Eat’n Park
Multiple locations. eatnpark.com

Heading to the polls on Election Day? On Tue., Nov. 4, present a voting stub, email confirmation, or sticker to receive a free cup of coffee at any Eat’n Park restaurant location. During November, all active and former United States military personnel and their families also receive 10% off their Eat’n Park check (dine-in only) and a free Smiley Cookie on Veteran’s Day (Tue., Nov. 11).

Eat’n Park Credit: Courtesy of Eat’n Park

Mid-Atlantic Mothers’ Milk Bank
400 N. Shore Dr., North Shore. midatlanticmilkbank.org

On Thu., Nov. 6, experience “The Mother of All Cookie Tables” when Mid-Atlantic Mothers’ Milk Bank hosts their third annual fundraiser. Taking place at Stage AE, this year’s Milk Bank & Cookies event incorporates Pittsburgh’s “sweetest tradition,” inviting local bakers to compete in a cookie table “throwdown” emceed by Rick Sebak.

See “stunning” cookie displays and receive a box to fill with sweet treats to take home. Bakers vie for Best Cookie, Best Cookie Table Presentation, and People’s Choice awards. The event supports the Milk Bank’s work, providing lifesaving donor milk to medically fragile infants. General admission tickets cost $75, with a VIP option including early entry and a cocktail hour.

Mars Area Public Library
107 Grand Ave., Mars. marsarealibrary.org

Mars Area Public Library “turns up the HEAT” on Sat., Nov. 8 with its first annual Chili Cook-off Fundraiser. For $10, sample each chili and receive two people’s choice voting tickets. Guests can buy extra tickets to make their chili opinions heard. Non-chili food, including baked goods and drinks, will also be available for purchase. A judges’ choice winner, chosen by a panel of community figures, will also be crowned. Cook-off tickets are available online.

Community Kitchen Pittsburgh x New France Brewing Company
5009 Lytle St., Hazelwood. ckpgh.org

Community Kitchen and New France Brewing Company created a sweet potato pie-inspired beer. The culinary education nonprofit is releasing its first limited-edition fundraising beer, based on CKP Chef Missy Terrell’s signature sweet potato pie.

The new brew, named From Chef Missy, With Love, will debut on Sat., Nov. 8 from 5-9 p.m. during a Collaboration Launch Party at New France Brewing (inside Hazelwood Brew House). Be among the first to taste the new beer, enjoy small bites, and learn more about CKP’s workforce and community development initiatives. New France will donate $1 from every pint sold, and $2 from every four-pack, with donations doubled during the launch party. Entry to the 21-and-over event is free, with donations encouraged to support Community Kitchen Pittsburgh.

Mildred the Lunch Lady Credit: CP photo by John Colombo

Heart of Glass Animal Rescue
510 E. Ohio St., North Side. instagram.com/heartofglassanimalrescue

Kick off the holiday season on Sun., Nov. 9, from 10 a.m.-12 p.m. during a “fabulous” tea party and drag fundraiser. Heart of Glass Animal Rescue hosts Holiday Tea for Healthy Hearts at Allegheny City Brewing, where attendees can sip hot teas, nosh on snacks and treats, and purchase mixed drinks while being dazzled by the company of “waitresses” Mildred the Lunch Lady and Cindy Crotchford. Brianna of Brianna’s Mobile Workshop, aka Ms. Pittsburgh Leather Fetish 2025, will provide music and “good vibes.” Event proceeds benefit the treatment and support of the rescue’s adoptable heartworm-positive dogs. Tickets cost $30.

St. Mary’s Ukrainian Orthodox Church
116 Ella St., McKees Rocks. stmaryuoc.com

St. Mary’s in McKees Rocks offers a “taste of Ukraine” on Sun., Nov. 9 during the Ukrainian “Ukie” Buffet. The menu, which features all homemade, from-scratch Ukrainian comfort food, includes pierogies, pelmeni (dumplings), holubtsi (cabbage rolls), kielbasa, sauerkraut, borscht, Ukrainian desserts, and more. Two buffet seating times run from 12-2 p.m. and 2:30-4 p.m. Tickets cost $40 for adults, $20 for students, and are free for kids 5 and under.

Pittsburgh Food Drives

With SNAP benefits in jeopardy statewide and the winter holidays approaching, Pittsburgh spots are holding community food drives and collecting donations.

Three independent bookstores — Blythe Books, Kards Unlimited, and Vintage Max — are teaming up for a Battle of the Bookstores food drive, running through Mon., Nov. 10. Donations of “cans or cash” can be made in-store or online.

Highland Park Community Council needs “Thanksgiving trimmings” for seniors at the Vintage Senior Center. Donations of cranberry sauce, stuffing mix, cornbread mix, turkey gravy, and yams can be dropped off on the porch at 1128 Winterton St. through Sun., Nov. 16. Giant Eagle gift cards can also be donated.

Lawrenceville’s Cork Harbour Pub requests non-perishable dried goods, pantry staples, and toiletries through Thu., Nov. 20. For every two items donated, your name will be entered in a drawing to win a private party in the pub’s back room.

Georgie’s Corner Cafe in Shadyside is collecting non-perishable food, dried goods, and toiletries through Sun., Nov. 23. Anyone who donates will receive a free mini triple chocolate chip cookie.

Fig Tree Coffee in Crafton hosts a food collection drive through the end of November. Drop off any non-perishable items (e.g. food, personal care products, diapers) during business hours. Anyone who donates can be entered into a drawing for a Fig Tree Coffee gift card.

Phat Bagel
4508 Liberty Ave., Bloomfield. instagram.com/phatbagels

Phat Bagel, a hand-rolled bagel pop-up, will move into the space soon to be vacated by Baby Loves Tacos, which announced an expansion last April and is moving next door. Phat Bagel “grew its roots” in the neighborhood after operating at the Bloomfield Farmers Market, owner Dexter Edwards told the Pittsburgh Business Times.

The Phat Bagel brick-and-mortar will feature an expanded menu with breakfast sandwiches, customizable spreads, and toppings “kind of like Cold Stone [Creamery],” Edwards said, allowing customers “to experience Phat Bagel at its full extent.”

La Vigneta Winery & Restaurant
352 N. Pike Rd., Sarver. lavignetawinery.com

Pennsylvania wine-tasting got a boost with the opening of La Vigneta Winery’s new location in Butler County. The Italian winery celebrated its grand opening in the former Cooper Station Restaurant on Oct. 24, debuting a restaurant with dinner service and a full wine and cocktail menu. Co-owner Francesca Howden told TribLive in January that the new space represents a “full-scale iteration” of the winery, which formerly operated a tasting room in Buffalo Township, and has an eye toward adding a gift shop or banquet room and hiring more employees. Reservations can be booked through OpenTable.

This article appears in Oct. 29-Nov. 4, 2025.

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