Septmber 16, 2024
Choose Your Own Adventure! (Formerly Night on the Town)
This year, we debut our most inclusive and accessible version of helping our conference attendees take in the best of the city. Nothing to register for in advance, no meeting points or schedules dictated for you. Just all the information you need to browse the menu and put together your perfect outing. In response to your feedback, we have created this flexible guide to helping you curate your own perfect “Night on the Town.”
Share your night on the town plans in the Whova conference app to help connect with other like-minded explorers.
Art and Culture
We know how important art is to all of you so we can’t wait for you to explore the Pittsburgh art scene—which includes everything from guerilla gardening to galleries!
Mattress Factory
The Mattress Factory is an artist-centered museum, international residency program and renowned producer and presenter of installation art.
509 Jacksonia St., Pittsburgh, PA 15212
Mon – Tue: CLOSED
Wed: 11AM – 8PM
Thu – Sun: 11AM – 6PM
The Mattress Factory is offering AATA2024 attendees complimentary admission Oct. 5 – 13!
Carnegie Museums
There’s no cultural organization in the world quite like Carnegie Museums of Pittsburgh. With a legacy of discovery and outreach dating back to 1895, it now includes four diverse museums: Carnegie Museum of Art, Carnegie Museum of Natural History, Carnegie Science Center, and The Andy Warhol Museum.
4400 Forbes Ave., Pittsburgh, PA
The Andy Warhol Museum
In celebration of its 30th anniversary, the Warhol presents KAWS + Warhol, the first exhibition to examine the dark themes present in the work of both artists. From skulls to car crashes, both artists deploy their signature bright colors and pop culture references while also presenting the lurid spectacle of death. The dark undercurrents in the work of KAWS and Warhol are magnified and brought into plain sight by presenting the two artists together for the first time.
This exhibit may not be family friendly.
117 Sandusky St., Pittsburgh, PA
Adult $25.00 Child $13.00
The Frick Museum
https://www.thefrickpittsburgh.org/
The Frick offers special exhibitions featuring art and artists from the Renaissance to the present.
The Pittsburgh Builds Bridges exhibit, an initiative by artist Ebtehal Badawi, promotes connection, inclusion, and compassion through community artmaking and conversation.
7227 Reynolds St., Pittsburgh, PA
Tuesday – Sunday, 10am – 5pm
August Wilson African American Cultural Center
August Wilson African American Cultural Center champions artists and programs that reflect universal issues of identity illuminated in the works of the 20th century’s greatest American dramatist and which still resonate today.
980 Liberty Ave., Pittsburgh, PA
Thurs. – Sunday, hours vary
City of Asylum Alphabet House Installation and Bookstore
https://cityofasylum.org/residencies/
The City of Asylum @ Alphabet City is a home for writers, readers, and neighbors that includes spaces for readings and performances, writing workshops and residencies, as well as a restaurant and a bookstore.
40 W. North Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA
Mon – Sun 12 to 6 pm
Randyland
Randyland’s origins can be traced back to Randy Gilson, a former homeless activist who arrived in Pittsburgh’s North Side in 1982. There, he immersed himself in guerrilla gardening, transforming vacant lots into vibrant gardens that added a touch of beauty to the community. Randyland remains a free and cherished tourist attraction, a testament to art, resilience, and the enduring spirit of community, drawing visitors from all corners of the world.
The entrance fee for this vibrant establishment is thoughtfully set at a reasonable $49.
Green Spaces
When the busy days of conference sessions have you ready to come up for air, make sure its fresh air by heading out to one of the local parks or green areas on our list of favorites below.
Point State Park
Right outside the front door of the hotel, cross the street and find yourself at Point State Park.
Pittsburgh is nearly surrounded by rivers – Allegheny to the north and on the south is the Monongahela. When they merge, the Ohio River begins, the largest river in the eastern United States. At this junction you’ll find Point State Park, a tribute to the history of this great area and a visual starting point of Meriwether Lewis’s journey beginning on August 31, 1803.
