Pittsburgh is as "hip" as you want it to be (Reading: hotel, universities)

[Little Mizz Pittsburgh]

Originally Posted by nuwaver88

There seems to be a general consensus on this board from both Pittsburgh lovers and haters that Pittsburgh does not fall into the "hip" category.
What is hip? Is it overpriced pretentious nightclubs where everyone is sipping bright colored martinis and posing? Pittsburgh has a few of them. Would more make us more "hip" like South Beach?" Is that hip?
Some may want a neighborhood that has a lot of bars, restaurants, etc. and caters to young people. Ah, find me a better stretch than East Carson. There may be a few, but not many.
Some may consider coffee houses hip. Pittsburgh has had an impressive collection of coffee houses for a city it's size for many years.
Neighborhoods? Pittsburgh defines great neighborhoods.
To some, hillside neighborhoods, rivers, inclines, world class universities, gothic skyscapers, bridges, Victorian row houses, spectacular vistas and so on, may define "hip." Pittsburgh is not young, but is most certainly "hip" in my mind's eye. Some may feel young and hip are one and the same. I beg to differ. The older cities are the hip ones. I will say that Pittsburgh could use more venues for local bands to play. However, I am not going to say that anything that we do NOT have automatically makes Pittsburgh unhip. Some of the so called "hip"cities don't have a lot of the things that Pittsburgh has that I consider to be "hip."

Pittsburgh is what you make it. There are alot of different things, out there, for all types of age demographics, you just gotta be on your grind to find out where the happening spots are at. The best local paper out there, to find out what's HIP in Pittsburgh is the "City Paper"....which you can find for free, especially in your local STARBUCKS...

[Blackbeauty212]

Originally Posted by pittsteelerfan

I wasn't trying to compare Pittsburgh with NYC. I was ONLY responding to your previous statements.

Ok Fine my Fault for starting it.

Originally Posted by pittsteelerfan

It's funny how us ex-Pittsburgh'ers who lived in Philly before, feel it's just a bigger version of the Burgh. Go on the Philly forum and say that!.. They're try and rip your head off!... They NEVER see the comparison..

Because they've never been to Pittsburgh (Most of them)

Originally Posted by pittsteelerfan

I know there's a lot of cities in America. But I really only talking about the major metro ones.

I'm living in NYC right now with my sister (who's been her since she graduated college). EVERY time my mom visits her, she says the same thing to my sister," Ain't you tired of living here?, You could have a beautiful home back in Pittsburgh for what you're paying here in NYC on rent". And my sister always responds the same way," Ya mom, the ONLY problem, that home would be in Pittsburgh"! My sister drank too much of the NYC 'Kool-Aid'. But I don't blame her. She's not married yet, and doesn't have any kids. She makes a nice living, and if she does settle down with a family, I'm sure her husband and her will be able to afford a home her in NYC.

Trust me once she's been here for over that 3yr hump she will start to feel what her mother's talking about...I'm willing to put money on it...If you're making EON's of money then extend that 3yrs out to about 6 or 7...But for everyday person making less then 150k a year, 3yrs is about the breaking point or aleast when it will start to take affect.

Originally Posted by pittsteelerfan

Believe me, I know what the 'true' NYC life is like for the 'majority' of NY'ers. It's far from what the movies or tv shows protray. But not for the 'ones' who actually do make the 'real' money here. And that's why Pittsburgh is a lot more pratical than cities like NYC, LA, SF etc. The average person is lucky if they can survive in these cities, let alone have any kind of standard of living. Pittsburgh is perfect for the 'average Joe' types. Actually, it's hard to beat in that sense..

Well I'm an "average joe", and I dont try to pretend I'm something more (Alot of that in NYC), so for me NYC is not as much a dream.....Again I do love NY and have picked up alot of the NYC habits (i.e I've become extremely impatient) and you're right if I move back to Pittsburgh in about 1yr most I will miss NY badly as I do Pittsburgh now...I CANT WIN ...There's no middle ground.

Originally Posted by pittsteelerfan

But America's economy has changed over the years. More people go to college and end up in white collar jobs than in previous years. And Pittsburgh's blue collar feel, isn't what a lot of the younger college grads are looking for. Take Chicago, "The City with Big Shoulders". Maybe years ago, not anymore. The nabes that are livable there, for the most part, it's yuppie CENTRAL. So a professional would feel more comfortable there, compared to the small pockets of Pittsburgh that have that look and feel...

