www.omnihotels.com/FindAHotel/PittsburghWilliamPenn. The Frazier Street city steps in South Oakland. Top Nightlife in Pittsburgh: See reviews and photos of nightlife attractions in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania on Tripadvisor. Although they were not contemporaries, Warhol and Marino grew up on the same block with their former houses only a few doors apart. in Oaklandfor 22 yearswatching theirfavoritePittsburgh bandsand national rock acts. Long ago, people came to the site now known as Station Square to meet passengers arriving on the Pittsburgh & Lake Erie Railroad. of 1979. It definitely wasnt clean, and it wasnt a place where tenants bent over backward to locate to.. in Bridgeville; #1 Park Avenue in the South Hills; the Meanwhile, Film Kitchen is in full swing once again because of Pittsburgh Filmmakers and its volunteers. 22; 2001 on the North Side; 2002 in White Oak; the Disco Factory in Plum Boro; The V.I.P. Allow us to take you on a brief journey through our past. By 1860, there was considerable commercial development along Fifth Avenue. Thus the Mystic Knights were formed with ex Wild Cherry guitarist, The members changed over time and the band become known as "Warren King and the Mystic Knights of the Sea." For a unique moving-picture experience, check out Community Cinema, a monthly documentary series sponsored by WQED. The crowd was a rowdy mix of mill workers, college students, and young professionals who were there to blow off steam. He came to see us play that night with all his handlers and managers, plus the record company people, Grushecky said. Reach him at 412-334-4033 or Eric.Heyl@Patch.com. These Steps of Pittsburgh quickly connect pedestrians to public transportation and provide an easy way to travel through this densely populated area. Netflix has wrecked the rental industry, yet movie screenings are on the rise. So I said to Joe, Who the hell is this? And he says, This is Meat Loaf. I said, I dont give a sh*t if his name is fettuccine alfredo, I dont want him in my kitchen, DiSilvio said. Now, regulars might come two or three times. It features Live music, DJs & karaoke in a no-nonsense, arty space with pool tables & a full bar. Some of the most impressive architecture in Oakland is on Pitt's campus. Rivers Casino. international recording acts the Decade presented memorable shows with the Police, U2, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Lets briefly mourn the loss of Dreaming Ant, Pittsburghs most revered movie-rental store. Joe 2013 Pittsburgh Music History Year End Recap, Biggest stories of 2011 -- Pittsburgh Pop, Rock and Rap, Hear the Music of Pittsburgh on the Genre Pages via Spotify, Inaugural Pittsburgh Rock 'n Roll Hall of Fame Celebration 01/23/14, Pittsburgh Music History Celebrates Black History Month 2012, Scot Tady of Times Online on Pittsburgh Music History, Thanks to Readers of Pittsburgh Music History, Thanks to the Internet, Pittsburgh's music history plays on, The Beat: Andrew Druckenbrod and Scott Mervis Video on Pittsburgh Music History, Vote for the 2015 Pittsburgh Rock 'N Roll Legends Nominees, Calliope and the Smokey City Folk Festival, Sonny Pugar Memorial Music Smiles Program, Graffiti Showcase and Graffiti Rock Challenge. He started hiring everybody and he became like the Godfather of rock music. Petropoulos mentions spots like The Porch as ways to attract a more formal nightlife crowd. Tequila Cowboy is a bar and grill, but its self-proclaimed "revved-up nightlife" makes it more than a viable option for one of Pittsburgh's best nightclubs. The Electric Banana became the go-to destination for these young punk bands. DiSilvio personally convinced Stevie Ray Vaughan to play at his club after watching him perform live. One of the things were thinking about [at OBID] is what would it take to maybe see if we can get more destination, nighttime-type of establishments, Petropoulos said. Protect Your Home from Ticks with Yard Guard from Viking Pest, 1 Person Dead, Others Injured In 2 Pittsburgh-Area Shootings: Report, Here's How Many Guns Were Sold In Pennsylvania Last Month, What Kind Of Home Can $1.9 Million Buy In Pittsburgh? Even Bruce Springsteen stopped in after playing at the Civic Arena when Grushecky took him on a tour of Oakland. When they packed the place, Zarra began booking punk bands. In late 1978 Closing Schneider saw Graffiti as the most impressive of the Oakland clubs. Joe The curtain fell on the popular diner for the final time in October of 2019. Each section has a unique identity, and offers its own flavor of venues and housing. Pittsburgh, PA 15222 From 1991 until 2008, the Boardwalk was home to places such as Tequilia Willies, Club Champagne and the infamous Donzis, where people seemed to get shot on an almost weekly basis. Our marketing agency in Pittsburgh is ready to help right now! 8. Trace Pittsburgh's North Side history all the way back to 1889 and you'll discover the long-standing Park House Tavern. Since its formation, Oakwatch has noticed a decline in disruptions and house parties in recent years, based on reports from a September Oakwatch meeting. SkyWatch at Carnegie Science Center. The walls were thick grey stone and the It is also home of the main branch of the Carnegie Library, the Carnegie