GPS Decimal Degrees: Lat. 40.4417 Long. -80.00719
Open Sunrise to Sunset
Photo: Creative Commons, 2.0; Brook Ward/Flickr
https://www.nps.gov/articles/000/point-state-park.htm
Frick Park
https://pittsburghparks.org/explore-your-parks/regional-parks/frick-park/
Frick Park is an ideal escape from the noise of the city. Known as Pittsburgh Woodland Park for its extensive trails throughout steep valleys and wooded slopes.
Although Henry Clay Frick bequeathed the original 151 acres to the city in 1919, the park did not open until 1927 after additional land had been acquired. Most recently, 106 acres were annexed to the park as part of the process that created the Summerset at Frick Park housing development and restored the Nine Mile Run stream valley. Today, Frick Park stretches from its northern borders in Point Breeze down to the Monongahela River.
Open Sunrise to Sunset
Schenley Park
https://pittsburghparks.org/explore-your-parks/regional-parks/schenley-park/
Visitors to Schenley Park can spend a morning at the remarkable Phipps Conservatory, enjoy lunch and a midday concert at the Schenley Park Café and Visitor Center, take a ride on the PNC carousel in Schenley Plaza, relax on Flagstaff Hill, play a round at the Bob O’Connor Golf Course, head to the Schenley Oval Sportsplex for ice skating or summer sports, or take a dip in the swimming pool.
And of course, the trails offer a refreshing and convenient escape from city noise and congestion.
Open Sunrise to Sunset
Music
Pittsburgh has a rich history of jazz, and a local music scene that includes several fun ways to combine dinner and a show. Check out some of the local favorites.
Con Alma
Inspired by the rich heritage of jazz in Pittsburgh, Con Alma, which means “with soul,” seeks to return jazz to its rightful place at the forefront of the local music scene while providing patrons with some of the best food and drinks the city has to offer.
613 Penn Ave., Pittsburgh PA
WEEKDAY HOURS: MON–THUR: 5 pm-12 am
WEEKEND HOURS: FRI-SAT: 5 pm-1 am; SUN: 4 – 9 pm
Howl at the Moon
https://www.howlatthemoon.com/pittsburgh/
Corporate club 125 7th Street, Pittsburgh, PA
Sports
Did you know that Pittsburgh was the site of the first professional football game? The region’s sports history also includes being dubbed the “City of Champions” in the 1970’s when the Pirates, Panthers, and Steelers won multiple championships. Explore that history, or catch a Pittsburgh Steelers game to see how vibrant sports are in Pittsburgh today.
The Roberto Clemente Museum
The Clemente Museum is housed in a historic firehouse in the revitalized Lawrenceville section of Pittsburgh. It showcases the world’s largest exhibited collection of baseball artifacts, works of art, literature, photographs, memorabilia, and related materials which focus on Roberto Clemente, his teammates, his personal life, and his humanitarian causes.
3339 Penn Ave., Pittsburgh, PA
Does not facilitate walk-in hours but operates guided tours only.
Western Pennsylvania Sports Museum
https://www.heinzhistorycenter.org
Tells the stories of Pittsburghers who became champions and champions who became Pittsburghers.
2nd and 3rd floors of Heinz History Center
Adults $20
Youth $11; children 5 and under FREE
Open 10-5 daily
Go to a Steelers Game!
https://www.steelers.com/schedule/
https://acrisurestadium.com/stadium/parking-directions/
The Steelers are playing the Cowbows at 8:20pm on Oct. 6!
Acrisure Stadium, 100 Art Rooney Ave., Pittsburgh, PA
Dancing
Belvederes
https://belvederesultradive.com/
Safe, queer space
4016 Butler St. Pittsburgh, PA, (412) 687-2555
The Goldmark
DJ owned and operated bar and lounge located in Pittsburgh’s Lawerenceville neighborhood.
4517 Butler St. Pittsburgh, PA
Open Wednesday – Saturday
Spirit Lodge
https://www.spiritpgh.com/#home-2
A two-level 10,000 square foot music venue, bar, and restaurant located in the Lawrenceville neighborhood of Pittsburgh with stages and bars on both floors.
Open only Fri and Sat evenings
242 51st Street, Pittsburgh
Cavo
Open every Friday and Saturday from 9:00pm -2:00am.
No cover on Fridays and a $5 cover on Saturdays, starting at 10:00pm. Books up fast, sometimes weeks in advance, so make a reservation.