Fun and Strange Things to do when New to Pittsburgh
by Kristine Ruelos
Need a break form the pressures of understanding, organizing and retrieving information? New to town, lonely and looking for a good time? Look no further for a short list of--you guessed it--fun things to do when new to Pittsburgh.
Pittsburgh gets a jump on the gun at the Brewery. Their Oktoberfest celebration starts September 15 and goes all through the weekend til September 17. Bands, beer. Chatterbox is playing; so are the Buzz Poets. Do I know anything about these bands? No. I just like the idea of Oktoberfest in September. (412) 692-1100.
Greater Pittsburgh is having its seventh annual Renaissance Festival. Been looking for a knight in shining armor? Look no further. Every Saturday and Sunday from September 9 through September 24, the Laurel Highlands are the place to be. Jousting is featured, and mead will be served. (724) 872-1670.
Prefer something a little more subdued? Try Good Fridays at the Andy Warhol Museum. Every Friday the Warhol opens their doors to the masses (or the few, depending on how many folks come by). Free gallery admission from 5 to 10 p.m. and a cash bar in the lobby. This past August saw bands such as Luna, and Pittsburgh's own Lonely Planet Boy. September 8 opens the nine-film series "New Visions, New Voices: Christine Vachon, Harmony Korine and Todd Haynes." Films featured are Kids, Swoon and Happiness, amongst others. (412) 237-8300.
The South Side brings us not only a buffet of restaurants and boozing establishments, it also is hot to the Black Sheep Puppet Festival at the Brew House Space 101, from September 9 to September 24. How can you go wrong with puppets? (412) 381-7767.
Have the ability to play the accordion and ride a unicycle at the same time? Know all the songs from Les Mis, and you can juggle full grown cats? Call for audition. A Gong Show benefit will be held October 15 at CMU's Rangos Hall. Proceeds go to one of Pittsburgh's shelters. Not only will you be helping humanity, you'll be making a fool out of yourself at the same time. Can't beat that. (412) 862-2514.
Haven't figured out where to go bowling yet? Try Forward Lanes. The wood, the shoes, the balls, the lights. The sound of the marblized spheres quietly hurtling toward their targets, then Smack! pins go flying. On Forward between Murray and Shady. Next door to the movie theatre.
For you pop and 80s retro lovers, Britney Spears is doing it again (oops) at the Post Gazette Pavillion September 15th. And better yet, Culture Club "featuring" Boy George is at Metropol October 1st. I saw the VH-1 special; isn't it wonderful the way he's turned his life around?
For those who prefer cool to camp, try the Shadow Lounge for hip hop and open mike poetry. In East Liberty, near Baum and South Highland.
And remember, if you don't know anybody, nobody will know
how weird you are. Might as well bring the puppets bowling.
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Publication of the Department of Library & Information Science
University of Pittsburgh
135 N. Bellefield Ave.
Pittsburgh, PA 15260
Last updated September 14, 2000