Fall in Point Breeze Can't Be Beat!

9/16/2016

Vivek Subramany

Crisp, cool air fills the sky under the 6 p.m. sun’s pink and peach hues over Homewood Cemetery. Brittle orange, red, and yellow leaves crunch underfoot in Frick Park. Coaches in standard fall gear—a hooded sweatshirt and baseball cap—bark out drills to the youth football team practicing at Sterrett field. Plump bright pumpkins line the sidewalk like bowling balls at the Frick Park Market. Milestones preschoolers wearing one heart-melting costume after another, cling to their walking rope with one hand and paper bag in another—in search of the ultimate October prize: candy! Diners at Pino’s and Point Brugge restaurants enjoy al fresco dining in the waning degrees of outdoor warmth. Many jaunt to upstate New York or New England to experience this classic autumn Americana. We have fall in Point Breeze—one of Pittsburgh’s best kept secrets!

Breezers take fun in the foliage seriously. The Point Breeze Organization (PBO) brings the community together as we transition into fall with two of our most popular events—the Neighborhood Yard Sale and the annual Bonfire and Hayride. Last year, over 100 houses had something to sell along the streets of Point Breeze. Whether you’re in the market for kid’s toys, housewares, furniture, or antiques, the 6th Annual Point Breeze Yard Sale takes the flea market to the next level. In addition, food trucks will be satiating stomachs at St. Bede’s school, along with their annual book sale. This year’s sale takes place Saturday, September 17, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

The Point Breeze Bonfire—this year on Saturday, October 1—is arguably the most revered annual neighborhood event of the year. The bonfire is lit in the center of Sterrett field on Reynolds Street and surrounded with food and entertainment, including kid’s activity tables, demonstrations, and live music, that keep the fun, along with the fire, roaring into the evening. My two-year-old daughter’s favorite bonfire experience last year was seeing wild turkeys in Homewood cemetery on the Hayride. We can’t wait to take her and our nearly year old son again this year.

This year, the PBO is also offering a Scavenger Hunt to entice children and adults alike outside to enjoy crisp fall days. First posted at the beginning of the summer, downloadable item photos and maps are still available the the Point Breeze website.

Each year we close October in Point Breeze with one of the most festive holidays: Halloween! Breezers embrace the fall holiday with more flare and gusto than a Hollywood set could envision. Jack-o’-lanterns line the stoops, ghoulish decorations adorn the houses, and ominous music floods the air. Hundreds of children—in costumes that are super cute, uber scary, and extremely innovative—convene on our streets to pack their pillowcases with candy. With many houses offering treats and refreshments for children and adults alike, Halloween is a can’t miss event! Our favorite is the cotton candy station on South Lang Avenue—just another reason fall in Point Breeze can’t be beat!

For more information about PBO events, please follow us on Facebook, Twitter @PointBreezePGH, and our website. We look forward to seeing you at our events!

We wish everyone a safe and happy autumn!

Vivek Subramany is a member of the Point Breeze Organization board of directors and is a regular contributor to the Neighborhood Report section of Shady Avenue magazine. This article is a slightly updated version of the Point Breeze Neighborhood Report that appears in the Fall 2016 edition of Shady Avenue magazine. Reprinted by permission.

Fall in Point Breeze