What’s going on this week in Pittsburgh, Dec. 12-18? Find out here. Visit each organization’s website and social media for Covid protocols. Know of a cool event? Email us.
Monday, Dec. 12: Patrick Radden Keefe at Carnegie Music Hall
7:30 p.m.
For its next Ten Evenings event, Pittsburgh Arts & Lectures welcomes acclaimed journalist and bestselling author Patrick Radden Keefe. In his fifth book, “Rogues: True Stories of Grifters, Killers, Rebels and Crooks,” Radden Keefe brings together 12 of his articles from The New Yorker — and they’re stories you’ll want to hear. Buy tickets.
Tuesday, Dec. 13: 50th Anniversary Celebration at Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh Squirrel Hill
10 a.m.-7 p.m.
Celebrate a major milestone for this community hub with free festivities for all ages at the library. Enjoy treats, activities, displays and giveaways throughout the day and learn about the programs and services offered.
Wednesday, Dec. 14: Rick Bach at Zynka Gallery
6-7:30 p.m.
With a twist on the artist talk — Bach Talks, What Will He Say? — tonight’s free event is part of the latest exhibition at the Sharpsburg gallery. Rick Bach, who’s now based in Washington, D.C., will discuss his Halftime at the Apocalypse exhibit, creative practice and inspirations, and anything else he feels like sharing. Bach has created a limited number of holiday works to sell just for tonight.
Wednesday, Dec. 14: Regina Carter at August Wilson African American Cultural Center
7 p.m.
Next up to take the mic for the Uhuru Jazz Sessions is MacArthur Genius Award winner Regina Carter, who’s renowned for her virtuosic reinvention of the violin. Performing her new multimedia work, “Gone in a Phrase of Air,” the Grammy-nominated artist will explore the “power of music through the voice of the violin in a wide range of genres.” Buy tickets. For more live music, check out our December Concert Guide.
Wednesday, Dec. 14: Life in the Crick at North Park
7-8:30 p.m.
What critters lurk below the water’s surface and wiggle around rocks in our streams? Join aquatic ecologist and author Ryan Utz to explore the fascinating life found in North Park’s streams and the intricacies of our local ecosystem. Register for free.
Thursday, Dec. 15: Dining In The Dark at Revival on Lincoln
Various times
Take a break from preparing holiday meals to savor dinner in the tranquility of darkness. The dining phenomenon returns with a new secret menu and a live host to entertain you with games and challenges augmenting the sensory experience. So how does it work? You’ll enter a lit room accompanied by waiters and will be seated and blindfolded before dining. Your taste buds will thank you. Buy tickets.
Thursday, Dec. 15: Hi-fi-vibes: End of Year Celebration at the Mattress Factory
6-9 p.m.
Pre-game New Year’s Eve at one of the country’s most distinctive art museums. Wrap up 2022 on a “hi-fi” note with an evening of music by Pittsburgh DJs Mary Mack, Yadirtydaughter and Deesus, along with dancing, drinks and art activities. Tour Doreen Chan’s new exhibit, HalfDream: Another Room, and get dinner from the Hermes Food Truck. With a $5 ticket price, it’s the most affordable New Year’s party you’ll ever attend.
Thursday, Dec. 15: Holiday Listening Nights at the Joinery Hotel
7-9 p.m.
Celebrate the holiday season at Downtown’s newest boutique hotel. To spread cheer, the Joinery invites guests and locals alike to mingle for merrymaking in its chic lobby. Meet friends after work to sip signature cocktails and enjoy acoustic music by Pittsburgh musician Scott Riggle.
Friday, Dec. 16 & Saturday, Dec. 17: Holiday Cruises the Gateway Clipper Fleet
Various times
Don’t be a landlubber — hop aboard for maritime merry-making. Choose from seasonal excursions including the Holiday Sparkle Dinner Cruise & Tour, Santa Fun Cruise, Princess Holiday Ball Dinner Cruise & Tour, and the Holiday Captain’s Dinner Cruise & Tour, which include holiday buffets, festive DJs, kids’ activities and even an appearance by sailor Santa. View a schedule and buy tickets.
Friday, Dec. 16: C3 at Contemporary Craft’s BNY Mellon Satellite Gallery
Open until midnight
Downtown’s Steel Plaza T Station is being transformed into a public art gallery exploring the material culture of Black Pittsburgh. Artist and designer Tereneh Idia presents the C3 exhibition as the culmination of her nine-month Contemporary Craft residency focused on the history of cloth, culture and community within Black Pittsburgh. At 500 Grant St. — in the station’s lobby — visitors, commuters and residents alike will explore how Tereneh uses clothing to examine Black Pittsburgh, from West Africa in the 1400s to Pittsburgh in the year 3000. Featured are 15 new looks Tereneh created that are “representative of various people and moments throughout history and reflect how textiles play a role in the past, present and future of Black culture in Pittsburgh.”
Friday, Dec. 16: Youth Arts Council Winter Teen Night at The Andy Warhol Museum
5-7 p.m.
Calling all teens with a passion for the arts to the North Side. Connect with Pittsburgh peers for a night of art, music, dancing and food hosted by the museum’s Youth Arts Council. Participants will get a behind-the-scenes look at how the museum operates, explore Warhol’s life and career, and learn about free teen offerings. The free event is open to ages 13-18.
Friday, Dec. 16: 21+ Night: Solstice Party at Carnegie Science Center
6-10 p.m.
Party under the stars as the longest night of the year approaches. Discover the science behind the winter solstice as you sip spiked hot chocolate, check out the new Mars exhibit and peer through telescopes to stargaze. Watch a cosmic drag show hosted by Princess Jafar and beatbox artist Kidmental and belt out tunes during laser karaoke in the planetarium. No kids allowed. Buy tickets.
Friday, Dec. 16: Pittsburgh Sound + Image at Eberle Studios & Gallery
7:30 p.m.
Attending a film event called “It’s the End of the World” seems like a worthwhile way to mark the closing of another year. Pittsburgh Sound + Image presents a roster of “short films depicting apocalyptic events with celebratory verve” along with free refreshments. Watch obscure 16mm shorts on the 16th of the month, including Jack Smith’s banned underground classic from 1963, “Flaming Creatures.” Buy tickets.
Friday, Dec. 16-Sunday, Dec. 18: Chatham Baroque at St. Nicholas Church and Pittsburgh Theological Seminary
7:30 p.m.
Highlighting the talents of Andrew Fouts (violin), Patricia Halverson (viola da gamba) and Scott Pauley (theorbo, baroque guitar), this concert series includes holiday favorites and rare gems from Bach, Tartini and Marais. Concerts take place at Millvale’s St. Nicholas Church — home to Maxo Vanka’s breathtaking murals which attendees can tour before the performance — and Pittsburgh Theological Seminary in Highland Park. Buy tickets.
Friday, Dec. 16: Christmas in East Liberty at East Liberty Presbyterian Church
7:30 p.m.
A cherished East Liberty holiday tradition returns with a free production narrated by WQED’s Jim Cunningham. This year’s concert features the Brass Roots, ELPC Chancel Choir, organist and conductor Edward Alan Moore, organist Ethan LaPlaca, and conductor Daniel Nesta Curtis. Experience the magic live in the sanctuary or stream it from the comfort of your home via YouTube or Facebook.
Friday, Dec. 16-Sunday, Dec. 18: Amahl and the Night Visitors at New Hazlett Theater
7:30 p.m. & 3 p.m.
Inspired by the wonder of the season, Resonance Works presents a holiday tradition exploring hope, generosity, inclusion and community. Directed by Kelly Trumbull, the production features 10-year-old singing sensation and Latrobe resident, Victory Brinker, a finalist on “America’s Got Talent.” The cantata by Margaret Bonds and Langston Hughes honoring the African king Balthazar — “The Ballad of the Brown King” — features soloist Anqwenique Kinsel. The company’s 10th anniversary season also includes a world premiere of “Rededication” by Pittsburghers Nancy Galbraith and Sara Stock Mayo. Buy tickets.
Saturday, Dec. 17: I Made It! Market Last Minute Shopping at Factory 26
10 a.m.-6 p.m.
This holiday market arrives just in time for all the procrastinators who can finally conquer their gift lists. Popping up in a new spot in the Strip District’s 3 Crossings development, the fair features 80 local artists, crafters and purveyors.
Saturday, Dec. 17: Venture Outdoors Mindfulness Walk in Frick Park
12-1:30 p.m.
Give your well-being a much-needed winter boost by slowing down and spending time outdoors. Led by therapist Sara Feley, the 3-mile walk includes immersive mindfulness exercises through park trails. Buy tickets.
Saturday, Dec. 17: Sounds for the Season: SCALE Fellowship at Carnegie Museum of Art
2-3 p.m.
Stroll into the Hall of Architecture where musicians of the SCALE Fellowship will warm your heart with songs celebrating the season of gathering. Learn more about the program that provides artistic development for Black women in music. The performance is free with museum admission.
Saturday, Dec. 17: A Very Britsburgh Christmas Tea at Ruckus Coffee Gallery
2:30-4:30 p.m.
Fancy a cuppa tea? Take time during the holiday hustle and bustle to unwind. Don your most fabulous hat or fascinator and join Britsburgh for afternoon tea, British Yuletide traditions, a Christmas-themed quiz, and joyful caroling. Tickets.
Saturday, Dec. 17: Pittsburgh Plays Queen at Thunderbird Café & Music Hall
8 p.m.
Pittsburgh will rock you when the next edition of this semi-annual event pays tribute to one of the 20th century’s most influential bands. Presented by 102.5 WDVE & Helltown Brewing, the rock-a-thon features a rotating lineup of local musicians banding together to adapt and perform songs from the canon of Freddie Mercury and crew. Buy tickets. For more live music, check out our December Concert Guide.
Saturday, Dec. 17: Season’s Greetings Saturdays at the National Aviary
11 a.m.-3 p.m.
You have a few more chances to take flight this holiday season. Forget a partridge in a pear tree and join owls and parrots for winter-themed stories, then sing along to bird-y holiday carols. Meet jolly Kris Kringle, cozy up to lush tropical habitats and make festive crafts. Don’t forget to drop your letter in the North Pole-approved mailbox. Buy tickets.
Sunday, Dec. 18: Made & Found Holiday Market at Spirit
11 a.m.-5 p.m.
This smartly curated market arrives as a gift to 11th-hour shoppers. With 30 vendors, you can check out all the goods at your own pace and talk with makers and shop owners firsthand. From MCM home décor, letterpress cards and holistic products, to eco-fashions and small-batch ceramics, you’ll feel good about supporting sustainable small businesses.
Sunday, Dec.18: 25th Pastoral Anniversary Concert with Sean Jones at Kelly Strayhorn Theater
6 p.m.
A very special guest is helping to make this Mt. Ararat Baptist Church event even more memorable. Part of this year’s 25th pastoral anniversary of William H. Curtis, the celebration culminates with a concert featuring the reverend’s favorite jazz musician, Grammy-winning trumpeter Sean Jones. Buy tickets.