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Collier’s Cuts: The Lime Is Back in the Coconut With the Release of ‘Practical Magic 2’

By
Kylie Thomas
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Nicole Kidman and Sandra Bullock performing magic in Practical Magic 2.
An orange rating card for Practical Magic 2 with a 2.5 out of 5 star rating.

Twenty-five years of narrative time separate the events of Practical Magic from its sequel. In Practical Magic 2, enough time has passed that there’s a new generation of witches in the Owens family’s New England home. 

It struck me that that narrative distance is actually less time than has passed in the real world; a full 29 years have gone by since the original film was released. So: why now? If there’s an answer, it’s not present on screen.

A Gentle, Witchy Warmup for Spooky Season in Practical Magic 2

We rejoin the Owens sisters — happily supernatural Gillian (Nicole Kidman) and anxious, resistant Sally (Sandra Bullock) — with their families gathered in their autumnal New England home. All candles, thoughtful scarves and full glasses, the opening scenes of Practical Magic 2 do not contain a plot so much as a well-appointed Pinterest board.

As was the case in the original film, however, tragedy interrupts the mood. Kylie Owens (Joey King), eldest daughter of Sally, has fallen in love with a floppy-haired hunk (Xolo Maridueña); that means trouble, as the Owens line is still cursed to have their lovers meet an untimely end.

This sends Kylie off to search for a solution in the United Kingdom, as the film trades New England for the old one without much of an aesthetic shift. Here, the film devolves into a drab plot that might be out of Harry Potter, albeit interspersed with considerably more reflections on sisterhood.

Occupying the Unsatisfying Middle Ground Between Mood Piece and Weird Fable

Had Practical Magic 2 been merely a few weeks in the life of some charming witches (played by talented folks), it might’ve come together. Had we dispensed with some of the callbacks and meandering, there’s a chance it would’ve worked as an enjoyable caper. Instead, it’s neither; too dire to be playful, too constructed to be charming, too cautious to be surprising.

The first Practical Magic is quite good; it takes stars at the peak of their charisma and gives them license to approach a fantastical story with madcap energy. Here, the weight of the years and overly maudlin direction (from Bird Box helmer Susanne Bier) do not leave room for the shaggy fun of the original.

We all enjoy the occasional nostalgia hit, and recapturing Practical Magic was worth trying. Unfortunately, some movies are inextricably the product of their time. You can look back, but the view is never quite the same.

Cinematic Flotsam Arrives in Theaters as We Wait for Awards Season

With no disrespect to less-heralded features, early September has become a bit of a dumping ground — too late for summer, a bit too early for the five-month grind of the awards campaign. Besides Practical Magic 2, we’re mostly left with curiosities when it comes to new releases this weekend. It’s a big weekend for Brit-pop fans, at least, as Oasis: Don’t Look Back in Anger arrives in cinemas. The film documents the band’s reunion tour and includes the first joint interview from the mercurial Gallagher brothers in more than a decade; due to the relative lack of competition this weekend, it’s even getting some premium-format screens. Go feel supersonic, fans.

Runner, starring Owen Wilson, also sneaks into theaters this weekend. The script — from a pair of newcomers, Miles Hubley and Tommy White — was rescued from the so-called “Black List” of well-regarded screenplays that struggled to find a studio. Reviews are lukewarm, so perhaps the story is better than the execution, but it may be worth a shot for action fans. (And it’s not to be confused with the Amazon film The Runner, which itself is only a couple of weeks old. Try harder with these titles, Hollywood!)

Speaking of repetition: The Uprising, a drama starring Andrew Garfield as a young Robin Hood, also hits theaters this weekend. This is the second Robin Hood picture of the year, after A24’s middling The Death of Robin Hood a few months back. (At least they differ in the age of the Robin Hood presented.) Despite having well-regarded filmmaker Paul Greengrass as both writer and director, The Uprising has been met with scant praise.

But, There’s Plenty More to See in Theaters Now…

Last week, we wondered if anything could beat Spider-Man at the box office — and the answer was yes. Like so many suitors, we assumed Odysseus wasn’t coming back, but The Odyssey made a surprise return to the top spot on the weekend charts, edging out the Marvel film to reclaim the crown. We’ve got positive reviews of both films, so feel free to catch up with whichever you missed. We also liked last week’s bronze finisher, Coyote vs. Acme, a delightful celebration of animation — and friendship! As for last week’s review topic, the historical drama By Any Means, the less said, the better — good, then, that no one bothered to go see it.

Explore this summer’s past releases with Sean’s line-up of the summer blockbuster season.

About the Author

Sean Collier is the editor-in-chief of Shady Ave and the arts and culture editor of TABLE Magazine. Before joining the TABLE Media team, he spent nearly 15 years as a writer, editor and columnist at Pittsburgh Magazine. As the in-house film critic for the top-rated WDVE Morning Show since 2009, he’s been Pittsburgh’s most widely heard voice on movies for nearly two decades. A Pittsburgh native, Sean has since 2020 appeared weekly on KDKA-TV’s popular Pittsburgh Today Live talk show. He’s the co-founder of Vigilance Theater Group and an active stand-up comedian and event host. He can be found on Instagram and Twitter at @seancollierpgh.

Photos Courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures

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10 Bold Powder Room Ideas to Steal from Pittsburgh Designers

By
Keith Recker
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Bold powder room with monkey wallpaper, red vanity, and pop art
Photograph by Annie Schlechter

A powder room might be small, but its design potential is anything but. Because of the limited square footage, decor decisions can make a huge impact, which is why these Pittsburgh designers weren’t afraid to make daring choices. All ten let audacious wallpaper set the tone, and it’s easy to see why: it delivers a double hit of color and pattern that can inspire equally adventurous vanities, lighting, and mirrors. Even better, the compact space doesn’t need much coverage, so splurging on a pricier roll won’t blow the budget. Here’s how the designers used wallpaper in a big way.

Power Plants: Powder Room Ideas Featuring Extravagant Botanical Wallpaper

No shrinking violets here: large-scale blooms create the lush feel of a fantastical garden.

Bold powder room vanity with floral wallpaper and gold peacock pulls
Photography by Dave Bryce

Brenda Friday

“I love a floral with an edge,” states interior designer Brenda Friday, which explains her choice of Malmaison-Opiat wallpaper by Christian Lacroix for Designers Guild. The references it draws upon are somehow both 19th century (like a Pierre-Joseph Redoute print) and 80s punk couture (like the heyday of Lacroix himself). Friday thought the house needed precisely this dose of irreverence. “Prior to the renovation the home was a dark 1920’s Tudor that needed a dose of cheerful and uplifting energy in order to bring in light. Every room now has an element of refined color.”

Like the skilled designer she is, Friday’s methods kept the now-lively powder room from any hint of madness: “The vanity needed to be more restrained to give the eye a rest. The beautiful mitered marble and the Newport Brass fittings added the necessary weight to balance the room. And, of course, the Nest Hardware peacocks were simply necessary.”

Discover other ways Brenda Friday reinvents a home.

Bold powder room with floral wallpaper, green sink, and white toilet.
Photography by Erin Kelly

Amanda Bock

Interior designer Amanda Bock chose House of Hackney’s Hollyhocks wallpaper for a recent client’s powder room for two reasons. It echoes the client’s previous and much-loved wallcovering, and, while it is bolder and more daring than the other choices Bock made for the home, it remains cohesive with the style and palette of the rest of the house. About the freedom many people feel when making choices for their powder rooms, she comments, “Most people are afraid to be bold or to use color and pattern and really go for it because they worry they’ll get sick of it. Because the powder room is such a small space that people only frequent periodically, many feel emboldened to get a little wild…I wanted this space to be fun and fresh and feel happy. How can you not feel happy when walking into a room that looks like this?”

Want to see what else Amanda Bock can do? Check out her custom bathroom redesign.

Bold powder room with blue vanity, floral wallpaper, and gold mirror
Photo by Maison de Molly

Molly Lucas

The powder room of this project was one of the first spaces to be tackled in an ongoing re-do by Molly Lucas. “This home had a classic early-2000s palette when we started, with lots of golds, reds, and browns. We are currently in the process of refreshing the first floor, and this Anemoni wallpaper by Missoni Home for York Wallcoverings was an intentional choice because it could bridge both phases of the design. The metallic gold connects beautifully to the warmer existing tones, while the blue introduces a fresher, cooler direction that will coordinate with the more modern updates still to come. So, in that sense, it supports the house as it is now, but it will also grow with the next phase of the refresh,” she explains.

