Pittsburgh is as "hip" as you want it to be (Erie: how much, houses)

[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."

[pittsteelerfan]

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 it 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.

A "hip" city by definition, has to be "progressive" in nature. I'm sorry, but Pittsburgh is far from "progressive". There's WAY too much 'old school' thinking there. I don't disagree with the things you listed that Pittsburgh has, but "hipness" ain't one of them!

Look how Pittsburgh "natives" refer to immigrants as "foreigners". The 'average' Pittsburgh'er just ain't all that open to new ideas and ways of thinking. And a lot of them ain't real open to other cultures either. That's probably the reason Pittsburgh has the LOWEST immigrant (foreigner lol ) popluation out of ALL the major cities! And having a lot of senior citizens running around, ain't exactly "hip" either!

Some older cities are "hip". Philly is more "hip" than the Burg. NYC is definitely "hip". Boston is "hip". Chicago is "hip". But Cleveland, Buffalo and Pittsburgh ain't hip. Not saying they don't have any "hip" nabes, but the overall cities are far from "hip".

Did I say 'hip" enough?............................. .

[nuwaver88]

Originally Posted by pittsteelerfan

A "hip" city by definition, has to be "progressive" in nature. I'm sorry, but Pittsburgh is far from "progressive". There's WAY too much 'old school' thinking there. I don't disagree with the things you listed that Pittsburgh has, but "hipness" ain't one of them!

Look how Pittsburgh "natives" refer to immigrants as "foreigners". The 'average' Pittsburgh'er just ain't all that open to new ideas and ways of thinking. And a lot of them ain't real open to other cultures either. That's probably the reason Pittsburgh has the LOWEST immigrant (foreigner lol ) popluation out of ALL the major cities! And having a lot of senior citizens running around, ain't exactly "hip" either!

Some older cities are "hip". Philly is more "hip" than the Burg. NYC is definitely "hip". Boston is "hip". Chicago is "hip". But Cleveland, Buffalo and Pittsburgh ain't hip. Not saying they don't have any "hip" nabes, but the overall cities are far from "hip".

Did I say 'hip" enough?............................. .

It was inevitable to say hip that many times. That is what I found while making my ultra hip post. I was just trying to show that some of the things that make Pittsburgh unique and colorful can also be defined as "hip." Are "progressive" and "hip" one and the same? Maybe, maybe not.
Just because I have to spend more money in the above mentioned cities for a small grilled chicken breast with a fancy schmancy garnish doesn't make it more progressive because it is "fusion" cuisine, for example. Progressive and hip can indeed be one and the same. I just feel that many people confuse "hip" with what I see as pretentiousness. Give me a beer and a burger because I am a decidedly unhip yinzer.

[pittsteelerfan]

Originally Posted by nuwaver88

It was inevitable to say hip that many times. That is what I found while making my ultra hip post. I was just trying to show that some of the things that make Pittsburgh unique and colorful can also be defined as "hip." Are "progressive" and "hip" one and the same? Maybe, maybe not.
Just because I have to spend more money in the above mentioned cities for a small grilled chicken breast with a fancy schmancy garnish doesn't make it more progressive because it is "fusion" cuisine, for example. Progressive and hip can indeed be one and the same. I just feel that many people confuse "hip" with what I see as pretentiousness. Give me a beer and a burger because I am decidedly unhip.

Pittsburgh's lack of "progressive" thinking is the driving force in why it can't retain, or attract new people to the region. How many times have you seen the word "redneck" in the Pittsburgh forum? Whether it's the truth or perception, it doesn't really matter. The word is 'assosiated' with Pittsburgh. And being "hickish" or "redneckish" has yet to be seen as "hip".

[steindle]

Often the people who believe that Pittsburgh is full of uncultured and reactionist "rednecks" (aka "yinzers") are ironically toeing this line themselves, since such a generalization shows a certain provincialism and lack of a breadth of experience in itself.

I have been to the South and I am here to tell you that Pittsburgh is (relatively) progressive, and certainly has a wide range of progressives and youthful individuals who are working aggressively to propel it forward into the future.

