St. Patty's In The Burgh

It’s no secret that Pittsburgh has got it going on. Last year, we were voted the number one city for food in the country and the number one city in the Northeast to live in. Now this year, we’ve been voted the number one city to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day in! Our Irish community is strong and they say that everyone’s Irish on St. Patrick’s Day. That might not be true but it certainly appears that way in the Burgh. St. Patty’s might not be until next week but the festivities kick off this weekend.

Image courtesy of Wikipedia

This year the annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade will fall on Saturday March 12th. The parade will consist of tons of floats from Pittsburgh groups, marching bands, Irish dance troupes, celebrities like the Pirate Parrot, the Bishop, the Mayor and tons more. The parade begins on the Boulevard of the Allies and continues up Grant Street which is about a 10 minute drive or a 20 minute bus ride. The parade kicks off at 10 AM so make sure you arrive early to secure yourself a prime spot for viewing. For more information about the parade check here.

If you’re uninterested in parades but very interested in beer and breakfast foods, Carson City Saloon will be hosting a Kegs and Eggs event the morning of the parade. From 8 AM until 10 AM, they will have a tasty breakfast bar available for free as well as 1.50 green drafts.

Starting at 2 PM head to nearby Market Square for the Irish Fair in the Square. During and after the parade you can stop in for beer specials throughout the square (open containers allowed). Peruse through the street vendors to find some Irish knick knacks to take home with you. You’ll even be able to purchase the official t-shirt of the parade at the market so you’ll have something to remember the festivities by. On top of the wares and tasty food that you’ll find, you’re in for an extra treat: a free concert! Local Irish inspired band, The Bastard Bearded Irishmen will be performing from 2 until 3 in the square followed by local country band The Stickers from 3:30 to 5. With all of the fabulous restaurants located in Market Square, you’ll definitely find something tasty to fuel you up for more partying later. To see more information on the Irish Fair in the Square check here.

It doesn’t matter if you’re Irish or not, everyone can appreciate the culture and traditions of this green holiday. Like they say, everyone in Pittsburgh is Irish on St. Patrick’s Day! Or something like that.

Valentine's Day for College Students

Valentine’s Day is a day for showing a little extra appreciation for the special person in your life. This can feel like a lot of pressure for some people. How do you make the evening perfect? How do you make sure everything goes smoothly? How do you wow them without spending loads of money? Let us take some of the pressure off of you. We’ve rounded up some ideas in our area that can help make things a little simpler.


For the fit couple...

The saying goes, “Those who workout together, stay together.” Right? That’s a saying, probably. Well, here’s your opportunity! The Cupid Undie Run is taking place Friday February 13th on the North Side. The run will kick off at McFadden’s and is only 1 mile long so you don’t have to worry about being an experienced runner. Impress your date with your athletic prowess and your underwear selection. You can get 25% off of your registration with the coupon code GETFITPGH, so you’ll save a little cash. Register now to ensure your place in the run. McFadden’s is a 10 minute drive from Camelot or a 35 minute bus ride.


For the Sherlock Holmes & Watson couple...

If you have faith in your deduction and problem solving abilities, Escape Room makes a really interesting alternative date night. You can come alone with your date or jump in with another group to solve the mystery at hand. You’ll have an hour to escape the room you’re locked into with the help of some clues and your teammates. If you and your date have been together for a little while, this is definitely a good option for you. This could end up being a little stressful and cause some tension if you don’t already have good teamwork going on. Unless you’re really trying to test your new date’s chemistry with you we recommend this date for a couple who already know each other pretty well! Escape Room is only a 10 minute drive and a 30 minute bus ride from Camelot Apartments.


For the lone wolf…

The day is yours to do with as you please! No pressure at all! You don’t have to worry about impressing anyone or keeping up appearances. You can just spend time with your #1 Valentine: you! We recommend just kicking it at home in your apartment with a tub of Ben and Jerry’s and a selection of the best anti-Valentine’s Day movies you can find on Netflix. (Here’s a good list.) But if you’d prefer to get out into the world, Millennium Dance Complex in the Southside offers dance classes to people of all levels of experience. Get out and sweat a little and you might even meet someone new. At the very least, you’ll learn something! Sign up for a round of classes here.

There’s something for everyone on Valentine’s Day no matter if you’re single or a couple. Don’t let the pressure get to you!

What are your Valentine’s Day plans this year? Let us know on Facebook and Twitter.

Beat The January Doldrums

The month after the holidays can feel like a dull time but it doesn’t have to be. Pittsburgh is a lively city with tons of interesting things happening at all times. Don’t let the January doldrums get you down. Find something interesting going on to get over the fact that you’re back in school now.

Image courtesy of Wikipedia

Relive your childhood with the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra and the Pokemon Symphonic Evolutions. Watch the Nintendo games and television show come to life with the full Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra on January 24th. Watch clips from the games accompanying the music to really get the full effect. Young or old, you won’t regret seeing the Pokemon Symphonic Evolutions if you grew up playing the games. Learn more about ticketing information here.

If you watch Dancing With The Stars on a regular basis you’re going to want to hear about this next event: see the stars dance in person on January 20th at the Benedum Center. Dancing with the Stars is taking the show on the road this year and they’ll be bringing along some celebrity special guests that you won’t want to miss out on. See iconic performances as well as never before seen choreography that you’ll never forget. Get your tickets now!

Every Friday in January you can get into the Andy Warhol Museum for free! A cash bar will be available to those 21 and over as well as local DJ Huck Finn in the entrance to the museum. Learn a little bit about the museum before heading there here on their website.

Local distillery Wigle is hosting a cornbread throwdown as well as a sweet corn bourbon tasting. $5 will get you in the door and a sampling of the brand new corn bourbon. You can also participate in the cornbread contest, so bring your best recipe to see if yours takes home the prize. The event takes place on January 29th so you still have time to concoct your best cornbread recipe. Ticketing information here.

Don’t let the January weather get you down and don’t use it as an excuse to mope inside all month. What are you most looking forward to this month? Tell us on Facebook and Twitter.