Bars & Clubs. The Decade is the only bar on the list that has had a book written about it (Gabby Means The Decade.). So I was walking and talking at the same time, so I told Judy, Give these guys a Monday or Tuesday night. And I kept walking.. OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article. 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. Love Pittsburgh? The Decade stood in the Oakland Unfortunately, it became another victim of the pandemic, officially closing its doors for the final time on July 28, 2020, after celebrating a final bacon night. 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. Magee-Womens Hospital of UPMC and the Pittsburgh Technology Center are major landmarks of this neighborhood. People, however, were mostly well-behaved, The Pittsburgh Press . Hes not a rocker, hes an insomnia cure). Night Clubs Bars Restaurants Website Amenities: (412) 232-3101 225 W Station Square Dr Pittsburgh, PA 15219 CLOSED NOW 4. In response to the raucous partying, permanent Oakland residents formed Oakwatch a coalition of residents, business owners, city officials and landlords in 2011 to identify and monitor code violations and help residents, students and institutions in Oakland work together. Disco dropped dead. out their nights of Oakland bar hopping East End Yinzers shelled out the two We could accept the deaths of Blockbuster and Hollywood Video, but the end of Dreaming Ant is a rude awakening. Over the next five years Kresege booked a Originally a family-owned Victorian-era soda fountain, this more than 120-year-old business was sold by its owners, the Park family, in 1932 following the end of Prohibition, thus making The Park House Pittsburgh's first licensed bar. google_ad_host="pub-6693688277674466"; Elavsky is also bemused that students have the cash for a microbrewed IPA, as well as an Uber to then hit the competition in the North Side, South Side or Lawrenceville, when he couldnt even afford a cab in college, Strictly Necessary Cookies, Performance Cookies, Functionality Cookies, Targeting Cookies or Advertising Cookies, Preferences, Security, Processes, Advertising, Session State, Analytics, Pitt police reviews protocol for campus shooting scenarios after Michigan State shooting, Pitt women's lacrosse defeats Canisius 16-8, Opinion | Response to Ohio train derailment reminds us that government, companies treat life as expendable, Pitt Dance Marathon prepares for another successful event to support UPMC Childrens Hospital. At La Frontera nightclub you can enjoy the game and a couple of drinks. As downtown Pittsburgh's oldest-standing former brothel and the city's third oldest building, this historic landmark serves up some hauntingly good tales along with its beer, wine and cocktails. Though Pittsburgh is no longer replete with dance clubs, surefire picks still exist. The Decade was legendary, he said. Continuing in the spirit of the 80s, locals like to get their dance on at lively spots. [Oakland] used to be an entertainment district, Kramer said, mentioning bowling alleys, cinemas, live theater and enough bars with names like CJ Barneys, Laga, Zeldas Greenhouse and Sanctuary to comfortably hop from pitcher to pitcher on a cool Pittsburgh night without ever getting chilly. Old Pittsburgh Nightclubs. A tip of the hat to eight beloved Pittsburgh restaurants that are gone but not forgotten. Eric Heyl is Patch's Pittsburgh field editor. Belvederes Ultra Dive Pittsburgh. North Oakland also runs catty-corner (without a direct border) with Lower Lawrenceville to the north with its meeting point in the middle of the Bloomfield Bridge. [Oakland has] became more sterile. Related: Best Historic Sites To See In Pittsburgh. It was a party every Saturday night with the Houserockers. It was maybe 8 feet wide, and Meat Loaf took up f**king half of it. The Electric Banana on Bigelow Boulevard was the smallest of the three Oakland clubs and featured an Andy Warhol-style banana sign above the entrance. Photo by Laura Zurowski. For the next few years it was a still a live During its brothel days, at least three murders took place in this location and many of these spirits are still rumored to frequent the bar, including Madame Dolly Cavanaugh, a former brothel maid and numerous child ghosts. cut their teeth. Graffitis rough, brick-covered, warehouse exterior contrasted with its spacious lounge interior. 80s Night Clubs in Downtown on YP.com. The french Connection from the North hills area (Hampton-Shaler-west view) Some real good Break-Dance battles took place there! PITTSBURGH, PA - The Bloomfield Bridge Tavern shut its doors Saturday after a more than three-decade run, and thats sad. Black Flags former singer still keeps in touch with the Banana. Regulars recommend the golani and falafel, any beer off the always-rotating taps and, of course, the bar's free popcorn and peanuts. It features Live music, DJs & karaoke in a no-nonsense, arty space with pool tables & a full bar. Stay tuned for the next installment, which will be about Oaklands community improvement initiatives. 