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.

When sourcing fresh produce for meals, big-box grocery stores are ever popular. Even now, supermarkets are evolving to cater to shoppers in various ways. But summertime is near, and it’s the time of the season for some DIY veggies and supporting local farms.

Here are a few simple kitchen garden veggies and herbs practically made for your windowsill. No worries if your thumb isn’t too green – we’ve got some recommendations for farmer’s markets in and around Shadyside.

Indoor Herbs

Quite a few herbs do well in apartments. It’s nice having them fresh and readily available, so plant away! Make sure they get the sunlight they need and keep the soil moist.

• Basil – Pack moist soil into a small pot and sprinkle the surface with seeds. Cover the seeds with a thin layer of soil and water gently.

• Mint – Start with a seedling and transfer to a pot with drainage holes. Water it well after planting and keep in indirect light.

• Chives – Add moist soil to a pot with adequate drainage and sprinkle seeds on top. Add about ¼“ of moistened soil on top and expect germination within two weeks.

Indoor Vegetables

Herbs aren’t the only edible plants you can maintain indoors. Some veggies are just as easily doable.

• Carrots – Depth is important here, so use an 8” – 12” deep pot. Fill the pot to an inch from the top with moist soil and plant seeds ¼” deep. Once they germinate, separate them so they’re at least an inch apart from each other.

• Lettuce greens – Fill a pot with moist soil and sprinkle around 10 seeds on the surface. Cover with ⅛” of damp soil and move seedlings apart when they germinate.

• Arugula – Follow the same steps here as you would for lettuce greens and you’ll have harvest after harvest of scrumptious arugula. Just remember to pick the bigger leaves and leave the smaller interior leaves to grow.

Farmer’s Markets Near Shadyside

Farmer’s markets are terrific, open-air excursions with tons of variety. Get your fruits, vegetables, meats, and more at the Bloomfield Saturday Market and the East Liberty Farmers Market.

• Bloomfield Saturday Market is located at 5050 Liberty avenue

• East Liberty Farmers Market is located in the Garland Park lot on N Euclid Ave

Local vendors showcase the freshest foods you can get. Supporting these vendors helps local farms, bakers, cheesemakers, and more so check them out.

Keep in mind, these markets are doing their best in adhering to health and safety procedures. Refer to the Bloomfield Saturday Market Facebook page and the East Liberty Farmers Market website for more information regarding current restrictions.

The City of Pittsburgh goes by many names. Some call it the Steel City, the City of Three Rivers, or even the City of Champions. All these names have been appropriately given by the people who call Pittsburgh home.

One other name that we think should be added to that list is “Park City.” A lesser-known facet of Pittsburgh is its many historic, forested parks. Once rooted in the steel industry, our city has strived to restore its other roots, its many gorgeous natural estates, and vast woodlands.

Whether you want to enjoy a Friday night at an outdoor concert, meet up with friends for a pick-up frisbee match, or a morning walk with your pup, there’s always a park close by. Mellon Park, Frick Park, Highland Park, and Schenley Park are all wonderful opportunities to be outdoors this summer and they’re all around 10-minutes from Franklin West apartments. Let’s take a sneak peek into Pittsburgh’s best-kept secret.

Mellon Park

When you need a little green and gorgeous gardens, Mellon Park has you covered. This park is rich in history. The Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy reports the original estate belonged to Richard Beatty Mellon and was once known as the largest house in Pittsburgh with 60-rooms. 

Unfortunately, that home is gone now, but the biggest park attraction, the Walled Garden, is still standing. It’s been the center of countless photo opportunities and a perfect place to watch the stars like Ann Katharine Seamans, who now has a famous memorial at the Walled Garden. 

Read more about Ann’s Memorial and more Mellon Park experience here. 

Mellon Park has plenty of features like vast fields, playgrounds for the kiddos, a spray park, tennis, and basketball courts as well as a pavilion with several picnic tables perfect for a family outing. It’s also known to hold several events during the summer months like Bach, Beethoven, and Brunch.

Photo credit to Jeremy Marshall from Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy Mellon Park page

Frick Park

Much like Mellon Park, the Frick Park is an estate that once belonged to wealthy Pittsburgh native, Henry Clay Frick. Stretching from northern parts of Point Breeze all the way down to the Monongahela River, the Frick Park has around 106 acres of land. The Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy reports the Frick Park opening as a park in 1927 after it required more land. 

