The walls were thick grey stone and the [8] This sector is also home to the Schenley Farms Historic District and many mid-rise condominium and apartment buildings. 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. Rivers Casino. Get Pitt and Oakland news in your inbox, three times a week. Originally a family-owned Victorian-era soda fountain, this more than 120-year-old business was sold by its owners, the Park family, in 1932 following the end of Prohibition, thus making The Park House Pittsburgh's first licensed bar. The Pittsburgh landscape, and its neighborhoods, have certainly changed a lot over the years, with some of our very favorite shops and restaurants closing for good. Their ears rang from the distorted guitar riffs and gruff vocals of Joe Grushecky as his band then the Iron City Houserockers finished a blistering cover of Chuck Berrys School Days.. Bars & Clubs. The first national act to play the Decade was,a former member of the New York Dolls. Old Pittsburgh Nightclubs. The effort failed, the bar closed in 2014 and the site where it once stood now is a Chipotle restaurant. While Pitt and UPMC attract daytime traffic, employees of the institutions. Bars & Brewpubs . piece band called the Police who were getting airplay with their song Roxanne tore You could slide in and catch the band for the price of a couple cocktails. Since its formation, Oakwatch has noticed a decline in disruptions and house parties in recent years, based on reports from a September Oakwatch meeting. 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. cut their teeth. The Decade was legendary, he said. We had a really strong nighttime scene, but we didnt have a strong daytime scene, so that was a challenge, Petropoulos told the Reporter. The place was a disco in the late 70s before owner Johnny Zarra let the local band Carsickness play there in 1980. Nationally known punk and hardcore bands started filling the Bananas headlining spots. Since its construction in 1860, this building has been home to a brothel through 1937, a boarding house until 1979 and Tramps Restaurant through 1994, along with a few ghostly guests. So the next act that we had was The Ramones. The first national act to play the Decade was. John Elavsky, the owner of Hemingways Cafe since the mid-90s and a Pitt alum, has watched the decline of nightlife in Oakland that Patlakh laments. Dan Marino Field on Frazier Street was named in honor of its native son. The Banana survived until 1999. The Strip and South Side host some of the city's best nightclubs and bars, while the North Shore . The Ramones, David Johansen (aka Buster Poindexter).The Pretenders, Joe From Prohibition-style taverns and restored saloons to haunted watering holes, there's no shortage of unique and iconic buildings in which to toast to the city's backstory. Theres one or two bars, theres no movie theatre theres nothing.. Jackson, The Romantics and the bluesmancomedian ReverendBilly C. Wirtz. My preference was Graffiti, by far. The dance floors are always frenetic with colored lights. Theres one or two bars, theres no movie theatre theres nothing., The change in students isnt limited to the booze, said. It was one night out of more than two decades of a thriving music scene in Oakland that brought in a diverse array artists, such as Bruce Springsteen and Black Flag. The Red Hot Chili Peppers played there in 1988 and Nirvana played the venue in September 1991 only six days after the release of Nevermind. //-->. The first floor bar of the hotel was the hang out of baseball hall of fame member Honus Wagner and the Pittsburgh Pirate. Where to go? In 1868, Oakland Township, just two years after seceding from Pitt Township, was annexed to the City of Pittsburgh. This year, Citiparks will screen everything from Skyfall to Finding Nemo for free. That was where everybody went to go play first. For a unique moving-picture experience, check out Community Cinema, a monthly documentary series sponsored by WQED. Pittsburgh, PA 15219 DECADE ROCKS OUT, AFTER 22 YEARS -Scott Mervis Pittsburgh Post-Gazette August 22, 1995. Now in Squirrel Hill, she spends her time holding dinner parties with friends or going out dancing. Regulars recommend the golani and falafel, any beer off the always-rotating taps and, of course, the bar's free popcorn and peanuts. google_ad_height=600; . Photo by Laura Zurowski. Jam An up and coming three You'll receive your first newsletter soon! Some folks dress up in pastels and high-top shoes, but really, its all about the attitude. What are some of the Pittsburgh restaurants that are no longer open that you miss? In 1925, work began on what was then the world's tallest educational building, the 42-story Cathedral of Learning. I couldnt even remember what bands I would have seen there, Yander said, but he remembers most tried to be as close as they could get to Nirvana. The Decadewas the home base of GravelThe Iron City Houserockers, King Solomon, The Mystic Knights,Red Hot and google_ad_client="pub-8685855016547639"; google_color_border="FFFFFF"; Over the next