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Barrel & Flow Fest celebrates Black brewers
Barrel & Flow Fest, a celebration of Black beermakers and culture, will take place Sept. 10-12 at SouthSide Works.
The event, formerly known as Fresh Fest, is a mix of in-person and online events. Attendees can expect one-of-a-kind beers and an assortment of art and entertainment on four stages. Headliners include Grammy-winning, funk-infused Ghost-Note and Benji, a multi-instrumentalist, rapper and singer-songwriter from Pittsburgh.
Friday’s kick-off event features conferences and symposia from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Greentree DoubleTree. All content will be live-streamed for Digi Flow, the festival’s digital component. Tickets go on sale July 10. A 16-pack of brews, representing 32 breweries, will be available for purchase through Tavour starting in August and shipped in time for Digi Flow.
VIPers will enjoy an exclusive collection of beer along with a catered lunch on Saturday at SouthSide Works and admission to Sunday’s Brewers Brunch at the Greentree DoubleTree from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
More than 150 beer, food and craft vendors will set up at SouthSide Works for the festival. Early bird admission starts at 3 p.m. and regular admission begins at 5 p.m. The event runs until 9 p.m.
Even after the festival is over, Barrel & Flow organizers will continue to keep Black arts on tap through their yearlong art + biz initiative, which pairs creators with small business owners. Also, look for an updated Barrel & Flow app, which will include an international Black brewery directory and marketplace.
Win a trip to Mexico
Jarritos Mexican soda and Pittsburgh-based Duolingo, the world’s largest language-learning app, are teaming up to give away free Spanish lessons and a trip to Mexico.
Anyone in the U.S. who is 18 and older with a valid passport can enter to win a free, three-month Duolingo Plus subscription and a four-night vacation for two to Mexico, including airfare, lodging and a travel stipend.
To enter:
- Follow both Duolingo and Jarritos on Instagram and, on either brand’s page, tag one friend who you’d want to join you on a Mexican excursion.
- Download the free Duolingo App.
- Go to this site to share your name, email, address, and Duolingo and Instagram handles.
The deadline to enter is July 20.
The companies will select 100 winners for the Duolingo Plus subscription and one contest entrant to win a trip south of the border to practice their new language skills.
Allegheny Commons Park gets a makeover
The first phase of the North Promenade Rehabilitation Project at Allegheny Commons Park on the North Side is complete and the Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy is ready to party. A community celebration and dedication ceremony will be held on July 20 at 6 p.m.
The event, which is free and open to the public, will include remarks from local leaders, live music, strolling performers, food vendors and activities for people of all ages.
The Pittsburgh Foundation offers artist grants
The Pittsburgh Foundation has launched Exposure: An Artists Program. Created in collaboration with The Opportunity Fund, it will provide approximately $395,000 to artists to pursue new ideas, opportunities and skills that are essential to the region’s cultural vitality.
Exposure will support artists working in all mediums, with preference given to those who identify as Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC), and artists working individually or in collectives. The program also includes three co-fellowships that place artists with established arts organizations to provide recommendations for addressing inequity and overcoming systems of oppression.
Applicants must attend a virtual information session on either July 20 or Aug. 12 before applying. The deadline for applying is 11:59 p.m. on Sept. 13, 2021. Funding decisions will be made by Nov. 30.
