2022 | Culture + Nightlife | Pittsburgh

Best Of PGH

  • Best of Pittsburgh 2022: Culture and Nightlife winners
    click to enlarge Best of Pittsburgh 2022: Culture and Nightlife winners
    CP Photo: Rayni Shiring / CP Design: Lucy Chen
    JoeMyGosh and Jaxa Froot

    Best Americana Artist/Group
    Jim Donovan and the Sun King Warriors
    sunkingwarriors.com
    2nd: Buffalo Rose
    3rd: The Shiners

    Best Bar (DOWNTOWN & STRIP DISTRICT)
    Coop De Ville
    2305 Smallman St., Strip District. coopdevillepgh.com
    2nd: Con Alma Downtown
    3rd: The Warren Bar & Burrow

    Best Bar (EAST)
    Kelly's Bar & Lounge
    6012 Penn Ave., East Liberty. kellysbarlounge.com
    2nd: Spirit
    3rd: Thunderbird Café & Music Hall

    Best Bar (NORTH)
    Jergel's Rhythm Grille
    285 Northgate Drive, Warrendale. jergels.com
    2nd: Federal Galley
    3rd: Max's Allegheny Tavern

    Best Bar (SOUTH)
    Mindful Brewing Company
    3759 Library Road, South Hills. mindfulbrewing.com
    2nd: Ruggers Pub
    3rd: Jack's Bar

    Best Bar (WEST)
    Riley's Pour House
    215 E. Main St., Carnegie. rileyspourhouse.com
    2nd: The Parkway Theater & Film Lounge
    3rd: Rockefeller's Grille

    Best Bar to Day Drink
    Southern Tier Brewery Pittsburgh
    316 N. Shore Drive, North Side. stbcbeer.com
    2nd: Trace Brewing
    3rd: Coop De Ville

    Best Bar to Drink Alone
    Jack's Bar
    1117 E. Carson St., South Side. instagram.com/jacksbarpgh
    2nd: Gooski's
    3rd: Blue Moon

    Best Bar to Pregame
    Southern Tier Brewery Pittsburgh
    316 N. Shore Drive, North Side. stbcbeer.com
    2nd: Primanti Bros. Restaurant and Bar
    3rd: Tequila Cowboy

    Best Bartender
    Lara Borasso at Rugger’s Pub
    40 S. 22nd St., South Side.
    ruggerspub.com
    2nd:
    Chris Miller at Hidden Harbor
    3rd: Derek Blankenship at The Smiling Moose

    Best Blues Artist/Group
    Billy Price
    billyprice.com
    2nd: The Fabulous Booze Brothers
    3rd: Miss Freddye

    Best Bouncer
    Lamont Moorer at Mr. Smalls Theatre and Gooskis
    instagram.com/batmetal
    2nd: Big Pete at Smiling Moose
    3rd: Thomas Ross at P-Town Bar

    Best Camp for Kids
    Zoo Camp at Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium
    7370 Baker St., Highland Park. pittsburghzoo.org
    2nd: Girls Rock! Pittsburgh
    3rd: Jewish Community Center of Greater Pittsburgh

    Best Cartoonist
    Rob Rogers
    robrogers.com
    2nd: Marcel Walker
    3rd: Randy Bish

    Best Charity Fundraiser
    Mario Lemieux Foundation 6.6K
    mariolemieux.org
    2nd: Humane Animal Rescue of Pittsburgh's Wags, Whiskers & Wings End of Summer Pawty
    3rd: Women Who Rock

    Best Classical Ensemble
    Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra
    pittsburghsymphony.org
    2nd: River City Brass Band
    3rd: Cello Fury

    Best Club
    Spirit
    242 51st St., Lawrenceville. spiritpgh.com
    2nd: Belvedere’s Ultra-Dive
    3rd: Tequila Cowboy

    click to enlarge Best of Pittsburgh 2022: Culture and Nightlife winners
    CP Photo: Jared Wickerham
    DJ Selecta

    Best Club DJ
    Selecta
    instagram.com/selecta720
    2nd: DJ Solo Dolo
    3rd: T.J. Harris

    Best Comedian
    Jim Krenn
    jimkrenn.com
    2nd: Bill Crawford
    3rd: Chrissy Costa

    Best Comedy Troupe
    JoeMyGosh and Jaxa Froot
    youtube.com/c/JoeJaxa
    2nd: Knights of the Arcade
    3rd: Nebby Neighbors

    Best Country Artist/Group
    Christian Beck
    facebook.com/ChristianBeckBand
    2nd: Buckwild
    3rd: Justin Fabus

    Best Cover Artist/Group
    Dancing Queen
    facebook.com/DancingQueenBand
    2nd: Totally 80s
    3rd: Gary Prisby

    click to enlarge Best of Pittsburgh 2022: Culture and Nightlife winners
    CP Photo: Jared Wickerham
    Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre

    Best Dance Company
    Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre
    pbt.org
    2nd: Attack Theatre
    3rd: Point Park University Conservatory Dance Company

