Pittsburgh Decks the City for upcoming holidays

By: Huailei Wang, Farha Ali, Bobby Mizia / Senior Staff Photographers

Posted on 07. Dec, 2011 in Magazine, Photo

As the cold wind blew in off the three rivers, skaters bundled up in their warmest winter gear glided around the rink at PPG Place. They gleefully ignored the chill in the air as they waved to family and friends who snapped photos of them whizzing by. The lights of the rink’s central Christmas tree  reflected off the surrounding buildings, casting a warm glow on the skaters.

The holiday season isn’t just a chance for Pittsburghers to participate in wintry traditions, it’s also a time to celebrate the city. Downtown is decadently decorated in lights and holiday imagery.

It starts in mid-November with Light Up Night, the season’s official kick-off. This year the event took place on Nov. 19. The holiday lights were officially turned on, displays were constructed and the rink at PPG Place opened. People looked on as a surviving cancer victim lit the Tree of Life at the center of the ice rink.

That gesture marked the rink’s opening. Managed by Magic Ice USA, the rink has been around since 2001. It’s an interesting juxtaposition of light and ice, smack dab in the middle of the city, surrounded on all sides by reflective glass buildings. At night, the rink is a bright, glittery oasis in the middle of the city.

Rink manager Harry Datz said that the ice rink provides an experience people of any age can enjoy.

“It’s really about the ambience, the reflection of the tree against PPG. It’s just a warm, Christmassy feeling for everyone. Couples, families, whatever.” Datz said.

A few feet away from the rink, in the PPG Wintergarden, a year-round garden, the gingerbread house and train display circles around a colossal Christmas tree. Surrounding the tiny gingerbread village are life-size replicas of Santa Claus, part of the “Spirits of Giving from Around the World” display. Each character represents a tradition from a different country.

There is the towering Grandfather Frost from Russia, colored in various shades of blue and mimicking Russia’s icy winters, and the diminutive Père Fouettard, the French character who gifts naughty children lumps of coal. Even the Americanized jolly old Saint Nick, clad in his traditional red and white suit, makes an appearance. Each Santa is painted in brilliant colors, decorated with sparkles and mirrors to reflect the light of the tree.

Next is the Pittsburgh Crèche, located in the USX Tower Plaza. The Pittsburgh Crèche is the only Vatican-authorized reproduction of the nativity scene outside of Saint Peter’s Basilica in Rome.

Light Up Night attracts thousands of people from all over. It is one of the biggest stimuli to Pittsburgh’s economy, bringing in about $21 million over the course of the weekend, according to Ida D’Errico, Light Up Night event producer.

“It is truly the only Downtown showcase unique to Pittsburgh. I get calls all the time about producing events in other cities. But Pittsburgh loves to celebrate Pittsburgh. You can’t do that anywhere else,” she said.

D’Errico explained that every element of the event comes from Pittsburgh, from performers to equipment, and that there was no need to look outside of the city  for equipment or staff.

For a little holiday spirit closer to Oakland, head to the ice rink in Schenley Park, which has an effect opposite of that of the PPG Plaza rink. Instead of being surrounded by buildings, this rink is stationed in the middle of the park. With just the right amount of snowfall, it’s almost like being inside a snow globe.

Just down the street from Schenley Park, Phipps Conservatory is host to its own holiday celebration. The winter flower show, which opened Nov. 25, is designed around the Nutcracker ballet.

Natalie Bowman, Phipps marketing assistant, said that the choice for the Nutcracker was a simple one, given that not only is the story a long-running and well-loved Christmas tradition, it is also reflective of Phipps itself.

“The Nutcracker is a classic Victorian story, and Phipps was built in that era,” Bowman explained. “The Nutcracker was first performed the year before Phipps opened. It just fits.”

The show chronicles the adventures of Marie and the Nutcracker Prince, including everything from the battle between the toy soldiers and mice to the Sugarplum Fairy’s land of sweets — consisting of edible plants like ginger and peppermint. Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre, which does a yearly performance of the Nutcracker, will be performing at Phipps to complement the flower show on Dec. 8.