So I'm moving to Pittsburgh

I have only spent a couple of days there seems like a nice place to spend a year and cheap to live. I already have a couple of ideas about where I'd like to live but I like any knowledge about the place you have.

Wow. Why?

Surely Gareth is the person to answer your questions. I'm sure he could tell you a thing or two about Wyoming as well.

And Korea too. I am off to school at CMU from January.

Mail Nick and H. about Korea?

No, gareth knows about korea, I don't need to know about korea.

Don't rule it out. What are you going to school for? (and apologies if I missed this on ITR)

I wish you'd called this thread "I'm so moving to Pittsburgh"

Was missed on ILE, no worries though. MS in Engineering Technology and innovation management

xpost

Innovative.

Srsly, congrats. I'm envious of people who are getting it together and heading to grad school. Something on my life's list which is still unresolved.

wow. i wish my mfa was going to be in innovative performing arts management! no fair!

also, congrats!

I barely know Pittsburgh at all and the places I do know (ie, near their civic center, whatever it's called) are like "uh yeah don't live there".

squirrel hill and shadyside are lovely neighborhoods. pamela's has great pancakes. jerry's is maybe the best record store in the world. that's pretty much all I know about Pittsburgh.

PRIMANTI BROTHERS

That is pretty much all I know about pittsbugh (add to that that the church has a very good english style beer). I am glad pittsburgh has hills as biking up them will counteract Pamela's pancakes which are indeed most awesome.

Vik to thread!

you will need one of these:
http://www.pissedfish.org/uploaded_images/terrible%20towel-711622.gif

watch out, ed - mizzell is trying to turn you into a yinzer.

i grew up there, but have never lived there as an adult. there are a lot of cool neighborhoods -- the hills and rivers seem to sort of keep them separate from each other and able to retain their characters. but for access to cmu, yeah, shadyside and squirrel hill.

also, quincie to thread

be sure to brush up on the language
http://www.pittsburghese.com/

and the work of donnie iris.

don't shortchange the cruisers!

i've heard pittsburgh is nice as hell!

coldest i've ever ever been in my life=Forbes Avenue, downtown Pburgh in January

it is nice! and cheap. i'd consider living there if i hadn't, you know, grown up there

it is worth pointing out that there is a neighborhood called Mexican War Streets and that is a pretty cool name for a neighborhood.

Also, the Warhol Museum and Mattress Factory are fine institutions.

Mexican War Streets

^^^^^BEGGING FOR GENTRIFICATION

NO JOKE

Congrats, Ed! I went to part of high school in Pittsburgh and my parents lived there for 13 years, so I've been around plenty. Not a great music scene compared to other cities, but relatively safe, clean, AFFORDABLE, and quite beautiful IMHO. Pittsburghers are some of the nicest, most down-to-earth cityfolk I have ever encountered. I think you will enjoy your time there.

If I were to move back I think I would choose to live around E. Carson on the South Side. But mookie's suggestions also OTM. And I would not discount living in Oakland--it's a lot better around there than it used to be.

CMU has a great combination of uber-arty theatre kids and uber-dorky engineering types. You'll fit right in :)

Oh and even if you're not into baseball you should totally catch a game at PNC park. It has lovely views over the river and with the city all twinkly at nighttime.

Shit if I could score something not too expensive I'd live on Mount Washington with the fantastic city view! You could take the CABLE CAR to school! Er at least you could cable down to catch a bus.

http://www.sho.com/site/weeds/season4/images/actors/alexander_gould.jpg

My Mom is from Pittsburgh and on of my best friends from college lives there and loves it. I will ask her for recs and report back. Congrats on CMU - that's fantastic.

This is where I start to liveblog my bitching and complaining. So I applied and was granted my loan, got the paperwork through and it appears there are loaning me money for academic year 07/08 so I call up Citi and they say they can't start a loan application before 60 days before class starts. Visa processing time can be up to 60 days +3 days here in London, plus CMU take 3 weeks to produce an I-20 which they can't issue until I can prove I have funding in place. I now have to find a way of demonstrating that I can call on c. $55,000 which gets harder and harder as the pound plummets. the CMU international office were spectacularly unhelpful.

Perhaps you should change your internet name to something less awful.

I obey.

If only there was a tried and tested way to get around this desperate chicken and egg situation.

Pound is $1.53! Flashback to 2003. Mind you, the sterling bubble was always going to pop, a $2 pound being far too good for my US shopping needs to ever last.

Would something like this help? Coming to Pittsburgh on a travel visa, get the loan, and then the visa, and then go to Canada and back in order to activate the i20?

someone got mugged in Little Italy the other day. maybe it's just a rumor.

fantastic book about the rise and fall of steel (and labor) on the Monongahela:

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51R0MP8XPAL._SS500_.jpg

btw i've been to pittsburgh only once. loved it.

>>Vik to thread!

― Ned Raggett, Wednesday, October 1, 2008 7:08 AM (3 weeks ago) Bookmark

Haha. I totally missed this.My parents have lived there comfortably for 34 years, and will likely die there. Ironically enough, a great place to build the immigrant experience in Umerica? Note: this may not apply to er, British immigrants

I think if you stay in the downtown/Oakland/Shadyside (the 'Burgh equivalent to Williamsburg/Silverlake, and you know what I mean)/South Side, you can generally find enough shit (cultural, musical, drinking-related) to do to last about a year. If you somehow morph into a major Stillers/Pens/Pirates/Pitt/sports-in-general fan - and it'll be tough not to, since your socialization risks enforced isolation otherwise (just think of tailgate parties = haven for drinking before the requisite games you can leave in the middle of) - you'll probably be amused for another year or two.

Beware getting stuck there for longer than 3-4 years though, on the "oh it's so cheap, yay I've actually brainwashed myself to liking Iron City Beer and now I understand Pittsburghese, I can get everything here, why move?" argument. That is a certifiable vortex/black hole you'll be swept into. That being said, it's an excellent place to raise a family IF YOU WANT TO SETTLE DOWN IN THE RUSTBELT, and lo and behold - she'd likely to be spared: http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1848760,00.html
yay for paying the dues in the 80s!

Oh and two other things, which you can rank the importance of y'self: DO NOT STEP INSIDE THE SUBURBS. And the Warhol Museum is tres overrated, but still cool

Yinz will be fine, go out and git y'self a worshing macheen!

So, in summary: 3-4 years: okay. 34 years: no. Unless you're my parents.

ed, i totally feel your pain. my experience getting my $ out of my school has been fucking ridiculous and red taped to hell. and i am a citizen. so, i understand your situation, but it's also very hard for me to sympathize because, if i understand it correctly (and please correct my if i am wrong/ignorant of the situation), you could get subsidized graduate education in england. meanwhile, i am attending a public university and am having a hell of a time getting the minimum student loan money and will still be in massive debt when i finish. so... if it's hard for you, it kind of makes sense, given the system here.

i know this makes me sound like an ass, and i don't mean to be one, but it's kind of 'the way it is' in the states.

You knew the risks when you snubbed Cranfield and the Cambridge Institute for Manufacturing - fine institutions both :)

What is the neighbourhood to the south of Schenly Park and the I-376 called?

http://www.city.pittsburgh.pa.us/cp/maps/images/map_gifs/greenfield.gif

I wd like to visit Pittsburgh in the spring.

it is a vision

a vision of seeing the Mets-Pirates for cheap.

i have only been there in the winter. not as vision-y.

two of my close friends are applying there for grad school, as well as ed, which would give me a good reason to visit. i guess it's the place to be for computer science (clearly) & anthropology (unexpectedly).

I love Pittsburgh so much! You will have a great time there, the thrifting is incredible.
Lots of great restaurants too. My mom grew up there and my grandma still lives in Squirrel Hill.
Really chill place.

