Pittsburgh, PA with 80s Night Clubs. [Oakland has] became more sterile. These 6 Pittsburgh Restaurants Are So Magnificent Theyve Been On T.V. Theres something about heavy synth and beat-boxes that triggers the cerebral cortex in ways that no other music can. See Part II. Diesel Club Lounge doubles as a DJ mecca and live-music venue, and its still South Sides most virile independent venue. This is in the lower level of the Penn Hotel. While some things have changed since Pittsburgh's oldest bar and restaurant first opened in 1870 such as its 10-cent beers and penny oysters, the iconic recipes, unmatched customer service and the building's original character remain unchanged. Cavo Night Club. Pittsburghers raved about the mac and cheese at Shiloh Grill, perched at the top of Mount Washington. The flood plain was previously packed with industrial sites such as the Pittsburgh Works Consolidated Gas Co. and the Jones & Laughlin Steel Co.,[9] but presently, the Pittsburgh Technology Center hosts facilities such as the Entertainment Technology Center of Carnegie Mellon University. (412) 566-7925www.originaloysterhousepittsburgh.com. The under 21 crowd packed the place every week to watch the Break-dance teams like the mid-town rockers. You could slide in and catch the band for the price of a couple cocktails. All you need is a dark room and comfortable seating, and the trend is strengthening every month. Tucked into the back corner of Crazy Mocha in Bloomfield, Dreaming Ant offered the most eclectic library of DVDs around. Though Pittsburgh is no longer replete with dance clubs, surefire picks still exist. Was he right in interrupting all the fun? Each film started as a project for the PBS series Independent Lens, and each explores topics of social concern, such as activism in India. Its incarnations since have included a deli, lesbian bar, produce store, and a bar named Cumpies. A Pittsburgh music promoter, Danny Kresge, convinced DiSilvio to start hosting national acts at the Decade. If you're craving Lidia's authentic Italian dishes, you'll have to travel elsewhere. google_color_link="000000"; It's definitely a college bar . The dressing room at the Decade was the freakin kitchen. This was the place where a number of local bands (anyone remember the Affordable Floors?) Over the next five years Kresege booked a Irish Rockers called U2 played the Decade on April 21, 1981. There shouldnt be any nightlife [in Oakland because] the rents dont allow for that, he said, referencing tight profit margins on cinemas and bars. Upstage, OaklandIts a testament to the popularity of the Upstage that more than a decade after it closed, former patrons maintain a Facebook page in its honor. 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. With its vast space, futuristic design and manually operated lighting system, Whim reminds visitors of Pittsburghs electronica heyday. You could go to Graffiti and you knew that you were going to hear a quality act. Central Oakland has five Pittsburgh neighborhood borders, including North Oakland to the north, Squirrel Hill North to the northeast, Squirrel Hill South to the east, South Oakland to the south and southwest, and West Oakland to the northwest. feels Oaklands nightlife should match this new professional student body, along with the professionals at UPMC and Pitt. Especially on a Friday night, it was a happening place. Every Thursday, Calicos offered a deal Mattiko, or any money-starved college student, couldnt turn down nickel drafts. Pat Benetar hit Pittsburgh with her best shot on November of that The people were super nice. Pittsburghers rocked at the Decade Lounge ceiling was low. Henry Rollins still sends us Christmas cards, Zarra said. We could accept the deaths of Blockbuster and Hollywood Video, but the end of Dreaming Ant is a rude awakening. Brandon Smith, the 35-year-old co-owner of Fuel and Fuddle and a Pitt alum. The bands gigged in the back room on a wide stage Free to play original rock and blues the music scene flourished at the Decade. Lets briefly mourn the loss of Dreaming Ant, Pittsburghs most revered movie-rental store. Its fifth proprietor, Louis Grippo, has done an exceptional job preserving the tavern's past architecture and dcor, which helped earn The Original Oyster House its designation as an historic landmark by the Pittsburgh History and Landmarks Foundation. While Forbes Field was closed in 1970, some remnants of the ballpark still stand. 