Pittsburgh does have alot of Gentrfiable nabes (SSS and L'ville are two on the upswing now, E Lib and Mt Washington are two that seem to be getting off the ground.) but it will always have a blue collar feel to it, Pittsburgh can't escape it, just as Philly can't either.

Originally Posted by pittsteelerfan

Living on SS on $400 a month in Pittsburgh? Come on now, NOWHERE is that cheap. And again, I have to disagree with your NYC statements. 90 minute train ride? What are you talking about here? You can live in Astoria, Queens, which is what 10 minutes from Mannhattan? 1 bedroom for $1100 or $1200 a month. Don't forget now, a car is NOT NEEDED what-so-ever! So that money you'll save on car payments, gas, insurance, repairs, maintence, ALONE could save someone $600 a month. And come on now, even $600 a month to own a car is being pretty consevative when you INCLUDE all the expenses that goes into owning a car.

Maybe it comes from living in NYC for 9yrs, But 400$ is CHEAP in my book.....And last I remember it was Cheap for Pittsburgh too.

As for my NY statements....In order to get the cheapest rents of NYC (~1K a month) you're going to have a very long subway ride to get to and from Manhattan...Even to live Uptown in Harlem (NYC version of The Hill) will still run you (1k+ a month)

Originally Posted by pittsteelerfan

The going rate in Queens for a 1 bedroom is between $1100-1300 a month. When subract a car from that, Queens is not much higher than Pittsburgh in terms of rent.

UMMMM! 1100-1300$ will get a downtown, shadyside, Sq Hill, North Shore, Strip District Pad pretty easily.....You will get a much better living expreince in Pittsburgh than you will in NY for that amount of rent.

[raynist]

Originally Posted by pittsteelerfan

You can live in Astoria, Queens, which is what 10 minutes from Mannhattan? 1 bedroom for $1100 or $1200 a month. Don't forget now, a car is NOT NEEDED what-so-ever! So that money you'll save on car payments, gas, insurance, repairs, maintence, ALONE could save someone $600 a month. And come on now, even $600 a month to own a car is being pretty consevative when you INCLUDE all the expenses that goes into owning a car.

The going rate in Queens for a 1 bedroom is between $1100-1300 a month. When subract a car from that, Queens is not much higher than Pittsburgh in terms of rent.

This is assuming you have a new car or a car payment. My car is paid off and my insurance for full coverage is $35 a month. Gas costs me $20 a week so my total car bill for a months is $115. If you live in NYC with no car, you are going to be paying for public transportation or a taxi. I don't know the rates, but I would bet you are going to pay nearly $100 a month or more for a subway/bus pass/taxi rides, so the car expenses are negated.

I have a 5 bedroom house and pay less than $1300 a month on my mortage.

[pittsteelerfan]

Originally Posted by Blackbeauty212

Ok Fine my Fault for starting it.



Because they've never been to Pittsburgh (Most of them)




Trust me once she's been here for over that 3yr hump she will start to feel what her mother's talking about...I'm willing to put money on it...If you're making EON's of money then extend that 3yrs out to about 6 or 7...But for everyday person making less then 150k a year, 3yrs is about the breaking point or aleast when it will start to take affect.

My sister has been living in NYC since the mid-90's. She's well over the "hump". Again, I think the fact that you've lived in Mannhattan the whole time, is sorta throwing your perception off a little about the rest of the city. You don't need an income of $150K a year in the outer-boroughs to live comfortable. Especially if you're just renting an apt. I know that the people who live in Mannhattan, rarely venture into the other boroughs. In fact, most of them thumb their noses down at them. Mannhattan to me, is VERY VERY yuppie! The outer-boroughs are very blue collar. I've NEVER felt out of place here. In Mannhattan I do...........

I asked my sister why she never moved to Mannhattan when she came here. She said, "Mannhattan is a place to make money, take in culture, and be entertained, it's not a place to live". She knew that at 24 years old. She also said, "Some of the nicest condos, brownstones, and penthouses, are probabably the ones' least occupied". I asked her what she meant. She said, "The people who can afford 'those' places, are the ones who run out to the Hamptons on the weekends, or down to Florida for the winter, or off to Europe for the summer. When they get tired of the hustle and bustle, they simply take a trip. Not to mention, that the celebs here, always get breaks when working on location elsewhere". If you think about it, she's probably right. People who own a 50 million dollar penthouse, probably own property all over the world. It's not like they're in Mannhattan 365 days a year.


