Related: Best Haunted Bars In Pittsburgh Gandy. Their ears rang from the distorted guitar riffs and gruff vocals of Joe Grushecky as his band then the Iron City Houserockers finished a blistering cover of Chuck Berrys School Days.. Walk Like an Egyptian Went to the VIP north in Hampton in the 80's great place to be on Sundays. She did not mention any specific plans within the near future. You could slide in and catch the band for the price of a couple cocktails. Schenley Plazas transformation from a gray lot filled with cars to a bright green park with studious sunbathers in the mid-2000s comes to her mind. Lets take a stroll down Memory Lane today. Despite its reputation as one of Downtowns go-to destinations, Morris eventually encountered financial difficulties and Froggys closed in 2003. There was a bit of a competition between us, where the Electric Banana guys played the Banana and the Decade guys played the Decade. Belvederes Ultra Dive is a nightclub located in Butter street, Pittsburgh, United States. Pretty soon the Decade had seven nights a week of great live music, Grushecky said. The walls were thick grey stone and the A row of stools were lined against the street side wall. DiSilvio personally convinced Stevie Ray Vaughan to play at his club after watching him perform live. Closing Henry Rollins still sends us Christmas cards, Zarra said. Gandy Dancer Saloon My preference was Graffiti, by far. An up and coming three [7] The Islamic Center of Pittsburgh, the largest mosque in the city, is located in North Oakland. Jackson sang his Is She Really Going Out with Him and Funny Papers" in April Her main observation from the years in Pitts shadow are simple. Despite the memories of a thriving nightlife, Petropoulos feels Oaklands nightlife should match this new professional student body, along with the professionals at UPMC and Pitt. Hes not a rocker, hes an insomnia cure). Panther Hollow Inn, OaklandFor decades, this was one of the only bars within easy walking distance for Carnegie Mellon University students, an important consideration when snow is falling in January. I couldnt even remember what bands I would have seen there, Yander said, but he remembers most tried to be as close as they could get to Nirvana. To soak up the ricocheting Mc Kees Rocks (8 miles) Carnegie (8 miles) Homestead (8 miles) Glenshaw (11 miles) Braddock (12 miles) Bethel Park (13 miles) Petropoulos takes great pride in oakland's rise over the past years to the third largest commercial district in pennsylvania behind philadelphia and downtown . The bands gigged in the back room on a wide stage As ashowcase for rising Since its formation, Oakwatch has noticed a decline in disruptions and house parties in recent years, based on reports from a September Oakwatch meeting. The change in students isnt limited to the booze, said Brandon Smith, the 35-year-old co-owner of Fuel and Fuddle and a Pitt alum. Mario's Oakland Saloon. For the next few years it was a still a live 2013 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. google_ad_host="pub-6693688277674466"; WOODS throughout Pittsburghpopular with kids? produce store, and a bar named Cumpies. Her work can be found at Examiner.com. Pitt 96 grad Christine Mattiko would spend those. Pat Benetar hit Pittsburgh with her best shot on November of that google_color_link="000000"; Diesel Club Lounge doubles as a DJ mecca and live-music venue, and it's still South Side's most virile independent venue. We would go to each others shows, but we would also try and do shows with each other, Schneider said. dollar cover charge, grabbed a Rolling Rock or Iron, and listened to a set or 2023 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. Back outside Towers, as the cigarette smokes dissipates in the cool November air, Passerini thinks back on her two years of on-campus living. Morris died five years later; the bar space currently is vacant. It's definitely a college bar . 400 people. That support stretched to other musicians both locally and nationally as the clubs size grew. The Ramones, David Johansen (aka Buster Poindexter).The Pretenders, Joe I thought it might be interesting to rank these late local establishments by the imprint they left during their heyday. And she canceled. The somewhat dark, intriguing atmosphere with its view of the city's funicular railway is enough to draw you in but it's the fast bar service, classic saloon menu, happy hour specials and incredible seafood options like $1 oysters that have helped this unique bar maintain its excellent reputation among locals for decades. Blues vocalist. Even if you've never eaten at NOLA on the Square, you certainly recognize it from the outside if you spend any time in downtown Pittsburgh and in Market Square, in particular, The popular New Orleans-themed restaurant brought a bit of Louisiana flare with its southern-inspired dishes. ft venue holds up to 2,000 partiers along with five soft drink bars and an enormous dance floor, and is open every Friday and Saturday night from 7:30 p.m. to 1 a.m. Party to Top 40 hits and hip-hop tracks blasting at 75,000 watts under incredible lighting and visual effects and maybe enter one of the contests held every weekend We could accept the deaths of Blockbuster and Hollywood Video, but the end of Dreaming Ant is a rude awakening. 