Have Fun with Your Sweetheart
Impress your sweetie with a moonlight kayak trip, a hot-air balloon ride, a tour of the Strip District or one of these many other options.
Photo by Brad Truxell
PRAY AT THE ALTAR OF WARHOL ON GOOD FRIDAYS: The Andy Warhol Museum is one of the funkiest, coolest places in town, and, come Friday, you can enjoy the rock-star atmosphere for half off the price of admission. Each Friday, the Warhol stays open late and serves up a menagerie of live entertainment—from wild performance art to live music and rare films. Drawing talents from around the city and across the country, Good Fridays offer a regular smorgasbord of avant-garde action. What’s more: If you’re already cruising the Cultural District for a good vibe, the Warhol is just a hop across the bridge. 117 Sandusky St., North Side. Info: 412/837-8300, warhol.org
PADDLE UNDER A FULL MOON WITH KAYAK PITTSBURGH: Some might argue which location offers the best view of Pittsburgh. How about Team Waterfront. And the most unique way to view the skyline is definitely from a kayak—at night. As long as you’re not afraid of nocturnal river creatures (kidding, of course), a full-moon paddle with the Venture Outdoors crew is the best guided tour of the city. Starting at Kayak Pittsburgh downtown, paddlers depart from the north end of the Roberto Clemente Bridge when the full moon is high. Heading upstream toward Washington’s Landing at dusk, the round-trip adventure is a two-hour showcase of the city’s buildings and bridges. Sixth Street Bridge, downtown. Info: 412/969-9090, kayakpittsburgh.org
PUT TOGETHER A ROMANTIC DINNER FROM PENN MAC: We can all agree that the ability to cook a nice dinner increases a person’s desirability by at least 40 percent. And when you need to work that angle the easy way, the Pennsylvania Macaroni Co. (or Penn Mac) is there for you. Push your way through the crowds to get some expert advice on cheese to adorn delicious, fresh pasta. Peruse the vast array of jarred sauce, or grab some fresh tomatoes and veggies on your way out. But whatever you do, don’t forget a loaf of freshly baked bread—and hit up the nearby vendors for cannoli and flowers. 2010 Penn Ave., Strip District. Info: 800/223-5928, pennmac.com
FLOAT INTO THE SUNSET IN A HOT-AIR BALLOON: Looking for the ultimate room with a view? Charter a hot air balloon with Emerald Shazam, and ride “Greenie with the Dark Blue Stripe” into the sky with Roy Weil, whose 28 years of giving people balloon rides haven’t dimmed his enjoyment of the sheer delight on their faces. He launches from fields in Monroeville, Zelienople and Finleyville, but if your backyard is baseball-field-sized and power-line free, he’ll come to you. Weil flies weeknights June through August, just before sunset ($475, hour-long ride for two adults). In May and September, Weil can book same-day flights if the weather’s right for vivid memories, impressive pictures and a cool story to tell every time you see a hot air balloon. Info: 412/444-5131, pghballoon.com
EXPLORE NEW THEATRICAL FRONTIERS AT OFF THE WALL PRODUCTIONS: If you sort of like theater, you visit the Cultural District now and then. If you really like theater, your frontiers expand to Oakland and South Side. But if you truly know your stuff, you may have discovered a hidden gem in Washington, Pa.: Off the Wall Productions. The company has been producing challenging, highly relevant dramas and comedies in an intimate 66-seat theater since 2007. Make an evening trip out of it for the company’s season-four finale, Shining City, in May. The play is an acclaimed story about faith and sin set in Dublin, but seeing the theater is worth the trip alone. 147 N. Main St., Washington. Info: 724/873-3576, insideoffthewall.com
SADDLE UP WITH A MOONLIGHT RIDE AT ROLLING HILLS RANCH: Take a leisurely trot atop a noble steed. Then cuddle up by a fire with a catered barbecue dinner under the stars in the wide open expanse of … Bridgeville? Sure thing. Horse around with your honey during a moonlit trail ride at Rolling Hills Ranch, where they’ll offer guidance as you gallop along a tiki-torch-lit trail. Rolling Hills also offers rides for families—even during daylight hours. Moonlight rides are $50 per person. 677 Hickory Grade Road, South Fayette. Info: 412/221-9926, rolling-hills-ranch.com
SAMPLE A SMORGASBORD WITH THE STRIP DISTRICT MARKET TOUR: The Strip District is full of sights, but it’s also full of smells: Korean BBQ roasting on a grill, Pad Thai steaming from a plate or the salty scent of fish wafting from Wholey’s. If you can’t decide what to sample or want an insider’s opinion, consider the Strip District Market Tour. Clusters of foodies stroll the Strip and meet cooks of all cuisines and stripes. And for two hours, they explore a gamut of tastes and textures. While regular tours accommodate 10 people at a time, private groups can schedule a tour any weekday. Old St. Patrick’s Church courtyard, 1711 Liberty Ave., Strip District. Info: 800/979-3370, burghfoodtour.com
STAY PAST DARK & PRETEND YOU LIVE AT FALLINGWATER: Fallingwater is a must-see at any time of day, but its misty, modern mystique is amplified by the bold colors of a summer sunset. For the most intimate experience, skip the daytime crowd of families and architecture students and take a Saturday Sunset Tour of Fallingwater instead (May-Sept.; $100). Starting at 4:30 p.m., you and your sweetie can enjoy a guided tour of Frank Lloyd Wright’s masterwork as twilight begins to fall. When the light fades, stroll down a lantern-lit path to the meadow for hors d’oeuvres and watch the red sun sink behind the towering spruce trees as the home’s iconic waterfall splashes into the stream below. You’ll be smitten. 1491 Mill Run Road, Mill Run. Info: 724/329-8501, paconserve.org/fallingwater
JAZZ IT UP AT ANDYS WINE BAR: Andys—the bar at the downtown Fairmont—takes its name from its favorite native Andrews: Carnegie and Warhol. You can find a lot of things at Andys: an expansive interior, new takes on classic cocktails, amazing chocolate truffles—but it is perhaps best known for featuring the music of some of the best jazz vocalists and musicians that the city has to offer every Thursday, Friday and Saturday night. There’s no cover charge, so you can get yourself a nice glass of wine and a cheese plate to enjoy as you sink into a cushioned chair, close your eyes and take it in. 510 Market St., downtown. Info: 412/773-8884, andyswinebar.com