“The wallpaper was really the star of the refresh here. Since it brought in pattern, color, and a bit of metallic warmth, the rest of the updates could stay relatively simple and strategic. We kept the existing vanity and countertop, painted the wood vanity, swapped the hardware, and updated the faucet. Those smaller changes helped the space feel fresh and intentional while still working with the brown-toned countertop that was already there,” Lucas continues. “Beyond beauty, one of the most important features of this wallpaper is that it’s vinyl, which means it can handle the wear and tear of a powder room while still feeling elevated and special.”

Bold powder room with floral wallpaper, subway tile, and wood vanity
Photo by Megan McGreevy Photography

Laura Solensky

Starting with Indian Arbre wallpaper by Schumacher, and then adding a small custom-made vanity and crisp, classic tile, interior designer Laura Solensky created the perfect powder room for this project. “My clients love color and pattern and wanted to make this a “wow” space. They also love antiques and pieces with charm,” she says. The scale and complexity of the wall covering are both matched and contained by the Greek key tile border and the noticeable woodgrain of the vanity. “The room is small but mighty and gives whoever is inside lots of eye candy.” Solensky enjoys a powder room challenge, in part because it offers a chance to showcase a family’s personality. “The rest of the home has layers of pattern and color as well, but this is one of the bolder spaces. The powder room is a place you can lean into fun or drama.”

Wild Things: Animal Wallpapers to Give Your Powder Room Attitude

Upend expectations by monkeying around with impish baboons, mock-serious animal portraits, and King Kong and Godzilla teaming up in Manhattan.

Bold powder room with monkey wallpaper, red vanity, and pop art
Photograph by Annie Schlechter

Betsy Wentz

Playfulness is certainly a signature of Betsy Wentz’s style, but her powder rooms are next-level. “They are where I let the design rules bend a little. They’re small, they’re private, and guests only pop in for a minute — so I use them as the jewel box moment to go bold with color, wallpaper, or a wild mirror that might feel like too much in any other living spaces,” she exclaims. This eye-catching space is all about joy and surprise. The impish monkey chandelier vibes happily with the asymmetrical mirror. The red vanity underscores the seductive promise of the Pop Art to the left of the entry. Savuti wallpaper from Cole and Sons fans the flames with its dynamic pattern and color combo. This space is part of a full home design by Wentz that continues the energy, just at a slightly mellower temperature.

See Betsy Wentz’s playful design style continue with her family-friendly redesign of a historic home.

Bold powder room with orange monkey wallpaper and mirrored vanity
Photo by Christina Montemurro

madDesigns

Is it possible that Maggie Dobkin Cham’s BFA in Graphic Design from CMU shapes her perspective on interior design? The simultaneous clarity and boldness of this powder room suggest that it does. She deploys a wallcovering with star power (UK design house Cole & Sons’ pattern Savuti in their “soot on tangerine” colorway) and then lets it occupy center stage by exercising restraint in her other choices. “This paper gives off major glam vibes,” she declares. “It is our lead player and everything else in the space is supporting cast. All the fixtures have elegant lines and are jewel like. Because they are clear crystal or mirrored, they don’t compete, but rather support the whole. The dark simple, soapstone floor is the perfect anchor for our jewel box surprise: a classic choice that completes the mood, provides depth and holds all the movement and color together.”

When asked whether the client was worried about the bold impact of this small space, her response is as breezy as the room itself. “It’s easy to be brave with the powder room aesthetic. Clients are more willing to experiment in this contained space. Plus, how can you not be drawn to this whimsical paper in just the perfect shade of orange! The client immediately jumped on board for this adventure.”

Bold powder room with patterned wallpaper, blue wainscoting, and decorative framed art.
Photography by Erin Kelly

Babb and Mack

Inspired by a 36-hour stay in London at a hotel designed by Kit Kemp, interior designer (and co- founder of Babb and Mack) Dana Mackey’s own powder room is a delightful combination of humor, chic, and personality. “I wanted it to feel like a tiny museum, a space that appeared thoughtfully collected over time, offering something quirky and unexpected for both our family and our guests,” she explains. “My hope was that visitors would linger a little longer, taking in the details and leaving with a smile and something to chat about.”

This little room is anchored by Kit Kemp’s Robina Dinner Plate wallpaper by GP & J Baker. The plates offer a playful nod to the kitchen just around the corner. Its splendid color and pattern support a glamorous ensemble: gilded light fixtures, a boldly patterned mirror, classic natural stone, and a framed collection of antique intaglios mounted on Florentine marbled paper. “My hope is that the powder room showcases the same thoughtful, collected approach found throughout the rest of the house, but in a concentrated dose of eclectic fun,” says Mackey. We suspect it also reveals something about Mackey’s approach to work and life.

For inspiration more, see how Co-Founder Dana Mackey takes on a basement remodel.

Bold powder room with cityscape wallpaper, black faucet, and teal vanity.
Photo by Erin Kelly

Katy Popple

A sense of optimism and freshness animates interior designer Katy Popple’s work, and this powder room is no exception. The reflectivity of white walls makes the space naturally luminous. The vanity is lacquered a nicely urban shade of sky blue. And the King Kong motif of New York City Wallpaper by Milton & King provokes an immediate smile. “I was drawn to this wallpaper because the homeowners were relocating to Pittsburgh from NYC,” comments Popple. “The wallpaper dictated the direction for the black plumbing and accessories to play up the graphic nature of the pattern, and we pulled the vanity paint color from the wallpaper as well. I was looking to establish a feeling of whimsy and give visitors a reason to linger,” she adds.

Popple is right to call out the simplicity of the black fittings and towel ring because they recall the crisply inked details of the cartoon-inspired wallpaper pattern without distracting from it. They also create a visual connection to the rest of the house, which is “generally more neutral.”

Besides her touch on powder rooms, see how Katy Popple brings together an entire house.

Pattern Play: How to Use Bold Abstract Wallpaper in Your Powder Room

Dynamic and graphic, op-art circles and a trippy, hazy tie-dye dial up the sophistication in unexpected ways.

Bold powder room with colorful wallpaper, marble vanity, and gold accents.
Photography by Dave Bryce

Hoodridge Design

“Powder rooms are spaces where our clients can show guests a more playful side without committing to something they have to see every day. I always think of it like wearing a vintage concert tee under a beautifully tailored blazer — it’s classic, but with a little wink,” declares Hoodridge Design co-founder Katie Skocik. For the powder room shown here, Skocik chose Pink Standard wallpaper from Lindsay Cowles. “This wallpaper has almost a tie-dye effect, but in a more abstract artful, elevated way. Adding classic elements, like the white wainscoting and a traditional marble sink, really helped tie the powder room back to the rest of the house. It softened the almost graffiti- like wallpaper, making it feel more refined and delicate. I think the juxtaposition of the two feels classic and comfortable, yet artfully unexpected.”

But that’s not all Hoodridge Design can do, check out their makeover of a Mt. Lebanon family’s kitchen.

Bold powder room with geometric wallpaper, black faucet, and white sink
Photography by Dave Bryce

Marvista Design + Build

Michael Jacobs, Owner and President of Marvista Design + Build, sees this powder room in the context of the whole interior project he undertook for his client. “They were drawn to a bold, geometric look with plenty of color. The home embraces a mid-century modern aesthetic while incorporating traditional elements that honor its architectural character,” he says. “For this space, we wanted to create a sense of excitement and surprise. It is one of the first rooms you encounter upon entering the home, so it sets the tone for what lies beyond and offers a glimpse into the home’s distinctive personality.” The San Francisco wallpaper from Jupiter 10 fit the design brief perfectly.

“In a powder room with limited natural light, a vibrant wallcovering like this can make all the difference, adding depth, personality, and a sense of brightness to the compact space,” comments Jacobs. Its strong and structured use of black informed the choice of plumbing fixtures. And its playful but composed pattern helps establish a cohesive visual experience throughout the home.

In case you’re planning an out-of-the-box kitchen renovation soon, see what samples and materials Marvista recommends.

Looking for more design inspiration and resources? Check out our guide to interior designing.

