Highmark Fist Night

New Years is just around the corner! Pittsburgh citizens of all ages are reflecting upon the past 365 days, and while it is important to look back on what you’ve accomplished in this year past, it is just as important to look ahead. New Years Eve in Pittsburgh is a time to be with family, friends, and come together as a city to celebrate the bright future ahead. In fact, this year marks the 20th anniversary of the Highmark First Night celebration, ensuring a night to remember.

Run by the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust, Highmark First Night is the city of Pittsburgh’s way of saying “Happy New Year!” It is a giant celebration in which families from all Pittsburgh neighborhoods gather downtown to see fireworks, parades, live music, comedy and much more! And when you reside in one of the most affordable places to live in the country, you can bet on the night being a bargain. For just $8 in advanced, $10 the night-of and free for those 5 & under, you and your family has access to over 150 vendors and venues throughout the night.

Highmark First Night has become a Pittsburgh tradition. It’s become a time to step away from the stress of your Pgh job and enjoy the Pgh arts and different activities that you don’t regularly get to take in. It’s a way to start your year off right, and a way to do it in the city you love. So, come welcome in the new year the right way when you celebrate like a real Pittsburgher at the Highmark First Night!

For more information on the night and its activities, visit the Highmark First Night website here: http://bit.ly/1bQn9dV

Local Holiday Shopping

The Pittsburgh holiday season is here! It’s a time to be with family and it’s a time to give presents. Unfortunately, with our Pgh jobs, many of us here in the great city of Pittsburgh have had little time, if any, to get out and shop for gifts. And with the largest gift-giving-day of the year just a few business days away, it may be too late for the lot of us to order online. Fortunately, there is no need to worry because we here at Vibrant Pittsburgh understand what you’re going through. Which is why we’re here to let you know that when your home is in the city of Pittsburgh, one of the most affordable places to live, you reside in a city of opportunity. You reside in a city that cares, and a city that makes, buys, and sells local.

Scattered throughout the streets of the many Pittsburgh neighborhoods are local stores that have plenty to offer for the last minute shopper. LivingPittsburgh.com, a website dedicated to helping our city’s citizens enjoy Pittsburgh, no matter their income, has composed a large list, “Pittsburgh Buy Local’s Gift Guide,” to help highlight some of our city’s best local holiday offers for both the pre-planned and last minute shopper.

To check out the local gift guide, click here: http://bit.ly/1aVc4Vi

Pittsburgh: Winter Activities

While the city of Pittsburgh has a reputation for being one of the most affordable places to live, it also has a reputation for being one of the snowiest. Pittsburgh winters are frigid. Pittsburgh winters are cold. Pittsburgh winters are covered in snow, which for many newcomers will often pose as a reason to stay in doors. However, as cold and frigid as Pittsburgh winters can be, every Pittsburgher knows that they can be just as beautiful. With blankets of white crystal covering the many Pittsburgh neighborhoods and vast acres of parkland, it’s easy to forget about the freezing temperatures and find yourself wandering into the glittering white hills of Pittsburgh. That’s why we here at Vibrant Pittsburgh urge you to get outside this winter with a few of our favorite Pittsburgh winter activities.

Winter Activities

Sledding. A city built on hills, Pittsburgh is the perfect place to ride a sled! Whether it’s on the monstrous Flag Staff Hill (Schenley Park), the speedy hills of Blue Slide Park (Frick Park), or one of the many other famous Pittsburgh hills, there is no doubt that one of the best ways to enjoy a snowy Pittsburgh day (or night!) is sled riding.

Ice Skating. Whether it’s hanging out with friends, a family outing, a romantic date, or even some necessary alone time, a great Pittsburgh winter activity is ice skating! With multiple rinks throughout the city, our two favorite outdoor rinks are Downtown’s Rink at PPG and Schenley Park’s ice skating rink that is located just off Panther Hollow Road.

Skiing. While there is no skiing within the city of Pittsburgh, just outside the city borders lies a skiers paradise. With a range of skiing from the beginner slopes of Boyce Park to the largest ski resort in Pennsylvania, Seven Springs, Pittsburgh winter offers the optimum skiing experience for skiers of all levels.

As brutal as a Pittsburgh winter can be, it can also be just as beautiful and tons of fun. It’s important to get outside this winter and enjoy Pittsburgh for what it is. Whether you decide to go sledding, ice skating, skiing or partake in one of the many other snowy activities offered in the Pittsburgh region, make a decision to take a break from your Pgh jobs and enjoy living in the great city of Pittsburgh.