The biggest and coolest graveyard I've ever been in is in Pittsburgh. I got lost in it as the sun was setting and it took me a while to find my way out. Just rolling hills of obelisks, crypts, and gravestones. Didn't see another soul the whole time I was in there.

Well, I made it. I am eating a primanti brothers sandwich and drinking a yeungling.

eating a primanti brothers sandwich <--- JEALOUS

a vision of seeing the Mets-Pirates for cheap.

― Dr Morbius, Thursday, November 27, 2008 10:23 AM (1 month ago) Bookmark Suggest Ban Permalink

when i was there 5-6 years ago seats behind the plate were going for $20, i dont imagine theyre very much more expensive. nice stadium too.

http://photos-e.ak.fbcdn.net/photos-ak-sf2p/v308/75/0/800991/n800991_41638300_4833.jpg

yuengling is from eastern pa

you need an iron city

Nats-Pirates would be kind of the ultimate

Morbs I heard on the radio that there is some pirates fest happening at the mellon arena in a couple of weeks which willl have the first release of single game tickets. Want me to try and scope it out for you?

Questions for doo dah, or anyone else:

1) What is the best curry house on Craig st, I have counted 5 so far?
2) Where the Bars at, or more specifically which are good round here?
3) What are local beers and wines I should be trying?
4) Why do PA liquor laws suck so much?

5) Where are gig venues and what is the best place to go for listings?

hi Ed...
Hm. Let's see:
1) What is the best curry house on Craig st, I have counted 5 so far?

Well, Star of India (closest to Forbes) is tasty but always gives me, uh, distress...Tamarind is supposed to be good, but expensive. The one that is on Centre (name has changed a couple of times), heading uphill from Craig is plain, but cheaper and decent. There is a new place in central Oakland, Bayleaf, which is supposed to have southern food as well as northern, haven't been yet. Tryibng to think of others? There are some more in central Oakland, closer to the hospitals. We don't have baltis here!

2) Where the Bars at, or more specifically which are good round here?

Mostly the bars are in Central oakland, to accommodate the undergrads ;) Fuel & Fuddle is good, can be noisy. Meine husband is not much of a beer drinker (for a German!?!) so we haven't gone to many places. Union Grill is okay, attracts the CMU and spin-off computer crowd. Most bars sell six-packs, or you can buy a case at a distributor - Mellingers is a good place, but a case of beer is heavy to lug back to Craig St! Get someone with a car to help! (Sorry, we don't have!)
Once you get your ID card, you can ride the bus for free - D's Six Pack and Dogs is a good place, in Regent Square; also, The Church Brewery (I think you have been there?) and East End Brewery sell "growlers", which are refillable. Bah, the Church doesn't do growlers anymore, huh. Also, South Side (Carson Street) has quite a few bars with good beer selections - Fathead's is great, and good sammiches.
Oh, crikey I forgot the Sharp Edge, for Belgian beers...I think you mentioned being taken there too?

3) What are local beers and wines I should be trying?

Hm, The Church, Penn Brewery, East End Brewery. Iron City is, um, wet.
I am not big on PA wines, New York Rieslings can be good. You probably noticed the unavailability of booze - wine and hard liquor only at "Wine and Spirits" stores, or as we say "state stores". There is a little one on Centre and about Melwood, but really, you need to go to a premium store - far down Centre (towards East Liberty) is a Whole Foods supermarket, and the premium store is on the other side of their parking lot, on the upper level. I like to go to one Downtown (erm, Dahntahn <koff>), because they have more French wine, the East Liberty store has more California wine.

4) Why do PA liquor laws suck so much?

Hello Prohibition! ;) :-/ The East Liberty state store (and some of the outlying stores) is open Sundays, though, 12-5:00.
Oh, and the catalog is available online "SLO" codes are not available and need to be ordered, I have never bothered to try that.

5) Where are gig venues and what is the best place to go for listings?

