🥯 The Burgh’s new bagel spot

1. Sip On A Mocktail in Dry January

The Open Road, Pittsburgh’s nonalcoholic beverage shop, is pouring over with sober drink options — from seltzers and spirits to beers and wines. Owner Mel Babitz and the team can guide you through hundreds of options to find one that fits your taste, whether you want a bev that tastes like beer or wine or a “functional” drink with mood-enhancing or energizing ingredients.

2. Try Pittsburgh’s Newest Bagel Joint

The popular pop-up Phat Bagel now has a brick-and-mortar bringing fresh, hand-rolled bagels to Bloomfield. It’s a choose-your-own-adventure kind of bakery featuring breakfast sandwiches, customizable cream cheese spreads, and toppings galore. Tip: Go early! It was all sold out by late morning when I stopped by on a Sunday.

3. Spot Local Scenes in Season 2 of ‘The Pitt’

The HBO Max medical drama, partially filmed in Pittsburgh, is back for its second season on Jan. 8. We can’t wait to see shots of gorgeous Pittsburgh skylines, Dr. Robby commuting through the North Side, and local Easter eggs only yinzers will know — all of which almost makes the blood and gore worth the watch 😉

4. Make Your 2026 (Local) Reading List

It’s a good time to turn a new page — literally. Build up your TBR pile with new reads from Pittsburgh’s best independent bookstores. If you’re not sure where to start, check out some local book clubs. Stay Gold Books in Regent Square has a club for just about every genre, including a Sunday Morning Salon where you can meet over coffee to talk about inspiring nonfiction reads.

5. Visit The Black Photojournalism Exhibit

January is the last month to see the documentary work by nearly 60 photographers across the United States — including Pittsburgh’s own Charles “Teenie” Harris — at Carnegie Museum of Art’s Black Photojournalism exhibit. Inside the Heinz Galleries, you’ll find snapshots of historic events and daily life, chronicling everything from the end of World War II to the Civil Rights movement.