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. I was walking past the bar one night, and there was these two weird-looking dudes all dressed in black. Back outside Towers, as the cigarette smokes dissipates in the cool November air, Passerini thinks back on her two years of on-campus living. What's there now? I saw him at a jazz fest in New Orleans. Spoon said goodbye during the summer of 2020. Bruce Springsteen also once played there, years after becoming famous. It is also the location of the relatively isolated and historic neighborhood of Panther Hollow which runs along Boundary Street in Junction Hollow as well as the Oakland Square Historic District. Where you could once buy quarter drafts at the Upstage, you now can buy a gallon of milk. As it was before they The food is American fare at its best, with burgers, tacos, pizza, salads, and steaks highlighting the menu offerings. Meat Loaf was, literally and figuratively, the biggest rock star in America. Oakland is boring and expensive, Passerini said. We usually stay in Oakland, Drew said. 10. As the neighborhood cleaned up and bars shut down, partying seemingly moved to Central and South Oakland houses. Thus the Mystic Knights were formed with ex Wild Cherry guitarist, The members changed over time and the band become known as "Warren King and the Mystic Knights of the Sea." DiSilvio remained cautiously pessimistic about the prospect of crowd-drawing live music in his club. sounds parachutes were hung across the ceiling. An up and coming three 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. www.omnihotels.com/FindAHotel/PittsburghWilliamPenn. ". 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. We were on the same label at the time Cleveland International Records. Grushecky noted a rivalry between the two scenes sparked by these differences. Every Thursday, Calicos offered a deal Mattiko, or any money-starved college student, couldnt turn down nickel drafts. So we said, Whats next? So we went rock n roll, Zarra said. 400 people. Wanting to spend more Blues vocalist. The neighborhood is split between a riverfront flood plain to the southwest and a plateau to the northeast. It was a place where you could just go and see who was playing this Saturday. This is part two of a series by staff writer Stephen Caruso about how Oaklands businesses and the community have changed since the 1990s for better or worse. / CBS Pittsburgh. 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. google_ad_type="text_image"; Some of the most impressive architecture in Oakland is on Pitt's campus. It was also known for its scrumptious gyros. Pat Benetar hit Pittsburgh with her best shot on November of that Reach him at 412-334-4033 or Eric.Heyl@Patch.com. After the Boardwalk closed, the barge was towed to Chattanooga, Tenn., where a developers plans to develop a similar Boardwalk operation never materialized. For part one of the series, click here. known as the Corner of Rock and Roll. He started hiring everybody and he became like the Godfather of rock music. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts. If we were still trying to sell things we did 20, 25 years ago, wed be out of business, Elavsky said. RAND's Pittsburgh center is located in North Oakland as well as the long time RIDC business incubator on Henry Street. of 1979. Read . feels Oaklands nightlife should match this new professional student body, along with the professionals at UPMC and Pitt. showcase clubs like the Graffiti and Rosebud opened in Pittsburgh the national Cavo Night Club. At the end of it I thought, This punk isnt bad, he said. The people were super nice. At the Decade, if you went a bit later, there wouldnt be a cover charge. Patlakh, a first-year computer science major from Philadelphia, admits his hometown spoiled him when it comes to nightlife. La Frontera is a nightclub located in International Blvd Westfield Ave, Oakland CA, United States. the same songs. 1. I asked him if he would ever consider coming north. For a unique moving-picture experience, check out Community Cinema, a monthly documentary series sponsored by WQED. If you Thank you! I even brought Bruce Springsteen there one night during the height of the Born in the U.S.A. craziness. performed three songs with Bon Ton Roulet. They always had the Rock Challenge, which was big. The name first appeared in 1839 in a local paper, Harris' Intelligencer. Pittsburgh, PA 15219 Oakland is Pittsburgh's second most populated neighborhood with 22,210 residents, a majority of these residents being students. Because they would give a gig to anybody, he said. google_color_text="333333"; we know today. Her main observation from the years in Pitts shadow are simple. Jam He says, Weve never been further north than Georgia. I paid them $500 and they came all the way north and played for $500, he said. By 164turnera. John Bon Jovi did the Decade on March, 1987 playing a 50 minute set with his friend the manful handful Norman Nardini. Bloomfield Bridge Tavern, BloomfieldIts painful to include this place on the list. Nightlife in Pittsburgh gives you a vast choice of places to drink, hit the dance floor, and enjoy live music. Henry Rollins still sends us Christmas cards, Zarra said. Diesel Club Lounge doubles as a DJ mecca and live-music venue, and it's still South Side's most virile independent venue. This 21,000 sq. The Ramones, David Johansen (aka Buster Poindexter).The Pretenders, Joe From Prohibition-style taverns and restored saloons to haunted watering holes, there's no shortage of unique and iconic buildings in which to toast to the city's backstory. began working with producer Brian Eno, they were not the polished superstar U2 that A group of young inexperienced 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. concert promoter Danny Kresege convinced Dom Disilvio to make the Decade a Although the Cathedral of Learning is now the fourth-tallest educationally purposed building in the world, it remains the world's second tallest university building, the tallest educational building in the Western Hemisphere,[14] and the second tallest gothic-styled building in the world. google_color_text="333333"; On any given weekend night during the late '70s, fifteen thousand people between the ages of twenty-one and forty were spread out in disco clubs throughout the region: Backstage Holiday House on Rt. Rivers Casino. 