You’ve heard of Black Friday. This year, support local Northside establishments at the Third Annual Northside Small Business Saturday. Then, either pop in for State Rep. Jake Wheatley Jr.’s mobile office hours or learn about relationships at “Unshakable Motherhood on Relationship Woes,” both at the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh – Allegheny. All this and more make for a bustling holiday weekend in the Northside!

Thursday, Nov. 22

YMCA of Greater Pittsburgh’s 28th Annual Turkey Trot

One of the largest Thanksgiving Day races in the nation. Adults, children, strollers, dogs and everyone else is welcome at the event and costumes are encouraged! If any attendees have a physical, visual or hearing disability, turkeytrot@ymcapgh.org should be contacted prior to the event for accommodations. More information and the link to register for the race is available here.

Thanksgiving Potluck Brunch at Commonplace Coffee

Join friends and neighbors to share food and conversation at Commonplace Coffee at Mexican War Streets (MWS) for a special holiday event on Thanksgiving. For those who will be around, or looking for some company before your holiday dinner, Commonplace Coffee will be open from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. When you stop by, be sure to check out the art of Seth Pitt, a friend of Commonplace Coffee, and his new art show titled “Notes From the Afterlife” at the space. Commonplace Coffee MWS is located at 1501 Buena Vista St., Pittsburgh, PA 15212.

Friday, Nov. 23

Family Day at the Mattress Factory Museum

Families looking for a Black Friday activity that doesn’t involve standing in line at the mall can join the Mattress Factory for a family-friendly day of hands-on art activities. With something for all ages, Family Day activities will include face painting by Rikki, zine making, a scavenger hunt, early learner explorations, teen activities, hot chocolate and dancing to the sounds of DJ Dave Zak! Free with museum admission. For more information visit the Facebook event page.

SkyWatch at the Henry Buhl, Jr. Planetarium & Observatory

Join astronomy experts for a dazzling night of stargazing and planetarium fun at SkyWatch, presented by PPG. The evening kicks off with a virtual tour of the night sky in Buhl Planetarium. Afterward, visitors are welcome to enjoy additional planetarium programs, and if the skies are clear, head up to the observatory! SkyWatch happens rain or shine. The program is offered at 7 p.m. and 9 p.m. Cost is $4 for nonmembers and $2 for Carnegie Museums members, as an add-on to general admission fees. Meet in the first floor of Carnegie Science Center. A guide will lead you to the planetarium. For more information, visit the Facebook event page or the SkyWatch page on the Carnegie Science Center website.

Saturday, Nov. 24

Third Annual Northside Small Business Saturday

Support Northside small businesses by kicking off the holiday shopping season in your neighborhood! Mark your calendar to join other invested community members around the nation who support their neighborhood’s main street merchants on Saturday, Nov. 24 and their cultural institutions. Check out the FREE Shop Small Guide for exclusive offers on all your holiday shopping needs and great deals to stay local during the winter. Show your support today by nominating your favorite Northside small businesses in The Northside Chronicle’s annual Readers’ Choice Awards before Monday, Nov. 26. Small business owners interested in learning more about how to get involved can find more information at www.northsideshopsmall.com. For more information, visit the Facebook event page.

Unshakable Motherhood on Relationship Woes at Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh – Allegheny

Relationships play a key role in your overall well-being. Many factors contribute to healthy relationships. Get on the right path to a happy, healthy family. Participate to discover the dynamics of a healthy relationship, communication strategies, stress and time management techniques and self-care tactics. Event is from 2 to 4:30 p.m. Register on Eventbrite.

Mobile Pop-up Office Hours with State Rep. Jake Wheatley Jr.

Ambassadors from The People’s Office, a governmental office providing state level services and resources to the constituents of the 19th Legislative District, served by State Rep Jake Wheatley Jr., can help with State documents and getting through to State departments, in addition to other resources. Event is from 2 to 4 p.m. at the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh – Allegheny. Call the office ahead of time if you need to utilize the notary at one of these events, or simply want more tailored information. 412-471-7760. Visit the office at 2015 Centre Ave., 15219.

Sunday, Nov. 25

Museum Store Sunday

You’ve heard of Black Friday, Small Business Saturday and Cyber Monday. This year, consider doing your holiday shopping on the inaugural Museum Store Sunday, spearheaded by the Museum Store Association. Many local museums and cultural institutions are excited to participate in this new event. For updates on the special offers and discounts planned for Museum Store Sunday as well as a list of participating museums, check out the Facebook page.

The Bridge at City of Asylum

The Bridge is an French-based international program that fosters new creative collaborations between European and U.S. jazz musicians. Musicians are brought together and challenged to discover new sounds, often combining classical music and cutting edge jazz. This show features Fred Jackson Jr. on sax, Jason Stein on bass clarinet, Didier Petit on cello, and Edward Perraud on drums. It’s composed of French and American musicians playing together for the very first time, on the Alphabet City stage. More information available on the Facebook event page. R.S.V.P. for your free ticket here.

Have an event you’d like us to feature online in the Northside Happenings? Every week on our website, we announce free or almost-free events happening in the Northside on Thursdays through Sundays. Email a paragraph detailing the name of the event, location, specifics and a website or contact information to editor@thenorthsidechronicle.com. Deadline is 4 p.m. on the Wednesday before the weekend.