About the Author

Keith Recker is Editor-in-Chief and Co-Owner of TABLE Magazine. A color and trend forecaster for nearly 20 years, his clients have included Pantone, WGSN, Stylus, and the Color Association of the United States. He is the author of three books on color, including Deep Color: The Shades That Shape Our Souls and True Colors: World Masters of Natural Dyes and Pigments, and PANTONE: The Twentieth Century in Color. He is co-founder of the Open Source Colour Association, a new organization devoted to inclusive and transparent color forecasting. Earlier in his career, he was a vice president of home merchandising at Saks Fifth Avenue, Bloomingdale’s and Gump’s San Francisco. Listen to his podcast appearances at The Color Authority and EcoFashion Hub. 

Read more of his work here or contact him at keith@tablemagazine.com. Follow him on Instagram as @TheChromosapien.

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Quantum Theatre Names Katie Brook New Artistic Director

By
Kylie Thomas
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Katie Brook, new Artistic Director of Quantum Theatre, in a red blazer.

Quantum Theatre, the acclaimed Pittsburgh-based company known for mounting site-specific dramas at unexpected locations throughout the region, has chosen accomplished director and educator Katie Brook as its new Artistic Director.

Katie Brook Succeeds Longtime Artistic Director Karla Boos at Quantum Theatre

When Quantum Theatre announced that founder and longtime artistic director Karla Boos would be stepping down, the company launched an international search for her successor. In the end, they found their choice — in rehearsals for Quantum’s next show.

Katie Brook, a Toronto native who earned an MFA at Carnegie Mellon University, will be Quantum’s next artistic director. The announcement arrives as Brook is actively working with the company; she’s been tapped to direct the play radio island, a world premiere set to open Oct. 23. It’s not her first time in the director’s chair for Quantum; she previously directed the company’s 2022 production of The Cherry Orchard, staged outdoors at the Roundhouse in Hazelwood. Boos herself starred in that production.

“She’s an amazing artist, as she would have to be to have bested great and gratifying competition for the job,” Boos said in a statement. “And she really wants to run a theater of our size and character, where we’ve so consciously traded things commonly valued for innovation and freedom.”

Brook Brings National (and Classroom) Experience to Quantum

Brook, who also earned a BFA in Theatre from Tisch School for the Arts, has directed and produced extensively in New York, with a focus on original and devised productions. She worked closely with playwrights and artists including Liza Birkenmeier, Cristobal Cea and Lyndsey Bourne in bringing original, largely experimental work to stages in and around Manhattan.

She’s also an accomplished educator, with a current role in the Department of Theatre at Tufts University and previous experience teaching at MIT’s Department of Theatre and Dance and CMU’s School of Drama.

“For me, being an Artistic Director means setting a vision and creating the conditions for great artists to do their best work,” Brook said in a statement. “I want to build creative teams, support bold projects, and develop work that keeps Quantum relevant and essential to Pittsburgh and beyond.”

The World Premiere radio island Debuts in October, with Brook at the Helm

radio island, a new work from Brook’s former collaborator (and fellow CMU alum) Birkenmeier, will debut next month at Rockwell Park in Point Breeze. The show, about a hostage negotiator returning to her remote childhood home, will be staged in a modular space in Rockwell Park — the kind of resonant, found space Quantum is known for.

That production follows a well-received and almost entirely sold-out run of The Tempest, presented as Boos’ swan song with the company (though she remains the Artistic Director for radio island, as her official departure is set for December).

Before Brook’s selection, Boos spoke with TABLE Magazine about the key elements that would mean success for her successor.

“There will be a new artistic director, and a future that is different from the past for Quantum,” Boos said earlier this year. “It’s labor and magic — a little magic, for sure.”

Tickets for radio island are on sale now.

For more arts & culture news, check out our guide to Things to Do in Pittsburgh.

About the Author

Sean Collier is the editor-in-chief of Shady Ave and the arts and culture editor of TABLE Magazine. Before joining the TABLE Media team, he spent nearly 15 years as a writer, editor and columnist at Pittsburgh Magazine. As the in-house film critic for the top-rated WDVE Morning Show since 2009, he’s been Pittsburgh’s most widely heard voice on movies for nearly two decades. A Pittsburgh native, Sean has since 2020 appeared weekly on KDKA-TV’s popular Pittsburgh Today Live talk show. He’s the co-founder of Vigilance Theater Group and an active stand-up comedian and event host. He can be found on Instagram and Twitter at @seancollierpgh.

Photo by Nile Scott

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Pittsburgh’s Best Pumpkin Beers This Fall

By
Kylie Thomas
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Pittsburgh pumpkin beer cans and pumpkins, perfect for fall.

Every sweater season, another pundit declares pumpkin beers dead, killed by consumers’ culinary fatigue with all things pumpkin spice. But every year, the gourd-flavored beer rises from the grave right on schedule—like a Halloween zombie—to sell out at bars and breweries across Pittsburgh. 

A decade ago, most pumpkin beers were all the same: some variation on an amber ale, light on creativity and heavy on baking spice. Today’s brews are vastly different. In Pittsburgh alone, there are breweries concocting pumpkin tartshakes, pumpkin white stouts, yam-mashed IPAs—and even pumpkin beer without any pumpkin at all.

While pumpkin beer has been around in various forms for centuries, the modern American revival can be traced to the early 1980s, when craft brewers began experimenting with the seasonal flavor. Despite the name, pumpkin beer doesn’t always contain actual pumpkin. There can be pumpkin purée or pumpkin concentrate, but also winter squash or spices like cinnamon, nutmeg, clove, and ginger that create a flavor reminiscent of pumpkin pie. Because pumpkin itself has a mild flavor, the spices often do much of the heavy lifting.

Here, some of the most interesting versions to try over the next two months, all brewed locally or by nearby Pennsylvania breweries. And when you’re done tasting the beers below, hit up Pittsburgh’s other craft breweries for more local brews.

The Newest Way to Pumpkin Beer

Silver beer can with "JAM" and vintage microphone graphic, for Pittsburgh pumpkin beers.
Photo From Dancing Gnome Brewery

Yam Jam at Dancing Gnome Brewery

If you’re housebound until Halloween, fear not: Dancing Gnome extends the spirit of pumpkin beer season into November with Yam Jam, a 6.8% ABV IPA with six different hops—Citra, Mosaic, Simcoe, Strata, Nectaron, and Nelson—that’s mashed with 100 pounds of roasted yams. The recipe has changed a bit over the years, but Dancing Gnome has always managed to produce one of the best IPAs in the city—if not the country.

Yam Jam is available on draft and in cans around the city, or at the brewery in Sharpsburg.

Barrel-Aged Nunkin at East End Brewing

What started as a joke—Nunkin contains no actual pumpkin—has become one of Pittsburgh’s most anticipated pumpkin beer releases. First brewed in 2011, it’s aged in bourbon barrels and made with a spice blend that gives it a distinctly pumpkin-y flavor. It’s a high ABV ale—usually 7.9%—and to try it, you’ll have to head to East End Brewing’s Mount Lebanon taproom or Larimer brewpub. If you’re lucky, you can sometimes find it in cans at better beer establishments or on draft around the city.

Pittsburgh pumpkin beer cans and pumpkins, perfect for fall.
Photo From Cinderlands

Star Crumb Pumpkin at Cinderlands

Made by Cinderlands, a brewery and taproom based in the Strip, the Star Crumb series includes some of the most unique beers you’ll taste in Pittsburgh. For proof, you need just one sip of Pumpkin: it’s a tartshake, a fruited sour that blurs the line between a sour, an IPA, and a milkshake. 

Designed to taste like an alcoholic pumpkin milkshake in a glass, the beer is brewed with hundreds of pounds of real pumpkin purée per barrel, along with cinnamon, nutmeg, and Madagascar vanilla bean. If you’re dairy free, you’ll want to skip this one: the beer also contains milk sugar, a.k.a. lactose, which gives the brew its signature creaminess.

It’s available in cans and on draft at Cinderlands, and will also be featured at Hundred Acre Manor, the Halloween attraction in South Park. Only one batch was brewed, and it’s expected to sell out by October 31.

Throwback and Easy as Pie at Hitchhiker Brewing Co.

