🍦 Page’s opening day announced

‘T’ Silver Line Closed This Week

Parts of the light rail line in the South Hills will be shut down through Friday for electrical work. Nine stops between the Lytle and Library stations will be out of service; inbound and outbound shuttle buses will be available. [KDKA]

CMU Opens Robotics Innovation Center

Carnegie Mellon University has debuted a new facility in Hazelwood focusing on connecting students, researchers, and robotics companies. The RIC’s first tenant is FieldAI, a company specializing in the development of robots capable of traversing dangerous conditions, such as nuclear cleanup sites and industrial zones. [CMU]

Old Steam Plant To Become Affordable Housing

The city’s housing authority is dedicating nearly $2 million toward converting a former Downtown heating plant into affordable housing, primarily for single-parent students. The development on Cecil Way will also include on-site childcare, career, and counseling services through Pittsburgh Scholar House. [Public Source]

PPS Denies Application for Montessori Charter

The Pittsburgh Public Schools board rejected a proposal to create three small "microschools," with locations determined by demand and neighborhood diversity. PPS already has a Montessori magnet school, but it has a long waitlist and serves fewer Black students than the district as a whole. Board members denied the application in part because it didn't include school locations. [WESA]

Data Centers Planned for Former Alcoa Facilities

The Pittsburgh-based aluminum company plans to sell 10 of its sites to become data centers. None of the sales are located in PA, but an Upper Burrell building previously owned by Alcoa is being transformed into an AI data center. [TribLive]

• Tech giants are rushing to build data centers across PA. But why here? And how will it affect our environment and electrical bills?
• Gov. Josh Shapiro and PA lawmakers have varying — and evolving — views on whether we should be giving tax breaks to data centers. [🎧 City Cast Pittsburgh]

The Spring Equinox is on March 20, and the Burgh is starting to bloom! Experience the change of seasons with maple syrup making, seed swaps, fish fries, art events, and more.

Scroll for these tips, and tune into the City Cast Pittsburgh podcast for more recommendations from the team.

1. Get a Taste of Spring at Page’s Dairy Mart

Nothing says “spring is on its way” like Page’s opening day. The iconic South Side ice cream and comfort food spot will return for its 75th season on March 9. Eating ice cream under a drippy bridge and basking in the old-school neon lights is an essential Pittsburgh experience. Order a special sundae, an Arctic Swirl, or a classic soft serve cone — and be on the lookout for Page’s new mobile ice cream truck this spring and summer!

2. Plan Your Garden at a Pittsburgh Seed Swap

Head to the annual Celebration of Seeds at Carnegie Library in Oakland on March 7 to share your seeds, pick up new ones, and learn tips from gardening experts. Every half hour, a new batch of seeds will be released, and guests who bring seeds are eligible for a raffle prize from Phipps Conservatory, Grow Pittsburgh, and Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh.

3. See Performances at Pittsburgh Fringe Festival

This annual festival is bringing together international, national, and local artists for a multi-genre celebration of art, March 19 to 28. See more than 50 unique performances, such as stand-up comedy, live music, contemporary dance, true-life storytelling, and new twists on classic plays. Most events take place in the Bloomfield-Garfield area, but the festival is expanding into other neighborhoods a little bit more each year! Grab a festival pass for $150 or buy tickets to individual shows.

4. Meet Creators at the Pittsburgh Indie Expo

The Pittsburgh Indie Expo highlights independent comic creators, zine makers, artists, small-press publishers, and indie game creators in the Pittsburgh region and beyond. Check out “PIE” at Heinz History Center on March 15 to browse vendors, hear panel talks from professionals, and try hands-on workshops. Whether you’re a fellow creative or a fan of illustrated arts, everyone can find inspiration at this free event.

5. Participate in the Pittsburgh Bike Swap

It’s getting warmer, which is a good time to pedal through Pittsburgh. Got old bikes, gear, or lightly-used items collecting dust? Woods Room Bike Park is hosting a bike swap on March 22, where you can buy, sell, trade, or chat about bikes with fellow riders. All table fees will go toward building a new 50,000-square-foot bike park in Larimer. Get some new gear, and help the team create a spot for year-round cycling fun!