Chatham University
105 Woodland Rd., Shadyside. instagram.com/cu_global_liberation

Take a global food tour on Thu., Dec. 4, from 7-9:30 p.m. with Chatham Students for Global Liberation. The student organization will host a Food 4 Freedom event where guests can sample authentically made food from Palestine, Sudan, Congo, Haiti, Ukraine, and other countries, hear guest speakers, and participate in fundraising for justice movements from around the globe. The event is free. Donations are encouraged.

Jackworth Ginger Beer x Highland Farm & Garden x Community Cultures
6615 Hamilton Ave., Larimer. jackworth.co

Pittsburgh is getting its own pawpaw ginger beer. On Sat., Dec. 6 from 3-6 p.m., head to Jackworth Ginger Beer for a release party. A collaboration between Jackworth, Community Cultures, and Highland Farm & Garden, the new pawpaw beer honors “fermentation and the flavors of our native fruit,” known for its custard-like consistency and citrus flavor. Pawpaws were locally cultivated, processed, cold-infused, and fermented to transform “this special tropical-like fruit into a one-of-a-kind ginger beer.”

Holiday Ice Cream and Milkshakes 2025

Graeter’s Ice Cream 2025 holiday flavor collection Credit: Courtesy of Graeter’s

If you like to celebrate the holidays with a cold treat, check out these festive (and bizarre) dairy creations.

Sarris Candies and Schneider’s Dairy ring in the season with the return of their Peppermint Bark Milkshake. The “most wonderful drink of the year” blends chocolate and peppermint. Get it at any Schneider’s Dairy retailer. Sarris’ egg nog ice cream also returns to its Canonsburg store for a limited time.

Grist House Craft Brewery and Turner Dairy reunite for their first collab since 2021 with Udderly Baked, a Brownie Batter Milk Stout. Inspired by Turner’s Brownie Batter Milk, the new brew evokes a “decadent spoonful of brownie batter straight from the bowl,” according to a press release. Find the Milk Stout at all four Grist House taproom locations and on draft and in 16-ounce cans while supplies last.

Jeni’s Splendid Holiday Collection launched with new ice cream and the return of a fan-favorite flavor. The lineup includes the debut of Cranberry Panettone with Chocolate Sprinkles (a brioche-scented custard with cranberry-orange jam), Boozy Egg Nog, White Chocolate Dulce de Leche, and Pistachio Macaron. Wedding Cake, a buttercream flavor with an icing-like texture and yellow cake pieces, returns with new lemon curd and blackberry jam sauces. For a limited time, Jeni’s guests can also try a Dubai Chocolate Bar flavor, pairing its Pistachio Macaron and Milkiest Chocolate ice creams, topped with Jeni’s bittersweet Sundae Fudge Sauce and toasted kataifi. Try the Holiday Collection at Jeni’s Pittsburgh scoop shops or online; Wedding Cake and Dubai Chocolate Bar are available in-store only while supplies last.

Jeni’s Splendid Holiday Collection 2025 Credit: Courtesy of Jeni’s Ice Cream

Graeter’s Ice Cream joins the festivities with a new holiday flavor collection. The Cincinnati-based ice cream maker celebrates its 155th anniversary with three new seasonal pints, including Cozy Hot Cocoa, Crème Brûlée, and Spirited Eggnog, as well as returning favorites Peppermint Stick and Graeter’s signature Black Raspberry Chip. Graeter’s Holiday Collection is available online and at its Pittsburgh-area stores in Castle Shannon and Wexford.

The Snickerdoodle Cookie Shake is back at Burgatory through a collab with 96.1’s Mikey and Big Bob. Made with Schneider’s Dairy cream and house-made snickerdoodle cookies, each Snickerdoodle Shake sold benefits Toys for Tots. Enjoy it at Burgatory through Sun., Dec. 14.

Shake Shack
219 Shady Ave., East Liberty. shakeshack.com

Another win for milkshake lovers: Pittsburgh will soon get a Shake Shack in East Liberty. The latest Pittsburgh-area location, joining Shake Shacks at The Strip District Terminal, Pittsburgh Airport, and in North Fayette Township, is slated to open Thu., Dec. 4 at 10:30 a.m. in The Meridian development. Opening day guests receive a custom mini Shake Shack tote, and $1 from every sandwich sold will benefit 412 Food Rescue. After opening day, “the Shack” will be open from 10:30 a.m.-11 p.m. daily, serving the chain’s full menu of burgers, hand-spun shakes, and crinkle-cut fries. A fifth Shake Shack location is planned for Ross Park Mall.

