A Very South Hills December: What We Saw, Sipped, and Loved This Week

Pittsburgh really does go wild when holidays hit, and honestly, the only lingering mystery is where you stash all this stuff come January. Basements? Garages? A secret South Hills portal dimension? No one knows. But thank goodness for the people who do it, because these lights carry us right through the darkest nights of the year.

Dormont takes the cake and lit up the whole neighborhood again this year. Grab the official tour map, pile into the car and cruise through the borough’s brightest homes. Then cast your vote for the most dazzling display.

Holiday drink season hit the South Hills like a peppermint-scented tidal wave, and suddenly every cafe has something irresistible on the menu. We tried to be reasonable… but our December coffee budget never stood a chance. So here we are with Part I of the Holiday Coffee Roundup because there were far too many festive must-tries to squeeze into one newsletter.

Needle & Bean — Candied Yam Latte
Candied yams: side or dessert? We may never know but this latte is delicious.

Potomac Station Coffee House — Broken Ornament Cold Brew
Festive without being over the top, like the one neighbor who actually knows when to stop adding lights.

Mediterra — Cardamom Latte
A winter classic. If “reading by a fireplace in a stone cottage” were a drink, this is it.

802 Bean Co — Gingerbread Cookie Cold Brew
It’s practically a dessert disguised as coffee, and we’re not complaining.

Pour Johnny’s — Eggnog Latte
It’s like holiday cheer tapped you on the shoulder and said, “Drink up, buddy.”

Keep your eyes on Brookline Boulevard, because the PRT 39 bus has fully entered its holiday era. Lights, garland, and even a Christmas tree glowing inside, begging you to belt a few Christmas carols as it rolls by. Hop on Brookline’s version of the Polar Express and enjoy the ride. It’s the only bus in Pittsburgh where missing your stop somehow feels festive.

If the holiday lights and specialty lattes have you feeling extra grateful, there are a couple of ways to pay it forward right here in the South Hills. From stocking local food pantries to delivering Christmas dinners and sorting toys, you can find something that fits your schedule and your kids’ attention span.

👋 That’s it for this week. Thanks for reading, neighbors.

Have something you think deserves a little local love — a new business, fundraiser, or rumor that’s too good to waste at the coffee shop?

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