Pittsburgh is a really pretty city.

[prolesunited]

I'm here for the first time ever and I have to say that this town is nothing like I expected. Lots of rolling hills, lots of trees, lots of nice folks, and lots of lovely buildings.

I don't know precisely what I expected, but it wasn't what I found.

Cabbie story: Like a dumbass, I left my cell phone in the cab that picked me up at the airport. After a few calls to the cab company, my driver (Sue, but they all call me "Sunshine") called my hotel room to let me know that she had my phone and was only a few minutes away. I tipped her 25 bucks for bringing it back to me, and made sure that she was available to take me back to the airport on Wednesday morning. What a nice nice woman.

Aside from that particular debacle, my trip to Pittsburgh has been very nice. The convention center is beautiful, and is "green". The entire building is powered by a combination of solar & hydro energy. (WTF? If they can do it here, why can't they do it everywhere?!? But that's a whole different thread)

Anyhow... I've found that I quite like Pittsburgh. If I weren't so in love with Chicago, I'd move here. It's much more than steel mills nowadays.

On that note, I'm going to get the hell out of the convention center and find some food. I hear that the Steelhead is a good place to eat, so I'll try that out.

Oh! Traffic is pretty non-offensive here too, compared to Chicago. Cool.

Later!

[Aristus]

1. I was pleasantly surprised by Pittsburgh, too.

I had expected a dirty, sooty, grimy industrial wasteland, and instead found a pretty, ultra-modern, clean welcoming city. Enjoy!

[Beware the Beast Man]

2. You took a cab from the airport?

Silly big-city dweller. :)

Pittsburgh is a beautiful city, and I still miss it. If you weren't a veg, I would also recommend Primanti Brothers. they put slaw and french fries on their sandwiches. :9

[Blue-Jay]

6. Hey, It's me. Yes I took a cab.

35 bucks plus tip.

Slaw on a sammich is fucking gross, by the way.

[Beware the Beast Man]

8. So are pickles on hot dogs, just sayin'.

[SteppingRazor]

9. Don't knock it till you try it...

I hate slaw, but I love Primanti bros. sandwiches.

[tigereye]

13. but Jay you have to be drunk when you eat one!

and it actually tastes good!

[Beware the Beast Man]

26. No, those are fries at the O.

All 44 ounces of them. :blush:

[tigereye]

28. it's the same concept

I've done both.

[JVS]

29. It's a vinegar slaw, it isn't that nasty white shit in a cup

I still get the sandwich without the slaw. If I eat cabbage on a sandwich it has to be sauerkraut.

[SteppingRazor]

7. LOVE Primanti Bros...

They have two stores here in Fort Lauderdale. DEE-Licious!

[Gatchaman]

15. Took a cab?

what the fuck else was he going to do? There's no train (or mag-lev, as they've been promising for the last 25 years), the buses are junk, and renting a car would mean driving in the demolition derby known as the parkway.

[JVS]

30. Are you dissing the 28X bus line?

[devilgrrl]

3. Pittsburgh is nice...

my sister lives there. :-)

[Blue-Jay]

4. Blue-Jay here. I logged in as my wife. D'OH!

I posted the OP, in case anyone was wondering.

Call me Stephanie.

[Beware the Beast Man]

5. I'd rather not, Doris.

:hi:

[miss_american_pie]

10. Welcome!

And sorry the weather isn't nicer for your visit. :hi:

[distantearlywarning]

11. Isn't Pittsburgh awesome?

I was so surprised when I moved here to find out what a great city it is. I love Pittsburgh, and I love hearing about people's happy reactions when they visit for the first time.

You should totally move here - the cost of living is extremely cheap compared to Chicago and other major US cities.

[tigereye]

12. we are so glad you like it!

and we will buy you a beer as well! ;) (proles)

Pgh is a very pretty and cool place. I've lived here for many years and it has much to recommend it!

[MountainMama]

14. I loved living in that area....

Pittsburgh is no longer dirty and hasn't been for ages. Take in a ball game if you get the chance. The team's not that great, unfortunately, but PNC Park is gorgeous.

And once again, DU makes me homesick. :P

[TimeChaser]

16. Pittsburgh will always be my home

I've lived here all of my 19 years, and despite spending most of the year in Ohio for school, Pittsburgh 's the only place I can think of as "home."

[Redstone]

17. One of the most astonishing turnarounds, ever.

The place was a pit, and a stinking one, for a LONG time. At least through the 1970s, when I was last there. It's little short of a miracle, how they turned that place around.

Redstopne

[China_cat]

19. Unfortunately

it took the death of the mills and the jobs they provided to turn it around. Downtown Pgh. is nice now. But go take a look at Aliquippa, Elwood City, Newcastle, Beaver Falls, places where the mill workers lived and where there were other mills.

Just recently I saw a house in Aliquippa...3 BR, cellar, attic, fenced yard, in not too bad a shape...on the market for $1070. One thousand and seventy dollars. Not a typo. Because there's no tax base left, no services, lousy schools.

[Peeves]

31. Big Ben is hurting right now! ...

He should have been wearing a helmet ... :cry:

[Ksec]

18. Go visit the strip district

Its very charming. Lots of interesting people and shops

[China_cat]

20. Go back in October.

When the leaves are turning. It'll take your breath away.

[prolesunited]

21. Wow!

How the hell did I wind up in Pittsburgh?!?! :wtf:

Must be some sort of out-of-body experience.

Hi, honey! :hi:

[Allenberg]

22. I love my city.

I'm glad you had a good experience.

We also have a 5:1 Dem:Rep ratio too!

[Metta]

23. I second the Strip District.

The market distrct, only about a 15 minute walk or so from the convention center. Stay on the street that runs along the river, going right, away from town. Take the left onto Smallman Street. The district extends on Smallman, and the street parallel to it, to the right, Penn Ave for several blocks. If you're driving, park wherever you can after 16th Street. You'll find bulk food, restaurants, snacks, coffee, spices all along the street for a few blocks. Near 18th Street and Penn Ave. there's a Vietnamese vendor on the right, going with the flow of traffic, who has great, spicy mung bean pancakes. If you like an excellent fish sandwhich, broiled or fried, go to Benkovitz's at Smallman and 23rd, http://www.roadfood.com/Reviews/Writeup.aspx?ReviewID=101&RefID=101. (Review courtesy of Road Food.) At lunch, they also have fish salads, sometimes crab sandwiches, herring, clams and fries. Many of the shops, except for some of the restaurants, shut down around 2 p.m. Also, if you're driving, there's a place on Penn and 27th called Boomerang BBQ, http://www.boomerangbbq.com/ which has good ribs, brisket, pulled pork and pizza at reasonable prices.

[Skittles]

24. I really liked it in Pennsylvania

I got sent to Philly on a business trip and I felt so at home there, the people were very down to earth

[blue neen]

25. It is a great area to live.

I can't picture ever moving away from here (although I guess you never know!). I love the friendliness and neighborliness of the population.

My personal favorite is the fall. The autumn leaves, the football games, the crisp fall air combine to make a very enjoyable time of year.

Sample some pierogies and kielbasa. Try to get over to Oakland to the University of Pittsburgh to check out the Cathedral of Learning and the Carnegie Museums (there are fantastic dinosaur displays there!).

Most of all, enjoy your stay and welcome to Pittsburgh. :hi:

[Bossy Monkey]

27. Even nearly 30 years ago, before they started scrubbing and polishing,

I really liked Oakland, U. Pitt's neighborhood. Visited there on a high school debate trip. Never actually returned to Pittsburgh, but have always kept the fond memories.