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Cinderlands Beer Co.
Multiple locations. cinderlands.com
Nothing says love like beer. Cinderlands released a rosé beer, Love Potion No. 412, in collaboration with The Farmer’s Daughter Flowers. Brewed for “lovers, longers, and gal-entines alike,” the new sour beer pulls in rose hips, hibiscus for its “bright ruby hues,” orange blossom honey to add “citrusy floral sweetness,” and Citra hops for a deep punch color. Try it at Cinderlands’ Warehouse in the Strip District, Wexford Taproom, or Long Story Short in Lawrenceville.
Shaler North Hills Library
1822 Mt. Royal Blvd., Glenshaw. shalerlibrary.org
It’s soup season, and Shaler North Hills Library is looking for entries for its soup cook-off and “FUNdraiser.” Chefs can sign up to enter their best soup (hot or cold) by Fri., Feb. 14. To enter, stop at the library and pay a $10 entry fee or register and pay online.
Entries for the popular soup cook-off, tasting, and fundraiser, taking place Sun., March 2 at 1 p.m., are judged by People’s Choice voting and winners receive bragging rights. Guests also enjoy bread, “fun tasting and talking,” and building community while benefiting the library. Admission to the cook-off costs $15 for adults and $5 for kids 10 and under.
Valentine’s Day 2025
Still making Valentine’s plans? Enjoy these sweet treats and events for couples, friends, and foodies.
Pins Mechanical wants Pittsburghers to have a stress-free Valentine’s Day with budget-friendly games and discounted drinks. The adult arcade celebrates Feb. 14 with Fireball Friday, offering half-off Fireball whiskey until midnight. No reservations are required.
For Valentine’s Day weekend (Fri., Feb. 14 – Sat., Feb. 15), Inner Groove Brewing pairs beer with cupcakes. Reserve a spot ($26) online at the brewery’s taprooms in Allentown or Verona and sample four five-ounce beers and two cupcakes from Oakmont Bakery. You can also take home cupcakes and beer in a Cupid’s Carry Out Pre-order bundle ($28). Pre-orders include two 16-ounce cans of beer and two cupcakes for pick-up on Fri., Feb. 14 from 4-10 p.m. or Sat., Feb. 15 from 12-10 p.m.
If you can’t get enough beer and desserts, Strange Roots Brewery in New Kensington hosts a Sugar & Suds Valentine’s event. Join them on Sat., Feb. 15 at 11 a.m. for flights of four beers paired with three desserts from New Ken bakeries Sweet Tillies, Wildflower Bakery, and Evanly Bakes. Tickets cost $30.
For more even more sweets, Pane è Pronto crafts decadent treats, including specialty breads like pane al cioccolato, and vintage-style mini heart cakes in lemon, pink velvet, and gluten-free chocolate almond (each cake serves 2-4 people). The DiAnoia’s spinoff also brings back a favorite from last year: hand-dipped chocolate strawberries, available by the half or full dozen. Pre-order online for pick-up through Sun., Feb. 16.
East End Brewing Company
147 Julius St., Larimer. eastendbrewing.com
Good Wood, East End Brewing’s annual barrel-aged beer fest, returns with new offerings. Head to the brewery on Sat., Feb. 15 from 12-3 p.m. to sample all Pennsylvania-made selections from Brew Gentlemen, Eleventh Hour, Old Thunder, and others, along with a new barrel from Ponfeigh Distillery in Somerset. Digital tickets ($70) include access to the festival, unlimited taster pours in a full-size take-home glass, and “a couple slices of pizza to help soak it all up.”
Discovery x Heavy Metal Moonshine
discovery.com/shows/moonshiners-master-distiller
Pittsburgh loves to see itself on reality TV, and will soon add a spirit-making competition to our roster. Jason Bartolozzi, a Pittsburgh tattoo artist and moonshine expert, will compete on a new episode of Moonshiners: Master Distiller during the show’s seventh season.
Bartolozzi, a self-taught distiller for 15 years, will create a beverage using limited ingredients to win over a panel of judges. Winners may have their beverage produced and sold by the show’s sponsoring distillery. Crediting his late parents as his inspiration, Bartolozzi hopes to grow his Heavy Metal Moonshine brand, known for smoother blends like a “high demand” orange creamsicle flavor. According to a press release, viewers can also catch his distilling setup, which includes a 400-gallon submarine called “The Big Pickle” made with stainless steel from a former Heinz ketchup factory.
The episode featuring Bartolozzi premieres Tue., Feb. 18 on Discovery, Discovery GO, and HBO Max.
Turkish Cultural Center Pittsburgh
Multiple locations. facebook.com/TCCPenn
Ramadan, the ninth and holiest month of the Islamic calendar, begins at the end of February. Observed by Muslims worldwide as a month for prayer, reflection, and fostering community, Ramadan includes 30 days of fasting from dawn until dusk.
The Turkish Cultural Center of Pittsburgh invites the community to join home-based iftar dinners (the meal eaten after dusk). Through Thu., Feb. 20, Pittsburghers can RSVP online to join an iftar dinner at the home of a Turkish family and “celebrate our shared values while also promoting diversity and unity within our community.” Iftar meals will be held from Sat., March 1 through Fri., March 28 during Ramadan. For further information, email rsvp@cityofbridgesfoundation.org.
Strip District Terminal x Getblok Farms
2101 Smallman St., Strip District. stripdistrictterminal.com
Local produce will soon return to the Strip District with a new-age food locker. Aliquippa-based Getblok Farms announced the launch of a refrigerated, climate-controlled food locker nicknamed “The Veggie Vault” this month. Located at the 20th Street passageway within the Strip District Terminal — which once served as a tri-state produce distribution hub — the locker will allow Pittsburghers to place an order for locally grown vegetables, then schedule a pick-up from a refrigerated vault, similar to accessing an Amazon Locker.
Available veggies include lettuce, leafy greens, root vegetables, fresh herbs, and more. According to a Terminal press release, Getblok’s produce is sustainably grown through hydroponic farming, using 97% less water than traditional farming, and utilizes renewable wind energy. Follow Getblok Farms for updates.
Layne’s Chicken Fingers
5200 Baum Blvd., Bloomfield. layneschickenfingers.com
Tendie Talk is heating up again. Layne’s Chicken Fingers opened a third Pittsburgh location on Feb. 8, taking over the former Boston Market space in Bloomfield. The new restaurant follows locations in Oakland and the South Side Flats.
TribLive reported that Layne’s had been eyeing the spot as one of few drive-thru options in the East End. Additionally, Layne’s — based in Texas and known for its breaded chicken fingers, Texas toast, and secret sauce — aims to open two more Pittsburgh-area restaurants by the end of 2025, bringing the total to six. Targeted areas include Cranberry, Bethel Park, and Greensburg.
This article appears in Feb 5-11, 2025.
