Established in 1838, New Brighton is a thriving community northwest of Pittsburgh proper. This town hosts a plethora of distinct, small-owned businesses that make it the perfect place to spend a few hours exploring.
Start off at Hallowed Grounds Coffee Roasterie and secure yourself a cup of coffee before you start your shopping. Hallowed Grounds isn’t just a coffee shop though; they offer a large variety of coffee beans that you can grind and brew at home. A few of their specialty flavors include blueberry cheesecake, chocolate caramel kiss and maple bacon. They also sell loose-leaf tea, roasted nuts and freshly ground nut butters. Their pumpkin spice tea will definitely get you in the mood for fall.
Amble on down the street to Honeybee Boutique to find yourself a whole new wardrobe! They have a rotating selection of darling clothes. You won’t leave without buying something. Mana Mehdi, the owner of Honeybee Boutique, also owns All That Glitters, which offers a beautiful selection of jewelry to pair with your new outfit. Another stop on your shopping tour should be Polly’s Premium leggings. They have a fun selection of leggings for your next workout or lounge day.
If you want to soak up some culture and history, make sure you visit the Merrick Art Gallery. This art gallery was founded by industrialist Edward Dempster Merrick in 1880 in the old New Brighton railroad station, which is now a historical landmark. The Merrick’s collection is mainly composed of French, German, English and American paintings from the 18th and 19th Century. They also have a stunning garden and courtyard that’s perfect for a mid-afternoon break.
A unique fact about New Brighton is that it was once home to a portion of the Underground Railroad. In the 19th Century, New Brighton had a large population of Quakers, who were some of the original abolitionists. A few stops on the tour include the Robert Townsend House, Dr. David Stanton House, Sarah Jane (Clarke) Lippincott House and more. There’s a total of nine stops in New Brighton. You can find a map of the entire tour at https://visitbeavercounty.com.
You’ll be thirsty after all that walking, so make a stop at Petrucci Brothers Brewing. They’re a local brewery making their own high quality beers. A few tasty brews they offer are Brothers Blood Orange IPA, 1838 Smoked Porter and 5th Avenue Blonde Ale. Their Leo’s Märzen beer is perfect for fall with both malty and caramel flavors. They have a selection of food trucks that visit the brewery on a rotating basis. Check their Facebook for the week’s food truck lineup.
New Brighton is a town that’s always hosting events. A few upcoming events include The New Brighton Night Mart on October 10, the Fall Festival on October 21 and the Halloween Parade on October 25. Any of these events are the perfect reason to visit.
New Brighton is a small town worth visiting thanks to many hardworking community members that keep this area lively and flourishing.
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