Thursday Night Affordable Date

Thursday nights in downtown can include dinner, movies, and entertainment for an affordable price.  Here is a great Thursday evening plan that won't cost more than 25 dollars a person.  This plan includes a movie, dinner, and a comedy show with drinks.

Once again, we are here to show you that Downtown Pittsburgh doesn’t have to be an expensive place to play. Here’s how TWO people can enjoy an entire evening Downtown every Thursday for around $40 to $50 including parking and tips. That’s just $20-$25 per person, and this gets you A LOT!

If you’re not already Downtown, you can park your car in one of the local garages after 4 pm for only $5.00. The closest to your destinations will be the Theatre Square Garage, the one at 9th Street and Penn Avenue, or the one at 9th Street and Liberty Avenue.

The first thing to do, now that you’re in the Penn-Liberty Historic District, is to head straight to the Harris Theater. On Thursdays, you can catch a movie for just 5 bucks for KQV-AM’s  5:30 Thursday. Think of it as a special “after-work matinee”.

If you didn’t have time to grab a bite before the movie, by now you’re probably famished! Well, you’re in luck, because at the corner of 9th Street and Liberty Avenue, you’ll find Sammy’s. Sammy’s is famous for their Corned Beef Special. The sandwich is HUGE: a beyond-healthy portion of corned beef topped with the traditional Swiss cheese, Russian dressing and cole slaw on rye, served with a pickle, for $5.99.

When you’re done eating, stroll on over to the Cabaret at Theater Square for their Pittsburgh Improv Jam! For only $3.00 you can enjoy improv comics from all over the ‘Burgh, or even participate if you dare! Late night happy hour begins at 9:00 at The Backstage Bar with $2.50 craft brews and $3.50 select wines, so grab a drink before you head in to have a seat. The comedy show starts at 9:30.

The complete total for your hours-long excursion? $40 to $50 for two people, including parking, movie, food, live comedy, a couple adult beverages, and tips! Enjoy!

Better yet, don’t worry about driving or parking – take the bus! There’s more routes than we can mention that put you right in the heart of the Cultural District.  Use Port Authority’s Trip Planner to get a quick, customized route. Getting there couldn’t be easier! 

For more information check out Living Pittsburgh.

Famous Haunted Houses in Pittsburgh.

 Scarehouse has been receiving tons of attention the past few years.  However, there are many haunted houses in Pittsburgh that will be sure to send you running scared.  From creepy santa's and cannibals to zombies and murder there is something that will make everyone scream.

Creepo is not a clown you want hosting your son's 7th birthday party. The disgruntled ex-entertainer, who resides in The ScareHouse attraction in Etna, is out for blood.

This year, Creepo will don a red Santa hat and warn children, "I know if you've been bad or good, but I'll kill you anyway."

While it's barely October, the Halloween season has long been under way for owners and managers of haunted house attractions. Many spend the entire year preparing for October, when it's finally time to 
put their terrors to the test.

When patrons walk through Creepo's Christmas in 3-D, The ScareHouse's newest theme, they can experience "a little bit of twisted humor," said Scott Simmons, creative director and one of three owners, who also include his wife and father.

The new section of The ScareHouse will be strung with Christmas lights, best viewed through 3-D glasses for a "trippy, surreal spin." This is where Creepo abides, seething over the premature holiday decorations.

Inspiration for this seasonal syncretism came when Mr. Simmons went shopping this month and had to walk past Christmas decorations to reach the Halloween section.

"We thought, you know, this is a little annoying to us because Halloween is our time," Mr. Simmons said.

There is a fine line between humor and fear at The ScareHouse. Whether it's a clown dressed as Santa, a bunny carrying an ax or a living doll who giggles and flirts with patrons, the goal is to combine creepy with cute to defy expectations.

This confusion of the psyche lowers one's guard, which translates into a higher level of fear, said Mr. Simmons.

In addition to the new Creepo's Christmas section, changes have been made to the two other attractions, The Forsaken and Pittsburgh Zombies -- the latter of which will be "much darker, scarier and with many more zombies," Mr. Simmons said.
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At Terror Town in the Strip District, the fright factor involves a few monsters but also real spirits said to be hovering in every corner. Preparing to open for its second year, the all-indoor basement-level attraction is "one of the most paranormal-active locations in Pennsylvania," said manager Chris Firman.

"You'll be walking through one portion and it's a normal temperature, and you turn a corner and it's freezing cold," Mr. Firman said of the unusual activity in the building, which was constructed in 1921 and used by Standard American Cable.

The 35-minute tour of post-apocalyptic Terror Town -- which sank underground and became inhabited by cannibals and other bloodcurdling creatures -- includes a walk through an abandoned bus, a funeral home and the kitchen of a family who wants to feed visitors severed appendages and entrails.
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While the owners of many haunted houses have an affinity for the gruesome and gory, Castle Blood owner Ricky Dick takes a different approach. The Gothic theatrical attraction in Westmoreland County is suitable for children and adults alike.

"The 'blood' in Castle Blood doesn't mean carnage; it means that we're owned by vampires," Mr. Dick said. "Vampires don't need chain saws, they don't need Michael Myers and they don't need killer clowns."

Formerly based in Beallsville, then Bentleyville, the 20th anniversary of Castle Blood will be celebrated in a new location in Monessen this year.

City planners approached Mr. Dick and asked if he would move Castle Blood to Monessen to promote business and the town's revitalization efforts. He agreed, seeing the benefit of an all-indoor location that would enable Castle Blood to stay open on select dates year-round.

Plans are already in the mix for a spooky Christmas affair and a "terrifyingly bloody" Valentine's Day event.

Castle Blood is set up like a game for Halloween, and this year patrons will need to appease a phantom to reach the exit safely. "Phoenix Rising" will involve transformation, rebirth and resurrection of vampires -- a fitting theme for an anniversary celebration in a new location.

"After 19 years, a fresh start is good for the 20th," Mr. Dick said.

For more information see the Post Gazette.

Free Events in Pittsburgh

A day out in Pittsburgh with the family can be expensive for anyone.  Here are some great events throughout the week that you can do with your family for free.

There are more free admission days this weekend than you can shake a stick at! For kids, adults, and everyone in between, there’s no excuse not to do something fabulously fun and FREE this weekend!  RADical Days is a thank you to the public for its support of our regional assets, such libraries, parks, museums, cultural organizations, regional facilities and municipal services, through the RAD sales tax.

 Saturday, October 13

Pittsburgh Cultural Trust Sketch Crawl
Free Tours of WQED – FM 89.3
Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra
South Park Hay Day
Pittsburgh Opera Brown Bag Concert

For more information see Living Pittsburgh.