Hitchhiker Brewing makes two awesome pumpkin beers, which brewer Andy Kwiatkowski says “are the most popular thing we sell right now.” The first is Throwback, a straightforward, 6.6% ABV pumpkin ale brewed with pumpkin and toasted malts and conditioned over pumpkin spices and vanilla bean. It’s scheduled for released in two weeks and should stick around a little longer than Easy as Pie, though it still goes extremely quickly. 

The more unique beer is the 6.4% ABV Easy as Pie, a cleverly named White Stout brewed to taste like—what else?—a pumpkin spice latte. Brewed with oats and wheat and conditioned on coffee, baking spices, marshmallow, and vanilla, it’s a creamy celebration of the season.

Both beers are available in cans and on draft from the brewery. Easy as Pie drops on September 4 and won’t last the weekend in cans, though it will see limited distribution. Throwback follows in two weeks.

Two New Trail Brewing "Werewolf" pumpkin stout cans, one barrel-aged, outdoors
Photo From New Trail Brewing Company

Zombies Are People Too, Double Zombies, Barrel Aged Double Zombies, Werewolf, and Barrel Aged Werewolf at New Trail Brewing Company

New Trail Brewing is based in Williamsport, about three hours northeast of Pittsburgh, but their beers often find their way to the Burgh—and you’ll be glad they made the trip. The brewery’s autumn offerings are like a masterclass in pumpkin, and this year they’ve transformed the gourd into five different pumpkin beers: Zombies Are People Too, Double Zombies, Barrel Aged Double Zombies, Werewolf, and Barrel Aged Werewolf. All of them are delicious, but keep your eyes open for Barrel Aged Double Zombies—made with maple syrup—which won a bronze medal at this year’s World Beer Cup.

New Trail’s pumpkin beers are available in draft and cans around the city. If you’re having trouble finding them, check out the beer finder on the New Trail website.

Troegs Master of Pumpkins ale can, a Pittsburgh pumpkin beer.
Photo From Tröegs Independent Brewing

Master of Pumpkins at Tröegs Independent Brewing

Another classic from Central Pennsylvania, Master of Pumpkins is a seasonal release and one of the best regularly scheduled pumpkin beers in the country. Available annually every September and October, the 7.5% ABV beer is made with 3,000 pounds of pumpkin grown only a few miles from the brewery. Add in cinnamon, clove, ginger, and nutmeg, as well as German Northern Brewer hops and Belgian ale yeast, and you’ve got a dark brown, boozy beer that’s perfect for cool nights.

Master of Pumpkins is available on draft and in cans around the city.

Endless Moon at Old Thunder Brewing

Old Thunder in Blawnox doesn’t make a pumpkin beer, but they do have Endless Moon, a 5.5% German-style lager that screams autumn with a capital A. Brewed with Munich and Vienna malts, it’s a crisp, refreshing beer with toasted-bread notes and delicate Hallertau Mittelfrüh hop character. If pumpkin beer isn’t your thing, this should be your go-to for celebrating the fall season.

Find a bite for when you’re done drinking with our guide to Pittsburgh dining.

About the Author

Kenny Gould is a writer and the founder of Hop Culture, a digital magazine focused on the beer industry. In addition to writing about food and beverages, he’s also the author of several fiction books, including the bestselling fantasy The Castle of 1,000 Doors. He holds a BA from Duke University, an MFA from Chatham University, and an MBA from NYU Stern. To learn more about Kenny, visit his website or follow him on Instagram at @thekennygould.

Featured Photo From Cinderland

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The Ultimate Guide to Pittsburgh’s Autumn Night Markets

By
Kylie Thomas
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Crowded street market at dusk with food vendors and people enjoying autumn night markets in Pittsburgh.

Over the past decade, night markets have become one of the best ways to spend a leisurely evening in Pittsburgh. They’re free, walkable, and a rare event where you can bring your kids, your dog, and that friend from out of town who wants to see the charm of the city’s neighborhoods. The season is winding down, but there are still markets to catch, with Greensburg’s even running through December. Here’s everything you need to know, from what to eat to where to park.

The Best Pittsburgh Night Markets This Fall

Lincoln Avenue Brewery sign on brick building, Pittsburgh
Photo From Lincoln Avenue Brewery

Bellevue Forward Night Market

September 17, 6 p.m. – 9 p.m.
North Sprague Avenue at Lincoln Avenue, Bellevue

What makes it different: Held just once a month on a Thursday night, Bellevue’s market is low-key and relaxed, making it feel like a family-friendly neighborhood party. 

Vendors: Local businesses, including brick-and-mortar stores and pop-up booths, plus artisans and makers of handmade crafts, jewelry, and candles. Local writers, print artists, and small presses are also part of the mix. 

Food: Mostly Bellevue restaurants: Tavern Pizza, 565 Live, Wunderbar, and 202 Hometown Tacos.

Neighborhood brewpub Lincoln Avenue Brewery is the market’s host, and it’s all about supporting Burgh businesses: It sells only local beers, wine, and spirits. 

Entertainment: Along with live acoustic music, there are murals and chalk art competitions, giant Jenga, cornhole, and trivia contests.

Parking: Only a small portion of Sprague Avenue—the end closest to Lincoln Avenue Brewery—is closed for the evening. The public parking lot stays open, and drivers can route around easily.

Crowded street market at dusk with food vendors and people enjoying autumn night markets in Pittsburgh.
Photo From Greensburg Night Market

Greensburg Night Market

September 24, 5:30 p.m. – 9 p.m.; October 29, 5:30 p.m. – 9 p.m.; November 18, 5:30 p.m. – 9 p.m.; December 10, 5:30 p.m. – 9 p.m.
South Pennsylvania Avenue, downtown Greensburg

What makes it different: Greensburg’s market has been strictly handmade-only since 2019: all participating vendors must make, bake, create, produce, or grow at least 80% of what they sell. There are no MLMs, direct sales, franchises, resale, or AI-generated products.

Vendors: Over 140 vendors during the regular season (April–October) and over 100 during the holiday season (November and December) take over four city blocks plus three parking lot areas. Expect artists, bakers, and makers selling jewelry, pottery and ceramics, glass, metal, fiber and crochet, woodworking, candles, paper art, dog treats, spirits, and prepared food. 

Food: Three food trucks on Block 3 in the Greensburg Hempfield Area Library parking lot and the Buncher lot, plus three to four more on Block 4. Tented food vendors are located on every other block.

Entertainment: There’s live music and family activities like face painting and temporary henna tattoos.

Parking: City parking lots and street parking downtown are free after 4 p.m. No street parking is permitted on South Pennsylvania, West 2nd, or West 3rd after 3:30 p.m. For a parking map, visit downtowngreensburgpa.us/parking-map.

Or take the free Live! Casino Pittsburgh shuttle. It picks up at the Greensburg Garden and Civic Center, 951 Old Salem Road, starting at 5:15 p.m., and drops passengers at West Pittsburgh Street and South Pennsylvania Avenue, right in the middle of the market. The last pickup back to the Civic Center is at 9 p.m. The shuttle does not run for the November or December markets.

People browsing stalls at a Pittsburgh night market in autumn.
Photo From Squirrel Hill Night Market

Squirrel Hill Night Market

September 26, 6 p.m. – 10 p.m.
Murray Avenue between Forbes Avenue and Beacon Street, Squirrel Hill.

What makes it different: The market closes three blocks of Murray Avenue to traffic, turning it into a pedestrian-only marketplace with shopping, food, and entertainment. It’s particularly family-friendly, with kids’ activities, crafts, chess tables, and live music throughout the night.

Vendors: More than 100 artists, local makers, and small businesses selling handmade jewelry, art, ceramics, clothing, and home goods from I Made It! Market, a Pittsburgh organization that supports and promotes local artists and makers through pop-up markets.

Food: Food trucks, plus offerings from neighborhood restaurants like Silk Elephant and Aiello’s Pizza.

Activities: Live music and performers all evening, hosted by Sunburst School of Music, a Squirrel Hill music school that gives students opportunities to perform live. Sunburst students’ house band opens the night, followed by additional bands taking the stage each hour. Chess tables are set up along the street, along with activities and crafts for the kiddos.

