Pittsburgh the San Francisco of the East? (Shiloh, Portland: bars, wealthy)

[Katarina Witt]

Originally Posted by jay5835

I have lived nowhere but in cities since I left home to go to college many years ago, and not one of them was not "a city of neighborhoods."

I've lived in these neighborhoods:
Oakland (Pgh)
Shadyside
Foggy Bottom
Upper West Side
Greenwich Village
Ocean Park
Capitol Hill (Seattle)
Queen Anne Hill
Pike Place Market
NW Portland (OR)
Adams-Morgan
Dupont Circle
Squirrel Hill
East Liberty

I missed this the first time around. I definitely agree. I haven't lived in a lot of cities, just Pittsburgh and Denver, but they both have neighborhoods, as does my DH's home city, Omaha, and every other danged city I ever visited.

Originally Posted by PreservationPioneer

Why can't Pittsburgh just be Pittsburgh? Why does it need to be San Francisco, or Portland, or some other trendy place? The one thing I like about Pittsburgh is that it has a unique identity. It doesn't have to pretend to be something it's not. It's disctinctive on its own.

Agreed. That is in fact true of every city. But I do not see too many cities trying to be the "San Francisco of . . . " or the Seattle of . . . . or whatever.

Originally Posted by slavicamerican

I'm not proposing a gift shop.

I'm asking why there aren't small businesses (think pubs and art galleries and street vendors -- selling nice things) to give people who have ridden the incline something to do and buy once up there. You've brought a group of people to a particular point (which is a good thing), but there is no effort made to engage them or get them to spend money. That's one of the main points of tourism, and tourism is a good thing.

I think the experience as is feels cheap, partly because the top of Mt. Washington seems so dead and dated.

I like the park-like setting at the top. It should be obvious to anyone up there that you can walk around and find a restaurant or whatever.

[expdxer]

Originally Posted by Evergrey

How does it take more effort to get to Pittsburgh from DC (4 hours) than San Francisco to Portland (10 hours)?

Back then, I mostly flew, cheap (at that time) 1 hr. 15 minute flights from San Francisco to Portland. I have done the ride though, and yes, it's long. I would not fly from DC to Pittsburgh, though, when you can get a bus ticket for less than $50, not to mention that the bus takes you right to downtown Pittsburgh.

[_Buster]

Originally Posted by VASpaceMan

After moving back East from the West Coast I got a job offer in Columbus. I told the HR person I was going to explore the city and asked what unique things there are to see. He seemed confused and after awhile mentioned the state fair and how they had this great butter sculpture of a cow.

This is hilarious. especially about the cow.

You need to have a sit-down with zman and get your mind right, by the way. This type of talk is not allowed here. I am starting to suspect he was fired by the Pittsburgh visitor's bureau or something.

[AaronPGH]

Columbus is as bland of a "major" city as it comes. There is almost nothing that I envy about that town.

[I_Like_Spam]

Originally Posted by AaronPGH

Columbus is as bland of a "major" city as it comes. There is almost nothing that I envy about that town.

Why the "quotes" around "major"? Columbus is certainly a major city by any metric I can imagine, its the largest town in Ohio, regardless of how boring you find it to be.

[steindle]

Originally Posted by I_Like_Spam

Why the "quotes" around "major"? Columbus is certainly a major city by any metric I can imagine, its the largest town in Ohio, regardless of how boring you find it to be.

I mean... it's at least debatable. With fewer than 2 million in population, it's like the 32nd largest metro area in the country, akin to Kansas City or Nashville. And Cleveland has almost a million more in the metro area / a far higher profile nationally (in terms of culture and GDP). It just depends on where you feel the "major" cut-off exists.

[Aqua Teen Carl]

I like Columbus a lot. I was there recently and the people were so nice. There was plenty to see and do and it definitely a major city. If there is anything I prefer in Columbus over Pittsburgh it's the traffic, the people, the availability of late night establishments, the cleanliness, and the lack of pot holes.

I can totally see the "bland" critique though. Lots of chains/sprawl/new development plans. Is it a better city than Pittsburgh? Not to me at age 29, but maybe I would prefer it if I "settled down".

[AaronPGH]

Originally Posted by I_Like_Spam

Why the "quotes" around "major"? Columbus is certainly a major city by any metric I can imagine, its the largest town in Ohio, regardless of how boring you find it to be.

Columbus is a third-tier metro area. More often than not, metro areas clocking in under the 2 million mark aren't considered to be a major market.

[Aqua Teen Carl]

The Pittsburgh metro is also 2500 square miles bigger though and it encompasses 3 states.

[airwave09]

Originally Posted by Aqua Teen Carl

The Pittsburgh metro is also 2500 square miles bigger though and it encompasses 3 states.

No, that would be the Pittsburgh CSA.

Pittsburgh metropolitan area - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia