With more than 50 restaurants in walking distance to theaters, the Cultural District offers a wide variety of dining options to satisfy your personal tastes and budget. Enjoying a relaxing meal before a show or capping off the evening with cocktails and dessert add to a pleasurable experience in the Cultural District.
A Pittsburgh Cultural District-wide gift card can be used to purchase tickets for Pittsburgh Cultural Trust events as well as any event taking place in the Cultural District. With so many exciting shows, concerts, and exhibitions, there is truly something for everyone!
The Cultural District is accessible by public transportation, including Port Authority buses, "T" light-rail service and Pittsburgh's famous inclines. Driving to the show? There is also ample parking in and around the District -- for real-time garage parking information, try ParkPGH.
Our Teen Ambassadors love teen literature, constantly recommend the next best books to their friends, and live for fandom culture, shipping their OTPs, and all things bookish. Teen Ambassadors are hand-selected and serve as essential Bookish in the ‘Burgh team members for two years by helping us plan the Festival, assisting with Festival outreach and marketing, and volunteering on-site the day of the Festival.
Applications for 2021-2022 Teen Ambassadors will open in the late spring of 2021. Please check back for updates.
Meet our 2020/2021 Teen Ambassadors
Beatrice Alba (She/Her)
Age: 13 School: Pittsburgh CAPA
Ivy B. (She/Her)
Age: 15 School: Keystone Oaks High School
Jenn Bakowski (She/Her)
Age: 15 School: Brentwood Middle School
Sammi Cooper (She/Her)
Age: 15 School: Riverview Jr/Sr High School
Amelia D'Addieco (She/Her)
Age: 15 School: Peters Township High School
Mia DeAngelis Naccarato (She/Her)
Age: 16 School: North Allegheny High School
Deven Doshi (He/Him)
Age: 12 School: Pittsburgh CAPA
Kirsten Driscoll (She/Her)
Age: 14 School: Indian Creek High School
Skylyn Ellison (She/Her)
Age: 14 School: Freeport Area High School
Katie Green (She/Her)
Age: 14 School: Woodland Hills High School
Molly A. Green (She/Her)
Age: 15 School: Lincoln Park Performing Arts Charter School
Hudson Hackley (He/Him)
Age: 13 School: Mellon Middle School
Frances Huffman (She/Her)
Age: 14 School: Mars Area High School
Leena Idrees (She/Her)
Age: 17 School: Hempfield Area High School
Chloe Johnston (She/Her)
Age: 17 School: Oil City High School
Bella Jones (She/Her)
Age: 15 School: New Castle Senior High School
Layla Koon (She/Her)
Age: 16 School: Pennsylvania Virtual Charter School
Katie M. (She/Her)
Age: 14 School: North Allegheny Intermediate High School
Tess Malnight (She/Her)
Age: 17 School: Oakland Catholic High School
Sophia Menke (She/Her)
Age: 14 School: Pine-Richland High School
Renee LaGrosse (She/Her)
Age: 16 School: Bishop Canevin High School
Aris Pastor (She/Her)
Age: 15 School: North Allegheny Intermediate High School
Josephine Reiter (She/Her)
Age: 16 School: Pittsburgh CAPA
Abby Rickin-Marks (She/Her)
Age: 17 School: Fox Chapel Area High School
Emily Scholtisek (She/Her)
Age: 14 School: Bethlehem Center High School
Sarah Seader (She/Her)
Age: 17 School: PA Cyber Charter School
Ella Sheaffer (She/Her)
Age: 13 School: Environmental Charter School
Molly Sneddon (She/Her)
Age: 16 School: Thomas Jefferson High School
Aditi Srivastava (She/Her)
Age: 15 School: South Fayette High School
Hallie Sufrin (She/Her)
Age: 15 School: Winchester Thurston
Rohan Sykora (He/Him)
Age: 15 School: Winchester Thurston
Novalie Vesley (She/Her)
Age: 17 School: Greensburg Salem High School
Zora Watson (She/Her)
Age: 15 School: Indiana Senior High School
Meet our 2019/2020 Teen Ambassadors
Sophia M.
