Pittsburg, PA
Pittsburgh Has a 3-day Pickle Festival—and You Can Ride a Mechanical Pickle, Eat Pickled Cannoli, and Enter a Pickle Juice Drinking Contest
“Welcome to Pittsburgh, you jagoffs!”
That’s how I was greeted—playfully—on a sweltering Saturday in July by the emcee of the pickle brine drinking contest. Five words I’d certainly never heard strung together before. The event, part of Pittsburgh’s aptly named annual pickle festival, Picklesburgh, drew a large, spirited crowd. And judging by a show-of-hands prompted by the emcee, most had traveled from out of town just for the occasion. Suffice to say, these people take their pickles seriously.
As interest in bold flavors and gut health continues to rise, it’s no wonder that pickles are trendier than ever. And with its Heinz heritage and vibrant Easter European community, Pittsburgh is a natural home for the celebration.
Founded in 2015 to help activate downtown, Picklesburgh began in good fun. “It started as a cheeky, funny thing,” Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership CEO Jeremy Waldrup told Travel + Leisure. “And then it just kept going. Now, people come from near and far just for Picklesburgh.”
This year, marking its 10th anniversary, the festival welcomed more than 200,000 attendees. To accommodate the surge, organizers expanded its footprint, stretching it across downtown and spilling onto not one but two of the Sister Bridges spanning the Allegheny River—it’s largest and “most ambitious” layout yet.
My best friend (and Pittsburgh native) Eleanor and I kicked off our day in PPG Plaza, where contests like pickle brine drinking, pickle eating, and pickle bobbing contests took place. By 11:45 a.m., just 15 minutes before the festival officially resumed for its second day, the plaza was already buzzing. Lines snaked arounds stands and food trucks, hawking everything from pickle crab rangoons and bratwurst with pickle cabbage to pun-filled T-shirts.
We weaved through a sea of green-clad crowds and stumbled upon the festival’s newest attraction: a mechanical pickle. Most riders were thrown off within seconds, and not wanting to share their fate, we decided to watch from a safe distance and pass on this experience ourselves.
After browsing the Briny Bazaar, a marketplace of pickle- and Pittsburgh-themed arts and crafts, it was time to eat. We started with flavorful Mexican street pickles from Tako and a pickle-studded slice from Giovanni’s Pizza & Pasta. Then came the boldest bites: the “Meat Monster” from the Pittsburgh Irish Festival (a hot dog stuffed into a hollowed-out pickle and wrapped in bacon), a pickle cannoli from DiAnoia’s Eatery, and chocolate-covered pickles from Pickle Me Pete. I can’t say I’d go back for some of these, but they were undeniably fun to try.
Luckily, we unknowingly saved the best for last: the pickle eggrolls from Le’s Oriental, a longtime festival favorite, lived up to the hype. And against all odds, the pickled peachsicle milkshake from Burgatory—a burger-and-milkshake joint known for its inventive concoctions—was a creamy, refreshing, and just sweet enough.
As we made our way toward Picklesburgh’s signature giant Heinz pickle balloon, Jack Dougherty, Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership’s senior director of constituent services, summed up the festival’s energy. “This whole thing is kind of goofy, and that’s kind of the point of it,” he said.
That sentiment reflects Pittsburgh itself: a city that doesn’t take itself too seriously. It’s quirky, rooted in an eclectic history, and full embraces its oddities.
As Pittsburgh continues to rise as a travel and culinary destination, it’s never pretended to be anything it’s not—and Picklesburgh showcases that authenticity. One of the festival’s newer additions is Taste of Picklesburgh, a weeklong collaboration with local businesses offering pickle-themed specials.
In Love, a women-owned concept store in Market Square, a pickle-themed table stood proudly near the entrance, decked with ornaments, plushies, and other pickle trinkets made by local artisans. Co-founder Kelly Sanders told T+L that construction-related disruptions in the area had hurt business, but Picklesburgh, she said, “boosted traffic a ton.”
