We are always looking around town for fun and exciting ideas, activities and inspiration. This time, though, we left it to our friends to tell us their favorite brunch spots and favorite date night. Here’s what they have to say…

John Henne, Henne Jewelers:

Date Night: Soba and Tamari
Brunch: With 4 little boys, their favorites are Bistro to Go and Eat ‘n Park.

Maggie Nicholson, Common Plea Catering:

Date Night: The back patio at Il Pizzaiolo in Mt. Lebanon. I love it there when the weather is nice. It’s nice to just sit back and relax with a bottle of wine and someone special 🙂
Brunch: Brunch is a favorite weekend activity for me and my friends! Right now it’s a toss up between Park Bruges in Highland Park, or Meat & Potatoes, downtown. I love the variety on both of the menus, and you can’t beat the cocktails at M&P.

Margaret Wood, Basket of Pittsburgh:

Date Night: My favorite place to go on first dates is definitely Phipps. There is lots to look at and talk about, narrow walk ways so you can be close to your date and its so romantic with all the flowers and butterfly garden. Grab a nightcap afterward and the night is perfect!
Brunch: Delucas!!!!!!

Andrew Allen, Nemacolin Woodlands Resort:

Date Night: I have two favorite “date night” spots in Pittsburgh because of their great cocktails, excellent service and amazing food. Seviche (www.seviche.com) as well as Savoy (www.savoypgh.com). These are two of my favorites because they are fun – lively – and not too formal. The winning combination for a great “date night”.
Brunch: Again – I would have to say Savoy (www.savoypgh.com). Every time that my fiancé and I have eaten there for brunch the food has been amazing – and yes – the do have brunch cocktails as well! If I am not eating at Savoy for brunch – what is better than a doughnut? Peace, Love and Little Donuts (http://www.peaceloveandlittledonuts.com)  is the best. You have to go to the location in the strip – they are amazing.

Chef Bill Fuller, Big Burrito Group:

Date Night: It’s hard to get out and away from our restaurants.  So when we need to get a little quiet time, we like Cure in Lawrenceville.  Justin does a great job there.
Brunch: I can’t decide if I love Eleven or Casbah more. I know I am biased but I really love those places at brunch.

Becky Wiley, Event Source:

Date Night: A Penguin game as we are big hockey fans. Blue Line Grille/Uptown is my new favorite in the area around Consol.
Brunch: Generoasta in the Wexford area.

We asked the team at The Event Group and here is what they have to say:

Sheila, President:

Date Night: Kennywood or a funny movie and dinner at Eleven. It is quiet enough for great conversation.
Brunch: Casbah has delicious brunch options and a delicious muffin and pastry basket.

Gina, Director of Events:

Date Night: Sienna in Market Square. A great meal and the perfect ambiance.
Brunch: Caffe Mona which is located across from Children’s Hospital. I love thef ‘Surfer Dude’ crepe. It has kalamata olives, roasted red bell peppers, spinach and feta. This place is the best kept secret in town!

Cortney, Event Coordinator:

Date Night: Either Dish or Sonoma Grille. Sonoma Grille is great because of their extensive wine list.
Brunch: Square Cafe in Regent Square, they have great pancakes, waffles and french toast.

Sydney, Social Media Manager & Event Coordinator:

Date Night: Girasole or Little Tokyo. Girsaole for the cozy atmosphere and delicious Italian fare and Little Tokyo for the best sushi in town.
Brunch: Grand Concourse in Station Square– so many options and the homemade donuts are delicious!

What are your favorites around town? Share below in the comments!

Flowers are one of the best things to receive and to give. They are always appropriate for any occasion and can create a beautiful atmosphere for any event. We leave floral design up to the professionals and are lucky to work with some of the best not only in Pittsburgh but in the country. But, sometimes it can be fun to take a stab at creating your own arrangement!

We found the above video on YouTube where a florist talks about creating a great, long-lasting arrangement. Stopping at a floral wholesaler is a great way to pick and choose which blooms you like the best. Then, once you get home, you can choose your favorite vase and start arranging.

Not sure what floral goes together or what is in season? We have found some great floral ‘recipes’. They’re fun to follow but it is also great to tweak them little by little to suit your tastes and preferences. So let’s get arranging, shall we?

First, check out this table of in-season flowers. This is a great chart by Bayside Bride to reference before you choose your flowers.

Above are just some of our favorite recipes found on Pinterest! Some things to keep in mind: the venue of your dinner, the size of your table, the decor of the event, guests preferences, etc. Be sure to check out one of our past blog posts where Pittsburgh florists share their tips on your first meeting with your wedding florist!

In life, there are so many things to celebrate. A birthday is definitely something that should be celebrated and here at The Event Group, we make sure every birthday is as special as the guest of honor! The cake was a beautiful feature of this birthday party. It was a June event and the birthday girl loves flowers, so a cake with beautiful hand painted flowers was a must!

The Reading Room at the Duquesne Club is a gorgeous setting for cocktails and hors d’oeuvres. Hepatica designed the amazing floral arrangements. The stunning arrangement in the photo above was the perfect accent for the escort card table. It also served as the focal point of the room. The pinks and greens of the flowers really popped against the darker Duquesne Club decor.

The beautiful monogrammed menu paired perfectly with the china and stunning gold embroidered linens.

The Duquesne Club not only created delicious food, but each course was beautifully presented on the gold rimmed, ivory china.

Pineapple mint sorbet was served in elegant crystal sorbet flowers as a palate cleanser between the lobster course and main

course. This was a perfect addition to the menu for a June party!

Like the lobster course, the main course was presented beautifully on the china. It’s always important to have color on a plate so the meal is visually appealing.

A rectangular table helped guests to differentiate the head table from the others and was situated in the center of the room. The pinks, purples and vibrant greens of the floral ran down the center of the table creating a beautiful centerpiece for the room. The gold chiavari chairs paired well with the linen overlays.
Overall, the event was beautiful and was the perfect fit in the Founder’s Room at the Duquesne Club. From the string quartet playing during cocktail hour to the surprise entertainment after dinner, this birthday party was one to remember!