"Garrison Canal" is a piece of artwork that was designed by artist Andrea Polli and installed in…read morethe Garrison Place alley between Liberty Avenue and Exchange Way. The artwork consists of thousands of lights that were recycled from the "Energy Flow" art on the Rachel Carson Bridge. According to the website for the artwork, Polli describes the artwork as waves of big-data lights under which visitors "swim." The lights change color in response to the weather. Recently late in the evening, my husband and I walked under this artwork. The shimmering lights looked very beautiful. Unfortunately, a man stopped and really stared at us, and even my husband felt worried that we would be robbed. We were not harmed at all (phew!), but I recommend that people walk with a buddy and keep a safe distance from others.

This walk way is located In the cultural district. During the day you can't really see the lights…read morebut as the sun goes down you can get some fun artsy photographs. Also the map is a block off so keep your eyes open so that you don't get too far from it.

You don't have to shell out any Dough to visit the Doughboy, because of course it's free…read more This is a popular little roundabout with an ice sculpture in the middle of it... actually it's a "nice sculpture" but google dictate hates me. Having said that, an ice sculpture would probably survive here for several months a year in icy Pitt. So it's pretty awesome, and one which is located in Pittsburgh's Lawrenceville neighbourhood. As you can see Barbie came here, and like her, it adds a nice little bit of culture and artistic flavour to the neighbourhood.

I moved nearby recently and had no idea this was here. What a lovely surprise!…read more It's not the biggest park but you can tell that a lot of love created it and sustains it. Activities looked fun for any age--a little free library, chalk and chalkboard, glittery octopus statue. I have not looked into the plant stuff yet but can already say I enjoy the park.

Got to visit the octopus Garden as part of the Friendship house tour! What a incredibly cool…read moreplace. We got to walk through see the different Garden beds & chat with some of the people who care for the gardens & admire the sculptures and art work.

St. Nicholas Croatian Catholic Church in Millvale, PA (just North of Pittsburgh) is full of murals…read moreon walls and ceilings, 25 in all. They are a marvel, commissioned by a Croation priest of a Croatian artist, Maxo Vanka, who immigrated to the U.S. in 1934 prior to WWII. 11 or 12 of the murals were done in 1937 in 8 weeks total. The rest of the murals except some in the choir loft were done in 1941 with the choir loft art done in 1950, per our guide. Important fascinating tidbits -- this was the first time Vanka had painted in a church, he was not Catholic, and it was his first time painting murals. They are remarkable and all have been restored now by a separate society -- The Society to Preserve the Millvale Murals of Maxo Vanka -- but restoration is a never ending process They needed restoring due to Pittsburgh harsh sooty environment of the time and being in a non-climate controlled building. If anyone local has a chance to visit, it is well worth getting a guided tour.

Hidden treasure in plain view! These church murals, painted in 1937 and 1941, depict the story of…read moreCroatian immigration, but are also infused by themes of Social Justice, the power and suffering roles of women, and the genius of one of the most visionary painters of the 20th Century. The tours are led on Saturday mornings, and you can register online, or propose your own group private tour. It's a $10 donation which goes directly to the preservation and lighting of the murals. The tours are wonderful storytelling, as you learn about the fascinating life of Croatian born Maxo Vanka and the unusual twists and turns that led to the creation of his "Sistine Chapel" in the murals of the St. Nicholas Croatian Catholic Church in Millvale. Definitely go without any preconceptions, the paintings are unique and powerfully beautiful. Vanka is a Pacifist, a champion of the common person, especially the down and out, and outsider with a unique vision. Definitely bring your out of town guests, but make no mistake, there's nothing touristy to see, just the most amazing legacy of one of the great artists of the 20th Century.

4.5 stars. Songbird Artistry is a local, family-owned business that sells merchandise that is made…read moreby over 50 local artisans as well as art classes. The merchandise includes jewelry (e.g., necklaces, earrings, bracelets, and pins), apparel (e.g., gloves, hats, t-shirts, onesies, and bibs), bath products (e.g., soaps, beard balm, aftershave, and shower steamers), foods (e.g., olive oil, vinegar, seasonings, and dog and cat treats), stationery (e.g., stickers, greeting cards, and magnets), and home decor (e.g., candles, coasters, prints, and knick-knacks). I bought one pierogi magnet for five dollars. This magnet sticks well to my refrigerator in my kitchen, and it looks cute.

