Where to live in your if your single and in your early 40's? (Pittsburgh: fit in, best neighborhood)

[Isabella.Sullivan]

I've been reviewing this forum quite a bit and I'm curious if I should live in Shadyside or a loft in the Strip District? (I have already factored travel time to work and can afford each area, so neither will be an issue for me.) Any thoughts? I keep hearing that Shadyside, while monied, is more of a younger, under 30, crowd. True?

[mattjd]

Originally Posted by Isabella.Sullivan

I've been reviewing this forum quite a bit and I'm curious if I should live in Shadyside or a loft in the Strip District? (I have already factored travel time to work and can afford each area, so neither will be an issue for me.) Any thoughts? I keep hearing that Shadyside, while monied, is more of a younger, under 30, crowd. True?

Yes, you've heard right about Shadyside. There really isn't any place that I know of that's full of single 40-50 year olds. I certainly wouldn't say Shadyside is full of money. Squirrel Hill, sure, but not Shadyside. People in Shadyside are cheap because they're still paying off their student loans. I remember seeing all those young professionals getting on the EBA at Negley every morning and they looked so sad to go to work, as if they hated life.

I don't want to be rude....really, I don't....but, if you move into a place like Shadyside or the Strip, you would probably be looked at weirdly. You don't want to be the weird 40+ year old that's going to bars and clubs with recent college grads do you? I mean, people will talk behind your back. This isn't south florida or california, you don't see many "cougars" around here. But, if you're cool with the stares and are ok with hanging out with 20-25 year olds, then the strip would be a great place for you.

[Hopes]

Matt, you're just flat out wrong about her not fitting in at Shadyside or the Strip. I know many single professional 40-50 year olds who live in Shadyside. They aren't looked at weird at all. There are plenty of real adults in Shadyside---mixed in with the younger people.

Isabella, it all depends on what type of activities you're hoping to enjoy when you're not working. Are you wanting the bar scene? Or are you wanting to walk out your door and shop the strip on the weekends? Would you prefer being able to walk to art galleries, the museum and great restaurants? Would you rather walk to the symphony, ballet or any stage performances? What are your interests? What do you like to do during your spare time?

[nuwaver88]

I am a forty something male and I occasioanally hang out in Shadyside watering holes. There were times when I got to the establishment fairly early on a weekend night and it was cool. As the evening wore on, it started to turn into a frat party atmosphere and I felt odd. It was time to get out of Dodge. I will not name establishments. Mostly all are cool for any age during Happy Hour or early evening. It is just certain places on weekend nights where it feels like people are even younger than age 21. That is very uncomfortable for the forty-something, and as Matt said, you get a lot of stares like "What is that guy doing here?" from less mature younger people. I know from experience. The South Side is the same way. It is not so much my getting older, although that is part of it. It just seems like late night South Side was more diverse in the 1990s than it is today. Where is the neighborhood that combines hipsters, locals young and old, students, artists? It is looking more and more like Lawrenceville is becoming a semi-hip neighborhood that is unpretentious and diverse. It is a bit gritty still, but will continue to improve.

[drshang]

The Strip IMO. A large mix of ages there and if you go to the Firehouse you'll see a wide variety of people in terms of age (a lot of people that hang out there are 25-40 from what I've seen). There is an Irish Pub that also has a wide mix of ages and tends to sway older as opposed to younger. Shadyside nightlife is more grad students and young professionals under 30 that would likely regard you as "old." The Cork Factory Lofts will have plenty of people of all ages that you'll probably like. There are also a lot of upscale restaurants that will obviously slant older.

If you ask me the Strip is by far the best neighborhood in the city assuming you can afford to live there. Shadyside is a more "traditional" nice city neighborhood. The Strip is different and edgier but it has a much better sense of community IMO, and tends to attract people from outside the area due to its "unsafe" perception among native Pittsburghers.

[mattjd]

Originally Posted by Hopes

Matt, you're just flat out wrong about her not fitting in at Shadyside or the Strip. I know many single professional 40-50 year olds who live in Shadyside. They aren't looked at weird at all. There are plenty of real adults in Shadyside---mixed in with the younger people.

I realized that not everyone agrees with me, but I'm just giving advice about what I see. The vast majority of shady side consists of families, college students, and recent grads. I don't know of many bars that are frequented by 40+ people there...or in the strip....or the south side. Hey, if she wants to go to matrix and grind to some garbage hip hop song with a 21 year old guy from Pitt, then she should go for it.

The best bars that I've seen for older single people have often been in the south hills. The Baltimore House and Brass Rail are both in Pleasant Hills and have a solid following of 30-50 year olds. The youngest people there tend to be in their late 20s. So...maybe she should look in the Pleasant Hills area,or even as far away as South Park.

[raubre]

Actually the majority of Shadyside is people with money and has a hefty gay population. There are many people who live in Shadyside that aren't under 30. Isabella, you'll be OK.

BTW, the majority of the college population reside in Oakland.

[Pitt Chick]

DH and I are in our fifties... and felt right at home last weekend in the Strip.

[Hopes]

Originally Posted by mattjd

I realized that not everyone agrees with me, but I'm just giving advice about what I see. The vast majority of shady side consists of families, college students, and recent grads. I don't know of many bars that are frequented by 40+ people there...or in the strip....or the south side. Hey, if she wants to go to matrix and grind to some garbage hip hop song with a 21 year old guy from Pitt, then she should go for it.

The best bars that I've seen for older single people have often been in the south hills. The Baltimore House and Brass Rail are both in Pleasant Hills and have a solid following of 30-50 year olds. The youngest people there tend to be in their late 20s. So...maybe she should look in the Pleasant Hills area,or even as far away as South Park.

I'm not discounting that there is a frat type crowd at the Shadyside bars, but she didn't say that she was planning to hang out in bars and do that scene. That's why I asked her about her interests---so we can get a better idea. Without a doubt, there are older single people living in Shadyside. You just don't see them at the bars because they've outgrown that type of thing.

[Isabella.Sullivan]

Wow, a lot of great responses on here. I appreciate everyone's input, especially the fact there is some disagreement - it helps me!

For the record, I am not a cougar...yet! I would, however, like to enter a bar/restaurant on occasion and not feel like I am the oldest one there. More importantly, I would like to meet my neighbors. Perhaps the Strip District does attract more outsiders and I could fit in there more easily. I guess, I wasn't sure if the Strip District, while cool and trendy, is more geared to the young professional crowd vs. my mid forty crowd? I like diversity. Both areas still sound appealing.