11 Things to Do

11 things to do at home this week in Pittsburgh (5/19-5/25)

Restrictions have started to lift in our region as we enter the yellow phase of the COVID-19 pandemic. If you’re not sure you’re ready to get out there and dive back into the socially-distanced mix, we’ve still got some ideas for you to do around the house.

Whether you are looking to entertain your children or blow of some steam and relax, we’ve got 11 things you can do this week without leaving your neighborhood!

Harris Theater @ Home: Up From The Streets

You may not be able to travel to New Orleans for fun right now, but that doesn’t mean you can’t learn all about it’s eclectic culture! The Harris Theater presents an at home screening of the feature length documentary Up From The Streets. The film weaves archival and new performances by legends Louis Armstrong, Fats Domino, Allen Toussaint, and Dr John. The film has been nominated for best documentary feature at a number of independent film festivals, and now is your chance to check it out from the comfort of your home! You can access the film from May 15-29 at this link.

CLOse Ups: Cocktails & Conversations

Tony Award-winning actor and musician Michael Cerveris — who has starred in everything from “Fun Home” to “Sweeney Todd” to “Hedwig and the Angry Inch” is joining CLO Cabaret alum Tru Verret-Flemming to make your happy hour a lot more thought-provoking. This behind-the-scenes chat show is hosted by Pittsburgh CLO Producing Director, Mark Fleischer. Join in on the fun on Thursday at 5 p.m. on the Pittsburgh CLO’s Facebook page.

Inside The Scene: Digital Happy Hour

Another option for happy hour courtesy of the Pittsburgh Cultural trust, Inside The Scene is 4-part digital happy hour and insider look at the growing musical scene in Pittsburgh. Each episode will feature live performances and interviews with the city’s leading musicians. The guest for the first episode is Swampwalk, a soul-searching singer-songwriter born and raised in Pittsburgh, PA. Sign up now to get a free mocktail recipe! The show is on Wednesdays at 5 p.m.

PPT Playtime: The Rivals

The Pittsburgh Public Theater for Playtime at home! This online reading series is every Thursday and Friday at 7 p.m. This week the troupe is reading The Rivals (in two parts). This classic comedy of sophisticated silliness,
will put the audience in great high spirits in this cheeky adaptation by Steven Wilson, known to many as a writer, director, and teaching adjunct with Point Park University and Seton Hill University. Thursday will be part one, and Friday will continue with part two. Join in on the fun here! The series is free of charge, but the PPT does appreciate any and all donations.

Pittsburgh Ballet: Virtual Hip Hip Dance Class

Set to the funky beats of classic, old-school and fresh contemporary hip-hop music, this class could be just what you need to break up your quarantine monotony. Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre is now offering their community division classes for a pay-what-you-can price (minimum of $5). Join up this Thursday at 6:45 p.m. via Zoom! All participants must register here in order to receive the Zoom meeting link.

Aviary Education

The National Aviary knows it isn’t easy to keep your children entertained and educated at the same time, so they are providing a number of educational programs on their website. CyBIRD Learning is an online platform to help your family learn all about birds from the experts at the Aviary. Learn about topics ranging from birds and their habitats, the rain forest, and penguins. The 30-40 minute programs are available daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. You can find more information on how to sign up here.

Farm To Table PA: Dealing With Pests And Diseases

Farm To Table PA has teamed up with master gardener, author, and Emmy winner Doug Oster to bring you weekly gardening webinars. The one-hour sessions take place every Thursday from 4-5 p.m. and are only $20 per session. You can get a free session by signing up for the whole year.This week’s webinar topic is “Dealing with pests and diseases” and you can register here.

Lunch And Learn: Basics Of Bread

Don’t let making bread at home intimidate you! Join Mark Snyder from Phipps Conservatory live on Zoom
on Wednesday at 12:30 p.m. to learn the basics of making Irish Soda Bread at home. Single classes are $7 for members and $8 for nonmembers. Register for this half hour class here.

Carnegie Science Center’s Daily Activities

We're here to help you get through these weeks of social distancing!👍Stave off the quarantine blues with CSC's Three...

Posted by Carnegie Science Center on Friday, March 20, 2020

Even though the Carnegie Science Center is closed right now, they are providing great resources to keep your family educated and entertained! Each day they list a daily roundup of science-y things to read, watch, and do on their Facebook and Twitter pages. You can also find simple science experiments you can do from home on their Instagram page every day!

Phipps Virtual Story Time

If you are looking for a fun story time experience for your children, look no further than Phipps! Every Wednesday at 10:30 a.m. and 1 p.m. the Conservatory hosts a 15 minute story book reading. This week your younglings can practice reading left to right as a teacher reads Strega Nona by Tomie de Paola. After the reading there will be a group singing of “Old MacDonald.” Make sure to register for either reading before hand.

The Frick Museum Virtual Experience

Did you know you can explore the entire Frick Museum online right now? Now you do! The museum has posted a number of kids’ activities for children from early childhood through high school, including at home art projects. There are also some virtual events you can attend, such as Maker & Muse Curator’s Lecture on Wednesday, April 22nd at 7 p.m. The events are free, but make sure to register in advance if you plan to attend.