Riding thru the Mecican War streets My wife and I came across these gardens…read more They are open to the public and it is free of charge to look around. Lots of vegetables and beautiful flowers. If you are in the area it is a lovely thing to see.

When I'm walking on the North Side this community garden is one of my favorite places to stroll…read morethrough. It's small but tranquil and filled with flowers, plants and veggies. It's a great little gem that you expect to find tucked away in major city neighborhoods.

One of the best things about living in Bloomfield was being able to take a quick walk to The…read moreOctopus Garden in Friendship. Professor Hughes from CMU started the garden back in 2009. The idea was (and is) bringing community together through art and gardening. Octavia (the octopus) is loved by kids and adults alike. There's a little free library onsite too. This is a fantastic community urban garden growing veg to share with neighbors. It's also off the beaten path and mainly known to neighborhood folks. If you're visiting my hometown of Pittsburgh and wanna see quirky things, check out this garden.

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.

5 Stars for preserving the past it's a nice house that I have driven past for ever. There's a phone…read morenumber for tours. There's not a lot of parking but it's easy to get to from RT 28. The grounds are really nice with a stream running through the property. Lots of antiques to see inside plus a well preserved spring house

Built in 1821 and beautifully restored, the Burtner house is an important piece of local history…read more Tours are by appointment or at one of their events. They rebuilt the spring house to how it looked originally. There's also a small cemetery. The gift shop has books about the house as well as coffee mugs and Christmas ornaments. Their Strawberry Festival occurs each June.

My son absolutely loves the boys and girls club. They offer a ton of activities for children of all…read moreages. With great soccer, science and art camps. The instructors and staff members are excellent with children, super friendly. The pricing is compared to everything that the boys and girls club has to offer is fair. We will be signing up for the summer programs again this year!

This review is limited to the cookie sale held today as the highlight of the Lawrenceville cookie…read moretour. When my girlfriend and I arrived we were each given a choice of a bag Snapper's dark or milk chocolate sea salt cookies as a gift. In three different rooms were tables with various organizations selling a good variety of cookies. A few of them let you sample some of the cookies, others were buy what you see and hope for the best. Prices were extremely reasonable and I was finally able to find a gingerbread man which is my personal favorite Christmas cookie. You could find anything from traditional cookies to pizzelles as well as macaroons. In the gymnasium there was an organization selling organic banana bread for $.50 and a church giving away free cookies with an invitation to come visit them on Dec. 23rd. There is nothing special about these cookies since they are all baked by members of the various organizations. Just run of the mill and of average quality. What we did stumble upon was a man selling books about the history and tales of Lawrenceville. My husband is an avid reader so after perusing them I picked up the first one that was written. Cash only here if you wanted to buy one. They were $17.00 so I was glad I had carried extra with me to purchase one. It will make a great holiday surprise for him. There was another vendor collecting charity donations for travel. By the time we left the place was packed. Sure the cookies are nothing to hoot about but supporting an organization always brings joy to my heart at this time of year to help those in need.

A vibrant hub for arts and community engagement the Elizabeth Seton Center, located at 1900 Pioneer…read moreAvenue in Pittsburgh, PA, is a beacon of inspiration and service in the local community. Drawing upon the vision of Mother Elizabeth Seton, the center was established to offer a diverse range of programs and resources, including child-care services, senior services, and music and theater programs. Through these offerings, the Elizabeth Seton Center has become an integral part of the Pittsburgh area, fostering creativity, learning, and intergenerational connections. I've been here in several occasions and have been impressed with their continuing support of the arts and the community. Most recently to attend the very first play that my son, daughter, and son-in-law performed together in. It was a very well done production by The Heritage Players of The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe. It is a fantasy play based on C.S. Lewis's novel, depicting the magical adventures of the Pevensie siblings in Narnia. They discover a wardrobe that transports them to this enchanted realm, where they aid the lion Aslan in defeating the evil White Witch and restoring peace. This timeless story, filled with magic, love, and courage, that was captivating. Catherine & Alan played Mr. & Mrs. Beaver and Matt played a guard to the evil White Witch. Rooted in the legacy of Mother Elizabeth Seton, the first American-born saint and the founder of the Sisters of Charity of Seton Hill, the center is committed to providing compassionate care and support for individuals of all ages and backgrounds. In keeping with this mission, the Elizabeth Seton Center offers high-quality child-care services, creating a nurturing environment for young children to grow, learn, and thrive. The center also places a strong emphasis on senior services, providing essential resources and opportunities for older adults to engage in social, cultural, and educational activities. Through these programs, seniors can participate in stimulating and enriching experiences that promote physical and mental well-being while fostering meaningful connections with others. In addition to its focus on child and senior care, the Elizabeth Seton Center has established itself as a premier destination for music and theater enthusiasts in Pittsburgh. The center's performing arts programs provide opportunities for participants of all ages to explore their creative potential and develop their talents in a supportive and inclusive environment. Home to the Heritage Players, a community theater group with a rich history of producing diverse and engaging productions, the Elizabeth Seton Center's theater programs bring the magic of live performance to local audiences. Through this collaboration, the center contributes to the vibrant arts landscape in Pittsburgh while offering a platform for performers to share their passion and skill with the community. The theater area is a spacious 300-seat auditorium with a excellent sightlines but the seating is old school wood and the acoustics can be challenging due to the high ceilings and the shear size of the auditorium The Elizabeth Seton Center's musical offerings further highlight the organization's commitment to promoting the arts and community engagement. Through concerts, workshops, and other events, the center fosters a deep appreciation for music and encourages both emerging and established musicians to showcase their talents. Bottom line: The Elizabeth Seton Center is a vital institution that exemplifies the values of its namesake, Mother Elizabeth Seton. With a strong dedication to child and senior care, as well as a deep commitment to promoting the arts through music and theater programs, the center continues to make a profound impact on the lives of Pittsburgh residents. By providing a welcoming space for learning, creativity, and growth, the Elizabeth Seton Center remains a true gem in the heart of Pittsburgh.

