Diesel Club Lounge doubles as a DJ mecca and live-music venue, and it's still South Side's most virile independent venue. Henry Rollins still sends us Christmas cards, Zarra said. Mc Kees Rocks (8 miles) Carnegie (8 miles) Homestead (8 miles) Glenshaw (11 miles) Braddock (12 miles) Bethel Park (13 miles) Some of the most impressive architecture in Oakland is on Pitt's campus. They all paled in comparison with the Robotic Tik Tokkers from Larimar/Penn Hills! What's there now? Petropoulos takes great pride in oakland's rise over the past years to the third largest commercial district in pennsylvania behind philadelphia and downtown . 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. As a showcase club, Graffiti sought acts from a wide spectrum of genres and young musicians, featuring national acts while still promoting local talent. The front room held a center copper packed, sweaty, and loud with menacing bouncers it was a gritty steel town bar. After a decline following the 1970s, Pitt's enrollment grew from 26,328 in 1995 to 28,649 in 2016. It was one of the better showcases that was in Pittsburgh. Coordinates: .mw-parser-output .geo-default,.mw-parser-output .geo-dms,.mw-parser-output .geo-dec{display:inline}.mw-parser-output .geo-nondefault,.mw-parser-output .geo-multi-punct{display:none}.mw-parser-output .longitude,.mw-parser-output .latitude{white-space:nowrap}402628N 795725W / 40.441N 79.957W / 40.441; -79.957, This article is about the neighborhood in, Although adjacent to Oakland, these attractions are technically just within the official border of, Oakland Business Improvement District (OBID), Kimbo Art Gallery and International Jazz Hall of Fame (Pitt Union), Miller Gallery at Carnegie Mellon University, Nicholas Lochoff Cloister and University Arts Gallery (Pitt), Soldiers and Sailors National Military Museum and Memorial, University of Pittsburgh Varsity Marching Band, Henry Clay Frick Training School for Teachers, Pittsburgh Science and Technology Academy, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center Presbyterian, "PGHSNAP 2010 Raw Census Data by Neighborhood", "Muslims in Islamic Center of Pittsburgh demonstrate little-known facets of their faith", "Real estate plat-book of the city of Pittsburgh: from official records, private plans and actual surveys, Volume 1. I thought it might be interesting to rank these late local establishments by the imprint they left during their heyday. Jackson sang his Is She Really Going Out with Him and Funny Papers" in April Their ears rang from the distorted guitar riffs and gruff vocals of Joe Grushecky as his band then the Iron City Houserockers finished a blistering cover of Chuck Berrys School Days.. Nationally known punk and hardcore bands started filling the Bananas headlining spots. All photos used with permission. South Oakland is reputed to be a student neighborhood, but only 36.9% of its population is between the ages of 18 and 24, compared to Central Oakland's figure of 74.1%. Let's Find Out, PA County Wants To Make Its Own Gun Laws After Recent Court Defeat. In the 90s, The Decade and its predecessors mostly hosted some blues performers, like Stevie Ray Vaughan, as well as small-time acts looking for a start. These businesses are organized by the Oakland Business Improvement District (OBID). feels Oaklands nightlife should match this new professional student body, along with the professionals at UPMC and Pitt. acts moved on. The Electric Banana featured more college students and unrehearsed distortion. Elbo Room Jack London Oakland The area is often mistakenly called South Oakland. Hes not a rocker, hes an insomnia cure). She did not mention any specific plans within the near future. So I came up with a list of initial inductees in a sort of Pittsburgh Bar Hall of Fame that focused on places that have been closed for years, or, in the case of the BBT, hours. The third club in the Triangle was Graffiti, which opened on Baum Boulevard in North Oakland in 1982. google_ad_type="text_image"; Black Flags former singer still keeps in touch with the Banana. Bars & Clubs. We were on the same label at the time Cleveland International Records. The Decadewas the home base of GravelThe Iron City Houserockers, King Solomon, The Mystic Knights,Red Hot and Johanasen. When he started at Hemingways, Elavsky observed students who would spend five nights a week at the bar. Scattered amongst Oakland's four neighborhoods are 29 distinct flights of city steps many of which are open and in a safe condition. google_color_text="333333"; (412) 566-7925www.originaloysterhousepittsburgh.com. So we said, Whats next? So we went rock n roll, Zarra said. 