Know a place
we should know?

How to Suggest a Local Place That Gets Approved

Every suggestion is read by a real person, and we check it against official sources before anything goes live. The easier it is for us to confirm the details, the faster your favorite spot can join the directory. When you suggest a local place, these details help the most:

• The official name. Use the name the place uses on its own website or sign, not a nickname.
• The town or neighborhood. Pittsburgh has plenty of places with similar names, so the location helps us find the right one.
• An official link. The place’s own website, its official social media page, or a government page is best. We use it to confirm the details.
• The right category. Picking the closest category from the dropdown sends your note to the right part of the directory.
• A short note on why it matters. Tell us what makes it worth a visit. A sentence or two is plenty.

Please stick to public information. We do not need, and do not want, private home addresses, payment details, or anything sensitive.

What You Can Suggest

YinzMart is building a friendly guide to the people, places, and things that make our region worth exploring. The dropdown in the form covers the main categories, and here is a little more about each group.

Live Entertainment

Live music venues, live sports, comedy clubs, musicals and ballet, pop-ups and festivals, and Burgh Live Events listings. If a stage, a field, or a festival ground is part of what makes your weekend, this is where it goes.

Places to Visit

Museums and attractions, haunted attractions, public libraries, parks and hiking trails, and movie theaters. Small neighborhood gems are just as welcome as the big names.

Local Voices

Podcasts and local media sources. If a show, station, or publication covers our region and deserves more listeners or readers, tell us about it.

Corrections

Spotted a listing that has changed, closed, or moved? Use the YinzersMeet correction option or the closest category and let us know what needs fixing. Corrections help everyone who uses the directory.

Anything Else Local

If your idea does not fit a category, choose “Other local place” and explain. We read those too.

Where Your Suggestion Can Come From

Our local area includes nine counties, so you can suggest a local place from the city neighborhoods all the way out to the small towns and state parks. A few examples of the kinds of spots people love to share:

• Allegheny County: city neighborhood venues, river trails, branch libraries, and county parks.
• Westmoreland, Fayette, and Somerset: Laurel Highlands trails, small-town festivals, and mountain attractions.
• Washington and Beaver: fairgrounds, riverfront parks, and historic main streets.
• Butler, Armstrong, and Lawrence: farm markets, community theaters, and quiet lakes and creeks.

Want inspiration? Browse our Pittsburgh places by location guide or explore a county, like Allegheny County, to see what is already listed and what might be missing.

Suggest a Local Place in Your Own Neighborhood

Some of the best additions to the directory come from people who know one small corner of the region really well. You do not have to be an expert on all of Western Pennsylvania to help. If you know your own block, your kid’s school district, or the town where you grew up, you already have something valuable to share.

Think about the places you send visiting friends and family. The overlook where everyone takes photos. The library with the reading garden. The brewery taproom that hosts trivia and live music. The little museum run by volunteers that is only open on weekends. Those are exactly the spots we want to hear about when you suggest a local place.

Older neighbors are a great source too. Many long-running places have little or no online presence, and the people who have been going for decades know them best. If you help someone else suggest a local place, just make sure to include an official link or a public source we can check.

How Suggestions Shape the Directory

Suggestions are not just about adding new listings. They also tell us which parts of the region need more attention and which categories people care about most.

• Filling gaps. If several people suggest places in the same town, it tells us that area needs more coverage.
• Keeping things current. Corrections help us catch places that have moved, closed, changed their name, or changed what they offer.
• Finding new categories. When “Other local place” suggestions start to cluster around a theme, it can point to a new guide worth building.
• Celebrating the small stuff. Community-run spots, seasonal traditions, and local voices get a little more of the spotlight they deserve.

So even if you only suggest a local place once, it really does help. And if you find yourself sending ideas regularly, thank you. Neighbors like you are what make a local directory worth using.

Helpful Official Sources

We confirm details using official sources, and you can use them too before you suggest a local place. For parks, trails, and outdoor spots, the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources covers state parks and forests, and Allegheny County lists its county parks. For libraries, the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh has its own branch pages. For businesses and venues, the place’s own website is almost always the best link to include.

What to Include When You Suggest a Local Place, by Category

Each part of the directory needs slightly different details. Use this quick guide when you suggest a local place so we have what we need on the first try.

Live Music Venues

Share the venue’s official website or event page and the kind of music it usually books, like rock, jazz, country, or open mic nights. Let us know if it is all ages or 21 and over if the venue says so publicly.

Live Sports

For teams, leagues, and stadiums, the official team or league website is the best link. Minor league, college, and amateur teams are welcome too, since they are often the most fun and affordable way to catch a game.

Live Comedy

Point us to the club or the recurring show’s official page. If it is a regular night at a bar or theater, tell us the venue name so we can list it in the right place.

Musicals and Ballet

For theaters, dance companies, and performing arts groups, include the organization’s official site. Community theaters and student companies are great additions.

Pop-Ups and Festivals

Seasonal events change often, so a link to the organizer’s official page matters most. Tell us roughly what time of year it happens rather than a specific date that might change.

