<p>Well, here's an area Pittsburgh needs to work on:</p>
<p>" Pittsburgh had the second-worst environment for breathing, the American Lung Association said in its annual "State of the Air" report.</p>
<p>The amount of soot and particle pollution left Pittsburgh behind only the Los Angeles metropolitan area in terms of bad air, the ALA said."</p>
<p>I think Pittsburgh's location in a river valley has a lot to do with this problem.</p>
<p>"Using an analytical approach devoid of rigor, the American Lung Association has erroneously depicted the Pittsburgh region's air quality as below EPA standards."</p>
<p>Here's one more thing. I saw that Pittsburgh is rated second for courteous drivers in an AutoVantage survey:
<a href="http://www.affiniongroupmedia.com/releases/autovantage/autovantage_may_15_07.html%5B/url%5D">http://www.affiniongroupmedia.com/releases/autovantage/autovantage_may_15_07.html</a></p>
<p>We're going to Pittsburgh over one of the weekends in July to check the University of. What is there to do for a couple of days (Friday night/Saturday)? What are good hotels aroung University of Pittsburgh?</p>
<p>The black and gold rule!</p>
<p>jb12, here you go:</p>
<p>University</a> of Pittsburgh: Undergraduate Admissions & Financial Aid</p>
<p>All of the hotels listed there are in walking distance from Pitt.</p>
<p>Thanx, I saw that. I had to stay there for at least 2 days and thought that there might be a little cheaper hotels or, perhaps, it's not worth the trouble looking for cheaper hotels somewhere else.
With Pens lost is there anything else to do in town?</p>
<p>jb12 when we visited last summer we went to a Pirates game - it's a great stadium - and you can get Primanti Bros sandwiches at the ball park. We stayed at the Holiday Inn which is next to Admissions very convenient and I have booked to stay there again for Pitt Start (academic orientation this summer), move in day and Parent's weekend - so we were obviously pleased with the hotel. On Pitt's web site ther is also a link for things to do in Pittsburgh. It's really a nice city with LOTS to do - so it's worth checking out.</p>
<p>Here's another great site for anyone interested in seeing the whole city:
Pittsburgh</a> Hotels, Attractions & Vacation Packages : Pittsburgh PA CVB</p>
<p>Also:
Student</a> Guide to Pittsburgh - online city guide to Pittsburgh for college students</p>
<p>These sites can give you a better picture of all that there is to do in Pittsburgh than I ever could.</p>
<p>jb12, you probably won't find any cheaper hotels in Oakland. If you want to stay further away from Pitt you might get a better deal, but I recommend that you stay at one of those places to get a good feel for the neighborhood. Other popular areas nearby such as Shadyside and Downtown would probably be more expensive.</p>
<p>I booked Double Tree Downtown hotel for my D visit of Pitt</p>
<p>I just want to thank everyone who's been contributing information and links about what there is to do in Pittsburgh. It's very helpful!</p>
<p>And I have to comment on this:</p>
<p>
[quote]
P.S. The people in Pittsburgh are the nicest you will ever meet.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>That is so true. I've only visited Pittsburgh once so far and I was only there for two days but that's something my sister and I couldn't help but notice the entire time we were there. Everyone was super friendly and nice from the moment we got there from the guy who drove us into the city from the airport to just every other person we met while there. It's just funny to me that someone mentioned it in this forum...I wasn't sure if it was just a random good turn of luck that my mom and sister and I met so many nice people or if in general that's the kind of people you tend to meet there.</p>
<p>And I have to say that as an OOS-er (and like way out of state -- I'm from CA), the old view of Pittsburgh really does persist. At least one out of every two people, when I tell them I'm going to school in Pittsburgh, will kind of give me this 'Why the heck would you wanna go there?' or a 'Ohhh....that's nice' look. And people keep trying to lecture me about the steel mills and violent crime rate.</p>
<p>Luckily, when I was applying to Pitt, both my parents and one of my good friends had visited the city before and helped me not buy into those outdated views of it. While my parents visited awhile back, they remember liking the city and my friend had just visited last summer and told me it was a very 'cosmopolitan' city. I guess word of mouth then really is the best bet right now of squashing those outdated perceptions.</p>
<p>This article has lots of sightseeing tips and options for off-the-beaten-path dining.</p>
<p>
[quote]
PITTSBURGH has undergone a striking renaissance from a down-and-out smokestack to a gleaming cultural oasis. But old stereotypes die hard, and Pittsburgh probably doesn’t make many people’s short list for a cosmopolitan getaway. Too bad, because this city of 89 distinct neighborhoods is a cool and — dare I say, hip—city. There are great restaurants, excellent shopping, breakthrough galleries and prestigious museums. The convergence of three rivers and surrounding green hills also make it a surprisingly pretty urban setting. And if the Pirates are in town, head over to PNC Park. Besides the game, the ballpark offers a great excuse to explore downtown Pittsburgh and the river views.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>Go to the Southside, strip district, downtown to catch a show, etc etc</p>
<p>Pittsburgh isn't the most exciting city on the planet, but it's not the steel town that people envision it to be. </p>
<p>Unfortunately, the main problem is that citizens of Pittsburgh are generally as uninformed about the diverse culture and art history that inhibits the area, which leads to a portrayal as an ignorant, football-only focused town. </p>
<p>Pittsburgh is making great strides though, and while it will never be a "high growth area", it is establishing itself as a viable city that can be known for something other than its football history.</p>
<p>Thank you Frommer's spokesperson.</p>
<p>Are The Duquesne Incline, PNC park, Warhol Museum within walking distance from downtown?</p>
<p>^^^^^
Yes, to all of the above! Easy walk to the north across the Clemente (aka 6th Street) bridge over the Allegheny River gets you to PNC Park and the Warhol museum on the Northside and an easy walk south over the Monongahela River on the Smithfield Street bridge gets you to Station Square and the Duquesne Incline on the Southside.</p>
<p>Would you say PNC Park is within 30 minute walk from One Bigelow Place? What are the good places to eat/shop in downtown? Is it easy to get tix for Pirates game on Friday night or should I get them on-line?</p>
<p>Yes, PNC Park is easily within 30 minute walk from the Doubletree. It's all too easy to get tickets to the lousy Pirates these days, so walk-up sales (unless they're playing an inter-league game) is fine.
The definition of "good" varies too widely to provide an unbiased referral - suffice to say there are some interesting restaurants in walking range of the Doubletree. Shopping, depends on what you're looking for.</p>
<p>It's going to be an Al Oliver bubblehead night the day I'm going to be there. Pirates play San Diego(?) on 25th. I was thinking of going to the Strip from there, if I convince my wife, we'll go to PNC Park, my D is all psyched,. Or should I go to the Warhol Museum instead, tix are half-price after 5 p.m.? How far from there to Incline? I understand that public transportation is free in downtown? Is it worth it if it's true or should we simply walk. I hope it'll cool off for next weekend. It's unbearable in Philly last week or so.</p>