Chriisy Hinde and Band Performing at New Hazlett on September 28

Chrissie Hynde, late of the legendary 1980's band the Pretenders, will be performing with her new band, JP, Chrissie & the Fairground Boys on September 28 at the New Hazlett Theater, located not a five minute walk from our doors. JP in the title of the new band is JP Jones, a singer-songwriter from Wales who is now Chrissie's significant other.

Click here for a New York Daily News story on the new band.

Click here to see the band's MySpace page.

Click here for a New York Daily News review of JP, Chrissie & the Fairground Boys' new alblum.

Check the New Hazlett Theater website for information on ticket pricing and purchase, information which I did not have at the time of this post.

Aimee Mann at the New Hazlett on 9/22

National artist Aimee Mann will be performing at the nearby New Hazlett Theater on September 22. Perhaps best know for her work on the soundtrack to the film "Magnolia," including the hit "Save Me," Mann is a world class artist and we are superbly excited to welcome her to the North Side. Tickets may be purchased from the New Hazlett Website here.

Brad Yoder Performing at September Priory Wine Tasting

Noted Pittsburgh performer Brad Yoder will be performing at our next al fresco wine tasting on September 16 (Thursday) from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Brad is an excellent singer/songwriter whom I first saw perform last year at Mullaney's Harp & Fiddle. He was great, I bought a couple of his CD's, and looked for an opportunity to bring him our way to perform. This will be a real treat.

As noted in his biography on his website: "Acknowledged by Pittsburgh Magazine as 'ruling the Pittsburgh coffeehouse scene,”'Brad logs over 150 performances annually, playing colleges, cafés, churches, festivals, First Nights, and even the zoo. Brad has opened for a diverse range of artists, including Erin McKeown, Tegan & Sara, the Cowboy Junkies, Lucy Kaplansky, Carrie Newcomer, the Vigilantes of Love, Emmylou Harris, Robyn Hitchcock, Ellis Paul, and Rob Dickinson of Catherine Wheel, plus played the second stage for David Gray, Peter Paul & Mary, and Steve Earle/Jackson Browne."

You can sample some of Brad's music at his MySpace page, here.

The wine theme for September is North vs. South, where we pit the wines of South America vs. those of North America (four different wines altogether). Our wine host will be Kevin McCorkle of Geandre Wines. Keep an eye on the blog for more information regarding the wines we'll be tasting and our menu. We'll be serving some inventive hearty hors d'oeuvres paired with the wines.

Tickets are $50 per person. You can RSVP by e-mailing gene@thepriory.com.

Pittsburgh Irish Festival September 10-12

If you're in town the weekend of September 10 through 12, it's well worth a trip up the Monongahela River to the Riverplex concert complex near the Sandcastle water park for the annual Pittsburgh Irish Festival. The festival features bands representing many strains of Irish music, from traditional pub music to balladeers to rockers with an Irish twist. Entertainment also includes Irish dancers and storytellers. There will be craftsmen, food and even Irish canoe (curragh) racing. The event is always a blast.

Headling acts include Gaelic Storm and the Makem & Spain Brothers. Click here for a complete list of entertainers.

Tickets are $10 in advance, $12 at the gate, and may be purchased by telephoning (412) 422-1113. Special prices are available for youths, seniors and others. Click here for more information.

Click here for hours and schedule.

Winter White Wedding Winners Announced

"> We held a special reception at the Grand Hall Wednesday, August 18 to announce the winner of our Military Winter White Wedding™ Giveaway. The drawing was open to any current or former member of the military deployed to Iraq or Afghanistan after September 11, 2001 and who reside/resided in Western Pennsylvania.

Out of the 15 eligible couples that entered, Kittanning native and U.S. Army Veteran Justin Welton (who was deployed in Afghanistan & Iraq) and his fiancee Caitlin McKernan of Ford City were announced the lucky winners. The couple will enjoy a free Winter White Wedding™ Reception package at Pittsburgh’s Grand Hall in early 2011 (date TBA) as well as several other complimentary wedding products and services generously donated by the following local organizations:

All Inclusive Honeymoon Cruise from American Express Traveler's Service Co.
Wedding Rings from Henne Jewelers
Wedding Gown from The Bridal Place in Finleyville
Men's Formal Wear from Top Hat Tuxedo
Photography from Weddings by Heather & Heather Lahtinen
Disc Jockey from Entertainment Unlimited & P.J. the D.J.
Flowers from K.S. Kennedy Floral
Wedding Cake from Priory Fine Pastries
Chair Covers from Pittsburgh Chair Covers
Women's Hairstyling from Izzazu Salon & Spa downtown

Thank you to everyone who entered, our amazing sponsors and of course, the service men and women who continue to protect our freedom.

Living it Up In Pittsburgh, PA

Pop City, the online magazine, recently devised the "Ideal Pittsburgh Weekend," the ultimate three day traverse through the Steel City. Stops include some of my favorite local stopping places. One is Kayak Pittsburgh, which rents kayaks on the Allegheny River and Lake Elizabeth in West Park (which is actually a shallow pond). Both Kayak Pittsburgh locations are very near our Priory Hotel location) and Redfin Blues, a neat little bistro on Washington's Landing (an island in the Allegheny) with a great view of the river and a kicking patio deck. Check out Pop City's Ideal Weekend here.