UPCOMING EVENTS

Depending on which night you're here, you can pair your favorite dish with talks from acclaimed authors, multi-lingual poetry readings, or concerts from award-winning musicians playing everything from afrobeat to traditional jazz. Three nights a week, in addition to  enjoying world-class cuisine, you can satisfy your cultural palette with a free program hosted by City of Asylum and experience cultures from around the globe. 

Please Note: Cucina Alfabeto shares a space with City of Asylum, where live performances may take place during your reservation. Please check the COA event calendar in advance to see what’s scheduled, as some guests enjoy the experience while others prefer a quieter atmosphere.

Closed Due to Expected Snowstorm
Jan
25

Closed Due to Expected Snowstorm

Due to the upcoming snowstorm anticipated in the city of Pittsburgh, Cucina Alfabeto will be closed for Sunday the 25th. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause, and urge everybody to keep warm over the weekend!

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Thursday Night Jazz: Rich Zabinski Quartet Presents the Music of Benny Golson
Jan
29

Thursday Night Jazz: Rich Zabinski Quartet Presents the Music of Benny Golson

Benny Golson was an icon of the bebop and hardbop eras, making major contributions to the world of jazz with such standards as“Killer Joe,” “I Remember Clifford,” “Along Came Betty,” “Stablemates,” “Whisper Not,” “Blues March,” “Five Spot After Dark,” and “Are You Real?” He was a multitalented and internationally famous jazz legend, wearing the many hats of composer, arranger, lyricist, producer, and tenor saxophonist of world note. 

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Story Club PGH Presents: Story Slam! (Mixed Signals)
Feb
3

Story Club PGH Presents: Story Slam! (Mixed Signals)

Since 2022, it’s been our pleasure to partner with Story Club (created by the former producers of The Moth Pittsburgh) for their monthly nonfiction storytelling series, Story Slam. Together, we aim to showcase a diverse range of voices and create a space for stories that resonate across backgrounds, perspectives, and experiences. Each month, we welcome open mic storytellers to the stage to share six-minute tales that tackle a pre-selected theme. This February’s theme is Mixed Signals.

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Thursday Night Jazz: Iconic Vocalist Etta Cox
Feb
5

Thursday Night Jazz: Iconic Vocalist Etta Cox

It is always a dream come true when the incomparable Etta Cox visits City of Asylum. This February, the eight-time winner of “Best Jazz Vocalist” in Pittsburgh and Steel City icon brings her unequaled stage presence and vocal prowess to Alphabet City to bring a little warmth amid the frigid Pittsburgh winter. For decades, Etta has captivated audiences with her genre-crossing and transformative performances. This February, Etta will regale audiences with beloved jazz favorites and reimagined hidden gems.

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Thursday Night Jazz: Mila Shadel Quartet’s Favorite Love Songs
Feb
12

Thursday Night Jazz: Mila Shadel Quartet’s Favorite Love Songs

Get into the Valentine’s Day mood with an early celebration at City of Asylum. Up-and-coming guitarist and Pittsburgh native Mila Shadel brings the magic of love in all its forms—romantic and platonic, young love and lifelong devotion—to the Alphabet City stage, leading her quartet in a concert of her favorite love songs, ranging from warm and fuzzy familiar favorites to sparkling hidden gems. 

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Thursday Night Jazz: John Coltrane’s “A Love Supreme”
Feb
19

Thursday Night Jazz: John Coltrane’s “A Love Supreme”

It’s Valentine’s season in Pittsburgh, which can only mean one thing: A Love Supreme at City of Asylum. Renowned alto saxophonist Yoko Suzuki and her accompanying quartet members Max Leake, Eli Namay, and Roger Humphries perform a full rendition of the John Coltrane masterpiece, A Love Supreme. In addition to performing the full album, Yoko’s quartet will perform various songs centered on the theme of love, including original compositions.

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PGHwrites: Free Association Reading Series with Laura Jackson, Dani LaMorte, Lauren Shapiro & James Tasillo
Feb
22

PGHwrites: Free Association Reading Series with Laura Jackson, Dani LaMorte, Lauren Shapiro & James Tasillo

The Free Association Reading series, founded by Pat Hart and Mark Nieson, showcases local writers sharing newly written work and works-in-progress. This month’s reading spotlights writers Laura Jackson, Dani LaMorte, Lauren Shapiro, and James Tasillo. The reading will be followed by a public reception for all performers and attendees to mingle and build community.

