Here are some great ways to stay connected, participate in virtual events and explore Pittsburgh from home. Know about an interesting virtual event taking place in April? Email us here.
Friday, April 17: Women Business Leaders Breakfast
8-9 a.m.
Have a breakfast of champions when Chatham University’s Center for Women’s Entrepreneurship welcomes
Pack Up + Go Founder Lillian Rafson. During this Women Business Leaders Breakfast webinar, Rafson will discuss her experiences as the CEO of a travel business and how she’s continuing to grow and innovate during the unprecedented challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Friday, April 17: The Irishing of English Theatre: An Interactive Online Lecture Series
2-3 p.m.
Jumpstart your weekend with the inimitable Irish poet and playwright Oscar Wilde. During this free webinar, you’ll explore Wilde’s writing and thinking and the lasting impact that he has had on the development of English theater. Led by PICT Classic Theatre Artistic & Executive Director Alan Stanford, the sessions will be recorded and available to watch at your leisure after the event ends.
Friday, April 17: Fly By Light’s Peace and Positivity
4-5 p.m.
Get inspired by the art, ideas and activism of Washington D.C.-based hip-hop collective from Fly By Light during this virtual performance and discussion. You’ll hear about how these young artists are amplifying their creative voices and artistic talents to inspire social change, end violence and poverty and empower their own community. Hosted by One Common Unity and #TogetherWeRemember, the event is part of the Holocaust Center of Pittsburgh’s ongoing virtual events series honoring National Genocide Awareness Month.
Friday, April 17: Enjoy PlayTime with Pittsburgh Public Theater
7 p.m.
Every Friday night, make a standing date with Pittsburgh Public Theater Artistic Director Marya Sea Kaminski, who is bringing iconic plays right to your living room during live readings showcasing the work of prolific writers. Tonight’s reading is not to miss, because it will feature Henrik Ibsen’s “A Doll’s House.” This series is free, but donations are accepted to support guest artists and program costs.
Friday, April 17: A Little Friday Night Music with Duquesne University
7:30 p.m.
Classical music fans have more virtual offerings to take advantage of thanks to Duquesne University. On Friday nights, the university’s acclaimed Mary Pappert School of Music is releasing concerts showcasing student and faculty ensembles via its YouTube channel. Tonight’s production will feature three choirs performing music by legendary composers Ludwig van Beethoven, Felix Mendelssohn and Jules Massenet.
Friday, April 17 through Sunday, April 19: Carnegie Mellon’s Virtual Spring Carnival & Reunion Weekend
Various times
CMU’s signature Spring Carnival and Reunion Weekend is coming to you! Tartans around the world are coming together to produce a re-imagined, virtual experience capturing the best of this beloved annual tradition. There are so many ways to experience the innovation and creativity generated by the CMU community — from remote buggy races, meditation sessions, happy hours and live stream competitions, to talent showcases, lectures and performances. Check out the weekend-long schedule of activities here.
Saturday, April 18: Pittsburgh Service Staff Aid Living Room Concert
12 p.m.-12 a.m.
Some of the Burgh’s biggest names in music are coming together — virtually — to support local service staff workers. Your living room will become a live music venue where 60 regional and national acts will rock the mic for 12 hours straight, hoping to raise $20,000 for Pittsburgh’s community of service workers. Music will range from folk to rock to hip hop and more, with performances by Joe Grushecky, Donnie Iris, Melinda Colaizzi, Lyndsey Smith, Juan Vasquez and many others.
Saturday, April 18: In Bed by Ten In Bed by Ten Dance Party with Pittsburgh Vintage Mixer
6-9 p.m.