The Frick has a wonderful spread of outdoor and indoor activities, truly having something for everyone. If you want to go on a long hike, this park is the perfect getaway with extensive woodland trails. The park also features the famous Blue Slide Playground, red clay tennis courts, baseball fields, and much more. 

We can’t forget to mention the Clayton Mansion and Museum. Take a tour through the very home the Clayton family once lived in and become mesmerized by the architectural and designs from the 20th century. You can also visit the art museum! 

Today, the art museum is hosting a fabulous exhibition called A Sporting Vision. Click here for The Frick’s $5 off A Sporting Vision special offer ticket 

Photo from The Frick Pittsburgh Facebook page

Schenley Park & Plaza

Schenley Park is one of Pittsburgh’s most extensive and beautiful parks. The park’s 456 acres was donated land from Mary Schenley and now contain trails, woods, and many attractions. 

The Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy and Eat’n Park Hospitality Group teamed up in 2001 to restore the Schenley Park Cafe and Visitor Center and in 2005 the City of Pittsburgh rehabilitated Phipps Run Stream. If you love a good hike, Phipps Run Stream doesn’t disappoint.

You could spend a few hours every day at Schenley Park experiencing something new. There’s the Bob O’Conner Golf course for any golf enthusiast. The Schenley Oval Sportsplex where you will find ice skating in the winter, summer sports during warm months, and take a dip in the pool when the summer sun gets too hot. 

Plus, Schenley Park hosts big annual events like the famous Vintage Grand Prix and the Pittsburgh Race for the Cure! The amazing Phipps Conservatory is also near Schenley Park, which we don’t believe we have to sell you on. The gorgeous garden at Phipps is one all Pittsburghers know about!

Photo credit to Joe Serkoch from Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy Schenley Park page

Highland Park

A sanctuary reminiscent of the Victorian era, Highland Park is the quintessential an urban oasis. This reservoir has provided drinking water to Pittsburgh since 1879 according to Pittsburgh Park Conservancy. It’s open space and beauty makes it a popular location for picnics and joggers for the iconic Reservoir Loop or Entry Garden. 

Highland Park features Victorian-style gardens with fountains and benches, a bike track, swimming pool, and sand volleyball courts. If you are looking for a fun-filled Saturday with the kids, consider fishing in Carnegie Lake and exploring The Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium, one of only six zoo and aquarium combinations in the country as reported by Next Pittsburgh. 

If you’re up for an awesome Friday night out after a long work week, don’t miss out on the Pittsburgh Zoo’s “Summer Safari” special fundraising party. Learn more about the event here.

Photo credit to Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy Highland Park page

Whatever your plans are this summer, be sure to get out to one of these spectacular woodland areas! Go out on an impromptu hike with nature or visit the park’s website if you’re looking to plan out your visit! Summer is almost over, don’t spend it indoors.

Sunday, April 22 marks the day when people from all over the world focus on moving toward a healthy, sustainable environment. According to Earth Day’s official organization, “Earth Day has reached into its current status as the largest secular observance in the world, celebrated by more than a billion people every year, and a day of action that changes human behavior and provokes policy changes.”

Like all movements, environmental awareness had to start somewhere.

It was started in the 1970’s by US Senator, Gaylord Nelson. For the US, the Vietnam War was an uproar, young people protested, and air pollution policy didn’t exist as industries spewed smoke and smog.

With that said, the goal became to push environmental protections into a political agenda. Nelson partnered with Pete McCloskey and recruited Denis Hayes to spearhead the mission. Soon their staff grew to 85 members and by April 22nd, 1970, 20 million American citizens demonstrated for environmental action.

All of which led to the creation of the United States Environmental Protection Agency and the passage of the Clean Air, Clean Water, and Endangered Species Acts.  

Learn more about the history of Earth Day here.

Taking Action in the ‘Burgh

Let the Earth Day Festivities begin! Join many from our Pittsburgh community in celebration and learn how you can make an impact toward environmental sustainability on April 20th through April 21st.

• Friday, April 20th – Annual Earth Day in Frick Park and Community Campfire
  • Free for all ages, the event will be located at the Lower Frick Parking lot and the campfire will begin at 6 pm.
• Saturday, April 21 – Volunteer Event Comcast Cares Day at Frick Environmental Center from 8 am to 11 am.
• Saturday, April 21 – Walks and Hikes at Frick Environmental Center from 11:30 am to 4 pm

Click here for more events happening in Pittsburgh.

