My Thoughts on Pittsburgh After Trip (York, McDonald: amusement parks, how much, home)

[emmajane08]

Yesterday, my husband and I drove to Pittsburgh from Buffalo to spend the day there. He had never been to the city; I had been downtown five or six times because I had a friend who went to college there in 2001.

First, let me say that I love the downtown area; coming from Buffalo, where almost all of the downtown storefronts are vacant, there are few skyscrapers, and it's deserted after 5 pm everyday, what I saw in Pittsburgh blew me away. No, it may not have as many stores as everyone would like or as much foot traffic on the weekends, but you do have quite a bit: Burlington coat factory, Saks 5th Avenue, Macy's, McDonald's, ect. What Buffalo wouldn't give for that retail development!

My husband did mention that he was surprised there wasn't a Gap or American Eagle downtown, but once we drove into the neighborhoods, he realized that Pittsburgh has those resources too. We loved Bloomfield, Shadyside, and Oakland. They are so beautiful, and there is so much life in them.

I wasn't crazy about South Side - it seemed a little gritty - but I did pick up 3 CD's at Dave's Music for only $15. My main complaint was Tom's Diner; it was run down and not what I expected. In Buffalo, we have a 1950's diner called Lake Effect Diner, and it is immaculate - it's clean and the staff is very professional. I didn't expect Tom's to be such a greasy spoon, and I was put off by the smoking (in New York State, there is a law against smoking in public restaurants), so I'm not used to second hand smoke anymore. In fact, when I was waiting outside of the bathroom door, our waitress emerged with a lit cigarette in her mouth!

But, Tom's Diner aside, we had a great time in Pittsburgh. We ate at Jerome Bettis' Grill, where we met one of the hosts who was from Batavia, NY, we walked through Station Square, shopped at South Side and at IKEA, and drove through the neighborhoods.

We're planning to move to Pittsburgh next year and live in either Oakland, Shadyside, or Dusquene Heights (sorry if I mis-spelled). I wish we could move sooner and am truly depressed that we're back in Buffalo (a city I used to love but now feel lacks so much in comparison to Pittsburgh) but we have to wait until we can save up the money. Until then, we'll be visiting as much as we can!

The people who live in Pittsburgh and rail against it on this forum just don't know how lucky they are. My husband remarked that Pittsburgh feels like a real American city. It's more down to earth than places like NYC or LA and much more welcoming.

[guylocke]

Thank you for the post!! That's lovely!!

My husband did mention that he was surprised there wasn't a Gap or American Eagle downtown

American Eagle is actually a Pittsburgh company. The corporate headquarters is in the Southside Works and their flag ship store is at Ross Park Mall. I don't think they've put a store downtown because AE literally floods every nook and cranny in the greater Pittsburgh area already. :P

[chloride1]

What a nice message! Welcome (in advance) to Pittsburgh!

We moved here in 2000 and love it. I am surprised at all the negative comments I see posted here.

Originally Posted by emmajane08

Yesterday, my husband and I drove to Pittsburgh from Buffalo to spend the day there. He had never been to the city; I had been downtown five or six times because I had a friend who went to college there in 2001.

First, let me say that I love the downtown area; coming from Buffalo, where almost all of the downtown storefronts are vacant, there are few skyscrapers, and it's deserted after 5 pm everyday, what I saw in Pittsburgh blew me away. No, it may not have as many stores as everyone would like or as much foot traffic on the weekends, but you do have quite a bit: Burlington coat factory, Saks 5th Avenue, Macy's, McDonald's, ect. What Buffalo wouldn't give for that retail development!

My husband did mention that he was surprised there wasn't a Gap or American Eagle downtown, but once we drove into the neighborhoods, he realized that Pittsburgh has those resources too. We loved Bloomfield, Shadyside, and Oakland. They are so beautiful, and there is so much life in them.

I wasn't crazy about South Side - it seemed a little gritty - but I did pick up 3 CD's at Dave's Music for only $15. My main complaint was Tom's Diner; it was run down and not what I expected. In Buffalo, we have a 1950's diner called Lake Effect Diner, and it is immaculate - it's clean and the staff is very professional. I didn't expect Tom's to be such a greasy spoon, and I was put off by the smoking (in New York State, there is a law against smoking in public restaurants), so I'm not used to second hand smoke anymore. In fact, when I was waiting outside of the bathroom door, our waitress emerged with a lit cigarette in her mouth!

But, Tom's Diner aside, we had a great time in Pittsburgh. We ate at Jerome Bettis' Grill, where we met one of the hosts who was from Batavia, NY, we walked through Station Square, shopped at South Side and at IKEA, and drove through the neighborhoods.

