
Madeline Milchman
Copywriting Intern, The Downtowner
University of Pittsburgh | Media and Professional Communications
About Madeline
Madi is a Copy-Writer for The Downtowner. She is currently pursuing a bachelor’s degree in Media and Professional Communications with a minor in Creative Writing from the University of Pittsburgh. Coming from New Jersey, she has lived in Pittsburgh for three years now. As she explores all that Pittsburgh has to offer, she enjoys writing about the people and places that make the city special.

Discover Recent Articles Written by Madeline on Newsletter

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Live Well and Live Longer in Downtown Pittsburgh–Join the Living Well Initiative
Healthy living is making its way to Downtown Pittsburgh! The Downtown Neighbors Alliance is beginning a Living Well Initiative that combines nutrition, physical activity, and mental and social well-being to increase health and quality of life among Pittsburgh residents. This initiative is part of DNA’s goal to make downtown Pittsburgh a happy and healthy neighborhood.
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Fresh Food in a Fresh Location- Downtown Pittsburgh’s Annual Farmers Market
Last Thursday, May 15th, kicked off the first day of Downtown Pittsburgh’s Farmers Market for its 21st season! This year, due to construction at its usual location, Market Square, the market’s new home is one block away in PPG Plaza.
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Pittsburgh’s 52nd Year of Pride
Pride month is nearly upon us and Pittsburgh is not shy of a celebration. The weekend of Friday May 30th through Sunday June 1st commemorates Pride in Pittsburgh at this year's annual Pittsburgh Pride Festival. The weekend includes a 3-day lineup of musicians, dancers, drag performers, speakers and more, ending with a march and parade.
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Tap into your inner critic! Did you enjoy the 2025 Awards Dinner?
DNA’s 2025 Awards Dinner was a special night thanks to the nearly 400 attendees. This annual dinner is all about celebrating Downtown Pittsburgh. It is a time to join together and toast to all the progress that has been made in the region this year.
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Time is ticking! Cast your vote for Best Restaurants before it's too late!
You’re running out of time! We’re almost at the deadline for best restaurants voting.
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Get Creative! It's time for the Three Rivers Arts Festival!
Get ready to tap into your creativity at Pittsburgh’s annual arts celebration. Thursday, June 5th through Sunday, June 8th, Pittsburgh residents will come together to enjoy art at the Dollar Bank Three Rivers Arts Festival, including live music, an artist market, dance, gallery exhibitions, creative family activities, and more.
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Artistic Excellence in the Heart of Our City: The Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra
Heinz Hall in Downtown Pittsburgh is home to the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, two time Grammy Award winners. Downtown Pittsburgh is lucky to have artistic excellence right in the heart of our city, you cannot miss it. The orchestra will be performing every weekend in June and certain weekdays. See below for more details.
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Fill your weekend with family fun!
In need of weekend plans? We’ve got you. Here's a list of fun activities for all ages in Downtown Pittsburgh!
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A Golden Night in the Golden Triangle: The Perfect Candlelight Crescendo Date Night
Mark your calendar, because DNA planned the perfect date night for you in Downtown Pittsburgh on June 20th. Whether you're trying to woo someone new or spice up your relationship with a long-term partner, this plan is the way to do it.
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Residents Know Best: The Resident Ambassador Program
In our attempt to make Downtown Pittsburgh a better place to live, work, and play, we listen to the people that know it best–Downtown Pittsburgh’s residents. Through our Resident Ambassador program, we work together with 26 representatives of 26 different apartment buildings around Downtown to create a shorter distance between residents and the change they want to see in their neighborhood.
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Wine down at Pittsburgh’s Wine Festival!
After a long week, “wine” down at Pittsburgh’s Wine Festival in Mellon Square. On Saturday June 21st, the festival is open from 12pm to 10pm. The event features wine tasting from around the world, food vendors, craft vendors, and entertainment.
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Pittsburgh’s Time to Shine: The 2026 NFL Draft
Pittsburgh is getting its big break! On Thursday, April 24th through Saturday, April 26, the Golden Triangle is hosting the 2026 NFL draft. For those three days, Pittsburgh residents have a lot to look forward to. The weekend is not only a time for teams to select players, but it is also a time to celebrate Pittsburgh’s football legacy.