Parking: Setup begins at 2 p.m., with traffic slowing and access becoming more limited on nearby streets. Street closures run from 4 p.m. through 11 p.m. There’s no parking on Murray between Forbes and Beacon during that time—watch for yellow no-parking signs. Local access to Darlington and Bartlett Streets is available from Wightman Street and Shady Avenue. Paid parking is available in nearby lots. Murray Avenue from Forbes Avenue to Beacon Street is also closed to car traffic.

Taquitos food truck at a Pittsburgh night market, serving tacos and burritos.
Photo From Garfield Night Market

Garfield Night Market

October 2, 5 p.m. – 10 p.m.
North Pacific Avenue, Just Off Penn Avenue, Garfield

What makes it different: Garfield’s super-popular Night Market is a twofer: It’s deliberately scheduled to coincide with Unblurred, the city’s longest-running art crawl. Hit the market, then walk one block over to Penn Avenue for Unblurred, which features gallery openings, art exhibitions, and live music.

Vendors: Local businesses, artists, food trucks, and musicians, plus tables from local representatives and community organizations. The market bills itself as an incubator: it brings in experienced vendors and food trucks, like Pita My Shawarma and Smoked in Pitt BBQ, to draw crowds and share practices with first-time neighborhood vendors.

Food: A variety of food trucks serving diverse cuisines, and vendors from Garfield and beyond selling homemade food.

Entertainment: Live music and performances by Pittsburgh artists, interactive installations, and painting in real time. Past markets have included DJs and marching bands.

Parking: Street parking in Garfield and along the Penn Avenue corridor fills up fast. Plan extra time to find a free spot, or take public transportation or a rideshare.

Albino deer taxidermy in front of a vintage portrait and a "Prescriptions" sign.
Photo From Allentown Night Market

Allentown Night Market

October 10, 7 p.m. – 11 p.m.
800 block of East Warrington Avenue, in the city’s Allentown neighborhood

What makes it different: Allentown’s goth-style market was launched in 2017 by The Weeping Glass, a neighborhood oddities shop, and that has influenced the market’s vibe ever since. Highlights of past markets have included fire performers, circus and sideshow acts, roving street bands, and DJ sets running goth, post-punk, indie, and psych rock. Note that while the market is all-ages, organizers advise parental discretion given the dark and witchy tone. The market is dog-friendly outdoors and in the warehouse.

Vendors: A mix of over 100 local vendors, with an emphasis on the unexpected and the eclectic. In a note to prospective vendors the Market says: “If you create something truly unusual, peddle carefully curated curiosities, or are told that your art is ‘a little strange’ . . . this is your event.” Past markets have included taxidermy, bone work, handmade soap, leatherworks, and photography available for sale.

Food: Multiple food trucks are parked along Manton Way—the market dubs it Food Truck Alley—plus there are food tents throughout the market and vendors inside the warehouse. Beer, liquor, and non-alcoholic beverages are available at all markets from Bottlerocket Social Hall, Grim Wizard Coffee, and Dr. Tumblety’s Conjure Bar.

Entertainment: There will be tunes from DJs Kelly A, Callisto, Erica Scary, and Fairie Fey; live music from Faux Fear; a roaming music parade led by Eagleburger Band; sideshow and circus arts from Stolen Stitches Sideshow and Lilith DeVille; and fire performers from Lily Chan & Traveling Entertainment.

Parking: Parking in the neighborhood is limited. For the October market, Pittsburgh StepTrek provides walking routes via the South Side Slopes’ historic steps. A $5 Uber voucher is posted on the market’s social pages.

Pittsburgh autumn night market with tents, vendors, and people shopping
Photo From Neighborhood Flea

Neighborhood Flea Night Market

October 17, 6 p.m. – 10 p.m.
SouthSide Works, 424 South 27th Street, South Side 

What makes it different: The Night Market is the evening edition of Sunday’s Neighborhood Flea, which features vintage sellers, artists, makers, and small food vendors alternating between SouthSide Works and Schenley Plaza. The Night Market is the after-dark version, bringing the same mix of vendors to SouthSide Works on occasional Saturday evenings. Sellers don’t have to be registered businesses, so there’s an eclectic mix of solo vintage dealers and vendors with one-of-a-kind finds.

Vendors: The Night Market features the Neighborhood Flea’s same mix of vintage sellers, artists, makers, and small businesses. Vendors are juried, and you don’t have to be a registered business to participate, so expect an eclectic mix of vintage clothing, handmade jewelry, art, repurposed furniture, records, and other one-of-a-kind finds.

Food: There are food trucks, small-batch food sellers, baked goods, fresh juice, and coffee.

Entertainment: Along with DJs, you can catch approved buskers. 

Parking: The best availability is at two SouthSide Works parking garages: Ladle, on Sidney Street between South 26th and South 27th, and Furnace, on South 28th Street. Look for a QR-code sign in the Ladle or Furnace lots to get parking for $7.50.

Hungry for more? Check out our guide for things to do in Pittsburgh any time of the year. Or, shop fall’s farmer’s markets from our master list.

About the Author

Kenny Gould is a writer and the founder of Hop Culture, a digital magazine focused on the beer industry. In addition to writing about food and beverages, he’s also the author of several fiction books, including the bestselling fantasy The Castle of 1,000 Doors. He holds a BA from Duke University, an MFA from Chatham University, and an MBA from NYU Stern. To learn more about Kenny, visit his website or follow him on Instagram at @thekennygould.

Featured Photo From Greensburg Night Market

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Fun Things to Do in Pittsburgh

By
Kylie Thomas
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Two actors in Evil Dead The Musical as a man in a jumpsuit with a chainsaw and a woman covered in blood holding a paper full of symbols.
Brett Goodnack returns as Ash for 2026's "Evil Dead The Musical."

Looking for fun things to do around Pittsburgh this week? From festivals out in Pittsburgh’s parks to musicals that get you into spooky season early, the city is packed with events. Maybe you’ll bring the kiddos with you to enjoy activities up on Mount Washington or leave them at home for a lunch date on a rooftop. No matter what you choose, make sure you squeeze one of the events below into your busy week, you won’t regret it. In case you’re looking for more, view our guide for things to do in Pittsburgh any time of the year.

Fun Things to Do in Pittsburgh This Week

People dining on a sunny outdoor patio at a restaurant with wood and stone architecture.
Photo From Pittsburgh Botanic Garden

Evening Thyme & Trivia: Pollinator Pursuit

September 16, Canopy Café

Do you know your botanicals and green things that thrive amongst the Earth? Put your knowledge to the test at Pittsburgh Botanic Garden’s Canopy Café with a trivia night. This date’s theme focuses on Pollinator Pursuit so think of all those little friends like bees, butterflies, and birds that help flowers and plants grow. Along with a chance to take home houseplant prizes or artisan merchandise, you’ll also get extended hours to look through the gardens and sip on the café’s beverages, just arrive early before the gardens close at 7 p.m.

Outdoor dining in Pittsburgh: people enjoy dinner at tables under string lights.
Photo From The Priory Hotel

September Alfresco Wine Dinner

September 17, The Priory Hotel Courtyard

The Priory Hotel’s Executive Chefs Pete Phillipy and Michael Henney alongside John Gratner of Wine Merchant put together an evening of outdoor dining that you won’t want to miss. As you settle into the courtyard, you’ll try a four-course small plate menu with four wine pairings to match. Of course, cheese and crackers will be available for the table as well and you can listen to music from Martha Aggazzio as you enjoy. Just in case you don’t feel up to heading home after dinner, the hotel also offers a Wine Party Package that gets you an overnight stay in a Deluxe King Room and covers admission to the dinner for two guests.

Keyboardist with dreadlocks playing at a Pittsburgh music event
Photo From Pittsburgh International Jazz Festival

Pittsburgh International Jazz Festival 2026

September 17-20, 980 Liberty Avenue

Don’t miss one of the best cultural parties in Pittsburgh featuring some of the biggest names in jazz music over four days of events. It all starts with a jazz train that brings in out of town guests before a Friday night Kickoff Concert, a Taste of Jazz celebration, and then a street festival to close the weekend. All are welcome to head down to the free street festival on Liberty Avenue September 19-20 for non-stop jazz music from artists like Lalah Hathaway, Terri Lyne Carrington, and Eric Roberson. Besides basking up at the stage in awe, you can also browse through local vendors, take in cultural presentations, let the kids participate in activities, and dig into Pittsburgh’s local cuisine.

