What To Do When Friends & Family Visit

One of the best things about having friends and family come to visit is that you get to feel like a tourist in your own town! Take advantage of the opportunity to venture off the beaten path and check out some of the activities that usually make the guide books, but not your to-do list. Bibliofile suggests the following ...

Something is always blooming at Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens, located at One Schenley Park. Phipps is open Tuesday through Sunday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. (and until 9 p.m. on Friday nights). Admission is only $4 for students with ID! Visit www.phipps.conservatory.org or call 412-622-6914. Some upcoming events that might be of interest:

Guided Tours: Free with the cost of Phipps admission, tours are offered Tuesday through Saturday at 11:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m., and Sundays at 1:00 p.m.
The Fall Flower Show: through November 9, 2003.
The Garden Railroad: through February 24, 2004. Phipps' beloved three-train, 1250-square foot display returns.
Tell Me a Story: Tuesday, November 4 and Thursdays, December 4, 11, and 18. Storytelling in the Broderie room, from 10:30 - 11:00 a.m., for ages 2 to 5. Listen to garden stories involving the seasons, birds, pollination, bugs, flowers, trees and other fun things!

The Homewood Cemetery offers Walking Tours of the cemetery grounds, which are located in Squirrel Hill and bordered by both Frick Park and Point Breeze . The last tour of the season will be held on November 8 at 1:00 p.m., but a cemetery tour is truly the ultimate Halloween outing, so don't miss out!

The tour, Taking It With You, features Pittsburgh's "most prestigious neighborhood": Section 14 of the Homewood Cemetery. Section 14 is the permanent residence of the Heinz, Benedum, Frick, and Mellon families, among others. The monuments feature examples of 19th century architecture, ironwork, stained glass, and sculpture. The tour lasts for about an hour, and requires significant walking on and off road. Reservations are required, and admission is $5 per person, payable at the cemetery. For reservations, call 412-421-1822. For additional information, visit http://homewoodcemetery.org/tours.html.