<p>Can someone share their positive/negative experiences about this city?
I'm from TX, and I've never been, but I associate it pretty negatively because of the name...
How have current CMUers found it to be?
Is it a relatively pretty city, or is it the kind of place where it's shady to be out after dark?
Social scene- is there much to do there outside of the typical movie theatre?
Music scene- how often have your favorite bands played there? Do you think it's often overlooked?
Is the traffic manageable or do you have to leave 2 hours early to get somewhere on time because of congestion?
How've you guys liked it in general?</p>
<p>It’s a medium-sized city. Think your typical comic book hero city or Townsville or any other stereotypical movie city - there are a few very distinct districts, a downtown area that has skyscrapers, and a hell of a lot of bridges and rivers. </p>
<p>It is not necessarily a pretty city (it’s a former steel town) but it’s pretty safe to be out after dark, especially on campus. The only people who get mugged seem to be people who are doing something dumb, like riding a bike while listening to their iPod while chatting on their cell phone. I’ve been around downtown Oakland by myself at night (I’m a girl) and have only rarely felt like I needed to find someone to walk with me or avoid a sketchy patch. </p>
<p>There’s a lot to do in Pittsburgh, depending on what you’re into. It’s a huge college city. There’s UPitt (20k+ students), Chatham, CMU, Duquesne, AIP, Carlow, Point Park, and a couple of other tinier colleges. So there’s a lot for young people to do.</p>
<p>The music scene isn’t amazingly great in the city, but it’s pretty decent at CMU. Lots of underground musicians if you’re into indie stuff. Aesop Rock came freshman year, Anamanaguchi, Big Boi, Outkast, White Panda, Girltalk… Ke$ha and Lady Gaga have performed in the last year too in the city. </p>
<p>Traffic’s negligible since you take the bus everywhere as a freshman (freshmen aren’t allowed to have cars on campus). The buses are pretty fast, but they’re rarely on time, so that’s a factor sometimes.</p>
<p>Don’t forget Usher came this year! 
I’ve lived in Pittsburgh my entire life. The music scene is okay, not as great as Philadelphia, but it’s okay. It’s pretty safe here as long as you have common sense: like don’t go into dark unpopulated places by yourself. Like the previous post said there are a lot of other colleges around so it’s very easy to have a social life in Pittsburgh.</p>
<p>Pittsburgh is actually one of the prettier cities in the US, and has been ranked as such. Well, let me qualify that: it is pretty in the summer and fall. For its size, it is well known for its architecture. The view of its downtown has been ranked as one of the best vistas in the US (USAToday). (see [here](<a href=“http://pittsburghskyline.com/]here[/url]”>http://pittsburghskyline.com/)</a>) It has been named as the most livable city in the US by multiple publications in the last couple of years (Rand McNally 2007, Forbes 2010, The Economist 2011). Culturally, it has more to offer than most cities its size. It is rated as one of the safest cities in the US, but like every city, it has its trouble areas. Night life, it isn’t the hottest of spots to be honest. Traffic gets congested exiting and entering the city during rush hour because two of the three major directions to enter the city are by tunnels. The street layout can be confusing. As a student, I wouldn’t even think of bringing a car (completely unnecessary even with its at best average public transportation system…which is free to CMU and Pitt students). It is indeed mid-sized with a split personality between east coast and midwest. I’ve lived in a lot of other cities, some which are popularly supposed to be superior, but they aren’t (particularly when accounting for size). Pittsburgh, hands down, is the most underrated city in the US.</p>
<p>Pittsburgh is a very pretty city. If you like urban you have an interesting but very accessible downtown. You have great parks right in Oakland. If you like theatre and music and ballet…you can’t do much better even in a much larger city and it is usually easy to get tickets. And the food!..wow! really, really good stuff particularly in the ethnic neighborhoods.</p>