That seemed to be the case at every Taste of Picklesburgh-affiliated business we visited. At Space Bar, a buzzy new spot with futuristic decor and an inventive cocktail menu, the line stretched out the door by 5 p.m. As we entered, a woman on her way out whispered that we had to try the pickle “Red Dwarf” shot. The bar’s special festival menu, titled Picklesburgh in Orbit, also featured a pickle martini and the “Dill Void,” made with olive leaf liquor, clarified grapefruit, and dill.
We landed at a gas-giant-inspired table, sipping mocktails—mine, called Space Milk, came in a milk-carton-shaped glass and featured pandan leaf and acid-adjusted lime. There, we chatted with co-owner Elizabeth Menzel, who had relocated from L.A. to Pittsburgh with her partner before opening the bar in 2023. When I asked why, she smiled: “We thought, ‘This place is really weird.’ And we love weird.”
Our final stop was Alta Via, an upscale restaurant just steps from Space Bar, which general manager Jennifer Johnston said was “super busy all weekend long” thanks to the festival. The menu leans toward elevated classics—think lobster tagliatelle, seafood arabbiata, and ridiculously pillowy sourdough focaccia—but Taste of Picklesburgh gave the team an opportunity to play. Clearly, the experiment paid off: at the table next to us, all four diners ordered a second round of spicy pickled palomas.
I ended that day thoroughly satisfied, belly full of pickles (and tiramisu). By the time we returned to Market Square, the crowds had begun to thin, and vendors were starting to pack up for the third and final day of the festival.
I’ve been to Pittsburgh many time, but something about this visit stood out. Maybe it was the pickles. Maybe it was the people. Maybe it was my new “I’m kind of a big dill” T-shirt. Or maybe it was simply the undeniable charm of a Rust Belt city proudly leaning into everything that makes it different. As Waldrup put it best: “You can’t manufacture that.”
Read the original article on Travel & Leisure
PITTSBURGH — The Pittsburgh Pirates have had a strong showing so far in the Grapefruit League, but suffered a surprising defeat.
The Pirates lost 3-2 to the St. Louis Cardinals at LECOM Park in Bradenton, Fla., taking just their third defeat in Spring Training so far, dropping to 9-3 in the Grapefruit League.
Pittsburgh saw their five-game winning streak come to an end, but they are still level with the New York Yankees at the top of the Grapefruit League standings.
This game also came after the first off day for the Pirates on March 4 and a 7-1 win over Team Colombia in an exhibition at LECOM Park on March 3.
How the Pirates Fell to the Cardinals
Pirates right-handed pitcher Mitch Keller made his third start in the Grapefruit League and threw three scoreless innings, before giving up a solo home run to Cardinals third baseman Nolan Gorman on a slider down in the zone, putting the road team up 1-0 in the top of the fourth inning.
That represented the first run that Keller gave up all Spring Training and Pirates left-handed relief pitcher Derek Diamond came in for him after he gave up a single to Cardinals right fielder Jordan Walker.
Keller has just a 1.23 ERA over 7.1 innings for the Pirates in the Grapefruit League, a good start for the veteran on the starting rotation.
St. Louis loaded the bases against Pirates left-handed relief pitcher Evan Sisk in the top of the fifth inning with three walks, but Sisk struckout top prospect in shortstop JJ Wetherholt and forced Gorman into a double play to keep it a one-run game.
Pirates right-handed relief pitcher Chris Devenski gave up a run in the top of the sixth inning, as he walked second baseman Ramón Urías, who stole second base, then gave up a single to catcher Pedro Pagés, doubling the Cardinals’ lead at 2-0.
The Pirates tied the game up at 2-2 in the bottom of the sixth inning, as shortstop Alika Williams hit a two-run home run off of Cardinals left-handed pitcher Quinn Mathews.