Lawrenceville is the hot place these days, Wednesdays the City Paper will have what is up-and-coming for the weekend, there is a box in front of the bank at Craig and Bayard. you know that you will have free admission to the Carnegie museums with your ID - including the Warhol, which has some interesting things going on sometimes on Fridays. The 500 bus will take you right there.

Oh, and if you bike, be careful, Pgh drivers are still not used to bicycle riders. The weather will soon be too crappy to bike anways! O_O

I hope this helps, and let me know what else you are looking for. Basically, get your ID card, to ride the bus for free(or do you have a car?). The 28x bus goes right to Ikea, the 59U goes to the Waterfront, where there is a Target store and other stuff.

Dang, I hope all my careful urls worked!

OMG they worked! Ha!

2) I like the Squirrel Hill Cafe, at the corner of Forbes and Murray.
5) The events threads on this board might be useful: http://board.nevertellmetheodds.org/

Thanks for that. I think I will be using the zipcar for beer. No car here,

Also, check your husband for authenticity, if he's genuine he should have a tag sewn into his ear.

>Thanks for that. I think I will be using the zipcar for beer. No car here,

Okay, also, there is an Enterprise Car Rental on Millvale (the street leading to Bloomfield). Somewhat limited hours, but for a longer-term rental, cheaper than Zipcar. You have your driving record to send Zipcar?

And here is another link for things to do. And the City Paper Online version.

>Also, check your husband for authenticity, if he's genuine he should have a tag sewn into his ear.

Heh ;) He is not Bavarian, so it is okay ;)

I already signed up with zipcar. I hired a hertz when I got here, for a couple of days moving furniture. (I am a super dooper+ double plus five star gold ticket winner member with hertz so they normally give the best rates although their nearest place seems to be right down town).

Sitting in Kiva Han because Verizon haven't connected my phone yet, signed up with the bank (that was way easier than anyone I know moving to the UK), pissed because AT&T won't give me a cellphone contract without a social security number, working through my other options but AT&T have the blackberry I want, bah.

lol @ AT&T

signed up with the bank (that was way easier than anyone I know moving to the UK)

land of freedom and oppor fuckin toonity my friend

sorry i've been watching too much deadwood

My options are pay AT&T $500 deposit on top of having to buy in a store and not getting a refurb phone for cheaper or waiting till T-Mobile have a NG Blackberry (Feb 9th) and dealing with their far more civilised way of paying in advance for service month by month.

I may, on the other hand get a social next week but more likely it will be in the summer.

City Pages tell me I have Ricky Skaggs and the Hackensaw boys over the next couple of weeks. I am pleased about this.

Ed, if I may ask, will you get a stipend, as a grad student? Or, will you be eligible for an hourly on-campus job (don't necessarily need to have something lined up)? In which case, the CMU international services office should be able to revise your, hm, I-20 or DS-2019 (depending on your visa) to allow you to get an SSN.
(This is part of what I do at work, here at Pitt)

I got a partial tuition scholarship, no stipend though. There is an internship as part of the course and I will definitely get an SSN, it is just a case of when. I will lobby CMU for earlier rather than later, so many bits of admin are easier with an SSN and it'd be useful to get a credit card etc.

Ed, by your interest in Ricky Skaggs you are officially turning into MY DAD 2.0 o_0

have any natives go to the amusement park Kennyland? It is the primary location in this film.

I've been. Thumbs up for the old-school wooden rollercoaster that earns phear through rotting-wood creakiness rather than huge dips and loops and stuff like that.

as the only one I've been on (and I will die before I go on again) is the Coney Cyclone, I concur

a friend of mine who's from Pitt goes every year and loves it - I think it's Kennywood though

yeah

Kennywood! :) Home of the Thunderbolt, Jackrabbit and Racer! Oh, and some modern-stylee coasters that I can't be bothered with.
Opening day in one month!