7. As it was before they We come back the next Thursday for our regular gig, and there was Meat Loafs poster up on the wall. Johanasen. [15] Oakland is also home to the university's French-Gothic revival Heinz Memorial Chapel and St. Paul Cathedral, the seat of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh. The Decade and Electric Banana bands rarely mixed, despite a shared hard-edged sound. You knew you could hang out and enjoy the good live music, Schneider said. Read on for the 5 best Pittsburgh nightlife spots geared toward those who aren't quite legal to drink, or who need a break from the bar scene. Heaven wasn't in a bank, it was actually in the lobby of the Fulton Building, which is now the hotel. piece band called the Police who were getting airplay with their song Roxanne tore Petropoulos mentions spots like The Porch as ways to attract a more formal nightlife crowd. South Oakland is reputed to be a student neighborhood, but only 36.9% of its population is between the ages of 18 and 24, compared to Central Oakland's figure of 74.1%. His shop, The Beehive, which he ran with business partner Steve Zumoff, served as a general hangout. 4. Brandon Smith, the 35-year-old co-owner of Fuel and Fuddle and a Pitt alum. It wasnt an attractive district. Influential bands from the era such as Sonic Youth, the Minutemen, Operation Ivy and Black Flag all played shows there. Long ago, people came to the site now known as Station Square to meet passengers arriving on the Pittsburgh & Lake Erie Railroad. Chauncys, South Side This Station Square landmark was the place to go to dance away the doldrums for more than 20 years -- until a judge pulled the plug on the music in 2004 and ordered the place closed after numerous complaints of assaults, drug dealing and gun activity at the nightclub. A Bloomfield staple for more than six decades, Alexander's Italian Bistro was. Discover the best bars, dance clubs, places for live music and more with our 10Best local expert's picks for the Best Nightlife in Pittsburgh. The under 21 crowd packed the place every week to watch the Break-dance teams like the mid-town rockers. From 1973 until he sold it in 1995, owner Dom DiSilvio made the Decade Pittsburgh's ultimate rock and roll bar. West Oakland has six borders with the Pittsburgh neighborhoods of North Oakland to the northeast, Central Oakland to the southeast, South Oakland to the south and south-southeast, Bluff to the southwest, and the Crawford-Roberts and Terrace Village regions of the Hill District to the west and northwest, respectively. While Oakland featured other music venues including the Syria Mosque, which housed mostly larger acts the three clubs in the Triangle spanned a similar era and contained much smaller capacity crowds watching less firmly established artists. google_ad_type="text_image"; of 1979. Netflix has wrecked the rental industry, yet movie screenings are on the rise. topped bar. Irish Rockers called U2 played the Decade on April 21, 1981. national acts appeared there was barely room to move or breath. Though Pittsburgh is no longer replete with dance clubs, surefire picks still exist. Its incarnations since have included a deli, lesbian bar, produce store, and a bar named Cumpies. college nights at Calicos, a bar where Fuel and Fuddle is today. national acts appeared there was barely room to move or breath. He came to see us play that night with all his handlers and managers, plus the record company people, Grushecky said. Jam Photo by Laura Zurowski. While some things have changed since Pittsburgh's oldest bar and restaurant first opened in 1870 such as its 10-cent beers and penny oysters, the iconic recipes, unmatched customer service and the building's original character remain unchanged. I saw him at a jazz fest in New Orleans. Monday came, and by the end of the night there was 2 feet of beer cans on the floor. Get more stories like this one delivered right to your email. Its Main Business District runs along Forbes and Fifth Avenue, and contains a diversity of restaurants, retailers, and financial services. When he started at Hemingways, Elavsky observed students who would spend five nights a week at the bar. One of the things were thinking about [at OBID] is what would it take to maybe see if we can get more destination, nighttime-type of establishments, Petropoulos said. google_color_border="FFFFFF"; The University of Pittsburgh, which is heir to the Pittsburgh Academy that was incorporated in 1787, relocated to Oakland in 1909 from its campus that was then in Allegheny. 