Light up Night

The season begins with Light up Night which occurs in late November. That night, all the lights of the city are left on, in the office buildings, and stores. The city truly sparkles. And the evening ends with a fireworks display, a sure draw when it comes to Pittsburghers.
People flock to the point, and Mount Washington. Those with the money make reservations at the fancy restaurants that line Mt. Washington. Those who don't care to spend the big bucks, line the overlooks or crowd into Point State Park to see the fireworks.
Afterwards, there is a monumental traffic jam, as the crowds leave the city, and descend from Mt. Washington.
Here is the insider's tip: Make your reservations at the "Top of the Triangle" in the US Steel building. Park in the lot under the building, and get your ticket stamped at the restaurant. You don't need a window seat. When the fireworks begin, everyone goes to the window from where ever else they are. When the fireworks are ended, pay your tab up quick and take the first elevator to the garage, and get out of town! You'll beat the crowds through the Liberty Tubes by at least half an hour!.

North of the city is a county park, Hartwood Acres, which is the scene of many wonderful concerts and horse shows during the summer months. But for the month of December, it is resplendant with thousands and thousands of lights - animated and stationary displays, wrapped trees and tunnels, the main house outlined. This is the best light display in the area -- and we've seen them all!
The park opens at dark -- 6 pm. and admission is now up to $10 a car. On weekends and the days closest to Christmas, the lines can be incredible!
Insiders tip: There is a small bar about a mile from the park; go there for an early dinner - their portabello mushroom sandwiches are a real treat! and then hop in the car and head for the park right at 6. By the time you exit the park, you'll be driving past the waiting lines.

Unlike the others, which are drive through, you actually get out of your car and walk through the zoo lights. This is an added dimension, walking by the ambient light from the displays, listening to the excited shouts and laughter of the children. It is a magical kingdom.
Most of the animals are off in their sheds, sleeping, but several animal houses are open. The Elephant house, only for those of strong noses and constitution, the Underground zoo, interesting because the nocturnal animals are up and about, and the Children's Discovery Pavillion, where there are bats to watch and an underground glass tunnel through an enormous acquarium.
Admission is $3 and "Zoo Lights" is open from 5-9:30. Insiders tip -- this time, go late. Stop somewhere for a leisurely dinner, plan to arrive at the zoo around 7:30. The early bird families will be heading for home as you arrive.

The city of Brownsville, PA. is located about 45 minutes east of Pittburgh. Industry has fled Brownsville, the coal mines closed, it is a depressed area. A majority of the stores are closed. The residents are going to great effort to make it an attractive destination for Pittsburghers. Year round, there are several features that make a trip from Pittsburgh worthwhile. One is the Iron Bridge, which was the first cast iron bridge contstructed on this continent. Unfortunately, it is covered by the main road and several buildings that have been built over the stream it crosses, but if you walk through the park beside it, you can get a glimpse of it peeking out from under the modern bridge. For a small piece of history, it is worth doing!
The other feature that makes Brownsville famous is "Nemacolin Castle" which is the mansion of Jacob Bowman, one of the founding fathers of Brownsville and certainly its most famous. The mansion was built in 3 stages; the original being the trading post by which Mr. Bowman made his fortune. A colonial section was added and then, even later, a Victorian section.
On the weekend after Thanksgiving, Nemacolin Castle, as Bowman's mansion is called, offers candle light tours. Each room is decorated for the season, each room by a different local organization or florist. They are beautiful! And in each room, a docent in authentic attire, ready to tell you more about the Bowman family history and the artifacts in the room.
The streets are lined with luminaria. There is a Santa parade. We felt a need to miss the parade, and took a parallel street out of town, ending up at the Thompson House, an elegant restaurant on the outskirts of the city and a real find! The setting was lovely, the food elegant and the price moderate. .

Every year the Carnegie Museum places 6 large trees in "Architectural Hall" - a huge room normally filled with plaster reproductions of famous architecture. These trees are decorated to a common theme - one year it was "Christmas around the world", another year the theme was "cities". The decorations are usually hand made, and imaginative. Children love this room. During the Christmas season, this is also the setting for performances by local musical groups at 12:30 each day.
This room is also the setting for the Neopolitan Presepio, one of the largest miniature Nativity scenes, with over 100 figures created between 1700 and 1830.

Every trip downtown brings a wonderment of trees. Some years there is a giant tree in the U.S. Steel Plaza, which is made up of many many normal sized trees placed in a steel frame. For scale, look at the walking person just to the right of the tree. It is truly gigantic!
Another large and beautiful tree is found in the lobby of Heinz Hall. It is pictured at the top of this page. It is easiest to see if you are attending one of the concerts there, but if not, you might cajole the guard to let you take a peek!
At Oliver Center there are a series of trees displayed along the 2nd floor walkway, created by different decorators, which are imaginative (if impractical) and fun to look at. We also found a similar display at Crewser's in the strip district. With Crewser's set of trees you could vote for your favorite by slipping money into a hollow post by each tree. The post with the most determines the winner and all the money collected goes to a Children's charity.
A Pittsburgh Tradition is the tree that decorates Horne's Department Store. Even though the store closed and the building was sold for office space, the huge tree still appears every Christmas.

"The Spirits of Giving" is the name of a collection of life-size Santa models that are displayed during the month of December in the Wintergarten at PPG Place. Each Santa is accompanied by a beautiful oil painting depicting that Santa in his native setting, and a placard explaining who he is. There has been an effort to include all the world's peoples, and those who do not celebrate Christmas are represented by similar folk creatures.
America is represented by our current Santa Claus, and by a victorian Santa in long, velvet robe and with a wreath on his head. Great Britain's "Father Christmas", Germany's "St. Nicholas", and "St. Nicholas" from the Netherlands, and France's "Pere Noel" are also represented. Chinese children are visited by the "Christmas Old Man". For Poland we see the "Star Man", for Russia, Grandfather Frost. "Julesrenn" (the gift bringer) from Norway, resembles Grandfather Frost closely. Latin America's Santa is called "Viejo Pascero". The Carribbean is represented by a Haitian Woman carrying a basket of fruits and gifts on her head. And "La Befana" comes down Italian chimneys on Epiphany Eve with gifts for good children, and a lump of coal for those who have been naughty.
The past few years, the Pittsburgh model society has been displaying Christmas scenes in miniature cases, that are a real marvel to behold.

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In Pitt's Cathedral of Learning in Oakland are a series of Nationality Rooms. These represent the best of the many national groups that make up Pittsburgh's population, and are decorated especially for the holidays. There are taped tours, or you can just wander through them by yourself.
Pictured here is the Chinese Nationality Room.
While in the Oakland area, you can also take in the Seasonal Show at the Phipps conservatory, which is only a short walk away.

Another Pittsburgh Christmas tradition is the Miniature Railroad set up at the Science Museum. It grows in size and complexity each year; this year we were treated to the addition of a model steel mill as part of the layout. There is always an amusement park, a small town (sometimes with parade) and farmland. Other local industries are shown -- a saw mill, a brick makers, a limestone quarry. A river, with moving boats. A hot air balloon and kite flying add to the magic.
Admission to the Science Museum gets you into the Miniature Railroad. Insiders tip: If you live in the Pittsburgh area, a family membership to the Carnegie family of Museums is a real bargain. You have free admissions to the Carnegie Art, Natural History, and Science Museums, and the Warhol. And you'll find that with a membership, you will go more often. The more you go, the more you know! The Carnegies are a big part of our life.

This is another Pittsburgh tradition - an afternoon of shopping at the downtown department stores, capped by high tea at the William Penn. Relaxing in an elegant setting, listening to the soothing piano music, enjoying the several teas and small cakes offered. Reservations are definitely in order here and, while the William Penn is pricier than the other tea rooms in the area, it is definitely worth it!