I was thinking of going for a weekend in Pittsburgh and including a trip to Fallingwater, but no car. Are there any local tour companies that run day trips there? Strangely I can't find any online.

george packer, mexican war streets, asylum

fyi, the local way of telling someone that their fly is open is saying 'your kennywood's open'

Ah, no, just "Kennywood's open"!

luv it when yinz school each other

DO NOT STEP INSIDE THE SUBURBS

LULZ

i want to read that book about homestead--it's where my family is from.

is this true???? this sounds amazing

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/16/dining/16cookies.html?8dpc=&_r=1&pagewanted=all

http://i.imgur.com/UEIRm.png

The biggest and coolest graveyard I've ever been in is in Pittsburgh. I got lost in it as the sun was setting and it took me a while to find my way out. Just rolling hills of obelisks, crypts, and gravestones. Didn't see another soul the whole time I was in there.

― Nate Carson, Thursday, November 27, 2008 11:15 PM (3 years ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

That's kind of fitting since they filmed Night of the Living Dead near Pittsburgh.

I was born in Pittsburgh but moved when I was four so I have very little memories of the place.

http://i.imgur.com/34JfMUQ.jpg

Er indoors will be er outdoors in this town this week fyi

All work work work tho

Whereabouts? Weather will be crappy, possible flooding downtown.

I've no idea it's p much airport-office-hotel-airport tho so she's not planned for much cultural/social time

Okey doke, she will probably have meals where ever the others are having them, can't really recommend anything near the airport, mostly chains there. If she does happen to be downtown, there are some decent places in the Cultural District. Many of the seem to have an ampersand in their name. <shrug>

https://www.lrb.co.uk/blog/2018/10/31/joy-katz/in-squirrel-hill

this piece is fine and well-meant and i'm horribly pedantic but when the writer claims that pittsburghers call all highways 'the parkway' and refers to 'downtown squirrel hill' it makes me think wut

I thought it was bostonians who called it that

no that's the pahkway

Wicked cool

^^^hoser

jagoff.

otm

Pittsburgh rules

The City of Pittsburgh is partnering with the @USDA to host a Deer Management Pilot Program with archery-controlled hunts in Frick and Riverview Parks during the 2023-2024 deer archery season. pic.twitter.com/85TmDC9U8u

— City of Pittsburgh (@Pittsburgh) September 3, 2023

We are visiting here next spring. Already planning to visit Carnegies/various museums & pnc park, but as usual appreciate any non obvious recs and also places to eat if anyone has any recentish ideas? Ty!

Hi! When in Oakland, the Cathedral of Learning, right across from the Carnegie Museums.

Mattress Factory, for some site-specific installations, if you will be on the North Side for the Warhol (and PNC Park); and the the National Aviary.

Ride the Inclines!

What area will you be staying in?

Yeah we’ll be staying relatively near pnc park so north side for definite. Thank you so much for this!

w/r/t food:

PRIMANTI BROTHERS

― donna rouge, Wednesday, October 1, 2008 7:06 AM (fifteen years ago)

Steve you are always looking out for me! Ty!

PNC really is one of the most beautiful parks imho, y'all are gonna have fun.

https://uncoveringpa.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/Drone-over-PNC-Park-in-Pittsburgh.jpg

zp - Only the Primanti's in the Strip District, tho'. Unfortunately, not open all night any more. Have an Arn City!

Lawrenceville is where all the happening restaurants are.

*xp!

Why don’t any of the cars have license plates on the front?

not required in the commonwealth of pennsylvania

It’s bizarre, my friend from the (also commonwealth?) of MA also confused

gyac, why don't you like freedom?

^^^

lol

https://preview.redd.it/usa-states-with-no-front-plates-v0-dvltuv36s5oc1.jpeg?auto=webp&s=eb37ddf559b61705a1fe0c2a09f8aeefee32267d

My dad, a car nut, was so upset when we moved from IL to PA.

the front is where you put your stillers/iggles plate

i would have thought car nuts would like no front plates - front plates usually requiring drilling holes into the bumper and unsightly bracket configurations that break up the car's aero