In Bed by Ten Dance Party and the Pittsburgh Vintage Mixer are teaming up to host this fab retro night. First, watch Rick Sebak’s WQED Nebby segment about the Pittsburgh Vintage Mixer, then join DJ MB will for a dance party in your living room. He’ll spin dance tunes from the 1960s and 1970s while the Pittsburgh Vintage Mixer shares image of favorite throwback outfits and highlights from past events. The $5 suggested donation will benefit Northside Food Pantry Advisors. And be sure to shop from the list of vendors who couldn’t attend the cancelled PGH Vintage Mixer.
Saturday, April 18: The Harris Theater @ Home presents Extra Ordinary
Various times
Netflix who? The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust has your movie night covered with its new Harris Theater @ Home series. That leftover Easter candy will pair well with the new Irish film, “Extra Ordinary,” which is available to rent through April 24. Viewers will be transported to Ireland to meet driving instructor Rose Dooley, who lives alone and possesses powerful paranormal abilities. Horror, comedy, the supernatural — and possibly even romance — will merge when Rose puts her highly sought after talents to work helping residents in her rural town.
Saturday, April 18 : City Theatre Company’s PerkUp PerKup Audio Play
Various times
What happens when a new face arrives at the “best coffee shop in Elkhorn, Wisconsin?” Find out during the newest play by award-winning Chicago-based writer Isaac Gomez. Directed by Marc Masterson, the special audio performance was recorded during the play’s final rehearsal. Additional virtual offerings include an exclusive interview with Gomez and a virtual tour of the production set.
Saturday, April 18: Knights of the Arcade
9 p.m.
Pour a stein of mead and gather ‘round for a virtual quest with Knights of the Arcade. Your lockdown his about to get the full-on Arcade Comedy Theater treatment with this evening of improv comedy, role-playing games, D&D exploits and more. Get ready to cheer on some wildly imaginative comic characters as they “battle giant sloths, goblins, the evil Shrunta Klops, their own personal demons and whatever the hell else our demented audience dreams up.”
Sunday, April 19: BodyRock!
8 a.m.
Sweat out your stress when Pittsburgh’s premier boutique fitness event goes virtual. Via the event website, participants will have access to cutting-edge workouts, meditations and health discussions led by Pittsburgh’s top fitness instructors. New this year is a mixed-format workout of body weight strength training and yoga taught by April Jackson and Kristen Boyer of Mecka Fitness. Returning favorites include classes with Kam Jamz, Zenergy, SWEAT PGH, Steel Revolution and Pure Barre. Attendees can also donate to Big Brothers Big Sisters during the event.
Sunday, April 19: Pittsburgh Earth Week Teach-In
1-4 p.m.
Spending so much time indoors can help us appreciate the outdoors even more. It’s been 50 years the first Earth Day was organized to the fight for clean water, land and air and these issues are urgent today. Pittsburgh’s first-ever virtual Earth Week kicks off with a teach-in featuring speakers, artists and musicians who will address the harm inflicted on marginalized and environmental justice communities. The afternoon is packed with events that will address housing, education, employment, pollution, the petrochemical industry and climate change. There will be music by Rising Appalachia, JasiriX and Etta Cox, family programing with Maya Write and Taiji Nelson and interactive panel discussions. Learn how to plant an urban garden, avoid single-use plastics and make your home energy-efficient. View a complete teach-in schedule here.
Sunday, April 19
Various times
Carnegie Museum of Art may be closed for now, but you can still tour its newest breathtaking exhibition. Titled On Contested Terrain, it’s the first major retrospective showcasing the acclaimed Vietnamese American photographer and MacArthur Foundation Fellow An-My Lê. Born during the Vietnam War, Lê spent 25 years recording the impact of the military on people, the landscape and cultural memory. Using a large format camera, Lê has immersed herself in the Appalachian forest with Vietnam War and Civil War re-enactors, traveled aboard U.S. aircraft carriers around the globe and participated in Iraq War training sessions in California. Don’t miss these epic images.
For more virtual events, go here. Know about an interesting virtual event taking place in April? Email us here.
Looking for things to do with kids? Read Keep the kids engaged and entertained with these hands-on activities and online videos.