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Beers of the Burgh
1100 Liberty Ave., Downtown. beersoftheburgh.com
If you’ve been fan-girling over The Pitt and Noah Wyle’s Beers of the Burgh hoodie, experience the real thing when the Spirits of the Burgh Festival returns. The “evening of libations and celebration,” in the Grand Hall at The Pennsylvanian on Sat., Feb. 22, from 6-9 p.m., features spirits and craft cocktails from regional distilleries. This year’s lineup includes Strip District favorites Big Spring Spirits, Maggie’s Farm Rum, and Wigle Whiskey, as well as Ponfeigh Distillery from Somerset, Altered State Distillery from Erie, and others. Enjoy beer, wine, cider, and nonalcoholic options, food truck fare, and ‘80s tunes from DJ Zombo. Tickets to the 21-and-over event cost $50.
The Capital Grille Pittsburgh
301 Fifth Ave., Downtown. thecapitalgrille.com
The groundhog was right, the cold is interminable. The Capital Grille warms up guests by reintroducing a hearty special for winter. For $40, the Wagyu and Wine experience invites Pittsburghers to pair a burger with Wagyu beef (prized for its tenderness) with a Duckhorn Portfolio red wine, rarely served by the glass. The handcrafted pairing will be available from Mon., Feb. 24 – Sun., April 13 in the Capital Grille lounge.
Burger selections include Capital Grille’s classic Wagyu cheeseburger, a Wagyu blue cheese and black truffle burger, and Wagyu with roasted wild mushroom and Swiss. Pair burgers with a glass of select Duckhorn merlot, cabernet sauvignon, or pinot noir. Each burger and wine pairing is served with duck-fat sea salt fries. Guests can substitute their fries for caviar and house-made chips for an additional $20. View the full pairing menu and book reservations online.
Penn Brewery x Sarris Candies
800 Vinial St., North Side. pennbrew.com
Pittsburgh’s oldest brewery partnered with the region’s favorite candy store to create a chocolatey peanut butter meltaway beer. Sarris Candies and Penn Brewery debuted a Peanut Butter Meltaway Chocolate Stout, described as “a decadent peanut-buttery chocolate brew for both beer and chocolate lovers alike,” for Valentine’s Day.
Sarris in Canonsburg and Penn Brewery sold out of the beer’s initial run, but it will be available through beer distributors and at Giant Eagle Market District stores later this month.
Bae Bae’s Bar and Supper Club
951 Liberty Ave., Downtown. baebaes.kitchen
After announcing its closure and “restructure” in January, Bae’s Bae’s Kitchen reopened on Feb. 14 as a late-night bar and restaurant. The popular Downtown Korean spot — now called Bae Bae’s Bar and Supper Club — posted on Instagram that its kitchen will now be open from 9 p.m.- 3 a.m. and will serve late-night bites and cocktails. The menu includes beef bulgogi sliders and Bae’s Bae’s famous fried chicken. Follow its Instagram page for updates.
Salem’s Market & Grill
1850 Centre Ave., Hill District. salemsmarketgrill.com
Salem’s Market is pausing operations at its location in the Hill District after opening one year ago.
A statement posted on Feb. 12 by the Urban Redevelopment Authority of Pittsburgh read, “In partnership with Salem’s Market and the City of Pittsburgh, we’ve learned that it’s not the right time for a full-service grocery store to be supported. We know community members are disappointed by the news of the store pausing its operations, and we share those feelings.”
First announced in Oct. 2021, Salem’s took over the location of a former Shop ‘n Save supermarket in the Centre Heldman Plaza, which closed in 2019. The closure had underscored the lack of food options in the predominantly Black neighborhood, which had been without a full-scale grocery store for nearly 30 years.
Salem’s, in partnership with URA, was chosen among four proposals to replace the former Shop ‘n Save. Its opening was met with optimism and praised by Pittsburgh Mayor Ed Gainey as “a game-changer.”
TribLive reported on reactions to Salem’s closure, which appeared to be abrupt. Residents and community members were “shocked and disappointed,” concerned about recent thefts, and said Salem’s departure underscores the need for greater community investment.
Salem’s operates another location in the Strip District, its second after opening more than 40 years ago in South Oakland.
Fresh International Market
7511 Thomas Blvd., Point Breeze. freshimarket.com
Point Breeze will gain a grocery store when Fresh International Market opens in the neighborhood’s new Rockwell Park development and “innovation district” in April. The grocery chain, described as an “authentic Asian grocer,” features fresh and global foods and imports products from 28 countries.
Pittsburgh Magazine reports that the new Fresh International Market is set to open in Rockwell Park’s 40,000-square-foot Apollo warehouse across from the East End Food Co-op. The Pittsburgh location will mark the chain’s first in Pennsylvania and 10th overall. The grocer opens just a few weeks after a new Aldi location on Penn Avenue, three blocks east.
This article appears in Feb 12-18, 2025.
