By Claire Thurston
Local Pittsburgh happenings in arts, performance, culture, etc. This one goes out to all the first years that said they couldn’t wait to “explore Pittsburgh” in their Instagram introductions. Go do it.
Sept. 30 – Oct. 7:
- Silent Film Festival
Sept. 30 – Oct. 7, various locations, $5+
The Pittsburgh Silent Film Society is hosting their second annual Silent Film Festival with screenings each day of this week. This year’s 10 films were all originally produced in 1924, marking their 100th anniversary this year. The festival is a collaboration between all the different venues and musical groups that perform live scores. Friday’s film, “Strike,” even features an original score by local artists. If you’re looking for something closer to campus, the four screenings this upcoming weekend are worth checking out: “Grass: A Nation’s Battle for Life,” “Peter Pan,” “The Navigator,” and “Sherlock Jr.”
- Squirrel Hill Farmers’ Market
Every Sunday, 9 a.m. – 1 p.m., Beacon Bartlett Parking Lot, items for sale
- If you hop the 61 bus on Sunday between 9 a.m. and 1 p.m., you’ll land right in the middle of Squirrel Hill Farmers’ Market. While the market runs every week until Nov. 24, I wanted to promote this before the weather got too chilly. This weekend, you can find standard fresh, local produce and ingredients as well as other specialized vendors. This upcoming Sunday, Oct. 6, you’ll find Mediterra Bakehouse’s array of loaves to use in your breakfasts throughout the week. You can also find lunch there: Cup of Wontons makes pork wontons and hot tea fresh to order.
- A Woman’s Place: How Women Shaped Pittsburgh
Guided Tours: every Friday and Saturday, 11 a.m. and 1 p.m., free with Carnegie Mellon Arts Pass
- The Heinz History Center, a Smithsonian museum focusing on the history of Western Pennsylvania since 1889, is commemorating Pittsburgh women in its new exhibit, “A Woman’s Place.” Originally set to close this weekend, it has been extended to January due to its success. The women highlighted range across diverse disciplines, backgrounds, and causes and are explored through over 300 artifacts accompanied by interactive reading material. The exhibit can be explored independently along with the rest of the Heinz museum, but guided tours are offered on Friday and Saturday (Oct. 4–5) beginning at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m.
- Tosca
Oct. 5, 8, 11, 13, Benedum Center, student discount tickets available
- As a Puccini girl, I am excited that Italian composer Giacomo Puccini’s “Tosca” is being presented by the Pittsburgh Opera over the next two weeks at the Benedum Center. “Tosca” is a story about love and betrayal, with the criminal Cesare Angelotti on the run from the villainous Chief of Police, Baron Scarpia, and the painter Mario Cavaradossi and his lover, the jealous singer Floria Tosca. If you’re new to opera, never fear, the team has assembled rich educational materials: Each of the four performances has a Pre-Opera Talk that begins one hour before curtain, there is an informational packet available online, and projected English subtitles will accompany the beautiful Italian lyrics.
- StepTrek
Oct. 5, 10 a.m., start at S 28th & Sidney Streets, pay-what-you-can, suggested $10
If you haven’t already noticed, Pittsburgh has a lot of hills. A city with a lot of hills means a lot of public staircases: nearly 800 of them to be exact. Just south of the Monongahela, Pittsburgh’s South Side Slopes is a neighborhood linked by stairs. They celebrate this with their 24th annual “StepTrek,” an urban hike that encapsulates exercise, interactive history learning, community support, and photographing the views at the top of the steps. Participation is pay-what-you-can with a recommended price of $10, all of which goes to fundraise for the South Side Slopes Neighborhood Association to keep this neighborhood beautiful.
Leave a Reply