Tens of thousands of spectators and participants will flock to Downtown Pittsburgh for the St. Patrick’s Day parade this Saturday. But those kind of crowds aren’t everyone’s scene. Want to have fun without all the craziness? Here are some events to try instead.
Row House Cinema Japanese Film Festival
Row House Cinema is Lawrenceville is kicking off one of its most popular special events of the year with the annual Japanese Film Festival this weekend. Over the next three days, they will be showing seven different Japanese films in a variety of genres and themes, with another batch coming next weekend.
There will also be special events each day, including an opening night with treat bags and a popcorn bar on Friday; watermelon and banana night with “House” on Saturay night; and a sake tasting to go with the film “Kokuho” on Sunday. To see movie times and buy tickets, visit rowhousecinemas.com.
Cookies on Tap
Beer and Girl Scout cookies are a weird but perfect pairing, as Penn Brewery will prove this weekend with their Cookies on Tap event. They’re pairing five different five-ounce pours of their beer with two Girl Scout cookies each, allowing for a fun exploration of flavor combinations and different beer styles.
Cookies for the event are provided by Girl Scout Troop 28807. The 21 and over event is $20 per person and you’ll want to get your tickets now to reserve your seat. The tasting will be held at 1 p.m. Sunday at Penn Brewery on the North Side. Learn more on the brewery’s Facebook page at facebook.com/pennbrewerynorthside.
‘Eureka Day’ at City Theatre
Get ready for a riotous laugh-out-loud experience at the theater with City Theatre’s latest production, “Eureka Day.” This Tony Award-winning play takes a satirical look at the world of private schools full of high-achieving students and hovering parents. As debates heat up in the school’s library, the comedy will keep on coming. This is the first time ”Eureka Day” will be performed locally.
Performances will be held at 7:30 p.m. Friday, 5:30 p.m. Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday at City Theatre on the South Side. The show will also run through March 29. Each show is about one hour and 55 minutes long. To learn more and get tickets, visit citytheatrecompany.org.
Rise Against
Punk band Rise Against will be rocking Stage AE Friday night. The band’s been running more than 25 years, have broken rock and alternative chart records and have put out 10 studio albums, including “Ricochet” last year.
Get ready for a night of exhilarating music. Opening will be Destroy Boys and Koyo. The show will take place in the indoor venue at Stage AE on the North Shore, and doors will open at 6 p.m. Friday. To learn more and get tickets, visit promowestlive.com/pittsburgh/stage-ae.
Science Center 21 Night
Don’t let all of the St. Patrick’s Day celebrations make you forget that we’re getting yet another Friday the 13th this week. The Kamin Science Center on the North Shore will recognize the occasion with a 21 Night on the theme of superstitions.
They’ll offer craft cocktails and mocktails, science demos on the origins of superstitions, some on-site black (and other) cats, a good luck charm craft and the chance explore all of the Science Center after dark. There will also be opportunities to learn about Pittsburgh’s haunted places and why the horror genre matters from experts.
The event will be held from 6 to 10 p.m. Friday at the Kamin Science Center. Tickets are $25. Get yours at kaminsciencecenter.org.