About this Event
The seventh annual BarSides Holiday Party, and the night the 2026 lockpicking duel and speed chess champions are crowned. Upstairs at Stinky's on Tuesday, December 1, from 6 PM.
It's free, it's all ages (21+ to drink), and nobody has to drink. There are no Firetalks this month; they're back in January.
Ugly sweater contest
Wear your worst holiday sweater and walk the catwalk. The room picks the winner.
Gingerbread house contest
Teams of up to 5 build the most festive hacker gingerbread house they can.
Cookie swap
Bring cookies to share if you bake. If you don't, eat someone else's.
Music, movies and pizza
Holiday music, holiday movies on the main screen, and free pizza as always.
The 2026 championships
Every month's lockpicking duel and speed chess winners qualify, and the open spots go to the highest points on the leaderboard. Eight players per game, seeded by points. The brackets are set after the November 3 meetup; the standings are on barsides.com.
Lockpicking duels: each player gets a Nerf gun with locks on it, picks them all, then shoots the other player. The champion still has to survive the wheel of mystery.
Speed chess: shuffled back row, five minutes a side. This is the fourth speed chess championship, and the final games get harder.
The lockpicking champion takes the belt. The speed chess champion takes the trophy.
Getting there
Stinky's Bar and Grill, upstairs bar
4901 Hatfield St, Pittsburgh, PA 15201
- Come in from 49th St; the stairs to the upstairs bar are straight ahead.
- Stairs only, no elevator.
- Street parking; availability varies.
Code of conduct
BarSides follows the Python Software Foundation Code of Conduct, at the meetup and in our online spaces. To report a problem, email [email protected].
Find us
- barsides.com
- Discord, including the CTF channel for finding teammates
- Bluesky
Agenda
🕑: 06:00 PM - 07:00 PM
Arrival, pizza and cookie swap
Info: Grab a slice, drop off your cookies and say hello.
🕑: 07:00 PM - 07:30 PM
Gingerbread house contest
Info: Teams of up to 5.
🕑: 07:30 PM - 07:45 PM
Ugly sweater contest
Info: Walk the catwalk.
🕑: 07:45 PM - 09:00 PM
Lockpicking duel and speed chess championships
Info: Eight players per game, seeded by 2026 points.
🕑: 09:00 PM - 11:00 PM
Holiday party
Info: Music, movies and whatever cookies are left.
Event venue & nearby stays
Stinky's Bar & Grill, 4901 Hatfield Street, Pittsburgh, United States
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