Things to do in Pittsburgh
The AMIA 2016 Local Committee has been busy!! In addition to tours, they’ve been working on the best things to do, to see, to eat, and to drink in Pittsburgh. With 30 days left until the conference, we’ll be adding something new here every day!
In no particular order …
Bicycle Heaven, established in 2011 by Craig Morrow, is the country’s largest bike museum. You can also get your bike fixed, tuned up, or maybe trade it in for a newer (or older) bicycle.
Wigle Whiskey tours & tastings. Wigle’s was the first distillery to open in Pittsburgh since Prohibition. It was named for Philip Wigle was sentenced to hang in 1794 for treason for his leadership in the Whiskey Rebellion, but was later pardoned by George Washington.
Primanti Bros. Since 1933, Primanti Bros is the home of the legendary Pittsburgh sandwich where fries always come ON your sandwich!
Pizza! Pizza! Pizza! Are you Aiello’s or Mineo’s for Pittsburgh style pizza (thin, crispy crust with lots of cheese). Aiello’s and Mineo’s are as opposed as Gryffindors and Slytherins. These houses simply don’t mix. Things are further complicated by the number of people who will go to bat for Beto’s, fight for Fiori’s, or swear by Spak … Up for the challenge?
The Cathedral of Learning
is the centerpiece of the University of Pittsburgh’s main campus in the Oakland neighborhood. In 1924, 17,000 men and women and 97,000 school children made individual contributions to help build the great tower. Today, many adults still have the certificates they received as school children upon contributing 10 cents, which they had earned themselves, to “buy a brick” in the Cathedral of Learning.architectural projection on Cathedral of Learning University of Pittsburgh in occasion of 250 Pittsburgh Festival of Lights 2008
The National Aviary – something for the ornithologist in all of us. The Aviary was one of the first zoos to present its collection in free-flight rooms and natural exhibits with over 25,000 square feet of space.
Pittsburgh Glass Center – Learn to make glass art! The PGC is home to a state-of-the-art glass studio, public access school and art gallery where anyone can take a class, explore the contemporary glass gallery and watch live hot glass demonstrations.
Three Rivers Heritage Trail. Feel like a hike or bike ride during #AMIA16? Try the Three Rivers Heritage Trail – a 37-mile trail and greenway system that goes through Downtown Pittsburgh running along both sides of the Allegheny, Monongahela and Ohio Rivers.
Helio Oiticica: To Organize Delirium. Carnegie Museum of Art – first US retrospective of Brazilian artist Hélio Oiticica.
Row House Cinema. 83 seats, single screen community-based movie theater with a throwback vibe. Cult classics and back-to-back marathon screenings of multi-part movies. Complete your movie-going experience with some fresh-made popcorn, the smell of which permeates the building, and a six-pack you can snag from the adjoining Atlas Bottle Works.
Photo Antiquities Museum. Photo Antiquities Museum of Photographic History offers a history lesson on photography. The Museum is dedicated to the preservation, presentation and education of the history of photography.
Pierogi. Pierogi – also called varenyky – are filled dumplings of East European origin. (In case you were wondering – the Polish word pierogi is plural. Its singular equivalent, pieróg is not used. Likely because nobody eats just one!).
The Mattress Factory. Edgy, quirky, provocative and mind-bending. “Founded in 1977, the Mattress Factory is a contemporary art museum and experimental lab featuring site-specific installations created by artists in residence from around the world.” 
Night of the Living Dead Museum. Just 35minutes outside of Pittsburgh and a visual history of zombies in cinema and pop-culture. With a gift shop. Or maybe you’ll just choose to see it on the silver screen …