Going into Friday, I had plans for a very low-key weekend… and then I found out that two friends were in town for the weekend, and ended up with plans on both Saturday and Sunday. Not quite as low-key as I had imagined, but I’ll never complain about getting to catch up with friends who I haven’t seen in a while!

On Saturday night, we were looking for dinner plans that were far enough away from the Downtown and South Side areas of the city that we wouldn’t have to worry about running into people who had been celebrating St. Patrick’s Day for 12 hours. We ended up at Whitfield, the restaurant inside the Ace Hotel in East Liberty.

The Ace Hotel is such a cool space – it actually used to be a YMCA that had already closed down, and then was turned into a hotel. They actually kept the gym intact, and now it’s turned into a common area for the hotel – there are basketball hoops, giant-sized versions of games like Connect Four, and also can be used as an event space.

I can happily report that there were no St. Patrick’s Day celebrations happening at the hotel, or at Whitfield, the restaurant in the hotel lobby. I think Whitfield is one of the best recent additions to Pittsburgh’s dining scene! The menu is small, but so good – they focus on local ingredients and influences, and a seasonally changing menu. Everything I’ve had there is delicious, and the staff have all been so kind and helpful.

I’m also really excited because I’ll be back at the Ace Hotel in just a few weeks for Inclusive Innovation Week! I am lucky enough to be on a community promoting disability inclusion, and we’re planning a silent disco in the gym on April 7! I hope that you all can join me, and I’ll make sure to update with more information as the details are finalized!