on a Thursday night (Pittsburgh, Washington: house, casino, cabinet)

[esmith4]

where would a mid-30 year old single chick hang-out that isn't just a drinking bar and not a coffee shop and not Barnes-n-Noble?

[Hopes]

Does the mid-30 year old single chick have any hobbies? If not, what type of things did you enjoy doing prior to getting too busy to do things for yourself?

[fleetiebelle]

It's 80s night at Belvedere's in Lawrenceville, or are you looking for something quieter?

[Hopes]

There's a montly Pittsburgh Ski Club meeting tonight.

It's a great sport if you've never tried it. You don't need to know how to ski to join one of these clubs. You can take lessons at the slope.

I found it in this list of events for today: Post-Gazette NOW - Events

Click to the second page and there's a basic cabinet making class tonight too.

And there is a casino style fundraising event at the LaMont restaurant on Mt. Washington.

[esmith4]

The more people there are the better. Never been to Belvedere's. Is it non-smoking? I'm looking for a hip place to hang out where not everyone knows everyone, and actual conversation or even better, dancing happens.

Thanks for the ski club info. I'm going to skip the meeting but info. is good to know.

[groar]

belvedere's definitely allows smoking.

karaoke at ryan's pub in regent square/park place is quite the event, although not the best place for conversation.

brillobox is pretty hep. i don't know if they allow smoking there.

[fleetiebelle]

Belvie's does have smoking, but 80s night is a lot of fun, so you'd have to decide for yourself. BarSmart Pittsburgh Bar Reviews: Belvedere's 4016 Butler Street Pittsburgh, PA 15201. 412-687-2555

There's an electro dance night tonight at Brillobox, as well, and it's non-smoking: BarSmart Pittsburgh Events Calendar : LAZERCRUNK w/ B..Rich + Cutups & Keeb$

[Hopes]

I'll bet the Monte Carlo fundraiser at the LaMont would have people who don't know each other and actual conversation.

This is outdated information, but worth looking into for a Saturday night. There was a restaurant/bar on Babcock Blvd in the North Hills called Jergels. The owners were brothers and they had a house band called Father Time that played every Saturday Night. The dance floor was small but always PACKED with people dancing. It was an older crowd within your age group. The brothers sold the restaurant and no longer play, but the restaurant might still have Saturday Night entertainment. If it doesn't, the owner is crazy because it truly did attract a large middle-aged group of people who wanted to mingle and dance. It's now called Sunseris and the address is 3385 Babcock Blvd, Pittsburgh, PA 15237. Call and ask what their Saturday night scene is like.

As for dancing, have you considered taking a swing dancing class? I know people who got into that and there's special swing dancing events all over town on a regular basis. They have a blast and meet lots of new people.

[Hopes]

Here's the about.com list of night clubs and dance clubs in Pittsburgh: Pittsburgh Night Clubs - Bars, Dance Clubs & Nightclubs