The Meridian also welcomed Giant Eagle’s Penn Avenue Market District last month. The new grocery store includes traditional fresh food, produce, meat, seafood, deli, and bakery departments, as well as a “heightened” prepared foods section with an in-store Millie’s Ice Cream shop.

Ruckus Cafe
625 Liberty Ave., Downtown. ruckuscafe.com

Ruckus Cafe opened a second location on Dec. 1 inside Downtown’s EQT Plaza. The new cafe, following its first location in Shaler, will offer coffee and espresso drinks, breakfast and lunch, music, and an art gallery and event space. According to the cafe’s new Instagram page, “monthly features” for December include a Nutcracker Cream Cheese Bagel, Bruschetta Ricotta Toast, and a Peppermint Dream Affogato (vanilla ice cream and candy cane pieces topped with white chocolate sauce and espresso). Ruckus Downtown is now open Mon.-Fri. from 7 a.m.-3 p.m.

Standing Wave Coffee Roaster
2024 Sarah St., South Side. standingwavecoffee.com

The South Side also welcomed a new coffee shop and roaster. Standing Wave Coffee opened near the corner of Sarah Street and S. 21st Street last month. The Pittsburgh Business Times reports that the independent roastery, helmed by brothers Evan and Colin Fry, is expanding from Silver Horse Coffee, another brick-and-mortar coffee shop in Donegal, and operates a coffee truck launched in 2022. According to its Instagram page, the new Standing Wave serves coffee roasted in-house, breakfast and lunch, sandwiches, Brooklyn bagels, and a “medley of local pastries.” The coffee shop is now open daily from 7 a.m.-3 p.m.

Surf-and-turf and coconut-cream pie at The Grant Bar and Lounge Credit: CP Photo by Erin Kelly

The Grant Bar and Lounge
114 Grant Ave., Millvale.

The Grant Bar in Millvale closed on Nov. 29 after nearly a century in business.

“This decision has not come easily,” the bar’s owners and staff wrote in a Facebook post. “We have welcomed generations of families, celebrated countless milestones and had the privilege of becoming a small but meaningful part of our lives. That legacy is something we will cherish forever. However, as times change and new challenges arise, we have reached a moment where continuing in the same way is no longer possible.”

Millvale Mayor Brian Spoales praised The Grant Bar as “far more than just a restaurant; it has been a true institution—a cornerstone of our community and a reliable gathering place across three generations of families.”

The space first opened as the Bennett Hotel in the 1880s, then reopened as The Grant Bar and Restaurant by Matthew and Maria Ruzomberka in 1933, becoming known for its family recipes, classic fine dining, and pies. The Pittsburgh Business Times reported the historic property was first listed for sale in August with an asking price of $1.5 million.

Taqueria Acosta
520 E. Ohio St., North Side. instagram.com/taqueriaacosta

Taqueria Acosta announced the closure of its tacOcat pop-up on Nov. 20.

“After a year at this present installment, we have made the decision to move into a period of rest, reset and reflection,” reads a post on the Taqueria Instagram page. “The Taqueria lives on. This chapter is closed.”

As reported by the Pittsburgh Business Times, the Taqueria, operated by restaurateur Chris Acosta, has run a series of concepts in the space since 2020, beginning with Taqueria Acosta, and followed by Fat Cat in 2023, which closed in March 2024. Acosta then opened Taqueria Acosta at Fat Cat, referred to as TacoCat, in November of last year.

The closure announcement reassured fans, stating “Are we done as a brand. Not even close,” and confirmed the business plans to return “faster, more esthetic and much tastier” in 2026.

Patron Mexican Grill
135 S. Highland Ave., East Liberty. patronmexicangrills.com

The East Liberty Patron location has permanently closed. TribLive confirmed the closure after seeing the Mexican restaurant intermittently boarded up with tan paper covering the windows and Pittsburgh Redditors noting it has been marked as closed on Google. TribLive also reports a posted sign indicates Patron’s liquor license has been transferred to the address of the former Hard Rock Cafe in Station Square, which closed in February.

The reason for the closure is unclear. Patron’s location in Monroeville is also listed as “temporarily closed” on Google. Locations in Wexford and Cranberry remain open.

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