joined the pure barre community after discovering their super central location in shadyside while…read moreexploring the area. They have a massive parking lot so I never had any issues finding parking unlike the other gyms I have had memberships at in the past. They have multiple different types of classes and they will all kick your butt in the best way. I started with an intro class (free for new clients!) to learn about the equipment in the studio and experience how the flow of the class works. The staff is incredibly friendly and motivating. The other folks in class are also so kind and were helpful knowing that I was new. I always feel amazing after every class I have taken and can't wait to continue with Pure Barre. Whether you are a beginner, dancer, non dancer, HIIT workout girl, this workout is awesome and will tone you in all the right places. I love that I have added Pure Barre to my weekly workout routine and always look forward to my next class.

We got to tour the Pittsburgh Glass Center as part of our Friendship house tour in October. Such…read morea cool place. We got to visit the entire facility. Would love to go back and take a class. Beautiful pieces of glass to purchase by local artists - made in the Glass center.

My daughter and I had a fun time exploring and making paper weights. Created a memory in time!read more

Recently signed up again and just wanted to note that there have been some changes around the gym!…read more- Cardio equipment used to take up the bulk of the 1st floor. This space is now reserved for personal training only. - Cycle studio and floor space is where all of the cardio equipment has moved to - The room on the 1st floor everyone used as a dedicated leg day room is now officially the squats/hip thrusts room - Studio space upstairs (zumba, yoga, etc) is now a turf room with a rowing machine, some medicine balls, etc - Mens showers are closed down - womens seem to be open? They told us the showers are shutting down for good thought - Looks like some of the mats and small equipment is behind the front desk now - just ask and someone will grab it for you Selection of machines and free weights remains solid. They've got everything I need for a good workout. Front desk staff is nice. They play music - not so loud you can't hear your own headphones, but nice if your phone is dead. Gym membership was $55 per month for the first person + $45 per month for the second person. Then there was a startup fee -- I think $50 and $25? But I might be mistaken

The front desk is always super great and welcoming! The gym is clean and spacious. I never have to…read morewait for equipment and a very welcoming workout environment.

A very cool gym at Pitt ... It's spacious, lots of natural light, many cardio & weight machines and…read morea good number of racquetball courts. They are also great about leaving out disinfectant wipes for people to help clean up. You will get a pre-workout walking up "cardiac hill" to get to there, but I suppose your upper thigh areas will thank you. I think the gym is only for students, so you get a steady crowd of freshman and twenty-somethings who are more focused on their own physique, instead of various versions of Older Lurchy Guy - you know, that dude who has ulterior motives for showing to the big-chain health clubs. If you can get in, go get your workout on!!!

As a music fan, I've often wondered why? Why is it that some older acts continue to play the same…read moreold songs year after year, touring the beer/rib festivals, and generally sounding worse and worse playing rote versions of their most obvious hits? Hootie & the Blowfish and Gin Blossoms were already on this circuit only a few years after their biggest hits. I think I saw an ad once for Foghat appearing at a local car dealership. The Beach Boys? We won't even discuss them. Whereas other veteran artists continue to pay attention to their craft and continue to write and record solid music even if it doesn't sell as well as it used to. They still sell the larger venues and still put an effort into their shows. I'm talking acts like John Mellencamp, Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers, Robert Plant, Carlos Santana, John HIatt, Bonnie Raitt, and a few others. They also seem adept at attracting younger fans. Neil Young clearly falls into the latter category. And that's who my brother Paul, my dad & I saw this past week at the Pete. Neil Young is clearly an intergenerational artist. The dad loved his music the first time around and the bro and I got into him back in the 1990s when he started appearing with Pearl Jam, Nirvana, & others. Neil Young is also multifaceted. You're either going to get Acoustic Neil (a la the movie "Neil Young: Heart of Gold") or you're going to get the hard rock, distortion, fuzz tone Neil, especially when he plays with Crazy Horse. And that's what we got! Curiously, the set began with Neil's roadies setting things up, dressed either as construction workers or lab technicians/scientists. One of 'em, apparently the leader (wearing an Albert Einstein wig), was giving directions as faux amps were lifted out of their faux crates. Then they applauded themselves as a huge novelty vintage mic was set up center stage. It was really bizarre, especially when you consider that Neil Young is not known for his sense of whimsy. They also played a prerecorded version of the "Star Spangled Banner", but since Neil's Canadian, shouldn't they have first played "O Canada" like at the ballgame? The band then went into thundering versions of some of their best known material like "Love and Only Love" and "Powderfinger". He then went into a new song (don't roll your eyes), "Walk Like a Giant" which addresses some of his generations successes and failures. "Walk Like a Giant" ranks up there with the best he's ever done. And those of us who like Acoustic Neil were treated to a haunting version of "The Needle and the Damage Done" and "Twisted Road", an homage to Bob Dylan and Roy Orbison. Oddly enough, Neil Young & Crazy Horse did not perform any material of their 2012 album, "Americana". But we did get "Cinnamon Girl", "Hey Hey, My My", and "Like a Hurricane", which was the encore. The song "Hey Hey, My My" tells us "It's better to burn out/than it is to rust". Ironically, sitting there I could not believe I was watching a 67 year old man on stage.

Finally, I've been introduced to the New Hazlett Theater! I recently attended two of their shows…read morewithin two weeks. Well, more accurately, I attended one show and one run-through of an in-progress script. But together they were a great introduction to the kind of programming performed at the New Hazlett. I thought their production of "12 Angry Men" was a well-acted example of how a great creative team can breathe new life into a classic and well-known story; while the run-through was an excellent example of how the New Hazlett supports artists and new shows in the making. The space itself isn't fancy (which isn't a bad thing!) and both times I purchased tickets, seating was "first come first serve." There were stadium-style seats set up in three sections, so there was plenty of space for attendees and it was fairly easy to find a good spot. "12 Angry Men" in particular highlighted to me how there are seemingly no bad seats at the New Hazlett! I'll also note that my experiences are fairly minimal, since the New Hazlett Theater showcases a range of performance styles and hosts various events throughout the year. It's a bustling space that we're lucky to have, and which I hope people continue to support in 2025 and beyond. I'll certainly be keeping a closer eye on their productions moving forward!

Great theatre on the North Side. It's cozy and inviting…read more Several of my friends are local theatre performers and actors and often I get to see their works here. I get really excited to be invited to a play or other event here because it's such an appealing venue to soak in the culture and art of dance, acting, music and more.