Andrea Polli's masterpiece in the heart of the Cultural District is an absolute gem of immersive…read moreart! A place I would often take visitors to our great city and a spot I still swing by whenever I'm home. The canal aka Garrison Place was originally a dank and dark alley (Garrison Alley) that transformed with the Cultural District coming into fruition. The LED art installation wasn't unveiled until 2018 but is still considered a vital and iconic piece of Pittsburgh art & history. The idea of the artwork is to mimic swimming under water. The lights change colors depending on weather. The animated waves also shift & change around the weather. If you're visiting Pittsburgh, be sure to check it out (after the sun goes down) in the 900 block of Liberty.

"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.

Very nice to see. Nothing like it anywhere else…read more Great to be right in the heart of The City . Best to go on a tour with others.

An incredibly quirky gem that is a must visit! There are…read morethings to discover at every turn in this yard turned art gallery. So much color, so much whimsey! You could spend just a few minutes or easily spend an hour exploring all the nooks and crannies.. There is no parking lot, but there is plenty of street parking in the area. Just play attention to the signs, because there are areas that are permit only or have restrictions on time.

Why have I never reviewed this amazing piece of work? We visited it several times and often while…read moreGustavo Zermeno (ID Labs) was in town painting it (July 2022). We got to briefly chat with him and he was so down-to-earth. He and his friend came in from Cali to do the job and it was done in just a couple of weeks. His talent is immense and the homage he paid to his friend, Mac is felt in every inch of the mural. I took a bunch of pics but I'm sharing only one as it was the best shot I got. When you see this mural, you don't feel like this kid is gone. Maybe just off on an adventure never to be seen again. Or maybe he's hiding behind the counter at Frick Park Market. Gone too soon but cherished by his hometown, always. If you're in Pittsburgh, head over to neighboring Etna to soak in this piece of history.

A nice tribute to local rap star, Mac Miller. It's fitting that it is painted on the side of…read moreID Labs where he originally recorded. The mural is beautifully executed, and it's fun to find it.

Excellent experience minus some floors being closed for renovation. It's like this with most large…read moremuseums in my experience but always leaves me wondering what I missed! Learned a lot here about Mr. Warhola and enjoyed it overall. I didn't include all my pictures as to not spoil it. PS there is a 3 minute screen testing you can do which is essentially a 3 minute video you do and then it's emailed to you. I thought it was cool.

Really cool musuem. $25. Right next to PNC park. Good quick stop before going to a ballgame…read more Start on the 7th floor and then work your way down. There is a short film on the main floor that might be worth watching at the beginning or at the end. Warhol was an interesting artist. Some modern Campbell soup. None of his bigger main pieces are here but some of his similar work are

Did you know the Snoopy Doghouse on the Boulevard of the Allies was built in 2000 by a Public Works…read moreemployee? Yep. True story. Ron Gembarosky built it to cover a utility box. Creative, functional, and ingenious. Yet another reason to be proud of my beloved city. It's also listed on Atlas Obscura. Important to note that it may not always be in place because of theft and vandalism. It's been replaced several times over the years. I've seen it when only the roof was left or a piece of it. Still worth trying to see it if you're exploring our Steel City. It's located within the PPG Plaza area where Blvd of Allies & Stanwix meet.

I am endlessly amazed at the places and things that you can actually review on Yelp. I was looking…read morefor another business when this one popped up and I had to add my review! Pittsburgh is so full of quirky gems and it is fun learning about their stories. The first time I saw this, I did a double take. "Is that Snoopy's house?" and "if it is, why the heck is it there?!" I asked my husband who had no idea so I googled and learned that they were looking for a creative way to cover some utilities and this was their solution. There was a brief period where the house wasn't there, but they were rebuilding/refurbishing it. This isn't something you go out of your way to see, but it is definitely fun to point out to others. And how can you help but smile when you see a random Snoopy house downtown.

Oh my goodness! The most fun event with so many cool gifting options for self and others! Attended…read morewith my sister and her 2 kiddos and it was a great place to see the kids find joy in the many little treasures. I enjoyed items from Bread Winners, Broken Egg Clay, and Playfully Bizarre! All the vendors were so friendly, and with varying price points you can really find something special for whoever you may be getting gifts for!

I've always heard wonderful things about this show and was really looking forward to attending…read more Although the artisans had some beautiful things, none of them seemed to have many items (or items at all) under $250-300 a piece. We (myself, my child and my sister) headed downtown, paid for parking, paid $20 each as a donation to enter (we genuinely like to support the arts!) only to see very sparse crowds and very high prices. We ended up not being able to purchase anything. (My budget ahead of time was about $100 after admission)

Strawberry Way is an alley in the heart of downtown Pittsburgh that's been transformed into an…read moreeclectic outdoor seating area that attracts people from all walks of life: business professionals, students and artists. The street has been painted in a vibrant and funky pattern and in the summer months filled with multi-colored tables and chairs. The seating area provides a fun experience for lunch hour or just to take a break and enjoy the views of surrounding buildings. This is one of those little gems I'd love to stumble across as a tourist in another city. Definitely worth enjoying and not taking for granted as a city resident or area local.

Fun, funky, quiet, an oasis. This little neighborhood alley can be anything you want it to be. The…read morewalkway has been painted in a multitude of colors/shapes and there are planters and tables and chairs throughout to take a load off and just relax. If you need a spot to unwind, come on down!

The "Legends of Pittsburgh" mural shoes notable baseball players from the city, including members…read moreof the Pittsburgh Pirates and Josh Gibson of the Homestead Grays. The mural is underneath Boulevard of the Allies at Ross Street and Second Avenue. It was replaced in 2013 after a car struck and damaged the piece.

Decent selection and a good late night spot if you're looking to get a drink or something…read more I don't have anything overly negative to say and it's a solid choice, but it didn't blow me away and the food itself was very Westernized. Compared to other Japanese places in the city, this is definitely one of the more American-forward, I think. I had the 唐揚げ (karaage) and the すき焼き丼 (sukiyaki don), and both felt like something you would find at any seafood place. Not bad by any means! Just very Westernized. The すき焼き丼 especially, very minimal compared to everything else, especially for the price. Thats another thing to mention--the prices are quite high, so just keep this in mind!

II was my last night in Pittsburgh, and the cold snap was at its most brutal for this wimpy Left…read moreCoaster. That translated into a very restrictive perimeter around my hotel from which I chose this fusion spot for dinner. The menu was quite a hodgepodge of familiar Asian plates. I have to admit though when I saw ramen and stir-fries on the same menu, I was wondering how well they do it all. I tried two items starting with the $13 Chicken Lettuce Wraps. The chicken was stir-fried with carrot, mushroom, and scallion in an excess of brown sauce. They provided enough iceberg lettuce to handle it, but the sauciness really let me down (Photo 9). The second dish, the Sichuan String Beans with Shrimp, was better but still overshadowed by whatever sauté seasoning they used quite liberally (Photo 10). Fortunately the side of white rice helped offset the uneven flavor (Photo 8). It was all middling at best. FOOD - 3 stars...saucy and middling for such a diverse menu AMBIANCE - 3.5 stars...dominated by a long bar, on the dark side SERVICE - 3.5 stars...certainly nice enough TOTAL - 3 stars...a bit of fusion confusion RELATED - Exploring Pittsburgh? Here's a collection of places I've visited and reviewed:https://yelp.to/-gL0ZnaHz6