One month down as a full time content creator. After I finished writing this, I realized I did a hell of a lot in October. It was nice not putting off life due to a full time corporate job taking more and more time. I also spent October still trying to catch up, editing content that I had filmed over the summer. Luckily, I think I’m almost done, but that also means content with me wearing shorts and t-shirts will be getting shared in November. Being self-employed has also made me realize I can truly set my own schedule or plan to do something impractical, like going to NYC for 36 hours. October was a month of some great meals, concerts, and cool events.
Restaurants
I was invited to eat at Bar Marco, a great Italian restaurant in the Strip District. We ordered an assortment of great Bar Marco dishes featuring locally sourced ingredients. We started with some appetizers like arancini stuffed with mozzarella, zucchini parm, and a late summer salad with squash. Up next was my favorite of the evening, the pasta course. We got the rigatoni with lamb ragu and the sweet corn gnocchi with pancetta. There was a great savory and sweet contrast that I love in dishes. Our final course was a great stuffed quail filled with so much mascarpone.
I had lunch at Butler Street Deli. I don’t think I had eaten there before. It was a pretty good sandwich at a reasonable price.
I ate at Gi-Jin for the first time in forever. It showed why it is still one of my favorites. The fish is always top quality. The sushi creations are always fantastic. I loved the seasonal Hamachi crudo with beet boshi and pickled grapes. I also loved the Tuna Toast, which is bluefin on milk bread toast that was a new twist on an old Gi-Jin favorite dish. I rounded out my meal with a selection of my favorite hand rolls and different tuna nigiri.
I stopped by Pizzaiolo Primo in Market Square to hang out with my friends at YaJagoff while they were recording their podcast. We enjoyed a spread of food from Pizzaiolo Primo, including pizzas and fried cheese.
I rushed over to the soft opening of 925 Main in Sharpsburg, the new cocktail lounge from Dancing Gnome in their original space. This is the latest addition to the booming Sharpsburg Main Street. I tried out some of their cocktails and a bite. Each cocktail is made with PA produced spirits and they are variations on traditional cocktails. They also have a selection of Dancing Gnome beers, PA wines and alcohol free drinks available. There are a few bites available curated by Blue Sparrow.
The family went to dinner at Bombay to Burgh. This Indian restaurant in Edgewood has become a favorite of our family. We ordered an assortment of different dishes. We’ve also become quite friendly with the owner and chef.
I had lunch at Cocky’s Coop in Canonsburg. This is a newer restaurant serving fried chicken sandwiches, burgers and wings. I was impressed with my Louisiana hot chicken sandwich.
I went to check out Grist House Command in Collier Township. The former Nike missile command was completely renovated to be a brewery and taproom. They retained many details of the original command center. There are amazing views of the South Hills from their multiple decks. They are moving their brewing to the significantly larger space. I have visited twice now, the second time getting some food from the commissary.
I got to check out a new-to-me place, Buffalo Bills Roadhouse in New Kensington, with Jessie of Jessie’s Eddies. This is one of her favorite places. We went for wing night. They grill their wings in a conveyor belt oven, and they’re pretty big. The sauces were fantastic. My favorite was the spicy BBQ and Jessie always gets the spicy ranch.
I spent an evening at The Wine Cave in the North Hills. Cortney in the City hosted a small gathering. We were in their little private cabin space next to the restaurant. They also have fire pits around the property. They feature Bella Terra wines and have a full food menu.
I’m excited that F&F Pizzeria has finally opened in Mt Lebanon. I was invited to try a wide range of food and cocktails on their grand opening night. Originally from Brooklyn, New York, F&F brings NY Style pizzas and Neapolitan style pizzas to the Pittsburgh area. They offer slices, full pies and other dishes. We enjoyed several Italian restaurant classic sharables like vodka rigatoni, beans and greens and two types of arancini. We picked out three pizzas: classic cheese, a white pizza and fancier calzoagie pie with mortadella, soppressata and sungold tomatoes to try a mix of classic and innovative. I really liked the calazoagie pie for the mix of savory, spicy and sweet on one pizza. My favorite dish was actually the braised beef that was so tender and savory. We wrapped up with a couple of desserts. I know I’ll be returning to F&F Pizzeria to try so much more.
I grabbed a few tacos at Las Palmas in Beechview. These are still some of the best street tacos in the city. They have really expanded their menu, so I need to stop back more often to try more.
I went to Olive Garden to check out Never Ending Pasta Bowl. I ate a soup, a large bowl of pasta and two smaller bowls. There is a chance I will be returning to take advantage again and see if I can keep going.
I went to Costco with my parents. We got a pizza for lunch. My mom never had their pizza before. It’s certainly not close to my favorite, but at $9.99 for a large pizza, it’s not bad.
I went on a mini bar crawl in East Liberty. The first stop was at Hey, Babe. I definitely need to return here. I got the Pork Belly Bites as part of happy hour and they were incredible.