    Best Dance Studio
    Studio G Dance Center
    995 Greensburg Pike, Forest Hills and 1454 Lincoln Highway, North Versailles. studiogdancecenter.com
    2nd: Bell School of Irish Dance
    3rd: Abby Lee Dance Company

    Best Electronic Artist/Group
    Venus In Furs
    venusinfursrocks.com
    2nd: The Gay She’s
    3rd: Ky Vöss

    Best Event Planner
    Montia Robinson of M. Robinson Group
    mrobinsongroup.com
    2nd: Shayla Hawkins
    3rd: Lito Corpuz

    Best Filmmaker
    Chris Preksta
    chrispreksta.com
    2nd: Alistair McQueen
    3rd: Max Cianci

    Best Gallery for Local Artists
    Redfishbowl
    4327 Butler St., Lawrenceville. redfishbowl.com
    2nd: Baron Batch Art Gallery
    3rd: BOOM Concepts

    Best Haunted Attraction
    Hundred Acres Manor
    1 Hundred Acres Drive, Bethel Park. hundredacresmanor.com
    2nd: The Scarehouse
    3rd: Kennywood Phantom Fall Festival

    Best Independent Movie Theater
    Row House Cinema
    4115 Butler St., Lawrenceville. rowhousecinema.com
    2nd: Manor Theatre
    3rd: Dependable Drive In Theater

    click to enlarge Best of Pittsburgh 2022: Culture and Nightlife winners
    CP Photo: Jared Wickerham
    Phat Man Dee

    Best Jazz Artist/Group
    Phat Man Dee
    phatmandeemusic.com
    2nd: Big Blitz
    3rd: Kenny Blake

    Best Legacy Artist/Group
    The Clarks
    clarksonline.com
    2nd: Anti-Flag
    3rd: Joe Grushecky and the Houserockers

    Best LGBTQ Bar
    5801 Video Lounge & Café
    5801 Ellsworth Ave., Shadyside. 5801pgh.com
    2nd: Blue Moon
    3rd: P Town Bar

    Best Literary Event
    Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh's Battle of the Books
    carnegielibrary.org/battleofthebooks
    2nd: Abolition Is Everything at White Whale Bookstore
    3rd: Pittsburgh Arts & Lectures' Ten Evenings Series

    Best Local Album of the Year
    Highway Traveler by Steel Mill Rising
    facebook.com/SteelMillRising
    2nd: No Gloryholes in Heaven by God Hates Unicorns
    3rd: Smile, You’re Alive! by Benji.

    click to enlarge Best of Pittsburgh 2022: Culture and Nightlife winners
    CP Photo: Rayni Shiring
    Deborah Levine, lead singer of Lady Beast

    Best Metal Artist/Group
    Lady Beast
    facebook.com/ladybeastofficial
    2nd: Greywalker
    3rd: Windchimes

    Best Music Fest
    Millvale Music Fest
    millvalemusic.org
    2nd: Deutschtown Music Festival
    3rd: Three Rivers Arts Festival

    Best Music Venue (City)
    Stage AE
    400 N. Shore Drive, North Side. stageae.com
    2nd: Thunderbird Café & Music Hall
    3rd: Spirit

    Best Music Venue (Suburbs)
    Mr. Smalls Theatre
    400 Lincoln Ave., Millvale. mrsmalls.com
    2nd: Roxian Theatre
    3rd: Jergel's Rhythm Grille

    click to enlarge Best of Pittsburgh 2022: Culture and Nightlife winners
    CP Photo: Lucy Chen
    Con Alma Downtown

    Best New Bar
    Con Alma Downtown
    613 Penn Ave., Downtown. conalmapgh.com/downtown
    2nd: The Getaway Bar & Grill
    3rd: Ceasars Ale House and Eatery

    Best Photographer (Creative)
    Dave DiCello
    davedicello.com
    2nd: Dustin McGrew
    3rd: JP Diroll

    Best Photographer (Wedding)
    Rachel Rowland
    rachelrowland.com
    2nd: Wild Native
    3rd: Taylor Ollason Photography

    Best Pick-up Bar
    Belvedere’s Ultra-Dive
    4016 Butler St., Lawrenceville. belvederesultradive.com
    2nd: Spirit
    3rd: Blue Moon

    Best Place for a Date Night
    Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens
    1 Schenley Park, Oakland. phipps.conservatory.org
    2nd: Pusadee's Garden
    3rd: Coop De Ville

    Best Place to Celebrate Your Birthday
    Kennywood
    4800 Kennywood Blvd., West Mifflin. kennywood.com
    2nd: Arsenal Bowl
    3rd: DiAnoia's Eatery

    Best Place to Celebrate Your Divorce
    Lumberjaxes Axe Throwing
    Multiple locations. lumberjaxes.com
    2nd: Club Erotica
    3rd: Belvedere’s Ultra-Dive

    Best Place to Dance
    Belvedere’s Ultra-Dive
    4016 Butler St., Lawrenceville. belvederesultradive.com
    2nd: Tequila Cowboy
    3rd: Spirit

    Best Place to Feel Like a Kid Again
    Kennywood
    4800 Kennywood Blvd., West Mifflin. kennywood.com
    2nd: Carnegie Science Center
    3rd: Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium

    click to enlarge Best of Pittsburgh 2022: Culture and Nightlife winners
    CP Photo: Theo Schwarz
    Bob's Garage

