Instagram's great for creating memories, but we think the best way to keep Pittsburgh close to your heart is to take a piece of the city home with you. Here, we offer a few locally made souvenirs and gifts that celebrate the 'Burgh.

Planning a special event or party, or planning to go to one? Here are five venues where I love to go to events for the Post-Gazette's Seen section.

Sprinkled across the city are fashion, shoe and accessory designers who call Pittsburgh home. Many of them are reaching beyond the region with their lines, landing spots in major magazines and placements in stores around the world. But if you want to shop their flagship boutiques and, in some cases, see them at work on their collections, you have to visit here.

Western Pennsylvania has lots for dogs to do, but you need people to drive you (and to read this). Thanks to my human for typing up these favorites.

Even in this app-centric century, it's an excellent idea to inspect art, furniture, glass, jewelry and other expensive things of beauty in person before you buy. There's no need to don a deerstalker cap but do channel your inner Sherlock Holmes. Here are some places where you can track down quality finds.

You might be surprised how much agriculture there is not far from Downtown. You might be surprised by how much agriculture there is right Downtown and at farmers markets in 120-some other places in season. And the season is longer than you might think, too, as some markets open before all the snow melts and continue right up to Thanksgiving (Beaver's goes into December). One of my favorites is open year-'round. Find them all on my annually updated list at www.post-gazette.com. But here are some of my picks.