A group of people with panda headbands on.
Photo From Panda Fest

Panda Fest Pittsburgh 2026

September 18-20, Station Square East Lot Parking

For those who fawn over dumplings, tanghulu, bubble tea, and especially pandas, this festival is for you. Panda Fest, the national Asian street food and market festival makes its way to Pittsburgh, taking over the Station Square East Lot. Those who attend will see the little, cuddly panda mascot on bowls of ramen, cups of matcha, and all over merchandise. It’s your opportunity to try all the Asian snacks and foods you’ve always dreamed of while also getting hands-on cultural experiences through lion dance performances, K-Pop artists, and sugar painting demonstrations. To learn more about the first-time event, check out our guide to Panda Fest in Pittsburgh.

Woman tending to plants in a garden, possibly for paper making.
Photo From Grow Pittsburgh

Paper Making

September 19, Garden Dreams

Did you know you could make your own paper? And, in the process, you can help fight invasive species in Western Pennsylvania. Grow Pittsburgh invites you to create handmade paper that uses a “wet on wet” collage process full of plant fibers, pressed and dried leaves, grass, and other green things. You can then use your finished paper as a decorative piece in your home or use it to write a letter to a friend and draw a picture on such a unique backdrop. The venue, Garden Dreams, is an organic farm and greenhouse so dress for the weather and come prepared with a bottle of water you can refill.

September 21-27: Fun Things to Do in Pittsburgh

Ariel Lawhon smiles outdoors in a white shirt, with soft sunlight illuminating her face and hair.
Photo From Ariel Lawhon

New & Noted: Ariel Lawhon

September 24, Carnegie Library Lecture Hall

Lovers of historical fiction can look forward to a new release from New York Times bestselling author Ariel Lawhon. In honor of her new book The Pirate Queen, inspired by Irish folk hero Grace O’Malley, Lawhon heads to Carnegie Library Lecture Hall as part of the Pittsburgh Arts & Lectures’ New & Noted series. Feel free to bring along her other novels The Frozen River and I Was Anastasia in the hopes of an additional signing. 

Evil Dead The Musical: Ash and terrified woman with chainsaw and book
Photo From Pittsburgh Musical Theater

Evil Dead The Musical

September 25-October 25, West End Canopy

A cult classic for a good reason, the demon-centered movie The Evil Dead gets a musical spin just in time for Halloween. Pittsburgh Musical Theater returns this audience-beloved show to the stage for its seventh year, bringing with it a series of bad jokes and killer performances. Those hoping to immerse themselves fully can take advantage of the Splash Zone where you may just get a drop… or a whole bucket of blood splashed onto you from the stage in all the incredibly fun chaos. Check out the rest of PMT’s 2026-27 season or other performances around Pittsburgh.

Crowds enjoy a street festival with food trucks, tents, and signs for Party on the Mount 2026.
Photo From Party on the Mount

Party on the Mount 2026

September 26, Grandview Avenue & Shiloh Street

What could be better than a festival for the whole family with views of the Pittsburgh rivers and skyline in the background? Head up on top of Mount Washington right on Grandview Avenue for all your carnival favorites. Take the kids on a ferris wheel for a sight you’ll never forget, play games along the midway to win prizes, watch street performers in awe, and relax with local cuisine and drink to live music. There will even be a retail market of local vendors to grab a souvenir to take home. 

Pour at the Park event: Hand holds metal cup with event logo.
Photo From Pour at the Park

Pour at the Park

September 26, North Park

Beer drinkers, those with a curiosity for local spirits, and even people looking for non-alcoholic options can head to Pour at the Park for another year of tastings, food trucks, music from The Delaneys, raffles, and more. Get a breath of fresh air as you try 15 different local beverage vendors. Bring the kids, too, for Coach Dave Gray’s fun-zone and the atmosphere of North Park. Plus, funds from the event go towards benefiting the Allegheny County Parks Foundation, directly impacting the home of Pour at the Park. 

Rooftop soirée in autumn: people enjoy music and drinks on a patio with city views.
Photo From Kimpton Hotel Monaco Pittsburgh

Sip and Soirée: Fall Edition

September 27, Kimpton Hotel Monaco Pittsburgh

Take in views of the city from the rooftop of the Kimpton Hotel Monaco Pittsburgh during golden hour. But, it’s not just the charm of the city on display, you’ll also receive a bottle of wine, dine on a custom harvest board of charcuterie selections and hors d’oeuvres, and relax in a picnic or lounge setting, all to live music. Think of popping a bottle of Huber Sparkling Rosé or even Leitz Eins Zwei Zero Riesling (non-alcoholic wine) with meats, cheeses, and breads at your fingertips.

September 21-27: Fun Things to Do in Pittsburgh

Olivia Rodrigo upside down on a swing, wearing a pink dress and platform heels.
Photo From Olivia Rodrigo

Olivia Rodrigo

September 29-30, PPG Paints Arena

One of the world’s favorite pop girlies is coming to Pittsburgh for the first time ever. To celebrate her album You Seem Pretty Sad for a Girl So in Love, Olivia Rodrigo finally brings her Unraveled Tour to PPG Paints Arena for two nights. While both nights are completely sold out, you can always purchase resale tickets on a trusted website like StubHub or put yourself on the official waitlist for a chance to purchase tickets released closer to the show.

11th Annual Ecolution Fashion Gala
Photo From Ecolution Fashion Gala

11th Annual Ecolution Fashion Gala

September 30, The Pennsylvanian

After its Earth Day delay, the Ecolution Fashion Gala is back to show off how beautiful sustainability can be. Renowned designer Brian David curates the show with 20 other designers, showcasing creations inspired by pop culture. Everything you see is recycled, bringing to life repurposed materials on the runway. Plus you can upgrade your experience to VIP for a plant‑forward culinary experience, signature cocktails, and premium seating. In need of an outfit for the occasion? Check out our guide to shopping in Pittsburgh for boutiques and other clothing stores.

Pittsburgh Landmarks jack o'lantern display at night, with carved pumpkins.
Photo From Pittsburgh Zoo

Jack O’Lantern Extravaganza

October 2-November 1, Pittsburgh Zoo

If you visit the Pittsburgh Zoo throughout October, you can plan to see walks of lit-up jack o’lanterns, carved with all your favorite zoo animals, Pittsburgh landmarks, and other designs. Included in general admission, you can travel through the first half of the zoo for this cozy, Halloween-themed experience. Plus, you can always add-on other activities like 21+ mixology classes and comedy nights, rides on the Night Train, pumpkin smashing, and pumpkin painting. While you’re there, make sure you get a peak at the zoo’s latest addition, Kiazi, a lion cub.

The Longest Table
Photo From The Longest Table

The Longest Table Pittsburgh

October 3, Under Veterans Bridge in the Strip District

Join the rest of the Pittsburgh community at the Longest Table to create a potluck style meal for all to enjoy at one, you guessed it, long table. It’s a chance to meet your neighbors, connect with strangers, and talk about anything your heart desires. You can gather a group of your own and make your own menu or come to join everyone else with a dish to offer. As by Pittsburgh tradition, there will absolutely be a cookie table that you are also welcome to share your creations at. And just in case you need an idea of a dish to bring, check out our ultimate guide to potluck recipes.

Festival of Combustion: Fireworks explode over abandoned industrial site with graffiti.
Photo From Festival of Combustion

Festival of Combustion

October 3, Carrie Blast Furnaces

It’s human nature to have our ears perk up a little when we hear that fire is involved. At the Festival of Combustion, fire is the star of the show, wow-ing visitors with a day full of industrial traditions involving metal. Watch (from a safe distance, of course) as live demonstrations and hands-on experiences let you get a closer look at iron casting, blacksmithing, copper smithing, aluminum arts, glassmaking, and ceramics. It’s all set on the gorgeous backdrop of the Carrie Blast Furnaces with live music, food trucks, fireworks, and even tattoo-ing on site.

Check out our calendar for other events this week.

About the Author

Kylie Thomas is TABLE Magazine’s Online Editor, covering Pittsburgh food, drink, and going out, including the Things to Do in Pittsburgh column. A Point Park University graduate, her work has also appeared on The Takeout, QBurgh, and Empire Extreme. She also runs the photography business Photos by Ky. 