10th Annual Handmade Arcade

We’ve said it before and we’ll say it again - Pittsburgh is a city of opportunity. And while much of that opportunity lies within the boundaries of Pgh jobs or Pgh arts, there is also that which falls in between. Being one of the most affordable places to live, Pittsburgh grants its citizens with the fortune of being able to do what you love and even make money from it at the same time. Tomorrow, December 7th, 2013, is the 10th Annual Handmade Arcade - an exhibition filled with people making money by doing what they love.

The Handmade Arcade is an enormous annual craft show. Held Downtown at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center, the Handmade Arcade offers a surplus of locally made crafts ranging from jewelry and lighting to t-shirts and posters. With over 350 people who applied to be apart of the exhibition, a volunteer group of artists whittled the selection of this years vendors down to a satisfying 150. And after taking into consideration both originality and price range, this years selection will most definitely satiate your need of finding the perfect holiday gift whether it be for yourself or someone else you care about.

This year doors open at 10am, although the first hour of the Handmade Arcade is designated solely for the 250 people who have paid $15 to purchase an early bird ticket. After 11am, however, the doors open at free admission to the public until the assigned closing time of 7pm. And with last years traffic swelling above 9,000 people throughout the day, this years those running the show expect to see even more people, which means get there while the crafts are still available!

With the theme of ‘A Decade of Do It Yourself,’ this years Handmade Arcade is sure to be a blast. A great way to support local artists, all the while checking off your holiday gift list, the 10th Annual Handmade Arcade isn’t just another craft show, rather its the chance to become an important part of the Pittsburgh community. For more information on the 10th Annual Handmade Arcade: A Decade of Do It Yourself, as well as a chance to buy early bird tickets, visit the Handmade Arcade website here: http://bit.ly/1cYi7er

Pittsburgher Spotlight: Ali Spagnla

Whether it be a US Steel career, a Fedex Pittsburgh career, or one of the many other career options available within the great city of Pittsburgh, there is no doubt that Pittsburgh is a city of opportunity. And yet, amongst all the opportunity presented throughout the city, there is still room to create your own. In fact, that’s exactly what one Pittsburgher decided to do, and so far she really seems to be the life of the party. Ali Spagnola, a Pittsburgh native, has developed a Power Hour Concert which, after dubious amounts of success within Pittsburgh, has now taken to the road.

Ali’s Power Hour Concert is a simple and fun concept. With 60 original one-minute songs, Ali plays an hour of music and every time a song changes party goers are challenged to take one shot of beer. An upbeat mix of pop, rap, punk and rock, Ali’s music is danceable, clever and catchy to ensure an incredible time for even non-drinkers. It’s an original concept that’s been featured in Forbes, the New York Post, The Huffington Post and many other notable media sources. And it all stemmed from Pittsburgh.

A native to Beaver County, Ali grew up with a mother in the local judicial system and with a father as a local beer distributor. For undergraduate, she attended Carnegie Mellon University, and while Ali now resides in one of the many Pittsburgh neighborhoods, she is proud to be an alumni of CMU. For after all, CMU is where it all began.

“I was playing ‘non-alcoholic’ shows while attending Carnegie Mellon,” Ali explained, “...it just seemed easier to get people to attend a party than it was a normal show.” And so the Ali Spagnola Power Hour Concert was born!

As of now Ali has toured to over 20 states and has a growing national fanbase, including over 1.5 million Twitter followers. Though, at the end of the day the only place Ali wants to be is the place she knows and loves, Pittsburgh. “It’s easy to pursue something creative in Pittsburgh,” Ali points out. “If it’s not, it certainly seems like one of the most affordable places to live, which lends you a lot of opportunity to do what you love.”

Pittsburgh: Thanksgiving Tradition

Can you smell that? Do you smell the warm scent of turkey softly floating through the Pittsburgh neighborhoods? Well, maybe you can’t yet, but you will in just a few days! Thanksgiving is less than a week away, and while it is a time to think about the delicious foods you’ll soon be eating, it’s also a time to indulge in the comforts of tradition. A leader in cutting edge technology and medicine, Pittsburgh is also a city which takes great pride in tradition. In fact, every year around Thanksgiving, the city of Pittsburgh has a few traditional events of its own.

