Britsburgh
1000 Locust St., Uptown. britsburgh.com
Britsburgh honors our neighbors to the north with a Spotlight on Canada dinner. On Thu., Oct. 16 at 6 p.m., the organization for Pittsburgh Anglophiles takes a “culinary journey” to the British commonwealth at Duquesne University’s Student Union. A menu inspired by Canada’s Indigenous Peoples, French settlers from Québec and Acadia, and Britain itself will include poutine, maple salmon, butter tarts, a Canadian whiskey cocktail, and more. Duquesne University study abroad coordinator and Britsburgh board member, Kim Szczypinski, will also give a talk on Canadian regional foods and history. Admission costs $90 or $75 for Britsburgh members.
Pittsburgh Monster Pumpkins Festival
2875 Railroad St., Strip District. monsterpumpkins.com
The Pittsburgh Monster Pumpkins Festival returns, bringing supersized gourds and fall fantasia to The Stacks at 3 Crossings in the Strip District. Taking place from Sat., Oct. 18-Sun., Oct. 19, the city’s annual “spellbinding spectacle of colorfully colossal cucurbits” promises “pumpkins so big you’ll need a forklift to pick ‘em!” Following its signature giant pumpkin drop, the festival features a full schedule that includes a pumpkin pie-eating contest, as well as fall food and drink offerings. Entry is free.
Half Assed Beer Share x Local Remedy Brewing
531 Allegheny Ave., Oakmont. habspgh.com
Local Remedy Brewing hosts Half Assed Beer Share’s latest Fall Beer Share in Oakmont on Sun., Oct. 19, from 2-5 p.m. Quarterly beer shares invite craft beer lovers to bring a four-pack or bottle from their favorite Pittsburgh Brewers Guild brewery to enjoy with fellow beer fans and industry folks. HABS provides coolers with ice for beer, glassware, and “good vibes.” The Local Remedy event will feature a special collab beer release. Donations are accepted to cover event costs, but are not required. Register online through Eventbrite.
Omni William Penn Hotel
530 William Penn Pl., Downtown. omnihotels.com/hotels/pittsburgh-william-penn
The Omni William Penn plays up its history with a Haunted SPOOKeasy pop-up bar. The historic hotel invites thrill-seekers to wander the “shadowy chambers” of its Speakeasy bar, once a Prohibition-era speakeasy, and reportedly haunted. Running Wednesday through Saturday until Sat., Nov. 1, Haunted SPOOKeasy promises a “ghostly retreat” where “potions are poured, cobwebs are chic, and every cocktail comes with a curse (the fun kind).” A themed drink menu includes a Cocoa Coffin Martini, Phantom’s Cherry Fizz, and Ghoul Aid. Entry (21-and-over only) is free; costumes are optional but highly encouraged.
Burgatory Bar
Multiple locations. burgatorybar.com
Looking for a lunch deal? Burgatory introduced a new lunch menu with six weekday specials and a $12 combo meal. On Mon.-Fri. from 11 a.m.-3 p.m., diners can try new entrées including a Cobb or spinach salad, fried or grilled chicken sandwich, a single smashburger, or the Au Poivre Smash, featuring Swiss cheese, grilled onions, mushrooms, and garlic mayo with au poivre (cream peppercorn) sauce served on a potato bun. The $12 combo includes one lunch entrée and a fountain drink, with an option to upgrade to a house margarita for $5.
Yinzer Dogs
2085 Mackenzie Way, Cranberry Township. originalyinzerdogs.com
Yinzer Dogs is set to open its first brick-and-mortar location in Cranberry. Following the launch of a Yinzer Dogs food truck, the new restaurant in the Cranberry Springs plaza will celebrate with a “pre-opening” featuring daily specials from Wed., Oct. 15-Sat., Oct. 18.
The new venture is backed by some of the team at Yinzer Cards, including radio personalities Larry Richert and Jim Krenn, and former Miami Dolphins and University of Pittsburgh quarterback Dan Marino. When the restaurant was first announced in June, Richert told the Pittsburgh Business Times the new Yinzer Dogs would sell its signature hot dogs, kielbasa, pierogies, haluski, and its line of Pittsburgh-themed Yinzer Pop. Richert also said another Yinzer Dogs location was planned for the Strip District, slated to open for the 2026 NFL Draft.
Dancing Gnome Brewery
925 Main St., Sharpsburg. dancinggnomebeer.com
Dancing Gnome will reopen its original taproom. In honor of its ninth anniversary, the Sharpsburg brewery announced it will launch Nine T(w)o Five, located at 925 Main St., on Fri., Oct. 17. According to the Dancing Gnome website, the renovated and “intimate” 45-seat space, which was originally a 10-barrel brewhouse, will serve house-made cocktails featuring spirits produced throughout Pennsylvania, as well as a small food menu curated by Blue Sparrow. Breweries in PA also teased an exclusive house beer.
Nine Two Five will operate as a 21-and-over venue Wed.-Sat. from 5-12 p.m. Dancing Gnome’s main location will remain all-ages.
Sushi Tomo
2122 E. Carson St., South Side. sushi-tomo.com
Sushi Tomo is heading to the South Side. After serving the North Hills since 2001, the family-owned Japanese sushi bar and restaurant — and runner-up for Best Poke Bowl and Best Sushi in Pittsburgh City Paper’s Best of PGH 2025 Readers’ Poll — will expand with a second location on East Carson Street. The new Sushi Tomo takes over the former Little Tokyo Bistro space, paying tribute to the “iconic sushi bar” on its Instagram page.
Sushi Tomo South Side will celebrate its grand opening on Sat., Oct. 18, with a ribbon-cutting at 5 p.m.
Golden Age Beer Co.
12 W. North Ave., North Side. goldenagebeer.com
Golden Age Beer will open a new taproom in the North Side’s Garden Theater redevelopment. The Pittsburgh Business Times reported that the Homestead craft brewer signed a lease to set up shop next to Mayfly Market and Deli, which announced its relocation in June, putting the development, rebranded as The Garden Block, at full occupancy. Peter Kurzweg, co-founder of Golden Age Beer, described the expansion as “particularly meaningful to us” and called the location at the former Garden Theater “iconic.”
The new Golden Age taproom is slated to open this winter. The Homestead brewpub, known for its German- and Czech-style beers, first launched in 2019.
Barb’s Corner Kitchen
4711 Butler St., Lawrenceville. facebook.com/barbscornerkitchen
Barb’s Corner Kitchen in Lawrenceville has closed after four decades. Beloved for its homestyle breakfast food, the Butler Street diner, across from Allegheny Cemetery, was one of the few late-night restaurants in the area.
Owner Bob Geraci told the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette he accepted an offer to sell the building, which he believes will become a furniture store.
“It was a heartbreaking decision to close, but at the same time, it’s OK. It was time to move on,” Geracci said, citing a “confluence” of factors including the death of his late mother, who opened Barb’s, in March, rising costs, and changing neighborhood demographics bringing in fewer third-shift customers.