Featured Photo From Pittsburgh Musical Theater

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Search for Treasure at the Bloomfield Sidewalk Sale

By
Kylie Thomas
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Woman at Bloomfield Sidewalk Sale with colorful toys and art
Melissa Ciccocioppo

The Bloomfield Sidewalk Sale began in Lower Bloomfield but now is an expansive, neighborhood-wide event with more than 90 participating residences and businesses. 

Thrifting Culture Thrives at This Year’s Bloomfield Sidewalk Sale

Bloomfield Sidewalk Sale organizer and resident Melissa Ciccocioppo is currently working on a blue-footed booby costume for Halloween. She had been stuck on executing the bird’s eponymous turquoise feet — until she visited this year’s Friendship yard sale and found a pair of $5 swim flippers that completed her avian vision. That’s the kind of serendipity she hopes happens at this event. 

“Thrifting culture is super big,” she says. “I love that, because you will find crazy treasures at these things.”

You, too, can find crazy treasures or a reasonably priced niche item you’ve been looking for at the Bloomfield Sidewalk Sale — taking place from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. on September 12, rain or shine. The event combines the thrill of the secondhand hunt with a celebration of Bloomfield businesses and local artists.

Ciccocioppo has organized the event for the past five years after Dave and Terry Aiello, longtime organizers and “the best neighbors somebody could ever ask for,” asked her to take over, despite her having no event organizing experience. 

“I’ve always said to them, ‘whatever you need, I’m here for you,’” Ciccocioppo says. “And so when she said, ‘Take over the thing,’ I’m like, ‘I have to take over the thing.’ I thought, ‘How hard can it be?’”

Bloomfield sidewalk sale features artwork, clothing, and household items displayed outside.

Nearly 100 Vendors

In her first year organizing, Ciccocioppo expanded the event from Lower Bloomfield to encompass the entire neighborhood, with sign-ups from 30 houses. Last year, 90 houses took part. This year, 70 residences have signed up alongside participation from 23 local businesses — a first for the event.

Ciccocioppo floated the idea of business outreach last year to Gina Merante of Linea Verde Green Market, who thought it was a great idea and encouraged Ciccocioppo to follow through, creating an event that’s free, “hyper-local and just about this neighborhood and the people in it.”

“I made a [business] application that was just like, ‘Do you want to participate? If so, how will you do this? Are you going to offer a discount or special items?’” she explains. “Are you going to be utilizing your sidewalk space because it’s free? If not, would you be willing to donate your sidewalk space to either an artist or a resident who doesn’t have their own space to sell things?”

The response from businesses has been “overwhelmingly great,” she says. Participating businesses include Creative Chem Co, Bantha Tea Bar and Tessaro’s; community organization Assemble will sell food and drinks, host free workshops and house artists selling their work during the event. 

“Particularly this year with all this construction going on, the extra business is going to be super, super, super, super helpful,” Ciccocioppo, a manager at Yinz Coffee on Liberty Avenue, says. 

How to Shop or Participate in the Bloomfield Sidewalk Sale

Ciccocioppo is encouraging artists to sell their work for non-yard sale prices while offloading items that no longer spark joy. Ciccocioppo herself has “made a killing” on the work she puts out during the sale.

And, unlike other yard sales in the city, the Bloomfield Sidewalk Sale is free to participate, with Ciccocioppo arguing that the whole point of putting on a yard sale is to “make money, not spend it.”

“$5 per person would go a long way, but I don’t care,” she says. “This will always be free.”

A digital map with all participating addresses is available on the Bloomfield Development Corporation’s website and the official Facebook event page. Additional printed maps will be available at Yinz Coffee and Linea Verde Green Market on Liberty Avenue during the sale weekend.

Ciccocioppo’s call to attend is simple: Come for the treasure, stay for the community. 

“Speaking from experience, it’s a really lovely way to meet your neighbors,” she says. “Down on my street, it becomes like a block party.” 

Story by Amanda Reed
Photos Courtesy of Bloomfield Sidewalk Sale

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Peter Henry Is the New Chef at Pittsburgh’s Scratch & Co.

By
Kylie Thomas
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Peter Henry, chef at Pittsburgh's Scratch & Co., wearing a plaid shirt and apron.

On the Friday before Labor Day weekend, Peter Henry is working on an oil-and-salt-cured eggplant at Scratch & Co., the farm-to-fork restaurant in Troy Hill where he’s just been named interim executive chef. Along with fermenting, pickling, and smoking, Chef Henry is also a big fan of curing. “It makes the eggplant luscious and fatty,” he says. He’ll pair the eggplant with split-pea purée and Pennsylvania mushrooms for Eggplant Santorini, a new addition to the menu. Instead of tossing out the mushroom ends, he will dehydrate them, grind them into a powder, and fold them into an umami aioli for Scratch’s tavern burger. “We try to use what other people would throw away,” says Chef Henry. 

New Chef Peter Henry Brings Sustainable Culinary Innovation to Scratch & Co.

Chef Henry’s arrival at Scratch, which has been owned by Don Mahaney since 2015, seemed almost a foregone conclusion in Pittsburgh’s close-knit culinary community. A California transplant who moved to the city in 2020, Chef Henry’s belief in sustainability, hyper-local sourcing, and low-waste cooking gained attention during his two years at Cafe Momentum, a downtown restaurant that employs and mentors young people involved in the criminal justice system. He helped the Dallas-based concept restaurant launch its second location in Pittsburgh, teaching the chefs-in-training about cooking, produce, sourcing, and how to maximize perishable ingredients. He also emailed 200 Pennsylvania farmers to learn what they were growing and when.

That same commitment to Pennsylvania agriculture was already central to Scratch when Chef Henry met Mahaney, and the two realized they saw food—and the community around it—in much the same way. At Scratch, local sourcing means everything used in the kitchen comes from within a 90-minute drive whenever possible. “It’s our only focus,” says Chef Henry. 

Inside Scratch & Co.’s Seasonal Menu

The menu is already reflecting Chef Henry’s approach to seasonality and simplicity. Take the short rib hash at brunch, which uses local Thoma Meat Market beef with golden potatoes, Spanish onion, and a poached egg. The dish’s real flex is the bordelaise, which starts with 70 quarts of liquid and gets slow-simmered over three days down to six quarts. “It’s just reduced, reduced, reduced,” says Chef Henry. At dinner, short rib from the same supplier gets paired with grits made from popcorn. He pops Stutzman Farms’ corn, cooks it with mirepoix, white wine, and cream, then purées it into a buttered-popcorn cream that he uses to cook the grits.

For Chef Henry and Scratch, the real test comes when the calendar turns. As autumn gives way to winter, the menu will need to lean into colder-month staples, like pumpkin, beets, sunchokes, rutabaga, turnips, and parsnips. The same commitment to local sourcing also dictates what doesn’t make it on the menu. “The one food we will never serve is seafood. There’s no ocean near us,” says Chef Henry. “But we will serve trout, because we have a beautiful trout farm near us, and beautiful rivers.”

While you wait to visit Chef Peter Henry, try out one of Scratch and Co.’s signature mocktail recipes at home.

About the Author

Kathleen Renda is TABLE Magazine’s Online Content Strategist and a contributor covering design, trends, and lifestyle. A veteran journalist with more than two decades at national titles including Martha Stewart Living, House Beautiful, and HGTV Magazine, she was part of the Budget Living team that won the National Magazine Award for General Excellence. She’s interviewed names like Chip and Joanna Gaines and Nate Berkus, and ghostwritten two bestselling interior design books, including Thom Filicia Style. More at kathleenrenda.com. 

Photo Courtesy of Scratch & Co.

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How You Can Get On Stage at the Century-Old Palace Theatre — And See a Great Movie

By
Kylie Thomas
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The Palace Theatre marquee with "THE PALACE" in yellow letters.

Greensburg’s beautiful Palace Theatre is celebrating its 100th anniversary throughout 2026. A year of events marking the anniversary has featured music, movies, parties, performing animals and more — including a marquee concert featuring country music superstar LeAnn Rimes. And, at several events scheduled throughout the rest of the year, you can take a look behind the scenes (and get a night at the movies while you’re there).

The Palace Theatre in Greensburg Celebrates a Century of History

The Palace Theatre is filled with relics of its past lives. Decades of film projectors, posters, theatrical equipment and film reels can be found both on display and in corners and corridors hidden from sight. In the theater’s original projection booth, a vintage Super Trouper brand spotlight — yes, that’s what ABBA was singing about — remains in working order.

