After enduring the mundane chores of college life and exploring as much of Ohio as possible, it’s nice to know a new surrounding is only a three-hour drive and half-a-tank of gas away. A straight shot on Interstate 70 leads into Pittsburgh.
“Pittsburgh is not a cookie-cutter city,” said Laura Ellis, director of communications at the Greater Pittsburgh Convention and Visitors Bureau.
Pittsburgh has become known for its scenery, including 720 bridges, Y-shaped streets, triangular buildings and hilly terrain, especially.
“I think it would be a great opportunity (to visit) because it’s a different kind of city,” said Pittsburgh native Stephanie Bartos, senior in business logistics. “Most people (at Ohio State) are from Ohio, and it’s flat. Pittsburgh’s a city that’s pretty much built in the mountains.”
Franco Harris, former Pittsburgh Steelers running back best known for his infamous “Immaculate Reception,” said he quickly embraced the city and its people when arriving as a first-round pick in 1972.
“I was quite impressed with how nice the city was. I met a lot of nice people and really enjoyed Pittsburgh,” said Harris, who resides in Pittsburgh. “It’s a city, yet it’s small enough that you feel comfortable and not overwhelmed.”
Once known as the “Steel City” with coal mines, steel factories and blue-collar workers overpopulating the area, Pittsburgh has grown into a flourishing city. In the late 1800s the city thrived off their steel and coal industries.
“Dirt and smog was a symbol of prosperity,” Ellis said.
Pittsburgh began to clean the dirty air that plagued the city in the 1950s through new developments, but the steel industry continued to be the main economic source until its decline in the early 1980s. Since its major hit, Pittsburgh has been working to reconstruct itself with the creation of new buildings and tourist attractions.
The Waterfront, one of the new innovative developments, offers shopping, dining and nightlife. The plaza, which was built on a former Pittsburgh steel mill, is reminiscent of Easton’s architectural design.
Among its cobble stone roads and small-town feel, consumers can obtain what they need all in one stop. More than 55 restaurants, entertainment and retail outlets are spread throughout the 90 acres of land.
One of the main attractions is Loews Theater, furnished with oversized and cartoon-like decor. Besides the 22 screens and stadium seating, a full service restaurant and bar can be found in the upper level.
An ice cream/coffee shop, arcade and concession stand, serving more that buttery popcorn and Milk duds, are located on the first floor. Chicken tenders, gourmet pretzels, quesadillas and chicken sandwiches are also on the menu.
Brian Kmetz, managing director of Loews Theater at the Waterfront said although others have tried to re-create the concept, the theater is one-of-a-kind.
The well-known landmark Station Square also is a destination for dining and nightlife. It was originally built as a railroad station, transferring cargo around the United States until a period of recession.
“Pittsburgh was going to tear it down because no one was using it for anything,” said Nancy Reynolds, visitor service representative at the Pittsburgh Visitor Information Center.
The old station was converted into a shopping center in 1979 while maintaining a few of its original cars for stores, such as the Soxx Shop, Cool Beans and Crystal River Gems.
Bessemer Court, a new outdoor addiition to Station Square, has a variety of restaurants and bars perfect for college students. The court’s Hard Rock Cafe, Bar Louie, Joe’s Crab Shack and Margarita Mama line the Monongahela River.
Adjacent to Station Square is the legendary Monongahela Incline, which takes visitors 635 feet at a 35 degree angle to the scenic Mount Washington. It now solely serves as public transportation but once had a more functional purpose.
“It was originally used to take men and horses to the top of the mountain to mine the coal,” Reynolds said.
Mount Washington, once known as Coal Hill, was the main source that kept Pittsburgh’s factories and mills running. It has a reputation for its breathtaking view of the city’s skyline. But the area is also a city within itself, with a well-developed neighborhood of different-styled houses.
The overlook shows viewers Pittsburgh’s combination of old and new buildings. Also encompassed in the view are Point State Park, where the Allegheny, Monongahela and Ohio Rivers meet, and the two new stadiums, Heinz Field and PNC Park.
For the shopping addicts, Walnut Street Quarter, which is placed within the quaint neighborhood of Shadyside, has about 150 businesses within five blocks. The Quarter is comparable to many upscale shopping districts in the United States.
“Shadyside is the Soho of Pittsburgh,” said Monique Steinhaur, manager of E.B. Pepper clothing store.
E.B. Pepper is a women’s boutique, serving customers for the past 16-and-a-half years. Owner E.B. Pepper said Shadyside is different than most shopping areas.
“(The Walnut Street Quarter) is in the middle of the neighborhood,” she said. “It is also a street with independent stores rather that chain stores.”
The Quarter began to develop in the 1950s, mostly consisting of independently owned shops, and later began to grab the attention of other businesses owners.
“In the ’90s the large national stores saw what was happening on Walnut Street and came in,” said Will Sell, volunteer of the Shadyside Chamber of Commerce.
The Strip District, with more than 56 blocks of warehouse-style markets, located at the edge of Downtown Pittsburgh, is invaded by consumers during the day and bar-hoppers at night.
“You can park once (at the Strip District) and do that whole area,” Ellis said. “Coffee shops, pubs, hard-core clubs – whatever you like – you can find there.”
In the heart of the district is the simplistic sandwich shop Primanti Brothers, famous for its overstuffed sandwiches piled with fries and coleslaw.
“It’s one of my favorite restaurants, and it’s a tradition,” Bartos said.
Brendan McMonagle, manager of the original Primanti Brothers in the Strip, said when the shop opened in 1933, truckers were the primary customers.
“(The Primanti Brothers) used to put coleslaw and french fries on the side, but (the truck drivers) told them to put it all on top to make it quicker,” he said.
When in need of physical activity, the Rink at PPG Place, a 9,600 square-foot outdoor ice rink, is open to the public and a noteworthy ice-skating spectacle. With a large Christmas tree in the center of the ice, the rink bares resemblance to New York’s Rockefeller Center but is larger in square footage.
In addition to the many sites, the city relies on their sports organizations to attract about 3.9 million visitors per year, Ellis said. As home to the Steelers and Pirates, Pittsburgh uses the teams’ images to market itself to potential visitors. The Visitor’s Bureau offers packages, including discounts on Pirates merchandise and hotel accommodations near the stadium.
“Baseball is a really fun experience,” Ellis said. “We’ve been promoting it heavily.”
For avid spectators of winter sports, Pittsburgh doesn’t fall short in athletic entertainment. Fans of NCAA basketball can check out the University of Pittsburgh’s No. 4 men’s basketball team. The Panthers play in their state-of-the-art, year-old area, Petersen Events Center, and tickets cost $25 a piece.
Hockey enthusiasts can get a glimpse of the city’s pride and tradition while watching Mario Lemieux and the Penguins. The club plays at the Mellon Arena, with tickets starting at $20.
Pittsburgh proves it has come a long way since the days when black haze blanked the “Steel City.”
“This town will surprise people. A lot of people ask me, ‘Isn’t Pittsburgh this city that’s dirty?’ But they are looking at pictures form the ’40s and ’50s,” Harris said.
Pittsburgh hopes
to draw in young visitors to experience all the city has to offer. The city also is appealing to those with a tight budget because hotel rates are substantially lower during the traveling off-season, and there is no sales tax on clothing and shoes.
“Even in the winter months Pittsburgh is a great getaway, and it’s affordable,” Ellis said. “For college students there are a lot of things to do.”
