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Bottlerocket Social Hall
1226 Arlington Ave., Allentown. bottlerocketpgh.com
Revisit your childhood Pizza Hut when, on Jan. 7 at 7:30 p.m., Bottlerocket Social Hall screens Slice of Life: The American Dream. In Former Pizza Huts. The documentary offers “a contemporary portrait of America” as told through former Pizza Hut buildings, now transformed into “an LGBTQ+ church in Florida… a karaoke bar in Texas, [and] a cannabis dispensary in rural Colorado.” Film directors Matthew Salleh and Rose Tucker, founder of the Used To Be A Pizza Hut blog Mike Neilson, and Rick Sebak join for a Q&A after the movie. Tickets cost $10.
De Fer Coffee & Tea
725 Penn Ave., Downtown. defer.coffee
De Fer opens its fifth location in Downtown’s Cultural District on Wed., Jan. 8. After announcing the new spot in November, the specialty coffee shop will launch with support from the Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership’s Downtown Rent Abatement Program, according to a PDP press release. De Fer founder Matt Marietti said they are “absolutely thrilled to have a Downtown home where we can not only offer great food and drinks, but also to play a small role in Pittsburgh’s ongoing economic resurgence.”
Begun as a small-batch roastery in 2017, De Fer is employee-owned and operated, and also has locations in the Strip District, Troy Hill, the Pittsburgh Technology Center in South Oakland, and at Carnegie Mellon. The Downtown De Fer location will operate seven days a week on Mon.-Fri. from 7:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m., and Sat.-Sun. from 8 a.m.-3 p.m.
Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams
173 Bakery Square Blvd., East Liberty and 447 Cinema Dr., South Side. jenis.com
Jeni’s starts the new year on a health kick with the launch of a Green Smoothie flavor. A press release describes the new flavor as a “balance of sweet and zesty,” combining “a vibrant mix” of mango, banana, pineapple, and orange with a touch of spinach and a swirl of coconut ice cream. Green Smoothie will be available starting Thu., Jan. 9 at Jeni’s scoop shops in Pittsburgh.
Pittsburgh Restaurant Week
Multiple locations. pittsburghrestaurantweek.com
Experience “New Dishes for the New Year” during Pittsburgh Restaurant Week.
The latest event will, from Mon., Jan. 13-Sun., Jan. 19, roll out special menus at
restaurants across the region. Try a three-course meal featuring roasted lamb or fatteh at Khalil’s or a shrimp po boy and beignets at Muddy Waters Oyster Bar. Grand Concourse and The Melting Pot in Station Square, LeMont in Mt. Washington, and Mary’s Vine in Rankin also join with new dishes. View participating restaurants, browse menus, and book reservations online.
GO Laurel Highlands
Multiple locations. golaurelhighlands.com/pour-tour
Visit the Laurel Highlands this winter with a pour tour. Launching on Thu., Jan. 16, Pour Tour 5.0 invites Pittsburghers to sample local craft beers, wines, and spirits at more than 60 locations on a “trail” throughout scenic southwestern Pennsylvania. Beer tourists can request a Laurel Highlands Pour Tour Passport online, plan their itinerary, and collect stickers for collectibles and prizes. This year’s stops include two wineries, a brewery, and the Ridge Runner Distillery — which makes grape-based liquors including grappa and brandy — located near the seat of the historic Whiskey Rebellion.
One by Spork/Spork
5430 Penn Ave., Garfield. onebyspork.com
After temporarily closing in September, Spork reopened as a new concept, One by Spork, on Dec. 26. One by Spork offers an eight-course tasting menu led by chef Chris Frangiadis and is billed as “an ever-evolving culinary experience, designed to surprise and delight with each visit.” The current menu includes “welcome” bites, “dining experience” entrees, desserts, and drinks, and lists smoked bass charcoal tartelette, miso halibut, Wagyu beef, and maple-amazake ice cream. One by Spork is taking a holiday break and will reopen on Thu., Jan. 9 for reservations.
Bae Bae’s Kitchen
951 Liberty Ave., Downtown. baebaes.kitchen
Bae Bae’s Kitchen announced its impending closure after seven years. The Korean-inspired restaurant wrote on its Instagram that Jan. 3 marked the “last week of service.” After closing, Bae’s Bae’s said it will take time to “restructure and create something new for the community.”
Opened in 2017, the restaurant, run by husband-and-wife team Ashely Bae and Edward Lai, brought fast-casual Korean fare to Downtown and won Best Korean Food in Pittsburgh City Paper’s Best Of PGH Readers’ Poll.
Bae Bae’s Cafe, a 2020 extension of the restaurant that serves drinks and smaller bites, will remain open a few doors down, and catering services will continue.
Lawrenceville Distilling Co.
5410 Harrison St., Lawrenceville. lawrencevilledistilling.com
Lawrenceville Distilling will close its location on Harrison St. and relocate to Verona. “We hosted birthdays, wedding receptions, comedy, corporate events, cocktail classes, gin distilling experiences, burlesque, music, white elephant gift exchanges, and yoga just to name a few,” the distillery, which started in 2018, wrote in an Instagram announcement. “We owe everything to our customers who helped us get to where we are with your support, good vibes, friendship and humor.”
Lawrenceville Distilling will close with a two-day Fond Farewell Party from Fri., Jan. 24-Sat., Jan. 25 that includes “food, drinks, bands, and DJs.” The Verona location will open later this year.
This article appears in Jan 1-7, 2025.
