Interesting use of Smithfield Street? (Pittsburgh, York: real estate, contractors, restaurant)

[erieguy]

Originally Posted by BigPizzaHutFan

People avoid taking the bus because in this region public transit is seen to be for "poor people" only.

People in that position more often feel that's how it is and have this idea that some people look down on them, but it's certainly not the case with most people. Personally, I could care less if one walks, bikes, or rides the bus around.

[Der Schwabe]

Originally Posted by BigPizzaHutFan

I've never failed to find someplace to go in any part of downtown at 10:00 PM. I'd guess you're not in the sort of demographic that's doing things at 10:00.

Agreed, downtown is hopping lately and it's hard to get in the good places even during the week. Then again, with the specter of a 30 or 40 mile drive out to the exurbs hanging over one's head, I guess there's not much incentive to seek out a good time with friends. Best to pile on the Harley (or trike?), careen into the bike lane and gird yourself for the drive back out to the McMansion.

We go out all the time after work and you'd have to be a blind fool not to see the difference even compared with three or four years ago. People are coming from work, of course, but the biggest increase is both with people coming elsewhere in the city to try out these new places and people coming from outside the city to take part.

Take a look at the number of new restaurants and the hundreds upon hundreds of new apartment units with people living down here and filling the bars and restaurants. None of it jives with the solidly 90s and mid-2000s suburbanite refrain proudly declaring that downtown is and always will be a ghost town after 5. But how better to publicly out oneself as a washed up post-20s suburbanite than parroting that tired line.

[UKyank]

Originally Posted by BigPizzaHutFan

People avoid taking the bus because in this region public transit is seen to be for "poor people" only.

Or you know, because it's pretty sh*tty for a transportation system (including the 'T'). People use it because there's no other option, but others choose not to because alternatives are better. If you've ever lived somewhere with a good transit system you'd know the difference between the two & the convenience afforded to using the latter.

Thankfully I have the option not to have to rely on PAT.

[tclifton]

Originally Posted by Der Schwabe

Agreed, downtown is hopping lately...

Hopping you say? Fantastic then!

[Paul2421]

Originally Posted by PghYinzer

I ended up in Market Square on a Saturday night around 1 am a few weeks ago...it definitely was not a ghost town. Was it South Side like? No, but the bars were open and there were people in them....

That is literally the most commercially dense area of downtown...not proving anything.

[erieguy]

Originally Posted by lettert

That is literally the most commercially dense area of downtown...not proving anything.

Dang tourist traps.

[_Buster]

Originally Posted by lettert

That is literally the most commercially dense area of downtown...not proving anything.

If you would have read the previous pages of posts, you would see that it goes directly against another poster who said downtown was dead after 5. then the poster amended himself later to say except for a small sliver of restaurants in the cultural district. Market Sq. is not in the cultural district, so it does prove something.

[Lobick]

Originally Posted by lettert

That is literally the most commercially dense area of downtown...not proving anything.

Pray tell...how large do we all think "downtown" is??? If we're excepting the Cultural District and greater Market Square, then, OK, I concede that downtown isn't particularly lively after hours. Interestingly, I've noticed exactly the same thing about the South Side, if you ignore East Carson, and Lawrenceville, not counting Butler of course.

[eschaton]

Originally Posted by Lobick

Pray tell...how large do we all think "downtown" is??? If we're excepting the Cultural District and greater Market Square, then, OK, I concede that downtown isn't particularly lively after hours. Interestingly, I've noticed exactly the same thing about the South Side, if you ignore East Carson, and Lawrenceville, not counting Butler of course.

The only real Downtown is Grant Street, dontcha know? It's where all the towers are after all.

[erieguy]

Originally Posted by eschaton

The only real Downtown is Grant Street, dontcha know? It's where all the towers are after all.

Don't forget Art Rooney Ave, Federal, Grant, Casino and North Shore Dr.