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 was the home base of Gravel The Iron City. North Oakland also runs catty-corner (without a direct border) with Lower Lawrenceville to the north with its meeting point in the middle of the Bloomfield Bridge. Those Doc Marten-wearing feet could then walk a few blocks down to The Decade, a bar and concert venue, then The Next Decade, a rehashed version of the venue on Atwood Street. An up and coming three The place was a disco in the late 70s before owner Johnny Zarra let the local band Carsickness play there in 1980. DiSilvio opened the Decade in 1973 as a vintage restaurant in the style of the 1950s featuring a few local acts the club's name reflecting his preference for that decade and its music. 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. The Electric Banana became the go-to destination for these young punk bands. So I was walking and talking at the same time, so I told Judy, Give these guys a Monday or Tuesday night. And I kept walking.. showcase club like the Whisky-A-Go-Go in L.A. and the Agora in Cleveland. google_color_text="333333"; Bruce Springsteen also once played there, years after becoming famous. 7. 6. After a decline following the 1970s, Pitts enrollment grew from. It's a nice dive bar with rolling skating. [7] The Islamic Center of Pittsburgh, the largest mosque in the city, is located in North Oakland. By 164turnera. Johnny Banana Zarra owned the Banana with his wife Judy and decided in 1980 to make a radical transition in style after nearly 10 years as a go-go and then a disco club. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts. series of memorable shows that put the Decade on the national Rock and Roll map. Since then, this revered watering hole has cultivated many loyal locals thanks to its weekly events, happy hour specials and seasonal international dishes. Photo by Laura Zurowski. The Ramones rumbled into town for two shows on March 6th and 7th of 1979. Theres one or two bars, theres no movie theatre theres nothing.. Officials bought another 100 acres from her for "Schenley Park." It was a place where you could just go and see who was playing this Saturday. Even Bruce Springsteen stopped in after playing at the Civic Arena when Grushecky took him on a tour of Oakland. 3. ", "Allegheny County; its Formation, its Cities, Wards, Boroughs and Townships", "Teddy Roosevelt giving a speech in Pittsburgh | the Brady Stewart Collection", "Moscow State University, Moscow, Russia", "The Pittsburgh Press Google News Archive Search", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Oakland_(Pittsburgh)&oldid=1136264597, The neighborhood is the location of the massive Carnegie culture complex, originally funded by. out their nights of Oakland bar hopping East End Yinzers shelled out the two The Cathedral of Learning, the engineering or midsection of the University of Pittsburgh campus, and the Craig Street business district are in North Oakland. Trace Pittsburgh's North Side history all the way back to 1889 and you'll discover the long-standing Park House Tavern. A row of stools were lined against the street side wall. In 1955, the first effective polio vaccine was developed by Dr. Jonas Salk at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine. The name first appeared in 1839 in a local paper, Harris' Intelligencer. Chiodo's Tavern, HomesteadJoe Chiodo held court in this legendary Homestead Bar that was home to the popular mystery sandwich. Its walls were covered with Steelers knick-knacks and other memorabilia, including an alligator jaw and dozens of bras donated by the bars female patrons for reasons that never were fully explained. Because the prize was a recording session at Audionation, which was a big recording studio at the time, Schneider said. DECADE ROCKS OUT, AFTER 22 YEARS -Scott Mervis Pittsburgh Post-Gazette August 22, 1995. Over the decades, Oakland pushed through a population dip as Pitt did and became overwhelmed by the Universitys ever-encroaching boundaries. , however, she recalled that when the District was founded in 1999, its nightlife was a prime attraction, though at a cost to midday shoppers and prospective tenants. It was one of the better showcases that was in Pittsburgh. Gandy Dancer Saloon the same songs. Theres one or two bars, theres no movie theatre theres nothing., The change in students isnt limited to the booze, said. //-->. In 1984 Dom DiSilvio, owner of the Decade club, asked guitarist and ex Silencer member Warren King to form an "all-star" band to bring in customers on club's slow Monday nights. Dan Marino Field on Frazier Street was named in honor of its native son. For years, colorful owner Joel Greenfield had a Skull Room in the back filled with cabinets of skull-shaped mugs and other skull-themed oddities. In 1963, The Pittsburgh Press dubbed Shadyside 'our Greenwich Village.'. They all paled in comparison with the Robotic Tik Tokkers from Larimar/Penn Hills! He feels that trend has reversed in the last few years. Bar Marco: Among Pittsburgh restaurants, this Strip District bar tops lists for its rotating menu, good service, and five-course meal in the reservations-only wine room.Order the "bartender's choice" for a customized cocktail based on your favorite spirit and flavors. Spoon said goodbye during the summer of 2020. The Beehive even added a liquor license halfway through its life span from 1992 to 2002. Since 2006, the space has been occupied by the much less tawdry Buckhead Saloon. If we were still trying to sell things we did 20, 25 years ago, wed be out of business, Elavsky said. If you Froggys, DowntownFor a quarter of a century beginning in 1978, the gravelly voiced Steve Froggy Morris held court in his Market Square bar and restaurant where celebrities such as Jack Nicholson flocked when they were in town. Many of its homes are historic masonry structures dating from the turn of the century. Gooski's 4.3 (94 reviews) Dive Bars $Polish Hill Divey "the perfect dive bar tho for someone that wants to get out of the house and have fun with someone (if" more Outdoor seating 2. Pirates fans gather on the site each year on the anniversary of Bill Mazeroski's World Series winning home run on October 13, 1960. But, matching the demographic changes is part of how Hemingways has stayed tucked into the heart of Pitts campus on Forbes. A parent herself, and a proud alum, Mattiko is content to let go of her memories though, if it means a thriving, more vibrant Oakland for her children. Pittsburghers rocked at the Decade Lounge in Oakland for 22 years watching their favorite Pittsburgh bands and national rock acts. 10 Best Vintage Photos From Pittsburgh In The 1970s Posted in Pittsburgh October 30, 2016 by Beth Price-Williams These 10 Photos of Pittsburgh In The 1970s Are Mesmerizing A peek at these photos of Pittsburgh in the 1970s may take you back to a whole different time in your life. DiSilvio remained cautiously pessimistic about the prospect of crowd-drawing live music in his club. cut their teeth. Zarra still owns the building and operates an Italian restaurant there named, appropriately enough, Zarras. Related: Best Haunted Bars In Pittsburgh Gandy. Went to the VIP north in Hampton in the 80's great place to be on Sundays. University of Pittsburgh's Cathedral of Learning, North Oakland seen from near the top of the Cathedral of Learning, Heinz Memorial Chapel at the University of Pittsburgh, Phipps Conservatory & Botanical Gardens[nb 1], Hamerschlag Hall at Carnegie Mellon University[nb 1], Cathedral of Learning viewed from the William Pitt Union, The University of Pittsburgh's Alumni Hall, The Pittsburgh Public Schools' Board of Education administration building, Panther Hollow Lake in Schenley Park[nb 1], Carnegie Mellon University's Mellon Institute, Aerial view of Pittsburgh Public Schools' historic Schenley High School, Soldier and Sailors' Memorial on 5th Avenue in North Oakland, Pittsburgh Athletic Association, built 19091911, at the corner of Fifth Avenue and Bigelow Boulevard, The former Y.M.H.A., is now Pitt's Bellefield Hall, The former Schenley Apartments, now Schenley Quadrangle residences at the University of Pittsburgh, The former Schenley Hotel, now the University of Pittsburgh's William Pitt Union, Clapp Hall at the University of Pittsburgh, Former Mellon Institute building, now the University of Pittsburgh's Allen Hall, The former Ruskin Apartments, now the University of Pittsburgh's Ruskin Hall, The former National Union Fire Insurance Company building, now the University of Pittsburgh's Thackeray Hall, The Frick Fine Arts Building at the University of Pittsburgh, The former William Jacob Holland residence, now the Music Building at the University of Pittsburgh, The University Club, now a building on Pitt's campus, Mary Schenley Memorial Fountain (A Song to Nature), The Stephen Foster Memorial at the University of Pittsburgh. According to one visitor's account, "At the Encore there wasn't even a standing room inside. And Mary Schenley gave another gift: land for Schenley Plaza. So I said to Joe, Who the hell is this? And he says, This is Meat Loaf. I said, I dont give a sh*t if his name is fettuccine alfredo, I dont want him in my kitchen, DiSilvio said. section of Pittsburgh on the corner of Atwood and Sennott streets which became Old Pittsburgh Nightclubs. 