Well I'm an "average joe", and I dont try to pretend I'm something more (Alot of that in NYC), so for me NYC is not as much a dream.....Again I do love NY and have picked up alot of the NYC habits (i.e I've become extremely impatient) and you're right if I move back to Pittsburgh in about 1yr most I will miss NY badly as I do Pittsburgh now...I CANT WIN ...There's no middle ground.

Why are you living in Mannhattan then? That's NOT a place for the "average Joe". A little bit of of a longer commute is well worth it from the outer-boroughs where the "other-half live".

Have you ever lived back in Pittsburgh since moving to NYC? Take it from someone who has done this many times, it will NOT take 1 year to start missing NYC. As soon as the novelty of living back in the Burgh wears off, you'll start missing NYC. You're right, you can't win. Going from a city like NYC, to Pittsburgh is beyond hard. Now if you're going back to the Burgh flush with cash, and buying a big and beautiful home in the East end, your transition will be a lot easier. But if you're going back to live in a rowhouse in Lawerenceville, good luck I say.

I ain't educated, and I ain't cultured, with a HEAVY stress on 'ain't' lol lol. But I've grown sooooo much as a person since leaving the Burgh. I'm so much more open to other races and cultures now. I was never a racist, blacks and gays never bothered me. But immigrants (foreigners as they say in the Burgh lol), they did. It took awhile, but I grew fond of being around them. Now, I couldn't imagine living anywhere that didn't have a big % of them and diversity. So in a sense, I have become cultured. Not in the art gallery or musuem way, but more in a worldly type of way. If I never would've left the Burgh, this would have NEVER happened!

Pittsburgh, as great as a city as it is, is a 20th century city. The immigration levels, the diversity, and the mindset, is in no way 21st century. I asume you're a 'black women' from your name "blackbeauty". Imagine running around the streets of Pittsburgh with a 'white guy'. Holding hands, kissing in public, whispering in each others ears, etc. Walk into a bar with him, hell walk into church with him, watch the stares you'll get! VERY 20th century! You might get away with it in Shadyside or Oakland, but not vast majority of Pittsburgh nabes. Especially in the burbs! Now do that anywhere in NYC, nobody would bat an eyelash at you. Big difference! Now maybe you've never dated a white guy, or have no intentions of ever doing so. I'm just trying to prove a point. You'll be surprised what you got use to seeing in NYC, after moving back to the Burgh.


Pittsburgh does have alot of Gentrfiable nabes (SSS and L'ville are two on the upswing now, E Lib and Mt Washington are two that seem to be getting off the ground.) but it will always have a blue collar feel to it, Pittsburgh can't escape it, just as Philly can't either.

I agree, same with Philly.


Maybe it comes from living in NYC for 9yrs, But 400$ is CHEAP in my book.....And last I remember it was Cheap for Pittsburgh too.

I thought you where saying that someone could live on Social Security in Pittsburgh on $400 a month comfortably. I thought that extra "S" was a typo. Didn't know you meant the southside Slopes.

As for my NY statements....In order to get the cheapest rents of NYC (~1K a month) you're going to have a very long subway ride to get to and from Manhattan...Even to live Uptown in Harlem (NYC version of The Hill) will still run you (1k+ a month)

That's not true at all. There are apts in Astoria, Queens that you can get in that price range (10 minutes and you're in Mannhattan). Harlem is still "Mannhattan" don't forget! Plus, subract a car payment, gas, insurance, etc. How much does that knock off your comparisons then? Going carless in Pittsburgh is MUCH different than doing so in Mannhattan. You KNOW what I say is true!


UMMMM! 1100-1300$ will get a downtown, shadyside, Sq Hill, North Shore, Strip District Pad pretty easily.....You will get a much better living expreince in Pittsburgh than you will in NY for that amount of rent.

Living in downtown Pittsburgh? What's the perk in that? Pittsburgh rolls up the sidewalks pretty early. Plus, grocery stores? Again, you're leaving that BIG fact that in NYC, you DON'T NEED a car. Pittsburgh is MUCH more of a hassle going car-less! Trying flagging a cab in the Burgh. Or catching a bus at 3am, HUGE difference!