2023 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. Grushecky tied the prominence of Pittsburgh bands at the Decade to its mystique and relevance. Papa J Centro's The Decade, OaklandWas there ever any doubt this legendary Oakland bar at the corner of Atwood and Sennott streets would top the list? Since 2006, the space has been occupied by the much less tawdry Buckhead Saloon. To order the clip clean and. After booking a few cover bands, Zarra took a chance on a Pittsburgh punk group called Carsickness. The under 21 crowd packed the place every week to watch the Break-dance teams like the mid-town rockers. The bar's interior is a treasure chest of old distilled whiskey bottles from the hotel between 1911 and 1913 and several functioning antique seltzer bottles. in Bridgeville; #1 Park Avenue in the South Hills; the 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. Now in Squirrel Hill, she spends her time holding dinner parties with friends or going out dancing. Pat Benetar hit Pittsburgh with her best shot on November of that Screen Tests You could slide in and catch the band for the price of a couple cocktails. Her work can be found at Examiner.com. Top Nightlife in Pittsburgh: See reviews and photos of nightlife attractions in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania on Tripadvisor. Belvederes Ultra Dive is a nightclub located in Butter street, Pittsburgh, United States. 20 Market St. In 1925, work began on what was then the world's tallest educational building, the 42-story Cathedral of Learning. google_color_bg="FFFFFF"; According to the Pitt Fact Book, the average SAT scores of new Panthers rose from 1110 to about 1280 from 1995 to 2016. The first national act to play the Decade was,a former member of the New York Dolls. However, the border between Central Oakland and South Oakland is further south than they believe. Papa J Centro's bartenders and waiters are always happy to share their paranormal experiences with those customers who are brave enough to listen. Chiodo retired in 2005 and the bar was razed to make way for a Walgreens and Subway. As ashowcase for rising google_color_bg="FFFFFF"; While it is commonly considered to be in South Oakland, it is actually the heart of Central Oakland. Famous national artists like Aerosmith and Bon Jovi visited the Decade after playing shows at larger venues in the city because of its reputation. Was he right in interrupting all the fun? 8. known as the Corner of Rock and Roll. Pittsburgh, PA 15219 The Louisa Street city steps (with bike runnel) in West Oakland. In the 80s, The Decade, located where Garage Door Saloon is now, hosted the likes of U2 and The Police. The Speakeasy. Articles in some news media have made this error; for example, a column about street cleanliness near the University of Pittsburgh used the term "South Oakland" to describe an area entirely within the boundaries of Central Oakland.[10]. Now, signs for craft beers like New Belgium and Troegs decorate Fuels walls, while Hemingways owner has branched out, selling more expensive craft beers for $7 or $8 each to match a millennial audience with more discerning tastes. Went to the VIP north in Hampton in the 80's great place to be on Sundays. The speakeasy is a beautiful part of the Omni William Penn Hotel, Pittsburgh's top-notch hotel, and a member of the Historic Hotels of America National Trust For Historic Preservation. The Decade had two small rooms that were said to hold national acts appeared there was barely room to move or breath. Jackson sang his Is She Really Going Out with Him and Funny Papers" in April The third club in the Triangle was Graffiti, which opened on Baum Boulevard in North Oakland in 1982. They brought in outside acts all the time, but still the local guys were the top dogs. For the next few years it was a still a live ceiling was low. 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%. Over the next five years Kresege booked a The first floor bar of the hotel was the hang out of baseball hall of fame member Honus Wagner and the Pittsburgh Pirate. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. [8] This sector is also home to the Schenley Farms Historic District and many mid-rise condominium and apartment buildings. Its incarnations since have included a deli, lesbian bar, produce store, and a bar. google_color_link="000000"; google_ad_host="pub-6693688277674466"; Downtown Pittsburgh is great for shows, but if youre in Oakland theres not a lot to do, Patlakh said, who, if he is out in Oakland, goes to house shows at friends homes. But the first national artist who actually played at the Decade set a high bar for future bands and convinced DiSilvio that the new plan might have a chance. The first national act to play the Decade was. (412) 224-2273www.parkhousepgh.com. We played with, at the time, some really great bands Blind Sight, The Goodies and Anti-Flag. Jay Yander, a 99 Pitt grad, often went to the two venues, which he remembers focused on local bands.. The best hidden gems and little known destinations - straight to your inbox.