Close-up of a vintage Strong Super Trouper spotlight at the Palace Theatre
Stack of vintage movie posters and VHS tapes, including "Guns of Vengeance" and "War of the Colossal Beast.
Close-up of an Edison Kinetoscope with Thomas A. Edison Inc. Orange, N.J. label

These artifacts speak to the theater’s status as a continued center for entertainment in Greensburg, a run that began in the days of vaudeville and continues well into the 21st century — a run that could only happen in a town that embraces a place like the Palace Theatre.

“It really took a community willing to step up” and preserve the theater for 100 years, says Benjamin Luczak, the Westmoreland Cultural Trust’s executive director. (The Palace Theatre is one of several venues and programs that make up the organization.) “It’s a testament to the community that they value arts and culture. It’s meaningful. Everyone has a story about the Palace Theater.”

How to Get a Behind-the-Scenes Tour at the Palace Theatre

While many historic pieces have been curated and can be found in the public areas, others can only be seen with a behind-the-scenes look. Fortunately, guests can get a backstage tour this year.

The theater wanted to make some events “a little bit more alluring to some of the history buffs who are coming to see the centennial of the theater,” says Matt Starry, the Trust’s director of programming and production. “I take them on stage and I open and close the grand curtains — so they can experience what it’s like to have the curtains open and close in front of an audience.”

A peek behind the curtain at the Palace would be a worthy trip all on its own — but the upcoming tours offer more entertainment. Upcoming tours will be given before screenings of hit movies from throughout the theater’s heyday, projected once again at a theater that for many years served as a regional movie palace.

Palace Theatre auditorium with red velvet seats and ornate dome ceiling.

The Theatre’s Next Movie Event? Grease Is the Word

Next on the docket: Grease, the 1978 musical that has persisted in popularity for decades. The hit musical will be shown at 5 p.m. on September 26; the tour begins an hour earlier.

The film series — which also offers themed drinks, giveaways and more pre-show activities at each show — continues on Halloween with a showing of Ghostbusters, followed by ’80s favorite The Goonies on November 27. The perennial holiday favorite A Christmas Story rounds out the lineup, with a showing on December 20.

While that show will conclude the theater’s centennial lineup, the screenings — and attached tours — are expected to resume in April. Organizers are staying mum, for now, about what films will appear in 2027 … but they’re willing to give away the name of the opening film: E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial.

“People are excited about” the series, Starry says. “It’s been such a great success, and it’s been fun.”

Palace Theatre auditorium with red seats and stage, offering a glimpse of the venue.

Plus, a Marquee Concert to Celebrate 100 Years in Greensburg

There’s much more to the anniversary year at the Palace, including the dedication of a Time Capsule and a capital campaign to further preserve the building for future generations. But the main event of the celebration is coming up next week: A two-night stand from country superstar LeAnn Rimes.

Rimes will give an intimate, gala performance on Saturday, September 19, with a small audience seated on the stage itself with the performer; due to demand for that event, a public concert was added for Sunday, September 20.

While Rimes is a marquee name, the Palace Theatre stage is no stranger to superstars. They’ve hosted Frank Sinatra, Johnny Cash, Ella Fitzgerald and even the Dalai Lama.

“Bill Murray was here … and he was like, ‘Wow, what a beautiful theater you guys have,’” says Starry.

Fortunately — and with the efforts of the Westmoreland Cultural Trust and an engaged community — the programming, and the crowds, at the Palace Theatre are growing as it enters its second century.

“Nothing can replace live performances — and that communal experience,” Luczak says.

Find more things to do around Greensburg in our guide to the East of Pittsburgh.

About the Author

Sean Collier is the editor-in-chief of Shady Ave and the arts and culture editor of TABLE Magazine. Before joining the TABLE Media team, he spent nearly 15 years as a writer, editor and columnist at Pittsburgh Magazine. As the in-house film critic for the top-rated WDVE Morning Show since 2009, he’s been Pittsburgh’s most widely heard voice on movies for nearly two decades. A Pittsburgh native, Sean has since 2020 appeared weekly on KDKA-TV’s popular Pittsburgh Today Live talk show. He’s the co-founder of Vigilance Theater Group and an active stand-up comedian and event host. He can be found on Instagram and Twitter at @seancollierpgh.

Photography by Sean Collier

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A Stay at Hotel Poseidon in Positano

By
Stephen Treffinger
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White vintage Volkswagen Beetle parked outside Hotel Poseidon, Positano

Not many can say they grew up in a hotel (unless you count Eloise, that is), but the owners of the Hotel Poseidon in Positano did just that—and with the Amalfi Coast as their backdrop.  

Hotel Poseidon terrace in Positano, Italy, with colorful flowers and seating.

Stay Inside the Hotel Poseidon in Positano, Italy

The family-run place was, however, never intended to be a hotel. When the occupants noticed the tremendous influx of visitors to the area, however, they decided to make the transformation. Today it is operated by Monica Aonzo, daughter of the original owners, and her daughters, Lilian and Margherita Mascolo. 

Three women smiling on a striped sofa at Hotel Poseidon, Positano
Margherita Mascolo, Monica Aonzo, And Liliana Mascolo

“My grandparents bought the villa [in 1950] with the sole intention of keeping it as a home for the family,” says Liliana, who is the PR and Communications Manager. “So you can imagine their surprise when hospitality became the center of their lives. Now, it’s our lives, but we wouldn’t have it any other way.” 

The sisters, who now live at the hotel year round, watch as guests roam the halls they ran up and down as children, dine on the terrace where they shared many intimate family meals, and sleep in the rooms that once housed them. “It’s quite a unique and beautiful situation that not many get to experience!” 

Positano restaurant table with food and views of Hotel Poseidon
Hotel Poseidon Positano: outdoor seating area with pool view
Hotel Poseidon restaurant terrace in Positano, Italy, with tables set and view of the coast

The Rooms and Amenities at Hotel Poseidon

The Poseidon is located in the middle level hills of Positano, with 48 rooms and suites, all with views of the city and/or the sea. There is also a panoramic pool, an onsite restaurant, cocktail bar (as well as a just-opened “secret” one), and a spa. It’s one of those places that has pretty much everything you need and need never leave—but there is, of course, lots to see and experience in the area. It has platinum-level views at any time, of course, especially when the terraces are in bloom or when looking over the hills at dusk. (And any time you can paddle around in a pool while looking out over the sea is mighty special.)  

Rooms are grand but relaxed, the stone floors dotted with area rugs that provide the foundation for casually chic furniture. And while the palette is fairly subdued, there are dashes of cardinal red in the furnishings, pool towels, stair runners, and bathroom tiles—a dramatic contrast to all the blue of the sky and sea. 

Hotel Poseidon Positano: Blue sofas and red rug in elegant Italian hotel lounge

Take a Joy Ride in Italy…

The Aonzo family has long had a passion for vintage cars and has collected many over the years, including a 1971 Volkswagen convertible Beetle that sits out front and can be taken for a spin by guests at no cost. (It’s a standard shift, in case you’re dreaming of driving it.) Margharita also gives private guided tours in the car, and bringing guests to lesser-known spots in and around Positano. 

Cream convertible classic car outside Hotel Poseidon Positano

“These places are all special to us because they’re off the beaten path and primarily frequented by those who live here. Tourists who visit the Amalfi Coast tend to have a very fast-paced experience, meaning they’re doing everything that they think they need to do to have a true Amalfi Coast experience,” says Liliana. 

That experience means enjoying the Coast at a slower pace, putting down one’s phone and walking quieter streets, eating in restaurants that are not social media must-stops. “We want people to really immerse themselves in the quaint towns, which requires a source in the know.” 

Hotel Poseidon Positano is open April through the end of October and remains one of the city’s oldest hotels.  

Hotel Poseidon Positano: Living room with pool view, vine-covered ceiling

What to Do and Where to Go in Positano 

Here is the family’s list of their favorite “secret” places in the area, where guests can go to feel more like locals than tourists. These are spots the family enjoyed over the years or newer places they have grown to love. 

Can’t make it out to Italy? Cook some of the best dishes throughout the region alongside Tucci in Italy season two.

Story by Stephen Treffinger
Photos From Hotel Poseidon

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