Nightlife

Performing Arts

Gilded and plush with red velvet, Italian marble, and Viennese crystal chandeliers, Heinz Hall, 600 Penn Ave. (tel. 412/392-4900; www.pittsburghsymphony.org), endowed by Henry John Heinz, is the elegantly opulent home of the renowned Pittsburgh Symphony. The nearby Benedum Center, 719 Liberty Ave., houses performances by the Pittsburgh Ballet (tel. 412/281-0360; www.pbt.org), Pittsburgh Opera (tel. 412/281-0912; www.pittsburghopera.org), and Pittsburgh CLO (tel. 412/456-6666; www.pittsburghclo.org), which produces a summer season of musicals. Pittsburgh is also home to several theater companies, including PNC Broadway, 719 Liberty Ave. (tel. 412/471-6070; www.pgharts.org); Pittsburgh Public Theatre, 621 Penn Ave. (tel. 412/316-1600; www.ppt.org); and Pittsburgh City Theatre, 1300 Bingham St. (tel. 412/431-2489; www.citytheatrecompany.org).

The Bar & Club Scene

A good place to check out the nightlife is the Strip District (tel. 412/201-4774; www.neighborsinthestrip.com), which becomes a club scene after dark. Firehouse Lounge, 2216 Penn Ave. (tel. 412/434-1230), features a wide variety of music, includes plenty of drinking and dancing, and even offers a cocktail and dessert lounge. Station Square (tel. 800/859-8959; www.stationsquare.com), across the Smithfield Street or Fort Pitt Bridges from downtown, is home to several after-hours restaurants and bars with nice city views.