Amazing space managed by amazing people. I threw my 40th birthday party there. The space itself is…read moreabsolutely gorgeous. Very industrial. Beautiful brick walls. Super versatile with lots and lots of potential for personalization. Multiple different areas with a variety of character. Gracie and her team were extremely helpful from the moment i first looked at the space to the day after the event. They have seasonal decorations that add to the beauty of the space. They are extremely flexible and worked with us to get the tables/decor/food setup. I cannot think of a better space for private events from birthdays to weddings. Highly recommended.

HIP at the Flashlight Factory may claim their "clients are not just another number," but their…read moreactions certainly prove that their clients are nothing more than dollar signs to them. Long story short, HIP notified my BFF via email only one week before her wedding that, to comply with the fire marshal's mandate, their venue would no longer be able to accommodate her wedding. Fortunately, the bride and bridal party were able to miraculously find another amazingly accommodating venue that same day, but HIP's handling of the issue was nothing less than classless. What was already a stressful situation was exacerbated by HIP's incompetent and unsympathetic actions, including (but not limited to): - delayed communication of the venue's inability to host the wedding - being unresponsive to requests to finalize details of the venue transition (yet still having time to post videos to social media about the situation) - trying to charge ridiculous prices for minimal venue involvement ($2,500 just to use the venue as a hotel and to take pictures there), - and claiming the rented tables were damaged when they were returned (even though they were already damaged when provided in the first place) just to be able to keep the $500 deposit We're so thrilled that the wedding turned out well despite the frustration of having to deal with HIP, but their behavior and attitude were completely unprofessional and, quite frankly, rude. If you're looking to have your big day at their venue, I'd recommend thinking twice. Give your business to people that truly have your best interests -- and not just your money -- in mind.

This is a really cool park near Trader Joe's, Whole Foods, and Target around Upper St. Clair that I…read morelike to stop at whenever I'm in the area. The trail is great for beginners or if you just want a quick jog. There are several benches you can sit down on along the way, plus a tree stump in the woodsy part that you can also sit on to rest. It's a very well maintained trail that smells like freshly cut wood chips, and has a nice variety of terrain. I didn't see any dog poop (it's a no-dog park) and no litter at all, which the multiple trash cans around the loop definitely help with. While a good portion of the trail has the wood chips, some areas could use a bit more. After rain, a few spots can get muddy and it can get a little marshy in the grassy part where there is no trail. The outer loop is about 1.2 miles, and there are several spots where the trail branches off. There's a more "woody" section and a more "grassland" section, which keeps it interesting. It's also not hard to find parking at the church across the street. There's a lot of birds chirping and tons of squirrels and bunnies, and every once in a while you'll spot deer. Inside the barn fence there are lambs and sometimes horses, which is a nice touch. Also kind of cool is that there are wild chive plants around this trail which is common in the Pittsburgh area, and you'll find some growing in the park if you know what to look for.

This place is incredible. We stopped today for their Community Open House event, and even though I…read morehave been here in the past, it is always nice getting to see it again. The old house, and farm are really special, and I am so glad that the Upper St. Clair Historical Society maintains these buildings and property so we can occasionally get to visit and see how things used to be. Today they had all kinds of activities going on, from hayrides, petting zoo, sheep shearing, cow milking, yarn spinning, beekeeping, and of course tours of the historic house, barn and outbuildings, all of which are like a museum. This place was well worth the price of admission . . . FREE, but the suggested donation was $5 per person.