Other than offering services for children and senior citizens. Elizabeth Seton Center also offers a…read moreFarmers market & live theater. It is host to the Heritage Players who put on live performances throughout a year. I've seen my sister do productions with a couple of theather groups throughout the years. I would have to say this has to be the best one by far. The theather is old and has a bit of a 1950's nostalgia feel to it. I'm all for nostalgia but they could use some better seating. I was satisfied with the stage area acoustics and lighting making for a perfecting musical or play experience. If you're wanting any concessions for the show it's not really anything special as it's reminiscent of a table we'd see at elementary school functions consisting of candy bars sodas & a few other little snacks. But did offer a little alcohol. I would strongly recommend to BRing CAsh as consesions doesn't accept cards. I don't know about tickets as my sis gave me those free. I'd love to spectate some plays here in the future. I actually enjoyed myself a bit & will look into what else this Center has to offer. Be sure to like them on FB & tell a friend Elizabeth Seton Center https://www.facebook.com/elizabethsetoncenter/ Heritage Players https://www.facebook.com/heritageplayerspgh/

I have watched this organization grow over the years and I've been excited by the important work…read morethey do in our community. Burgh Bees trains and mentors new beekeepers, hosts beekeeping in their unique Community Apiary in the East End, advocates for beekeeping, and educates the public about the important roll bees play in our environmental health. A starting beekeeper can keep their hives at their facility while they learn about beekeeping. Those who don't have a space adequate for bees have a place to raise their bees. They regularly educate the public through educational programs, notably their Open Hives. What a wealth of information and public advocacy! Bees are fascinating social creatures and play a vital role in agricultural health, we are lucky to have Burgh Bees in the Pittsburgh region.

This is a really fine organization that owns 2,136 acres. I have visited many of their properties,…read morefor example, Wingfield Pines, Barking Slopes, and Sycamore Island. These are amazing bird habitats, natural wetlands, and wildlife sanctuaries. Besides great recreational areas, these lands are essential for preserving our environment and clean air. Everything is well managed, and new acquisitions are being added, such as Girty's Woods. They have great volunteer opportunities.

EDIT: Spoke to a manager who is working to honor the reservation. Will update review further after…read morethe party (crossing my fingers it does go forward). Original 1 star review below... Original review: Looking for a birthday party venue for our kiddo, I came across Assemble. It looked great! -- they advertise birthday parties on their website, and include pricing and other info about activities and number of kids they can accommodate. Great, it's all looking good. I fill out their online form with the required info, including three potential dates for the party that all comply with the date restrictions they have posted in their website, and submit it. I get a response the next day -- again, great!! Yes, they can do the first requested date. Yes, they can do activities for the age group. Leah, the "Camp Coordinator" (according to her email signature block) asks if we are still interested/want to confirm the party date. I say, yes, we definitely want to book. Cut to today when Leah emails to say, ooops! When we confirmed the party, we were just kidding!!!!! No party. Instead, Assemble decided to do camp on that date, so they can charge more money. They hope I can understand their decision to unilaterally cancel my kiddo's birthday party reservation, which they previously confirmed, because it's easier for them to cancel my kid's party than to keep their word. No. No, I don't understand. It's unprofessional. Best case scenario, they're so disorganized that their Camp Coordinator booked my kid's birthday party without realizing that they already had camp scheduled for that date. But, no, that's not what she said happened. She *admitted* that she found out (after booking the party) that Assemble subsequently decided it would do a camp on the party date. Rather than honor the party reservation that was already confirmed, they just cancelled my kiddo's party. I could never recommend them to anyone, because you can't trust them. They'll take their word back when it suits them.

I've attended assemble both as a visiting guest artist for their afterschool programming and for…read moretheir evening 21+ and 18+ events as well as first Friday Unblurred, and everytime I am there I am so inspired by the creativity and color and joy that is in their space. All the staff work put so much work into making the space feel safe and welcoming to kids and adults. It is clear that everyone working there cares deeply about the local community. They highlight local artists in their gallery space, and bring in guest artists to teach kids and adults. The 21+ nights are so fun, I always invite my friends and end up leaving assemble with a fun project and a new skill!