“Free Association readings began in 2016 for established and emerging writers of fiction, poetry, and nonfiction,” explains Pat. “As the name implies, Free Association is not affiliated with a university or writing program but is for all, for established and emerging writers of fiction, poetry, and nonfiction.”

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World of Music: LauraB (Spanish Folk Singer-Songwriter)
Feb
25

World of Music: LauraB (Spanish Folk Singer-Songwriter)

City of Asylum hosts Spanish composer and musician Laura González Flores, also known by her “B-Side” LauraB, in her second-ever North American tour. 

Throughout her career, LauraB has studied with musician Diego Pozo and received training from guitarists such as Antonio Reina and the Cuban composer and guitarist Alejo Martinez. She is currently studying flamenco guitar at the Fernando Moreno School with Isaac Moreno and Davinia Ballesteros. In her current project, she shows her most intimate and personal style. LauraB elevates the concept of singer-songwriter to a different and unique level that is entirely personal, brimming with intelligence and sensitivity, and rooted in the folkloric traditions of her native Andalusia, Spain.

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Story Club PGH Presents: Story Slam! (Against My Better Judgment)
Mar
3

Story Club PGH Presents: Story Slam! (Against My Better Judgment)

This March, test your luck on the Alphabet City stage with Story Club PGH’s Story Slam!

Since 2022, it’s been our pleasure to partner with Story Club (created by the former producers of The Moth Pittsburgh) for their monthly nonfiction storytelling series, Story Slam. Together, we aim to showcase a diverse range of voices and create a space for stories that resonate across backgrounds, perspectives, and experiences. Each month, we welcome open mic storytellers to the stage to share six-minute tales that tackle a pre-selected theme. The theme for March 2026 is Against My Better Judgment

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Thursday Night Jazz: Legendary Drummer Roger Humphries + the RH Factor
Jan
22

Thursday Night Jazz: Legendary Drummer Roger Humphries + the RH Factor

We’re kicking off our 2026 concert season with the man, the myth, the legend: Roger Humphries. A legend in the Pittsburgh jazz scene for decades, Roger is one of 20 members of the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation’s inaugural class of Jazz Legacies Fellows from around the country. He is a beloved and renowned figure, both on and beyond the Alphabet City stage, bringing a uniquely engaging atmosphere everywhere he goes. 

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Story Club PGH Presents: Story Slam! (Unfinished Business)
Dec
2

Story Club PGH Presents: Story Slam! (Unfinished Business)

The year might be coming to a close, but before you start thinking about your resolutions for 2026, Story Club Pittsburgh (created by the former producers of The Moth Pittsburgh) wants you to take a closer look at your past. This December, Story Slam checks out the skeletons in the closet and everything that’s been swept under the rug…it’s time to talk about your Unfinished Business.

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Thursday Night Jazz: Thomas Wendt’s Jazz at the Philharmonic (Norman Granz, the Jazz Jam Session & the Struggle for Equality)
Nov
20

Thursday Night Jazz: Thomas Wendt’s Jazz at the Philharmonic (Norman Granz, the Jazz Jam Session & the Struggle for Equality)

More than eight decades ago, jazz impresario Norman Granz had the idea to present informal jazz jam sessions on a formal concert stage. He began his musical experiment at Philharmonic Hall in Los Angeles in 1943 and was quickly met with great success. As his idea and organization grew, he soon found himself face-to-face with the nation’s Jim Crow culture. Bearing witness to the ways Black American artists were affected by the restrictions and manipulations of Jim Crow–era America, Granz leveraged his power as a successful and shrewd businessman to ensure all Jazz at the Philharmonic artists traveled first-class and were treated first-class. This Thursday Night Jazz performance celebrates not only Norman Granz, but the incredible musicians he supported in these historic jam sessions. 