Thanksgiving Events

My Macy’s Holiday Parade. While this year it’s actually taking place the Saturday after Thanksgiving, the My Macy’s Holiday Parade is a 33 year old tradition celebrated by the city of Pittsburgh. Starting at 9am, the My Macy’s Holiday Parade will be marching through Downtown, highlighting v staples and kicking off the holiday season for all Pittsburgh families. To learn more about the parade, click here: http://bit.ly/1e1lsec

PNC YMCA Turkey Trot. A 23 year old tradition, the Turkey trot is an annual 5k starting at 8:30 AM on the day of Thanksgiving. Now featuring a 1 mile sign up, as well as a 5 mile sign up, the Turkey Trot is held at PNC Park and is a great way to burn off those calories to make room for the nights Thanksgiving feast! For more information about the Turkey Trot, click here: http://bit.ly/19oGsd6

Winter Flower Show at Phipps. While the age of this tradition is a little less clear, the Winter Flower Show at Phipps is an annual holiday event often opening the day after Thanksgiving. Running through mid January, the Winter Flower Show is a chance to see a beautiful array of flowers and, as an exciting new addition for 2013, this Winter Flower Show will feature a showcase of lighted glass sculptures. For more information on the Winter Flower Show, click here: http://bit.ly/v2URb7

Whether it’s the traditional roots of the long planted Pittsburgh families, or one of the many traditional events offered during the Holiday season, there is no doubt that Pittsburgh is a city of tradition. While we may be a city which leads in technological advancement, those of us living in one of the most affordable cities in America continue to know and appreciate the rich history that got us here. This holiday season, enjoy the delicious turkey and cranberry sauce, participate in one of the many Pittsburgh holiday festivities, and remember to appreciate not just those around you, but the ones who came before you, too.

The Andy Warhol Museum

Whether you work for Fedex Pittsburgh, in one of the many US Steel careers offered within the area, or a different Pgh job, you will eventually have free time. And when you do have free time, why waste it? When you live in one of the most affordable places in the country, Pittsburgh, and free time is at hand, there is no point in watching re-runs on the TV and avoiding being productive. Pittsburgh offers unlimited opportunity for a good time. One such place that’s affordable, fun and informative, The Andy Warhol Museum.

To give a quick overview, Andy Warhol was an American artist, native Pittsburgher, and leader in what’s become known as the pop art movement. To get an idea of pop art, it’s an art recognized for its combination of traditional fine art with aspects of modern culture, such as advertisements, comic books, and even video games. One of Andy Warhol’s most prized pieces from the pop art movement is the Campbell’s Soup Can, a work of art consisting of 32 canvases of identical paintings of a Campbell Soup can.

With an emphasis on pop art, The Andy Warhol Museum celebrates and hosts a diverse array of artists year round. It takes pride in its ever-changing interface and consistency in its own redefinition, as well as relationship to contemporary art. At The Andy Warhol Museum, one has a chance to discover and reflect on modern times, in addition to seeing where such modern reflection began. It’s a step into contemporary history and one that is located right here in the beautiful city of Pittsburgh.

Located in the North Side, The Andy Warhol Museum is open from 10AM - 10PM on Fridays, and 10AM - 5PM all other days of the week. Only $10 for students and children, and $20 for adults, The Andy Warhol Museum is a life changing experience that is available for the whole family. So, get up off the couch, expand your horizons and use your free time productively when you take time to visit The Andy Warhol Museum.

Thanksgiving in Pittsburgh

With all the hustle and bustle of moving into one of the many Pittsburgh neighborhoods, it’s easy to put your life on hold and forget to make plans for the holidays. And with Thanksgiving just around the corner, and you still getting your life in order, preparing a Thanksgiving dinner doesn’t really seem plausible. What do you do? Fortunately, now that you’re living in one of the most affordable places in America, there are plenty of options how you can get your Thanksgiving feast on.

Habitat Restaurant. If you’re looking for a delicious way to start off your Thanksgiving, try giving the Habitat Restaurant Holiday Brunch a chance. Starting at 11 am and going until 2 pm, this Holiday Brunch will feature live entertainment, a delicious menu, and the opportunity to meet new people while enjoying a delicious meal. And if you’d rather spend your Holiday in the comfort of your own home, the Habitat Restaurant is offering Turkey Dinners to go! For more information, click here: http://bit.ly/1aImhYN

Lidia’s Pittsburgh. This holiday season Lidia’s Pittsburgh will be hosting a delicious Thanksgiving feast! Located in the Strip District, Lidia’s Pittsburgh will have seating available from 12 pm to 5:30 pm so you can enjoy a famous Lidia’s Pittsburgh three course meal. For more information, click here: http://bit.ly/smgsoe

Frescos. Located in Wexford, Frescos is another delicious option for the holidays. Offering their Traditional Thanksgiving Buffet starting at 12 pm, Frescos is a great place to enjoy Thanksgiving with family and friends. And if it was the cooking you didn’t have time for this Thanksgiving, no need to worry. Frescos offers To-Go packages for parties of 8 to 20 people! For more information, click here: http://bit.ly/kkGie4

Just because you moved to a brand new city for your Pgh job doesn’t mean you can’t celebrate the holidays. Enjoy Thanksgiving with one of the many restaurant options offered here in the great city of Pittsburgh! And for a larger list of restaurants opened during the holiday season, click here: http://bit.ly/HsCh72