Andy Russell in the House

We were pleased to host Steeler great, former linebacker Andy Russell.  Andy received an award from the Homeless Children's Education Fund at it's annual Champions for Children Event, which we were delighted to host this year.

Wine Party at the Priory

We had a great time at our August wine party.  The weather was great, and our old friend Joey DiSalvo came to talk about the 7 Collefrisio Vineyards (from Abruzzi, Italy) wines we tasted.  Joey, who also owns and operates DiSalvo's Station event space and restaurant  is a friend and colleague through the Pennsylvania Restaurant and Lodging Association, where Joey served as Chair in 2009 and I'm proud to serve as Chair this year.  Thanks to Joey and his colleague Vance Kaloz for some fantastic wines and a fun and educational night!

Priory Hotel Featured in National MSN Article

Microsoft Network (MSN.com) ran a recent story entitled Fifteen Affordable U.S. Cities to Add to Your Bucket List.  Pittsburgh, not surprisingly, was among them.  In the piece on Pittsburgh, travelers are directed to try Meat and Potatoes for dinner, the Warhol Museum for a tour stop, and our Priory Hotel for lodging, the only hotel mentioned in the Pittsburgh portion of the piece!

PRLA Good Neighbor Awards

I was really honored, in my capacity as Chairman of the statewide Pennsylvania Restaurant & Lodging Association, to have the opportunity to deliver our two Restaurant Good Neighbor Awards at the PRLA's Spring Meeting.  The winners were the Springfield Restaurant Group, near Pittsburgh, and Lehigh Valley Restaurant Group.  Both are doing great works in assisting their communities.  Congratulations to them!

Acquiring the Westinghouse Castle

We were very pleased this week to have acquired the Westinghouse Castle in Wilmerding, near Monroeville.  This historic building was constructed by George Westinghouse in the early 1890's to serve as the offices for his air brake factory.  Our plan is to convert the building into a hotel, event facility and restaurant, which honors the legacy of George Westinghouse and the workers who built this region.

You can see a Post-Gazette story on the acquisition here.

Here is a link to the Castle's Facebook page.

Craft Beer Week Special at the Priory Hotel!

It's Craft Beer Week in Pittsburgh, and the region has an ever-growing collection of craft breweries, some small and some not-so-small.  Our Priory Hotel is featuring an overnight special to let guests sample the offerings of Craft Beer Week from our central location.  The CBW planners have a wide variety of events planned throughout the week, all of which look to be a great deal of fun!  

Our special package includes a $50 certificate for dinner at the famed Church Brew Works, as well as a chilled bucket of four bottled microbrewed beers available to our guests at check in. Guests may also use the Priory Hotel's shuttle to take you to and from the Church, as well as to other center city locations holding Craft Brew Week events!  

  

Package price:  King room - $199 per double occupancy, plus tax; Queen room - $179 per double occupancy, plus tax.  Additional nights are available at a rate of $139 for a King room and $119 for a Queen (exclusive of tax).  

For more information, visit our website here, or call 866 3PRIORY to speak with one of our Front Desk Associates.   

For information about CBW Events, click here.  

For a Post-Gazette story on CBW, click here.

April Al Fresco Wine Party is April 21!

            Sometimes we feel a little crazy here at the Priory Hotel and Grand Hall, and April showers and April Fools only makes it worse!  So we’re breaking the mold on our traditional wine tasting format for our April event -- it's not a wine tasting, it's a WINE PARTY!  Instead of riffing on a theme with a single host, we’re busting open our vaults to produce a potpourri of different wines from around the world that you can taste and sample at your leisure.  If you like one wine, stick to that one.  If you want to sample a variety, do that.  You’re in control!

And instead of pairing wines with a particular plate, we’re trying out something different – an old fashioned southern Seafood Boil!  This traditional recipe, served family style, includes a savory broth thick with shrimp, mussels, clams, sausage, whole corn, potatoes and a variety of veggies.    We’ll also be serving fresh garlic toast, fresh fruit and cheese, and cheesecake pops for dessert. 

Among the wines that we’ll be offering: 

·         Drusian Dru Cru Sparkling (Valdobbiandena, Italy)

·         Villa Sarndi Prosecco (Treviso, Italy)

·         Villa Sandi Rose Brut (Crocelledel Montello, Italy)

·         Bogle Essential Red (California 2013):  Blend of old vine Zinfandel, Syrah, Cabernet and Petit Syrah

·         Cosentino “The Dark” Red Blend (Lodi 2013)

·         Paso Del Sol Camenere (Central Valley 2010)   

·         Briar Valley Lemberger (Bedford, PA 2011)

·         Cosentino “The Franc” (Lodi 2013):  Cabernet Franc

·         Dante Marramiero Dry Rose (Cerasuolo D’Abruzzo 2014)

·         Vignal Chardonnay (Venezie 2012)

·         Lima White (Vinho Verde, Portugal 2013):  100% Laureiro

And we’ll be offering other special guest wines as well (no 1982 Chateau Margaux, though, so don’t get your hopes up).   

                Music will be by Ray Lanich and his axe, a fan favorite at the Priory.  We’ll be outside, good Lord willing!  

                Doors open at 6:00 p.m., and the party begins at 6:30 p.m.  Tickets are $60 per person.  Please contact Gene Lucente at gene@thepriory.com with questions or to make reservations.