five years Kresege booked a Created by our advertising software OpenX. You knew you could hang out and enjoy the good live music, Schneider said. section of Pittsburgh on the corner of Atwood and Sennott streets which became Carlow University and most of the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center can be found there. Lidia's Italy permanently shut down, after 20 years, in August of 2019. Located up a flight of rickety stairs in the Strand Building on Forbes Avenue, for more than 20 years the place with all-black walls and large mirrors was where people went to drink and dance to alternative music. Henry Rollins still sends us Christmas cards, Zarra said. We liked the punk attitude, but it seemed so restrictive. October 24, 2013 / 6:00 AM began working with producer Brian Eno, they were not the polished superstar U2 that History. Graffitis rough, brick-covered, warehouse exterior contrasted with its spacious lounge interior. The somewhat dark, intriguing atmosphere with its view of the city's funicular railway is enough to draw you in but it's the fast bar service, classic saloon menu, happy hour specials and incredible seafood options like $1 oysters that have helped this unique bar maintain its excellent reputation among locals for decades. Like the true hidden gem that it is, the speakeasy is buried beneath the hotel's lobby, returning this refurbished space to its original 1920s location. Graffiti featured concerts by national groups just prior to their commercial breakthroughs, including two of the more popular rock bands of the 90s. RAND's Pittsburgh center is located in North Oakland as well as the long time RIDC business incubator on Henry Street. Grushecky noted a rivalry between the two scenes sparked by these differences. 20 Market St. West Oakland has six borders with the Pittsburgh neighborhoods of North Oakland to the northeast, Central Oakland to the southeast, South Oakland to the south and south-southeast, Bluff to the southwest, and the Crawford-Roberts and Terrace Village regions of the Hill District to the west and northwest, respectively. But we went over to Decade and jammed with the band that was playing, Grushecky said. The club survived for another seven years. The area got its name from the abundance of oak trees found on the farm of William Eichbaum, who settled there in 1840. Went to the VIP north in Hampton in the 80's great place to be on Sundays. I even brought Bruce Springsteen there one night during the height of the Born in the U.S.A. craziness. Now, regulars might come two or three times. Cruze Bar Night Clubs (3) Website Amenities: (412) 471-1400 1600 Smallman St Pittsburgh, PA 15222 OPEN NOW After booking a few cover bands, Zarra took a chance on a Pittsburgh punk group called Carsickness. feels Oaklands nightlife should match this new professional student body, along with the professionals at UPMC and Pitt. By the late 70s the Iron City Houserockers established a residency at the club playing two sets every Thursday night and a growing scene of musicians and bar regulars soon emerged. The Cathedral of Learning, the engineering or midsection of the University of Pittsburgh campus, and the Craig Street business district are in North Oakland. Despite the memories of a thriving nightlife, Petropoulos feels Oaklands nightlife should match this new professional student body, along with the professionals at UPMC and Pitt. Allow us to take you on a brief journey through our past. series of memorable shows that put the Decade on the national Rock and Roll map. Netflix has wrecked the rental industry, yet movie screenings are on the rise. sounds parachutes were hung across the ceiling. John Bon Jovi did the Decade on March, 1987 playing a 50 minute set with his friend the manful handful Norman Nardini. Nearly anyone can show a film these days, using only a laptop and projector. Its generations of blue-collarfamilies built much of the town's businesses, bars and restaurants from their very beginnings, growing them into true institutions and forever preserving the city's hardworking, steel city values. the place apart with a skillfully played energetic performance on March 20, 1979. Take an historic look at Pittsburgh through the bottom of your beer mug at these five bars and taverns that have grown into Pittsburgh institutions with their own tales and unique backgrounds. At Schenley Plaza, industrialist Andrew Carnegie built a library, museum and concert hall complex, which opened in 1895. I thought it might be interesting to rank these late local establishments by the imprint they left during their heyday. concert promoter Danny Kresege convinced Dom Disilvio to make the Decade a Pittsburgh, PA with 80s Night Clubs. It's definitely a college bar . Jay Yander, a 99 Pitt grad, often went to the two venues, which he remembers focused on local bands.. Pittsburgh is a steel town rich in industrial and immigration history. produce store, and a bar named Cumpies. Diesel Club Lounge doubles as a DJ mecca and live-music venue, and its still South Sides most virile independent venue. The name first appeared in 1839 in a local paper, Harris' Intelligencer. 