Have you been following the wide variety of initiatives for artists and "Green" start-ups (most notably a Bio-Diesel company) that have taken root under Mayor John Fetterman's direction in Braddock? The rapidly-developing Penn Avenue Arts Corridor? The huge variety of artistic ventures cropping up in Lawrenceville, Bloomfield, and East Liberty? The wide variety of Pittsburgh bands that are featured yearly at Austin's South By Southwest? The huge increases in people between 20-30 owning homes -- often in unbelievably affordable, safe, and active neighborhoods like Polish Hill? The core of activists based around the Thomas Merton Center? Have you followed the numerous steps forward toward governmental transparency and progressive thought that are enacted by City Councilmen like Patrick Dowd, Bill Peduto, Doug Shields, and Ricky Burgess?

I mean, it's not even just a modern development. There were like half a dozen anarchist newspapers here among the huge industrial worker population in the earlier half of the 20th Century. Yes, Pittsburghers are traditionally very Catholic, but there is also a long-standing tradition of Labor Priests who have stood by Pittsburgh's strong unions (AFL? CIO? These began in Pittsburgh).

People tend to have an antiquated view of Pittsburgh's attitude that doesn't even correctly reflect Pittsburgh's antiquity! -- and none so much as Pittsburghers themselves, who are too often hard-wired with an inferiority complex because of the stereotypes of our city that are pounded into us from birth. I felt that way for years and then I spent four in New York and realized that we live in one of the most unique and intriguing areas of the country, and we have reason to be proud. Friends I have brought here from New York and Chicago have been amazed by how much is going on and how easy it is to make a significant dent in it yourself if you wish.

So, yes, I guess you could say that I agree with the initial point.

[pittsteelerfan]

[quote=steindle;8103291]Often the people who believe that Pittsburgh is full of uncultured and reactionist "rednecks" (aka "yinzers") are ironically toeing this line themselves, since such a generalization shows a certain provincialism and lack of a breadth of experience in itself.

I have been to the South and I am here to tell you that Pittsburgh is (relatively) progressive, and certainly has a wide range of progressives and youthful individuals who are working aggressively to propel it forward into the future.

Have you been following the wide variety of initiatives for artists and "Green" start-ups (most notably a Bio-Diesel company) that have taken root under Mayor John Fetterman's direction in Braddock? The rapidly-developing Penn Avenue Arts Corridor? The huge variety of artistic ventures cropping up in Lawrenceville, Bloomfield, and East Liberty? The wide variety of Pittsburgh bands that are featured yearly at Austin's South By Southwest? The huge increases in people between 20-30 owning homes -- often in unbelievably affordable, safe, and active neighborhoods like Polish Hill? The core of activists based around the Thomas Merton Center? Have you followed the numerous steps forward toward governmental transparency and progressive thought that are enacted by City Councilmen like Patrick Dowd, Bill Peduto, Doug Shields, and Ricky Burgess?

I mean, it's not even just a modern development. There were like half a dozen anarchist newspapers here among the huge industrial worker population in the earlier half of the 20th Century. Yes, Pittsburghers are traditionally very Catholic, but there is also a long-standing tradition of Labor Priests who have stood by Pittsburgh's strong unions (AFL? CIO? These began in Pittsburgh).

People tend to have an antiquated view of Pittsburgh's attitude that doesn't even correctly reflect Pittsburgh's antiquity! -- and none so much as Pittsburghers themselves, who are too often hard-wired with an inferiority complex because of the stereotypes of our city that are pounded into us from birth. I felt that way for years and then I spent four in New York and realized that we live in one of the most unique and intriguing areas of the country, and we have reason to be proud. Friends I have brought here from New York and Chicago have been amazed by how much is going on and how easy it is to make a significant dent in it yourself if you wish.

Ya, but where or when has the South been known to be "progressive"? With the exception of Atlanta.

Someone living in NYC or Chicago who are visiting, might have a different opinon after actually living in Pittsburgh. Not saying they all would, the lack of diversity alone would be hard to adjust to.

Pittsburgh looks good on the books in many ways. But, despite this, the population keeps declining year after year. When is it going to grab the headlines on the national level, and have people start showing up in droves like in other cities, that saw a boom over the last 10 to 15 years?

Pittsburgh is losing where it MOST counts, and that's POPULATION. It won't be long before Pittsburgh drops below the 300k mark if the trend keeps up. And that will not be a good day for the Burgh 'if' that happens!

