Fairmont Pittsburgh
510 Market St., Downtown. fairmont.com/pittsburgh
Have turkey for brunch with a buffet at Fairmont Pittsburgh on Thanksgiving Day (Thu., Nov. 28) in the hotel’s Grand Ballroom. Family and friends can stop at chef-curated food stations serving traditional favorites and “unique culinary creations.” The menu offers oven-roasted turkey, ham, and prime rib, with sides including brown butter and sage mashed potatoes, focaccia stuffing, fried Brussels sprouts, a soup and salad station, and a dessert bar. Tickets cost $75 for adults and $39 for children 12 and under. View the full brunch menu and book a reservation through OpenTable.
Queer Resource Center of Millvale x Harold’s Haunt
112 E. Sherman St., Millvale. haroldshaunt.wixsite.com/haroldshaunt
Harold’s Haunt is all about found family and the haunted they-bar invites the community to a Turkey Day meal “with folx who won’t question your identity over pie.” Join them at the Millvale Food + Energy Hub on Fri., Nov. 29 from 4-8 p.m. for a Found Family potluck dinner, hosted with the Queer Resource Center of Millvale. Attendees can RSVP through Eventbrite. Organizers aim to keep the dinner free and request cash and food donations, and volunteers to cook. Email qrcmillvale@queerwitches.com to donate.
City Works Eatery & Pour House
2 PPG Pl., Downtown. cityworksrestaurant.com/locations/pittsburgh
City Works brings back a rare beer for Black Friday (Nov. 29). Diners at the Pittsburgh location in Market Square can try a barrel-aged Bourbon County, Kentucky stout, described in a press release as having “notes of chocolate, vanilla, oak, and whiskey.” The restaurant chain will serve select beers at “a handful” of its locations while supplies last.
Pittsburgh Holiday Pop-Up Bars
With Light Up Night behind us, it’s officially the holiday season in Pittsburgh. Restaurants and hotels are ready to celebrate with twinkle-lit pop-up bars, vintage cocktail lounges, and a trip to Krampus Island.
Wigle Whiskey’s Wonderland Holiday Pop-up Bar returned on Nov. 16 to coincide with the distillery’s release of its holiday bottles, which include its Reserve 9-Year Single Barrel Rye Whiskey, Reserve 8-Year Single Barrel American Wheat Whiskey, and Stout Cask Finished Bourbon. Visitors to Wigle’s Strip District location can drink and be merry with featured cocktails, fairy lights, snowflakes, and “festive tunes” in what’s described as “a cozy holiday hideaway in the snow-covered mountains.” Wigle Wonderland is open evenings from Thu.-Sat. through Jan. 4, 2025.
Blitzen’s, a Christmas-themed pop-up bar boasting “maximalist” decor, decks the halls of the Omni William Penn Hotel. Guests at Mellon Square Coffee can sip “extravagant tipples, nightcaps on ice, and cocktails that sleigh” by celebrity mixologist Julie Reiner. The 21-and-over pop-up runs Thu.-Sat. from 5-11 p.m. through Jan. 11, 2025.
The Industrialist Hotel celebrates the season with a retro holiday lounge. Described in a press release as a “nostalgic winter wonderland,” the Lounge features silver Christmas trees and tinsel and serves Mad Men-esque bites (think Jello salad) and classic cocktails. Stop by the 21-and-over pop-up seven days a week (excluding Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Eve, and Christmas Day) starting at 5 p.m.
Krampus remakes Lorelei in his image, turning the typically Alpine bar into a tropical holiday cocktail pop-up with help from Hidden Harbor. Krampus Island arrives at both bars on Fri., Nov. 29 with a “super-sized,” 12-drink menu featuring items from Independent Brewing Company and Golden Age Beer Co.
Eliza Hot Metal Bistro, located inside Hotel Indigo, transforms into a “winter wonderland.” The restaurant launches its Snowflakes & Spirits pop-up bar on Fri., Nov. 29 with handcrafted cocktails, seasonal mocktails, and “cozy corners” available through Feb. 28, 2025.
Ruggers Pub gets a holiday takeover courtesy of Iron City and I.C. Light. The South Side institution’s Good Cheer pop-up bar offers seasonal cocktails and specials like Steel Hurtin’ (Iron City and a shot of Slivovitz), The Swiss Mistress (candy cane vodka, hot chocolate, and marshmallows), spiked cider, and pudding shots. Drink up through New Year’s Day.
Shorty’s takes both its locations to the North Pole with the launch of the Shorty’s Santa Shop. The festive pop-up runs from Fri., Nov. 29-Sun., Dec. 29, and will adorn the North Shore and Waterfront locations with more than 1,000 Christmas tree ornaments and 100 yards of wrapping paper. Enjoy holiday-inspired food and drinks including a pig-in-a-blanket wreath, a Poinsettia cocktail (orange liqueur, cranberry, and Prosecco), and Christmas shots. Shorty’s also has a bag drive for children in foster care through the Wilkinsburg-based Foster Love Project.
Ritual House
524 William Penn Pl., Downtown. ritualhousepgh.com
Ritual House invites Pittsburghers to the slopes with a series of ApreÌs-Ski-themed pop-up events. The inaugural event will take place on Sat., Nov. 30 under the new “Aurora” light installation at Mellon Square Park. After viewing the new lights, enjoy refreshments and seasonal cocktails served in Ritual House’s new Lotus Room, which will be styled like a high-end ski lodge. Luxurious “lodge bites” include caviar on waffles and tea sandwiches with a pimento BLT and “eclectic” drinks like a shimmering prosecco, dark chocolate hot cocoa topped with house-made marshmallows, and white sangria served in a light-up cup honoring the “Aurora” installation. Every $75 ticket to the Après-Ski pop-up includes food and three drink tickets.
Eat’n Park x Millie’s Homemade Ice Cream
Multiple locations. millieshomemade.com
Millie’s and Eat’n Park have collaborated on a wondrous holiday treat — Christmas Star Ice Cream. The limited-edition flavor is inspired by Eat’n Park’s beloved Christmas Star commercial, first aired in 1982, and features vanilla-peppermint ice cream, Eat’n Park Smiley Cookie pieces, and yellow sprinkles that “honor the glow of the star atop the tree.” Pints are now available at Pittsburgh-area Millie’s locations and select Giant Eagle stores. Christmas Star Ice Cream sales benefit local children’s hospitals through Eat’n Park’s annual Caring for Kids campaign.
Mondays Brewing Taproom
563 Greenfield Ave., Greenfield. mondays.beer
Mondays Brewing Company soft-opened in Greenfield’s former Hough’s Taproom on Nov. 22. The McMurray-based brewery acquired the space for its second location, announced in September. The event in the newly renovated bar featured drink service with collaborations from local brewers including nearby Hazel Grove Brewing, Devout Brewing Company in Export, Pa., and Rusty Gold Beer in Canonsburg. Mondays wrote on its Facebook page that kitchen service is still in the works.
Sultry Food & Bar
1719 E. Carson St., South Side. sultryfoodandbar.com
Sultry, the South Side eatery known for its comfort cuisine, and Sunday brunches and suppers, announced its closure after five years. A message on the restaurant’s website and Facebook page announced that the past year “has presented challenges that have become too much to bear,” adding, “… we’re grateful for the love and support you’ve shown us over the past five years.” Sultry F&B — which also stands for the last names of husband-and-wife chef team Brian Forrester and Melissa Barth — first launched at Smallman Galley in 2019.
This article appears in Nov 20-26, 2024.
