Nightlife: The Perfect Sports Bars for Super Bowl XLVI
Plus, find love at a happy hour, celebrate Fat Tuesday with cajun dancing and watch Katherine Heigel act sassy-witty-sexy.
The Wheelhouse photo by Rivers Casino
Super Bowl XLVI Pity Party
Feb 5
Even without the Steelers, the game goes on. If you’re hosting a Super Bowl party, by all means, stay in. But if you’re looking for the perfect Pittsburgh sports bar, the list is almost endless—from gritty neighborhood dives to hi-def, surround-sound meccas. Some current favorites include the Jerome Bettis Grille 36 (North Shore; jeromebettisgrille36.com) and Hough’s (Greenfield; houghspgh.com) with its gigantic projection screens and 200-plus brands of bottled beer. The Wheelhouse, located inside the Rivers Casino (North Shore; theriverscasino.com), also holds its own as a high-class black-and-gold venue. But almost any neighborhood pub will draw a packed crowd, and you’d do well to reserve a stool in advance.
Gatherings
Suppose you’re single, over the age of 40, and Valentine’s Day is the most depressing holiday of the year. You’re leery about the Internet, and clubs give you a headache. So how do you meet people in the dead of winter? Gatherings bills itself as “a relaxed way to meet new friends,” and you couldn’t find a more relaxing way than bowling or going to picnics, a group breakfast or an easygoing happy hour at Hofbräuhaus. Members meet up for comfortable, communal events — specifically geared toward middle-aged singles. The annual fee of $25 is a pittance compared to most dating services, and you can expect good company — Gatherings has hosted events for more than 10 years!
Cajun Dancing
Feb. 4
We can’t tell you what to do on Mardi Gras — although most Pittsburghers who celebrate Fat Tuesday end up in the South Side, roaming from bar to bar in search of Hurricane specials. But if you want to experience real Cajun culture, you should hear the music. Let Zydeco Dogz lead you to the dance floor at the Bulgarian-Macedonian National Education and Culture Center. Learn the basic steps for an hour, and then dance the night away. Don’t have a partner? No problem. Still anxious? There’s a cash bar. Laissez les bons temps rouler!
(449-451 W. 8th Ave., Homestead; instruction, 7:30 p.m.; live music, 8:30 p.m.; $8; grandbonrien.com)
One for the Money
Stephanie needs a job. But what can she do? All she’s ever done is sell lingerie in Trenton, N.J. So how about … bounty hunting? When One for the Money was first published in 1994, millions of readers fell in love with sassy-witty-sexy Stephanie Plum, and author Janet Evanovich was launched into stardom. Last year, Hollywood put Money on the big screen, and it still takes place in Jersey. But look for some familiar sights — this flick was made in Pittsburgh. Starring Katherine Heigl as Plum, Money was shot throughout the city, particularly in the North Side; the film even features the infamous Garden Theater. Since the movie should be hilarious, we’ll allow the Steel City to stand in for the Garden State. Just this once.
