Pittsburgh

Pittsburgh might not be filled with the trendy clubs of Queer as Folk, or the post-modern strip bars of Flashdance, (both of which featured storylines set in Pittsburgh), but there’s still plenty to do in this steel town on a Saturday night.

Modern and cosmopolitan, Pittsburgh pulses with 21st-century energy. From the first wave of Scottish-Irish immigration in the mid-18th century, Pittsburgh has made a tradition of welcoming newcomers. The gay community is thriving, too, drawing guys from three states.

Getting here

Greater Pittsburgh International Airport, is 14 miles west of downtown. Low-cost buses and vans can whisk you downtown. Taxis cost about $30.

Getting around

Pittsburgh has a small but efficient subway system called “The T” and an impressive network of buses to get you around town, operated by the Port Authority. The center of the city is compact and walkable.

Neighborhoods

Downtown. Pittsburgh has a gay strip downtown and many of its clubs and restaurants aren’t far from Liberty Avenue.

Lawrenceville. Another area of interest for gays is the neighborhood of Lawrenceville, up Butler Street.

Local Media

Pittsburgh’s Out updates you on gay news and culture. For general listings, Pittsburgh City Paper, the local alternative weekly, is useful for arts and restaurant reviews.
 

Accommodations
Arbors B&B (745 Maginn St; 412-231-4643) gay-owned farmhouse, country location, minutes to the city.
Inn On Mexican War Streets (604 W North St; 412- 231-6544) just across the Allegheny River from downtown, comfortable Victorian mansion.
 

Bars & clubs

Downtown
5801 Video Lounge & Cafe (5801 Ellsworth Ave) video lounge and café, darts league, softball team.
941 Saloon (941 Liberty Ave) dancing, after hours, darts, pool and karaoke, special events.
Brewer's Hotel Bar (3315 Liberty Ave) inexpensive drinks, unassuming and casual crowd, welcoming to all.
Cruze Bar (1600 Smallman St), new club, DJs, dancing, 18+ Thurs, special events nights
Donny's Place (1226 Herron Ave) Polish Hill neighborhood bar, long-time favorite, mixed crowd, Sunday brunch.
Headquarters (2016 Smallman St), video bar/restaurant & large 18+ dance club, patio, billiards lounge.
Images (965 Liberty Ave) open every night, go-go dancers, karaoke, DJs on weekends, mostly men.
Pittsburgh Leather Central (1226 Herron Ave) men's leather and fetish bar beneath Donny's.
PTown (4740 Baum Blvd) naked male strippers nightly except Monday, pool table, juke box.
Real Luck Cafe (Lucky's) (1519 Penn Ave) aka Luckies, two levels with dancing, nude male strippers, pool tables.
Spin (577 Ellsworth Ave) video bar for fashionable crowd.
There Video Lounge (931 Liberty Ave) downtown after-work cocktail bar/ video lounge, mixed crowd, game nights, wet-underwear contests.

Lawrenceville
Blue Moon (5115 Butler St) unpretentious neighborhood tavern, drag shows, fair-weather outdoor patio.
Cattivo (146 44th St) neighborhood pub, restaurant serves to 1am, dancing weekends, mostly women.
Remedy (5121 Butler St) artsy mixed crowd for dinner, cocktails and the odd dance night.

North Side
Pegasus (1740 Eckert St), moved to Eagle, eclectic dance club, drag and live music, 18-plus nights, go-go boys.
Pittsburgh Eagle (1740 Eckert St) men's bar, two top floors, porn star and fetish events.

Southside
Backdraft Bar & Grille (3049 Churchview Ave), nightly food & drink specials, Internet Jukebox, DJ's, Live Bands, Karaoke, 7 gaming machines, pool tables, thme parties, live bands, & TV sports events.

Out of town
Link Club (91 Wendel Rd, Herminie, PA), drag shows, karaoke, games and contests.
Vice Versa (335 High St; Morgantown, WV) dance club, mixed crowd, 18-plus nights, drag shows.
 

Restaurants
Point Brugge Cafe (401 Hastings Ave) European-style bistro, neighborhood gathering place, Sunday brunch until 3pm.
UUBU6 (178-180 Pius St) unique building, eclectic and constantly changing food combinations.
 

Sauna
Club Pittsburgh (1139 Penn Ave) 24 hour, multi-level social areas, video lounge, steam, whirlpool, sauna, tanning, gym.
 

Shopping
Pleasant Present (2218 & 2301 Murray Ave) gay-themed merchandise, gifts, DVDs, dance mixes, clothes, jewelry.
ER Room (5151 Butler St) surplus style, rubber and leather clothing, toys and devices, jocks and bondage gear.