Pirates right-handed relief pitcher Cam Sanders gave up the go-ahead run in the top of the eighth inning, hitting leadoff batter Joshua Baez with a pitch and then giving up a single to pinch-hitter Jimmy Crooks to make it 3-2.
Right fielder Ryan O’Hearn had a strong showing for the Pirates in the loss to the Cardinals with two hits in two at-bats. He is now slashing .462/.563/.769 for an OPS of 1.332 in six Grapefruit League games.
Outfielder Jhostynxon Garcia had a hit off the bench for the Pirates, as he is now slashing .533/.611/.733 for an OPS of 1.344 in seven games.
Make sure to visit Pirates OnSI for the latest news, updates, interviews and insight on the Pittsburgh Pirates!
Pittsburg, PA
As his polarizing Pitt career winds down, a banged-up Cam Corhen has saved his best for last
Along with the best football prospects the season has to offer, the NFL Draft promises to bring hundreds of thousands of visitors to Pittsburgh from April 23 to 25.
If the turnout approaches that of Detroit in 2023, those descending on the North Shore and Downtown could reach 700,000 over the three days. For reference, that’s more than 10 times Acrisure Stadium’s 68,400 seats, and more than double the city’s roughly 308,000 residents.
Where will they stay? How will they get around?
Event planners at VisitPittsburgh say the city is up to the task.
“They picked us out of several cities because we have the infrastructure,” said Perry Ivery, general manager of the Oaklander Hotel and board chair of VisitPittsburgh.
Last year, Wisconsin’s Green Bay comfortably accommodated a unique visitor count three times its 106,000 population, according to residents and local leaders.
Rooms Enough?
Ivery said there are some 26,000 hotel rooms across the Pittsburgh Metropolitan Statistical Area, the bulk of which are concentrated in and around Downtown.
Even if each room holds two to four people, the total still appears to fall short. But Ivery said many attendees will be locals, whether from Pittsburgh, surrounding counties or neighboring states within a day’s drive.
Plus, a high proportion of out-of-town guests could have Pittsburgh roots and a free bed to claim in a family home, he added.
There are also around 3,500 units available for short-term rental in and around Pittsburgh through platforms like Airbnb and VRBO.
“We’re all working together to make sure everybody has a great hospitality experience in the City of Pittsburgh,” Ivery said.
Infrastructure from roads to parking, and bus and light rail routes, will also feel the strain.
Strain on the Train?
Pittsburgh Regional Transit normally services around 100,000 riders on an average weekday, across its entire network. Spokesperson Adam Brandolph said the agency is prepared for the transit demands of what’s expected to be the biggest event the city has hosted.
“We’re confident that we’ll be able to meet the needs of visitors to the draft as well as daily riders,” he said, noting “no major closures or detours” are planned for the event other than the University Line project, which may see less construction during that week.
Brandolph said the agency is finalizing plans and intends to make more information public soon.
A spokesperson for VisitPittsburgh said a local committee is working with a range of stakeholders including transportation agencies, engineering partners and local government “to deliver a coordinated and comprehensive plan for the region.”
“This includes collaboration with public transit agencies on adjusted service plans, clearly marked detour routes, designated rideshare zones and proactive communication with residents, businesses and commuters,” said Alex Kenzakoski, communications director for VisitPittsburgh.
“Our shared goal is to minimize disruption, keep the region moving and make travel as predictable and seamless as possible for both fans and locals.”
Kenzakoski said details on road closures, transit adjustments and travel guidance will be made known ahead of the draft, and encouraged fans to download the NFL OnePass app for transportation information and updates.
Ivery said a successful draft week execution could line Pittsburgh up for future hosting prospects.
“There’re going to be folks that come in that have never been to Pittsburgh … This is a case to showcase our town, and our hotels,” he said.
“We’re friendly, we have grit, we’re very excited to showcase that we can do large-scale activities.”
This story first appeared in Pittsburgh’s Public Source. Read the original here.
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