August Nightlife Guide: A Wayans’ Brother, Second City, Summer Rewind, and Some Wigle Room

The cast of The Second City’s Summer Blockbuster (l. to r.) Eve Krueger, Danny Catlow, Greg Ott, Adam Archer, Lauren Walker, and Alison Gates.

The summer’s not over until we say it’s over. And even if we can’t do that we’re going to squeeze every last drop of fun out of the season. This month there’s plenty of happening events to go out on a high note on.

Wigle Whiskey’s Barrelhouse and Whiskey Garden opened on the North Side in 2014. The Garden’s buckwheat, rye grass, and lavender may put you in the mood for a cocktail; those botanicals and more are used in spirit-and-cocktail-making. Tours are available of the adjacent Barrelhouse and include a barrel-aged cocktail and tastings of five spirits. You may learn the one “g” in “Wigle” is no typo. Wigle Whiskey is named after Philip Wigle, who violently demonstrated against a new tax imposed on distillers. He was sentenced to hang for his involvement in a little local historical event you may have heard of—The Whiskey Rebellion. President Washington later pardoned him.

Events include Mash Bill, which is a free concert every Saturday night, and Shot and a Beer Summer Sundays. The latter spotlights a different craft beer every week and offers $10 boilermakers, pairing a shot of a Wigle whiskey with a pint of the featured local craft beer. Both the Barrelhouse and Garden are open through September, so visit now while summer’s going strong. Thursday-Friday: 5 – 10 p.m. Saturday: 3 – 10 p.m. Sunday: 2 – 7 p.m. 1055 Spring Garden Ave., Spring Garden. (CM)

Drink like a Viking at Apis Mead & Winery. Mead, made by fermenting honey, is synonymous with Vikings, but this sweet beverage has been enjoyed for centuries in Asia, Africa, other parts of Europe, and now in quaint Carnegie. Mood lighting, black tabletops, and an indie-rock playlist make the winery a classy stop on a bar crawl. The Mellifera, its house mead, is made 100% with honey from Bedillion Honey Farm in Hickory, PA. Ditto the Dorsata, its traditional mead. Other meads use natural flavors, such as Raspberry Blackberry and Hopped Passionfruit. Apis also sells honey, T-shirts, and hoodies. This happenin’ spot is a fixture during the Carnegie Crawl, which is 5 to 9 p.m. the second Friday of every month from May to October. Apis hosts many other events, like a monthly comedy night where comics rip on the audience and the audience, in turn, is allowed to heckle. Wednesday-Thursday: 4 – 11 p.m. Friday-Saturday: 11 a.m. – midnight. Sunday: noon – 5 p.m. 212 E. Main St., Carnegie. (CM)

Marlon Wayans, Friday, Aug. 18 through Sunday, Aug.20.

Yes, Marlon Wayans is a member of the illustrious, and large, Wayan’s family. Wayans is also an actor, comedian, screenwriter, and film producer. He got his first film role as a pedestrian in I’m Gonna Get You Sucka; written, produced, and directed by his big brother Keenen Ivory Wayans. He went on to have subsequent roles in White Chicks, Scary Movie I and II, and Fifty Shades of Black. With comedy being the main family trade, Wayan’s teamed up with them for work on the seminal FOX TV comedy “In Living Color,” and with his brother Shawn on the WB Network comedy “The Wayan’s Brothers,” airing from 1995-99. Marlon will be starring in his new title-role comedy “Marlon which is set to debut on NBC on August 16. You can catch some comedy from Wayan’s in advance of his new TV show at the Pittsburgh Improv Friday, August 18 through Sunday, August 20. 166 E. Bridge St, The Waterfront, Homestead. (RH)

The cast of The Second City’s Summer Blockbuster (l. to r.) Eve Krueger, Danny Catlow, Greg Ott, Adam Archer, Lauren Walker, and Alison Gates.

The Second City Summer Blockbuster, Fri. Aug. 25 and Sat. Aug. 26

“They’re baaack.” no we don’t mean the spirits from The Poltergeist films, we’re speaking of our friends from Chicago’s Second City Comedy Troupe. When it comes to comedy, The Second City is second to none. Founded in 1959, the Chicago-based company played a major role in developing and popularizing the modern form of improv comedy. (Its early members were pioneers of the art.) Since then the group has also created over 50 years’ worth of outstanding sketch comedy, while turning out a long list of famous “alumni” including John Belushi, Tina Fey, Amy Sedaris, Steve Carell, and Stephen Colbert, to name a few. you can catch some of their classic skits—along with new material—in the road-show revue performed by The Second City’s current touring company. The Second City’s Summer Blockbuster is brought to town by Pittsburgh Public Theater and it’s a chance to see top-notch comedy done by some of the nation’s up-and-coming stars. O’Reilly Theater, 621 Penn Ave., Cultural District. (MV, RH)

PGH Rewind Summer Party, Saturday, Aug. 26.

Wouldn’t it be cool if you could rewind the summer and at the same time rewind to good times in the ‘70s, ‘80s, and ‘90s? Well you can, kind of, with the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust’s PGH Rewind, an end of summer party. The new summer blast will be held at the Trust Arts Education Center and will feature music, dance, food, and fun. The happening will sprawl over three levels with live music from Ferris Bueller’s Revenge!, DJ Jesley Snipes, DJ Selecta, and others. Super cool event highlights include divas in drag hosted by VyVyan Vyxn, featuring Cher, Tina Turner, and disco queen imitators; a glam station where you can fine-tune the “throw-back threads” you’ve worn to the event, and an arcade station. Or you can just  “boogie oogie oogie ’till you just can’t boogie no more” on the dance floor. Nostalgic treats will be served by local restaurants.

There’s two ways to attend: VIP and regular admission. Both tickets include a one year membership to the Cultural Trust’s Partners Membership Program (for new members only). Send your summer out with a bang! All proceeds benefit the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust’s education outreach and free arts programming. For more details visit the Cultural Trust PGH Rewind web page. VIP 7:30 p.m., regular admission 9 p.m. 805-807 Liberty Ave., Cultural District. (RH)

Heinz Field Kick Off and Rib Festival, Thursday, Aug. 31 through Monday, Sept. 4.

The Heinz Field Kick Off and Rib Festival is an end of the summer tradition. The festival features some of America’s top rib vendors reflecting the nation’s diverse barbecue tastes. Awards are given out to top vendors each year in categories according to expert judges and attendees. Adding great music to tasty ribs and cold beverages makes a perfect trifecta. Entertainment highlights include: Fight Night with USA Boxing (Thurs.); The Clarks and Bastard Bearded Irishmen (Fri.); Pitt vs. Youngstown State football (Sat.), Drake White and The Big Fire and Midland (Sun.); Locash and Bindley Hardware Co. (Mon.)  Free admission to Rib Fest. Heinz Field, 100 Art Rooney Ave., North Shore. (RH)

Rick Handler is the executive producer of Entertainment Central and likes getting in a little nightlife fun. 

Writer and editor Christopher Maggio also contributed to this Nightlife Guide.

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