Nightlife in Fernway

In 1949, Charles “Chick” and Elda Mae Bruckman founded Bruckman School of Dance as a center of education for dancers of all ages and skill levels. A lifelong devotee of dance, Chick began his career at 6 years old and remains the school’s artistic director to this day. Along with a team of instructors, the Bruckmans introduce students to dance styles including tap, ballet, jazz, pointe, and hip-hop. As they lead students in mastering choreographed routines, they also teach dance history, imparting the origins of ballet and how NASA scientists made the moonwalk a dance craze in the early '70s. In addition to conventional dance classes, they host dance-inspired fitness classes, such as the Hip Hop Hustle and Turbo Kick, to get cardiovascular systems pumping.

Inside Mike’s Place, a relaxed setting dotted with sports paraphernalia and a pool table, classic Italian-American recipes meet standard bar eats. As guests alternate bites of homemade lasagna and jumbo wings doused in 1 of 10 sauces, bartenders keep glasses brimming and campaign-finance-reform discussions to a minimum. On Friday nights, live musicians and DJs take center stage.

A lengthy lineup of traditional game-day fare and a sports atmosphere captivate fans at Fox and Hound - Bailey's, where the kitchen remains open as late as its neighboring fully stocked bar. Chefs cook until the wee hours of the morning and always until the bar closes, baking Bavarian pretzel starters, crafting towers of onion rings, and preparing hand-battered chicken tenders that are cooked until they are golden brown. They blend their own seasonings to sprinkle over grilled-to-order burgers, and draw from a diverse roster of cheeses and toppings to crown their wood-oven-inspired flatbreads.

While manning the bars, bartenders tap into a stash of libations, such as UV Whipped vodka and Patron Silver tequila, to mix their specialty cocktails. To further foster a sporting ambiance, high-definition TVs glow with sports games and custom music-video playlists, and guests partake in pastimes of ump bashing, billiards, or competitive people watching.

Arena's Performing Arts Centre offers a variety of classes for inner and outer children alike. Adults can choose fitness ($8 for a drop-in class) and 10-week dance classes (starting at $110 for 45-minute classes) from a summer schedule that includes zumba, tap aerobics, ballet tech, pointe, pre-pointe, and kickboxing. For kids, summer camps such as Camp Rock and Blues ($100) and Arena's Best Dance Crew ($125) teach boogie-ready anklebiters the joy and discipline of dance. Or surprise your mini-me with a themed birthday party at Arena's. Monthly tuition for gymnastics and musical-theater classes starts at $40. The friendly instructors at Arena's are experienced, patient, and willing to work with all age and skill levels.

Dependable Drive-In has emblazoned its four outdoor screens with the latest blockbusters for more than 61 years, piquing the admiration of Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reporters. Customers can park their cars, vans, or mule-drawn carriages in the drive-in's enormous lot, where they can watch back-to-back double features whilst snuggled within their vehicle's cozy interior. As celebrity-saturated images illuminate the night, audience members can feast on popcorn and soft drinks from one of the three concession stands. A schedule of features including Happy Feet Two can entertain youthful spectators, and uproarious comedies such as Jack and Jill can amuse adults and fill the night air with sounds of hearty guffaws and nose-snorted sodas.