As a maid of honor, one of your jobs is to plan an amazing bachelorette party. Now that I'm in that…read moreposition, I knew I needed to find something unique but also co-ed friendly for our group of nine, and I turned to Ye Olde Internet for ideas. The idea of bringing the bar home sounded good, and I found Steven's website for mixology classes at home. It was definitely within our price range, and I worked with Steven to customize the drinks for the bride's favorite liquors (whiskey and scotch) that also worked with our art deco glamour, Gatsby-esque party theme. Steven was teaching a class, so his business partner Randi arrived right on time to do the set-up at our location, and she was just so sweet. I had a nice time getting to know her before the party started. Steven arrived a bit later, but was just there to observe; Randi was great at teaching! None of us had ever done any *real* bartending or mixologying (I think I just verbified a verb that was previously nounified...*grammatical mind blown*), and Randi was great at helping us learn the ropes. She also introduced all of the drinks really well, teaching us the basics of what makes a drink a cocktail, and the basic structure for how to experiment on our own (I found that part particularly exciting, and have even made a cocktail or two at home already!) I think the resounding favorite from the group was the French 75 - it was so good! Even our group's pickiest eater/drinker enjoyed her drinks, which is saying something! I would highly recommend Steven's business to anyone looking to do a home party! Very affordable, customizable, and just a ton of fun. It was especially fun with a room full of lightweights!

If you love cocktails, you absolutely HAVE to take an Art of Mixology class with Steven. What a…read morefun Saturday afternoon! We attended the Cognac Class at Bossa Nova and had an amazing time. Not only does Steven give a brief history of the liquor or cocktail you would be working with, but you get to experiment (and try) both classic and modern versions of all of your favorite cocktails. Previously, the classes were centered on a specific liquor, but currently the classes are based on a theme- which is an even better idea :) Bring your creativity and your drinking shoes and get ready to have a fabulous time :)

Such an awesome gem in Lawrenceville! Perfect for kids, date nights (they are BYOB!), or roommate…read morebonding time which is why I went! There is so many pottery to choose from but I'd recommend having a rough idea of what you want to paint beforehand so you take less time selecting. I originally wanted to paint a matcha chawan bowl but they were sold out. I opted for a small bowl from the cheap pottery section (this is a section of slightly messed up pottery for a heavily discounted price). Prices in this section could range from $3-$20ish? Either way, it's on the low end and very affordable. You can choose 5 colors and you pay for the pottery piece you + the price of painting it (I believe we paid about $16-17 per person). So fun and we had a blast looking up painting inspiration from Pinterest and chatting while we finished our bowls! It takes about 2 weeks to get your item back so still waiting on mine but super excited to see how it came out!

I went here for a girls night and we loved it. We each painted something different and just shot…read morethe breeze and got artsy. They called us up when it was dry and couple of days later and now we have fun keepsakes.

Kristin and Chris were amazing to work with. They were kind, patient, and professional-simply…read morefantastic. We were so pleased with the end results for a Gala event we put on. They transformed the space exactly as we had discussed, and then offered services over and above what we expected.

From the owner: ILLUME Lighting + Event Design is Pittsburgh’s premier source for bespoke wedding and event…read moretransformation. As a full-service design and fabrication studio, we bridge the gap between technical production and creative artistry to build one-of-a-kind environments. Our core services include professional Event Lighting (uplighting, bistro lights, texture washes, and intelligent design) and architectural Draping for floor-to-ceiling transformations. Unlike standard rental companies, our in-house Decor Fabrication team builds what others can't—creating custom bars, stage surrounds, and unique installations from scratch. We also offer high-end Botanical Artistry (permanent botanicals) and comprehensive Event Management to ensure every design element is executed flawlessly. Serving the greater Pittsburgh area, we specialize in turning blank venues into immersive experiences. Illuminating Your Vision. Fabricating Your Dream.

