Budget Summer Activities in Pittsburgh

Da ‘Burgh has a summer full of entertainment for all tastes. The rivers provide many activities; the trails offer free exercise and entertainment; and the robust culture in town presents many affordable opportunities for arts and entertainment. This article sorts out the menu of choices for bringing the kids or going without them. I’ve included the neighborhood name for easier reference.

BRINGING THE KIDS

Pittsburgh is rated the fifth best place in the US to raise a family, according to Reader’s Digest.

Start at the Carnegie Science Center (North Side, 1 Allegheny Avenue, 412-237-4200), where you can try out how different earthquakes would have felt, attend a workshop on food science, enjoy the room-sized train display with little surprises all through the set, or check out the water creatures on the fifth floor. The Omnimax theater presents standard Omnimax films but also plays feature films in Omnimax format, so the audience is nearly surrounded by the movie. Admission is $14 for adults and $10 for children through age 12 and for seniors. Included is admission to Sportsworks – see below.

Sportsworks is across the street, so leave your car at the Science Center. Walk in and enjoy virtual roller coasters, a virtual bobsled ride, shadow volleyball (I always lose), golf and pitching a baseball in a cage where the machine tells you how well you did, and a balancing bicycle several feet in the air. Try the popular trampoline, climbing wall, or sprinting wall, where you compete with an Olympic athlete for the fastest sprint out of the blocks. See the website for both Carnegie Science Center and Sportsworks here: http://www.carnegiesciencecenter.org . Hours for both: Sunday-Friday, 10:00 to 5:00 and Saturday, 10:00 to 7:00. In August, the Science Center closes when the Steelers are playing a home game. You don’t want to deal with that traffic then, anyway.

The Pittsburgh Zoo and Aquarium (Highland Park, One Wild Place, 412-665-3640 ) offers a wonderful selection of over 4,000 animals in natural settings. The zoo is hilly, so bring the kids on a day that you want to wear them out a little, and be ready for the stroller traffic. Leave your cigarettes and balloons in the car, too. There is a Kids Kingdom section where kids can pet the animals and see special exhibits. I got to check out an alpaca on my last visit there. The aquarium is huge and even has penguins. Admission is $9 for adults, $8 for seniors, and $7 for kids aged 2 to 13 during the summertime. Hours seven days a week during the summer are 10:00 to 5:00 to get in, and you’re kicked out at 6:00. See the website, including the lecture on balloons, at http://www.pittsburghzoo.com/zoo.asp!SectionlD=1 .

If you and the kids are exhausted from all that hill climbing and animal-marveling at the zoo, head over to the Phipps Conservatory (Oakland, 1 Schenley Park, 412-622-6914), where the staff actually encourage your kids to look around. There is a section involving frogs and pulling levers to make water come out of different places that will keep the kids entertained, and the last time I was there, I was invited to taste star fruit. The Phipps also has a railroad set up, and the Conservatory’s interior is kept at a constant temperature. The plants load the place up with oxygen. Get lost in the different rooms, take a picture of the grumpiest person in your party in the cactus room, or check out the butterflies in the butterfly room. There are lots of lovely places there for a family picture. Visit the web page at http://www.phipps.conservatory.org/.

One more museum is the Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh (Allegheny Square, 10 Children’s Way, 412-322-5058). This museum is 80,000 square feet of space for children to explore hands on. They do have a special section for babies and toddlers. They do offer workshops and children’s birthday parties. I haven’t visited, myself. Admission is $8.00 for adults and $7.00 for seniors and children 2-18 years old. Discount Thursdays are $6.00. Hours are Monday through Saturday, 10:00 to 5:00, closed on a number of holidays. Go to their website to be annoyed by some chicken: http://www.pittsburghkids.org/ .

When the kids are fed up with museums and want to get outside on one of the few sunny days we have, take them to Frick Park or Schenley Park (both in Oakland), where you can smoke to your heart’s content while walking around outside, getting fresh air. Stop by either visitor center for a walking map and take a walk around. Schenley is very hilly, and I tried the trails using my bike only once. I will never do it again. The walkers and picnickers have a lovely time there, though, and entrance is free. Parking is metered in a lot of places and free if you look carefully. Both the Frick and Schenley Parks offer Weekly Walks in the Woods. Schenley has the Schenley Oval, with tennis courts, a running track, a soccer field, and what they call extreme Frisbee, involving running around on the side of a hill. Frick Park has easier bike riding, from what I hear, and a bowling green and children’s playground. Go to the Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy page for directions and more info: http://www.pittsburghparks.org/ .

