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January 3rd, 2013

Pittsburgh Beyond SHOT

Pittsburgh Beyond SHOT
Should you arrive in Pittsburgh in advance of the meeting or stay beyond its conclusion–or if you just want to do something different–Pittsburgh offers a great variety of cultural activities and experiences.� Here is a short list.
Theaters
Pittsburgh is home to a 14-block Cultural District centered along the Liberty and Penn Avenue corridors in the downtown.� A map showing the locations of the individual theaters can be found online. Major theaters located in the Cultural District include:
Heinz Hall is the elegant home of the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, one of the world’s truly great orchestras.
The Benedum Center for the Performing Arts is home to the Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre.
O’Reilly Theater is home to the Pittsburgh Public Theater.� To learn more about show times and ticket information, see www.pbt.org.
Theater Square features the Pittsburgh Cabaret, the Backstage Bar, and the main box office for the Pittsburgh Cultural District.� Or look online for more information on the Pittsburgh Cabaret.
Harris Theater features films and live performances and provides a space for the Pittsburgh Filmmakers to display their work, including Film Festival dates during SHOT.
Galleries & Museums
In addition to serving as a center for performing arts, the Cultural District is also home to numerous visual art galleries and exhibitions.� Interspersed with retail spaces, many galleries are located along both Penn and Liberty Avenues.� For information on individual gallery exhibits see the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust listings.
In Oakland
The Carnegie Museum of Art, located at 4400 Forbes Avenue, boasts a wide variety of collections including a rich variety of European, Asian, African, and American visual art from the 17th century to the present.� The museum’s Hall of Architecture is also home to one of the three largest collections of plaster casts of architectural masterpieces.� Of particular interest to SHOT members are the murals by John White Alexander on the Grand Staircase depicting scenes of industrial Pittsburgh.�Go online for more information, including a list of collections, directions, and museum hours, or call 412-622-3131.
The Carnegie Museum of Natural History, located at 4400 Forbes Avenue, is connected to the Carnegie Museum of Art.� The Museum of Natural History is home to an extensive collection of fossils and numerous complete dinosaur skeletons.� Collection highlights include the Dinosaurs in Their Time exhibit, the Walton Hall of Ancient Egypt, and a substantial variety of minerals and gems.� [Note that admission to both Carnegie museums is included in a single ticket.]
On the North Side
The Warhol, located at 117 Sandusky St, highlights the work of Pittsburgh-born and CMU-educated pop-artist Andy Warhol.� Displaying 500 works at any given time, the Warhol rotates its mixed media collection on a frequent basis.�Go online for more information, including collection highlights, directions, and special events, or call 412-237-8300.
The Mattress Factory, located at 500 Sampsonia Way, exhibits contemporary art.� Located in Pittsburgh’s historic Mexican War Streets, the permanent collection includes works by Rolf Julius, William Anastasi, James Turell, and Winifred Lutz.�
The Carnegie Science Center, located at 1 Allegheny Avenue, is located on the banks of the Ohio River near Heinz Field and PNC Park.� The museum is home to an Omnimax Theater and the Buhl Planetarium as well as a wide variety of exhibits including Building Green which focuses on new green building technologies.� SHOT members may want to tour the USS Requin, a World War II-era submarine.� For more information, call 412-237-3400 or see the Center’s Web site.
Other Places of Interest
Pittsburgh Zoo and PPG Aquarium: For those bringing their family, the Pittsburgh area is host to a wonderful zoo and aquarium located in the Highland Park neighborhood.
National Aviary is located on Pittsburgh’s North Side adjacent to the historic Mexican War Streets.� Home to a wide variety of birds, the aviary features live shows and indoor cages where patrons can interact with birds and a newly-opened penguin exhibit.
Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh features a variety of interactive exhibits designed to educate and entertain.� Children are exposed to a wide variety of machines and technological processes.� Additionally, the museum features an interactive exhibit dedicated to beloved Pittsburgh children’s television host Mr. Rogers.
Newspapers
Pittsburgh has two newspapers with up-to-date websites, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette and the Pittsburgh Tribune Review. The city also has an alternative weekly, the Pittsburgh City Paper, that provides entertainment listings.

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