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Comedy on Wheels: Pittsburgh’s Only Form of “Transportainment”
The Burgh Bus has coined a new word, “transportainment,” a combination of “transportation” and “entertainment.” The made-up word is an exact description of the one-of-a-kind tour you get on a Burgh Bus.
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Furry Fun: Pittsburgh’s Annual Anthrocon Convention
Pittsburgh is hosting a weekend of furry fun on Thursday, July 3rd to Sunday, July 6th for anthropomorphics, also known as furries, to come together for the annual Anthrocon Convention at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center. The weekend is filled with varying events and activities, including the following:
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School is out, Mellon Square is in!
School is out, but learning doesn’t have to stop! Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership is hosting a series of fun-filled learning opportunities. Improve your artistic and musical abilities, make new friends, and enjoy yourself in Mellon Square at these How-To events. There are only two events left in June, and you do not want to miss them!
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A Colorful Downtown: Free and Public Art in Downtown Pittsburgh
What's better than art? Art that's free. This list is a compilation of free and public art throughout the Golden Triangle. It features murals, sculptures, installations, and more that spotlight the diversity of people, culture, and experiences throughout the city. Downtown might be nicknamed the Golden Triangle, but it is made up of more colors than just gold.
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A Taste of History: Dining options at the Omni William Penn Hotel
The Omni William Penn Hotel is a great destination for travelers and locals alike. The combination of rich history, impeccable service, and delicious food makes each dining room special in its own way. Whether you’re looking for fine dining, a cup of coffee, or a late-night snack, the Omni hotel has an option for you.
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Revel in good food and good company at Revel PGH!
On April 10th, 1845, The Great Fire of Pittsburgh swept through Downtown Pittsburgh, destroying 982 buildings in its wake. The Bank of Pittsburgh was one of the few buildings that still stood, though its insides were destroyed. Many Pittsburghers were left homeless, but the city recovered quickly thanks to the grace and hospitality of its people.
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8 Days Until Kickoff! Are You Coming?
There’s only 8 days until the LWI Kickoff! DNA’s Living Well Initiative Kickoff is nest week, and everyone’s invited. From 6-7:30, Downtown residents will gather at the UFC Gym in Market Square to learn more about this initiative’s plan to make Downtown a healthier place.
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“A Passion for Pittsburgh:” Jerad Bachar and His Journey to Pittsburgh
Jerad Bachar grew up on a ranch in central Kansas, though the journey he took to settle in Pittsburgh spans much farther than the four states separating his hometown and where he currently resides.
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Get in tune with Jazz Live!
Last week kicked off the first Jazz Live event with Adam Brock Quintet featuring Mike Tomaro. Adam, a semi-finalist on American Idol Season 11, was born and raised in Pittsburgh. Now, he teaches Jazz studies at Duquesne University, plays three instruments, and even wrote a book called “Instrumental Jazz Arranging - A Comprehensive and Practical Guide.”
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Meet our Partners! LWI is Kicking Off Soon!
Want to live a happy, healthy, and long life? Join the Living Well Initiative! DNA is bringing the community together to get in shape, with daily exercise, a healthy diet, and an energetic social life. Thanks to our partners, DNA is able to make this goal affordable and accessible to everyone. We recently launched our partnership list, including some of the discounts they are offering to LWI members!
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Screens and Scenes this Summer at Harris Theater!
Calling all film fans! Harris Theater is showing classic, foreign, and contemporary films all summer long. In its history, the Harris Theater was called Art Cinema and was the first moving picture house in Pittsburgh. In 1995, as part of the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust’s mission to revamp the cultural district, it was reopened for movies and live performances. The following list is this summer’s showings.
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Say Cheese! It's Time to Share Your Pics
Let's be honest, Pittsburgh is always picture perfect. Help us prove it by sending in your photos to our Downtown Through Your Eyes photo submission! Send in your favorite view, sunset, special moment, mural, or whatever is sitting in your camera roll, but submissions must be taken in Downtown or the Strip District. Whether you're a photographer hoping to gain some traction or an amateur, we want to see through your eyes.
