Tim McGraw Tonight

Country favorite Tim McGraw is playing tonight at the First Niagara Pavilion. This award winner will be bringing his gritty, soulful country music to Pittsburgh for one night, so don't miss it! Tickets are still available online. The show starts at 7:00, so you better hurry!

When Pittsburgh Lost Its ‘H’

 

Today is the 100th Anniversary of Pittsburgh’s spelling controversy.  Check out the full story of this unique epoch in local history here.

 

It was 100 years ago Monday that the federal government last held Pittsburgh's "H'' hostage.

The U.S. Board on Geographic Names stripped the city of its last letter in 1890 as part of an effort to standardize the spelling of places across the country. The board dictated that places pronounced "berg" would be spelled "burg," sans an H. A lobbying effort won the letter back on July 19, 1911, when the board relented under pressure from the city's postmaster and U.S. Sen. George T. Oliver.

"It's an interesting, quirky thing about us," said Craig Davis, vice president of sales and marketing for VisitPittsburgh, "and I think most people who live in Pittsburgh are very protective of their 'H.'"

News of the official spelling change made the front page of the Pittsburgh Post a few days later, squeezed next to a report of screaming passengers aboard a runaway trolley car that scattered "cows, horses, chickens and other domestic animals" as it tore through a Bucks County barnyard.

"This decision is expected to end the controversy for a few years at least," the paper reported.

The biggest problem since, however, seems to be getting the rest of the world to spell it correctly. Pittsburgh has held the title as "America's Most Misspelled City" for a decade, bestowed by ePodunk.com, which ranked the Steel City ahead of Tucson, Ariz., and Cincinnati.

Polish Hill Arts Festival this Weekend!

 

 

The Fourth Annual Polish Hill Arts Festival kicks off this Sunday, July 17th at noon.  This unique and relaxed neighborhood event will feature art and craft vendors, music all day long, food, art-making activities, and more!  The fun last until 9pm so make a day of it!  And if you are an artist or have a special talent for crafts, space is still available to register your booth. Check out the Polish Hill Community website for more details. 

Best of the ‘Burgh Poll

Pittsburgh Magazine’s Best of the ‘Burgh  list is up!  Take a look at some of the winning restaurants and plan your weekend on the town.  Did your favorite place make the list?  Who would you have voted for?

2011 Best Restaurants in Pittsburgh: Readers' Poll Results

Featuring first, second and third-place winners as determined by thousands of reader-cast ballots and tabulated by Grossman Yanak & Ford LLP.

Best Restaurant

1. Isabela on Grandview
2. Nakama Japanese Steakhouse and Sushi Bar
3. Salt of the Earth

Al Fresco

1. Pusadee’s Garden
2. II Pizzaiolo
3. Andora Restaurant

American

1. Bistro 19
2. Jackson’s Restaurant and Rotisserie Bar
3. Eleven

Atmosphere/Ambiance

1. Eleven
2. Caileigh’s Restaurant
3. Isabela on Grandview
    Siba Cucina

Authentic Pittsburgh Fare

1. Primanti Bros.
2. Fat Heads Saloon
3. Pamela’s Diner

Bakery

1. Oakmont Bakery
2. Prantl’s Bakery
3. Priory Fine Pastries

Banquet Hall

1. Pittsburgh’s Grand Hall at The Priory
2. Rockefeller’s Grille
3. The Chadwick

Best-Kept Secret

1. Spadafora’s
2. Valliant’s Diner
3. Taste of Art Restaurant

Breakfast

1. Pamela’s Diner
2. Valliant’s Diner
3. Eat’n Park

Breathtaking View

1. Monterey Bay Fish Grotto
2. Isabela on Grandview
3. LeMont

Brunch

1. The Grand Concourse
2. Coca Cafe
3. Paris 66

Burger

1. Tessaro’s
2. BRGR Bar
3. Five Guys Burger and Fries
    Red Robin

BYOB

1. Piccolo Forno
2. Pure Cafe
3. Avenue B

Catering Services

1. big Burrito Restaurant Group
2. Taj Mahal
3. DoubleTree

 

Check out the complete list here. 

Pittsburgh Regatta this Independence Day Weekend!

How are you celebrating Independence Day in Pittsburgh?  Why not come downtown to Pittsburgh’s annual regatta, the largest inland regatta in the United States, and
Pittsburgh's Official 4th of July Celebration. 

The 34th annual—all FREE—EQT Pittsburgh Three Rivers Regatta is the tri-state's most anticipated summertime event... and rightfully so. Every year, over 600,000 spectators swarm the banks of the Allegheny River, the inviting lawns of historic Point State Park, and the meandering river-walk of scenic North Shore to celebrate the region's most prolific festival of air, land and water entertainment.

Get ready to welcome the “Beach in the Burgh” as Sandsational builds the largest sand sculpture Pittsburgh has ever seen. Skies will explode nightly with Circus Orange—the most exhilarating combo of pyrotechnics and aerial stunt performers in North America.

Speed? Oh yeah, the North American Powerboat Championships are here again to tame the Allegheny at 125/mph! And, of course, one of the nation's top fireworks shows—the EQT “Flashes of Freedom” Fireworks Fantasia, produced by Pyrotecnico, caps it all. In between, there's music, food, kids zone, dragon boats, bass fishing, bike stunt shows, “Anything that Floats,” and so much more at the summer's largest family extravaganza and your FREE Vacation Destination!

The event lasts from Saturday, July 2 through Monday, July 4.  For a full event schedule, check out the Regatta’s webpage. 

Baby Animals at the Pittsburgh Zoo!

Looking for some quality family bonding time this weekend?  Why not take the kids to the Pittsburgh Zoo!    While there, be sure to check out their family-oriented exhibits.  Right now, you can check out playful tiger cubs and Painted Dog puppies.  But catch them now because soon they will be grown!

Playful baby animals at the Pittsburgh Zoo!

‘Violet Sharpe’ at the Grey Box Theatre

 

Enjoy some great local theater this week.  ‘Violet Sharp’ will be playing at the Grey Box Theatre in Lawrenceville from June 9th until the 25th.  Check out this great theatrical foray into history: 

Set against the backdrop of the notorious 1932 Lindbergh Kidnapping Case, this prize-winning drama tells the story of a young British servant who becomes a suspect in the crime. Having lied about her whereabouts on the night of the kidnapping, Violet Sharp—pursued by her own personal demons, as well as the police—strives to clear her name but only strengthens the conviction that she is guilty. 

Tickets are $20 for general admission, $12 for students and seniors, $10 for groups of 8 or more. Visit Pro Arts (http://www.proartstickets.org/events/view/813) to purchase tickets.