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. It was a place where you could just go and see who was playing this Saturday. In an interview with the Post Gazette DiSilvo said he first saw Stevie Ray Vaughan playing in a dirt-floor club in New Orleans called the Dream Palace, Booking for only $500 he brought Vaughan up North for the first time.Stevie Ray Vaughan made his first appearance in March of 1983 Stevie appeared a second time for $850 before he became a big star. Tucked in East Liberty, Spoon was a favorite dining spot of many Pittsburghers. 100 W. Station Square Drive . The french Connection from the North hills area (Hampton-Shaler-west view) Some real good Break-Dance battles took place there! But the end came when the building was purchased by David Scaife, the son of billionaire newspaper publisher Richard Mellon Scaife, so he could store his personal car collection there. Now, regulars might come two or three times. The place had a cool old feeling to it. I couldnt even remember what bands I would have seen there, Yander said, but he remembers most tried to be as close as they could get to Nirvana. 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. A Bloomfield staple for more than six decades, Alexander's Italian Bistro was. Over the decades, Oakland pushed through a population dip as Pitt did and became overwhelmed by the Universitys ever-encroaching boundaries. Pirates fans gather on the site each year on the anniversary of Bill Mazeroski's World Series winning home run on October 13, 1960. When 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. Its incarnations since have included a deli, lesbian bar, produce store, and a bar. The bands gigged in the back room on a wide stage Its generations of blue-collarfamilies built much of the town's businesses, bars and restaurants from their very beginnings, growing them into true institutions and forever preserving the city's hardworking, steel city values. Jay Yander, a 99 Pitt grad, often went to the two venues, which he remembers focused on local bands.. After a long week of term papers and 9 a.m. classes, Pitt students in the 1990s had a pitcher full of options when they needed to knock back brews and let loose to Spice Girls or Biggie Smalls. [15] Oakland is also home to the university's French-Gothic revival Heinz Memorial Chapel and St. Paul Cathedral, the seat of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh. 4. google_color_link="000000"; 9. Continuing in the spirit of the 80s, locals like to get their dance on at lively spots. A group of young inexperienced Reach him at 412-334-4033 or Eric.Heyl@Patch.com. national acts appeared there was barely room to move or breath. 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. 2013 Pittsburgh Music History Year End Recap, Biggest stories of 2011 -- Pittsburgh Pop, Rock and Rap, Hear the Music of Pittsburgh on the Genre Pages via Spotify, Inaugural Pittsburgh Rock 'n Roll Hall of Fame Celebration 01/23/14, Pittsburgh Music History Celebrates Black History Month 2012, Scot Tady of Times Online on Pittsburgh Music History, Thanks to Readers of Pittsburgh Music History, Thanks to the Internet, Pittsburgh's music history plays on, The Beat: Andrew Druckenbrod and Scott Mervis Video on Pittsburgh Music History, Vote for the 2015 Pittsburgh Rock 'N Roll Legends Nominees, Calliope and the Smokey City Folk Festival, Sonny Pugar Memorial Music Smiles Program, Graffiti Showcase and Graffiti Rock Challenge. The Decade was the home base of Gravel The Iron City. Haring had his first art show while living in Oakland. Lets briefly mourn the loss of Dreaming Ant, Pittsburghs most revered movie-rental store. The curtain fell on the popular diner for the final time in October of 2019. Get Pitt and Oakland news in your inbox, three times a week. With its vast space, futuristic design and manually operated lighting system, Whim reminds visitors of Pittsburghs electronica heyday. section of Pittsburgh on the corner of Atwood and Sennott streets which became 12. However, he is still disappointed at his options for a night out in Oakland. Oakland is boring and expensive, Passerini said. A tip of the hat to eight beloved Pittsburgh restaurants that are gone but not forgotten. I asked him if he would ever consider coming north. So he threw f**king Meat Loaf out of the kitchen of the Decade, and the record company people go storming out, he said. 