Hit the Street: Market Square
During the December holidays, you don’t have to stray far from Market Square for a perfect Pittsburgh evening.
Photo by Dave DiCello
1. Visit the Peoples Gas Holiday Market, which turned Market Square into a mini Christmas village for the first time last year. Shop local vendors — the space will feature more than 20 booths — or stop and visit Santa. Local and ethnic music groups and entertainment will be featured as well.
2. After you’ve picked up ornaments or hand-crafted goods, head to The Rink at PPG Place for ice skating around the 65-foot Christmas tree. It’s worth it to fight the crowds that gather this time of year to see those twinkling lights reflected in the windows of PPG Place.
3. Visit the lobby in the Fairmont Pittsburgh hotel to see “Garden of the Titans,” an unusual take on the Christmas tree made of salvaged wood from Polish Hill. The piece, created by local artist Matthew Clifford and the team at Forecast Design/Build, premiered last year.
4. Stop at NOLA on the Square to enjoy a meal of Creole and Cajun cuisine before venturing back out into the cold. Try the crispy fried alligator or frog legs as an appetizer, the seafood jambalaya for an entrée, and save room for beignets.
5. Close down the night with class next door with a glass of Champagne on the balcony — open even in the winter — of Perlé. Gaze down at the bustle below or out at the BNY Mellon Season of Lights, an eight-minute presentation choreographed to Christmas music. The show runs through Jan. 8 whenever live entertainment isn’t playing.
While You’re There
On Display: Walk to Wintergarden to see the Spirits of Giving Around the World display interspersed with gingerbread houses submitted by local schools and groups for prizes. You’ll spot beloved Pittsburgh landmarks made from sugary treats as well as an Eiffel Tower or two.
Dash Through the Snow: Take your family or special someone on a free horse-drawn carriage ride around town, available only on Saturdays. Tours depart from PPG Place and One Oxford Centre.