<p>The problem I see from the student’s persepective is that you are going to be so busy with classes you will feel you don’t have time to get off campus. Also, there is pretty good entertainment in Oakland as Kate points out. Nevertheless, make it a goal to do something, somewhere in another part of Pittsburgh at least once a month if not more. sign up for Pittsburgh cultural trust notifications. For example, just look at September’s calendar: [Calendar</a> of Events for September 2011](<a href=“http://www.pgharts.org/events/monthview.aspx?m=634504320000000000]Calendar”>http://www.pgharts.org/events/monthview.aspx?m=634504320000000000). Don’t forget the monthly gallery crawls downtow and southside. </p>
<p>Parents can help a student enjoy Pittsburgh too. I bought S 2 tickets to David Sedaris last year. This basically made him and roomate take a trip to the theatre and have dinner downtown. If you wait until you have a “free” evening…it won’t happen…just buy the tickets early and make the time to go. If your student likes Broadway, buy tickets to Wicked, coming in September. Of course, at CMU you can see also see top notch theatre productions put on by your fellow students. Great recitals and concerts too. Just because you are not into classical or jazz …don’t miss the chance to be awed by what your fellow students can do!</p>
<p>I know that a lot of students think Opera is for the near senile but make it a goal to not leave the city without going to one of the Pitt Opera performances. This year they are putting on a couple of classical standards including Barber of Seville and Lucia di Lammimore…both so gory! so great! Just once, get one of their 50% off tickets–day of show only–If you know a Pitt student they can frequently get FREE tickets to symphony, opera, ballet and theatre. All concerts and shows have substantial student discounts. </p>
<p>I was a graduate student at Pitt for 4 years and am so happy to have my S at CMU to have the excuse to visit Pittsburgh several times per year. A long weekend in Pittsburgh is one of my favorite holidays (except in January-February).</p>
<p>As a parent, I love Pittsburgh. It is a bit smaller than the other cities where my daughter was looking at schools (D.C. and Chicago). It is pretty safe as others have siad and there seems to be plenty to do. If you are a sports fan, it is a GREAT city for both professional and college sports.</p>
<p>Our neighbor UPitt is an NCAA basketball tourney site next year. We aren’t in the middle of nowhere =p</p>
<p>Don’t forget wiz khalifa and mac miller came out of pittsburgh. haha. </p>
<p>but no really, i have lived here my entire life and i would say it’s a pretty great city! it definitely is not as “beautiful” as a city such as Boston, but it certainly has its moments! A beautiful skyline view from Mount Washington, great restaurants, awesome sports teams (Steelers, Pirates, Penguins, and Pitt games make for fun nights out) and the culture scene is great!
The Culture District has fantastic ballet, theatre, opera, museums, etc. However, you probably are not as interested in that as the concerts. Personally, I find great artists come here all the time. Famous bands and singers like Katy Perry, Lady Gaga, Kesha, Usher, Britney Spears, etc come to the big venues (Heinz Field, Peterson Event Center, Consol, etc.) ALL THE TIME. If you’re looking for more indie underground bands, smaller clubs and venues definitely serve a good purpose.
With so many colleges, students mingle and the social scene thrives. There’s tons to do if you look around! Go for a kayak in the Allegheny, head over to the Three Rivers Arts Festival and then Primantis for a bite to eat! Granted, some of these things are seasonal, but you get the picture. Pittsburgh is a wonderful city that has a lot to offer. </p>
<p>Both of my parents attended CMU and chose to stay in Pittsburgh (well, a suburb right outside of it), so it must have rubbed them the right way.</p>
<p>Sure, there are shady areas, but what city doesn’t have them? If you stay smart and aren’t alone, you will be fine. </p>
<p>As for some random little things I know I have grown to LOVE as a kid (and still do, haha)… the Andy Warhol Museum, the Oakland Zoo, shopping and eating in South Side or Shady Side, the Carnegie Museums, etc. </p>
<p>Hope this changes your negative perception of Pittsburgh! :)</p>