An ode to the Latino heritage
Get a taste of the Latino culture and heritage at the annual Latino Picnic at the Camp David Lawrence Shelter in Schenley Park, which will be from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday.
The potluck-style picnic allows folks to bring dishes that represent their countries of heritage. Kenya Dworkin, vice president of Latin American Cultural Union, said the picnic table will be filled with everything from Cuban or Puerto Rican rice and beans to Colombian corn dishes and Argentine empanadas. Desserts include Uruguayan peach and meringue cake, flan or tres leches cake.
But the food is not limited to Latino fare. If someone shows up with fried chicken, Ms. Dworkin said, that’s OK.
“The original intention of the Latin American Cultural Union was to bring Latinos together,” she said. But it has expanded into “building a community.” In fact, some of the members aren’t even of Latino heritage.
The Latin American group sponsors fundraisers and brings speakers, documentary screenings and other Latino heritage-related events to the region.
At the picnic, a DJ will spin tracks and there will be an open mic jam session. Zumba, salsa, yoga and other classes will be held, and kids’ activities will include a piñata and a Home Depot building station.
At least 200 people are expected. “It’s like a big family, but there are always new arrivals,” Ms. Dworkin said. “We want to get new Latinos to come and get to know each other,” as well as share their countries’ cuisines and cultures.
Admission is free. Info: lacunet.org.
Warhol’s birthday party
Celebrate Andy Warhol’s birthday with a happy hour that includes drink and dessert specials, pop art-inspired decor and a DJ. Dom Perignon, a favorite of Warhol, will be available by the glass for $30. Pastry chef James Wroblewski will create $10 “original works of dessert” such as Soda, Fruit and Party, riffing on Warhol’s works.
Guests can choose from malted cremeux with vanilla foam, root beer crystals, cookie crumbs and hot fudge sauce; ginger cake with poached passion fruit, peaches, pistachio cream, raspberry tea anglaise and dried raspberries; and gluten-free funfetti cake with strawberry chia jam and whipped cream. Event is 6 to 8 p.m. Aug. 6, at Andys (named for Andy Warhol and Andrew Carnegie), the bar at the Fairmont Pittsburgh, Downtown. Info: andyswinebar.com.
Food events
Champagne truck: “Clicquot en Route,” a big yellow truck, stops in Pittsburgh this week. From 7 to 11 p.m. Saturday in Market Square, enjoy lawn games, street performances, Veuve Clicquot sold by the glass or bottle, and champagne from local eateries. From 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sunday, brunch at Meat and Potatoes, Downtown, features Veuve Clicquot pairings.
Free farmers market food: Chipotle will host a tent from 3 to 5:30 p.m. Aug. 5, at the Indiana County Farmers Market on Wayne Avenue in Indiana. To encourage shoppers to support their community’s farmers market, the chain will offer $5 currency tokens redeemable for food at the market. Distribution will be first come, first served.
Better Burger: Olafemi Mandley of Ola Appetit Catering Co. is one of 13 food professionals competing in James Beard Foundation’s Better Burger Project. For $12 per person, taste her sustainable creations — the Pittsburgh Po’ Boy, Cocktail Party Burger and Country Boy Burger — from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Thursday and Friday at her café at 917 Duquesne Blvd., Duquesne. If she is one of the five chefs with the most Instagram postings (use the hashtag #BetterBurgerProject) by customers, she’ll win a trip to New York. betterburgerproject.org.