Here’s Your Chance to Explore Some of Pittsburgh’s Most Interesting Neighborhoods
Fall home and garden tours are taking place on the North Side and Friendship.
PHOTO COURTESY BRIGHTON HEIGHTS CITIZENS FEDERATION
From the North Side to Friendship and beyond, the Pittsburgh region is home to a diverse array of architectural gems — and here’s your chance to explore some of them.
Three home and garden tours taking place this fall each offer an inside look at the dwellings of some of the city’s most historic neighborhoods, complemented by food stops, artist markets — and the simple pleasure of meeting new neighbors.
PHOTO COURTESY BRIGHTON HEIGHTS CITIZENS FEDERATION
Brighton Heights House and Garden Tour
The Brighton Heights Citizens Federation kicks off its 17th annual House and Garden Tour at 11 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 16, at Legion Memorial Park. This year’s tour includes 11 houses (among them Craftsman- and Tudor-style homes), three gardens and an inside look behind the brick walls of St. Cyril’s of Alexandria’s.
PHOTO COURTESY BRIGHTON HEIGHTS CITIZENS FEDERATION
In addition to the property tours, there will be an artist market and food trucks. Molly’s Trolley also will be on hand for transportation. The tour winds down at 5 p.m. at 3601 Shadeland Ave., located at the corner of Brighton Road and Davis Avenue.
Tickets are $25 and available at Legion Park on the day of the event; they also may be purchased here.
PHOTO COURTESY MEXICAN WAR STREETS SOCIETY
Mexican War Streets House & Garden Tour
Now in its 51st year, the annual Mexican War Streets House & Garden Tour takes place — rain or shine — from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 17. The 11 houses on the self-guided tour feature a variety of historic architectural styles, including Italianate, Queen Anne and Gothic Revival. While the homes range in size, many have undergone significant renovation, according to event organizers.
The two gardens on tour include one belonging to Bob Sendall, owner of All in Good Taste Productions, whose perennial garden features an outdoor kitchen and brick oven fireplace.
PHOTO COURTESY MEXICAN WAR STREETS SOCIETY
Among the various points of interest along the way are Randyland and the Garden Theater block; there also are stops throughout the neighborhood where people can grab lunch, such as Monterey Pub and Mayfly Market.
Tickets are limited and cost $30 each; they’re available online only by visiting here. Tickets may be picked up at the Welcome Booth located at the Inn on The Mexican War Streets, a mansion that once belonged to department store owner Russell H. Boggs, and the first stop of the day. The tour booklets for participants come with a map of the featured houses, labeled by number, as well as interesting stops around the neighborhood.
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Friendship House Tour
You’ll find a friend, and some cool architecture, in the East End’s Friendship neighborhood. Sponsored by UPMC and other local businesses, The Friendship House Tour takes place from 11 a.m to 4 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 1.
The self-guided tour begins at Baum Grove, a parklet owned by the nonprofit Friendship Community Group, and includes a half-dozen homes along the neighborhood’s tree-lined streets, among them a restored American Foursquare-style home.
There’s even a “brand new” home, according to Friendship Community Group president Sara DeLucia. The classic Hulley House, designed by E.B. Hulley — who built hundreds of similar houses throughout the late 1910s and 1920s around Pittsburgh — has been added-to and completely rebuilt.
Tour tickets are $20 and proceeds benefit maintenance and capital expenditures for the parklet, as well as support the Friendship Community Group’s programming.
For more information, visit here.