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Thursday Night Jazz: Dwayne Dolphin Fo’tet’s “Let the Music Play” (Album Launch)
Nov
13

Thursday Night Jazz: Dwayne Dolphin Fo’tet’s “Let the Music Play” (Album Launch)

It’s a Thursday Night Jazz Album Launch! In a concert sure to make the audience come alive, lifelong bassist Dwayne Dolphin shares tracks from his latest project, Let The Music Play. Dwayne’s inspiration for this album sprang from his desire to bring back the dance element of jazz to the scene. If there’s one thing Dwayne and his Fo’tet know, it’s that jazz is the music of the people—not the music of an awkward elevator ride. Let The Music Play came to be through a passion for creating and sharing happy music. This album launch embodies that passion, resulting in a buzzing performance that’ll make you glad you brought your dancing shoes. 

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Reel Q Presents: An International Queer Film Screening
Nov
11

Reel Q Presents: An International Queer Film Screening

As the weather gets colder, what’s better than curling up with your community for a movie night? For the better part of a decade, City of Asylum has been partnering with Reel Q to bring unique, international queer films to audiences for free in a series known as “Reel Stories.” From dramas to documentaries to playful rom-coms, we are honored and delighted to serve as a platform for these beautiful works to reach new audiences. Stay tuned for more details on this November screening!

Reel Q is one of the oldest LGBTQ+ film festivals in the world. Starting in 1985, Reel Q’s mission has been to increase the availability and accessibility of queer film in Pittsburgh and its surrounding region, highlighting the diverse experiences of our worldwide community.

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Thursday Night Jazz: Paul Thompson Quintet’s Tribute to Pat Metheny
Nov
6

Thursday Night Jazz: Paul Thompson Quintet’s Tribute to Pat Metheny

Pat Metheny is one of the most acclaimed jazz musicians playing today. He reinvented the traditional jazz guitar sound with his first album, Bright Size Life (1975), and he has continued to redefine the genre by utilizing new technology. Pat Metheny has won 20 Grammy Awards in a record-breaking 12 different categories, and he has spent most of his life on tour, averaging between 120 and 240 shows a year since 1974.

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Story Club PGH Presents: Story Slam! (Home)
Nov
4

Story Club PGH Presents: Story Slam! (Home)

Whether it’s a place, a person, or just a peaceful feeling, home can take many forms. This November, Story Club Pittsburgh (created by the former producers of The Moth Pittsburgh) settles down with stories searching for, finding, changing, and reimagining the special notion that is Home.

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Thursday Night Jazz: Lou Stellute Quartet’s Jazz Standards (plus Spontaneous, Beautiful & Funky Improvisations)
Oct
30

Thursday Night Jazz: Lou Stellute Quartet’s Jazz Standards (plus Spontaneous, Beautiful & Funky Improvisations)

Pittsburgh Jazz Legend (MCG Jazz) Lou Stellute returns to City of Asylum with his own group! Joining forces with Antonio Croes, Ava Lintz, and George Heid III, this group is known for its spontaneity and improvisation. With a sixth sense attuned to jazz, these musicians listen and respond together in the moment, resulting in a musically inventive, totally spontaneous, and wholly original performance that is beautiful, funky, and free. The program features jazz standards as well as two entirely improvised compositions.

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Drue Heinz Literature Prize Presents: 45th Anniversary Reading with Prizewinners Bill Gaythwaite, Caroline Kim & Kelly Sather
Oct
28

Drue Heinz Literature Prize Presents: 45th Anniversary Reading with Prizewinners Bill Gaythwaite, Caroline Kim & Kelly Sather

It’s the 45th anniversary of the Drue Heinz Prize! Together, we’re honoring 45 years of one of America’s most significant short fiction awards, with readings from current prizewinner Bill Gaythwaite as well as alumni prizewinners Caroline Kim (2020) and Kelly Sather (2023). Join in on this celebration of short fiction, followed by a public reception of charcuterie and wine. 

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Betsy Ann Pairing Dinner
Oct
2

Betsy Ann Pairing Dinner

Experience an unforgettable evening as Cucina Alfabeto’s Executive Chef Jonathan Pruett joins forces with the maker of Betsy Ann Chocolates for a one of a kind pairing dinner, featuring signature chocolate inspired dishes and cocktails.

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The Sweet Collaboration
Sep
30
to Oct 5

The Sweet Collaboration

We are thrilled to announce A Sweet Week at Cucina Alfabeto! Join us for a special week celebrating Betsy Ann Chocolates - Hand Made American Chocolates, featuring chocolate inspired dishes and signature cocktails all week long.

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