11. Magee-Womens Hospital of UPMC and the Pittsburgh Technology Center are major landmarks of this neighborhood. Elavsky is also bemused that students have the cash for a microbrewed IPA, as well as an Uber to then hit the competition in the North Side, South Side or Lawrenceville, when he couldnt even afford a cab in college. The place was a disco in the late 70s before owner Johnny Zarra let the local band Carsickness play there in 1980. Electronic Dance Clubs in Pittsburgh. While it is commonly considered to be in South Oakland, it is actually the heart of Central Oakland. I was walking past the bar one night, and there was these two weird-looking dudes all dressed in black. Drew and her friends then content themselves with raging at house shows in Oakland basements or partying at friends homes habits that have drawn the ire of Pitt police and Oakland residents alike. Some residents of Central Oakland think of their neighborhood as being part of South Oakland. North Oakland also runs catty-corner (without a direct border) with Lower Lawrenceville to the north with its meeting point in the middle of the Bloomfield Bridge. Eric Heyl is Patch's Pittsburgh field editor. What's there now? [3] As of 2020, two of these public stairways, Joncaire Street (Central Oakland) and Louisa Street (West Oakland), also contain runnels which allow cyclists to easily transport a bike up or down the flight. A Pittsburgh music promoter, Danny Kresge, convinced DiSilvio to start hosting national acts at the Decade. 212 Boulevard of the Allies October 24, 2013 / 6:00 AM [11] The difference is largely because the area between Forbes Avenue and the Boulevard of the Allies houses many undergraduate students. North Oakland has eight borders with the Pittsburgh neighborhoods of Bloomfield to the northeast, Shadyside and Squirrel Hill North to the east, Central Oakland to the south, West Oakland to the southwest, the Terrace Village region of the Hill District to the west, the Upper Hill District to the northwest Polish Hill to the north-northwest. At the Decade, if you went a bit later, there wouldnt be a cover charge. Pirates fans gather on the site each year on the anniversary of Bill Mazeroski's World Series winning home run on October 13, 1960. After 22 years of Rock N Roll Dom wanted out. Take an historic look at Pittsburgh through the bottom of your beer mug at these five bars and taverns that have grown into Pittsburgh institutions with their own tales and unique backgrounds. Over its 20-year run, the Brazilian eatery featured a seafood and salad bar and a menu that left mouths watering. Nearly anyone can show a film these days, using only a laptop and projector. It is currently the Garage Door Saloon. 2013 Pittsburgh Music History Year End Recap, Biggest stories of 2011 -- Pittsburgh Pop, Rock and Rap, Hear the Music of Pittsburgh on the Genre Pages via Spotify, Inaugural Pittsburgh Rock 'n Roll Hall of Fame Celebration 01/23/14, Pittsburgh Music History Celebrates Black History Month 2012, Scot Tady of Times Online on Pittsburgh Music History, Thanks to Readers of Pittsburgh Music History, Thanks to the Internet, Pittsburgh's music history plays on, The Beat: Andrew Druckenbrod and Scott Mervis Video on Pittsburgh Music History, Vote for the 2015 Pittsburgh Rock 'N Roll Legends Nominees, Calliope and the Smokey City Folk Festival, Sonny Pugar Memorial Music Smiles Program, Graffiti Showcase and Graffiti Rock Challenge. bridges Civic Arena Downtown Pittsburgh football Forbes Field historic moments holidays industry music and musicians North Side Oakland oddities Photographer Darrell Sapp . The effort failed, the bar closed in 2014 and the site where it once stood now is a Chipotle restaurant. Bloomfield Bridge Tavern, BloomfieldIts painful to include this place on the list. Pittsburgh Pirates Spring Training Battles, PA To Consider Adopting Significant Police Protection Measures, Local Brand Advisor offers services in Pittsburgh. According to Scott Kramer, in the 1990s, Pitt students had a lot of ways to amuse themselves on Forbes Avenue. began working with producer Brian Eno, they were not the polished superstar U2 that The french Connection from the North hills area (Hampton-Shaler-west view) Some real good Break-Dance battles took place there! They brought in outside acts all the time, but still the local guys were the top dogs. Pittsburgh, PA 15222 After 22 years of Rock N Roll Dom wanted out. Bar Marco: Among Pittsburgh restaurants, this Strip District bar tops lists for its rotating menu, good service, and five-course meal in the reservations-only wine room.Order the "bartender's choice" for a customized cocktail based on your favorite spirit and flavors. Jam Jackson sang his Is She Really Going Out with Him and Funny Papers" in April Created by our advertising software OpenX. On a Saturday in October 1978, a crowd of Pitt students, steel mill workers and music enthusiasts packed the corner of Atwood and Sennott streets, jockeying for space in the Decade. The Pittsburgh landscape, and its neighborhoods, have certainly changed a lot over the years, with some of our very favorite shops and restaurants closing for good. Unfortunately, it became another victim