Pittsburgh was named one of "20 great places in the world to experience in 2012" by National Geographic Traveler. "On all counts, the Steel City's transformation over the past long concluded, this western Pennsylvania city changed jobs and reclaimed major assets: a natural setting that rivals Lisbon and San Francisco, a wealth of fine art and architecture, and a quirky sense of humor," noted the magazine. Other destinations alongside Pittsburgh in the 20 great places list included London and Oman.
Pittsburgh is famous for steel, sports and rivers - but it is also the Birthplace of Pop Culture. Pittsburgh has given us George Romero and the film “Night of the Living Dead.” The jazz guitarist George Benson got his start in Pittsburgh playing ukulele in local clubs. Christina Aguilera started her career singing the national anthem at Pittsburgh Penguins games. And America's Got Talent pre-teen soprano phenom, Jackie Evancho hails from Pittsburgh.
Then there’s Pittsburgh native Andy Warhol – the world’s most famous Pop artist, who claimed: “In the future everyone will be world-famous for 15 minutes.” You’ll want to spend way more than 15 minutes, though, as you immerse yourself in all that is Pop Art at The Andy Warhol Museum - a seven-story, internationally acclaimed museum.
Pittsburgh is a city of transformation - an Urban Game-Changer. Bike, walk or rollerblade miles of riverfront trails, soaking in fantastic urban views. Wrapped in rivers, intertwined with trails and packed with parks, it is a green and outdoor city in close contact with its surrounding countryside. An example of Pittsburgh’s proud environmental record - the new Phipps Conservatory Center for Sustainable Landscapes opens May 23, 2012. It will be one of the world's first certified living buildings, a model of sustainability for architects, scientists, planners and anyone interested in living greener.
Spend an elegant evening in Pittsburgh's downtown Cultural District with seven theatres and great restaurants. As well as rich performing arts, Pittsburgh is also the place for art lovers everywhere. The Andy Warhol Museum, Carnegie Museum of Art and The ToonSeum are just a handful of places to discover art from many different eras. And explore the World Class museums - including the Carnegie Museum of Natural History, Carnegie Science Center and the Children's Museum of Pittsburgh.
If you take to the streets of Pittsburgh there are a number of free walking tours to help you explore this vibrant city. The Gallery Crawl is a free quarterly showcase of art and entertainment in the heart of the Cultural District. There are 5 free, self guided Architectural Walking Tours. In addition there are public Art Walking Tours of four downtown neighborhoods featuring remarkable artwork by nationally and internationally recognized artists, many of whom were inspired by the Pittsburgh region when they created their pieces.
Another very affordable activity is the annual First Fridays at the Frick outdoor musical performance series. (Suggested donation: $5 per adult; children free). One of Pittsburgh’s most popular summertime events it takes place on the first Friday of the month from June to September on the Great Lawn in front of Clayton. Gourmet picnic dinners are available at The Café at the Frick.
Performing arts abound in Pittsburgh - just in May alone there is a packed agenda! Until May 20, 2012 the Distinctively Dutch Festival features theatre, dance, music, family fun, visual arts and more. Through May 13, 2012 the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra is celebrating it’s Paris Festival. The Silk Screen Asian American Film Festival is May 11-20, 2012 and the Pittsburgh International Children’s Festival is May 16-20, 2012. Pittsburgh CLO’s Broadway-quality productions have received rave reviews and they perform all summer - don’t miss the uproarious Addams Family July 31-August 12, 2012
And there is a packed schedule of festivals and events this summer. Here is just a taste of what is on offer in the world class city of Pittsburgh.
Great Outdoors Week - May 11-20, 2012
Great Outdoors Week showcases the Pittsburgh region as a hub for outdoor recreation activities - biking, hiking, paddling and much more. It’s a ten day celebration of outdoor fun in the Pittsburgh region.
PRIDE - June 1-10, 2012 (Parade June 10)
Pride is a celebration of Pittsburgh’s LGBT (lesbian, gay, bi-sexual, transgender) community and the diversity of the city.
International Jazz Festival - June 1-3, 2012
A family centered event that celebrates Pittsburgh’s jazz history and the jazz playing family bands of Pittsburgh.
Three Rivers Arts Festival - June 1-10, 2012
It is the region’s largest multidisciplinary showcase of visual art and performing arts.
NHL Draft – June 22-23, 2012
A two-day event in which the newest batch of potential NHL stars are selected by each of the 30 NHL hockey clubs.
Three Rivers Regatta - June 30-July 4, 2012
The largest inland regatta in the United States featuring dragon boats, bass fishing, stunt shows, the powerboat super league championship races and Fourth of July fireworks to cap it off!
Vintage Grand Prix - July 13-22, 2012
The Pittsburgh Vintage Grand Prix is a world-class vintage racing event that raises funds to help developmentally disabled individuals in the Pittsburgh region.
Pittsburgh Restaurant week - August 13-19, 2012
Pittsburgh Restaurant Week highlights the wide-ranging dining options that Pittsburgh has to offer and allows visitors to the city to walk the streets and enjoy a dinner at a special discounted price.
Impressionist Exhibition at the Carnegie Museum - until August 26, 2012
From May 12-August 26, 2012 Carnegie Museum of Art presents Impressionism in a New Light: From Monet to Stieglitz. The exhibit focuses on what Impressionism means in art.
Factory Direct: Pittsburgh at The Andy Warhol Museum - until Sept 9, 2012
From June 24-Sept 9, 2012, this is is a seminal project where emerging and established contemporary artists will conduct residencies in Pittsburgh. In partnership with an individual factory they will create new work based on the materials and processes of the host industrial facility.
Pittsburgh Trip Showcase
- Stay in Pittsburgh at the Westin Convention Center Hotel, a downtown Pittsburgh hotel right in the center of the business and cultural district of the city. Guests at The Westin Convention Center, Pittsburgh have easy access to a variety of local areas with complimentary weekday transportation available from the hotel.
- Treat your taste buds at Olive or Twist Restaurant , Pittsburgh's premier martini bar and restaurant in the heart of the Cultural District.
- Visit The Andy Warhol Museum, dedicated to Pittsburgh’s most favourite son. The Andy Warhol Museum is one of the largest single-artist museums in the world.
- Experience Carnegie Museum of Art, nationally and internationally recognized for its distinguished collection of American and European works from the 16th century to the present.
- Compare and contrast your other museum visits with The Mattress Factory. The Mattress Factory is a museum of contemporary art that presents art you can get into - room-sized environments, created by in-residence artists.
Photo Credits: Visit Pittsburgh, Andy Warhol, Jackie, 1964, ©AWF, Andy Warhol, Campbell’s Soup I Tomato, 1968, ©AWF
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