The pop-up allows a chef, bartender, or barista to experiment outside of the confines of a restaurant’s four walls. It’s an opportunity to mix up the ordinary with a fresh vision. It’s sometimes where some of the hottest restaurants start—Fet-Fisk and The Parlor Dim Sum being notable examples. A pop-up can also mean a new theme taking over your favorite bar or restaurant for a limited period of time. This freshens up the space with new décor and new drink styles. Christmas pop-ups and Halloween pop-ups are staples of the fall and winter months, but arm weather is also a great time to see what’s happening in the city with spring pop-ups. For seasonal flavors in your next coffee, drink, pastry, or sandwich, try these Pittsburgh pop-ups.
5 Spring Pop-Ups to Freshen Up the Season
Churchview Farm Weeknight Dinner Series
Private residence—ticketed events only
Though Churchview Farm’s weeknight dinners sell out fast, you might get lucky with a ticket! Their new dinner series will be announced in the beginning of June. Churchview Farms routinely hosts meals with guest chefs from some of Pittsburgh’s top restaurants. You’ll find the freshest produce and the friendliest tablemates at these weeknight dinner pop-ups.
Titusz at Spigolo
101 Edgewood Avenue
In advance of Csilla Thackray’s TItusz opening up in Lawrenceville this fall, you can get a little taste of Austro-Hungarisan cuisine at Spigolo in Edgewood. Chef Csilla is bringing Central European pastries ilike Rhabarberkuchen (rhubarb cake) and Kossuth Kifli (crescent cakes). Pair these treats with steaming cups of Red Hawk espresso and specialty drinks on Spigolo’s patio.
Studio Mixtape 54
4907 Penn Avenue
Garfield staple Mixtape always has a curated pop-up and this spring’s does not disappoint. Studio Mixtape 54 is an homage to the iconic New York dance club that shaped some of the world’s greatest divas. Plus, all their dance nights through May have no cover. They also now include a “Corporate Gothic” 6PM-9PM hour for those of us who can’t afford to be out too late. Each night brings something different at Mixtape!
The Boredom Set
5518 Walnut Street & 535 Markest Street
You can find this pop-up micro-roastery in Shadyside at Heat Check Vintage and downtown in Market Square, as well as various locations across the city for events and collabs. Their flavorful espresso is not for the faint of heart. It’s true coffee-lover’s coffee, with rich, complex tasting notes in every sip. Whether you’re looking for an after-dinner coffee downtown or a leisurely afternoon pick-me-up on Walnut, Q-Miller Edwards and Jett Wasson have you covered with pop-up café service.
Gari Shoyu
Various locations
Chef Gary Marshall learned to love Japanese cooking from Roger Li and developed his own take on it with Gari Shoyu, his traveling “sando” truck he brings to breweries during the spring months for outdoor dining. Marshall is at Eleventh Hour Brewing, Trace Brewing, and Grist House on a rotating schedule you can find on his website. Gari Shoyu makes a great accompaniment to some local beers. A good sandwich will keep you from getting too buzzed and fills you up with delicious international flavors like tonkatsu, ebikatsu, and and togarashi fries.
Story by Emma Riva
Photo courtesy of Spigolo
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