MilkShake Factory
Multiple locations. milkshakefactory.com
MilkShake Factory gives patrons a sweet reason to celebrate National Vanilla Milkshake Day on Fri., June 20, with buy one, get one free vanilla milkshakes all day. The dessert chain describes its hand-spun vanilla milkshake as the “timeless treat that started it all,” made with premium in-house ice cream and topped with real whipped cream. MilkShake Factory also brings back its Strawberry Pretzel Pie Shake, inspired by Pittsburgh’s favorite dessert, through Sun., July 27.
Community Kitchen Pittsburgh
107 Flowers Ave., Hazelwood. ckpgh.org
Community Kitchen is barbecuing all summer long with a new BBQ Bash Friday series. Kicking off on Fri., June 20 from 2-6 p.m., the nonprofit culinary school will grill spare ribs, brisket, pulled pork, and other favorites. Chef Dan and students whip up sauces and a menu of sides including mac and cheese, jalapeño cornbread fritters, collard greens, and desserts. CKP’s Summer BBQ Bash Fridays will continue through Sept. 26.
The Urban Tap
216 S. Highland Ave., Shadyside and 1209 E. Carson St., South Side. theurbantap.com
The Urban Tap declares it’s never too early for spooky season as its Summerween celebration returns. Back by popular demand, Summerween features two weekends of “chilling cocktails” and “eerie eats” from Fri., June 20-Sun., June 22 and Fri., June 27-Sun., June 29. The haunted summer vibes include a smoking watermelon cocktail (a sunnier version of a jack-o-lantern), “killer” drinks like a ghost latte, spooky brunch, and a Halloween costume contest each weekend. Reservations are recommended.
Pittsburgh Wine Festival
Mellon Square, Downtown.
On Sat., June 21, from 12-10 p.m., Pittsburgh Wine Fest brings wines from around the world to Mellon Square. Billed as the city’s official and largest wine festival, this year’s event features vendors from throughout the tri-state area, including Arsenal Cider House, Twisted Vine Winery, and 1822 Winery. Wine lovers can try samples from more than 150 wines, seltzers, ciders, beers, and cocktails, enjoy live music, and an array of chocolate, dessert, and food vendors. General admission tickets start at $45 and include three hours of tastings in a nine-ounce souvenir wine glass.
Freedom Farms
434 Overbrook Rd., Valencia. freedomfarmspa.com
Freedom Farms’ Berry Festival and Craft Show celebrates the “sweet joys of summer” with a “berry everything” weekend. On Sat., June 21 and Sun., June 22 from 11 a.m.-5 p.m., more than 50 vendors take over the Butler County farm — also home to Grist House’s Beer Crib — offering berry-themed food, a beer and wine garden, tractor rides, a petting zoo, kid’s activities, and more. Tickets cost $10 per person, with kids under 3 admitted free.
One by Spork
5430 Penn Ave., Garfield. onebyspork.com
One by Spork will debut a new summer vegetarian series starting Mon., June 23. The restaurant, formerly Spork, transformed into a new tasting concept, One by Spork, in December, also opening a “culinary garden” and urban micro farm on-site. According to its website, weekly “Meatless Mondays” feature a vegetarian menu with seasonal ingredients cultivated at One by Spork, “showcasing the incredible bounty growing just steps from our kitchen.”
Vegetarian dinners follow the One by Spork format of “no decisions dining,” which offers a multi-course tasting menu with “welcome bites,” savory courses, and a dessert served at a 16-seat chef’s counter. Vegetarian menu selections include a garden green salad, smoked beet tartare with cauliflower hummus, ramen with creamed mushrooms, smoked cabbage steak, and a rhubarb Bavarian cream dessert. Dinners cost $160 per person (including beverage pairings, excluding tax and gratuity). Reservations are required.
Dancing Gnome Brewery 1025 Main St., Sharpsburg. dancinggnomebeer.com
Attention, I Think You Should Leave fans! The Dangerous Nights crew at Dancing Gnome partnered with Permanent Hangover to create Sloppy Steaks, a Citra-Anchovy IPA. Beer lovers can also get a matching glass featuring Nickelodeon’s Doug Funnie, who, apparently, used to be a piece of shit. Slicked back hair, white bathing suit, sloppy steaks, white couch. People can change. Try the beer in cans and on draft at Dancing Gnome’s taproom, and order the glass through Permanent Hangover’s website.
Hey Babe
120 S. Whitfield St., East Liberty. heybabepgh.com
East Liberty has a new bar and restaurant at The Maverick. Hey Babe, a throwback lounge and craft cocktail bar, opened on June 16. Launched by partners Danielle Cain and Rob Hirst, who formerly managed Soba, the new “little bit fancy but never fussy” spot promises a full bar menu, “zesty seasonal bites,” and moody lighting for “upscale lounge aesthetics,” according to a release.
Drinks include classic cocktails, wine, beer, and craft options like Terms of My Surrender, made with Pittsburgh’s Old Overholt whiskey, Smith and Cross Jamaican rum, cinnamon, and lemon. The food menu highlights seasonal and local produce with selections ranging from harissa-smoked lamb and hummus to kimchi mac and cheese with five-spiced pork belly to an oyster mushroom po’boy.
Hey Babe is now open Mon.-Thu. from 4-10 p.m., and Fri.-Sat. from 4-11 p.m. A “Golden Hour” happy hour runs Mon.-Fri. from 4-6 p.m. and features $1 off beers, $9 wine and house cocktails, and 15% off food.
Hound Haus
6314 Broad St., East Liberty. houndhauspgh.com
East Liberty welcomed Hound Haus, an indoor-outdoor dog park, coffee shop, and bar, which opened in the former Zeke’s Coffee on June 7. The new spot features 10,000 square feet of “play space” for dogs in a fenced-in, off-leash gravel dog park.
Owners Tom and Danielle Lafe told NEXTpittsburgh they wanted to expand on the idea of a dog bar and create “an all-day-cafe-meets-dog-park-meets-bar.” While Hound Haus serves beer, wine, and cocktails, the cafe also offers Commonplace coffee, sandwiches, salads, and baked goods through Catapult Culinary.
Hound Haus is now open Tues.-Sun. from 8 a.m.-8 p.m.
Shorty’s Pins x Pints
353 N. Shore Dr., North Side. shortysx.com
Shorty’s plans to take over Voodoo Brewing’s former North Shore space. The Pittsburgh Business Times reported that Shorty’s, an adult arcade, bar, and restaurant, will expand into the brewpub’s old location next door. Voodoo Brewing abruptly closed its North Shore location after three years earlier this month. Shorty’s operates another location in the Waterfront shopping mall.
This article appears in Jun 11-17, 2025.
