Thanksgiving marks the time of year where both fall and winter festivities are in full swing. While some events are canceled this year due to COVID-19, some of our favorites are still happening. Don’t miss these highlights of the season Pittsburgh has to offer.

Image from Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium on Instagram

Zoo Lights

Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium has long been a family favorite destination. Strolling through the many exhibits in the summer is a great weekend outing. However, as the temperature drops and people wish to keep warm, the zoo adapts with some spectacular events.

This year’s Zoo Lights display promises a festive holiday drive-through complete with Christmas carols and thousands of environmentally-friendly LED lights. Grab a cup of hot cocoa and drive through in your car as you listen to a themed audio tour and see many of the zoo’s fascinating residents along the way.

Zoo Lights runs on select nights from November 27 – January 3, so look to their website today and plan your visit. Tickets must be purchased online in advance. Tickets cost $60 per vehicle for nonmembers and $40 per vehicle for zoo members.

Image from Phipps Conservatory on Instagram

Winter Flower Show: Home for the Holidays & Garden Railroad: Rails and Trails

Magic is always in the air at Phipps Conservatory. This year’s winter showcase features thousands of poinsettias illuminated by twinkling lights. The ‘Home for the Holidays’ theme is illustrated with living room furniture and decorations composed entirely of plants. Walk through the Victoria Room and admire the dancing reflections of the carousel on the pond below. Learn about animals’ winter habitats with trees cut to resemble foxes, groundhogs, bears, and more.

As you stroll through the illuminated glasshouse, you’ll also find the beloved miniature railroad display. This exhibit is meticulously crafted to bring to life a landscape complete with a boat gliding across a lake, and people riding horses, swimming, and camping. The touchless interactive stations allow you to activate the various scenes in the exhibit while the train chugs along its tracks.

Phipps is doing its part in curbing the spread of COVID-19, so timed tickets can be purchased online. Tickets cost $19.95 for adults, $17.95 for students (age 18+) & seniors (age 62+), and $11.95 for children (age 2 -18). Admission is free with a Phipps membership.

This display runs from November 20 – January 3, so don’t miss the holiday magic at Phipps. Masks must be worn at all times.

Image from The Rink at PPG Place on Instagram

The Rink at PPG Place

This holiday staple of downtown Pittsburgh celebrates its 20th year in 2020. The ice encircles a beautiful Christmas tree adorned with lights and ornaments. Bundle up and enjoy ice skating all season long. Bring your own ice skates or rent a pair onsite ($5). Prices (excluding skate rentals) are $11 for adults (age 13 – 49), and $10 for children, seniors, and with military I.D. Check PPG Place’s website for information on special group rates, holiday hours, and more special events. Masks are required while skating.

Visit your favorite animals at the Pittsburgh Zoo, revel in the beauty of Phipps Conservatory, or strap on a pair of skates at PPG Place. These local events will bring joy to all this holiday season, and they’re all within a 10-minute drive of Franklin West’s apartments in Shadyside.

Image from Think Shadyside

The busiest shopping season of the year is approaching, and planning ahead is more important than ever. Before you purchase all the items you need online from big brand retailers, head into Shadyside and support the many fantastic local businesses that help enrich this beautiful neighborhood. If you’re shopping for great deals, then mark your calendar for this year’s Small Business Saturday.

Small Business Saturday will take place on November 28 from 10:00 AM – 7:00 PM and will include shops along Ellsworth Avenue, Walnut Street, S. Highland Avenue, and many stores in between.

While you make your way from shop to shop, admire the holiday decor in storefronts participating in the Holiday Window Decorating Contest. Holiday window decorations are a familiar site during this time of year, but this year the Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership has upped the ante by sponsoring this festive contest. Local businesses have paired up with talented local artists listed on the Pittsburgh Artists Registry in order to bring the public these spectacular, creative displays.

Pittsburgh Parking Authority (PPA) metered street parking and metered lots will be free for this event, so you’ll only need to pay for the great deals you discover. PPA lots in Shadyside include Shadyside Garage on 714 Bellefonte Street as well as the Ivy/Bellefonte lot at 726 Ivy Street. PPA parking is also free on Thanksgiving, Black Friday, and every Sunday. No matter where you choose to park, Shadyside is easily walkable and pedestrian-friendly.