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Dinner With a Side of Drama at Greer Cabaret Theater!
Sit back and enjoy the show (and the food) at Greer Cabaret Theater. This project of The Cultural Trust, puts on magnificent performances joined by delicious food and drinks. During showtimes, tickets are required to sit and dine in the theater, but other times the lounge is open to the public Tuesday-Sunday. For more information about dining visit here, and for more information about showtimes, see below.
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Sip, Sip, Hooray! The Best Late Night Spots in Pittsburgh
Downtown may be called the Business District, but we’re not all business. With incredible bars and restaurants, we are home to some exciting nightlife. Check out this list of Downtown’s best late-night spots.
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Save a Life, Adopt Today!
Humane Animal Rescue of Pittsburgh (HARP) is one of the largest animal rescues in Pennsylvania. They have three locations–one on the north side, one on the east side, and a wildlife center. The shelter locations are packed with dogs and cats, but there are also bunnies, ferrets, turtles, and more. While some require a little more patience, many are kind, gentle pets waiting for a family to see their potential.
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Spoil Yourself: A Day of Dining Out in Downtown!
Everyone deserves a day free of cooking and cleaning! We’ve created a list of restaurants in Downtown to keep you out of the kitchen all day. There’s no need to lift a finger when you live in the Golden Triangle, a neighborhood filled with culinary delights.
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Summer With the Steel Tower!
Downtown’s tallest building, The US Steel Tower, is offering you shade during the Steel Plaza’s summer events. Stop by for one or more of their many offerings.
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Larrimor’s: Luxury Fashion, Locally
Stepping into Larrimor’s feels like entering a space of perfection and prestige. Shelves and racks are lit by spotlights that show off couture clothes, folded and hung without a wrinkle. Tall, open windows let in natural sunlight, leaving nothing to hide, and they really have nothing to hide. This shop is exactly what it looks like; luxury and excellence are at the very core of Larrimor’s.
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A Summer of Laughter at Byham Theater!
The Byham Theater originally opened in 1904 as a vaudeville theater. In 1930, the theater was transitioned into a movie theater before the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust took it over in 1990. This summer, the theater is hosting an array of comedians and more, guaranteed to make you laugh, relax, and enjoy yourself.
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Good Food and Good Views!
Not only is Downtown home to an excellent culinary scene, but it also has tall buildings that create a beautiful skyline. These two things make for a special combination of good food and good views. We’ve compiled a list of restaurants that overlook the Golden Triangle.
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FUNdraising to Send-Off Summer with Cancer Bridges!
On August 15th, 2025, Cancer Bridges is hosting a Summer Send-Off at 2816 Smallman St. The event will feature carnival-style games, hands-on activities, and food. All are welcome!
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Roll Your Way into Rock ‘n’ Joe!
Rock ‘n’ Joe brings together two unexpected things–coffee and rock ‘n’ roll. When its first location opened in 1993, the shop replicated a backstage lounge. Rock music played on the speaker, worn leather couches seated customers, and records lined the walls.
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Greenwood Week: Pittsburgh’s Only Black Business Conference
Coming soon to Pittsburgh is Greenwood Week. Greenwood Week is a Black Business conference in Downtown Pittsburgh, hosted by the Greenwood Plan. It aims to bring like-minded business leaders and professionals together to initiate growth and development among the black community.
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Spoil Yourself: A Day of Dining Out in the Strip District!
Once again, it's time to step out of the kitchen, but this time, step into the Strip District! We’ve compiled another list of restaurants that will do all the cooking and cleaning for you. When you’re feeling lazy or just need a break, these are our recommendations.
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Redbeard's: A Valued Member
Redbeard’s Sports Bar and Grill is the spot for sports fans. With TVs lining the walls, there is not a seat in the house where you can’t see the game. Whether it's the Steelers, Penguins, Pirates, or any other team, you can watch it at Redbeard’s.