Two Frays Brewery x Bike PGH
5113 Penn Ave., Garfield. twofraysbrewery.com

Bike Pittsburgh and Two Frays have teamed up on a spruce-infused winter beer. Be among the first to try the new bike beer (and learn its name) on Tue., Dec. 9, from 6-9 p.m. during a Beer Release Party at Two Frays. The free event includes giveaways, activities, and NA drinks. A portion of the proceeds benefits Bike Pittsburgh’s advocacy for safer infrastructure.

Holiday Cookies 2025

Last week, Pittsburgh City Paper brought you cold treats for the season, but don’t sleep on classic holiday cookies at swaps, walks, markets, and more.

Riverstone Books in McCandless relaunches its cookbook club with a Holiday Cookie Swap. On Thu., Dec. 11, from 6:30-8 p.m., bakers are invited to bring three dozen cookies to swap with other attendees, fill a take-home box, and vote for a Best-in-Show winner. RSVP online.

How about cookies with soup? Waverly Presbyterian Church in Braddock hosts its annual Cookie Walk and Soup Sale on Sat., Dec. 13, from 9:30-11:30 a.m. Snag a kid- or adult-sized box of homemade cookies, a quart of soup, or a soup flight, and enjoy a raffle and crafts for sale.

The Lawrenceville Cookie Tour returns Sat., Dec. 13-Sun., Dec. 14. The 28-year-old tradition offers free homemade cookies and snacks at 45 stops along Butler Street. Participants include Cork Harbour Pub, Mix Candle Co., the new Kinship Gifting shop, the Office of Pa. Rep. Lindsay Powell, and Pita My Shawarma (plus its recently opened wine and mezze bar). Shoppers can also vote on which treat should earn the Cookie Tour Cup.

A Cookie Mall and Pop-Up Market coincides with the Cookie Tour on Sat., Dec. 13, from 1-5 p.m. at the Estelle S. Campbell (Lawrenceville) Boys & Girls Club. Help support seven nonprofit groups during an event that offers free hot dogs, a market with more than 40 artisans and vintage vendors, caroling, pictures with Santa, and more. The Pop-Up Market will return for a second day on Sun., Dec. 14, from 12-4 p.m.

Polish Hill Civic Association
3060 Brereton St., Polish Hill. polishhillcivicassociation.org

Who says hot dogs are only for summer? The Polish Hill Civic Association celebrates the season on Fri., Dec. 12, from 6-9 p.m., with a Holiday Weenie Roast that features festive glizzies, a craft vendor market, tree toss, refreshments, tunes, and a Santa appearance. The organization is also accepting bake sale donations for the Weenie Roast.

Attack Theatre x Trace Brewing
212 45th St., Lawrenceville. attacktheatre.com

Attack Theatre mashes up dance, cheer, and craft beer at its Holiday Hops winter celebration. On Fri., Dec. 12 at 7:30 p.m., head to the dance company’s Lawrenceville studio for an all-ages cabaret-style event featuring a lighthearted “Holiday Unwrapped” performance (set to music ranging from classical to techno to klezmer), interactive games, craft beer from Trace Brewing, and other “surprises.” Tickets cost $45 for general admission, $25 for students, educators, and seniors, and $10 for kids 12 and under.

Grist House Craft Brewery
10 E. Sherman St., Millvale. gristhouse.com

Grist House promises to keep things extra merry and bright at its seventh annual Fire Fest. On Sat., Dec. 13 from 12-10 p.m., the Millvale brewery transforms into a “glowing, crackling celebration of craft beer and fire” with 10 custom indoor and outdoor fire pits and tabletop stoves. Those who “embrace the chill” enjoy a lineup of specialty stouts (including a Fire Fest Reserve) and hot cocktails, glassblowing demonstrations, and fire performances, along with the return of the “Gristmas” mystery gift tree. Fire Fest is free and open to the public. Guests are encouraged to dress warmly and arrive early.

7 Brew Coffee
5960 University Blvd., Moon Township. 7brew.com

7 Brew, an Arkansas-based drive-thru coffee stand with a legion of fans, opened its first Pittsburgh-area location on Dec. 8 in Moon Township. According to a company release, the new coffee stand near Robert Morris University features two drive-thru lanes and offers more than 20,000 drink combinations for a “completely customizable” coffee. 7 Brew also serves chillers, tea, infused “7 Energy” drinks, and sodas. The Moon Township location is the first in 7 Brew’s “growing Western Pennsylvania expansion,” with plans to open 80 locations by the end of next year.

7 Brew Coffee Credit: 7 Brew Drive-Thru Coffee

Creative Chem Co.
4618 Friendship Ave., Bloomfield. creativechemco.com

In Pittsburgh, Jeff Goldblum always finds a way. Creative Chem Co., a Bloomfield-based cafe and coworking space, opened on Dec. 1 and debuted its “Jeff Goldbloomfield” mural. According to Axios, Pittsburgh artist Jeremy Raymer painted the 10-by-18-foot Goldblum mural, which appears on the cafe’s first floor. Billed as the neighborhood’s first coworking club, Creative Chem Co. includes a retro public cafe serving Commonplace Coffee on its first floor, and rentable members-only studios, meeting rooms, and quiet booths on the second floor. The space is now open Mon.-Fri. from 7 a.m.-7 p.m. and Sat. from 9 a.m.- 5 p.m.

Food delivered from Carmi Soul Food: Carmi Rolls, shrimp and grits, and fish stew Credit: CP photo: Lisa Cunningham

Carmi Soul Food/Carmi Express
1912 Federal St., North Side. carmirestaurant.com

Carmi Soul Food Express announced it will close its final brick-and-mortar restaurant on Dec. 12.

“This decision comes with deep reflection, gratitude, and a heavy heart,” the North Side mainstay wrote on its Instagram page. “Carmi has always been more than a restaurant — it has been a place of family, comfort, celebration, and community.”

Owners Carleen and Michael King originally opened Carmi Soul Food on the North Side 13 years ago. The restaurant gained a reputation for its authentic Southern and soul food, including shrimp and grits and its famous mac and cheese, before moving its sit-down operations to the South Side in 2018. Carmi reopened its North Side location for “express takeout” during the pandemic, then closed its South Side restaurant in Jan. 2024, part of a strategy to “divest” from indoor dining and move to a take-out only model.

The closure announcement stated Carmi will continue its catering operations, special events, and pop-ups.

Kyle Schwarber Perfect for Pirates, Other Than One ReasonThe Pirates haven’t signed a free agent to a multi-year
contract since inking Ivan Nova to a two-year, $26-million deal in 2016. The
largest outlay the Pirates have ever made was the three-year, $39-million
contract given to left-hander Francisco Liriano in 2014.