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. (Photo Credit: KDKA) Sandcastle 1000 Sandcastle. Walk Like an Egyptian Get Pitt and Oakland news in your inbox, three times a week. At the Decade, if you went a bit later, there wouldnt be a cover charge. Oakland was, at various points, the home of many professional, Oakland is less than 3 miles (4.8km) from, The Ryan Catholic Newman Center: Oratory of St. Philip Neri, Hunt Library (Carnegie Mellon University), This page was last edited on 29 January 2023, at 14:43. The place had a cool old feeling to it. Across the Monongahela River, South Oakland runs adjacent with Pittsburgh's South Side Flats neighborhood. Our marketing agency in Pittsburgh is ready to help right now! A nice spot. google_ad_type="text_image"; Grushecky remembers the concert as monumental for the city, as well as Oakland. 10. The curtain fell on the popular diner for the final time in October of 2019. Stay tuned for the next installment, which will be about Oaklands community improvement initiatives. Oakland is Pittsburgh's second most populated neighborhood with 22,210 residents, a majority of these residents being students. First published on October 24, 2013 / 6:00 AM. These Steps of Pittsburgh quickly connect pedestrians to public transportation and provide an easy way to travel through this densely populated area. North Oakland has eight borders with the Pittsburgh neighborhoods of Bloomfield to the northeast, Shadyside and Squirrel Hill North to the east, Central Oakland to the south, West Oakland to the southwest, the Terrace Village region of the Hill District to the west, the Upper Hill District to the northwest Polish Hill to the north-northwest. sounds parachutes were hung across the ceiling. We come back the next Thursday for our regular gig, and there was Meat Loafs poster up on the wall. Zelda's Greenhouse and Peters Pub. The best hidden gems and little known destinations - straight to your inbox. 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. set along the side wall a few inches off the ground. Within hours after news broke the PHI would close because the Forbes Avenue building it was in had been sold, more than 800 CMU brainiacs signed a petition hoping to save it. In the early 1900's at the corner of Atwood and Sennott stood a small hotel. The first national act to play the Decade was,a former member of the New York Dolls. The dance floors are always frenetic with colored lights. During its brothel days, at least three murders took place in this location and many of these spirits are still rumored to frequent the bar, including Madame Dolly Cavanaugh, a former brothel maid and numerous child ghosts. Back outside Towers, as the cigarette smokes dissipates in the cool November air, Passerini thinks back on her two years of on-campus living. Articles in some news media have made this error; for example, a column about street cleanliness near the University of Pittsburgh used the term "South Oakland" to describe an area entirely within the boundaries of Central Oakland.[10]. Business owners take the change as a blank check for higher quality and more specialized drinks and food with higher prices while many Pitt students might be happier with bargains and a variety of choices for fun nights out. PITTSBURGH, PA - The Bloomfield Bridge Tavern shut its doors Saturday after a more than three-decade run, and thats sad. Lidia's Italy permanently shut down, after 20 years, in August of 2019. 