Definitely visit the Strip District, especially if you are in town on Saturday morning. It's full of ethnic grocery stores, restaurants and shops.

My daughter lives in Pittsburgh and we visit often. She works at the Carnegie Science Center which is right there at Three Rivers by the stadiums. It is not just for children, but has lots of interesting and fun hands-on exhibits plus an interactive sports exhibit and IMAX theater. Other things we like: walking around Squirrel Hill and Shadyside, taking the incline up Mt. Washington and enjoying the view, especially at night-there are good restaurants up there and down at Station square. Also good eats in the Strip District. We like Pittsburgh a lot, have fun.

There's a sports memorabilia store in Station Square where you can pick up Penguins gear. Do not miss a trip up the funicular from Station Square, to get the fabulous view of the city.

At the top of the hill, the Southside neighborhood is a happenin' area with bars and restaurants.

A day or half-day could be spend in Oakland (U. Pitt area). Visit the Carnegie Museums (art, natural history), see the glass house arboretum in Schenley Park, and eat in one of the ethnic restaurants on Craig Street. Many people are impressed by the international rooms in the Cathedral of Learning (you can't miss it, its the really big tower). There is also the Oakland Original, serving hot dogs and amazing fries to university students for many years.

As others have mentioned, a trip to the Strip District is in order. Try the fish sandwiches at Wholeys or the famous everything sandwiches at Primanti Bro's.

I would think there are good sports bars near the arena, but its been years since I've been to the Igloo, and don't know the knew arena at all.

There are also good restaurants in Shadyside, mostly on Walnut St.

Have fun! Say hi to Sid and Geno.

> attending two Penguins hockey games

Keep abreast of sports news till then, as you may have two evenings that your didn't anticipate being free.

http://dallas.sbnation.com/2012/8/31/3283346/nhl-lockout-2012-donald-fehr-bettman-negotiations

> any recommendations during the week?

I wouldn't have guessed this until I actually tried it out, but Pittsburgh is a city with one of the best bicycle trail systems in the U.S.
http://bike-pgh.org/campaigns/commuter-bike-maps/
http://www.probikesllc.com/trails.html

If you enjoy biking in an urban environment, you can rent a bike at several locations and spend several hours getting around.

I echo visiting the Strip. Although Saturday is the busiest day, there's a lot to see any day of the week since shops are open 7 days a week (although most close by 5:00). Great eats in the Strip from exceptional street food to fine dining - Eleven and Kaya are favorites for a special dinner, Enrico Biscotti provides a cozy and unique lunch, and don't miss the pancakes at Pamela's for breakfast (owners were invited to the White House to make pancakes for an event). Those are my favorites, but there are many other choices in all price ranges and many ethnic eateries. Licensed sports gear is available at Feinbergs and Yinzers at better prices than elsewhere. Also if you're interested in Pittsburgh and/or Western PA Sports, visit the Heinz History Center and Western PA Sports Museum. Starting in early October the History Center has a special exhibition of items which have never been shown outside of the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton which should be fabulous

Thank you for all of your feedback, I appreciate it!!

Primanti Brothers Sandwiches rocked! This is a great city and we could easily see ourselves spending more time here.

We love history and of course Pittsburgh was quite important to both the French and later the British. Friends from the area had recommended we go up to the top of the hill--the Duquesne Incline, I believe--to understand why the confluence of the rivers led to the forts' strategic importance. We had come on a night-flight though and just didn't make it there.

The best shopping will be on Walnut Street in Shadyside. There are many restaurants there, however I was a poor college student when I lived in Pittsbrugh so I cannot attest to any of the "finer" dinning spots.

For a fun bar experience head down to the Strip District and go to Fat Heads. Also, if either of you are beer geeks, Sharps Edge in East Liberty (outside of Shadyside) has an impressive beer list and tasty food. They also usually have a projector going for games.

Primanti Brothers is interesting. Their sandwiches all taste the same, but is a must when visiting Pittsburgh and should be tried at least once.

If you have time, take a walk around the University of Pittsburgh's campus and spend a few hours at the Phipps Conservatory. Go into the Cathedral of Learning and marvel at the gothic lobby and check out the nationality rooms. http://www.pitt.edu/~natrooms/


Phipps has a decent cafe. For dinner I would stay away from Pitt's campus, however you can get a decent lunch at half a dozen places. Off Pitts campus is a great deli called Food For Thought and if it is still open, a neighborhood tradition in Johnny's Place. Both of these are located on Centre Ave in North Oakland.

Squirrel Hill is a great location if you are interested in Asian food. Both Murray and Forbes are littered with restaurants from every Asian background. My favorite is the Thai food at Bangkok Balcony. There is some shopping on these two streets, but mostly restaurants, however the people watching is great! There is also a bowling alley and movie theater at the end of Murray Avenue. Or you could drive/bus it to the Waterfront for more stripmall-type shopping and a movie theater (Loews).

A great breakfast is in nearby Dormont. The dinner is called the Doorstop and was featured on Food Networks Triple D. It is a bit tough to get too, but worth the drive.

For restaurants I would check this website: http://www.pittsburghmagazine.com/Pittsburgh-Magazine/June-2012/25-Best-Restaurants-in-Pittsburgh-2012/index.php?cparticle=2&siarticle=1#artanc

Oh! I highly recommend snork's suggestion about Mt. Washington. If you go there at night you will be privy to one of the more amazing skyline views I have ever seen.