The motivation behind Earth Day came from the relentless determination of students who fought for change. Want to put in your two cents into the world? Give back to the earth and future generations with your time. What kind of Earth do you want to have in fifty years? Because the time to do something is now.  

Spring began in late March, yet rain showers are on the schedule for April. No need to get too distraught though, Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens has the remedy. 125 years in the making, Phipps gained its five-star reputation by awing guests with uniquely designed and expertly manicured garden scenes.  

Click here for the information you need to visit Phipps.

Tickets are reasonably priced under twenty dollars for adults. And when you purchase online, tickets are good for one day’s use within thirty days of the date of purchase. Plus, we’ll let you in on some secret perks: If you’re a lucky duck who is currently an undergrad at the University of Pittsburgh, we hear admission to Phipps is free during semesters! Not a Pitt student? No worries! Phipps offers a discount with a valid student ID.

Spending a Day at Phipps

Time to venture out into the wild! Well, sort of. Surround yourself with the exotic and natural beauty of floral and herb gardens. They’ll delight your senses with blissful fragrances and eye-catching colors. Here are the exhibits with open dates during April:

• Spring Flower Show: Scents of Wonder – Open Now
• Tropical Forest Cuba – Open Now
• Party in the Tropics – Friday, April 13
• Used Bulb Sale – A first come, first serve basis, so mark your calendars for April 21 from 9:30 to 11:30 am
• Butterfly Forest – Saturday, April 21
• Earth Day – The celebration begins on Friday, April 20 through Monday, April 23. All activities are included in a regular Phipps admission costs, so no advance registration needed
• Biophilia Pittsburgh – Registration needed, but free to attend, the next meeting is Thursday, April 26 at 6:30 pm
• Summer Flower Show: Gardens of Sound and Motion – Saturday, April 28
• Sunday Music Series – Enjoy Oakland Catholic High School Chamber Singers on Sunday, April 22 or Fox Chapel Area School Orchestra on Sunday, April 29.
• Public Programs – Experience programs like Bees Please, Origami or Botanical Embroidery. Dates and times vary, so make sure to click the link for more information.

Now, with all this talk about things to do, we have to mention where to eat, too! Located inside the Conservatory, Cafe Phipps becomes an awesome place to relax and dine. Partnered with a vibrant environment, Phipps carries environmental stewardship throughout the establishment. This means, at the cafe specifically, they commit to the cleanest, freshest food available while focusing on organic or local produce. And a quick little tip: Phipps Splash, a fruity and healthy alternative to soda, has raving reviews on Yelp.

Classes for Adults

Phipps actually has classes available for children, educators, and communities, as well. For simplicity’s sake, we’ll stick with adults for now, but definitely, check out the classes page for more information on the other programs.

From floral design to culinary, Phipps offers several certificates so you have the ability to diversify in knowledge. Open to anyone, instructors are highly accomplished in their respected fields while encouraging a relaxing and learning-able environment.

Calling All Volunteers

Remember that “be a better person” resolution you made way back when. Well, Phipps has opportunities fitting any interest, from summer camp volunteers and garden guides to special events and horticulture volunteers.

Concerned about balancing volunteering with work/school priorities? Phipps asks for a minimum of three hours per week and at least two times per month. That’s 80 hours a year, which is on the minimal side while definitely still something to hang your hat on.  

For volunteers, Phipps has the mission, “To empower volunteers to contribute to the mission of Phipps while providing a rewarding and engaging experience in an environment where all contributions are valued and appreciated.”

It’s a fantastic way to meet new people with similar interests and contribute to one of Pittsburgh’s beloved landmarks. See where you fit. Plus, why not make the move toward a better you?

Time to Member Up

This isn’t your average whole store membership. Phipps offers one-of-a-kind experiences, event discounts, and exclusive insights. You’re essentially getting unlimited access! Plus, packages range from a year of free admission for one adult at $65 to a sustaining package with several perks at $500. To get specifics on membership perks, click here.

One of the best times to visit is during the spring. Who wouldn’t want to enjoy a serene stroll through an exotic indoor/outdoor garden? We would definitely be there in a heartbeat!