Pittsburgh Master Thread

[Dan]

I'm considering to stop in Pittsburgh on my trip west, is there ANYTHING to do there (with toddler and infant)??

Nope

[elikay]

Nope

What's the "best" (relative term ) thing to do in Pittsburgh

[Dan]

Sorry, that was just the Clevelander in me.  We're not allowed to say anything positive about our smoky neighbor 2 hours to the east...

-National Aviary is an interesting bird museum that kids would love.
-Monongahela Incline is a cable car that climbs up a steep hill to the top of mt washington with amazing views of the city.
-Ducky Tour is a lot of fun for kids (and even adults!)
-PNC Park is a gorgeous ballpark, one of the finest in MLB.
-Carnegie Science Museum is always a hit with kids.
-Rita's water ice in Squirrel Hill is great.
-Rivers Casino provides entertainment options for adults.

[elikay]

Sorry, that was just the Clevelander in me.  We're not allowed to say anything positive about our smoky neighbor 2 hours to the east...

-National Aviary is an interesting bird museum that kids would love.
-Monongahela Incline is a cable car that climbs up a steep hill to the top of mt washington with amazing views of the city.
-Ducky Tour is a lot of fun for kids (and even adults!)
-PNC Park is a gorgeous ballpark, one of the finest in MLB.
-Carnegie Science Museum is always a hit with kids.
-Rita's water ice in Squirrel Hill is great.
-Rivers Casino provides entertainment options for adults.

Thanks I don't think my little 2 year old will appreciate a science museum but the cable car and aviary sound interesting...

[Dan]

Thanks I don't think my little 2 year old will appreciate a science museum but the cable car and aviary sound interesting...

A 2 year old would probably love the ducky tour as well.  And the science museum does have a great play zone will plenty of opportunity for a 2 year old to have a blast (and get soaked!)

[elikay]

Ok, so here's what I ended up doing.

I got my hotel from Priceline Name you own Price. First tried booking at the airport but coulnd't get anything cheap enough, so instead I went for downtown and won Marriot for 85 plus tax (102 total). BIG mistake, besides being one big construction zone traffic is horrendous. Hotel was fine, though for a hotel which cost 329 on Hotels.com I would have expected something fancier. No complaints but it just was missing that touch of elegance (for instance very plain bathroom). Also parking is 18 dollars a day plus 4 dollars if you want in and out priveleges. There is a Shul across the street, you have to exit from the parking lot asked the front desk for directions. Mincha and Maariv is at 5:30 (Maariv before Plag, so I had to daven Maariv elsewhere), it is about a 20 minute drive to Squirrel Hill WITHOUT traffic, however the GPS would always send me to the highways which are full of traffic, and turn it into a 45 minute nightmare. Shacharis at Chabad, although Godaven has 840 as last minyan they had 915 (rush hour traffic )when I was there.

We brought our own food, so that was not an issue. We went on the clipper cruise tour as the ducky was booked solid (happens to be cheaper as well, something like 13.5 pp as opposed to twenty something for the ducky). A big plus is that you can bring a stroller on to the boat and there was lots of room. We also did the incline, the charge is 3.25 round trip but they only take exact change (no change given). All I had was a $10 but they guy told me to go buy ice cream and I'll pay on my way back, I don't think that would ever happen in NY there's a Post Office down the block so I bought 3 stamps and paid on the way back. We then continued on our way as we had schlepped and it was late.

Ducky tour was booked

[Dan]

Booked my grandparents at the Hyatt PIT airport on priceline for $41 last week.

Downtown PIT to squirrel hill is not more than 10 minutes without traffic.  Take Blvd. of the Allies instead of I-376 except when there's no chance of traffic.

[elikay]

Booked my grandparents at the Hyatt PIT airport on priceline for $41 last week.

Downtown PIT to squirrel hill is not more than 10 minutes without traffic.  Take Blvd. of the Allies instead of I-376 except when there's no chance of traffic.

I I tried really hard to get at the airport (I had lots of rebid zones) but apparently none available. Boulevard of the allies is the way to go but unfortunately I did not learn that till the very end (for some reason even when I told the GPS to avoid highways it sent me down Forbes instead

[Dan]

Hyatt PIT Airport is 4* btw.
I got that rate booking same day, generally a good strategy on PL unless things are selling out.

And a GPS will rarely give you the best route, it will just give you a route, which is better than nothing, but always ask the locals if you can.

[elikay]

Hyatt PIT Airport is 4* btw.

I know, that's why there are so many rebids available as the other zones don't have 4*

[elikay]

Panoramic view from the incline (Mt Washington)


Pictures from Clipper Cruise

[Dan]

Ant Pittsburghers on DDF?  I'll be in the steel city this weekend iy"h.

[whYME]

What's the "best" (relative term ) thing to do in Pittsburgh

I know this is way late but I just saw it now.

I would say the best thing to do is stay far away from the place

[jj1000]

I would say the best thing to do is stay far away from the place

+1 LOL!!!

[ajs625]

Anything of note to do in Pitt besides pirates game?

[Sandy]

Just wanted to add a little updated info for any travellers to the Burgh.  There is a cafe that sells sushi, salads, soups, wraps, and blended drinks called "Mordy's Cafe located at the J" downstairs in the JCC in Squirrel Hill.  Sweet Tammy's is now located in Shadyside and is more of a distributor of their baked goods to grocery stores in the tri-state area.  They are open to the public on Friday.  Also, if you're coming to Pittsburgh with little kids during the summer, there are several public spray parks that are free and really fun for the kiddies. http://www.city.pittsburgh.pa.us/parks/spray_parks.htm

[Dan]

Is A&A's still open Sundays and Tuesdays?

What's good at the Cafe?

[Dan]

Just wanted to add a little updated info for any travellers to the Burgh.  There is a cafe that sells sushi, salads, soups, wraps, and blended drinks called "Mordy's Cafe located at the J" downstairs in the JCC in Squirrel Hill.  Sweet Tammy's is now located in Shadyside and is more of a distributor of their baked goods to grocery stores in the tri-state area.  They are open to the public on Friday.  Also, if you're coming to Pittsburgh with little kids during the summer, there are several public spray parks that are free and really fun for the kiddies. http://www.city.pittsburgh.pa.us/parks/spray_parks.htm

Mordy's Cafe located at the J is now kaput!

[Dan]

There may also be an upscale bakery in Pittsburgh called Sweet Tammy's, but it's pretty expensive and I can't imagine that it will survive in a jewish community famous for not eating out or supporting its local kosher establishments.

Since I went to high school there the city has gone through Yacovs, King David, Platters, Golden China, Simple Treat, Rolladin, Sari's, Pinati's, Aaron and Ari's, and Cafe M.
Did I forget any 

+Mordy's Cafe makes 11 closures since my high school days.

[Dan]

The ultimate list of closed PIT eateries...
 
These kosher restaurants, bakeries, and ice cream stores in Squirrel Hill have all closed in just the time since I went to high school there:
1. Leibel's
2. King David
3. Yacov's
4. Simple Treat
5. Platters
6. Golden China
7. Sari's
8. Cafe M
9. Pinati's
10. Rolladin
11. Mordy's Cafe at the JCC
12. Sweet Tammy's on Murray
13. Sweet Tammy's at the JCC
13.5 Aaron and Ari's used to be open full time but is now only open for dinner only and just on Sunday and Tuesday. Double-check on that as who knows when they will figure out that it's not worth having a storefront that's only open 6 hours a week.

Leaving mediocre Milky Way as the sole survivor...I don't think they even bother to open on motzei shabbos, typically a jam-packed time for a pizza shop in most cities.