When you are all hot and tired and want to be entertained, go to the Gateway Clipper Fleet (At Station Square, 412-355-7980). They have Goodship Lollipop tours in the afternoons, where the captain will narrate a tour of the river for you. Prices were, when I checked on May 21, $12.89 for adults and $9.22 for children. See the website for more information: http://www.gatewayclipper.com/.

Or, if you want to ride on land and then on the river, go on a Duck Tour (Station Square, meet near the Hard Rock CafÃ?©, 125 West Station Square Drive, 412-402-3825). You’ll get into an ugly vehicle that will drive around Pittsburgh with the driver narrating. Then you’ll spend part of the time in the river getting more tour. I haven’t been on one but those tour boat sure look small compared to the barges. Ride between 10:30 and 6:00 seven days a week. Price is $19.00 for adults and $15.00 for kids, $18.00 for students and seniors. If your child is under 2 years old, you’ll pay $5.00 for him or her. Website is http://www.justduckytours.com/ .

Well, that’s too much money, so I’ll also suggest Point State Park (downtown, near Stanwix Street). Walk around, visit the museum, or come on Wednesdays at lunchtime. Last year, there were Fishing Wednesdays where people rented out fishing gear and adults and children stood next to the river with their lines in, watching while the fish didn’t bite.

Or go to a Pirates baseball game (PNC Park, 115 Federal Street, 412-323-5000) The cheapest tickets you can buy to are $9.00. I’m not kidding you! Park for $5.00 at one of the downtown parking lots and walk across the Clemente Bridge (parking rates on the North Side look to start at $12.00). Buy your water from the vendors who are yelling “Water for a dollar! You’ll pay three in the park!” because they’re right and the Park allows you to bring wrapped food in (but your bag will be inspected). The Park has a kids’ section. Go to the website to find out when the home games are and to get revved up: http://pittsburgh.pirates.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/index.jsp?c_id=pit.

The Pittsburgh Three Rivers Regatta runs July 1 through 4 in 2006. This is a big boat race involving people jostling each other for a good view, children getting hot and screamy, vendors selling sugar and salt to make it worse, and a bunch of boats. Apparently 1.5 million people attend. It’s at Point State Park (Downtown).

The July 4 celebration downtown is also pretty good (Downtown, Point State Park). People wander around all evening buying sugar, salt and kielbasa from vendors and then crowd up on the Point to watch the fireworks over the river. Activities for the day begin at 1:00 pm so the kids can be dog tired and quite whiny by 9:40, when the fireworks go off. Plan to park long before that or bus in or get a taxi. Parking fills up pretty well and driving out of here afterward is a bear.

The Pittsburgh Vintage Grand Prix (Schenley Park) runs July 7 to 16 in 2006. Over 1,500 souped-up cars race around Schenley Park for a week. Races are free to spectators. Vroom vroom. Go to the club’s website for pictures: http://www.pittsburghvintagegrandprix.com/pvgp/site/default.asp.

NO KIDS

Even without the kids, these two activities are fun, so I will repeat them:

Go to a Pirates baseball game (PNC Park, 115 Federal Street, 412-323-5000) The cheapest tickets you can buy are $9.00. I’m not kidding you! Park for $5.00 at one of the downtown parking lots and walk across the Clemente Bridge (parking rates on the North Side look to start at $12.00). Buy your water from the vendors who are yelling “Water for a dollar! You’ll pay three in the park!” because they’re right and the Park allows you to bring wrapped food in (but your bag will be inspected). Take a tasting tour of all the different kinds of French fries. Go to the website to find out when the home games are and to get revved up: http://pittsburgh.pirates.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/index.jsp?c_id=pit.

