Pittsburgh: Dream or Nightmare? (Washington, Sharpsville: house, neighborhood, university)

[ditchdigger]

...and an iconic sandwich invented by a hungover fratboy.

It was invented for the truck drivers on the graveyard shift in the produce yards, so they could eat with one hand and drive with the other. You can give the frat boys credit for making it iconic though...

[ctoocheck]

Two points:

1. EVERYBODY KNOWS the country's largest phallic symbol is the Washington Monument.
2. Our zombie problem was eradicated nearly 30 years ago thanks to the fine people at Terminex. (I think we sent the remaining ones off the Milwaukee, or something. I don't know, I haven't seen the remake of the movie.)

Please get your facts straight, sir.


The rest... no comment

[Copanut]

Originally Posted by ditchdigger

It was invented for the truck drivers on the graveyard shift in the produce yards, so they could eat with one hand and drive with the other. You can give the frat boys credit for making it iconic though...

You beat me to it. Primanti's was great when it was a dump and did not open until mid-night, now it's a glorified fern/sports/yuppie bar.

Come to think of it, the Strip looked much better when it was all cobblestone.

[Katarina Witt]

Originally Posted by +Daimon

You could also mention the fairly low crime rate, the cool architecture of downtown, the diversity of the different neighborhoods, the Strip, the beautiful scenic ares surrounding the city, the way above-average job market and the super-low cost of living, etc etc. And which bridges are "dilapidated", anyway?

I think before suggesting to people that they should not move here, you should have some first-hand knowledge of the city.

I think that's a bit of an exaggeration.

[Tombstoner]

Originally Posted by +Daimon

And which bridges are "dilapidated", anyway?

The bridge from Greenfield to Schenley Park has had ugly mesh wrapped around it to keep concrete from falling on traffic for about 20 years now... That's just an eyesore. Embarrassing.

Further down the Mon Valley there are a number of dilapidated bridges -- they are slightly depressing and atmospheric at the same time. I do think there are pockets of dereliction that give Pittsburgh a very cool, gritty vibe.

[Tiger Beer]

The bridges...that is making me think about the collapsed Minneapolis bridge. Then there was a need to look into what bridges across the U.S., were in need of serious repair. The number was quite high. I would imagine Pittsburgh would qualify for much-needed repair on some of their bridges, right?

[dugdogmaster]

Originally Posted by Tiger Beer

The bridges...that is making me think about the collapsed Minneapolis bridge. Then there was a need to look into what bridges across the U.S., were in need of serious repair. The number was quite high. I would imagine Pittsburgh would qualify for much-needed repair on some of their bridges, right?

Right.

Pennsylvania Department of Transportation

[Fiddlehead]

Originally Posted by ctoocheck

Two points:

1. EVERYBODY KNOWS the country's largest phallic symbol is the Washington Monument.

Wooden teeth or no, George the first must have had it "going on."

[Fiddlehead]

Originally Posted by Tombstoner

Further down the Mon Valley there are a number of dilapidated bridges -- they are slightly depressing and atmospheric at the same time. I do think there are pockets of dereliction that give Pittsburgh a very cool, gritty vibe.

Very nicely put Tombstoner,

And something therein catches the essence of your city's visage.

[Impala26]

Originally Posted by Tombstoner

The bridge from Greenfield to Schenley Park has had ugly mesh wrapped around it to keep concrete from falling on traffic for about 20 years now... That's just an eyesore. Embarrassing.

If I recall correctly, the two high-level road bridges over Washington Blvd. connecting the Lincoln and Larimer neighborhoods are suffering the same deteriorating concrete condition. The thankful thing is that reinforced concrete crafted today has a much better lifespan because the rebar is thoroughly anti-corrosion treated.

Still it's deplorable the sloppy quality in which bridges from the 60's to 70's were built. With the Greenfield Bridge, they literally constructed a makeshift "bridge" underneath it to catch the concrete. What a waste of funds.