Things to Do in Whitehall

Use the riding lesson at Caustelot Farms for an introduction or refresher aboard the second-oldest form of transport, the first being logs with saddles. Those opting for the private session receive 30 minutes of one-on-one attention, while the longer small-group session puts cowpersons atop temporary animal companions for an hour of dusty trail hitting and hoof trotting. The small class sizes allow both beginners and experienced horse masters alike to receive the personalized attention necessary to truly learn the secrets of horse whispering.

Nestled inside a 100-year-old studio with exposed brickwork and the original tin ceilings, Verve Wellness and the Verve 360 studio boost holistic wellness with an expert staff of fitness instructors, massage therapists, and aestheticians. The weekly schedule brims with an assortment of yoga sessions intended to refocus thoughts and inner energy and bolster the stamina and flexibility that students need to race hamsters through air vents. Patvan yoga classes dangle students in harnesses anchored to the Carnegie Steel beams that honeycomb the rafters, buoying attendees slightly above the ground for an innovative approach to yoga that doubles as NASA astronaut training. Designed to craft lean, slender muscles, Pilates sessions welcome students of all skill levels to core-sculpting mat classes and BOSU ball sessions, which push the intensity of traditional mat practice by introducing controlled stretches in addition to the alignment-centered exercises and soothing naptimes.

2012 was almost the Pirates' year. They began the season with a team ERA of 2.78 in April—the 3rd best in the league, and by the start of July, they were neck-and-neck with the Cincinnati Reds for the top spot in the NL Central. Though a late-season slump derailed their return to glory, the 2013 campaign offers another shot at a division title, especially since the MLB no longer prohibits forcing opposing players to walk the plank.

Pittsburgh Pirates

In the Pittsburgh Alleghenies' first National League game in 1887, the rag-tag squad amassed six runs against the mighty Chicago White Stockings, establishing the team as a force to be reckoned with for decades to come. Today, through more than 130 years, five World Series titles, and four previous stadiums, the Alleghenies—now the Pirates—make their home at PNC Park, where pop flies soar amid views of the Clemente Bridge and Steel City skyline sprawling in the background. Located only 443 feet away—or, by official MLB measurements, 807.3 half-eaten hot dogs—the Allegheny River waits for home runs to splash down after sailing over the right-field wall, which stands at 21 feet high in honor of legendary Pirate Roberto Clemente. Off the field, the stone archways lining the entry-level façade tip their cap to the club's former longtime home, Forbes Field, and an outdoor terrace and riverwalk cool down fans enjoying the game on warm summer nights.

Cut & Sew Studio is a fully equipped studio space that offers beginning students and advanced stitchers an inviting environment to sharpen needle skills. All tools are provided on site, eliminating the need to find a suitable wagon to tote a sewing machine to class. Button buffs and daring darners can choose from a variety of interesting classes taught by fashionably educated Cut & Sew owner Catherine Batcho. Thread greenhorns can enlist in the two-session Intro to Sewing class ($50, four hours total), which instructs newcomers in the art of bobbin winding, machine threading, and stitch adjusting while crafting a simple patchwork pillow stuffed with soft, downy phoenix feathers. One hour of open studio time is also included in the intro class. Not-so-beginners can opt for the three-hour Zippers, Zippers, Zippers class ($45), in which participants learn to pull off a variety of zipper styles, including invisible, lapped, centered, fly, and the comical over-the-mouth. Anyone is welcome to sign up for open studio time ($10 per hour). Group classes and weeklong kid camps are also available; see the online calendar for upcoming classes.

Pittsburgh Symphony was founded in 1896, and its ambitions were as big as its sound right from the start—Andrew Carnegie, an early backer, and Victor Herbert, a flashy conductor with a taste for the theatrical, reportedly claimed that theirs was the best orchestra in the country. The century that followed was no less dramatic, studded with conductors who made a lasting impression with their own distinct styles, a Depression-era hiatus, and even a run-in with the law for flouting a statute forbidding secular music-making on Sundays. The resulting controversy renewed public interest in the Symphony, vaulting it once again to its current status as a nationally renowned organization.

Converted from an opulent movie palace into the Pittsburgh Symphony's home in 1971 when Americans swore off movies in favor of high culture forever, the magnificent Heinz Hall delights audiences with stellar acoustics. Two 15-foot crystal chandeliers and an array of Levanto marble columns cast a glow over the Great Hall.

The U.S. Women's Open is one of the United States Golf Association's premier majors and a chance to see the world's best female golfers display their driving, chipping, and golf-ball levitation skills, which have eliminated the need for tees. Spend one of four days analyzing the rhythmic, controlled shots from expected competitors such as Michelle Wie and the steady putting skills of Ai Miyazato—both trying to best last year's champion, Eun-Hee Ji. Up to nine golf-following youths age 17 and under will be admitted free of charge with every ticketed adult, and the first two rows of the grandstands are reserved for children to soak in the action with a first-hand view.