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. Baseball fans might know Oakland for the beloved Forbes Field, which was built in 1909 as the third home to the Pittsburgh Pirates and first home to the Pittsburgh Steelers. / CBS Pittsburgh. The Decade nightclub was a staple of the neighborhood in the 1970s and 1980s.[16]. There was probably 30 people crammed in there, Grushecky said. Now, signs for craft beers like New Belgium and Troegs decorate Fuels walls, while Hemingways owner has branched out, selling more expensive craft beers for $7 or $8 each to match a millennial audience with more discerning tastes. After some reflection, DiSilvio relented on his Meat Loaf bar ban. The club also showcased and rewarded Pittsburghs best talent in its own Battle of the Bands competition called the Rock Challenge. Viewing his college stomping grounds from his shop in the South Side, Kramer feels wistful. Closing The parachutes on the ceiling were all the ambience that was needed. Monday came, and by the end of the night there was 2 feet of beer cans on the floor. The Decade guys were definitely better musicians not better artists, but players, he said. Oakland's University of Pittsburgh Medical Center pioneered modern organ transplant surgery (home of Dr. Thomas Starzl). (Photo Credit: KDKA) Sandcastle 1000 Sandcastle. Petropoulos takes great pride in Oaklands rise over the past years to the third largest commercial district in Pennsylvania behind Philadelphia and downtown Pittsburgh mostly on the strength of the neighborhoods daytime economy. Nicks Fat City, South Side It was more of a performing venue than a bar, but if the Rock N Roll Hall of Fame can admit James Taylor than I can admit Nicks. It also closed in July 2020. Smaller business districts in Central Oakland provide additional dining options along Atwood Street and Semple Street. Related: Best Historic Sites To See In Pittsburgh. Coordinates: .mw-parser-output .geo-default,.mw-parser-output .geo-dms,.mw-parser-output .geo-dec{display:inline}.mw-parser-output .geo-nondefault,.mw-parser-output .geo-multi-punct{display:none}.mw-parser-output .longitude,.mw-parser-output .latitude{white-space:nowrap}402628N 795725W / 40.441N 79.957W / 40.441; -79.957, This article is about the neighborhood in, Although adjacent to Oakland, these attractions are technically just within the official border of, Oakland Business Improvement District (OBID), Kimbo Art Gallery and International Jazz Hall of Fame (Pitt Union), Miller Gallery at Carnegie Mellon University, Nicholas Lochoff Cloister and University Arts Gallery (Pitt), Soldiers and Sailors National Military Museum and Memorial, University of Pittsburgh Varsity Marching Band, Henry Clay Frick Training School for Teachers, Pittsburgh Science and Technology Academy, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center Presbyterian, "PGHSNAP 2010 Raw Census Data by Neighborhood", "Muslims in Islamic Center of Pittsburgh demonstrate little-known facets of their faith", "Real estate plat-book of the city of Pittsburgh: from official records, private plans and actual surveys, Volume 1. 400 people. The Speakeasy. Its incarnations since have included a deli, lesbian bar, produce store, and a bar named Cumpies. Bruce and I went over to the Original [Hot Dog Shop] and people swarmed him. Grushecky remembered the exchange led to Meat Loafs quick exit from the Decade. You could be standing right next to somebody all decked out in Doc Martens and piercings, and Id be there all preppy, Mattiko said. That was the the best part. Her main observation from the years in Pitts shadow are simple. The Park House is located on East Ohio Street in the city's historic Deutschtown area. The tavern boasts 142 years of Pittsburgh history, countless photographs of Miss America pageant contestants, great drinks and gigantic fish sandwiches made from "Silver Dollar Louie" Americus' longstanding recipe. A Pittsburgh music promoter, Danny Kresge, convinced DiSilvio to start hosting national acts at the Decade. wanted to sit at one of the few tables, you had to get there early. It was maybe 8 feet wide, and Meat Loaf took up f**king half of it. Her work can be found at Examiner.com. North Oakland can be loosely defined as the area of Oakland between Neville and Bouquet Streets, encompassing all of Craig Street and running north to Polish Hill. 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. The Decade scored big booking a little-known guitarist out from Austin. I asked him if he would ever consider coming north. So we said, Whats next? So we went rock n roll, Zarra said. Gene's Place 3.9 (38 reviews) Dive Bars $Oakland Divey The Ramones rumbled into town for two shows on March 6th and 7th of 1979. We had clubs. Electric Banana, OaklandNo mention to historic Pittsburgh bars would be complete without mentioning the place on Bigelow Boulevard where punk rock flourished. Pat Benetar hit Pittsburgh with her best shot on November of that
