Posted October 10, 201212 yr Pittsburgh is one of America's greatest cities -- in terms of geography, views, character, neighborhoods, intact downtown, etc., etc., etc. -- and I had not been there in almost 10 years, other than passing by/through. But I went there a month ago with my wife, my brother's fiance (both Cubs fans) and my brother to experience bits of the city and then see the Cubs actually beat the Pirates. Heading out Penn Avenue to Allegheny Cemetary More of same Sidestreets & rowhouses along the way Allegheny Cemetary grave of Col. John Gibson -- commander of the only American Revolutionary War outpost in Ohio, translator of Logan's Lament, governor of the Indiana Territory -- one of the most amazing Americans nobody knows of The Strip District More Hipsters, hawkers, vegetables, pastries, books, clothing, sports gear, restaurants, between the river and produce terminals on one side and mountains on the other More USSteel tower, or whatever it is now My friend's book about the 1943 year-long merger of the Pittsburgh Steelers and Philadelphia Eagles, remaindered Veggies Carnival atmosphere Looking toward the wholesale terminals Signs of Middle America amid all this urban & ethnic character The Strip More veggies Neat streetscape Cool condos Angling through downtown on Penn, toward the confluence Peek-a-boo Great buildings Great angles Starting up the Duquesne Incline Upbound, passing the downbound Inside Skyline view, partway up From the top Upriver on the Allegheny Getting ready to head down Downriver on the Ohio I don't know. Some sort of charity race Downtown density Monongahela Incline The best skyline view in baseball from the best new-generation ballpark in baseball Another view Dusk approaching The top of one of my favorite buildings Getting darker . . . Night skyline Fireworks celebrating the Cubs win over the Pirates?!? Good night!
October 10, 201212 yr Great pics. The ballpark does have an unbelievably awesome skyline view and that is why I like it. Other than that, though, it feels like a cheaper version of Progressive Field. I need to give The Strip another chance. The few times I've been there I thought it felt dirty (not somewhere I'd want to buy food) and felt more like a big Geneva-on-the-Lake than a West Side Market. The density and hills in Pittsburgh sure do make for a lot of scenic photo opportunities. Did you head over to Carson Street at all? It has a huge stretch of Victorian architecture, pretty much all intact and functioning as stores, restaurants, and bars.
October 10, 201212 yr Thanks for sharing! I need to give The Strip another chance. The few times I've been there I thought it felt dirty (not somewhere I'd want to buy food) and felt more like a big Geneva-on-the-Lake than a West Side Market. I thought the same thing. People built it up and when I got over there I was very disappointed. I loved my visit and the city, but overall their downtown has a sort of dirty feel to it as well.
October 10, 201212 yr As a born & bred Tribe fan, I appreciate the stadium in Cleveland (I refuse to dignify the corporate names that have been slapped on these basilicas of baseball), but like the Pittsburgh park even more -- not just the skyline view, but the way it's situated on the river, the way it's integrated into the streetscape on the north, etc. It feels more intimate, or something. As for Carson Street: No. But I'll put it on my list.
October 10, 201212 yr ^Plus, I just think PNC Park is just a superior design over Jacob's...err...Progressive Field. "The Jake" felt cheapish for being one of the early retro designs and hasn't aged well (and that was at a game in 2007!); PNC Park, while it has some goofy elements I don't care for, will age better overall. As far as The Strip vs. Westside Market, totally different vibes. The Strip feels more cohesive, more neighborhood-oriented due to all the shops along Penn. The Westside Market is perhaps a more in-your-face experience due to it being inside such a grand, beautiful building. I prefer The Strip simply due to it being akin to a Kensington Market Toronto moreso than a Detroit Eastern Market-type of layout. Great pics UrbanSurfin. Pittsburgh is a treasure indeed. "You don't just walk into a bar and mix it up by calling a girl fat" - buildingcincinnati speaking about new forumers
October 10, 201212 yr I felt like the West Side Market had a more diverse selection and higher quality vendors than The Strip, but I may just not have experienced the right parts of The Strip. The architecture and density was definitely awesome, though. As far as PNC Park goes, I have been to multiple games there and I really like the park. It's siting is awesome, the way it interacts with the river and the skyline. It seemed like the seating was more cramped, though. I'd have the guess the they had limited space to work with since it seats 5,000 less than Progressive Field and still feels like the seats are tighter. What's interesting, though, is that when you adjust for inflation, the cost of the two ballparks is nearly identical (and the same architect was used for both). EDIT: The first review of The Strip on TripAdvisor captures part of what I didn't like about The Strip and why I like the Westside Market better: I really likes Pittsburgh.The people, food, neighborhoods. The geography and scenic vistas. It is really a great city. The Strip District was once one of the burgh's main market, food distribution and wholesale areas. Just as the burgh reinvented itself from a burned out rust-belt city to a high tech 21st century Metropolis, the Strip District reinvented itself into an arts and entertainment area serving tourists and locals alike. The Strip is awash in shops selling every imaginable sports article in every team's colors (as long as the color is black and gold and the teams are the Steelers, Pirates and Penguins). In addition to the typical artsy fartsy shops there are several unique stores selling wonderful ethnic/Pittsburgh regional foods (Pennsylvania Macaroni Co, Stamoolis Brothers and S&D Deli). And there is always a great offering of street food. On a cool fall day, it is a wonderful place to walk, shop and people watch. But after a while and a few visits, it does get a bit old. There is only so many times you can buy a Terrible Towel, or deal with the arcane street system and lousy parking or fight the crowd to get miniature donuts and overpriced coffee. The strip District is worth a visit. Maybe two or three spaced far enough apart to forget the problems. I like the fact that the Westside Market feels like it caters solely to actual shoppers, and tourists still come to see it. You don't get hawked to buy Browns gear at every turn. That feature of The Strip reminded me of Little Italy in Manhattan, where every 5 feet is a stand where Asians are trying to pawn cheesy I Love Italy buttons off on you.
October 10, 201212 yr From an exterior design perspective, what I like about the Jake -- er, the Prog -- is that it didn't do an arbitrary retro brick thing. Don't get me wrong -- I love red brick architecture. But the ballpark in Cleveland is decidedly modern, without throwing out the past. I think it evokes the city's steelmaking and bridge-building heritage with a sleek, modern look.
October 10, 201212 yr My two cents on the ballparks (and this is hard to say being a Clevelander). I have been in 6 of the new retro baseball stadiums across the nation and without a doubt I think PNC is the best I have been in (even ignoring the view which makes it even better). San Fran was my least favorite as the concourses seemed dark and uninviting. Of course there are many I have not visited so my opinion may change over the years.
October 10, 201212 yr San Fran was my least favorite as the concourses seemed dark and uninviting. Thank God I'm not the only one who thought that! PacBell (or whatever it's call now) has a great setting with Bay but I also thought it was uninviting. "You don't just walk into a bar and mix it up by calling a girl fat" - buildingcincinnati speaking about new forumers
October 10, 201212 yr Wow is that a beautiful and inviting city! I really don't know much about Pittsburgh, but those pictures really make me want to go, do a day trip.
October 10, 201212 yr I loved my visit and the city, but overall their downtown has a sort of dirty feel to it as well. I always say the same thing about Pittsburgh. It has great neighborhoods, but their downtown is pretty scary after work hours.
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