Pittsburgh my experience (Ellsworth: apartment, lease, car insurance)

[truemann77]

Hello every 1

thats a brief description of my ongoing settling to PIT the steel city
move in date: 3 DEC 2007...brand new
i found a nice apartment in shadyside @ amberson towers, not bad but not super either however for a single person its 100% functional

2-furniture, got some beddings and houseware from target at mckinght rd, the ross park mall area is good for new comers to have a look at as well as centuary 3 mall (google maps will solve all ur problems with the buses and directions)
ordered kitchen ware from ikea their starboxes are functional

rest of furniture didnt set up my mind yet but i guess i might get it from CORT clearance

market district -giant eagle is my number 1 for grocery so far, its 0.7 miles away (easy to go but difficult to get back with all that stuff

i am now in search of a car, really a car is a must in this city specially with that bad weather, i got cought waiting for the bus in the rain the day before and i was 100% wet and freakin looking, there are no taxis to catch..u have to call and they come like after 40 minutes ...
the t (trolley) is very safe..
a monthly pass from the port authority is a must
t mobile was my selected network for a mob..uptill now ok
national city bank was my choice..they are good , i mean it, really fast issued me my check card in less than 72 hrs

so far pitt is nice, but didnt discover the night life yet and didnt get a car which is a major limitting factor

any comments or helpful tips on getting cars or night life would be appreciated fellows

P.s. i am having my driver license exam within this week..a step for the car

[vwscottie]

Originally Posted by truemann77

Hello every 1

thats a brief description of my ongoing settling to PIT the steel city
move in date: 3 DEC 2007...brand new
i found a nice apartment in shadyside @ amberson towers, not bad but not super either however for a single person its 100% functional

2-furniture, got some beddings and houseware from target at mckinght rd, the ross park mall area is good for new comers to have a look at as well as centuary 3 mall (google maps will solve all ur problems with the buses and directions)
ordered kitchen ware from ikea their starboxes are functional

rest of furniture didnt set up my mind yet but i guess i might get it from CORT clearance

market district -giant eagle is my number 1 for grocery so far, its 0.7 miles away (easy to go but difficult to get back with all that stuff

i am now in search of a car, really a car is a must in this city specially with that bad weather, i got cought waiting for the bus in the rain the day before and i was 100% wet and freakin looking, there are no taxis to catch..u have to call and they come like after 40 minutes ...
the t (trolley) is very safe..
a monthly pass from the port authority is a must
t mobile was my selected network for a mob..uptill now ok
national city bank was my choice..they are good , i mean it, really fast issued me my check card in less than 72 hrs

so far pitt is nice, but didnt discover the night life yet and didnt get a car which is a major limitting factor

any comments or helpful tips on getting cars or night life would be appreciated fellows

P.s. i am having my driver license exam within this week..a step for the car

I disagree that you need a car to get around, the transportation system is fabulous; as far as avoiding the rain, an umbrella and boots work great.

I spent alot of time, especially every day my first week in Pittsburgh at the Giant Eagle too, never drove their once, always walked.

Walnut Steet between South Negley and South Aiken is a hot spot, along with Ellsworth Avenue east of South Negley, and South Highland Ave for all the eats and nightlife you want.

If you do get a car, take all precautions to avoid a break in into it. As great as Shadyside is, it is car break in and car theft central.

Enjoy a little bit of Shadyside every day, it's good for the soul

[guylocke]

I am assuming you want straight nightlife (I only say that because the gay and straight night life [lives?] aren't in the same parts of town).

Well vwscottie is right, you are very close to those spots.

If you get a car or decide to take public transportation and/or taxi to other spots outside that area of town, the places with the very most bars and clubs (but less class and culture) would be the Strip District and the SouthSide. They will both be filled to the brim with young people on the weekends.

You are lucky to be so close to Market District. I love it there!

[truemann77]

yeah i've heard a lot about the southside , sounds like every 1 agrees on it
is the waterfront ok? i mean cool

[truemann77]

Originally Posted by vwscottie

I disagree that you need a car to get around, the transportation system is fabulous; as far as avoiding the rain, an umbrella and boots work great.

I spent alot of time, especially every day my first week in Pittsburgh at the Giant Eagle too, never drove their once, always walked.

Walnut Steet between South Negley and South Aiken is a hot spot, along with Ellsworth Avenue east of South Negley, and South Highland Ave for all the eats and nightlife you want.

If you do get a car, take all precautions to avoid a break in into it. As great as Shadyside is, it is car break in and car theft central.

Enjoy a little bit of Shadyside every day, it's good for the soul

thanks for the tip dude, i ll walk around these areas tommorow and lets see what i will have there

[guylocke]

yeah i've heard a lot about the southside , sounds like every 1 agrees on it
is the waterfront ok? i mean cool

A lot of people will tell you the SouthSide is nothing more than a drunken mess of a place where young people go to gorge themselves on food and liquor.

That would be partially correct, but it IS fun, and it's ALWAYS an adventure. I would go check out E. Carson, you're bound to find some bar you love.

The SouthSide Works is less bars and more shopping/eating/movies, if you'd like that, too.

The Strip District is where'd you would find the bulk of actual clubs for dancing. Oh crap, I forgot about Station Square. That is also in the SouthSide but on the opposite side of Carson from "the bar area." There are several dancing clubs and bars there, too, including Matrix which seems to be a fan favorite.

The Waterfront is a great place to go to Target, shopping, and eating. They have a Costco and many good chain restaurants. But it's not a place for night life, really.

Okay, that's not entirely true, they do have a sushi bar, comedy club, and a piano bar that can get pretty busy.

[vwscottie]

Originally Posted by truemann77

thanks for the tip dude, i ll walk around these areas tommorow and lets see what i will have there

Let me know if you need anything.

[vwscottie]

Originally Posted by truemann77

yeah i've heard a lot about the southside , sounds like every 1 agrees on it
is the waterfront ok? i mean cool

Waterfront is a bunch of shops, great eateries, and lowes Theater. It's ok, we go there once a month.

[Geeo]

If you only need to use a car occasionally, there are Flexcars parked around Shadyside. They rent by the hour, and you just return them back to the designated parking space. You have to sign up through their website.

[suzeeq521]

I find it actually easier to get by without a car in this city.

I really got tired of how much it cost me - not just my car payment & insurance, but all the fees for parking. Either a added fee to my apartment lease or a separate lease to park at home, a lease if I wanted to park at work, meter fees, high lot rates at events. Just couldn't stand it.

Then sitting in traffic, dealing with crappy weather, etc., etc., etc.

I love the fact that when the weather is crappy - I can leave the driving up to someone else. Especially a pro like a bus driver.

It is always good to be prepared for weather, no matter if driving or taking transit.

I just noted that you will be a new driver (just getting your license). It is worth remembering that as a new driver, your insurance will be costly. And the area you live in will affect you rates too. When I lived a few streets over from where you are, my car insurance was the highest it ever was. I will second VWScottie's comments on car break-ins and have always assumed that is why my insurance rates were so high in that area.