Haunted Attractions

Haunted houses, hayrides, and ghost tours usually run for a short season. Share the official site and mention if it is family friendly or meant for older visitors.

Museums and Attractions

Big museums, small historical societies, science centers, and quirky roadside stops all count. The attraction’s own site is the best link to send when you suggest a local place in this category.

Public Libraries

Include the branch name and the library system it belongs to. If the branch is known for something special, like a makerspace or a great kids’ room, mention it.

Parks and Hiking Trails

Share the official park page from the city, county, or state, and the nearest town. Tell us what it is best for, such as easy walks, longer hikes, biking, fishing, or picnics.

Movie Theaters

Independent cinemas, drive-ins, and classic single-screen theaters are especially welcome. Include the theater’s official website.

Podcasts and Local Media

For podcasts, link the show’s official page or main feed page. For newspapers, magazines, radio, and TV, link the outlet’s home page. Tell us what area or topics they cover.

Before You Suggest a Local Place, a Quick Checklist

• Is it in one of our nine counties?
• Is it open to the public, at least some of the time?
• Do you have an official link that confirms the name and location?
• Did you choose the closest category in the form?
• Have you left out any private or sensitive information?

If you can say yes to all five, you are ready to suggest a local place. Fill out the form above and hit send.

Why Your Local Knowledge Matters

Big search engines and review sites are great at the obvious places. They are not always great at the corner venue that books local bands every Friday, the trail the neighbors actually use, or the podcast that covers your town council. That is where you come in.

When you suggest a local place, you help someone new to the area, a visitor in town for the weekend, or a lifelong Pittsburgher who has not explored the next valley over. Every good suggestion makes the directory a little more useful for all of us.

It also helps the places themselves. Small venues, volunteer-run attractions, and independent media often do not have a big marketing budget. A listing on a local directory can put them in front of people who are already looking for something to do nearby.

Ideas If You Are Not Sure Where to Start

Not every suggestion has to be a hidden gem. Some of the most useful additions are everyday places that simply are not listed yet. If you want to suggest a local place but are drawing a blank, think about:

• The park or trail you walk most often.
• A library branch with great programs for kids or adults.
• A small theater, music room, or comedy night you would recommend to a friend.
• A seasonal festival or pop-up market your town looks forward to every year.
• A local podcast, newsletter, or radio show you listen to.
• A museum or attraction that is easy to overlook because it is small.
• A listing on YinzMart that is out of date and needs a fix.

You can also check our Pittsburgh parks and trails and museums and attractions guides to see what is already covered before you suggest a local place that might be missing.

What Happens After You Send It

Sending the form does not automatically add or change a listing. Here is what to expect:

• Private review. Your suggestion is reviewed privately by YinzMart.
• Fact check. We compare the details with official sources such as the link you shared.
• Your info stays private. Your name and email are not included in directory listings. If you share an email, it is used only to follow up about this suggestion.

Not every suggestion will be added. Sometimes we cannot confirm the details, the place is outside our local area, or it does not fit the directory. That does not mean it is not a great spot, so thank you for sharing it either way.

Tips for a Great Suggestion

• One place per form keeps things clear. If you have several ideas, send them one at a time.
• Double-check spelling of names and towns.
• If a place has seasonal hours or only runs certain months, mention it.
• For podcasts and media, include the official show or station link rather than a single episode.
• For a correction, tell us what is wrong and what the right information is, plus a link that shows it.

Suggest a Local Place: Common Questions

Does it cost anything to suggest a local place?

No. Suggestions are a free way to help your neighbors find good stuff around the region.

Can I suggest my own business?

You can tell us about a public venue or attraction you run. If you want to sell products on YinzMart, the vendor application linked above is the better route, and our Get Listed page explains the options.

Do I have to give my name or email?

No. Both fields are optional. Sharing an email just lets us follow up if we have a question about your suggestion.

Can I suggest a local place outside the nine counties?

Our directory focuses on Allegheny, Armstrong, Beaver, Butler, Fayette, Lawrence, Somerset, Washington, and Westmoreland counties. Places outside that area usually will not be added.

How many times can I suggest a local place?

As many as you like. We just ask that you send one place per form so each suggestion can be reviewed on its own.

What if a place I suggested already has a listing?

That is fine. If you know something about it that is missing or out of date, choose the correction option and tell us what should change, along with an official link.

Will I hear back after I suggest a local place?

If you share an email, we may follow up when we have a question about your suggestion. Your email is used only for that purpose.

Can a business owner or organizer suggest a local place they run?

Yes. Owners, staff, and volunteers often have the most accurate details. Just keep it to public information, include your official website, and pick the right category. We review owner suggestions the same way we review everyone else’s, by checking them against official sources.

What if the place does not have a website?

An official social media page or a listing on a city, county, or state government site can work instead. If there is no public source at all, it may be hard for us to confirm the details.

Can I suggest an event instead of a place?

For markets, workshops, and community happenings, check our local events calendar first. If a venue regularly hosts events, you can still suggest the venue here.