[5Lakes]

Originally Posted by pittsteelerfan

A "hip" city by definition, has to be "progressive" in nature. I'm sorry, but Pittsburgh is far from "progressive". There's WAY too much 'old school' thinking there. I don't disagree with the things you listed that Pittsburgh has, but "hipness" ain't one of them!

Look how Pittsburgh "natives" refer to immigrants as "foreigners". The 'average' Pittsburgh'er just ain't all that open to new ideas and ways of thinking. And a lot of them ain't real open to other cultures either. That's probably the reason Pittsburgh has the LOWEST immigrant (foreigner lol ) popluation out of ALL the major cities! And having a lot of senior citizens running around, ain't exactly "hip" either!

Some older cities are "hip". Philly is more "hip" than the Burg. NYC is definitely "hip". Boston is "hip". Chicago is "hip". But Cleveland, Buffalo and Pittsburgh ain't hip. Not saying they don't have any "hip" nabes, but the overall cities are far from "hip".

Did I say 'hip" enough?............................. .

So do you think cities like Pittsburgh (or Cleveland or Buffalo, etc) can become hip destinations? If so how long would it take? Seattle and Portland sure did it over the last couple decades.

It seems like in the "hip" cities, the "hip" neighborhoods change over each decade due to the last hip area becoming gentrified and full of yuppies. Maybe cities like Pittsburgh can draw out some of these people to change cities instead of changing neighborhoods?

[pittsteelerfan]

Originally Posted by 5Lakes

So do you think cities like Pittsburgh (or Cleveland or Buffalo, etc) can become hip destinations? If so how long would it take? Seattle and Portland sure did it over the last couple decades.

It seems like in the "hip" cities, the "hip" neighborhoods change over each decade due to the last hip area becoming gentrified and full of yuppies. Maybe cities like Pittsburgh can draw out some of these people to change cities instead of changing neighborhoods?

The BIG difference between other cities like Seattle, Portland, Austin, etc, they weren't bigger cities that shrank (died), and then re-populated. The 3 rust belt cities you listed, have been declining for over 4 decades. Pittsburgh, no matter how good it looks on the books, COL, etc, it just can't retain people, or have new people move to the area.

Not to mention that out West, they're more open-minded. I personally don't see it. I'm talking in our lifetime now. Who knows after that....?

[khyron]

Originally Posted by pittsteelerfan

The BIG difference between other cities like Seattle, Portland, Austin, etc, they weren't bigger cities that shrank (died), and then re-populated.

I think you need to recheck your history a little bit on that claim. Ask someone from the Pacific Northwest who lived there before the twin tailed siren made coffee or webs were something to be browsed, and ask them what it was like when the logging empires failed. You might find some very familiar stories about reinventing industrial towns to support services and technology.

Oh and to the person above who mentioned having come up from the south, amen brother. We came up here and we're LOVING this city. All is relative. Maybe the folks who have an issue with this place not being "hip" as someplace else should just go wherever those other places are. I'm progressive, and I like it here. I don't need stores full of 1980s shirts with alligators on them being sold for $100 and lots of fixed gear bicycles to feel like I'm a part of something good.

[scottrpriester]

Originally Posted by pittsteelerfan

Pittsburgh's lack of "progressive" thinking is the driving force in why it can't retain, or attract new people to the region. How many times have you seen the word "redneck" in the Pittsburgh forum? Whether it's the truth or perception, it doesn't really matter. The word is 'assosiated' with Pittsburgh. And being "hickish" or "redneckish" has yet to be seen as "hip".

I moved down from Erie almost three years ago. You want redeneck and unaccepting, try Erie.

I've lived on the east side of the city since I've lived down here. One of the comments I've made when people back home ask if I've developed the "yinz" accent is, people don't talk like that in city, at least on this part of town. And this side of the city is full of all sorts of ethnicities and lifestyles. This is mostly because of the universities. But I have yet to see any unacceptance towards different ethnicities around here, but I would say people on this side of town are more open minded, wordly and well to do.

My wife lived in Etna when I first met her (originally from Youngstown OH), and I will say, there is a definite change in attitudes in small border communities like that. I definitely would define those areas as "Yinzer" and "redneck". But thats what upsets me, because to me, "Pittsburghers" are those who live in the city. Communities like Etna are not in the city and should not be considered Pittsburghers.