Age: 17 School: Barack Obama Academy of International Studies Describe Yourself in Three Words: Creative, Energetic, and Determined Hobbies: Youth and Government Lobbyist, Book Club, softball Some Favorite YA Books and/or Authors: Percy Jackson, Heroes of Olympus, and Magnus Chase series by Rick Riordan and Long Way Down by Jason Reynolds.
Chelbey T.
Age: 16 School: Crestview High School Describe Yourself in Three Words: Creative, Hard-Working, Innovative Hobbies: Marching band, drama, French Club, writing Some Favorite YA Books and/or Authors: Harry Potter, Rupi Kaur
Aris P.
Age: 14 School: Ingomar Middle School Describe Yourself in Three Words: Bibliophile, logician, passionate Hobbies: Swim club, Library Helpers, NaNoWriMo Club, writing, reading, and watching TV Some Favorite YA Books and/or Authors: Shadowhunter Chronicles by Cassandra Clare, all of V.E. Schwab’s books, and Six of Crows duology by Leigh Bardugo
EmilyGrace R.
Age: 17 School: Moon Area High School Describe Yourself in Three Words: Activist, ambitious, organized Hobbies: Speech and Debate, GirlGov, Drama Club, choir, making art, writing, playing instruments, listening to music Some Favorite YA Books and/or Authors: Eleanor and Park by Rainbow Rowell, It’s Kind of a Funny Story by Ned Vizzini, and Looking for Alaska by John Green
Madison M.
Age: 18 School: Rochester High School Describe Yourself in Three Words: Creative, Passionate, and Insightful Hobbies: Reading, bowling, traveling, volunteering with Big Brothers Big Sisters, spending time with friends Some Favorite YA Books and/or Authors: Charlotte Holmes series by Brittany Cavallaro, Throne of Glass series by Sarah J. Maas, The Diviners series by BLANK, If You come Softly by Jacqueline Woodson, John Green books, Leigh Bardugo books, and The Ilumminae Files
Whitley C.
Age: 19 School: Point Park University Describe Yourself in Three Words: Passionate, Outgoing, Resilient Hobbies: Movies, photography, writing scripts and poetry, cinematography Some Favorite YA Books and/or Authors: An Abundance of Katherines by John Green
Frances H.
Age: 13 School: Mars Area Middle School Describe Yourself in Three Words: Positive, Motivated, Generous Hobbies: YSU English Festival, theater tech, flute Some Favorite YA Books and/or Authors: The Schwa Was Here and Scythe by Neal Shusterman, Stung by Bethany Wiggins
Hermione T.
Age: 12 School: Pittsburgh Creative and Performing Arts (CAPA) Describe Yourself in Three Words: Intelligent, Confident, Persuasive Hobbies: Singing, dancing, reading, drawing, spending time with siblings Some Favorite YA Books and/or Authors: Harry Potter, Percy Jackson, A Wrinkle in Time by Madeline L’Engle
Amelia D.
Age: 14 School: Peters Township Describe Yourself in Three Words: Determined, Creative, Compassionate Hobbies: theater, marching band, choir, writing Some Favorite YA Books and/or Authors: anything by Ally Carter, especially the Gallagher Girls series, Charlotte Holmes books by Brittany Cavallaro, John Green, Harry Potter, Percy Jackson, Ned Vizzini, One of Us is Lying by Karen M. McManus, and Truly Devious by Maureen Johnson
Lily C.
Age: 13 School: Jefferson Middle School Describe Yourself in Three Words: Creative, Funny, Fashionable Hobbies: read, draw, listen to music, write, hanging out with friends Some Favorite YA Books and/or Authors: The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas, Me, Earl and the Dying Girl by Jesse Andrews, The Zodiac series by Romina Russell, Nicola Yoon
Kirsten D.
Age: 13 School: Indian Creek Middle School Describe Yourself in Three Words: Curious, Inquisitive, Studious Hobbies: softball, volleyball, school newspaper, band Some Favorite YA Books and/or Authors: Harry Potter, Karen M. McMannus, Rupi Kaur
Lorelai R.
Age: 13 School: Delta Middle School Describe Yourself in Three Words: Engaged, Enthusiastic, Sensitive Hobbies: Cheerleading, volunteering with the YMCA, Netflix, reading Some Favorite YA Books and/or Authors: The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas, The Fault in Our Stars by John Green, Harry Potter, The Hunger Games, Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell, Orbiting Jupiter, and Stargirl, Judy Blume, Jason Reynolds
Samantha C.