We're planning to move to Pittsburgh next year and live in either Oakland, Shadyside, or Dusquene Heights (sorry if I mis-spelled). I wish we could move sooner and am truly depressed that we're back in Buffalo (a city I used to love but now feel lacks so much in comparison to Pittsburgh) but we have to wait until we can save up the money. Until then, we'll be visiting as much as we can!

The people who live in Pittsburgh and rail against it on this forum just don't know how lucky they are. My husband remarked that Pittsburgh feels like a real American city. It's more down to earth than places like NYC or LA and much more welcoming.

[subdivisions]

Originally Posted by emmajane08

The people who live in Pittsburgh and rail against it on this forum just don't know how lucky they are. My husband remarked that Pittsburgh feels like a real American city. It's more down to earth than places like NYC or LA and much more welcoming.

I'm another transplant Pittsburgh cheerleader - we moved here from Colorado in 2003 and have been very happy here. I don't get the negativity either.

Anyway, welcome to Pittsburgh!

[Windwalker]

Thanks for the reminding us that perspective is everything. No, Pgh is not NYC or LA or Chicago. But it's not Buffalo either. Buffalo does look quite distressed. I was surprised when I was there a couple years ago.

I like Pittsburgh because it's Pittsburgh--no other city quite like it. Sometime you have to visit the Strip District on a Saturday a.m.

Do you know about the films on Pittsburgh? They're quite good. I actually saw one in Nashville before moving here and fell in love before I even got here.

Come on down. You'll like it here.

[emmajane08]

I did our taxes today and discovered that we're getting a bigger refund that we'd thought and may be able to move to Pitt this summer rather than next. My husband is going to start applying for jobs next month so that he has something lined up by June.

You don't know how much I wish I could move to Pittsburgh right away. Even a wait of four months seems long! I used to be a Buffalo cheerleader - there have been many positive developments in the two years that I've been here, but they are slow in coming, and I need to be somewhere that is better for my career prospects. People complain about Pitt's job market, but if I can making a decent living in Buffalo, then I can make one there.

[londonbarcelona]

Originally Posted by subdivisions

I'm another transplant Pittsburgh cheerleader - we moved here from Colorado in 2003 and have been very happy here. I don't get the negativity either.

Anyway, welcome to Pittsburgh!

Me too. I'm originally from Buffalo, and love Pittsburgh. Even the (G-d Forbid) *suburbs!*
I am very comfortable anywhere in Pittsburgh, I feel very at home here. I love Buffalo, but Pittsburgh too, you know?

[londonbarcelona]

Originally Posted by emmajane08

I did our taxes today and discovered that we're getting a bigger refund that we'd thought and may be able to move to Pitt this summer rather than next. My husband is going to start applying for jobs next month so that he has something lined up by June.

You don't know how much I wish I could move to Pittsburgh right away. Even a wait of four months seems long! I used to be a Buffalo cheerleader - there have been many positive developments in the two years that I've been here, but they are slow in coming, and I need to be somewhere that is better for my career prospects. People complain about Pitt's job market, but if I can making a decent living in Buffalo, then I can make one there.

Fantastic news! Congrats! I have a feeling you will really like it here.

[Sheryl_Recc]

Windwalker:

What do you mean by "are you familiar with the films on Pittsburgh"...which films are you referencing, please? I've never heard of any (yet). Then again, I'm originally from Philly. What I like about Pittsburgh is that it's smaller, and so pretty from a boat with the 3 rivers coming together. It feels more "accessible" than Philly does, which seems just so expensive to me.

[Tallysmom]

Originally Posted by Sheryl_Recc

Windwalker:

What do you mean by "are you familiar with the films on Pittsburgh"...which films are you referencing, please? I've never heard of any (yet). Then again, I'm originally from Philly. What I like about Pittsburgh is that it's smaller, and so pretty from a boat with the 3 rivers coming together. It feels more "accessible" than Philly does, which seems just so expensive to me.

I *think* he may be talking about the Rick Sebak documentaries. He's a PBS guy, so his shows are on the PBS stations lots. Sort of a down home folksy speaker, he delves into his subjects and finds quirky people to talk to that show the local flavor.

Rick Sebak - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

When I see his stuff I stop and watch. He does a lot of stuff about Pittsburgh, but when he wanders outside that, he's great too. I have Great Old Amusement Parks -- it's fun to watch. And I've caught the Cemetery Special a few times. I think they've retitled the Pennsylvanian Diner one -- I catch it every once in a while.

Check your PBS station around pledge time...