Museum, and Phipps Conservatory. Its fifth proprietor, Louis Grippo, has done an exceptional job preserving the tavern's past architecture and dcor, which helped earn The Original Oyster House its designation as an historic landmark by the Pittsburgh History and Landmarks Foundation. Kramer, a 80s Pitt alum, is also a former Oakland business owner. [Youre] rubbing two quarters together like, Im going to get wasted, Mattiko said. Jeff Usleman recalled seeing bands at the Oakland bar and catching the Springsteen cameo while attending Pitt in 1984. It was a party every Saturday night with the Houserockers. But he loved us and supported us, Grushecky said. 2023 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. One bar patron at the Decade that evening was singer Meat Loaf. Was that in the same building? Gandy Dancer Saloon Zarras distracted booking of the band ended up transforming the clubs direction. The club also showcased and rewarded Pittsburghs best talent in its own Battle of the Bands competition called the Rock Challenge. Some folks dress up in pastels and high-top shoes, but really, its all about the attitude. Electric Banana, OaklandNo mention to historic Pittsburgh bars would be complete without mentioning the place on Bigelow Boulevard where punk rock flourished. The Electric Banana featured more college students and unrehearsed distortion. 6. A nice spot. 1 2 127 Next Old Pittsburgh photos and stories | The Digs . We had bars. The Decade had two small rooms that were said to hold Central Oakland is bordered by Schenley Park, the Boulevard of the Allies, Fifth Avenue, and Halket Street. Old Pittsburgh Nightclubs. Oakland has long been considered Pittsburgh's university center. On a Saturday in October 1978, a crowd of Pitt students, steel mill workers and music enthusiasts packed the corner of Atwood and Sennott streets, jockeying for space in the Decade. We come back the next Thursday for our regular gig, and there was Meat Loafs poster up on the wall. 7. 20 Market St. Johanasen. While we might not be able to eat at those Pittsburgh restaurants well always love, well probably always remember the good times and the good food we had at are favorites. First published on October 24, 2013 / 6:00 AM. [11] The difference is largely because the area between Forbes Avenue and the Boulevard of the Allies houses many undergraduate students. The under 21 crowd packed the place every week to watch the Break-dance teams like the mid-town rockers. topped bar. The reigning champions of 80s nostalgia are Belvederes and Lava Lounge. Heinz Hall for the Performing Arts. When Walk Like an Egyptian Oakland is Pittsburgh's second most populated neighborhood with 22,210 residents, a majority of these residents being students. Pat Benetar hit Pittsburgh with her best shot on November of that If youve been around long enough (and this town isnt exactly full of transients), you either know many of them by name or were in some of them yourself back in your younger days when your back wasnt troubling you and you didnt have to get up so early for work. Its Main Business District runs along Forbes and Fifth Avenue, and contains a diversity of restaurants, retailers, and financial services. But the BBT hardly is the only local nightspot of notoriety that has had its final last last call over the years. Grushecky tied the prominence of Pittsburgh bands at the Decade to its mystique and relevance. 80s Night Clubs in Downtown on YP.com. It's the best of all worlds: dinner, drinks, and dancing. time with his family DiSilvio sold the Decade in 1995. topped bar. Related: Best Historic Sites To See In Pittsburgh. Whim may offer the most epic club-going experience, however. 530 william penn pl, pittsburgh, pa 15219, usa open: The fun doesn't stop in pittsburgh just because the sun goes down.. Concepts Little Red Corvette TC Restaurant Group from tcrestaurantgrp.com. Elavsky also credits the shift in nightlife to a smarter, more serious college crowd determined to finish in four years. Join the conversation in the comments! These three fostered local music in Oakland in a way that students and residents havent seen on such a large scale since the clubs closings. Graffitis rough, brick-covered, warehouse exterior contrasted with its spacious lounge interior. Originally opened in 1901, the railroad station is now part of the Pittsburgh History and Landmarks Foundation and home to the saloon aptly named after a slang term used for rail workers who maintained railway tracks. national acts appeared there was barely room to move or breath. Back outside Towers, as the cigarette smokes dissipates in the cool November air, Passerini thinks back on her two years of on-campus living. 