For Netroots Nation: A Guide to Pittsburgh, Part One
View of Pittsburgh’s Downtown & the Point (the confluence of the Monongahela & Allegheny rivers to form the Ohio)
Why I love Pittsburgh and want to tell you about it
Let me be honest. When I first moved to Pittsburgh in the spring of 2002, I did not anticipate liking the city at all. Maybe it was because I had never lived in a city before; or maybe it was because the only parts of Pittsburgh I had seen up to that point just didn’t appeal to me (e.g. the run-down student housing in the university neighborhood of South Oakland).
Today, however, I still consider Pittsburgh my home even though I have moved 2500 miles to the west. I don’t think I would claim the city grew on me – that would seem to validate, at least in part, my initial negative impressions. It’s more accurate to say that Pittsburgh was not the city I expected and I came to love it as I got to know it.
One of the things that endeared me to Pittsburgh is that although it’s a mid-size city (approx. 315,000 people living within the city limits, and 2.5 million in the metro area) it feels like a small town. I think the many unique, self-contained neighborhoods that comprise the city make for this effect. And although it’s had its share of cutbacks recently, public transportation in Pittsburgh can get you from any point in the city to any other in around 40 minutes. It is very manageable.
Yet in contrast to its size (or the perception thereof), Pittsburgh hosts a rich cultural, intellectual, and spiritual life equal to cities much larger. And it is that richness that ultimately won me over. While I hope to convey some of this in the diaries that follow, don’t take my word for it. Get out and experience Pittsburgh for yourself!
Accolades and Achievements
The recent decision by President Obama to host the G20 summit in Pittsburgh is a huge recognition for the city. At the same time, it is only one in a long list that Pittsburgh has been racking up over the past few years. Some of the others include:
*Most Livable U.S. city by The Economist in a 2009 worldwide survey of 140 cities (Pittsburgh Ranked #29 in the world).
*Most Livable American city in the 2007 Places Rated Almanac.
*Best midsize city arts destination by American Style Magazine.
*One of Frommer's top 13 travel destinations for 2008.
*In the top ten of MSN City Guides Most Walkable U.S. Cities.
In the past few years, Pittsburgh has also hosted the MLB All-Star Game (2006) and the U.S. Open (2007). And of course, there is 2009’s coup – winning both the Stanley Cup (Go Pens!) and the Superbowl (Go Steelers!).
Overview of this blog series
I entertained a number of ways to organize this series, but ultimately settled on grouping them by activity type (as opposed to geography). I think this makes it more user-friendly. Someone who doesn’t like to eat, for example, can skip the diary on restaurants as opposed to wading through my culinary recommendations in each of eight neighborhood diaries.
I’ll be posting on Monday and Wednesday for the next four weeks leading up to Netroots Nation. You can expect the following diaries, unless something changes drastically along the way or unless I get requests in the comments for something that I’ve overlooked.
Please, other ‘Burghers or anyone familiar with this awesome city, fill in any blanks I’ve left. Here’s to a great conference!
7/13: Part One (Today) – Introduction to the Series
7/15: Part Two (Wed) – A Brief History of Pittsburgh
7/20: Part Three – If you do nothing else, do this
7/23: Part Four – Nearby Pittsburgh
7/27: Part Five – Sports
7/29: Part Six – Museums & Cultural Activities
8/03: Part Seven – For the Kids
8/05: Part Eight – Culinary Delights
8/10: Part Nine – Outdoor Activities
8/12: Part Ten – (Optional Diary – perhaps a lesson in Pittsburghese)
General Resources
*Visit Pittsburgh
*Public Transportation^
^You can also check routes using Google Transit
*Pittsburgh Magazine City Guide
*Maps
*Rick Sebak’s "It’s the Neighborhoods" DVD^
^I highly recommend borrowing, renting, or purchasing this DVD or any of Rick’s other shows about Pittsburgh. (I have no stake in promoting these; just think they’re well done documentaries on a city I love).
Pittsburgh Point of Interest #1
Fred Rogers, better known as Mr. Rogers (of Mr. Roger’s Neighborhood) was born 40 miles outside the city. Many of the props from his show are on display at the Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh.