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Wedding Cake Bakers in Pittsburgh for Delicious and Beautiful Designs

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A bridge cuts a slice of wedding cake with florals embellishing it.

A wedding cake is more than dessert, it’s a centerpiece that reflects your style and love story. Pittsburgh’s talented cake makers craft stunning creations that taste as good as they look, making your big day even sweeter.

Best Pittsburgh Wedding Cake Bakeries to Sweeten Your Celebration

Bethel Bakery

Recognized as “The Cake Place” in and around Pittsburgh for over 65 years, this family-owned South Hills bakery—which started as the dream of high school student Morris Walsh, who worked as a salesclerk at a bakery after becoming an orphan as a teenager—offers trademark French buttercream icing as well as exceptional service.

Alex Robba Cake

Led by a French Pastry Arts graduate, this studio creates visually stunning and delicious cakes by skillfully blending unique flavors and textures—imagine a lemon-lavender-blueberry or chocolate-stout-beer cake. Robba invites clients to trust his creative process, crafting personalized showstoppers that also showcase a couple’s unique love story.

Prantl’s Bakery

No Pittsburgh dessert spread is complete without Prantl’s. The inclusion of this locally renowned bakery at your big event is the perfect way to add a touch of local nostalgia. Favorite flavors range from the iconic almond torte to red velvet, yellow, as well as carrot cake.

Benjamin Bishop Pastries

Pastry chef Benjamin Bishop excels at the finer details of his craft, such as edible gilding, chocolate work, and pastry sculpture. If he’s in charge of your cake, you know you’re going to get not just a delicious treat but a work of art.

The Butterwood Bake Consortium

Butterwood Bake Consortium in Lawrenceville offers desserts made with Beehive flour, local butter, and also organic eggs, with plenty of allergen-friendly options. Flavor options include those reminiscent of high tea: Earl Grey, sweet potato spice, lavender, poppy rose, orange olive oil, black sesame, and others.

Sweet Treats Bakery, LLC

Jen Christy of Sweet Treats Bakery takes on only a select number of events each week to ensure that she can dedicate her full attention to her made-from-scratch creations. Using locally sourced, farm-fresh ingredients, she enhances her cakes with fresh fruits as well as delightful fillings.

Oakmont Bakery

There’s a good chance you’ve already heard of this famed local bakery and its exceptional baked goods. Booking in advance is highly recommended, and design options are limited. Still, Oakmont Bakery offers expertly crafted classic and trendy styles, and customers can customize cakes with flowers, colors, toppers, and more to match their wedding theme.

Plus, get your wedding planner and clothing taken care of by other fantastic Pittsburgh companies.

Story by Jordan Snowden and Emma Riva
Photo by 2AM Creatives

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Best Pittsburgh Wedding Venues to Make Your Big Day Unforgettable

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A wedding table decorated by a Pittsburgh service sits in the middle of a group of windows with flowers and orange candles adorning the table.
The Oaklander

Choosing the right venue sets the stage for your entire wedding, from the atmosphere to the memories you’ll cherish forever. Pittsburgh offers breathtaking options, from historic landmarks to lush gardens and modern spaces that bring every couple’s vision to life.

Wedding Venues in Pittsburgh for Stunning and Memorable Celebrations

Tara, A Country Inn

A grand Southern-inspired escape with sweeping views, classic charm, and on-site dining—ideal for weddings and parties with a destination feel, yet close to home.

Bistecca

A modern steakhouse setting with glowing ambiance, bold cocktails, and elevated cuisine—perfect for intimate wedding receptions, rehearsal dinners, and milestone celebrations. Afterward, try your luck at the Casino just down the
hall!

Altius

Sophisticated Mount Washington dining with sweeping skyline views, impeccable service, and a refined menu. Altius is an elevated choice for stylish receptions, engagement parties, and unforgettable nights.

Lemont

Classic Pittsburgh elegance with panoramic city views set atop Mt. Washington. You’ll enjoy white tablecloth service, and a timelessly gilded atmosphere. Ask about large private rooms ideal for weddings, formal receptions, and celebrations that feel iconic and beautifully traditional.

Springwood Conference Center

A serene hillside venue with flexible indoor-outdoor spaces, bespoke architecture, sweeping views, and effortless logistics—perfect for weddings, corporate celebrations, and larger gatherings needing room to celebrate.

ROOST

A warm, modern space designed for gathering located conveniently just off Downtown’s Market Square. Stylish interiors, curated food and drink, and a welcoming vibe that makes weddings, showers, and private parties feel effortlessly chic.

Pittsburgh Botanic Garden

A lush, nature-filled setting with woodland trails and garden beauty. Perfect for romantic outdoor ceremonies, tented receptions, and celebrations surrounded by seasonal color.

Nemacolin

A luxury resort destination with dramatic ballrooms, outdoor ceremony sites, world-class dining, and impeccable service. Ideal for unforgettable weddings, weekends away, and grand celebrations.

National Aviary

A one-of-a-kind venue surrounded by exotic birds and vibrant indoor spaces. The garden room overlooks the historic rose garden and Allegheny Commons Park—perfect for unforgettable weddings, cocktail hours, and parties with a magical, conversation-starting atmosphere.

Pittsburgh Opera (Bitz Opera Factory)

An industrial-chic venue, the former Westinghouse Brake Factory in the Strip District is a space with creative energy, dramatic scale, and flexible layouts—perfect for modern weddings, statement receptions, and unforgettable parties with a true Pittsburgh edge.

The Westmoreland Museum of American Art

This refined, art-filled setting with striking galleries and elegant ambiance in downtown Greensburg is ideal for weddings, cocktail receptions, and celebrations surrounded by culture and beauty.

Rivers of Steel

Historic industrial riverfront venues offering dramatic architecture, flexible indoor and outdoor event space, and distinctive Pittsburgh character for unforgettable weddings, celebrations, and corporate gatherings alike.

The Pennsylvanian

The Grand Hall and The Rotunda rooms in this downtown venue used to be part of Pittsburgh’s Penn Station, which is known for its amazing Beaux-Arts architecture, as well as its stunning arched openings, beautiful marble floors, and the 40-foot vaulted ceilings in The Grand Hall.

Union Hall

Above Bar Marco in the Strip District is a dynamic and airy wedding venue, the Union Hall. Coordinator Shelby Ciarallo provides guidance every step of the way and leads a knowledgeable team of chefs and servers who make your menu as special as your party. The rotating curated selection of art on the walls also makes for great conversation starters with guests!

Buhl Mansion

Steel tycoon Frank Buhl built a beautiful stone castle for his cherished wife, Julia, in 1896. While giving a mansion as a gift to your beloved might not be in your budget, you can still tie the knot there! Nestled in Sharon and proudly listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the Buhl Mansion offers a range of indoor and outdoor venues to fit every style. You can rent out the entire property, which includes a charming 10-room inn and spa, ensuring a truly regal experience.

Sewickley Quarter

Hineman and Hannah Di Cicco dreamt up the Sewickley Quarter in a charming courtyard on Beaver Street in Sewickley, PA after a trip to New Orleans. This distinctive venue accommodates up to 125 guests and features luxurious getting-ready suites, hand-batched cocktails on tap, and unforgettable dining.

Hotel Monaco

This Kimpton property is no stranger to weddings and big events. With two ballrooms and the Rialto rooftop suite and adjacent Emperor Rooftop area, they have gorgeous space for all kinds of weddings. They’re also on tap to help with the moment the groom pops the question, and for staycation honeymoons. Many an after party has convened around the bar at the hotel’s onsite restaurant, The Commoner.

Bramblewood

If you love the outdoors and organic food, Bramblewood just might be the venue for you. Lush hills, apple orchards, and honeybee hives, offer a scenic natural setting around this beautiful property. The distinctive ceremony site features a living tree aisle, celebrating the beauty and vitality of the natural world while celebrating your love.

THIS IS RED

For those who want to tie the knot in a piece of Pittsburgh history, THIS IS RED is a former Slovakian church in Munhall that has been transformed into offices and event space. With 20,000 square feet of customizable space, a stone grotto, an upstairs whiskey bar, altar turned stage, and plant wall, it offers a stunning and versatile venue.

Bella Terra Vineyards

You don’t have to go all the way to wine country to say “I do” in a vineyard. The picturesque surroundings at the 100-acre Bella Terra Vineyards create a sense of privacy, making even the largest gatherings feel cozy and intimate.

Mansions on Fifth

Don’t want to leave the city for your nuptials? In the heart of Shadyside, Mansions on Fifth Hotel boasts stunning high wood-beam ceilings, rich dark-walnut paneling, and beautiful leaded glass windows dating to 1906. The venue blends modern luxury with classic charm. With 22 rooms and suites available, your guests from out of town will also have a comfortable place to stay. Not ton mention it’s close to many Pittsburgh attractions.

The Oaklander

Discover quiet luxury at The Oaklander hotel. This venue offers a breathtaking 10th-floor wedding venue with panoramic views of the city of Pittsburgh. The exclusive space features customizable catering and access to the in-house restaurant, Spirits & Tales.

Fallingwater

Just a 500-yard stroll from the main architectural wonder, The Barn at Fallingwater is ready to host your special event. With its charming courtyard and nearby amphitheater, The Barn offers flexible spaces for your cocktail hour and reception.

Phipps Conservatory

No need to spring for fancy florals if you get married in Pittsburgh’s epicenter of gorgeous flora. A wedding in Phipps’s intimate and romantic event space, surrounded by plants from around the world, is always one to remember. phipps.

Story by Jordan Snowden and Emma Riva
Photo by Megan McGreevy Photo

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Wedding Rental Resources in Pittsburgh for Stylish Event Décor

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A table sits covered in white candles, orange and purple flowers, clear glasses, and white empty plates.

The right wedding rental resources in Pittsburgh can transform any wedding into a beautiful and memorable event. From linens and vintage décor to signage and full-service setups, Pittsburgh offers amazing rental companies ready to bring your vision to life.

Best Pittsburgh Wedding Rental Resources to Elevate Your Celebration

Mosaic

The best rental resources for parties are flexible ones, because every party is different. Mosaic offers a range of options for events of all sizes, from budget-friendly polyester linens available in 60 colors to exclusive specialty fabrics. Mosaic values collaboration and works closely with clients to transform visions into magical experiences—and it’s woman-owned, too!

Eventioneers

Eventioneers is a full-service rental company that has everything you need for weddings of all styles. Their diverse inventory includes chairs, tables, tents, audiovisual equipment, and heating, ensuring they can meet the needs of any celebration, any time, any place.

Vintage Alley

If you choose Vintage Alley for your décor, your wedding will truly be one-of-a-kind. They specialize in vintage, down to every detail. Founder Mikette Stinebiser is a former pharmacist who found her passion for design when she bought a “Marilyn Monroe” style sofa for her son’s wedding. She then pivoted to event décor, and weddings around Pittsburgh are better for it.

Dot & Rose Decor

Dot & Rose Decor specializes in creating modern, custom event signage and décor, including welcome signs and seating charts crafted with advanced woodshop technology. They collaborate closely with clients and proof their work with care to the very end of the process.

The 1978 Collection

Formerly Lendable Linens, this group specializes in high-quality, trendy linens that elevate fabrics from just table coverings to elegant staples of the space. Their collection includes glamorous sequins, sheer fabrics, and sophisticated patterns, perfect for celebrations of all kinds. 1978 also offers setup and cleanup services, and now brings together Marbella and All Party rental services.

Story by Jordan Snowden and Emma Riva
Photo by Rachel Rowland

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Top Wedding Invitation Designers in Pittsburgh for Elegant Stationery

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A stack of wedding invitations beside designer information booklets and other knick knacks.

Your wedding invitations are the first glimpse guests get of your big day, setting the tone with style and personality. Pittsburgh’s talented designers craft stationery that blends tradition, creativity, and elegance to make lasting impressions.

Pittsburgh Wedding Invitation Designers to Create Timeless Cards

More Than Words Fine Papers

Like the name of this Carnegie-based stationery vendor, your personality and vision don’t just come from the names and dates on your invites. These artisans tell your story in styles from traditional to rustic. The perfect design is just a few words away.

Blush Paper Co.

At Blush Paper Co., they believe that while trends in fashion come and go, timeless paper never goes out of style. They focus on incorporating your family’s traditions into special wedding stationery with the goal of your invitations becoming beloved heirlooms.

Nota Bene

Streamlining your process is the name of the game at Nota Bene, where the team guides clients in a curated shopping experience that merges timeless, elegant designs with a modern creative guide. By appointment only.

Melissa & Seventh

Melissa Voettiner is known for her enthusiastic “yes” to any request and her stellar client relationships. She draws upon an endless array of printing techniques and embellishments to create stunning invitations for your special day.

B. Joyful Invitations

This luxury wedding invitations enterprise might be from Pittsburgh, but this woman-owned small business serves clients all over the country—and it’s no wonder, because clients say her work is some of the most thoughtful in the industry. With thorough consultations, B. Joyful has your back every step of the way.

Scribe Shadyside

Take your time with that first impression: this local paper boutique is here to help you find the perfect invitation for your event. They recommend to book a private appointment for a relaxed browsing experience where you can explore their incredible selection from top designers like Gilah, Wiley Valentine, and Rifle Paper Co. Each piece is crafted with care using premium papers and inks.

Story by Jordan Snowden and Emma Riva
Photo by Rachel Rowland

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Nicole Renee Ryan’s Paintings Offer an Analog Antidote at Shoppe B in Lawrenceville

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A small painting of a bright landscape by Nicole Renee Ryan sits on a stack of books beside a bottle of Vara wine.

Our onscreen lives overflow with targeted ads and algorithm-driven repetition. How do we remind ourselves of the depth and sensualism of our very own humanity? With a deep cleansing breath of originality and delight. Nicole Renee Ryan’s intimate little paintings at Shoppe B x Brenda Friday Design are just what the doctor ordered.

Nicole Renee Ryan’s Intimate Paintings Signal Analog Beauty at Shoppe B in Lawrenceville

Each small work is a singular object: brushstrokes you can trace with your eye, color choices that reveal a human hand and mood, surfaces that hold light differently every time you walk past. These are not files to be swiped away or scrolled past but companions for a desk, a bedside table, a favorite corner. Owning one from Shoppe B becomes a quiet daily ritual, a reminder that offline beauty can be personal, unrepeatable, and inspiring—an analog antidote to the all too often bland, unsatisfying nature of digital life.

To discover more about the analog trend taking over the digital age, check out our article about High-Quality Proteins and Analog Dining.

Story by Keith Recker
Painting by Nicole Renee Ryan
Photography by Dave Bryce

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Easter Candy, Chocolate, and Goodies in Pittsburgh

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In front of a big, broken pink Easter egg sits various chocolate bunnies, eggs, macarons, ricotta pie, and confetti.

Peter Cottontail is hopping his way down the bunny trail as we quickly make our way towards Easter 2026. With the holiday right around the corner, and barely any time to recover from Saint Patrick’s Day, there’s much to do. Egg dying, Easter baskets making, and most importantly, the ham needs in the oven before the in-laws are over. Instead of stressing, give yourself a break and pass the goodie-making to the wonderful bakeries and chocolate-makers around the city of Pittsburgh. From intricately made cakes and pies to adorable bunny-shaped decorated cupcakes and traditional hot cross buns, these bakeries are sure to bring joy and deliciousness to your holiday table. 

Easter Candy and Chocolate in Pittsburgh

Sarris – Chocolates

We’d be lying if we said that biting into a Sarris Chocolate Bunny on Easter morning doesn’t still brings a smile to our faces. Whether you’re stuffing an Easter basket for your children or decorating the dessert table, Sarris has decadent chocolates to get your fill. One popular option is the all-in-one Easter Basket Pail, which overflows with seven different treats, including peanut butter eggs, chocolate bars, jelly beans, and, of course, a milk chocolate bunny. Also available is their patented Bash Egg, which varies from season to season. The Easter version comes with a mini wood hammer to smash open a chocolate egg full of chocolate mini pretzels and jelly beans.

Enrico Biscotti – Ricotta Pie and Pane di Pasqua

If you have been craving the soft texture of Panettone since Christmas, try Enrico’s Italian Easter Bread, Pane di Pasqua. This braided, brioche-style bread is topped with pearl sugar, almonds, sometimes chocolate or even Easter eggs. Be sure to call 24 hours in advance to order this popular seasonal sweet bread. A Ricotta Pie is also an essential part of the Easter table setting for many Italians. At Enrico Biscotti, their Italian cheesecake uses a sweetened ricotta filling atop a pasta frolla crust. These pies are available only at the store in the Strip District.

A Sweet Morsel Co. – Easter Cake Pops

If you’re hosting a gathering, be sure to have the widely beloved cake pops on hand. A Sweet Morsel Co. takes the cute treat game up a notch with edible Easter decorations. The Easter Cake Pops come in 6- or 12-packs. The chick, bunny, and bunny bum pops have a vanilla cake center, while the carrot, bird nest, and sprinkle pops use a chocolate center. For a sit-down style dessert, try the Eggcellent Easter Cake, a two-layer chocolate cake with a fudge center and white icing dipped in chocolate and edged with pink piping. Topping this chocolate delight are fudge rosettes and pastel chocolate eggs.

Oakmont Bakery – Hot Cross Buns

First made by 12th-century Anglican monks, hot cross buns were originally served on Good Friday. Oakmont Bakery’s fluffy versions are sweetened with fruits and spices used to represent health and prosperity. You can order eight packs in raisin or a fruit version studded with candied lemon and orange peel, and glazed pineapple and strawberries. The bakery also offers a wide assortment of unique Easter specialties, like Peep-style caramel apple pops, a rosette cross cookie cake, and Bunnie Bait Berries, which are whole strawberries dipped in orange-tinted white chocolate and set onto beds of Oreo crumbs. Be sure to order all Easter favorites before March 31.

Mon Aimee Chocolat – Chocolate for Foodies

Drop into Mon Aimee while shopping in the Strip District for your Easter dinner to choose from a curated selection of sweet treats. Please your foodie friends with Pump Street’s Dark Chocolate Sourdough and Sea Salt Eggs, with 66% Ecuadorian-sourced cocoa, or their Chocolate Chicken made with cocoa farmed from a Jamaican estate. Win over the younger set with Mon Aimee’s brightly colored foil eggs shaped like chicks or bunnies. Or make everyone happy and buy a basket stocked with Pump Street’s Chicken, plus an assortment of chocolate bunnies and eggs.

Milkshake Factory – Chocolates

Make sure the chocolate you purchase this holiday is rich and creamy, made with the finest cocoa. The Milkshake Factory has been making chocolates since 1914 and it shows in their deliciously perfected recipe. Choose from chocolate-covered pretzels, chocolate-dipped strawberries, various barks, gourmet gift sets, and much more.

Gaby et Jules – Macarons

Hop into the spring season and celebrate with pastel-colored macarons. These little wonders are made from scratch using French techniques to make sure you get the most authentic macaron possible. Gaby et Jules’ Signature Collection includes the flavors Lemon, Earl Grey, Pistachio, Rose, Sea Salt Caramel, and Coffee — colorful beauties on any Easter dessert plate.

Pollak’s Candies – Chocolate Easter Baskets

No matter what type of molded chocolate you’re looking for, Pollak’s Candies carries a large selection of Easter shapes. You can choose from chocolate bunnies, crosses, chicks, and small foil-wrapped chocolates. Chocolate eggs and cream eggs also come in edible chocolate baskets, with one large enough to be the showpiece of your centerpiece. Pollak’s also features boxed chocolates, caramels, and truffles, all packaged in cheerful spring wrapping.

The Chocolate Moose – Jelly Beans

The Squirrel Hill staple has been serving chocolate for more than two decades, but this is also a top spot if a loved one on your Easter list is a jelly bean fan, as The Chocolate Moose carries the complete line — more than 50 varieties — of Jelly Belly beans. Cherry, blueberry, peach and fun flavors like toasted cotton candy, marshmallow, tutti fruitti, cinnamon, sours, and more are at the ready. The Chocolate Moose also packs kid-ready Easter baskets, plus more sophisticated versions for adults, with truffles, chocolate quail eggs, and artisan chocolate bars.

Mona’s Chocolates – Shaped Chocolates

Every kid loves to wake up to a chocolate Easter bunny in their basket that they can snack on throughout the day. They carry both milk, dark, and white chocolate varieties. Plus, the shop also stocks chocolate crosses and little lambs. Outside of the shaped chocolate, they also specialize in truffles like their Chocolate Coconut and Chocolate Cherry handmade truffles.

Jak’s Bakery – Braided Easter Bread

Pre-order your Braided Easter Bread this year from Jak’s Bakery to ensure you get a fresh and carefully craft loaf. Head to their website to grab their Kozunak which is dairy-free and vegetarian. Then, pick up your bread on either April 4 or April 11 depending on if you’re celebrating Easter or Orthodox Easter.

Story by Kylie Thomas
Styling by Anna Franklin
Photography by Star Laliberte

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Collier’s Cuts: The Third Colleen Hoover Adaptation Hits Cinemas ‘Reminders of Him’

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A woman holding a child facing a man leaning on an orange truck with the mountains behind him in the distance.
(from left) Ledger Ward (Tyriq Withers), Diem Landry (Zoe Kosovic) and Kenna Rowan (Maika Monroe) in REMINDERS OF HIM, directed by Vanessa Caswill.
A graphic for Reminders of Him with a photo still from the film and 3 star rating.

The 2024 film It Ends With Us was a hit, but beset by controversy. Last year’s Regretting You wasn’t a bad movie, but it only did middling business. Now, Reminders of Him, the third adaptation of a novel by Colleen Hoover, tries to avoid peril — both financial and reputational.

Romance By Way of Tragedy in Colleen Hoover’s Reminders of Him

The chief merit of Hoover’s stories — at least the few I’ve seen to via film adaptations — is the presence of problems that border on realism. Both Regretting You and Reminders of Him hinge on fatal car crashes; in the latter case, it’s a tragedy that even dabbles in social commentary.

Kenna Rowan (Maika Monroe) and Scotty Landry (Rudy Pankow) are young lovers in Laramie, Wyoming; their love seems real enough, and marriage is on the way. When they (barely) indulge on Landry’s birthday — splitting a weed gummy after skinny-dipping at a picturesque lake — a single-vehicle crash results. Rowan walks away to find help, passing out due to a concussion; Landry dies.

Rowan goes to prison for vehicular manslaughter, where she gives birth to a daughter, conceived just before the accident. The child is taken to be raised by Landry’s devastated parents (Lauren Graham and Bradley Whitford). When Rowan is released, she struggles to find employment and stability as an ex-convict — and is haunted by both the titular reminders of her past and the close presence of a daughter she’s legally unable to visit.

While her financial woes quickly resolve, there’s some merit to depicting them at all; in a genre defined by impossible, Hallmark-appropriate dream jobs and escapism, Reminders of Him at least nods to real life.

Sparks Fly, Interspersed With Tears

Rowan runs into Landry’s best friend, an impossibly kind former NFL player with the equally improbable name Ledger Ward (Tyriq Withers). And wouldn’t you know it: Ward has become both a surrogate father to Rowan’s daughter and a source of comfort for the mourning parents. With a mix of obligation, guilt and frustration, he first offers Rowan aid … then more.

Meanwhile, he must keep both his new affair and Rowan’s activities secret from the family. This shouldn’t be taken as more than a sitcom-level obstacle. Reminders of Him moves slowly from point A to point B with the subtlety of a car crash. Thanks to the chemistry between Withers and Monroe — who, vitally for the genre, are easily the most attractive people to ever set foot in Wyoming — the uninspired plot proceeds as a watchable diversion.

Hoover adapts her own screenplay with the help of collaborator Lauren Levine; Vanessa Caswill, mainly a director of British television miniseries, helms the film without much subtlety (and with a cloying, obvious score). On its merits, Reminders of Him doesn’t add up to much. Stray details and moments, however, make it good enough for a slightly disinterested date night.

Sure, There Are Other Movies Out — But It’s Oscar Weekend!

Hollywood’s attention isn’t on box-office returns this weekend, as one of the most unpredictable and twisting Oscar campaigns in recent memory comes to a conclusion. (Timothee Chalamet should count himself lucky that voting ended before he defamed several art forms.) The big show is Sunday night, airing at 7 p.m. on ABC and Hulu. Read our predictions to help with your Oscar betting pool

A24 presents undertone — yes, deliberately uncapitalized — an atmospheric horror movie about a woman beset by terrifying noises. Early reviews are positive; writing for RogerEbert.com, Brian Tallerico says, “This is a film that doesn’t feel the need to explain itself. Nightmares rarely do.” The film is in wide release now … Want one last-minute bit of Oscars catchup? The nominated documentary Mister Nobody Against Putin is in more theaters this weekend. Netflix’s The Perfect Neighbor is widely expected to take the prize, but Mister Nobody Against Putin is the only other nominee with a chance, according to oddsmakers

Didn’t think this one would get an anniversary re-release, but nostalgia is a powerful thing: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II: The Secret of the Ooze returns to theaters this week for its 35th birthday. (If nothing else, that’s the one where Vanilla Ice turns up to perform Ninja Rap.)

Story by Sean Collier
Photos Courtesy of Universal Pictures

Where to Get Easter Bunny Pictures in Pittsburgh 2026

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An Easter Bunny high fives a kid sitting on its lap for a picture.

Spring in Pittsburgh means blooming flowers, family outings, and one especially adorable tradition that lasts for decades. As Easter approaches in 2026, local malls, museums, and community events across the Pittsburgh area are rolling out festive picture opportunities where kids (and even pets!) can meet the Easter Bunny and capture a sweet seasonal memory. You could go for a classic mall photo setup where you’re in and out or a more unique experience at a local attraction where each kid gets one-on-one time. These spots around the city have you covered.

Places for Easter Bunny Pictures in Pittsburgh 2026

Ross Park Mall

Through April 4

Whether you reserve your spot online or walk right into the line, the Easter Bunny at Ross Park Mall is ready to give you your picture-perfect moment. Plus, if your child needs special attention, on March 22 a Caring Bunny with a sensory-friendly experience takes place from 9 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.

South Hills Village Mall

Through April 4

Head to the South Hills Village Mall for a family day out. Start off with a snack at one of the food stands and then head over to the Easter Bunny for a photo worthy of posting. This mall will also have a Caring Bunny visit on March 22 for those needing a sensory-friendly experience.

Galleria of Mt. Lebanon

March 20-April 4

We know the kids are the stars of the show on Easter with egg hunts and baskets at the plenty but, Galleria of Mt. Lebanon has a way to get your pet involved too. Every Monday during their Easter Bunny picture season, you can bring your cat, dog, snake, bird, whatever to the mall and get their own portrait with the Easter Bunny.

Galleria at Pittsburgh Mills

March 20-April 5

Besides grabbing a picture with the mascot of Easter, there’s fun for the kids inside Galleria at Pittsburgh Mills too. Every hour, gather around the Bunny’s set for a KIDZ BOP Bunny Dance Party. Follow along with easy moves and fun music that get everyone moving.

Beaver Valley Mall

March 20-April 5

Want to make sure you get a photo with the Easter Bunny no matter what? Reserve your spot online for a no-wait, hassle-free experience. Not to mention, this mall also includes the KIDZ BOP Bunny Dance Parties every hour to get you in the holiday spirit.

The Waterfront

March 21-April 1

So that every one gets an equal chance and time with the Easter Bunny, The Waterfront requires reservations. Each reservation is $5 and all the money goes towards Jeremiah’s Place, Pittsburgh’s crisis nursery. Your slot includes special time with the Bunny, one printed photo, and the digital files of each of your photos.

Sensory Friendly Bunny Pictures at The Behavior Institute

March 22

Patience and quiet are key when it comes to a sensory-friendly meeting that keeps kiddos relaxed and at bay. The Behavior Institute is partnering with Steel City Mascots for an opportunity to have the Easter Bunny meeting your child needs. No professional photographer will be on site so be sure to bring your phone or a camera along.

Bunny Trolley at PA Trolley Museum

March 27-29 and April 3-4

It’s an all-out party at the PA Trolley Museum for Easter-time. Other than taking a photo with the Easter Bunny, hunt for giant hidden eggs along the trolley ride, get to pet live rabbits, and enjoy free face paint. Plus, you’ll get to explore the museum with your admission as well.

Eggstravaganza at the National Aviary

March 28-29 and April 3-4

Start your morning off right with a picture alongside the Easter Bunny before your adventure at the National Aviary begins. As you travel through different realms of flying friends, you’ll work on a scavenger hunt, learn about the science behind eggs, play games, meet experts, and so much more.

Bunny Brunch

April 4, Pittsburgh Zoo

You’ll want to hurry up and hop over to the Pittsburgh Zoo to reserve a Bunny Brunch before this last day sells out. Choose between either a breakfast or lunch date that puts you in the middle of a delicious buffet before getting your star-studded photo. Plus, kids can also make a craft and meet special animal ambassadors.

Story by Kylie Thomas
Photo Courtesy of Jessica Scalf

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Your March and April Spring Theater Roundup in Pittsburgh

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Three women lay on beach lounge chairs, in clothing.

Spring is an excellent time to spend at the theaters around Pittsburgh. It’s not always warm enough for outdoor pursuits — but the snow is (hopefully) off the sidewalks for good, inviting you out for a night on the town. Here are seven great reasons to buy a ticket this March and April.

Pittsburgh Spring Theater Shows in March and April

Infinite Life

Barebones Productions, March 6-22

The latest play by Pulitzer Prize winner and off-Broadway fixture Annie Baker, Infinite Life, is conversational, intimate and personal. It’s fitting, then, that it be staged in Pittsburgh’s most immediate venue: the black-box space that serves as home for Barebones Productions in Braddock. The show’s phenomenal cast — which includes Tami Dixon, Helena Ruoti and more — will be mere feet from where you’re sitting, whether you’re in the first row or the last. It’s a space that invites close, careful consideration. I’m also eager to see more of Baker’s work after enjoying her (under-heralded) film debut, 2023’s Janet Planet, so I’m looking forward to Infinite Life.

Eureka Day

City Theatre, March 7-29

When Eureka Day premiered in 2018, the idea of a community rent asunder over an elementary-school vaccination policy seemed plausible, if not immediate. Eight years later, the topic couldn’t be more relevant — so much so that it may have been too much for a certain venue in Washington, DC, where a planned run was surreptitiously canceled. (You know the one — it used to bear the name of one U.S. President, now it has two.) Playwright Jonathan Spector’s show is no dire morality lesson, however, lauded as one of the funniest plays in recent memory upon its New York debut. City Theatre presents Eureka Day, directed by Adil Mansoor; the cast includes Daina Michelle Griffith, Desiree Mee Jung, Jalina McClarin, Max Pavel and John Shepard. 

Primary Trust

Pittsburgh Public Theater, March 25-April 12

Monteze Freeland — current artistic director of Alumni Theater Company, recent co-artistic director of City Theater, frequent director and performer at the Public — returns to the O’Reilly to star in Primary Trust. Eboni Booth’s play won the 2024 Pulitzer Prize in Drama, so awarded for demonstrating “how small acts of kindness can change a person’s life and enrich an entire community.” The show is also intimately concerned with making the perfect mai tai, so do arrive early for a pre-show beverage (or perhaps head to the Warren afterwards).

The Wizard of Oz

Little Lake Theatre, April 2-19

Dorothy demands the spotlight! Intriguingly yet disappointingly kept faceless during a certain For Good cinematic moment late last year, the young girl from Kansas reclaims the story of her journey to Oz in the traditional musical favorite, staged by Little Lake Theatre. The Wizard of Oz is not only a satisfying and whimsical tale for all ages, it’s one of the best shows for introducing young children to the theater. Head to Little Lake’s charming suburban home — and see if you can get table seating to better enjoy your intermission order of coffee and dessert (or wine, if you left the kids at home).

10 Out of 12

Quantum Theatre at the Mellon Institute, April 3-26

When all is going well at the theater, the voice of a Stage Manager is soothing: Assured, rhythmic, in control. When chaos reigns backstage, woe be unto the poor crew members on the other end of the earpiece. In the case of Quantum’s 10 Out of 12, that poor crew member is you: In an immersive touch, you’ll not only watch this behind-the-scenes comedy, you’ll be offered an earpiece to hear additional off- (or is it on-?) stage action. A cast of local favorites includes Melessie Clark, Connor McCanlus, Jamie Agnello, Tim McGeever, Shammen McCune and more.

Paradox of Education

Pittsburgh Playwrights at Madison Arts and Entertainment Center, April 4-20

If you haven’t yet made the trip to the Madison Arts and Entertainment Center, the world premiere of Ty Greenwood’s Paradox of Education provides a great opportunity. Converted from the former Madison Elementary School in the Hill District, the venue has become home for Pittsburgh Playwrights Theatre Company; while the group still performs elsewhere (including annual trips to August Wilson’s nearby childhood home for backyard performances), the custom-built Carter Woodson Redwood Theater at Madison serves as their long-overdue permanent space. Paradox of Education follows a group of Black students at a predominantly white university — one that’s better at embracing diversity in theory than in practice.

Breadcrumbs

Off the Wall at Carnegie Stage, April 10-18

The theater company Off the Wall, which promises “groundbreaking theater for grown-ups” — a product often in short supply — presents “Breadcrumbs,” a two-hander about the strained relationship between a writer struggling with dementia and her reluctant caregiver. Ingrid Sonnichsen, an associate professor emeritus in CMU’s vaunted drama program, directs the show, which stars company founder and veteran performer Virginia Wall Gruenert co-stars with fellow local favorite Erika Cuenca.  AV

Story by Sean Collier
Featured Photo Courtesy of Barebones Productions

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Low Calorie Cocktails That Still Let You Indulge

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A low calorie Negroni cocktail with an orange peel in it.

Article Updated March 10, 2026

“Low calorie cocktails” may sound like an oxymoron. A cocktail typically represents indulgence and decadence. But sometimes you’re trying to stay healthy by cutting back on sugar. We challenged bartenders and our staff to give us some lower-calorie options that go beyond the basic vodka and soda so a night out can be just a little healthier. These are all in the 150 or below calorie range, lower than average for cocktails. To accompany your cocktail, try a recipe for a swimsuit salad that ensures you’re ready for summer!

Low Calorie Cocktail Recipes

Negronish

A low calorie Negroni cocktail with an orange peel in it.

This “Negronish” from bartender Jason Renner at Bar Marco swaps out gin for Fernet Branca and adds a little Aperol to a classic Negroni. This Negronish has no simple syrup, and the alcohol in it isn’t very sweet, so it’s a great lower-calorie option.

Giardineira-tini 

A giardineira cocktail outside of a fine dining restuarant

Eating vegetables was never so much fun. A martini doesn’t have much extra sweetener in it, and Ritual House’s giardineira garnish might possibly qualify as a serving of vegetables. I suppose it’s a stretch to call it a salad, though.

Gin and Lime Juice

A coupe glass holds a gin and lime juice combination with a mint leaf garnish as a bowl of lime wedges sits to the right of the glass.

The “Gin and Juice” cocktail originated with Snoop Dogg’s hit song of the same name. If you don’t want the extra sugar from fruit juice, try fresh-squeezed lime juice (or lemon) to make an indulgent gin and juice without the sugar headache the next day.

Aperol Sour

An aperol sour staged on a white background

This cocktail from luxury hotel bar Spirits & Tales uses aquafaba instead of egg whites for the traditional foamy effect of a whiskey sour. It’s as if an Aperol spritz and a whiskey sour combined, and it happens to be only 159 calories.

Cherry Bomb

In a tall glass sits a cherry diet coke cocktail with two cherries on a tooth pick laying on top of the glass as well as ice and orange bitters to the right.

Wondering what to do with that extra Diet Coke in your fridge? This cocktail combines Diet Coke, whiskey, and a Maraschino cherry garnish to makes an enjoyable low sugar drink with a smooth finish.

Honey and Whiskey

A rocks glass with a large ice cube, honey whiskey cocktail, and wedge of lime sits on a blue table with a small bowl of lime wedges to the left of the glass.

Swapping the simple syrup out for a honey flavor doesn’t entirely get rid of sugar content, but it does lower it. We used Green Bee Ginger Buzz Honey Soda and Dubliner Honeycomb Irish Whiskey to create a cocktail with a slight spicy ginger kick to it.

The Green Beast

A green cocktail on a white table

It’s like green juice in a cocktail! Just kidding. But a gimlet is one of the classiest low calorie cocktails out there, and the bar team at fl.2 did not disappoint with their interpretation of it. They use Genepy green liqueur, which was new to us and quite delicious.

Smoked Bourbon Old Fashioned

A orange with half its peel off sits to the right of a smoked bourbon old fashioned in rocks glass. curls of smoke waft off the glass.

Keeping things simple, an Old Fashioned keeps the calories low with just a little added sugar. In this recipe we use a smoked demerara syrup that adds an extra depth to this cocktail without the extra calories. Finish with a few shakes of orange bitters and kick up your feet for the evening.

Matcha Martini

A coupe glass full of a green matcha martini with matcha powder on top all on the green background.

One teaspoon of match powder only has five calories and often its the ingredients in a latte that make it so sugary. But, in a martini with just vodka and a dash of vanilla syrup, matcha is the secret weapon to a low calorie cocktail. Feel free to garnish with more matcha powder at the end too!

Story by Emma Riva 

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