4. Jackson sang his Is She Really Going Out with Him and Funny Papers" in April Influential bands from the era such as Sonic Youth, the Minutemen, Operation Ivy and Black Flag all played shows there. section of Pittsburgh on the corner of Atwood and Sennott streets which became year. 4. The Louisa Street city steps (with bike runnel) in West Oakland. Even if you've never eaten at NOLA on the Square, you certainly recognize it from the outside if you spend any time in downtown Pittsburgh and in Market Square, in particular, The popular New Orleans-themed restaurant brought a bit of Louisiana flare with its southern-inspired dishes. The place is now an IGA supermarket. There was probably 30 people crammed in there, Grushecky said. google_ad_client="pub-8685855016547639"; Wanting to spend more The fate of the building, and the crests of various Polish cities painted on the small wall of the bars parking lot, is unknown. While Pitt and UPMC attract daytime traffic, employees of the institutions might not always stay within Oakland as the sun sets and students come out. PITTSBURGH, PA - The Bloomfield Bridge Tavern shut its doors Saturday after a more than three-decade run, and thats sad. section of Pittsburgh on the corner of Atwood and Sennott streets which became / CBS Pittsburgh. Meat Loaf was, literally and figuratively, the biggest rock star in America. The Decade was the home base of Gravel The Iron City. Drew and her friends then content themselves with raging at house shows in Oakland basements or partying at friends homes habits that have drawn the ire of Pitt police and Oakland residents alike. Zen Social Club Night Clubs Website 23 YEARS IN BUSINESS (724) 766-4556 125 W Station Square Dr Pittsburgh, PA 15219 5. After booking a few cover bands, Zarra took a chance on a Pittsburgh punk group called Carsickness. The Decade was one of three clubs composing what was referred by some as Oaklands Bermuda Triangle, with locations the Electric Banana and Graffiti rounding out the group. The dance floors are always frenetic with colored lights. The Donnybrooks The El Capris The El Venos The Four Coins The Lettermen The Marcels The Skyliners The Stereos The Tammys The Tempos The Vogues Tommy Hunt Gospel Swan Silvertones Hip Hop &. The Decade nightclub was a staple of the neighborhood in the 1970s and 1980s. over the past 20 years, it has traded dive bars and longtime rock joints for corporate fast food and student housing, leaving alums longing for their college nights. Omni William Penn Hotel Speakeasy His shop, The Beehive, which he ran with business partner Steve Zumoff, served as a general hangout. Those Doc Marten-wearing feet could then walk a few blocks down to The Decade, a bar and concert venue, then The Next Decade, a rehashed version of the venue on Atwood Street. In addition, the Pittsburgh Bureau of Fire operates Fire Station No. Nearly anyone can show a film these days, using only a laptop and projector. John Bon Jovi did the Decade on March, 1987 playing a 50 minute set with his friend the manful handful Norman Nardini. Related: Best Haunted Bars In Pittsburgh Gandy. The refurbished Joncaire Street city steps (with bike runnel) in Central Oakland. Pat Benetar hit Pittsburgh with her best shot on November of that The first national act to play the Decade was. Pitt 96 grad Christine Mattiko would spend those reckless college nights at Calicos, a bar where Fuel and Fuddle is today. The Decades owner, Dominic DiSilvio, already stressed over managing the number of people crowding his bar, did not appreciate Meat Loafs engorged presence in the kitchen. Jessica Wasik lives in Pittsburgh where works as a full-time figure skating coach sharing her passion with todays generation of young skaters. Went to the VIP north in Hampton in the 80's great place to be on Sundays. It was maybe 8 feet wide, and Meat Loaf took up f**king half of it. music venue for local artists called the Next Decade. Because they would give a gig to anybody, he said. Since 2006, the space has been occupied by the much less tawdry Buckhead Saloon. In a 2013 article from the South Pittsburgh Reporter, however, she recalled that when the District was founded in 1999, its nightlife was a prime attraction, though at a cost to midday shoppers and prospective tenants. While Forbes Field was closed in 1970, some remnants of the ballpark still stand. . A parent herself, and a proud alum, Mattiko is content to let go of her memories though, if it means a thriving, more vibrant Oakland for her children. If you Its been the Garage Door Saloon for many years now, but in the hearts of many the place always will be the Decade. , however, she recalled that when the District was founded in 1999, its nightlife was a prime attraction, though at a cost to midday shoppers and prospective tenants. google_color_bg="FFFFFF"; The Ramones, David Johansen (aka Buster Poindexter).The Pretenders, Joe The Electric Banana on Bigelow Boulevard was the smallest of the three Oakland clubs and featured an Andy Warhol-style banana sign above the entrance. concert promoter Danny Kresege convinced Dom Disilvio to make the Decade a Greenfield sold the bar in 2015; its former regulars would be horrified to know the Pittsburgh Juice Company now serves organic artisanal cold-pressed juices there. Its incarnations since have included a deli, lesbian bar, produce store, and a bar named Cumpies. There was barely enough room to walk around the bar. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts. Oakland is the academic and healthcare center of Pittsburgh and one of the city's major cultural centers. Bruce Springsteen played there twice with his good buddy Joe Grushecky. Diesel Club Lounge doubles as a DJ mecca and live-music venue, and its still South Sides most virile independent venue. Each location is dark, smoky and weird-looking.