We hope to see you out and about supporting the many treasured businesses Shadyside has to offer. Stay tuned to the event’s official Facebook page for updated info on participating businesses.

Many thanks to PNC and UPMC for sponsoring this event and to Think Shadyside and Pedagogy for hosting.

The tree-lined streets of Shadyside, along with the many parks throughout this charming neighborhood, make for a spectacular fall season. Journey with us for a walk along S. Highland Avenue where we’ll pass by wonderful eateries, historic sites, and some Franklin West apartments available to rent today.

We’ll start our tour at Howe Springs on Fifth Avenue where the road meets the southernmost end of S. Highland Ave. What you see today is the 1912 neoclassical redesign where the spring’s structure first stood in 1892. When Thomas Howe sold the land featuring the spring,  he stipulated that the spring would remain free for public use.

Photo credit: Google Street View

As you cross Fifth Avenue and follow the sidewalk on the right side of S. Highland Avenue, you’ll soon arrive at one of Franklin West’s S. Highland Avenue apartment buildings.

509 S. Highland Ave

This location offers peaceful seclusion while providing the ideal proximity to all the city’s amenities. You’ll notice just how close it is to Fifth Avenue, which can easily bring you all the way downtown in only minutes. Whole Foods, Trader Joe’s, and Market District are all within walking distance, so you can run your errands without the carbon footprint.

For rent now: Apt. 33

This 2-bed, 1-bath residence features a private balcony where you can sip your morning cup of coffee and get a dose of fresh air. When it’s too cold to go outside, enjoy the natural light flooding in through the large windows while you stay nice and warm. The kitchen includes a refrigerator, range, and dishwasher. Laundry facilities are available within the building, so you can knock out your chores without darting all over town.

Let’s continue about three and a half blocks further up S. Highland Avenue. Cross S. Highland Avenue at a crosswalk on your way up, and you will be met by the historic Highland Towers. 

Highland Towers

You’ll find this historic residential gem conveniently situated in the heart of Shadyside’s East End. This urban neighborhood with a suburban feel is just minutes from downtown Pittsburgh and the city’s most prominent universities, such as Carnegie Mellon University and University of Pittsburgh.

Highland Towers has been a fixture of Shadyside since 1913, and the building was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1976. The building’s architect, Frederick G. Scheibler, Jr., began his career as an apprentice in 1888 at age 16 and was a lifelong Pittsburgher. This beloved example of Modern American architecture takes direct inspiration from the Vienna Secession art movement; it is a superb example of Scheibler’s natural talent.

Two fourth-floor residences are currently available.

For rent now: 340 S. Highland Ave, Apt. 8A

This 2-bed, 1-bath apartment can be all yours. Enjoy the spacious living room where you can immerse yourself in a good book and decorate to your heart’s content. The wall-to-wall carpet in this space will keep your feet cozy all winter long, and the decorative fireplace provides a warm accent to this interior. The large dining room will keep you from getting stir-crazy while working or studying at home.

For rent now: 342 S. Highland Ave, Apt. 16B

Take full advantage of the inclusions in this 2-bed, 1-bath unit. A built-in chest of drawers in the living room checks off some of your furniture needs, while the dishwasher will allow you to focus more on the art of cooking rather than the aftermath.

Ready for a delicious hot meal after this stroll through the crisp air? Continue up S. Highland Avenue to the next block and stop in at Noodlehead. This restaurant centers its menu around popular dishes from Thailand’s many street markets. With plenty of vegetarian and gluten-free options, there’s something here for everyone. Noodlehead is currently available for takeout, delivery, or outdoor seating. Bring your face covering as well as cash, because they do not accept credit cards.

If you decide on the takeout route, or you wish to continue up S. Highland Avenue, make your way up to the South Highland bridge and have a seat on one of the built-in benches on this award-winning bridge. The $2.9 million project wrapped up toward the end of 2013 and spans Ellsworth Avenue, the Martin Luther King, Jr. Busway, and the Norfolk Southern Railroad. Take note of the glass panels highlighting various pieces of the area’s history; you’ll truly find a window into the past.

Photo credit: Google Street View

This brief stretch through Shadyside is just a small portion of what makes this neighborhood so charming. We hope you enjoyed your tour, and we encourage you to request a tour or more info regarding our current availability.