9 things to do this weekend, Jan. 4-7

What’s going on this weekend in Pittsburgh, Jan. 4-7? Find out here. Know of a cool event? Email us.

Thursday, Jan. 4: Bubbles, Brew & Bingo at the Kimpton Hotel Monaco
6-9 p.m.
Ready for some booze-free fun after the holidays? Say cheers to “Dryuary” when the Kimpton teams up with the Teetotal Initiative. This crew knows you don’t need alcohol to enjoy a fab night out on the town. Sample creative spirit-free beverages from The Open Road, Athletic Brewing and Two Frays Brewery while playing bingo and competing for cool prizes. Be the first to try The Commoner’s “Dry January Zero-Proof Cocktail Menu,” featuring recipes handcrafted by bartender Kyle Turner. The free event takes place in the hotel’s chic Sofia Ballroom. Register.

Friday, Jan. 5: Unblurred along 4800 to 5500 Penn Ave.
5-10 p.m.
It’s the first Friday of January — and 2024 — which means it’s time for the galleries, storefronts, businesses and eateries lining Penn Avenue to swing open their doors for extended hours and special programming. Head to the Irma Freeman Center for Imagination to celebrate the vibrant 50-foot mural gracing South Winebiddle Street created by VaultArt Studio artists, Pittsburgh artist Max Gonzales and mentor Sam Berner. Explore art at Silver Eye, Boom Concepts, Bunker Projects and Pullproof Studio, shop for DIY wares at Workshop PGH, get crafty at Assemble, pop into dance sessions at Level Up Studios and more. Information.

Friday, Jan. 5: Nerd Nite: The Pittsburgh Mixer at Spirit
6:30 p.m.-12 a.m.
If one of your New Year’s resolutions is to get out of the house, be more social and meet new people, then you’ve come to the right place. To kick off 2024, the popular Nerd Nite series is hosting the kind of mixer the world needs. Get off FaceTime and meet humans IRL with chill music, social games and welcoming vibes. With a fresh twist on the house party concept — the best way to meet new folks — the event promises to be “like going back to the good ol’ days when more people randomly met out in the world.” The mixer merrymaking includes a Pitch-A-Friend Shark Tank-style dating session, entertaining PowerPoint presentations, Speed Friending activities, City of Play games and more surprises. Tickets.

Saturday, Jan. 6, & Sunday, Jan. 7: Pittsburgh RV Show at David L. Lawrence Convention Center
10 a.m.-9 p.m. & 10 a.m.-5 p.m
Opening this weekend and running through Jan. 14, the country’s longest-running indoor RV show has everything to satisfy your wanderlust. Get pro tips from dealers, reps and vendors, visit 100 exhibitors and check out the latest models, technologies and accessories – from folding camping trailers and high-end motor homes, to boats, e-bikes and golf carts. Whether you’re buying or browsing, nothing compares to exploring RVs in person. Tickets.

Saturday, Jan. 6: Family Nature Walk at Powdermill Nature Reserve
2 p.m.
Craving quality time in nature after the chaotic holiday season? Hit the trails for a guided hike throughout Carnegie Museum of Natural History’s environmental research center. Explore the grounds of the field station and laboratory where researchers conduct studies of natural populations, including Appalachian ornithology, ecology, invertebrate zoology and botany. Meet the group in the atrium and head out into the wilderness for a winter excursion open to all ages. Register.

Saturday, Jan. 6: “Pershing, Picasso & Pittsburgh” at the John A. Hartmann Memorial Museum
6-9 p.m.
Pittsburgh art collector and connoisseur P.J. McArdle is sharing a very big gift with the city. The ambitious undertaking includes curating a whopping eight exhibitions spanning eight weekends from Jan. 6 through Feb. 24 in Bellevue. Featuring McArdle‘s extensive lifelong art collection dating from the 1920s, each distinct show is themed with 40 original works. Most of the work is for sale, so it’s an ideal time to start up that art collection or find a one-of-kind gift. The series kicks off tonight with a free opening reception for “Pershing, Picasso & Pittsburgh.” Museum-goers will see work by Louise Pershing, a modernist painter and sculptor who founded Pittsburgh Center for the Arts and studied at Carnegie Institute of Technology (now CMU). Also on display for the first time will be an original 1922 work by Picasso from Pershing’s own art collection.

Saturday, Jan. 6: TITLE TOWN Soul & Funk Dance Party at Spirit
9 p.m.-2 a.m.
Dance off those sugar cookies and spiked eggnog cocktails with five hours of irresistible soul and funk. Be transported to Motown, Chicago and Memphis, down to New Orleans and out to the West Coast for the “funkiest, feel-good party in the city.” One of Pittsburgh’s hottest dance parties keeps you warm into the wee hours with hand-picked vinyl from the extensive collection of event founder, DJ Jay Malls. Information.

For an ’80s vibe the same night, check out the Strangeways Discotech dance party with Zach Restelli, ROJO and The Comeback Kid, from 10 p.m. to 2 a.m., at The Underground at Brewer’s Bar.

Sunday, Jan. 7: Penguins on Parade at the Pittsburgh Zoo & Aquarium
11:30 a.m.
That chill in the air can only mean one thing: It’s time to flock to Highland Park to watch everyone’s favorite flightless birds strut their stuff on winter weekends. The penguins start their waddling at the upper aquarium entrance and spend 20 minutes exploring outside. Pro tips: Arrive before 11:30 a.m. to secure a good viewing and photo spot along the pathway. The parade happens when weather conditions are safe for the penguins — typically 25-45 degrees — so check before heading out! Included with admission.

Sunday, Jan. 7: Free Association Reading Series at City of Asylum
3:30-5 p.m.
For its first installment of 2024, the Free Association Reading Series brings together leading writers from Pittsburgh’s literary scene at City of Asylum’s Alphabet City HQ. During the free event, local writers Inga Lea Schmidt, Romella Kitchens, Derek Maiolo and Chauna Crai will present readings, including acclaimed and upcoming works of fiction, poetry and nonfiction. Register.

Find more things to do in Pittsburgh, including holiday events, outdoor recreation, live music, festivals, shopping and family activities.