I recommend an Italian restaurant by the name of La Tavola.
http://www.latavolaitalianarestaurant.com/site/

For pictures of the view from Mt. Washington.
http://www.planetware.com/picture/pittsburgh-us-pa104.htm

Fat Heads is on the South Side, not the Strip District.

woops, thats what I meant, its on the other side of downtown.

So what have you decided to do instead of hockey?

thanks, Black and Gold for correcting the Fat Heads location.

PITTSBURGH????

Why would anyone vacation in Pittsburgh?
BTW....see my fellow Yinzers in Dec and I hope the NHL is back on the ice by then!

Hellooooooo Steelersfan!

definitely the strip district and the original primanti's for sure. Carnegie science center is really interesting. Falling water is cool but on the more expensive side. Go up the Duquesne incline, it's a really awesome view, especially at night. I've never been, but I've heard phipps conservatory is good. If you're interested in art, the Mattress Factory is... unique. And an experience. If you have time and money, any of the cultural things at Heinz Hall are always wonderful.

There are several attractions one can see in this city. One listing is here:

http://www.frommers.com/destinations/pittsburgh/2518010029.html

Hi KaL,
Just got in tonight from Mexico, long travel day...
Cancun was fun, but glad to be back in da Burg!
Had a good crowd watching our boys beat dem Bungles on Sunday, in the Sports Bar of the Beach Palace, Cancun.
Sat next to a gal from ATL on the plane, she's the fiance of Steeler TE Leonard Pope. (new to Steelers this year, the fellow who saved a kid from drowning last year...)
Just "happened" to be wearing Steeler shirt while traveling today, and got all kinds of smiles and friendly comments from folks in Mexico and in Atlanta.
One guy detained me at Customs security in ATL just so he could call his coworker over to say hello, because the coworker is from Pittsburgh. (It's a Burg thing...)
Despite the fugly throwback uniforms, we're all cheering for our team! GO Steelers!
Hope to see you in December, Kal.

Alohaaaa Steelersfan! Yes...pray for only a little snow in Dec!

Pope caught a TD y'day too! As for the unis, "FUGLY" is being kind.

We were having a few cocktails in a SF bar a few weeks ago <I know...hard to believe, huh?> and a couple from Las Vegas were sitting a few chairs away. We start talking.

I asked her where she was from because I detected an "accent".
"Buffalo"...told her I could have sworn I heard some 'burgh in there. "Oh...yes I was born and raised there till we moved to Buff a few years before moving to Vegas."

As NITS mentioned, we loved the Heinz History Center and Western PA Sports Museum. Brought back so many very good childhood memories of growing up back there.

The Pitt is a GREAT walking city. We walked all over from our hotel down at The Point, up to The Strip (Hit Heinz and Primati's) past The Igloo, down over to The Southside.

We took The Incline at St Sq up then walked to the other Incline to come down, GAWWWWWWJUSSSSSS views, then back over to The Point.

speaking of which, mim999, how is/was your trip? I sure hope you are not traveling back today or tomorrow!!

I have a recurring dream of Pittsburgh. It is a scene from 40 years ago and which I experienced many times. I am at the corner of Mellon St and Pennsylvania Ave in West Mifflin and I want to take a bus for an adventure into the 'burgh, but not sure where, exactly.

In one direction, I could take the bus to Duquesne and then catch the 61C. The 61C is a local and slow but it goes past Kennywood, through Homestead, Squirrel Hill, Oakland, and deep into dahntahn before it returns on the long trip back to its origin in McKeesport. It has a lot of options for destination and a variety of neighborhoods to see along the way.

In the other direction, I could take the 53H which offers a quick trip dahntahn followed by a dip in a fountain, Point Park, n 'at. Or maybe the bus coming from Duquesne will arrive first and that would take me to Homestead to transfer to the 61C there or a to take a different 53* bus into town.

So, I wait for a bus, whichever comes first. The 53H never comes. One of the other buses (to/from Duquesne) does arrive and I have to run across the street to catch it, not sure which direction it is going. Then, fast-forward and I am at the Car-NAY-gie museum thinking about how much I enjoyed that ride on the 61C and looking forward to exploring the museum and maybe the Phipps for the baobab trees n 'at.

n 'at = and that = and that other stuff, as in "The Isaly's is dahn the hill by the Giant Eagle n 'at".

But, to stay OT and because I am interested, I will ask: how did you enjoy your visit, mim999?

I found it wise to never rely on the 61C while at the Waterfront, far too many times I had to call a cab.

The Pitt is a GREAT walking city. We walked all over from our hotel down at The Point, up to The Strip (Hit Heinz and Primati's) past The Igloo, down over to The Southside.>>>


No more Igloo, Kal.
We were lined up there for the Labor Day parade, strange to not see that dome there...

Steelersfan: My last year in Pittsburgh was the first year they used the new stadium, what are they doing with the space where the Igloo was? Parking lot? Or did they extend the housing that was across the street?

NO MORE IGLOO!!!!

Glad we at least got to walk by it <see profile pic>.
When we were there we missed the free open practice for the Pens due to family commitments out on "The Island".
Consol is the new arena? It was about 90% complete when we were there.

Got to see a game at PNC. I rate it right up there with SF Giants' ATT Park (slight edge to ATT, tho).

PNC is a great ballpark for sure.
Yes, Consol is the new arena for the Pens, opened on August 18, 2010, with a concert by Sir Paul McCartney.
there is Arena football there now, too.

worm, so far nothing done with the 28 acres as far as I know, but Pens have talked of housing, parking, retail.

Obviously did not take the trip back in October like I wanted due to the strike, however, we will be headed there in two weeks to catch two games! I will def be taking all of this advice and let you know all know how it was when I return! Thanks again!