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 also well-known for its scrumptious Sunday brunch. The parachutes on the ceiling were all the ambience that was needed. If you Home to three universities, museums, hospitals, shopping venues, restaurants, and recreational activities, this section of the city also includes two city-designated historic districts: the mostly residential Schenley Farms Historic District and the predominantly institutional Oakland Civic Center Historic District, as well as the locally-designated Oakland Square Historic District. Regulars recommend the golani and falafel, any beer off the always-rotating taps and, of course, the bar's free popcorn and peanuts. But he loved us and supported us, Grushecky said. After booking a few cover bands, Zarra took a chance on a Pittsburgh punk group called Carsickness. ceiling was low. ". Since then, this revered watering hole has cultivated many loyal locals thanks to its weekly events, happy hour specials and seasonal international dishes. Sign in|Recent Site Activity|Report Abuse|Print Page|Powered By Google Sites, In an interview with the Pittsburgh Press Billy Price talked about the Decade. Over the next five years Kresege booked a Since a co-owner of the club was convicted of operating a heroin ring out of the place, were say yes. Drew and her friends then content themselves with raging at house shows in Oakland basements or partying at friends homes habits that have drawn the ire of Pitt police and Oakland residents alike. 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. the place apart with a skillfully played energetic performance on March 20, 1979. 6. Nicks Fat City, South Side It was more of a performing venue than a bar, but if the Rock N Roll Hall of Fame can admit James Taylor than I can admit Nicks. This year, Citiparks will screen everything from Skyfall to Finding Nemo for free. A nice spot. 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. But as Oakland has matured over the past 20 years, it has traded dive bars and longtime rock joints for corporate fast food and student housing, leaving alums longing for their college nights. Be sure your next bar crawl makes a stop at Station Square's historic Pittsburgh and Lake Erie Railroad Station so you can drink up the history of Gandy Dancer Saloon. There was barely enough room to walk around the bar. google_color_url="B76401"; Graffitis rough, brick-covered, warehouse exterior contrasted with its spacious lounge interior. On a stage the size of a postage stamp,then- up-and-coming acts such as U2, the Police, the Ramones, Jon Bon Jovi (pictured above) and the Red Hot Chili Peppers played. Pittsburgh needs such a club, and the Decade in Oakland is willing to help support such a concept". Oakland has long been considered Pittsburgh's university center. Diner food is just good, and Tom's Diner served some of the best. Zelda's Greenhouse and Peters Pub. google_ad_host="pub-6693688277674466"; Pitt 96 grad Christine Mattiko would spend those. Each location is dark, smoky and weird-looking. 4. known as the Corner of Rock and Roll. Grushecky tied the prominence of Pittsburgh bands at the Decade to its mystique and relevance. If the idea of sharing some spirits with Pittsburgh's spirits is on your bar bucket list, Papa J Centro's is the perfect place to check that off. Pat Benetar hit Pittsburgh with her best shot on November of that Dominic had been looking for something like this to come along, but he had no idea about the music stuff. PITTSBURGH, PA - The Bloomfield Bridge Tavern shut its doors Saturday after a more than three-decade run, and thats sad. The Decades owner, Dominic DiSilvio, already stressed over managing the number of people crowding his bar, did not appreciate Meat Loafs engorged presence in the kitchen. While Pitt and UPMC attract daytime traffic, employees of the institutions might not always stay within Oakland as the sun sets and students come out. Diesel Club Lounge doubles as a DJ mecca and live-music venue, and its still South Sides most virile independent venue. 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