What’s New, 2022?

The events of 2021 have, justifiably, left many looking to the New Year with dread. What new COVID-19 variants, political stalemates, and natural disasters will 2022 bring? How could anyone toast at the stroke of midnight knowing that we’re still in the midst of a global pandemic and your dad still refuses to get vaccinated?

But here’s the thing — time waits for no one, and 2022 is here whether we like it or not. The good news is that the upcoming year will see a ton of positive things happening in Pittsburgh, from a historic new mayor to a new museum to the return of old favorites.

First, Pittsburgh gets its first Black mayor to lead the city, and many voters are excited to see what he has in store, especially since he has already begun to fill his administration with progressive staff members.

In terms of development, Downtown Pittsburgh will see the opening of a new department store, bringing some much-needed, affordable retail to the neighborhood. In Uptown, a new shelter will welcome pets along with owners facing housing insecurity, a first for the region.

Mostly, the year will see the return of many old favorites, including a retired ride at Kennywood and a beloved Bloomfield bar thought to be lost to the pandemic. Plus, the furries are coming back.

These are just a few things we at Pittsburgh City Paper are hoping to see unfold in the coming months. Read on for more, and get ready to pop that champagne and wish everyone a cautiously optimistic “Happy New Year!”

What’s new, 2022? Turns out, it’s a lot.

1. Pittsburgh welcomes its first Black mayor
Pittsburgh history was made at the beginning of 2022. When Ed Gainey took office on Jan. 3, he became the first Black mayor to ever serve in the city of Pittsburgh. That history-making event also comes with a change in priorities this year, and Pittsburghers should expect Gainey to push for a citywide housing policy requiring new, large developments to create a percentage of permanently affordable units, policies to address racial inequities in the city, additional focus on removing lead pipes and lead paint mitigation, and possibly challenging the nonprofit status of some city giants like UPMC.

2. Lions and tigers and fursuits, oh my!
The pandemic has taken away many things from Downtown Pittsburgh, but maybe none as noticeable as the loss of furries and their annual Anthrocon convention. Well, 2022 is looking up again, as Anthrocon is set to return to the David L. Lawrence Convention Center this summer. The convention is scheduled for June 30-July 3, and hopefully it will renew Pittsburgh’s furry tradition. As Anthrocon CEO Sam Conway told Pittsburgh City Paper in 2019, furries consider themselves Pittsburghers and added: “As long as I am chairman, wild horses couldn’t drag us away, and I know because we have wild horses.”

3. To the moon, Pittsburgh!
Pittsburgh boasts a healthy number of museums dedicated to art, natural history, science, and more. And in summer 2022, the city will welcome an exciting new addition. The Moonshot Museum promises to be the first museum in Pennsylvania to focus “exclusively on space exploration, the Moon, and space industry career readiness for young people.” Set to open in the North Side-based headquarters for the space robotics company, Astrobotic, the museum will immerse guests in “lunar-inspired” environments and allow them to see the construction of actual spacecraft. There will also be simulated missions to the Moon and other features sure to inspire visitors of all ages.

4. Port Authority now providing free transfers
For people in Allegheny County who ride transit for the longest distances — aka those who rely on public transit the most — fares have been among the most expensive in the country. A base fare plus a transfer have cost $3.50 up until the end of 2021. But 2022 has some relief for those transit users, most of whom are lower-income. Transfers are now free within a three-hour window when using ConnectCards. In addition to free transfers, single-base fares using ConnectCards are also increasing from $2.50 to $2.75, which now matches what cash fare costs.

5. Pittsburgh repeats history with Hamilton
Musicals took a break when COVID-19 shut Pittsburgh stages down. Now live shows are back — with safety precautions, of course — and theater nerds are ready for the triumphant return of Hamilton, which hasn’t been performed in the Benedum Center since January 2019. The touring production, playing Feb. 22-March 13, takes Lin-Manuel Miranda’s hit Broadway musical on the road, giving Pittsburgh audiences a chance to experience a twist on the story of American founding father Alexander Hamilton. Tickets are on sale now, so make sure to snag a few and get ready to sing along to all your favorite hip-hop influenced tunes.

6. Cheers! A longtime popular Bloomfield bar reopens
On April 29, 2021, Brillobox posted a cryptic message on its Facebook page that quickly garnered likes, comments, and shares. The post simply read “Maybe?” and caused a stir throughout Pittsburgh. Since the popular Bloomfield bar, restaurant, and music venue closed its doors in August 2020 after 15 years, fans all over the city have been missing its cocktails and fare, as well as its live music and DJ sets. Then, in August 2021, Brillobox again turned to Facebook to officially announce its plans to reopen. After over a year of closure, fans are itching to toast the return of a neighborhood joint known for good tunes and great times.

7. A new “first-of-its-kind” homeless shelter
Cities have always struggled with finding housing for people experiencing homelessness, and Pittsburgh has been no different. But 2022 will bring some much needed relief with the opening of a new, low-barrier shelter next to Pittsburgh’s municipal courts building in Uptown. The shelter along Second Avenue is said to be the first-of-its-kind in Allegheny County. At five stories and 42,000 square feet, the facility will accept adults and their possessions with minimal entry requirements. It will include 95 beds and 45 units of single-occupancy housing, and even people’s pets will be allowed.

8. See a world of art at the 58th Carnegie International
The longest-running survey of contemporary art in the U.S. returns to the Carnegie Museum of Art. Opening Sept. 24, the 58th Carnegie International will unveil the vision of guest curator Sohrab Mohebbi, his Pittsburgh-based curatorial team, and his collaborators, who, according to a press release, have been “dispersed around the globe” and are working to realize an exhibition “expansive in its geopolitical scope as well as responsive to local concerns.” While the series has gone on since 1896, CMOA director Eric Crosby believes the 2022 show will carry more weight as efforts were hindered by border closings and travel restrictions brought on by COVID-19.

9. Meet me under the Target clock
The iconic Kaufmann’s clock on Smithfield Street in Downtown Pittsburgh has long been used as a popular spot for city folks to meet up. But while the famous bronze timekeeper still stands, Kaufmann’s department store itself has been closed for years. For a bit, it was rebranded as a Macy’s, but that shop also closed its doors in 2015, and there hasn’t been anything else in its place since. But soon, Downtown shoppers will have a new location to buy affordable clothing and housewares, as Target heads to the 22,000-square-foot first floor at Fifth Avenue and Smithfield Street this spring.

10. The Kangaroo hops back into Kennywood
Kennywood fans bid farewell to an old favorite in 2020 when the theme park took down The Kangaroo, a signature flying attraction that thrilled riders by bouncing them over a sharp slope, hence the name. To the relief of many, the ride will return in 2022 fully refurbished and with a few enhancements. But that’s not all — 2022 marks Kennywood’s 125th anniversary, and officials promise “eye-catching updates all over the park.” These include makeovers for the Beer Garden area and main entrance, plus fresh paint jobs for the Phantom’s Revenge and Thunderbolt roller coasters. Visitors can also look forward to a new, soon-to-be-announced summer event.

This article appears in Jan 5-11, 2022.