I was invited to spend the night at the Courtyard Marriott in Oakland on the Pitt Campus. I ate dinner in The Bistro in the lobby. We tried a bunch of dishes and their new fall cocktails. I was most impressed by the Loaded Tot-chos and the seasonal steak tenderloin dish.
Food Trucks & Takeout
Blowfish BBQ was at East End Smoketoberfest. They were doing smoked chicken, sausage and mac & cheese.
I had a fantastic brisket sandwich from Jessi’s Chicken at Bonfires, Barrels and Brews. This was a great sandwich with lots of juicy brisket.
Events
I saw Alice Cooper and Judas Priest at The Pavilion at Star Lake. This was like my 6th time seeing Alice Cooper, but my first time seeing Judas Priest. Alice Cooper is always a great show and one of the few performers who still does theatrics with their music. Seeing Schools Out, I’m Eighteen, and Feed My Frankenstein are always so fun. Judas Priest was a lot of fun, but I definitely realized I only know their hits like Living After Midnight and You’ve Got Another Thing Coming.
I was invited to Penguins Media Day to see the new and returning food and fan experiences coming to Pittsburgh Penguins games for the 25/26 season. Keep watching to the end to see all the food. The Penguins are celebrating 20 years of the Big Three, Sid, Geno, and Tanger playing together, as well as 15 years of PPG Paints Arena. They are offering great promotions, including bobbleheads, sweaters, playing cards, and a gravy boat. There are also changes around the arena, such as the Birthday Bridge photo op and the Penguins Hall of Fame featuring the Penguins greats. They also made changes to concessions like the new 5th Avenue Food Hall. We toured the events level seeing the all inclusive Casamigos Club and the Bunker Suite 66 right by the locker room and the ice. Speaking of the locker room, we got a peek inside the amazing space and take photos with jerseys of the Big Three. If you didn’t know, PPG Paints Arena actually has tours regularly on non-event Tuesdays. After the locker room, we stopped by the Penguins bench along the ice, before heading up to try all the food. Iceburgh was waiting to greet us in the F.N.B. Club. I got to try so much food. My first favorites were the Bacon Jam Smashburger and Cherry Coke BBQ Smash Burger at the Steel City Smash concessions. Another new favorite was the Dippy’s Combo Platter with a Cheesesteak Egg Roll, a Beef Dumpling and a Raspberry Cheesecake Egg Roll available at Dippy’s. Two items coming to the new 5th Avenue Food Hall, along with pierogies seen earlier, are meatballs and the return of chicken wings to PPG Paints Arena. Another great item returning after debuting mid season last year is the Lobster Nachos. New to the Mic Drop concessions, honoring Mike Lange is a BBQ meatloaf sandwich. They also expanded the items available at the Smokehouse. At the end, I got to taste a bunch of the great foods and desserts available in the Lexus Club, Suites and catering for special events at PPG Paints Arena. This food is definitely a reason to get those tickets. Thank you to the Penguins for a great media day and I can’t wait for a great season.
I went to see Queen Bitch: John Cameron Mitchell Sings David Bowie. This was a very interesting concert. John Cameron Mitchell is the creator of Hedwig and the Angry Inch, my favorite musical. This show featured some of Bowie’s hits, like Fame, and more anarchistic songs like I’m Afraid of Americans. I also learned this night that the Cultural Trust is bringing Hedwig and the Angry Inch to the Greer Cabaret in May, which is very exciting.
I attended and participated in the first Pittsburgh’s Rivers of Fire hot sauce festival organized by Hammajack Hot Sauce. I got the honor of being a Pittsburgh Hot Talk interviewee for the Positively Pittsburgh podcast. I got to eat 10 wings from Cold Friends Kitchen while answering questions featuring sauces on sale at the festival, each sauce getting hotter. I think I got through it pretty well. See a very lightly edited version of the interview here.
I went to see Evil Dead in Concert at the Carnegie Library of Homestead. Evil Dead is the classic horror film, and it toured this Fall with a small orchestra. It was cool to see the movie with a full score, but probably not necessary.
I was invited to be a co-chair of the Pittsburgh Opera Diamond Diva Disco, this year’s Diamond Horseshoe Celebration and fundraiser. The evening was filled with disco balls, shimmery outfits, dancing, drinks, food and raffles. I got dragged to the dance floor for a bit, but I focused on the food and beverages created by local restaurants and vendors. I ate a lot of pizza, dumplings and cookies. I love supporting the Pittsburgh Opera. They stage fantastic opera performances throughout the year. They also want opera to be accessible to everyone with affordable tickets. They also always have great events throughout the year.
I went to Canonsburg to see the giant inflatable rubber ducks all over town. Grandpa Joe’s candy inflated 10 ducks around Canonsburg. It was a lot of fun to see.
I went to East End Smoketoberfest at their popup in Manchester. It was a lot of fun to drink smoked beers, eat smoked foods and listen to bands.
