Heinz History Center takes it back to the '90s with History Uncorked

Everybody dance now! The Heinz History Center’s annual History Uncorked fundraiser will be throwing it back this Friday night with the theme “We Love the ’90s.”

“This year is the 26th History Uncorked, and every year we have a different theme for people to get excited about,” said Angela Gaitaniella, corporate relations director for the Heinz History Center.

The committee in charge of the event has wanted to focus on the ’90s for several years now.

Gaitaniella noted that there is a peak in nostalgia for the decade, especially among the crowd who this event typically attracts.

History Uncorked isn’t just a great party — it’s one of the biggest fundraising events of the year for the History Center. Gaitaniella expects 1,200 to 1,700 attendees, and the funds raised will go towards educational and community programs throughout the year. Those include author talks, film series and other community events. It also helps the History Center provide more exhibits for the public.

“It supports the museum’s exhibitions themselves,” she said. “Like our new exhibit, “A Woman’s Place,” which opens in a few weeks — that’s a homegrown exhibit. So the money from our fundraising events goes to that.”

In addition to the price of admission, there will also be a silent auction with proceeds going toward the fundraising effort. During the evening, guests can bid on items from local companies like the Buhl Mansion Guesthouse and Spa, the Pittsburgh Penguins, the Pittsburgh Pirates, the Skin Center, and lots more.

“One fun thing we always offer to bid on, the History Uncorked committee all donates some bottles of wine, and then we put it together with a big old bow and call it the Insta-Winery,” Gaitaniella said. The winner of that item gets to take home upwards of 50 bottles of wine.

The second floor of the History Center will house a host of vintage games.

“We’ll have Sega, Nintendo, all of your favorite console and arcade games from the ’90s,” Gaitaniella said.

This is also an opportunity for guests to dress in their best flannel shirt or slip dress and enjoy a themed photo booth.

It wouldn’t be a ’90s party without great music. On the first floor, attendees can enjoy live music by DJ Cake, and up on floor five, DJ Bonics will be spinning tunes for a dance party. The third floor is where karaoke will happen — of course, exclusively with songs from the thematic decade.

“We expect to hear lots of Backstreet Boys, lots of Britney, lots of the Spice Girls, lots of the ‘The Fresh Prince’ … the best of the ’90s,” Gaitaniella said.

All of that singing and dancing will be fueled by delicious food and drink from a slew of vendors, and Gaitaniella is enthusiastic about this year’s selection. “One of our favorite parts is that we really get to have an influx of local talent and restaurants come in. They make the party the party.”

Around 10 restaurants will serve bite-size eats to guests, including Bar Marco, Cilantro & Ajo, Dive Bar & Grille, Burgatory, Sienna Mercato Betsy Ann Chocolates and more.

“We’ll also have delicious beverages for those wishing to partake,” Gaitaniella said. There will even be signature cocktails with spirits provided by PA Libations and featuring ’90s-themed names. Additionally, they will serve beer from Penn Brewery. Each general admission pass to the event comes with two drink tickets, as well as access to a cash bar.

Admission also allows guests access to the six floors of exhibits at the Heinz History Center, which was recently voted number one on USA Today’s list of the top 10 best history museums in the U.S.

“We are really humbled and honored to have a lot of enthusiasm from the community,” Gaitaniella said. “We love having returning guests and new guests who haven’t been here in a few years or haven’t been to the History Center at all. We love to give the opportunity to come check us out.”

History Uncorked will be held from 7:30 to 11 p.m. Friday, March 8, at the Heinz History Center, 1212 Smallman St. Guests must be 21 or older. General admission tickets are available for $65 at heinzhistorycenter.org.