Museum of Illusions Pittsburgh
267 N. Shore Dr., North Shore. moipittsburgh.com
Got out-of-town guests? On Tue., Dec. 23, Candy Cane Day, Museum of Illusions visitors receive a free mini candy cane as they explore “mind-bending” exhibits, interactive displays, and optical illusions. On Wed., Dec. 24, visit the museum for Stocking Stuffer Day and receive 20% off all gift shop items.
Kyuramen
6204 Penn Ave., East Liberty, and 20430 Rte. 19-Ste. 105, Cranberry. kyuramen.com
Kyuramen gives diners “ramen overload” for Christmas with an endless ramen special. Now through Sun., Dec. 28, dine-in guests can order any bowl of ramen and enjoy unlimited free noodle refills at both Kyuramen’s Pittsburgh-area locations.
The Commoner
620 William Penn Pl., Downtown. thecommonerpgh.com
Celebrate Clue and get your chance to live out the Madeline Kahn flames meme during an interactive mystery dinner at The Commoner. Now through Jan. 4, 2026, Mystery after Dark: A Culinary Whodunit invites guests to indulge in a three-course prix fixe meal while gathering clues to find a missing chef’s recipe binder. Flip through a clue-filled notebook and meet suspects while enjoying a winter lettuce or spicy crab appetizer, maitake, salmon, or striploin entrée, and a choice of cheesecake or chocolate ganache for dessert.
The interactive dinner coincides with the return of Clue at the Benedum Center from Tue., Dec. 30-Jan. 4, 2026. Dinner tickets cost $52 per person and can be reserved through OpenTable.
Cinderlands Beer Company
2601 Smallman St., Strip District. cinderlands.com
Need a pick-me-up after your New Year’s Eve plans? Cinderlands Warehouse brings back its Hair of the Hog buffet for New Year’s Day. On Jan. 1, 2026, from 11:30 a.m.-5 p.m., stop by for an all-you-can-eat buffet featuring a whole hog smoked on the patio, along with kielbasa, brisket, smoked chicken, New Orleans barbecue shrimp, and “all the sides you could ever hope for,” including lucky black-eyed peas and three types of barbecue sauce. If you want to channel summer, Cinderlands recently teamed up with Page’s to transform their Yinzer Sundae into a milk stout.
Buffet tickets cost $19 for adults and $15 for kids 12 and under.
Community Cultures
6901 Lynn Way, Point Breeze. communitycultures.com
Community Cultures levels up its fermentation education with a four-month Fermentation Immersion Program. From January to April 2026, Community Cultures invites 16 participants to explore traditional and modern fermentation techniques, food preservation, and food safety across 10 days (one weekend per month) and 56 hours of instruction at The X Factory in Point Breeze. Fermenters of all levels, farmers, herbalists, gardeners, home chefs, and others are encouraged to apply, including out-of-towners. The Immersion Program uses a sliding scale model ($830-1,200 for the duration), with scholarships and payment plans available. Applications are open through Jan. 9, 2026.
Cookie Cookie Ice Cream
1815 McKees Rocks Rd., Kennedy Township. cookiecookieicecream.com
Cookie Cookie Ice Cream is launching a new Cookies that Care subscription service. The ice cream shop will offer monthly boxes featuring nine small-batch cookies and four treats, supporting its mission to create job opportunities for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD).
Boxes will include a rotating selection of “artisan snacks,” nuts, chocolate, coffee, fudge, and more small-batch goodies made by other “mission-driver makers.” A monthly cookie-only subscription starts at $15, with full boxes priced at $55 for a one-time shipment, $47 monthly for a six-month subscription, and $44 monthly for an annual plan. A limited-time Founding Membership also offers special pricing. Boxes will begin shipping in January 2026.
Office of Congressman Chris Deluzio
Dollar Dog Night will not fall on Chris Deluzio’s watch. On Dec. 20, the Congressman (PA-17), along with Rep. Dan Goldman (NY-10), introduced a bill called the Honest Oversight of Ticketed Dining and Onsite Grub (HOTDOG) Act that directs the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to investigate “price gouging” at sports stadiums.
“Hardworking families should be able to afford to take a break and see a game — at venues supported by their tax dollars — without massive price markups,” Deluzio stated in a release.
The same release cites the average lowest price for a hot dog across MLB’s 30 ballparks as $6 (with PNC Park priced at about $5, according to TribLive). The HOTDOG Act would require the FTC to issue a Congressional report with recommendations for “legislative, regulatory, or industry action” to help lower costs and increase transparency.
Shake Shack
1000 Ross Park Mall Dr., Ross Township. shakeshack.com
Pittsburghers didn’t have to wait long for another Shake Shack. The chain’s fifth area location will open on Tue., Dec. 30, at 10:30 a.m. in the Ross Park Mall food court. The first guests receive a custom mini Shake Shack tote, and $1 from every sandwich sold will benefit 412 Food Rescue.
The Ross Park Mall “Shack” follows Pittsburgh-area locations at The Strip District Terminal, Pittsburgh Airport, in North Fayette Township, and at The Meridian development in East Liberty, which opened earlier this month.
Northland Public Library x Commonplace Coffee
300 Cumberland Rd., McCandless. commonplacecoffee.com
Commonplace Coffee opened a new cafe space in Northland Public Library on Dec. 19, capping off a recently completed year-long renovation.
Commonplace Coffee Northland is described in a press release as a “focal point” of the library’s new lower-level extension. The new cafe, requested last spring by “overwhelming” community demand, offers coffee and tea, scratch-made baked goods, grab-and-go breakfast and lunch items, and a shake and smoothie program developed for the library. The space also features “vista-like views,” an L-shaped nook, meeting space, and access to the library’s Wi-Fi.
Commonplace Coffee Northland is now open year-round Mon.-Thu. from 9 a.m.-7 p.m., Fri. from 9 a.m.-5 p.m., Sat. from 9 a.m.-4 p.m., and Sun. from 1-4 p.m. when the library is open.
Links Brewing Company
600 Logan St., Carnegie. linksbrewing.com
Links Brewing Co., a golf-inspired brewery, opened its first taproom in Carnegie on Dec. 18. Founded in 2017, the golf-focused brewery makes a line of beers served at local country clubs inspired by the “culture of the game” and its “calm focus,” according to a release. The new taproom will allow for increased production and create a community space to “slow down, be present, and enjoy good beer with good company,” the brewery said. Patrons can also expect small-batch releases, taproom-only offerings, and weekly events.
Follow @LinksBrewing on Instagram and Facebook for updates.
Paris Baguette
5514 Walnut St., Shadyside. parisbaguette.com
The long-awaited Paris Baguette in Shadyside opened its doors on Dec. 18. According to the blog Pennsylvasia, the international South Korean cafe chain first announced the location in January 2024, shortly after opening its first Pittsburgh-area restaurant at The Block Northway in Ross Township. The bakery takes over the former William Sonoma space, vacant since 2022.
Billed as a neighborhood bakery-café, Paris Baguette Shadyside serves fresh-baked pastries and breads, signature colorful cakes, and Lavazza coffee and espresso drinks. The Shadyside cafe is now open daily.
