🪩 What happened to Pgh’s nightclubs?

No Moon Landing for Astrobotic

The Pittsburgh-based space technology company released a statement around noon on Tuesday saying there is no chance that the Peregrine lunar lander can make a soft landing on the Moon, and it has an estimated 40 hours of propellant left. But, this doesn’t mean the mission is a wash – the team is still collecting data that will be useful for its next lunar lander mission, Griffin. [Astrobotic]

• 🌕 Here’s what else we know about the mission. [🎧 City Cast Pittsburgh]

City Council Elects New President

Pittsburgh City Council kicked off its new legislative session on Monday by unanimously electing District 6 Councilor Daniel Lavelle as president, replacing Theresa Kail Smith. See who's leading council’s committees. [90.5 WESA]

• ➡️ This week marks the second half of Mayor Gainey’s term. Listen to our recent Q&A from the City-County Building. [🎧 City Cast Pittsburgh]

Schenley Ice Rink Won’t Open This Season

Ice skating in Schenley Park, a tradition since 1975, isn't happening this season due to some construction delays. There have been a number of setbacks with a broken pipe, an exhaust fan, and ventilation. Renovations are expected to wrap up in April. [City of Pittsburgh]

• ⛸️ The city’s annual Valentine's on Ice event will instead take place at the Hunt Armory in Shadyside this year.

PIT Parking Rates Increased

Short-term garage parking at Pittsburgh International Airport jumped from $32 for the daily maximum to $36, and economy parking increased from $10 to $12. Hack: If you book online, you can still get the 2023 rate. [🎧 City Cast Pittsburgh]

If Troy Hill is the finish line, then Rialto Street is the trail to climb. Just off East Ohio Street at the 31st Street Bridge, the street’s 24% grade earns it the title for fifth steepest street in the city. Once you make it up the mount, you’re welcomed into this tight-knit North Side community.

1 Thing to Know

Rialto Street used to also be called “Pig Hill,” when pigs were herded up the hill from the Herr’s Island stockyards to slaughterhouses in Spring Garden. Yikes!

Eat & Drink

De Fer Coffee & Tea took over the former neighborhood favorite, Pear and Pickle, at the top of Rialto Street. They’re well missed, but visitors will not be disappointed by the new tenants. Inside, you’ll find a cozy space serving quality coffee, tea, and homemade food like sandwiches, salads, smoothies, and fresh pastries.

Scratch & Co. on Lowrie Street is exactly how it sounds — food made from scratch. The dinner menu features nibbles, salads, sandwiches, pasta, and more, plus they have daytime hours with brunch bites and cafe drinks. Don’t miss their art installations and special pop-up dinners!

Troy Hill was historically a German immigrant neighborhood, so it’s no surprise that it’s home to Penn Brewery, one of Pittsburgh’s oldest and largest craft breweries. Beer lovers should check out Penn Brew U on February 10 and save the date for the annual Penn Brew Oktoberfest in September.

Go, See, Do!

Want to see a lighthouse? You can in Troy Hill, hundreds of miles away from the ocean. It’s the third installation of the Troy Hill Art Houses, a trio of abandoned homes turned into immersive art – and you can tour them for free with an appointment.

No matter your religious beliefs, it’s pretty neat to see the 1880 European-style Saint Anthony’s Chapel. People travel from all over to admire its 5,000 Catholic relics, the largest collection in the world outside of the Vatican.

In this episode, we talked to city steps expert Laura Zurowski — aka Mis.Steps — about why Pittsburgh has so many and which are the best for urban hikers to climb. Basin Street in Troy Hill was one of her picks, because it has a great overlook at the top. You can enter at either Cowley-Goettman Park or Province Street.

Did Dating Apps Kill Pittsburgh’s Nightclub Scene?

If you want to go out and party this weekend, Pittsburgh has some solid options — maybe you’ll hit Spirit, Cavo, or Club VIP — but the ‘Burgh used to have way more clubbing options that catered to a wider diversity of party-goers. We talk to City Paper’s Colin Williams about what happened to Pittsburgh’s nightlife scene.