212 Boulevard of the Allies . You really could only go to one place when you craved authentic Brazilian food - and that was Green Forest Brazilian Restaurant in Penn Hills. ". The Decade scored big booking a little-known guitarist out from Austin. After 22 years of Rock N Roll Dom wanted out. national acts appeared there was barely room to move or breath. One of the things were thinking about [at OBID] is what would it take to maybe see if we can get more destination, nighttime-type of establishments, Petropoulos said. Since he bought Hemingways, Elavsky said many of the old hot spots have closed and students and their dollars have left to other competing parts of the city, like the North Shore and South Side. On a Saturday in October 1978, a crowd of Pitt students, steel mill workers and music This is the first of two parts. It was like the black sheep of rock n roll, Zarra said. Protect Your Home from Ticks with Yard Guard from Viking Pest, 1 Person Dead, Others Injured In 2 Pittsburgh-Area Shootings: Report, Here's How Many Guns Were Sold In Pennsylvania Last Month, What Kind Of Home Can $1.9 Million Buy In Pittsburgh? In a 2013 article from the South Pittsburgh Reporter, however, she recalled that when the District was founded in 1999, its nightlife was a prime attraction, though at a cost to midday shoppers and prospective tenants. He started hiring everybody and he became like the Godfather of rock music. Rivers Casino. Thus the Mystic Knights were formed with ex Wild Cherry guitarist, The members changed over time and the band become known as "Warren King and the Mystic Knights of the Sea." Bruce and I went over to the Original [Hot Dog Shop] and people swarmed him. time with his family DiSilvio sold the Decade in 1995. While Pitt and UPMC attract daytime traffic, employees of the institutions. 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. Patlakh, a first-year computer science major from Philadelphia, admits his hometown spoiled him when it comes to nightlife. Her main observation from the years in Pitts shadow are simple. 1960s, 1970s Pittsburgh Nightlife, Bars, Restaurants, Nightclubs Kinolibrary 178K subscribers 7.6K views 5 years ago From the Kinolibrary Archive Film collections. We would go to each others shows, but we would also try and do shows with each other, Schneider said. The area got its name from the abundance of oak trees found on the farm of William Eichbaum, who settled there in 1840. Over the next five years Kresege booked a We had clubs. But he loved us and supported us, Grushecky said. google_ad_width=120; My preference was Graffiti, by far. That support stretched to other musicians both locally and nationally as the clubs size grew. The Strip and South Side host some of the city's best nightclubs and bars, while the North Shore . 80s Night Clubs in Downtown on YP.com. Went to the VIP north in Hampton in the 80's great place to be on Sundays. The area is often mistakenly called South Oakland. A row of stools were lined against the street side wall. [Oakland] used to be an entertainment district, Kramer said, mentioning bowling alleys, cinemas, live theater and enough bars with names like CJ Barneys, Laga, Zeldas Greenhouse and Sanctuary to comfortably hop from pitcher to pitcher on a cool Pittsburgh night without ever getting chilly. The Decade and Electric Banana bands rarely mixed, despite a shared hard-edged sound. 2013 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. The third club in the Triangle was Graffiti, which opened on Baum Boulevard in North Oakland in 1982. If you At La Frontera nightclub you can enjoy the game and a couple of drinks. To soak up the ricocheting Pittsburgh, PA 15222 In 1868, Oakland Township, just two years after seceding from Pitt Township, was annexed to the City of Pittsburgh. Netflix has wrecked the rental industry, yet movie screenings are on the rise. Alex Chilton, and Meat Loaf. known as the Corner of Rock and Roll. But the small Oakland bar could not accommodate the vast Meat Loaf entourage. Dominic had been looking for something like this to come along, but he had no idea about the music stuff. Joe Discover the best bars, dance clubs, places for live music and more with our 10Best local expert's picks for the Best Nightlife in Pittsburgh. The place was full of people, smoke and sound.". music venue for local artists called the Next Decade. Panther Hollow Inn, OaklandFor decades, this was one of the only bars within easy walking distance for Carnegie Mellon University students, an important consideration when snow is falling in January. series of memorable shows that put the Decade on the national Rock and Roll map. So I walk into the kitchen and I saw this fat, very unkempt looking guy with stringy hair. Love Pittsburgh? Wanting to spend more