Festivals to host pie-baking contest, Italian fare, pig roast
Stars, Stripes & Pies: Pie-baking contest, live music, face painting and games. 2 to 6 p.m. July 4 at the Historical Carrick Dairy District. Free admission. To enter the pie-baking competition, call 412-361-2099, ext. 4. facebook.com (search for “Stars, Stripes & Pies!”).
Italian StrEAT Festival: Italian food vendors, live music and performances, cooking demos, Italian wines, a bocce court, raffles, children’s activities and more. July 7 and 8, Penn Avenue between Sixth and Ninth streets, Downtown. Free admission. highmarkstreatfestpgh.com.
Gibsonia Pig Roast: Hardwood-smoked pig, dryrubbed pulled pork, smoked wings, baked mac and cheese, sweet chili coleslaw, calico baked beans with shaved brisket, honey-lime fruit salad, rolls, and cornbread. 5 to 9 p.m. July 7 at Strange Roots Experimental Ale, Gibsonia. $15; $8 for children; drinks cost extra. eventbrite.com (search for “Gibsonia Pig Roast with Rogue BBQ and Serenity Hills Farm”).
Yinz Fest: Ticket includes an Isaly’s chipped ham slider, a fun-size Wigle Whiskey spiked milkshake with Isaly’s ice cream, choice of a beer or spiked Arnold Palmer with Turner’s Iced Tea, three potato and cheese pierogies from Pierogies Plus, and a mini Clark Bar, plus live music and Penn Brewery beer samples. 2 to 5 p.m. July 8 at Wigle Whiskey Barrelhouse & Whiskey Garden, North Side. $ 15. wiglewhiskey.
Free food
Eat’n Park Robinson: The Robinson Eat’n Park opened a new pickup window last week. Guests who pick up takeout orders at the window on July 2 will receive free coffee. Takeout orders can be placed through the Eat’n Park mobile app, on the website at eatnpark.com, or by phone at 412787-8556. Free coffee will be available only at the Robinson store.
Einstein Bros. Bagels: Staycationers can get a buyone, get-one bagel offer from July 2 to 6. Show proof of local residency (driver’s license, library card, mail, etc.) and get a free bagel sandwich when you order a second bagel sandwich from the chain’s new “Flavors Across America” menu, which includes a variety of breakfast and lunch sandwiches. Local Einstein Bros. stores are in Downtown, Oakland, Shadyside, Green Tree, Upper St. Clair and Cranberry. einsteinbros.
Other events
Mushroom walks: All walks are free and are held at 10 a.m. July 7: Meet at the intersection of McNay Ridge Road and Bristoria Road in Ryerson Station, Greene County; July 14: Meet in the swimming pool parking lot of North Park; July 21: Meet in the Great Allegheny Passage parking lot off Sheridan Street across from the Ohiopyle House Cafe in Ohiopyle State Park, Fayette County. wpamushroomclub.org.
Learn to Brew Kombucha: Learn how to brew and use kombucha and taste local Red Star Kombucha. 3 to 5 p.m. July 7 at Millvale Community Library. Free; a scoby (kombucha starter) is $20. eventbrite.com (search for “Learn to Brew Kombucha!”).
Anthony Bourdain TributeDinner: Five-coursemeal withdrink pairings. 6 to 8 p.m. July 9 at Pirata Caribbean Cuisine & Rum Bar, Downtown. $125; $50 from each ticket benefits suicide prevention awareness. Reservations: 412-232-3000.
Rebecca Sodergren: pgfoodevents@hotmail.com; @pgfoodevents. 59