When you subract the car expense, you're really looking at an 'Even Steven' comparison between the two as far as rents go.

My responses are mixed in all the BLUE SECTION under yours. I still don't know how to reply like you did with my responses.......

[pittsteelerfan]

Originally Posted by raynist

This is assuming you have a new car or a car payment. My car is paid off and my insurance for full coverage is $35 a month. Gas costs me $20 a week so my total car bill for a months is $115. If you live in NYC with no car, you are going to be paying for public transportation or a taxi. I don't know the rates, but I would bet you are going to pay nearly $100 a month or more for a subway/bus pass/taxi rides, so the car expenses are negated.

I have a 5 bedroom house and pay less than $1300 a month on my mortage.

I KNEW there would be a reponse like 'this'. My man, that's great that you don't have a "car payment". But a lot of people, shortly after their cars are paid off, they go out and buy a new one. For the simple fact, after 5 years or so, cars tend to start breaking down more. Plus, anyone with a decent job, doesn't want to roll around Pittsburgh in a beat up car (not saying yours is).

I'm sure there will be a bunch of response to my statement here. The thing is, I live in reality. Most adults out of their 20's, who have decent jobs, are not going to drive cars that are starting to show rust damage, or that are very outdated looking. And that doesn't mean that have to go out and drop 50 grand on a new car, but 25 or so is pretty reasonable to assume.

And to act like that the majority (or a big portion) of Pittsburgh'ers, don't have a car payment, and only pay $35 a month in insurance (especially for FULL coverage) is kinda misleading and inaccurate.

[raynist]

Originally Posted by pittsteelerfan

I KNEW there would be a reponse like 'this'. My man, that's great that you don't have a "car payment". But a lot of people, shortly after their cars are paid off, they go out and buy a new one. For the simple fact, after 5 years or so, cars tend to start breaking down more. Plus, anyone with a decent job, doesn't want to roll around Pittsburgh in a beat up car (not saying yours is).

I'm sure there will be a bunch of response to my statement here. The thing is, I live in reality. Most adults out of their 20's, who have decent jobs, are not going to drive cars that are starting to show rust damage, or that are very outdated looking. And that doesn't mean that have to go out and drop 50 grand on a new car, but 25 or so is pretty reasonable to assume.

And to act like that the majority (or a big portion) of Pittsburgh'ers, don't have a car payment, and only pay $35 a month in insurance (especially for FULL coverage) is kinda misleading and inaccurate.

Fair enough, I would say less than half of the people I know have car payments, but to act like if you don't have a car in NYC that there are no expenses involved in daily travel is misleading and inaccurate as well.

[pittsteelerfan]

Originally Posted by raynist

Fair enough, I would say less than half of the people I know have car payments, but to act like if you don't have a car in NYC that there are no expenses involved in daily travel is misleading and inaccurate as well.

Did I say there was "no expenses" involved?

Don't forget that NYC wages are higher too! Like a union construction worker making 20 to 25 DOLLARS MORE per hour than in Pittsburgh!..

The guys who operate the BIG cranes on those building here, make a little over $100 an hr with their benfit package!.. Plus NYC unions have a 35 hr work week. If they work 40 hrs, they get paid a higher wage.

P.S. The Metro card in NYC was just raised to a $103.00 dollars for a monthly pass. Considering the subway and buses run 24/7 here, not too bad of a deal! Certainly cheaper than owning a car!

[Tinare]

Originally Posted by raynist

Fair enough, I would say less than half of the people I know have car payments, but to act like if you don't have a car in NYC that there are no expenses involved in daily travel is misleading and inaccurate as well.

Just adding that I don't have a car payment either. And my expenses are similiar if not less than yours. Plus my mortgage is less than $800 a month. Carry on.

[Copanut]

Originally Posted by Little Mizz Pittsburgh

The best local paper out there, to find out what's HIP in Pittsburgh is the "City Paper"....which you can find for free, especially in your local STARBUCKS...

You could make an argument that City Paper is hip. But wouldn't that be negated by picking it up at Starbucks?

[Little Mizz Pittsburgh]

Originally Posted by COPANUT

You could make an argument that City Paper is hip. But wouldn't that be negated by picking it up at Starbucks?

Well, that's where I see a lot of people, who think they're HIP, go to get coffee all the time. I don't drink coffee, I just like to go in there for their breakfast pastries.