of the pandemic, officially closing its doors for the final time on July 28, 2020, after celebrating a final bacon night. www.omnihotels.com/FindAHotel/PittsburghWilliamPenn. [Oakland] used to be an entertainment district, Kramer said, mentioning bowling alleys, cinemas, live theater and enough bars with names like CJ Barneys, Laga, Zeldas Greenhouse and Sanctuary to comfortably hop from pitcher to pitcher on a cool Pittsburgh night without ever getting chilly. Current business owners say the key to attracting students is offering higher quality products, even if the price tag goes up, but former business owners like Kramer say the cost of space near Pitts campus is still too high for many venues. On a stage the size of a postage stamp,then- up-and-coming acts such as U2, the Police, the Ramones, Jon Bon Jovi (pictured above) and the Red Hot Chili Peppers played. Graffiti featured concerts by national groups just prior to their commercial breakthroughs, including two of the more popular rock bands of the 90s. Pittsburgh needs such a club, and the Decade in Oakland is willing to help support such a concept". international recording acts the Decade presented memorable shows with the Police, U2, Stevie Ray Vaughan, The Louisa Street city steps (with bike runnel) in West Oakland. The bands gigged in the back room on a wide stage There is a lot of history between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Oakland Raiders dating all the way back to the 1970's. #tbt#PittsburghSteelers #Steelers #N. An up and coming three The club survived for another seven years. Like the true hidden gem that it is, the speakeasy is buried beneath the hotel's lobby, returning this refurbished space to its original 1920s location. The Decade was the antithesis of the Electric Banana. In late 1978 Those Doc Marten-wearing feet could then walk a few blocks down to The Decade, a bar and concert venue, then The Next Decade, a rehashed version of the venue on Atwood Street. Bruce and I went over to the Original [Hot Dog Shop] and people swarmed him. more. In response to the raucous partying, permanent Oakland residents formed Oakwatch a coalition of residents, business owners, city officials and landlords in 2011 to identify and monitor code violations and help residents, students and institutions in Oakland work together. Every Thursday, Calicos offered a deal Mattiko, or any money-starved college student, couldnt turn down nickel drafts. These three fostered local music in Oakland in a way that students and residents havent seen on such a large scale since the clubs closings. To order the clip clean and. Located up a flight of rickety stairs in the Strand Building on Forbes Avenue, for more than 20 years the place with all-black walls and large mirrors was where people went to drink and dance to alternative music. 530 william penn pl, pittsburgh, pa 15219, usa open: The fun doesn't stop in pittsburgh just because the sun goes down.. Concepts Little Red Corvette TC Restaurant Group from tcrestaurantgrp.com. What are some of the Pittsburgh restaurants that are no longer open that you miss? Be sure your next bar crawl makes a stop at Station Square's historic Pittsburgh and Lake Erie Railroad Station so you can drink up the history of Gandy Dancer Saloon. There was barely enough room to walk around the bar. This was the place where a number of local bands (anyone remember the Affordable Floors?) By 164turnera. (Photo Credit: KDKA) Sandcastle 1000 Sandcastle. We liked the punk attitude, but it seemed so restrictive. The Frazier Street city steps in South Oakland. music venue for local artists called the Next Decade. The Gandy Dancer Saloon is located next to Pittsburgh's Grand Concourse. concert promoter Danny Kresege convinced Dom Disilvio to make the Decade a Norman had opened for Bon Jovi at the Civic Arena earlier in the day. The Decade stood in the Oakland Officials bought another 100 acres from her for "Schenley Park." 6. The area between Forbes Avenue and Boulevard of the Allies is officially part of Central Oakland. Petropoulos mentions spots like The Porch as ways to attract a more formal nightlife crowd. google_ad_width=120; In an interview with the Post Gazette Danny Kresge said"In ohter cities, there are such clubs and the have proven quite successful. NOLA on the Square closed for good during the summer of 2020, another victim of the pandemic. Heinz Hall for the Performing Arts. The best hidden gems and little known destinations - straight to your inbox. One bar patron at the Decade that evening was singer Meat Loaf. The Best 10 Dive Bars near Oakland, Pittsburgh, PA Sort:Recommended Price Offers Delivery Offers Takeout 1. Famous national artists like Aerosmith and Bon Jovi visited the Decade after playing shows at larger venues in the city because of its reputation. The f**king place was bonkers there were lines around the block, Grushecky said. Went to the VIP north in Hampton in the 80's great place to be on Sundays. The following errors occurred with your submission.