    Best Place to Karaoke
    Bob's Garage
    1372 Freeport Road, Blawnox. instagram.com/pghbobsgarage
    2nd: COBRA
    3rd: Jekyll and Hyde

    Best Place to See a Local Band
    Mr. Smalls Theatre
    400 Lincoln Ave., Millvale. mrsmalls.com
    2nd: Jergel's Rhythm Grille
    3rd: Thunderbird Café & Music Hall

    click to enlarge Best of Pittsburgh 2022: Culture and Nightlife winners
    CP Photo: Jared Wickerham
    Mount Washington Overlook

    Best Place to Take Alien Visitors
    Mount Washington Overlook
    visitpittsburgh.com/neighborhoods/mt-washington
    2nd: Randyland
    3rd: South Side on a Friday night

    Best Poet
    Rachel Ann Bovier
    facebook.com/Rachel.Ann.Bovier
    2nd: Joe Szalinski
    3rd: vanessa german

    Best Pop Artist/Group
    Meeting of Important People
    meetingofimportantpeople.com
    2nd: Katie Simone
    3rd: Donora

    Best Punk Artist/Group
    fuck yeah, dinosaurs!
    dinopunks.com
    2nd: Bastard Bearded Irishmen
    3rd: The Cheats

    Best R&B Artist/Group
    The Bill Henry Band
    billhenryband.com
    2nd: The Commonheart
    3rd: Sierra Sellers

    Best Radio DJ
    Kelly 100.7 Star FM
    facebook.com/kelonair
    2nd: Mikey & Big Bob
    3rd: Randy Baumann

    Best Radio Station
    91.3 FM WYEP
    wyep.org
    2nd: 102.5 WDVE
    3rd: 96.1 KISS FM

    click to enlarge Best of Pittsburgh 2022: Culture and Nightlife winners
    CP Photo: Jared Wickerham
    Benji.

    Best Rap/Hip-Hop Artist/Group
    Benji.
    facebook.com/AvatarBenji
    2nd: Miss Money
    3rd: Tjuan Benafactor

    Best Rock Artist/Group
    The Clarks
    clarksonline.com
    2nd: Weird Paul Rock Band
    3rd: Byron Nash

    Best Sports Announcer
    Mike Lange
    en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mike_Lange
    2nd: Bob Pompeani and Andrew Fillipponi
    3rd: Bill Hilgrove

    Best Sports Bar
    Primanti’s
    Multiple locations. primantibros.com
    2nd: Bigham Tavern
    3rd: Ruggers Pub

    click to enlarge Best of Pittsburgh 2022: Culture and Nightlife winners
    CP Photo: Jared Wickerham
    Baron Batch

    Best Street Artist
    Baron Batch
    baronbatch.com
    2nd: Mook
    3rd: Jeremy Raymer

    Best Street Festival
    Three Rivers Arts Festival
    traf.trustarts.org
    2nd: Picklesburgh
    3rd: Little Italy Days

    Best Strip Club
    Cheerleaders
    3100 Liberty Ave., Strip District. cheerleaderspittsburgh.com
    2nd: True Diamonds
    3rd: Real Luck Café

    click to enlarge Best of Pittsburgh 2022: Culture and Nightlife winners
    CP Photo: Lisa Cunningham
    Pittsburgh Public Theater's O'Reilly Theater

    Best Theater Company
    Pittsburgh Public Theater
    ppt.org
    2nd: City Theatre Company
    3rd: Stage 62

    Best Theater Production
    Pittsburgh CLO's The Wizard of Oz at Heinz Field
    pittsburghclo.org
    2nd: The Nutcracker by Carnegie Performing Arts Center
    3rd: City Theatre's An Untitled New Play by Justin Timberlake

    Best Trivia Night
    5801 Video Lounge and Café
    5801 Ellsworth Ave., Shadyside. 5801pgh.com
    2nd: Bigham Tavern
    3rd: Radical Trivia at Trace Brewing

    click to enlarge Best of Pittsburgh 2022: Culture and Nightlife winners
    CP Photo: Jake Mysliwczyk
    Weird Paul

    Best Unsigned Music Artist
    Weird Paul
    weirdpaul.com
    2nd: Matthew Kamenicky
    3rd: Letizia Collini

    Best Visual Artist
    Bob Freyer
    bfreyerart.com
    2nd: Baron Batch
    3rd: James Wodarek

    Best World or International Music Artist/Group
    The Tamburitzans
    thetamburitzans.org
    2nd: Ishtar
    3rd: Gavas Beat

    Best Wrestler or Wrestling Tag Team
    Kurt Angle
    kurtanglebrand.com
    2nd: Lee Moriarty
    3rd: Ziggy Haim

    click to enlarge Best of Pittsburgh 2022: Culture and Nightlife winners
    CP Photo: Jared Wickerham
    Damon Young

    Best Writer
    Damon Young
    damonjyoung.com
    2nd: Sean Collier
    3rd: Tony Norman