Things To Do In Pittsburgh

Upcoming in Pittsburgh: The Next Big Things

Named after native Pittsburgh literary genius, the August Wilson Center for African American Culture is a stunning addition to the growing Cultural District in downtown Pittsburgh. More than a museum, the new center reflects all aspects of African-American culture. The 80,000-square-foot facility includes galleries, classrooms, a 500-seat theater and many multi-purpose spaces. Look for the August Wilson Center to open this spring.

The new Rivers Casino is a true riverfront jewel. The casino features a glass atrium as its centerpiece and a second-floor nightclub that provides panoramic views of downtown Pittsburgh from its home on the North Shore. The casino also houses five restaurants including outdoor dining, multiple lounges, banquet room, riverfront amphitheater and riverfront paths. And, of course plenty of slots, too! Stay tuned for the addition of table games in July 2010!

Within Pittsburgh's vibrant Cultural District, the upscale hotel Fairmont Pittsburgh is another step into the City's green future. Opening this summer, the mixed-use building complex, which includes shopping, restaurants and office space as well as the hotel, is expected to be "green" certified by the U.S. Green Building Council. Fairmont Pittsburgh combines the finest luxury accommodations and state-of-the-art facilities with responsible tourism.

The Carnegie Science Center makes science come alive! With hundreds of hands-on exhibits, three science theaters, a high-definition digital planetarium, a four-story IMAX, and a submarine moored on the Ohio River, Carnegie Science Center is Pittsburgh's home of science fun! Opening in June: roboworld, the nation's largest and most comprehensive permanent robotics exhibition! Showcasing the latest in robotics technology, roboworld features dozens of hands-on exhibit stations and the world-famous Robot Hall of Fame. If you're more sports-inclined, bounce, sprint, and jump your way to SportsWorks, a science of sports and health exhibition like no other. Opening in September, SportsWorks features favorites such as the trampoline, Orbitron, and virtual volleyball as well as a few new surprises.

The National Aviary takes off with a new $23 million expansion project that will provide encounter space unlike any other when it's completed in 2010. First stop: Penguin Point. Set to open in the late spring 2009, this 2,300 square-feet exhibit offers 360 degree views of African Penguins as they swim, dive and swirl through a replica of their natural habitat. Also included in the plans for the environmentally friendly project are a new free-flight indoor bird theater, an open-air rooftop theater, public café, classrooms and new exhibit spaces.