Summer in Pittsburgh

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You are only half way through summer, and that means there is plenty of time to enjoy some great events throughout the Pittsburgh area. Picnics, movies, BBQ’s and more are all within a short distance from your home at The Encore on 7th.

During the summer, we love to head to the park and have a picnic. It is the perfect time to get out of your home and enjoy time with friends. All you have to do is pack your blanket, basket and sandwiches and head a few blocks to the nearest outdoor space. The North Shore is only a short walk away from The Encore on 7th. This is the perfect place to set up a picnic for an afternoon in the summer heat. 

You can also head to a game at PNC Park. Living at The Encore on 7th gives you the added advantage of not having to worry about parking for Pirates games. You can walk across the Clemente bridge and be ready for the Bucco's action. There are still a few great months of baseball left. You can head to the Pirates website to find tickets for the game you want to see. 

If you want more of a low energy summer event, do not forget about the outdoor movies all around Pittsburgh. There are various spaces that show outdoor movies throughout the summer. You can join a few friends for one of the Rooftop Shindigs in the cultural district. On August 3rd, travel back to the 80's with Ferris Bueller's Day Off. There are also other parks and drive-in theaters that show movies all summer long. 

These are just a few of the many events that you can attend this summer in Pittsburgh. Do you have other events that are already on your calendar? Let us know on our Facebook Page. We hope you have a great summer with friends and family.

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Fire Safety Pet Day

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Imagine this: you’re out to dinner, enjoying a lovely meal with a friend and having a great time catching up. Your phone rings. It’s the fire department calling to inform you that your apartment caught fire while you were out. Your first thought? Your pets at home, of course! The thought of your beloved animals stuck in a home as a fire breaks out is terrifying.







Fires while you’re away can be prevented. In honor of Pet Fire Safety Day this Friday, we wanted to share with you some ways that you can stop these kind of accidents in their tracks. Not only will you keep your pets safe but your neighbors and your neighbors’ pets too.

Extinguish Candles

This one might seem pretty obvious but if you’re a fan of vegging out on the couch with a steaming cup of coffee, a good book, and some scented candles, don’t forget to put them out once you’re done with them. Animals can be attracted to the flames and hop up to see what’s going on and in one fell swoop of a paw or tail, the candle is on the carpet.

Go Flameless

Instead of real candles, opt for flameless candles. Or if you’re more interested in the scent than the flame, find some scent diffuser sticks. They come in a variety of different scents and tend to last a long time. They’re much safer than candles but your pets could still be attracted to the sticks poking up from your table so keep them in a high spot so they don’t get knocked down.

Mind the Knobs

It’s also possible for your playful cat or clumsy dog to turn on a stove knob by accident. If you find your pets doing this often, the best course of action is to remove stove knobs when you’re not at home. It might seem tedious but it’s better to be safe than sorry. Also, make sure your stove knobs are turned off once you’ve finished cooking. It could save your pet!

Box Up The Babies

Young pets are much more likely to get into things than older, wiser pets. Keep your young ones in a crate while you’re out of the house. It will keep them out of trouble and in the event a fire does break out, it will be much easier for the fire department to locate and evacuate them from the apartment.

Make Your Pets Known

In the event of a fire in your home while you’re away, there might not be anyone there to tell the fire department that you have animals staying there. Order yourself some stickers to place on the front door to make it known that you have pets that are still in the home. You can get them from the ASPCA website here.

Accidents happen. Hopefully, with proper precautionary measures, they don’t have to happen to you. Keep your pets safe and sound in your  The Encore on 7th apartment by following these tips.

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Beat the Heat

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It is very hot out this July. We are always looking for ways to beat the heat throughout the summer. Pools, A/C and ice cream are just a few ways that come to mind. However, for the adults that want to get out with friends. We can think of one method that is perfect for after work hours: Cocktails! We have found some great cocktails that will help you beat this heat.

The lemon basil vodka gimlet is perfect for those who love the taste of lemonade in the heat. The recipe takes granulated sugar, water, basil, vodka, basil simple syrup and lemon juice. You have to prepare the syrup 30 minutes in advance on the stove. After this, you can continue the recipe and and serve the drink on the rocks. Learn more about this delicious summer drink here.

If you want to head out somewhere after work, head to Olive or Twist, just down the road from The Encore on 7th.  We love to cool off with one of their signature martinis. The "Lavender Lemon Drop" has all the tastes of summer. It contains Absolut Hibiskus, Creme de Violette and Lemon. We usually pair it with one of their delicious appetizers for the perfect after work happy hour.

If you are into a patriotic summer, you can cool off with the American Cherry Mojito. This easy recipe consists of cherry limeade, white rum, mint leaves, cherries and lime slices. First you must muddle together the mint and cherries until they are lightly smashed. Then, in another container mix the rum and and Cherry Limeade Sparking ICE over ice. Finally, combine both over ice and garnish to taste. You can find the recipe here. 

These are just a few of the delicious drinks to help you beat the heat. You can find more drinks at Fox News. We hope you have a great summer with these refreshing drinks. What is your favorite summer drink? You can comment on our Facebook page with yours!

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Fourth Of July Picnic

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Are you excited for Independence Day? Food, drinks and fireworks make for a great time with friends and family. Did you start planning your perfect Fourth Of July picnic yet? If you didn’t you are in luck, we have some great ideas on how to make this the best Fourth of July yet.

Food

Any Fourth of July needs picnic food! We are thinking corn on the cob, hamburgers and a salad. However, if you want to make this patriotic themed, we have some ideas. We first recommend a great burger for all of your guests. Food Network has some great Fourth of July staples that you can try out! Lucky for you, The Encore on 7th has a great resident kitchen to do all of your cooking.

One of our favorite desserts for Independence Day is the classic American Flag cake. There are many different recipes for this staple dessert. Check out this recipe for a simple version of this great tradition.

Decorations

Red, white and blue should be everywhere for this picnic. From the plates to the silverware, you can head to any store to make this picnic red, white and blue everywhere. If you would like a few creative ideas, make sure to visit Good Housekeeping. They have a few easy but gorgeous homemade decorations that you can try this year.

Entertainment

Lucky for you there are plenty of things you can do to entertain your guests. From simple yard games to watching the fireworks, the possibilities are endless. If you have guests of all ages at this picnic, we recommend these patriotic themed fun party games from Reader’s Digest. Take a peak and see which of these games will fit into your party space this Monday!


We hope that you have a great time with friends and family this Independence Day. We also would like to thank all troops past and present for their service to our country. Happy Fourth of July Everyone!

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