Serving You, Sustainably
Dining
At the University Club, sustainability starts on the plate. Our menus celebrate local and seasonal ingredients, with menus rotating multiple times a year, featuring a full page of seasonal options. Our chefs work together to cross-utilize products with our catering department in daily specials and menu items so nothing goes unused. Every pasta is made in small batches right in our kitchen, and our gelato comes exclusively from Unwind, our on-campus coffee shop. At the bar, you'll find local brews and ciders that rotate with the seasons. In the café, our Clear the Case Happy Hour offers a discount on anything from the display case every Friday from 1–2 PM, so the week's offerings find a home instead of going to waste.
Events
Hosting with us means hosting more sustainably. We serve on full chinaware and provide all glass and flatware, to keep single-use products to a bare minimum. Our onsite kitchen lets us prepare what your event needs without overproducing, with everything made fresh for your event. Our in-house collection of display pieces is reimagined from event to event, giving each gathering its own look without buying new items for one-time use. Chalkboard signage, lamps, votive holders and other reusable décor are also available to fit your occasion, and keep single event purchasing to a minimum.
Programming
Sustainability is part of our daily work behind the scenes. Through our Waste Not program, a regularly trained staff member measures waste output every day, and food that is overproduced is donated through a weekly coordinated pick-up. We also bring the community together around sustainability twice a year. In April, Earth Month culminates on Earth Day Eve with a full day of hourly teaching kitchens, sustainable food sampling, wellness activations and more. In October, Sustainability Month features our Local Autumn Harvest Friends Dinner, a full dinner made entirely from locally sourced ingredients.
Sustainable Spotlight:
Robyn’s Swap Shop
Our commitment to sustainability extends beyond the kitchen with Robyn's Swap Shop, a monthly upcycling program led by our front desk concierge, Robyn. Each month, Robyn chooses a theme, such as household items, holiday décor, jackets or fall clothing, and collects donated items that fit the theme. Anyone is welcome to stop by and take whatever they'd like, free of charge, giving gently used goods a second life. Anything left at the end of the month is donated to the local community, so every item finds a new home.
Sustainability Month is Here
Join us all month long as we celebrate all things sustainability! See our month long schedule of events along with event details and registration links below.
OCTOBER EVENTS
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Stop by the front desk all month long and turn a pre-loved tee into a stylish, reusable tote bag! Our front desk concierge Robyn has gathered a collection of t-shirts from her Swap Shop, so all you need to bring is your creativity.
No Cost | Open to the Public | Front Desk
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Celebrate World Vegetarian Day with us as our restaurants feature an all-day lineup of plant-based specials. It's the perfect excuse to try something fresh, flavorful, and good for the planet.
Open to the Public | College Room & Fraternity Grill
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Your coffee habit can help your garden grow! Starting October 5, Café 1923 will be collecting spent coffee grounds and offering them free all month long to use as natural fertilizer for your at-home plants.
Free | Open to Public | Cafe 1923
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Pittsburgh's favorite dumpling gets the spotlight with vegetarian and dessert pierogi specials running in our restaurants all day long. Come hungry and celebrate a local classic with a sustainable twist.
Open to the Public | College Room & Fraternity Grill
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Test your eco-knowledge at a sustainability-themed trivia night in the College Room! Space is limited and sign-ups are required, so grab your team and reserve your spot early.
No Cost | Sign-Up Required | College Room
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Join fellow members for a trip to Soergel Orchards to pick the pumpkins, apples, squash, and more that will be featured at our Local Autumn Harvest Dinner. Each guest will receive a complimentary mini pumpkin; no transportation is provided, but good company and a group photo are guaranteed!
No Cost | Members Only | Sign-Up Required
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Savor the season at a five-course dinner celebrating sustainability, featuring pescatarian and plant-based dishes made entirely from locally sourced ingredients. Our menu showcases local partners along with produce hand-picked on our member field trip; local Arsenal ciders and cocktails are available separately, and tickets are first come, first served.
Ticketed Event | Tickets for Purchase Available to the Public | Fraternity Grill
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This month's Wine Club raises a glass to the earth with a lineup of natural, organic, and sustainable wines paired with plant-based snacks. This members-only event requires a ticket purchase, so reserve yours today.
Members Only | Sign-Up & Purchase Required | College Room
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Get into the Halloween spirit with evening double features of classic scary movies in the College Room! For our sustainability spin, enjoy a complimentary local apple popcorn and hot cider bar, plus Arsenal ciders on special all week long.
No Cost | Open to the Public | College Room
EVENT DETAILS
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Upcycled Tee-Shirts
FREE ALL MONTH
Stop by the front desk all month long and turn a pre-loved tee into a stylish, reusable tote bag! Our front desk concierge Robyn has gathered a collection of t-shirts from her Swap Shop, so all you need to bring is your creativity.
Open to the Public
Front Desk
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World Vegetarian Day
10/1 PURCHASE ALL DAY
Celebrate World Vegetarian Day with us as our restaurants feature an all-day lineup of plant-based specials. It's the perfect excuse to try something fresh, flavorful, and good for the planet.
Open to the Public
College Room & Fraternity Grill
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Brew & Bloom Kick-Off
10/5 FREE REST OF MONTH
Your coffee habit can help your garden grow! Café 1923 will be collecting spent coffee grounds and offering them free all month long to use as natural fertilizer for your at-home plants.
Open to Public
Cafe 1923
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National Pierogi Day
10/8 PURCHASE ALL DAY
Pittsburgh's favorite dumpling gets the spotlight with vegetarian and dessert pierogi specials running in our restaurants all day long. Come hungry and celebrate a local classic with a sustainable twist.
Open to the Public
College Room & Fraternity Grill
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Sustainable Trivia
10/13 FREE SIGN-UP REQUIRED
Test your eco-knowledge at a sustainability-themed trivia night in the College Room! Space is limited and sign-ups are required through OpenTable, so grab your team and reserve your spot early.
College Room
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Soergel Field Trip
10/15 FREE SIGN-UP REQUIRED
Join fellow members for a trip to Soergel Orchards to pick the pumpkins, apples, squash, and more that will be featured at our Local Autumn Harvest Dinner. Each guest will receive a complimentary mini pumpkin; no transportation is provided.
Members Only
Soergel Orchard
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Autumn Harvest Chef Dinner
10/20 TICKET PURCHASE
Savor the season at a five-course dinner celebrating sustainability, featuring pescatarian and plant-based dishes made entirely from locally sourced ingredients. Our menu showcases local partners along with produce hand-picked on our member field trip; local Arsenal ciders and cocktails are available separately, and tickets are first come, first served.
Open to the Public
Fraternity Grill
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Monthly Wine Club
10/21 TICKET PURCHASE
This month's Wine Club raises a glass to the earth with a lineup of natural, organic, and sustainable wines paired with plant-based snacks. This members-only event requires a ticket purchase, so reserve yours today.
Members Only
College Room
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Scary Movie Cinema
10/26-10/30 FREE 3PM-8PM
Get into the Halloween spirit with evening double features of classic scary movies in the College Room! For our sustainability spin, enjoy a complimentary local apple popcorn and hot cider bar, plus Arsenal ciders on special all week long.
Double features running 3PM-8PM daily!
Open to the Public
College Room