Latasha, who is the owner of Experiencebyyan was a pleasure to work with for my bridal shower! She…read morewas so professional, kind, honest and truly helped us save within our budget. She was recommended by us and the moment I met her I knew we were in great hands. It was truly a hands free experience, which kinda made me nervous because I'm so hands on myself, but she reassured me throughout the process that everything would be handled and taken with care. I'm so glad we trusted her. When I walked in the venue, I was met with emotions because everything I was worried about quickly vanished and I was so happy with the turn out. Everything turned out so beautiful. What stood out the most to me was how much she knew at her age, how well she communicated and how organized she was. We were so impressed that we hired her to plan our wedding next year. If you're considering Latasha and her team please don't hesitate further. She is special and worth every dollar. Marabeth Thomas

From the owner: ExperiencebyYan is your one-stop shop for all of your event needs. From weddings to corporate…read moreevents, our experienced team will handle every detail to ensure a flawless and memorable experience for you and your guests. With a keen eye for design, top-notch vendor connections, and a passion for creating unforgettable moments, ExperiencebyYan is the perfect choice for your next special occasion."

Thank you to Bloom Brigade for making a co-worker's baby/bridal shower extra special. Amazing…read moreservice at the right price.

All aboard! Next stop....Bloom Brigade, your one-stop-shop for everything floral…read more Bloom Brigade is so much more than your typical florist. They create floral designs for everything from weddings to birthdays to anniversaries to anything you can dream up (big, small, or everyday). They don't have typical business hours, but you can contact them at any time to set up a consultation. I reached out to Bloom Brigade originally for my wedding flowers and they were super helpful in finding a time that worked well for both of us. After meeting with several florists, my fiance and I felt that Bloom Brigade was the right choice for us -- with Carolyn (aka Clang) getting to the details about our event and Suzan imagining the big picture. Closer to my wedding I met with Clang and Suzan again to finalize our flowers -- we were focused on local, in-season, and in our color palette with lots of inspiration of wildflowers. What Bloom Brigade put together for our day of was above and beyond what we could have imagined. Not only did they create an arbor for our outside ceremony, but they also meticulously created beautiful box center pieces, decorated our venue's mantle (The Mayernik Center), the naked coffee cake, and put other finishing touches throughout the venue as needed. I fully recommend Bloom Brigade and encourage you to reach out to them for your next occasion, event, or even every day flowers!

We had a great Sunday afternoon lunch…read more WARNING...WARNING... the portions are very large, so not the place for a light lunch. :-) Food was very traditional German and tasty. The wait staff was very helpful in support of our waitress Harley. Harley could have been a bit more attentive, especially since the early crowd was pretty small. I will definitely go back when in the neighborhood and plan to be there when the beirgarten is open. Prost!

We try stop at Penn Brewery when we are in Pittsburgh. We have been going there for over 20 years…read more The aesthetic of the brewery is amazing. It is a piece of history. When we arrived at 5p on a Saturday we noticed there were not many cars. It turns out the brewery has been struggling and is being sold. The kitchen was no longer open. There were very limited food options and beer. We ordered a drink and some because the next time we visit it will likely be closed. It was a nostalgic place for us. We are sad to see it on the decline.

I wanted something very specific for my bouquet and bridesmaids flowers related to my grandmother…read moreand flowers that we would pick together. She talked me out of it because of availability, expense, etc. She highly recommended substitutions. On my wedding day, there was nothing but roses. I could have gotten them from any florist. Very basic and she was out of town and unavailable to her staff. The decor and table settings were beautiful but I designed them myself and she executed my idea.

Her work looks nice online but her business skill are terrible. I gave a deposit based on…read moreestimate, design consultation, had her on the calendar for months as my florist and day of coordinator. Then came the surprise of her contract; the small print saying she is not liable for ANY damages she or her staff cause to the venue or guests. Scratched floor, broken art work, chipped paint; you have to pay for it. She agreed with on the phone to change this clause (you'd have to be an idiot to sign a contract like that!) When we arrived at the meeting to sign the new contract she announced she was dropping us as clients because "people like us" are red flags. We had been working together for months and this was just a few weeks before my wedding. Certainly there are more tactful ways for a business professional to handle herself. Blessing in disguise, Jo Schulman was a fantastic wedding coordinator and we found Leon, a more creative florist who charged $20 less per centerpiece and used more expensive, rarer flowers. I've remained friends with them and other vendors of mine and continue to be pleased to send business their way.