Paint the Town: Pittsburgh Center for the Arts

Shadyside summers are bustling with life and bursting with color — just two of the many reasons the neighborhood is a focal point of Pittsburgh. When the pink and purple blossoms fall from the trees and green leaves replace the palette, new forms of colors spring to life. 

Pittsburgh Center for the Arts, located right on 5th Avenue, features local artists who breathe energy into the space and the community year-round.

Starring 13 Pittsburgh-based artists, the current exhibition is brimming with vivid colors and unique forms, making summer in Shadyside all the more vibrant. Below are just a few of the works on display and a taste of the local talent that enlivens the walls. This exhibition lasts until July 23rd, but you can always expect something special to fill the space.



Beyond the inspiring galleries, Pittsburgh Center for the Arts offers in-depth classes and Summer Art Camps starting June 12th, for kids ages 4-12. If you’d like to know more about all that Pittsburgh Center for the Arts has to offer, visit center.pfpca.org.

Ready to explore Shadyside and paint the town colorful? 

Pittsburgh Marathon to Run Through Shadyside

Runners, take your marks! The annual DICK’S Sporting Goods Pittsburgh Marathon is here once again, and this year’s race weekend is sure to be exciting.

On the morning of Sunday, May 7th, more than 20,000 of Pittsburgh’s most passionate athletes will be lining up to traverse 13 neighborhoods and race by PNC Park, Heinz Field and PPG Paints Arena. For all you enthusiastic supporters in the crowd, the day will also be packed with neighborhood festivals, 40 live bands, and more to enjoy.

Cheering in Shadyside? We’ve got the deets for the bands you’ll be near on race day! Hourglass will be playing at the corner of 5th and Shady — within 1 block of many of our Shady, Fifth Avenue, and Denniston Avenue apartments.

The band Sunburst Rocks will be playing at the corner of Fifth Avenue and South Highland, just outside of our 5945 5th Avenue apartment.

The marathon course itself goes through passes many Franklin West buildings. Specifically, 5945 Fifth Avenue, 6315 Fifth Avenue, 516 S. Highland, 509 S. Highland, and 6007-6009 Walnut. See the full course map here!

Pictured above: Runners will pass Franklin West’s 5945 Fifth Avenue and 6007 Walnut Street apartments, among others.

We’ll see you on the course, Shadyside — come out, cheer on the runners, and enjoy celebrating Pittsburgh runners’ joyful dedication!

5 Pittsburgh Events to Look Forward to This March

Welcome, March! With a new month’s arrival, we’re reminded once again that Pittsburgh has an event for everyone’s calendar. From DIY art nights at The Warhol to thriving gardening conventions, it’s lining up to be an amazing couple of weeks.

1. Sip & Sketch at the Andy Warhol Museum: March 8

Surround yourself with inspiring, painted portraits by Firelei Baez as you sip and sketch at the Andy Warhol Museum. Featuring a cash bar, Butterjoint cocktails, live models, and art teachers to guide you through the drawing process, this creative event is a can’t-miss.

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2. Park on Tap Fundraiser for Allegheny Commons: March 10

If you’ve seen our Instagram feed, you know that we love our Pittsburgh Parks and the Conservancy that helps maintain them.

What better way to support their restoration of Pittsburgh’s oldest park than with bites and brews on one of North Side’s famous Mexican War Streets? Allegheny City Brewing, War Streets Brewery, and the band Brewer’s Row will be in attendance at this important fundraising event.

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3. Pittsburgh Home & Garden Show: March 10 – 19

Thinking about making some upgrades around your apartment? If so, the Pittsburgh Home and Garden Show is the place for you.

The region’s top marketplace for home improvement needs is returning to the Convention Center for its 36th year. 1,700 vendors, a garden pavilion, and a Kitchen & Cooking Collection will all be available for all in attendance.

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4. Ace Hotel — Whitefield’s Sharing Knives: March 15th

Our neighbors over at Ace Hotel are returning with their third installment of Sharing Knives: a collaborative dinner series that hosts Pittsburgh’s top chefs in their Whitfield kitchen. Mellon Park that’s as pretty as it is peaceful. Rich in history and nestled in the heart of Shadyside, Mellon Park’s stunning Walled Garden has become a beloved community gathering place.

This month, they’re reuniting Whitfield’s Chef Beth, who cut her teeth at Strip District standard Eleven, and Executive Chef Derek Stevens, who recently opened Union Standard in downtown Pittsburgh’s historic Union Trust building. Bon appétit.

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5. Carnegie Mellon University International Film Festival: March 23 — April 9

The Oscar’s may have just aired last week, but more must-see films are on the horizon thanks to Carnegie Mellon University’s International Film Festival.

Set to encourage and provoke contemporary conversations about race, sexuality, gender, and ethnicity through its theme, “Faces of Identity,” this annual festival remains one of Pittsburgh’s most interesting and exciting events.

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