Age: 14 School: Riverview Jr. Sr. High School Describe Yourself in Three Words: Curious, Enthusiastic, Mindful Hobbies: reading, drawing, musical theater, writing Some Favorite YA Books and/or Authors: Benjamin Alire Saenz, Adam Silvera, and Leigh Bardugo
Mia N.
Age: 15 School: North Allegheny Describe Yourself in Three Words: Ambitious, Creative, Quirky Hobbies: breading, writing, Judo, working at a bookstore Some Favorite YA Books and/or Authors: Carry On by Rainbow Rowell, Divergent by Veronica Roth, Simon vs. the Homosapiens Agenda by Becky Albertalli, Lies We Tell Ourselves by Robin Talley
Abby R.
Age: 16 School: Fox Chapel Describe Yourself in Three Words: Hard-working, Ambitious, Loyal Hobbies: playing sousaphone in marching band, soccer, basketball, reading and writing, genealogy Some Favorite YA Books and/or Authors: Percy Jackson and other Rick Riordan Books, dystopian and diverse YA, Marissa Meyers
Abigail B.
Age: 14 School: Hollidaysburg Area Junior High School Describe Yourself in Three Words: Energetic, Bold, Personable Hobbies: reading, drawing, musical theater, writing Some Favorite YA Books and/or Authors: Sarah J. Maas, The Raven Cycle by Maggie Stefvater, The Folk of the Air by Holly Black, Where Creatures Hide by P.J. Shephard, The Remnant Chronicles by Mary Pearson, Everything, Everything by Nicola Yoon, The Hunter Games
Layla K.
Age: 15 School: Pennsylvania Virtual Charter School Describe Yourself in Three Words: Confident, Mature, Diligent Hobbies: writing, reading, drawing, MMA, 4-H Some Favorite YA Books and/or Authors: Neal Shusterman, John Flanagan, Harry Potter, Anthony Horowitz
Aideen S.
Age: 13 School: Marshall Middle School Describe Yourself in Three Words: Helpful, Talented, Understanding Hobbies: drawing, writing, rollerblading, learning German, singing, reading Some Favorite YA Books and/or Authors: The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton, Ivy Aberdeen’s Letter to the World by Ashley Herring Blake, The Witch Boy by Molly Ostertag, The Prince and The Dressmaker by Jen Wang, The Name of the Star by Maureen Johnson, Ahimsa by Supriya Kelkar, Lucky Broken Girl by Ruth Behar
Christiana P.
Age: 16 School: Fox Chapel Describe Yourself in Three Words: Insightful, Bookworm, Driven Hobbies: reading, choir, band, musicals, dance, youth group, fencing Some Favorite YA Books and/or Authors: Jane Unlimited by Kristen Cashore, The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas, J.K. Rowling, Rick Riordan
Rachel R.
Age: 18 School: Trinity Christian School Describe Yourself in Three Words: Passionate, Caring, Hard-working Hobbies: reading, basketball, volleyball, volunteering at the Avian Conservation Center of Appalachia, piano, art Some Favorite YA Books and/or Authors: Sarah J. Maas, Cassandra Clare, Marissa Meyer, Becky Albertalli, Morgan Matson, Children of Blood and Bone by Tomi Adeyemi, The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas, November 9 by Colleen Hoover, A Very Large Expanse of Sea by Tahereh Mafi
Rachel E.
Age: 15 School: Punxsutawney Area High School Describe Yourself in Three Words: Funny, Sarcastic, Shy Hobbies: reading, writing, sports Some Favorite YA Books and/or Authors: Books that are easy to relate to
Weeam B.
Age: 15 School: Bethel Park High School Describe Yourself in Three Words:Creative, Analytical, Optimistic Hobbies: lacrosse, French Club, school newspaper, community service Some Favorite YA Books and/or Authors: John Green, Rainbow Rowell
Athena I.
Age: 14 School: Pittsburgh Creative and Performing Arts (CAPA) Describe Yourself in Three Words: Hard-working, Reliable, Diligent Hobbies: baking, writing, cross-fit, softball Some Favorite YA Books and/or Authors: Love, Life, and the List and On the Fence by Kasie West, Girl in Pieces by Kathleen Glasgow