This year’s One Bite One Day, a best bites of Pittsburgh event benefiting One Day to Remember was bigger and better than ever. It is one of my favorite events every year. I get to try so many amazing bites and try great cocktails all for a good cause. This year the premier food tasting event returned for a second year at the Pittsburgh Opera. I had so many great bites this year I can’t even pick just one to say was my favorite. Each of these bites is paired with a craft cocktail. There is also a VIP bar with additional specialty drinks. One Day to Remember is a non-profit organization whose goal is to give families with a parent dealing with advanced-stage cancer the opportunity to make lasting, positive memories. One Day to Remember strives to provide a curated experience that is individualized for each family at no cost to them. Included in the special day, they send a professional photographer to capture the family activity and provide every family with a commemorative photobook.
I finally checked out Canton Avenue to watch The Dirty Dozen Bicycle Ride. Canton Avenue in Pittsburgh’s Beechview neighborhood is the Steepest Street in the Continental United States with a 37% grade. This cobblestone street is crazy to see from the top, as you cannot see the bottom until you get over the crest of the hill. I was there to watch this section of the Dirty Dozen Bicycle Ride. The Dirty Dozen is an annual bicycle ride where bicyclists tackle 13 of Pittsburgh’s most challenging hills. Canton Avenue is about 2/3 of the way through the ride. It is one of the most ridiculously hard hills in the ride. It is also one of the most exciting to watch. Riders arrive at the bottom of Canton Avenue in groups. They get a running start before turning onto Canton Avenue and powering their way up the steep hill. Many will make it in one try, but some will lose speed or get stuck behind someone who doesn’t make it to the top. Most of them will try again and make it to the top. It is quite a feat to get to the top of Canton Avenue, and I commend anyone who makes it. I know I’ll be back on Canton Avenue to watch the Dirty Dozen again next year.
I was invited to attend Bonfires, Barrels and Brews at Yinzer Valley Farms. This is the Laurel Highlands Pour Tour end of season event featuring a selection of wineries, breweries, distilleries and food vendors. The event attracts around 1,000 people to try the different wines, beers and spirits. It’s a beautiful day out on the farm.
36 Hours in NYC
I made the crazy decision to go to NYC for Game 3 of the Yankees vs Blue Jays ALDS. I grew up a Yankees fan. I used some airline points and met a friend in NYC for the game. Going to an MLB playoff game is such an experience. It’s a shame we haven’t had one in Pittsburgh since 2015. Going to a New York Yankees Playoff game is a whole other level. The energy in the stadium is electric. It was such a high scoring game with an Aaron Judge home run off the foul pole.
I like to fly into NYC through Laguardia Airport. It’s just not as hectic as JFK. It’s a little more difficult to get into Manhattan since you need to make a transfer in Queens, but it’s not terrible. My flight both to and from NYC was heavily delayed, which was not fun either and very much threw off my plans.
I started my NYC visit in the Lower East Side at Gotham Burger Social Club. This is a smash burger restaurant I have followed on Instagram since they were just a popup bringing a flattop griddle to events to make smash burgers. I’m glad I finally got to try it, as it was a pretty great smash burger.
I spent my morning eating my way through Chinatown. I started at Shu Jiao Fu Zhou for pork and chive dumplings and peanut noodles. This was my only repeat from my last trip a couple of years ago. It was like $10 total for these 2 plates of food. My second stop was Wah Fung No.1 Fast Food, a hole in the wall known for roast pork and roast duck plates. I did a small combo of the two just to try them. Both were pretty good, but I think I would stick to the roast pork next time. My last Chinatown stop was Tasty Dumpling. I ordered set of ten boiled pork and cabbage dumplings. These were not as good as my ones from the morning, but still not bad.
While I was in Chinatown, I decided to walk across the Brooklyn Bridge. This was something I had never done before. The Brooklyn Bridge is actually very interesting since its construction is a mix of stone, steel and wood. It has a dedicated pedestrian walkway. It also extends far inland on both sides. I walked halfway across and headed back because I realized it would be like an extra hour to go all the way across and back.
I made a stop at Macy’s in Herald Square. I spent a lot of time here as a child because my mom’s art agent had her office nearby. Macy’s Herald Square is the department store’s headquarters and flagship store. It is also the largest department store in the United States, and once, the largest in the world. The store is massive with 10 floors of merchandise. I stopped there specifically since there are many clean public restrooms in the building. This was also one of the main reasons we often stopped here when I was a child.
I experienced The Vessel at Hudson Yards. I will say this is so much cooler as an art piece than something to explore from the inside. Due to some incidents, much of The Vessel is closed off and there is chicken wire fencing blocking off other spots. What you also don’t realize is that there aren’t exactly great views from the higher levels. I would not recommend paying to go in, and instead just take the photos from the outside.
My last meal was at Skirt Steak. This restaurant has one entrée, skirt steak. The feature is you get a salad, a skirt steak and unlimited fries for $45. I was there for happy hour, so it came to $35. I also ordered onion rings and a cocktail. The onion rings were some of the best I’ve ever had.