To get outside on one of the few sunny days we have, go to Frick Park or Schenley Park (both in Oakland), where you can walk around outside, getting fresh air. Stop by either visitor center for a walking map. Schenley is very hilly, and I tried the trails using my bike only once. I will never do it again. The walkers and picnickers have a lovely time there, though, and entrance is free. Parking is metered in a lot of places and free if you look carefully. Both the Frick and Schenley Parks offer Weekly Walks in the Woods. Schenley has the Schenley Oval, with tennis courts, a running track, a soccer field, and what they call extreme Frisbee, involving running around on the side of a hill and doing something with these trash can looking things. Frick Park has easier bike riding, from what I hear, and a bowling green and children’s playground. Go to the Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy page for directions and more info: http://www.pittsburghparks.org/ .

Billiards are available in a slew of places, and maybe your favorite bar. I’m highlighting two that I especially like and that are convenient to get to. Check your Entertainment Book or whatever coupon book you bought for coupons.

Shootz Caf�© and Billiards (Southside, 2305 East Carson St, 412-488-8261) Eighteen pool tables and 10 beers on tap. The website suggests that weekend nights are for the more social set. They say they also have poker tournaments and foosball. They have a website: http://www.shootzcafe.com/ . The weekly specials I read included free pool from 10:00 pm to midnight on Saturday night, so check the website before making plans.

Dave ‘N Busters (Waterfront, 180 East Waterfront Drive 412-462-1500) is my favorite place to go whittle away time. They do allow smoking but I don’t choke on it when I’m there. The pool tables are immaculate and most of the sticks are straight. Guys in ties walk you over to your table, making you feel special, and you flip a switch for wait service. There is a full bar and companions who are bored with your obsessive shooting can wander into the game room. Hours are Sunday through Wednesday 11:30 to midnight, Thursday 11:30 to 1:00 am, Friday and Saturday 11:30 to 2:00 am. The woman on the phone told me that playing pool before 5:00 pm is advantageous, as the rate is $8.00. It’s the most expensive – $14 per hour – on Fridays and Saturdays after 5:00 pm. The other days after 5:00 pm it’s $12 an hour.

If you want to sit and be entertained, go to The Funny Bone Comedy Club (Station Square, 242 W. Station Square Drive, Bessemer Court, 412-281-3130). Make sure to ask to sit behind the table when you make your reservation so that you are not sitting in front of the table, watching the comedy, and then reaching back and eating some stranger’s French fries. Tip the hostess if she complies. They will require you to buy 2 drinks, but you don’t have to buy alcohol. The comedy is pretty good, but the comedians tend to pick on people up front and you’re not allowed to heckle. Admission is $5 or $8 during weeknights from what I see on the calendar, and goes up to $15 or so on the weekends. Check the calendar here for dates that they have shows: http://funnybonepgh.com/index.php?contentID=0 .

Or if you’d rather listen to music, try First Fridays at the Frick (Point Breeze, 7227 Reynolds Street, 412-371-0600), a free musical presentation featuring different musicians. Gates open at 5:30 and the concerts begin at 7:00. The season is from June 2 and runs through September 1, only on the first Friday of the month. Bring a picnic as the restaurant there will try to see you fancy food that’s expensive. See here for the musicians: http://www.frickart.com/programs/concerts/ .

If you want to do a museum that you should not take the kids to (to avoid having to answer the question, “Mommy, what’s that?” while looking at parts of the exhibit), go to the Andy Warhol Museum (Downtown, 117 Sandusky St., 412-237-8300). Go to the pillow room because it’s a riot. Listen to Andy’s taped phone calls with people. Marvel at his boxes. Look at the soup can poster and complain about how you could have done that, too, and made a million bucks. Hours are 10:00 to 5:00 and they are closed on Monday. Admission is $10 for adults and $7 for seniors. I really mean it about not bringing the kids. This museum has the coolest food in its cafeteria, much better than most of the museum cafeterias I’ve visited. Here’s the Web page: http://www.warhol.org/default.asp .

The Three Rivers Arts Festival is 17 days of wandering around tightly packed artists’ booths wondering how you’ll survive the June heat. But the food booths are cool – they even include fried Twinkies and chocolate covered stuff. There are live musical performances somewhere but I haven’t seen them and I work downtown. In 2006, the festival runs from June 2 to June 18 and happens in downtown Pittsburgh – head to Gateway Center for the concentration of stuff. Events start at noon and runs to 9:00, except Friday and Saturday, when it runs until 10:00. Attending is free. Buy only very good art. One sweet item will do ya’.