I've had my eye on this shop for some time now and was very glad to see them represented at the…read moreMingo Creek covered bridge festival. Their jewelry is locally hand made and goes anywhere from traditional to whimsical motifs including Harry Potter, Disney, Hamilton the musical, mosaics, and even dried flowers! Their booth only carries a limited selection of what's in the store where they have partnered with local food vendors such as Olive and Marlowe, as well as other Pittsburgh vendors to sell you almost anything. You can find stickers, clothing, caps, coasters, keychains, soap, candles and so much more! I was able to chat with Jenny who is one of the owners of the business who told me that they offer various craft classes in the store as well as unique themed parties such as Harry Potter for kids. If attending a class is not your bag because of the pandemic then on occasion you can purchase a craft kit in store and arrange for a Zoom class on a particular day to make your craft. They are very flexible when is comes to meeting people exactly where they are. You can find most anything on their website. Have something in particular in mind? Just contact them and they will accommodate your every need. During my visit I picked up two pairs of earrings with surgical steel backs. Jenny gave me some rubber stoppers with my purchases to insure they won't get lost. I purchased a pretty teardrop stud earring set and the Hamilton inspired earrings. I'm all set to enjoy one of my favorite Broadway musicals-"Hamilton." I also learned they do "Wicked the musical" jewelry if you are fond of that show. It's a great place to buy local made arts and crafts showcasing Pittsburgh. Although they are based in Lawrenceville across from Children's hospital, you may run into this business at various events with the last one I saw them at was VegFest. They were also at Picklesburg. Jenny told me that If I ever make to the shop itself the cheapest parking is at Children's Hospital across the street for $3.00. Not a bad deal if you are looking for parking in the area. Will be looking forward to visiting their store this fall to check out their other offerings.

4.5 stars. The Alphabetosaurus dinosaur is a sculpture that is located across the street from the…read moreCarnegie Museum of Natural History. Years ago, the Grable Foundation donated a DinoMite Days dinosaur for the teachers and students at Phillips Elementary School to decorate. The teachers and students created colorful alphabet letters and applied them to the dinosaur. This decorating was intended to support children's learning of language. This dinosaur is free for everyone to see, touch, and photograph. If you happen to be in the Oakland neighborhood for other activities, then I recommend that you quickly stop by to see Alphabetosaurus. Tip: Another dinosaur sculpture, Dippy, a Diplodocus, is located a short walk across the street, and his decorations change throughout the seasons.

Beautiful Dinosaur! It was fun to see her. I am on the hunt for additional dinosaurs.read more

Who lives in a pineapple under the sea sponge bob gangster pants. That being said here's gangsta…read moreBob his Homie Cookie Monster that looks like Oscar but is the color Cookie Monster so there's a lot going on here. Another cool Pittsburgh mural that I had to take pictures of an ad on here because I hope others get to see it because it's pretty cool.

Awesome display of color and emotion in this mural we saw while we were in Pittsburgh. We love…read moremural and public art. And something we love doing is traveling and seeing murals in other cities. This is a great looking mural that displays a good message. Definitely one to check out and visit,

Wow. I wasn't sure what to expect. But it is indeed a full lighthouse inside a house. Tour guide…read morewas incredibly knowledgeable and this was a one-of-a-kind experience. Appreciated that they cater to small groups. I called day-of and they were able to get us on a tour later in the day. Definitely worth checking out.

The latest of 3 art houses in Troy Hill, Darkhouse, Lighthouse has generated substantial excitement…read moreand acclaim by imbedding a lighthouse in the middle of a house. As you move your way through the house to the top floor, you are able to see the authentic Fresnel Lens, which is both beautiful and compelling. Touring the art houses is free, and the online booking has made the process easier than ever. It's difficult to describe, however a visit to Darkhouse Lighthouse is experiential, self reflective, and fun.